The Setup
BeatStars is a global marketplace for buying and selling music beats, founded by Abe Batshon.
Abe came to me with a simple request: produce a podcast.
Avoiding a Costly Mistake
The original name was The Self-Made Podcast. I told him no.
No one is self-made. That name worked against BeatStars' core mission. BeatStars exists to protect creators and help them get paid. A podcast called Self-Made diluted that position.
The show was renamed Pay the Creators Podcast.
That single decision aligned the podcast with the brand's point of view and gave the IP juice. Visit paythecreators.com.
The Work
Although I was hired strictly for production, I built the foundational structure of the podcast, including:
- Show positioning and first-layer identity
- End-to-end production
- Crew hiring
- Location sourcing (Warm Audio Studios)
- A repeatable operational setup for recording and release
We produced the first 7 episodes and established a format that could continue without my involvement.
What This Case Proves
This wasn't just about producing episodes. It was about:
- Stopping the wrong idea early
- Anchoring intellectual property to the brand's truth
- Building foundations that last beyond the original creator
Sometimes the most valuable contribution isn't what's in the contract. It's protecting the client's best interest.