The Business Side of Music
Hosted by Bob Bender
Actionable advice for musicians on navigating the industry, hosted by a working artist manager.
An interview-based podcast where host and artist manager Sarah Fleshner talks with music industry experts to demystify the business for independent artists. Episodes tackle specific, timely issues like new legislation, monopoly lawsuits, and marketing strategies, alongside evergreen career advice. The show also features occasional solo episodes where Fleshner shares her own direct advice.
“The host's perspective as a working artist manager grounds the interviews in practical reality, focusing on what artists can actually do rather than just theory. The blend of high-level expert interviews with direct-to-listener solo episodes provides a well-rounded business education.”
Who hosts this show
The Business Side of Music provides real-world advice to help artists grow their careers and incomes. Founded in 2008, the show was hosted for many years by the late Bob Bender, a respected industry veteran. Today, the podcast is hosted by Sarah Fleshner, an artist manager and owner of 362 Entertainment, who brings over 12 years of experience in artist management, live sound, and touring to the show. Sarah continues the show's mission of pulling back the curtain on the music business to help artists succeed.
Credentials & credits
- Host of The Business Side of Music Podcast
- CEO of 362 Entertainment
- Artist Manager (clients include Pam Tillis)
- Entertainment Consultant & Producer
- Over 12 years of music industry experience
- Live Sound Engineer & Tour Manager
Other ventures
- 362 Entertainment
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01The Music Video Strategy Every Independent Artist Needs in 2026 with @VEVO @j_glickJun 23, 2026 · 30 min
- 02Stop Giving Away Your Rights: Dina LaPolt on AI, Ownership & Artist PowerJun 9, 2026 · 28 min
- 03The Battle for the Future of Live MusicMay 19, 2026 · 24 min
- 04
- 05Built to Last (Or Built to Break?)Apr 14, 2026 · 10 min
- 06What It Really Takes to Build a Sustainable Music Career with Dillon CarmichaelMar 24, 2026 · 32 min
- 07The Business Setup Every Independent Artist NeedsMar 10, 2026 · 12 min
- 08The Live Show Formula: Moments That Move Tickets & MerchFeb 24, 2026 · 28 min
Notable episodes
- 01Stop Giving Away Your Rights: Dina LaPolt on AI, Ownership & Artist Power
Features a top entertainment lawyer explaining crucial legislation like the Music Modernization Act and the NO FAKES Act, offering powerful advice on artist leverage.
- 02The Battle for the Future of Live Music
An in-depth breakdown of the Live Nation/Ticketmaster antitrust lawsuit with the Executive Director of the National Independent Venue Association, explaining its impact on indie artists.
- 03The Music Video Strategy Every Independent Artist Needs in 2026 with @VEVO @j_glick
A Vevo VP explains the modern role of music videos as a revenue and discovery engine, offering practical strategies for artists on a budget.
- 04The Business Setup Every Independent Artist Needs
A solo episode where host Sarah Fleshner provides a foundational checklist for artists to set up their business correctly from the start.
What you'll be asked on this show
Sarah Fleshner opens interviews by asking guests for their origin story, allowing them to establish their background and expertise. Her questioning is logical, building on the guest's previous answers to create a narrative flow. As an artist manager herself, she frequently frames questions around the practical impact on a developing artist's career. She will pause the narrative to ask for clear explanations of complex topics, such as the Music Modernization Act or Live Nation's business model, ensuring the advice is accessible. A signature move is her closing question, where she asks every guest for a single, final piece of advice for the audience.
The show is a mix of expert interviews and solo episodes from the host. Interviews are conversational, with the host often using her own management experience to frame questions and add context. Many episodes open with a montage of audio clips before the introduction.
Questions Bob Bender keeps coming back to
11 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Bob Bender reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“Can you share your story and how you got to this point in your career?”
This is her standard opening question to establish the guest's background and credibility.
process
2- Q.01
“For those unfamiliar, can you break down how [a specific company, law, or system] works?”
She asks this to ensure complex industry topics are accessible to the artist audience.
- Q.02
“What does a successful rollout plan for a new project look like?”
Asks for a strategic template that artists can apply to their own releases.
advice
4- Q.01
“How does this issue affect a developing artist's career and negotiation power?”
Fleshner often uses this question to connect high-level industry trends directly to the listener's situation.
- Q.02
“In today's market, what truly gives an artist leverage in negotiations?”
This question seeks concrete, actionable advice on a critical topic for artists.
- Q.03
“What actionable steps can independent artists take to navigate this situation?”
She consistently pushes for practical, do-it-yourself steps for her indie audience.
- Q.04
“If you could give our audience one piece of advice, what would it be?”
This is her signature closing question, designed to leave the listener with a memorable takeaway.
backstory
1- Q.01
“What were the key defining moments that shaped your career path?”
A follow-up to the origin story, this question seeks to find the critical turning points.
future
2- Q.01
“What's the biggest untapped opportunity for artists in your area of expertise?”
This forward-looking question aims to give artists a competitive edge.
- Q.02
“What does the future of the industry look like if this issue resolves one way versus another?”
This question explores the long-term consequences of current events for the music business.
money
1- Q.01
“What's your take on a major trend like catalog sales?”
This question solicits an expert opinion on a current, often controversial, industry topic.
Signature segments
- · Signature Closing Question: "If you could give one piece of advice..."
- · Introductory Audio Montage
- · Solo episodes from the host
- · Host's perspective as an artist manager
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are seasoned music industry professionals who can offer high-level strategic insights or practical, in-the-trenches advice. This includes entertainment lawyers, VPs at major music companies, heads of industry associations, and successful producers.
- Jordan Glicksonon The Music Video Strategy Every Independent Artist Needs in 2026 with @VEVO @j_glick
- Dina LaPolton Stop Giving Away Your Rights: Dina LaPolt on AI, Ownership & Artist Power
- Stephen Parkeron The Battle for the Future of Live Music
- Leigh Holton Execution Over Perfection: Real Music Industry Leadership for Indie Artists & Managers
- Dillon Carmichaelon What It Really Takes to Build a Sustainable Music Career with Dillon Carmichael
- Amy Wolteron The Live Show Formula: Moments That Move Tickets & Merch
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
No sponsors were mentioned in the provided evidence. It is estimated that the podcast may serve as a content marketing platform for the host's artist management company, 362 Entertainment.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who is the current host of The Business Side of Music?
- The podcast is currently hosted by Sarah Fleshner, an artist manager and owner of 362 Entertainment.
- Who was the previous host?
- For many years, the show was hosted by industry veteran Bob Bender, who passed away in 2023. The show was originally founded by Tom Sabella and Traci Snowe in 2008.
- What is the format of the show?
- The show primarily features interviews with music industry professionals, but also includes occasional solo episodes where the host, Sarah Fleshner, gives direct advice.
- Is The Business Side of Music still active?
- Yes, the podcast releases episodes on a regular basis.
- How can I pitch a guest for the podcast?
- The podcast's website and some podcast directories have information for prospective guests, who typically include artists, agents, songwriters, and label representatives.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on major platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and the video versions are on YouTube.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Official Website - About Pagebusinesssideofmusicpodcast.com
- [02]362 Entertainment - Meet the Team362entertainment.com
- [03]Nashville Voyager: Exploring Life & Business with Sarah Fleshnernashvillevoyager.com
- [04]CanvasRebel Magazine: Meet Sarah Fleshnercanvasrebel.com
- [05]Apple Podcasts Listingpodcasts.apple.com
- [06]Podchaser Listingpodchaser.com
- [07]YouTube Channelyoutube.com
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