#288 - Ankit Desai: Why Prolific Creators Win in the New Music Economy
Ankit Desai is the Founder and CEO of Snafu Records, a music-tech company using machine learning to provide royalty advances and artist services for independent musicians. Prior to launching Snafu, Ankit led digital strategy at Universal Music Group. He’s been named a Forbes 30 Under 30 and one of Nordic Music Export’s 20 Under 30, recognized for his innovative work in reshaping the future of the music industry.In this episode, Ankit reveals how AI is transforming the music industry—and what independent artists can do today to thrive in this new era.Key Takeaways:How to leverage your existing music catalog to generate sustainable income as an independent artist.Why short-form video content is now critical for music discovery and fan engagement.How AI and machine learning are democratizing music creation, monetization, and fan connection. ---→ To learn more about Ankit and Snafu Records at snafurecords.comBook an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast
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#287 - Justin Giddings: The Secret to a 97% Crowdfunding Success Rate
Justin Giddings is an award-winning filmmaker and musician who found creative freedom through crowdfunding. After transitioning from a successful acting career to becoming a sought-after crowdfunding expert, he launched TheKickstarterGuy.com, where he has coached over 350 campaigns to raise more than $11 million with a 97% success rate. Justin blends his background in storytelling with marketing mastery to help artists and creators fund their dreams through authenticity, strategy, and emotional connection.In this episode, Justin reveals the storytelling and community-building strategies behind his 97% crowdfunding success rate.Key Takeaways:Learn how to use emotional storytelling and authenticity to create compelling crowdfunding campaigns.Discover how artists can build and engage a community to amplify their reach and success.Gain insights on why marketing is more about building relationships than making sales.---→ To learn more or book a free consultation with Justin, visit TheKickstarterGuy.com/freeconsultation.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast
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#286 - Taylor Winchester: The Artist’s Guide to Owning Your Data and Your Audience
Taylor Winchester is a powerhouse in the music marketing world with over a decade of experience in the live music scene. From his beginnings as a Talent Buyer and Marketing Director to his current role as Director of Revenue at found.ee—a trailblazing digital marketing platform under Downtown Music—Taylor has been instrumental in helping artists, record labels, and festivals amplify fan engagement and boost revenue. His strategic insights into digital tools and emerging music trends make him a go-to expert in the evolving music industry.In this episode, Taylor dives deep into how artists can authentically connect with fans while leveraging data and advertising to build sustainable careers.Key Takeaways:How to foster authentic fan relationships that drive long-term loyalty and monetizationWhy data ownership and email list building are critical in today’s music landscapeThe power of programmatic advertising and how artists can use it for smarter targeting and wider reach---→ Learn more about Taylor and his work at found.eeBook an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast
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#285 - Inder Phull: Breaking Down the Blockchain Myths Artists Still Believe
Inder Phull is the award-winning CEO and Co-Founder of Pixelynx and KOR Protocol. With over $40M raised in investments and revenue, Inder recently sold his company to Animoca Brands. He’s executed groundbreaking collaborations with Black Mirror, Beatport, mau5trap, and Pioneer DJ, and has worked with brands like Disney, HSBC, and Lacoste. Selected as the IMS Visionary Winner in 2016, Inder is on a mission to merge music, gaming, and blockchain to shape the future of the metaverse.In this episode, Inder reveals how artists can thrive by embracing blockchain, gaming, and AI as creative tools.Key Takeaways:Why owning your intellectual property is essential for long-term artist successHow blockchain and AI are unlocking new income streams and fan engagement opportunitiesThe biggest misconceptions about music and technology—and how to overcome them---→ Learn more about Inder’s projects at Pixelynx.io and KORProtocol.comBook an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast
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#284 - Thierry Ascarez: How Winamp Is Reimagining Artist Ownership in the Streaming Era
Thierry Ascarez is a seasoned music industry executive with nearly two decades of experience across major labels, music-tech startups, and AI innovation. He began his career at EMI Music before launching his own company in San Francisco, where he spent six years driving music and technology initiatives. Now based in Belgium, Thierry leads Business & Corporate Development at Winamp, where he's helping shape the future of digital music.In this episode, Thierry dives into how artists can thrive in the modern music landscape by embracing technology, community, and innovative monetization models.Key Takeaways:Why relying solely on streaming isn’t sustainable—and how to unlock new revenue streams.How Winamp is empowering artists to own their audience and monetize through digital collectibles and NFTs.What the future holds for AI in music and how it can enhance, not replace, creativity.---→ Learn more about Thierry and Winamp at https://www.winamp.comBook an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast
An educational podcast for musicians looking to grow their audience online and make a sustainable income. The host, Michael Walker provides artists with the tools necessary to create a lasting career in the music industry.
Ireland