Podcast Summary
From writing songs at age 6 to collaborating with international stars, Justin Jessup's love for music led to incredible success: Starting young and having a passion for music can lead to remarkable achievements, but it requires dedication and hard work to reach success
Determination and a love for music from a young age can lead to incredible success. Justin Jessup, a hit singer-songwriter with over 1.5 billion streams, started writing songs at the age of 6. He was discovered at 15 when he met a studio owner in Chicago. From there, he toured with Disney artists and eventually collaborated with international pop stars like Ricky Martin and Kygo. His song "Stargazing" with Kygo has over 500 million streams on Spotify. The impact of his music on people's lives is what drives him to continue creating. Despite starting at a young age, it took years of hard work and dedication to reach the level of success he has today.
The power of determination and persistence: Determination and persistence can lead to unexpected opportunities. Stay true to yourself and follow your passions, even during challenging times.
Determination and persistence can lead to unexpected opportunities. Justin Stein shares his story of writing jingles in his teenage years, which eventually led him to tour with famous artists and even attend NYU's Clive Davis department of recorded music. However, things didn't go as planned, and he found himself in a difficult situation where he had to make a choice between his music career and his education. Despite feeling like a failure and experiencing depression, Stein persevered and eventually returned to the music program. He realized that the camaraderie and learning environment were what he truly wanted, and his experience taught him the importance of staying true to oneself and following one's passions. Overall, Stein's story highlights the importance of staying determined and persistent in pursuing one's goals, even when faced with challenges and setbacks.
Collaboration and Building Connections: Collaborating with passionate individuals led to career growth and shared publishing rights, providing essential income in the music industry.
Collaboration and being surrounded by passionate and dedicated individuals played a significant role in the speaker's career growth in the music industry. Starting with an internship at EMI Music Publishing, the speaker gained experience, built connections, and began writing songs that were sought after by artists. However, the music industry's business model presents a challenge for songwriters, who typically receive no points on the master royalty, while labels and artists earn the majority of the revenue. The speaker's collaboration with other writers and producers resulted in shared publishing rights, providing a valuable source of income. It's important to note that while the master royalty may currently hold more value, the publishing side is essential and should be recognized and fairly compensated in the industry.
Revenue streams for musicians and songwriters: Approx. $3-4k for master rights per million streams on Spotify, $250 for publishing rights, significant revenue increase from radio plays, varied income sources for artists, limited income for new songwriters, complex industry treatment of songwriters.
The revenue streams for musicians and songwriters vary greatly depending on the platform and the stage of their careers. For instance, approximately 3-4 grand is earned by the team for a million streams on Spotify for master rights, while the same number of streams generates around $250 for publishing rights. However, radio plays can significantly increase publishing revenues. A middle-of-the-road artist, signed to a label, might have an advance, gig income, and varied revenue streams, but a songwriter's income can be limited if they don't secure an advance. The music industry's treatment of songwriters is a significant issue, with advances ranging from a few hundred dollars for new writers to millions for established ones. Overall, the revenue streams in the music industry are diverse, and artists and songwriters need to navigate the complexities to maximize their earnings.
Navigating the Complexities of the Music Industry: Understand contracts, seek legal advice, and explore alternative revenue streams to navigate the complexities of the music industry and maximize earnings and recognition.
The music industry can be a complex and uncertain landscape for creators, with various contracts, revenue streams, and copyright issues that can impact their earnings and recognition. For instance, there are different types of deals with varying terms, some of which may limit a songwriter's ability to earn from their work or even hold them in a contract long after their initial success. Additionally, publishing money, especially from overseas royalties, can take years to arrive. As for copyright, it's not always clear-cut, with some elements like melodies and lyrics being protected, while others like grooves and ideas being more ambiguous. Disputes over copyright can lead to costly lawsuits or settlements, as seen in the case of Bruno and Miley Cyrus's "Flowers." To navigate this complex terrain, it's crucial for creators to understand their contracts, seek legal advice when needed, and consider alternative revenue streams, such as writing scripts and screenplays.
Exploring the complexities of finding happiness and the music industry: Understanding the distinction between publishing and master royalties in music is crucial for artists to navigate the business side effectively.
The artist's journey to finding the opposite of loneliness is a complex process, often documented through music. The artist discussed their EP "Finding the Opposite of Loneliness," which explores their experiences with depression and anxiety. The first half of the EP reflects their struggles, while the second half focuses on moving forward and living a fulfilling life. The artist emphasized the importance of being bigger than fears and finding happiness beyond material possessions. Regarding the business side of music, the artist touched upon the controversy surrounding Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun's deal. The artist explained that publishing and master royalties are different entities. Scooter Braun bought the master recordings from Big Machine, meaning he earns money whenever Swift's music is streamed. Swift, however, still owns her publishing rights, which are collected through performance rights societies. This situation highlights the intricacies of the music industry and the importance of understanding the business aspects of being an artist.
Artists Control IP and Monetize it: Taylor Swift's rerecording of old songs and Jesso's success with 'Stargazing' highlight artists' power to control intellectual property and monetize it, emphasizing the importance of personal history and branding in the music industry.
Artists have the power to control their intellectual property and monetize it in various ways, even after selling the master recordings. Taylor Swift's decision to rerecord her old songs and monetize the new recordings through streaming platforms and sync licensing is a bold move that allows her to retain control over her publishing and copyrights, potentially generating significant revenue. Jesso's story of choosing his stage name, inspired by his great grandfather who was a band leader, highlights the importance of finding meaning and connection in personal history when starting a new chapter in one's career. Regarding the discussion about money, it was revealed that Jesso's song "Stargazing" has been his most financially successful and impactful work to date. The conversation also touched upon the origins of stage names, with Jesso sharing how he chose his name based on family connections and a desire for authenticity. Overall, the conversation provided insights into the music industry, creativity, and the importance of personal branding and intellectual property rights.
Exploring the Unpredictable Revenues in Music Industry: Musicians earn differently, with some thriving on streaming and songwriting, others on live shows and private performances, and some even outside industries like commercial real estate.
The music industry's financial success can be unpredictable and varies greatly from artist to artist. While some musicians, like Graham, have found significant income through streaming and songwriting, others, such as Justin Gesco, have benefited from a combination of live shows, private performances, and touring with artists like Kygo. The financial arrangements for these performances can range from guarantees and percentages of the door to large, upfront deals with touring agencies. Ryan Tedder, a successful songwriter and performer, even shared that he's made more money outside of music, in industries like commercial real estate, due to the industry's unpredictability. Justin Gesco plans to continue touring with Kygo, release an album, and define his unique sound, which he describes as "Soul Stadium Pop," while continuing to explore the industry's unpredictable opportunities.
Build a strong team and focus on self-improvement: Working with and giving your best to those around you at your level leads to happiness, success, and future opportunities
Success in any industry, including music, doesn't necessarily come from looking up to those higher up and waiting for them to pull you up. Instead, it's about working with and giving your best to the people around you at your level. Justin Jesso, a trained pop songwriter who has worked with artists like Ricky Martin and Maluma, emphasizes the importance of building a strong team and focusing on self-improvement through internships and being of service. By doing so, you'll not only find happiness and success but also open doors for future opportunities. Jesso's unique perspective, combined with his experiences and talent, sets him apart in the music industry and is a testament to his ability to create wholly unique and interesting music. To connect with Justin Jesso and listen to his music, follow him on Instagram @justinjesso, search for him on Spotify and Apple Music.
Music Industry's Complexities and Challenges: Justin Jesso's experiences revealed unexpected complexities in the music industry, including antiquated contracts and payment practices.
The music industry, despite advancements in technology and business models, still holds antiquated practices from its past. Justin Jesso's experiences as a musician shed light on the complexities and challenges of the industry, particularly regarding contracts and payments. This episode served as a reminder that even industries we believe we understand, like music, can hold surprising complexities. As music enthusiasts and podcast listeners, we were given a unique perspective into the music industry and the ongoing changes it faces. Don't forget to tune in for more intriguing conversations and industry insights on Trading Secrets. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review and follow us on YouTube for more content.
From tangible sales to intangible streams: The music and literature industries have transformed from selling tangible products to intangible streams, presenting challenges in defining and measuring value. Complexities in revenue splits and the existence of underground streaming rings add to the complexity.
The business worlds of music and literature have undergone significant transformations over the decades, with the advent of new technologies and business models. The speaker highlights the evolution from tangible sales of records and CDs to intangible streams, and the challenges this presents in terms of defining and measuring value. The speaker also discusses the complexities of revenue splits in these industries, and the existence of underground streaming rings. Despite the complexities and potential for exploitation, the speaker acknowledges that artists and other industry players are constantly maneuvering to make the system more beneficial to them. The speaker expresses surprise at the vast sums of money involved in some contracts, but also acknowledges the complexities of revenue distribution. Overall, the conversation underscores the dynamic and evolving nature of business in the creative industries.
The Role of AI in the Music Industry: AI is revolutionizing the music industry by handling complex tasks such as calculating royalties and predicting market trends, while musicologists ensure copyright protection.
The music industry, like many others, is being transformed by technology, specifically AI, which is now capable of handling complex tasks such as calculating royalties and predicting market trends. This was discussed in relation to the recent sales of Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift's music catalogs, which seemed light in comparison to their influence and success. The question was raised about who calculates and pays royalties, and the answer is increasingly becoming AI and robots. Another topic touched upon was copyright infringement, with examples given of high-profile cases involving Pharrell and Robin Thicke, as well as Ed Sheeran. These cases illustrate the importance of musicologists and the role they play in researching and protecting copyrights. Overall, the discussion highlighted the significant impact of technology on the music industry and the changing nature of work in various fields.
Music Industry: Creativity Meets Business: The music industry is a complex world of creativity and business where artists collaborate, power dynamics shift, and the use of ghostwriters blurs lines. High-profile cases of songwriting credits and alleged collaboration without consent add to the industry's challenges, but it continues to inspire and captivate us.
The music industry is a complex and intriguing world where creativity and business intertwine in unexpected ways. Artists may collaborate, borrow ideas, or even unintentionally create similar works. The power dynamics between artists, labels, and the public can be vast, with talent sometimes overlooked in favor of other factors. The use of ghostwriters and the blurred lines between inspiration and plagiarism add to the industry's complexity. Artists like Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris have been involved in high-profile cases of songwriting credits and alleged collaboration without consent. The rise of streaming platforms has intensified the competition, making it even more challenging for new artists to break through. Despite these challenges, the music industry continues to inspire and captivate us, with its endless stories of talent, creativity, and the human spirit.
Supporting Partner During Labor: Stay calm, focused, avoid eye contact, maintain support role, keep sugar on hand, and avoid panicking if feeling faint.
During labor, it's important for the partner to stay calm and focused, avoiding eye contact with the laboring person and maintaining a solid support role. This contrasts with some opinions that suggest looking at the baby during delivery is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Additionally, for those prone to fainting, it's crucial to keep sugar on hand and avoid panicking and running if feeling faint. Instead, sit down and put your head between your knees. Lastly, some exciting upcoming guests on Trading Secrets include Barbara Corcoran, Chris Voss, and the author of "I Will Teach You to be Rich."
