Jana Hunter (Lower Dens) explains why the Affordable Care Act is important and how it changed Hunter's life. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl Find out more about Lower Dens: lowerdens.com
Secretly Canadian's Jon Coombs talks about the development of 'Our First 100 Days,' a new compilation which benefits different causes in light of our changing political landscape. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl Find out more about 'Our First 100 Days': ourfirst100days.bandcamp.com
Kevin Erickson of The Future of Music Coalition talks about what Trump the GOP's policy plans could mean for the music community. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl Find out more about The Future of Music Coalition: futureofmusic.org
Kevin Erickson of The Future of Music Coalition talks about what a Trump presidency could mean for musicians. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl Find out more about The Future of Music Coalition: futureofmusic.org
Episode #65: A presidency doesn’t usually hold so many unknowns for the music community, but the election of Donald Trump will affect a range of issues important to musicians and music industry professionals. On this episode of The Future of What, we have a frank discussion about how Trump’s presidency could influence issues like healthcare, net neutrality, free expression and more. We’re joined by Kevin Erickson of The Future of Music Coalition, an organization that specializes in education, ad...
Episode #64: Last year, we released 37 episodes on a wide variety of topics in music. From rights to royalties, we covered subjects important to artists and those who support them. On this episode, we look back at the major issues we reported on in 2016 and those who they impacted most. We hear from musician Melissa Ferrick about the Spotify lawsuits that started the year, then A2IM’s Richard Burgess gives us the scoop on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and how it’s creating problems for th...
Episode #63: 2016 has been an unforgettable year. We lost legendary musicians and witnessed a huge political shift. Today on the show, we recap the year by talking about some of its best -- and most notable -- songs. First, we hear from Kill Rock Stars' Ben Parrish and James Reling about their favorite songs of the year, from Cate Le Bon to Jackie Lynn. Then we’re joined by songwriter Charlie Harding, host of music podcast Switched on Pop! Harding gives us the lowdown on some of the year’s bigge...
Happy holidays! Here's another one of our favorite moments from our recent live panel on music marketing with record labels Warp, Break World, Don Giovanni and Father/Daughter. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl
Happy holidays! Here's one of our favorite moments from our recent live panel on music marketing with record labels Warp, Break World, Don Giovanni and Father/Daughter. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl
Episode #62: We took The Future of What to North Carolina for this year’s Redeye Label Hang. Every year, labels, industry partners and customers associated with Redeye Distribution gather for panels and discussions about the business. On this live show, we’re joined by record labels Warp, Break World, Father/Daughter and Don Giovanni to talk innovative marketing strategies, social media, and more. Special thanks to WHUP FM and Redeye Worldwide. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://a...
We ask Russ Crupnick of MusicWatch Inc. to explain recent trends in paid downloads and what they might mean for the future of the music industry. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl
Episode #61: With the launch of Apple Music in 2015, the music industry saw a steep decline in digital downloads, and rumors flew about whether iTunes downloads would be phased out completely -- one publication even wrote an obituary for the service. Streaming services are here to stay, but what will that mean for music downloads? We ask MusicWatch Inc.’s Russ Crupnick about trends in music downloads, and hear from Bandcamp’s Chief Curator, Andrew Jervis, about viability of Bandcamp downloads. K...
Episode #60: The ASCAP and BMI consent decree issue has put songwriters in the news this year, but we don’t hear a lot about how the profession has changed as a whole in recent years. To help us get a sense of what modern songwriting looks like, we talked to Kay Hanley (Letters to Cleo) and Michelle Lewis, founders of Songwriters of North America (SONA). SONA filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice in September, which, as they say, is pretty punk rock. Michelle and Kay give us an updat...
Episode #59: When you think of video game music, you might hear Koji Kondo’s Super Mario Bros. original score, or maybe FlyLo FM from Grand Theft Auto’s licensed soundtrack. Either way, video games have long held promise for composers and musicians. Like movies, video games are naturally a broad medium with room for different musical experiences. Games also provide a lucrative revenue stream for some artists. One composer, Chris Remo, who has worked on recent hits like Gone Home and Firewatch, j...
Episode #58: Without technological development, the music industry would be in a very different place. From the modulated grooves of analog records to the first iPod, innovation has permanently shaped the music business, but it's not always an easy process. In recent years, technology seems to be advancing faster and faster, with more companies popping up than ever, many of which are focused on music. Are these apps and startups, who aim to be artist-centric, actually helping creators? We ask us...
Episode #57: Music has the power to inspire people and change lives. On this episode we spotlight one organization using music education to empower and amplify the voices of young women and girls. Portland’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls was founded in 2001 and provides tools and education for girls interested in music. Along with the camp’s director, Kristi Balzer, we talk to some of the women who have been influenced by and serve as role models for the camp, Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney), Jenny...
Episode #56: A band has recorded some music -- they’ve even set a date for their album release -- but how do they get people to listen to it? Making press contacts and getting the right information to the right people can be difficult when you’re not a public relations expert. We’re joined by PR pros Sierra Haager (Public Display PR, bed.) and Chris Hnat (Grandstand Media & Management) who break down media relations do’s and don’t’s for artists. We also get advice from the editorial side with Ch...
Episode #55: Record stores have long been an integral part of the music industry -- not only as a place to purchase albums, but as a symbolic gathering space for music fans. While the development of MP3s, streaming and other digital technology has disrupted music retailers, some contend that the vinyl resurgence has all but made up for lost revenue. Yet, with countless popular and iconic record stores closing, it’s clear there’s more to the issue. Josh Madell, co-owner of New York’s recently clo...
Episode #54: In 1986, iconic alt-rock band Blake Babies was born at Berklee School of Music. John Strohm, Freda Love and Juliana Hatfield released a few albums and toured before breaking up in 1991, but their work impacted both the Boston and national alternative music scenes. Despite their short run, Blake Babies helped define what we think of today as an independent band. On the heels of their reunion, we welcome John, Freda and Juliana on the show to talk about their enduring legacy and futur...
Episode #53: The idea of large companies collecting information about you for free feels shady, especially when they use that data for profit. Most big tech businesses collect personal information in some fashion, including your favorite streaming services. On one hand, data helps these services tailor your playlists and lets artists know who’s listening to them. On the other, data mining can invade listeners’ privacy for profit. On this episode we talk to the founder of a new streaming service ...
Episode #52: Whether you love it or hate it, if you’re in a band, touring is something you’ve got to do. Touring has long been important for building a fanbase, gaining experience and making money. Now that other income streams have diminished for artists, revenue from live performances is more important than ever. On this episode of The Future of What we talk to bands about their different approaches to touring. We hear from Hutch Harris of The Thermals, Zach Carothers of Portugal. The Man, Jac...
Episode #51: As other revenue streams have weakened, merch has become integral to many musicians’ incomes. Some artists take things beyond the traditional band tee, selling everything from cologne to snuggies. While merchandising can be a fun way to connect with fans, designing and distributing products can become a whole job in itself. Electronic musician Dan Deacon has released eight albums since 2003, and tells us about his approach to merch, sold through Big Cartel. We also hear from Ed Aten...
Episode #50: Think the music industry is confusing? Here’s where things get really hairy for songwriters. The Department of Justice recently issued a statement upholding consent decrees that regulate performing rights organizations BMI and ASCAP. These decrees were originally intended as an antitrust measure, but many feel they are outdated and come with many costs. David Israelite, CEO of the NMPA, says this decision will devalue songs, implicate the property rights of songwriters and limit the...
Episode #49: Chances are, at least one of your favorite artists is not from the United States. It’s hard enough to break into the music industry as an American artist, so how are these acts from abroad pulling it off? The U.S. is a huge market for musicians, but presents its own unique challenges. We explore some of these obstacles and talk success stories with Anna Bond, U.S. label manager for Rough Trade Records, Nick O’Byrne, a manager for Look Out Kid who works with Courtney Barnett, and Teg...
Activist, musician and industry thinker Kiran Gandhi tells us why shock art is valuable.
Episode #48: We’ve brought you expertise from businesspeople, gatekeepers and analysts, and today we’re highlighting a few of the many savvy artists we’ve had on the show. On this episode, musicians give their take on some of the most important music industry issues of the last year. First, artist and lawyer Christiane Kinney examines the recent Spotify lawsuits, then we hear from plaintiff David Lowery, who gives us his take on royalty reporting. Celebrated musician and songwriter Laura Veirs t...
Episode #47: We talk a lot about how musicians can make a living in today’s music industry, but on this episode we look at the selfless ways artists use their influence. Our guests show that musicians at any stage of their careers can affect sustainable, positive change. Mike McCready, lead guitarist for Pearl Jam, tells us how the band’s Vitalogy Foundation, funded by ticket sales, benefits everything from the environment to the arts. Then we hear from emerging queer punk duo PWR BTTM about how...
Episode #46: In anticipation of Vortex Magazine's upcoming issue regarding the role of record labels in today's music economy, we sat down with three label heads from Portland to talk about what labels do for artists in 2016. Despite the label's varying ages, reach, and aesthetic, everyone in attendance could agree on the fact that there are too many business related tasks associated with releasing a record for one person, or a band, to handle. GUESTS: John Shepski (Fluff & Gravy) Aaron Meola (T...
Episode #45: Despite the music industry’s economic downturn, more and more music festivals have popped up and many continue to thrive. Because of the booming demand for tickets, live performances have become a vital revenue stream for many artists. But have we hit “peak festival”? Mainstays like Coachella and Lollapalooza have become increasingly corporate, and independently-run festivals contend that competition for is a huge issue in planning their events. We talk to three indie festival organ...
Episode #44: Whether it’s your first show or your dream venue, one of the most daunting tasks as a musician can be booking a gig. From the outside, it’s hard to know just how much planning goes into each concert. On this installment of our Music Industry 101 series, we talk to talent buyers and booking agents about what they do and how they do it. Booking agency Monterey International represents over 100 artists, from Van Morrison to Anais Mitchell. After agent Josh Brinkman offers his perspecti...
