My guest today is owner and president of HIP Video Promo Andy Gesner.

Andy’s firsthand experience in playing in bands and releasing records gives him a special insight into music promotion and marketing. Over the past 25 years, he has built HIP from the ground up, developing innovative promotional strategies that adapt to the ever-changing media landscape.

Andy and his team have promoted more than 4,800 music videos for artists including Bryan Adams, The B-52s, Bon Iver, Johnny Cash, Death Cab For Cutie, Pearl Jam, Maroon 5, Sia, and Weird Al Yankovic, spanning genres from indie rock to hip-hop, pop, metal, and beyond.

During the interview we spoke about the evolution of video promotion, video marketing strategies for artists, the many television channels that artists aren’t aware of, AI in video creation, and much more.

I spoke to Andy from his home in New Jersey.

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Andy and HIP Video Promo: https://hipvideopromo.com

–

Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook

Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

My guest today is someone who’s spent the last 35 years on a mission to protect the hearing of musicians, audio pros, and music lovers alike.

Dr. Michael Santucci is an audiologist and the founder of Sensaphonics, a custom in-ear monitor company that’s become a go-to for top performers around the world.

What sets Michael apart is that he’s not just running a company—he’s an audiologist first. That means everything Sensaphonics does is grounded in science, with a focus on long-term hearing health.

From musicians and engineers to venue staff and even astronauts, Dr. Santucci has been a tireless advocate for protecting ears in the most demanding environments.

In fact, since 1999, Sensaphonics has provided custom hearing protection and communication solutions for every mission to the International Space Station, working closely with both NASA and SpaceX.

During the interview we talked about the major causes of hearing loss and tinnitus, the evolution of hearing protection, the importance of monitoring sound level, innovations in in-ear monitors, and much more.

I spoke with Michael from his office in Chicago.

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Dr. Santucci and Sensaphonics at: https://sensaphonics.com

–

(FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1

Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook

Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

================

My guest today is country music author and historian, and a member of the Western Music Hall Of Fame Don Cusic.

Don is the author of over 30 books, including biographies of Roger Miller, Eddy Arnold, Gene Autry and Chet Atkins.

He’s also written album liner notes for Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Ray Stevens, Eddy Arnold, and Sonny James, as well as for multiple film soundtracks.

Don has a number of credits as a producer and songwriter, and is a Professor of Music Industry History and Professor of Music Business at Belmont University.

During the interview we spoke about the evolution of the Nashville music scene, Chet Atkins - the man behind the Nashville sound, Don’s writing journey, the changing landscape of Music Row, and much more.

I spoke with Don from his office in Nashville.

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Don Cusic's work: https://www.doncusic.com/

–

Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook

Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

My guest today is my good friend for many years, Engineer Dennis Moody.

Dennis was my first guest way back on Episode #1, and he’s been on the podcast almost every year since.

Dennis is unique in that he does live sound as well as studio recording, as he’s he’s engineered some of the biggest acts at some of the world’s most famous venues.

He’s also known as “the Drummer’s Engineer,” since some of the world’s best drummers hire him to engineer their personal albums.

Because he travels so much doing live sound, he’s almost like the Inner Circle’s roving reporter, as each time he makes an appearance he tells us about the latest music and audio trends worldwide.

During the interview we spoke about what it’s like to do gigs around the world, trends in music and gear, the art of live sound mixing, navigating the challenges of travel, and much more.

I spoke with Dennis from his studio in Los Angeles

Dennis has previously appeared on Episodes 1, 50, 100, 151, 200, 300, 399, and 500.

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Dennis Moody's work at: https://www.dennismoody.com/

–

Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook

Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

My guest today is composer, orchestrator, and CEO of Budapest Scoring, Balint Sapszon.

Trained at the prestigious Bartók Conservatory and Liszt Academy of Music in Hungary, Bálint holds a Master’s Degree in Composition, Jazz Arrangement, and Music Theory. In 2007 he received a Fulbright Scholarship to study film scoring at the University of California Los Angeles, where he quickly began establishing himself in the world of film music.

Bálint’s film scoring and orchestration credits include Parasite, which was the Oscar winner for Best Picture, Spike Lee’s Netflix film See You Yesterday, all time Chinese box office hit Operation Red Sea, the HBO film Bad Education, and more.

After using his friends back in his native Hungary to record the score for his first film, and then helping other composers do their scores there as well, Balint founded the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and eventually purchased one of the finest scoring stages in Europe to record in. Today Budapest Scoring is used by composers, film and television studios from around the world.

During the interview we talked about the birth of Budapest Scoring, his transition into film scoring, the global impact of the Orchestra, his Jazz influences, and much more.

I spoke with Balint from his home in Los Angeles

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Balint Sapzon's work at Balintsapszon.com, and Budapest Scoring at budapestscoring.com

–

Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook

Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

My guest today is is one of my oldest and dearest friends – Los Angeles studio bass player Paul ILL.

I’ve known Paul for such a long time that I sometimes forget what a heavyweight musician he is, as he’s played with a wide variety of great artists both in the studio and on the road.

This includes superstars like Tina Turner, Pink, Gwen Stefani and Alicia Keys, to legends Bob Weir, Mike Love and producers Michael Lloyd and Linda Perry, among a long list too vast to mention.

During the interview we spoke about:

• how his gear has evolved over the last few years,
• his journey as a mental health professional and his work with musicians through Music Cares
• what it’s like playing with a full orchestra
• how the studio scene has changed in Los Angeles
• how he brings more to the table than just expert bass playing, and much more.

I spoke with Paul from his studio in Los Angeles

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Mental Health and Music

00:00:19 - Guest Introduction: Paul Ill

00:00:30 - Paul's Musical Background

00:01:01 - Gear Evolution Over Seven Years

00:01:21 - Gearaholics Anonymous

00:02:13 - Gear from 2018

00:03:06 - Current Gear and Setup

00:04:33 - Amplification Changes

00:05:33 - Quad Cortex and Its Impact

00:09:06 - Playing with Orchestras

00:10:37 - Reading Music and Preparation

00:11:13 - Using the Quad Cortex in Live Settings

00:12:05 - Direct Box Preferences

00:15:15 - Physical Ailments of Musicians

00:20:00 - Generational Changes in Musicians' Health

00:21:03 - Session Work Changes Over Time

00:22:08 - Remote Session Dynamics

00:24:06 - Producer Expectations in Sessions

00:27:32 - Collaborative Technology in Music

00:28:16 - Experiences with Bill Ward

00:30:00 - The Importance of Tone and Gear

00:31:29 - Misunderstood Musicians: Songwriting

00:33:07 - Upcoming Solo Album

00:34:38 - Multi-Instrumentalist Approach

00:35:29 - Mental Health Professional Side Hustle

00:36:37 - Conclusion and Future Plan

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Paul ILL at: https://www.instagram.com/paulillmusic, https://www.facebook.com/paulill,

–

Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook

Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

My guest today is musician, book and magazine publisher, and artist Mike Lawson, who also happens to be my book publishing champion.

Mike was the person who took a chance on me to publish my first book, and then most of my subsequent 20+ books after that.

He’s since gone on to become the owner and publisher of notable publications like School Band and Orchestra and Musical Merchandise Review magazines.

If those credits were Mike’s only claim to fame it would be pretty substantial, but he’s also continued to be a working musician having recorded and/or performed with musical luminaries like Merl Saunders, Vince Welnick, Vassar Clements, Pete Sears, John McEuen, Bob Welch, Phil Keaggy, Jack Casady, Rob Wasserman, Michael Cleveland, and a host of others.

He has released eight albums as “Mike Lawson and Friends,” continues to front his tribute band Hooterall?, and even has his own Pearl River signature guitar.

During the interview we spoke about his journey to getting a signature guitar, transitioning from musician to publisher, staying on the bleeding edge of technology, his stints at Gibson, and much more.

Timecodes:

00:00:00 - Introduction: Mike Lawson's Journey

00:00:22 - Meet Mike Lawson: Musician and Publisher

00:01:33 - The Story Behind Mike's Signature Guitar

00:06:22 - The Importance of Quality and Affordability in Instruments

00:07:42 - Transitioning from Musician to Publisher

00:08:15 - The Start of Mike's Publishing Career

00:10:02 - The Birth of the Entertainment Source Library

00:12:00 - Innovating with CompuServe and Music Industry Forums

00:13:41 - Working with Gibson and Building Gibson.com

00:15:40 - The Shift to Mixed Books and Publishing

00:19:07 - The Evolution of Mike's Publishing Career

00:22:29 - Returning to Gibson and New Opportunities

00:24:15 - The Move to Alfred Publishing

00:25:03 - Current Publishing Ventures: MMR and SBO

00:27:49 - Balancing Music and Publishing

00:28:19 - The Impact of COVID on Music Production

00:30:37 - Embracing Technology in Music Creation

00:33:36 - Imposter Syndrome: A Common Struggle

00:37:21 - Lessons Learned from Merle Saunders and Vince Welnick

00:40:41 - Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Mike's music at https://www.mikelawson.com, and his book and magazine publishing at https://artistpro.com

–

Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook

Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this week’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Rich Thomson, the founder and CEO of Dreamliner Luxury Coaches, a leading provider of tour buses and logistics in the United States.

Rich's journey in the industry began in 2020 with just 12 coaches, and he has since expanded Dreamliner to an impressive fleet of over 200 luxury buses, 70 trucks, and 220 trailers.

The company now services more than 50% of major arena and stadium tours across the country, catering to high-profile clients in the entertainment industry, including stars like Morgan Wallen, Billie Eilish, and Beyoncé.

Dreamliner also supplies executive coaches for group meetings and executive trips for Fortune 500 companies including NASCAR, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America.

During the interview we talked about what to look for when renting a tour bus, the different types of coaches that are available, the difference between coaches for executives and tour buses, the importance of professional drivers, and much more.

Timcodes:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Dreamliner Luxury Coaches

00:01:34 - Key Considerations When Renting a Coach

00:01:59 - Challenges in Finding Professional Drivers

00:02:32 - Overview of Coach Types

00:02:47 - Differences Between Star Buses and Executive Coaches

00:03:49 - Common Requests from Artists

00:04:51 - Outrageous Requests in the Industry

00:05:36 - Service Areas: U.S. and Canada

00:06:11 - Sustainability in Coach Building

00:06:57 - Perception of New vs. Older Coaches

00:07:38 - Rich's Journey into the Coach Business

00:09:20 - Lessons Learned and Changing Perspectives

00:10:25 - Social Dynamics in Nashville

00:13:01 - Diverse Clientele Beyond Music

00:14:25 - Differences in Client Demands

00:15:47 - Expansion into Trucking Services

00:17:32 - Coach Sales and Fleet Management

00:19:06 - Incorporating Technology: Starlink

00:19:53 - Logistics Evolution in the Industry

00:20:45 - Future Goals and Diversification

00:23:00 - Importance of Professional Drivers

00:24:44 - Business Approach and Experience

00:26:31 - Final Advice: Going All In

00:27:40 - Closing Remarks

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Rich Thomson and Dreamliner Luxury Coaches at https://www.dreamlinercoaches.com

–

(FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1

Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com

Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/

Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/

Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/

Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social

--

In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.