Recoupment isn’t inherently bad.
It’s just a cost-recovery system.
The issue is:
• what gets recouped
• how it’s calculated
• and how long it takes
That’s where leverage lives.
I stay up until midnight every night waiting for new releases like it’s a personality trait. Ruining my sleep for one good song and the hope that tonight is the night.
Dead
“I should just start my own label” - me, right before remembering I have no time for that
Most music industry agreements aren’t designed for clarity.
They’re designed for risk allocation.
If you don’t understand how that risk is being shifted onto you, then you’re not negotiating, you’re guessing.
I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t really been following Ye’s new album rollout…but unsurprisingly the production on every track is insane.
The Scrubs reboot feels just like the old Scrubs. It’s the TV equivalent of Blink-182 getting back together and sounding exactly like Blink-182.
ok for real this is my last SXSW 2026 post because I actually need to sleep and be in the office tomorrow
but if you want to hear my favorites from this year, I threw together an Apple Music playlist on the flight home:
music.apple.com/us/playlist/...
Touched back down in Tampa after a very busy SXSW. Back in Office tomorrow. 💪
My flight back home got cancelled so I’m in Austin for another day. Any SXSW events I should check out today?
SXSW feels very different from my early years going. I’m grateful for the rooms I’m in now and the people I get to meet. The funny tradeoff is the more “industry” things you do, the less music you actually see. So I’m especially grateful for every set I caught and every artist I met.
Sad to leave SXSW tomorrow but also excited to get back to reality.
Breaking a string on the first song is SXSW
It’s 9am on Day 2 of SXSW and I just saw a guy in a Creed shirt.
How did we allow our society to devolve to a point where we are tagging our own bags at the airport?
Booked a 5am flight to Austin for SXSW which seemed like a smart, responsible decision when I made it.
Unfortunately I made that decision as a completely different person than the one who has to wake up for it.
If you’re at SXSW this week and have a contract question, come find me.
No sleep till Austin. For real.
My biggest SXSW tip: remember the whole point is music discovery.
Network, eat the tacos, do the parties, but make time to wander into a random showcase and see something you’ve never heard of.
Some of my favorite bands were discovered on tiny SXSW stages. Every year I go back chasing that feeling
This condensed version of SXSW is making scheduling outrageous
My SXSW schedule looks like a Jackson Pollock painting.
Right now is honestly the busiest I’ve ever been (which I love) but please give me a little grace while I work through everything. If you’re waiting on me, don’t hesitate to follow up.
The Donkey Kong Country soundtrack had absolutely no reason to go that hard.
I don’t know, man. I’m seeing a lot of cool SXSW events, but not many that actually seem centered around the music.
SXSW is basically Coachella for people whose job is emailing PDFs
Wild seeing folks pay $$$ to “consultants” & “gurus” with no receipts.
I’m an actual entertainment lawyer—licensed, experienced, battle-tested—sharing real advice & expertise for way less than what people spend on fluff.
If you want the real thing, let’s talk. 🎶⚖️
Nothing wrong with a Saturday night that’s just records, good food, and no emails. Low-key nights are underrated.
PSA for Artists, Labels & Publicists: I do want to be on your press lists. Flood my inbox with releases, please. 🌊
Just don’t send it to my law firm email. If you want me on your PR list, use
👉 randy@cigarcitymanagement.com
It’s @ganserband.bsky.social in the headphones, ocean in the view. Existential but make it coastal.
