What About The Music

S6 Episode 2 - Julian Cohen

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:25:55 +0000

In this episode of What About The Music, we sit down with Julian Cohen, Creative Director at nice&frank, to explore the role sound plays in shaping creative ideas, selling concepts to clients, and ultimately bringing campaigns to life. If you're a creative, marketer, or filmmaker, this episode highlights why music isn’t just background in advertising, it’s part of the storytelling. 🎧 About the Podcast What About The Music explores the intersection of music, creativity, and advertising through conversations with leading creatives and industry voices.

S6 Episode 1 - Claire Jordan

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:37:23 +0000

What if brands have more power to launch artists than record labels or streaming platforms? In this episode of What About The Music, Claire Jordan, Executive Creative Director at Proof Advertising, joins us to unpack a major shift in the creative industry. Brands now have the reach, budgets, and cultural influence to launch artists in ways traditional record labels and streaming platforms can’t. sostereo.com

S5 Episode 6 - Matt Heath

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Thu, 6 Nov 2025 16:28:05 +0000

In this episode, SoStereo founder Beto Azout sits down with Matt Heath, co-founder and creative at Partyland, to explore the power of sound and the art of original music in advertising. Matt shares insights from standout campaigns produced by his agency, revealing how custom-composed music shapes emotion, storytelling, and brand identity. Together, they dive into why the right sound isn’t just a finishing touch, but actually the heartbeat of a great spot. sostereo.com

S5 Episode 5 - Dan “Monty” Montalto

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 14:05:47 +0000

Join us on this episode of What About The Music? as we sit down with Monty Montalto, Head of Global Marketing at Etsy, for an inside look at the world of Etsy. Monty shares insights on creativity, marketing strategies, and the brand’s unique collaborations with artists like Kacey Musgraves and major partnerships like the WNBA Icon Collection.

S5 Episode 4 - Trenton Ubben

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:02:31 +0000

In this episode of What About the Music (Podcast), SoStereo Founder Beto Azout sits down with Trenton Ubben, Founder and Director at The Rec League, to unpack the creative vision behind the new campaign for '47 and more. Whether you're a music supervisor, creative director, or just love a good behind-the-scenes ad story—this one's for you.

S5 Episode 3 - Brian Siedband and Gordy Sang

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 14:56:45 +0000

In this episode of What About the Music, SoStereo co-founder Beto Azout sits down with Brian Siedband and Gordy Sang, co-CCOs and co-founders of the creative agency Quality Meats, to talk about the role of music in advertising and why a song can make or break the feeling of a spot.

S5 Episode 2 - Jeff Cruz

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 21:33:17 +0000

In this episode, Beto Azout sits down with Jeff Cruz, Global Executive Creative Director at MRM, to explore how music transforms advertising and creates lasting emotional connections. They discuss the role of music in shaping iconic ad campaigns, from Pontiac’s unforgettable soundtracks to Harley-Davidson’s rebellious anthems. Jeff also shares the incredible story of Lady Gaga getting a tattoo in the back of a Pontiac Vibe and what it reveals about the power of branding. Tune in to hear how brands use music to leave a cultural impact and why the right track can make all the difference.

S5 Episode 1 - Colin Jeffery

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:58:22 +0000

In this episode, Beto Azout sits down with Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Wolfgang, Colin Jeffery to talk about the journey through his career, how to convince clients to take risks with music as well as AI as a tool and the need for human authenticity.

S4 Episode 4 - Lora Schulson

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:35:39 +0000

In this episode, 72andSunny's Head of Production for North America, Lora Schulson lays out a playbook for directors, producers and creatives on how to organize, plan, and execute music in their campaigns. She also doubles down on why music is so important and the positive outcomes it can create when embraced early.

S4 Episode 3 - Mo Said

hello@sostereo.com (Mo Said, Beto Azout) — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 23:59:23 +0000

In this episode, Mo Said founder of Mojo Supermarket shares how his early passion for music and film led him to discover the world of advertising and the evolution of music's role in the space. The two discuss using an unreleased Mr. Rogers song in a Google campaign, current reliance on stock tracks, and how real artists will outlive stock and AI-generated music.

S4 Episode 2 - Orlando Wood

hello@sostereo.com (Orlando Wood, Beto Azout Host) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:00:00 +0000

This week’s guest is Orlando Wood - Advertising Effectiveness Author, Researcher and Chief Innovation Officer at System1. Orlando’s research and publications have helped shape the advertising space for many years and has garnered numerous awards. Orlando is also the co-host for the advertising podcast “Never Mind The Adverts” which discusses the biggest news and the opinions on advertising.

S4 Episode 1 - Frank Garcia

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:00:00 +0000

This week’s guest - Frank Garcia is Executive Creative Director at Golin. As a musician and creative, for over a decade Frank has been helping lead ad creative for brands like Coach, WhatsApp and Under Armour. His work has been featured on CNN, The New York Times, SNL, and has received numerous accolades at Cannes Lions, The Webbys and many more.

S3 Episode 8 - Tanya LeSieur

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 18:29:53 +0000

With 20+ years of production experience; Tanya LeSieur is working at the intersection of culture, marketing, creativity, technology, and media. Tanya is currently the head of production of MUH-TAY-ZIK / HOF-FER and has worked for brands like Sonos, Audi, Staples and many others.

Episode Highlights:

03:25 - Tanya shares her first interaction with music in the world of advertising

09:00 - Beto & Tanya discuss the importance of starting the music process early

13:50 - Tanya dives into a Sonos campaign and its musical process

20:25 - Tanya shares the background of a campaign she worked on for Runaway train

24:50 - Tanya shares advice to fellow producers

More on SoStereo:

SoStereo makes it fast and easy for brands & agencies to use real music by real artists on their video content. Our goal is to help brands unlock the marketing power of music; to elevate content & better connect with consumers. Find out more at sostereo.com

S3 Episode 7 - Tasha Cronin

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 19:45:43 +0000

Ad Age Small Agency of the Year’s Tasha Cronin, head of production at Mojo Supermarket, joins the podcast to break down the significance of music in advertising. With deep experience in the world of production working with brands like Meta, HBO, and even working on an award winning campaign for DojaCode, Tasha dives into her process and shares key advice for fellow industry professionals.

Episode Highlights:

05:05 - Tasha shares a few things she wishes she knew when she first started in the music-for-ads world

09:00 - Tasha discusses some of the most difficult things she faces when working in production

13:00 - Tasha dives into the importance of starting the music process early

16:45 - Beto shares how he thinks music can best be leveraged on social media

18:20 - Tasha gives an in depth look at an award winning campaign for DojaCode

28:25 - Tasha shares key takeaways and advice

More on SoStereo:

S3 Episode 6 - Veronica Beach

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 6 Sep 2022 19:44:34 +0000

Veronica Beach, co-founder & partner of the poolhouse, joins Beto Azout to unlock the marketing power of music. Previously the Director of Production at Pereira O’Dell and a founding member & Head of Global Production at DAVID, she has worked with many brands like Burger King, Coca Cola, and Kraft-Heinz. Veronica walks us through her over 20 years of experience in the content production space, shares a key perspective on ‘ballparking’ and budgeting, and breaks down the musical process behind a prolific Dove campaign.

Episode Highlights:

05:25 - Veronica shares her take on how music and advertising go hand in hand

08:00 - Beto and Veronica ponder why music is typically a last line item

14:10 - Veronica discusses her typical approach to music

18:25 - Veronica dives into one of her favorite campaigns and the role that music played in it

26:30 - Veronica shares the background behind the poolhouse

More on SoStereo:

S3 Episode 5 - Bryan Barnes & Shannon Murphy

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 21:18:11 +0000

Award winning Creative Directors Bryan Barnes & Shannon Murphy at adam&eveDDB join the podcast to break down the music-for-ads industry. With experience working with brands like JetBlue, Volkswagen, Molson Coors, and Mountain Dew, the pair dive into tackling music from a creative perspective.

Episode Highlights:

05:30 - Shannon discusses her introduction to music in the advertising industry

12:00 - Shannon dives into a project for Blue Moon, and the key role music played in the campaign

17:00 - Bryan shares how he navigates music terminology in the production phase

19:00 - Bryan dives into the background of a powerful project for P&G and the custom music process

24:20 - Shannon & Bryan share their key advice for fellow creatives

More on SoStereo:

S3 Episode 4 - Michele Arnese

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 2 Aug 2022 14:46:45 +0000

Founder and CEO of amp Michele Arnese joins Beto Azout to discuss all things sonic branding. With decades of experience in the advertising sector, Michele is one of the world’s foremost experts in the audio branding industry. The pair discuss the development of sonic identity awareness and the intricate role music played in a Mastercard campaign.

Episode Highlights:

02:55 - Michele shares the background of his company

08:10 - Beto & Michele discuss how awareness surrounding sonic identity has developed over the years

11:40 - Michele discusses his work with Mercedes Benz

17:45 - Beto & Michele ponder why brands may not prioritize music and why that should change

21:50 - Michele shares his advice for how brands can best approach music

More on SoStereo:

sostereo.com

S3 Episode 3 - Jon Drawbaugh

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 21:59:10 +0000

Award winning industry executive Jon Drawbaugh, Head of Production at Argonaut, joins Beto Azout to unlock the power of music. With a history of producing high-quality creative, Jon has worked for some of the industry’s top creative shops including FCB West, DDB San Francisco, Mullen LA, and more. Jon discusses the significance of music in all aspects of production and shares how one of his favorite bands got involved in a prolific spot.

Episode Highlights:

00:50 - Jon shares his journey into the world of advertising & production

04:35 - Jon shares how freelance work allowed him to bring new ideas to the table

09:15 - Jon dives into his musical process and how he tackles each project

20:20 - Beto asks Jon to share any pivotal moments in his career that were centered around music

27:45 - Jon discusses the direction he’d like to see music in advertising take in the future

More on SoStereo:

S3 Episode 2 - Bernice Chao

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 20:52:31 +0000

Award winning creative, speaker, author, and host Bernice Chao joins Beto Azout to discuss the importance of music in advertising and current trends. In this week’s episode of ‘What About The Music,’ the Head of Integrated Creative at Zambezi shares the prominence of music in her career and the impact it made on an influencer campaign for Nissan.

Episode Highlights:

03:10 - Bernice dives into her first role with TBWA\Chiat Day and how her position touched music

08:00 - Beto & Bernice explore the concept of budget and how it comes into play when finding the perfect track for a spot

09:20 - Bernice talks Beto through her role at Zambezi and the significance of music in some of her exciting new projects

12:30 - Bernice discusses the key role that music played in a Nissan influencer campaign

More on SoStereo:

S3 Episode 1 - Ola Sars

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 17:26:52 +0000

Soundtrack Your Brand’s Founder, CEO & Chairman Ola Sars needs no introduction. Previously co-founder and COO of Beats Music, acquired by Apple and transformed into Apple Music, and co-founder of Pacemaker, the world’s first DJ driven music platform, Ola joins the podcast to deliver extraordinary insights on the music-tech industry.

To kick off Season 3 of ‘What About The Music,’ Ola shares his research on how music drives sales, discusses the importance of transparency in the music-tech space, and shares key advice on how brands can best approach music from a strategic standpoint.

Episode Highlights:

06:00 - Ola explains how music can drive consumer decisions, diving into the background of Soundtrack Your Brand

11:30 - Beto & Ola ponder why the music industry is always playing ‘catch up’ from a tech standpoint

18:30 - Ola shares his take on how a business can best approach music strategy

23:30 - Ola explains the sizable impact that music can have on a business’ success

More on SoStereo:

S2 Episode 9 - Chris Clark & Julie Nichols

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 5 Apr 2022 17:20:52 +0000

Squeak E. Clean Executive Creative Producer Chris Clark and Creative Director Julie Nichols join the podcast to deliver unparalleled insights on the music-for-ads industry. In this unique episode, the Windy City duo shares key perspectives on guiding the creative process for brands and agencies, stresses the importance of collaboration with industry competitors, and explores the pivotal role of music in a Women’s History Month campaign.

Episode Highlights:

01:10 - Chris & Julie kick off the episode by discussing their roles at Squeak E. Clean Studios and how they got started in the advertising industry

06:40 - Julie dives into a TIAA campaign for Women’s History Month and the pivotal role that music played

12:30 - Chris explains how he guides the creative process for brands and agencies

16:25 - Beto expresses his love for Chicago and notes the role that the Windy City had in SoStereo’s success

24:16 - Chris reflects on the rapidly changing media trends and the opportunities that come with it

More on SoStereo:

SoStereo makes it fast and easy for brands/agencies to use real music by real artists on their video content. Our goal is to help brands unlock the marketing power of music; to elevate content & better connect with consumers. Find out more at sostereo.com

S2 Episode 8 - Amani Duncan

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 20:19:08 +0000

A-List 2022 Agency Executive of the Year Amani Duncan, CEO of BBH USA, is putting her nearly three decades of diverse experience across music, entertainment and consumer brands to work to shake up the advertising world with big ideas and inspiring initiatives.

In this week’s episode of ‘What About The Music,’ Duncan shares her extensive experience in the music-for-advertising industry, and gives an in-depth look at how she leveraged new partnerships to help reimagine the 200-year-old brand C.F. Martin Guitar & Co (Martin Guitar).

Episode Highlights:

6:50 - Amani discusses how she kicked off her career in the music field and the many influences that paved the way to her current role

13:10 - Beto shares his early inspiration for founding SoStereo, noting one experience that guided him towards where he is today

17:00 - Amani dives into her experience in indie filmmaking and the impact of music on the final result

24:20 - Amani explains the future that she sees for music in advertising

More on SoStereo:

S2 Episode 7 - Tim LeGallo & Robin Oksenhendler

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 14:28:13 +0000

Publicis and Saatchi NY dynamic duo Tim LeGallo, Director of Integrated Publication, and Robin Oksenhendler, Director of Business Affairs, join SoStereo EP Joey Netter to discuss all things music. The pair explores the future of music as the social media landscape evolves and touches on their tireless collaboration process working with brands like CVS, Citibank, and Smucker.

Episode Highlights:

1:55 - Tim & Robin touch on their process of working together & aligning on goals

12:35 - Tim explains how his team navigates working without a Music Producer

16:55 - Joey, Tim & Robin share hilarious stories about working with famous artists

18:05 - As the social media landscape continues to evolve, Tim & Robin discuss their vision for the future of music

More on SoStereo:

S2 Episode 6 - Cheri Anderson

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 15:50:25 +0000

This week, we’re joined by Cheri Anderson, Head of Production at JOAN Creative & Managing Director at JOAN Studios. With a career defined by best in class production work and the procurement of unique talent, Cheri has undoubtedly made her mark in the industry. She discusses her extensive background, tells the remarkable story about an early 2000s Super Bowl campaign, and touches on the importance of leveraging music from independent artists.

Episode Highlights:

3:55 - Cheri talks about her role as Head of Production at JOAN Creative & Managing Director of JOAN Studios

6:55 - Cheri gives an inside look at her process for working with music

16:20 - Cheri discusses a pivotal moment in her career where music played a key role

20:30 - Beto & Cheri discuss having access to undiscovered music & leveraging music from independent artists

More on SoStereo:
SoStereo makes it fast and easy for brands/agencies to use real music by real artists on their video content. Our goal is to help brands unlock the marketing power of music; to elevate content & better connect with consumers. Find out more at sostereo.com

S2 Episode 5 - Bianca Guimaraes

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 7 Mar 2022 22:58:57 +0000

Emmy-winning creative Bianca Guimaraes has made global noise with prominent campaigns, pushing the creative envelope in the advertising industry. She has been named one of Business Insider’s ’30 Most Creative People in Advertising Under 30’ four times and is currently Partner & Executive Creative Director at Mischief USA. In our latest episode of What About The Music, Bianca dives into her role at Mischief USA and explores the music used in her favorite campaigns.

Episode Highlights:

02:45 - Bianca touches on the importance of music in her career and her typical process when approaching music.

04:50 - Beto & Bianca discuss the details of a music-heavy campaign.

12:05 - Bianca shares insight on kickstarting the music process for a project.

20:00 - Beto & Bianca elaborate on the significance of using desirable music to capture the attention of viewers.

More on SoStereo:

S2 Episode 4 - Theresa Notartomaso

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 21:00:30 +0000

VMLY&R North America Executive Music Producer Theresa Notartomaso is a leader who sees talent in unexpected places - ensuring that the role of music gets the love it deserves. She touches on her entrance into the world of advertising, explores her creative process when approaching a new brief, and dives into the work behind recent campaigns.

Episode Highlights:

3:15 - Theresa discusses her background, including how she got involved in the advertising world

13:38 - Theresa expresses the importance of understanding the project’s musical needs & budget

20:35 - Theresa dives into the music behind various campaigns, including Wendy’s, Citi Bank, and Altice

28:50 - Beto & Theresa explore solutions to get everyone aligned on music for a spot

More on SoStereo:

S2 Episode 3 - Mike Ladman

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 20:19:39 +0000

Helping lead Droga5 to win over 25 music & advertising industry awards, Senior Music Supervisor Mike Ladman needs no introduction. Mike shares his passion for music, elaborates on his creative process, and discusses the stories behind several Meta campaigns.

Episode Highlights:

10:27 - Mike delves into the creative process behind Meta’s ’The Tiger & The Buffalo’ campaign.

20:43 - Mike discusses the trials and tribulations that came with developing four simultaneous music-driven spots in a short timeline.

25:30 - Beto & Mike touch on their love for African music and the difficulties that can arise when licensing it.

31:40 - Would you listen to this music on your own time? Mike explains how he assesses whether or not he has found the right song for a spot.

More on SoStereo:

S2 Episode 2 - Berry English

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 7 Feb 2022 17:46:49 +0000

Condé Nast Executive Creative Director (US/UK) Berry English joins the podcast to talk about the role of music in all forms of storytelling. He dives into his creative process, discusses the benefits of leveraging emerging artist music on branded content, and talks about a global electronic music campaign for AB InBev.

Episode Highlights:

07:13 - Berry discusses his typical approach to finding music for a project

12:30 - Beto & Berry explore the advantages of using music from up-and-coming artists

14:01 - Berry walks us through the global electronic music campaign for AB InBev

20:07 - Berry lists some key takeaways for aspiring creatives/producers

More on SoStereo:

S2 Episode 1 - Hunter Hampton & Jeph Burton

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 16:09:00 +0000

Johannes Leonardo's Group Creative Directors Jeph Burton and Hunter Hampton join us to kick off Season 2 of 'What About The Music'. Together with SoStereo Co-Founder Beto Azout, they discuss their background in music-heavy campaigns, such as the recently launched 'La Dolce Velveeta' and Instagram's 'Yours To Make.'

Episode Highlights:

04:05: Hunter & Jeph expand on their typical approach to work

06:16 - Jeph shares their unique approach to Instagram's 'Yours To Make' campaign

13:33 - Hunter discusses the perks of working with independent artists

17:46 - Hunter & Jeph review their emotional response to the music used in the 'La Dolce Velveeta' campaign

What About The Music Best of 2021

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 23:45:34 +0000

In this special episode, we've compiled some of our favorite moments of 2021. From first hand accounts of large-scale music licensing projects, to extraordinary insights on music in the film and advertising industry, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

S1 Episode 11 - Colleen Dahlstrom

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 7 Dec 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Colleen Dahlstrom Music Producer at McCann NY, shares her thoughts on how music is an integral part of supporting the message behind a campaign.

S1 Episode 10 - Casey McGrath

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 14:42:21 +0000

We chat with Casey McGrath, award-winning creative director and filmmaker. As Night After Night’s Chief Creative Officer, he currently oversees all work for the agency’s clients with a focus on creating authentic music experiences at the intersection of brands, bands, and consumers.

S1 Episode 9 - Alec Stern

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 14:17:25 +0000

Alec Stern, Director of Music for Global Agency DDB needs no introduction. He has licensed some of the biggest songs in music history and oversees music for some of the largest brands in the world, including McDonald’s, Miller Lite, Capital One, State Farm, Skittles, The U.S. Army, and many more.

S1 Episode 8 - Casey Brown

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Tue, 9 Nov 2021 13:00:00 +0000

Casey Brown, Sr. Manager, Partnerships and Legal at 72andSunny shares his take on why music is so important.

S1 Episode 7 - Natalie Zeller

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 1 Nov 2021 21:16:17 +0000

Natalie Zeller, Associate Producer at Saatchi & Saatchi New York shares her experiences, and first-rate anecdotes of her time in the music in advertising space so far.

S1 Episode 6 - Michael Saltsman

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 15:12:51 +0000

SoStereo CoFounder Beto Azout talks with Michael Saltsman, Music Supervisor & Audio Producer at Ralph Lauren.

S1 Episode 5 - Chloe Saintilan

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 11:41:01 +0000

We talk with Chloe Saintilan, Global Creative Director at Afterpay’s Brand Studio and the co-founder of Merch Aid. With a portfolio spanning global campaigns, products and initiatives, she's made everything from a music video for a Grammy Award-winning artist, to a Matchbox car for girls celebrating a female race car champion. Her work has been recognized at leading industry shows including Cannes, D&AD and One Show, and has led to her being named One Club’s 2020 Next Creative Leader and an Adobe Luminary for Change.

S1 Episode 4 - Marshall Kuresman

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 21:04:07 +0000

Marshall Kuresman Director of Production at draftLine NYC, the in-house agency for Anheuser-Busch tells the story of how he got to where he is today.

S1 Episode 3 - Michelle McKinney

hello@sostereo.com (SoStereo) — Sun, 3 Oct 2021 10:52:27 +0000

S1 Episode 2 - Chip Herter

hello@sostereo.com (Chip Herter, Beto Azout, Abbie May) — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 18:37:59 +0000

SoStereo Co-Founder Beto Azout speaks with Chip Herter, Music Director at Deutsch LA about the trials and tribulations of our industry.

S1 Episode 1 - Melissa Tifrere

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 17:26:02 +0000

In this opening episode we talk to Melissa Tifrere, Head of Production at Havas about her journey in the advertising world and her dealings with music so far.