This week we're talking with David Macias, President and Founder of Nashville-based Thirty Tigers. We'll discuss the origins of the label, how their business model has changed over the years, how they approach A&R as well as artist development, and discuss independent release plans (label or not) ... and David will spill the tea on the current uproar over the streaming economy.

Skip to ~22 minutes if you're only here for the Spotify/streaming talk.

To read more of David's thoughts on Spotify and the streaming economy in general, check out this piece in Rolling Stone, as well as David's full written notes here.

This week on Music Rookie is an interview with Daniel Kohn who is the editor at Spin Magazine.

In this conversation from 2021, you’ll hear us talk about Daniel’s journey as a music journalist, what he looks for in a story, and his vision for Spin, now that it is under new ownership.

A conversation with Justin Black, a Richmond, VA-based independent musician who runs his own label, Crystal Pistol Records, and also works regularly with another Virginia-based label, WarHen Records.

Justin’s primary vessel for musical output is under the moniker Saw Black, which I recommend you check out wherever you consume music.

Our conversation is based around the premise of independent labels — and answering common questions like...should you start your own label? Should you cut a deal with a small indie? What might that deal look like versus a traditional deal or a "bigger" label deal? We’ll also demystify a lot of the day-to-day of being an independent musician and the music industry at-large.