S2 E37 - Schuyler “Sky” Traughber and Rachel Van Nortwick.

Welcome to Drum Channels' “Billy’s Bubble” show this week. I’m Billy Amendola, and every once in a while, I like to step “out of the box” with music lovers and how they combine their love of music and their work. Most of us here play drums/music, but we also live outside of playing, and we must. We’re all so passionate about music that sometimes we forget to live our lives. I hope you find something to relate and take away with our guests for this two-part show.

We kick off part one with Schuyler “Sky” Traughber, who co-wrote a book with Dr. Logan H. Westbrooks titled Power 101: The Harvard Report, Soul Music, and The American Dream. The book has been called “A masterclass for students of Soul music.”

As a music executive, bass player, and highly regarded professor, Sky takes us into the offices and recording studios of independent labels Stax, Motown, and the majors like CBS and more to offer advice about the music business. This is something, as musicians/songwriters, we should all be aware of.

Schuyler “Sky” Traughber has developed and taught courses in Business Management, International Record Label Operations, Concert Promotion and helped negotiate a venture with Harvard Law School's Recording Artist Project. Voted into the top 15% of "Influential Professors.”

Power 101: The Harvard Report, Soul Music and The American Dream, from Dr. Logan H. Westbrooks and Schuyler Traughber, takes readers on a musical roller coaster ride through the 1970s from the perspective of the music executives who marketed and promoted the globalization of R&B and soul music.

In 1972, CBS Records commissioned Sky’s co-book writer and Harvard Business School and CBS Black Music Marketing Director, Logan Westbrooks, to develop a Study of the Soul Music Environment, which was implemented by CBS. It was intended to be a “blueprint” for soul music. Westbrooks, a veteran music industry executive who helped sell over a hundred million dollars in career sales, plus approximately 50 gold and 25 platinum records.

Let’s go to business school, with a bit of fun facts in between.

Thank you Schuyler and all our listeners for joining us here on Drum Channel. Stay tuned for a really “out of the box” part two with entrepreneur and creator Rachel Van Nortwick telling us about her unique, free popular dating app, Vinylly.

Rachel is the founder and CEO of a unique free dating app based solely on music compatibility.

We speak to Rachel about why, how and the struggles in starting the company and getting the app up and running. Her advice for woman and men who are interested in becoming an entrepreneur.

Nortwick, shares her love for music and how she has turned her passion into a successful entity in her business; and I respect the fact that she gives back by donating a portion to non-profit organizations.

So, why a non-drumming topic? Studies have shown that listening to music, releases dopamine in our brains, which in turn makes you happy. We all live outside of playing music, we spend a lot of time listening and connections made through music can be very meaningful to music lovers.

Bye everyone, Billy Amendola and I’ll see you next time on Drum Channel. Enjoy!