Music business ghost drumming. Being a ghost in the machine.

Music Business ghost drumming. Being a ghost in the machine is the title of The Brand Communications and Optics Podcast Wait What Really OK S6.E09.N112 hosted by Loren Weisman who was a former ghost drummer at one time.
Music business ghost drumming. Being a ghost in the machine


Music business ghost drumming? Yup.

Music business ghost drumming occurred very often as well as a number of other session players that were paid to track parts, be silent and have another name credited on a song or album.

On a completely different level, these ghost players not only served to help the recording, but they also served to help the messaging, the brand and the optics of the band or artist.


Listen on Spotify at this link


A centered graphic with the episode cover over the background of a recording studio.

It took humility and it took honor. It is hard to have a whole bunch of people asking you to prove your work., For others, friends would play the guessing game. I would just stick with the, I can not confirm or deny and leave left it at that.

There was also the nasty side of it. Walking in to a toxic zone where someone had been told they were not going to play on the track or album. Then you are the one showing up to do the work and while the producer, engineer and label people are happy to see you, there was some pretty raw feelings coming from the band.

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In most cases for most session artists, it as never about trying to take the gig away. It was a one time job. Many session players and ghost players had that duality of being creative but also clearly understanding the music business is a business.

Not being credited on the album did not mean you were not getting credit and building your resume.

The producers, studios, and labels were quick to learn about and keep names on files of those that could handle the work and keep their mouths shut.


Listen to the episode here on Pandora


A quote graphic with the text that reads Your mistakes arent learning experiences if you arent learning from them. with the episode cover of the podcast and a darker recording studio in the background
Your mistakes arent learning experiences if you arent learning from them.

Being a ghost in the machine.

And I noticed in replacing some of the players that just played it off like it was a simple mistake and not a big deal… that I would some times be called back for the next album under the same circumstances. It was a common occurrence of arrogance that tied to motivation. Artists making excuses for mistakes as learning experiences and yet they never learned a thing from the last time.


Your mistakes aren’t learning experiences if you aren’t learning from them.


It was a challenge and yet at the same time, some of the best times of my career. In this podcast, I dig into the concepts of music business ghost drumming, but also how many musicians served as a ghost in the machine.

An image with a drumset in a large room with the text Wait What Really OK and the cover graphic of the Wait What Really OK in the right upper corner.

I also try to dispel some of the negative connotations and how in some ways, the ghost session players can relate well to messaging and the optics of today.

If you want to read more about this, beyond the podcast, I wrote two books on the Music Business, The Artists Guide to Success in the Music Business and Music Business For Dummies. 


This brand communications podcast is available in the links below and on most sites, stations and apps where you may like to listen to podcasts.
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A Couple Brand Communications and Optics Podcast Listening Links:
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Brand Communications and Optics Podcast Music Credits 1:
Opening Theme Song
“Fully Licensed Wait What Really Ok Theme Song” by RKVC.
Copyright 2016 eMbloh Music (ASCAP)/ Cienzo Music (BMI).
Administered by Ass Backwards Music (ASCAP)/Bass Ackwards Music (BMI)
RKVC Website
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Brand Communications and Optics Podcast Music Credits 2:
Closing Theme Song
“News and Information Podcast Percussion Outro” by Doug Hinrichs.
Copyright 2016 Dig And Be Dug Music (BMI).
Administered by Bass Ackwards Music (BMI).
Doug Hinrichs Website
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A rectangular graphic with the title text that reads Music Business Ghost Drumming. Being a ghost in the machine. On the bottom it reads pay no attention to the guy behind the curtain with an image of a tan wooded recording studio in the background.
Loren Weisman/ EnzLor777 is a Brand Communications and Optics Strategist
who specializes in illuminating authoritative intelligence and amplifying authentic experts.
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Weisman is also the host of the messaging and optics podcast; Wait What Really OK.

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LW Website
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© 2025 Loren Weisman. All Rights Reserved ® ℗
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Music Business ghost drumming. Being a ghost in the machine.
About Brand Communications and Optics Strategist Loren Weisman 74 Articles
Loren Weisman is a Brand Communications and Optics Strategist who specializes in illuminating authoritative intelligence and amplifying authentic experts. With a keen eye, ear and nose for detail as well as a passion for transparency, Loren is able to help authentic and authoritative businesses and individuals build robust brand and communication foundations that resonate in truth, tact and trajectory.