Video by MUBUTV – Music Business Television via YouTube
The Music Industry Policy Fight You Didn’t Know Was Shaping Your Career
Join us as Ian Harrison, President and CEO of A2IM and a major force in independent music advocacy, pulls back the curtain on the REAL battles independent artists and labels face in Washington and beyond. Discover how indie artists rose from outsiders to dominating over 50% of Grammy nods, the policy fights you didn’t know were shaping your career, and how the tools once reserved for major labels are now within every artist’s reach. Learn what every artist should ask before signing with a major, why community matters, and how legislation like the HITS Act is putting money back in the pockets of creators. If you value creative freedom, music business power, and a thriving future for artists, this is your must-listen episode! 🔥🎶 #IndieMusic #MusicBusiness #A2IM #MusicIndustry
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Books mentioned & suggested:
📒 All You Need To Know About the Music Business 11th Edition – https://amzn.to/3sdgrja
📒 The Decline of Western Civilization The Metal Years Pt. 2 – https://link.amazon/B0gID3Z8A
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⏰ TIMECODES ⏰
0:00 Intro
1:13 Ian Harrison joins the show – What is A2IM and why does indie advocacy matter?
2:11 The untold battles in Washington & for policy that impacts every artist
3:32 What A2IM gives indie artists and labels (networking, education, mix events)
5:26 Why major music movements start with independents
6:06 How advocacy helped make indie music respected at the negotiating table
8:10 From outsiders to 50% of Grammy nods: what changed for indie artists?
10:26 What data should independent artists actually pay attention to right now?
12:50 Why your audience and craft matter more than any tech trick
13:50 Major label offers – what should you trade for what you get?
15:14 A2IM’s community-building for isolated artists and labels
16:00 How events like Indie Week & Libera Awards drive connection
18:35 The HITS Act explained: How to write off $150,000 in recording costs
20:18 New threats and opportunities: AI, the CLEAR Act, and American Fairness Act
22:08 Radio doesn’t pay artists—what’s at stake for the U.S. music community
24:04 What can emerging artists learn from Hayley Williams’ choice to go independent?
24:39 Why alternative charts and college radio reveal true cultural impact
25:28 How to know your indie career is resonating—beyond mainstream metrics
28:28 What artists must ask about AI and their rights
29:36 Consent, opt-outs, and staying informed about AI music deals
31:20 If independence disappeared, music itself would shrink – a warning for the future
33:03 Final thoughts: why every artist and label should know A2IM
🎵 Music provided by Disciples of Babylon. Check them out here ➡️ https://spoti.fi/3kSY0wR
To learn more about this episode visit:
https://www.mubutv.com/ian-harrison-a2im
Podcast Credits
Produced by: Ritch Esra & Eric Knight
Editor: Eric Knight
Shownotes & Transcriptions: Jermaine Shepherd
Get music business advice to take control of your path in the new industry. Hear expert podcast breakdowns on key laws like the HITS Act, find out how to leverage your community, and learn how independent music is changing the global landscape forever. Subscribe for weekly insights, and comment with your biggest questions about music rights, independence, or building your brand as an artist.
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