You Had to Be There
Music
About
You Had To Be There is a music interview and commentary podcast hosted by Julia Gomberg that deep dives into the world of concerts, music festivals, the music industry and more. Each episode focuses on different topics within the world of music: from legendary and disastrous music festivals, to getting top tier advice from music industry professionals, this podcast is a music lover's go-to destination for all things live music and entertainment. You had to be there , but if you weren't, don't worry – we've got you covered.
Episodes
- Musician Jonathan Plevyak on Vintage Soul, Nashville, and the Human Connection
Host Julia Gomberg speaks with Nashville soul artist Jonathan Plevyak about his music, which blends classic soul influences with themes of love and self-discovery. They discuss his evolving sound, nostalgia in his work, and his upcoming re…
- JVK’s Jo Krieger on Songwriting, Performing, and Breaking Genre Rules
Julia Gomberg interviews Jo Krieger, the frontwoman of the band JVK, discussing the band's genre-bending sound, their album 'Pop Culture Affair,' songwriting, and performing.
- Caroline Romano on Turning Cinematic Alt-Pop Music into her Legacy
This episode features Nashville singer-songwriter Caroline Romano, discussing her journey from writing songs at 13 to her versatile alt-pop style. Her new EP, "It Took Me Falling," is highlighted for its cinematic storytelling and emotiona…
- How Book More Women Is Changing Festival Lineups featuring Abbey Carbonneau
This episode features Abbey Carbonneau, founder of Book More Women, an organization working to ensure gender balance in music festival lineups. The discussion covers their efforts to hold festivals accountable and their ongoing crowdfundin…
- MT Jones on Building a Soul Music Career From the Ground Up
This episode features an interview with British soul musician MT Jones, discussing his career origins, musical inspirations including 60s/70s classics and modern R&B/jazz, and his upcoming debut album "Joy."
- What It’s Really Like to Work in Entertainment with Assistants vs Agents Founder, Warner Bailey
Warner Bailey, co-founder of Assistant Vs. Agents, joins the podcast to discuss the realities of working in entertainment, what defines a great assistant, and how humor functions within the industry. The episode explores the philosophy of…
- How Artists Use Laylo to Sell Tickets, Merch, and Build Fanbases with CEO Alec Ellin
Alec Ellin, CEO of Laylo, joins the podcast to discuss how the CRM drop platform helps artists sell tickets, merch, and content. Since 2021, Laylo has facilitated over $1 billion in sales and works with major artists and event teams.
- How Softside Is Turning Fans Into Designers for Music Merch with Founder, Erin Singleton
Host Julia Gomberg interviews Erin Singleton, founder of Softside, a company that facilitates fan-designed merchandise for music artists. Softside simplifies licensing, approvals, and revenue sharing, creating a digital home for fan-design…
- Charlotte Sands on Building a Pop-Punk Career and Finding Her Sound
Host Julia Gomberg speaks with pop-punk artist Charlotte Sands about her career, upcoming album 'Satellite,' and musical influences. Sands discusses opening for The Maine and Yungblud and her blend of upbeat melodies with reflective lyrics.
- Twen on Building an Indie Band Career Without a Label Playbook
Jane and Ian from the band Twen join the podcast to discuss their DIY methods for songwriting and touring. They share insights into building a successful independent music career on their own terms.
- The Trends Shaping Music Right Now, According to Music Editor, Erica Campbell
Erica Campbell, a music editor and writer, shares her perspective on current music trends, the culture she observes, and the moments that reaffirm the importance of her work. Her curated playlist is available in the show notes.
- Inside SXSW with Alany Rodriguez: What It Takes to Curate a Global Music Festival
Julia Gomberg interviews Alany Rodriguez, programmer for SXSW music initiatives, about her role in curating the festival's music content, speakers, and sessions. Rodriguez emphasizes viewing the music industry as a source of unforgettable…
- How Billboard Covers the Biggest Stories in Music with Kristin Robinson
Host Julia Gomberg talks with Billboard Senior Correspondent Kristin Robinson about covering major music industry stories, including music publishing, tech, and AI. They discuss Robinson's cover stories on artists and AI-generated music.
- How to Build a Music Media Brand From Scratch, with Music Scene Media founder, Melanie Mae Williamson
This episode features Melanie Mae Williamson, founder of Music Scene Media, discussing how she built her digital music publication. The discussion covers various facets of music, including artist interviews and photography. The podcast is…
- Sofia Gillani on Writing, Producing, and Promoting Without a Label
This episode of You Had to Be There features West London artist Sofia Gillani discussing her independent music career. Gillani covers her work in writing, producing, self-promotion, and directing music videos, highlighting her authenticity…
- From Pitchfork to Stereogum: Inside a Music Journalism Career, featuring Abby Jones
Host Julia Gomberg sits down with Abby Jones, staff editor at Stereogum and writer for Pitchfork and other publications, to discuss her career in music journalism. They cover trusting the process and a memorable moment involving Linkin Par…
- From Blogger to PR Founder: Building a Career in Music Publicity with Erica D'Aurora
Host Julia Gomberg welcomes Erica D'Aurora, founder of Gioia Communications, to the You Had to Be There podcast. Erica shares her journey from music blogger to building a PR agency for artists, discussing key steps and lessons learned in t…
- Careers, Artists, and Motherhood: Inside Bayonet Records with Co-Founder, Katie Garcia
In this episode of You Had to Be There, host Julia Gomberg speaks with Katie Garcia, Co-Founder of Bayonet Records. Garcia discusses her experiences building an independent music label, launching the careers of artists such as Japanese Bre…
- How Rolling Stone Runs Social Media for Music Culture with Leah Lu
Host Julia Gomberg talks with Leah Lu, Senior Social Media Manager at Rolling Stone, about her journey in music and social media, from her early days on Tumblr to her current role.
- E19: "Funeral Attire" featuring Vesper Rose vocalist and guitarist, Jack Cash
Host Julia Gomberg talks with Jack Cash, frontman of alt/goth rock band Vesper Rose, about his music career. They discuss his creative themes and experiences in the music industry.
- E18: "At Your Disposal" featuring London alt-pop artist, Dirt Flirt
This episode features London-based alt-pop artist Dirt Flirt, discussing her musical background, her experience touring with Bimini and MUNA, and her latest single, Necklace.
- E17: The Thoughts and Emotions of Pop Singer-Songwriter Jenna May
Host Julia Gomberg talks with pop singer-songwriter Jenna May on the podcast You Had to Be There. They discuss Jenna's songwriting, the themes in her music, and her sources of creativity and inspiration. A curated playlist by Jenna is avai…
- E16: Cracking the Charts: The Numbers Behind Music Success feat. Hugh McIntyre
In this episode of You Had to Be There, host Julia Gomberg speaks with Forbes' Hugh McIntyre about the data and formulas that drive success on music charts. They discuss what it takes for a song to reach the #1 spot in the music industry.
- Inside Music Fandom and Pop Culture with Rolling Stone’s Brittany Spanos
Brittany Spanos, a Senior Writer at Rolling Stone, discusses music, fandom, and her career covering major artists. She also teaches an NYU course on Taylor Swift's cultural impact.
- E14: "The Start of Forever" featuring Riiza of female-fronted pop-rock band, Strawberry Launch
This episode features Riiza, lead singer of the pop-rock band Strawberry Launch. They discuss the band's success, including their hit single "Sweet Basil," an upcoming national tour, and their performance at Governors Ball.
- E13: "I Did It Out of Spite" featuring Laura Nicaise and her passion for concert photography and environmental sustainability
In this episode of You Had To Be There, host interviews Laura Nicaise about concert photography and her passion for sustainability in the live music industry. Nicaise shares insights into her career, which she humorously titles 'I Did It O…
- E12: Get her to the Greek! Featuring Daniela Romero and her love for marketing, sustainability, and all things music
In the season finale of You Had To Be There, Daniela Romero shares her extensive marketing experience, particularly her work at The Greek Theatre and with Amplify Her Voice. She highlights her dedication to promoting female empowerment and…
- E11: A decade of genre-bending musical talent to becoming a Taylor Swift superstar featuring Sinead Angele
In episode 11 of "You Had to Be There," singer-songwriter Sinead Angele shares her experiences over the past decade in the music industry. She discusses her work with various genres, her role in the Taylor Swift tribute band TaylorVille, a…
- E10: Going TikTok Viral and discovering her authentic artistry and unique sound that is known as "bree-on-uh"
In this episode of "You Had to Be There," artist bree-on-uh discusses her journey from songwriting at age nine to viral TikTok success with her single "How Does It Feel?". She shares insights into developing her authentic sound across alte…
- E9: Samantha June & Samantha Montana dishing on songwriting and production, female empowerment, and Hannah Montana
Episode 9 features singer-songwriter Samantha June and producer Samantha Montana discussing their work, female empowerment in music, and June's upcoming single and EP, "Hotel June".
- E8: Artist manager by day, being on the road and shooting in the photo pit by night and more with Zoe Salvucci
This episode features Zoe Salvucci, an artist manager and concert photographer, discussing her multifaceted career in the music industry. Salvucci shares insights into managing artists, her work in concert photography and videography, and…
- E7: Chappell Roan, Spotify, and international music featuring Martha Betubiza
Martha Betubiza joins the podcast to discuss her background in the music industry, including her work with Spotify and her passion for helping non-anglophone artists, particularly French artists, succeed in anglophone markets. The conversa…
- E6: TuneCore, music publishing, and pop punk nostalgia featuring Alyssa Byrne
Host Julia Gomberg welcomes Alyssa Byrne, Senior Publisher Relations Manager at TuneCore, to discuss music publishing and rights management. They also explore Byrne's passion for metal, pop punk, and emo music.
- E5: Live Nation touring, new music venue openings and festival operations featuring Jess George
This episode features Jess George, a Live Nation project manager, discussing her experience in touring programs, festival operations, and venue management. The episode also highlights her curated Spotify playlist.
- E4: Live Nation Women, Forbes, Coachella and Dave Grohl featuring Kristina London
This episode of 'You Had to Be There' features Kristina London, discussing her career with Live Nation Women and Forbes 30 Under 30. Topics include Coachella, Dave Grohl, and Blu De Tiger.
- E3: Woodstock 1999, one of the most historically chaotic music festivals of all time
This episode of You Had to Be There covers the Woodstock ‘99 music festival, known for its chaotic atmosphere. It contrasts with the original Woodstock's spirit, detailing the violence and featured performances from major 1999 bands.
- E2: Electric Zoo Festival, where are our refunds??
This episode of "You Had to Be There" discusses the chaos surrounding the Electric Zoo festival and refund issues. Guest Sam Morris shares his experiences.
- E1: the beats, the bass, and a bit of the bizarre featuring Brooklyn's Avant Gardner
This episode discusses the history and significance of Brooklyn's music venue Avant Gardner, known for its beats, bass, and unique atmosphere. The host shares a personal connection to the venue, offering a look behind the scenes.