Lone Wolves: The State of Music + Tech

Key Topics Music financing evolution Catalog acquisitions and valuation Impact of new distribution platforms Artist control and rights management Emerging trends in music royalties Chapters 00:00 Seltzer Iced Coffee: A New Trend? 00:47 A NEW CHAPTER 00:52 Financing in the Music Industry 03:41 Royalty Advances and Distribution Companies 05:16 OMG They Did What 10:22 Not All Royalties are Created 13...

We've had a flurry of news in the last two weeks: none bigger than Spotify now proclaiming to investors they are an "AI creation platform." Is this the beginning of Music 3.0?

This episode explores the evolution of music distribution from physical to digital, the rise of independent distribution services, and the future challenges and opportunities in the music industry, including AI impacts and artist empowerment. Topics 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Dynamics 01:27 CD Corekid Lost 03:07 How Thin Do These Margins Get? 09:22 Celebrate Independence 15:27 DECLARE Independ...

This episode explores the current state of the music industry, focusing on streaming growth, monetization strategies, and the evolving landscape of artist-fan engagement. Lauren Blitzer shares insights on industry reports, the importance of data, and innovative approaches to monetization. Keywords music industry, streaming, artist monetization, fan engagement, music business reports, merch rights,...

This episode explores the rapid growth of music streaming, the impact of generative AI on music creation, and the evolving landscape of music industry economics. We analyze key industry numbers, the rise of AI-generated music, and the implications for artists and rights management. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4CQV2rI7KY Topics 00:00 We Too Damn Busy!!! 02:45 We Can Read Numbers 09:54 Are We R...

In this episode, Lauren Blitzer-Wright and Drew Thurlow discuss the significant growth of independent artists in the music industry, highlighting how they have outgrown the market share of major labels like UMG. The conversation delves into the definitions of indie versus major labels, the evolution of artist contracts, and the impact of technology on music distribution. Blitzer emphasizes the imp...

We made it to Season 2! In this episode of the Lone Wolves podcast, hosts Lauren Blitzer-Wright and Drew Thurlow discuss their personal journeys in the music industry, the evolution of music business education, and the impact of technology on the industry. They explore the challenges faced by new graduates entering the job market, the changing landscape of music distribution, and the future of mus...

In this episode of the Lone Wolves Podcast, hosts Drew Thurlow and Lauren Blitzer-Wright discuss under-reported stories in the music industry, focusing on the significant shift towards catalog acquisitions by major labels, the implications of direct deals for mechanical rights, and the importance of building community in a fragmented industry. They explore how these changes affect talent developme...

In this conversation, Drew Thurlow and Lauren Blitzer-Wright discuss the intersection of AI and the music industry, exploring its implications for artists, the legal landscape, and consumer perceptions. Drew shares his journey through the music industry, highlighting the evolution of technology and its impact on creativity. The discussion also addresses the legal challenges surrounding AI-generate...

In this episode, Drew Thurlow and Lauren Blitzer-Wright discuss the evolving landscape of music tech startups, focusing on investment opportunities, the role of AI in music creation and marketing, challenges in metadata and rights management, and the future of AI in music production. They explore how these advancements are reshaping the industry and the importance of maintaining a balance between...

Be sure to check out Part 1 of this episode here: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ucwuabf80ZoH9pXx6NqlB?si=Lne4_bCeTjKEaZqn46i26Q⁠ In part two of this episode, Nick Venti from Tiger AI joins Drew Thurlow to discuss the intersection of music and gaming, focusing on the innovative use of adaptive music technology to enhance user experience in gaming. The discussion covers the challenges of music...

In part one of this episode, Colin Yost joins Lauren Blitzer-Wright to discuss the intersection of music and gaming, highlighting the evolution of music integration in gaming platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. He addresses the challenges of music licensing, the innovative strategies being employed to enhance music experiences in games, and the future potential for collaboration between the music...

In this episode, hosts Lauren Blitzer-Wright and Drew Thurlow discuss the legal action against Crumbl Cookies for unlicensed music usage and talk with Faris Bseiso from Cipher about the evolving landscape of music licensing, particularly in the context of social media. The conversation explores the challenges brands face in properly licensing music for their content, the impact of viral moments on...

In this episode of the Lone Wolves podcast, hosts Lauren Blitzer-Wright and Drew Thurlow dive into the evolving landscape of the metaverse, particularly its implications for music and digital ownership. The discussion highlights the differences between decentralized platforms and those controlled by corporations, such as Meta's Horizon. The hosts explore the history and future of Napster, its...

In this episode of the Lone Wolves podcast, hosts Lauren Blitzer-Wright and Drew Thurlow discusses the current state of the music job market, the transformations in industry roles due to technological advancements, and the emerging financial models that are reshaping how artists can fund their projects. The conversation also explores the future of the music industry in light of these changes, emph...

In this inaugural episode of the Lone Wolves podcast, hosts Lauren Blitzer-Wright and Drew Thurlow delve into current music industry, focusing on Spotify's recent Loud and Clear report. They discuss the economic implications of streaming for artists, the evolving landscape of super fan monetization, and the recent MLC/ Spotify lawsuit. Topics 00:00 Introduction to the Lone Wolves Podcast 00:27 Spo...