The Kick & Snare Podcast

Jim Allen has spent decades writing about music for publications including Rolling Stone, Billboard, NPR Music, Mojo, Bandcamp Daily, and many others. He's also spent decades making music. In this episode of the Kick & Snare Podcast, Michael Nevins sits down with Jim to explore the intersection of music journalism and songwriting. They discuss how being a journalist affects his creative proces...

In this episode, Molly Neuman joins Michael Nevins to share how CD Baby has changed (and what’s coming next), why the artist “DIY” journey is way more complex than people think, and how platforms earn trust when the experience is intuitive and fair. They also get into the pressure artists feel to do everything (music, content, business), and why it’s worth being honest about what success can look...

Cliff Fluet (partner at Louis Silkin, joint head of Media & Entertainment; Chair of Music Technology UK; founder of Eleven Advisory) joins Michael Nevins to unpack how music, tech, and IP are colliding in the age of AI. We cover: why MusicTechnology UK focuses on funding + ecosystem building, why Cliff believes AI is a paradigm shift on the scale of electricity, and his core argument: “Copyrig...

Michael Nevins welcomes guest Alan Chappell, President of Chappell and Associates, ad tech privacy expert, and multifaceted musician. Alan shares insights into balancing a demanding legal career with his passion for music, discussing his songwriting process, the impact of AI on the creative industry, and experiences working with renowned producers like Jimmy Einer and Jerry Harrison. The conversat...

In this episode of The Kick & Snare Podcast, host Michael Nevins talks with Richard James Burgess, President & CEO of A2IM (American Association of Independent Music). They explore what defines “independent,” how A2IM supports its member labels, the challenges of streaming payouts, the battle for fair compensation from platforms like TikTok, and what’s next for music and AI. Richard also s...

🎙️ In this episode of The Kick and Snare Podcast, Michael Nevins speaks with Chantal Epp, founder and CEO of ClicknClear, a music rights tech company solving licensing issues for choreographed sports like cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics. Chantal shares her journey from music licensing at a Peter Gabriel startup to becoming a two-time world champion cheerleader and creating a solution to a wide...

In this episode of the Kick & Snare podcast, Michael interviews Katie Debrah, founder of Halo and Echo, a creative advertising consultancy for music, culture, and platforms. Katie shares her journey from YouTuber to marketing professional, recounting her years at Google in product and marketing, as well as her transition to becoming an independent consultant. She discusses her new venture, the...

🎧 In this episode of The Kick & Snare Podcast, host Michael Nevins sits down with David Ronan, founder and CEO of RoEx, to explore how AI is reshaping music production. RoEx is building powerful, intuitive tools that make high-quality music creation faster, easier, and more accessible, especially for emerging artists and bedroom producers. We dig into the mission behind RoEx, how user feedbac...

​In this second episode of our Music Technology UK Member Spotlight Series, Michael Nevins speaks with Hazel Savage, CEO of Syntho and a music tech pioneer whose journey spans founding the AI startup Musio (later acquired by SoundCloud). Hazel discusses working across global music companies and now leading one of the UK’s most exciting startups. Hazel opens up about her fast-track return from “ret...

Can music heal? In this episode, Gary Jones, CEO of MediMusic, joins us to explore how personalized playlists are improving patient outcomes. We dive into the science behind music as medicine, the regulatory roadblocks, and how startups are breaking through industry noise. Plus, hear how Music Technology  UK is supporting UK-based music tech companies.

In this episode of The Kick & Snare podcast, host Michael Nevins interviews Matt Carmel, Chief Executive of Music Technology UK. They discuss the mission, goals, and advocacy initiatives of Music Tech UK, as well as the innovations brought forth by its diverse membership. They touch on a range of fascinating topics from AI's role in music creation to immersive live events and music for wellnes...

Navigating Transformational Media: A Conversation with Elana Sofko In this episode of Kick and Snare, we sit down with Elana Sofko, the founder and principal of EBS_AF, to discuss her fascinating career history and her current role in her consulting and advisory practice. Elana shares insights into her work at various technological and media inflection points, her early days as an audio engineer,...

Exploring the World of Digital Drums with Allan Leibowitz - Kick & Snare Podcast In this episode of Kick & Snare, host Michael sits down with Allan Leibowitz, founder and editor of digitalDrummer Magazine, to discuss the booming electronic drum market. Allan shares his journey from rediscovering drumming as an adult to launching the successful digitalDrummer Magazine. They delve into the t...

In this episode of the Kick & Snare Podcast, Michael Nevins welcomes Gary Geller, founder of Breakpoint Digital, for more fascinating conversation as Gary's experiences in the music industry and beyond just don’t fit in one show. Gary shares stories from attending iconic concerts like Led Zeppelin at MSG and Leon Russell at the Fillmore East to his career transitions from living on the road as...

In this episode of the Kick & Snare Podcast, host Michael Nevins welcomes his dear friend, Gary Geller, founder of Breakpoint Digital. Gary shares fascinating stories from his extensive career in the music industry, starting from his early days working with various bands to his pivotal role in the Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels tour. They discuss Gary's innovative work with Effanel Music, his ex...

Join host Michael Nevins as he interviews Andrew Rosenman, the President of Arise Media Group, a leading Connected TV planning and buying agency. Celebrating almost 20 years in business, Andrew shares insights into his company's evolution and their role in public service campaigns. They delve into digital advertising and advanced TV and discuss the importance of media with a public purpose. From h...

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of narrative design with Tobin Travarthen, founder of Spatial Shift by Tobin. Tobin shares his journey from sales and business development to creating immersive workshops that help companies redefine their narratives. We explore the distinctions between storytelling and narrative creation, discuss the impact of AI on narrative development, and delve int...