Scene Mom Says

Time: ~30 min. It's Episode 97! Live Nation is back in court trying to throw out the jury verdict that found them guilty of running a monopoly. Twenty-nine artist and songwriter organizations around the world just sent a very clear message to the music industry about AI consent. And podcast consumption in the US just hit 812 million hours per week, which means if you're not thinking about podcasti...

Time: ~32 min. It’s Episode 96! This week's episode is a good one. We've got an indie artist who is suing Spotify over some pretty alarming algorithm allegations, the heartbreaking story of the singer behind Josie and the Pussycats who has seen almost nothing in residuals in 25 years, a guy in the UK who just got sentenced to prison for burning CDs in 2026 (yes you read that right) and Olivia Rodr...

Time: ~35 min. It’s Episode 95! It has been a very full few weeks and I have a LOT to catch you up on. First and most importantly — Montapalooza happened. Our first ever music festival went down on May 30th and I have so much to tell you about it. This week's music news is wild. Google is arguing that uploading your music to YouTube may have already given them permission to use it for AI training,...

Time: ~28 min. It’s Episode 94! This week's episode has a theme that I didn't totally plan but I love: Authenticity. We've got a story about a company that got caught running fake fan networks for major artists, a fascinating look at how music actually lands on Netflix and what that means for indie artists, a marketing tip about humanizing your brand, some music history, indie tracks from Boston,...

Time: 28 min. It’s Episode 93! This episode has a theme running through it whether I planned it that way or not. AI is everywhere, it's causing real damage to real people, and the industry is starting to fight back. We've got a story about an artist defamation suit that genuinely made my jaw drop, some big moves from Spotify, a wild statistic about how many new podcasts are actually fake, and a sc...

Time: ~30 min. It’s Episode 92! Scene Mom is BACK! I have missed you! I just got home from the most epic solo cross-country road trip and I am rested, recharged, and ready to jump back in. Got to see so many amazing people, caught some incredible live music, and the desert did its best to completely dehydrate me. This week's episode is a good one. We've got some big music industry news that has pe...

Time: ~36 min. It’s Episode 91! We've got some crazy music news this week. The first ever federal criminal conviction for AI streaming fraud just happened, Sony pulled over 135,000 deepfake songs from streaming platforms, and Spotify announced something that honestly should have existed years ago. Plus your weekly marketing tip, some music history, another nerdy science story about anxiety that I...

Time: ~34min. It’s episode 90! I know, two weeks in a row, I'm on a roll! This week I've got five indie tracks for you including another artist who'll be playing Montapalooza in May, a breakdown of what the Supreme Court's AI copyright decision actually means for creators, Kelly Clarkson calling out American Idol on live TV, and a marketing tip that's all about where your promo dollars can go furt...

Time: ~33 min. It’s Episode 89! In this episode, I’m covering some major music news, including The U.S. government’s antitrust case against Live Nation has suddenly been settled, but the story isn’t over yet as dozens of states plan to continue pursuing the fight over ticketing competition and consumer harm. I also break down Apple Music’s new “AI transparency tags,” designed to label when artific...

Time: ~32 min. It’s Episode 88! This week I’m breaking down some big power shifts currently happening in the music industry. Growing fallout at Wasserman and artist departures, and the ongoing Live Nation and Ticketmaster antitrust lawsuit and why consumer advocates are worried it won’t move forward. I also talk about TikTok’s new hyper-local “Local Feed” feature, what it could mean for artist dis...

Time: ~31 min It’s Episode 87! This week covering a wide range of music industry news, indie music, and marketing insights for artists and creators. I chat about the Super Bowl’s music spotlight, including reactions to the halftime show and a musician’s response to lip-sync accusations. I also break down why TikTok Shop is ending independent seller shipping, what that means for brands and creators...

Time: ~30 min. It’s Episode 86! This week I dive into the latest music industry shifts, starting with Bandcamp's bold new policy to officially ban music generated by artificial intelligence to "keep Bandcamp human". We recap the historic wins from the 68th Grammy Awards, where Bad Bunny made history with the first Spanish-language Album of the Year, and discuss why artists should—and do—use their...

Time: ~29 min. It’s Episode 85! No music again this week but I’ve got the second half of my interview with my good friend, Mike Zimmerlich from Omelet Prevail and Creatives Prevail Podcast. We talk about why diversification is no longer optional, how relying on a single platform or revenue stream puts artists at risk, and what the rise of AI-generated music means for streaming payouts and long-ter...

Time: ~26 min. It’s Episode 84! No music this week but I’ve got an interview for you with my good friend, Mike Zimmerlich from Omelette Prevail and Creatives Prevail Podcast. In this first part, we are diving into the world of marketing and promotion for independent artists. With AI music flooding streaming platforms, it is harder than ever to be heard, so we are focusing on three specific things...

Time: ~30 min. It’s Episode 83! This week I dive into some of the biggest issues facing artists and creators right now. There’s an increase in trends that could hurt independent artists: Rising digital ticket scams and what they mean for indie shows, major lawsuits over unpaid streaming royalties, and the growing flood of AI-generated music and podcasts hitting streaming platforms. I break down wh...

Time: ~31 minutes It’s Episode 82! In this episode I break down how the Stranger Things series finale sparked a massive streaming surge for Prince. I also talk about Bandcamp Fridays and how fans delivered millions directly to indie artists, plus YouTube’s decision to stop providing streaming data to Billboard and what that could mean for independent musicians going forward. I also share 5 indie t...

Time: ~35 min. In this 81st episode of Scene Mom Says, I’m digging into some major music industry news, including why StubHub is under fire for holding seller payments, how New York’s new AI transparency laws will impact advertising and performers, and what the latest Edison Research 2025 findings reveal about podcast and music discovery. I’m also sharing five new indie tracks, holiday favorites,...

Time: ~33 min. It’s Episode 80! This week I'm diving into the biggest news shaking up the music world, and I'm sharing some great independent music with you. First, the good news: the UK government has cracked down on ticket scalping, making it illegal to profit from reselling tickets. But there's drama, too: the rise of AI music clones hit Spotify hard when a fake account copied King Gizzard &amp...

Time: ~30 min.  It’s Episode 79! I’m back! This week I’m diving into the final Bandcamp Friday of 2025, breaking down the latest indie music news, and sharing a content strategy tip that every independent artist should be using. I’m also playing new music from Girl With a Hawk, Arrows of Athena, The Fabulous Boring Brothers, and Martin Moran. I talk about how indie labels invested in artists this...

Time: ~33 min. It's Episode 78! Live shows are booming and indie buzz is real. This week, I break down the TikTok Podcast move, the latest Spotify “Discovery Mode” drama, and why small venues still matter- plus a handful of fresh tracks from rising artists. I've got your music history with a few classics, the Marketing Tip keeps it real (don’t chase trends, build fans), and we end with some good n...

Time: ~37 min. It's Episode 77! I’m diving into some big shifts in the music world. SoundCloud’s new “All-In-One Artist” subscription that gives creators more control, and TikTok’s first-ever U.S. Creator Awards coming this December. But the hot topic I couldn’t stay quiet about? An AI “artist” named Xania Monet just debuted on the Billboard radio charts, and I’ve got a few things to say about tha...

Time: ~34 min. I’m back with Episode 76, and this week I’m talking about the upcoming Mesa Music Festival , the latest in indie music news — including TikTok’s U.S. deal, new AI music registration rules, and Spotify’s crackdown on fake and AI-generated tracks — plus a marketing tip every indie artist needs to hear: stop auto-posting from Instagram to Facebook! I’ve also got fresh tracks from Bear...

Time: ~30 min. It's Episode 75! I recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Pittsburgh for an Arizona music reunion (I know!) and I’ve got stories, songs, and music news to share! In this episode, I talk about seeing The Frampton Brothers reunion show, the latest NIVA report on how independent venues fuel billions in local economic impact, and why claiming your Facebook Page URL still matters mor...

Time: ~20 min. It's Episode 74! This is part 2 of my interview with western Massachusetts artist and owner of Meli Entertainment Amanda Meli. We had such a blast at the Singer Songwriter competition on September 20, and in a future episode I will be showcasing the winners. This part of our conversation is going to focus on her new single which is now released to the world, and a chat about the Cen...

Time: ~38 min. It's Episode 73! It was a beautiful afternoon having singer/songwriter and owner of Meli Entertainment Amanda Meli on the show, which is also my first in-person interview. This will be a two-parter, and in this episode we talk about her beginnings in music, starting as a drummer (yes!) before learning guitar. We also discuss the Singer/Songwriter Showcase and Competition which will...