Music Tectonics

In today's episode we welcome pioneering innovator Ty Roberts, founder of Gracenote, and former CTO of Universal Music Group. We talk about some of the pivotal moments in his career including Gracenote's role in the development of iTunes, and working with David Bowie on generative music. We discuss the future of visual music experiences, the rise of AI in music creation, and the possibilities for...

On today's episode, Dmitri and Tristra discuss the news of the week. They review recent acquisitions like Monstercat and BANDS, and discuss the economic confidence of the music sector despite economic downturns. They also talk about the evolving role of AI and the implications of recent legal copyright cases on AI training data. It's a lot of news to round up!    Shoutouts Create Music Group acqui...

Today we are talking with Valeska Pederson Hinz, partner at Perkins Coie, about what's happening in the world of music tech investment. Valeska has extensive experience in guiding companies and investors from Series A to IPO and has an indispensable vantage point. Our conversation includes the current state of venture capital funding, the impact of generative AI on the industry and the ongoing leg...

Today Dmitri talks with Cherie Hu, music industry analyst and founder of Water and Music. We start by discussing the Ouroboros project which maps the complicated and intertwined stakes in the music industry held by various entities, including private equity firms, media conglomerates, and tech companies like Tencent. We also talk about shifting power dynamics between the majors and the independent...

In this episode, Dmitri speaks with Mark Mulligan, veteran tech analyst and leading digital thinker from MIDiA Research. Topics include the slowing growth of streaming revenue, shifts in market share among major and independent labels, the rise of the global south in subscriber numbers, and the impact of super-premium subscriptions on monetization. We also talk about the future potential disruptio...

Today we have Glen Peoples from Billboard to discuss the major trends within the music industry. Our conversation covers a lot! Including the rise of rollups and acquisitions to build label services, the increasing importance of music licensing, the role of AI in the music tech investment landscape, and the cyclical nature of consolidation and its broader impacts on the future of the industry.   ...

Ian Henderson, founder of MashApp and former Spotify executive, talks with Dmitri about how MashApp enables non-musicians to remix tracks without production experience, and the broader context of technological disruptions in the music industry driven by AI. He explains the challenges in securing licenses from major record labels and his vision for the future of music interactivity. We also hear th...

Today Dmitri talks with the winners of the 2024 Music Tectonics Swimming with Narwals Competition, DAWn Audio. They discuss their innovative platform for music producers and artists as well as the recent pivot from a cross-DAW collaboration plugin, to a gamified network that rewards artists for their creative work. But first, Dmitri and Tristra share a quick take on the news headlines of the week....

Mark Steiner, Co-Founder and CEO of GigSalad joins Dmitri from the streets of SXSW to talk about the journey from working at his kitchen table to successful scale-up. We also hear a PR Strategy on what to do with questions you just don't want to answer. But first, Tristra and Jade dish the latest news headlines.   News Headlines Discussed: Porn on Spotify Is Infiltrating Top Podcast Charts How Doe...

We talk with Evan Saxon, Former President and Head of International Distribution at Abramorama, about his strategies for leveraging cinema to amplify artists' reach and revenue. He shares insights from his work with Pearl Jam, Melanie Martinez, and Duran Duran, explaining how cinema can serve as a communal marketing partner to boost engagement and consumption. We also have Startup Sessions with Ch...

Will Page, author of Pivot and former chief economist at Spotify, talks about the dramatic increase in the global value of music – up to $45.5 billion, surpassing cinema. We discuss the rise of music exports from countries like Mexico and Columbia and the accompanying economic boost. We touch on the resurgence of vinyl, and the shift to CRM systems for direct artist-to-fan engagement. We've also g...

Today Dmitri speaks with Con Raso of Tuned Global, about the evolving landscape of music streaming. They talk about profitability and innovation opportunities, and Con shares thoughts on making music more social, advancing curation and discovery through AI, and the role of personalization in listening experiences.    Social Radio Punchline Connect   The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the sur...

Today, we talk with theremin virtuoso Clara Venice who discusses her musical and visual aesthetic, her journey within the music industry, and her mission to make music technology more colorful, inclusive, and above all – more pink! Dmitri and Tristra also cover the latest industry news, including Spotify's new music pro service and (even more) research on social media's impact on younger users.  ...

Dmitri is joined by Cathy Hackl, leading tech futurist, to discuss oh so many topics. Including: spatial computing, immersive web, AI's impact on human cognition, the ongoing development of augmented reality, the importance of creativity in the age of AI, and of course, the lunar food science industry.    This week's Startup Session is Ever. FM, who is introducing some pretty revolutionary ideas o...

Today Dmitri discusses the ins and outs of selling a business, with guests who have been there, done that. Paul Anthony Troiano (Rumblefish; sold to CESAC) and Jeff Ponchick (Repost Network; sold to SoundCloud) share their experiences about the acquisition process, including valuation conversations and competitive bids as well as advice on the emotional challenges and the importance of focusing on...

There is a new format today. We've added three recurring segments – Rock Paper Scanner, Startup Sessions, and Strategies Techniques & Hacks with a Publicist. Plus, our regular long(er) interview with an innovator in the music tech space. It's an abundance of content from a variety of thinkers and do-ers.    Dmitri and Tristra discuss Spotify's $10 billion payout, the rise of ethical AI solutions,...

We are on the floor of NAAM this week speaking with Scott Sugino, President and CEO of Yamaha Music Innovations. The two speak about Yamaha's corporate venture capital fund – whose goal is to invest in artist support, audience engagement, and platforms that connect the two. We also hear from our own Jade Prieboy about his impressions and finds from this year's CES.   The Music Tectonics podcast go...

Today we're joined by Alexandra Koshy who helps us unravel the world of influencer marketing in the music tech sphere. We hear insights into why music tech companies are eager to collaborate with creators on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and we explore how influencer marketing can integrate with press to build a cohesive brand narrative. We shed light on common pitfalls while also covering some...

This episode promises to equip you with strategies to make your crowdfunding campaign stand out amidst the competition. Find out what types of musical products and companies are ripe for Kickstarter and Indiegogo and the single most important factor for surpassing your goal. Hint: it's about community. Other hint: You need a couple months of runway to make it happen. Listen for details.   The Musi...

Adam McHeffey , CMO of Artiphon , joins us to talk about the state of musical instrument innovation. Instruments like the Orba put music creation at the fingertips of hobbyists, allowing them to focus on enjoyment and self-expression rather than traditional album releases. We discuss the fusion of music and social media, and the new generation of creators redefining the art form. Lines between lis...

Dmitri and Tristra review the industry news of '24 and look into the music tech crystal ball of 2025. Dmitri envisions that gaming will no longer be considered a venue, but rather a central outlet for finding music. Tristra raises questions about how a trade war and a Tik Tok ban could influence 2025. Listen to these predictions and more musings of what the next year will bring.   The Music Tecton...

It's a holiday re-gift! Today we take you back to the very first How To Start Up with Cliff Fluet. This was a great conversation that set the stage for the rest of our HTSU interviews. Cliff begins at the beginning – guiding us through the essentials of startup evaluation and asking the necessary questions: Does your innovation solve a real-world problem, can it sustain a business, and are you rea...

Ever wondered how the music industry parallels the cautionary tales of Kodak, the Sony Walkman, and Nokia? Join us as we chat with Constantine Roussos of Dot Music. He shares his insights on this journey of music's digital transformation, spotlighting the industry's struggle with outdated business models and highlighting the power shift towards streaming platforms. Through his eyes, you'll see the...

Andy Blair of Reverb Data , joins us to unravel the role data plays in shaping the future of the music industry. We explore the transformation of artist management in the digital age, and talk about how the gap between traditional music law and data law creates challenges—and opportunities—for those in the industry.   Shoutouts: Adaptive Music Music Managers Forum SymphonyOS Naviro Firebird Music...

It's been five years since Mark Mulligan of MIDiA Research gave the keynote at the first Music Tectonics Conference. This year we had him, along with Tatiana Cirisano, back to Music Tectonics. Instead of the standard conference keynote (because why would we do standard?) we had an election-year style debate that we called The Great Bifurcation Debate. Tune in as they each argue their side – "Play"...