Category: Insights

Perspectives, strategies, and real-world breakdowns of the modern music business—designed to help emerging artists grow, monetize, and navigate the evolving landscape.

How to Convert Listeners Into Fans

Learn how to convert listeners into fans with direct audience strategy, stronger messaging, and smarter artist growth beyond streams alone.

MARC MONTOYA

chief REVENUE advisor
  • mmontoya@aweinc.tv

With over three decades in the competitive, continually evolving world of digital media, Marc has held executive positions at such prominent media companies as Nexstar Media Group Match.com, AOL, Yahoo!, Broadcast.com and Belo Broadcasting. Marc’s ability to anticipate trends and innovate has enabled him to develop and transform businesses through the power of digital and traditional broadcast video

JENNIFER PHELPS

Content/Aritst Relations
With deep roots across five record labels (from indie boutiques to major labels including the BMG & Sony joint venture), Jennifer has guided artists from their first chart entry to Grammy stages and Academy Award wins. She’s built the kind of relationships with artists, managers, labels, and publishers that only come from genuinely caring about the music — and the people who make it.
Now, as a driving force behind Music Daily and its artist Collective, Jennifer brings that same firepower to independent and emerging artists. She’s not just opening doors — she’s building new ones.
Her career spans music, film, television, and advertising, with licensing and casting credits for HBO, MTV, NFL Films, MLB.  If you’re ready to be heard,  Jennifer is ready to make it happen.

GENE SICARD

EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF PRODUCTION
  • gene@aweinc.tv

Gene’s experience brings an eclectic musical and production background to AWE. He trained as a classical musician and singer at the Manhattan School of Music, sang baritone with the New York City Opera, and later became a producer, composer and arranger for Atlantic Records.

Beginning in 1985, Gene owned and operated several production houses catering to major advertising and corporate clients. His musical training and experience has provided him with a finely tuned ear and great directorial expertise, which is reflected in his craftsmanship. Gene has a recognized style featuring strong creativity, high energy, and an emphasis on intricate production techniques.

TED UTZ

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LONG-FORM CONTENT
  • tutz@aweinc.tv

Ted is an accomplished entertainment executive with experience in start-ups, major-market station management, artist development and management, business and programming development. Having direct experience in the Traditional, Digital, On-site, Social, Mobile and ‘Cross-Platform‘ media business, he has created innovative solutions for competitive and technical challenges facing customers and strategic partners. Specializing in revenue development through building and maintaining excellent relationships with clients, vendors, and staff, while ensuring seamless communication between internal and external groups and all essential vehicles of content distribution.

Ryan Fisher

Twitter/YouTube Intern
  • rfisher@musicdaily.com

Ryan is currently a Senior at SUNY Fredonia with a Major in Music Industry and a Minor in Communications. His goals are to get a job in the music industry either with live performances or social media.

Paloma Pimentel

Talent
  • paloma@aweinc.tv

I am Paloma Pimentel, I am bilingual and speak English and Spanish. I am a senior at college, a practicing communicator and journalist. I have been to 19 countries and have a multi-cultural understanding of people and societies. I hope one day to become a communications expert.

mel adler

president

Mel is an accomplished media entertainment executive with over twenty five years experience in multimedia sales, management, production and distribution for both large scale companies as well as start up environments.

A strong hands-on professional, he has developed and activated marketing programs for many fortune 500 brands including Microsoft, Mercedes, L’Oreal, Hennessy, Citi, and Kraft while at companies like CBS Interactive Music, Clear Channel Interactive, National Lampoon, Tribune and iHeart Radio.

An early adopter of cross-platform and branded integrations, Mel has also executive produced programs for broadcast television and streaming web including South Side Johnny Live (NYE Special), ‘Cool Notes’ Jazz, Segway Music Countdown, and iHeart Radio’s Jingle Ball.

“The Dark Side of the Moon cover intrigued me when I  bought it in April 1973.  I was 19 at the time and Pink Floyd was becoming a mainstream success with a growing fan base, myself included.  The mind-blowing music coupled with lyrics exploring themes of alienation, loss, and materialism struck a personal note which echoes within me to this day.”   MA