Episode 359: BRAD LEBEAU "From the Early Days of Disco to a Record Promo Dynasty"
This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with legendary music marketer, DJ, and founder of @promotion1983, Brad LeBeau, for an unfiltered conversation on the evolution of dance music, the hustle behind hit records, and the personal cost of chasing legacy in the industry. With his company “PRO MOTION” celebrating 42 years at the forefront of record promotion, Brad reflects on the moments that defined his journey. Brad opens up about his early DJ days, sharing how his father’s advice shaped his outlook (4:42), and how substance use became a short-lived fix for performance anxiety (08:33). He reflects on his time at Discoteca magazine and witnessing the birth of disco in America (21:01), before diving into his first major solo promotion: @Afrika_Bambaataa_Official and Soulsonic Force’s “Planet Rock” (23:01). He breaks down his philosophy on record promotion, working with @DianaRoss in 2017 (49:11), and his brief but dramatic collaboration with @LouieVega on an official Diana Ross remix—and their eventual falling out (1:13:34). Brad shares his thoughts on streaming vs. selling singles (1:34:01), the devaluation of music through price drops, theft, and convenience (1:45:15), and his continued love for the craft despite industry changes. He also recounts working with Gloria Estefan and the little-known backstory of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” (2:13:01). The episode wraps with a deep dive into DJ edit culture, the economics of remixes, and the growing disconnect between record labels and working DJs (2:23:01).
This episode is sponsored by @SoundCollectiveNYC, an industry-leading music school, musical space and community located in downtown Manhattan for aspiring DJ’s, Producers, Musicians and more. Take private Ableton lessons, practice DJ routines, experiment with different audio equipment and reserve studio spaces for just the day, maybe a week or sign up for their monthly membership. Check www.soundcollective.com for more info and try their Online Classes free for a month by entering the code “ROAD”. If you’re in the New York area, visit them at 28 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 and tell them the Road Podcast sent you!!
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