Modern Musician Podcast

Paul Sampson is the Founder and CEO of Lickd, a pioneering music licensing platform that empowers content creators to legally use mainstream music in their videos without copyright risks. With more than a decade of leadership experience in sync licensing at companies like Extreme Music and Music Dealers, Paul has played a key role in bridging the gap between rights holders and the creator economy. Under his leadership, Lickd has partnered with over 10,000 labels and publishers, offering creators access to a vast library of popular chart music.In this episode, Paul Sampson reveals how Lickd is transforming music licensing for creators and explores the future of music in the age of generative AI.Key Takeaways:Discover how Lickd is revolutionizing access to mainstream music for creators and brands.Learn why emotional connection in music remains irreplaceable, even with AI’s rapid rise. Explore the future of user-generated content and what it means for the music industry.---→ Learn more about Paul and Lickd at https://lickd.co/.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast

Justin Boreta is a founding member of The Glitch Mob, the pioneering electronic group whose music has amassed hundreds of millions of streams and sold out tours worldwide. Beyond the stage, Boreta has collaborated with spiritual leaders like Ram Dass and innovative projects like Wavepaths, merging music with mindfulness, healing, and psychedelic therapy. As an advisor and creator at the frontier of music and technology, he’s shaping immersive audio, AI-driven art, and the future of creative expression.In this episode, Justin Boreta reveals how music, mindfulness, and technology are converging to heal, inspire, and transform.Key Takeaways:Discover how music can be a powerful tool for healing, self-exploration, and even psychedelic therapy.Learn how AI and immersive audio are shaping the future of music while keeping the human touch alive.Hear Justin’s advice for artists on taking action, nurturing creativity, and connecting deeply through their work. ---→ Learn more about Justin Boreta’s work at https://boreta.net.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast

Caleb Shreve, founder and CEO of Killphonic Rights, is a pioneering advocate for artist empowerment and transparency in the music industry. With a career spanning music production, publishing, and rights management, Caleb has worked with Grammy-winning talent while building a company dedicated to helping independent artists collect the royalties they’re owed. His expertise bridges the gap between creative artistry and the often opaque business side of music, making him a leading voice in modernizing rights management and creating fairer revenue models for musicians worldwide.In this episode, we explore how Caleb is challenging the status quo and creating new pathways for indie artists to thrive.Key Takeaways:How “black box” royalties work—and why so much indie artist income goes unclaimed.The role NFTs and user-centric streaming models could play in reshaping music monetization.Practical steps every artist can take to protect their rights and maximize royalty collection.---→ Learn more about Caleb Shreve and Killphonic Rights at killphonicrights.com.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast

Natasha Brito is a Creative Director and Marketer in the music industry, and the Founder + CEO of Austere and Artist House. From her beginnings as a MySpace artist to leading creative campaigns at Sony Music, Natasha has helped shape the visual and marketing identities of both emerging and major artists. Her course, The Iconic Artist Blueprint, has empowered over 10,000 artists to build standout brands and viral social strategies. Natasha’s visuals-first approach helps musicians thrive by turning attention into loyalty and aesthetics into impact.In this episode, Natasha shares how musicians can build iconic brands and create viral content that connects deeply with fans. Key Takeaways: Why consistent branding and aesthetics are essential for artist credibility and long-term growthHow to balance organic and paid social strategies to grow your audience fasterProven tactics to turn engagement into email list growth and loyal fan relationships---→ Learn more about Natasha’s work at https://www.artisthousekey.com/.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast

Julien Christian Lutz, known professionally as Director X, is an acclaimed Canadian music video and film director celebrated for shaping the visual identity of modern music. A protégé of Hype Williams, he’s directed iconic videos for Drake, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West. His visionary work extends to film and television, including Superfly and Robyn Hood. Beyond entertainment, Lutz co-founded Operation Prefrontal Cortex, using mindfulness to combat gun violence. His dedication to storytelling and social change has positioned him as one of the most influential voices in contemporary visual media.In this episode, Director X shares how authenticity, emotion, and innovation shape powerful music videos—and how indie artists can rise by embracing their unique voice in a rapidly evolving industry.Key Takeaways:Discover how to use performance and emotion to make your music videos truly unforgettable.Learn why authenticity is the secret weapon for standing out in today’s saturated music landscape.Understand how to navigate new technologies like AI without losing the human soul of your art.---→ Learn more about Director X at op-pfc.com/.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast

Daniel Sander is the Chief Commercial Officer at Feature.fm, a cutting-edge music marketing platform helping artists connect with fans through smart links, pre-saves, and data-driven tools. With a background in finance and entrepreneurship from Syracuse University, Daniel blends tech innovation with artist advocacy, empowering musicians to grow their audiences and careers. He's a key voice in reshaping the music marketing landscape, focusing on fan engagement, monetization, and artist sustainability through tools that bridge creativity and strategy in the digital age.In this episode, Daniel Sander shares how independent artists can turn their passion into a profitable business using innovative music marketing tools and a clear growth strategy.Key Takeaways:Discover how Feature.fm helps artists build deeper fan relationships and track real engagement.Learn why understanding your fan base and building a support team are vital to scaling your music career.Explore how artists can use AI and new funding models to sustain and grow their music business.---→ Learn more about Daniel Sander and explore tools for artist success at Feature.fm.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast

Rick Farman is the co-founder of Superfly, the visionary company behind some of the most iconic music and cultural festivals of the 21st century, including Bonnaroo and Outside Lands. A Tulane University graduate, Rick launched his career in New Orleans' legendary music scene before co-founding Superfly in 1996. Since then, he has pioneered immersive, community-centered experiences that fuse music, art, and culture. With nearly three decades of expertise, Rick has also led groundbreaking brand partnerships and experiential marketing campaigns, making Superfly a trailblazer in live entertainment and audience engagement.In this episode, Rick Farman shares how Superfly revolutionized the festival experience by blending technology, community, and creativity to deepen audience engagement and empower indie artists.Key Takeaways:Discover how Superfly helped launch Bonnaroo with a vision for national impact and immersive fan experiences.Learn how indie artists can build meaningful communities through collaboration and experiential design.Explore how AI and technology are reshaping audience engagement and the future of live events.---→ To learn more about Rick Farman and Superfly’s work, visit https://superf.ly/.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast

Dmitri Vietze is the founder and CEO of Rock Paper Scissors, a leading PR and marketing agency that helps music tech innovators tell compelling stories. Since launching the agency in 1999, Dmitri has remained at the forefront of music technology and innovation, also founding StoryAmp, a DIY PR platform. He hosts the Music Tectonics Podcast, curates the Rock Paper Scanner newsletter, and organizes the annual Music Tectonics Conference. A respected speaker and community builder, Dmitri is a trusted voice in the evolving intersection of music, media, and technology.In this episode, Dmitri Vietze shares how artists can navigate the evolving music industry by leveraging technology, storytelling, and strategic PR to build sustainable careers. Key Takeaways:Why defining your music as a hobby or a career is a crucial first step for long-term success.How innovative tools like Moises and BandLab are transforming music creation and monetization.The role of PR, networking, and the Music Tectonics Conference in building industry connections and career momentum.---→ Learn more about Dmitri and his work at MusicTectonics.comBook an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast

Gaurav Sharma is the Founder & CEO of Hook, an AI-powered music platform that empowers fans to create authorized remixes while ensuring artists and rights holders are fairly compensated. A visionary in music tech, Sharma previously served as COO of JioSaavn, where he helped grow India’s largest music streaming service to over 200 million monthly users. With a deep understanding of the intersection between innovation and the music industry, Sharma is pioneering the future of fan engagement and co-creation through ethical, artist-first technology.In this episode, Michael Walker chats with Gaurav Sharma about how AI and remix culture are transforming fan engagement, the rise of co-creation, and lessons from scaling JioSaavn that independent artists can use to grow their careers.Key Takeaways:How Hook is using AI to revolutionize fan engagement and empower artist-approved remixes.Why the future of music is co-creation and how artists can build deeper connections through collaborative content.Lessons from scaling JioSaavn to 200M users — and what independent artists can learn from it.---→ Discover more about Gaurav and Hook at www.hookmusic.com.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast

Andrew Southworth is the founder of Genera Studios, a marketing expert, music educator, and entrepreneur known for helping indie artists scale their streaming numbers and build loyal fanbases. With a background in engineering and a passion for music, Andrew has merged data-driven strategies with creative artistry to empower musicians in today’s digital landscape. Through YouTube tutorials, consulting, and advertising services, he has helped thousands of artists generate real results—often hitting millions of streams—while maintaining artistic independence and building sustainable careers.In this episode, Andrew Southworth breaks down the core marketing strategies that actually move the needle for indie artists in today’s streaming economy.Key Takeaways:How to use advertising to generate predictable Spotify growthWhy understanding streaming data is essential for long-term successActionable tips to build real fan relationships and monetize music authentically---→ Discover more about Andrew’s work at Genera Studios.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast