Masters of Scale Music biz at a crossroads: from Taylor Swift to AI, with Sowmya Krishnamurthy
9 snips
Sep 9, 2025 Sowmya Krishnamurthy, a music journalist and author featured in Rolling Stone and NPR, dives into the transformative landscape of the music industry. She discusses the impact of TikTok on new artists and analyzes Taylor Swift's continued reign. The conversation shifts to the intersection of AI and music, raising concerns about creativity amidst technological advancements. Krishnamurthy also critiques the implications of streaming wars, and the evolving dynamics between art and commerce, underscoring the challenges artists face today.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Industry Turning Into A Catalog Business
- The music industry is becoming a catalog-driven, nostalgia business rather than a forward-looking development engine.
- That shift risks stagnation because it prioritizes past hits over investing in new artistic discovery.
I Didn't Watch The VMAs Live
- Sowmya admits she did not watch the VMAs live and instead consumed clips on social media.
- She uses this to show how the show's cultural relevance has shifted in 2025.
Commerce Beats Art In Artist Decisions
- Commerce currently outweighs art in music decisions, with labels chasing followers and engagement.
- That focus discourages risk-taking and elevates branding over musical development.
