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Artwork for The New Music Business

The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

Ari's Take
Music Industry
Spotify
Tiktok
AI In Music
Songwriting
Youtube
Royalties
Social Media
Distrokid
Publishing
Fan Engagement
Streaming Services
Sync Licensing
Streaming Fraud
Artist Development
Dance Music
Royalty Model
Fly By Midnight
Independent Music
Music Production

**WEBBY AWARD FOR BEST MUSIC PODCAST**

“#1 music industry podcast to help keep you in the loop” -Spotify

“The 10 Best Music Business Podcasts of 2022" – Variety

Ari Herstand is the best-selling author of How To Make It in the New Music Business. Forbes calls him “The poster child of DIY music.” In this show, he deconstructs the brightest minds in the music industry, digging deep to find the tools,... more

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Artwork for The New Music Business

Latest Episodes

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Laurie Lee Boutet, artist manager at Wednesday Management and manager of the chart-topping Canadian rock band The Beaches.

Laurie shares the incredible story behind The Beaches' explosi... more

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Andreas Schuller, hit songwriter, producer, and co-founder of music publishing company Honua Music. Andreas has written and produced songs for artists including The Weeknd, Jason Derulo,... more

YouTube

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with legendary A&R executive, publisher, and educator Pete Ganbarg.

With more than three decades in the music industry, Pete has helped shape the careers of artists, songwriters, and hit rec... more

YouTube

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Dee Diaz, Vice President of Marketing at Reach Records.

At Indie Week 2026, Dee shares the innovative marketing strategies behind Lecrae’s Reconstruction album campaign, which helped pr... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Pete Ganbarg
President of A&R, Atlantic Records (2008–2024); music industry executive and publisher
Atlantic Records; publishing company
Episode: How Major Label A&R Has Evolved and How Hit Songs Are Written
Dee Diaz
SVP of marketing and digital at Reach Records
Reach Records
Episode: How a Direct-To-Fan Rollout Secured a Billboard Top 10
Molly Neuman
President of CD Baby
CD Baby (Downtown Music)
Episode: How CD Baby Is Changing With The Times
Joseph Pepin
Artist manager and A&R consultant who works with GoldFord and producers/songwriters; consults for Primary Wave
Primary Wave / GoldFord
Episode: How This Manager Sold Out Tours Without Venues and Develops Artists, Songwriters and Producers
Eliah Seton
CEO of SoundCloud
SoundCloud
Episode: Has SoundCloud Cracked Superfandom and AI Music?
Ash Avildsen
Founder and CEO of Sumerian Records
Sumerian Records
Episode: Breaking Hard Rock and Metal Bands with Sumerian Records
Red Leather
Anonymous artist known for distinctive hat/face-covering branding
Independent artist turned international touring act
Episode: Going Viral In The Right Way Allowed Him To Turn Down Record Deals and Sell Out Venues Around The World
Oskar Med K
Oslo-born electronic producer and artist
Unknown (artist project)
Episode: He Went from 40K Listeners to 11 Million and a Coachella Slot in Under a Year as an Indie Artist
Ethan Berlin
Founder/Executive at Arrival Artists, now part of Roam
Roam (formerly Arrival Artists)
Episode: New Global Booking Agency from ATC and Arrival Artists Now Reps 800 Artists

Host

Ari Herstand
Host of The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 868 ratings
  • Best podcast for DIY musicians

    love how it’s straight talk no fluffff

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    catpostmedia
    Canada4 months ago
  • Great podcast for musicians

    Ari Herstand’s The New Music Business podcast is hands-down one of the best resources out there for anyone serious about navigating today’s music industry. He’s got this perfect mix of real-world experience, sharp insight, and a genuine desire to help artists succeed on their own terms. The guests are top-tier — managers, songwriters, label heads, and innovators — all sharing practical advice that actually applies to real life, not just theory.

    What I love most is that Ari breaks down complex t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Liam USA
    United States9 months ago
  • Words have power

    I was happily listening to this podcast a couple years ago and one comment from Ari during one episode had had me completely stop listening (until I recently decided to give it another try) Over reaction? Perhaps. But also a testament to how incredibly powerful words can be to sensitive artist types like me working so hard at creating and believing in their Quixotic vision… the comment was something along the lines of telling artist that the one thing they should not do if they want to become su... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Orson Horchler
    United Statesa year ago
  • Music Biz Education

    Every episode is a learning experience for anyone in the modern music industry. I like to cherry pick episodes based on what I’m working on at the time, and there’s almost always something that helps me out or at least points me in the right direction.

    Thank you Ari!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lunarmysteria
    United Statesa year ago
  • Such an awesome podcast for any independent musician

    Absolutely love this podcast. been listening for quite a long time and bought his book which is great. Now I really want to find the Ricky Montgomery episode! Ari is just awesome! I really want to go have a beer with him. or if you are ever in Santa Fe New Mexico I would love to show you around.

    Nial Connolly

    Singer songwriter on DistroKid because I heard about it from this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    yantraimages
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critique the host's airtime versus guest depth, but overall high appreciation for the content quality.
Many note the guest lineup offers real-world, actionable insights for career growth.
Listeners praise practical, no-fluff guidance for independent musicians.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#26
United States/Music/Music Interviews
Apple Podcasts
#155
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#36
Canada/Music/Music Interviews
Apple Podcasts
#59
United Kingdom/Music/Music Interviews
Apple Podcasts
#199
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#228
Canada/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Major Label A&R Has Evolved and How Hit Songs Are Written
Q: How do you balance the pursuit of quick hits with long-term artist development?
There will always be both quick hits and long-term development; a hit can fund development for artists with longer trajectories, and patience in nurturing talent remains essential.
How Major Label A&R Has Evolved and How Hit Songs Are Written
Q: How important is live performance to signing artists today compared to the old days?
Live impact remains significant; while showcases have declined, a strong live presence and ticket sales can still drive signings and development, though the initial discovery can happen in various ways.
How Major Label A&R Has Evolved and How Hit Songs Are Written
Q: What changes have you seen in A&R over the last 30–40 years, and what has remained constant?
The core idea of connecting great artists with that evergreen, standout song stays the same; everything around that—finding, developing, and presenting—has evolved with technology and expectations.
Breaking Hard Rock and Metal Bands with Sumerian Records
Q: How has the live touring aspect evolved, and what is the role of tour buys in sustaining tours?
Tour biomes and strategic openers remain essential; buying slots can be ethical when it helps sell tickets and build momentum, but it's a delicate balance with artist integrity and long-term brand considerations.
Breaking Hard Rock and Metal Bands with Sumerian Records
Q: Why are music videos so important, and how is Sumerian trying to rethink video strategy?
Music videos are vital for fan engagement and storytelling, but they are expensive and historically loss-making; Ash discusses Bands, a Bands.com vision, to create more sustainable video models that support artists financially while preserving the artistic value of videos.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About The New Music Business

What is The New Music Business about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show focuses on the evolving music business from the perspective of independent artists, managers, and labels. Episodes frequently explore DIY careers, artist development, and the shift toward direct-to-fan models, with deep dives into indie label strategies, live touring economics, and the impact of technology like AI and short-form media on promotion. Notable throughlines include hands-on rollout tactics, global booking dynamics, and the balance between authentic artistry and scalable marketing. A distinctive angle is freeing artists from gatekeeping by emphasizing community, transparent deals, and fan-centric business models, making it especially useful for creators and managers navigating today's rapidly changing landscape.

Where can I find podcast stats for The New Music Business?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The New Music Business. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The New Music Business and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The New Music Business get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The New Music Business, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The New Music Business?

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How many subscribers and views does The New Music Business have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The New Music Business has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of The New Music Business are there?

The New Music Business launched 6 years ago and published 244 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The New Music Business?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The New Music Business?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The New Music Business from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The New Music Business?

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What guests have appeared on The New Music Business?

Recent guests on The New Music Business include:

1. Pete Ganbarg
2. Dee Diaz
3. Molly Neuman
4. Joseph Pepin
5. Eliah Seton
6. Ash Avildsen
7. Red Leather
8. Oskar Med K

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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