The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
by Focused Noise
Welcome to the Indie Playbook presented by Focused Noise, where we highlight independent music bosses, hustlers, and entrepreneurs, and break down their successes, failures, and life lessons. No gimmicks, just hopefully some beneficial tips and reminders that will help you along your way.
Episodes
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A3C Music Business Discussion: Getting on Tours, Festivals, and Shows
This is a special episode from the A3C Festival and Conference in Atlanta, where I was invited to speak on a panel about touring, festivals, and shows. We also gave some helpful tips on how to grow a fanbase organically and how to build an artist's overall brand. Our moderator was MICxSIC...
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Media Mastermind Justin Hunte- Create Your Own Path
Justin Hunte is the Head of Video Production & Development for Ambrosia For Heads, and Director of Content and Strategic Marketing at Empire Distribution. Formerly Editor-in-Chief of HipHopDX, Hunte is the architect behind DX's video platform and creator of popular series, #DXBreakdown. Hunte's...
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KXNG Crooked (Crooked I)- Winning Through Hard Work and Creativity
KXNG Crooked (AKA Crooked I) is one of Hip-Hop's all-time most respected lyricists. Suge Knight once hailed him as the next Tupac Shakur, and years later Eminem signed his group Slaughterhouse (with Joe Budden, Royce da 5'9", Joell Ortiz) to Shady Records. But that doesn't even begin to explain...
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Film Producer Gary Ousdahl- The Making of Warren G's "G-Funk" Documentary
Gary Ousdahl is the Owner and Manager of Advanced Management. He recently produced the upcoming Warren G documentary "G-Funk", which premiered at SXSW this past March and will be released in early 2018. Previously, Gary worked as an agent at William Morris. He also worked side by side with the...
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A&R Michael Chehadé- Realizing the Value in Yourself
Michael Chehadé is currently the Director of A&R and Creative Director with the Adler Music Group. Previously, he managed radio/ TV personality DJ Skee as well as Dash Radio. Chehadé was also a producer at Skee TV, which aired on Access and Fuse TV. Additionally, Michael is a known tastemaker,...
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Musician Adam Hamilton- From L.A. Guns to Vanilla Ice to William Shatner
Adam Hamilton is an accomplished, well-rounded musician who was discovered by C.C. Deville from Poison, and was the former bass guitarist for L.A. Guns. He's worked with everyone from Angie Stone to Vanilla Ice to William Shatner, who he continues to work with on a regular basis. Hamilton also…
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Music Entrepreneur Dame Ritter- Always Focus on Your Fans
Dame Ritter is best known as the co-founder of the successful Indie Hip-Hop label Funk Volume (Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, Jerren Benton). After the dissolution of the label, Dame founded the Music Entrepreneur Club, a music business educational platform. Dame also continues to work with a select group...
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Tastemaker Jen Deleon- Sacrificing Money for Your Own Happiness
Jen Deleon is a perfect example of the Indie Playbook lifestyle. She has proven her willingness to sacrifice money for her happiness in order to follow her dreams. She inspires a number of people daily through video content that allows her fans honest access into her personal and professional…
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Agent Jamie Adler- The Importance of Taking Risks and Helping Others
Jamie Adler has become a powerful force in the Hip-Hop world, but it wasn't always that way. Born into a rock n' roll family as the younger brother of Guns n' Roses co-founder and original drummer Steven Adler, Jamie initially utilized his family connections to secure a position as a rock agent....
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Artist/ DJ Hanif Wondir- Have Faith in Your Own Perspective
Hanif Wondir is a multi-talented artist, DJ, and graphic designer. He was voted "Best Club DJ" by readers of the Monterey County Weekly six times out of the last seven years. He is also the official DJ of the prestigious Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival. Hanif has toured the country and…
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Stance Socks's Albie Rosario- Just Be Good to People
Albie Rosario is the Men's Lifestyle Marketing Director at Stance Socks, which is currently one of the most cutting edge, forward thinking clothing brands in the game. You've probably seen a number of their incredible artist collaborations, including Tupac, A Tribe Called Quest, Michael Jackson's...
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Entrepreneur Josh Levine- Finding Your Own Style of Leadership
Josh Levine is yet another Indie Playbook guest with a wide range of experience in the music industry. Beginning as a journalist at the Source, XXL, Vibe, and URB among others, Josh went on to manage WC from The Westside Connection, and eventually created his own lane in the exciting world of...
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Talent Buyer and Manager Thomas Cussins- Why Mistakes are Crucial to your Success
Thomas Cussins is the co-founder of Ineffable Music Group, a company which manages the careers of Collie Buddz, Hieroglyphics, Stick Figure (who is personally managed by Thomas), and many more. Cussins is also the Head Talent Buyer for the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA, the Mystic Theatre in…
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Creed Bratton- Never Stop Believing in Yourself
Creed Bratton is the lovable enigmatic old man from the hit TV show The Office, known for some of the show's funniest one-liners. What fewer people know is that Creed also co-founded The Grass Roots, and was a huge rock star in the late sixties and early seventies. For over four years, Creed and…
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Journalist Soren Baker- A Love for Hip-Hop Created a Lifetime of Opportunities
Soren Baker is an incredibly respected journalist in the world of Hip-Hop. After years of writing and interviewing numerous rap legends, he went on to become the editor at The Source magazine, which was the bible for all of us Hip-Hop heads growing up. More recently, his online channel Unique...
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Artist Slimkid3- How Clarity and Creativity can Help you go the Distance (Part 1)
Tre Hardson AKA Slimkid3 is an MC, DJ, and Producer, best known for his work as a founding member of the groundbreaking Hip-Hop group The Pharcyde (Passin' Me By, Drop, Runnin). Tre is also a black belt in Taekwondo, and teacher of meditation and hip-hop. Tre discusses the legacy of The Pharcyde,...
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Promoter Sean Healy- Can Artists Benefit from Paying to Play Shows?
Episode 2 features special guest Sean Healy, owner of Sean Healy Presents, one of the largest independent concert promotions companies in the country. SHP operates out of Los Angeles, and the company promotes shows all over the west coast, as well as Chicago, NYC, and more. Healy has also been a...
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Manager Steve Lobel - Part 2 - How loyalty, integrity and hard work leads to longevity in the music business
Steve Lobel is a legend in the hip-hop game. After getting introduced to the music business by the late great Jam Master Jay from Run-DMC, Steve went on to become one of hip-hop's most recognizable managers. Currently, Lobel manages the legendary group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and super producer…
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Manager Steve Lobel - Part 1 - How loyalty, integrity and hard work leads to longevity in the music business
Steve Lobel is a legend in the hip-hop game. After getting introduced to the music business by the late great Jam Master Jay from Run-DMC, Steve went on to become one of hip-hop's most recognizable managers. Currently, Lobel manages the legendary group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and super producer…
more
About this show
Welcome to the Indie Playbook presented by Focused Noise, where we highlight independent music bosses, hustlers, and entrepreneurs, and break down their successes, failures, and life lessons. No gimmicks, just hopefully some beneficial tips and reminders that will help you along your way.
Hosted by
Focused Noise
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