Inside the Playbook: Milana Lewis on The Reality of Music Advances & Shelving
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Milana Lewis, CEO of Stem, to break down how Stem approaches artist partnerships and deal-making differently.Milana explains why ...
19 Sep 202510min
Inside the Playbook: Milana Lewis on Why Music Contracts Are Broken
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Milana Lewis, CEO & Co-Founder of Stem, to break down one of the music industry’s biggest flaws: royalty accounting.Milana shares...
18 Sep 202514min
The Manager’s Playbook 039: Milana Lewis – Artist Ownership, Royalties, Distribution vs. Delivery, Concord Partnership & The Future of Music Business
In episode 39 of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Milana Lewis, co-founder and CEO of STEM, to unpack the realities of today’s music business.Milana explains why royalty accounting...
16 Sep 20251h 46min
Inside the Playbook: Rich Castillo on Why Artists Get Dropped Too Quickly
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Rich Castillo pulls back the curtain on the realities of A&R and the inner workings of major labels. He explains how decisions actually get made inside the hi...
15 Sep 202518min
Inside the Playbook: Rich Castillo on How Failure Builds Resilience in the Music Industry
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Rich Castillo dives into the rise of UK rap culture and its global impact. He explains how London’s melting pot of influences creates a distinct sound, why re...
14 Sep 202520min
Inside the Playbook: Rich Castillo on Why He Walked Away From the Major Label System
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Rich Castillo reflects on his move from the major label system to launching his own independent label, Lion Bear. He shares why legacy and independence matter...
12 Sep 202512min
Inside the Playbook: Rich Castillo on The Harsh Truth About A&R at Major Record Labels
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Rich Castillo breaks down what the role of A&R really looks like in 2025. From identifying and developing talent to balancing data, instinct, and marketing, R...
11 Sep 202518min
The Manager’s Playbook 038: Rich Castillo - A&R Legacy, Class Identity, UK Rap, Artist Development, Industry Evolution & Breaking Cultural Barriers
Rich Castillo has spent nearly two decades inside the music industry, from Polydor, Sony, and EMI to Warner and now his own company, Lion Bear. In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Rich breaks d...
9 Sep 20252h 13min
