The MAD Records Podcast

Epizodai

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  MAD Records Podcast #20 - Nashville Indie Artist, Abigail Rose 03.09.2026 1val 13min

  There are three things I learned from filming this podcast episode:* Abigail Rose is an emerging star* Her song “Betty’s in the Band” will not leave my head* I look like a Miami real-estate broker in this shirtAnyways… if you haven’t heard of Abigail Rose yet, chances are, you will soon.Her unrelenting success started with a simple, raw Instagram reel of the band jamming her new song on the porch - and the rest is history. Since posting that video, Abigail has amassed millions of streams on the breakout single, and thousands of new die-hard fans singing along to Betty across the globe.But as you’ll hear in this episode, Abigail’s virality is no accident. It’s the culmination of years of hard work, strategic thinking, and sheer artistic will. To reduce her journey down to a single Instagram reel would miss the beautiful and winding journey that led to it.So today, Abigail is sharing that story, and diving deep into the origins of her hit single.Go show Abigail some love on her Instagram here, and be sure to check out Betty’s in the Band by clicking here.🎶🎶🎶 Sponsored Song for this episode: “Noize” by MAD Records Collective members, Tethermind and Lucy Warr. Check out the full song here.* Podcast intro music by the amazing Reid Sorel.OH WAIT!Before you go… be sure to subscribe to get the MAD Records Podcast direct in your inbox every time we publish a new episode:🚨 And be sure to check out our special MAD Records Podcast offers here: 🚨🪩🪩🪩 Want to work directly with our team in our mentorship program, “MAD Records Incubator”? Learn more about the program and schedule a free consultation with me by clicking here:👕👕👕 The MAD Records merch store is live! Grab a t-shirt, hat, or hoodie and support our mission of disrupting the traditional music industry (and help us to pay Producer Eli). Use promo code “madrecordspodcast” for 10% off your order. Check out the merch store by clicking here:🫡🫡🫡 Become a paid subscriber for only $10/month and get access to my paid newsletter, “How to Market Your Music (… and still sleep at night), which will teach you literally everything I know about music marketing, building an audience, and monetization. You’ll also get access to our paid subscriber chat, the ability to submit your music to our team to be featured in the podcast, and a whole lot more!Long live good music 🫡⚔️Michael from MAD Records This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  MAD Records Podcast #19 - Nashville Indie Artist, Abigayle Oakley 19.08.2026 1val 24min

  🔊 Stream the audio-only version of the podcast on Spotify by clicking here or Apple Podcasts by clicking here 🔊In a world of vibe-based background music, it’s easy to throw on a playlist and hardly notice the songs.But time and time again, whenever Abigayle Oakley comes on the speakers, her music demands your attention - not because it’s big, loud, or bombastic… but rather the exact opposite.It’s precise, intentional, and subtle all at the same time.Which is why I was thrilled to sit down with Abigayle for today’s episode to discuss her new EP, “This Side of the Sun”, her recent tour, and her emergence on the Instagram scene as a……. hot dog influencer?Don’t worry, you’ll find out what that means.Anyways, I’m lucky to call Abigayle a dear friend and I hope you enjoy the fun conversation.And if you want to follow Abigayle and her journey, you can check out her Substack here or visit her website for new music, upcoming tour dates, and more by clicking here.🎶🎶🎶 Sponsored Song for this episode: “Nobody Hates Me” by MAD Records Collective members, The Gumbys. Check out The Gumby’s music by clicking here.* Podcast intro music by the amazing Reid Sorel.OH WAIT!Before you go… be sure to subscribe to get the MAD Records Podcast direct in your inbox every time we publish a new episode:🚨 And be sure to check out our special MAD Records Podcast offers here: 🚨🪩🪩🪩 Want to work directly with our team in our full-year mentorship program, “MAD Records Incubator”? Learn more about the program and schedule a free consultation with me by clicking here:👕👕👕 The MAD Records merch store is live! Grab a t-shirt, hat, or hoodie and support our mission of disrupting the traditional music industry (and help us to pay Producer Eli). Use promo code “madrecordspodcast” for 10% off your order. Check out the merch store by clicking here:🫡🫡🫡 Become a paid subscriber for only $10/month and get access to my paid newsletter, “How to Market Your Music (… and still sleep at night), which will teach you literally everything I know about music marketing, building an audience, and monetization. You’ll also get access to our paid subscriber chat, the ability to submit your music to our team to be featured in the podcast, and a whole lot more!Long live good music 🫡⚔️Michael from MAD Records This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  MAD Records Podcast #18 - Former Label President, John Strohm 04.08.2026 1val 20min

  Fasten your seatbelts, folks… This one is a deeeeep dive on the current state of the music industry with truly one of the most seasoned industry veterans in Nashville:Former Rounder Records President, John Strohm.John served as the president of the iconic Nashville label, Rounder Records from 2017 to 2022 where he was responsible for signing superstar acts including Billy Strings and Sierra Ferrell. John also served as Senior Counsel at Loeb & Loeb LLP where he assisted in the development of clients including Bon Iver, Sturgill Simpson, Alabama Shakes, Dawes, Julien Baker, and more.Prior to his career as an executive, John spent years as a touring artist playing with punk rock bands - Blake Babies and The Lemonheads.In this interview, John shares his behind-the-scenes stories running Rounder Records, his views on the label consolidation taking place, and his views on what it takes to really develop a superstar act.I know it’s easy for us artists to make record labels into a boogeyman, so it was really refreshing to sit down with a genuinely good-hearted industry executive and get their perspective on the industry (and even push back on some of my personal critiques).It’s an awesome discussion and I’m so thankful to John for sharing his insights with our audience.And if you want to follow John and the launch of his new artist development label platform, Silverlab, you can subscribe to his Substack by clicking here. I highly recommend it. Hope you enjoy the discussion as much as I did!🎶🎶🎶 Sponsored Song for this episode: “Cherry Pit” by MAD Records Collective member, Alexandria Maillot. Check out Alexandria Maillot’s music by clicking here.* Podcast intro music by the amazing Reid Sorel.OH WAIT!Before you go… be sure to subscribe to get the MAD Records Podcast direct in your inbox every time we publish a new episode:🚨 And be sure to check out our special MAD Records Podcast offers here: 🚨🪩🪩🪩 Want to work directly with our team in our full-year mentorship program, “MAD Records Incubator”? Learn more about the program and schedule a free consultation with me by clicking here:👕👕👕 The MAD Records merch store is live! Grab a t-shirt, hat, or hoodie and support our mission of disrupting the traditional music industry (and help us to pay Producer Eli). Use promo code “madrecordspodcast” for 10% off your order. Check out the merch store by clicking here:🫡🫡🫡 Become a paid subscriber for only $10/month and get access to my paid newsletter, “How to Market Your Music (… and still sleep at night), which will teach you literally everything I know about music marketing, building an audience, and monetization. You’ll also get access to our paid subscriber chat, the ability to submit your music to our team to be featured in the podcast, and a whole lot more!Long live good music 🫡⚔️Michael from MAD Records This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  MAD Records Podcast #17 - Nashville Producer and Artist, Joe Pisapia 21.07.2026 1val 28min

  When I sat down to write the title for this podcast, I couldn’t decide if I should label Joe Pisapia as a “producer” or “artist”…… so I did both.While Joe’s day-to-day is primarily as a producer out of his beautiful studio in East Nashville, you’ll notice immediately in this interview that Joe is an artist at heart. Production is his craft but his spirit and intention behind each decision is pure artistry.Joe has a wide-ranging and fascinating journey through the music industry, from playing in the wildly successful band Guster in the early 2000’s, to producing for legends like Ben Folds and k.d. lang.Joe is genuinely one of my favorite people in Nashville, a true artist, and a role model for what I’m trying to build here at MAD Records, and I’m so happy to share this conversation with you all.And be sure to stick around for my rant about private equity at the very end of the episode…. LOL.Enjoy!🎶🎶🎶 Sponsored Song for this episode: “Eclipse” by MAD Records Collective member, j. pastel. Check out j. pastel’s music by clicking here.* Podcast intro music by the amazing Reid SorelOH WAIT!Before you go… be sure to subscribe to get the MAD Records Podcast direct in your inbox every time we publish a new episode:🚨 And be sure to check out our special MAD Records Podcast offers here: 🚨🪩🪩🪩 Want to work directly with our team in our full-year mentorship program, “MAD Records Incubator”? Learn more about the program and schedule a free consultation with me by clicking here:👕👕👕 The MAD Records merch store is live! Grab a t-shirt, hat, or hoodie and support our mission of disrupting the traditional music industry (and help us to pay Producer Eli). Use promo code “madrecordspodcast” for 10% off your order. Check out the merch store by clicking here:🫡🫡🫡 Become a paid subscriber for only $10/month and get access to my paid newsletter, “How to Market Your Music (… and still sleep at night), which will teach you literally everything I know about music marketing, building an audience, and monetization. You’ll also get access to our paid subscriber chat, the ability to submit your music to our team to be featured in the podcast, and a whole lot more!Long live good music 🫡⚔️Michael from MAD Records This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  MAD Records Podcast #16 - Nashville Indie Artist, Cole Ritter 07.07.2026 1val 13min

  If you’ve been following MAD Records for a while, you may have heard my cute little catchphrase “long live good music”.….. it’s cute right?Well when I say “good music”… what I mean is music that feels like true art, not just “content”. And when I first moved to Nashville, no one seemed to represent that ideal more than independent artist, Cole Ritter.Cole is an incredible artist, guitarist, and songwriter… and he was the first artist signed to MAD Records (back when we were still operating as a record label). Cole is currently releasing his debut EP as we speak, but has been playing sold out shows in various parts of the country for years at this point.In this conversation we discuss everything from touring mechanics to philosophy. I hope y’all enjoy!Sponsored Song for this episode: “Psychedelic Flowers” by MAD Records Collective member, The Olde. Check out The Olde’s music here.* Podcast intro music by the amazing Reid SorelOH WAIT!Before you go… be sure to subscribe to get the MAD Records Podcast direct in your inbox every time we publish a new episode:🚨 And be sure to check out our special MAD Records Podcast offers here: 🚨🪩🪩🪩 Want to work directly with our team in our full-year mentorship program, “MAD Records Incubator”? Learn more about the program and schedule a free consultation with me by clicking here:Learn more about MAD Records Incubator👕👕👕 The MAD Records merch store is live! Grab a t-shirt, hat, or hoodie and support our mission of disrupting the traditional music industry (and help us to pay Producer Eli). Use promo code “madrecordspodcast” for 10% off your order. Check out the merch store by clicking here:Merch Store🫡🫡🫡 Become a paid subscriber for only $10/month and get access to our private MAD Records Collective community, our 10-Week Music Business Curriculum, our 10-Week Sync Licensing Curriculum, weekly live events, and a whole lot more. You can upgrade to a paid subscription by clicking here:Upgrade to Paid SubscriptionLong live good music 🫡⚔️Michael from MAD Records This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  MAD Records Podcast #15 - Joel Gouveia of "The Artist Economy" 23.06.2026 1val 1min

  IT’S BACKKKKKKKK!The MAD Records Podcast is BACK!…. ok I know it’s been “back” three times now, but this time it’s for good.We’ve got a brand new, in-person studio in Nashville, TN, a painfully handsome new producer named Eli ( FIL ARDENT) who will henceforth be creatively referred to as “Producer Eli”, and an incredible first guest.In this episode, we welcome the incredible Joel Gouveia - the writer behind the incredibly successful Substack publication, “The Artist Economy”, known for his (often spicy) takes on the music industry and unique perspective on how to build a music career.But in the meantime… sit back and enjoy my slightly nasal voice as we discuss some music industry conspiracies, how Spotify could lose it’s place the streaming leader, the consolidation of the major labels, and a whole lot more…OH WAIT!Before you go… be sure to subscribe to get the MAD Records Podcast direct in your inbox every time we publish a new episode:🚨 And be sure to check out our special MAD Records Podcast offers here: 🚨🪩🪩🪩 Want to work directly with our team in our full-year mentorship program, “MAD Records Incubator”? Learn more about the program and schedule a free consultation heading to madrecordscollective.com/mad-records-incubator-podcast.👕👕👕 The MAD Records merch store is live! Grab a t-shirt, hat, or hoodie and support our mission of disrupting the traditional music industry (and help us to pay Producer Eli). Use promo code “madrecordspodcast” for 10% off your order. Check out the merch store by heading to madrecordscollective.com/merch🫡🫡🫡 Become a paid subscriber for only $10/month and get access to our private MAD Records Collective community, our 10-Week Music Business Curriculum, our 10-Week Sync Licensing Curriculum, weekly live events, and a whole lot more. You can upgrade to a paid subscription by googling The MAD Records Monologue and clicking our publication on Substack.Long live good music 🫡⚔️Michael from MAD Records This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  The 5 Year Music Plan 17.06.2026 1val 31min

  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  Monthly Masterclass: Former Netflix Music Executive 07.05.2026 14min

  This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit madrecords.substack.comGetting your music placed in TV, film, and video games has always been one of the most lucrative ways for artists and producers to monetize their music.But landing sync placements can be incredibly difficult if you don’t understand how the industry actually works.Which is why we’re excited to share this edition of our Monthly Masterclass, featuring form…
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  Brief Breakdown w/ a Music Supervisor 29.04.2026 15min

  This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit madrecords.substack.comLadies and gentlemen…Rob Schustack has spent decades in the sync licensing industry working with brands, bands and catalogs like Disney, Amazon, Google, Febreze, BMW, Wu Tang Clan, Ceelo Green, Nirvana, Hall & Oates, Aerosmith and many others.And yesterday he spilled some trade secrets LIVE inside the MAD Records Collective on how to get your music placed in TV, fil…
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  Music Industry Updates w/ Michael Gilbride 17.04.2026 55min

  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  How to (Actually) Promote Your Music 03.03.2026 1val 49min

  Have you noticed that every music promotion “guru” tells you how to get streams, views, and followers…… but no one ever tells you how any of it actually translates to real life success?That’s because it doesn’t.In this ~2 hour webinar with our good friends at EasySong, I bust some of the biggest myths when it comes to promoting your music, and share a real path to creating a sustainable, financially viable music career.Feel free to drop your questions in the comments while you watch, and I’ll be sure to answer every one!AAAAANNNDDD…. if you’re looking for some hands-on help with your music career, you can schedule a free consultation with me to discuss our mentorship program MAD Records Incubator here: Ok enjoy! Drop your questions!Michael from MAD RecordsGet these posts direct in your inbox 👇 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  Sustaining Viral Success 20.02.2026 1val 5min

  👍 Stream the audio only version of this episode on Samply by clicking here.🎉 Looking for real, hands on support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real world education to help you grow sustainably. You can book a call to learn more about the program below.🎶 This episode features music from Daniel Kamionkowski, including a stunning, serene track, “Wintry Mix”. Check out more from Dan by clicking here.- This week’s podcast features Jake Kodweis, the producer and artist behind the absolutely insane viral project KILL KARL.Jake and I go way back, long before this project took off, when we both worked for the online music production school, Mastering.com. KILL KARL didn’t come from nowhere. It came from years of production experience, a deep understanding of craft, and a decision to stop censoring himself creatively…In this conversation, we talk about how KILL KARL started as an unfiltered experiment and quickly grew into something massive. We get into why polarizing art cuts through, why trying to please everyone rarely works, and how humor, confrontation, and honesty drive real engagement.We also talk about the mental side of going viral. Jake shares how he set boundaries with social media, and why building a real community matters more than chasing views.Later, we get into production, irony, and why taking your work seriously actually makes unconventional music hit harder. Jake also explains where the name KILL KARL comes from, how intrusive thoughts play into the project, and why this music has resonated so strongly with people. This is a funny, open conversation about risk, self-expression, and building something sustainable.If you want to join Jake’s community and connect more deeply with the KILL KARL world, you can click here.-Topic Overview00:00 Intro and featured track01:00 Jake’s background and KILL KARL origin03:30 Why the project exists06:00 Polarization and virality11:00 Risk, fear, and self-censorship17:00 Mental health and social media boundaries24:00 Influences and production approach31:00 Where “KILL KARL” comes from36:00 Fan impact and community44:30 Advice to younger artists1:03:00 Closing thoughts(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  (Podcast #13) Building a Brand 13.02.2026 1val 4min

  👍 Stream the audio only version of this episode on Samply by clicking here.🎉 Looking for real, hands on support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real world education to help you grow sustainably. You can book a call to learn more about the program below.🎶 This episode features music from David Baldwin, including an exciting cover of “Sunshine on My Shoulders” by his band, The Gumbys. Check out more from The Gumbys by clicking here. - This week’s podcast features MAD Records Collective member and advertising expert David Baldwin.David has spent his life as a creative. He grew up around advertising, started playing music early, and never really separated the two. Over the years, he built a highly respected career as a copywriter and creative director, eventually founding the agency Baldwin& in Raleigh, North Carolina, which was named Small Agency of the Year twice in its first five years by Ad Age and the 4A’s.David’s work has been recognized by nearly every major award in advertising, including Cannes Lions, The One Show, D&AD, the Clios, the Effies, and Communication Arts. He previously served as Chairman of the One Club in New York City and was an executive producer on the Emmy winning film Art & Copy, as well as an associate producer on the Emmy and Peabody Award winning documentary The Loving Story.Even as his advertising career grew, music remained a constant. David continued writing songs, playing guitar, and staying creatively active, never treating music as something he had to leave behind. Eventually, those two worlds started to intersect more intentionally. His understanding of storytelling, belief, and audience from advertising began to directly inform how he approached art, creativity, and identity.- In this episode, David and I have a wide ranging conversation about creativity as a long game. We talk about identity, values, and what it actually means to be an artist, especially when your path does not follow a traditional music industry timeline.David discusses why having a career outside of music does not make you less legitimate, how fear quietly drives many decisions, and why he has always focused more on output than validation. We talk about branding as an extension of values, not aesthetics, and the difference between being distinctive versus trying to be different.We also talk about age, experience, and releasing music later in life. David reflects on coming back to music with perspective, redefining success without an end point, and why doing the work itself has always been the goal.This is a well-rounded, vulnerable conversation about patience, trust, and building a creative life that actually lasts. If you are navigating big decisions, questioning timelines, or trying to balance stability with creative ambition, you’re in for a treat.Topic Overview00:00 Intro and background02:15 Growing up around creativity06:00 Being an artist as a mindset09:30 Choosing a creative career without leaving music behind14:00 Building companies from values18:30 Risk, fear, and long term thinking23:45 Branding as behavior29:30 Distinctiveness versus differentiation39:00 Releasing music later in life45:00 Experience and authenticity51:30 Defining success56:00 Closing thoughts(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  [REPLAY] The Spotify Problem 05.02.2026 1val 12min

  Hey y’all!Thanks so much for joining today’s Substack live event, “The Spotify Problem”, where I attempted to break down what artists need to know about the streaming economy.I had a great time, and I really appreciate the thoughtful questions, comments, and support from you all 🫡⚔️If you enjoyed this, please consider sharing on your Substack by clicking the button below:You can also check out my original article on Spotify here:Let me know what you thought in the comments, and if you’d be interested in more live sessions like this!Thanks again,Michael from MAD Records This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  (Podcast #12) Launching an Artist Career 28.01.2026 57min

  👍 Stream the audio-only version of this episode on Samply by clicking here.🎉 Looking for real, hands-on support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real-world education to help you grow sustainably. You can book a call to learn more about the program below.🎶 This episode features “False Hope” by featured artist Cole Ritter. You can listen to the full livestream of Cole’s upcoming EP by clicking here.This week’s podcast features the one and only MAD Records artist…. Cole Ritter 🌵💀 🌵💀 Cole grew up in Nashville and started playing violin at just three years old. Music has always been his foundation. Over the years, he built a career as a highly respected musician and sideman, touring, playing sessions, and checking off many of the boxes people are told to chase. Eventually, that experience led him to a difficult but necessary decision……stepping away from the security of sideman work to fully invest in his own artist project.Cole and I have an honest, wide-ranging conversation about identity, musicianship, and what it actually means to choose the independent artist path in 2026.In this episode, we talk openly about what that transition has looked like, both creatively and personally. Cole shares why it took him so long to release solo music, how he thinks about ownership and long-term fulfillment, and why live performance still feels like the most honest expression of who he is as an artist.We also get into creativity and spirituality, the feeling of letting music come to you rather than forcing it, and the importance of staying human in an industry that prioritizes virality, content, and numbers. Later, we talk about AI, authenticity, and why live music may become more meaningful than ever in the years ahead.This is a reflective conversation about patience, trust, and defining success on your own terms. If you are an artist navigating big decisions or stuck between stability and passion, there is a lot here that will be impactful.Topic Overview00:00 Intro and background02:03 Growing up with music as identity07:22 Sideman life vs choosing the artist path11:13 How the music industry has changed20:25 Why Cole waited to release solo music27:40 Music as healing and emotional connection30:11 Studio vs live performance39:03 Spirituality, creativity, and songwriting41:44 AI, authenticity, and the future of music49:15 Defining success, touring, and long-term vision54:09 Advice to his younger self and closing(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)Get next week’s podcast direct to your inbox 👇 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  (Podcast #11) Being an independent artist in 2026 21.01.2026 1val 1min

  👍 Stream the audio-only version of this episode on Samply by clicking here.🎉 Looking for real, hands-on support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real-world education to help you grow sustainably. You can book a call to learn more about the program below.🎶 This episode features “Hazel Eyed Lover in Patagonia” by Nashville artist Abigayle Oakley. You can listen to the full track and explore more of Abigayle’s music by clicking here.-This week, I sat down with Abigayle Oakley, one of my favorite songwriters in Nashville, to talk about what it really means and takes to be an independent artist in 2026.We discuss Abigayle’s story, growing up in a super musical family in Las Vegas, making the move to Nashville, studying songwriting at Belmont, and learning how to build an artist career without rushing the process.We also go down some rabbit holes (in the best way) about creativity, discipline, and the magical moment when a great lyric shows up out of nowhere. We later get into the future of the music industry with AI, streaming, and social media. We also touch on what it feels like when a song starts gaining traction, why the numbers don’t always translate into real-world progress, and why Abigayle has been putting so much energy into Substack.This is an honest, holistic conversation on today’s artist infrastructure with many impactful takeaways for artists and producers everywhere. Oh! And as promised in the interview… here’s the link to Abigayle’s hilarious stop-motion music video for her song, Dinsosaur Bones.See you inside!Topic Overview0:00–1:17 Intro and featured song “Hazel Eyed Lover in Patagonia.”1:17–6:18 Abigayle’s background, Vegas to Nashville to Belmont6:18–12:52 Craft, discipline, and writing 100 songs a year12:52–21:16 Creativity, spirituality, and “the genius in the walls.”21:16–29:07 First album release and the post-release reality check29:07–37:25 Admin days, content pressure, and creative seasons37:25–41:28 Long-term mindset and staying steady through slow growth41:28–47:50 Spotify momentum, social proof, and what streams actually change47:50–56:44 Substack, real community, and taking care of the people who show up56:44–End 2026 plans and where to follow Abigayle next(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)Get next week’s podcast direct to your inbox This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  Inside Nashville's Music Community 07.01.2026 1val 8min

  👍 Stream the audio-only version of this episode on Samply by clicking here.🎉 Looking for real, hands-on support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real-world education to help you grow sustainably. You can book a call to learn more about the program below.🎶 This episode features “One Night” by MAD Records Collective member Rich Hennessy. You can listen to the full track and explore more of Rich’s music by clicking here.-In this episode, I sat down with Reid Sorel, head producer at MAD Records and an up-and-coming Nashville-based production extraordinaire, for a conversation about what it really looks like to build a sustainable career in music today.We talk through Reid’s path into production, from early sync work and independent artist projects to wearing multiple hats in Nashville’s fast-moving music scene. Instead of chasing shortcuts, Reid shares why following up, providing value, and building genuine relationships have been the foundation of his growth.We also discuss the future of music in the age of AI, why over-saturation may bring music back toward experience and imperfection, and how live energy, community, and human connection are likely to become more important than ever.We close out by highlighting Nashville artists like Cole Ritter and Abigayle Oakley and breaking down what makes an artist worth investing in long-term.This is a grounded conversation about patience, strategic planning, and building your career brick by brick.Enjoy!Topic Overview0:00–1:13 Intro and featured artist Rich Hennessy1:13–4:28 Reid Sorel’s background and wearing multiple hats as a producer4:28–8:30 Sync placements, early income, and following up8:30–12:05 Building relationships by providing value12:05–16:19 Community-first thinking and long-term growth16:19–23:39 Nashville, competition, and standing out beyond talent23:39–31:31 AI, accessibility, and the future of music31:31–40:58 Music as experience, not commodity40:58–48:29 Imperfection, live energy, and breaking “perfect” production rules48:29–55:28 Artist spotlights: Cole Ritter and Abigayle Oakley55:28–End Brick-by-brick careers and closing reflections(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)Get the MAD Records Podcast sent directly to your email inbox 👇 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  The future of Spotify 17.12.2025 1val

  👍 Stream the audio-only version of this podcast on Samply by clicking here🎉 Looking for real support in your music career? The MAD Records Incubator is our hands-on mentorship program for independent artists, offering weekly guidance, feedback, and real-world education to help you grow your career sustainably. Book a call to discuss the program below.🎶 This episode features “Nova Nocturne” by MAD Records Collective member, Rhimmon Simchy. You can check out the full song (and more of Rhimmon’s music) by clicking here.Well… I broke out my old finance shirt for this one.Today I sat down with Wall Street stock analyst, Andrew Marok, to discuss one of the most hotly debated companies in the music industry….SPOTIFY.I’m a big believer that whether you want to disrupt (or align with) any company or corporation… you need to actually understand how it operates under the hood.So in this episode, Andrew breaks down how Spotify actually works as a business. We step outside of the usual pro-Spotify anti-Spotify debate and focus on incentives, economics, and long-term strategy so artists can make informed decisions about where (and if) streaming fits into their careers.We cover how Spotify makes money, why pricing power matters, what keeps users hooked into the platform, and why music streaming has not diminished the way video streaming has. We also dig into the tension between convenience and culture, the frustrations independent artists feel around monetization and ownership, and what AI could mean for the future of music and distribution.I want to personally thank Andrew for taking the time to break this all down for the artist community…. this conversation is a great representation of how the artist and business community can help and inform each other.If you have follow up questions for this interview, drop them in the comments and I’ll be sure to ask them next time we have Andrew on the podcast.Enjoy!TOPIC OVERVIEW:0:00 – 1:17 Intro, ft. artist Rhimmon Simchy, and guest introduction (Andrew Marok)1:17 – 7:35 Why talk to an equity analyst and how stock market thinking works7:35 – 16:02 How Spotify makes money, raises prices, and keeps users17:13 – 26:46 Passive listening, music as art, and why streaming has not fractured26:46 – 34:35 Independent artists, monetization, and Spotify’s path to profitability34:35 – 42:34 How Spotify grows profit and where artists fit into that growth42:34 – 48:58 Culture versus convenience, playlists, and taste making48:58 – 54:39 The future of streaming and the role of AI54:39 – end AI as a tool, long-term thinking, and closing reflections(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)Get the MAD Records Podcast sent directly to your email inbox 👇 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  Building a music business 03.12.2025 1val 25min

  👍 Stream the audio-only version of this podcast on Samply by clicking here.🎉 It’s not too late to join December’s “Run For Cover Challenge”, where you can get your music in the hands of some of the world’s biggest music publishers for potential placements in TV, film, ads, and more. Join the Challenge and get to know our collective by signing up for a free trial of MAD Records Collective below:🎶 This episode features “Unusual Fairytale” by MAD Records Collective member, Joanne Bird. You check out the full song (and more of Joanne’s music) by clicking here.Songwriting might feel like a mystery, but in today’s world of YouTube education, online communities, and musical entrepreneurship, the craft is changing fast.In this episode, I sit down with two of my favorite people in the world, Keppie and Benny, the duo behind the massive YouTube channel How to Write Songs. We discuss how they built a global songwriting education platform, why songwriting is a learnable craft, and what the future of online music education looks like.We dig into everything from the early days of their channel to the business models behind creative education to why community, feedback, and accountability matter far more than course content alone.Learn more about Keppie and Benny, and check out their channel, How to Write Songs, by clicking here, and their website by clicking here. 00:00 – 00:03 • Intro + introducing Benny & Keppie00:03 – 00:11 • Their backgrounds in songwriting + teaching00:11 – 00:22 • How the YouTube channel started00:22 – 00:34 • Early challenges + first viral moment00:34 – 00:46 • Learning YouTube strategy + shifting to community building00:46 – 00:53 • Evolving from courses → community → feedback system00:53 – 01:05 • “Where do songs come from?” + inspiration + noticing01:05 – 01:20 • Human creativity vs AI + physicality of music01:20 – 01:32 • Art as product plus story + why process matters01:32 – 01:46 • Why AI can’t replace human creation or connection01:46 – 01:58 • The future: human-made art becomes more valued01:58 – 01:25:55 • Closing thoughts + where to find them + outro(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)Get the MAD Records Podcast sent directly to your email inbox 👇 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe
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  Will AI save live music? 19.11.2025 1val 4min

  👍 Stream the audio-only version of this podcast on Samply by clicking here.🎉 It’s not too late to join our “Run For Cover Challenge”, where you can get your music in the hands of some of the world’s biggest music publishers for potential placements in TV, film, ads, and more. Join the Challenge by signing up for a free trial of MAD Records Collective below:🎶 This episode features “Enough to Care” by MAD Records Collective member, Lea Rockrose. You check out the full song (and more of Lea’s music) by clicking here.Live music has always been the lifeblood of the music industry… but the streaming, social media, and AI landscape have drastically changed what it means to be a “touring artist”.In this episode, I interview one of the best up-and-coming music touring assistants in Nashville, Audrey Moentmann, to discuss how the live show industry is changing, and what you can do to stay ahead of the curve.Learn more about Audrey by clicking here and be sure to check out her podcast, “Sisters in Groove” here.0:00 – 0:35 — Intro and featured track0:35 – 2:30 — Who Audrey is and what a booking agent actually does2:30 – 6:40 — Building multi-year plans for artists6:40 – 9:50 — When artists actually need a booking agent9:50 – 13:30 — Reaching out vs. reaching up in the industry13:30 – 17:00 — What booking agents look for in an artist17:00 – 18:30 — Social media versus real connection18:30 – 20:30 — MAD Records Collective mid-roll20:30 – 25:00 — How metrics and streaming translate to ticket sales25:00 – 29:00 — How agents evaluate artists beyond numbers29:00 – 33:00 — Breaking through plateaus in growth33:00 – 36:00 — Pivoting without losing authenticity36:00 – 41:00 — Ego, identity, and storytelling41:00 – 44:00 — The overlooked value of older artists44:00 – 47:30 — Later-in-life artist success stories47:30 – 50:00 — AI’s impact on music and booking50:00 – 55:30 — Why live music is becoming more valuable55:30 – 58:00 — Human connection vs. AI in music58:00 – 1:01:00 — How parenthood can deepen artistry1:01:00 – 1:03:00 — Ego, growth, and the need for community1:03:00 – 1:04:20 — Audrey’s podcast and Sisters in Groove(Podcast intro music created by Luke Despain, Thomas Muer, and Rob Schustack.)Get the MAD Records Podcast sent directly to your email inbox 👇 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit madrecords.substack.com/subscribe