Nov 24 2023 77 mins
This week's Talk Music Podcast features a really interesting chat with BARRY BERGMAN, a highly respected song expert who has published over 250 songs by major artists such as CHER, KISS, JOAN JETT, MICHAEL BOLTON and many others, including hits for hard rockers LEE AARON, HELIX and US act KIX where their ballad DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES sold 2 million copies. He’s also had a worldwide TOP 10 hit with DON’T SHED A TEAR by Paul Carrack and signed AC/DC to their first publishing deal for North America. He then discovered and signed MEATLOAF where he was also responsible for breaking the single “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” from the Bat Out of Hell album, one of the biggest selling albums of all time on the Sony/Epic label.
Barry then founded, and was president of, the INTERNATIONAL MANAGERS FORUM (later renamed to MMF) which now has chapters all around the world including Canada. As president, he was instrumental and successful in helping lobby the US government for change to certain music related intellectual laws.
I really found Barry’s life fascinating as he simply wouldn’t take NO for an answer as he made his path through the complexities of the music industry as a publisher, manager and overall music consultant. In my opinion, his keen knowledge of the music business is second to none. Listen to the podcast to find some info about seminars he puts on a few times a year where he talks about how to be successful in a now DIY industry where you need to market and promote yourself properly and he will also critique your songs.
In 2018, Barry was inducted into the PERSONAL MANAGERS HALL OF FAME in Las Vegas. Enjoy with song clips throughout the podcast of some of Barry’s successes.