Bobby Owsinski's Inner Circle Podcast

How do you build merch that actually connects with fans? In this episode of Bobby Owsinski’s Inner Circle, I sit down with Seamus Menihane, CEO of Armada, a top-tier merch company helping artists, from indies to heavy hitters, turn merch into a true brand extension. If you've ever wondered what merch sells best, how to price it, or how to avoid costly mistakes, Seamus breaks it all down. With his roots as a touring drummer and years running Downright Merch, he’s built Armada into a full-scale merch partner that delivers everything from screen printing to full e-commerce. This is your inside look at what works, what flops, and how artists can take control of their merch game. KEY TAKEAWAYS • Keep your merch line small and focused • Over-ordering too many products hurts profitability • Best-selling item is still the black t-shirt • Vinyl reissues and preorders perform extremely well • Indie artists need to think beyond just screen printing • Custom apparel adds premium pricing but costs more to produce • Merchandise profit margins depend on volume • E-commerce is essential for indie artist success • Print-on-demand is a smart test tool for new ideas • Merch advances are real, but mostly for high-end artists BEST MOMENTS 00:01:05. “Armada is a result of a recent merger between Downright Merch and Overcast Merch.” 00:02:12. “We lead first with the direct to consumer side of the business.” 00:03:25. “We proactively put designs in front of them.” 00:04:16. “I would go on tour and come back and I would work at a screen printing shop.” 00:10:28. “You can’t go wrong with a black t-shirt.” 00:12:06. “Custom apparel that we design definitely sells at a premium.” 00:14:52. “The kids just aren’t drinking anymore.” 00:26:01. “Consistency day in and day out… that’s crucial for any endeavor.” Thank you for tuning in to Bobby Owsinski’s Inner Circle, the podcast that takes you deep inside the music industry. Each week, Bobby shares insights, news, analysis, and conversations with the movers and shakers shaping today’s music world. 📌 Explore Bobby’s best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ 🎧 Discover more mixing and production courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ 📲 Follow Bobby for more tips, insights, and updates: • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social 🎙️ New episodes release every Tuesday at 9AM Pacific on YouTube and your favorite podcast app. Music. Business. Creativity. Straight from the Inner Circle. Produced by APodcastGeek https://apodcastgeek.com/

How Mark Wood Reinvented the Violin and Inspired a Generation On this episode of Bobby Owsinski’s Inner Circle, I’m joined by recording artist, performer, inventor, Emmy-winning composer, and music education advocate Mark Wood. Known as the original string master of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mark shares how he revolutionized the world of string instruments with his electric violin designs and helped ignite a movement in music education with his Electrify Your Symphony program. We explore the intersection of classical training and rock performance, the birth of his iconic Viper violin, and the entrepreneurial drive that’s powered his decades-long career. KEY TAKEAWAYS: • Music is essential for emotional and creative development • The violin remained unchanged for over 500 years before Mark’s innovations • Inspiration came from Hendrix, Van Halen, and his own woodworking family • The invention of the self-supporting electric violin changed live performance • Amplifying bowed instruments requires entirely different tech than guitars • Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s early days started with skepticism and QVC • Electrify Your Symphony has reached over a million students in 28 years • Entrepreneurship is essential for modern musicians • Juilliard experience shaped his approach, even after leaving • Self-made artists must think like business owners, not just performers BEST MOMENTS: 00:02:09. “You might or may not be able to name any other violin maker except Stradivarius.” 00:05:33. “As a 15 year old I was mentored by Leonard Bernstein.” 00:07:13. “What are you going to do with your life? And I said, I want to be a rock violin player.” 00:10:27. “So it's a violin with a hand, right? Carved exactly like it in my hand.” 00:13:29. “With a bow, I'm able to get that sustain the guitar players always are trying to get.” 00:18:09. “We're putting together a rock orchestra. Awesome. And we want you to be the orchestra.” 00:21:00. “A teacher after that came up to me. Mark, can you put together a Trans-Siberian orchestra at our school?” 00:38:22. “Stoicism and real focus on making sure that you're in control of how you respond to the world.” Thank you for tuning in to Bobby Owsinski’s Inner Circle, the podcast that takes you deep inside the music industry. Each week, Bobby shares insights, news, analysis, and conversations with the movers and shakers shaping today’s music world. 📌 Explore Bobby’s best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ 🎧 Discover more mixing and production courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ 📲 Follow Bobby for more tips, insights, and updates: • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social 🎙️ New episodes release every Tuesday at 9AM Pacific on YouTube and your favorite podcast app. Music. Business. Creativity. Straight from the Inner Circle. Produced by APodcastGeek https://apodcastgeek.com/

Barry Coffing has lived every corner of the music business, from opera scholarships to songwriting for Hollywood films, and now, innovating the licensing space. As founder of MusicSupervisor.com and WeGetArtists.com, Barry has reshaped how independent musicians connect with opportunities in film, TV, and beyond. In this episode, Barry shares his journey from club gigs to scoring major placements, the evolution of his licensing platform, and why transparency and fairness for artists drive everything he builds. We also dig into the challenges and possibilities of AI in music, why flaws can make music more human, and Barry’s powerful advice for creators: make the art you want, then fight like hell to share it. Listen in for a mix of war stories, practical licensing wisdom, and fresh perspectives on how artists can thrive in today’s ever-changing industry. Catch the full conversation and unlock insights that could transform your career in music licensing.

In this episode of Bobby Owsinski’s Inner Circle podcast, I sit down with Francois Barrillon, Neural DSP’s plugins product manager and product lead for their new vocal plugin Mantra. Francois shares how he went from building guitar pedals in his spare time to leading development on one of the most innovative vocal tools available today. We talk about Neural DSP’s expansion beyond guitars, how Mantra was designed to be an all-in-one studio solution, and what it takes to create plugins that blend analog feel with digital power. In This Episode: • How Francois got into music tech through analog gear • Why Neural DSP made a vocal plugin • Mantra’s tracking mode and low-latency design • How Sculpt uses spectral EQ to fix vocals fast • Quad Cortex gear and crossover into non-metal markets • Francois’s journey from L’Oreal to Neural DSP • The company’s global team and HQ in Helsinki • Combining analog modeling with new DSP possibilities -- Additional Resources: To learn more about Mantra, visit https://neuraldsp.com -- Key Takeaways: 00:00:00 - Coming up... 00:00:28 - Meet Francois Barrillon from Neural DSP 00:01:18 - Why a guitar company made a vocal plugin 00:02:08 - Expanding DSP tech beyond guitar 00:03:10 - Inside Mantra’s tracking and mixing modes 00:04:20 - Latency issues and performance design 00:05:08 - Real-time effects boost vocal confidence 00:06:34 - The full Mantra plugin vision 00:07:22 - Quad Cortex and gigging with compact gear 00:08:51 - Francois’s path from L’Oreal to music tech 00:10:15 - Why the vocal plugin was the next big move 00:13:19 - Who Mantra is built for 00:14:17 - Latency: myths vs. real-world use 00:17:47 - Why all-in-one design reduces latency 00:18:13 - Home studio users and smart EQ with Sculpt 00:21:02 - Sculpt’s compression, de-essing, and normalization 00:23:52 - Neural DSP’s team, HQ, and remote setup 00:25:05 - Francois’s non-metal roots at Neural DSP 00:26:20 - From metal plugins to mainstream expansion 00:27:08 - Mantra’s clean demo and audience feedback 00:28:08 - DIY gear nerd to product lead 00:30:07 - Modeling analog vs. creating new tools 00:31:57 - Final thoughts and wrap-up — In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this episode of the Inner Circle Podcast, I sit down with Ritesh Patel, the CEO and founder of Ticket Fairy, a next-generation ticketing platform helping promoters market and manage events. What makes Ticket Fairy unique is its built-in word-of-mouth referral system, where fans can earn rebates—or even free tickets—by getting friends to buy. Ritesh brings a wealth of experience to the platform. Having promoted over 400 shows worldwide, and with a background in cloud and systems administration, he had the vision to reimagine how event promotion and ticketing could work. That vision attracted investors including the founders of YouTube, Twitch, and Reddit. Alongside Ticket Fairy, Ritesh is also Director of LOCUS, a music series hosted in Tulum, Bali, Bristol, and Sydney, featuring some of the world’s most acclaimed DJs, producers, and live acts. 🎯 In this episode, we cover: festival promotion and gig marketingsecondary ticket marketevent promotion around the globeevent technology and ticketing platformstech entrepreneur This is a must-listen for promoters, event organizers, and artists who want to understand where ticketing and live events are headed. 📍 Recorded from Ritesh’s office in London. A video version of the podcast is also available on YouTube. _ Additional Resources: To learn more about Ritesh and The Ticket Fairy, please visit https://www.ticketfairy.com/ – (FREE DOWNLOAD) The Magic EQ Frequencies everyone with a DAW should know: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/magic-freqs-registration Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this episode of the Inner Circle Podcast, I talk with Mitch Beer, a Philadelphia-based session bass player and multi-talented music professional. Mitch has toured with Grammy-winning Digable Planets and The Bacon Brothers, and works as the go-to session bassist for Grammy-winning producer Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo. He also contributed as bassist and producer on Lil Uzi Vert’s #1 platinum album Pink Tape. Beyond session work, Mitch is the founder of Retro City B Room Studio, co-founder and co-host of the Asses in Seats Podcast, and serves as a Board Member of the Music Media Collective, supporting independent musicians. He’s also a Governor for the Philadelphia Chapter of the Grammys, and goes live on Instagram daily to share career advice for musicians. 🎯 In this episode, we discuss: break into professional session workcomfortable and inspiring studio environmentstorytelling in musicCareer adviceperformance, production, and mentorship If you’re a musician looking to navigate the music business, improve your studio workflow, or get inspired by someone working at every level of the industry, this episode is a must-listen. 📍 Recorded from Mitch’s office near Philadelphia. Additional Resources: Learn more about Mitch at mitchbeerbass.com – (FREE DOWNLOAD) The Magic EQ Frequencies everyone with a DAW should know: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/magic-freqs-registration Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this episode of the Inner Circle Podcast, I sit down with Barry Rudolph, an audio engineer and prolific technical writer whose career bridges classic studio work and in-depth gear expertise. Barry has worked on records with Rod Stewart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pat Benatar, and Hall & Oates, earning credits on more than 30 gold and platinum albums. Beyond his engineering work, Barry is recognized as the leading reviewer of pro audio gear and plugins, with more than 5,000 reviews published in Mix Magazine, Music Connection, Resolution, and other top publications. What we cover in this episode: aerospace engineeringtrends in audio gear and pluginssmart investmentremote music collaborationstudio work and tech writing With decades of experience both behind the console and inside the world of product reviews, Barry offers insights that are invaluable for engineers, producers, and gearheads alike. 📍 Recorded from Barry’s studio in North Hollywood. Additional Resources: To learn more about Barry, visit barryrudolph.com – (FREE DOWNLOAD) The Magic EQ Frequencies everyone with a DAW should know: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/magic-freqs-registration Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this episode of the Inner Circle Podcast, I’m joined by John von Seggern, the visionary behind Futureproof Music School—a next-generation program that blends personalized mentorship with AI-driven music production tools. Unlike traditional schools, Futureproof is designed to meet the needs of today’s independent artists. John brings over 30 years of experience as a studio musician, producer, and sound designer, including collaborations with electronic music pioneer Jon Hassell, extensive international touring, and contributions to major films such as Pixar’s Oscar-winning WALL·E. Before launching Futureproof, John led online education programs at Dubspot and Icon Collective, where he saw firsthand how outdated models failed to keep pace with modern music creation. In this episode, we discuss: If you’re curious about the future of music education, AI in creative learning, or simply want insights from a veteran producer, this episode is for you. Recorded from John’s studio in Los Angeles. Learn more about John at futureproofmusicschool.com Also, a video version of this podcast is now available on YouTube as well. --- (FREE DOWNLOAD) The Magic EQ Frequencies everyone with a DAW should know: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/magic-freqs-registration Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this episode of the Inner Circle Podcast, I talk with Tony Braunagel, one of the most respected drummers and producers in modern music. Tony has played on more than 200 albums, including Grammy-winning records by Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, and Buddy Guy. On stage, he’s performed with icons like B.B. King, Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, and dozens more. As a producer, Tony has worked on over 40 albums, many of which have won or been nominated for Grammys and Blues Music Awards. His credits include projects with Taj Mahal, Eric Burdon, Coco Montoya, Phantom Blues Band, and others. In this episode, we discuss: Whether you’re a musician, producer, or music fan, Tony’s stories and insights shine a light on the craft of performance and production at the highest level. Recorded from Tony’s studio in Los Angeles. Find out more about Tony at https://www.tonybraunagel.com/ Click here to watch a video version on YouTube. – (FREE DOWNLOAD) The Magic EQ Frequencies everyone with a DAW should know: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/magic-freqs-registration Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this episode of the Inner Circle Podcast, I’m joined by Jenna LoMonaco, a digital marketing powerhouse who currently leads marketing at ONErpm—a global music company offering artists distribution, publishing, marketing, and content production across 43 offices in 28 countries. Jenna’s career spans roles at Glassnote, Kobalt, and Island Records, where she spearheaded the digital strategy that skyrocketed Shawn Mendes to global fame. She’s also guided the online growth for Mumford & Sons, Martina McBride, New Kids on the Block, Elton John, Childish Gambino, and many more top artists. 💡 In this episode, we discuss: evolution of digital marketingnew and emerging artistsGlobal music trendsIf you’re an artist, manager, or music marketer, this episode is packed with practical strategies and industry insights you can use to grow your career. 📍 Recorded from Jenna’s office in New Jersey. -- Additional Resources: To learn more about Jenna and ONErpm, please visit onerpm.com, and https://www.instagram.com/jennasourus/ – (FREE DOWNLOAD) The Magic EQ Frequencies everyone with a DAW should know: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/magic-freqs-registration Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

Lucie Burns, also known as artist and producer Lazy Hammock, joins me to talk about building stage confidence, connecting with audiences, and overcoming performance anxiety. We also dive into: Stage Ready ArtistsThe Art of Live Performance Unlocked Lucie shares valuable advice for performers at all levels, straight from her coaching and music career. -- Additional Resources: Learn more about Lucie at lucieburns.com and stagereadyartists.com 🎧 Subscribe and follow for more behind-the-scenes music industry insight. -- (FREE DOWNLOAD) The Magic EQ Frequencies everyone with a DAW should know: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/magic-freqs-registration Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this episode, I sit down with music industry veteran Jay Gilbert, co-host of the widely read Your Morning Coffee newsletter and podcast. Jay has held senior executive roles at Universal Music, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group, where he pioneered digital music marketing and online strategies for iconic artists like Nirvana, The Police, KISS, Bob Marley, Elton John, Guns N’ Roses, and many more. 👉 Topics we cover in this episode include: record labels in the streaming erasolo artistsAI on copyright, attribution, and intellectual propertycareer advice for up-and-coming artistsYour Morning Coffee Whether you’re a music creator, label executive, or just curious about the future of the music industry, this conversation is packed with insightful music marketing tips and forward-thinking analysis. ----- Additional Resources: To learn more about Jay, please visit jaygilbertconsulting.com, and yourmorning.coffee – (FREE DOWNLOAD) The Magic EQ Frequencies everyone with a DAW should know: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/magic-freqs-registration Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers. 🎧 Subscribe and follow for more real-world music industry insights.

My guest this week is my old friend 17 time Grammy winner Benny Faccone. Benny has a rich credit history with artists like Mana, Santana, Ricky Martin, Luis Miguel, Sting, and so many more. He’s a veteran of the old A&M Studios when it was one of the hottest recording facilities in Los Angeles. That’s where he honed his recording and mixing skills under old school legends like Bruce Swedien, Shelly Yakus, and Don Hahn. He’s also a die-hard analog guy, still mixing on a console and using real outboard gear when he can. During the interview we talked about learning from industry legends, the plugins he uses and why, converting his studio to solar energy, getting caffeine poisoning from too much coffee, and much more. I spoke with Benny from his studio in just outside of Los Angeles. Additional Resources: Learn more about Benny work: http://bennyfaccone.com/ – (FREE DOWNLOAD) The Magic EQ Frequencies everyone with a DAW should know: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/magic-freqs-registration Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

In this episode I cover some recent overlooked audio and music industry news. We cover: – (FREE DOWNLOAD) The Magic EQ Frequencies everyone with a DAW should know: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/magic-freqs-registration Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

My guest today is bass player, author and music business marketing consultant, Carter Fox. Known as the Soulful Traveling Spaceman Bassman, Carter has toured with R&B legend Freddie Jackson and Grammy-winner Regina Belle, while also collaborating with artists and producers such as Skrillex, Leon Huff, David Ivory, Adventure Club, and more. Carter is also the author of Music Business Bassics series of books, with How to Effectively Release & Promote Your Music as an Independent Artist, becoming the #1 new release in Music Business Books on Amazon in April 2024. As with his books, Carter’s marketing consulting firm helps artists, podcasts, businesses, and brands grow their online presence. During the interview we talked about the YouTube channel optimization strategies, promoting your music effectively on YouTube, the Philadelphia music scene, his upcoming new book Exploring Cosmic Melodies, and much more. I spoke with Carter from his office in Philadelphia. -- Additional Resources: To learn more, please visit https://www.carterfoxconsulting.com/ or https://www.carterfoxmusic.com/ -- (FREE DOWNLOAD) The Magic EQ Frequencies everyone with a DAW should know: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/magic-freqs-registration Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

My guest this week is modular synthesizer maven Chris Meyer, who has done important engineering work at Sequential Circuits, Digidesign, Marion Systems with the legendary Tom Oberheim, and Roland R&D U.S., where he was chief engineer. Along the way he created Vector Synthesis and worked on the Sequential Prophet 2000, Prophet VS, and Studio 440; Digidesign's Q-Sheet; and the Roland DM-80. During that time he also served as Technical Chairman of the MIDI Manufacturer’s Association, creating many additions to the MIDI specification, for which he received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. Chris has also taught synthesis at UCLA Extension, wrote numerous articles for Music Technology and a column for Keyboard Magazine, and most recently co-authored the book Patch & Tweak [https://www.patchandtweak.com] with Kim Bjørn. Today he runs the website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel LEARNING MODULAR, where he teaches others how to master modular synthesis. During the interview we talked about the evolution of modular synthesis, transitioning to motion graphics and back into creating music, navigating the challenges of studio design, the future of spatial audio, and much more. I spoke with Chris from his studio in New Mexico. — Additional Resources: Learn more about Chris and module synthesis at: https://learningmodular.com and https://aliaszone.com/ – (FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

Online music collaboration is for many the holy grail for efficiently working in a home studio. The problem is that most tools that are available suffer from latency that makes true collaboration impossible. SyncDNA is the first online platform that allows frame-accurate synchronization of collaborators anywhere in the world. Co-founders Dominic Castro and Gary Lux joined me to discuss SyncDNA and how it’s been helping mixers, musicians, composers, directors and producers do their jobs more easily. Dominic and Gary are not tech guys trying to adapt to the music business, by the way. Dominic is a music producer, mixer, and sound editor with an impressive list of mixing credits for artists like Halsey, Jay-Z, Shawn Mendes, Universal Pictures, Netflix, Amazon, and many more. Gary is a prominent Hollywood music mixer with a wide range of credits that includes artists like Usher, Keith Urban, Sting, and Janet Jackson among many others. He also served as the head music mixer for Universal Studios, where he received two Emmy nominations. He is widely known for his expertise in Dolby Atmos immersive mixing. During the interview we talked about overcoming latency and distance limitations, SyncDNA’s impact on music and film collaboration, the platform’s cost structure and subscription plans, and much more. I spoke with Dominic and Gary from their studios in Los Angeles. – Additional Resources: Learn more about SyncDNA at: https://www.syncdna.com – (FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

My guest today is the CEO of the Merlin Network of independent music labels, Jeremy Sirota. Merlin is a member-based organization representing the digital licensing rights for hundreds of independent labels and distributors in nearly every country around the globe. That makes up 15% of the recorded music market. Under Jeremy’s leadership, Merlin has entered into new partnerships and created programs to help its members take advantage of the latest technologies and licensing opportunities. During the interview we talked about the unique position of Merlin in the music industry, the impact of AI on the industry, the introduction of the Merlin Connect program to simplify music licensing, the role of technology in music consumption, and much more. Check it out for some great insights! You can also watch a video version of the episode at https://youtu.be/HzwD_E1Wuu0 Additional Resources: Learn more about Jeremy and Merlin at: https://merlinnetwork.org/ – (FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

I read a lot of music biographies and history books, especially from the Rock era. Like most people, I love reading about the story behind the hits. The best book I’ve ever read about that era is Buzz Me In: Inside The Record Plant Studios. The Record Plant was co-founded by engineer Gary Kellgrin and businessman Chris Stone, and it’s three studios in New York City, Los Angeles, and Sausalito, plus a fleet of remote trucks, were ground zero for the music business from the 1960s through the 80s. In fact, in 1976 alone, three #1 albums―Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life, the Eagles' Hotel California, and Fleetwood Mac's Rumours―were all recorded in Record Plant studios. The studio was also the center for audio innovation, thanks to the involvement of speaker and studio designer Tom Hidley, who recently passed. Buzz Me In was written by two great friends of mine, Marty Porter and David “Mr. Bonzai” Goggin. Marty is an author, journalist and publisher who began his career as a technology writer for Rolling Stone, GQ and Premiere magazines, then became editor and publisher of recording and musical instrument publications Pro Sound News, EQ, Guitar Player and Surround Pro magazines. David is an award-winning author, photographer, and music journalist, who’s written over 1,000 articles for magazines in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and has published 6 books. He’s also a press agent in the music industry and has represented numerous recording studios, manufacturers, and trade organizations such as SPARS and the World Studio Group. During the interview, we talked about how Record Plant started and some surprising key players, the unique business model that powered the studio, how new tech drove the studio business, how many believe that it was the real Hotel California, and so much more. Sit back and listen to some great behind-the-scenes stories. Additional Resources: Learn more about Buzz Me In at https://amzn.to/4kAXY6I Also, a video version is now available on YouTube as well. – (FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.

My guest today is Josh Simons, CEO of Australia's only ASX-listed music company, Vinyl Group. Josh’s journey is as diverse as it gets. He founded Vampr, the 'LinkedIn for creatives,' connecting over 1.4 million music professionals worldwide. He’s also been instrumental in developing platforms like Jaxsta and Vinyl.com, tackling challenges in music metadata and e-commerce. Prior to working in tech Josh ran a record label, publishing function, film production company, and was the lead singer of Australian indie rock band Buchanan. As a songwriter and producer, he’s shared credits with Travis Scott, Troye Sivan and Kanye West, and as a performer has toured with Coldplay, Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood. During the interview we spoke about innovations in music consumption, the future of music labels, the intersection of physical and digital media, the resurgence of cassettes, and much more. I spoke to Josh via zoom from his office in Melbourne, Australia. Additional Resources: Learn more about Josh at: https://www.joshsimons.us/ and Vinyl.com – (FREE DOWNLOAD) 6 proven ways to avoid muddy mixes: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/6-freqs-download-1 Get fantastic mixing tips from the best selling Mixing Engineer’s Handbook: https://bobbyowsinski.com/mixhandbook Access my FREE music mixing crash course training: https://www.mixingcrashcourse.com Check out my best-selling books: https://bobbyowsinski.com/best-selling-books/ Discover more mixing courses: https://www.bobbyowsinskicourses.com/ Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BobbyOwsinskiBiz/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyo/ Follow me on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bobbyowsinski/ Follow me on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bobbyowsinski.bsky.social -- In this podcast, music guru Bobby Owsinski shares his personal insights on the music industry, covering news, reviews, analysis, and tips, as well as offering amazing interviews with prominent industry movers and shakers.