In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Russ pulls back the curtain on one of the most unconventional, and successful, label deals in modern music.

From earning $100K/month independently to partnering (not just signing) with Columbia, Russ breaks down exactly how he kept full control of his TuneCore catalog, negotiated profit splits, and built a system that still pays him seven figures a month, just from masters.

This isn’t just artist advice. It’s a case study in ownership, leverage, and long-term vision.