Podcast Episode Details

Crash Cymbals and Contracts: Billy Cuthrell’s Lesson in Music Business Success

Episode 488

Ever wonder how a skater punk becomes a music industry powerhouse? This week, Billy Cuthrell joins Dave Hamilton to share how his drumming journey kicked off with a Ludwig kit and a dose of Zeppelin, then scaled into creating a chain of four music schools and a million lessons taught annually. From being Music Inc. Magazine’s “Retail Doctor” to pioneering a subscription-style lessons model that gives away instruments with lesson contracts, Billy proves that the business of music can be just as creative as the craft itself. It’s all about knowing when to grind and when to zoom out.

But Billy doesn’t stop at teaching—he’s still gigging regularly, including a recent gig with Cosmic Superheroes in front of thousands of fans, buying DrumSellers.com, and dropping wisdom learned from legends like Jim Chapin and Freddie Gruber. If you’ve ever asked what it takes to turn passion into impact, this episode lays it out: persistence, play, and paying your dues. Remember, whether you’re behind the kit or building a business, you’ve got one job: Always Be Performing.

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 488 – Monday, June 30th, 2025
  • June 30th: International Asteroid Day
  • Guest co-host: Billy Cuthrell
• 00:02:06 How did you become Music Inc. Magazine’s “Retail Doctor”?
  • College Radio Hit machine!
  • Go Figure (Dave’s college band)
  • Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago