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From EMI to Independent: Rebuilding the Music Industry for Artists With Nat Cummins
Description
In this episode of Music Industry Insights Worldwide, we sit down with Nat Cummins (she/they) Berlin-based artist manager, music consultant, and founder of Red Tape Music.
With over 15 years of experience spanning EMI Records, Ministry of Sound, and SoundCloud, Nat has worked across copyright, licensing, touring, business affairs, and artist development at every level of the industry.
Now running an independent, artist-first label, Nat is challenging traditional industry structures and building a more transparent, sustainable model for emerging punk, alternative, and heavy artists.
We talk about:
• Why the traditional music industry model is failing independent artists
• Power dynamics between labels, managers, and creators
• Building sustainable careers outside the major system
• Neurodiversity, queerness, and navigating the industry differently
• Breaking down the business side of music in plain language
Nat also runs Unlabelled, a free Substack helping artists understand the industry without the jargon.