Episode 420
Flipping the Record Label Model, with Don Rodriguez, Music Producer and Founder I&I Music Studio
On Your World of Creativity, we travel around the world talking with creative professionals who turn ideas into impact. Today we’re diving into music and business with Don Rodriguez — a former general contractor who left a 20-year career to pursue his passion for music… and ended up redesigning the record label model itself.
Introduction
Don Rodriguez is an 18-year entrepreneur and general contractor who walked away from a successful construction career after becoming burned out and disillusioned. He pivoted into music — not just as a creative outlet, but as a producer and founder of The I&I Music Studio, a recording studio, record label, and music publisher for independent artists.
Drawing on two decades of business and contract experience, Don created a radically different label structure: one where artists own their masters and publishing, while the label generates its own revenue streams and collects points — flipping the traditional industry model on its head.
Today, he’s here to talk music, ownership, contracts, publishing, and how independent artists can thrive without giving away their future.
1 — From Construction to Creation
Don, you spent nearly two decades as a general contractor before pivoting into music full-time. What happened internally that made you leave that career — and how did music pull you into a new chapter? When you entered the music industry, what did you immediately see that didn’t sit right with you?
2 — Why Artists Still Need a Label
There’s a strong narrative right now that independent artists don’t need record labels anymore. From your perspective, why is it still necessary for independent artists to have a label structure around them? What’s the difference between an artist trying to build alone versus having the right kind of team behind them? • Spotlight on Lexsey (emerging pop star)
3 — Flipping the Contract Model
You’ve created what you describe as a complete 180 from how record contracts have operated for the last 70 years. Walk us through how your contract works — and why artist ownership of masters and publishing is so critical. How are traditional big-label contracts typically structured — and where do artists lose leverage? • Spotlight on the classical-to-fantasy-grunge artist
4 — Publishing, Production & Revenue
You’ve said that music publishing is the key to making money in music. For listeners who aren’t deep in the industry, what exactly is publishing — and why does it matter so much? In today’s world of home studios and DIY production, why does an artist still need a producer and professional studio environment?
5 — Building a Sustainable Ecosystem
One of the most interesting parts of your model is that your label generates its own revenue instead of relying solely on artists’ music. How does that work — and how does that change the power dynamic between label and artist?
If an artist has already released music under a different structure, can they pivot into a more ownership-driven future? What’s possible?
We tie together all these themes:
• Creative reinvention
• Ownership vs exploitation
• Entrepreneurship in music
• Designing a better ecosystem
• Artists as business partners
