… so I did both.

While Joe’s day-to-day is primarily as a producer out of his beautiful studio in East Nashville, you’ll notice immediately in this interview that Joe is an artist at heart. Production is his craft but his spirit and intention behind each decision is pure artistry.

Joe has a wide-ranging and fascinating journey through the music industry, from playing in the wildly successful band Guster in the early 2000’s, to producing for legends like Ben Folds and k.d. lang.

Joe is genuinely one of my favorite people in Nashville, a true artist, and a role model for what I’m trying to build here at MAD Records, and I’m so happy to share this conversation with you all.

And be sure to stick around for my rant about private equity at the very end of the episode…. LOL.

Enjoy!

🎶🎶🎶 Sponsored Song for this episode: “Eclipse” by MAD Records Collective member, j. pastel. Check out j. pastel’s music by clicking here.

* Podcast intro music by the amazing Reid Sorel

OH WAIT!

Before you go… be sure to subscribe to get the MAD Records Podcast direct in your inbox every time we publish a new episode:

🚨 And be sure to check out our special MAD Records Podcast offers here: 🚨

🪩🪩🪩 Want to work directly with our team in our full-year mentorship program, “MAD Records Incubator”? Learn more about the program and schedule a free consultation with me by clicking here:

👕👕👕 The MAD Records merch store is live! Grab a t-shirt, hat, or hoodie and support our mission of disrupting the traditional music industry (and help us to pay Producer Eli). Use promo code “madrecordspodcast” for 10% off your order. Check out the merch store by clicking here:

🫡🫡🫡 Become a paid subscriber for only $10/month and get access to my paid newsletter, “How to Market Your Music (… and still sleep at night), which will teach you literally everything I know about music marketing, building an audience, and monetization. You’ll also get access to our paid subscriber chat, the ability to submit your music to our team to be featured in the podcast, and a whole lot more!

Long live good music 🫡⚔️

Michael from MAD Records

….. it’s cute right?

Well when I say “good music”… what I mean is music that feels like true art, not just “content”. And when I first moved to Nashville, no one seemed to represent that ideal more than independent artist, Cole Ritter.

Cole is an incredible artist, guitarist, and songwriter… and he was the first artist signed to MAD Records (back when we were still operating as a record label). Cole is currently releasing his debut EP as we speak, but has been playing sold out shows in various parts of the country for years at this point.

In this conversation we discuss everything from touring mechanics to philosophy.

I hope y’all enjoy!

Sponsored Song for this episode: “Psychedelic Flowers” by MAD Records Collective member, The Olde. Check out The Olde’s music here.

* Podcast intro music by the amazing Reid Sorel

OH WAIT!

Before you go… be sure to subscribe to get the MAD Records Podcast direct in your inbox every time we publish a new episode:

🚨 And be sure to check out our special MAD Records Podcast offers here: 🚨

🪩🪩🪩 Want to work directly with our team in our full-year mentorship program, “MAD Records Incubator”? Learn more about the program and schedule a free consultation with me by clicking here:

Learn more about MAD Records Incubator

👕👕👕 The MAD Records merch store is live! Grab a t-shirt, hat, or hoodie and support our mission of disrupting the traditional music industry (and help us to pay Producer Eli). Use promo code “madrecordspodcast” for 10% off your order. Check out the merch store by clicking here:

Merch Store

🫡🫡🫡 Become a paid subscriber for only $10/month and get access to our private MAD Records Collective community, our 10-Week Music Business Curriculum, our 10-Week Sync Licensing Curriculum, weekly live events, and a whole lot more. You can upgrade to a paid subscription by clicking here:

Upgrade to Paid Subscription

Long live good music 🫡⚔️

Michael from MAD Records

The MAD Records Podcast is BACK!

…. ok I know it’s been “back” three times now, but this time it’s for good.

We’ve got a brand new, in-person studio in Nashville, TN, a painfully handsome new producer named Eli ( FIL ARDENT) who will henceforth be creatively referred to as “Producer Eli”, and an incredible first guest.

In this episode, we welcome the incredible Joel Gouveia - the writer behind the incredibly successful Substack publication, “The Artist Economy”, known for his (often spicy) takes on the music industry and unique perspective on how to build a music career.

But in the meantime… sit back and enjoy my slightly nasal voice as we discuss some music industry conspiracies, how Spotify could lose it’s place the streaming leader, the consolidation of the major labels, and a whole lot more…

OH WAIT!

Before you go… be sure to subscribe to get the MAD Records Podcast direct in your inbox every time we publish a new episode:

🚨 And be sure to check out our special MAD Records Podcast offers here: 🚨

🪩🪩🪩 Want to work directly with our team in our full-year mentorship program, “MAD Records Incubator”? Learn more about the program and schedule a free consultation heading to madrecordscollective.com/mad-records-incubator-podcast.

👕👕👕 The MAD Records merch store is live! Grab a t-shirt, hat, or hoodie and support our mission of disrupting the traditional music industry (and help us to pay Producer Eli). Use promo code “madrecordspodcast” for 10% off your order. Check out the merch store by heading to madrecordscollective.com/merch

🫡🫡🫡 Become a paid subscriber for only $10/month and get access to our private MAD Records Collective community, our 10-Week Music Business Curriculum, our 10-Week Sync Licensing Curriculum, weekly live events, and a whole lot more. You can upgrade to a paid subscription by googling The MAD Records Monologue and clicking our publication on Substack.

Long live good music 🫡⚔️

Michael from MAD Records

Getting your music placed in TV, film, and video games has always been one of the most lucrative ways for artists and producers to monetize their music.

But landing sync placements can be incredibly difficult if you don’t understand how the industry actually works.

Which is why we’re excited to share this edition of our Monthly Masterclass, featuring form…

Ladies and gentlemen…

Rob Schustack has spent decades in the sync licensing industry working with brands, bands and catalogs like Disney, Amazon, Google, Febreze, BMW, Wu Tang Clan, Ceelo Green, Nirvana, Hall & Oates, Aerosmith and many others.

And yesterday he spilled some trade secrets LIVE inside the MAD Records Collective on how to get your music placed in TV, fil…

That’s because it doesn’t.

In this ~2 hour webinar with our good friends at EasySong, I bust some of the biggest myths when it comes to promoting your music, and share a real path to creating a sustainable, financially viable music career.

Feel free to drop your questions in the comments while you watch, and I’ll be sure to answer every one!

AAAAANNNDDD…. if you’re looking for some hands-on help with your music career, you can schedule a free consultation with me to discuss our mentorship program MAD Records Incubator here:

Ok enjoy! Drop your questions!

Michael from MAD Records

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🎉 Looking for real, hands on support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real world education to help you grow sustainably. You can book a call to learn more about the program below.

🎶 This episode features music from Daniel Kamionkowski, including a stunning, serene track, “Wintry Mix”. Check out more from Dan by clicking here.

- This week’s podcast features Jake Kodweis, the producer and artist behind the absolutely insane viral project KILL KARL.

Jake and I go way back, long before this project took off, when we both worked for the online music production school, Mastering.com. KILL KARL didn’t come from nowhere. It came from years of production experience, a deep understanding of craft, and a decision to stop censoring himself creatively…

In this conversation, we talk about how KILL KARL started as an unfiltered experiment and quickly grew into something massive. We get into why polarizing art cuts through, why trying to please everyone rarely works, and how humor, confrontation, and honesty drive real engagement.

We also talk about the mental side of going viral. Jake shares how he set boundaries with social media, and why building a real community matters more than chasing views.

Later, we get into production, irony, and why taking your work seriously actually makes unconventional music hit harder.

Jake also explains where the name KILL KARL comes from, how intrusive thoughts play into the project, and why this music has resonated so strongly with people. This is a funny, open conversation about risk, self-expression, and building something sustainable.

If you want to join Jake’s community and connect more deeply with the KILL KARL world, you can click here.

-

Topic Overview

00:00 Intro and featured track01:00 Jake’s background and KILL KARL origin03:30 Why the project exists06:00 Polarization and virality11:00 Risk, fear, and self-censorship17:00 Mental health and social media boundaries24:00 Influences and production approach31:00 Where “KILL KARL” comes from36:00 Fan impact and community44:30 Advice to younger artists1:03:00 Closing thoughts

(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)

🎉 Looking for real, hands on support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real world education to help you grow sustainably. You can book a call to learn more about the program below.

🎶 This episode features music from David Baldwin, including an exciting cover of “Sunshine on My Shoulders” by his band, The Gumbys. Check out more from The Gumbys by clicking here.

- This week’s podcast features MAD Records Collective member and advertising expert David Baldwin.

David has spent his life as a creative. He grew up around advertising, started playing music early, and never really separated the two. Over the years, he built a highly respected career as a copywriter and creative director, eventually founding the agency Baldwin& in Raleigh, North Carolina, which was named Small Agency of the Year twice in its first five years by Ad Age and the 4A’s.

David’s work has been recognized by nearly every major award in advertising, including Cannes Lions, The One Show, D&AD, the Clios, the Effies, and Communication Arts. He previously served as Chairman of the One Club in New York City and was an executive producer on the Emmy winning film Art & Copy, as well as an associate producer on the Emmy and Peabody Award winning documentary The Loving Story.

Even as his advertising career grew, music remained a constant. David continued writing songs, playing guitar, and staying creatively active, never treating music as something he had to leave behind. Eventually, those two worlds started to intersect more intentionally. His understanding of storytelling, belief, and audience from advertising began to directly inform how he approached art, creativity, and identity.

- In this episode, David and I have a wide ranging conversation about creativity as a long game. We talk about identity, values, and what it actually means to be an artist, especially when your path does not follow a traditional music industry timeline.

David discusses why having a career outside of music does not make you less legitimate, how fear quietly drives many decisions, and why he has always focused more on output than validation. We talk about branding as an extension of values, not aesthetics, and the difference between being distinctive versus trying to be different.

We also talk about age, experience, and releasing music later in life. David reflects on coming back to music with perspective, redefining success without an end point, and why doing the work itself has always been the goal.

This is a well-rounded, vulnerable conversation about patience, trust, and building a creative life that actually lasts.

If you are navigating big decisions, questioning timelines, or trying to balance stability with creative ambition, you’re in for a treat.

Topic Overview

00:00 Intro and background02:15 Growing up around creativity06:00 Being an artist as a mindset09:30 Choosing a creative career without leaving music behind14:00 Building companies from values18:30 Risk, fear, and long term thinking23:45 Branding as behavior29:30 Distinctiveness versus differentiation39:00 Releasing music later in life45:00 Experience and authenticity51:30 Defining success56:00 Closing thoughts

(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)

Thanks so much for joining today’s Substack live event, “The Spotify Problem”, where I attempted to break down what artists need to know about the streaming economy.

I had a great time, and I really appreciate the thoughtful questions, comments, and support from you all 🫡⚔️

If you enjoyed this, please consider sharing on your Substack by clicking the button below:

You can also check out my original article on Spotify here:

Let me know what you thought in the comments, and if you’d be interested in more live sessions like this!

Thanks again,

Michael from MAD Records

🎉 Looking for real, hands-on support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real-world education to help you grow sustainably. You can book a call to learn more about the program below.

🎶 This episode features “False Hope” by featured artist Cole Ritter. You can listen to the full livestream of Cole’s upcoming EP by clicking here.

This week’s podcast features the one and only MAD Records artist…. Cole Ritter 🌵💀 🌵💀

Cole grew up in Nashville and started playing violin at just three years old. Music has always been his foundation. Over the years, he built a career as a highly respected musician and sideman, touring, playing sessions, and checking off many of the boxes people are told to chase. Eventually, that experience led him to a difficult but necessary decision…

…stepping away from the security of sideman work to fully invest in his own artist project.

Cole and I have an honest, wide-ranging conversation about identity, musicianship, and what it actually means to choose the independent artist path in 2026.

In this episode, we talk openly about what that transition has looked like, both creatively and personally. Cole shares why it took him so long to release solo music, how he thinks about ownership and long-term fulfillment, and why live performance still feels like the most honest expression of who he is as an artist.

We also get into creativity and spirituality, the feeling of letting music come to you rather than forcing it, and the importance of staying human in an industry that prioritizes virality, content, and numbers. Later, we talk about AI, authenticity, and why live music may become more meaningful than ever in the years ahead.

This is a reflective conversation about patience, trust, and defining success on your own terms. If you are an artist navigating big decisions or stuck between stability and passion, there is a lot here that will be impactful.

Topic Overview

00:00 Intro and background02:03 Growing up with music as identity07:22 Sideman life vs choosing the artist path11:13 How the music industry has changed20:25 Why Cole waited to release solo music27:40 Music as healing and emotional connection30:11 Studio vs live performance39:03 Spirituality, creativity, and songwriting41:44 AI, authenticity, and the future of music49:15 Defining success, touring, and long-term vision54:09 Advice to his younger self and closing

(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)

Get next week’s podcast direct to your inbox 👇

🎉 Looking for real, hands-on support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real-world education to help you grow sustainably. You can book a call to learn more about the program below.

🎶 This episode features “Hazel Eyed Lover in Patagonia” by Nashville artist Abigayle Oakley. You can listen to the full track and explore more of Abigayle’s music by clicking here.

-This week, I sat down with Abigayle Oakley, one of my favorite songwriters in Nashville, to talk about what it really means and takes to be an independent artist in 2026.

We discuss Abigayle’s story, growing up in a super musical family in Las Vegas, making the move to Nashville, studying songwriting at Belmont, and learning how to build an artist career without rushing the process.

We also go down some rabbit holes (in the best way) about creativity, discipline, and the magical moment when a great lyric shows up out of nowhere.

We later get into the future of the music industry with AI, streaming, and social media. We also touch on what it feels like when a song starts gaining traction, why the numbers don’t always translate into real-world progress, and why Abigayle has been putting so much energy into Substack.

This is an honest, holistic conversation on today’s artist infrastructure with many impactful takeaways for artists and producers everywhere.

Oh! And as promised in the interview… here’s the link to Abigayle’s hilarious stop-motion music video for her song, Dinsosaur Bones.

See you inside!

Topic Overview

0:00–1:17 Intro and featured song “Hazel Eyed Lover in Patagonia.”1:17–6:18 Abigayle’s background, Vegas to Nashville to Belmont6:18–12:52 Craft, discipline, and writing 100 songs a year12:52–21:16 Creativity, spirituality, and “the genius in the walls.”21:16–29:07 First album release and the post-release reality check29:07–37:25 Admin days, content pressure, and creative seasons37:25–41:28 Long-term mindset and staying steady through slow growth41:28–47:50 Spotify momentum, social proof, and what streams actually change47:50–56:44 Substack, real community, and taking care of the people who show up56:44–End 2026 plans and where to follow Abigayle next

(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)

Get next week’s podcast direct to your inbox

🎉 Looking for real, hands-on support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real-world education to help you grow sustainably. You can book a call to learn more about the program below.

🎶 This episode features “One Night” by MAD Records Collective member Rich Hennessy. You can listen to the full track and explore more of Rich’s music by clicking here.

-

In this episode, I sat down with Reid Sorel, head producer at MAD Records and an up-and-coming Nashville-based production extraordinaire, for a conversation about what it really looks like to build a sustainable career in music today.

We talk through Reid’s path into production, from early sync work and independent artist projects to wearing multiple hats in Nashville’s fast-moving music scene. Instead of chasing shortcuts, Reid shares why following up, providing value, and building genuine relationships have been the foundation of his growth.

We also discuss the future of music in the age of AI, why over-saturation may bring music back toward experience and imperfection, and how live energy, community, and human connection are likely to become more important than ever.

We close out by highlighting Nashville artists like Cole Ritter and Abigayle Oakley and breaking down what makes an artist worth investing in long-term.

This is a grounded conversation about patience, strategic planning, and building your career brick by brick.

Enjoy!

Topic Overview

0:00–1:13 Intro and featured artist Rich Hennessy1:13–4:28 Reid Sorel’s background and wearing multiple hats as a producer4:28–8:30 Sync placements, early income, and following up8:30–12:05 Building relationships by providing value12:05–16:19 Community-first thinking and long-term growth16:19–23:39 Nashville, competition, and standing out beyond talent23:39–31:31 AI, accessibility, and the future of music31:31–40:58 Music as experience, not commodity40:58–48:29 Imperfection, live energy, and breaking “perfect” production rules48:29–55:28 Artist spotlights: Cole Ritter and Abigayle Oakley55:28–End Brick-by-brick careers and closing reflections

(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)

Get the MAD Records Podcast sent directly to your email inbox 👇

🎉 Looking for real support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our hands-on mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real-world education to help you grow your career sustainably. Book a call to discuss the program below.

🎶 This episode features “Nova Nocturne” by MAD Records Collective member, Rhimmon Simchy. You can check out the full song (and more of Rhimmon’s music) by clicking here.

Well… I broke out my old finance shirt for this one.

Today I sat down with Wall Street stock analyst, Andrew Marok, to discuss one of the most hotly debated companies in the music industry….

SPOTIFY.

I’m a big believer that whether you want to disrupt (or align with) any company or corporation… you need to actually understand how it operates under the hood.

So in this episode, Andrew breaks down how Spotify actually works as a business.

We step outside of the usual pro-Spotify anti-Spotify debate and focus on incentives, economics, and long-term strategy so artists can make informed decisions about where (and if) streaming fits into their careers.

We cover how Spotify makes money, why pricing power matters, what keeps users hooked into the platform, and why music streaming has not diminished the way video streaming has. We also dig into the tension between convenience and culture, the frustrations independent artists feel around monetization and ownership, and what AI could mean for the future of music and distribution.

I want to personally thank Andrew for taking the time to break this all down for the artist community…. this conversation is a great representation of how the artist and business community can help and inform each other.

If you have follow up questions for this interview, drop them in the comments and I’ll be sure to ask them next time we have Andrew on the podcast.

Enjoy!

TOPIC OVERVIEW:

0:00 – 1:17 Intro, ft. artist Rhimmon Simchy, and guest introduction (Andrew Marok)1:17 – 7:35 Why talk to an equity analyst and how stock market thinking works7:35 – 16:02 How Spotify makes money, raises prices, and keeps users17:13 – 26:46 Passive listening, music as art, and why streaming has not fractured26:46 – 34:35 Independent artists, monetization, and Spotify’s path to profitability34:35 – 42:34 How Spotify grows profit and where artists fit into that growth42:34 – 48:58 Culture versus convenience, playlists, and taste making48:58 – 54:39 The future of streaming and the role of AI54:39 – end AI as a tool, long-term thinking, and closing reflections

(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)

Get the MAD Records Podcast sent directly to your email inbox 👇

🎉 It’s not too late to join December’s “Run For Cover Challenge”, where you can get your music in the hands of some of the world’s biggest music publishers for potential placements in TV, film, ads, and more. Join the Challenge and get to know our collective by signing up for a free trial of MAD Records Collective below:

🎶 This episode features “Unusual Fairytale” by MAD Records Collective member, Joanne Bird. You check out the full song (and more of Joanne’s music) by clicking here.

Songwriting might feel like a mystery, but in today’s world of YouTube education, online communities, and musical entrepreneurship, the craft is changing fast.

In this episode, I sit down with two of my favorite people in the world, Keppie and Benny, the duo behind the massive YouTube channel How to Write Songs. We discuss how they built a global songwriting education platform, why songwriting is a learnable craft, and what the future of online music education looks like.

We dig into everything from the early days of their channel to the business models behind creative education to why community, feedback, and accountability matter far more than course content alone.

Learn more about Keppie and Benny, and check out their channel, How to Write Songs, by clicking here, and their website by clicking here.

00:00 – 00:03 • Intro + introducing Benny & Keppie00:03 – 00:11 • Their backgrounds in songwriting + teaching00:11 – 00:22 • How the YouTube channel started00:22 – 00:34 • Early challenges + first viral moment00:34 – 00:46 • Learning YouTube strategy + shifting to community building00:46 – 00:53 • Evolving from courses → community → feedback system00:53 – 01:05 • “Where do songs come from?” + inspiration + noticing01:05 – 01:20 • Human creativity vs AI + physicality of music01:20 – 01:32 • Art as product plus story + why process matters01:32 – 01:46 • Why AI can’t replace human creation or connection01:46 – 01:58 • The future: human-made art becomes more valued01:58 – 01:25:55 • Closing thoughts + where to find them + outro

(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)

Get the MAD Records Podcast sent directly to your email inbox 👇

🎉 It’s not too late to join our “Run For Cover Challenge”, where you can get your music in the hands of some of the world’s biggest music publishers for potential placements in TV, film, ads, and more. Join the Challenge by signing up for a free trial of MAD Records Collective below:

🎶 This episode features “Enough to Care” by MAD Records Collective member, Lea Rockrose. You check out the full song (and more of Lea’s music) by clicking here.

Live music has always been the lifeblood of the music industry… but the streaming, social media, and AI landscape have drastically changed what it means to be a “touring artist”.

In this episode, I interview one of the best up-and-coming music touring assistants in Nashville, Audrey Moentmann, to discuss how the live show industry is changing, and what you can do to stay ahead of the curve.

Learn more about Audrey by clicking here and be sure to check out her podcast, “Sisters in Groove” here.

0:00 – 0:35 — Intro and featured track0:35 – 2:30 — Who Audrey is and what a booking agent actually does2:30 – 6:40 — Building multi-year plans for artists6:40 – 9:50 — When artists actually need a booking agent9:50 – 13:30 — Reaching out vs. reaching up in the industry13:30 – 17:00 — What booking agents look for in an artist17:00 – 18:30 — Social media versus real connection18:30 – 20:30 — MAD Records Collective mid-roll20:30 – 25:00 — How metrics and streaming translate to ticket sales25:00 – 29:00 — How agents evaluate artists beyond numbers29:00 – 33:00 — Breaking through plateaus in growth33:00 – 36:00 — Pivoting without losing authenticity36:00 – 41:00 — Ego, identity, and storytelling41:00 – 44:00 — The overlooked value of older artists44:00 – 47:30 — Later-in-life artist success stories47:30 – 50:00 — AI’s impact on music and booking50:00 – 55:30 — Why live music is becoming more valuable55:30 – 58:00 — Human connection vs. AI in music58:00 – 1:01:00 — How parenthood can deepen artistry1:01:00 – 1:03:00 — Ego, growth, and the need for community1:03:00 – 1:04:20 — Audrey’s podcast and Sisters in Groove

(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)

Get the MAD Records Podcast sent directly to your email inbox 👇

But despite all the distractions, one thing remains constant:

There is no replacement for talented artists getting in a room together and playing great music.

In this video, we introduce you to one of the best up-and-coming artists in Nashville, TN, Cole Ritter.

Cole has spent the last 20 years relentlessly honing his craft with national touring acts performing at venues including the Grand Ole Opry and Red Rocks, and is gearing up to release his debut solo EP in January of 2026.

And while we have loads to say about Cole, his music, and his artistry… we think it’s best if you hear it directly from him - in the only way he knows how - through his music.

So without further ado, I am pleased to introduce you to one of my favorite artists and my dear friend, Cole Ritter.

Enjoy 🫡⚔️

- Michael from MAD Records

(This video was funded entirely by the MAD Records Collective, an community that provides opportunities and support to independent artists, musicians, and producers. To learn more about MAD Records, click here.)

Credits:

Film, edit, video production: Eli Spotts

Production // Engineering: Reid Sorel

Artist // Vocals // Electric Guitar // Acoustic Guitar: Cole Ritter

Electric Guitar: Joe Pisapia

Bass // Piano: Will Honaker

Steel // Electric Guitar // BGV’s: George Carnes

Drums // Percussion: Jamie Dick

Songwriting Credits:

* “Valley of Death” Cole Ritter , Abigayle Oakley , Maxwell Sadler

* “False Hope” Cole Ritter , Reid Sorel , Maxwell Sadler

* “Chasin’ The Dream” Cole Ritter , Reid Sorel, Maxwell Sadler

* “Born To Lose” Cole Ritter, Abigayle Oakley , Jackson Badgely

* “Fast Car Slow” Cole Ritter, Reid Sorel , Maxwell Sadler

*** Special thanks to Joe Pisapia for allowing us to film in his beautiful studio in Nashville, TN.

Subscribe and support the MAD Records movement 👇

🎉 Our “Run For Cover Challenge” kicks off Monday, November 17th, where you can get your music in the hands of some of the world’s biggest music publishers for potential placements in TV, film, ads, and more. Join the Challenge by signing up for a free trial of MAD Records Collective below:

🎶 This episode features “Body of Gold” by MAD Records Collective member, Izze Stein. You check out the full song (and more of Izze’s music) by clicking here.

I’m incredibly excited to share my interview with the man I call “the Forrest Gump of the music industry”…. my dear friend and partner at MAD Records - Mr. Rob Schustack (AKA The MAD Records Sync-Stack).

In Rob’s 20+ year music industry career, he’s worked as:

* A&R at Atlantic Records

* Creative Director ins publishing at Primary Wave (managing catalogues including Nirvana, Hall & Oates)

* Sync-licensing at the Orchard

* Music supervision and sync licensing at Ooze House of Music

* Education and program director at Mastering.com

* Head of Music Services at MAD Records ⚔️⚔️⚔️

And today, we discuss how to break into the music industry, sync licensing, the future impact of AI, and a whole lot more.

Rob is truly one of the kindest, most generous people I know, and I’m excited to share his story and wisdom in today’s episode.

If you know someone who is trying to break into the music industry, consider sharing this with them by clicking the button below:

And if you want these podcasts sent directly to your inbox, click the subscribe button below (if you haven’t already):

Ok, enough jabbering… enjoy!

Michael from MAD Records

🎉 The MAD Records Collective is officially OPEN! Start your 30-day free trial and get opportunities and support for your music career.

🎶 This episode features “Little Ghosts” by MAD Records Collective member, Paul Hallman. You check out the full song (and more of Paul’s music) by clicking here.

IT’S BACKKKKK!

At long last… the MAD Records Podcast is back, and this time with a simple focus:

What does the future of the music industry look like in a post-streaming, AI-driven world?

And to kick things off, I had the CEO of the alternative music streaming and audio storage platform, Samply, on to discuss the streaming economy, music monetization, AI, and a whole lot more.

Below is a timestamped breakdown of our conversation… but hey, I say WATCH THE WHOLE THING!

And… if you want to get this podcast in your inbox every week, be sure to subscribe here:

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MAD Records Podcast #5 - The Music Streaming Economy (with CEO of Samply, Eric Shirtzinger)

0:44 Introducing Eric Scherzinger 1:05 Eric’s background in music and engineering 5:05 Balancing art and money 7:43 Founding Samply 20:36 Artists searching for Spotify alternatives 22:15 How artists are using Samply directly with fans 26:10 Data and transparency for artists 27:27 The economics of streaming 35:03 The trap of vanity metrics 43:16 Parallels between artists and startups 45:28 Viral hits versus real careers 50:25 What makes digital music valuable 52:15 Moving past charity-based music support 53:11 The power of culture and community 57:05 Final thoughts on rebuilding the artist economy 59:29 Slowing down and listening to full albums 1:01:44 Balancing simplicity and convenience 1:02:05 The listener’s role in supporting music 1:02:23 The future of music and AI 1:06:05 Changing artist mindsets about Spotify 1:09:57 Human connection and real-world discovery 1:10:18 The value of inconvenience 1:14:07 Where to find Samply 1:14:26 Wrapping up and final thoughts

Emily is a music tech product lead and alumni of Spotify, Billboard and NPR Music, and yesterday we covered a very light topic….

“THE FUTURE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY”

In this open discussion, we tackle streaming, some major trends in the industry, the emergence of artificial intelligence, and where we see the industry moving in the next few years.

Check it out above, and be sure to subscribe to Emily White by clicking here.

And if you enjoyed this interview, let me know in the comments so I know if I should do more of them in the future!

Enjoy 🫡⚔️

Michael from MAD Records

I’d pick up friends and purposely restart the song as they got close to the car so they’d think I had good music taste (and so they wouldn’t miss the chorus…)

Well… if only cringey high-school Michael knew that just a brief 12 years later…. I’d have the pleasure of speaking with Stelth Ulvang of (basically the biggest band in the world), The Lumineers.

But while “Stelth” and “The Lumineers” often go hand-in-hand, it’s important to note that Stelth is an artist entirely on his own, with music equally worthy of restarting as your friends approach your sh*tty 2-door stick shift coupe.

Stelth Ulvang and the Tigernips, his solo project, has the same “breath-of-fresh-air” feel of the Lumineers, filtered through the uber-creative, free-spirited brain of Mr. Ulvang.

In this interview, we discuss Stelth’s solo project, his creative process, mental health, his journey with The Lumineers, and his upcoming world tour.

I hope you enjoy, and please show Stelth some love on Instagram (by clicking here) or, if you really want him to like you, by supporting him on Bandcamp (by clicking here).

Supporting artists on this channel makes it easier to get more great guests, and…. it’s just a nice thing to do.

Thank you again to Stelth for joining me, and I hope you enjoy!

🫡⚔️🫡⚔️🫡⚔️

Michael from MAD Records

(👉👉👉 MAD Records is a fully-education funded record label from Nashville, TN. Unlike traditional labels, we take 0% ownership of our artists music, instead funding our record deals through online education programs for artists. If you’d like to support our mission, please subscribe to our Substack or follow us on Instagram by clicking here.)

60 minutes of staring at myself on the (always unforgiving) front camera of my iPhone…

But alas, I do it for you.

Today I spent a lovely hour with Seth Werkheiser of SOCIAL MEDIA ESCAPE CLUB, AKA the man in charge of email marketing for record labels like MNRK Heavy and Last Gang Records.

Now… an hour isn’t long enough to tell you exactly how to build an email list (and monetize it), but there’s loads of good stuff in here that I hope you’ll find helpful.

If you enjoy this interview, and you want to see more SubStack lives like this… be sure to subscribe below (and to Seth as well!)

Thanks for hanging out!

🫡🫡🫡

Michael from MAD Records

How can I give email advice if you won’t let me email you? Subscriiiiiiiibe.

Nothing also beats the buzz of chilling on your couch.

What happens when you combine the two?

You get our new live music competition show, “Battle of the Bands”!

(Or you get a sofa in a dirty venue which…. doesn’t sound as nice.)

Battle of the Bands is a new show (now exclusively on SubStack 🫡) where four of the best up-and-coming bands in Nashville, TN take the stage to perform 3 songs each…

After each band performs, there is a 5-minute Q+A with our host to learn more about the band, their music, and their story.

At the end of the show, the live audience votes for their favorite…

… and the winner takes home $1,000 in sweet sweet cash towards their next single release.

Real bands. Real music. No spinning chairs or drunk hosts (I’m only buzzed).

I present you….

….. our second installment of…..

⚔️ BATTLE OF THE BANDS ⚔️

Get notified when new “Battle of the Bands” episodes drop by subscribing below:

SUPPORT THE ARTISTS FROM THIS EPISODE:

Campanula: - Instagram (click here)

Spotify:

Weston Slutz: - Instagram (click here)

Spotify:

Jeff Toth: - Instagram (click here)

Spotify:

Greylee: - Instagram (click here)

Spotify:

We recently made the decision to start moving all of our video content from YouTube to SubStack 🎉

So I’d like to (re)introduce you to our music competition show, “Battle of the Bands”.

Unlike the current music competition shows where Reba McIntyre is snorting coke in a spinning chair while Blake Shelton and Pharrell KISS on the lips…

(These are jokes don’t sue us…)

Our show is just about showing amazing musicians doing what they do best… playing music.

Each 3 song set is followed by a brief Q+A where you’ll get to know the band a bit more…

And at the end, the live audience votes for their favorite!

So without further ado, I invite you to crack a beer and enjoy… LIVE from Nashville, TN….

BATTLE OF THE BANDS!

Enjoy!

Support the bands by following below:

Cole Ritter (https://www.instagram.com/colewesleyritter/?hl=en)

Abigayle Kompst (https://www.instagram.com/abigaylekompst/)

Father Madness (https://www.instagram.com/father__madness/)

Zach Whisler (https://www.instagram.com/zack.whisler/)

Christiana Alaire (https://www.instagram.com/christiana.alaire/?hl=en)