Episodes
Listen in to the conversation I had with expert Bob Moczydlowsky, former Managing Director of Techstars Music, about what trends and investment shifts he sees shaking up the music tech startup space. This was a live Seismic Activity event, open to all and held monthly. RSVP for the next one here.  The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how technology is changing the way business gets done. Visit musictectonics.com to find shownotes and a...
Published 05/01/24
Published 05/01/24
If you’re a regular listener, you know we run the Music Tectonics conference. Early EARLY bird tickets are now on sale, and it’s time for you to think about joining us on the beach in Santa Monica CA. Find out about this year's keynote speaker—and why it's a big deal that he's back! We share a few audio snapshots from the conference to give you a taste of the music innovation conversations that take place there. The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to...
Published 04/24/24
Join Dr. Portia Sabin, President of the Music Business Association, and Dmitri in a candid discussion about how technology is propelling the industry forward. Their conversation touches on how tech helps to mitigate issues like fraud, and how it is reshaping the way we experience live events. Portia and Dmitri discuss the interplay between innovation and the need for unity amongst the industry's various sectors. The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to...
Published 04/17/24
This episode contains a host of insider knowledge. For example, did you know that ideally your pitch to an investor would not go further out than the next twelve months? And that the strength of your team could be more important than your innovative idea. Join Dmitri for a rooftop discussion at SXSW 2024, as he talks with Xavier Péters of Lean Square about his thoughts for securing successful music tech startup funding. The conversation touches on a wide range of topics, including how to find...
Published 04/10/24
Vinyl provides a tactile connection to an artist, and stands as an artistic statement amidst the ephemeral nature of streaming. Join us as Tristra talks with Karlyn King, a researcher whose work attempts to decode the enigma of vinyl's unwavering charm.  “We live in the post ownership economy. Music is just a rental service, you're renting the right to use it – like an apartment. Whereas the vinyl experience is completely different…We’re looking for concrete experiences. People are just...
Published 04/03/24
How close are you to the exchange of money? Let's take some time to think through this most vital piece of the music tech startup equation. Money. Join Dmitri in this thought experiment as he goes deep – and works through the realities of building a startup within an ecosystem in which music is often undervalued.  The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how technology is changing the way business gets done. Visit musictectonics.com to find...
Published 03/27/24
In this week’s episode, we look at the explosion of Afrobeats through the lens of data. Christine Osazuwa, music data expert and Chief Strategy Officer at Shoobs, discusses how data can show us hidden stories behind the globalization of all sorts of genres: K-Pop, Reggaeton, Bollywood, and more.  “Music drives culture, culture drives music, etc,” Christine says. “I find it really funny how people were shocked by the rise of Latin music while the Spanish speaking population in the U. S. grew...
Published 03/20/24
Venturing into the music tech startup scene requires more than just a bright idea; it demands a deep understanding of the music industry's unique challenges and opportunities. That's where Vickie Nauman, founder and CEO of CrossBorderWorks, steps in. On the latest Music Tectonics podcast, we tackle the nitty-gritty of transforming your innovative spark into a sustainable business. From identifying your real customers to deciding the right moment to assemble a powerhouse team, we cover the...
Published 03/13/24
Join Dmitri and Tristra as they explore what’s happening right now in the wide world of music and tech. Using Rock Paper Scissors’ weekly newsletter, Rock Paper Scanner, as a jumping off point, Dmitri and Tristra discuss the TikTok/Universal game of chicken, Spotify’s payouts to the indies, and the current state of live music according to Live Nations earnings call. It’s a lot. Subscribe here for weekly issues of the RPS Scanner   Links to articles discussed The TikTok Showdown (for...
Published 03/06/24
Imagine a world where your likeness is more than just an image—it's an asset. Our conversation with Jim Griffin, media technologist and founder and moderator of the Pho list, talks us through name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights in the music industry.    Artists are navigating a new digital landscape where AI has the potential to turn one’s likeness into a substantial revenue stream. The music industry sits on the cusp of transformation, and understanding the trajectory of these changes...
Published 02/28/24
Join Dmitri on an exploration through the evolving landscape of modern synthesizers at the Buchla & Friends event held in downtown LA last month. From the innovative offerings of the Buchla Easel to Noise Engineering, Elektron, 1010 Music and the Star Wars vibe of Soma Laboratory’s Terra,  there was a lot to take in. It truly felt like a fusion of a craft fair and makerspace community, and we had a blast. The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to...
Published 02/21/24
Step right up to a sonic adventure! Dmitri’s recent experience at NAMM uncovered a treasure trove of musical innovation as well as future classics, all together under one roof. Journey with Dmitri through some of NAMM’s latest offerings. The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how technology is changing the way business gets done. Visit musictectonics.com to find shownotes and a transcript for this episode, and find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and...
Published 02/14/24
How do you transform your startup idea from a mere spark, into a full-blown inferno of success? Today Dmitri is talking with Cliff Fluet, a self proclaimed Digital Media Lawyer and the strategic mastermind behind Eleven. The conversation is wide ranging, from early, make-or-break stages of startup development, to what Cliff believes are key traits a successful founder holds.  Dmitri and Cliff discuss the importance of humility, and why an army of seasoned advocates can be your strongest...
Published 02/07/24
Seth Goldstein and Michael Nevins of Music.AI give us the lowdown on audio deepfakes, singing clones, and synthetic voices, and what they mean for the music business. We peel back the layers of AI-generated voices, revealing how this tech transforms one person's voice into another's while maintaining the original performer's emotional core. We delve into the ethical landscape of voice synthesis, distinguishing questionable fakes from commendable uses like aiding singers and crossing language...
Published 01/31/24
Step into the vibrant world of music making innovation with Adam McHeffey, CMO at Artiphon. Dmitri and Adam discuss the breakdown of the barriers to music-making, as unconventional instruments unleash a surge of first-time musicians and new creators. We'll unravel how inclusivity is striking a chord in the mainstream, and why the growing number of female guitarists are just the beginning of a larger cultural shift. Adam and Dmitri unpack the changes in consumer behavior, indicating a...
Published 01/24/24
Join Tristra Newyear Yeager and Eleanor Rust to unpack the fascinating intersection of music, media, and technology. In this episode, we take a stroll through forecasts that other analysts are making for 2024, in the music industry and its borderlands. the future of sonic branding. Imagine a world where brands harmonize with our lives through distinct audio identities, especially on platforms like TikTok where the auditory experience reigns supreme. We also shine a light on the budding trend...
Published 01/18/24
Unlock the secrets behind the rapidly evolving music tech industry as Tristra and Dmitri take you on a journey through the latest innovations and investment trends. We're dissecting the major shake-ups caused by recent buyouts and what they mean for the future of music technology. Against the backdrop of shifting investment landscapes, we find a glimmer of hope in the resilient end-of-year investment surges, especially in the exciting realm of Web 3. Venture with us as we explore what the...
Published 01/12/24
Discover the beating heart of the sync industry as Karl Richter peels back the curtain on music supervision's dynamic role in intertwining tunes with visuals. Our conversation starts with the evolution of music supervision into 2024, navigating through the challenges that have shaped the industry, including writers' strikes and economic fluctuations. We zoom in on the artistry and legal tango behind syncing music to media, dispelling myths and bringing to light the financial heft these...
Published 01/04/24
Happy Holidays from the Music Tectonics Podcast! Join the podcast team as we look back to one of our favorite interviews from the past year with Lee Kebler, a visionary at the crossroads of music, spatial computing, and the metaverse. He takes us on a journey from his days as a touring DJ to his current role as a tech trailblazer. In our latest episode, we dance through the virtual landscape discussing the impact of the Apple Vision Pro headset and dissect the notion that the metaverse, far...
Published 12/27/23
Have we got a treat for you! We ran the Swimming with Narwhals Music Tech startup competition at the Music Tectonics conference back in October, and today, we have interviews with our two winners. You will hear from judges' choice winner Ben Bowler about Aux, the music making platform, and especially their new offering, Aux Sounds, which lets you control AI to make beats and backing tracks. And you'll hear our interview with audience choice award winner Diana Gremore of RealCount, the...
Published 12/21/23
Let's go back to the 2023 Music Tectonics conference and listen in on some of our favorite people talking about the state of creativity in music tech. You can find more conference takeaways in some of our recent episodes. Listen to catch what you missed or refresh your memory. At Music Tectonics and Rock Paper Scissors, we are fascinated by the explosion of music creator tools that are democratizing music making and fueling a powerful new creator economy. In this episode, you'll hear from...
Published 12/13/23
What do we really mean when we talk about communities in music and technology? This episode shines a light on the remarkable role that dedicated groups of fans or creators can play when they come together. Our guest, musician and tech thinker Mark Redito, shares his journey from the early days of the internet to the decentralized and synthetic music worlds that are unfolding now. On the way, we dive into headless collaboration, where no single leader takes center stage, as we chat about...
Published 12/06/23
We’re excited to share with you one of the hottest sessions from the 2023 Music Tectonics Conference Music Meets AI Navigating a Positive Future. If you were at the conference, enjoy this fun refresher on the conversations we had there, and if you weren't with us in Santa Monica, you will really love this episode. Check out other recent episodes for more conference takeaways. Whether you're excited by artificial intelligence or wary about its implications, you can't deny it's one of the hot...
Published 11/29/23
Uncover how lyrics are driving music innovation with our guest, Darryl Ballantyne, CEO and founder of LyricFind. This episode dives deep into the magic of Lyric IQ, a tool that uses AI to expose the concealed meanings in songs, proving that even the most cheerful tunes can have a darker undertone—you’ll never hear MMMBop the same way again! We'll also explore how LyricFind's innovative technology enables services to create child-friendly streaming platforms through content filtration.    ...
Published 11/20/23