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TrapitalHip-Hop's 50 Greatest MogulsAugust 11, 2023 is the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. What started out mostly as a spoken word artform has become a worldwide juggernaut. Thanks to the moguls who pushed the genre forward, hip-hop went from 0 to 100.In this episode, we rank the 50 greatest moguls in hip-hop’s history. We reached out to industry experts — from artists to execs to media personalities — to help us compile the list. Friend of the pod, Zack O’Malley Greenburg, joins me to count them down from No. 50 to No. 10:39 How do we define “...2023-08-081h 46TrapitalThe State of the Middle-Class ArtistEpisode title: The State of the Middle-Class ArtistThe “middle class musician” is a popular talking point in the industry. Several platforms have been built to serve this group. But what exactly is a middle-class musician? How can they get ahead when the major companies are incentivized to support the superstars? How does the 1000 True Fans theory apple here? And which companies do a great job of serving them today? I talked to Tati Cirisano of MIDiA Research to break it all down. Here’s everyt...2023-07-2854 minTrapitalWhat’s Next for Travis Scott?Travis Scott is in album mode. Utopia will be his first album since 2018, but a lot has changed since then.The industry isn’t as hip-hop dominant, hypebeast culture has shifted, and Travis is still navigating things after the 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy.How will all this influence Utopia? I broke it all down with friend of the pod, Denisha Kuhlor. Here’s what we covered:0:43 How hip-hop has changed since Astroworld8:23 Travis sold a lifestyle to success9:29 Why Travis attracted cate...2023-07-2039 minTrapitalMotown Records: The Hit Factory That Changed Music ForeverFew record labels have left their stamp on the industry quite like Motown. This assembly line churned out hit song after hit song in the ‘60s and early ‘70s. With a who’s-who roster — Marin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder, among others — The Hitsville U.S.A. sign Gordy put on Motown’s front door became warranted. This episode is the story of Motown Records — it’s formula for success, what led to its decline, and where it stands today under Universal. I’m joined by friend o...2023-07-131h 18TrapitalThe Real Story Behind Hip-Hop's "Decline"The media commentary on hip-hop’s decline is stronger than ever. Especially since it took six months for a rap album to top the Billboard 200 in 2023, and no rap song has topped the Hot 100 yet..Is hip-hop slipping? Or is there more to this story? is slipping or others are merely catching up?To break it all down, I’m joined by The Wall Street Journal’s Neil Shah, who has written about this extensively. 0:40 Our take on hip-hop’s “decline”4:51 Upcoming albums that m...2023-07-0648 minTrapital30 years of Bad Boy Entertainment (with Zack Greenburg)We can’t tell the story of hip-hop without mentioning Diddy and the record label he started. Bad Boy took off in 1993 after Puff was fired from Uptown Records. He brought TheNotorious B.I.G. with him from Uptown Record, and signed a 50-50 deal with Clive Davis’s Arista Records, and it was off to the races.Bad Boy survived the tragic fallout of the East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry, and reached even bigger heights after Biggie’s death. Puff began to rise as a solo artist, but did the rest of the ar...2023-06-291h 11TrapitalWhy Music Streaming Can’t Agree on a Payout Model (with Lucas Shaw)Music streaming’s payout model is under a microscope. The industry’s stakeholders — the labels, DSPs, artists, and rights holders — all want more of the pie, but no one can agree on how.Should we stick with the pro-rata model that pools all streams together? Or move to the user-centric model that some DSPs have tested out? Should longer songs count more than a 30-second audio track? What if that artist you choose to start your music session with gets paid more than an algorithmic play? How can we stop the fraud? Would all these pro...2023-06-2334 minTrapitalDo Music Videos Still Matter? (with Tati Cirisano)What’s the role of a music video today? In the 1980s, music videos flipped the industry thanks to MTV. Videos helped artists like Michael Jackson and Madonna become cultural icons. Record labels spent millions on music videos to promote their CD sales. Everyone was winning.Music videos don’t hold the same power today in the streaming era. The budgets are smaller, but they still get made. To break it all down, I was joined by MIDiA Research analyst Tati Cirisano. Here’s what we covered:...2023-06-1548 minTrapitalHow Ice Spice Blew Up (with Denisha Kuhlor)Even by today’s standards, Ice Spice’s meteoric rise is something else. She first hit it big in August 2022 with the viral release of “Munch.” Since then, Ice Spice has the most top 5 hits on the Billboard 100 in 2023 and guest appeared on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.How did we get here? Her aura, her music, her cinnamon-colored curls, and more have helped her stand out in an oversaturated industry.To explain how Ice Spice’s star was born and where it could go next, I brought on friend of the...2023-06-0845 minTrapitalThe Rise and Fall of Roc-A-Fella Records (with Zack O'Malley Greenburg)This is the breakdown on Roc-A-Fella Records. Founded in 1995 by the trio of Shawn “Jay Z” Carter (the talent), Damon “Dame” Dash (the promoter), and Kareem “Biggs” Burke (the silent partner), it became one of hip-hop’s most iconic labels.The label took time to develop. Jay’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, is now seen as a certified classic, but took time to get that recognition. It wasn’t until 1997 when Def Jam acquired a 50 percent stake in the label and The Roc went to that next level.Roc-A-Fella then created Rocaw...2023-06-021h 06TrapitalArtist Independence (with Steve Stoute)UnitedMasters and Translation CEO Steve Stoute returns to the show, fresh off a new deal with R&B star Brent Faiyaz for a reported $50 million. Brent had his pick at multiple major labels, but chose to stay independent with UnitedMasters.We talk about how independent companies can compete with majors on upfront money, competitive advantages in the music industry, and more.Steve and I also chat about the industry at-large: AI, entrepreneurship, subscription prices and more. Here’s what we hit on:2:19 The ups an...2023-05-181h 05TrapitalHow Brands Become Ideologies (with Marcus Collins)It’s never been easier for brands to push their message out. But building true connections is in today’s fragmented landscape.Dr. Marcus Collins has advice for cutting through the noise. His new book, “For The Culture”, is full of insights. Marcus has worked with Beyonce, Apple, Nike and more. He’s the Head of Strategy at Wieden+Kennedy, and a marketing professor at the Michigan Ross School of Business (Go Blue!).Marcus believes people use brands to express who they are. To win now and in the future, the...2023-05-1133 minTrapitalThe Rise of Interscope Records (with Zack Greenburg)In the 1990s, Interscope Records played by its own rules. Most new labels started with big stars, but Interscope had a clean slate. Most labels were scared of rap music, but Interscope leaned in. Co-founded by Jimmy Iovine, a producer, and Ted Field, a film producer, people questioned whether they had the chops to make it.The label has had a hand in some of the most memorable music moments like Death Row Records, the rise of Eminem, and the creation of Beats by Dre headphones. To break down I...2023-04-2756 minTrapitalRerun: Investing $200 Million In Music with Matt PincusThis week, I’m running back an interview with one of the most popular episodes we ever did with Matt Pincus from 2022. Matt Pincus is without question one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the music industry. He sold his independent music publishing company, SONGS, for $160 million five years ago. And now, the music holdings company he co-founded, MUSIC, just raised $200 million to invest in music and music-adjacent companies. Though, Matt doesn’t see MUSIC as an investment fund, but rather a holding company. That’s because he’s taking an...2023-04-2055 minTrapitalThe Business Behind Coachella (with Tati Cirisano)The first weekend of Coachella is here: Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK, and Frank Ocean will headline for 2023. Coachella is expected to gross well over $100 million with over 100,000+ attendees per day.In this episode, broke it all down withMIDiA Research’s Tati Cirisano. Coachella started in 1999 as a niche festival for indie rock and quickly morphed into the biggest brand-name festival in the United States. These days, the Coachella brand is big enough to sell the experience itself, regardless of who’s performing — a rarity in the festival business. Tati and I discus...2023-04-1343 minTrapitalRerun: The Future Of Music Business With Economist Will PageThis week, I’m running back an interview I did with Will Page in 2022. It was our most popular episode of 2022 and we talked about a lot of topics that are still timely and still being debated right now in the industry. One of the most unique insights into the state of the music business today doesn’t come from a record label exec. Not from an agent. Not from an artist. No, it comes from Scottish economist Will Page, who served that role for Spotify from 2012 to 2019 — a period of explosive growth for the str...2023-04-0636 minTrapitalPicking The Most Valuable Music Catalog Portfolio (with Denisha Kuhlor)If you had a billion-dollar fund to buy the full rights, masters, and publishing of ANY music artists — who are you acquiring to maximize shareholder value? This question was top of mind for real-life portfolio managers the past three years as music catalog sales boomed. Now my guest on the episode, Denisha Kuhlor, and I are asking ourselves the same hypothetical question.In this episode, we’re doing a mock music rights draft. Akin to the NFL Draft, each of us getting seven picks. Any artists’ catalog, living or dead, is on the table for us...2023-03-301h 00TrapitalThe Short-Form Video Wars: TikTok vs Shorts vs Reels (with Tati Cirisano)Short-form video has exploded in popularity the past three years, buoyed by TikTok. Copycat apps and features are now the norm across social media sites — Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Instagram. MIDiA analyst Tati Cirisano joins me on this episode to break down the ongoing war between short-form video’s main players. The music industry is certainly keeping a close eye on the battle. Short-form video has been a boon for music discovery. Though, many music execs would also argue music has played a big factor in the rise of these platforms, and the industry wants...2023-03-2349 minTrapitalAfrica’s Music and Startup Future (with Mr Eazi)The artist-entrepreneur-investor Mr Eazi has no on-off switch. Who he is in the recording studio, on stage, and on the boardroom are the same. With business and music, Mr Eazi has found parallel industries that allow him to be the same person.He’s founded both emPawa Africa and Zagadat Capital to feed his business appetite. The former invests into African artists and helps them scale. Meanwhile, Zagadat Capital invests into tech startups, most of which are inside the continent. Then there’s Mr Eazi, the Afrobeats artist. He’s colla...2023-03-1647 minTrapitalThe Future of Music and Gaming (with Vickie Nauman)The gaming industry is larger than music and film combined. We’ve seen big music collabs in Fortnite, Roblox, and more, but there’s room to leverage music even more. That’s been a big focus for Vickie Nauman, who works at the intersection of music and gaming. She consults for major record labels, game developers, and more through her company, CrossBorderWorks. She’s also worked on big virtual concerts, like David Guerra and Saweetie in Roblox, and VR games like Beat Saber. But there are plenty of friction points between music and g...2023-03-0949 minTrapitalThe Rise of Burna Boy (with Denisha Kuhlor)Burna Boy will be the first African artist to headline a UK stadium show when he performs at the 60,000-capacity London Stadium this summer. It’s the latest sign of Burna’s starpower and Afrobeats exploding popularity.The Nigeria-born artist is one of the genre’s biggest stars. Burna has reached this level because of consistency (six albums in nine years), savvy performing strategies, and a headliner mentality. To break down Burna’s rise, I talked to Denisha Kuhlor, founder of Stan, which helps artists identify and grow their fanbase...2023-03-0247 minTrapitalWhere Web2 and Web3 Meet (with Cardin Campbell)In music, web3 hype may have cooled over the last year but there are still builders in the space making moves, like trac’s founder, Cardin Campbell. Trac is one of our sponsors for Trapital, and it was great to have Cardin on to discuss how music tech startups see the big picture and are approaching this. trac is a music distribution service, but it wants to bridge web2 and web3 together in a way most distribution services aren’t.Cardin sees an opportunity to digitize how royalty payments are made without disrupting the Web2...2023-02-2346 minTrapitalInvesting in New Music Startups (with Bob Moczydlowsky)The Techstars Music accelerator just announced its 7th cohort. As the program’s Managing Director Bob Moczydlowsky told me on this episode, they don’t invest in music companies. They invest in companies solving problems for the global music business. There are 10 companies that involve music in some way, including — education, web3, and even wedding celebrations. Each startup gets a $120,000 check from Techstars and hands-on development for 90 days. Past portfolio companies include Community, Endel, and Splash among many others. According to Bob, the program has returned a 3X multiple on invest...2023-02-1650 minTrapitalRihanna, Roc Nation, and the Super Bowl Halftime Show (with DJ Louie XIV)The biggest stage in music is still the Super Bowl Halftime Show. In 2023, that stage belongs to Rihanna. This is a noteworthy show for multiple reasons.Rihanna hasn’t released an album since 2016’s ANTI, which was a TIDAL exclusive! Seven years is a long time. She has since built two billion-dollar brands with Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty, and recently became a mother. Could this be the start of a music comeback for RiRi?A few years ago, Rihanna famously turned down this opportunity citing her support of C...2023-02-0853 minTrapitalWhy It’s Not Too Late to Start on TikTok (with Sean “BrandMan” Taylor)The playbook for artists to go viral on TikTok has changed a lot since 2019. Sean Taylor aka “BrandMan Sean” has written and executed that playbook for his clients since the early days of TikTok. He’s the co-founder of the ContraBrand Agency, which specializes in TikTok marketing for music talent. The agency has helped artists like Macy Gray, 24kGoldn, and Trap Beckham, among others.Sean and his team just released a global report on How Artists are Going Viral on TikTok. The report is packed with insights on artist virality on the platform. According to the...2023-02-0249 minTrapitalHow Cash Money Records Pulled Off Hip-Hop’s Louisiana Purchase (with Zack O’Malley Greenburg)Everybody’s got something to say about Cash Money Records and the brothers who co-founded the label —Bryan “Birdman” Williams and Ronald “Slim” Williams. To paint the full Cash Money full picture, good and bad, I brought on Zack O’Malley Greenberg who has interviewed the brothers at-length while working at Forbes.Cash Money has one of the deepest catalogs in the game with several classics. And unlike some other upstart hip-hop labels, Birdman and Slim maintained control as they rose up. Their 1998 distribution deal with Universal is hip-hop’s Louisiana Purchase.But we...2023-01-261h 02TrapitalWhy Algorithms are Getting Smarter with Ari HerstandI had a great chat about the future of streaming and more with Ari Herstand, who isan independent artist who also runs Ari’s Take, an education business to teach others artists about the industry. He just released the third edition of his book, How To Make It In the New Music Business.Ari joined me to discuss how artists are navigating new music releases. It's increasingly getting out of the artist’s hands in favor of the uncontrollable algorithms powering the likes of Spotify and TikTok. Ari says it’s like, “playing the lottery...2023-01-1953 minTrapitalHow Diddy is Underestimated as a BusinessmanSean “Diddy” Combs is one of hip-hop’s most serial entrepreneurs. His business track record stretches 30 years with successes in completely-different industries — music (Bad Boys Records), clothing (Sean John), spirits (Ciroc and DeLeon), media (Revolt), among many other ventures. To take a closer look at Combs' empire, I brought on Tarik Brooks, who is the president of Combs Enterprises. Many chalk up Diddy’s entrepreneurial success to his influence and brand alone. While Tarik doesn’t deny Diddy’s star power, he also argues that line of thinking understates Diddy’s business acumen — his ability to spot tre...2023-01-1251 minTrapitalNYU Keynote: Music, Streaming, and Second-Order EffectsI had the pleasure of being the keynote speaker at New York University’s Annual Alumni Event for its music business department. Big thanks to Larry Miller, a professor and director of the program, for inviting me. It was a free-flowing conversation focused on how technology is reshaping the music industry from top-to-bottom. We’re well into the streaming era now, but some of the second-order effects are barely starting to ripple — particularly the oversaturation of content. It’s easier and cheaper than ever to release music, which explains how tens of thousands of new songs...2023-01-0553 minTrapitalTrapital Mailbag: A.I. in Music, Future of NFTs, Hip-Hop Globalization, and More!I’m digging into the mailbag for today’s episode. For the first time in over a year, I asked Trapital listeners and readers to send me their most burning questions about the music industry. I’ve pulled out nine questions from the bunch to cover on the show. We’re covering everything from NFTs to artificial-intelligence-assisted music creation to investing in music catalogs going forward and a whole lot more. I’m hitting you with my honest thoughts on each. Here’s a look at the topics:[0:54] State of music NFTs...2022-12-1538 minTrapitalTurnover at Motown, Berner's Billion-Dollar Weed Business, and Hip-Hop's Wealthiest of 2022This episode is a two-parter. At the top, I talk about the news at Motown Records with Ethiopia Habtemariam stepping down from her role as CEO and Chairwoman. After that, I talked to Zack O’Malley Greenburg about Hip-Hop’s wealthiest artists of 2022. After years of compiling the list for Forbes, Zack O’Malley Greenburg released the 2022 edition independently. This time around, he used insights from Columbia Business School to better grasp on the wealth of the industry’s biggest moguls.Jay-Z tops the updated list with an estimated net worth...2022-12-0855 min
TrapitalWhy The Next 10 Years Of Rich Homie Quan’s Career Won’t Be Like The LastRich Homie Quan was one of the defining rappers of the music era that preceded the industry’s shift to streaming. He — along with the likes of Future and Young Thug — made “mumble rap” a hot commodity in the mid-2010s. But while Future and Thugger continued their careers, Quan took a hiatus from the game, until now.Quan dropped his first project, “Family & Mula”, in almost three years back in October. During the long layoff, Quan admits he lost both his confidence and heart for rapping. He refused to quit on himself during the down perio...2022-12-0137 min
TrapitalInvesting in Web3 Music with CoopahtroopaCooper Turley, better known as Coopahtroopa, is betting big on ushering a new generation of music. In September, he announced a first-of-its-kind investment fund focused squarely on web3 music projects and artists themselves. Coop Records raised $10 million and Coopah will be the sole general partner. He’s hesitant to call it just an investment fund though. That’s because Coop Records is also a record label and incubator. Coopah will invest directly into web3-native music artists in a “seed round” — turning emerging artists into venture-backed startups.Structuring an artist’s co...2022-11-2355 min
TrapitalWhat Spotify and YouTube’s Billions Playlists Tell Us About StreamingToday's episode is a two-parter. Part 1 is on Spotify and YouTube’s billion streams and views playlists. After reviewing both lists, there’s a lot to learn about the streaming era and the strategy for both platforms respectively. I broke it all down with Tati Cirsiano, a music analyst at MIDiA Research.Spotify’s list is more reflective of passive consumption. Spotify’s top-performing songs are more correlated with radio hits than YouTube, which is a more active consumption experience.YouTube’s Billion Views Club has more international stars than Spotify. With streaming continuing to grow across...2022-11-171h 12
TrapitalHow a16z’s Cultural Leadership Fund Is Putting More Black Dollars in TechMegan Holston-Alexander is a partner at Andreessen Horowitz Cultural Leadership Fund. It’s the first VC fund that raised money exclusively from Black leaders — from entertainment to sports to business. The fund co-invests with a16z’s other funds and has raised more than $60 million across its three funds to date.The overarching purpose of CLF is to create generational wealth opportunities for Black communities. It’s a two-pronged approach. The first is getting Black dollars directly on the cap tables of high-potential startup companies. And the second is creating a pipeline for more Black ta...2022-11-1047 min
TrapitalHow HitPiece Rebounded and Relaunched After ControversyRory Felton has spent most of his past two decades in music being pro-artist. He developed talent and sold millions of records under his Militia Group label that he co-founded and eventually sold to Sony. In the early days of social media, Rory worked with Top 40 artists and majors to monetize on these new platforms. That’s why it was ironic that Rory was recently criticized for being anti-artist. Rory founded HitPiece two years ago. HitPiece is an NFT marketplace focused solely on music collections. While in beta earlier this year, unauthorized NFTs from big...2022-10-2748 min
TrapitalHow Curren$y Played The Long Game With His Career & Jet LifeMost artists want career growth and they want it fast — sometimes to a fault. This is where Curren$y is an outlier. From the jump, Curren$y set out to grow both his career and fanbase slowly but steadily. He successfully did that and it’s a reason why he’s not only stayed in the rap game for almost twenty years, but is now still earning more money, and at a career point where most of his peers coming up have already fizzled out.Curren$y and his longtime manager, Mousa, joined me on thi...2022-10-2057 min
TrapitalRap Capital: The Rise & Reign Of Atlanta’s Hip-Hop EmpireThe dominance of Atlanta’s hip-hop scene has been discussed often, but not in the way Joe Coscarelli covered it in his new book, Rap Capital. Joe, a New York Times music reporter since 2015, spent four years and interviewed over 100 sources to get the contemporary story about Atlanta’s culture-defining music scene.Characters are what move the story forward in Joe’s book, not discography, record sales, or cultural relevance. Lil Baby is featured prominently, as is his mom. Joe’s relationship with the hit rapper dates back to 2017 when Lil Baby was still a mixtap...2022-10-1336 min
TrapitalMona Scott-Young’s Influence On Culture Goes Beyond Love & Hip HopMona Scott-Young is best-known for producing the Love & Hip Hop reality TV series on VH1. The franchise debuted in 2011 has remained a TV fixture today through industry-wide changes with TV and around 30 different seasons aired. However, it’s Young’s ability to permeate hip-hop culture into the mainstream that’s been the true calling card.Before Love & Hip Hop, Mona managed talent in music. She was a co-founder for Violator with the late Chris Lighty, and was behind memorable brand partnerships such as Busta Rhymes and Courvoisier, Missy Elliott with Reebok and Adidas, and the la...2022-10-0638 min
TrapitalInside Hannibal Buress’ Pivot From Comedy To RapHannibal Buress has carved a name for himself in comedy over the past two decades. But now he’s foregoing that part of his career for a fresh identity — Eshu Tune, his rap alter-ego. The name pays homage to a “trickster god” in Nigerian mythology.A rap career has been in the back of Hannibal’s mind but the career pivot wasn’t seriously put into motion until 2020. Earlier that year, he put out a comedy special, “Miami Nights.” While promoting it at home during lockdowns, Hannibal felt a spark missing. That, plus the added alone time...2022-09-2941 min
TrapitalThe Music Industry’s Oversaturation ProblemIt’s never been easier for artists to release music and find an audience in any corner of the world. Likewise, it’s never been more difficult for artists to break through the noise. The Internet and streaming services have created a double-edged sword for rising artists. To discuss this, Tatiano Cirisano joined me on the show. Tati is a music analyst at MIDiA Research and a former reporter at Billboard.Tati released a research piece a few weeks ago that argues the music industry is oversaturated and fragmented — more than ever before. This shift...2022-09-2243 min
TrapitalHow Roy Wood Jr. Is Evolving His ComedyReturning to Trapital for a second time is comedian Roy Wood Jr. We last spoke in mid-2020 when lockdowns curbed his usual comedy performance routine. On the outside, it might not seem Roy has changed much since our first convo — he’s still a regular on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah — but internally, Roy is amidst another career evolution.Roy made a successful comedic career — three specials on Comedy Central over a five-year span — out of finding unique angles to discuss external events such as news and politics. But now, Roy wants to talk about...2022-09-1644 minTrapitalTikTok Wants to Takeover. Will it Succeed?TikTok has reshaped the Internet in under a three-year span, but if its parent company, ByteDance, has its way, the platform’s dominance is just getting started. This week I brought Stan founder Denisha Kuhlor back onto the show to discuss TikTok’s ambitious plans for total media domination.In the past few months, TikTok has announced plans for several new features — each aimed at competing with current media giants such as Google, Spotify, and Ticketmaster. Features include extending video-length capacity to 10 minutes, the TikTok Music streaming service, better internal search capabilities, and a ticket...2022-09-0945 min
TrapitalInvesting $200 Million In Music with Matt PincusOne of the most successful entrepreneurs in the music industry is, without question, Matt Pincus. He sold his independent music publishing company, SONGS, for $160 million five years ago. And now, the music holdings company he co-founded, MUSIC, just raised $200 million to invest in music and music-adjacent companies. Though, Matt doesn’t see MUSIC as an investment fund, but rather a holding company. That’s because he takes an operator-centric role in the companies he funds. And unlike the splashy catalog acquisitions that’ve dominated the space over the past few years, Matt is looking forward...2022-09-0255 min
TrapitalInside the Business of BeatmakingBefore Abe Batshon started BeatStars in 2008, a handful of superproducers had a quasi-monopoly on selling beats, charging hundreds of thousands of dollars per song. Top producers still get paid today, but the concept has become more antiquated with platforms like BeatStars democratizing beat-making. Creators can sell instrumentals — either under an exclusive license or not — to artists around the globe for a fraction of the previous cost. With $200 million paid out to creators to date, BeatStars has reset the entire economics of beats. Abe started BeatStars without any VC funding during the Great Recession. This was a...2022-08-1944 min
TrapitalInside Benny Pough’s Career in Hip-HopMusic exec Benny Pough has shaped the hip-hop industry in a career that’s spanned from Motown Records to Def Jam to Roc Nation and now his own entrepreneurial pursuits. Benny joined me on Trapital to discuss his 30-year journey and where it’s heading next.The defining feature of Benny has been his ability to spot and develop musical talent. He’s responsible for signing the likes of Future, Jeremih, and Yo Gotti, among others. That skill was initially forged from having an ear for what would catch on the radio...2022-08-0542 minTrapitalHow Does the Music Business Compare To Film And TV?Best-selling author Zack O’Malley Greenburg and I took a break for a new Dad-girl duties to talk about the latest headlines in the music industry — namely Irv Gotti selling a 50-percent ownership stake in Murder Inc.’s past music recordings. He got $100 million from Iconoclast for the deal, plus another $200-million credit line to fund future media endeavors Irv has planned. After the sale, Irv did an interview with Billboard and quipped that monetary-wise, the music industry is the “lowest form” in entertainment compared to film and television. Zack and I debated that during our...2022-07-2941 minTrapitalImproving The Artist-Fan RelationshipThere’s never been more ways for artists to tap directly into their fan bases than present day. However, actually understanding those same audiences hasn’t scaled at the same rate with the times. My guest on Trapital this week, Denisha Kuhlor, is out to solve that pain point with her new music tech startup, Stan.Denisha’s company wants to take a more scientific approach to understanding and growing an artist's fanbase — from the casuals to the “stans.” Strengthening the artist-fan relationship will create better fan experiences, or as Denisha calls them, “moments of magic.” 2022-07-0845 min
TrapitalSherrese Clarke Soares Explains Why Content Is Queen“Content is queen” is the mantra of this week’s Trapital’s guest, Sherrese Clarke Soares. The phrase has a double-meaning. For one, it’s the heart of her investment firm, HarbourView Equity Partners, which specializes in acquiring content across the entertainment, sports, and media sectors. But on a personal level, the phrase also represents her unique place in the industry as a rare Black and female founder. Sherrese founded HarbourView in 2021. This came on the heels of founding Tempo Music and ten-plus years at Morgan Stanley. These experiences have put Sherrese front and center with...2022-07-0143 min
TrapitalStem CEO Milana Lewis Wants To Get Artists PaidJoining us on Trapital for the second time is Milana Lewis, co-founder and CEO of Stem. She last joined me at the end of 2019 and Stem has been in hyper-growth mode since then. Stem helps artist get paid in a clear and timely manner — not only through online-based financial tools, but music distribution too. As a former talent agent for UTA, Milana noticed it wasn’t exactly cut and dry how artists were paid out. That issue is exacerbated inside the music industry due to murky record deals and no-so-transparent streaming numbers. And these probl...2022-06-1035 min
TrapitalBay Area Hip-Hop with Rexx Life RajBay area artist Rexx Life Raj (real name Faraji Omar Wrightz) is in album mode with “Blue Hour” set to drop soon. The new album is his most personal yet. It was largely recorded after his mother passed away and before his father did too — which was within a three-month span of each other during 2021. The personal grief of both losses influenced the sounds of the new music. While recording this music was one way Raj coped with his grief, he also wants the album to do the same for others going through similar pains i...2022-06-0338 min
TrapitalWhy the Golden State Warriors Launched a Record LabelThe Golden State Warriors took the commonly-said phrase “every company is a media company” and did one better, launching a first-of-its-kind organization, Golden State Entertainment (GSE). Leading this brand-new entertainment company is Warriors’ chief business officer David Kelly, who joined me on this episode of the Trapital podcast to discuss the brand-new endeavor. While GSE is an extension of the Warriors brand, it wasn’t created with the sole purpose of advancing the NBA team. It’s a completely separate company (not a division) and as Kelly told me, it needs to be profitable. To do so, G...2022-05-2729 min
TrapitalThe iPod’s Legacy in the Music Industry with Zack O’Malley GreenburgOn this episode, we switched things up! Instead of a standard interview, I talked about a few recent topics with the best-selling author, Zack O’Malley Greenburg. He has long had his pulse on the music industry. Between his past time covering the business at Forbes, writing acclaimed books on the likes of Jay-Z and Michael Jackson, or his current Substack blog, Zack has formed both a macro- and micro-view of the entire industry. He’s the perfect person to bring onto Trapital to discuss the stories reverberating across the music business today.One of t...2022-05-2049 min
TrapitalComedian Bigg Jah Charters His Own Path Into Entertainment Industry3.3 million followers on Facebook. Over 423 million views on YouTube. 4.2 million TikTok likes.Bigg Jah (real name Jahdai Pickett) has put up those gaudy social media numbers with no studio or agency backing and a relatively small team. The do-everything entertainer — who can write, act, direct, produce, and everything in between — has been posting content online almost nonstop for the past five years, doing what he calls “hood good comedy.” It’s all paying dividends now. He’s built a synergy map that extends past his wildly popular social media franchises lik...2022-05-1346 min
TrapitalHow indify’s Co-Founder prettyboyshav Is Flipping The Economics Of The Record BusinessThe traditional record label model isn’t artist-friendly. That’s not a secret to anyone by now. Deals are notoriously long and feature a revenue split heavily tilted toward the label — not the artist. But an ambitious alternative has arisen in the last few years. Meet indify, a start-up co-founded by musician prettyboyshav and his two childhood best friends, Matthew Pavia and Connor Lawrence.indify is a platform that connects investors with up-and-coming artists. Investors can not only financially back artists, but also mentor them in matters like legal or marketing. But unlike a record...2022-05-0637 min
TrapitalYoung M.A and the $20 NFTMusic NFTs are all the rage as of late. Entering the mix is Young M.A, who dropped a capsule on April 19. But in true Young M.A fashion, she took a different approach to her first-ever NFT project.For one, each NFT is only $20, making it widely accessible to her diehard fanbase. That’s a departure from most artists-focused NFTs that are on the pricier side due to their limitedness. In total, Young M.A dropped five NFT collections with 250 editions in each — for a total of 1,250. Each of the five collections represents key...2022-04-2931 min
TrapitalHow Fanbase Raised $6 Million Without VC with Isaac Hayes IIIIn less than three years, the Fanbase social content app has raised six million dollars (without traditional venture capital) and is inching toward the one-million user mark. How did co-founder Issac Hayes III take the app from nothing all the way to this? If you ask him, his life spent in the cut-throat music industry gave him the inspiration AND business chops to thrive within the tech space. As the son of legendary R&B artist Isaac Hayes, he was made well aware from the get-go of the exploitative practices by record labels toward m...2022-04-2244 min
TrapitalThe Future Of Music Business With Economist Will PageOne of the most unique insights into the state of the music business today doesn’t come from a record label exec. Not from an agent. Not from an artist. No, it comes from Scottish economist Will Page, who served that role for Spotify from 2012 to 2019 — a period of explosive growth for the streaming giant. But if you ask Page about streaming’s future, he’s not nearly as optimistic as the rest of the industry. “The party has to come to an end,” as he told me on this episode of Trapital.Page believes the...2022-04-1556 min
TrapitalWhy Podcast Ownership Matters with Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings of “For Colored Nerds”A lot of creators talk about owning their intellectual property and distribution, but co-hosts of the For Colored Nerds podcast — Eric Eddings and Brittany Luse — actually went and made it happen, by any means necessary. The two left the Spotify-owned Gimlet Media network in 2020, leaving behind The Nod show (and its IP) which they had built up since 2017. As “free agents”, the duo made ownership a mandate in its next podcast deal.Stitcher was happy to oblige, bringing the two together in a homecoming of sorts. Before Gimlet, Eric and Brittany began podcasting with Stitcher...2022-03-2552 min
TrapitalHow Quality Control Music Invests in StartupsDazayah Walker is the Head of Investments at Quality Control Music, the label behind today’s most trendsetting artists like Lil Baby and Migos, Dazayah. She maintains QC’s investment portfolio, particularly within the startup space, which spans well beyond just music and entertainment. Being a 23-year-old venture capitalist is difficult as is. Now tack on being female and black? “It’s been a journey”, as Dazayah Walker shares with us in this episode of the Trapital podcast.Dazayah’s path to becoming a Venture Capitalist is as unorthodox as you’ll find in the venture ca...2022-03-1126 min
TrapitalFrank Cooper III Brokered Beyonce-Pepsi’s $50 Million Deal. Here’s Where He Sees Industry Going NextTake a quick look at Frank Cooper’s resume and you might think, “what HASN’T he done?” He’s both Berkeley- and Harvard-educated. Coming out of school, Frank cut his teeth with two iconic labels — Motown Records and Def Jam. And most recently, he’s been Chief Marketing Officer for world-renown brands like Pepsi, BlackRock, and breaking news, he just took the same role with VISA. But if you ask Frank, his early years inside the music industry formed the backbone of his illustrious career. It’s during this time period where Frank developed cultural...2022-03-0345 min
TrapitalThe Future Of Live Music with Kevin Shivers, Partner at WMEIt’s no secret that touring is the lifeblood of most modern-day musical artists. But while most fans only see the finished product — a head-bobbing performance at Coachella or a sold-out nightclub — few get a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work being done by professionals like Kevin Shivers, a partner in WME’s music division. Let this interview with Kevin be your inside look at what goes into the live performances that fuel the entire music industry.Kevin has been with WME since 2008 after a stint in Hollywood. While with WME, he’s worked with stars such...2022-02-2434 min
TrapitalBun B Believes The Metaverse Will Open Up Access Between Artists & FansIn this week's show, we have a hip hop legend, Bun B. Best known as one-half of the Southern rap duo UGK, Bun along with Pimp C formed UGK in the late '80s when their former crew, Four Black Ministers, fell apart. Based in Port Arthur, Texas, UGK signed with Jive, and with 1992's Too Hard to Swallow began a series of Southern gangsta rap albums that were successful sellers. In 2005, Bun B carried on solo, and released both the mixtape Legends, and his debut album Trill extending his presence into the 2010s with Tr...2022-02-1752 minTrapitalBONUS: The New Creator ManifestoIn today’s episode, our host, Dan Runcie, is joined by Gina Bianchini, co-founder, and CEO of Mighty Networks, which provides creators what they need to build their community-run courses and hosts live stream conversations, and Zoe Scaman, a brand strategist, owner of Bodacious, a strategy studio in London.The three talks about the creative economy survey Gina and Zoe conducted to identify some common struggles that creators are faced with right now. Specifically, they discussed the burnout and frustration creators are going through to keep up with the treadmill of creating content day by...2022-02-0155 min
TrapitalJay Z sells 50% of Ace of Spades, TikTok Artist’s Path to SuccessDan shares thoughts on Jay Z selling 50% of Armand de Brignac to LVMH, Cristal, and how it all ties together. After that, Dan gives an audio version of the Trapital essay, How More TikTok Stars Can Succeed in the Music Industry.Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coLinks:
Jay Z Puts a Cap on Cristal (2006) New York Times
Jay Z and LVMH Pop the Cork in Champagne Tie-Up Wall Street Journal
How More TikTok Stars Can...2021-02-2617 min
TrapitalJason Geter on Heavy Sound Labs, Launching Grand Hustle, Signing T.I. and Travis Scott, and Redefining the Modern Record LabelHeavy Sound Labs founder and CEO Jason Geter came on the Trapital Podcast to break down his rise in the music industry. He started as an intern when he was in high school! He eventually started Grand Hustle with T.I. and helped build his career. Jason adapted the playbook to help build Travis Scott’s career. Jason recently launched Heavy Sound Labs, a music incubator that redefines what it means to be a record label. He’s also an investor in All Def Digital, the largest Black-owned digital media property. If you are interested in h...2020-09-1143 min
TrapitalDonald Albright on Building a Podcast Network, Hip-Hop Marketing Tactics, and Tenderfoot TV’s FutureTenderfoot TV cofounder and President Donald Albright came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about how his company has amassed 500 million podcast downloads. Tenderfoot is behind this hit shows Up and Vanished, Atlanta Monster, To Live and Die in LA, and more. The company has partnered with HBO, iHeartMedia, HBO, and others. Before Tenderfoot, Donald was a music exec in Atlanta where he managed LaFace Records’ street team, managed August Alsina, and worked closely with OutKast, Goodie Mob, and others. If you are interested in podcast strategy, partnerships, and ownership, this is def the podcast fo...2020-09-0245 min
TrapitalHip-hop's Indie EconomyAn audio version of the Trapital essay: Why Hip-Hop’s Indie Economy Has Taken Off. An ecosystem of rappers and businesses have shaped the path and future for independent artists. Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the people taking hip-hop to the level at trapital.co. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co2020-08-3113 min
TrapitalTyler, The Creator's Cult-Like FollowingAn audio version of the Trapital essay: How Tyler, The Creator Built a Cult-Like Following. Tyler's greatest creation is the loyal fanbase that's been riding with him for over a decade. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Links:
How Tyler The Creator Built A Cult-Like Following - Trapital
Tyler, The Creator's Fashion Show is Unlike Anything You've Ever Seen (Vogue - YouTube) Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls wh...2020-08-1812 min
TrapitalPeter Bittenbender on Mass Appeal’s Rise, Holding Brand Partners Accountable, and International ExpansionMass Appeal CEO Peter Bittenbender came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about the company’s content strategy, the 2020 climate, holding partners accountable, international expansion, and Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Peter Bittenbender, @bittenbender, massappeal.com Link: Wu Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men: Mass Appeal Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co2020-07-2139 min
TrapitalHip-Hop Challenger Brands with Ernest WilkinsOffice Hours’ Ernest Wilkins came through to talk about challenger brands in hip-hop, why they exist, our respective articles on No Limit and Quality Control Music, and what we expect for the future.Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Ernest Wilkins, @ernestwilkins, officehours.substack.comLink:
How No Limit Became Hip-Hop’s Challenger Brand - Ernest Wilkins (in Trapital)
How Quality Control Music Took Over Atlanta - Dan Runcie (in Office Hours)Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. L...2020-07-1448 min
TrapitalRoy Wood Jr. on How 2020 Changed Comedy, His Comedy Central Partnership, and Why Alabama Means So Much to HimComedian, actor, writer, and producer Roy Wood Jr. came through to talk about how the pandemic and uprisings, all the “lost tapes” from 2020, how comics have shifted, why he partnered with Comedy Central, and why his home state of Alabama means so much to him. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Roy Wood, Jr @roywoodjr, roywoodjr.com Link:
It’s Time for Stand-ups to Prepare for the Worst - Roy Wood Jr, Vulture
B...2020-07-0739 min
TrapitalThe Steve Jobs of Gap?An audio version of the Trapital essay: Why Kanye West’s Gap Deal is a Risk to Yeezy. Yeezy’s new partnership with the struggling apparel company is a threat to the brand that Kanye West built. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Link: Why Kanye West’s Gap Deal is a Risk to Yeezy - Trapital
Kanye describes his issues with Nike and confirms Adidas deal - Hot 97
Why Rihanna Broke Barriers That Others Couldn’t - Trapital Hip-hop’s...2020-07-0312 min
TrapitalHovain Hylton and Busy Rivera on Cinematic Music Group’s Rise, and Turning the Brand into a LifestyleCinematic Music Group’s President, Hovain Hylton and Head of Creative, Busy Rivera came through the Trapital Podcast to talk about leading the independent record label and management company, doing more with less than the major record labels, and managing the Cinematic brand like it’s one of their artists. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Hovain, @hovain Busy Rivera, @busyrivera Link: Cinematic website Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and...2020-06-3037 min
TrapitalBuild Your TableAnother solo episode in light of recent events, and an audio version of this week’s Trapital article, “Why Ownership Matters More in Hip-Hop.” The system hasn’t always had hip-hop’s best interest at heart, so its artists are more likely to take control. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Link: Why Ownership Matters More in Hip Hop Beyonce Commencement Speech | Dear Class of 2020 Cash Money Records Has a Bleak Future Without Drake and Lil’ Wayne Why Death Row Was Bound to Self...2020-06-1411 min
TrapitalHip-Hop's Role in the Fight for JusticeThis Trapital Podcast is a solo episode in light of this week’s events, the music industry’s actions in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, and this week’s Trapital article, “How Hip-Hop Pushed Companies to Fight for Racial Justice.” Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Link: Spreadsheet: Hip Hop Statements - BLM 2020 How Hip-Hop Pushed Companies to Fight for Racial Injustice Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read...2020-06-0513 min
TrapitalTrapital Mailbag #3: How Hip-Hop Makes Money in a Pandemic, Superproducers in the Streaming Era, What’s Next for Fortnite + Travis Scott, and more!Round 3! Here are the most pressing questions from Trapitalists: Do smaller indie acts fare better during the pandemic? Is Tekashi 6ix9ine worthy of a marketing case study? What’s next for Travis Scott + Fortnite? And a whole lot more. Tune in! Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Link: How Hip-Hop Producers Lost Their Power How Travis Scott Growth Hacked Hip-Hop Why Hip-Hop and Gaming are Still Scratching the Surface Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your busin...2020-05-1232 min
TrapitalTiffany Ballard on Music Business Law, Why Bad Deals Still Happen, How She Made Connections on Myspace, and Her Time on Reality TVEntertainment lawyer Tiffany Ballard came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about how she rose in the music industry. She spoke about using Myspace to find career opportunities and discover artists like Nicki Minaj. We also spoke about bad record deals and why they still happen. Tiffany also revisited her brief time on the reality TV show Money Power, & Respect! Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Tiffany Ballard, @BlackElleWoods Link: Money, Power, & Respect - Meet Tiffany - WE tv Hip-hop’s in...2020-05-0542 min
TrapitalZack O'Malley Greenburg (2019)Since Kanye West is now a billionaire, let's revisit the podcast I recorded in September with Zack O’Malley Greenburg, Senior Editor of Media & Entertainment at Forbes. We talked about Forbes’ annual Hip-Hop Cash List, why artists like Cardi B and Meek Mill who question the results, the integrity challenges with self-reported data, and the amount of work that goes into reporting a single number. Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Zack O’Malley Greenburg, @zogblog, forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg Links referenced: Article: Kanye West is Now Officially a Billionaire (and He Real...2020-04-2835 min
TrapitalIbrahim "Ib" Hamad on Building Dreamville, Managing J. Cole, the Dollar & a Dream Tour, and Starting the Dreamville FestDreamville co-founder and President, and J. Cole’s manager Ibrahim "Ib" Hamad came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about how him and J. Cole started Dreamville and how it became what it is today. Ib also broke down what changed for Dreamville in 2014, the impact that the Dollar & a Dream tour had on J. Cole’s career, establishing the Dreamville brand beyond J. Cole, and why the Dreamville Fest has nine lives! If you wanna know what it takes to get to that next level, this is the episode for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spot...2020-04-1446 min
TrapitalShawn Prez on the Bad Boy Street Team, Grassroots Marketing in Hip-Hop, and Starting the Global Spin AwardsMusic and marketing executive Shawn Prez came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about his days as Bad Boy’s VP of Marketing, what set Bad Boy’s Street Team apart, breaking hit records, the Ciroc Boyz, his work at Power Moves Inc., and why he decided to launch an award shows to recognize DJs. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Shawn Prez, @powermovesprez, powermovesprez.com Link: Ciroc Boyz - Power Moves Inc. Black Rob - “Whoa” Global Spin Awards Power Moves wit...2020-04-0748 min
TrapitalHannibal Buress on How Netflix Changed Comedy, His Investing Strategy, and Why Isola Fest is One of His Favorite Career MomentsThe hilarious comedian Hannibal Buress came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about how he’s adjusted to quarantine life, how he prioritizes his multiple business interests (touring, comedy specials, acting, investing), Netflix’s impact on comedy specials, planning a music festival on three weeks notice (!!!), why he wishes he got into the toilet paper business, and what’s in store for 2020. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Hannibal Buress, @hannibalburess, hannibalburess.com Link:
Isola Fest - Hannibal Buress
Handsome Rambler Podcast...2020-03-3145 min
TrapitalMike Weissman - President, SoundCloud (2019)Mike Weissman, President of SoundCloud, came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about the streaming company’s business model, how it compares to a tech accelerator, SoundCloud’s growth in the Middle East, SoundCloud rap, and what sets the company apart from its competitors. (Originally published November 11, 2019) Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Mike Weissman, @soundcloud, soundcloud.com Links referenced: WIRED: As Streaming Services Boom, SoundCloud Strives for Relevancy (2017) Trapital: Why Hip-Hop Can Help Venture Capital Navigate Changes in the In...2020-03-2636 min
TrapitalAkin Aliu - Music Touring Agent, CAA (2019)CAA music touring agent Akin Aliu came on the pod to talk about the BET Awards, representing Ciara, Freddie Gibbs, and Becky G, the NCAA’s “Rich Paul Rule,” and why agents break out on their own. (Originally published October 21, 2019) Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Akin Aliu, @caamusic Links referenced: Article: Why Choosing the Right Concert Venue Matters – Trapital Article: Why Cardi B Doesn’t Need to Go On Tour – Trapital ESPN: NCAA amend “Rich Paul Rule” amid blowb...2020-03-1740 min
TrapitalJames Supreme - A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group (2019)James Supreme, A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group, came on the pod to talk about his role in Lil’ Nas X’s second hit song “Panini”, the differences managing black rappers and white rappers, working with Beyonce’s Parkwood Entertainment team on The Lion King: The Gift, and why mental health matters in the music industry. (Originally published October 10, 2019) Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: James Supreme, @jamessupreme Links referenced: Article: How Lil’ Nas X’s Success Will Impact Hi...2020-03-1044 min
TrapitalTrapital Mailbag #2! D-Smoke’s Potential, Lovers & Friends Fest, Jay Z the Wartime Leader, The Cost of Album Bundles, and Def Jam…oh Def JamThis is Round 2! Here are the most pressing questions from Trapitalists: How successful will the Lovers & Friends Fest be? Was Jay Z’s tenure as Def Jam CEO a success? Should artists bundle albums with digital products to reduce costs? My thoughts on Mr. Eazi’s music incubator in Nigeria? Will Travisbott lead to a producer-less future? And a whole lot more. Tune in! Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coLink:
Trapital Mailbag #1: Grammy Awards Woes, Young Rappers Most Likely to Become Moguls, and T...2020-03-0330 min
TrapitalLynzie Riebling on Gen Hip Hop, Quantifying the Power of the Hip-Hop Audience, and REVOLT’s Role in the CultureREVOLT’s VP of Insights & Strategy Lynzie Riebling came through to talk about Revolt’s new study Gen Hip Hop, key findings from the study (did you know gen hip hop has a buying power of $438 billion?!), why this work matters, Revolt’s competition, and more. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Lynzie Riebling, @hilynzie, revolt.tv Link: genhiphopstudy.com - Order a copy of the report. It’s free!Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your busine...2020-02-2544 min
TrapitalKarl Fowlkes on Music Business Law, Combat Jack’s Influence, and Why He Hopes There are Less Lawyers in 20 YearsThe Fowlkes Firm founder and music business professor Karl Fowlkes talked about his experience as an entertainment lawyer, why he fights for producers rights, music publishing exams, trends in digital streaming, the late Combat Jack (Reggie Ossé), and his series “The Courtroom.” Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Karl Fowlkes, @esqfowlkes, elawandbusiness.com Links: Free Music Publishing Exam - The Fowlkes Firm The Courtroom - Karl Fowlkes (YouTube) Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it...2020-02-1846 min
TrapitalJesse Kirshbaum on Nue Agency's Brand Marketing, #CRWN Interview Series, and the Future of Award ShowsNue Agency Founder and CEO Jesse Kirshbaum talked about his company’s transition from talent to brand partnerships. We also talked about his brand activation deals with Sour Patch Kids and Tidal, The Grammys, the Super Bowl Halftime Show, upcoming awards shows, and more. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Jesse Kirshbaum, @jessekay, nueagency.com Links: The Patch South Patch Kids brand partnership - Nue Agency #CRWN partnership with Nue Agency - Nue Agency A Conversation wi...2020-02-1145 min
TrapitalTarik Brooks on Combs Enterprises, Diddy’s Investment Strategy, and Managing a Portfolio of BrandsCombs Enterprises COO Tarik Brooks came on the Trapital Podcast to talk his role managing the Combs Enterprises portfolio of brands, which includes Ciroc, Bad Boy Entertainment, Revolt, Sean John, AquaHydrate, and more. We talked about how to measure Diddy’s value-add as an investor, Tarik’s experience working for both Diddy and Robert L. Johnson, and why Diddy sought mentorship from Ray Dalio, and more. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Tarik Brooks, @tarikamin, combsenterprises.com/tarik-brooks/ Hip-hop’s influence contin...2020-02-0445 min
TrapitalSteve Stoute on UnitedMasters, Partnership with Apple Music, Ownership in Hip-Hop, and Why Brands Value Indie ArtistsUnitedMasters and Translation CEO Steve Stoute came through the Trapital Podcast to talk with Dan Runcie about ownership in hip-hop, why the music distribution company partnered with the NBA, Apple Music, and NBA 2K. We also talked about brands that use phrases like “Hot Girl Summer,” why his work at UnitedMasters is gratifying, and why he’s still in the second inning of building this company. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Steve Stoute, @stevestoute, @unitedmasters, unitedmasters.com Links
Apple Music, NBA St...2020-01-2731 min
TrapitalFantasy Record Labels? We’re Skeptical. (a Trapital - Water & Music Collaboration with Cherie Hu)Water & Music creator and music journalist Cherie Hu came on the Trapital Podcast to discuss why “fantasy football for music” hasn’t taken off. Her and I did a mutual newsletter takeover where we both researched the topic and wrote separate articles in each other’s newsletter. On this podcast, we recapped our findings, and shared key reasons why the concept is limited in its reach. We also had some fun and answered a popular meme on how we would spend our $15 if we’re drafting a record label. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS 2020-01-2146 min
TrapitalMilana Lewis on Stem’s Artist-First Strategy, How it Evolves in the Streaming Era, How the Company Makes Tough DecisionsStem CEO and co-founder Milana Lewis came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about Stem’s role as a music distributor, how it worked with Frank Ocean and Childish Gambino, business decisions that impacted the artist community, diversity in the music industry, and why some record labels deals make sense. Don’t miss it! Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Milana Lewis, @milana, stem.is Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs...2019-12-1647 min
TrapitalTrapital Mailbag Special: Grammy Awards Woes, Young Rappers Most Likely to Become Moguls, and Thoughts on a Rappers UnionI answered some of the most-pressing questions from Trapital Members: Should the digital streaming providers invest in e-commerce? Are the Spotify Awards a step-in-the-right-direction to recognize global music or will it be more of the same? Will rappers surpass NBA players as the best sneaker endorsers? Don’t miss this one! Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Want to participate in the next Mailbag? Become a Trapital Member: trapital.co/membership2019-11-2731 min
TrapitalWhy Netflix's 'Rhythm + Flow' Was a HitAce “Call Me Ace” Patterson came back on the pod to break down Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow. We talked about what worked, what didn’t, how the hip-hop competition show compares to American Idol and Making the Band, and what we expect from Netflix next season! Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Ace Patterson, @callmeacelegit, airplanemode.callmeace.com Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Take your insights to the next level. Learn more about Trapital.2019-11-1940 min
Trapital50 Cent is a Habitual Line StepperDan is joined by Ace Patterson (hip-hop artist ‘Call Me Ace,’ Consumer Marketing at Facebook). They break down how 50 Cent built a brand on shock value, why he raises hell on social media, whether he’s changed his style, and why he’ll never get canceled. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | SoundCloud | YouTube | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Ace Patterson, @callmeacelegit, callmeace.com Links referenced: Article: Why 50 Cent Hasn't Been Canceled - Trapital Podcast: Moody Jones on marketing for Snoop Dogg, EMPIRE’s digital strategy, and why he wan...2019-09-1242 min
TrapitalRapCaviar's Big AdvantageDan explains why Spotify’s RapCaviar playlist still has a competitive advantage over its competitors and why that won’t change anything soon. But that doesn’t mean the other digital streaming providers should give up! Each competing playlist can still take steps in the right direction. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | SoundCloud | YouTube | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Links Discussed:
Why Spotify’s RapCaviar Can’t Be Matched 8/8/2019 - Trapital Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Take your insights to the next level. Become a Trapitalst.2019-08-0909 min
TrapitalRoc Nation's Wild YearDan breaks down Roc Nation’s wild and eventful 2019--a bunch of execs got fired, there are new co-presidents for the record label, and a new joint venture record label with Meek Mill: Dream Chasers. There’s been A LOT going on, but the company needs to be intentional about its next steps. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | SoundCloud | YouTube | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Links Discussed:
Why Roc Nation Needed to Restructure 7/31/2019 - Trapital
Why Roc Nation May Move on From its Record Label 12/7/2018 - Trapital
Hip-hop’s influe...2019-08-0109 min
TrapitalThe Hip-Hop Partnership FlywheelDan breaks down why distribution is so critical for today’s hip-hop artists and how it has created a partnership flywheel that benefits Jay Z, Rihanna, and countless others. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | SoundCloud | YouTube | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, Trapital (trapital.co) Links Discussed:
How Distribution Changed Hip-Hop for Better or Worse, Trapital To get all the content you need to level up on hip-hop business, become a Trapital member.2019-07-2309 min
TrapitalNo Tour, No Problem for Cardi BDan breaks down why Cardi B has held out on a major tour, why she’s on the festival circuit instead, and whether her model is one that other rappers can follow. Listen: Apple Podcasts | SoundCloud | YouTube | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, trapital.co, @RuncieDan Links Discussed:
Why Cardi B Doesn’t Need to Go On Tour - Trapital
Why Choosing the Right Concert Venue Matters - Trapital
Why Jay Z Partnered with Cannabis Company Caliva - Trapital
GGB vs. Caliva - Web Smith, 2PM To get all the content Trapit...2019-07-1508 min