The New Music Business with Ari Herstand

How CD Baby Is Changing With The Times 2026-06-24 00:05:00

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Molly Neuman, President of CD Baby, one of the largest independent music distributors in the world. Molly has spent decades advocating for independent artists and labels, helping shape the modern music industry through leadership roles at CD Baby, Downtown Music Holdings, and the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM).

In this conversation, Ari and Molly dive into some of the most pressing issues facing musicians today, including artificial intelligence, streaming fraud, artist compensation, customer support, and the evolving role of music distribution. They discuss whether AI-generated music should exist, how streaming platforms are responding to generative AI, why artists are increasingly being affected by fraudulent streams, and what distributors like CD Baby are doing to protect independent musicians. Molly also shares her perspective on artist ownership, independence, and what success in the music business looks like in 2026.

Follow Molly Neuman:

https://www.instagram.com/mollydneuman/

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Check out Ari’s Take:

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03:45 – Molly Neuman’s Journey to Becoming CD Baby President

11:32 – Is CD Baby Still Independent?

18:04 – Universal Music’s Acquisition & What It Means for Artists

27:41 – The State of Independent Music Distribution in 2026

39:18 – What Artists Get Wrong About Distribution

49:07 – AI Customer Support: Does It Matter if It’s Human?

52:11 – Should AI-Generated Music Exist?

1:03:47 – Streaming Fraud, Bot Plays & How Artists Get Penalized

1:12:56 – What “Making It” Really Means in Today’s Music Industry

Edited and mixed by Ruben Zarate

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

Order the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com

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