We are rewinding and playing back some of our favorite guests during the month of August. Today we have a great conversation with the CEO and co-founder of LyricFind. Listen in to find out how Darryl got his first investor, and what Microsoft, childhood bedrooms, outdated websites, and roller coasters have to do with anything. 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 to fi...
Aug 13, 2025•45 min•Ep. 378
We are rewinding and playing back some of our favorite guests during the month of August. Starting with…. The great debate! 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 a...
Aug 06, 2025•50 min•Ep. 377
Join the Music Tectonics team for the June Seismic Activity with special guest Andrew Kahn, Managing Partner of Yamaha Music Innovation Fund. Hear Andrews best practices for pitching him (or not) at a conference, and what he feels is the most important aspect of any pitch deck. Hint: It's not a great power point. We also hear queries specific to founders in attendance. Among them are questions about funding AI startups, is it possible to compete with Ticketmaster, and what about this innovative ...
Jul 30, 2025•59 min•Ep. 376
Remember when Michael Bublé was an abominable snowman and chased people with snowballs? Well, maybe you don’t, but a lot of people do. Or what about when NLE Choppa showed up in FPS Ops? In this episode Dmitri talks with Mike Gubman of Chartis about the creative collaborations between musicians and game developers and what sort of opportunities those collabs create. Also, the News! SiriusXM is launching a paid ad-supported tier. Will music streamers follow suit? If your music strategy is ‘quick ...
Jul 23, 2025•52 min•Ep. 375
Today we have a fascinating conversation with Randy Nichols, artist manager and CEO of Force Media Management. Randy’s been at the forefront of attempting to figure out the ticketing strategy math, especially the scalper side of the equation. We hear about his dive into the cold hard data, scalper chat rooms, and that time he sent someone undercover to the Ticket Scalpers Convention. We also talk about the allure of the “super fan” and why that is… baloney. Also we get into merch, and the genera...
Jul 16, 2025•51 min•Ep. 374
Today we talk with Cullen Hendrix, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, about the impact of tariffs on musical instruments. A trained political scientist as well as having a background as a touring musician, Hendrix has a really distinctive lens in which to view the tariff news. We talk about how tariffs on Chinese imports could stifle the next generation of musicians, the potential consequences for the used instrument market, and the effects on American culture a...
Jul 09, 2025•43 min•Ep. 373
Join us today as we talk with Jessica Sobhraj, the co-founder and CEO of Cosynd; a platform that helps creators protect their copyrights. We start by talking about the complex legal maneuvers involving the US Copyright Office; we then head into the ongoing impact of AI and the proactive steps you should take to safeguard your intellectual property. But first, the news! Anthropic Scores Major Fair Use Win in Authors’ Infringement Suit: ‘Using Copyrighted Works to Train LLMs to Generate New Text W...
Jul 03, 2025•54 min•Ep. 372
On today's episode we talk with Bomo Piri, Chief Brand Officer at Native Instruments. Our conversation begins with the techno Berlin roots of the brand and dives into what’s happening today with their strategic partnerships -- like the London based Young Urban Artist Foundation, and a very cool sounding recent collab with Mustard at Coachella. We chat about Bomo's unique marketing approach as well as the importance of authentic community engagement, and how they see that as a throughline to most...
Jun 25, 2025•48 min•Ep. 371
On today's podcast we have a truly amazing talk with Damien Riehl, a musician and technology lawyer who is one of the masterminds behind All the Music Project; an algorithmically generated catalogue of 471 billion melodies, which was then put into the public domain in an attempt to protect musicians from being sued for copyright claims. It is a fascinating conversation. Damien’s Ted Talk here News! Gen Z is embracing a digital detox and the ‘Martha Stewart summer’ Apple Intelligence Is Gambling ...
Jun 18, 2025•50 min•Ep. 370
”Create a flurry of content. But do not put $10,000 aside for a celebrity to come in and talk about your brand. I want you to go after thirty smaller creators with followings between ten and thirty thousand.” Today we hear from Adam McHeffey, the former CMO of Artiphon and current Chief Creative Officer at Rock Paper Scissors to discuss effective strategies for marketing musical instruments. Key points include the significance of IRL networking, the importance of strategic planning, and the role...
Jun 11, 2025•44 min•Ep. 369
Today we bring you the recording from our latest on-line Seismic Event, “Artist Careers in a Parallel Universe.” It was an exploration into the livelihood of three working artists; Clara Venice, Vivek Agrawal, and The Phronetic. RPS Chief Creative Officer, Adam McHeffey talks with them about how they are using new technology to fuel their creative visions, how they've built brand relationships, and importantly, how they're monetizing their networks. Great insight into how they make it work. Also...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 368
On today’s news roundup show Dmitri and Eleanor tackle the week's music tech news. They discuss Spotify's app store changes, Apple Music's new transfer tool, and so many AI music industry developments, including the $10 million AI music fraud case. News you might want to read: Spotify says App Store changes have boosted its subscriptions Apple Music’s new transfer tool simplifies switching from other streaming services Martina McBride Speaks Out Against AI Deepfakes at Senate Hearing: ‘It’s Just...
May 28, 2025•32 min•Ep. 366
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 personalized live events using advanced technologies. Shoutouts from the News Are Tech Bros Hijackin...
May 21, 2025•48 min•Ep. 365
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 acquires again, swooping for indie electronic label Monstercat Jay Penske Takes Control of SXSW: Will Profit...
May 14, 2025•32 min•Ep. 364
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 legal debates surrounding fair use versus licensing in AI training data. She also has practical advice ...
May 07, 2025•54 min•Ep. 363
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 independents, the impact of AI – particularly generative AI, and trends in rights management and live music. Sh...
Apr 30, 2025•52 min•Ep. 362
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 disruptions from AI and legal challenges and how the music industry might adapt and innovate in the face of t...
Apr 23, 2025•55 min•Ep. 361
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. News Shoutouts Startup oMoo Gets Hands-On With its Haptics-based music App MCP: The New “USB-C for AI” ...
Apr 16, 2025•46 min•Ep. 360
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 the news from Dmitri and Tristra. News Roundup! 50 Million More Americans Are Buying Music Than a Deca...
Apr 09, 2025•37 min•Ep. 359
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. News from Rock Paper Scanner: Beats and Bytes: Essential Trend Report Apple Music Integration is no...
Apr 02, 2025•36 min•Ep. 358
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 Does Gen Z Listen to Podcasts? Jayden Daniels’ growth with VR simulation has Commanders embracing mind ga...
Mar 26, 2025•36 min•Ep. 357
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 Chloe Dagenias of MusicTeam. The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industr...
Mar 19, 2025•25 min•Ep. 356
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 got a quick run-down of the headlines of the week, and a PR Strategy that will have you running towar...
Mar 12, 2025•39 min•Ep. 355
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 surface of the music industry to explore how technology is changing the way business gets done. Visit musict...
Mar 05, 2025•26 min•Ep. 354
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. Clara Venice The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how...
Feb 26, 2025•37 min•Ep. 353
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 on dynamic audio formats. Cathy Hackl Ever.FM The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the...
Feb 19, 2025•52 min•Ep. 352
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 the business’s core mission rather than building to sell. Shoutouts from the ep: Magic Box Paradigm...
Feb 12, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 351
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, and bids to purchase TikTok. Dmitri's interview with Jeremy Sirota, CEO of Merlin, touches on their...
Feb 05, 2025•56 min•Ep. 350
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 goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how technology is changing the way business ge...
Jan 29, 2025•30 min•Ep. 349
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 practical strategies for founders. The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music...
Jan 22, 2025•34 min•Ep. 348
