What happens when a major music industry conference pulls up to Atlanta… but forgets to bring Atlanta? In this episode, Donny and Melanie hold it down while Mike and Sabrina are deep in the grind (00:00). They kick things off reflecting on what it means to become the suit (01:10), and why understanding your role in the system matters before you become part of the problem. Donny shares how he’s navigating new deal structures and pushing for artist-first royalty innovation (05:20). Melanie opens up about her multi-hyphenate work across community, product, and fashion, including her Blurred Lines bootcamp (10:50) and her recent speaking gigs at Princeton and NYU (14:25). The episode turns toward the controversial Music Biz 2025 conference in Atlanta — or more accurately, 45 minutes outside of it (19:15). They unpack how it missed the moment, ignored the city’s culture, and felt more like a secret meeting than an inclusive experience (25:30). From there, they talk about what real integration and connection look like — starting with the power of dinners over panels (28:10), and how face-to-face still matters. The conversation turns to Atlanta’s current musical and cultural shift in the post-Young Thug era (34:00), and the rising alt scenes quietly building through platforms like Lotus Rosary and Beats and Ballets (39:20). Then, a powerful pivot: All-American Rejects are playing house shows across the country (44:05), and indie fans are eating it up. But what about LaRussell — who’s been doing this for years in his backyard? Why does a legacy act get the press while the innovator gets left out? (49:10). Donny and Mel compare that to how Google duplicated a grassroots fashion tech app (Doji) without credit (55:40), and explore the bigger question: Why does culture get mined but not funded? They close with a message to builders and creatives alike — keep showing up, keep creating, and protect your brilliance from becoming someone else’s launchpad (59:30). 

This episode features half the crew: Donny Slater (GM of Third + Hayden & Co-Founder of ROLLOUT) and Melanie McClain (Founder of Blurred Lines, DSP Music Programming)