We recently had the chance to connect with Evan Stein and have shared our conversation below.
Evan, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m most proud of the foundation I’ve built beneath the visible wins. The quiet, unseen work that allows everything else to stand. It’s the deep relationships, the trust, the resilience, and the clarity of purpose that I’ve cultivated over years. Long before anyone sees a song charting, an artist growing, or a brand taking shape, there’s a web of intentional choices, values, and late-night problem-solving that holds it all together. It’s the ability to create a space where artists feel truly seen, supported, and empowered to tell their authentic story. That invisible infrastructure, the mindset, the systems, the belief in the vision is what I’m most proud of, because without it, nothing lasting could exist.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Evan, founder of Experience Music Group. Our mission is to empower artists to not only create incredible music, but also build the kind of careers and fan communities that last. At the heart of what we do is helping artists tell their stories in ways that connect deeply with fans.
We offer a full spectrum of artist development services, from branding and release strategy to sync and music licensing, digital marketing, and distribution support. Our work is grounded in authenticity, resilience, and purpose, helping artists align their creative vision with business strategies that actually work in today’s music landscape.
What makes us unique is that we bridge the gap between artistry and industry without stripping away the soul of the music. Whether it’s getting a track licensed for film and TV, helping an artist build a loyal fanbase from scratch, or crafting a smart, long-term release plan, we focus on sustainable growth, not quick wins. Right now, we’re especially excited about building new opportunities for independent artists to access sync placements and strategic partnerships that can elevate their careers while staying true to their voice.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
Without question, it was my dad. His work ethic and dedication to his parents’ film post-production business shaped everything I know about leadership, persistence, and integrity.
He started young working with his own father after school while still in high school and grew the company from a small “mom and pop shop” into a thriving business with multiple locations in Hollywood, Anaheim, and even China.
What stood out most wasn’t just the growth, but how he did it. With employees, he believed in giving people a chance, mentoring them, helping them grow, and promoting from within. The respect they had for him was earned through trust and fairness. With clients, he made every single one feel valued and like they were his top priority.
He wore every hat, Owner, President, salesman, customer service rep and no job was ever beneath him. Watching him lead with both humility and high standards taught me that success is built not just on skill, but on how you treat people.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. Every detour, every wrong turn, and every quiet season is shaping you into exactly who you’re meant to become. Trust the process, trust your gut, and don’t let comparison steal your joy. The people who matter will see you for who you are, and the right opportunities will align when you’re ready. Keep creating, keep learning, and remember you’re already enough, exactly as you are.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie the music industry tells itself is that talent alone is enough. We romanticize the idea that a great song will somehow find its audience just by existing. That if you’re ‘good enough,’ the world will beat a path to your door. But in reality, that’s not how the modern music ecosystem works. The truth is, great art without a plan is invisible.
Labels, platforms, and even artists themselves sometimes cling to the idea that the cream automatically rises to the top, but the playing field isn’t level, algorithms don’t have ears, they have metrics. Fans connect to stories, not just sounds. And without a strategy for branding, community-building, licensing, distribution, and marketing, even incredible music can vanish into the noise.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, my customers would miss the heart I put into turning their music into more than just sound. They’d miss having someone who not only understands the business but believes in their story, fights for their vision, and builds the kind of community and opportunities that make their art truly matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://experiencemusicgroup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/experiencemusicgroup/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanjstein/
- Twitter: https://x.com/ExpMusicGroup?lang=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExperienceMusicGroup/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ExperienceRecords
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@experiencemusicgroup
