Mitten Music

About Mitten Music

Discovering what goes into making the local music scene possible in the great state of Michigan. Episodes include interviews with local bands/artists, industry experts, venues, recording studios, and anything else that contributes to the success of music in the Mitten state. In addition, each episode will wrap up with a few songs from artists highlighted in our discussion.

Publisher

Mitten Music

Category

music

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Jan 2022

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

143 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   W. Zachary Taylor: Why Followers Matter Less Than Engagement in Music Today

   Music industry veteran ⁠W. Zachary Taylor⁠ (https://wzacharytaylor.com/about/) says the biggest shift in artist success isn’t just streaming, it’s what happens when followers stop mattering and engagement becomes everything. If you care about building a real music career in the age of AI, this conversation will change how you think about fan bases, visibility, and what actually drives revenue.Taylor brings decades of experience across music production, publishing, artist development, and education to this conversation from the ⁠Michigan Music Econ Summit⁠ (https://www.michiganmusicalliance.org/music-econ-summit-2026) in Grand Rapids. He shares how growing up in Michigan and spending formative years around some of music’s most iconic hometowns shaped his path from running a traditional music store to becoming department chair of entertainment and music business at ⁠Full Sail University⁠ (https://hello.fullsail.edu/brand-1b-music-recording).You'll discover: Why the industry may be moving from follower counts to true audience interest and engagement How super fans are defined by more than support online, and why spending still matters Why today’s artists can’t disappear for a year between albums the way they once did What streaming, MP3 piracy, and AI are doing to music revenue and discovery How artists can use AI as a tool without replacing the human creativity that makes music valuable Taylor also breaks down the tension between innovation and authenticity, from auto-tune to AI-generated music and visuals. He makes a strong case for why human connection, live performance, and real artistry may become even more important as technology gets louder.W. Zachary Taylor is the department chair of entertainment and music business at Full Sail University, with a background in music production, publishing, studio work, and artist development. He teaches students how to turn creative talent into sustainable careers.Essential listening if you’re an artist, manager, music student, or anyone trying to understand where the business of music is headed next.

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   How Rosie Cusack Built a Creative Career Without Picking One Lane

   Rosie Cusack (https://www.rosiecusackvoiceover.com/)has built a creative career that spans music education, stage management, voice acting, and audiobook narration. At the Michigan Music Econ Summit (https://www.michiganmusicalliance.org/music-econ-summit-2026), she talks about leaving the classroom, finding new opportunities, and staying connected to music through collaboration. Rosie shares what stage management at Saint Cecilia Music Center (https://www.scmcgr.org/) involves, how COVID changed music education, and how her interest in animation voice acting (https://www.rosiecusackvoiceover.com/) grew into audiobook work. She also discusses meeting indie authors at comic cons and book fairs, writing original music, and why collaboration matters to her creative process. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Rosie’s path from teaching music in Grand Rapids Public Schools to stage management and voice work How educators adapted to virtual music classes and became audio producers The behind-the-scenes work that helps live performances run smoothly How networking with authors led to audiobook opportunities The role collaboration plays in Rosie’s songwriting and creative life A conversation for musicians, educators, voice actors, and anyone exploring a creative career that doesn’t fit neatly into one lane.

3. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Why The Mannequins Prepare for Battle of the Bands by Watching Sports and Rocky

   Most bands try to look cool. The Mannequins (https://mannequinsband.com/home) show up in full gym-bro uniforms, laugh their way into a Battle of the Bands final, and still make a serious case for why live music should feel unpredictable, communal, and alive. If you care about new rock bands, West Michigan music, or the weird magic of a great set, this one is for you. Grant, Luke, and Carter from The Mannequins join the conversation fresh off their win in the previous round and heading into the finals at The Stray (https://www.thestraycafe.com/). What starts with playful confusion about sports turns into a sharp, funny look at how a band balances goofiness onstage with songs that still hit with real emotional weight. You'll discover: Why The Mannequins deliberately keep their live shows loose, spontaneous, and different every night How watching sports and Rocky became part of their battle prep Why songs they wrote as teenagers are still in the set list today How their music evolved from basement jams and original ideas instead of the usual cover-band route Why they believe West Michigan's scene is a rare, sweet spot for artists and fans alike Grant opens up about music being core to his identity, while Luke and Carter talk about the band's early days, the original spark that formed The Mannequins, and the decision to keep songs changing over time instead of locking them into a recording. They also break down what makes the Grand Rapids-Holland corridor such a strong place to build a band, from the size of the scene to the community around it. We also get a tour of the bands they respect most right now, including Julie's Bones (https://www.facebook.com/juliesbonesofficial/), Paper Sound (https://papersoundband.bandcamp.com/), Smothers (https://www.instagram.com/thesmothersband/), Secret Satan (https://www.facebook.com/SecretSatanGR/), and New Troy (https://itsnewtroy.com/videos), plus a few unexpectedly perfect side quests involving costumes, live energy, and the eternal question of whether very small shorts help or hurt your chances in a battle. Image Courtesy of Isabel Dowell

Who has been a guest on Mitten Music

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jeeto
• Michael Byrd
• Father Ron
• Zach
• Simon Rusk

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

120,453

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.4 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

4.5 / 5

11 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 71 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

85

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

68

Contact Mitten Music

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.