Inside the Playbook: Bryan Johnson on How Streaming Changed Artist Power

Getting dropped by a record label used to feel like the end.

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and Bryan Johnson from Spotify talk about how streaming changed the path for artists after a label deal ends.

Bryan shares his own experience as a musician, from self-releasing music and touring in bands to getting dropped by a label and later moving into the industry through PRS and Spotify.

They also discuss Spotify’s responsibility to artists, the shift from ownership to access, the old stigma of being “damaged goods,” and how tools like Spotify for Artists, playlist pitching, audience data, and distribution have given artists more ways to keep building.

For artists, managers, and music executives, this is a conversation about artist leverage, modern record deals, and why having a real audience can matter more than having a label.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

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Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0EpX71F9JklAmZAEdXsRKA?si=877g60VXRImVmjV0j-ud6A

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Topics Covered:
00:00 Spotify’s Responsibility to Artists
01:44 Misconceptions About Spotify Success
02:26 From Shelf Space to Streaming
04:28 Bryan Johnson’s Early DIY Music Hustle
06:26 Bands, Deals, and Breakthroughs
08:47 From Drummer to Industry Advocate
11:02 Getting Dropped and DIY Then
13:54 Streaming After Labels
16:16 Modern Record Deals and Artist Power
18:04 Spotify as an Artist Voice Platform