Ari Seth Herstand (born June 1, 1985) is an American musician, songwriter, author, actor, blogger based in Los Angeles, California (previously Minneapolis, Minnesota). He is the CEO and founder of the music business education and artist advocacy company Ari's Take.
Herstand has played at Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI and the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, TX, as well as Carnegie Hall. He has played with various artists including Milk Carton Kids, Phil Vassar, Matt Nathanson, Joshua Radin, Eric Hutchinson, and Ron Pope. He has received airplay on NPR's program All Things Considered and Cities 97.
He is known on television for his roles in Transparent, Aquarius, Mad Men, 2 Broke Girls, Touch, The Fosters, and Sam & Cat.
He is the author of How To Make It in the New Music Business: Practical Tips on Building a Loyal Following and Making a Living as a Musician (Liveright).
Herstand runs the podcast The New Music Business with Ari Herstand, in which he interviews musicians and music-industry professionals. It won the 2021 Webby Award for Best Music Podcast.
He is also currently a columnist for Variety.
Background
Ari Herstand grew up in both Madison and Shorewood, Wisconsin. He is self-taught on the piano and began playing guitar at 14. He picked up the trumpet in fifth grade.
Herstand briefly studied music education at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. In 2004, he transferred to McNally Smith College of Music (MusicTech at the time) in St. Paul and began his career as a singer-songwriter. While a student, he played coffee shops and club shows extensively at and around the University of Minnesota, usually with cellist Lucas Shogren. Through grassroots promotion and a buzz generated from live performances on the UMN campus, Herstand gained local popularity.
Herstand's music gained wider acclaim in 2006 when his songs were played on The Real World. and then again in 2010 on One Tree Hill. He performed at the South by Southwest Music festival in Austin, Texas, in 2006 and 2007 and was a speaker 2015 – 2019. He performed Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and helped book and run the Chipotle Rhythm Kitchen and Tiki Hut stages from 2006 to 2010.
In 2008, Ari Herstand showcased at the NACA (National Association for Campus Activities) Northern Plains region, where he booked more than 50 shows for the 2008–2009 school year. He showcased at NACA Northern Plains region again in 2013 and Nationals in 2014 along with showcasing at various APCA conferences.
Herstand has played the majority of his shows solo. He spent the beginning of 2012 in Minnesota recording his new album with producer Paul Marino, drummer Dave King, bassist Jim Anton, guitarist Jake Hanson, keyboardist Joey Kantor and vocalists Alicia Wiley and Tonia Hughes. He funded this album primarily through a successful Kickstarter campaign. The album was mastered by Bernie Grundman Mastering in September 2012. The album entitled Brave Enough was released at the Hotel Cafe on March 29, 2014, with an eight-piece band.
He released the book How To Make It in the New Music Business: Practical Tips on Building a Loyal Following and Making a Living as a Musician on December 20, 2016, and the second edition on November 5, 2019. It became a #1 best-seller on Amazon in three categories and is being taught by more than 300 universities.
Because of his success as an independent musician, blogger and author, Forbes Magazine called Ari Herstand "the poster child of DIY music."
Herstand recorded his latest album Like Home with producer Justin Glasco from their respective studios while in the COVID-19 pandemic induced quarantine. They used technology like Audiomovers and Zoom to create the album without being able to be in the same physical space. The album was released April 9, 2021, celebrated with a live-streamed, full-band show at the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles.
In reviewing the album, American Songwriter Magazine cited Herstand as "a commanding performer and a world-class songwriter."
Ari's Take
In Spring 2012, Herstand started the music business blog Ari's Take to help independent musicians build careers without the help of a record label. The blog is based on Herstand's experience as a touring musician (with 700+ shows) as well as his work as an artist manager. Ari's Take articles have been featured on CD Baby, Music Connection, TuneCore, Digital Music News, Roland, American Songwriter, and Hypebot.