Today, I’m joined by Chris SD, one of the most clear-headed voices in sync licensing today. Chris has helped songwriters and producers place music in major film and TV projects, including recent placements in the Oscar-winning film Anora! His work focuses on getting songs in front of A-list music supervisors in ways that are ethical, strategic, and grounded in how the industry actually functions.

BONUS for those listening right now! You can meet with me, Chris, and a panel of music supervisors on Sunday, January 11th. Join more than 10,000 songwriters and composers for the largest sync licensing conversation in our industry. I’m so excited to invite you to this: [register here]

In this episode:

We talk about what music supervisors are really listening for, and why so many common beliefs about sync licensing are simply untrue. Chris breaks down myths like needing a massive catalog of hundreds or thousands of songs, or having to write music for sync rather than making honest, well-crafted work. He explains what tends to matter far more, and where songwriters often overcomplicate things.

We also dig into the legal side of sync, including copyright, ownership, and what artists should understand before their music is ever pitched. And yes, we go there, Chris answers the question that’s sitting in the back of a lot of people’s minds right now: what about AI?

If sync licensing has ever felt confusing, intimidating, or wrapped in misinformation, this episode will change everything for you.

This is a true story. Robin Tucker is a gifted vocalist, songwriter, and producer, and someone I’ve had the joy of coaching for the last 2 years. Here's what happened in that time:

​​Robin...
- ​Went viral
- Received harmful DMs and online abuse
- Considered quitting social media forever (relatable)​
- ​Evolved his musical identity
- Developed a music career road map​ that doesn't rely on an algorithm
​- Built an amazingly dedicated fan base
- Is ​a featured artist on a Grammy nominated album for 2026!​

In this deeply inspiring conversation, Robin and I walk through how we worked together to live through the viral fall-out, build a real fanbase, and create something more grounded and sustainable.​​​​​

Robin also opened up to me about his years at a (very popular) music college, the parts that helped him grow, and the parts that left him untangling a lot of mixed messages about identity, genre, and what a young artist is “supposed” to create. He talks about how hard it was to be told, again and again, to make commercial pop music instead of exploring what made him unique. And he shares what changed when he finally began following his own voice.

This is a conversation about resilience, craft, identity, and the steady work of becoming who you are. Robin is thoughtful, open, and incredibly talented, and I think you’ll feel that from the moment he starts talking.

My friend and colleague Cheryl B. Engelhardt is nominated for a Grammy this year for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album! According to the Moon is beautiful from top to bottom, especially if you love music that makes space for reflection and breath.

We talk about the path that brought Cheryl here, including her first Grammy nomination when she became the first person ever to record an entire album on a transcontinental train using only a laptop and a small MIDI keyboard. Cheryl shares what she learned from that experience and why this new nomination feels different, softer, and more communal.

One of the highlights is our shared admiration for my student Robin Tucker, who is a featured vocalist on one of the tracks. Cheryl introduced me to Robin (a longtime collaborator of hers) at her Amplify retreat for career musicians, and it is a joy to see the work recognized in this way.

We also dig into what draws Cheryl to this genre, how the new age landscape is shifting, the creative decisions behind According to the Moon, and what it means to her to share this moment with her collaborators.

As always, it is deeply grounding to walk beside Cheryl in this journey. I love all of our conversations and I'm grateful we get to share this one with you!

If you’re a music maker, a collaborator, or someone who just loves hearing artists talk about the real process behind their work, this one is a good hang :)

Kimi was born in Kosovo during the war, while his family hid in the mountains for safety. When they returned home they slept in barns and abandoned trucks, and rebuilt their house by hand. To soothe her children, his mother sang to them with her beautiful voice.

Now, more than twenty years later, Kimi is stepping onto the stage of Albania’s national FiK 64 festival, on his quest to qualify for Eurovision, with a song that reaches back to those roots.

Prap Dielli Del (“The Sun Will Rise Again”) is a message of hope drawn from a childhood shaped by uncertainty and a young adulthood marked by resilience.

We talk about his move to New York seven years ago, the dark moments he fought through, and the choice he keeps making to lean into whatever hope he can find, even when it’s only one percent.

We also revisit his American Idol moment when Katy Perry had him call his mother in Kosovo and sing to her before handing him a golden ticket to Hollywood, and that fateful day I met him in a studio in New York City and became his vocal coach.

And, for the first time publicly, we share that I’ll be traveling with him to Albania to coach him during the festival!

To listen to Prap Dielli Del, visit the RTSH YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt5Ajfg1EJA

To follow Kimi's journey and connect with him directly, visit him on IG or TikTok @urboykimi

To connect with me, please visit http://mastermindroad.com

We've got stories and tea with Alexa Renee, Crew Lead for Sofar in NYC! Alexa joins me in my studio to trace the journey of SoFar from a modest idea in a London apartment to a global movement that’s redefining how we gather around music. She shares what makes these secret shows so magnetic, and why they're a first date trend in many cities.

Then, we get into how artists should (TRULY) submit for Sofar performances, and why thoughtfully curated, in-person shows still matter in a world obsessed with algorithms (sorry, AI enthusiasts)!

Alexa opens up about her lifelong bond with music, her creative projects on the horizon, and what it’s like to step into the spotlight for the first time, both on Good Morning America and now, here on Chartless.

This one feels like a late-night conversation between fellow travelers who believe deeply in the power of live music to connect us.

MORE ABOUT SOFAR FOR ARTISTS: https://www.sofarsounds.com/about/artists

CONNECT WITH MELISSA MULLIGAN: https://www.mastermindroad.com/melissa-mulligan

Listeners sent in the BEST questions for this episode, including: How to quit your day job to go pro in music, whether we have to suffer to write meaningful songs, my method for coaching all different kinds of artists, and soooo much more!

Wim Tapley is turning strangers into fans night after night, and I still remember when he was sketching out the first pieces of his dream. Now based in Athens, GA, he’s playing packed clubs across the country. I got to dance (and cry a little) watching his band electrify a New York City crowd last year!

Here, we talk about life on the road, the creative community that raised him, and the friendships that fuel his band. As always, our conversation drifts into big, unfiltered questions about AI, digital tools, and the unstoppable human drive to make art.

Enjoy this honest, soulful conversation with my beloved former student, exploring what it really means to make music in a noisy world.

Multi-Grammy-winning producer Mike Mangini (The Jonas Brothers, AJR, Joss Stone, The Shrek Soundtrack, Andy Grammer, Run-DMC, Dionne Warwick, Tom Jones, The Beastie Boys, Jackie Evancho, and many, many more) joins me to revisit the coffee meeting that launched my career as a music industry vocal coach! We reveal some untold tales about that first ten-hour day, what winning Grammys really feels like, and the future Mike predicts for today's emerging artists.