The Music Business Buddy is a podcast about the future of music careers.
Each episode explores how artists and creators are navigating today’s evolving music industry — from AI and streaming to publishing, sync licensing, branding and fan growth.
Featuring conversations with music executives, creatives, entrepreneurs and innovators, the show offers practical insights into how the modern music business really works.
The Music Business Buddy is hosted by award winning UK based music professional Jonny Amos. Author of The Music Business For Music Creators (Routledge, 2024), Jonny is a music industry consultant, artist manager, producer and educator.
Subscribe to The Music Business Buddy Brief for weekly insights on the future of the music industry, AI, artist development, rights and the creator economy. The podcast explains what's happening. The newsletter explains why it matters.
Discover shows related to The Music Business Buddy, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
Episode 120: Music Distribution Decoded (Singles, Surprise Drops & Metadata with Jake Williams)
Season 1 · Episode 120
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 • Duration 48:11
In this episode, UK based music executive Jake Williams shares insights into modern music release strategies, metadata management, and the role of AI in music distribution. Discover how data-driven decisions and innovative approaches are shaping the future of the music industry.
Jake Williams is Founder of Penance Music Group and also works in digital operations at Republic of Music.
keywords
music distribution, release strategy, metadata, AI in music, digital distribution, music marketing, artist management, sync licensing, music industry trends
key topics
Music release strategies and trends
The importance of metadata accuracy and management
The role of AI in music distribution and metadata
Building artist careers through strategic releases and networking
Sync licensing and how to positioning music for media use
Takeaways
Shorter, surprise releases are becoming more effective than traditional long campaigns.
Metadata accuracy is crucial for reporting, royalties, and discoverability.
AI tools help reduce human error and streamline distribution processes.
Building a strong fan base through grassroots and social media is essential for emerging artists.
Networking and strategic collaborations can significantly boost an artist's growth.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and guest background
01:57 Current trends in music release strategies
04:01 The shift towards shorter and surprise releases
06:02 Impact of social media and organic growth
07:58 Case study: Surprise album drop by Public Music
10:03 The importance of metadata and how to manage it
12:00 Using AI to improve metadata accuracy and avoid errors
14:57 Metadata for discoverability and fan engagement
18:00 Building a music label and artist management strategy
20:10 Artist development and release planning
22:04 Sync licensing and positioning music for media
24:03 The role of AI in distribution and rights management
26:04 The evolution of Jake Williams' career and future plans
28:04 Advice for emerging artists and building a career
30:01 The importance of social media and YouTube presence
32:07 The significance of networking and collaborations
34:06 Future trends in music and metadata management
36:04 Final tips for artists starting out
37:59 The potential of AI for sync and creative positioning
Episode 119: What Does Success Look Like ? (With Dan Scott)
Season 1 · Episode 119
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 • Duration 44:08
Spotlight Advisory Group CEO and Co-Founder Dan Scott shares his unique perspective on the value of creativity, ownership, and legacy in the music industry, emphasising purpose over profit and exploring how AI might shape the future of human creativity.
How industry influences artists' decisions on ownership
The impact of AI on creativity and the future of art
The concept of 'enough' versus more in financial freedom
The distinction between entertainment and true art
The role of free will in choosing a creative life
The importance of purpose in legacy planning
The influence of societal pressures on artists' success
The future of human creativity in a digital world
sound bites
"Money is a game, not a human experience"
"Selling your legacy is short-sighted"
"Focus on living your purpose, not more money"
Episode 118: Can We Build a Better Music Business? (With Andre Mullen)
Season 1 · Episode 118
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 • Duration 57:33
Music Industry Executive Andre Mullen shares his insights on transforming the music industry through faith-based, integrated IP models, long-term artist development, and the role of technology in building authentic artist-fan relationships.
keywords
music industry, artist development, integrated IP, faith-based, music technology, independent labels, long-term success, fan engagement, rights management, Paradigm
key topics
The flaws of traditional record label models
The concept of integrated IP and its practical application
Faith as a guiding principle in music business
Long-term artist development versus short-term gains
The role of technology in artist-fan relationships
The importance of relationships and face-to-face networking
The balance between independent and major labels
The impact of industry fragmentation and emerging territories
Advice for young artists and executives
Patience and consistency as keys to longevity
sound bites
"Protect your craft, ownership, and peace"
"Deals you decline shape your career more than the ones you sign"
"The industry rewards patience far more than it admits"
Episode 117: How Artists Can Build Real Fan Relationships
Season 1 · Episode 117
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 • Duration 41:57
How OpenStage Is Changing the Artist–Fan Relationship
What if artists could build a direct relationship with their fans — rather than relying on social platforms, streaming services and other third parties?
In this episode of The Music Business Buddy, Jonny Amos speaks with Rob Sealy from OpenStage about the gap between having an audience and actually knowing who your fans are.
The conversation explores why follower counts and streaming numbers don't tell the whole story, why consented fan data matters, and how artists can build deeper relationships with the people who genuinely support their careers.
In This Episode
Rob’s financial services background and how it shaped his approach to music.
How his son’s band highlighted the disconnect between artists, fans and audience data.
Why artists may know their follower numbers without knowing their most valuable fans.
The financial reality facing artists and why gross income doesn't always mean sustainable earnings.
Why streaming, social media and mailing lists can create a false sense of audience ownership.
Why genuine fan relationships can be more valuable than raw reach or follower counts.
How OpenStage helps artists capture consented fan data and build direct relationships.
How personalised access, rewards and tiered experiences can build loyalty.
How fan insight can improve touring, ticketing, marketing and campaigns.
Timestamps
00:00 — Introducing Rob Sealy and OpenStage 01:12 — Rob’s background in financial services 03:18 — How his son’s band sparked OpenStage 05:42 — The disconnect between artists and fans 07:15 — Why artists don't always know their real fans 09:03 — The 7–10% revenue reality for artists 11:26 — The problem with streaming and social platforms 13:48 — Reach versus genuine fan relationships 15:32 — How OpenStage works 17:41 — Consent, fan data and audience ownership 19:56 — Creating personalised fan experiences 22:14 — Rewards and building loyalty 24:36 — Fan insight, touring and ticketing27:02 — Understanding engaged fans29:18 — Turning data into meaningful relationships31:42 — Examples of OpenStage in action34:05 — The future of the artist–fan relationship36:12 — Why direct relationships matter
Key TakeawaysAbout OpenStage
Episode 116: From Songwriting to Sync - Inside Independent Music Publishing
Season 1 · Episode 116
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 • Duration 36:30
Phil Simpson on Independent Music Publishing, Sync and the Power of Human Taste
Jonny Amos speaks with Phil Simpson, founder of First Original Music, about independent music publishing, sync, and why human relationships and taste remain at the heart of the business.
Phil explains how First Original Music works with songwriters across publishing, administration and sync, what he looks for in a writer, and why a strong first approach can make such a difference.
The conversation explores what makes a song genuinely useful for sync, how production and arrangement can affect opportunities, and why metadata, stems, instrumental versions and good presentation can improve a songwriter’s chances of being discovered and placed.
In This Episode
First Original Music’s approach to publishing, administration and sync.
What Phil looks for in songwriters beyond simply making great music.
Why personalised emails get attention while generic industry outreach is often ignored.
What makes a song sync-friendly, including production, pacing and lyrical flexibility.
How recording and arrangement choices can make a great song harder to place.
The role of publishers as sounding boards in a writer’s long-term development.
The growth of streaming content and the increasing competition for sync opportunities.
Why metadata, stems, lyrics, instrumental versions and clean presentation matter.
First Original Music’s move from global administration towards a network of independent international publishing partners.
Why human taste and relationships remain crucial as technology and AI develop.
Timestamps
00:00 — Introducing Phil Simpson and music publishing 01:00 — First Original Music’s deal models and sync focus 03:06 — What Phil looks for in a writer 05:36 — Why personalised emails get read 07:52 — What makes a song work for sync 08:22 — Production, pacing and lyrical ambiguity 10:44 — When recording choices affect sync opportunities 11:14 — Publishers as sounding boards 12:30 — More opportunities, but more music competing13:26 — Metadata, stems, lyrics and codes15:12 — Using stems for an editorial brief16:34 — Specific songs for brands and shows17:26 — Taste, timing and interpretation19:54 — Why First Original moved away from global administration21:48 — Building international indie publishing relationships23:11 — Why smaller publishers can respond faster24:44 — The future of independent publishing26:09 — Human judgment and the limits of search tools27:50 — AI, taste and human connection28:31 — AI, attribution and provenance29:36 — Building genuine publisher relationships31:17 — Alignment, values and the importance of a strong first email
Key TakeawaysNotable Quotes
Episode 115: The Future of Music Supervision - Sync, Streaming, TikTok and AI
Season 1 · Episode 115
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 • Duration 23:47
This episode delves deeply into the evolving role of music supervision, exploring its historical context, current challenges, and future trends. Jonny Amos discusses the dual nature of music supervisors as both creative and business-oriented professionals, the impact of social media and AI on music discovery, and the increasing importance of independent artists in the sync landscape. The discussion also highlights the rise of production music and the need for music supervisors to act as cultural tastemakers in a rapidly changing media environment.
Keywords
music supervision, future of music, music licensing, AI in music, social media impact, independent artists, sync placements, production music, cultural tastemakers, music industry
Key Topics
History and role of music supervisors
Impact of social media on music discovery
AI's role in music licensing and search
Changes in sync licensing economics
Independent artists and media opportunities
Future trends in media and immersive experiences
Sound Bites
"Music supervisors can break an artist's career"
"Music is crucial for storytelling in media"
"Independent artists can influence media discovery"
Chapters
Episode 114: Building a Record Label From Scratch in 2026 (with Jamie Sellers)
Season 1 · Episode 114
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 • Duration 58:26
I speak with hit producer Jamie Sellers about how music creation has changed now that artists can get a demo most of the way there on their own, but still need experienced ears to finish a record. Jamie explains why his role has shifted from building songs from scratch to acting more like a finisher and exec producer, and why that experience gap is still the difference between a good demo and a release-ready record. We also get into Jamie’s new label, Caledonia, including why he started it, what kind of artists he signs, and how he is thinking about ownership, licensing, publishing, and building a catalogue of assets for the long term.
Key topics
Jamie argues that technology and tutorials can get artists about 60 to 70 percent of the way to a solid record, but the final 30 percent still comes from experience, instinct, and nuance.
He describes his production role as becoming more like a finisher or exec producer, helping artists bring projects to release-ready standard.
The conversation covers the shift in artist economics, where a more efficient model is to let artists build a strong demo first and then bring in experienced help to complete it.
He says a senior label contact encouraged him to stop waiting for a label job and instead build his own imprint, using his producer background and network.
Caledonia is designed to feel artist-first and music-first, with the values of older label eras but a 21st century approach.
He shares that he has signed two artists so far and both came through existing creative relationships.
Jamie and Jonny talk through deal structures, including licensing versus assignment, and the long-term goal of building a catalogue of assets through both Caledonia Sound and Caledonia Songs.
They finish on the importance of trust, artist motivation, and making sure the label relationship works both creatively and commercially.
Timestamps
(00:00) Demo-to-record mindset
(01:15) Why experience still matters after the first 70 percent
(03:11) The final 30 percent only comes from time in the studio
Episode 113: What Every Songwriter Should Know About Music Publishing
Season 1 · Episode 113
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 • Duration 27:25
In this episode, Jonny Amos explores the ins and outs of music publishing, focusing on what songwriters should know about choosing the right publisher, deal structures, and long-term relationships. Perfect for songwriters looking to understand how to navigate the complex world of music publishing.
Keywords
music publishing, songwriters, publishing deals, royalties, sub-publishing, music rights, music industry, publishing contracts
Key Topics
Role of music publishers in a songwriter's career
How to identify suitable publishers
Differences between admin and control deals
Importance of understanding royalty rates and splits
Global collection and sub-publishing nuances
Long-term relationships and partnership strategies
Negotiating advances and deal terms
Metadata and catalog management for songwriters
Sound bites
"A music publisher is like a songwriter’s best friend."
"Choose a publisher that fits your genre and goals."
"Know your songs and their metadata."
Episode 112: How The Creator Economy Is Changing Music Licensing (With Chordal CEO Grayson Sanders)
Season 1 · Episode 112
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 • Duration 41:36
In this episode, Chordal CEO Grayson Sanders joins me, Jonny Amos, for a discussion on the complexities of music licensing in the digital age, the potential of AI in rights management, and the future of micro-licensing for the creator economy. We explore how technology is transforming the industry and what it means for artists, rights holders, and content creators.
Keywords
music licensing, AI rights management, micro-licensing, digital content, creator economy, rights clearance, TikTok music, music industry innovation
Key Topics
Music licensing complexities in the internet age
AI's role in rights management and licensing
Micro-licensing as a scalable revenue model
The future of music licensing by 2035
TikTok's music licensing innovations
The role of human curation vs algorithms in music discovery
Challenges faced by independent artists in licensing
The impact of AI on music rights and discovery
Takeaways
Music rights are owned by multiple parties, making licensing complex.
AI is used for rights cleaning, matching, and discovery, not for generating music.
Micro-licensing is becoming essential due to internet content volume.
Episode 111: The Business Beyond The Music (with Lucas Rizzo)
Season 1 · Episode 111
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 • Duration 36:07
In this episode, I am joined by Hekta Music Group CEO Lucas Rizzo who also operates as a Fractional Partner Across Brands, Tech and Capital. Lucas shares insights from his unique journey through music, tech, and startups, highlighting the interconnectedness of these worlds and how they shape his approach to artist development and catalog management.
Keywords
music industry, startups, artist development, catalog acquisition, authenticity, creator economy, music tech, AI in music
Key Topics
Interconnection of music, tech, and startups
The importance of authenticity in music
Data-driven artist development strategies
The role of catalog acquisition in music
Balancing passion and business in music
Takeaways
Cross-industry experience provides a unique edge in music.
Authenticity remains crucial despite industry pressures.
Data and intuition together inform artist strategies.
Catalog management is a key to sustainable success.
Embracing being lost is part of finding your true path.
Guest Name
The Music Business Buddy, a podcast by Jonny Amos - Stats, Episodes and Rankings - My Podcast Data
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Dan Scott's background and expertise
02:17 How different worlds of music, law, and wealth shape perspectives
04:28 Philosophy of money and success in the creative industry
07:50 The shift from traditional success to purpose-driven legacy
11:07 Legacy versus estate: what truly matters for artists
14:23 Why artists often misunderstand ownership and value
16:30 The short-sightedness of selling music catalogs
19:01 The importance of purpose and legacy in wealth preservation
22:31 The idea of enough versus more in financial freedom
31:53 The future of AI and human creativity
35:32 AI's role in entertainment versus true art
40:41 The potential of AI as a liberator, not destroyer
41:13 Final thoughts: embracing purpose and authenticity in the future of art
Followers, streams and views don't necessarily mean an artist has a meaningful relationship with their audience. Understanding and engaging with fans directly can be far more valuable.
Artists Need Greater Ownership
Social platforms and streaming services provide huge reach, but artists don't control those platforms or necessarily have direct access to their audiences. Consented, first-party fan relationships can provide greater control and insight.
Data Should Create Better Experiences
Fan data is most valuable when it leads to better engagement — from personalised access and rewards to smarter touring, ticketing and marketing.
The Future Is More Personal
As technology makes it easier to reach huge audiences, genuine artist–fan relationships may become even more important.
The question isn't simply:
“How many people can I reach?”
It's:
“How well do I know the people who genuinely care about what I do?”
OpenStage helps artists build stronger, more direct relationships with their fans through consented audience data and tools designed to create meaningful fan experiences.
Don’t Write “For Sync” — Write Great Songs The strongest sync opportunities often come from authentic songs that are emotionally flexible and can be interpreted in different ways.
Independent Publishing Is About Adding Value Great independent publishers bring taste, relationships, industry knowledge and hands-on support — not simply rights administration.
Presentation Matters Good metadata, lyrics, stems, instrumental versions and organised assets make music easier for publishers and music supervisors to discover and use.
Human Taste Still Matters Technology can improve discovery and attribution, but human judgment, instinct and relationships remain essential.
“What can we do to add value here?”
“The fatal flaw in AI that will always be there is taste.”
00:00 Introduction to music supervision and its importance
01:47 Historical evolution of music supervision in film and TV
03:53 Key partnerships: Directors and music supervisors
