Annie Shapiro: “The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is to be nice.”

Episode 015 // Annie Shapiro, Senior Director, Talent Booking at Vevo, on the heartdea13r Podcast with chr1stoph3r g0nda

Summary:

• Annie Shapiro of Vevo breaks down music videos, content creation, YouTube, and surviving the music business grind.👀 What You’ll Hear:

• Learn how figure skating unexpectedly shaped Annie’s lifelong passion for music and creative storytelling
• Discover why ska music and college radio opened career doors and lasting friendships in the music industry
• Explore Vevo’s role as a global network supporting both emerging artists and established icons
• Hear Annie’s perspective on video production from DIY phone shoots to arena-level cinematic projects
• Understand the value of kindness, patience, and balance when navigating the fast-paced music business

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Growing up in West Virginia and skating to mixtapes

06:00 Family record collections, radio discovery, and music immersion

09:00 Ska, subgenres, and building lifelong music relationships

11:00 Brown University, college radio, and falling into music business

19:00 Vevo explained in one word and why network matters

24:00 Human curation, TV channels, and music discovery experience

26:00 Favourite music videos from Weezer to Beastie Boys

30:00 Advice on content types, YouTube algorithm, and authenticity

37:00 Career lessons on kindness, patience, and reputation

43:00 On tour with Mumford & Sons and meaningful experiences

48:00 AI, human creativity, and the future of music videos

51:00 Avoiding burnout, family balance, and creating real downtime