This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Oscar Höglund, the co-founder and CEO of Epidemic Sound. Epidemic Sound is a leading music and soundtracking platform for content creators. They have garnered attention for its digital rights model and soundtracking tools that help creators to elevate their content with music, while simultaneously supporting artists financially. Oscar shares insights from his journey launching Epidemic after working with Sweden’s renowned Zodiak Television.

In their episode, Ari and Oscar unpack critical issues impacting independent artists, including royalty structures, streaming economics, and the evolving landscape of music licensing. They explore Epidemic Sound’s unique approach to artist compensation, discuss how digital streaming has pushed music toward playlist-driven consumption, and tackle the creative tension artists face when making commercially viable music. This episode offers an in-depth look at one of the industry's most influential platforms shaping the future of music in content creation.

Chapters

00:00 The Changing Landscape of Music Royalties

06:00 Epidemic Sound: A New Model for Music Distribution

12:14 Artist Compensation and Ownership Rights

17:46 Innovative Approaches to Music Licensing

24:09 The Impact of Epidemic Sound on Independent Artists

29:53 Future of Music in the Digital Age

42:16 The Evolution of Music Consumption

46:21 Negotiating with DSPs and Licensing Rates

49:52 The Rise of Epidemic Sound

55:31 The Artist's Identity Crisis

01:08:01 Future Innovations and AI in Music

01:21:12 Becoming a Full-Service Music Platform

Edited and mixed by Ari Davids

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Jaclyn O’Connell, a digital marketer, creative strategist, artist manager, and founder of Bittersweet Media and Good Grief Management. Jaclyn has provided creative marketing solutions and hands-on artist management for artists and labels of all scales and sizes—from emerging artists to well-established acts and both indie and major labels. They have supported gold and platinum records and worked with artists including Wild Rivers, Cavetown, Julian Baker, and Cold War Kids. Drawing on experience in both marketing and artist management, Jaclyn offers a sharp, insider perspective on what it truly takes to build a sustainable career in today’s music industry.

In this episode, Ari and Jaclyn dive deep into the realities of modern music marketing — from navigating ever-shifting social media algorithms to building effective fan funnels that turn casual listeners into ticket buyers and lifelong fans. They also unpack the current touring landscape, direct support deals, and the hot-button issue of tour buy-ons. Whether you're an artist, manager, or just curious about how fan engagement really works, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

http://instagram.com/jaclyn_oconnell

Chapters

00:00 Building Direct Relationships with Fans

03:09 Navigating the Social Media Landscape

05:49 The Importance of Mental Health in Artist Management

09:05 Innovative Monetization Strategies for Artists

11:55 The Role of Community in Artist Growth

14:58 Understanding the Fan Journey

18:05 Challenges in Touring for Emerging Artists

21:03 The Evolution of the Live Music Industry

36:21 The Ethics of Tour Buy-Ons

39:09 Navigating the Challenges of Touring

43:05 Building Artist Relationships and Mental Health

46:04 Defining Success in Artist Campaigns

48:02 The Role of Social Media in Driving Streams

51:01 The Nuances of Going Viral

55:29 The Fragmentation of Viral Success

57:23 Conversations with Labels and Ownership

01:01:23 Balancing Management and Business

01:10:25 Setting Boundaries in Artist Management

Edited and mixed by Ari Davids

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Danny Ross, a producer/songwriter, columnist at Forbes, professor at Berklee NYC, and the founder of the largest songwriting camp in the world, Anti Social Camp. Now in its 5th year, Anti Social Camp brings together over 250 songwriters, producers, and artists, including Cigarettes After Sex, Beach Bunny, Bryce Vine, Walk the Moon, Taja Kumari, Evan Giia, and Louis Cato, for 200 recording sessions across 40 studios in 5 days.

If you are a songwriter or producer who’s ever wondered what goes down at songwriting camps or how to get involved, you’re going to learn all about that and more in this episode with Danny Ross.

Get $100 your Anti Social Camp Badge by using the code: ARIANTISOCIALVIP at antisocialcamp.com

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Reputation in the Music Industry

03:02 Understanding Songwriting Camps

05:48 The Structure and Dynamics of Songwriting Sessions

08:47 The Evolution of the Anti Social Camp

12:01 Building Community in New York's Music Scene

14:54 The Anti Social Camp Experience

17:54 Diverse Genres and Collaboration

20:54 The Future of Songwriting Camps

31:11 Creative Collaborations in Music Production

32:26 Success Stories from the Camp

33:44 Understanding Major vs. Indie vs. Self-Releasing Artists

38:33 The Financial Landscape of Music Production

44:53 Navigating Splits and Royalties in Music

47:01 The Ethics of Publishing in the Music Industry

52:39 Teaching the Next Generation of Music Creators

56:40 The Importance of Community in Music Creation

59:01 Defining Success in the New Music Business

Edited and mixed by Ari Davids

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.