Your Morning Coffee Podcast

On this very special edition of the YMC podcast, your host Jay Gilbert has an in-depth conversation with author Liz Pelly on her recently released book entitled Mood Machine - The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist.  Subscribe to the newsletter! YourMorning.Coffee    

The hosts dive into the impact of playlists, revealing how they can make or break new artists. They explore whether albums are becoming obsolete in favor of endless singles. An intriguing discussion on age in the music biz highlights that 80 is the new 20. The conversation shifts to AI's role in music creation and promotion, addressing legal challenges artists face today. Showcasing the rise of tribute bands, they critique how nostalgia can overshadow new music. Ethical dilemmas around posthumous releases raise questions about authenticity in the industry.

On this week's YMC podcast episode, your hosts Jay Gilbert and Mike Etchart break down these important music business stories: "There Are Now Over 200M Tracks On Audio Streaming Services. Nearly 100M Of Them Aren’t Played More Than 10 Times Each Year" (Music Business Worldwide): "Music Business Trends, Topics & Stories To Watch In 2025" (Billboard); "Why Physical Album Variants Have Exploded In The Streaming Era" (Billboard). Plus a quick audio drop from YouTuber Benn Jordan who says he’s found a way to spot AI-generated music that so far has identified songs generated using the Suno platform (which many think is the best at creating human-like music) 100% of the time.   Subscribe to the newsletter! YourMorning.Coffee  

Jaime Marconette, VP of Music Insights and Artist Relations at Luminate, delves into their 2024 Year-End Music Report. He reveals alarming stats about song streams, with 87% of songs getting under a thousand streams. The conversation highlights the streaming growth in emerging markets and the rise of pop music in the U.S. Marconette discusses Gen Z as top live music spenders and the cultural impact of music exports. He also emphasizes the importance of brand partnerships for artists and introduces a new metric for gauging global music influence.

Episode 231 On this week's YMC podcast, your hosts Jay Gilbert and Mike Etchart disucss these important music industry stories: "Big Music Myth #1: Streamers Are In The Music Business" (Chris Castle); "Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows Unmasks Truth Behind 'Dynamic' Ticket Pricing: 'Artists Love To Hide Behind Live Nation And Ticketmaster And Go, 'Oh. We Had No Clue''' (Ultimate Guitar); "Yes, A TikTok Ban Is Closer Than Ever. No, Your App Won’t Just Disappear" (CNN). Subscribe to the newsletter! YourMorning.Coffee

YMC Special Episode - A Conversation With Jesse Kirshbaum   On this special episode of the YMC podcast, your host Jay Gilbert chats with Jesse Kirshbaum of the Nue Agency and Beats + Bytes on the new 2024 Trend Report.    Subscribe to the newsletter! YourMorning.Coffee

The discussion kicks off with the intriguing saga of Taylor Swift and industry power player Bob Lefsetz. AI's looming impact on music sparks a deep dive into creativity and licensing challenges ahead. Celebrating vinyl collecting, stunning photography highlights the scene's charm. Spotify’s stock surge and scandals reveal a turbulent landscape, while insightful commentary contrasts today’s game with the revolutionary vibes of the 60s. Influential music documentaries are spotlighted, enriching the narrative around iconic artists and their struggles.

On this special episode of the YMC podcast, your host Jay Gilbert sits down with Rob Abelow from Where Music's Going about the article in his newsletter,  "Music's Biggest Problems".   Subscribe to the newsletter! YourMorning.Coffee

Episode 229 On this New Year's edtion of the YMC podcast, your humble hosts Jay Gilbert and Mike Etchart welcome 2025 by chatting about these important music industry stories: "Trends That Will Drive The Music Business In 2025" (Hypebot); "Music CAN Thrive In The AI Era" (Wired); "As Vinyl Grows, High-Priced Audiophile Editions Are More Popular. Are They Worth It?" (Billboard).  Plus an audio drop with Bill Hein from Pressing Business.   Subscribe to the newsletter! YourMorning.Coffee

Kriss Thakrar, an analyst at MIDiA Research, shares valuable insights into the music industry's evolving landscape. He discusses the impact of Spotify on musicians and raises ethical concerns about fake artists and AI-generated music. The conversation highlights the recent acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings by Virgin Music Group, examining its potential effects on independent artists. Thakrar also critiques outdated promotion strategies, advocating for authentic engagement as crucial in navigating the competitive market.