The Artist Economy: Episode 05 — Who Gets to Speak for the Artist?

This is the week consent got delegated.This week on The Artist Economy, Michael Walker, Chris Saunders, Sol Gold, and Jared Christianson break down what happens when labels, publishers, platforms, lawmakers, and AI companies start making decisions on behalf of artists.BMG licensed more than three million songs into Suno while settling the platform's prior use. Suno launched a more powerful AI-first studio. Kobalt became the third catalog to join Spotify's coming AI remix ecosystem. And two different fights against ticket resale showed just how difficult it is for independent artists and venues to challenge the platforms between them and their fans.Along the way, we ask:Who actually gets to negotiate on behalf of artists?Is Suno evolving from an AI toy into a legitimate instrument?What happens when songs become worlds fans can remix and play inside?Who deserves the extra value when a $50 concert ticket resells for $300?What happens when AI assistants—not search engines—decide which concerts fans discover?In this episode, we break down BMG’s Suno deal, the shift from AI slop to AI musicianship, Spotify’s AI remix ecosystem, the evolving role of artists and fans, and the latest battles over ticket resale, deceptive pricing, and AI-powered concert discovery.Key TakeawaysOwn your audience: Build a direct relationship with your fans.Know your fans: Understand who they are and what they respond to.Build direct channels: Don’t rely entirely on platforms to reach your audience.Protect your leverage: Platforms, labels, and publishers can control parts of your career.Control the relationship: The more direct your connection with fans, the more independence you have.---→ Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://streetteam.fm/masterclass

Aurelie Couble is a Canadian music producer and online educator who built a six-figure business teaching self-taught music creators how to turn their skills into real income without relying on streaming royalties or a record label. With 44K YouTube subscribers and 43K Instagram followers, both grown organically, she helps music creators land high-paying clients and build sustainable businesses through content creation, audience growth, personal branding, and organic marketing.In this episode, Michael sits down with Aurelie to explore how music creators can build profitable businesses beyond streaming through organic content, audience engagement, personal branding, and strategic client acquisition.Key TakeawaysBuild income beyond streaming by turning your music skills into a client-based business that attracts high-paying customers.Create content that converts by remixing proven ideas, sharing authentically, and consistently communicating your offer.Grow without chasing follower counts by building trust, engaging your community, and turning a small, loyal audience into sustainable income.---→ Want to take your music business to the next level?Follow @musicbyplv on Instagram and DM “READY MM” to connect with Aurelie.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://streetteam.fm/masterclass

What happens when the music industry starts deciding what counts as human?This week on The Artist Economy, Michael Walker, Chris Saunders, Sol Gold, and Jared Christianson explore a new phase of AI music: platforms aren't just detecting AI anymore—they're starting to label it, watermark it, restrict it, and decide how it gets distributed.Spotify is introducing badges for AI personas. Suno is embedding invisible watermarks into generated music. Licensed AI fan remixes are coming to independent catalogs. And YouTube is raising the barrier for creators to monetize.Along the way, we ask:Who gets to decide what counts as an AI artist?Could transparency eventually make human-made music more valuable?What happens when artists invite fans to remix and reinvent their songs?Are artists building another business on rented land?Should musicians even care about platform monetization—or focus on owning their audience?In this episode, we explore Spotify’s new AI Persona badge, Suno’s invisible AI watermarks, AI-powered fan remixes, platform ownership, YouTube’s monetization changes, Spotify’s 300 million Premium subscribers, Warner’s AI licensing revenue, and our first Moment Spotlight winner, Jared Rogerson.Key TakeawaysEmbrace AI: Use new tools, experiment, and let fans participate in the creative process.Protect your ownership: Don’t confuse access to platforms with ownership of your career, audience, or relationships.Keep artists at the center: Build worlds, own your relationships, and make sure the artist gets paid.---→ Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://streetteam.fm/masterclass

Cathy Pellow is the founder of Sargent House, one of the most influential independent record labels in alternative, experimental, and heavy music. For more than two decades, she has championed innovative artists and helped them build sustainable careers while preserving their creative independence. She is also the founder of Riverwood Arts, a creative consultancy focused on artist development, leadership, and long-term career strategy. Known for her artist-first approach, Cathy brings a wealth of experience navigating the evolving music industry, from touring and contracts to community building and independent success.In this episode, Cathy Pellow breaks down how artists can build sustainable careers by embracing creativity, community, adaptability, gratitude, and a clear understanding of the business behind their music.Key TakeawaysBuild a career on your own terms by understanding that success doesn't require following the traditional major-label path.Protect your future as an artist by understanding your rights, the economics of deals, and why desperation can lead to costly decisions.Create sustainable momentum by focusing on community, kindness, creativity, and positivity instead of getting trapped by negativity or self-pity.---→ Learn more about Cathy Pellow and her work at: https://riverwoodarts.com/→ Learn more about Fabiana and her work at Musicians Creating Prosperity here: https://musicianscreatingprosperity.com/Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://streetteam.fm/masterclass

The AI fight is moving from permission to money.This week on The Artist Economy, Michael Walker, Chris Saunders, Sol Gold, and Jared Christianson break down what happens once AI companies, labels, artists, and musicians stop arguing about whether AI can use music—and start arguing about who gets paid.We look at Universal testing paid-only release windows, musicians challenging labels over AI licensing revenue, Germany moving faster on Suno regulation, Universal’s massive quarterly revenue, and why so many independent songwriters are still leaving royalties unclaimed.Along the way, we ask:Should artists optimize releases for reach or intent?If labels get paid by AI companies, how much should performers receive?Can Europe set the rules for AI music before the U.S. does?Should independent artists try to compete with superstar economics at all?How much money are artists missing simply because they never registered their publishing?In this episode, we expore how major-label strategies, AI lawsuits, and evolving licensing rules are reshaping the music industry—and what these changes mean for independent artists. It also covers overlooked royalty opportunities, why artists should build their own lane, and the debut of The Final Five, featuring real submissions from the StreetTeam community.Key TakeawaysOwn your relationships: Build direct connections with your fans and audience.Know your rights: Understand what you own and what you’re entitled to.Collect the money you’re already owed: Don’t leave royalties or revenue on the table.Don’t play the majors’ game: You don’t have to compete on their terms.Build your own lane: Create a career and business model that works for you.---→ Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://streetteam.fm/masterclass

Theresa Wolters is the Executive Director of MusiCares, leading efforts to provide health, mental health, addiction recovery, financial, and emergency support to music professionals. She brings more than 20 years of global health and humanitarian leadership, including 12 years with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, where she helped expand life-saving programs reaching tens of millions worldwide. Since joining MusiCares in 2022, Theresa has focused on making critical resources more accessible to artists and music professionals while addressing the unique health, financial, and emotional challenges of working in the music industry.In this episode, Theresa shares how MusiCares supports music professionals through mental health, financial, healthcare, and recovery resources—and why asking for help can be a crucial part of building a sustainable career.Key TakeawaysDiscover how MusiCares provides a crucial safety net for music professionals facing financial, health, and emergency challenges.Learn why preventive healthcare and financial coaching can help artists build greater long-term stability.Understand how breaking the stigma around asking for help can empower more musicians to access the support they need.---→ To learn more about MusiCares and to explore support and resources for music professionals, visit: www.musicares.org→ Learn more about Fabiana and her work at Musicians Creating Prosperity here: https://musicianscreatingprosperity.com/Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://streetteam.fm/masterclass

When a song becomes part of culture, who actually owns it?This week on The Artist Economy, Michael Walker, Chris Saunders, Sol Gold, and Jared Christianson explore how music, culture, AI, ownership, and technology are reshaping the economics of being an artist. We look at the resurgence of Oasis' "Wonderwall" and what it teaches us about creating cultural moments, before diving into the growing debate around AI music, training data, ownership, and artist compensation. For independent artists, the bigger takeaway is to build direct relationships with fans, understand where their value comes from, and create a career that isn't entirely dependent on someone else's platform.Along the way, we ask bigger questions:Can artists intentionally create cultural moments, and when does a song become part of culture?What does AI owe the artists whose work helps train its models, and where is the line between influence and theft?Should artists own their audience data and digital relationships instead of renting access through platforms?In this episode, we explore how songs become cultural moments, using "Wonderwall" as a case study, before diving into the growing debate around AI, music ownership, training data, and artist compensation. We also unpack why artists should focus on owning their fan relationships, building digital sovereignty, and creating diversified revenue streams.Key TakeawaysPlatforms, algorithms, and AI will continue to change how music is created, discovered, and monetized.The most durable asset is the relationship between an artist and their audience.Build an audience—and create direct ways to reach them.Create meaningful moments, not just content, and understand your rights beyond your streams.Wherever possible, own the relationship with your fans instead of renting it from a platform.---→ Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://streetteam.fm/masterclass

Dr. Fabiana Claure is a concert pianist, music business strategist, and AI innovation leader who helps music educators turn their expertise into scalable, profitable businesses. A doctoral-level pianist, university professor, and co-founder of a nationally recognized music academy, she has generated over seven figures through her own online education programs. Fabiana has also helped music educators build six- and seven-figure businesses while cutting their teaching hours by 50% or more. She is the creator of The Musician's Profit Umbrella® and Musician's Marketing Maestro™, combining entrepreneurship, education, and AI to help musicians build sustainable careers.In this episode, Fabiana reveals how musicians can turn their expertise into scalable businesses, use AI strategically, and create more income and impact without simply teaching more hours.Key TakeawaysLearn how to move beyond trading hours for income by developing a signature methodology and education business around what you already know.Discover how musicians can leverage AI for marketing, content, and business growth without losing the expertise and authenticity that make their work unique.Explore strategies for increasing revenue while reducing teaching hours, allowing you to serve more students without sacrificing your time.---→ Access Fabiana’s Free Musicians Profit Masterclass here: https://musiciansprofitmasterclass.com/→ Learn more about Fabiana and her work at Musicians Creating Prosperity here: https://musicianscreatingprosperity.com/Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://streetteam.fm/masterclass

What happens when AI starts rewriting the rules of the music industry? On the first episode of The Artist Economy, Michael Walker, Chris Saunders, Sol Gold, and Devin Mooers break down the biggest stories shaping the future of independent artists. We dive into prediction markets manipulating Spotify charts, the multi-billion-dollar rise of AI music company Suno, the legal battle over AI training data, the collapse of the traditional touring ladder, and why governments are now treating frontier AI models like strategic technology.Along the way we ask bigger questions:Who really owns music once it becomes culture?Can AI companies profit from music they didn't create?Why are artists still chasing streams instead of owning relationships?What happens when every algorithm becomes a game?Is AI replacing artists... or forcing them to become more human?If you're trying to build a sustainable music career over the next decade, this conversation is about much more than headlines—it's about understanding where the industry is going before everyone else does.In this episode, Michael, Chris, Sol, and Devin unpack the forces reshaping music, technology, and the economics of being an independent artist—and what these changes could mean for the future of creativity, ownership, and artist careers.Key TakeawaysHow prediction markets created incentives to manipulate Spotify's charts—and what that teaches us about every algorithm.Why Suno's $5.4 billion valuation changes the conversation around AI music forever.The legal battle over AI training data, copyright, and who should benefit from the next generation of music technology.Why millions of songs being used to train AI may become one of the defining copyright questions of our generation."Blue Dot Fever" and what shrinking concert attendance means for the future of touring.Why governments briefly treated frontier AI models like strategic national assets—and why artists should care.---→ Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://streetteam.fm/masterclass

Diamond Johnson is a world-class drummer, multi-instrumentalist, and music director whose career has taken him from church stages to the world's biggest arenas. Best known as Beyoncé's drummer on the Renaissance World Tour, Diamond has also worked with artists including Teyana Taylor and Michelle Williams while building a reputation as one of the industry's most trusted first-call musicians. Beyond performing, he's passionate about mentoring the next generation of creatives, teaching the mindset, relationships, and professionalism required to build a lasting career in the music industry.In this episode, Diamond tackles what it really takes to become the musician everyone calls first—and stay there.Key TakeawaysLearn how relentless preparation and consistency can create career-changing opportunities long before anyone knows your name.Discover why trust, integrity, and authentic relationships often open more doors than talent alone in the music industry.Understand the mindset that helped Diamond overcome setbacks, embrace uncertainty, and build a career touring the world with some of music's biggest artists.---→ Learn more about Diamond Johnson and follow his journey at: https://www.instagram.com/_diamond_johnson_/?hl=en.Book an Artist Breakthrough Session with the Modern Musician team: https://apply.modernmusician.me/podcast