Trailblazers is an MBW interview sequence that turns the highlight on music entrepreneurs with the potential to turn into the worldwide enterprise energy gamers of tomorrow. This time, we meet Justin Garza, founding father of expertise administration firm, the Dream Adopters. Trailblazers is supported by TuneCore.
Justin Garza didn’t initially got down to turn into an artist supervisor, however “the universe” had different plans.
The founding father of unbiased administration firm The Dream Adopters began his profession as a singer and frontman, self-managing his personal tasks and navigating each the inventive and enterprise sides of the business from day one.
After “hanging up” his personal recording artist ambitions, Garza shifted into songwriting for others and have become deeply embedded within the “Los Angeles pitch session scene”.
It was there that he says one thing sudden occurred; different songwriters and producers started approaching him to ask if he’d think about representing them.
“I took it as an indication to hearken to what the universe was telling me,” Garza tells MBW, “and I made a aware determination to pursue administration.”
That call led to an entry-level function on the administration firm representing The Black Eyed Peas and Will.i.am (Grassroots Music).
These experiences helped form his perspective and in the end impressed the launch of artist, producer, and songwriter administration firm The Dream Adopters, which he describes as “greater than only a administration agency”.
Right this moment, The Dream Adopters operates as what Garza calls a “creative-first, globally-minded boutique firm” that focuses on artist improvement, publishing, and music for visible media.
The corporate has been notably profitable within the Ok-pop house, with over 120 placements and releases within the style throughout the corporate’s roster.
Latest highlights embrace The Dream Adopters’ administration purchasers Melanie Fontana and Lindgren writing and producing Takedown for the hit Netflix animated characteristic Ok-pop Demon Hunters.
The soundtrack launched at No.1 on the Billboard Soundtrack chart and is presently sitting at No.2 on the Billboard 200.
Wanting forward, Garza has formidable plans for The Dream Adopters’ international growth, together with constructing a crew of “like-minded managers” in key music markets like Korea, Japan, the UK, and Germany.
“Lengthy-term, I would like The Dream Adopters to be synonymous with innovation and inventive integrity,” he tells MBW. “I would like us to be a house for forward-thinking creators who need international attain with out sacrificing creative imaginative and prescient.”
Right here, Justin Garza discusses The Dream Adopters’ positioning within the international music enterprise, his firm’s success in Ok-pop, and his predictions for the business’s future.
How is The Dream Adopters positioned within the music enterprise in the present day?
We’re positioned as a creative-first, globally-minded boutique firm. Whether or not it’s artist improvement, publishing, or music for visible media, we deal with nurturing expertise and creating sustainable careers.
We’re not making an attempt to be every little thing to everybody — we’re selective, we go deep, and we construct actual worth. Our edge lies in our potential to maneuver quick, keep genuine, and faucet into a number of income streams throughout totally different music markets, particularly worldwide ones like Ok-pop.
What are your long-term ambitions to your firm’s positioning within the international music enterprise?
Lengthy-term, I would like The Dream Adopters to be synonymous with innovation and inventive integrity. I would like us to be a house for forward-thinking creators who need international attain with out sacrificing creative imaginative and prescient.
“I would like us to be a house for forward-thinking creators who need international attain with out sacrificing creative imaginative and prescient.”
Which means persevering with to scale in strategic methods — increasing into publishing, tech collaborations, sync licensing, and supporting our roster with the instruments they should attain followers throughout cultures.
A giant a part of that imaginative and prescient additionally consists of constructing a worldwide crew of like-minded managers in key music markets like Korea, Japan, the UK, and Germany. I consider having trusted companions on the bottom in these areas might be important for navigating native nuances and actually supporting artists on a world scale.
How do you determine expertise you wish to work with and signal?
For me, it’s a mixture of intuition, work ethic, and uniqueness. The expertise I’m drawn to has a transparent inventive identification, is relentless of their pursuit, and is open to collaboration. We search for individuals who aren’t chasing traits, however as an alternative, setting them — and even ignoring them altogether as a result of they’re so targeted on their very own lane.
“I’m searching for unimaginable human beings at their core — individuals who function with the best degree of integrity, not simply within the artwork they create, however in how they deal with their enterprise.”
I’m particularly drawn to self-starters who’re hungry and keen to pour every day effort into being proactive and forward-thinking. Most of all, I’m searching for unimaginable human beings at their core — individuals who function with the best degree of integrity, not simply within the artwork they create, however in how they deal with their enterprise. That sort of character is what builds lasting careers and robust inventive partnerships.
Your web site notes that you’re leveraging your expertise pool to create authentic music for movie soundtracks, tv, commercials, and video video games. How massive part of your online business is that this presently?
It’s a rising a part of our enterprise and one we’re genuinely enthusiastic about. Proper now, sync represents round 25–30% of our exercise, and it’s increasing steadily — not simply in quantity, however within the depth of inventive alternative we’re seeing.
Most not too long ago, our administration purchasers Melanie Fontana and Lindgren wrote and produced the tip title music Takedown for the Netflix animated characteristic Ok-pop Demon Hunters. One other certainly one of our purchasers, Curtis Douglas, served because the theatrical and soundtrack mixing engineer and vocal editor for the movie.
The undertaking debuted at No.1 globally on Netflix, the soundtrack launched at No.1 on the Billboard Soundtrack chart, and it’s presently sitting at No.2 on the Billboard 200. It’s an excellent instance of how our crew can ship music that resonates each commercially and culturally.
We additionally not too long ago contributed to Singing in My Sleep, a characteristic movie written and directed by certainly one of my closest mates, Nick Wilson, which hit choose theaters and on-demand on July 11.
Melanie and Lindgren wrote and produced 5 authentic songs for the movie, Curtis engineered a number of of the soundtrack tracks, and I had the privilege of serving as the only music supervisor and sharing govt music manufacturing credit score alongside Melanie and Lindgren — who additionally occur to be my greatest mates and longtime inventive companions.
Past movie, we’re additionally energetic in tv, gaming, and industrial work — together with sonic identification creation for manufacturers. Our crew’s versatility permits us to ship every little thing from cinematic orchestral cues to immersive gaming soundscapes to branded theme music that actually connects with audiences. Sync and customized music work aren’t simply aspect tasks for us — they’re core to our mission of serving to expertise construct sustainable, multi-dimensional careers.
You launched Dream Room Publishing alongside Melanie and Lindgren. Inform us about how this enterprise got here to be launched, and what your ambitions are for the publishing aspect of the enterprise?
I’ve been representing the songwriting and manufacturing careers of Melanie and Lindgren for nearly eight years now. Over that point, we’ve developed not simply an extremely shut inventive bond, however a deep friendship constructed on belief, loyalty, and shared imaginative and prescient. Launching Dream Room Publishing collectively felt just like the pure subsequent step — a technique to take every little thing we had been already doing and formalize it beneath a banner that actually displays who we’re and what we stand for.
“Dream Room Publishing was born out of a need to redefine the inventive expertise for songwriters and producers.”
Dream Room Publishing was born out of a need to redefine the inventive expertise for songwriters and producers. It blends the very best qualities of a powerhouse main writer with the personalised, hands-on strategy of a boutique firm. We constructed it to be the sort of place we at all times wished existed — the place writers are by no means simply “certainly one of many,” however true companions in a shared journey towards creative and industrial success.
The heartbeat of the corporate is our relationship — three greatest mates who genuinely care concerning the folks we work with and the music we assist convey into the world. Our providers vary from music placement and author improvement to catalog administration and sync licensing, however on the core, Dream Room is about elevating inventive voices and creating an area the place folks really feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
May you inform us about your success within the Ok-pop house, what that success has stemmed from, and, moreover, share your perception on the broader alternatives you’re seeing in Ok-pop globally?
Our success in Ok-pop comes down to 3 issues: consistency, cultural respect, and collaboration. Ok-pop is among the best and fast-moving music ecosystems on the planet, and it requires a singular understanding of storytelling, melody, construction, and the power to work seamlessly throughout cultures and time zones.
“Ok-pop is among the best and fast-moving music ecosystems on the planet, and it requires a singular understanding of storytelling, melody, construction, and the power to work seamlessly throughout cultures and time zones.”
Throughout our roster, we’ve had over 120 placements and releases within the Ok-pop style — a quantity we’re extremely pleased with. That features songs for top-tier acts, deep album cuts, and every little thing in between. We’ve constructed robust, long-standing relationships with Korean labels, A&Rs, and inventive groups, and we’ve taken the time to really perceive the nuances of the market — each creatively and culturally.
On a worldwide degree, Ok-pop is now not area of interest. It’s a dominant pressure in worldwide popular culture and continues to open doorways for Western songwriters and producers in new and thrilling methods. The fan engagement is unmatched, and the inventive bar is extremely excessive — which makes it a rewarding house to be in. Because the style evolves, so do the alternatives: from sync and model collaborations to catalog worth and worldwide touring, Ok-pop continues to be a worldwide progress engine for your complete music enterprise.
What traits are you seeing out there that we must always learn about?
I’m seeing a powerful shift towards music being a part of broader content material ecosystems. Artists aren’t simply releasing songs — they’re constructing worlds. Music now intersects with gaming, trend, storytelling, social media, and even movie and TV in methods which might be extra built-in than ever. Consequently, creators who can suppose multidimensionally are thriving.
There’s additionally a significant push towards authenticity. Followers wish to really feel like they’re a part of an artist’s actual journey — not simply responding to a elegant advertising rollout. That’s influencing every little thing from how songs are launched to how artists present up on-line.
“I’m seeing a powerful shift towards music being a part of broader content material ecosystems. Artists aren’t simply releasing songs — they’re constructing worlds. “
AI is clearly high of thoughts in each nook of the business. From songwriting instruments to vocal cloning and personalised listening, it’s transferring quick. However probably the most impactful makes use of I’m seeing proper now are those that help human creativity — not substitute it. It’s going to be essential for creators and corporations to seek out methods to embrace the tech with out dropping the center.
On the enterprise aspect, short-form syncs like TikTok sound design and micro-placements are booming. Fan-driven platforms — from Patreon to Discord — are giving artists new methods to monetize and construct group on their very own phrases. And catalog acquisitions are evolving too, with extra deal with youthful catalogs and hybrid-rights fashions that mix publishing, grasp rights, and sync potential.
The most important through-line throughout all of this? The artists and corporations who’re successful are those who could be agile, collaborative, and deeply linked to their viewers.
What are the most important challenges dealing with artist managers in the present day?
The sheer quantity of noise. It’s more durable than ever to chop via and hold artists targeted when every little thing is going on abruptly, on a regular basis. Managers in the present day must put on a number of hats — strategist, therapist, inventive director, and sometimes, firefighter.
One of many largest challenges helps artists navigate the strain to be “on” always — to at all times be posting, selling, producing, performing. That sort of tempo can take a critical toll on psychological well being and self-worth, particularly when social media metrics begin to really feel like the one measure of success.
“As a supervisor, you’re not simply constructing careers — you’re serving to folks handle expectations, keep grounded, and discover goal past the algorithm.”
There are additionally actual monetary pressures. Even artists who look profitable from the surface could also be dealing with inconsistent revenue, mounting prices, and uncertainty about the right way to maintain momentum. As a supervisor, you’re not simply constructing careers — you’re serving to folks handle expectations, keep grounded, and discover goal past the algorithm.
Balancing short-term visibility with long-term profession constructing is essential. Viral moments are nice, however they will’t be your solely plan. The objective is to assist artists construct one thing sustainable — creatively, emotionally, and financially.
What recommendation would you give entrepreneurs beginning out within the music enterprise in the present day?
Be relentless and be curious. Don’t chase traits — construct relationships, construct expertise, and construct worth. Know your numbers, but additionally know your value. And bear in mind, it is a lengthy recreation. Essentially the most worthwhile factor you are able to do is present up persistently with one thing actual to supply.
Additionally, function with integrity. Your fame will outlive your present title, job, or undertaking — so the way in which you deal with folks issues. This enterprise is constructed on belief and relationships, and people can take years to develop however solely moments to lose.
“Workforce-building isn’t nearly delegation — it’s about aligning with individuals who share your imaginative and prescient and values.”
Encompass your self with individuals who encourage you, problem you, and maintain you accountable. Nobody succeeds on this business alone. Workforce-building isn’t nearly delegation — it’s about aligning with individuals who share your imaginative and prescient and values.
And eventually, keep grounded in why you’re doing this. The music business could be chaotic and unpredictable, but when your mindset is anchored in goal and repair — to the artist, to the music, to the imaginative and prescient — you’ll discover your manner via the noise.
What does success seem like to you?
Success, to me, is constructing one thing that outlasts hype. It’s serving to artists and writers create work they’re pleased with and maintain careers they management. It’s additionally about inventive freedom — the power to decide on who I work with, what I work on, and the way we convey that work into the world.
It’s deeply private, too. I get to construct alongside folks I really like and belief — and that’s not one thing I take with no consideration. With the ability to create a enterprise that displays my values whereas nonetheless displaying up for my household, my spouse, and my closest mates — that’s a model of success I maintain shut.
Finally, I take into consideration legacy. Not by way of accolades, however by way of impression. Did I assist folks really feel seen? Did I create house for others to thrive? Did I take advantage of no matter platform I’ve constructed to open doorways for others? If the reply to these questions is sure, then I’m on the fitting path.
If there was one factor you possibly can change concerning the music enterprise, what wouldn’t it be and why?
Transparency. There are nonetheless too many layers of confusion and opacity round rights, royalties, and deal constructions. Artists and writers deserve to know precisely what they’re signing and what they’re incomes — in plain language, without having a authorized diploma or insider entry.
“A extra clear and equitable business isn’t simply ethically proper — it’s creatively higher.”
Nevertheless it’s not nearly visibility — it’s additionally about equity. There’s nonetheless a significant hole in entry to info, assets, and alternatives, particularly for rising creatives and underrepresented communities. Too usually, the folks doing probably the most very important inventive work are the least protected or empowered.
The answer begins with schooling — ensuring creators have the data and instruments to advocate for themselves. Nevertheless it additionally consists of reimagining the fashions: extra equitable contracts, higher use of expertise to trace rights and royalties, and a shift in mindset towards true partnership, not simply possession.
A extra clear and equitable business isn’t simply ethically proper — it’s creatively higher. When artists really feel empowered and knowledgeable, they create their greatest work. And that lifts your complete ecosystem.
Trailblazers is supported by TuneCore. TuneCore offers self-releasing artists with expertise and providers throughout distribution, publishing administration, and a variety of promotional providers. TuneCore is a part of Imagine.Music Enterprise Worldwide
