Artist Friendly with Joel Madden

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Corbyn Besson Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Corbyn Besson.

Besson taught himself to play guitar at age 12, soon uploading a mixture of covers and originals online before joining Why Don’t We in 2016. Influenced by everyone from Boyz II Men to Frank Ocean, the group racked up billions of streams from fans (dubbed “Limelights”) before disbanding.

Besson released his debut solo song, “Love Me Better,” around Valentine’s Day last year, followed by a series of singles that appear on his new Head First EP, out Jan. 16.

In a conversation with Madden, Besson gets candid, opening up about growing up in the spotlight, the reality of boy band life, and the lessons that shaped him along the way.

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Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠

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Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

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Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack.

Last year, Motion City Soundtrack released The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World, their first studio album in a decade. Recorded at Electrical Audio in Chicago, the LP was produced by early collaborator Sean O’Keefe and featured songs with Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump, Citizen’s Mat Kerekes, and Sincere Engineer, ultimately feeling like a homecoming.

Before the pop-punk alums resume their U.S. tour at the end of January, Pierre stopped by the Artist Friendly studio to open up about their return.

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Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠

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Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

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Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Levine (Rerun) Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

On this week's rerun episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Adam Levine.

As the frontman of Maroon 5, a coach on The Voice, and an ⁠occasional saxophone player⁠, Levine has brought his charismatic presence to many stages.

Levine joined Madden for a candid conversation about fame, family, and the music that shaped them.

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Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠

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Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

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Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wiz Khalifa (Rerun) Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

On this week's rerun episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by ⁠Wiz Khalifa⁠.

Between ⁠writing smoked-out anthems⁠, ⁠criticizing weed stereotypes⁠, and releasing his own ⁠Khalifa Kush⁠, the Pittsburgh-bred MC has long been tied to stoner culture.

Now, Wiz has returned to his roots by releasing the sequel to his 2010 mixtape, Kush & Orange Juice, which takes the songs to a higher level by tapping new producers and a bevy of friends while honoring the original tape.

In a conversation with Madden, the rapper opens up about balancing life as a musician, father, and entrepreneur, and his album, ⁠Kush + Orange Juice 2⁠.

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Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠

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Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

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Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zac Brown (Rerun) Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

On this week's rerun episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by ⁠Zac Brown⁠.

The Zac Brown Band have been a torchbearer within Southern music, bringing their wide-ranging blend of country, pop, rock, and soul to thousands.

Led by Zac Brown, they’ve only continued to challenge themselves through the years, expanding their sound through ⁠thoughtful⁠, ⁠unexpected collaborations⁠ and ⁠covers⁠.

In a conversation with Joel, the three-time Grammy-winning artist and entrepreneur opens up about fatherhood, music, and staying grounded amid fame.

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Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠

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Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

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Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alexandra Kay Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Alexandra Kay.

The last time Kay appeared on Artist Friendly, she was getting ready to tour in support of her debut album, 2023’s All I’ve Ever Known, which documented the end of an 11-year partnership. Now, she’s returned to the studio for another candid conversation with Joel.

From the grind of radio tours to rebuilding after major setbacks, the country singer opens up about career pressure, resilience, love, and the defining moments that shaped her new album, Second Wind.

The result is an intimate episode from start to end.

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Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠

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Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

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Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jutes Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Jutes.

Springing out of Ottawa, Canada, Jutes is a former film school student turned musician who was raised on the Smashing Pumpkins, Linkin Park, and Deftones.

That influence runs through his latest full-length, Dilworth, out Wednesday (Dec. 3 via Position Music), and he’ll ring it in with an album release show, live from Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre and streaming exclusively on Veeps.

Before jutes left for his Sleepyhead tour, named after his viral 2024 single, he stopped by the Artist Friendly studio to dive into an insightful and vulnerable conversation with Joel.

Together, they traverse his early days growing up on a ranch, meditation, and feeling everything click into place.

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Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠

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Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

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Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ILLENIUM Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by ILLENIUM.

Though ILLENIUM (aka Nick Miller) produces Grammy-nominated EDM, he spent his younger days entrenched in the worlds of alternative rock, metalcore, and pop punk. That influence still surrounds his music, paying homage to those roots through collaborations with Avril Lavigne, Travis Barker, and Spiritbox.

He’s also partnered up with End Overdose after getting addicted to opiates in the late 2000s, providing education and safety training through tours and livestreams.

In a conversation with Joel, they talk marriage, sobriety, and his upcoming album, Odyssey, which coincides with a six-show residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

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Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠

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Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

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Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cameron Diaz (Rerun) Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

On this week's rerun episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Cameron Diaz.

In this Thanksgiving encore, Joel and his sister-in-law share an honest, hilarious, and heartfelt conversation about family life, love, and the rhythms of their blended world.

From marriage dynamics to raising kids and staying grounded, this feel-good episode is all about gratitude and the people who make life meaningful.

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Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠

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Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

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Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line.

Throughout the past decade, the Starting Line have largely stayed active by playing their classics across various tours, including the 10th anniversary of Say It Like You Mean It in 2012, and releasing their three-song Anyways EP in 2016. However, the emo and pop-punk elders returned with their first album, Eternal Youth, in nearly two decades this past September via their own label Lineage Recordings.

Taking influence from Lifetime, Drive Like Jehu, and Title Fight, the band have been busy debuting those new songs live, including at this year’s When We Were Young Festival and their own headlining run. Stopping by the Artist Friendly studio, the Starting Line frontman sits down with Joel to open up about their comeback.

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Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠Spotify.⁠

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Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

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Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer