A Life Behind The Scenes
I grew up in a very small, rural community in eastern Kentucky, where live music wasn't something that surrounded me. We had an organ and piano in the church and occasionally a member would bring a guitar for “special music”. When I was about ten years old, I received a small plastic guitar for Christmas. I don't remember asking Santa for it, but there it was, and I loved it. There was just one problem: I had no idea how to tune it and therefore was unable to learn to play it. No one in my little world played music, so there was no one to teach me. The internet had not been invented so there was no YouTube. I was on my own to figure it out.
At 13, I began dreaming of becoming a rock star. I idolized the members of KISS and imagined myself touring the world playing sold-out concerts. In high school, I began playing drums in the marching band. I wasn't just interested in music—I discovered that I had a real ability. In 1980, I received a five-piece Premier drum kit for Christmas, and from that point forward, the drums became the instrument that would propel me to stardom. The guitar was largely forgotten even though I still own several.
I had the opportunity to play in several bands during high school and my first years of college. I eventually declared Music Education as my major. I didn't necessarily see myself standing in front of a classroom teaching music; I viewed the education as another step toward becoming a professional musician. But I soon discovered that I was at a significant disadvantage. I could play, but I couldn't read music with the same proficiency as the other students. My lack of formal music literacy became frustrating, and eventually I changed my major and sadly moved away from the idea of making a living as a musician.
Years later, after spending considerable time away from music, I began to feel the pull to return. I was working in law enforcement and serving my state as a Kentucky State Trooper. I had also spent some time in the United States Marine Corps as a Military Police Officer, but something was missing. Music had never really left me. As I contemplated the possibility of returning to music somehow, I realized that perhaps my role in the music business wasn't going to be on the stage—it was going to be behind it. I realized every artist needs someone they can trust and depend on working behind the scenes on their behalf.
That realization changed everything. I decided to find my way back to music, but this time with a different purpose: to support the artists who were creating it. I discovered that I had a passion for helping independent artists navigate an industry that can be complicated, confusing, and often overwhelming. I understood the challenges of being an artist who has talent and a dream but may not understand the business side of turning that talent into a career.
Today, my work is advocacy. I help independent artists understand what they own, how to protect it, and how to collect every dollar their music generates. My mission is simple and it's personal. No Artist Left Unpaid. That means no artist walks away from a stream, a sync placement, a performance, or a license without knowing where the money flows and how to claim their share. It means no artist signs a document they don't understand, forms an entity they don't maintain, or files a tax return they fear because the numbers were ignored all year. It means no artist looks back at a career and wonders where it all went.
I wrote Your Music Your Business because I kept having the same conversation with artist after artist — the one where someone finally explains the mechanics, and the relief is immediate, and the question that follows is always: why didn't anyone tell me this years ago. This book is my answer to that question. It is the system I wish every independent artist had from day one, the roadmap I've spent years helping people build piece by piece. My hope is that you close these pages not overwhelmed, but equipped — ready to protect your art, run your company, and stay focused on why you started making music in the first place. I'll be behind the scenes cheering for you.
The Sound Strategist
About the author
KO Roberts is a native of eastern Kentucky whose career reflects both deep Appalachian roots and extensive experience in the national music industry. His company caters to the independent artist in a way that allows them to remain independent. Each artist is different and has different needs. No one size fits all. He is also the Co-Founder and Administrator of New Lyrics Publishing along with prolific lyricist and fellow eastern Kentuckian Ron Coleman.
Roberts brings more than two decades of professional insight, strategic relationships, and hands-on industry leadership to the company. Roberts is a professional member of both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association, demonstrating his active involvement within the country music community at the highest professional levels. His industry knowledge is further strengthened by his studies of the Legal Aspects of the Music Business at Berklee College of Music, one of the most prestigious music institutions in the world. Roberts is also the author of Music Business Essentials – A Creative Brand Guideline, a resource designed to help artists and creatives better understand branding, business structure, and long-term career strategy within the entertainment industry.
Throughout his career, Roberts has served in several influential roles. He worked as a Music Licensing Consultant for SESAC, one of the leading performing rights organizations in the United States, where he gained valuable experience in music licensing, rights management, and royalty administration. For the past 13 years, Roberts has served as Client Services Director for Nashville-based MAJiiK Interactive Media where is also a shareholder. In this role, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with and oversee projects for some of the most recognized artists in the world. His work has positioned him behind the scenes with major-label artists, management teams, and entertainment executives at the highest levels of the industry.
Roberts has long served as an entertainment consultant for independent artists. Over the years, he has worked with numerous performers who have appeared on nationally recognized platforms such as America's Got Talent, The Voice, and American Idol. His passion lies in helping artists navigate the business side of their careers with clarity, protection, and long-term vision. At New Lyrics Publishing, Roberts applies his experience in licensing, brand development, artist relations, and publishing administration to ensure that songwriters are properly protected, positioned, and promoted. Grounded in the values of eastern Kentucky yet seasoned by national industry experience, Roberts remains committed to building opportunities for creatives while preserving the authenticity that defines their voice.