We recently connected with Zulia Barrios and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zulia, thanks for joining us today. How has Covid changed your business model?

Before the pandemic, my focus centered on booking Tribe Mafia for live music performances and podcast interviews, particularly during SXSW 2020. Unfortunately, most of these plans were disrupted due to Covid and lockdown measures. Facing challenges in gig bookings and being cautious about Tribe Mafia’s perceived high risk, we took a performance break, indulging in Netflix series during the downtime. Chinasa Broxton from Tribe Mafia suggested exploring TV/Film placements. I took an innovative approach, pausing credits to find music supervisors and reaching out. Extensive research on sync, trials with various libraries, and countless emails to music supervisors ensued. Eventually, we connected with a sync agent, securing numerous placements. Since Covid, I’ve dedicated time to deepen my knowledge of sync licensing, aiming to secure more placements for Tribe Mafia.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a North Texas alumnus in the field of criminal justice. Currently, my focus is on managing the hip-hop duo Tribe Mafia. Over the years, my work with them has led to significant achievements, including organizing successful tours across the United States and internationally, notably with Akon in São Paulo, Brazil.

I’ve also played a pivotal role in securing valuable sponsorships for Tribe Mafia, partnering with renowned brands such as Sennheiser, TEAC Vinyl Player, Ford, and iHeartRadio.

When the pandemic struck, I had just graduated from college, balancing part-time artist management with full-time studies. As the pandemic unfolded, I dedicated myself to finding new revenue streams for my artists, one of which involved exploring sync placements.

My journey led me to immerse myself in extensive research, from scanning IMDb to dissecting TV show credits. In recent times, I actively participate in sync panels, which I’ve found to be the most effective way to connect with music supervisors, far surpassing the efficacy of cold emails.

Post-pandemic, I’ve cultivated valuable relationships with multiple music libraries, sync agents, and supervisors. This networking has translated into noteworthy achievements, with my artists securing placements in notable shows like CW’s “All American,” CBS’s “Bob Hearts Abishola,” KSG Hawaii’s “My Partner,” “HeartBreak Falls,” and most recently, Michael Keaton’s latest neo-noir film, “Knox Goes Away.”

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Starting my journey in the music business while studying Criminal Justice presented a challenging juggling act with Tribe Mafia. Graduating during the pandemic demanded adjustments for both my career and life. Balancing travel for music-related activities with Tribe Mafia, including videos, performances, film festivals, and mixers, was hectic. Recognizing the need to prioritize my career in Criminal Justice, I made the bold decision to switch paths, fully committing to managing Tribe Mafia. I love this decision and have no regrets.

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

Starting my journey in the music industry, particularly in artist management, I found myself facing uncertainty as Tribe Mafia’s manager. Although initially disoriented, they took a chance on me, and our collaborative journey has yielded numerous success stories. While Chinasa Broxton and Carlos ‘Dashawn Daniels’ Moore provided valuable insights, they were also navigating their early days as artists. Recognizing the need to step up, I ordered two influential books to enhance my understanding of the music industry: “All You Need To Know About The Music Business” by Donald S. Passman and “How to Make it in the New Music Business” by Ari Herstand. Coupled with personal research, these resources significantly bolstered my knowledge and confidence as an artist manager. For aspiring artist managers, I highly recommend delving into these books for a wealth of useful information.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tribemafiamusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zulia_barrios/?utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zulia.barrios.5?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/zuliabarrios?s=21&t=F3R5vx5rPRnkov8B6b0NJw

Image Credits
Jess T. Johnston, Sami Khantache