Those Foley Steps with Ashlee Chanelle (Epidemic Sound)
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton (Scoobert Doobert)
Guest: Ashlee Chanelle
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Topics discussed
Host note
Ashlee Chanelle is a Senior Enterprise Account Executive at Epidemic Sound and, before that and alongside it, a mix engineer and music producer. Her career never went in a straight line: studios, gigs, a startup sales job that turned out to be a natural fit, and a producer's ear that never left.
We talk about how music licensing actually works, how Epidemic Sound is bringing AI into its catalog without cutting out the musicians who make the tracks, and how she moved between the creative and business sides without losing either one. Ashlee is direct about the part most musicians skip past: how to talk to people, how to sell without it feeling like selling, and how sound design (Foley steps, notification tones, the sounds nobody names) shapes daily life more than anyone notices.
She closes on why music has been part of her earliest memories, full stop.
Selected moments
- Ashlee's Journey into Music Licensing 1:33 Ashlee discusses her role at Epidemic Sound and how she got into music licensing.
- The Importance of Communication 4:23 Ashlee emphasizes the importance of communication in sales and how it translates to understanding creative needs.
- Integrating Creativity and Business 7:10 A conversation on how Ashlee integrates her creative background with her business role in a fast-growing company.
- The Role of Sound Design 9:45 Ashlee highlights the often-overlooked importance of sound design in everyday life.
- Navigating the Music Industry as a Musician 11:00 Discussion on the patchwork of income streams available to musicians.
- Adapting to AI in the Industry 28:32 Ashlee talks about how Epidemic Sound is incorporating AI to enhance their offerings without losing the human element.
- Lessons from Mixing Music 33:42 Ashlee shares her insights on the mixing process and the role of human touch versus AI.
- Why Music Matters 53:50 Ashlee reflects on the personal significance of music in her life.
Selected excerpts
I work for a company called Epidemic Sound... I'm also an audio engineer, music producer, mix engineer as well.
This is a conversation that's underspoken about the ways that musicians make ends meet.
Honestly, it was a super easy fit for me. I started at the company where it was very much a startup.
...sound design, sound effects, and how integral all that is to user interfaces and notifications.
A lot of that is just knowing how to talk to people, just being a human, not really trying to sell anything.
We have never wanted to remove the human element... these are real musicians that are creating high quality music tracks that you hear.
The longer the way up, the longer the way down... find your way that you're interacting and making music throughout your entire life.
I literally can't think of an earliest memory without music. It's just, it's everything.
FAQ
What does Ashlee Chanelle do at Epidemic Sound?
Ashlee is a Senior Enterprise Account Executive at Epidemic Sound, focusing on facilitating licensing deals for brands and content creators.
How can musicians make money through licensing?
Musicians can generate income through music licensing by understanding the different avenues of usage, negotiating deals, and providing tracks that meet specific creative needs.
What is the importance of sound design in today's media?
Sound design plays a crucial role in user interfaces, advertising, and content creation, influencing how audiences experience and engage with media.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. The episode itself is on the listen links above.