Episodes

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Brandon Schmidt, former MTV.com Programming Director and manager of Interpol. He shares stories about Alanis Morisette singing directly to him in a room filled with MTV VIPs and shooting freestyle with an unknown Eminem.

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Jason Pleskow, former music executive at Atlantic and Columbia Records. He’s worked with Lenny Kravtiz, Janet Jackson, Smashing Pumpkins, Spice Girls, and was behind the scenes wheeling the ice cream cart in 1515 when Mariah Carey surprised Carson Daly on TRL.

Susan Natoli joins Perry Turcotte and Andrew Schiffman for a hosts-only episode of Welcome to The Music Lounge, taking a deeper dive into their career journey and Life After MTV.

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Doug Cohn, former record label executive at Atlantic and Lava Records. He shares stories of the biggest artists from that time period, including one at Spring Break who was a judge on Say What Karaoke and gave contestants a zero unless they took off their shirt.

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts John Franck, former music executive at ADA Warner, 300, Koch, and Razor & Tie. When asked how to know what it takes for an artist to become a superstar, he likes to remind people that 8 record labels passed on The Beatles.

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Shawn Francis, former Manager of Music Programming & Talent Relationships at MTV and MTV.com. He had a front row seat to the introduction of Rihanna and Adele and… Twitter?

Susan Natoli joins Perry Turcotte and Andrew Schiffman for a hosts-only episode of Welcome to The Music Lounge, taking a deeper dive into all things MTV and the transition from music videos into long form programming. Susan is the new third host for future host-only episodes.

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Jordan Glickson, former Executive at Interscope/Epic Records. Video promo rep by day, playboy on “The Hills” at night.

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Frank “Cheech” Polonia, former Standards & Practices Director for MTV. You really didn’t think music videos aired on MTV without the S&P stamp of approval, did you? He had one of the toughest jobs at the network.

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Raquel Bruno, former Talent Director of MTV Radio. Madonna, LL Cool J, Annie Lennox - she shares tricks of the trade on mastering the art of wrangling even the most elusive stars.

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Byron Ward, former Director of Video Promotion at Atlantic Records/Head of Promo at Universal/Motown. He spills the tea from baring it all at MTV’s Spring Break to the showest mansions on MTV Cribs.

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Diane Mayer, former SVP of Visual Marketing at Capitol Music Group. She has stories from working with the biggest names in music, including one artist that made the Viacom C-Suite fight for access to TRL.

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts David Nathan, former Universal Music Group/Republic Records executive. He was in the TRL studio when Nick Lachey met Vanessa Minnillo and has a lot to say about Taylor Swift. Check out music videos from this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@welcometothemusiclounge

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Emilienne Gray, former Senior Vice President of Music & Talent for MTV & VH1. She talks about the “burn,” the “flow,” “iso-shots,” and why the “human touch” will never be replaced.

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Courtney Smith, former Label Relations in MTV’s Music & Talent department. She used to get in trouble at MTV for random things and had to apologize to several people, but did she mean it? No. Check out music videos from this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@welcometothemusiclounge

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Robin Hopkins, former MTV Executive Assistant to the EVP of Music & Talent. She wasn’t an executive, but she spent money on the MTV Corporate Card like one. Check out music videos from this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@welcometothemusiclounge

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Steve Gottleib, Music Video Promotion/Commissioner. His goal was to just get into the MTV building because things would magically happen. Check out music videos from this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@welcometothemusiclounge

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Buttahman, former MTV Director of Music Programming. When he wasn’t going to shows and drinking free booze, he outed himself to get near Adele. Check out music videos from this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@welcometothemusiclounge

Welcome To The Music Lounge hosts Lisa DeLuca, former Warner/Epic Records executive. She was going to make Travis Scott a star from the moment she saw him. Check out music videos from this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@welcometothemusiclounge

It’s the late 90’s at MTV, when The Osbournes and Newlyweds reshaped television and TRL dominated afterschool programming. But who decided which videos would be in "TRL’s Top Ten Countdown". “Welcome To The Music Lounge” is a new podcast that delves into the exclusive world of MTV’s Music Department during the launch and height of Total Request Live . Podcast hosts and former MTV Music Department employees Andrew Schiffman and Perry Turcotte chat with MTV and record label executives, mus...