Entrepreneur Josh Levine- Finding Your Own Style of Leadership
The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
Release Date: 10/26/2017
A3C Music Business Discussion: Getting on Tours, Festivals, and Shows
The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
This is a special episode from the A3C Festival and Conference in Atlanta, where I was invited to speak on a panel about touring, festivals, and shows. We also gave some helpful tips on how to grow a fanbase organically and how to build an artist's overall brand.
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Media Mastermind Justin Hunte- Create Your Own Path
The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
Justin Hunte is the Head of Video Production & Development for Ambrosia For Heads, and Director of Content and Strategic Marketing at Empire Distribution. Hunte is also a weekly contributor to Shade45's All Out Show on SiriusXM. He sacrificed a profitable investment banking career with the goal of becoming the greatest Hip-Hop writer on the planet. Hunte is a great example for anyone who has a dream and a vision, but is hesitant to take the necessary leap of faith.
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KXNG Crooked (Crooked I)- Winning Through Hard Work and Creativity
The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
KXNG Crooked AKA Crooked I is one of Hip-Hop's all-time great lyricists. Suge Knight once hailed him as the next Tupac Shakur, and years later Eminem signed his group Slaughterhouse to Shady Records. But that doesn't even begin to explain Crooked's foresight and brilliance. Crooked built one of Hip-Hop's first online followings with the release of his Hip-Hop Weekly Series, releasing a new track every week for a year, and creating a trend that was later implemented by a number of successful artists.
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Film Producer Gary Ousdahl- The Making of Warren G's "G-Funk" Documentary
The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
Gary Ousdahl is the Owner and Manager of Advanced Management. He recently produced the upcoming Warren G documentary “G-Funk”, which will be released in early 2018. Previously, Gary worked as an agent at William Morris. He also worked side by side with the prolific Tyler Perry almost every day from 2008-2010. Gary is a master networker and dot connector, and he shares some of the methods that have helped him succeed as a film producer, manager, and business owner.
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A&R Michael Chehadé- Realizing the Value in Yourself
The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
Michael Chehadé is currently the Director of A&R and Creative Director with the Adler Music Group. Previously, he managed radio/ TV personality DJ Skee as well as Dash Radio. Chehadé was also a producer at Skee TV, which aired on Access and Fuse TV. Additionally, Michael is a known tastemaker, championing and promoting many of your favorite artists before the general public becomes aware of their music.
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Musician Adam Hamilton- From L.A. Guns to Vanilla Ice to William Shatner
The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
Adam Hamilton is an accomplished musician who was discovered by C.C. Deville from Poison, and was the former bass guitarist for L.A. Guns. He's worked with everyone from Angie Stone to Vanilla Ice to William Shatner, who he continues to work with on a regular basis. Adam's music has also appeared everywhere from The Bourne Identity to Saturday Night Live to The Simpsons. We delve deep into publishing and Adam breaks down the benefits of placing your music in film, TV, commercials, and more.
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Music Entrepreneur Dame Ritter- Always Focus on Your Fans
The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
Dame Ritter is best known as the co-founder of the successful Indie Hip-Hop label Funk Volume (Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, Jerren Benton). After the dissolution of the label, Dame founded the Music Entrepreneur Club, a music business educational platform. Dame also continues to work with Dizzy Wright and their Still Movin' Movement. After all of his accomplishments, Dame continues to keep striving for more success, and both his persistence and business acumen are on display throughout the interview.
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Tastemaker Jen Deleon- Sacrificing Money for Your Own Happiness
The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
Jen Deleon is a perfect example of the Indie Playbook lifestyle. She has proven her willingness to sacrifice money for her happiness in order to follow her dreams. She inspires a number of people daily through video content that allows her fans honest access into her personal and professional life. Jen has also accomplished a great deal in the music industry, as an interviewer, personality, publicist, consultant, agent, and tastemaker, and it's obvious that she is only beginning.
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Agent Jamie Adler- The Importance of Taking Risks and Helping Others
The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
Born into a rock n’ roll family as the younger brother of Guns n’ Roses co-founder and original drummer Steven Adler, Jamie followed his brother into the music industry. He has served as the agent for Flock of Seagulls, Wang Chung, Motorhead, Danzig, Tyrese, Bobby Brown, ODB, and Guru from Gangstarr among others. Adler is perhaps best known as the agent/manager for Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, DJ Quik, and Dennis Quaid & The Sharks. In this episode, Jamie balances unbelievable stories with expert advice.
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Artist/ DJ Hanif Wondir- Have Faith in Your Own Perspective
The Indie Playbook Presented by Focused Noise
Hanif Wondir is a multi-talented artist, DJ, and graphic designer. He was voted “Best Club DJ” by readers of the Monterey County Weekly six times out of the last seven years. He is also the official DJ of the prestigious Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival. Hanif has toured the country and regularly performs up and down the west coast.
info_outlineJosh Levine is yet another Indie Playbook guest with a wide range of experience in the music industry. Beginning as a journalist at the Source, XXL, Vibe, and URB among others, Josh went on to manage WC from The Westside Connection, and eventually created his own lane in the exciting world of culture-marketing. Many of you remember the Scion campaign that Josh created for Toyota, targeting a younger demographic through activations in nightlife, DJ, art, and street culture.
Levine is currently the CEO of Rebel Industries, where he has created numerous brand partnerships, including pairing Mazda and Mayer Hawthorne, Camarena Tequila with a number of incredible chefs, bringing 7UP into the EDM world, and much more.
First and foremost, Josh has great ideas and the ability to calmly navigate between the arts and the corporate world. But even so, success isn’t guaranteed, and Josh is a great example of hard work, dedication, and follow through. This is a great episode for young entrepreneurs, aspiring marketing moguls, and even artists. Check it out!
16:31 Going out to shows organically created friendships in the music industry
23:29 Say “Yes" to everything and figure it out as you go
25:32 As a journalist asking good questions, make sure you leave room for the answer
29:50 Managers need to be good leaders
33:27 Everyone has to find their own style of management
36:39 Ask more questions and confront the truth
37:16 Josh is surprised how much influence he is able to have in conversations with powerful people
38:44 Partnering with Urb Magazine create a street team business, and eventually an agency
41:10 Toyota tapped Josh to help them build a cool brand
49:17 Lesser known artists can bring more value to a brand because they have closer relationships with their fans
57:14 Why saying “I’ll do anything” is the wrong answer in an interview
1:03:55 Josh has learned to set the rules at the beginning of each working relationship
1:06:36 Morning routines can take care of your body and mind
1:11:00 What Josh did to start over after parting ways as WC’s manager
1:14:30 An important lesson from Tony Robbins
1:17:39 Why Josh started Rebel Radio
1:20:04 How a $10,000 album budget would be best spent
1:29:40 Important lessons from father to son