Make Streams Come True: Using Streaming Platforms to Your Advantage with Junior Foster, Head of Global Artist Relations

#HowWeListen Live: In Conversation Podcast

Our next guest is Junior Foster, was Deezer’s Head of Global Artist Relations at the time of this conversation. Now he is over at Napster doing the same. No matter where he is, Junior works directly with artists, labels and managers to help with marketing campaigns across all major and independent labels. He talked about best practices when working with digital streaming platforms and how to build a proper music career. As the key contact for the international artist management community, Junior is responsible for implementing best practices for the entire artist marketing team to ensure the most successful outcomes and results. Junior talks about his long and winding road through the music ecosystem and what exactly a Head Of Global Artist Relations does. Marc asks about his process when working with artists and Junior explains the “conversation”. This episode offers up some great insights when it comes to DSPs (Digital Service Providers/streaming platforms), and we find out about a surprise release for Junior.

“If you are a new artist, I feel that you need to not only think about streaming platforms and DSPs but you need to be, now that the world is re-opening, you need to be out there playing live. If you can. You need to be growing your social following, your fanbase. You have to do that because before you get to us, you need to be your best you. You need to understand your stuff, you need to know what your fans like, and you need to be building that fanbase because when you come to us, in the same way, you would’ve gone to radio, we will be asking you “Ya, ok we like this music but what else is going on?” Then we need to have those conversations.”

#HowWeListen Live: In Conversation

3:39 London Sound System

5:23 Head of Global artists relations

9:26 J Balvin

17:19 Deezer playlists

22:00 Byta.com

22:33 #HowWeListen

27:17 Lewis Capaldi

31:54 Gerry Cinnamon

34:39 Inversions 80s

36:00 Holly Humberstone, Benny Sings, Laura Mvula, CSS

38:15 Amber Horsburgh

39:00 ASMR campaign, ASMR explained

41:00 Tom Jones whispering it to you, Alicia Keys

41:30 Beethoven Re-Mix

44:00 Fresh List, Brand New UK

45:52 Dry stream

55:27 Squat raves

1:02:00 Byta.com

Music by Fin Productions and Oliver Lyu

Episode Credits:

Artwork by Jen Pmphrey

Hosted by Marc Brown

Series coordinated by Jamie Ford

Produced and edited by Colin MacKenzie

Music by Fin Productions and Oliver Lyu