The Future of What

Episode #118: Last year, outlets like the Washington Post lamented the decline of the electric guitar and the supposed absence of American guitar heroes. In September of 2017, She Shreds Magazine published an article called "We Are The 50%: The Truth Behind the Supposed Decline of the Guitar," pushing back against this narrative. On this episode, we talk with the author of the piece, Natlie Baker, She Shreds Magazine editor-in-chief Fabi Reyna, Alicia Bognanno (Bully), and Trade Up Music manager Alexa Marmon about what's really going on in the guitar industry. Subscribe to The Future of What: hyperurl.co/krsfow Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl

Episode #117: “Where Are All the Female Producers?” “Why Aren’t There More Women Working in Audio?” Why don’t more women “step up” in music? These are just some of the questions that continue to baffle the mainstream music industry. Yet, there are (and have been) many talented women working in recording. On this episode, we talk to people working toward broader inclusion and accessibility in recording. Madeleine Campbell is the editor of the Women in Sound zine, which is “dedicated to women, queer, & trans* people in all areas of live & recorded sound.” Madeleine also runs Accessible Recording, a studio in Pittsburgh which offers sliding scale rates in an effort to stay affordable for those with no label support, free learning opportunities, and free childcare. Terri Winston, executive director of Women’s Audio Mission, also joins us to share the organization’s goals and accomplishments as the only professional recording studio in the world built and run by women. We also hear from Andrew Jones, a recording engineer in Denton, TX, whose studio caters to underrepresented emerging artists. Learn more: www.accessiblerecording.com www.hearandrewjones.com/the-nest www.womensaudiomission.org Subscribe to The Future of What: hyperurl.co/krsfow Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl

Episode #116: These days there’s nothing but data out there — social media statistics, Spotify artist insights, info about who your fans are, where they are, and when they listen to your music. But what do you do with all this data? And who is really benefiting from it? Experts Kevin Erickson (Future of Music Coalition), Erica Sinkovic (CD Baby), Susie Giang (APA), and Zeke Howard (Trailboss) join Portia to discuss how artists can put their data to work. Subscribe to The Future of What: hyperurl.co/krsfow Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl

Portia is off to SXSW and Treefort! We'll be back with a new episode on March 30th! In the meantime, check out some of our past episodes, like last week's conversation about recovery and addiction in the music industry, or brush up on the Fair Play Fair Pay Act! If you're headed to Treefort, come to our panels at JUMP!

This episode contains discussions of addiction and suicide. Episode #115: The stereotype of “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” is pervasive in music. The music business often fosters an environment where addiction is the norm, but many artists and industry professionals who are in recovery have successfully stayed in the industry. Today, we talk to a few of those people about their experiences, advice for those who are struggling, and resources like MusiCares. We hear from Gene Bowen, founder of Road Recovery, Slim Moon, founder of Kill Rock Stars, and Rob Crow of Pinback. Resources: Road Recovery: http://www.roadrecovery.org/ MusiCares: https://www.grammy.com/musicares National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Subscribe to The Future of What: hyperurl.co/krsfow Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl

Episode #114: When people start a band, they’re entering relationships that will hopefully last for years. Contracts can be helpful in remembering what you agreed to years later. We talk to lawyer Gandhar Savur about what to expect when entering into a contract with bandmates or a label. What’s normal in a record deal? How do indie label contracts generally differ from majors? What are percentage deals? Gandhar gives practical advice for anyone about to sign a deal. We also hear from musician Justin Ringle who has been navigating contracts through his band Horse Feathers since 2004. Subscribe to The Future of What: hyperurl.co/krsfow Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl

Episode #113: What is the Music Modernization Act and how could it impact songwriters? On this episode we hear from people who have worked on this new bill and those whose livelihoods will be affected if it passes. David Israelite, President and CEO of the NMPA explains who the key players are and clears up some common misunderstandings surrounding the MMA. We also hear from RIAA President Mitch Glazier about the timeline of the act, and Blake Morgan (#IRespectMusic) shares pros and cons from an artists’ perspective. Subscribe to The Future of What: hyperurl.co/krsfow Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl

Episode #112: Social media has become a vital tool for artists to connect with their fans, but knowing where to invest your time, energy, and even money can be difficult. After all, you probably didn’t become a musician to spend hours on Facebook figuring out which markets to advertise to. On this episode, we gather concrete tips for musicians to efficiently and effectively use social media, playlists, and newsletters. We’re joined by Daniel Bozyk, a Social Content & Marketing Specialist who runs Bozyk Digital Media, Tracey Gill Miller, Global Marketing Manager at CD Baby, and musician Gil Assayas of Glasys. Special thanks to Vortex Music Magazine Subscribe to The Future of What: hyperurl.co/krsfow Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl

BONUS: Dewey Halpaus is a musician and founding member of Anatomy of a Ghost and The Burning Room. He's also toured as a guitarist for Portugal. The Man. Now, Dewey hosts The Peer Pleasure Podcast, where he interviews musicians and creatives. We discuss his music career, podcasting, and more. http://peerpleasurepodcast.com/

Episode #111: Last year, we recorded a conversation with the many women who hold positions in Pearl Jam's road crew, like sound engineer and production manager. The women discussed life on the road and shared their advice for young women looking for jobs in the industry. We also look back at an interview with Pearl Jam's lead guitarist, Mike McCready, about the band's activism and McCready's own work outside the group. Subscribe to The Future of What: hyperurl.co/krsfow Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl