Charlie Kaplan is the VP of Product at Audiomack, a music streaming and discovery platform that reaches 20 million monthly active users. In today’s episode, he weighs in on Audiomack’s achievements and financial model. He then introduces the platform’s new monetization tool “Supporters” and explains why it matters. He also talks about Audiomack’s commitment to its users, the value exchange experience, and some of the trends he is seeing on social media platforms.If you’re a strategist who is interested in what's happening in the creator economy, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights[02:50] How Audiomack compares to other streaming services[05:55] Why the platform does not charge artists to upload and share music[11:48] The evolution of recorded music from file transfers to streaming[15:45] About Audiomack’s “Supporters” initiative[20:40] How listeners/fans benefit as a supporter[27:58] What Audiomack has to offer for artists versus other social media platforms and tools[37:30] On the company’s key performance indicators[40:50] Charlie’s observations about a stream-based economyListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Charlie Kaplan, @ciwk, Charlie KaplanLinks:AudiomackAudiomack on TwitterAudiomack on InstagramTrapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo.

Tunde Balogun is the co-founder and president of Love Renaissance (stylized as LVRN), an Atlanta-based record label that is focused primarily on R&B music. We talk about Summer Walker’s latest release and how LVRN has prioritized mental health services not just for its staff but also its executives. Tunde then weighs in on the differences of running an R&B label versus running a hip-hop label. He also shares his thoughts on the trends he is seeing in the music industry such as NFTs and other emerging technology.If you are looking to change the game and make things better for artists overall, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights[02:18] What Tunde is hoping to achieve with Summer Walker’s latest album[04:38] How LVRN stays a tightly-knit company[09:00] The LVRN executives’ history[12:22] What lead them to the decision to invest in group therapy[21:42] How they balance their artists’ welfare with making a profit[25:20] Tunde’s thoughts on Tiktok and cryptocurrency[33:35] What LVRN does differently compared to hip-hop labels[40:55] On investments in the African market, how education is key, and streamingListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Tunde Balogun, @tundetun88, Love RenaissanceTrapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo.

Rapper, producer, and entrepreneur Flawless Real Talk joined to talk about how he manages his rap career. He was the runner up on Netflix’s hip-hop competition show Rhythm & Flow, which boosted his career trajectory. But despite all the industry attention, Flawless is still an independent artist. He talks about that decision, the tradeoffs he’s had to make, and what his goals are as an artist. He recently hosted a livestream concert on LIVIT, where he had over 1 million fans join in.If you’re interested in how artists manage tradeoffs between being signed and indie, building a fanbase, and resiliency, then this is the episode for you.Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Flawless Real Talk, @flawlessri, flawlessri.comTrapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Cameo CEO and co-founder Steven Galanis came on the pod to talk about his company’s marketplace for personalized celebrity video shoutouts. We broke down Cameo’s growth in the pandemic, finding product-market fit with people who are more famous than they are rich, and tapping into the long tail. We also break down Cameo’s success with hip-hop artists and Black culture, and the future products that may come from the company.If you’re interested in how marketplaces are built, creating flywheels, and finding product-market fit, definitely check this podcast out.Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Steven Galanis, cameo.com, @bookcameoLinks:How Cameo Blew Up During Quarantine - New YorkerWhy The Music Industry Should Be Tuning Into Cameo - ForbesTrapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

In today’s episode, I dive into a bunch of questions that I have received from readers. I weigh in on the opportunities that are available for middle-class hip-hop artists and how the creator economy is booming. In the wake of the Astroworld tragedy, I offer suggestions so that artists can do their part and manage crowds during music festivals. I also correct some misconceptions about blockchain technology, record labels, and streaming platforms.If you have had some burning questions about the future of music, tech, and startups, this may be the episode for you!Episode Highlights[01:30] My definition of what a middle-class musician is[06:10] How artists can be trained to handle crisis situations[09:55] On smart contracts, NFTs, and Web 2.0[16:00] What the best indie record labels are doing that major record labels are not doing[24:38] How artists have been finding fans and monetizing these past few years[29:10] How artists get paid today compared to the CD eraListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coLink: New Creator ManifestoTrapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Dave Mays is the founder and former CEO of The Source Magazine. In today’s episode, he weighs in on the magazine’s legacy, the evolution of media, and what hip-hop is all about. He then talks about Breakbeat, a new podcast network that he co-founded and heads. He also discusses the success of the podcast “Don’t Call Me White Girl”, the boom of podcasts, and the projects he is working on now.If you want to get into podcasts that are all about hip-hop, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights:[03:10] About The Source Magazine and The Source Awards[11:15] Some lessons that can be learned from The Source[14:15] What led Dave to start Breakbeat[20:55] His future plans for the podcast network and a hip-hop-based app[25:22] His transition from behind the scenes to being a voice on the network[27:08] How he met his business partner and how he measures success[34:00] Dave’s observations about the podcast landscape[39:32] What Breakbeat is currently working on[45:05] The process of creating a docu-series on Larry HooverListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Dave Mays, @therealdavemays, Breakbeat Links:Mighty Networks' study on the creator economyBreakbeat Media on InstagramBreakbeat Media on TwitterBreakbeat Media on YoutubeDave Mays on InstagramTrapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Sacha Jenkins is a documentarian, a film producer, and a creative director at Mass Appeal. He joins me on today's show to talk about his most recent documentary titled “Bitchin': The Sound and Fury of Rick James” and the steps that he took to get that project off the ground. He also weighs in on the boom of documentaries, giving us previews of the projects he is working on now. If you want to know more about music documentaries, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights:[02:42] What inspired Sacha to do a project about Rick James and what messages he wanted to convey to viewers[06:32] Why do some artists act the way they do[08:48] The process of making a documentary[11:55] What people don’t know about Rick James[18:35] How viewers have responded to the documentary[20:08] Sacha’s thoughts on music by POCs[24:18] On the rise of music documentaries thanks to streaming[27:52] Sacha’s dream project[31:35] About “Hip Hop 50”Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Sacha Jenkins, Mass Appeal Links:Mighty NetworksSHOWTIMETrapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Former Forbes senior entertainment editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg returns to the podcast to talk about his achievements when he worked for the media company. He shares his thoughts on Jay-Z, the challenges of publishing, and why he decided to go with Substack. He also discusses his books, “We Are All Musicians Now” and “A-List Angels”, diving deep into some of the different themes and artists that he wrote about. If you’re interested in seeing things from a music and entertainment writer’s perspective, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights[03:05] On pioneering Forbes’ hip-hop coverage [08:22] How Zack valuates the net worth of hip-hop artists[11:25] Jay-Z’s billionaire status and his future plans[17:32] About Zack’s transition to Substack[23:38] Forbes’ journalism style versus Zack’s writing style[25:25] A preview of “We Are All Musicians Now”[34:35] What “A-List Angels” is about[39:12] Zack’s prediction on who is going to be the next billionaireListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Zack O'Malley Greenburg, @zogblog, Zack O'Malley GreenburgLinks:Mighty NetworksWe Are All Musicians Now by Zack O'Malley GreenburgSubstackA-List Angels by Zack O’Malley GreenburgTrapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Mary Rahmani is the founder and CEO of Moon Projects, an innovative agency that is focused on short-form video content and helping artists, brands, and companies take that to the next level. In this episode, she talks about her three-pronged company and what she has learned from her time as a TikTok executive. She then discusses Moon Projects’ partnership with Republic Records and some of the trends she is seeing within the entertainment industry.If you’re looking to be a part of the TikTok community and to learn more about leveraging short-form videos, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights[02:10] An overview of Mary’s career and how she established Moon Projects[06:05] Strategy is key to gaining virality and staying relevant on TikTok[09:48] What emerging artists can learn from famous musicians who use TikTok like 24kGoldn, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, and Lizzo[13:57] How Mary chooses artists to work with and how A&R representatives should be dealing with artists[21:22] About Republic Records and Mary’s perspective on work-life balance[29:08] Music as a love language and TikTok as a platform[33:32] On music-gaming collabs, the divergence of fame and talent, and video streamingListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Mary Rahmani, @mrahmama, Moon ProjectsLinks:How More TikTok Stars Can Succeed in the Music IndustryRepublic RecordsTrapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Mike Weissman is the CEO of SoundCloud. He returns to the podcast to talk about the independent artist community, user-centric monetization, and the potential in NFTs and the like in a Web 3.0 era. He then weighs in on the revenue model in relation to the rise of streaming services and on SoundCloud’s progress to becoming a modern music entertainment business.If you are interested in the future of the music industry, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights:[02:38] The 3 pieces to SoundCloud’s growth and success[07:55] How fan-powered royalties work and benefit artists[13:20] What Mike is seeing from major labels[16:00] The opportunities in Web 3.0 [19:30] On the $10 all-you-can-consume subscription model[23:35] SoundCloud’s partnerships and future plans[26:28] Podcasting versus music streaming versus video[31:50] On SoundCloud’s international growthListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Mike Weissman, @mweissman2, SoundCloud Trapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo.