Music Business Radio

In the Studio... Eric Dahl

Eric Dahl joined us for a special episode recorded at South Street Studios on Music Row. Eric is the author of the book Lucille and the Loves Before Her, which chronicles the history of BB King's guitars and amplifier.

Eric knows something about BB King's guitars firsthand. In 2005, for B.B. King's 80th birthday, Gibson made a special run of 80 Gibson Lucilles, referred to as the '80th Birthday Lucille'. The first prototype was presented to King as a birthday present. King used the guitar as his main guitar until the summer of 2009, when it was stolen from him. Just a couple of months later, Eric Dahl unknowingly purchased the stolen instrument from a pawn shop in Las Vegas. The guitar was returned to King in late November 2009, who was happy to receive his 80th birthday present back.

Eric shared this story and more. In addition, we taped several new "gear review" segments with firsthand reviews of various musical instruments and other equipment to help you write, record, and perform better. Listen for these segments within upcoming episodes of Music Business Radio as well as via the podcast feed.

Want gear reviews now? Check out Eric's online video reviews.

Thanks to Bobby Holland at South Street Studios for engineering!

This episode is currently being edited and will air soon. Until then, get on the podcast and check out the notes below...

In the Studio... Chris Gero

Chris Gero was in the Music Business Radio studios today to talk about his 20+ years in the music business. Chris is known as a world-class image maker and live event producer. He is the founder and Vice President of Yamaha Entertainment Group of America.

Chris is responsible for the management of Yamaha's star-studded artist roster, having signed more than 2000 artists to contract. Elton John, Alicia Keys, Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Norah Jones, Brad Paisley, Natalie Cole, and John Legend are a few of the artists Chris has worked with.

This episode talks about Chris' start as a musician, his transition to the business side of the industry, and more. He sharee stories about working with Elton John and what it takes for artists to get sponsorship deals with Yamaha. He talks about Yamaha's jump into the record label business and shared the story of its signed artist, Leo Gun.

If you're curious about what it takes to get a record deal or sponsorship from from a major music business company, this is one episode you won't want to miss.

This episode is currently being edited and will air soon. Until then, get on the podcast and check out the notes below...

In the Studio... Jessica Campbell and Ernie Halter

Jessica Campbell and Ernie Halter dropped by the Music Business Radio studios to talk about the nuts and bolts of making a living as independent musicians.

USA Today recently featured Jessica in its weekly playlist. Her song "Be You" was used in a nationwide promotion by Crate & Barrel. He music has been heard on several television shows including VH1's Tough Love and ABC's Ugly Betty. She has played over 100 house concerts.

Ernie raised over $35,000 for his latest Kickstarter campaign called 52 Song Club, where he delivers a new and original song each week to backers via email. His song 
Come Home to Me" was recorded by Justin Bieber. His album, Franklin & Vermont, debuted at #2 on iTunes singer/songwriter charts. He has toured 49 of 50 states and shared the stage with Sara Bareilles, Lady Antebellum, Katy Perry, and Neil Young.

We talked about making money as an independent musician, touring, house concerts (and how to make them happen), film/TV licensing, and more. This episode also includes in-studio performances from both Jessica and Ernie.

This episode is currently being edited and will air soon. Until then, get on the podcast and check out the notes below...

 

 

In the Studio... Stokes Nielson

Stokes Nielson was in the Music Business Radio studios today to talk about his work as an artist as well as how musicians and those in the music business can take advantage of the power of online video.

Stokes is perhaps best known as part of the act The Lost Trailers. He plays over 100 dates per year and is working directly with YouTube on its "Country Now" station.

On this episode, Stokes talks about being discovered by Willie Nelson and how he leveraged that opportunity to open for acts like Sugarland, Jamey Johnson, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, and Lady Antebellum. He shares stories from the road as well as practical advice for upcoming musicians.

A big part of this episode talks about how musicians can take advantage of the power of online video and Stokes gives very specific advice about how to succeed on YouTube and other online video sites with tips on how equipment needed, the type of content people are interested in seeing, and how to make your videos stand out from the crowd.

We also review demos sent in from Music Business Radio Listeners from around the world.

This episode is currently being edited and will air soon. Until then, get on the podcast and check out the notes below...

In the Studio... Jay Frank and Jenn Bostic

Jay Frank dropped by the Music Business Radio studios today to talk about the business and economics behind his company, DigSin, a singles-focused digital record label that gives music away to fans for free. We talked about his start in the music business, working for companies like The Box, Yahoo!, and CMT, and why he feels now is the best time to release music.

With Jay was DigSin artist, Jenn Bostic. She performed her song "Jealous of the Angels" live in our studio.

Topics discussed: viral music videos, speed of implementation, what Jay looks for when signing new acts, why DigSin signs "songs" and not artists, growing a digital fanbase, how to get music in commercials, income streams for musicians, radio promotion, Jenn's success in England and how it happened, building an emotional connection with fans, and the stories behind other DigSin acts, including Like Swimming and Bronze Radio Return.

This episode is currently being edited and will air soon. Until then, get on the podcast and check out the notes below...

In the Studio... Craig Havighurst

Craig Havighurst was in the Music Business Radio studios today to talk about his book, "Air Castle of the South: WSM and the Making of Music City," and his work as senior producer and show journalist for Music City Roots: Live from the Loveless Cafe, a syndicated weekly Americana radio show and webcast.

We talked about the similarities between sports journalism and music journalist, how radio helped to build the music industry in Nashville, the changing media landscape, the art of being a tastemaker, lessons from amateur musicians, how to build a scene, and more.

This episode is currently being edited and will air soon. Until then, get on the podcast and check out the notes below...

 

In the Studio... The Robert D

Robert D. Smith, known better as The Robert D, was in the Music Business Radio studios today to talk about his 30+ in the entertainment industry, most notably as the personal manager of best-selling author Andy Andrews. 

We talked about Robert's start in the entertainment industry, how to conquer rejection forever, how Andy sold 600,000 copies of his first book without a publisher (and how musicians can do something similar with their music), how to know if your project will be successful before you release it, the creative process, how to successfully brand yourself, and why "motivation" is a myth. We also talked about Robert's new book, 20,000 Days and Counting: The Crash Course for Mastering Your Life Right Now.

This episode is currently being edited and will air soon. Until then, get on the podcast and check out the notes below...

In the Studio... Rick Barker

Rick Barker dropped by the Music Business Radio studios today to talk about radio, fan engagement, breaking new artists, and working with one of the decade's most popular and biggest selling acts, Taylor Swift.

Rick is a music marketing consultant based out of Nashville, TN and runs Music Industry Blueprint. After a 15 year career in radio, he moved over to the record company side of the music business in 2004, accepting a job with Big Machine Records. He developed a unique touring model, which helped create opportunities for recently signed artists to get in front of people, with or without a national radio single. A number of top acts have used this model, including Sugarland, Josh Turner, and Rodney Atkins.

This episode is currently being edited and will air soon. Until then, get on the podcast and check out the notes below...

In the Studio... Joe Palmaccio

Joe Palmaccio was in the Music Business Radio studios today to talk about his 25+ years as a mastering engineer. Joe has won three Grammy Awards and has numerous Gold and Platinum albums. He's done mastering work for hundreds of artists including Willie Nelson, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, KISS, James Brown, The Isley Brothers, Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow, The Clash, Public Enemy, and Neil Diamond.

We talked about what mastering is (and isn't), how Joe got his start in the field, advances in recording technology, what musicians need to know about mastering, analog vs. digital recording, injecting new life into old audio recordings, and more. Joe also brought in "before and after" examples of how mastering can make a difference in recorded music and critiqued music sent in by Music Business Radio listeners from around the world.  

This episode is currently being edited and will air soon. Until then, get on the podcast and check out the notes below...

In the Studio... Shannon Houchins

Shannon Houchins visited Music Business Radio today to talk about the music business. Shannon is CEO of Average Joes Entertainment, home to acts like Colt Ford, Montgomery Gentry, The Lac, Bubba Sparxxx, and Redneck Social Club.

Shannon talked about his start in the music business, working as a DJ and producer, eventually as a staff producer for Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Productions. As a producer, writer and executive producer, he's worked with acts like TLC, Usher, Jagged Edge, CeCe Peniston, Lenny Cooper, Brantley Gilbert, Rehab, and Nappy Roots.

We talked about new ways of making money in the music business, what it takes for artists to get Shannon's attention, the pros and cons of sampling music, brand building, licensing, music marketing, and the live event business.

This episode is currently being edited and will air soon. Until then, get on the podcast and check out the notes below...