Sydney Alston is a seasoned music executive with over 20 years of experience developing and mentoring talent. The multi-hyphenate is a partner in Modern Artist Development, heads A&R for David Chatfield’s Harmony Records, is an adjunct professor at UCLA lecturing on the music business, and, Artist Relations Account Executive for Yondr, the company that provides phone-free spaces at live music events and schoolroom education.
Throughout his various jobs, Alston has provided valuable resources and guidance to artists in the Los Angeles area and beyond. With a decade of experience on the road as a bass player and singer, Sydney discovered a passion for cultivating and managing emerging talent.
His expertise in the business side of the music industry led him to a position with Disc Makers, a highly regarded independent artist CD and DVD manufacturing company. As he rose through the ranks, Sydney became the go-to expert in the Los Angeles branch.
Alongside his former role at Disc Makers, he launched his own management and production firm, utilizing his experience and relationships to mentor young talent, produce independent records, and coordinate major label showcases. Sydney managed Frederick Thaae, who produced recording artists Major Myjah and Emily Deforesters.
Sydney Alston pairs real-world musicianship with business acumen to open doors and build careers. After a decade on the road as a bass player and singer, Sydney discovered a passion for cultivating and managing emerging talent. That stage experience informs his artist-first approach and practical coaching.
In July 2026, I interviewed Sydney Alston inside the offices of Harmony Records after reading his LinkedIn history.
“Beyond my work in artist development and account management, I’ve spent years dedicated to empowering the next generation of creators through music industry education. For three summers, I served as an instructor at UCLA Extension, teaching a specialized curriculum on music business entrepreneurship. My courses focused on giving aspiring artists and industry professionals the practical, real-world tools they need to build sustainable, independent careers and navigate the complexities of the modern music landscape.
“In addition to my time in the classroom, I frequently share my expertise on a broader stage through my two signature seminars, Making Money with Your Music, and Modern Artist Development.
“I’ve had the privilege of presenting this roadmap for financial and creative independence at major industry conferences and festivals, including the ASCAP I Create Music Expo, TAXI Road Rally, NARIP, YouBloom, the Santa Clarita International Film Festival, and the Universal Pro-Music mentor program, as well as various colleges. I’ve spoken at USC, UCLA, and Cal State Los Angeles. I’ve also contributed to many books and articles on the music business, including Music Marketing for the DIY Musician by Bobby Borg.”
Sydney Alston was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, raised partly in Baltimore, Maryland, and then graduated high school in Camden, New Jersey. During his teenage years, he discovered the trumpet and was influenced by Clifford Brown and Nat Adderley, Jr. He fell under the spell of the Jackson 5 and Earth, Wind & Fire.
“I never really chose music, it chose me,” Alston reminisced. “I started listening to records at age 4 and 5 in Baltimore. My first concert was the Jackson 5 in 1972 at the Baltimore Civic Center. It was amazing. It was the energy on stage and the energy of that crowd. I just wanted to figure out how I could be a part of that.
“Music was my salvation. Growing up in Camden, a serious rough town, I just practiced on my silver trumpet. Something happened between my 9th and 10th grade, and I really started playing better. Hearing Earth, Wind & Fire’s Gratitude was inspirational. The horn notes and the sax player were phenomenal. Phillip Bailey’s voice killed it on that record!”
Alston enrolled for a semester at Berklee College of Music and majored in performance. He played with trumpeter Maynard Ferguson during an amusement park tour. He then switched to bass.
“I started my own band. Bassist James Jamerson of Motown was one of my heroes. We recorded a demo, and on my way back from a gig, I stopped at a gas station, and a guy next to me had CD’s in the back of his car. He was a record promoter, and I gave him my tape. Then I got a phone call from Virgin Records and got a meeting. It was a confidence booster. I then went on the road with a cover band, doing Prince, pop songs, and Taylor Dane.”
The next step in Sydney Alston’s journey was getting a job in New Jersey at Disc Makers, the CD and Vinyl Pressing, Mastering & Duplication. The company specialized in short-run pressings.
Sydney relocated from New Jersey to Southern California and became the face of Disc Makers in Los Angeles. “I worked in sales and marketing, and that kept me in contact with recording artists, managers, producers, record companies, and studios.”
Disc Makers also provided him a platform to run and oversee a series of Los Angeles-based seminars, Achieving Success with Your Music, at music stores and schools. He also continued to produce and write songs for artists he encountered through Disc Makers, and decided to start a management firm called Modern Artist Development.
“At Disc Makers, the biggest learning lesson was that I was forced to learn things I really didn’t care about at the time, like organization, following up, and building relationships.”
Key steps in the Alston method and mission are: Talent Development: coaching, repertoire, live artist marketing, industry outreach; Career Navigation: budgeting, timelines, partner alignment.
Alston’s work and career path would bring him to the attention of David Chatfield, founder and owner of Harmony Records, who hired Sydney as director of A&R and management partner.
“He’s accompanied me to Midem, the international music event, numerous times,” offered Chatfield.
“Sydney is an integral part of the success of Harmony Records this decade. Sydney and I worked closely together mixing and remixing the songs that started Harmony’s modern chart-topping successes.
“Being a trained musician who attended the Berklee School of Music before being snatched away by the music business, Sydney assisted in honing my Digital Recording skills on Pro Tools. Sydney also knows my belief in the importance of the song. We both seem to be able to ‘hear’ a hit or take the ‘hooks’ and turn an average song majestic.
“Sydney Alston can tell whether a song is good and what will make it even better. Sydney is highly ethical, responsible, and honest. Three traits missing from most Hollywood Executives. He always tells me the truth to help make my work better. His people skills, along with his musicianship and song instincts, make him an excellent Director of A&R for Harmony Records. Sydney and I managed a few bands together and traveled the world for music events. We share ideas all the time without conflict and without any fear. We are a team, no matter if we’re not in business with each other.”
“My relationship with David Chatfield started when he had some recording masters from the eighties and wanted to remix them,” remembered Alston.
“He came over to my home studio, and I heard the songs. I had suggestions to make it better. In the early days I helped David on the promotion side of things and the secrets of playlisting. We’re a team. David has shown me respect. He’s an innovator. Years ago he implemented a 360 video camera.
“He always thinks out of the box. David out of the box thinker. He gives an idea, and I usually try and tell him how it’s not gonna work. He then explains why it can work, and once he does that, it makes me think that possibly it can work. He is a musician who understands music, arrangements, and producing. Also, having a legal background is an asset. He protects his artists.
“David came to me years ago about doing CD’s. This is not a new conversation. CD’s are still very big in Japan. I looked at the countries, and he was right. What CD’s are they listening to next? I’m here to support him at Harmony. I do research, development, and talent scouting.
“We are involved at Harmony Records with a band, Sumthing Strange. This goes back to my days in New Jersey at Disc Makers. It’s an alternative rock/pop duo, a partnership of Gerardo Alexandro Prusmack and Johnny Matthew Coppolino. Johnny Santoro of the band reached out to me looking for promotion, and sent over the music. His style was a bit foreign to me, and I sent it to David, who at that point was a better fit and understood it. David and I did some remixing. It was a collaborative effort, and it’s generated a lot of streams.”
Besides his A&R roles with David Chatfield’s Harmony Records, I was also really impressed by another venture Sydney is involved with: The groundbreaking consumer live endeavor experience that has already transformed the live concert business. He is Artist Relations and Account Executive at Yondr.
“They were looking for someone who could be a liaison to the music business. The founder and owner, Graham Dugoni, has some of the same traits David Chatfield has as far as seeing the future and protecting artists.
“When artists go on tour, they want to perform for the people, not the cameras. That’s where Yondr comes in. It is important. Graham is the brain child of it all. He actually started the company after going to a music festival and seeing people filming and not watching the show. He thought that we are missing a living-in-the-now connection. The company is almost 15 years old.
“The biggest part of Yondr, besides the music concert experience, is working in schools. A side effect is that it does protect against bootlegging at concerts. And at school, so kids can actually focus, go into the high school classroom, put their phone into a pouch and go sit at your desk. Incredibly smart.
“Early on, Dave Chappelle knew it was a way to protect his Intellectual Property, and his audience would not know the material and punch lines before the gig. Dave was friends with Kevin Hart, and that whole side of the business started to grow. Paul McCartney, Justin Beaver, Olivia Rodrigo, Jack White, and Bob Dylan are some of the clients who have been involved with Yondr.
“I pitched Yondr to many managers and agents and initially received a lot of no’s. My first actual client who said yes was Erykah Badu. I had reached out to her representation, Cara Lewis, and got a phone call back, and she inquired about Yondr. Cara is an agent and manager who works with Eminem, Travis Scott, Khalid, Bryson Tiller, Ludacris, Erykah Badu, The Roots, and more. I gave her the info.
“The next call was from Erykah Badu. She is the greatest and has always been one of my favorite artists in the whole world. I lobbied for her as my first client. Erykah told me, ‘I’m newly emancipated. I need you to help a sister out.’ I closed that one. It’s timing when they are planning a tour, so the ticket lift is factored in.
“Yondr did a listening party for Jill Scott. Her new music wasn’t released. Jill wrote on her website about ‘the genuine connection, organic conversation led to deeper shared experience.’”
At Modern Artist Development, Alston’s business partner is Richard Parizer. They are currently managing Austin Martin
I asked Sydney about Martin, hailing fromthe ranch lands just outside of Billings, Montana. He emailed me a comment.
“Austin is a country crossover artist who is boldly rewriting the rules of the genre by fusing authentic, traditional country melodies with a modern hip-hop swagger and rock edge.
“He’s a seasoned and magnetic performer. Martin has electrified audiences from coast to coast across 8 national tours, earning a reputation for his high-energy stage presence and unique ‘hybridized’ sound. His distinct vision and rising profile have captured the attention of major corporate powerhouses, securing high-profile sponsorships from massive brands including CBS, Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Bretz RV, and Target, among others. Constantly evolving his artistry, Martin continues to push creative boundaries and build on his previous chart successes with his highly anticipated latest record, Yellowstone County.”
Austin Martin’s most recent album release in 2026 is Bourbon & Bullseyes, a single released on June 12, 2026 on Apple Music. This title appears in his Apple Music and Amazon Music listings as his latest official release for that year, alongside other 2026 singles like Glass House and Boots On The Floor Apple Music+1.
(Harvey Kubernik is the author of 21 books, including 2009’s Canyon Of Dreams: The Magic And The Music Of Laurel Canyon, 2014’s Turn Up The Radio! Rock, Pop and Roll In Los Angeles 1956-1972, 2015's Every Body Knows: Leonard Cohen, 2016's Heart of Gold Neil Young and 2017's 1967: A Complete Rock Music History of the Summer of Love.
Sterling/Barnes and Noble in 2018 published Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik’s The Story Of The Band: From Big Pink To The Last Waltz. In 2021, they wrote Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child for Sterling/Barnes and Noble.
Otherworld Cottage Industries in 2020 published Harvey’s Docs That Rock, Music That Matters. His Screen Gems: (Pop Music Documentaries and Rock ‘n’ Roll TV Scenes) was published in February, 2026 by BearManor Media. Kubernik is currently working as Creative Director on a book on the Beatles for a UK publisher scheduled for a 2027 publication date.
Harvey spoke at the special hearings in 2006 initiated by the Library of Congress held in Hollywood, California, discussing archiving practices and audiotape preservation.
In 2017, he appeared at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, in its heralded Distinguished Speakers Series, and as a panelist, discussing the forty-fifth anniversary of The Last Waltz at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles in 2023.
During 2025, Kubernik was interviewed in the Siobhan Logue-written and -directed documentary The Sound of Protest,airing on the Apple TVOD TV broadcasting service. The film also features Smokey Robinson, Hozier, Skin (Skunk Anansie), Two-Tone's Jerry Dammers, Angélique Kidjo, Holly Johnson, David McAlmont, and Rhiannon Giddens.
Harvey was an interview subject along with Iggy Pop, the Beach Boys’ Bruce Johnston, Love’s Johnny Echols, the Bangles' Susanna Hoffs, Victoria, Debbi Peterson, and founding members of the Seeds for director/producer Neil Norman’s documentary The Seeds: Pushin' Too Hard. In summer 2026, the GNP Crescendo company will release a DVD/Blu-ray).
