- From New York bands to the University of Miami and back.
- Working in web development and tech through the tech boom of the late nineties.
- Trying to get signed to the German label Studio K7 producing Trip Hop, Drum & Bass, Jungle and experimental Hip Hop.
- Getting referred to the sales division of OM records.
- Building the relationship over a period of a year to getting signed as MING & FS.
- Being a “student of the game” and going out on “The Deep Concentration” tour with OM.
- Subsequently getting signed for a three-record deal with OM records.
- While playing in a rock band also making electronic music under the name Beat Tree.
- Working full time to fund the music career.
- Going out every night to make connections and network.
- Getting signed for the “weird” electronic music but not what MING & FS thought would be a major label deal with Beat Tree.
- Rewiring & re-eq’ing sound systems to make them sound right when on tour.
- Music business is 90% failure.
- Understanding the concept of failing forward and never giving up.
- Ten year run with Ming & FS, disbanding in 2006.
- Being in a Nissan commercial creating the music from car sounds (link opens in new tab) to fund the tour.
- Going on tour while filming the Nissan spot that ran through the Superbowl and joining the screen actors guild.
- Creating Habitat music production company to create original scores for commercials until the bubble burst in music licensing.
- Making money from multiple streams and shifting with the times.
- Learning from the mistake of overselling.
- The numbers of self pressing and why vinyl is never really coming back.
- Using any merch that doesn’t sell for promo.
- Throwing huge parties and promoting to the Mavens to create the right word of mouth buzz.
- Making mix CD’s to give away at every show and getting them sponsored by clothing brands to building a significant production business for touring artists.
- Struggling to get back on tour as a DJ post Ming & FS but building such a strong production business producing that when Covid hit it brought into focus that the work was coming in steadily.
- Commercial work, scoring and producing keeping all the irons hot.
- Getting nominated for a Grammy for a remix but not seeing any upside and crickets the next year.
- The Grammy bump is for major label “1 percenter’s”.
- Studio design and working with singers right in the room without headphones.
- Preparing the room to work with different singers.
- “I just vomit music at this Point!”

What Music Producers Do and How Much Money They Make
What does a music producer do? There should be no confusion about the role of a music producer. It doesn’t