Business Side of Music

Most artists sign with a manager and have no idea what they're actually agreeing to. In this episode, Sarah sits down with James Hodgin, an artist manager since 1995 who has worked with Thousand Foot Krutch, Chris August, Zane Williams, Kylie Rae Harris, and has managed Michael Martin Murphy since 2018 — taking his Spotify audience from 75,000 to 850,000 monthly listeners.
James breaks down what actually makes an artist-manager relationship work, why he compares it to a marriage, and why trust — not talent alone — is what determines whether that relationship survives. He also introduces the "grief to income ratio," the unspoken math every manager runs on whether an artist is worth the headache, and explains why he doesn't use contracts with his artists at all.
Sarah and James also get into what it actually takes to break a new artist in 2026, why viral moments don't always translate to ticket sales, and why relationships — not metrics — are still the thing that moves a career forward.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why the artist-manager relationship is the closest thing to a marriage in the music industry
The "grief to income ratio" and how it determines whether a manager stays or walks away
Why James doesn't use contracts and what he does instead
How to know when trust has broken down beyond repair
What it actually takes to break a new artist in 2026 without a label
Why viral views don't always translate to a paying audience
How artists can build the kind of relationships that actually move their career forward
The one piece of advice James gives every artist and manager starting out
If you're an independent artist, aspiring manager, or anyone trying to understand what a real artist-manager relationship should look like, this episode pulls back the curtain on a side of the business almost no one talks about honestly.
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© 362 Entertainment 2026. All rights reserved.

Jorge Brea has spent 20 years watching songs succeed and fail at scale. As founder and CEO of Symphonic, he's distributed over two million songs, and in this episode he gets refreshingly honest about what actually separates the records that break through from the ones that disappear.
Sarah and Jorge dig into the three things breakthrough songs have in common, why release day is the start of your campaign and not the finish line, and the uncomfortable truth about the six-week lead time (spoiler: even the distributors don't love it). Jorge also explains why he tells independent artists to skip the album, how to know when it's time to stop pushing a single and move on, why collaborations are one of the most underrated algorithm plays available, and what major labels buying up distributors really means for independent artists.
Plus: the release planning tools Symphonic is building, a new feature that will show artists their skip rates and saves on Spotify, and the one piece of advice Jorge gives every artist about control, contracts, and staying in it for the long haul.
Whether you're releasing your first single or your fiftieth, this one will reset your expectations in the best way.
Connect with Jorge and Symphonic: symphonic.com
To stay in the loop, follow Business Side of Music on social media and subscribe to our newsletter for updates, resources, and new episodes.Follow us:Facebook: @tbsompodcastInstagram: @bsompodcastTikTok: @bsompodcastwww.businesssideofmusicpodcast.com© 362 Entertainment 2026. All rights reserved.

Music videos are no longer just promotional tools. In today's music industry, they are one of the most powerful ways to drive discovery, build fandom, and create new revenue streams.
In this episode of The Business Side of Music, Sarah Fleshner sits down with Jordan Glickson, Vice President of Music and Talent at VEVO, to discuss how artists can use visual content to grow their careers in 2026 and beyond.
Jordan shares how VEVO approaches artist development, why music videos remain at the center of successful release strategies, and how independent artists can compete without massive budgets. From short form content and YouTube algorithms to connected TV and fan engagement, this conversation is packed with practical advice artists can apply immediately.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why music videos are still essential for artist growth
• How visual content turns casual listeners into loyal fans
• The ideal content rollout strategy for a new release
• How often artists should be releasing video content
• Ways to create high impact visuals without spending a fortune
• What VEVO looks for when spotlighting emerging artists
• How to maximize discovery across YouTube, Shorts, TikTok, and connected TV
• The biggest mistake artists make with visual marketing
Whether you're an independent artist, manager, marketer, or music entrepreneur, this episode will help you build a smarter visual strategy that drives long term career growth.
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© 362 Entertainment 2026. All rights reserved.

What does it really take to build power in the music industry?

In this episode of The Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner sits down with renowned entertainment attorney, activist, author, and artist advocate Dina LaPolt for a candid conversation about the evolving music business and what artists need to know to protect their careers.

From her unconventional journey as a musician-turned-lawyer to helping shape landmark legislation like the Music Modernization Act, Dina shares the experiences that made her one of the most influential voices in entertainment law. Together, Sarah and Dina discuss artist ownership, negotiating leverage, catalog sales, streaming royalties, the rise of artificial intelligence, and why business education is one of the most valuable investments any artist can make.
Whether you're an independent artist, manager, songwriter, or music industry professional, this episode offers practical insights on building a sustainable career and maintaining control of your creative future.

You'll also hear Dina's perspective on why artists should focus on creating great art before chasing deals, how to recognize when it's time to partner with a label, and what the next generation of creators needs to know about protecting their rights in an AI-driven world.

If you're serious about understanding the business behind the music, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Street Smart - Dina LaPlolt: https://linktr.ee/streetsmartlapolt

Watch the full episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/DSB7inGE08A

Topics Included:
Music industry attorney Dina LaPolt, artist rights, music business education, AI in the music industry, artificial intelligence and copyright law, artist ownership, music publishing, songwriter royalties, streaming royalties, Music Modernization Act (MMA), Music Licensing Collective (MLC), mechanical royalties, music copyright law, intellectual property rights, No Fakes Act, AI voice cloning, artist advocacy, independent artist success, record label deals, music industry contracts, entertainment law, music business strategy, catalog sales, music catalog acquisitions, artist leverage, negotiating record deals, music industry trends, creator rights, songwriter compensation, independent music careers, artist development, music management, women in the music industry, building a sustainable music career, protecting your music rights, music industry leadership, future of the music business, digital streaming, music licensing, entrepreneurship for artists, music industry news and insights.

In this episode of Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner sits down with Stephen Parker, Executive Director of the National Independent Venue Association, for an in-depth conversation about the growing controversy surrounding concert industry monopolization, ticketing fees, artist touring control, and the future of independent music venues.

From rising ticket prices and restrictive tour routing to venue consolidation and the challenges facing independent artists, this episode breaks down how today’s live music ecosystem impacts musicians, managers, promoters, venues, and fans alike. Stephen explains the ongoing antitrust lawsuit making headlines across the music industry, why independent venues are struggling to survive, and what changes could reshape the future of concert touring.

Sarah and Stephen also discuss:
How major concert companies control touring, ticketing, and venue access
Why independent venues are critical for developing artists
The impact of radius clauses and tour restrictions on musicians
The future of concert ticket prices and resale markets
How independent artists can build touring careers outside the major systems
Why artist advocacy and industry transparency matter more than ever

If you’re an independent artist, artist manager, venue owner, promoter, music industry professional, or live music fan, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at the business of touring and the fight for the future of independent music.

To stay in the loop, follow Business Side of Music on social media and subscribe to our newsletter for updates, resources, and new episodes.
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© 362 Entertainment 2026. All rights reserved.