Most founders think about building. Fewer think carefully about selling. In this episode, Dmitri talks with Phil Barry, the founder of music rights and licensing platform Blokur, about what he learned from nearly a decade of building and ultimately selling his company to Music Reports in 2024. Whether you’re an early-stage founder or mapping out your exit strategy, this episode is full of honest, practical perspective from a founder on the other side of the exit

For Part 2 of our NAMM 2026 recap, we explore how music creators are building sustainable careers outside of the traditional music industry model. As streaming revenue continues to fail musicians and CD sales decline, artists are pioneering new paths through direct-to-fan experiences and developing products instead of traditional merchandise. One great example of this shift is Tarun Nayar from Modern Biology. After going viral on TikTok making music with plants and mushrooms,

This week, Dmitri chats with Russell Wedelich, the President and CTO of Eventide Audio. Eventide has been shaping Eventide has been shaping recorded music since 1971, and Russell has used his background in both electrical engineering and musical engineering to help create products like the Space Stomp box, H9000, Physion, and Temperance reverb just to name a few.  They talk about Eventide’s history and philosophy of creating audio tools, re-releasing legacy software, and wh

Music tech founders Stanley Vergilis (Tone3000), Mauhan Zonoozy (The Vinyl Bar in Shibuya), and Jessica Powell (AudioShake) join Conor Healy from Yamaha Music Innovation Fund to discuss building defensible companies. Learn about creating moats through marketplaces, data, and partnerships; fundraising strategies from angels to VCs; founder-market fit; and common startup mistakes. Packed with tactical insights on product-market fit, pitching investors, and scaling music tech st

Music tech founders Stanley Vergilis (Tone3000), Mauhan Zonoozy (The Vinyl Bar in Shibuya), and Jessica Powell (AudioShake) join Conor Healy from Yamaha Music Innovation Fund to discuss building defensible companies. Learn about creating moats through marketplaces, data, and partnerships; fundraising strategies from angels to VCs; founder-market fit; and common startup mistakes. Packed with tactical insights on product-market fit, pitching investors, and scaling music tech st

Music tech founders Stanley Vergilis (Tone3000), Mauhan Zonoozy (The Vinyl Bar in Shibuya), and Jessica Powell (AudioShake) join Conor Healy from Yamaha Music Innovation Fund to discuss building defensible companies. Learn about creating moats through marketplaces, data, and partnerships; fundraising strategies from angels to VCs; founder-market fit; and common startup mistakes. Packed with tactical insights on product-market fit, pitching investors, and scaling music tech st

Music Tectonics kicks off a series from the recent conference with Andrew Kahn and Conor Healy from Yamaha Music Innovation Fund. They discuss how Yamaha invests in music tech startups, what they seek in founders, and why solving real creator problems matters more than chasing AI hype. Topics include expanding beyond traditional musicians, what makes startups fundable, streaming infrastructure opportunities, building creator revenue streams, and insights from startup speed da

On this week’s episode, Dmitri sits down with Dot Bustelo, a former Apple Logic Pro team member and the innovative mind behind Loupe Art...

We are rewinding and playing back some of our favorite guests during the month of August. Join Dmitri and Tracy Maddux the former CEO, of...

We are rewinding and playing back some of our favorite guests during the month of August. Today we have a great conversation with the CEO and co-founder of LyricFind. Listen in to find out how Darryl got his first investor, and what Microsoft, childhood bedrooms, outdated websites, and roller coasters have to do with anything. Listen wherever you pod your casts: Looking for Rock Paper Scanner, the newsletter of music tech news curated by the Rock Paper Scissors PR team?   Sub

Join the Music Tectonics team for the June Seismic Activity with special guest Andrew Kahn, Managing Partner of Yamaha Music Innovation...

”Create a flurry of content.   But do not put $10,000 aside for a celebrity to come in and talk about your brand. I want you to go after...

Today we are talking with Valeska Pederson Hinz, partner at Perkins Coie, about what’s happening in the world of music tech investment....

In this episode, Dmitri speaks with Mark Mulligan, veteran tech analyst and leading digital thinker from MIDiA Research. Topics include...

Mark Steiner, Co-Founder and CEO of GigSalad joins Dmitri from the streets of SXSW to talk about the journey from working at his kitchen table to successful scale-up. We also hear a PR Strategy on what to do with questions you just don’t want to answer. But first, Tristra and Jade dish the latest news headlines. News Headlines Discussed: Porn on Spotify Is Infiltrating Top Podcast Charts How Does Gen Z Listen to Podcasts? Jayden Daniels’ growth with VR simulation has Commande

Today Dmitri discusses the ins and outs of selling a business, with guests who have been there, done that. Paul Anthony Troiano (Rumblefish; sold to SESAC) and Jeff Ponchick (Repost Network; sold to SoundCloud) share their experiences about the acquisition process, including valuation conversations and competitive bids as well as advice on the emotional challenges and the importance of focusing on the business’s core mission rather than building to sell. Plus, a Startup Sessi

Today we’re joined by Alexandra Koshy who helps us unravel the world of influencer marketing in the music tech sphere. We hear insights...

This episode promises to equip you with strategies to make your crowdfunding campaign stand out amidst the competition. Find out what...

It’s a holiday re-gift! Today we take you back to the very first How To Start Up with Cliff Fluet. This was a great conversation that set...

It’s another How to Scale Up! Rock star turned tech pioneer Ryan Star  joins us to share his transition from stage to boardroom. As CEO and co-founder of Stationhead , Ryan created a platform that bridges the gap between superfans and artists, redefining how music is consumed and celebrated. Stationhead's growth, with over 17 million users and engagement from top artists like Nicki Minaj and Billie Eilish, speaks to its unique approach in the crowded music streaming landscape