How EVEN Helps Artists Sell Before They Stream
Mag Rodriguez, founder and CEO of EVEN, joins Local Music Somewhere to talk about what’s broken in the music industry — and what artists can do about it. From helping artists monetize superfans before streaming releases to building direct infrastructure that supports ownership, Mag shares how EVEN is reshaping modern music revenue. In this conversation with Terry Hudson, we explore why streaming alone isn’t enough, what most artists misunderstand about monetization, and how a direct-to-fan strategy can build sustainable careers in today’s music economy.
Why Ownership Is the Future of Music Careers
Mag Rodriguez
Mag Rodriguez is the founder and CEO of EVEN, the direct-to-fan infrastructure transforming how artists monetize their music. With over a decade of experience spanning artist management, audio engineering, and venture capital, Mag has helped artists generate more than 1 billion streams while identifying a critical gap: the missing infrastructure between artists and their most dedicated fans.
Founded in 2022, EVEN enables artists to sell music, content, and experiences directly to superfans before releasing on streaming platforms, creating a parallel economy that complements rather than competes with traditional distribution. Under Mag’s leadership, EVEN has partnered with major distributors including UnitedMasters, Too Lost, and Secretly Distribution, providing 500,000 artists with access to direct monetization tools.
The platform has powered campaigns for artists ranging from J. Cole and Mt. Joy to emerging talents, with success stories like LaRussell transforming $10K annual streaming revenue into $100K in 30 days through EVEN.
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