Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bill Toms joined Pittsburgh’s legendary band, The Houserockers, as lead guitarist in 1987. The band’s meteoric rise into the professional music scene enabled Bill to tour the United States and Europe repeatedly

Episode 53: Stacey Sherman on why success in the music biz is all about the team you build around you

May 20th, 2015 34m 28s

Stacey Sherman is a founder and media consultant at RSP Entertainment Marketing. Through her consultancy, Stacey promotes clients and coordinates all aspects of media, event, publicity, and image presentation. Stacey believes that everyone has

Episode 52: Tasman Jude on blowing up the reggae scene all the way from Alberta Canada

May 13th, 2015 33m 28s

Grande Prairie, Alberta may not be the first place you expect to discover a reggae band. But it was there that Caleb Hart & Al Peterson first climbed an open mic stage together and improvised three songs. The crowd’s response could not be ignor

Episode 51: Kendal Conrad on what it’s like sharing a stage with the one-and-only Keith Urban

May 6th, 2015 36m 59s

Kendal Conrad is a singer, actor, published writer, and award-winning songwriter. Kendal appeared on MTV and recently sang a duet onstage with Keith Urban. Kendal was featured on Keith Urban's website as one of his favorite "Raise 'Em Up" Tour

Episode 50: 20 Twen on the work that went into getting a radio single in 14 states

Apr 29th, 2015 22m 31s

20 TWen is a East Detroit rap prodigy who first made a name for himself in the Michigan hip-hop scene by releasing a series of blazing mixtapes and catchy singles. Coming up, 20 Twen has collaborated with super-producers 9th Wonder, Kajmir Roya

Episode 49: Riley Weston on always making time for the business side of the music

Apr 22nd, 2015 54m 22s

Riley Weston is a Nashville-based writer of TV and film, actress, award-winning author, songwriter, singer, and performer.As a singer/songwriter, Riley Riley cut her first single, If I Said Howdy to You, after self-teaching herself the guita

Episode 48: Van Wild on why not all advice in the musicbiz is created equal

Apr 15th, 2015 38m 8s

Van Wild is a southern blues-rock-pop musical project. Her debut EP, "Van Wild," is a mix of catchy love, social observation, and protest songs that are inspired by southern landscapes and folklore.Van Wild’s single, "Cherry Tree," is curren

Episode 47: Brent Baxter on capturing the grit and the grace of life as a lyricist in the music biz

Apr 8th, 2015 37m 51s

Brent Baxter is a Nashville-based lyricist and songwriting coach. Brent’s first cut came in early 2004 with “Monday Morning Church,” recorded by Alan Jackson. The song went on to become a top five hit, honored as one of Nashville Songwriters As

Episode 46: Andrew Apanov, founder of Dotted Music + WeSpin, gives us a new spin on music marketing

Apr 1st, 2015 38m 2s

Andrew Apanov is the founder of Dotted Music, a digital marketing agency for the music industry. Dotted Music offers branding, graphic design, inbound marketing, social media integration, website development, copywriting, targeted PR, and onlin

Episode 45: Avion Blackstone on staying abundantly, ridiculously happy in the music biz

Mar 25th, 2015 36m 7s

Avion Blackstone is an Austin-based singer, songwriter, poet, and pianist that lays big pop sound in between layers of meaningful lyrics. Obsessed with symbolism, Avion writes music as metaphors for life, gender, sex, and urgent world events.H

Episode 44: EJ Lee wants us to be legally smart about being creative in the music business

Mar 18th, 2015 26m 4s

Originally from Detroit, MI, EJ Lee is the founding attorney of EJLee Law Practice, LLC located in Atlanta, Georgia. Ms. Lee is a graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, MI. She obtained her J.D. with an emphasis in Intellectual Pro

Episode 43: Garrett Goodwin on trying out for Carrie Underwood at 19 years old

Mar 11th, 2015 26m 22s

Garrett Goodwin began his career playing in the backdrop of worship movements across the country, including Zoegirl, Jeff Deyo of Sonicflood, Lindell Cooley, and two-time Dove Award winner By The Tree. He has since transitioned fluidly through

Episode 41: Hayden Richau on using social media as your primary performance platform

Feb 25th, 2015 30m 46s

Hayden Richau began his music career in church, where he directed and led a full orchestra and choir in addition to singing main vocals for 2 years. He then took to YouTube and other social media platforms where his popularity skyrocketed. Hayd

Episode 40: Amanda Williams, a Grammy-nominated songwriter breaks down the music biz like a shotgun

Feb 18th, 2015 34m 25s

Amanda Williams is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, performer, and music business professional. Her artistry is a blend of classic country and pop influences. She recently co-wrote "She's Tired of Boys" with Garth Brooks, which appeared as the se

Episode 39: John DeBey on what happens when an artist finds fans that share in their beliefs

Feb 11th, 2015 34m 53s

John DeBey is a California-based music industry executive and TV producer. John’s most recent work includes the launch of WLM (World Live Music) “Xposed,” an ongoing music video showcase airing in April, 2015 on the Time Warner Cable Network/Tr

Episode 38: James Willamor on creating a 3rd way for artists and musicians in North Carolina

Feb 4th, 2015 31m 46s

James Willamor is the Founder and CEO of Croquet Records. Croquet Records is a nonprofit artist incubator and independent record label with the mission of promoting and developing emerging North Carolina bands and musicians.

Episode 37: Rorie Kelly on why life as a musician can’t be pass/fail

Jan 28th, 2015 33m 15s

Rorie Kelly is a Long Island-based singer/songwriter whose first-time listeners often remark that they “can’t believe that voice came out of that body.” Rorie writes catchy, melodic rock songs that she plays with enough passion to break guitar

Episode 36: Kristeen + Nicholas of KNG Music Ministry on finding comfort in music and faith

Jan 21st, 2015 45m 19s

Kristeen Nicole Gillooly is a Florida-based singer songwriter and co-founder of KNG Music Ministry, a project focused on creating Christian music as both an art and a form of ministry. Originally from Philadelphia, Kristeen grew up with musical

Episode 35: Bridgette Hammers on using music to do good things in the world

Jan 14th, 2015 35m 3s

Bridgette Hammers is a Texas-based professional vocalist, performer, songwriter, and founder of BH Music Studios. Bridgette has been hailed as the “the best National Anthem singer” by the former President of the Baseball Hall of Fame President,

Episode 34: Rex Haberman on leveraging a day job to fund your life in music

Jan 7th, 2015 36m 10s

Rex Haberman is a Minneapolis-based singer, songwriter, guitarist and founding member War Poets. Rex’s band has infiltrated the pop-rock genre using smart hooks and compelling narratives to gracefully invite listeners to consider their social a

Episode 33: Anthony Smith breaks down the Nashville songwriting scene like few can

Dec 31st, 2014 47m 22s

Anthony Smith is a Nashville-based, award-winning singer, songwriter, musician, and producer with over 200 songs recorded by a virtual "Who's Who" list of Nashville's superstars, including; George Strait, Montgomery Gentry, Tim McGraw, Faith Hi

Episode 32: Kevin Wood on first starting the band, then learning how to play

Dec 24th, 2014 29m 56s

Kevin Wood is a lead guitarist and a legendary member of Seattle-based grunge band, Malfunkshun. Kevin, along with his brother Andrew, are often recognized as the founding fathers of the grunge scene--having formed around the same time as bands

Episode 31: Carlito Olivero, Making Menudo and X-Factor Alum shares his insights on the music biz

Dec 17th, 2014 38m 36s

Carlito Olivero is an LA-based singer, songwriter, and actor. He began singing in English and Spanish at the age of 5, and today his urban-based, rhythmic pop sound sets him apart from the current pop/R&B landscape.In 2007, Carlito starred o

Episode 30: Michael Hoy, co-founder of MusicBox, on the difference between lots of fans and truly engaged fans

Dec 10th, 2014 31m 14s

Michael Hoy is the co-founder of MusicBox, an independent musician discovery platform where musicians are able to reach listeners that have opted-in to receive not just music from these artists, but also music from similar bands. It’s an amazin

Episode 29: Cedar Boschan on royalty audits, what they are and why you may need one

Dec 3rd, 2014 41m 52s

Cedar Boschan is a principal in the LA-based accountant and business advisory firm Green Hasson Janks. As part of her work, Cedar finds unpaid royalties and holds major international companies accountable to clients such as video game developer