Music Tectonics

Mike Gubman, co-founder of Chartist, dives into the fascinating fusion of music and gaming. He explores creative collaborations, like Michael Bublé and NLE Choppa's appearances in Fortnite, highlighting how these partnerships engage fans in new ways. Gubman shares insights on evolving music streaming dynamics, including SiriusXM's ad-supported tier, and discusses the rise of concert ticket prices. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of music integration in gaming for reaching diverse audiences and enhancing player experience.

Join Randy Nichols, artist manager and CEO of Force Media Management, as he dives deep into the murky waters of ticketing strategies and scalping. He shares wild tales from scalper chat rooms and even infiltrated a Ticket Scalpers Convention! The conversation also tackles the illusion of the 'super fan' and the evolving landscape of live music, emphasizing the need for transparency and innovative tools to benefit both artists and audiences. Plus, discover how data and technology are reshaping merchandise management and fan engagement.

Cullen Hendrix, a Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and former touring musician, dives into the impact of tariffs on musical instruments. He discusses how rising tariffs on Chinese imports could hinder the next generation of musicians and disrupt the used instrument market. Hendrix also explores the broader cultural ramifications of these policies, challenging the narrative of American manufacturing. The conversation reveals the intricate relationship between trade, music accessibility, and the future of American music culture.

Jessica Sobhraj, Co-founder and CEO of Cosynd, joins to tackle the complexities of copyright law as it intersects with the rise of AI. She discusses critical news, including Anthropic's win for fair use and the urgency for creators to protect their rights amidst an evolving digital landscape. The conversation highlights the transformative impact of AI on music and job roles, emphasizing the necessity for proper attribution and collective action among artists. Listeners will gain insights into safeguarding their intellectual property in this new technological era.

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 of their marketing efforts.   The News! US music publishing revenue jumped 13.4% to $7bn in 2024, outpacing the growth rate of recorded music   PlayStation’s concert series is coming to the US   UMG JV with investment firm WTSL focuses on ‘artist-led IP’   Sony Music CEO Talks AI: ‘We Are Going to Do Deals for New Music AI Products This Year’   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 find shownotes and a transcript for this episode, and find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!    Get Dmitri’s Rock Paper Scanner newsletter.  

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 on Privacy as a Killer Feature   The iPhone is your karaoke mic in tvOS 26's Apple Music Sing   Nothing will stand in the way of independents (and why the world’s first three-person indie unicorn is only a matter of time away)   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 find shownotes and a transcript for this episode, and find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!    Get Dmitri’s Rock Paper Scanner newsletter.  

Adam McHeffey, Chief Creative Officer at Rock Paper Scissors and former CMO of Artiphon, shares his expertise on marketing musical instruments. He emphasizes the power of engaging smaller creators over celebrities and the importance of IRL networking. Adam unveils effective strategies like email marketing and user-generated content, stressing the need for authentic community interactions. He also discusses balancing traditional PR with modern personalization to build brand trust and visibility in the evolving music industry.

Adam McHeffey, Chief Creative Officer at RPS, leads a vibrant discussion with Clara Venice, an innovative electronic musician; The Phronetic, a multidisciplinary Colombian artist; and Vivek Agrawal, a TikTok mashup sensation. They delve into how technology reshapes artist careers, emphasizing authenticity in brand collaborations. They also share insights on monetization strategies, the impact of social media on audience engagement, and the creative challenges artists face today, all while encouraging diverse voices in music.

Eleanor Rust, marketing director at Rock, Paper, Scissors, dives into the week's music tech buzz alongside Dmitri. They dissect Spotify’s revamped app store approach and Apple Music's new transfer tool. Eleanor highlights the evolving competition in streaming services. The duo also uncovers the troubling $10 million AI music fraud case, raising ethical questions about authenticity and artist rights. They discuss AI's growing influence, the importance of live events, and the necessity of ethical practices in music innovation.

Ty Roberts, founder of Gracenote and former CTO of Universal Music Group, shares his journey through the music industry. He highlights pivotal moments like Gracenote's influence on iTunes and his work with David Bowie on generative music. The conversation dives into the future of visual music experiences and the rise of AI in music creation. Ty discusses the potential for personalized live events using advanced technologies, and tackles issues around copyright and innovation in an ever-evolving digital landscape.