"The most rapacious exponent of artist abuse are the major record companies. By far. They steal. It's terrible."

In this episode, we sit down with legendary producer and founder of the iconic Artists House label, John Snyder. With a career spanning five decades, over 300 albums, and 35 Grammy nominations, John has worked with a staggering list of legends, from Stevie Wonder and Eric Clapton to Paul Simon, Etta James, Ornette Coleman, and Chet Baker.

John pulls back the curtain on the music industry, sharing the sacred trust passed to him on the deathbed of John Hammond—the man who discovered Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. He reveals the single most important asset an artist has (your copyright) and provides a lifetime of wisdom on how to navigate a business designed to create victims. This is a must-listen for any musician, songwriter, or music lover who wants to understand the battle between art and commerce.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The deathbed advice John received from the legendary John Hammond
• Why John believes major record labels are corrupt and how they exploit artists - The story of founding Artists House, a label built on creative freedom
• How to protect your work and why your copyright is your "sword and shield" - The crucial difference between the art of music and the business of music
• Stories from a career working with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Ornette Coleman, Paul Simon, and more.

TIMESTAMPS:

• 1:36 - The Genesis of a Legendary Record Producer
• 3:06 - "Be An Entrepreneur": The Advice That Changed Everything
• 4:30 - How He Met Music's Biggest Legends
• 6:06 - The Incredible Record That Never Got Its Due
• 9:11 - The Time He Had to Save an Artist from Losing Everything
• 13:06 - A Producer's Warning: How the Industry Rips Off Artists
• 14:13 - The Hidden Danger of Licensing Beats and Clicking "I Agree"
• 15:30 - Why Recorded Music is a "Dead Issue" for Revenue
• 17:16 - The Craziest Scams He's Witnessed in the Music Business
• 25:34 - What Makes a Performance Truly Great?
• 33:02 - The Mentors Who Shaped His Career
• 35:48 - The Full Story of John Hammond's Final Words

Like this conversation? Don't forget to subscribe!

JOIN VONN AND THE BEYOND THE NOTES COMMUNITY:

• Website: https://www.vonnvanier.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondwithvonn
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondwithvonn
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondwithvonn

STREAM VONN'S ALBUM, "DAWN"

Listen now everywhere you stream music! Your support helps make this show possible.

https://lnk.to/vonn-vanier-dawn