Episode 43: The Art of Artist Development with Laurence Hobbs
Explicit content warning
04/29/25 • 49 min
What does it take to spot star potential in today's crowded music landscape? Laurence Hobbs, platinum-selling producer and songwriter pulls back the curtain on artist development with refreshing honesty and decades of wisdom.
Lawrence's journey from songwriter to CEO of SAFO Music Group reveals the profound shifts reshaping how artists build sustainable careers. "Back in the day, you either got a record deal or you didn't. Now you can release however you want," he explains, highlighting how technology has democratized music creation while creating new challenges for those seeking to stand out.
Throughout our conversation, Lawrence challenges conventional industry wisdom with thoughtful observations. He describes spotting that elusive "it factor" in artists like Sam Smith and a 12-year-old singer who's now landing on New Music Friday playlists. Yet he passionately argues there's room for everyone: "Don't tell me in a population of billions you can't find 5,000 fans. You just haven't worked hard enough."
Our discussion takes a fascinating turn when examining how AI might reshape songwriting. Laurence draws from his extensive experience to provide context: "We both remember when samplers came in and musicians thought they were finished." While acknowledging AI's potential to write commercial hits, he maintains human creativity and connection will always have value – especially for artists who understand the business landscape they're navigating.
Perhaps most inspiring is Laurence's commitment to inclusivity across age groups. "Music should never be exclusively for 15, 18-year-olds," he insists, sharing stories of talented musicians discovering their creative voices in their 60s and 70s. His vision of the future prioritizes artist empowerment: "We're in the entrepreneur age. It's your business, your money, your gigs."
Discover the building blocks of a sustainable music career and why Lawrence remains optimistic about the future despite industry upheavals. What might your musical journey look like if you approached it with the right knowledge and community support?
https://safomusicgroup.com
https://www.instagram.com/safomusicgroup/
Websites
www.jonnyamos.com
https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/
https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/
Email
[email protected]
What does it take to spot star potential in today's crowded music landscape? Laurence Hobbs, platinum-selling producer and songwriter pulls back the curtain on artist development with refreshing honesty and decades of wisdom.
Lawrence's journey from songwriter to CEO of SAFO Music Group reveals the profound shifts reshaping how artists build sustainable careers. "Back in the day, you either got a record deal or you didn't. Now you can release however you want," he explains, highlighting how technology has democratized music creation while creating new challenges for those seeking to stand out.
Throughout our conversation, Lawrence challenges conventional industry wisdom with thoughtful observations. He describes spotting that elusive "it factor" in artists like Sam Smith and a 12-year-old singer who's now landing on New Music Friday playlists. Yet he passionately argues there's room for everyone: "Don't tell me in a population of billions you can't find 5,000 fans. You just haven't worked hard enough."
Our discussion takes a fascinating turn when examining how AI might reshape songwriting. Laurence draws from his extensive experience to provide context: "We both remember when samplers came in and musicians thought they were finished." While acknowledging AI's potential to write commercial hits, he maintains human creativity and connection will always have value – especially for artists who understand the business landscape they're navigating.
Perhaps most inspiring is Laurence's commitment to inclusivity across age groups. "Music should never be exclusively for 15, 18-year-olds," he insists, sharing stories of talented musicians discovering their creative voices in their 60s and 70s. His vision of the future prioritizes artist empowerment: "We're in the entrepreneur age. It's your business, your money, your gigs."
Discover the building blocks of a sustainable music career and why Lawrence remains optimistic about the future despite industry upheavals. What might your musical journey look like if you approached it with the right knowledge and community support?
https://safomusicgroup.com
https://www.instagram.com/safomusicgroup/
Websites
www.jonnyamos.com
https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/
https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/
Email
[email protected]
Previous Episode
Episode 42: Releasing Covers Can Be a Career Catalyst
Cover songs might be the unexpected secret weapon in your artist development strategy. Whether you're an emerging talent trying to build a fanbase or an established artist looking to expand your reach, strategically releasing covers can dramatically accelerate your growth while helping you discover your unique sonic identity.
Many musicians mistakenly believe that releasing cover songs requires navigating complex licensing hurdles. The truth? It's remarkably straightforward. On streaming platforms like Spotify, Tidal, and Deezer, you can release completely re-recorded versions of songs without obtaining separate copyright clearance. Your distributor and the platforms handle the mechanical licensing automatically—you simply need to declare it's a cover. This streamlined process opens up creative possibilities for artists at any stage of their career.
The strategic benefits are substantial and multifaceted. Cover songs provide immediate familiarity to potential listeners, creating a comfortable entry point to discover your original work. They boost your visibility through search algorithms when people look up popular songs. They help you study the architecture of successful music—just as The Beatles and Rolling Stones did when learning their craft. Most importantly, interpreting others' work forces you to infuse your personality into established material, helping define what makes your artistic voice unique. From Aretha Franklin's seminal version of "Respect" to Jeff Buckley's haunting "Hallelujah," music history is filled with artists who transformed borrowed material into career-defining moments. The question isn't whether you should include covers in your strategy—it's which songs will showcase your artistic vision most effectively. What song will you reimagine next?
Websites
www.jonnyamos.com
https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/
https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/
Email
[email protected]
Next Episode
Episode 44: The Unclaimed Royalties Revolution with Monetunes CEO and Tech Entrepreneur Antonio Di Puorto
What if I told you billions of dollars in music royalties go unclaimed every year? That's the reality that Antonio Di Puorto discovered during his remarkable journey from frustrated small-town DJ to successful artist manager who sold his agency to Live Nation.
After witnessing talented artists missing substantial royalty payments throughout his career, Antonio founded MoneTunes to revolutionize how independent musicians collect what they're rightfully owed. His platform elegantly solves a complex problem: even music creators registered with performing rights organizations typically don't collect all of their total publishing royalties, with the rest scattered across hundreds of global collection societies.
Many creators face an impossible choice - navigate this labyrinth alone or sign with traditional publishers who often ask for 50% commission, 5-20 year contracts, and control over decisions like sync licensing opportunities. Antonio shares a frustrating personal experience when a major music publisher rejected a modest $2,000 sync deal for his then-emerging artist simply because it was too small for their business model.
MoneTunes offers a refreshing alternative - collecting mechanical, performance, and neighboring rights royalties through a single dashboard while charging just 15% commission with no long-term contracts or signup fees. The platform also maintains artists' control over sync opportunities and has forged strategic partnerships with services like SubmitHub, Groover, and Fiverr to create a comprehensive ecosystem supporting independent creators.
Our conversation explores Antonio's inspiring career trajectory and examines the impact of AI on music creation. Rather than fearing technological change, Antonio advocates for frameworks ensuring artists benefit from rather than are replaced by these innovations. His journey exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that drives positive disruption in the music industry.
Ready to discover if you have unclaimed royalties waiting? Listeners get an exclusive MoneTunes discount when collecting what's rightfully their by using the following code on sign up:
https://app.monetunes.com/signup/952724
https://www.monetunes.com
Websites
www.jonnyamos.com
https://themusicbusinessbuddy.buzzsprout.com
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/themusicbusinessbuddypodcast/
https://www.instagram.com/jonny_amos/
Email
[email protected]
The Music Business Buddy - Episode 43: The Art of Artist Development with Laurence Hobbs
Transcript
The Music Business Buddy .
Speaker 1The Music Business Buddy .
Speaker 1Hello everybody and a very warm welcome to you . You're listening to the Music Business Buddy with me , johnny Amos , podcasting out of Birmingham in England . I'm the author of the book the Music Business for Music Creators , available in
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