Music Tectonics

Roblox’s Global Head of Music John Vlassopulos talks to Dmitri about how audio is playing a key role in the “imagination time” of the wildly popular Roblox gaming and world building platform. He and the Roblox team see themselves as “firestarters,” those who provide the basic ideas and code and then see what people create. As music performances port to new virtual settings, Vlassopulos shows us how in-platform concerts are just the beginning, as a community of young users and international developers turn to music to help build their experiences in the Roblox metaverse.  Vlassopulos dives into the partnerships and connections Roblox is building with traditional music industry players, connecting them meaningfully to the platform’s international youth audiences. He gives Music Tectonics listeners a sneak peek at the platform’s big plans for 2021, which will see the roll out of a range of intriguing music-related initiatives and directions. They are designed to inspire artists and their teams, labels, and live music brands to get creative and imagine music worlds beyond real-life models. 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 learn more, and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

Scott Fetters, the CEO of incubator and media/tech makerspace 2112, talks about the thrill of uniting a wide swath of Chicago’s creative minds and startup stars under one roof--and how COVID helped them find new possibilities and partners. What started as a rehearsal space has turned into a media and culture production powerhouse, uniting fragmented industries, serving small businesses, and growing the region’s creative sector. It launched a standalone educational initiative, the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship. It’s created a workforce development arm. It’s played a role in nurturing music and entertainment tech startups like Reverb, MDIIO, and Cameo. Attracting and cross-pollinating talent, ideas, and resources, 2112 hopes its model can serve other cities and regions around the world. 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 learn more, and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

The pandemic has accelerated everything tech by three years. On this episode, music tech veteran and CEO Darryl Ballantyne of LyricFind scans the horizon with host Dmitri Vietze on all things music tech. The two tackle music tech investment, borderless music engagement, monetizing fandom, livestreaming, mixed reality, fitness, and more; all themes that will be explored at the 2020 Music tectonics Conference online. We wrap up by asking what other verticals Darryl is keeping an eye on and what he hopes to get out of this year's conference. Listen in to expand your thoughts on where things are in music tech and where they are going.  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 learn more, and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

Now that there are so many paths to music, it can be overwhelming for artists, labels, and managers to bring everything back together, On this podcast Linkfire's Lars Ettrup and Andrea Arcari put forth a vision for how artists and their teams can get in front of the dispersal of their connection to fans while still helping music streaming services attract ears and increase listeners. Plus find out what topic they will be addressing in their Music Tectonics Conference presentations and what they are hoping to get out of being at this year's online conference.  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 learn more, and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

What has been emerging in music listening since the lockdown? How are music services weaving together streaming, radio, news, podcasts and ads in the emerging streaming marketplace? Super Hi-Fi's Zack Zalon is back as we dissect possible paths the listening experience can take. He echoes Daniel Ek's statement that radio's $18 billion in ad revenue globally is there for the taking by the music services that fight for it the hardest. We talk about what future interactive ads might sound like, plus get Zalon's take on other Music Tectonics Conference themes including 7-second music clips in social video, the endurance of live-streaming after the pandemic, and the future of mixed reality.  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 learn more, and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

AdRev CEO Noah Becker has a message for the world: stop using music in your videos and social media content without valuing it. He believes that the world needs mass education of video creators about why songwriters and recording artists should share in the revenue influencers are making from sponsored posts and brand deals. He calls on social platforms to spend less money on avoiding paying for music licenses and distribute more of that money to artists and writers. If you like your podcasts spicy, Noah Becker brings it. Host Dmitri Vietze is still trying to catch his breath. The episode will give you a taste of the passion and mission Noah is likely to share during his Supernova Lightning Talk at Music Tectonics Oct 27-28. 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 learn more, and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

Do you own your fan data, or do you rent it? Michael Bassal of Tradable Bits, a Music Tectonics Conference speaker & sponsor, digs into how fan-based marketing really works. Find out how the company puts data into human context to help artists, sports teams, festivals, and more understand who their fans are across platforms. Learn how Tradable Bits yields actionable insights for artists and their teams so they can focus on creating great fan experiences—and reaching the next 10,000 fans. What is the difference between building engagement and building value long-term? What is the next frontier for fan-based marketing that Tradable Bits is exploring? Why is Michael so excited about the Music Tectonics Conference on October 27- 28? 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 learn more, and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

Dan Mackta of luxury music streaming and download service Qobuz explains why hi-res audio is an important piece of the music revenue equation. Dmitri and Dan explore the dynamics of the music-loving audiophile market. On this episode find how a higher-end tier in music listening creates value for the entire music industry. Dan draws on his many years in music to comment on additional revenue streams for artists, the future of livestreaming, and bundling music with other subscriptions. Plus hear why Dan thinks the Music Tectonics Conference audience is different from other conferences. Connect with Dan and many other Music Tech innovators online on October 27 - 28, 2020! 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 learn more, and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

How is the live music industry evolving during pandemic restrictions? Juan Torres of Prism.fm works with venues and promoters on the front lines of the crisis, and he’ll be speaking at the Music Tectonics Conference Oct. 27-28 online. What has happened in Austin TX since SXSW kicked off a wave of cancellations and delays? Find out about the Wyoming promoter now holding drive-in rodeos and church services as well as concerts. Dig into the state of live event tech and learn how Prism is helping promoters and venues avoid the headaches of repeated pandemic postponements. Juan explains how Prism’s all-in-one live music management software streamlines every phase, from juggling competing holds in a venue calendar, to sharing stage plots, to speeding up financial settlements at the end of the night. Get Juan’s perspective on the livestreaming boom and the #SaveOurStages effort spearheaded by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). 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 learn more, and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

When so many listeners discover music on streaming services and social media, why should artists manage their own web presence? Guests from artist platform Bandzoogle build a strong case for connecting directly with fans, owning your own domain and data, and controlling your career.  Stacey Bedford, Bandzoogle CEO (a 2019 Billboard Digital Power Player) and  Dave Cool, Vice President of Business Development, tell how Bandzoogle has been helping artists build websites since the early ‘00s and adapt to the changing music industry. Find out how Bandzoogle artists are building their own revenue streams with direct-to-fan marketing, mailing lists, fan club subscription tiers, e-commerce, ticketing, crowdfunding, and tips. Stacy and Dave share their insights on pandemic trends. Do tickets or virtual tip jars make more money for livestreams? Which new startups are they excited about? How does Bandzoogle select partner companies, and how did their dream partnership come about? What makes Bandzoogle different from so many artist services businesses? 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 learn more, and find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!