Former EPIC Records Exec EXPOSES The Music Industry!
Video Overview & Insights
Decoding the Music Industry: Chris Anokute Exposes the Secrets Behind Hit Records
Just want to give a big thank you to everyone tuning in for these transparent conversations to learn the business of music. If you can do me a favour and subscribe it will mean the world to us to keep this channel growing strong!
In this explosive episode, Chris Anokute - the A&R powerhouse and artist development specialist behind Katy Perry, Bebe Rexha, Iggy Azalea, and Muni Long - pulls back the curtain on the hidden world of the music industry. From stream manipulation and payola to the real power players controlling the charts, Chris doesn’t hold back.
Want to know how artists are actually broken in 2025? Chris lays it all out. The strategies, the gatekeepers, and the moves labels make behind the scenes to manufacture success. He reveals why some artists skyrocket while others get shelved, the shady economics of record deals, and why owning your masters is the ultimate power move.
Fantastic interview.
This episode is a must-watch for artists, managers, and anyone who wants to understand how the game is really played. If you think you know how the industry works, think again.
Watch now and uncover the secrets labels don’t want you to know.
Speaking of service providers in the industry Extremely disappointed, tried to work with the Promo god and he's a scam artist , paid him and he never delivered on promised service after following up for 4 months. He gives amazing advice but disgusting service . I also noticed his episode is not on this series anymore, i wonder if that has anything to do with how he works, i have heard similar instances of him over promising.
00:00 The Truth
00:59 Meet Chris Anokute: Artist Development Specialist
He didn't mention that about 2/3 of the global music market is controlled by three companies: UMG (Universal), Sony Music, and WMG (Warner) and all their sub labels, infrastructure, publishing, distributing, and other rights. As Chris mentioned, The DSP (music distribution platforms, Spotify, YT, Apple, Amazon) negotiate mostly with those 3 music groups for the platforms rights to stream, and pay them for it. When Spotify set up, all the 3 majors owned a combined 18% of Spotify in exchange for licensing deals, and Warner and Sony sold a large share of their investment when Spotify IPOed and went public, making billions each. What is overlooked in the global market, for streaming is TenCent in China. Ten Cent is a huge conglomerate, and owns Riot and Epic games, WeChat (1.4 billion monthly users) and a minority stake in Snapchat. UMG and Sony invested in minority stakes in TenCent (owns China's top streaming apps like platform is QQ music), but an investor consortium of Tencent and others now owns a 20% stake in UMG. The Big 3 music comoanies combined make about $20millio per day off of streaming.
01:43 Success Stories: Katy Perry, Bebe Rexha, and More
04:36 The Journey of Muni Long
Somebody tell this guy to clear his throat. Damn tether
08:18 The Power of Fan Engagement
15:42 Negotiating Record Deals: Tips and Strategies
Don’t ask don’t tell, but he leaves you with a hint of the answer we’re all thinking. Respect. 🫡
22:06 The Streaming Industry and Market Share
41:38 The Role of Major Record Labels
I am not in the music business. But I have been working as a contractor for it through music videos. I also worked with musicians through music video production and for commercials on tv and radio. And I have written some songs (bad ones) many years ago. I have a little bit of idea of some of the challenges that is for both creators and managers on different levels in this business. I learned so much in this interview about this industry that I can apply in mine. Great, great stuff! Thanks for the deep insight. It really was a masterclass.
42:50 The Cost of Radio Promotion
45:24 The Influence of Radio on Popularity
👏👏👏
47:13 Global Campaigns and Market Strategies
48:59 Touring vs. Radio Hits
God bless this man. 🫡🙏🔥
50:22 The Evolution of Music Promotion
55:25 The Impact of Streaming on the Music Industry
Wow! Great eye opener and reality check on how these POS who run the corporations operate. Thanks to Chris for sharing most if not all the truth. It cuts an honest path for those of us who just want solid fan support for the long term rather than a flash in the pan shot at being famous internationally. Now I understand why so much garbage content makes it to the top 40/20. They pay to take it there! 😂 I’ll share this with a few friends who aspire to be in the biz. 😂 Will try to meet KP one day as I’m 1 degree of separation from JT our former PM. Happy to hear she’s a good person. 😊
56:55 Payola and Chart Manipulation
01:07:40 Ethics in the Music Business
Again, another POWERFUL conversation!
01:13:33 Personal Journey and Career Reflections
01:29:30 Challenges and Successes in the Music Industry
Weird
01:37:46 Navigating the Modern Music Business
01:41:52 Building a Sustainable Music Career
This is the BEST and most VALUABLE interview you have on this channel, by far. 🤯
01:55:44 The Future of Fame and Independence
02:03:09 Honesty and Integrity in the Music Industry
Wow, this video is so awesome. Thank you from Jerry Hines SR TV!
Book a 1:1 Strategy Session with Mauricio Ruiz, host of The Manager's Playbook, with over 16 years of experience for tailored advice for artists and managers. Consultation Fees Apply
https://calendly.com/themanagersplaybook
So when an Indy artist goes straight to Apple and Spotify for deals instead of the labels, the he game gets flipped turned upside down. 🙃 ✌️
Want more fans that will buy tickets and merch on top of streaming your music? It's simple. Try out ForeverFan for FREE at https://www.foreverfanmusic.com/?el=TMPB
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So basically the record companies and Spotify have taken all the money in the retail of the actual product of the music. Now the option musicians have is to sell access to the behind the scenes. Once that makes money the record companies and Spotify will come for that…
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real talk! thank u
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That Muni Long story alone is EVERYTHING.
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When he's saying $3bn Spotify pays to rights holders has tripled to $9bn but the pay per stream hasn't changed - isn't that (at least mostly) because there are so many more songs out on Spotify now? Also that 0.003 to 0.005 is just not true - over the last year I've got an average of 0.0023 from Spotify, I don't think it's ever really reached 0.003 for me.
Host: Mauricio Ruiz
Executive Producer: Mauricio Ruiz
So, this guy admits the music industry is corrupt and he is/ was a part of it. Multiple times.
Director of Photography: Will Dobak
Sound Mixer: Colby Prada
So, this guy admits the music industry is corrupt and he is/ was a part of it. Multiple times.
Editor: Kuion Martin
Co-Editor: Mauricio Ruiz
Now i see why jAi from UWTK remains independent. Dope rapper song writer and producer from Brooklyn. He turned down 3 major label record deals and owns all of his masters!. The industry dont even know that this guy is a musical genius💯💯💯
Colourist: Will Dobak
Soundtrack: Kuion Martin
SPOTIFY should have a Upload button similar to YouTube
Channel Management: Jermelle Bahadosingh
Production Company: 8 Til Faint
So this guy is responsible for all of the ABSOLUTE GARBAGE on the radio.
#MusicIndustry #ArtistManagement #TheManagersPlaybook #mauricioruiz #ChrisAnokute #MusicBusiness #BehindTheScenes #TheManagersPlaybookPodcast #KatyPerry #IggyAzalea #BebeRexha #MuniLong #Rihanna
So much game given on this channel. For up and comers this is gold.
More User Perspectives
I like this guy.
@JesseLeeSmith🔥🔥🔥💪💪
@worldsyoursent.1635I listened to this interview several times today and I want to say that it really enlightened me on several things that I need to do in terms of moving forward with my law practice. I have done music law in represented artist, producers, and independent record labels for a couple of decades. In listening to this interview, I come to realize that the music industry and its legalities have truly change with streaming. I really need to contemplate on whether I want to continue doing it and learn the new “Music Game” or at my age….should I re-direct my energy and efforts into other areas?? With AI Music now entering into the “music game”…..It’s clear that “Dirty Water” will only get “Dirtier” and I don’t know if I wanna be a part of it!!
Much Respect on you hearing the Voice of God and being obedient!! I pray God will continue to grant you Favor among Men and hopefully our paths will cross one day‼️🙏🏾🙏🏾
Damn! Even when record labels are being paid more money from Spotify they find a way to still pay the Artist on the very low end and not share increased profits while they pocket gains that the Artists have made for the streaming platforms. Trickle down does not trickle down. To test a man’s character give him power
@alvincostello4887My algorithm brought me this today. I need to dust off my E.P, re-do it and simply do it indy. Happy he spoke about Jesus - messaging and heart posture behind the music is very important. Thank you.
@latashasmith1778Great interview . 🦾🦾🦾💜☮️🎆. Peace & blessings
@mariomichael589The gems here are crazy, as a producer artist I was forced to not just think bigger but for the betterment of people like me for the future. Bless
@TheabstractbluThank you for this knowledge!!!
@SofiaRubinamusicMusic isn’t a science or an art to me. It’s an expression of Existence. My soul reverberates with music to the tune of the cosmos. What do I want more than anything? To move somebody and help them. I want the listener to feel accepted and loved. To realize all their insecurities… Were lies placed in their heads man.
This is part of an interview I did with a magazine called VoyageATL
I have been deeply inspired by your channel and the knowledgeable Ray Daniels.
I'm a super small artist and I've been trying to help suicidal teens and bullied youth. I was amazed by Ray saying he didn't wanna be a part of the business because of his faith. Big up on that. I've found that many didn't align with my music because it had something to it. A spark something real and raw and unpolished. A message that you had to think about and dissect. I started working on melodies and flows recently and I finally found a way to merge them.
I just wanted to tell you that you're an inspiration to me and I will keep continuing on the path. Have a good day I'll see you at the top. I'm busting down the door with Rob Level.
This guy earns the highest of respect for separating himself from devil music. The future must be in positive lyrics, if we want to save young people.
@edgarupwongsa62481:54:26 Costa Rica!! 🇨🇷 lets gooo 🫶🏻❤️ I am from Costa Rica haha
@InsertFXFor f&ck sake, I’ve watched this 3 times today. What an interview. So insightful and it opened my mind and eyes. 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
@InsertFX👏👏👏🙏🏾🙏🏾thank you for this knowledge!!!! Fantastic interview!!!
@JulioRodriguez-wx3qdLove your interviews, however you need to chop up your interviews to 5 minute of less segments. It makes it easier to watch and will pinpoint certain topics that generate viewers. Not saying that you should publish the full interview, but the video distribution strategy is to chop it up. You lose viewers because they see that your interviews are an hour or two hours. I have the patience to watch the whole thing, but most people now a days don't.
@mileshagans2219Thanks for this. You put the spotlight exactly where i needs to be.
@MiddleFingerMusicThis information is too Hot 🥵 😢😂🎉❤😊
@sincerecartertmSmart business woman. Her first album was a flop which she didn't continue to promote that album she moved on. She knew if she wanted to stay in the music industry she had to pivot on the other side of the music industry which allowed her to focus on more of writing music so when she made her back she knew what type of music she wanted to make because by this time she was a successful song writer and she knew how to write songs well and that is what set her up for
success. Love that story.
Love it.
@amberstephens6167im so lucky he's my cousin 😜
@sunnie_10aoh u were nottt playing when u put EXPOSES on the title
@xxxxxxxx-b6vI wish this guy could have been around when groups like TLC, Toni Braxton,Whitney Houston and many more artists that have been screwed by the industry.
@monicaoliver4372Sounds like the devils playground when all you want to do is make food music and get a large percentage of the money thats made. Anything confusing is satanic.
@joshuachambers485IF YOURE BORN IN NIGERIA & THEN YOU🇳🇪 & YOUR NIGERIAN PARENTS🇳🇪 MOVED TO AMERICA, YOURE A NIGERIAN🇳🇪 WITH AMERICAN 🇺🇸 RESIDENCY. YOU CANT TALK THAT SLICK TALK TO THOSE WHO KNOW LAW.🤡
@cdaway2024does chris have a finders fee ??
@RockstarRudeBwoy