Season 2 of the Money & Music Talks podcast premieres with a bonus-episode, looking back at 2018, how the Artist Financial Program (AFP) got started and what we can all expect going forward. This past year was monumental for AFP, raising over 1.2 million dollars in the last 6 months of the year, and providing funding/resources to more and more artists and musicians than ever before. In this episode, the team not only reflects on the growth of AFP but looks onward, discussing their plans to innovate and dominate the music industry in 2019.

Big announcements in 2019

AFP continues to evolve and grow as a team as Eyan Edwards, Dev Tejwani, Free Smith and David Tae constantly add to AFP’s vast resource network. Dev kicks things off by asking each member of the team to reflect on some of the trials and tribulations plus areas of growth they experienced in 2018. Free, talks to the growth of the team and announces some new and exciting developments moving forward.

Among the largest of the announcements, is the partnership with Metropolitan Groove Merchants (MGM), an Australian operated, global distribution company in which Free is heading the Urban department. Having a key member of AFP atop a global entity such as MGM reinforces the powerful resources AFP has at its disposal, to create artist empowerment for artists and musicians (of any age) all over the world. 2019, will also showcase the release of the first 100% tried-and-true product of the AFP system, featured artist, ‘Phaze Jackson’.

Empowering more artists and musicians

Within this season 2, kick-off episode, Eyan outlines the process in which artists (much like Phaze Jackson), went through to realize their artistic dreams. From working with AFP to raise over $100,000 through real estate investments to being provided with cash advances, production, song-writing, studios, photo-shoots, styling as well as access to social media experts, producers and promoters. Eyan tells the backstory of how his brainchild, ‘UNK NEW YORK Inc.’ (UNKNY), got started. He goes into UNKNY’s methodology, being influenced by Beyoncés Visual Album, and how the team will be using the multifaceted music, production, management, and distribution label to add to AFP’s growing network of resources.

Increased artist funding and real estate

Dev, giving up some great marketing advice to young artists, urges them to act as independent media companies and outlines the importance of pushing out fresh content consistently. He also details his own struggles in college starting, “Team Backpack” and shows his appreciation for being a part of the AFP team. Before moving on to the major take-a-ways of 2018, the team talks real estate and the power it holds not only as a smart investment but in creating cash-flow to pursue one’s artistic vision.

Major celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Meek Mill, and Jay-Z all actively invest in real estate for good reason. AFP looks to continue to strategically use real estate to move forward with increased resources and more funding for artists than ever before. The team also discusses how AFP’s aim is not only to provide artists and musicians with the funding they need but the skills necessary to build their audience base while still owning their own intellectual property. The days of artists signing their lives away to record labels for single payouts are gone. Today, front runners like AFP seek to help artists create passive income and financial freedom through real estate while pursuing their craft.

Big news for the future

As the episode closes out, the team shows their gratitude for one another and reinforces the value of hard work, dedication and staying close-knit as a team. There is much more to come in 2019, so stay tuned for more from Eyan, Dev, Free, and David as they host regular Money & Music Talks with the addition of special guests and hot artists. Make sure to follow the team’s journey on Instagram, subscribe to the AFP YouTube channel and download new episodes of Money & Music Talks wherever you get your podcasts.