Byta Presents: #HowWeListen Live: In Conversation Brian “Z” Zisook
Co-Founder & SVP of Operations & Artist Services – Audiomack
Preparing for Online Success as an Artist: DSPs & Social Media
Tuesday, February 27th, 9am PT / noon ET / 5pm GMT (UK) (live on Zoom)
Our next guest is Brian “Z” Zisook, Co-Founder & SVP of Operations & Artist Services – Audiomack.
“Capturing attention is something anyone can do on the internet. Keeping someone’s attention once you’ve caught it? That is the hard part. What is the answer to how to capture and then hold attention?
You must give someone a reason to care deeply, not just about a song but about you, the artist.”
Zisook’s extensive experience in the music industry that surprisingly includes conducting over 500 interviews with artists and industry professionals over 13 years. Interviewees include J. Cole, Big Sean, Rick Ross, John Legend, Nipsey Hussle, DJ Khaled, and Anderson .Paak, among others. In recognition of his many contributions to the music industry, Zisook was selected to join the Recording Academy as part of their new member class in 2022. Brian is the co-founder of Audiomack, a music streaming and audio discovery platform. As SVP of Operations, Zisook leads a team of 10 across three continents, overseeing and managing relationships with over 180 record labels and distribution partners, including Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and over 80 Merlin members. Before co-founding Audiomack, Zisook was the VP and EIC of DJBooth, a New York-based digital music publication and media house he co-founded with Audiomack co-founder David Macli. Over 19 years, Zisook and Macli grew DJBooth from a small niche website into an industry leader in long-form music journalism. At its peak, DJBooth generated 8M page views monthly and annual revenue exceeding one million dollars. DJBooth entered into a content partnership with Audiomack in 2020.
Audiomack is an on-demand music streaming and audio discovery platform that allows artists and creators to upload limitless music and podcasts for listeners through its mobile apps and website. In February 2021, Billboard announced Audiomack streaming data would begin informing some of its flagship charts, including the Hot 100, the Billboard 200, and the Global 200. In March 2021, Fast Company magazine named Audiomack one of the 10 most innovative companies in music.
#HowWeListen Live: In Conversation is a monthly free live and online one-on-one interview event. Each event features an in-depth one-on-one interview with someone from deep within the music ecosystem by Byta founder Marc Brown. Our next event is a conversation with Brian “Z” Zisook looks at how artists can prepare for online success using DSPs & Social Media.
Key takeaways will include:
- How AI will affect artists’ online success
- Launching music to DSPs
- How to make social media your friend
- Sustainable music careers and mental health
- Coordinating your best visibility
- Best steps before, during and after you release your music.
- Making DSP’s work for you: Playlists & collaborations
About the Event
The series is designed to deliver the knowledge to enable tomorrow’s artists and industry leaders to better manoeuvre their way through the music ecosystem. Providing fun and insightful Q&A along the way!
#HowWeListen Live: In Conversation is hosted by Byta’s founder, Marc Brown, whose deep music business background and digital audio knowledge have helped him deliver unique insights to audiences from Tallinn to Toronto. Marc is a former label owner, A&R, manager and radio plugger.
Event Format
An introduction will introduce industry insights & Byta updates and tips on what you can do yourself to better increase the chances of your success.
Followed by an in-depth one-to-one conversation.
About Byta
Byta (“Bee-tah”: the Swedish word for exchange) is unrivalled in taking advantage of the unique properties found in audio files. By simplifying the reading and writing of file metadata, conversion of file formats and delivery of fast yet secure streaming, the platform enables everyone to send and receive digital audio in a clean, simple and secure way. Byta has also launched #HowWeListen, a not-for-profit organisation that complements the company’s ultimate goal: providing artists and their teams with the tools and knowledge needed to move their careers forward.
About Brian “Z” Zisook:
Brian “Z” Zisook is a music industry veteran and the co-founder of Audiomack, an artist-first music streaming and audio discovery platform. With 30 million monthly active users worldwide, Audiomack is a leading player in the music streaming space.
As the SVP of Operations, Zisook leads a team of 10 across three continents, overseeing and managing relationships with 200-plus record labels and distribution partners, including UMG, WMG, SME, and over 80 Merlin members.
Before co-founding Audiomack, Zisook was the VP of DJBooth, a New York-based digital music publication and media house he co-founded with Audiomack co-founder David Macli. Over 19 years, Zisook and Macli grew DJBooth from a small niche website into an industry leader in long-form music journalism. At its peak, DJBooth generated 8 million page views monthly, and its annual revenue exceeded one million dollars. DJBooth entered into a content partnership with Audiomack in 2020.
About Marc Brown
Marc is the founder of Byta / byta.com. Run as a distributed team across three continents, Byta enables the sending and receiving of digital audio in a clean, simple and secure way. Built for everyone working with music today.
His extensive music business background and considerable digital audio knowledge have helped him deliver unique insights to audiences from Tallinn to Toronto.
Marc got his start at murderecords, Canada’s premier artist-owned label, during the mid-90s. After working in A&R at the legendary London indie, Creation Records, and then at Alan McGee’s Poptones, Marc started his own boutique UK radio promotion company off the back of his success with The Hives. For over ten years, Marc worked with an impressive list of indie rock luminaries, including Wilco, Bloc Party, Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes, Spoon, and Refused as well as legends such as Tom Waits, Yoko Ono, Booker T and Mavis Staples.
Marc currently lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden.