Trapital

Now that Wasserman Agency has rebrand itself to "The Team," what's next? Who will lead The Team? Who will the new owner be? What will they do with it? Elsewhere in the talent agency world, CAA has a new managing director for music touring, and UTA's longtime leader has stepped down. Who will lead the next era? I am joined by Ben Sisario from the New York Times to unpack the talent agency business, the leadership and reputational questions surrounding the companies, and what it all signals about succession, private equity, and the future of agency power. CHAPTERS 05:05 Wasserman's Rebrand 08:23 Sale Scenarios 12:52 Margins And Risk 21:16 Why Music Lags 26:08 The Black Box of Talent Agencies SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week Linktree: Share music, sell merch, and connect with fans on one simple link. Linktree is the #1 link in bio tool that musicians and artists use to connect fans to everything they do. Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

As streaming growth slows, the music industry is searching for its next big opportunity. One of the leading bets? AI-powered music creation. I'm joined by MIDiA Research’s Tati Cirisano to break down whether platforms like Suno represent a true growth engine or just another niche product. We explore the rise of consumer creation, the limits of the “superfan” narrative, and why the future of music revenue may be more fragmented than the industry hopes. CHAPTERS 02:10 Rise of AI music tools 06:00 The superfan idea 14:30 The superfan landscape 22:30 Suno’s growth 40:00 AI vs. streaming 46:00 Labels and deals 52:00 Streaming’s future SPONSORS Symphonic's Women Empowered+ mentorship program. ⁠Apply as a mentor or mentee here⁠. Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week Linktree: Share music, sell merch, and connect with fans on one simple link. Linktree is the #1 link in bio tool that musicians and artists use to connect fans to everything they do. TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

The Department of Justice has settled its lawsuit against Live Nation - Ticketmaster. There will be no breakup of the live entertainment company, but Live Nation has agreed to several remedies in an effort to improve the ticketing industry. But more rust that’s settled… what’s next? What will this change? In this episode, we are joined by returning guest and NYU professor Larry Miller to break down the DOJ’s settlement with Live Nation/Ticketmaster. We also dig into the bigger question fans care about most: will this make tickets cheaper? CHAPTERS 04:13 Why Did DOJ Want to Settle? 11:14 Will Ticket Prices Fall? 13:05 Primary vs. Secondary Ticketing Market 22:48 StubHub and SeatGeek’s Challenge 24:56 Live Nation’s Consent Decree SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week Linktree: Share music, sell merch, and connect with fans on one simple link. Linktree is the #1 link in bio tool that musicians and artists use to connect fans to everything they do. TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

Investors have poured more money into music than ever before. Music as an asset class if hotter than ever,. But the public markets have discounted the value of music companies: UMG stock is currently trading near its all-time low WMG trades at a discount on its earnings relative to UMG RSVR is going through a takeover attempt Several publicly traded music companies have been taken off the public markets This is a huge disparity, and it was time to explain why. In this solo episode, I break down this paradox. We will also connect the dots to real estate, the post-2021 repricing, and why more take-private attempts may be ahead. CHAPTERS 00:10 Private vs Public Money in Music 07:26 Similarities in Music 08:19 2021 Reset 15:10 WMG and UMG 24:02 What’s Ahead SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week Linktree: Share music, sell merch, and connect with fans on one simple link. Linktree is the #1 link in bio tool that musicians and artists use to connect fans to everything they do. TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

Sphere Entertainment is now profitable, Wizard of Oz was a hit, and more locations are coming. Has the business turned the corner, or are there still question marks? In this episode, I’m joined by Tati Cirisano, MIDiA Research, to assess where Sphere Entertainment stands in 2026. We unpack the company’s narrative, scalability, residencies, challenges, and more. CHAPTERS 01:34 Is It Really Profitable? 10:01 The Concert Residency Model 14:58 Sphere Expansion Plans 22:33 Novelty Risk 26:07 Does Sphere Have a Comp? SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

In music right now, the winners aren’t just the artists with the biggest audiences, they’re the teams that control the infrastructure. First, I sit down with Mag Rodriguez, CEO and co-founder of EVEN, to break down how Even became a key part of J. Cole’s The Fall Off rollout, from exclusive drops and direct-to-fan sales to tour presales and fan community features designed to keep people coming back. Then, I’m joined by Lior Tibon, CEO and co-founder of Duetti, to unpack the financial plumbing behind catalog deals: how Duetti raised $200M, why equity and debt get used differently, and how data, underwriting, and marketing operations power the rights-acquisition machine. CHAPTERS: 04:27 Why J. Cole Uses EVEN 10:16 EVEN-UMG Deal, Explained 16:49 Clearing the Rumors 32:30 Duetti’s Equity vs. Debt Stack 33:34 What a typical Duetti deal looks like 38:38 Catalog Marketing Playbook SPONSORSChartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week Linktree: Share music, sell merch, and connect with fans on one simple link. Linktree is the #1 link in bio tool that musicians and artists use to connect fans to everything they do. TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

For the past 20 years, subscription streaming has produced an outcome that still gets overlooked. The category winners weren’t the big tech giants or the major studios. In music, Spotify became the default. In premium video, Netflix did the same. In this episode, we break down how pure-play focus, faster decision-making, and a single retention-driven scoreboard create compounding advantages that big tech’s money and bundling can’t easily copy. CHAPTERS 01:03 Why Spotify and Netflix Succeeded 06:13 Pure-Play Edge 10:36 Speed & Ownership 14:29 Survivorship Reality SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

We just came back from the 68th Grammy Awards. I am joined by Tati Cirisano of MIDiA Research break down what it’s actually like to the experience the Grammys up close from industry events and late-night conversations to crossing paths with artists, executives, and power players shaping the music business. We unpack standout performances, unexpected moments, and how attending the show in person is different from watching at home. CHAPTERS 01:43 Bad Bunny’s Big Night 05:11 The Grammys In Person vs. On TV 08:36 Lauryn Hill 10:07 Cher on Stage 14:02 Polymarket and the Grammys 20:39 Grammy Week 25:19 Big Changes Next Year SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

YouTube is the biggest TV, music, and video platform in the world, but it’s not satisfied. The company still wants to compete for the dollars that go to traditional TV. But can YouTube have it all? In this episode, we examine YouTube’s push into the living room, from securing the NFL Sunday Ticket to becoming the exclusive home of the Oscars starting in 2029. But as YouTube chases TV legitimacy and higher profit margins, it faces a core tension: how can it get there without losing the creator-driven ethos that made it dominant. We break down YouTube’s battle for short-form dominance, where YouTube TV fits in, and what its evolving strategy reveals about the future of media, creators, and global attention. CHAPTERS 02:12 YouTube’s Ambition 04:59 YouTube vs TikTok 10:04 YouTube TV 13:16 Future of YouTube SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

Meta’s short-form video surface, Reels, now generates $50 billion in annual run rate. That’s more than some of the largest media companies like Netflix, TikTok, and YouTube’s ad business. Reels may be less culturally relevant than those companies, and its users spend less time on the platform than others, but it prints money and shows no signs of slowing down. This episode explores how Meta’s infrastructure made Reels one of the most successful monetization plays in modern tech and what could threaten its momentum next. CHAPTERS 02:51 Culture vs. Cash 04:30 How Reels Makes Money 06:49 Meta’s Advantage 15:34 Risks Ahead 18:54 What’s Next for Reels SPONSORSChartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week Linktree: Help your followers discover everything you do, with one simple link. Use code TRAPITAL50 for a discount TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

In this episode, we sit down with Will Page, economist and author of Pivot, for a deep dive on the global economics of music. Using Will’s latest Global Value of Music Copyright Report, we explore streaming economics, global market gaps, AI, and where the music industry’s next phase of growth may come from. CHAPTERS 02:45 Global Value of Music: 10 Years in Review 11:24 Emerging Music Markets 13:37 Africa’s Music Economy 18:11 Brazil’s Music Market 21:12 The Crocodile Smile 33:18 AI and Music’s Future SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week beatBread: Smarter choices. Better deals. GUEST Will Page, former Chief Economist of Spotify and PRS for Music, Author of Pivot LINKS Global Value of Music Copyright - Will Page TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi have had a big year in 2025, but what are they really? Securities? Derivatives? Sportsbooks? They may be all of the above. Listen to my breakdown on how these markets have evolved over time, and what led to their current rise today. We then dive into the opportunities, risks, and the regulatory challenges that may shape their future. CHAPTERS 02:54 The Origin of Prediction Markets 06:43 Polymarket, Kalshi, and Modern Prediction Markets 09:16 Regulation and What’s Next 09:31 Bucket A: Policy, Finance, and Economics 13:36 Bucket B: Sports, Entertainment, and Pop Culture SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week Too Lost: empowering artists with tools to manage, distribute, and grow their music independently. TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

People say they miss when MTV played music videos, but their viewing habits say otherwise! We revisited one of our most popular episodes from 2023, but trimmed it down to include the best parts. I’m joined by Zack O’Malley Greenburg to unpack MTV’s rise from a scrappy video platform to a cultural powerhouse. We break down breakthrough moments like Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”, the rise of reality TV, the networks influence, rise, fall, and what’s next? CHAPTERS 01:04 The Birth of MTV 04:45 MTV's Business Model 13:01 Cultural Impact of Influence 21:28 Rise of Reality TV 29:59 MTV ‘s Decline SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week beatBread : A music funding platform that empowers independent artists to access advances on their streaming income while keeping 100% ownership of their music. Splice, a cloud-based music creation platform offering millions of royalty-free samples, plugins (via rent-to-own), and AI-powered tools to inspire creators everywhere GUEST Zack O’Malley Greenburg, Author, Empire State of Mind TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

We continue our Trapital Summit series with Dan and MiDIA Research’s Tati Cirisano sharing bold predictions from Trapital Summit attendees and sharing their thoughts. We debate the long-term viability of major record labels, whether a Netflix + Spotify merger make sense (we recorded this before the podcast partnership!), we also discussed whether we’ll return to mass mainstream monoculture, future growth opportunities, and which new opportunities will be unlocked by AI-powered tools. CHAPTERS 01:47 Future of Major Labels? 03:58 Will Netflix and Spotify Ever Merge? 05:52 A Return to Monoculture? 09:06 Unprecedented Industry Growth? 10:30 Will AI-Driven Labels Be The Future? SPONSORS Splice: Splice Instrument is here. Real instruments, meticulously crafted, and authentically crafted Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week GUEST Tatiana Cirisano, VP Music Strategy, MIDiA Research TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

This episode is in partnership and collaboration with our friends at The Recording Academy You’ll hear our deep dive on what we can learn from this years Grammys with our usual analysis and a few select guests including: Panos Panay (President of The Recording Academy), Tati Cirisano (MIDiA Research), Zack O’Malley Greenburg, author and investor. We discuss the biggest takeaways from the 2026 nominations, the rise of international music, how the voting body has evolved, and the economic lift of a Grammy win. CHAPTERS 01:41 - Biggest takeaways 05:41 - Tati Cirisano joins us 13:02 - Panos Panay joins us 17:10 - Which past Grammys would have changed 21:52 - The Grammy Bump 33:10 - Zack Greenburg joins us SPONSORS The Recording Academy Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week Tidal: Win $100k with the Tidal Upload Contest GUESTS Panos Panay, President, The Recording Academy Tatiana Cirisano, VP Music Strategy, MIDiA Research Zack O’Malley Greenburg, Author, Empire State of Mind TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. RESOURCES What is the Economic Value of a GRAMMY in Today’s Industry? - Chartmetric and Will Page

At our Trapital Summit, Nathan Hubbard joined me in stage to discuss Firebird Music’s investment thesis, working with Yungblud, and the business of Taylor Swift. CHAPTERS 04:06 Firebird’s Mission 06:46 Yungblud’s Case Study 14:16 Investing in Management Companies 21:03 Finding New Talent 23:34 Is Taylor Swift the Best CEO in Music? SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week. Splice: Learn more about Splice’s brand new virtual INSTRUMENT LINKS & SOURCES ⁠Trapital newsletter⁠⁠ Trapital Summit 2025⁠ Guests: Nathan Hubbard, ⁠Firebird Music⁠⁠ Every Single Album⁠ Podcast TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week.

We continue our Trapital Summit series with Jason Sklar, a partner at Shamrock Capital, to explore music rights as an asset class, as well as gaming, film, and more. We discuss Shamrock’s perspective, market trends, valuation approaches, the role of AI, and cross-industry opportunities. 02:27 State of Music Rights Investing 09:37 Shamrock’s Investment Approach 16:01 AI, Gaming, and Music 19:39 Why Investing in Film is a B2B Business 20:13 What’s Next for Catalog Deals This episode is brought to you by SoundCloud for Artists, the all-in-one platform that empowers artists to distribute music, grow their audience, and get paid directly. From uploads to insights, SoundCloud helps creators take control of their careers. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

We continued our Trapital Summit series with our talk with Udio CEO Andrew Sanchez and MIDiA Research’s Tati Cirisano. AI is rapidly transforming how music is created, distributed, and experienced. You’ll hear them unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping this new era of sound. From redefining creativity to fostering trust between artists and technology, we explore how collaboration, ethics, and innovation can drive a more equitable and inspiring future for the music industry. 03:36 AI Music: Trends and Future 08:11 What Sets Udio Apart 14:06 Trust and Fair Use in AI 21:19 Future Vision and Rapid Fire This episode is brought to you by Laylo, a platform built for artists, creators, and live-event teams that helps turn shows into fandom. Laylo powers drops, tour campaigns, fan lists, SMS & DM outreach, and more to grow engagement and enable deeper connections. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

At the Trapital Summit, we were joined by the CEO of VERZUZ, Steve Pamon. His career is all about turning events into big moments, from his time at McKinsey, HBO, NFL, WWE, IMAX, and more. We discussed how major shows scale into franchises, covering team execution, fan value, storytelling, and lessons from Beyoncé, Roger Goodell, and more. 03:50 Story and Execution in Live Events 09:49 Music Industry Challenges 16:23 WWE and IMAX Takeaways 24:02 What’s Next for Verzuz This episode is brought to you by Laylo, a platform built for artists, creators, and live-event teams that helps turn shows into fandom. Laylo powers drops, tour campaigns, fan lists, SMS & DM outreach, and more to grow engagement and enable deeper connections. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

We’re continuing our Trapital Summit series with TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson. You’ll hear her and Billboard’s Taylor Mims discuss how TuneCore empowers artists worldwide, how indie artists break through the noise, successes, challenges, and more. 03:48 Wins and Milestones 09:55 Superfans Opportunities 12:57 Future Tools for TuneCore Artists 15:33 Indie Artist Trends This episode is brought to you by beatBread a music funding platform that empowers independent artists to access advances on their streaming income while keeping 100% ownership of their music. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

We’re continuing our Trapital Summit series. In this episode, we’re with Kakul Srivastava, CEO of Splice, to discuss how technology is reshaping music. From Splice’s acquisition of Spitfire Audio to the rise of AI-powered tools, we explore innovation, M&A lessons learned, and more. 03:51 Acquiring Spitfire Audio 10:24 Product and Data-Driven Growth 16:47 Royalty-Free Tradeoffs 20:22 Future of AI This episode is brought to you by Splice, a cloud-based music creation platform offering millions of royalty-free samples, plugins (via rent-to-own), and AI-powered tools to inspire creators everywhere Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

We’re continuing our Trapital Summit recap series. In today’s episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Oliver Schusser, VP of Apple Music and International Content, to explore Apple’s journey in music. We dive into the state of music streaming, AI ‘s impact , and Apple’s partnerships in sports and live content. 02:46 From iTunes to Apple Music 01:39 Focusing on Music 08:41 Apple Music Growth and Subscribers 11:40 AI 14:49 Halftime Show, MLB, MLS and more This episode is presented by TooLost, a platform empowering artists with tools to manage, distribute, and grow their music independently. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

We’re kicking off our Trapital Summit recap series. In today’s episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Elliot Grainge, CEO of Atlantic Music Group. This was Elliot’s first public talk since becoming CEO in October 2024. We discuss his response to the fanfare around the Warner Music Group transition, Elliot’s experience selling 10K Projects, and adapting the 10K playbook for superstars like Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran. We dig into Elliot’s view on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the future of AI. 02:41 The New CEO 03:44 Selling 10K Projects 09:35 Adapting 10K Playbook to Established Stars 14:08 The AI Generation Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of last week’s second annual Trapital Summit. Listen to me and Tati Cirisano from MIDiA Research break down what went into the event. From the NeueHouse bankruptcy to speaker selection, key moments, feedback from guests, curating the right room, and plenty more. 01:13 A Last-Minute Surprise 09:40 Curating the Room 12:05 Programming Decisions 25:45 AI and Industry Trends 36:43 2026 Summit Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

Our Trapital Summit is Wednesday, September 10 in Los Angeles! Get your tickets here. Today's mini-episode is a breakdown on The Weeknd's $1 billion music rights financing goals and whether it is worth that massive price tag. I also share a few words on the late Peter Sinclair, CEO and co-founder of beatBread. How Much Is The Weeknd's Music Really Worth? - Trapital Trapital Summit 2025

Trapital Summit is on Sep 10 in LA. Join us! Get your tickets here. The major record labels are adapting for the modern era. Lately, that shift has them looking less like RCA and more like KKR. These companies have invested less in signing new artists and more in acquiring the legendary back catalog of music. With streaming driving steady royalties, the music rights of proven hits are valuable. Music companies have teamed up with private equity firms to cash in. I also break down how this changes artist deals, lowers risk-taking, and opens the door for global investors and even artists to buy in. 00:33 The Shift to Private Equity 03:45 The Back Catalog Boom 09:24 A&R Reductions 12:14 What The Future Holds This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week. Trapital Summit is on Wednesday September 10 in LA. Join us!

In this solo episode, we dive into the most valuable music catalogs in the world, and what makes them stand out. From Queen and Michael Jackson’s deals and more, we explore why the top catalogs fetch massive multiples and how they operate at unique financial and cultural assets. 03:19 Iconic Catalogs 07:07 Music Biopics 08:32 How Genres Imoact Catalog Value 13:07 Future of Music Rights Trapital Summit is on Wednesday September 10 in LA. Join us! This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

In this episode, we’re revisiting our deep dive on James Dolan’s Sphere in Las Vegas. The Backstreet Boys residency at the Sphere. As we predicted on our 2025 Live Music Draft, the boy band’s apperance at the Vgas spectacle would exceed expectations. So I talk about that before I jump into the episode. Then I’m joined by MIDiA Research’s Tati Cirisano for our deep dive on the mult-billion dollar vision and future of The Sphere. 04:05 Sphere’s Backstory 10:33 Business Model 19:21 Financial Hurdles 28:40 Expansion Plans 33:11 Future Prospects Early bird ticket sales to the Trapital Summit end on Thursday July 24! Get your tickets today before prices go up! Join us on Wednesday September 10 in LA. This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

It’s harder than ever to breaking through the noise, but navigating YouTube may be a prerequisite to even have a chance. In this episode, I’m joined by YouTube’s Director of Black Music & Culture, Tuma Basa. He returns to reflect on the platform’s evolution and the ongoing relationship between curators and the algorithms they rely on to reach the masses. 03:23 The YouTube Advantages 12:42 Global Music Trends 16:29 Community Engagement on Platforms 18:42 Music videos: Hype Williams and Dave Meyers Our partners at Chartmetric just released a new report you should check out, 2025 Make Music Equal Report. Our Trapital Summit is Wednesday, September 10 in LA! Get your early bird tickets here before July 24. This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

This is the room for the leaders shaping what's next in music, entertainment, and technology. It's Wednesday, September 10 at NeueHouse Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA. ​Register now. Early bird pricing ends July 24, two weeks from today. You'll hear from: Elliot Grainge, CEO, Atlantic Music Group Steve Pamon, CEO, Verzuz | Board Member, IMAX Erin Teague, CPO, Character.ai Kakul Srivastava, CEO, Splice Andrew Sanchez, Co-Founder and CEO, Udio ...More to be announced soon Special thanks to our partners who helped make the summit possible: Platinum: The Raine Group Gold: Splice, Warner Music Group Bronze: SoundCloud, Too Lost ​Early bird pricing ends July 24. Come join us!

This episode’s a bit different, no guests. I’m going solo to break down a big topic. For record labels, the market share they have relative to peers drives major decisions both macro and micro. They spend a lot to maintain that position. Is it all worth it? 01:33 Market Share’s Financial Impact 05:49 Challenges & Critiques 07:21 Cross-Industry Parallels 12:54 Indies vs. Majors Trapital Summit is on Wednesday September 10 in LA. Join us! This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

Now that the dust has settled on Taylor Swift’s music rights saga, what’s next? We unpacked the financial impact of all the transactions on key players like Scooter Braun, Scott Borchetta, Shamrock Capital, and Swift herself. While all of those parties made a lot more money, we took a deeper look into the potential losers over the years. And lastly, we tackle an important question: how will history remember this? Join me and Tati Cirisano as we break it all down. 00:47 Scooter Braun’s Legacy 03:34 Taylor Swift Fans 07:12 Artists Reclaiming Their Music Rights 11:42 Superstar Leverage 24:25 Ticketmaster and the Eras Tour This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week. Trapital summit

We’re joined by AWAL CEO Lonny Olinick. In the episode, we broke down why artist development still matters, how AWAL merges traditional record label services with its distribution business, giving artists creative freedom, global reach, and real ownership to AWAL’s artist-first approach often beats major label deals, what it means to be part of the Sony Music family, and how the future of music is being rewritten—deal by deal. 00:13 AWAL Business Model 03:57 Artist Development Focus 10:19 Sony’s Acquisition of AWAL 13:40 Global Expansion and Team Building 25:13 Industry Insights and Future Outlook This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

Hip-hop’s has had an outsized impact in fashion for decades, but where are we today? In this episode, I am joined by Fashion Killa author Sowmya Krishnamurthy. We unpack hip-hop’s relationship with fashion, how these partnerships have evolved, where they stand in 2025, and what we want to see more of. 01:41 Hip-Hop’s Cultural Impact vs. Sales Metrics 11:37 Nostalgia and the Evolution of Celebrity 23:22 The Future of Hip-Hop in High Fashion This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

American music still dominate the global stage, despite the world going local. In this episode, I am joined by former chief economist at Spotify, Will Page. We explore the powerful global influence of American music and what it reveals about culture, commerce, and control in the streaming era. From top-down industry power to bottom-up grassroots movements, we unpack how hits spread, why the U.S. music market is still growing despite predictions of global decentralization, and more. 00:28 American Music’s Global Influence 03:40 Glocalization and Market Dynamics 09:42 Hip-Hop an Country Music Trends 13:24 Economic Factors 27:50 Will Page’s Mixcloud This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week. For Will’s 2025 DJ mix, here’s the full link

There are billions of videos uploaded to the internet daily. They all need the right music or sound effect. Many of them rely on Epidemic Sound to make that happen. In this episode, I’m joined by Oscar Hoglund, co-founder and CEO of Epidemic Sound. We dive into how Epidemic Sound uses AI to enhance music discovery while ensuring fair compensation for artists through a unique revenue model. Oscar also shares valuable insights on industry trends, the growth of the creator economy, and where the next wave of value will come from. 01:50 Evolution of Content Creation 06:59 Epidemic Sound's Four-Pillar Model 21:01 The Acceleration of the Creator Economy 24:22 AI in Music Adaptation and Generation 28:18 Data and Distribution 36:24 Future Aspirations This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.

Is the global market headed for another shake-up? In this episode, we unpack the rising uncertainty in international trade and finance—from shifting geopolitical alliances to unexpected tariffs and policy pivots. What does this mean for businesses, investors, and everyday consumers? Tune in as Billboard’s Senior Finance Correspondent, Liz Dilts Marshall and I break down the trends, the tensions, and what might come next in the global economy. 00:31 Investor Interest in Music Assets 01:49 Earnings Reports and Market Reactions 09:04 Potential Impact of Tariffs 11:39 Touring and Live Music Challenges 17:12 Hipgnosis and Music Royalties 23:59 Comparing Music Value: 1999 vs. Today This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

In this episode, we’re shaking things up with our very first Live Music Draft 2025! Joined by MIDiA Research’s Tati Cirisano, we’re drafting our top music festivals, stadium tours, arena tours, concert residencies, over-performers, and under-performers of the year! 02:30 Music Festivals 09:21 Stadium Tours 14:04 Arena Tours (First Timers) 22:00 Vegas Residencies 25:07 Overperformers 28:53 Underperformers 29:51 Market Moves This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week.