

Sound Connections
Amplitude Ventures
This is the intricate world of music entrepreneurship.Hosted by Jakob Wredstrøm from Amplitude Ventures, this podcast offers listeners a unique blend of insightful interviews, industry expertise, and behind-the-scenes stories from the global music landscape. From the challenges of breaking into the industry to the nuances of music tech innovations, each episode is a journey into the lives of music professionals, founders, artists, and innovators. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, an industry veteran, or just a music enthusiast, "Sound Connections" provides a fresh perspective on the ever-evolving world of music. Listen and connect with the sounds and stories that shape the industry.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 22, 2025 • 52min
#106: MTEA: Scaling Music Tech: What Control Reach Is Doing Differently || Clémentin Diard
From throwing a DIY festival in his hometown to running a 12‑person, AI‑driven marketing startup in Paris, Clémentin’s journey shows how grit and smart pivots can turn a bedroom idea into a global business tool. In another partnership episode with Music Tech Europe Academy, he shares the highs and lows of building Control Reach, formerly Your Music Marketing —including hard‑won lessons on fundraising, choosing a market, and steering a team through radical change.Learn more about Music Tech Europe Academy: https://www.musictecheuropeacademy.eu/Visit Your Music Marketing: https://yourmusic.marketing/___________________________________________________________________________Sponsored by Allfeat: Decentralized Blockchain Solutions for the Music Industry - https://www.allfeat.com/Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures

Apr 15, 2025 • 45min
#105: WALLIFORNIA: How LeanSquare Invests in Music Tech Startups || Xavier Péters
PARTNERSHIP WITH WALLIFORNIA 2025Are you raising your first round or scouting high‑growth startups? In our first partnership episode with Xavier Peters, CEO of Belgium‑based venture fund, LeanSquare, he explains how his team backs late‑seed and pre‑Series A startups across music, sport, esports, and gaming—and why a strong founder mindset and a clear market need outweigh everything else, including funding in music technology and the ecosystem shaping its future.About the 9th edition of the Wallifornia Music + Tech Summit in July 2025;https://walliforniamusictech.com/Sponsored by Allfeat: Decentralized Blockchain Solutions for the Music Industry - https://www.allfeat.com/Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures

Apr 8, 2025 • 51min
#104: FOUNDER: Transforming Music Metadata with AI – A New Chapter with Noctil || Jacob Varghese
Metadata may be the unglamorous backbone of music, but it decides who gets paid. In this episode, entrepreneur and technologist Jacob Varghese explains how his company Noctil uses supervised machine‑learning to link millions of usage logs with the right ownership data, turning “black‑box” royalties into real income for creators. He traces his journey from a 2012 consulting project to a fully bootstrapped, modular platform that now supports publishers, labels, and collecting societies. Along the way, you will hear why blanket licenses and legacy systems leave gaps, how AI can lift match rates by double‑digit percentages, and what policy changes could finally simplify licensing in the streaming and AI era. If you want a clear, jargon‑free look at the hidden infrastructure behind every play button, this conversation delivers it.Learn more about the platform here; https://www.noctil.com/Sponsored by Allfeat: Decentralized Blockchain Solutions for the Music Industry - https://www.allfeat.com/Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures

Apr 1, 2025 • 59min
#103: FOUNDER: How BeatConnect Is Changing Music Production || Alexandre Turbide & Nicholas Laroche
Let's get an inside look at how Alex and Nicholas from Beat Connect are reshaping music production through a fresh take on collaboration. Hear about their journey building a DAW that bridges the gap between pros and newcomers, drawing inspiration from gaming to create an intuitive, real-time creative experience. They also discuss tackling industry roadblocks and why making music more accessible could redefine how artists connect, share, and innovate worldwide.Find out more here; https://www.beatconnect.com/Sponsored by Allfeat: Decentralized Blockchain Solutions for the Music Industry - https://www.allfeat.com/Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures

Mar 30, 2025 • 48min
#102: MANAGER: Music Entrepreneur’s Journey: Building Global Success from Estonia || Britt Randma
Entrepreneur, DJ and newly honored as Manager of the Year and Music Exporter of the Year at the Estonian Music Industry Awards, Britt Randma, sheds light on building a viable career from a smaller market, the realities of music export, and why hard work often outweighs immediate financial gain. Listen to Britt share her firsthand experience balancing multiple roles—artist management (Night Tapes), event organization, and label collaborations—all while navigating international tours and funding. If you’ve ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes challenges of the music industry, this conversation delivers fresh insights on turning passion into a sustainable livelihood. Find out more about Music Estonia here; https://www.musicestonia.eu/enSponsored by Allfeat: Decentralized Blockchain Solutions for the Music Industry - https://www.allfeat.com/Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures

Mar 25, 2025 • 1h 2min
#101: FOUNDER: Creating Music with TUNEY || Antony Demekhin
Experience the possibilities of ethical AI in music creation as Antony Demekhin, CEO and co-founder of TUNEY, explains how his platform helps aspiring musicians craft tracks without compromising sound quality or copyright. In this episode, he recounts a lifelong passion for percussion and hip hop, revealing how it shaped TUNEY’s focus on genuine creativity and accessible workflows. It is a practical look at what happens when technology and artistry evolve hand in hand.Explore here: https://tuney.io/Sponsored by Allfeat: Decentralized Blockchain Solutions for the Music Industry - https://www.allfeat.com/Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures

Mar 18, 2025 • 48min
#100: EXPERT: "Scott" Yusuke Sugino: Insights From Yamaha
President & CEO of Yamaha Music Innovations, Yusuke Sugino details his 17-year journey from semiconductor sales to European market leadership, and why he was chosen to spearhead this bold initiative. We dive into the challenges of financing music tech startups, the long-term vision for Yamaha’s fund, and how the company plans to support founders beyond capital—leveraging their global brand, customer base, and deep industry expertise.Visit their website: https://www.yamaha.com/en/Sponsored by Allfeat: Decentralized Blockchain Solutions for the Music Industry - https://www.allfeat.com/Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures

Mar 11, 2025 • 49min
#099: EXPERT: Jody McKinley: How To Scale A Music Tech Business - Insights From Eleven75
Kickstart your journey into the evolving music startup scene with an in-depth conversation featuring Jody McKinley, a leading voice in music tech. Know the industry’s most pressing challenges, from managing fragmented talent to navigating complex licensing and gain insights on building a winning team and learn how technological advancements are shaping the future for aspiring entrepreneurs. Sponsored by Allfeat: Decentralized Blockchain Solutions for the Music Industry - https://www.allfeat.com/Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures

Mar 4, 2025 • 56min
#098: EXPERT: Daniel Nordgård; The Truth About Music Streaming, AI, and Artists' Future
Legal and financial hurdles stand at the forefront of the modern music industry. In this conversation, music management professor, Daniel Nordgård, shares insights on how technology, academia, and sustainable artist careers converge to shape the sector’s future. He examines the influence of AI on music creation and discusses the shifting values behind music consumption. By spotlighting forward-thinking strategies, Daniel showcases how innovation can help overcome industry challenges and drive positive change.Highlights:A positive perspective on the future of music.Tackling challenges from AI and digital growth.Examining the worldwide growth of music markets.The role of professional intermediaries in the music business.Sponsored by Allfeat: Decentralized Blockchain Solutions for the Music Industry - https://www.allfeat.com/Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures

Feb 26, 2025 • 57min
#097: FOUNDER: Ciarán O'Toole & Michael Coll; The Story Behind Songbox; A MusicTech Startup
Ciarán and Michael share how their music-sharing platform began as a solution for artists who need to send tracks securely, privately, and with clear insights on who has listened. Drawing from real-life music industry frustrations and professional tech expertise, they explain how Songbox evolved through user feedback, personal experience, and the practical know-how gained from successful and challenging business ventures. Also, find out why major artists like Bryan Adams embraced Songbox early on, and hear how strong focus, bootstrapping, and smart growth strategies guided their journey. Whether you’re a musician seeking the right tool for sharing music or simply curious about a unique startup approach, this episode offers an honest look at building a service that supports creators at every stage.Visit the platform: https://songbox.com/Sponsored by Allfeat: Decentralized Blockchain Solutions for the Music Industry - https://www.allfeat.com/Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures