How is AI transforming the music business beyond generating songs? Dmitri Vietze talks with Matt Urmy, co-founder and CEO of Artist Growth, about how AI can streamline music industry operations, connect data and systems, and help music companies better support artists. They explore music-specific technology, AI-powered workflows, and how the industry can capture more of the value music creates beyond records and streams.

What does it mean to grow the music and grow the value? To close out our Rising Tide miniseries, Dmitri Vietze sits down with Eleanor Rust to connect the eight revenue multipliers to this year’s Music Tectonics conference. From AI and licensing to creator monetization and new technology, we’ll look at what’s happening in Santa Monica this October, and why the conference is unlike any other.

Physical music is booming again. This week we wrap the Rising Tide miniseries with the 8th revenue multiplier: new products for music fans. Jennifer Sullivan of KiTbetter explains the KiTalbum, a collectible paired with a digital experience. Jaime Marconette of Luminate breaks down the data behind rising CD sales and the new Smart Media chart category. Tarun Nayar of Modern Biology returns to share how selling an instrument, not just merch, became half his revenue.

How big of a mailing list do you actually need before you can start selling directly to your fans? This week, we're on revenue multiplier 7 of our Rising Tide miniseries: direct-to-fan. Mag Rodriguez of EVEN, J Edward Keyes of Bandcamp, and Tim Quirk of Tape Deck join us to break down why streaming isn't where the real money is, from mailing list myths to the CD comeback to a new model paying artists more than a penny a stream.

What does it take to turn followers into fans who buy? This week we're digging into Fan Growth, one of the 8 revenue multipliers in our Rising Tide miniseries. First, DJay Broner of Tough Management and MANAGR breaks down why the real work starts before you grow your audience: collecting money from fans you already have. Then Megh Vakharia of SymphonyOS shares how AI agents turn discovery into revenue. Finally, Anj Fayemi of Rivet explains how unified fan data drives repeat s

Is distribution still just distribution? Daouda Leonard of CreateSafe traces how distribution evolved from physical Koch deals to TuneCore's 2009 launch to the 2013-2018 gold rush, then breaks down why most services distributors pitch today are still a myth, and how some are starting to look like record deals. Isaac Miranda of ONErpm explains what a company he calls the last large independent music company at scale actually offers artists, from paid media to sync to fan engag

Generative AI could grow the music business instead of threatening it, if the industry gets consent, attribution and compensation right. Matt Adel of Musical.ai breaks down the 20 billion dollar opportunity in licensed AI music. Gaurav Sharma of Hook explains why AI works better as an amplifier for fan engagement than a replacement for artists. Plus, a preview of next week's episode with Daouda Leonard on the story behind Grimes' AI voice platform elfTECH, and what fans actua

What happens when businesses, apps, and games use music without really paying for it? This week, Music Tectonics explores new forms of licensing revenue hiding in plain sight. Soundtrack CEO Ola Sars reveals why 80% of businesses playing music are doing it the wrong way. Feed Media Group's Lauren Pufpaf uncovers a 5 billion dollar opportunity in AI video. And Reactional Music's Tomas Jenneborg exposes how gaming spends 30 billion on ads and music gets none of it.

What is a music catalog actually worth, and how do you find out? This week on Music Tectonics, music lawyer Ryan Schmidt breaks down how catalogs get valued, the difference between the multiple method and discounted cash flow, and why an audit can uncover money you never knew you were owed. We also hear from Sho Mitchell of Beatlibrary and Rob Steiner of Luminate, two companies already building the tools behind catalog valuation. Part of our Rising Tide miniseries ahead of th

There's no lost and found for your royalties. If you don't claim them, they're gone. This episode covers revenue recovery in music, the missing money owed to artists, songwriters, and producers. Jason Feinberg of Kosign explains royalty registration. Jeff Ponchick of Mogul reveals why half of artist catalogs are misregistered. Rob Brown of mprs unpacks producer royalties and master points. Learn how to recover lost music royalties, register correctly, and stop losing revenue

What's your music catalog actually worth, and where is the industry still leaving money on the table? This week, Dmitri is joined by our chief writer Tristra Newyear Yeager for a deep dive into eight revenue multipliers that they believe can grow your own business. They talk about where catalogs are becoming an investable asset class, why the industry still has multiple black boxes leaking royalty revenue, and how distributors are evolving into full platforms for artists and

We interrupt this miniseries for a special bonus episode! Last week, we laid out a theory on what technology can do to grow the value of music, so this time we wanted to hear from someone who is actually betting billions of dollars on the answer. Sam Hendel is the managing partner of Chord Music Partners, a leading pure play music rights catalog home to works from artists like the Weeknd, Kid Cudi, Diplo and Fleetwood Mac, and he is deploying serious capital alongside UMG

What if technology could grow the music industry instead of disrupting it? Host Dmitri Vietze asks Vickie Nauman, founder of CrossBorderWorks, about music licensing, AI generated music, and streaming royalties. They cover gaming, super fan monetization, and why AI music isn't human versus machine. Episode 3 of the Rising Tide miniseries, tied to the Music Tectonics Conference, October 27 to 29, 2026 in Santa Monica. Get tickets now at musictectonics.com.

Streaming built the modern music industry, but its growth is slowing in the US and other mature markets. So what comes next? This week on the podcast, Dmitri sits down with Monica Corton, CEO of Go to Eleven Entertainment, to unpack where the total addressable market for music grows from here. This conversation is part two of the Rising Tide miniseries built around the Music Tectonics Conference theme, Grow the Music, Grow the Value.

Why is the value of the music industry so small compared to gaming and television, even though music is everywhere in our lives? This week on the podcast, Dmitri kicks off a new Rising Tide miniseries with Jimmy Stone of Alderbrook. They cover streaming scarcity, Napster's lasting impact, whether platforms underpay rights holders, and if AI will multiply or deflate music revenue. If you're curious where music's real value comes from and where it's headed, this episode is a gr

How do you value a music catalog in 2026? Billboard's Elizabeth Dilts Marshall leads a panel with Rob Frech of Raine Group, Tom Sarig of Antifragile Equity Partners, and Monica Corton of Go211 Entertainment on catalog acquisition, music publishing, and royalty growth. Topics include who is buying music catalogs, sync licensing, catalog management tools like Disco and Luminate, AI licensing, and name image and likeness rights. Essential listening for anyone in music finance or

What will music monetization look like in 2030? In this special Grow the TAM panel, moderator Tatiana Cirisano of MIDiA Research leads Liz Moody of Granderson Des Rochers, Mauhan Zonoozy formerly of Spotify, and Ty Roberts of FanTracks and Gracenote through AI licensing, artist equity in AI companies, direct fan subscription platforms, music and gaming opportunities, and the vinyl revival. Essential listening for anyone in music tech, streaming, publishing, or artist manageme

In this episode, Dmitri and Eleanor explore the eight revenue multipliers shaping the future of the music industry, from catalog valuation and royalty recovery to music licensing, fan monetization, and AI. They unpack Music Tectonics 2026's theme, “Rising Tide: Grow the Music, Grow the Value,” discussing music tech, streaming growth, rights management, music investment, creator tools, and the challenges facing labels, publishers, startups, and investors.

Playtronica turns everyday objects into musical instruments. Co-founders Sasha Pas and Aglaya Nosova join Music Tectonics to share how kitchen scales became their newest invention, Scales, using MIDI to convert object weight into sound. They discuss building a viral, community-driven music tech brand, why removing the "are you a musician?" barrier matters, and what working with brands like Hermès taught them about accessible, playful music creation for everyone.

The $300 billion pro AV industry dwarfs the entire music business, and most artists have never considered it as a revenue stream. Graeme Harrison of Bluesound Professional joins Dmitri Vietze to explore how commercial audio licensing pays artists more than streaming, why congruent music and visuals are 1200% more effective, and how AI could trigger a new era of elevator music that cuts artists out entirely.