The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

• Save the Music Brings Music Education To Schools in Need

  This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Henry Donahue, Executive Director of Save the Music Foundation which focuses to provide equitable access to music education for millions of students nationwide. They do so by donating instruments and music technology to schools, providing resources for music educators and advocating for them on a national level. In this episode, Ari and Henry explore the future of music education in 2025 and how to support Save the Music Foundation. Henry shares the history of the J. Dilla Music Technology Grant—launched with Pharrell’s support—and its impact in classrooms nationwide. They discuss the shift from band and theory toward production and technology, the inequities faced by schools of different socio-economic backgrounds, and how we can all help ensure students have access to music today and in the futurehttps://www.savethemusic.org/3:19 Introduction4:19 Role of Music Education in the Industry8:19 Ari & Henry’s Personal Journeys13:19 Save the Music Foundation Mission & impact23:19 Issues in schools33:19 Cultural Influence: Local culture’s role43:19 Modern Trends in Tech & Production53:19 Future: Where music education is headed58:19 Wrap-up & Call to ActionEdited and mixed by Peter SchruppMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Who Olivia Rodrigo, Green Day and Beyonce Turn to for Mental Health Services for Their Tours

  This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Dr. Chayim Newman and Zack Borer, co-founders of Amber Health, an organization dedicated to improving mental health in the music industry. Zack and Dr. Chayim discuss their experience supporting tours for artists like Billie Eilish, Green Day, Olivia Rodrigo, Beyoncé, and more. Their work is reshaping the way the music industry supports the well-being of artists, crew members, and even label teams.In this candid conversation, Dr. Chayim, Zack, and Ari explore the mental health challenges that come with life on the road, the pressures of performance, and the lack of traditional support systems in music. They also share how Amber Health is working to change that—embedding mental health professionals directly into tours and collaborating with labels to build long-term wellness infrastructure. Dr. Chayim and Zack discuss the specific services offered by Amber Health, their impactful work on Olivia Rodrigo's tour, and the broader implications of mental health support in the industry. This conversation underscores the need for sustainable practices and proactive mental health care to ensure the well-being of everyone in the music business.www.amber.health3:34 Introduction and Welcome4:04 Importance of Mental Health in the Music Industry8:34 Dr. Chayim Newman's Background and Journey13:34 Zack Borer's Experience and Transition to Therapy18:34 Founding and Mission of Amber Health23:34 Challenges and Mental Health Issues in the Music Industry28:34 Amber Health's Approach and Services33:34 Case Study: Olivia Rodrigo's Tour38:34 Future of Mental Health Support in Music43:34 Final Thoughts and Closing RemarksEdited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Old Dominion on Songwriting, Keeping Band Harmony and Maintaining a Die Hard Fan Base

  This week, Ari is joined by Matthew Ramsey, lead singer of Old Dominion, to discuss songwriting, touring, and artistic integrity. Old Dominion’s skyscraping anthems and electrifying live shows have put the multi-platinum-selling band at the forefront of country music, with nine No. 1 singles, over five billion streams, and multiple platinum certifications. They are the reigning 8X ACM and 7X CMA “Group of the Year,” holding the record for most consecutive CMA Vocal Group wins. In 2025, they earned their historic 8th consecutive ACM Group of the Year award, breaking all-time records. Their highly anticipated sixth album Barbara (August 22) and the How Good Is That World Tour will take them nationwide in 2025. In this episode, Ari and Matthew explore Old Dominion's creative journey and the stories behind their latest album. They delve into the inspiration for the iconic album cover, the songwriting process, and the balance between being a cover band and original artists. Matthew shares insights on the importance of staying true to one's art and offers valuable advice for aspiring musicians. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about music, creativity, and the evolving landscape of the music industry.https://www.instagram.com/mtramseyhttps://www.instagram.com/olddominionmusic3:40 - Introduction and Tour Discussion5:55 - Who's Barbara?9:10 - Album Concept and Humor14:25 - Songwriting Process and "Miss You Man"21:40 - The Journey to Nashville29:10 - Balancing Cover Bands and Original Music36:25 - Choosing Singles and Label Dynamics43:40 - The Importance of Staying True to Your Art50:55 - Advice for Young Artists58:40 - Closing Thoughts on Success in MusicEdited and mixed by Peter SchruppMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• How Merch Companies Help Artists Thrive

  This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Tersha Willis, co-founder and CEO of terrible*, a UK-based merch company known for its artist-first approach. With a background in fashion, Tersha brings a fresh and progressive perspective to the merch game. terrible* runs merch for artists of all levels including Japanese Breakfast, The xx, CMAT, King Krule, Fever Ray, and more. She’s been recognized on the AIM Altpower100 Music List and has spoken at events like BBC Introducing, SXSW, and AIM, as well as being featured in outlets including BBC, C4, Wallpaper Magazine, Vox, and MusicAlly for her innovative work in the music merch industry. Tersha and Ari discuss the challenges artists face in turning fan support into income—especially in an era dominated by streaming and large conglomerates taking cuts from merch sales. Tersha explains how terrible*’s unique approach, including a merch operating system, helps artists create sustainable income through high-quality, data-informed campaigns. The conversation also covers the nuances of live versus online sales, the power of pre-orders, and innovative direct-to-fan strategies that can turn merch into a vital piece of an artist’s long-term success.https://www.instagram.com/terriblegrphttps://www.instagram.com/tersha_willis/03:40 – Introduction: Ari welcomes Tersha Willis.05:41 – The Digital Landscape: Streaming and social media metrics.09:11 – Terrible Merch: Tersha’s company and approach to merch.13:41 – Merchandising Operations: How merch companies work.18:41 – Revenue Models: Ways artists profit from merch.23:41 – Tips and Merch Sellers: The tipping debate at merch tables.28:41 – Online and Live Operations: Blending online and live sales.33:41 – Pre-order Campaigns: Why pre-orders help artists.38:41 – Creative Merchandising: Engaging fans through merch.43:41 – Marketing Strategies: Selling artist merchandise.48:41 – Genre Differences: How genre impacts merch sales.53:41 – Final Thoughts: Tersha’s view of success.58:41 – Closing Remarks: Ari wraps up the episode.Edited and mixed by Peter SchruppMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Naethan Apollo Is Building a Fantasy World of Real Fans

  This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Naethan Apollo, an independent artist known for blending immersive storytelling with genre-bending songwriting. With over 1.4 million followers on TikTok and more than 500K monthly listeners on Spotify, Naethan has built a loyal fanbase through a mix of creative world-building, DIY ethos, and direct fan engagement. His latest project, Tales From Cazilor: Wyldflowers, an ambitious fusion of concept album, musical, and animated series that showcases his unique narrative vision.In this conversation, Naethan opens up about the intersection of storytelling and songwriting in his work, and how his creative influences shaped his latest release. He also offers a surprisingly hopeful take on AI in music and reflects on how social media played a major role in his rise. The conversation digs into how he built a dedicated community around his work, the importance of setting boundaries for mental health, and how he’s redefining success on his own terms. Looking ahead, Naethan shares what’s next for his career and what motivates him to keep creating.https://www.instagram.com/naethan_apollo/00:00 - Introduction and Naethan's arrival02:15 - Discussing "Tales from Casalor: Wildflowers"10:30 - The inspiration behind combining music and storytelling18:45 - Naethan's creative process and influences25:00 - Navigating social media and building a fanbase35:20 - The role of community and fan engagement45:00 - Challenges of mental health and setting boundaries55:30 - Future plans and aspirations for Naethan's music and storytelling01:05:00 - Closing thoughts and Naethan's definition of success in the music industryEdited and mixed by Peter SchruppMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari’s TakeOrder the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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