Tag: new-music

a&r · music industry interview

Exclusive Talk with Hit Producer Daniel Silveira (Paula Fernandes, Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, Michael Bolton & more)

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Music2Deal: Can you give us a quick intro—who is Daniel Silveira?
Daniel Silveira: “I’m a creative and music professional with a strong background in artist development, A&R, and music and video production. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with major global brands and internationally renowned artists, directing and producing high-profile projects across the music and entertainment industry. I’ve also led major TV and music events and contributed to soundtracks for iconic Brazilian productions, shaping memorable moments in pop culture. My passion lies in bringing artistic visions to life and creating impactful experiences for audiences worldwide.”

Music2Deal: Have you done international licensing or signed artists abroad? And in your opinion, which country offers the best opportunities for licensing music, and why?
Daniel Silveira: “Yes, I’ve had the opportunity to license music and work with artists on an international scale, collaborating with major global brands and industry leaders. Throughout my career, I’ve facilitated international deals and expanded the reach of artists beyond their home markets. In terms of the best country to license music to, it depends on the genre and audience. The U.S., Brazil, and the U.K. are strong markets due to their global influence and streaming dominance, while Latin America and Europe offer great opportunities for artists with culturally resonant sounds. Ultimately, the right market is where the music connects most authentically with its audience.”

Music2Deal: What are some of the standout projects you’ve worked on?
Daniel Silveira: “Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of directing and producing high-profile projects featuring world-class artists alongside Brazilian and Latin talents. These collaborations include Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, Michael Bolton, Frank Sinatra with Paula Fernandes, Enrique Iglesias with Luan Santana, Ivete Sangalo with Shakira, Alejandro Sanz, and Nelly Furtado, as well as Akon with Negra Li. I have also worked on audiovisual projects with Caetano Veloso, Jorge Benjor, Zeca Pagodinho, Kid Abelha, among many others. I’ve also spearheaded major television and music events like The Voice Brazil, MTV Studio Coca-Cola, Luau MTV, and Skol Beats Festival, helping shape some of the most iconic moments in live entertainment. Additionally, I’ve produced soundtracks for legendary Brazilian TV series and films, including Hilda Furacão, Kubanacan, and Senhora do Destino, which have left a lasting mark on pop culture. These projects stand out not only for their scale and influence but also for the way they seamlessly brought together music, artists, and media in a meaningful and powerful way.”

Photo with Shania, Danile and his team

Music2Deal: What exciting things are you currently working on?
Daniel Silveira: “I am currently in Portugal, working on personal artistic projects and engaging with European music producers, as well as film, animation, and game producers, to develop innovative projects in these fields. My goal is to reconnect with my roots and create original music for the film industry, which is currently thriving due to the growth of video streaming platforms.”

Music2Deal: In your view, what’s the biggest challenge in today’s music industry—and how can it be tackled?
Daniel Silveira: “One of the biggest challenges facing the music industry today is fair compensation for artists in the streaming era. While digital platforms have revolutionized access to music, they often fail to provide sustainable revenue for creators. To address this, we need a more balanced economic model—one that ensures artists receive fairer royalties, encourages direct fan engagement, and explores alternative monetization strategies such as sync licensing, exclusive content, and partnerships with film, gaming, and other media industries. By fostering innovation and advocating for better revenue distribution, we can create a more sustainable future for artists and the industry as a whole.”

Music2Deal: What’s on your radar for the coming year?
Daniel Silveira: “Next year, my focus is on expanding my work in original music production. I plan to deepen my collaborations with European producers and creators, developing new projects that blend music with visual storytelling. Additionally, I want to leverage my experience in artist development and A&R to work on new cross-market opportunities, bridging Latin, European, and global audiences. With the continued growth of streaming platforms, I see a great opportunity to contribute to high-quality soundtracks and audiovisual productions that leave a lasting impact.”

Daniel with Luan Santana recording Bailando with Enrique Iglesias in Cuba

Music2Deal: What’s your take on Music2Deal.com?
Daniel Silveira: “Music2Deal is an exceptional platform that bridges the gap between artists, musicians, and industry professionals, creating valuable opportunities for collaboration and growth. In today’s dynamic music industry, where partnerships can be developed both remotely and in person, having a dedicated space to connect, network, and exchange opportunities is more important than ever. Music2Deal not only facilitates these connections but also helps expand horizons, opening doors to new markets and creative collaborations worldwide.”

Daniel Silveira on Music2Deal: https://music2deal.com/br/danielsilveiramusica

This & That

John O’Neill – Undertones Interview

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This is the first of a two part interview with legendary guitarist and songwriter John O’Neill from The Undertones, That Petrol Emotion and trip hop darlings Rare. 

The man famous for writing ground breaking hit songs Jimmy Jimmy, Wednesday Week, Julie Ocean, Here Comes The Summer, Big Decision and of course John Peel’s favourite all time song and punk/new wave anthem Teenage Kicks.  

Our expert music industry A&R man Richard Rogers asks the questions.

Richard Rogers:  Hi John, it’s great to see you. We are here in Düsseldorf for your band, The Undertones who are playing tonight at a sold out Zakk club. Welcome.

First question, why are you doing the tour when there is nothing to promote?

John O’Neill: hi Richard. To make money, basically that is the simple answer. Since 1999, our fees have trebled. With Feargal Sharkeyl not being in the band, we don’t get played on the radio now. Maybe Radio Six but otherwise we don’t get played, it’s very frustrating. At this stage, everybody has retired from their main jobs, so we do it just for a bit of money and we really enjoy it. We are getting bigger and bigger audiences and we are selling out most of the shows.

RR: so you’re just doing it for the craic (fun) really?

JON: yeah that’s it. And merchandise is selling better than ever before. So really, it’s just a hobby. But you know, The Undertones even in the olden days, we regarded it as a hobby, not a career thing. We never took ourselves that seriously. Even now with the last two albums they are under copyright control with us. We do not even have a publishing deal. It never seemed worth our while so we just kept the copyrights. 

Andy Ferguson, our manager always made sure that we had our rights, particularly after we had paid off our advances to record companies such as EMI and Sire Records. The last deal Andy did for us was with Universal and that was a good deal. We even have our own publishing company now called West Bank.

RR: so what happened with all the publishing when you were with the band That Petrol Emotion?

JON: well, Andy was managing the Petrols as well. We did not have a publishing deal for the first four albums by which time I had left the group. They got Scott Litt to produce the fifth album the guy that did the R.E.M. albums and they immediately got a big publishing deal. The albums I did with them were put into the deal, so in fact I got no money at all from them. I get the odd royalties for those albums now and again.

RR: I bought the first two albums Manic Pop Thrill and Babble but never went out and bought the third one which I’d heard and thought sounded odd, quite strange?

JON: no, it wasn’t that great. But the fourth album Chemicrazy, the one after I left was a great album. I personally think it was their best album, even though I wasn’t involved. It’s a good record again produced by Scott Litt.

RR: I heard a rumour and I don’t know if it’s true, that Paul Whitehouse, the comedian, actually auditioned for That Petrol Emotion in some capacity.

JON: yeah, that is true. He wanted to be the singer. We had no singer before Steve Mack and we put an advert in the NME. We didn’t say anything about The Undertones and this guy turned up and he couldn’t sing a note and it was Paul Whitehouse. But he was very funny, even then.

RR: actually, my mother said that he’s doing a fishing program with some other comedian, but I live here in Germany so I don’t see it. They’ve both been quite ill, I believe.

JON: yeah, that’s right. He is doing the program with Bob Mortimer from Reeves and Mortimer. Fishing must be an end thing that they do to relax.

RR: why did you leave That Petrol Emotion?

JON: my wife got pregnant with our second child, she was homesick to get back to Derry, basically. There was a tour that was going to be set up in America for about three months and I said ‘no, I can’t do that’ so I said I would leave the band. 

RR: and of course you were in the band Rare as well. I thought Rare were incredibly innovative and ahead of their time.

JON: well, I don’t know about that! I enjoyed that and we wrote some good songs. Funny enough, we’ve reformed and we’ve made another record. Which maybe we will try and put out as well.

RR: are you looking for record labels at the moment?

JON: well, no, we are just going to try and do it ourselves, there’s no point, no point. Maybe we’ll press about 1000 copies on vinyl, just to get it out there.

RR: how did you get on with Seymour Stein head of Sire Records who initially signed you up in the 1970s?

JON: yeah, we got on great actually. But the deal we signed was dreadful and it seemed Sire Records was getting 90% of everything we did and Andy Ferguson was seeing what was happening as he was working at Sire. He could see that we knew nothing about publishing and PRS and he said ‘I can see that you need help and I’ll manage you for one year and I won’t take any money for it and get you out of that deal and I’ll teach you all about publishing and everything’. You know we were so lucky getting someone as amazing as Andy from the very start. He’s been with us the whole time up to this year because he’s not been very well. The last thing he did for us was sign a new publishing deal.

RR: people will be very happy that you’ve done new music with Rare can you tell us a bit more about that please?

JON: well, we did it all ourselves. Luckily, a guy we were working with had a studio in his sitting room so we did it there and he helped us do the mixing there too. I played nearly everything, but we got in a drummer. 

RR: so the six or seven albums you’ve done with The Undertones plus the three That Petrol Emotion albums and the Rare album of those which is your favourite and why?

JON: well, I think the first Rare album actually. I got so involved with it because it was at the time when electronics were really coming in, so I was learning things like software, Cubase and Logic and how to use a sampler. I liked the thrill of it all out there, and I like that whole thing with bands like Massive Attack and Portishead, and I just fell in love with it, the whole Trip Hop thing. And that’s where I was headed. I was just starting to just write songs, getting them through a loop and then cutting them up and getting a tune that way..

RR: it seems like a completely different way for you to write songs.

JON: well, I was trying to get out of the same old chord stuff. Just making up a tune without the chords and then putting the chords in later, but really having that really cool beat there. Although it was very hard to re-create that live. We worked with triggering and samples live, but we had a live drummer as well. Especially back then in about 1995 with the technology as it was. You’d be in the middle of a set and the computer just crashes. It’s just unbelievable how the technology has come along.

Part 2 of the interview with John O’Neill will be available on Music2deal shortly.

Links:
https://music2deal.com/gb/richardrogers

This & That

How Musicians Can Catapult to Stardom: A Strategic Blueprint for Success

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Articel by Courtney Rosenfeld

Courtney started Gig Spark to be a resource and the first step for people who are looking to join the gig economy, either to supplement their income or as a way to fulfill their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.”

In the whirlwind world of music, carving a distinct niche and gaining recognition demands a blend of talent, strategy, and unwavering dedication. Courtesy of The Music2Deal Blog, this guide is your compass, navigating you through the crucial steps to elevate your music career from a whisper in the wind to a resounding anthem heard across the industry.

The Digital Stage: Crafting a Virtual Persona

In today’s digital era, your online presence is your stage, resonating with echoes of your musical identity. Start by sculpting a professional website, a digital haven where your music lives, breathes, and interacts with your audience. But don’t halt there. Dive into the ocean of social media, where platforms become your amplifiers, extending your reach, connecting with fans, and echoing your artistic voice across the digital realm.

Make it Official: the Importance of Contracts

Musicians should embrace digital contracts for their efficiency, accessibility, and security. These contracts streamline negotiations and signings, enabling artists to finalize agreements from anywhere in the world, without the delays associated with traditional paper-based processes. Digital contracts offer enhanced security features, such as encryption and digital signatures, ensuring the authenticity and confidentiality of sensitive information. Additionally, they facilitate better organization and easy retrieval of documents, which is crucial for managing multiple contracts and agreements.

The transparency and immediacy of digital contracts also foster trust between parties, as edits and updates can be made in real time. For musicians, who often juggle various projects and collaborations, the adoption of digital contracts can lead to smoother operations, better protection of their rights, and more time to focus on their art.

Expanding Your Reach: The Art of Music Promotion

Imagine your music as a river, seeking new paths, flowing into diverse landscapes. Platforms like Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube are your tributaries, channeling your music to unexplored territories. Engage with these platforms not just as repositories but as active tools to expand your audience, creating ripples that turn into waves in the vast sea of listeners.

Behind the Curtain: Understanding the Music Industry

Your art is your heart, but the music industry is the body that sustains it. Grasping the anatomy of this industry is crucial. Dive deep into the intricacies of contracts, royalties, and marketing. This knowledge is your armor and sword on the battlefield of the music world, ensuring your talent is not just seen but also protected and rewarded.

The Business Side: Going Back to School

Being a successful musician takes more than talent and hard work; it also takes a working understanding of the business world. Luckily, by going back to school for a business degree, you can give yourself a big advantage over the competition. And thanks to the flexibility of online learning platforms, you’ll be able to proceed at your own pace and implement what you’ve learned into your career in real time.

Seeking Wisdom: The Mentorship Pathway

In your journey, you’re not alone. The music industry, vast and complex, can be navigated with the aid of those who’ve charted these waters before. Mentorship is more than advice; it’s a lantern in the dark, guiding you through industry intricacies, helping you sidestep pitfalls, and shining light on opportunities you might otherwise miss.

Maximize Creativity and Efficiency: Shape a Home Music Room

Having a dedicated home music room is essential for musicians, offering a sanctuary where creativity can flourish without bounds. This space allows for uninterrupted practice and experimentation, critical for honing skills and developing new sounds. Moreover, it serves as a personal archive where instruments, equipment, and records can be stored safely and accessed easily. What’s more, a music room provides an ideal environment for recording, free from outside noise and distractions, ensuring high-quality sound production. These types of home renovations also boost your home’s overall value, too.

The physical separation of a music room from the rest of the living space helps in mentally transitioning into a creative mindset, fostering focus and inspiration. For musicians, a home music room isn’t just a luxury; it’s a vital component of their artistic process, enabling them to explore their craft deeply and produce their best work.

Harmonious Alliances: The Power of Collaboration

In the world of music, collaboration is akin to a dance of creativity, each step a fusion of diverse artistic expressions. Working alongside fellow artists not only opens doors to new styles and ideas but also introduces you to broader audiences. These collaborations are more than mere joint projects; they are vital bridges. They connect your musical world with others, enriching your work with diverse influences and expanding your fan base through shared platforms.

Your Portfolio: Your Musical Mosaic

Your portfolio is more than a collection; it’s your personal story expressed in the language of chords and melodies. It forms a diverse tapestry, vividly showcasing your artistic range, from deeply soul-stirring tracks to electrifying live performances. This curated compilation stands as undeniable proof of your artistry and skill. Its appeal extends beyond your fans, reaching and impressing industry gatekeepers.

Leave Your Mark: Showcase Yourself on Music2Deal

In the modern music industry, aspiring artists need to take advantage of online platforms that can help them showcase their talents and connect with key players in the business. One such platform is Music2Deal, which has become a go-to resource for musicians looking to take their careers to the next level. By joining this unique online community, artists can create profiles that highlight their music, share their work with producers, managers, and fellow musicians, and discover exciting opportunities that might be difficult to find elsewhere. Engaging with a platform like Music2Deal can be a game-changer for up-and-coming artists, helping them build their reputation, form valuable collaborations, and ultimately break into the world of music.

Your path to musical fame is a symphony composed of multiple notes – each step is a critical chord in the grand composition of your career. Embrace these strategies with passion and perseverance, and watch as your music transcends boundaries, reaching new heights and resonating with audiences far and wide. Remember, in the symphony of your career, you are the conductor, and the world awaits your music.

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