Major Label Debut

Major Label Debut

byMajor Label Debut

InterviewsMusicCommentary

Graham Wright (Tokyo Police Club, CBC Radio) interviews musicians, producers, and writers about what happens when bands sign to a major label. Candid conversations about the intersection of art and commerce. Debuting Monday October 28! New episode every other week!

Episodes(40 episodes)

MLD News - Mailbag
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul return to answer a hefty sack of your questions!Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Oct 23, 2026Duration: 50m 14s
MLD News - Ella Langley
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul discuss Ella Langley's all-time record breaking #1 "Choosin' Texas".Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Sep 25, 2026Duration: 30m 49s
MLD News - Stella Lefty etc.
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul weigh in on Stella Lefty and nepotism in the music business.Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Sep 12, 2026Duration: 24m 32s
MLD Record Club: Bleary "Little Brain"
Graham and John Paul talk about the debut record "Little Brain" from Nashville band Bleary.Check out their page and grab a copy for yourself!📻🎚️Bleary “Soft and Rotten” (8:34)“Little Brain”  (15:36)“Sugar Splint” (18:38)Fastboy” (26:16) * times probably inaccurate because of ads :(Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Sep 2, 2026Duration: 36m 51s
MLD News - Ellie Goulding, Management and Live Nation, oh my!
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul delve into the recent conflict between Ellie Goulding and her former management team, and discuss the unique role of managers in the music business.And don't forget to check out "Fully Slow" by So FaintWanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?nd everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Aug 26, 2026Duration: 29m 56s
MLD News - Brooklyn Vegan and Music News Outlets
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul discuss the evolving music news landscape.Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Aug 12, 2026Duration: 31m 6s
MLD News - Apalooza
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul talk music festivals. From the Polo Grounds big ones to the condemned hotel small ones, there's a festival out there for everyone.Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Aug 5, 2026Duration: 40m 38s
MLD News - Angine de Poitrine, Jack White, & Twin Temple
Josh is on vacation so Graham and John Paul run wild!Graham downloads his experience seeing Angine de Poitrine and Jack White rock Toronto. Also: Canadian guitar legend Brendan Dean, Charley Crockett kicking Twin Temple off his tour, and a very special DC Talk review that 11 year-old Graham wrote for his church newsletter.Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!Go see a show:Angine de Poitrine - https://anginedepoitrine.com/Jack White - https://jackwhiteiii.comGutvoid - h...
Published: Jul 29, 2026Duration: 35m 35s
The Features - "Exhibit A" with Rollum Haas
Graham is joined by Rollum Haas, drummer of The Features, to discuss the band's 2004 major label debut "Exhibit A". They also talk about the recent release of "Exhibit A (Original Sweat Tea Mix)" on YK Records and the differences between the original recording and the "polished" major label version. Also, steamed broccolini and pole caught salmon.📻🎚️The Features “Blow It Out” (1:17)“Million Ways To Sing The Blues” (22:06)* times probably inaccurate because of ads :( Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Jul 22, 2026Duration: 1h 20m 55s
MLD News - The Fender Copyright Lawsuit
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul discuss the details and fallout of the copyright lawsuit won by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?nd everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Jul 15, 2026Duration: 21m 0s
MLD News - Johnny Marr's Guitars Are Our Stars
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul delve into another edition of Major Label Debut's Music Related Auction Spectacular and break down the top items they'd appreciate being gifted to them.Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Jul 6, 2026Duration: 31m 11s
Needle Drops with Rico Gagliano of the MUBI Podcast
Graham is joined by veteran arts journalist and host of the critically acclaimed MUBI Podcast, Rico Gagliano. They discuss needle drops in movies, what they are, why we love them, and the power they hold to elevate a movie moment to a phenomenon. Also, buttered or unbuttered movie popcorn. Check out the current season of Rico’s MUBI Podcast all about the most culture-defining needle drops of the last 40 years.📻🎚️Donovan “Atlantis” (28:10)Queen and David Bowie “Under Pressure” ( 29:45)Gary Jules “Mad World” (35:10)LL Cool J “Deepest Bluest (Shark’s Fin)” (48:09)Green Day “Brain Stew ft. Godzilla” (51:30...
Published: Jun 29, 2026Duration: 1h 56m 23s
Kogon v. Google with Sam Kogon
Standing at the usual Major Label Debut intersection of art and commerce, Graham is joined by musician and composer Sam Kogon to discuss the darkening sky in the shadow of the rapidly expanding “AI overpass” and how to cope with the slop dripping down from above. As a leading voice in intellectual property litigation and advocate for the protection of music creators, Sam shares his perspective on the generative AI landscape and what we lose when we abdicate creative expression to technology. Also, mock duck.📻🎚️Sam Kogon “I Could Never” (2:35)“America” (1:13:03)Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need...
Published: Jun 15, 2026Duration: 1h 32m 45s
MLD Record Club: Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds "Mutiny After Midnight"
In Major Label Debut - MLD News: Record Club III, Graham and John Paul discuss "Mutiny After Midnight", the physical only release from Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds.📻🎚️No song clips - go get it!Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Jun 5, 2026Duration: 37m 22s
Lenka - "Lenka", "Good Days" and The World of Commerical Sync Licensing
Graham is joined by accomplished singer-songwriter Lenka. They discuss her first record "Lenka", her new record "Good Days" (out today - listen now!), as well as the sometimes paradoxical intersection of authentic songwriting and commercial sync licensing. Also, tortilla bowl salads. 📻🎚️Lenka “The Show” (1:36)“Long Way Home” (17:56 )“Unique” (18:30 )“Good Days” (23:02)* times probably inaccurate because of ads :(Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: May 29, 2026Duration: 1h 14m 1s
A Boomer Musician Vanity Extravaganza with Bret Berg of Museum of Home Video
In the second installment of the Major Label Debut Music Movie Club, Graham and John Paul are once again joined by the inimitable Bret Berg of Museum of Home Video. They discuss a trio of vanity movie projects from Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, and Bob Dylan.Check out the trailer for Boomer Rats in the '80s!!Tune in to the MoHV livestream tomorrow May 19th at 7:30pm PDT (10:30pm EDT)!Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: May 18, 2026Duration: 1h 32m 52s
Anne Richmond Boston - "I Should Be Happy" and "The Swimming Pool Q's "
Graham is joined by Anne Richmond Boston of The Swimming Pool Q's to discuss not just the Q's time on A&M records but also the puzzling story of Anne's second solo record. That album, titled "I Should Be Happy" and recorded in the early 90s, was finally released just last year after spending more than thirty years stuck on the proverbial shelf. Anne talks about rediscovering her creativity as a songwriter and musician as well as the joy of live performance. Also, water. And healthy food.Check out Anne’s album I Should Be Happy📻🎚️Swimm...
Published: May 10, 2026Duration: 1h 0m 16s
MLD News: The Tom Petty x John Varvatos Collection
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul wade into the world of fashion and discuss the Tom Petty collaboration with John Varvatos.Wanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Apr 29, 2026Duration: 33m 36s
Hüsker Dü - "Candy Apple Grey" with Greg Norton
Graham is joined Greg Norton, founding member of Hüsker Dü, to discuss the band’s album Candy Apple Grey, released in 1986 on Warner Brothers. They talk about the major label forces that pulled the band apart as well as what brought Greg back to playing music. Also, noodles, banh mi, and lots of coffee.📻🎚️Hüsker Dü “Don’t Want to Know If You Are Lonely” (1:17)The Suicide Commandos “Attacking The Beat” (14:54)The Bad Plus “Smells Like Teen Spirit (36:13)The Gang Font “You Haven’t Lived Until You Have Had To Have Read Beowulf” (37:41)UltraBom...
Published: Apr 22, 2026Duration: 57m 17s
MLD Record Club: Charli xcx "Wuthering Heights"
In the second installment of the Major Label Debut [News]:- Record Club, Graham and John Paul discuss Charli xcx's "Wuthering Heights".📻🎚️Charli xcx “Out Of Myself” (8:38)“Chains of Love”  (11:41)"House featuring John Cale” (14:37)“Eyes Of The World featuring Sky Ferreira” (14:45)“My Reminder” (16: 39) *times probably inaccurate because of adsWanna watch MLD on YouTube?Need an MLD t-shirt or mug?And everything else from Major Label Debut!
Published: Apr 13, 2026Duration: 33m 31s