Sound Connections #125: FOUNDER: Changing the Music Industry’s Artist Revenue Model: Mag Rodriguez
10 snips
Aug 14, 2025 
Mag Rodriguez, the Founder and CEO of EVEN, previously managed artists and led music initiatives in venture capital. In this discussion, he reveals how EVEN allows artists to sell music directly to fans pre-release, aiming for equitable revenue models. Mag dives into the importance of building tight-knit communities around artists rather than chasing massive scales, and shares insights on leadership challenges, resisting acquisition offers, and the balance of profit and impact in entrepreneurship. His journey illustrates the transformative power of belief in artists.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Bet From Generator
- Generator partners wrote Mag a check and kept him on salary for a year to let him build Even.
- That early belief let him move to LA and start the company while maintaining support.
Sell Music Before Streaming
- Even helps artists sell music directly to fans before it hits streaming platforms to preserve initial value.
- The platform mixes paid access with community features to nurture tight-knit fan relationships.
Niche Fans Beat Mass Scale
- Tight-knit communities matter more than scale because streaming models require massive scale to earn revenue.
- Small direct sales can finance projects and remove artist debt pressure from pursuing creative work.