Break the Business

Hi Podcast Listeners! This week, Ryan and Dave answer a listener question about joint works and co-authorship and have a broader discussion on the issue. Writing songs with others is a great way to create great art, but it also presents a host of practical issues that you need to confront to make sure you don't run into trouble. Ryan and Dave discuss what you need to watch out for when collaborati...

Hi Podcast Listeners! This week, Ryan interviews music educator and New Artist Model founder Dave Kusek to talk about how musicians can educate themselves and embrace their inner music entrepreneur. You can find out more about Dave's work by visiting www.newartistmodel.comThank you all very much for listening! Rate/review/subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes and SoundCloud. Like Break the Business o...

Hi Podcast listeners! In the first segment, Ryan and Dave discuss Ryan's upcoming speaking engagement at the NAMM conference and the recent MGM lawsuit settlement involving unpaid interns. Ryan and Dave also discuss indie artist Danielle Ate the Sandwich and her recent project--a 24-hour album! DATS is writing, recording, and producing an entire album of songs in 24 hours and is letting her Patreo...

Hi Listeners! Happy 2017! In the first segment, Ryan and Dave talk about what they did over the holidays. It has been two weeks since the last episode and they missed the listeners a lot. They also talk about some insightful crowdfunding tips from Chris Robley from a recent "DIY Musician" blog post and give an update on the Phillip Phillips lawsuit that may get the American Idol star a little clos...

Happy Holidays Podcast Listeners! It is our last episode of the year. We look forward to talking with you again in 2017. This week, Ryan sits down for a special interview with the inspiring and talented singer-songwriter Mandy Harvey. After losing her hearing at the age of 18, Mandy has gone on to create three acclaimed jazz albums, perform at the Kennedy Center, and be featured in many media publ...

Hi Podcast Listeners! Thanks for downloading. In the first segment, Dave makes it clear that he is obsessed with Rogue One (he has already seen it three times) and will try to take over this week's show with Star Wars talk every chance he gets. Along the way, Ryan and Dave answer a listener question about music launches and choosing a release date for your music. Then, R & D talk about the ongoing...

Hi Podcast listeners! Thanks for downloading.in the first segment, Ryan and Dave discuss the recent report from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) discussing the amount of money record labels invested in A&R in 2015. The report claims that labels are investing plenty in developing artists. But is that actually true? Ryan and Dave do a deep dive into the statistics to...

Hi Podcast listeners! Thanks for downloading. In the first segment, Ryan and Dave discuss Ryan's upcoming speaking engagement at NAMM. They also talk about articles in the DIY Musician and Sonic Bids about earning more money as a musician over the holidays and expanding your merchandising. In the second segment, marketing expert and 15 Second Pitch co-founder Laura Allen stops by to give tips on e...

Hi, Podcast Listeners! Thanks for downloading! In the first segment, Ryan and Dave discuss Ryan's exhibit at the book fair and Dave's Trip to New York during their off week. They also talk about A Day to Remember's recent court win against their record label, Victory Records. There is also a discussion of Instagram as a social media tool and doing holiday covers as a DIY artist. In the second segm...

Hi, podcast listeners! Thanks for downloading. Musicians and friends of the show Evan Lamb and Elisa Melendez are in for Ryan and Dave this week both on the podcast and in these here show notes. Hi! Nice to meet you! Apologies in advance. In the first segment, Evan and Elisa discuss why the popular livestreaming service Twitch might just be the perfect supplement to your existing social media and...

Hi Podcast listeners! Thanks for downloading. In the first segment, Ryan and Dave discuss this week's election and have a concrete policy discussion on how a Donald Trump presidency could affect indie artists. It is an uncertain political environment, and the future has both positive and negative implications for DIY musicians. How will Trump's policies affect musicians? Find out! In the second se...

Hi Podcast listeners! Thanks for downloading! In the first segment, Ryan and Dave talk about Dave's recent trip to L.A. and give tips on how to make videos of cover songs legally. This is all the more important in light of the flurry of takedown notices being sent by Universal Music to Facebook users. Cover videos are a great way to move your music career forward. Learn how to do it safely. In the...

Hi Podcast Listeners! Thanks for downloading. This week, Ryan talks about the death of Vine and the important lessons musicians need to learn from its demise. Ryan also talks about his experience in the recording studio narrating the Break the Business audiobook, which will be available soon. In the second segment, acclaimed music entrepreneur and Cyber PR founder Ariel Hyatt stops by to discuss e...

Hi Podcast Listeners! Thanks for downloading! In our first segment, Ryan and Dave discuss how musicians should embrace non-music content to further their careers. In the New Music Industry, it is important to take inventory of your non-music strengths, and find a way to leverage those strengths to move your career forward. You are more than the music you play, and you should use those extra skills...

Hi Podcast Listeners! Thanks for downloading this week. In the first segment, Ryan and Dave discuss last week's Rorie Kelly interview and Dave provides some interesting insight on the current composition of women in the executive ranks of major labels. Ryan and Dave also discuss the recent lawsuit between 19 Recordings and Sony Music. At issue in the case is whether Sony is shortchanging its artis...

Hi Listeners! Thanks for downloading. In the first segment, Ryan and Dave talk about Adele's latest album going Diamond (10x Platinum) and the implications it has for DIY artists and the music industry as a whole. They also discuss the recent Jesse Sterling Harrison article in SonicBids, "Five Non-Musical Skills musicians should work to improve."In the second segment, Ryan interviews indie artist...

Hi Podcast listeners! This week, Ryan sits down with music marketing and digital strategy expert Michael Brandvold. Ryan and Michael talk about how DIY artists can create VIP ticketing packages without busting their budget. They also discuss the importance of creating effective websites and how to make the most of your social media presence. You can find out more about Michael's projects at michae...

Hi Podcast Listeners! In the first segment, we discuss Ryan's recent Hypebot book excerpt about the nastiness of record deal recoupment. In a nutshell, most record contracts involve artists having to pay back the money a label spends on making (and often promoting) the artist's album entirely out of the artist's royalties. Record deals are not investments by labels. They are loans, and artists are...

Hi Podcast listeners! Thanks for downloading! In our first segment, Ryan talks to Dave about his new golden retriever puppy Molly. R & D also discuss a recent article by former Podcast guest Kosha Dillz that appeared in Hypebot about the promotional value artists can gain by appearing on podcasts. In many ways, appearing on podcasts can give an artist more promotional juice than being featured in...

Hi Podcast Listeners! Contest Note: thecelebritycafe.com is hosting a contest where you can win a free copy of Ryan's Break the Business Book. Go check it out! In the first segment, Ryan and Dave talk about comedian Mike Birbiglia's NY Times Article "6 Tips for Making it Small in Hollywood. Or Anywhere." Even though Birbiglia's article mainly focuses on achieving success in comedy and writing, his...

Hi Podcast listeners! In the first segment, Ryan and Dave talk about the passing of fraudster and music producer Lou Pearlman. Pearlman passed away in mid-August while serving time in prison for orchestrating a $300 million ponzi scheme. Among the way, Pearlman went on to create, and subsequently allegedly defraud, a number of boy bands, including the Backstreet Boys and N*Sync. Ryan discusses Pea...

Hi Podcast Listeners! The Break the Business Podcast is celebrating its 50th episode, and we have a terrific show for you to enjoy. This week, we have great music industry advice, comedy sketches, and some former guests stop by to congratulate Ryan and Dave on the Big 5-0. In the first segment, Ryan and Dave discuss the recent David Byrne article in the New York Times about music streaming and who...

Hi Podcast listeners! In the first segment, Ryan discusses his article that came out in Hypebot this past week: "The Kesha-Dr. Luke Lawsuit Exemplifies Everything That is Wrong With the Music Industry." The article talks about exclusive recording agreements and how such agreements contributed to the toxic relationship of Kesha and Luke--as well as to the culture of abuse in the music industry as a...

Hi Podcast Listeners! Thanks for downloading this week! In the first segment, Ryan and Dave talk about Ryan's vacation in the North Carolina mountains. They also discuss Kesha's recent decision to drop her lawsuit against Dr. Luke and the lessons that all indie artists can learn from this harrowing story. Ryan and Dave close the segment by discussing recent articles about projects artists should w...

Hi Podcast listeners! It's the Dave Show! Ryan is out of town this week, so it falls to the great and powerful Dave to helm the show this week. Were you aware that red light cameras stink? Because they do. Also, Brandy has filed suit against her label in yet another example of an artist wanting to do the work of making an album, but the label not cooperating and creating a limbo for the artist. We...