The Future of What

Episode #55: Record stores have long been an integral part of the music industry -- not only as a place to purchase albums, but as a symbolic gathering space for music fans. While the development of MP3s, streaming and other digital technology has disrupted music retailers, some contend that the vinyl resurgence has all but made up for lost revenue. Yet, with countless popular and iconic record st...

Episode #54: In 1986, iconic alt-rock band Blake Babies was born at Berklee School of Music. John Strohm, Freda Love and Juliana Hatfield released a few albums and toured before breaking up in 1991, but their work impacted both the Boston and national alternative music scenes. Despite their short run, Blake Babies helped define what we think of today as an independent band. On the heels of their r...

Episode #53: The idea of large companies collecting information about you for free feels shady, especially when they use that data for profit. Most big tech businesses collect personal information in some fashion, including your favorite streaming services. On one hand, data helps these services tailor your playlists and lets artists know who’s listening to them. On the other, data mining can inva...

Episode #52: Whether you love it or hate it, if you’re in a band, touring is something you’ve got to do. Touring has long been important for building a fanbase, gaining experience and making money. Now that other income streams have diminished for artists, revenue from live performances is more important than ever. On this episode of The Future of What we talk to bands about their different approa...

Episode #51: As other revenue streams have weakened, merch has become integral to many musicians’ incomes. Some artists take things beyond the traditional band tee, selling everything from cologne to snuggies. While merchandising can be a fun way to connect with fans, designing and distributing products can become a whole job in itself. Electronic musician Dan Deacon has released eight albums sinc...

Episode #50: Think the music industry is confusing? Here’s where things get really hairy for songwriters. The Department of Justice recently issued a statement upholding consent decrees that regulate performing rights organizations BMI and ASCAP. These decrees were originally intended as an antitrust measure, but many feel they are outdated and come with many costs. David Israelite, CEO of the NMP...

Episode #49: Chances are, at least one of your favorite artists is not from the United States. It’s hard enough to break into the music industry as an American artist, so how are these acts from abroad pulling it off? The U.S. is a huge market for musicians, but presents its own unique challenges. We explore some of these obstacles and talk success stories with Anna Bond, U.S. label manager for Ro...

Activist, musician and industry thinker Kiran Gandhi tells us why shock art is valuable.

Episode #48: We’ve brought you expertise from businesspeople, gatekeepers and analysts, and today we’re highlighting a few of the many savvy artists we’ve had on the show. On this episode, musicians give their take on some of the most important music industry issues of the last year. First, artist and lawyer Christiane Kinney examines the recent Spotify lawsuits, then we hear from plaintiff David...

Episode #47: We talk a lot about how musicians can make a living in today’s music industry, but on this episode we look at the selfless ways artists use their influence. Our guests show that musicians at any stage of their careers can affect sustainable, positive change. Mike McCready, lead guitarist for Pearl Jam, tells us how the band’s Vitalogy Foundation, funded by ticket sales, benefits every...

Episode #46: In anticipation of Vortex Magazine's upcoming issue regarding the role of record labels in today's music economy, we sat down with three label heads from Portland to talk about what labels do for artists in 2016. Despite the label's varying ages, reach, and aesthetic, everyone in attendance could agree on the fact that there are too many business related tasks associated with releasin...

Episode #45: Despite the music industry’s economic downturn, more and more music festivals have popped up and many continue to thrive. Because of the booming demand for tickets, live performances have become a vital revenue stream for many artists. But have we hit “peak festival”? Mainstays like Coachella and Lollapalooza have become increasingly corporate, and independently-run festivals contend...

Episode #44: Whether it’s your first show or your dream venue, one of the most daunting tasks as a musician can be booking a gig. From the outside, it’s hard to know just how much planning goes into each concert. On this installment of our Music Industry 101 series, we talk to talent buyers and booking agents about what they do and how they do it. Booking agency Monterey International represents o...

Episode #43: Each year, independent labels converge in New York to talk trade at A2IM’s annual Indie Week conference. On this episode bring you some insight into the event with a panel moderated by Portia. She’s joined by some of the indie world’s best, including Mute Records’ Nicole Blonder, Sara Dempsey of ABKCO Music & Records, Dave Martin (Omnian Music Group), and General Manager of Concord Mu...

Episode #34: The term “A&R guy” is tossed around casually in the music biz — but what does the A&R division of a label do? A&R teams are traditionally charged with finding new talent, guiding artists through the recording process and connecting artists with producers, songwriters and other collaborators. Their insight can have huge influence on an artist and label. Over the years, the role has cha...

Episode #42: Touring, playing festivals, meeting loyal fans. Sounds like life as a successful musician, right? On this episode we look at a different audio and performance-driven art form: stand-up comedy. There are many parallels between the comedy and music industries, especially when it comes to releasing albums and booking festivals. We talk to comedy festival pioneer Andy Wood about the ninth...

Episode #41: We know that producers are integral to the recording process, but even some in the industry are still confused as to exactly what producers do. While the scope of their role can vary, every music producer has their own approach. Renowned engineer, artist and educator Sylvia Massy prides herself on her unconventional production techniques. Massy has worked with artists from Prince to T...

Episode #40: In 2016, the way people are consuming music is changing, but it might not be how you’d expect. Between ad-based and on-demand streaming, digital downloads, vinyl, and yes, CDs and cassettes, there’s huge diversity in the way consumers are accessing music. We talk with three experts, Russ Crupnick (MusicWatch Inc.), Jim Lidestri (BuzzAngle) and Tom Silverman (Tommy Boy Entertainment),...

Episode #39: A band is ready to release new music, but how can they grab people’s attention in such a crowded market? Promoting a song or album effectively is a multi-step process that can be daunting for artists, especially as acts and labels turn to more inventive concepts. In this 101 episode, we talk through what goes into a marketing strategy with Graham Rothenberg, Senior Director of Marketi...

Episode #38: What do artists like Katy Perry, Debbie Harry, Lionel Richie and hundreds of others have against one piece of legislation? Along with many in the creative community, they’re calling for reform of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The DMCA was drafted in 1998 — before platforms like Napster and YouTube existed — with the intent of bringing copyright up to date with the digital age....

When recording engineer Larry Crane started Tape Op Magazine in 1996, he printed the first issue on legal paper and Xeroxed 500 copies to send to his friends. Branded as “the creative music recording magazine,” that first issue set Tape Op up to be one of the best resources for new and established engineers, gaining a readership of over 60,000. On this episode of The Future of What, we celebrate T...

Episode #36: Felice Ecker started music marketing agency Girlie Action Media in 1994. Since then, their clients have included everyone from Bikini Kill to Morrissey. Today on The Future of What, we talk to Felice about her success as an independent entrepreneur in our new Spotlight feature, where we hear advice from influential figures in the business. While Felice brought the wisdom of a successf...

Episode #35: Every kid dreams of being a rock star, but what does the job actually take? While touring can be fun, the realities of life on the road can be difficult to sustain. How do working artists balance their careers with day to day life? We talk with Rafael Cohen of !!! about creating stability as a “middle-class” musician. Then, Taraka Larson of Prince Rama walks us through the duo’s touri...

Episode #33: “Young people [are an] underserved population when it comes to the music industry.” That’s the point our guest Andre Middleton drives home on this week’s episode of The Future of What. In our discussion with Middleton (Friends of Noise, RACC) and Todd Fadel (The Meow Meow), we look at the logistics and pitfalls of starting and sustaining an all ages venue. Like many cities with rising...

Episode #32: You’ve put your music out there and built a solid fan base, but you may still be missing an integral part of your team -- a person who could help bring your career to the next level. Band managers play a key role in the trajectory of an act, and by overseeing the business side of the group can allow the artist to put their energy into making music. We talk with three knowledgeable man...