Listen on your favorite podcast platform: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Acast
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Molly Neuman, President of CD Baby, one of the largest independent music distributors in the world.
Molly has spent decades advocating for independent artists and labels, helping shape the modern music industry through leadership roles at CD Baby, Downtown Music Holdings, and the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM).
In this conversation, Ari and Molly dive into some of the most pressing issues facing musicians today, including artificial intelligence, streaming fraud, artist compensation, customer support, and the evolving role of music distribution. They discuss whether AI-generated music should exist, how streaming platforms are responding to generative AI, why artists are increasingly being affected by fraudulent streams, and what distributors like CD Baby are doing to protect independent musicians. Molly also shares her perspective on artist ownership, independence, and what success in the music business looks like in 2026.
Follow Molly Neuman:
https://www.instagram.com/mollydneuman/
https://cdbaby.com/
Check out Ari’s Take:
https://aristake.com
03:45 – Molly Neuman’s Journey to Becoming CD Baby President
11:32 – Is CD Baby Still Independent?
18:04 – Universal Music’s Acquisition & What It Means for Artists
27:41 – The State of Independent Music Distribution in 2026
39:18 – What Artists Get Wrong About Distribution
49:07 – AI Customer Support: Does It Matter if It’s Human?
52:11 – Should AI-Generated Music Exist?
1:03:47 – Streaming Fraud, Bot Plays & How Artists Get Penalized
1:12:56 – What “Making It” Really Means in Today’s Music Industry
Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate
Music by Brassroots District
Produced by the team at Ari’s Take
Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com
