We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Reno Ludwiga a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Reno, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My biggest mission in this industry is to land my a&r position for a record label, and to break records internationally. What I realized about the city where I am from, there are not many Asian representatives in San Bernardino County. My goal is to be the biggest executives from Inland Empire and develop upcoming talents. The main reason why I took on these challenges on to becoming a music executive is because my brother inspired me to learn the business. My brother is an artist and I wanted to make sure that he does not get a shitty deal, so I took ownership. He put me on game with a lot of things, I dig in thoroughly and the rest was history. Lastly, I want to create a hub in the city, to
help other artists to pursue their dreams on becoming a star.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I learned most of my networking skills from working at the nightclub business. I started as a photographer and a promoter and transitioned on becoming a music executive. When I started, I thought everything was far from reach, but I believed in myself and what I can bring to the table. I had to revamp my whole social media and post professional content and all it took was from one a&r to give me a follow and that started to open more doors I started having other a&rs and artists giving me a follow. In 2021, a couple of colleagues, and I opened our very own recording studio to provide affordable studio time for upcoming artists in our city. Our mentors from Neighborhood Watche in LA inspired us to bring the LA to the IE. Then In 2022, I had the opportunity to link with one of my favorite top 5 artists’ Ty Dolla $ign. I started as an intern for him and worked my way up to Personal Assistant. I learned a lot of networking skills, and how the music business is first hand. Ty gave me a lot
of wisdom and knowledge, and I am
forever thankful for his guidance because he put me in position to win. Now I am on the road on securing my a&r position.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

In the music business, building a strong reputation requires a combination of talent, hard work, networking, and a willingness to adapt to changing trends and technologies. Here are some factors that can help build a reputation in the music industry:

Having talent is perhaps the most important factor in building a reputation in the music business. Whether you are a musician, songwriter, producer, or any other type of music professional, your skills and abilities will be the foundation of your reputation.
Hard work: The music industry is highly competitive, and success often requires a lot of hard work and dedication. This can include long hours in the studio, endless rehearsals, and relentless promotion of your work.
Networking is crucial it is important to build strong relationships with other music professionals can be essential to your success. This can include attending industry events, collaborating with other musicians or producers, and connecting with influencers and tastemakers in your genre.
You have to be adaptive in this industry because the music industry is constantly evolving, and successful musicians and professionals must be willing to adapt to changing trends and technologies. This may include embracing new social media platforms, experimenting with new sounds or production techniques, and exploring new revenue streams.
Marketing and promotion: In today’s music industry, successful artists and professionals must also be savvy marketers. This may include creating compelling social media content, building an engaging online presence, and leveraging traditional and digital marketing channels to reach new audiences.
Overall, building a reputation in the music industry requires a combination of talent, hard work, networking, adaptability, and marketing savvy. By focusing on these key factors, music professionals can increase their visibility, credibility, and success in the industry.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing a team in the music industry can be challenging, as it often involves working with creative individuals who have their own unique goals, styles, and personalities. However, there are some strategies that can help you maintain high morale and productivity among your team members. That is what motivated my colleagues and I to create “Bad Genre”

It is important to communicate your expectations clearly to your team members, and provide them with the resources and support they need to meet these expectations. This can help reduce confusion and frustration, and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals.
Foster a positive and inclusive culture: Create a culture of respect, collaboration, and support within your team. Encourage open communication, constructive feedback, and a willingness to learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Celebrate diversity and promote inclusivity, and make sure that everyone feels valued and respected.
It is important to provide opportunities for growth and development and give your team members opportunities to develop their skills and advance their careers. This can include training and mentoring programs, performance feedback, and access to industry events and conferences. By investing in your team’s growth and development, you can show that you are committed to their success and wellbeing.
Encourage creativity and experimentation: Allow your team members to express their creativity and experiment with new ideas and approaches. This can help them feel more engaged and motivated, and can lead to breakthroughs and innovations in your work.
Recognize and reward achievements: Celebrate your team’s successes and recognize individual achievements.

Overall, managing a team in the music industry requires a combination of leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. By focusing on these strategies, you can build a strong and productive team that is motivated, engaged, and successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: Regilevi.com
• Instagram: @yourasianpapi
• Linkedin: renoludwiga
• Youtube: regilevi

Image Credits
Badgenre