Progressions: Success in the Music Industry – Details, episodes & analysis

Sam Fischmann is a cofounder of the audio plugin company Musik Hack. As a software developer and musician he is passionate about demystifying the mastering process and making it accessible to everybody by creating tools that enable musicians to focus more on the creative and less on the technical.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The Truth Behind Loudness Standards
• Where the -14LUFS Target Came From
• Developing and Trusting Your Own Taste
• How Machine Learning Can Help Us Build Better Audio Tools
• The Ethics of AI Audio Tools
• Growth through mistakes
• Separating Creative Instincts from Technical Instincts
• Owning the Role That You Are Best at, Even If It’s Not The One You Want

Connect with Sam:

🌐 Website: https://www.musikhack.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musikhack_

🎵TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@musikhackllc

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Credits:

Guest: Sam Fischmann

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Stephen Boyd

Theme Music: inter.ference

Travis discusses the myths that people believe about big credits and how you should actually think of them.

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Credits:

Guest: N/A

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Travis Ference

Theme Music: inter.ference

Steve Genewick is a recording engineer and mixer with over 30 years of experience working in some of the biggest studios in the world. In addition to being one of the top call engineers for big band, jazz, and orchestra sessions, Steve was also one of the first music mixers to work in Dolby Atmos. Many of the techniques he pioneered have shaped the people mix in the format today.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• How Atmos Could Replace Stereo
• How To Mix Stereo and Atmos at the Same Time
• Why the Binaural Atmos Mix is a Moving Target
• Fill the Atmos Sound Stage Without Adding Reverb
• The Lost Art of Riding a Vocal to Tape
• Big Bang or Jazz Recording
• The Importance of Preparation for Large Ensemble Sessions
• Working at Capitol Studios
• The Biggest Mistakes New Atmos Mixers Make
• Always Supporting the Music, Whether it’s Stereo or Atmos

Connect with Steve:

🌐 Website: https://stevegenewick.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_genewick/

🎧 Atmos Mix Playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/steve-genewick-atmos-mixes/pl.u-76oNkrMF1JKbp

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Credits:

Guest:

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Stephen Boyd

Theme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest is music executive and songwriter Shelby Kennedy. Shelby is the President of North American operations for amazing, which is the parent company for Amazing Radio, Amazing Songs, and now CMJ. Prior to that he has held various positions throughout the industry including Director of A&R for Disney's Lyric Street Records, Artist and Partner relations for Tunecore, as well as executive roles at both ASCAP and BMI. Along with all that, early in his career Shelby had success as a songwriter with his songs being cut by artists like Ray Charles and Reba McEntire. We have a great chat about being independent artists, being unique, and using every tool you've been given.

In this episode, we'll dig in on...

• The global marketplace of music
• Amazing Radio and Amazing Songs
• Turning limitations into opportunities
• The many hats an independent artist wears
• Filling the void
• Being a song plugger
• The complexities of publishing and songwriting
• Signing Rascal Flatts
• The best music is always next
• Music release strategies
• PROs

Learn More About Shelby Kennedy and Amazing Radio...

Website: https://amazingradio.us/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amazingradio/

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Credits:

Guest: Shelby Kennedy

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Travis Ference

Theme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest is producer, songwriter, and recording artist Gab Strum. Gab releases music under the moniker Japanese Wallpaper, as well as writes and produces for other artists. Based out of Melbourne, Australia, he's found success on Triple J radio with several of his tracks as well as some of his productions. Including "Forces" featuring Airling and "In Motion" by Allday. His latest album "Glow" came out at the end of 2019 and has been followed up by a slew of new singles over the last year. We have a great chat about the artist's perspective of a mix, touring, and defining success in a way that fits your path.

In this episode, we'll dig in on...

• Getting back the first mix
• The Suzuki Method and ear training
• Dealing with imposter syndrome
• Triple J radio
• Supporting an artist's vision, instead of telling them what their vision should be
• Defining success in way that fits your path
• Record labels and avoiding making decisions via committee
• The Australian music scene vs American music scene
• The duality of a musically and technically great mix
• Building relationships on the touring circuit
• Handling your own playback during tour
• Protecting your hearing
• The importance of a great monitor and FOH team.

Learn More About Gab Strum and Japanese Wallpaper...

Website: https://gabstrum.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabstrum/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/japanesewallpaper/

Listen to Japanese Wallpaper here.

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Credits:

Guest: Gab Strum (Japanese Wallpaper)

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Travis Ference

Theme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest, Corey Schreppel, is an engineer and mixer specializing in podcast and broadcast production. Currently he is on the audio team for The New York Times, where he works on many of the narrative shows as well as their flagship show "The Daily." Prior to that he was the Technical Director for Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media. Along with his decade of broadcast experience he's also worked extensively in the classical recording space as an engineer for the New England Conservatory of Music. We have a great chat about mixing live broadcasts, empowering your coworkers, and the importance of quality of life.

In this episode, we'll dig in on...

• Mixing Live to 2
• Working the board the night Prince died
• Getting repetitions to master your craft
• Learning to capture an ensemble as the sum of all it's parts
• Workflow and systems design
• Remote collaboration, Pro Tools, and Dropbox
• Quality of Life
• Podcastings
• Working for the New York Times
• Recording in an old bank converted to a recording studio
• Audio of IP Codecs
• Recording classical ensembles at New England Conservatory or Music
• Mixing live broadcast shows
• Creative storytelling
• Clock based radio broadcasts

Learn More About Corey Schreppel...

Website: https://coreyschreppel.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreyschreppel/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coreyschreppel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreyschreppel/

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Credits:

Guest: Corey Schreppel

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Travis Ference

Theme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest is mastering engineer and violinist, Eric Boulanger. Eric started his career at the legendary Mastering Lab working under Doug Sax before starting his own facility, The Bakery, in 2015. In addition to a mastering credit list that includes artists such as Diana Krall, Green Day, Weezer, and Andrea Bocelli, he also worked with Apple to develop the "Mastered for iTunes" protocol. Outside the world of mastering, Eric still finds time to play violin on sessions for various film and television scores. We have a great chat about listening, setting up a room, and knowing when you're ready to jump into your own business.

In this episode, we'll dig in on...

• Approaching mastering as musician, not a robot
• Building a mastering studio in an old screening room
• Calling everyday until you get the gig
• Attended mastering sessions
• The importance of listening and monitoring
• Playing violin from age 3
• Working at the Mastering Lab
• Building a lathe before ever buying a vinyl record
• Playing violin for film scores
• Lossless audio
• The most important part of a mastering room
• Starting your own business and learning as you go

Learn More About Eric Boulanger...

Website: https://thebakery.la/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakerymastering/

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Credits:

Guest: Eric Boulanger

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Travis Ference

Theme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest is composer, producer, and recording artist Morgan Kibby. Morgan spent seven years as a member of the band M83, during which time she played, wrote, and sang on two albums, including the Grammy nominated "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming." Since leaving the band, Morgan has contributed songwriting and production for artists such as Panic at the Disco, Harry Styles, and Lady Gaga. She also releases her own music under the moniker White Sea, including remixes for tracks by Lorde and the Weeknd, as well as trailers for movies such as "Harry Potter". In 2015 Morgan shifted her focus to scoring and since has done projects for Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu. We chat about balancing your passions, shifting focus mid career, defining success, and having seasons of "yes" in your career.

In this episode, we'll dig in on...

• Playing and touring with M83
• Thriving on collaboration
• The journey to find your voice as an artist
• Headlining the Hollywood Bowl
• Scoring a film with before it was filmed
• Not chasing what you think people want to hear
• The mental and physical toll of touring
• The importance of studying what fascinates you
• Synths don't always have to be "80s"
• How music theory comes into play
• Being selective of what you work on
• Attending the Sundance Lab
• Canne Film Festival
• Surrounding yourself with people you trust
• Always learning

Learn More About Morgan Kibby...

Website: https://www.morgankibby.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiteseamusic/

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Credits:

Guest: Morgan Kibby

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Travis Ference

Theme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest is composer, recording artist, and sound designer Cyrus Reynolds. A classically trained musician from London's Royal Academy of Music, Cyrus has had success not only with his own music, but also in the world of trailer music. He has collaborated with artists such as Bon Iver’s S. Carey and Novo Amor and contributed sound design to artists likes Kanye West and Change the Rapper. He's also done work with Output, helping design instruments for them such as Exhale and Arcade. We have a great chat about his unique blend of cinematic orchestra with modern songwriting, how recording techniques influence creativity, and why following your passion or interests will always lead you to the most fulfilling version of your career.

In this episode, we'll dig in on...

• Goal flexibility
• Coming from a classical music background
• Experimenting and trying to move the needle
• Funding your own orchestra recording
• Finishing parts on the plane on the way to Abbey Road
• Using AI and randomization parameters to recreate human tendencies
• Creating plug-ins for Output
• Collaborating with other artists
• Writing trailer music
• Tuning systems and tuning relative to the music

Learn More About Cyrus Reynolds...

Website: https://www.cyrusreynoldsmusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyrus_reynolds/

Listen on Spotify Here!

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Credits:

Guest: Cyrus Reynolds

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Travis Ference

Audio Restoration: Dan Viafore

Theme Music: inter.ference

This week's guest is Emmy nominated re-recording mixer Ryan David Adams. Ryan has been working on the post-production side of television for nearly two decades, amassing a long list of credits along the way. He recently received his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction or Reality Show in 2020 for the Netflix documentary series "Cheer." Other notable shows that he's worked on include The Voice, Masterchef, American Idol, Lego Masters, Last Chance U for Netflix, and Class Action Park for HBO Max. We have a great chat about working in television, keeping music as a creative outlet by working in other areas of audio, and the importance of checking your ego at the door.

In this episode, we'll dig in on...

• The language of music
• Being a re-recording mixer
• ADR and sound effects
• Mixing television in Dolby Atmos
• Dealing with work visas
• Learning how little you know
• Future proofing content
• Being prepared for changes
• Broadcast specs
• Audio Engineering Society
• Unions in post-production
• Stems and delivery requirements
• Working with streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max

Learn More About Ryan David Adams...

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1392453

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artfromthenorth83/

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Credits:

Guest: Ryan David Adams

Host: Travis Ference

Editor: Travis Ference

Theme Music: inter.ference