Best Amplitude Ventures Podcasts (2025)

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#136: FOUNDER: Epidemic Sound: The Legal Model That Created a New Music Economy: Tom Höglund 1:05:50

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7d ago1:05:50

1:05:50

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 t…

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#135: MTEA: Rethinking AI, Consciousness, and Creativity: Alex Braga 42:32

18d ago42:32

42:32

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 …

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#134: EXPERT: The Mood Music Model: A New Way to Make a Living in Music: Niklas Brantberg 56:48

25d ago56:48

56:48

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 m…

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#133: FOUNDER: Democratizing Music Ownership Through Smarter Finance and Technology: Lior Tibon 52:33

1M ago52:33

52:33

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, transparenc…

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#132: AI, Localization, and the New Music Economy: Ben Mendoza 57:26

1M ago57:26

57:26

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 art…

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#131: BIME: Why Audience Data Is the New Currency in Live Music || Lauriane Saint-Denis 51:35

1M ago51:35

51:35

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 re…

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#130: FOUNDER: The Business of Band Merchandise and Artist Branding || Seamus Menihane 40:17

2M ago40:17

40:17

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 artis…

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#129: FOUNDER: Building Sustainable Music Tech Companies in a Resistant Industry || Edward Ginis 1:04:29

3M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

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 …

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#128: FOUNDER: Building a Music Career Fans Can Emotionally Invest In || Vishal Ramakrishna 52:17

3M ago52:17

52:17

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 bet…

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#127: EXPERT: Building a Music Career Fans Can Emotionally Invest In 55:06

3M ago55:06

55:06

What does it really take to turn a viral moment into a lasting music career? Head of US Marketing at 1RPM and a music industry veteran with over 20 years of experience has played pivotal roles in the rise of artists like Shawn Mendes, Elton John, and Nick Jonas, and she shares candidly what it really takes to build artist brands that last. Jenna br…

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#126: WALLIFORNIA: Music Tech Funding Is Broken – Who Might Fix It? 46:02

4M ago46:02

46:02

Reflecting back to Wallifornia Music Tech Conference 2025 July, in this fiery and data-driven conversation, Jakob and Taj challenge the illusions around music tech investment. They talked about why most music startups face poor exits, why B2C music apps struggle, and why B2B infrastructure solutions hold more promise. Drawing on Taj’s tech startup …

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#125: FOUNDER: Changing the Music Industry’s Artist Revenue Model: Mag Rodriguez 57:12

4M ago57:12

57:12

It takes just one person to believe in the vision you are building. Using that mindset, Mag Rodriguez, the founder & CEO of EVEN, has been able to create a platform that helps artists sell music to fans before it hits streaming services. He shares his journey from managing artists straight out of high school to leading music initiatives at a ventur…

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#124: EXPERT: How Remote Work Benefits Creators || Adam Fine 55:33

4M ago55:33

55:33

Fiverr is one of the multi-national online marketplaces for freelance services and in this episode with Adam Fine, Head of Music and Audio, we had an eye-opening conversation on how remote collaboration and AI are transforming the music industry. Topics such as the evolving landscape of music production, how AI tools like Suno are streamlining work…

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#123: EXPERT: AI vs the Music Industry: What’s Actually Happening? || Becky Brook 1:01:32

4M ago1:01:32

1:01:32

In another episode with Rebecca Brook, she breaks down what’s really happening with Suno, Udio, and the major labels—who’s suing whom, why startups trying to “do the right thing” feel betrayed, and why the current legal landscape is making things murkier, not clearer. The conversation pulls no punches and tackles hard truths: Are the legal systems …

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#122: ARTIST: The Truth About Being a Professional Guitarist || Ryan Roxie 59:25

5M ago59:25

59:25

Strings, tours and faith. Legendary guitarist tells his story from rejection to global tours and AI innovation. The mindset and evolution of Ryan Roxie, the longtime guitarist for Alice Cooper and a true rock industry survivor shares a brutally honest and inspiring look at life on and off stage. As we explore the darker truths of the music industry…

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#121: EXPERT: The Future of Physical Music Collectibles in a Digital World || Jennifer Sullivan 52:37

5M ago52:37

52:37

Can Physical Music Make a Comeback? Jennifer Sullivan, CMO and President of North America at KiTbetter discusses how KIT albums—a hybrid physical-digital format originating in K-pop—are transforming music monetization in the West. With insights on artist sustainability, fandom-driven commerce, and cultural shifts in music ownership, this episode ex…

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#120: FOUNDER: What’s Really Going On With Lyrics and DSPs || Darryl Ballantyne 36:50

5M ago36:50

36:50

LyricFind CEO, Darryl Ballantyne, discusses the company's $1 billion antitrust lawsuit against Musixmatch and its parent company, TPG Growth. The lawsuit alleges that Musixmatch's exclusive licensing deal with Warner Chappell Music has created a monopoly in the lyrics licensing market, forcing digital service providers like Spotify and iHeartRadio …

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#119: WALLIFORNIA: The Role of Community and Authenticity in Music Success: Rachel Young 45:07

5M ago45:07

45:07

Concluding the 3-day music tech conference 2025 at Belgium, we share one of our partnership episodes with Rachel Young as she shares her expert lens on how artists, founders, and music companies can leverage digital platforms to build sustainable careers. Taking lessons from her pivotal work launching and developing TikTok’s music distribution serv…

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#118: FOUNDER: The Truth About AI Mixing, Mastering, and the Future of Music Tech || David Ronan 50:29

5M ago50:29

50:29

From his academic roots and work at AI Music to launching RoEx, Dr. David Ronan, founder and CEO, shares how his AI-powered platform is transforming music production by lowering the technical barriers in mixing and mastering. A rare look at the intersection of machine learning and musical expression to the emotional nuances of mixing, he tell us wh…

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#117: FOUNDER: Use Branding to Attract Tech Partnerships and Customers || Erik Herrström 1:11:02

6M ago1:11:02

1:11:02

It is more than a design. We are looking into the evolving importance of brand in music tech, how storytelling and authentic connection drive loyalty, and offering practical advice for founders who want to shape identity, visually and verbally. All these are discussed with Erik Herrström, the creative director in Vienna who has worked with top-tier…

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#116: WALLIFORNIA: Investing in Music Tech Startups Is Risky but Worth It || Collette Tibbetts 54:22

6M ago54:22

54:22

For our next partnership episode, we have Collette Tibbetts, founder of Joker Deck, for a no‑fluff look at why music tech investing demands wild card thinking. Collette blends her experience as a songwriter and investor to explain why traditional VC frameworks often fall short in the music space—and how her angel syndicate, Joker Deck, is flipping …

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#115: FOUNDER: From Musician to Founder: How Sleeve Helps Artists Earn Real Income || Anna Lidell 46:28

6M ago46:28

46:28

With over 20 releases, a Netflix series soundtrack, and chairing Denmark’s top songwriting organizations, Danish musician and advocate dives deep into the challenges of sustaining a music career in an industry where streaming pays fractions and social media demands pay-to-play tactics. Find out how Anna Lidell's startup, SLEEVE, enables musicians t…

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#114: EXPERT: The Business of Music Catalogs: How Artists can Profit from IP || Yonas Aregai 46:20

6M ago46:20

46:20

How does a song become a multi-million dollar asset? With a career that began in talent and label management at M.E.R. Group—home to EDM icon Alan Walker—Yonas brings a unique, full-stack perspective on what gives music lasting value. Now leading operations at one of the most sophisticated music investment funds in the U.S., he reveals the internal…

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#113: FOUNDER: Symphony Is Leading the Future of DIY Music Marketing || Megh Vakharia and Chuka Chase 59:27

6M ago59:27

59:27

With roots in building digital experiences for artists like Childish Gambino and SZA, Megh and Chuka co-founded Symphony — an all-in-one marketing platform tailored for creators. In this episode, they share their journey from agency life to launching a scalable SaaS solution that simplifies marketing, data, and fan engagement for a new generation o…

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#112: WALLIFORNIA: The Real Story Behind Music and Streaming Algorithms at Deezer || Aurélien Hérault 44:50

7M ago44:50

44:50

PARTNERSHIP WITH WALLIFORNIA 2025 We explore the evolution of music discovery alongside Aurélien Hérault, Chief Innovation Officer at Deezer. From early editorial playlists to today’s AI-powered recommendation engines, Aurélien explains why Deezer labels—and withholds promotion of—100 % AI-generated tracks, how it detects fraudulent streaming activ…

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#111: FOUNDER: Solving Music Royalties with Tech and Getting Acquired || Tom Allen 53:02

7M ago53:02

53:02

Let's explore the journey of Tom Allen, CTO of Downtown Music Group and founder of Curve. Tom shares how he went from an independent-label intern to building a bootstrapped music-data platform that earned its acquisition. You’ll hear his insights on blending deep technical know-how with customer-driven iteration, and how he fosters a people-first c…

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#110: FOUNDER: Muserk is Solving the Royalty Problem || Hans Peter Roth 53:26

7M ago53:26

53:26

In a world where billions of songs compete for attention, one company is ensuring every creator gets paid what they’re owed. Hans Peter Roth shares how he transformed Muserk from a microsync licensing side project into the leading U.S. rights administrator, claiming an unexpected \$500K from YouTube in 2017 and growing to manage over 20 million wor…

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#109: FOUNDER: Inside Hangout.fm: Changing How We Listen to Music Together || Joseph Perla 50:59

7M ago50:59

50:59

Turntable.fm was Joseph Perla’s first breakout hit in 2011 — now he’s back with Hangout.fm, a fully licensed platform that brings shared music experiences online. In this episode, Joseph reveals how a failed music rights negotiation taught him lessons that shaped his career at Facebook and Lyft, and fueled his four-year battle to secure label agree…

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#108: EXPERT: Audiomack is Changing Latin Music and Fan Culture || Gineyda Cornelio 39:40

7M ago39:40

39:40

From island beats to global charts, Gineyda Cornelio, Director of Marketing & Latin Strategy at AudioMack is rewriting the rules of today’s music business. She traces her own path from club social-media gigs in Miami to guiding AudioMack’s Latin growth, then breaks down the numbers behind the genre’s 19% listener surge, the rise of independent dist…

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#107: FOUNDER: How the Foundation App Empowers Artists || Ryan Schmidt, Esq. 51:13

8M ago51:13

51:13

Knowledge is the new currency for independent musicians—and Ryan Schmidt, Esq., wants every artist to have plenty in the bank. In this episode, the artist-turned-music-lawyer explains Foundation App, a gamified pocket “music-business school” for delivering two-to-five-minute lessons on contracts, royalties, publishing, tour deals, mental health, an…

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#106: MTEA: Scaling Music Tech: What Control Reach Is Doing Differently || Clémentin Diard 52:15

8M ago52:15

52:15

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…

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#105: WALLIFORNIA: How LeanSquare Invests in Music Tech Startups || Xavier Péters 44:31

8M ago44:31

44:31

PARTNERSHIP WITH WALLIFORNIA 2025 Are 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 cl…

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#104: FOUNDER: Transforming Music Metadata with AI – A New Chapter with Noctil || Jacob Varghese 51:09

8M ago51:09

51:09

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 journ…

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#103: FOUNDER: How BeatConnect Is Changing Music Production || Alexandre Turbide & Nicholas Laroche 59:25

8M ago59:25

59:25

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 …

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#102: MANAGER: Music Entrepreneur’s Journey: Building Global Success from Estonia || Britt Randma 47:48

9M ago47:48

47:48

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 balanci…

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#101: FOUNDER: Creating Music with TUNEY || Antony Demekhin 1:01:55

9M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

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 cr…

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#100: EXPERT: "Scott" Yusuke Sugino: Insights From Yamaha 48:16

9M ago48:16

48:16

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 be…

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#099: EXPERT: Jody McKinley: How To Scale A Music Tech Business - Insights From Eleven75 49:13

9M ago49:13

49:13

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 sha…

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#098: EXPERT: Daniel Nordgård; The Truth About Music Streaming, AI, and Artists' Future 56:29

9M ago56:29

56:29

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 beh…

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#097: FOUNDER: Ciarán O'Toole & Michael Coll; The Story Behind Songbox; A MusicTech Startup 57:00

10M ago57:00

57:00

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 p…

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#096: MTEA: Thais Ruiz de Alda: Why Female Artists Are Missing From Your Playlists ft. Music Tech Europe Academy 58:34

10M ago58:34

58:34

Thais Ruiz de Alda, founder of Digital Femmes, delves into the barriers women face in tech and music while highlighting the opportunities for change. She shares her journey and the mission of Digital Femmes to create a more inclusive and diverse digital landscape. This episode is produced in partnership with Music Tech Europe Academy: https://www.m…

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#095: EXPERT: Dan Fowler: Music Industry in Crisis? Challenges and Opportunities 56:29

10M ago56:29

56:29

Streaming, technology, and economic shifts are transforming the music industry. In this episode, music expert Dan breaks down the biggest challenges and innovations shaping the business today. From the impact of streaming on artists and labels to the role of creators and new monetization strategies, this discussion explores how macroeconomic trends…

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#094: EXPERT: Christine Osazuwa: The Reality of Music Careers on Breaking In & Moving Up 56:29

10M ago56:29

56:29

This episode delves into the changing landscape of music and data. Christine Osazuwa, founder of Measure of Music and a seasoned expert in data-driven strategies for artists and labels, describes her journey from the US to key positions in London and Stockholm. She explains how she uses data to promote diversity and inclusion, and reveals the forwa…

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#093: FOUNDER: Michael Jacob: Building Ethical AI For Musicians 54:12

10M ago54:12

54:12

MJ, CEO of Lemonaide Music, shares his inspiring journey from aspiring rapper to tech entrepreneur. He dives into the challenges and successes of integrating AI into music production, emphasizing ethical AI practices and artist empowerment. Learn how Lemonaide Music is revolutionizing the industry by providing innovative AI-driven tools that suppor…

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#092: FOUNDER: Ola Sars: Transforming Music for Business 53:56

11M ago53:56

53:56

Beats and Spotify were early steps for Ola Sars in shaping how businesses use music, leading him to start Soundtrack Your Brand. This episode explains how his work with consumer streaming platforms guided him toward a B2B model that changes how companies engage audiences through music, focusing on fairer licensing, increasing value for artists, and…

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#091: EXPERT: Jean Christophe Barat: Allfeat and The Future of Royalties 44:55

11M ago44:55

44:55

The collaboration between Allfeat and Sound Connections is paving the way for innovation in the music industry. In this episode, Jean Christophe Barat (JC), founder of Allfeat, shares how their blockchain technology addresses critical issues like metadata management and royalty distribution. He also discusses the journey of building Allfeat and its…

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#090: EXPERT: Pedro Sarmento: Music, AI, and the Human Touch 57:41

11M ago57:41

57:41

The human element in music remains essential, even as AI transforms the creative process. In this episode, Pedro Sarmento, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Digital Music in London, discusses how technology can support, rather than overshadow, human creativity. From his journey as a guitarist to his work with AI and guitar tablatures, Ped…

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#089: EXPERT: Maciej Dulski: The Story Behind MusicTech Lab 39:17

11M ago39:17

39:17

MusicTechLab is helping to address the challenges of integrating technology into the music industry while supporting creativity in startups. In this episode, Maciej Dulski shares his perspective on the changing landscape of music technology and how it is creating practical opportunities for artists and businesses. A thoughtful look at the hurdles a…

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#088: AI Jake's Take: Cracking The Code On Music Tech Financing 34:48

11M ago34:48

34:48

Get to know why "boring B2B solutions" and infrastructure-based innovations hold untapped potential, and learn practical strategies for raising capital in an industry with scarce investor specialization. Jakob and AI Jake also touch on the importance of realistic multiples, the pitfalls of emotional biases in investment, and the critical role of pu…

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#087: Tajdar Khan: Business in Music: Understanding The Challenges and Opportunities 23:46

12M ago23:46

23:46

Amplitude Ventures partner, Taj, shares his insights on the evolving music industry in this episode. From blending traditional business strategies with the passion economy to exploring how technology drives innovation, Taj offers a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the sector. He also reflects on his journey from India to Nor…