Bobby Owsinski's Inner Circle Podcast

NEWS 2 unique plagiarism cases about copying yourself, and freedom to experimentWinter NAMM 2021 has been cancelled, but that might not be so bad GUEST Producer/engineer/entrepreneur Sean Giovanni Sean Giovanni is a producer, engineer and owner of The Record Shop Studio in Nashville. He has worked with clients in the studio ranging from Tim McGraw, Big and Rich, Zakk Wylde, The Wallflowers, Juicy J, and Lil Jon. Sean is also passionate about helping creatives build a sustainable business around their art and achieving their goals. Beyond his work at The Record Shop, he is also the co-founder of Mind Map, an online training course designed to help artists find their own unique intersection of art and commerce to fuel longevity in their career.  During the interview we talked about working through your problems when the worst happens, developing a client base, taking advantage of opportunities, how mentors are more accessible than you think, and much more. On the intro I’ll take a look

NEWS The "Stairway To Heaven" plagiarism lawsuit is going to the Supreme CourtRickenbacker dumps Guitar Center and Musician's Friend GUEST AmplifyX founder Adam Cowherd Adam Cowherd is the founder of AmplifyX, a company that bridges the financial gap between musicians and fans by letting supporters invest in artists like startups. When his work with Ernst & Young in the financial sector landed Adam in Los Angeles, it wasn’t long before he started seeing gaps in the music industry landscape. Chief among them was the need for a new approach to royalties, one that could keep up with the rapid pace of innovation in the music business as a whole – and let an increasingly conscious public connect with the artists they love through direct investments. The AmplifyX model allows upcoming and established artists to retain control of their own intellectual property and career decisions while collecting up to 90% of royalties – as opposed to the current industry standard cuts, often totaling less th

NEWS Bipartisan Congressional support for not paying artists for radio airplaySeveral new acoustic advances to be aware of GUEST America co-founder Dewey Bunnell Dewey Bunnell, is a founding member and half of the band with a lot of big hits that you probably know well - America.  Dewey’s best known compositions include “Horse With No Name,” “Ventura Highway,” “Tin Man” and “The Border,” among many others. During this long interview we talked about the origins of the band, keeping a touring band together for a long period of time, working with members of the Wrecking Crew, working with George Martin, and much more. On the intro I’ll take a look at how musicians will continue not being paid for radio play, and some new advancements in acoustics. var embedVars = { epId: 49637215, backgroundColor: 'white', height: '600px', showEditButton: false, showSpeakers: true };

NEWS Official music videos coming to Facebook with the industry's blessingDPA gear is going to Mars on the latest Rover GUEST Singer/songwriter, mentor and entrepreneur Adam McInnis Adam McInnis is a singer/songwriter most known for his work on tv and film as well as for collaborating with the top DJ’s of EDM.  He has interests in 3 publishing companies, a recording studio in Austin, a skin care line, and a yearly songwriter camp in Costa Rica called Neverland Retreats. Adam's online platform called The Billboard 500 Club, where he gives out mentoring information and advice regarding the music industry, has also gained a vast following. During the interview we talked about how social media can bring an artist a false sense of worth, how to land an investor and how much money to ask for, why hip hop artists understand the new music business better than almost anyone else, the “oooh ” factor, and much more. On the intro I’ll take a look at how official music videos are finally on Facebo

NEWS Gen-Z's taste in music is different and it's influencing other generationsThe 5 Mix Element Rule GUEST Musical theater composer/arranger and musical director David O David O's work as a composer is enhanced by his unique skills as a multi-faceted music-theatre artist, pianist, conductor, arranger, vocal coach, and sometimes actor. He has received numerous awards and accolades over the years for his work, including Ovation Awards, LA Weekly and LA Drama Critics Circle Awards, Backstage West Garland Awards, and was the 2012 recipient of the LA Drama Critics Circle Joel Hirschhorn Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre. David’s musical compositions span a broad range of styles and genres, and have been featured in the theatre, in concert halls, and in film and television. He is also committed to the education of young people, continuing the traditions of music and music-theatre for the next generations. In addition to his work in the classroom, the rehearsal room, and on stage, David  is a w

NEWS The UK Government passed an aid package for venues and cultural institutionsRed Bull has closed it's 11 studios around the world GUEST Austrian Audio CEO Martin Seidl Martin Seidl spearheaded the drive to start Austrian Audio from the ashes of AKG after Harmon decided to close the company 3 years ago. In what might be an unprecedented move, Martin managed to keep the core of AKG together to start the new company and keep it operating for several years even before its first products were released. Those new products include microphones and headphones that are getting rave reviews both for their vintage sound and forward-thinking innovations. During the interview we talked about the path to releasing new products, developing a new microphone capsule, the ability to pan frequencies with a feature of the new OC818 microphone, selling the company’s experience to other companies, the famous AKG anechoic chamber, and much more. On the intro I’ll take a look at the unprecedented aid that

NEWS Nielsen's mid-year recorded music report has some interesting data pointsKorg and Roland get big fines in the UK GUEST Sweetwater Sound's founder and CEO Chuck Surack Chuck Surack supplemented his playing career as a sax and keyboard player with a makeshift recording studio in the back of a his Volkswagen bus. That mobile studio was the departure point for what was to become the largest online music retailer in the world - Sweetwater Sound. The company now ships over 3,300 guitars, 830 keyboards, 460 drum kits, and 5,300 microphones every week from its facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  As successful as Sweetwater is, what you probably don’t know is that Chuck also owns a dozen other business in the area, including a luxury car dealership SweetCars, private charter business companies Sweet Aviation and Sweet Helicopters, and optical retailer Longe Optical, in many cases rescuing the business from bankruptcy to save local jobs. During the interview we talked about the surprising histo

NEWS Streaming service Deezer making movesMy top 10 DAWs GUEST Tour manager Felicity Hall Felicity Hall has been a tour manager for the last 10 years in a male dominated world. During that time she’s worked with Snarky Puppy, Bokante, Delain, Public Service Broadcasting, and a whole lot more. Felicity has also been running an online series about managing life on the road on Crowdcast called Tour Management 101. During the interview we talked about dealing with sexism on the road, working through supposedly impossible scenarios, the difficulties in keeping people happy on tour, the differences between rock and jazz tours, and much more. On the intro I’ll take a look at some of the latest moves from the Deezer music streaming service, and my top 10 DAWs.On the intro I’ll take a look at some breakthroughs in online concerts, and some things we don’t miss about the studios of old. var embedVars = { epId: 45123437, backgroundColor: 'white', height: '600px',

GUEST: Lij ShawSign the petition at SaveHomeStudios.comIf you live in Nashville, send an email directly to the city council at balancenashville.org Imagine that it was illegal for you to record anyone except yourself in your home studio. Imagine that you weren’t allowed to have students over to your house for lessons. Image that it was illegal to go to the home of the hairstylist down the street to get your hair cut. There actually is a pace where that’s really happening and believe it or not that place is Nashville. Yes, the Music City isn’t being being to kind to music made in home studios these days thanks to a 10 year old ordinance that forbids anyone from operating a business from their homes. Leading the charge to change this law is Lij Shaw, who not only operates a home studio where he makes his living from, but is also the host of the popular Recording Studio Rockstars podcast.  Along the way Lij has recorded Grammy Award-winning performers such as John Oates, Jack White, Wilco, Adele,

NEWS Yes, online concerts can pay off big-timeThe reasons why we don't miss the studios of old GUEST Studio designer John Brandt John Brandt has owned studios and built custom audio equipment in both the UK and Nashville before delving deeper into the world of studio design.  John’s company JHBrandt Acoustic Designs now provides design and consulting services to music studios, commercial video and cinema facilities, home recording studios, home theaters, presentation and conference rooms, performance and entertainment spaces, educational facilities, and industrial acoustic applications all over the world. John also freely shares advice on most of the popular online audio forums and has numerous helpful articles on his website. During the interview we talked about how much the science of acoustics has changed, his approach to different types of design jobs, the pros and cons of mass loaded vinyl, the latest in acoustic treatment, and much more. John also took me through a model of t

NEWS The Recording Academy has released a new rule book for the GrammysOrchestras try to make a comeback after COVID GUEST Producer Kyle HunterFind out more at RhythmCouture.com Kyle Hunter started producing music for artists, but soon learned about the world of sync licensing and custom music. He also co-founded RhythmCouture, which now counts Forever 21, Vans, Calvin Klein, The NY Times and many more major brands among their clients. The company also has a large music library representing a wide range of genres and styles featuring affordable prices for content creators in almost any situation. During the interview we talked about making the transition from producing artists to custom production, balancing being creative while overseeing a business, dealing with fast turnaround times, the latest music trends, and much more. On the intro I’ll take a look at the new Grammy rule book, and how orchestras are dealing with social distancing. var embedVars = { epId: 444086

NEWS Kids are watching TikTok almost as much as YouTubeTelefunken has opened a mic custom shopGibson sells iconic manufacturer Stanton to InMusic GUEST Mixer and producer David Cole - find out more at themixguy.com David Cole started his career as a staff engineer at the famous Capitol Studios in Hollywood, learned the lost art of vinyl disk mastering there, and worked his way up to staff producer at Capitol and MCA Records before going freelance. David’s had a lot of great studio experiences including engineering and co-producing for Bob Seger’s huge hit Like A Rock as well as most of the albums he’s made afterwards. His long credit list also includes albums with Melissa Etheridge, Steve Miller, Richard Marx, NSYNC, Poco, Kenny Rodgers Josh Groban and Michael Bolton, as well as movies including A Mighty Wind, Best In Show, Waiting for Guffman, among others. During the interview we talked about recording with Bob Seger, David’s philosophy on mastering, working on music for movies, plugin

NEWS Why the charts and what people actually listen to don't always matchA look at the Recording Academy P&E Wing recommendations for reopening studios. GUEST CD Baby VP of Marketing Kevin Breuner My guest on the podcast this week is Kevin Breuner, who’s the SVP of Marketing for CD Baby, the host of their DIY Musician Podcast, and author of a host of helpful articles on the company’s DIY Musician blog. Kevin has spent over 20 years working in the music business, both as an artist and an industry professional. After college, he joined the Atlanta-based band Smalltown Poets who later signed a recording contract with a major label under the EMI umbrella. Their self-titled debut album sold over 200,000 copies, landing a Grammy nomination plus multiple Dove Award nominations. He's also been with CD Baby for 14 years, and knows the company and the state of music distribution extremely well. During the interview we talked about the value of thinking about marketing early in the recording proces

Stu Hamm is one of the world’s premier bass players and clinicians. His unique and innovative two-handed tapping technique proves that even the bass can be a solo instrument in the hands of a virtuoso player. Stu has recorded and toured with a who’s who of guitar heros, including Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Frank Gambale, Carl Verheyen and Michael Schenker. He’s appeared on a slew of magazine covers, released 8 solo albums, has a number of signature basses, and has a number of instructional videos. During the interview we traded Frank Zappa stories, spoke about how Stu adapted his style from traditional walking bass, how he incorporated tapping into his technique, pain management from playing, and much more. On the intro I’ll take a look at a company trying to game Spotify, and some new touch-enabled features that might come to the MacBook Pro. var embedVars = { epId: 41739800, backgroundColor: 'white', height: '550px', showSpeakers: true };

Zack O’Malley Greenburg is a senior editor of media & entertainment at Forbes and author of four excellent music oriented business books. His latest, A-List Angels, is how a band of actors, artists and athletes cashed in on the latest tech boom and changed the face of Silicon Valley. His previous books include 3 Kings, about Diddy, Dr. Dre and Jay-Z and hip-hop’s multibillion dollar rise, Michael Jackson Inc., and the Jay-Z biography Empire State Of Mind. Zack’s work has also appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, Vibe, Billboard,Sports Illustrated, McSweeney's and the Library of Congress, and he's been a source for BBC, NPR, MTV and 60 Minutes, and a speaker at SXSW, CES, TEDx, Princeton and Harvard. During the interview we spoke about the similarities between media business moguls, how certain entertainment celebrities got involved with tech, Zack’s approach to interviewing famous people, and much more. On the intro I’ll take a look at the first socially distant concert,

Jack Forman is a senior vice-president at BiCoastal Productions, the New York City-based concerts and theatrical booking agency.  Originally spearheading the agency’s coverage of the Western United States, Jack now oversees the core agency staff and global touring strategy. Jack provides an agent’s perspective of working with an artist, as well as recommendations for touring artists and bands during this time of uncertainty. During the interview we spoke about marketing a tour, online concerts, the inner workings of an agency, some of the problems facing venues post-COVID, and much more On the intro I’ll try to demystify streaming royalties, and give some perspective on gear reviews and what to look for.

Camille Barbone has done just about every behind-the-scenes job in the music business you can think of.  From working as a label executive for Columbia and EMI, to managing Madonna, to owning the famous Longview Farm and Gotham Sound studios, to producing major concerts and tours and more, Camille has a wide range of experience that has served her well in every position. She has also provided marketing consultation to major record labels and publishers, and handled music events and promotions for companies such as Dunkin Donuts, Jaguar Motor Cars, Boys & Girls Club of American, BASF and others.  Camille holds both a degree in psychology and an MBA, which coupled with her extensive entertainment industry experience became the foundation for her current coaching and consulting business. During the interview we spoke about her favorite label job, what’s it’s like to own a world-class studio, how a degree in psychology help her deal with people in the music business, and much more. On the intro I’l

My guest on this episode is Joe Renzetti, who started in the studio band of the Cameo Parkway label in Philadelphia playing on hits like “Let’s Twist Again,” “South Street,” Palisades Park,” and “Limbo Rock.” He then moved to New York where he worked as an arranger on huge hits like “Sunny” by Bobby Hebb and Barry Manilow’s breakout hit “Mandy.” After a move West, Joe immediately found success in Hollywood, winning an Academy Award for The Buddy Holly Story, and scoring a wide variety of films and television shows. He won accolades for his scores on horror films like Dead & Buried, Poltergeist III, and Child’s Play, and many others. During the interview we spoke about being in the Wrecking Crew of Philadelphia, recording in mono, arrangers as mixers, making the transition from session musician to composer, and much more. On the intro I’ll take a look at new government funding to help musicians and artists, and Fender no longer using ash in its guitars.

My guest today is Katie Zaccardi who’s a songwriter, artist, music industry professional, and certified yoga instructor. Through her work in both music and wellness along with her own experience with a generalized anxiety disorder, Katie discovered the urgent need for conversation surrounding mental health and self care within the music industry. Through her Out To Be Coaching platform, Katie  supports artists and professionals with a personalized approach centered on cultivating positive actions and attitudes. Her Out To Be Podcast invites listeners to engage with insightful dialogue on all things wellness and their relation to working in music. During the interview we spoke about how imbalances in the body can contribute to anxiety, foods that cause inflammation, dealing with burnout when there’s no end in sight, some signs of depression and anxiety that you might be missing, and much more. On the intro I’ll take a look at the 5 ways to make money from YouTube, and the latest recordings entered int

Brett Porter is one of the lead engineers in the development of the MIDI 2.0 spec. Brett has a big background in electronic music, but he’s also developed software products for the pro audio, broadcast, and musical instrument industries as part of the Art+Logic development team. Musicians have been connecting electronic music gear together using MIDI since 1983, and but it hasn’t been updated since then. The new MIDI 2.0 spec brings everything into the 21st century, making MIDI faster and more expressive, but also adding new concepts and acronyms that we'll all need to learn. As a member of the group that developed MIDI 2.0, Brett is one of the first people to start building MIDI 2.0 software. As a composer who's used MIDI since the 80s, Brett is also well-suited to show musicians what they'll need to know about it as new gear starts entering the market. During the interview we spoke about how Brett got into coding, why it took 35 years to get to MIDI 2.0, the advantages of MIDI 2.0, a look at future