True AF Podcast

In Episode 188 of the True AF Podcast, host Eric Fuller interviews event promoter Liv Johnson, who discusses her involvement in various high-profile projects, including the successful SantaCon event, which sold out with 6,000 tickets and featured multiple stages, such as a UFC wrestling ring. Liv also shares details about the upcoming Friendship Cruise from Miami to Belize, which is 90% sold out and will showcase renowned artists like Disclosure and Anderson Paak, along with unique party experiences hosted by the Almost Naked crew on a private island. The conversation further explores Almost Naked's corporate collaborations, upcoming events in La Jolla, and Liv's commitment to rejuvenating the local scene, hinting at exciting developments, including a potential Coachella announcement.

In the True AF Podcast Episode 187, host Eric Fuller interviews musician Joseph Ray, who shares insights about his extensive 23-year journey with the electronic music group Nero and his solo career launched eight years ago. The discussion begins with Ray’s musical evolution, highlighting his diverse style that spans house, techno, and progressive house, in contrast to Nero's bass-heavy sound. He notes a significant shift in the EDM audience, which now includes older age groups and has moved towards a more mainstream appeal. Upcoming projects include performances at the Ministry of Sound in London, Ultra Miami, and the Anjunadeep festival in Albania, as well as the potential for a new label and collaborations. Joseph also discusses the challenges of touring and the excitement of completing a solo album, hinting at a possible project with Haitian group Lakou Mizik.

In the True AF Podcast Episode 186, host Eric Fuller conducts an engaging interview with Stephen Galanis, co-founder of Cameo, a platform allowing users to request personalized video messages from a diverse array of 70,000 celebrities. The discussion begins with an introduction to Cameo as the modern equivalent of an autograph, highlighting its reflection of pop culture. Galanis explains the business model, where Cameo takes a 30% commission, and discusses the platform's impressive statistics, including over 8 million transactions and the launch of Cameo for Business. The conversation shifts to Cameo's future, emphasizing its goal to expand internationally and reach 50 million users, as well as enhancing tools for talent to engage their audiences. Additionally, Galanis shares insights into Cameo's long-term strategy, including potential public trading and the development of a 'Cameo TV' concept aimed at amplifying user-generated content. The meeting concludes with action items focused on improving customer engagement and maintaining a strong in-person company culture in Chicago.

In Episode 185 of the True AF Podcast, host Joseph Perla, CEO and founder of Hangout, discusses the innovative social platform designed for music lovers seeking connection and unity through shared listening experiences. Hangout allows users to stream music in virtual spaces, offering a freemium model with subscription options starting at $4.99 per month. Key features include integration with popular playlist services, personalized hangout spaces, and artist-fan interaction options, enhancing user engagement. The platform currently boasts 500,000 users and focuses on growing its business through subscriptions and virtual goods sales without taking a commission on merchandise. Partnerships with major music labels and plans for future features such as concert ticket distribution and location-based hangouts indicate strong growth potential as the platform continues to gain traction in the music industry. Action items from the meeting include releasing detailed subscription plans, launching location-based hangouts, and implementing concert ticket distribution.

In the True AF Podcast Episode 185, host Eric Fuller interviews Eelko van Kooten, founder of Collab House, a platform designed to enhance music sync and licensing rights for independent artists. The discussion begins with Eelko's extensive background in the music industry, including his experience with a record label and his goal of helping artists gain exposure through digital distribution to major platforms like Spotify. They delve into the business model of Collab House, which takes a 25% cut from paid music licenses, allowing artists to set their own pricing while employing advanced technology like Shazam for rights verification. The conversation also explores Eelko's vision for future growth, including expanding their catalog and ongoing collaborations with major labels such as Warner and Sony.

In the True AF Podcast Episode 184, host Eric Fuller interviews Arash Homampour, a multifaceted musician, DJ, producer, and lawyer known as 'the Archer.' The episode opens with Arash sharing his diverse background and passion for music, highlighting his latest single "Say Your Grace," which conveys a spiritual message through Afro beats. The conversation delves into his creative process, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and his unique approach to DJing—focusing on fresh, undiscovered tracks rather than mainstream hits. Arash discusses his foundations, 'There's a Light' and his new label 'Venerable,' dedicated to supporting emerging artists with grants to advance their careers. He concludes by sharing his philosophy on giving back to the community through music, encapsulated in his motto of prioritizing support over consumption. The episode highlights Arash's commitment to creativity and philanthropy in the evolving landscape of the music industry.

In the True AF podcast Episode 183, host Eric Fuller engages with Andrew Kelsey, founder of Liaison Artists, and Marissa Stevens, Vice President, to discuss the intricacies of their talent agency that specializes in managing electronic music artists across North and South America. The conversation covers their business model, emphasizing their role solely as a talent agency rather than promoters, and highlights the importance of artist management and event strategies, including balancing high-paying and low-paying gigs to foster long-term growth. The duo elaborates on the company's structure, with Kelsey focusing on business operations and Stevens managing internal staffing, and they provide insights into current industry trends, including the rising popularity of electronic music through various platforms. They also outline future plans for growth and logistical operations from their offices in Brooklyn and San Francisco, underscoring their commitment to artist development and quality service in a rapidly evolving market.

In the True AF podcast's Episode 182, host Eric Fuller engages with Zach Sugarman and Jennifer Van Dyke from Superplastic, a cutting-edge animated IP company known for its high-end collectible toys and a vibrant fan base of 22 million. The discussion spans the introduction of their unique characters, Janky and Gugimon, and their recent venture, the Dopamine Institute for Pleasure Research in Las Vegas, which offers an immersive retail experience. They outline Superplastic's business model, highlighting its successful plans for expansion, including potential YouTube content and character development through proprietary AI tools. The podcast also delves into their edgy marketing strategies, collaborations with notable musicians, and a diverse social media presence, all aimed at captivating a 14+ audience while exploring innovative monetization avenues. Action items include producing longer YouTube episodes and investigating synthetic celebrity musicians to further enhance their brand.

In this episode of the True AF podcast, the founders of Emo Nite, Morgan Freed and TJ Petraka, share the origins and evolution of their brand, starting from small events with a laptop and Blink 182 songs to hosting large-scale festivals across the country. They discuss how Emo Nite has grown to incorporate both classic and contemporary emo music while recently branching into electronic dance music through collaborations, including working with Insomniac. The duo dives into their franchise model that has led to rapid expansion and mentions the effective partnership with Insomniac, which has provided resources while allowing for creative expression. They also reflect on the brand's evolution, share insights on their future plans including larger events like Emo Night Day festival, and acknowledge the importance of family support during the early stages of their journey.

In the latest episode of the True AF Podcast, host Anyma discusses his recent performances at Sphere in Las Vegas, highlighting how these shows concluded his Genesis narrative and showcased his innovative performance setup, which included two custom-built Dove controllers and robotic cellos. The interview covers the technical aspects of his hybrid live DJ setup, allowing for real-time manipulation of sound and choreography, and hints at the possibility of future engagements at Sphere. Anyma also reflects on his 15-year career, emphasizing his focus on artistic integrity and creative composition over commercial success while contemplating his next steps in a rapidly evolving music landscape. Key action items include exploring future Sphere shows and balancing mainstream appeal with his artistic vision.