Everyone keeps talking about "the good old days" — but were they really that good? Or just better at hiding the bullshit?

This episode kicks off with the Magic Wand Question (00:00): If you could wave a wand and change one thing about the music industry, what would it be? From equity to ownership to toxic structures, the crew goes straight for the pressure points.

Then the convo pivots to influence, ownership, and the illusion of visibility (09:04). They unpack why artists are more "seen" than ever — and somehow still more broke, more leveraged, and more replaceable.

Next, they hit the playlist culture trap (17:53). Are artists really breaking, or are they just being broken? They challenge the idea of "going viral" as a business model and expose the short-term mentality baked into modern rollouts.

They go deeper into infrastructure and the death of the middle class artist (26:36), asking why nobody is building long-term systems for sustainability — just hype cycles and fake momentum.

That leads into a fire section on cultural shifts and authenticity (35:38), including what kids are actually responding to in music right now — and how misreading that leads to disconnected marketing and generic output.

Then it's time to face the beast: AI in music (44:25). The crew unpacks the truth behind the hype, what tech is really doing to the industry, and how power is shifting — again — away from creators.

They follow that with a sharper critique of tech's role in replacing human taste (53:32). It's not just tools replacing jobs — it's platforms shaping culture by algorithm instead of instinct.

The group slows it down for a raw talk on mental health, pressure, and community (62:16), sharing what it feels like to work in a system that rarely prioritizes humans.

From there, it's back to the money. They break down the realities of platform promotion and investor games (71:01) — who's getting paid, who's getting used, and why most "promotion" isn't actually for you.

Finally, they close with a call for ownership and real change (80:04). It's not enough to make content. You have to build something that's yours.

In this episode, Melanie McClain (Founder of Blurred Lines, DSP Music Programming) Michael Pelczynski (Co-Founder Voice-Swap and EVP Rostrum Pacific) Sabrina Kalimian (artist manager & founder of Childish), and Donny Slater (GM, Third + Hayden and Co-Founder, ROLLOUT)

What happens when a major music industry conference pulls up to Atlanta… but forgets to bring Atlanta? In this episode, Donny and Melanie hold it down while Mike and Sabrina are deep in the grind (00:00). They kick things off reflecting on what it means to become the suit (01:10), and why understanding your role in the system matters before you become part of the problem. Donny shares how he's navigating new deal structures and pushing for artist-first royalty innovation (05:20).

Melanie opens up about her multi-hyphenate work across community, product, and fashion, including her Blurred Lines bootcamp (10:50) and her recent speaking gigs at Princeton and NYU (14:25). The episode turns toward the controversial Music Biz 2025 conference in Atlanta — or more accurately, 45 minutes outside of it (19:15). They unpack how it missed the moment, ignored the city's culture, and felt more like a secret meeting than an inclusive experience (25:30).

From there, they talk about what real integration and connection look like — starting with the power of dinners over panels (28:10), and how face-to-face still matters. The conversation turns to Atlanta's current musical and cultural shift in the post-Young Thug era (34:00), and the rising alt scenes quietly building through platforms like Lotus Rosary and Beats and Ballets (39:20).

Then, a powerful pivot: All-American Rejects are playing house shows across the country (44:05), and indie fans are eating it up. But what about LaRussell — who's been doing this for years in his backyard? Why does a legacy act get the press while the innovator gets left out? (49:10). Donny and Mel compare that to how Google duplicated a grassroots fashion tech app (Doji) without credit (55:40), and explore the bigger question: Why does culture get mined but not funded?

They close with a message to builders and creatives alike — keep showing up, keep creating, and protect your brilliance from becoming someone else's launchpad (59:30).

This episode features half the crew: Donny Slater (GM of Third + Hayden & Co-Founder of ROLLOUT) and Melanie McClain (Founder of Blurred Lines, DSP Music Programming)

The crew dives into how taste is evolving, how culture keeps getting repackaged, and what it really means to build movements that last. It starts with a breakdown of the "Guys with Dads" — the new class of well-funded outsiders shaping scenes they didn't build (08:00). Jordi explains why Animal House stepped back from events and how Live Nation and brands priced out the real ones (15:00), while Melanie unpacks how brands ghost-promote off the backs of tastemakers they never credit (21:00). Michael gives a rare inside look at how culture gets treated in boardrooms (26:00), and the group talks about fatigue, fragmentation, and why monoculture may never return (40:00). Donny drops his now-iconic "water" analogy — culture is the resource, taste is knowing what to say no to, and if you truly have culture, there is no risk (52:00). The room gets vulnerable about ego, exclusion, and being overlooked by the same systems that profit off their taste (1:05:00), then Donny maps out the triangle: culture, taste, and money — and why most people only ever master two (1:12:00).

This episode features the full crew: Donny Slater (GM of Third + Hayden & Co-Founder of ROLLOUT), Melanie McClain (Founder of Blurred Lines, DSP Music Programming), and Michael Pelczynski (Co-Founder of Voice-Swap & EVP at Rostrum Pacific). They're joined by guest host Jordi Ross, Founder and CEO of @animalxhouse and @3rdshiftnyc.

The Work Podcast welcomes a new guest to the table 00:02:08, including Julien McKee, manager and founder of @otherside.nyc, and artist Low.bō. The episode kicks off with a real convo about what a fair artist-manager split actually looks like 00:06:22—and why "50/50" only makes sense when you're building it from scratch.

From there, they break down the difference between being ready for management vs. just wanting help 00:11:23. The crew shares how trust, initiative, and mutual investment are the real foundation of artist/manager partnerships 00:16:00.

Later, it gets into label deals, fake artist development, and what "breaking an artist" really means in 2024 00:26:10. The group discusses how too many artists chase virality without structure—and why long-term success isn't built on momentum alone.

They highlight the rise of middle-class artists like BigXthaPlug 00:43:00, and how Empire, Even, and Spotify's Loud & Clear report reveal a shift toward independent wins and sustainable careers 00:49:10.

All that, plus how to think about money, ownership, and long-term strategy in an industry that rewards shortcuts—but punishes the unprepared.

In this episode, guest Julien McKee (Artist Manager & Founder of @otherside.nyc) and artist Low.bō (Recording Artist, Spotify) join the table alongside the hosts Melanie McClain (Founder of Blurred Lines, DSP Music Programming) Michael Pelczynski (Co-Founder Voice-Swap and EVP Rostrum Pacific

rollout.cc

The Work Podcast kicks off with James Blake's Instagram post calling out major labels and detailing his independent journey 00:03. The crew unpacks the reality of major label deals, from how money actually moves in the industry to why labels prioritize short-term virality over long-term artist success 05:00. Is the major label model collapsing, or are artists just waking up?

The conversation shifts to alternative artist funding platforms like Indify 10:00 and whether they truly empower independent artists or just offer a new form of gatekeeping. Are artists looking for investors or real marketing? The debate gets deeper as the team explores the pros and cons of direct-to-fan platforms and whether the next generation of artists can truly thrive without label backing 16:00.

Later, the team dissects Amazon's new AI music deal with Suno 49:22, a move that could change music forever. Is AI-generated music an opportunity, or is it about to replace human creativity? The debate heats up as they connect this moment to Napster, Netflix, and how tech keeps disrupting industries while creatives struggle to adapt 52:33.

At 01:20:00, the hosts introduce themselves and share their journeys in the music industry.

Melanie, originally from Chicago, came up during the blog era, discovering independent artists before they became household names. She built a career in artist management, A&R, playlist curation, and experiential marketing, working with brands like Budweiser and major DSPs. She also founded Blurred Lines, a tastemaker community that connects playlist curators, A&Rs, and event producers worldwide.

Mike is the son of two immigrant musicians and grew up surrounded by music. He initially rebelled against it but eventually found his way back through DJing, rave culture, and a deep interest in music business and licensing. After working at Warner during the ringtone era, he moved into digital strategy and rights management at SoundCloud, later expanding into AI, voice technology, and music startups.

Donny started as a music video director in high school during the blog era, working with artists like Wiz Khalifa, 21 Savage, and Lil Yachty. After stepping away from music to launch a content marketing agency, he returned to start his own record label, eventually partnering with SoundCloud on an innovative deal. This led him to co-found Rollout, a platform designed to build better tools for artist teams and managers.

Sabrina began as a college DJ, which led her to artist management. After working at Universal and UnitedMasters, she played a key role in breaking an artist who quickly went viral, pulling in 1 million streams per day. After two and a half years, she left to start Childish, a company focused on artist management, content creation, and creative direction, which eventually led her to Rollout and The Work Podcast.

All that, plus who's actually fighting for artist rights, why tech companies profit while artists stay broke, and how the biggest artists in the world could flip the industry overnight—if they actually wanted to 1:30:12.

In this episode, Melanie McClain (Founder of Blurred Lines, DSP Music Programming) Michael Pelczynski (Co-Founder Voice-Swap and EVP Rostrum Pacific, Sabrina Kalimian (artist manager & founder of Childish), and Donny Slater (GM, Third + Hayden and Co-Founder, ROLLOUT)

00:00 The Work Podcast kicks off with the industry's obsession with "direct-to-fan" models 0:59 and why most platforms pushing the narrative aren't actually helping artists build real fan bases. The crew dives into the difference between superfans and passive listeners, why monthly listeners don't equal ticket sales 8:03, and the Ponzi scheme of VC-backed music startups promising artist independence.

From Bandcamp's real cultural impact 22:43 to why platforms like Even stand out in a sea of copycats, the conversation breaks down how tech companies sell artists a dream without actually delivering results. The team also explores why music marketing should focus on hyper-targeting instead of vague "direct-to-fan" promises 32:08.

The conversation shifts to the role of taste, relationships, and community in artist success 49:46, how real cultural moments are built behind the scenes, and why artists need to stop waiting for platforms to save them.

Also, the rise of AI music creation 52:07 sparks a heated debate—will AI replace human creativity, or is it just another tool? The crew reacts to Mikey Shulman's viral AI take and breaks down how technology is reshaping production, curation, and artist discovery.

All that, plus insights from artist managers, industry execs, and the real truth behind the future of music.

In this episode, Melanie McClain (Founder of Blurred Lines, DSP Music Programming) Michael Pelczynski (Co-Founder Voice-Swap and EVP Rostrum Pacific, Sabrina Kalimian (artist manager & founder of Childish), and Donny Slater (GM, Third + Hayden and Co-Founder, ROLLOUT).

The Work Podcast kicks off with Spotify's dominance in 2024 (00:58), breaking down the 138% stock increase and what it means for artists and the industry as a whole. The crew discusses whether streaming services hold too much power, how artists are getting pushed out of playlists for fake artists (22:43), and why too many creatives are chasing streams instead of real money.

From Cardi selling music through Shopify (08:03) to the rise of alternative platforms like Even and Patreon, the conversation shifts to new ways artists can take control of their own revenue. Is streaming a trap? Should artists be limiting access to their music on DSPs?

The crew also debates whether social media is hurting or helping independent artists (32:08), the realities of financial literacy in music, and the difference between chasing a plaque and building a career that lasts. Plus, Doechii's marketing moves (49:46) spark a discussion on what it really takes to stand out in the industry today.

Also, the Drake vs. UMG lawsuit (49:46), what it means for future deals, and if artists will ever be able to break free from label control. The team weighs in on how the biggest names in music could change the industry overnight—if they actually wanted to.

All that, plus insights from artist managers, industry execs, and the real truth behind the streaming business.

In this episode, we have guest moderator Marc Griffin (Journalist, Staff Writer at Vibe Magizine), Michael Pelczynski (Co-Founder Voice-Swap and EVP Rostrum Pacific, Sabrina Kalimian (artist manager & founder of Childish), and Donny Slater (GM of Third + Hayden & Co-Founder of ROLLOUT).