Cody Fry on Leaving a Major Record Label and Finding His Niche Fronting Orchestras

This week Ari sits down with Cody Fry, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and orchestral arranger known for his symphonic arrangements of his own music and other artists’ songs. Cody has been nominated for two grammys for arranging: this year for his adaptation of “The Sound of Silence” and previously for “Eleanor Rigby.” An incredible musician all around, Cody has found his niche fronting orchestras in a way that appeals to pop music lovers around the world.

Cody has played Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Kennedy Center, and has hundreds of millions of streams online. In 2021, his song “I Hear a Symphony” (which had already been out for five years) went viral on TikTok and landed Cody a major record deal. In this episode, Cody talks about what it was like working with a major label and the specifics of his record deal. He also tells Ari why he decided to eventually leave the label and go independent once again. 

https://www.codyfry.com/

Chapters

00:00 The Artist's Journey: From Aspiration to Independence

02:50 Cody Fry: The Orchestral Innovator

06:02 Crafting Sound: The Art of Orchestration

08:52 Finding Your Unique Sound as an Artist

11:58 The Viral Breakthrough: TikTok and Its Impact

15:08 Navigating Record Deals: Insights and Experiences

18:02 The Transition to Independence: A New Chapter

20:52 Performing with Orchestras: A Unique Experience

23:55 The Future of Music: Independence and Innovation

39:54 Navigating the Music Business Without a Manager

42:44 The Importance of Team Members in Music

43:14 Non-Traditional Team Members and Their Roles

46:07 Managing Sheet Music and Publishing Rights

54:35 Exploring Alternative Revenue Streams for Artists

01:01:09 Creating Engaging Content for a Niche Audience

01:04:02 Future Aspirations and New Music Projects

01:08:13 Understanding the Value of Record Deals

01:19:37 The Evolving Landscape of the Music Business

Edited and mixed by Ari Davids

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

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