Sound Connections

Tom Höglund, a key figure from the founding team of Epidemic Sound, breaks down how they built a unicorn by disrupting the century-old music licensing industry.From his early days as a lawyer to creating an alternative model that pays musicians upfront and offers a 50-50 split , Tom shares the controversial journey. Discover the audacious vision to make music licensing simple and global for content creators on platforms like YouTube, challenging the traditional Performing Rights Organizations (PROs). Hear the grind, the early struggles, and the international mindset that fueled this Swedish success story.Know more about Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

Discover how Alex Braga built an AI 'Instrument' a decade ago — not to replace musicians, but to rediscover what makes us human.In this episode of the Sound Connections Podcast, Alex Braga, award-winning artist, performer, and creator of the A-Mint AI instrument, joins Jakob Wredstrøm to unpack the philosophy and ethics behind AI in art. From the meaning of human creativity to the illusion of machine consciousness, Alex breaks down what separates creation from generation — and why intention still defines everything.🎧 In this conversation:- Why AI-made music often lacks meaning — and what “meaning” really is- How algorithms mirror our cultural biases- The ethics of data scraping and AI training- Why we must learn to use technology without losing ourselves- Why “We Are Technology” — and what that means for the future of creativityAlex doesn’t see technology as the enemy — but as a mirror reflecting how conscious (or unconscious) we are in how we use it.This is a partnership episode with Music Tech Europe Academy: https://www.musictecheuropeacademy.eu/Find out more about A-Mint AI here: https://www.alexbraga.me/a-i__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

Who are the people behind the music that shapes how we listen?In this episode of Sound Connections, host Jakob Wredstrøm sits down with Overtone Studios CEO Niklas Brantberg, who shares how Epidemic Sound and his label built a new music economy for creators, one where focus playlists turn into real income. Jakob and Niklas unpack the business of mood music, the shift from faceless tracks to artist identity, and the impact of AI in music production.Perfect for music entrepreneurs, producers, and founders seeking inspiration on creating sustainable careers in today’s music tech landscape.Find out more about Overtone Studios here: https://www.overtone-studios.com/__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

Can finance make the music industry fairer?In this episode, Lior Tibon, CEO and Co-founder of Duetti, shares with host Jakob Wredstrøm how he’s building a platform that lets artists turn their catalogs into opportunity. From Tidal to Duetti, Lior’s journey blends financial innovation with deep respect for creators. Hear how technology, transparency, and smarter capital are shaping a new path for music ownership and catalog investment. This episode offers rare insight for music founders, investors, and creators redefining what it means to own music.Listen for lessons in creative business growth.Find out more about Duetti here: https://www.duetti.co/__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

Can AI and infrastructure finally make the music industry scalable?In this episode, Ben Mendoza, CEO and Co-Founder of Beatchain, joins host Jakob Wredstrøm to reveal how AI-driven infrastructure, data analytics, and localization are redefining the future of music entrepreneurship.Learn how Beatchain’s innovative arena model helps independent artists grow careers sustainably, how automation fixes music distribution and discovery, and why building long-term systems, not quick wins, matters for global creators.Tune in NOW for practical insights on scaling success in the music tech and creator economy revolution.Find out more about Beatchain here: https://www.beatchain.com/__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

What does it really mean to own your audience in today’s music industry?In this special partnership episode, host Jakob Wredstrøm joins Taj from The Sound of Startups and Lauriane Saint-Denis, a business developer connecting culture, innovation, and people in music tech to unpack how audience development, fan data, and music tech innovation are reshaping live events.Together they explore why ticketing platforms hold so much power, how festivals can build real fan relationships, and what artists can do to reclaim connection. Perfect for music entrepreneurs, promoters, and artist managers seeking smarter ways to grow.__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

If you’ve ever wondered how merch works behind the scenes?Seamus Menihane, CEO and co-founder of Armada, one of the fastest-growing merch companies in the music industry. From being a touring drummer to leading a 170-person team, he shares his journey of turning a DIY screen-printing hustle into a full-scale merch powerhouse.Armada supports artists in building real, profitable brands through merchandise, ensures tour merch remains a top revenue stream, and gives independent model artists more creative and financial control than traditional major label deals. This is a proper breakdown of the economics of merch, the merger that formed Armada, and why staying focused on your core strengths is key to long-term success in the music biz.Visit Armada: https://www.poweredbyarmada.com/__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

For over two decades, the music industry has struggled to answer three deceptively simple questions:What do we own? Where is it? Are we making money from it?Edward Ginis, co-founder of OpenPlay and Proto Hologram, shares how OpenPlay evolved from a bold internal project at Concord into an industry-standard platform, breaking down decades of data dysfunction and giving rights holders real control over their IP. From building enterprise tech in a slow-moving industry to parenting four kids while launching a second startup (Proto) in the middle of a pandemic, Edward brings an unfiltered look at the personal and professional highs and lows of entrepreneurship.This is for music professionals, technologists, and founders navigating complexity, scale and real life.Know more about OpenPlay: https://openplay.co/__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

How do musicians break through in today’s noisy creator economy?In this episode with Vishal Ramakrishnan, co-founder of Round music marketing technology, to explore the future of music promotion and digital marketing for artists.Vishal shares how he went from failed film composer to building a data-driven music marketing platform, the tension between authenticity vs. AI-generated content, and why micro-influencers often outperform celebrities. His mindset of solving real problems step by step reveals powerful lessons for artists and labels.Visit the website here; https://thisisround.com/__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

Jenna Lomonaco, Head of US Marketing at 1RPM, boasts over 20 years in the music industry, contributing to the rise of stars like Shawn Mendes and Elton John. In this engaging discussion, Jenna reveals how to turn viral moments into enduring careers by understanding artist stories and fan emotions. She highlights the balance between proactive and reactive marketing, the significance of digital platforms like TikTok, and the importance of authenticity in branding. For anyone in the music business, her insights on connection and consistency are invaluable.