Inside the Playbook: Azad Naficy on The Untapped Music Genre Making Artists REAL Money

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and Azad Naficy explore one of the most transformative shifts happening in the music business today: the explosive rise of ambient, instrumental, and neoclassical music and why it’s creating new financial opportunities for artists who approach it with intention.

Azad breaks down how changing conversations around mental health, peace of mind, and emotional well-being have opened the door for a new wave of artists who aren’t chasing virality, but instead building real, sustainable streaming revenue through catalog depth and consistency.
Ruiz highlights how Peace of Mind Studio has built an ecosystem where artists are already earning six-figure incomes, powered by high-quality production, smart catalog strategy, and genre innovation.

They also dive into the business mechanics behind this success:
• better deal structures,
• thoughtful recoupment models,
• smart financial literacy,
• and the intentional development that leads to long-term sustainability.

From innovative partnership models to building a multimillion-dollar operation without sacrificing artistic integrity, this conversation is a roadmap for anyone looking to understand the future of independent artist monetization, instrumental music growth, and the systems required to build a stable, fulfilling career in today’s industry.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5OEmeP3qCOLotxuji6se0j?si=IGzhU94zT2ydsy63TGkhuw

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook