Music Tectonics

How can you boost your credibility, and gain market share? Do you want to sell your product, and get VC money? Today Dmitri and Tristra discuss a topic that is near and dear to them both. It's the fundamentals of PR! This is an essential listen for startups – and if you're well established, there are nuggets of wisdom for you too.    How To Startup is a Music Tectonics Podcast Series especially fo...

Many a music startup has failed because of a lack of a plan around licensing. And the few that make it through the licensing gauntlet are the ones that last. In this episode we talk with a panel of experts in the space – Bill Campbell , Barefoot Media, Siegfried Paquet , StealthWrks, and Vickie Nauman , CrossBorderWorks.    How To Startup is a Music Tectonics Podcast Series especially for music te...

In this episode we launch the annual Swimming with Narwhals startup competition! Listen to expert advice from previous winners Karen Allen of Infinite Album and Ben Bowler of AUX, as well as investment insights from VCs Bruce Hamilton and advisor Cliff Fluet.   Ben Bowler Aux Karen Allen Infinite Album Bruce Hamilton , Everybody Ventures Cliff Fluet , Eleven Advisory The Music Tectonics podcast go...

What sets apart a startup ready for Series A funding from one still in the seed stage? Join us as we uncover the answer with Sun Jen Yung, partner at Nfluence Partners. Together, we break down the critical elements that signify a startup's readiness.  Sun Jen Yung   The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how technology is changing the way business get...

What happens when artists stop chasing vanity metrics and start focusing on cultivating genuine, deep relationships with their fans? Listen this week as Tristra and music industry thinker Rob Abelow chat about this shift in the music landscape - where redefining success is a metric of fan intensity rather than just streaming numbers. Rob shares his insights into creating meaningful connections, an...

Join us as we chat with Bruce Hamilton, General Partner of Everybody Ventures. Bruce's journey from Live Nation and A&R at Epic Records, to startup founder himself, on to his current role in VC provides the backdrop for our discussion. We talk about the current investment landscape for music tech startups – noting the pivot towards more selective funding and the need for VC to focus on truly viabl...

And we're back! Dmitri and Tristra enjoy a conversation sifting through some of what is happening in the world today – aka the Hot Lawsuit Summer! Head over to our website for links to some of the articles the two of them reference.  The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how technology is changing the way business gets done. Visit musictectonics.com...

Join Dmitri and Tracy Maddux the Former CEO, of AVL Digital and CD Baby as they talk through the fundamentals of what it takes to really start up. We promise that by the end of this episode, you'll have a clear understanding of the critical decisions that shape the future of your business. Whether you intend to sell your company or nurture it as a long-term venture, Tracy's wisdom on capitalizatio...

Dmitri talks with Chris Wieduwilt – aka the AI Musicpreneur – about his route from struggling musician to vanguard for AI empowerment in music. They discuss the variety and scope of AI tools that exist, touching on ethics, ownership debates, and the potential impact on human creativity.  Links to some shoutouts mentioned in the episode, and the Music Tectonics Conference 2024! Music Tectonics Conf...

On this episode we sit down with Gareth Deakin to talk about successful business collaborations and the various types of partnerships  – from distribution, to technology and marketing. He underscores the necessity of clear mental models and the importance of viewing these partnerships as frameworks for value creation and strong commercial relationships.   Links to shoutouts mentioned in the episod...

This is a live recording from our online Seismic Event of May 8th. Join us as we navigate the brave new world of generative AI music with some of the industry's sharpest minds. Amadea Choplin, COO of PEX, Charles Alexander, of Vinil and Remington Scott, from Hyperreal shed light on the pressing need for tracing, control, and monetization in an era where AI can replicate musical artistry with uncan...

Dmitri and Tristra scan the horizon of music tech news and discuss the latest ripples and waves shaping our industry. From "multiplayer mode" music experiences, where fans and artists blur the lines in a remix-friendly world, to Spotify's controversial new bundling practices – these are only a couple of the many topics we get into. Join us.    Rock Paper Scissors Scanner   The Music Tectonics podc...

As the music industry morphs, Dmitri and Sami Forzinetti deep dive into a conversation that touches on the decentralization of income streams and the rise of direct artist-fan connections. We dissect the evolving roles of labels, the implications of platforms like TikTok and Substack on artist income, and the potential of new funding models that are rewriting the rules.    Dream Street   Concord ...

The age of Mass Data is here. From music discovery based on algorithms, to small artists using fan location data to plan tours, to AI-generated music, data is changing just about every aspect of the music industry. In this episode, Tristra talks to Aram Sinnreich and Jesse Gilbert, authors of The Secret Life of Data. Jesse and Aram show us that today's music and culture is increasingly set by data...

Listen in to the conversation I had with expert Bob Moczydlowsky , former Managing Director of Techstars Music, about what trends and investment shifts he sees shaking up the music tech startup space. This was a live Seismic Activity event, open to all and held monthly. RSVP for the next one here .  The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how technolog...

If you're a regular listener, you know we run the Music Tectonics conference. Early EARLY bird tickets are now on sale, and it's time for you to think about joining us on the beach in Santa Monica CA. Find out about this year's keynote speaker—and why it's a big deal that he's back! We share a few audio snapshots from the conference to give you a taste of the music innovation conversations that ta...

Join Dr. Portia Sabin, President of the Music Business Association, and Dmitri in a candid discussion about how technology is propelling the industry forward. Their conversation touches on how tech helps to mitigate issues like fraud, and how it is reshaping the way we experience live events. Portia and Dmitri discuss the interplay between innovation and the need for unity amongst the industry's v...

This episode contains a host of insider knowledge. For example, did you know that ideally your pitch to an investor would not go further out than the next twelve months? And that the strength of your team could be more important than your innovative idea. Join Dmitri for a rooftop discussion at SXSW 2024, as he talks with Xavier Péters of Lean Square about his thoughts for securing successful musi...

Vinyl provides a tactile connection to an artist, and stands as an artistic statement amidst the ephemeral nature of streaming. Join us as Tristra talks with Karlyn King, a researcher whose work attempts to decode the enigma of vinyl's unwavering charm.  "We live in the post ownership economy. Music is just a rental service, you're renting the right to use it – like an apartment. Whereas the vinyl...

How close are you to the exchange of money? Let's take some time to think through this most vital piece of the music tech startup equation. Money. Join Dmitri in this thought experiment as he goes deep – and works through the realities of building a startup within an ecosystem in which music is often undervalued.  The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explor...

In this week's episode, we look at the explosion of Afrobeats through the lens of data. Christine Osazuwa, music data expert and Chief Strategy Officer at Shoobs, discusses how data can show us hidden stories behind the globalization of all sorts of genres: K-Pop, Reggaeton, Bollywood, and more.  "Music drives culture, culture drives music, etc," Christine says. "I find it really funny how people...

Venturing into the music tech startup scene requires more than just a bright idea; it demands a deep understanding of the music industry's unique challenges and opportunities. That's where Vickie Nauman, founder and CEO of CrossBorderWorks , steps in. On the latest Music Tectonics podcast, we tackle the nitty-gritty of transforming your innovative spark into a sustainable business. From identifyin...

Join Dmitri and Tristra as they explore what's happening right now in the wide world of music and tech. Using Rock Paper Scissors' weekly newsletter, Rock Paper Scanner, as a jumping off point, Dmitri and Tristra discuss the TikTok/Universal game of chicken, Spotify's payouts to the indies, and the current state of live music according to Live Nations earnings call. It's a lot. Subscribe here for...

Imagine a world where your likeness is more than just an image—it's an asset. Our conversation with Jim Griffin, media technologist and founder and moderator of the Pho list, talks us through name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights in the music industry.    Artists are navigating a new digital landscape where AI has the potential to turn one's likeness into a substantial revenue stream. The music i...

Join Dmitri on an exploration through the evolving landscape of modern synthesizers at the Buchla & Friends event held in downtown LA last month. From the innovative offerings of the Buchla Easel to Noise Engineering , Elektron , 1010 Music and the Star Wars vibe of Soma Laboratory's Terra ,  there was a lot to take in. It truly felt like a fusion of a craft fair and makerspace community, and we h...