We were lucky to catch up with Franz Hilberath recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Franz thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I quit my day job in 2019 to start an online magazine and devoted 60+ hours a week to learning everything I could about the industry. I also began offering PR services to artists and labels and learned how to work ‘PR.’

After a year or two of minimal success, I moved to Denver, CO, to be closer to the industry and landed my first full-time job in music as a manager and in-house publicist at Mind Warp Mgmt. Although this was commission-based and not making much money, I stayed for 15 months, taking on odd jobs and staying late to learn everything I could.

This led to my first paid full-time position at INFAMOUS PR, where I learned an improved skillset and became a well-respected professional. In 2022, I left INFAMOUS to work for myself full-time doing artist management and public relations for artists like Zeds Dead. Although the process could have been faster, all the lessons I’ve learned along the way have shaped me into the man and entrepreneur I am today. In just a year, I went from earning less than $10k annually to making a full-time living from my work as a writer, publicist, and artist manager; but in reality, it was years of hard work, being underpaid, and believing in my dream to persevere and make this a full-time gig.

Franz, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As a multifaceted professional with a passion for storytelling, I’ve contributed to various publications, including Creative Loafing, USA Today, Marquee, EDM.com, and CULTR, covering live events, conducting music reviews, and interviewing industry innovators such as ODESZA, Marc Rebillet, and RUFUS DU SOL. In 2019, I transitioned to public relations, conceptualizing brand strategies and marketing pillars for renowned artists and labels like WAKAAN and Dirtybird.

With experience at INFAMOUS PR and Mind Warp Management, I’ve managed campaigns for industry trend-setters such as Damian Lazarus, Mikey Lion, and Lee Burridge while also representing independent creatives and esteemed labels like Zeds Dead, Night Tales, Gravitas Recordings, and Mersiv through my own independent publicist company, Franz.mp3.

As a brand strategist, I specialize in collaborating with artists, brands, and events to raise awareness online and in our community through different activations, coverage, and content placements. Additionally, I’m the founder and head of operations at MP3 MAG, a digital and print magazine dedicated to covering the North American music festival scene. I also work as an artist manager for Los Angeles-based Producer/Designer, Meduso, and Florida-born Visual Artist, Stef.fx.

What I’m most proud of is that every day, I get to make a direct impact on the art, business, or someone’s life. My skillset, opinion, and assistance provide real impact in the world, which has always been my biggest goal – to contribute to the art/music scene I love so much.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Heading into 2020, I made the decision to move to Colorado to further my career in music. However, by the time I arrived on March 11, the world had shut down due to the global pandemic, and live events were essentially banned for months. Despite this setback, I didn’t get discouraged and organized a 2-day livestream event for charity called SummerEyes Digital Festival.

With the help of half a dozen sponsors, I booked a 2-day lineup, 30-plus hours of music, and 60 artists, raising $1500+ for charity. Following the festival, I was hired by the management company of Mersiv, whom I booked as the headliner for the festival. They were impressed by my work ethic and experience in organizing the event.

If I had given up, I would have returned to Florida with nothing to show for my move. Instead, I persevered and carved my way into the music industry.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I highly recommend Donald Miller’s “Building a Story Brand” as it perfectly illustrates the history, application, and use of storytelling in life and business. The book teaches the core principles of storytelling – The Character, The Problem, The Guide, The Plan, The Progress, Success/Avoided Failure, and The Transformation – and shows how owning ‘the story’ in your business, service/product, or life can revolutionize your ability to connect with people. Personally, I credit this book for transforming my own success from theoretical to exponential.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.franzmp3.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/franzmp3
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/franzmp3music
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/franzmp3music

Image Credits
All photos courtesy of Franz Hilberath