Explore every episode of the podcast Sound Connections
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| #148: FOUNDER: The Rise of Functional Music in Wellness Spaces: Freddie Moross | 30 Mar 2026 | 00:42:17 | |
Freddie Moross, founder of Myndstream, joins Sound Connections to unpack the growing role of functional music in wellness, hospitality, and care environments. This conversation explores how intentional audio can shape experiences inside spas, hotels, and treatment spaces, and why music should be treated as infrastructure rather than background noise. Freddie explains how soundtracks can guide guest journeys, influence emotional outcomes, and help wellness spaces create more meaningful environments. We also discuss the economics behind the global wellness industry and why wellness-focused consumers represent one of the fastest growing and most engaged segments in hospitality. Along the way, Freddie shares lessons from building a music technology startup in a niche category, including the advantages of starting with owned assets, the challenges of licensing and distribution, and what it takes to scale a focused product in a complex industry. Now live on Sound Connections Podcast. [Links in bio] Produced by Amplitude Ventures AS. | |||
| #147: FOUNDER: What It Takes to Build Music Tech in a Resistant Industry: Mark Bamford | 23 Mar 2026 | 00:49:33 | |
Mark Bamford joins Sound Connections for an open discussion on startup building, video monetization, and the hard truth about innovating in music. As the founder of Viktrs, Mark is working on a new model for video that aims to unlock more value from every view by focusing on engagement, discovery, and data rather than the traditional advertising-driven approach used by major platforms. Mark unpacks his path from a career in construction, consulting, and strategy into the world of founders and music technology. He reflects on what surprised him most about entering the music space, why innovation often struggles inside established systems, and how founders are forced to make difficult choices when a meaningful vision meets a difficult market. This episode dives into the economics of music startups, the limits of pure storytelling when fundraising, and the importance of reaching tangible results with as little capital as possible. Mark also shares why Viktrs has expanded into non-music categories such as food and politics while keeping music as a long-term mission, using those adjacent markets to build leverage, revenue, and proof before coming back stronger. For anyone working at the intersection of technology, media, and culture, this episode brings a sharp and honest perspective. Watch the full episode on your preferred podcast platforms! [Links in bio] If you want to know more about Viktrs visit: https://viktrs.com/ Produced by Amplitude Ventures AS. | |||
| #124: EXPERT: How Remote Work Benefits Creators || Adam Fine | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:55:33 | |
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. | |||
| #013: FOUNDER: Jesper Skibsby WARMing Up the Music Industry | 19 Oct 2023 | 00:49:36 | |
Ready to turn up the heat in the music industry? Meet Jesper Skibsby, founder and CEO of WARM, who turned a single idea into a global radio monitoring service. Hear how he faced funding hurdles, built a committed team, and made real-time radio data available to independent artists, labels, and managers—insights that were once reserved for industry giants. This conversation spotlights the power of innovation and the determination needed to succeed in the music world. Highlights:
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| #136: FOUNDER: Epidemic Sound: The Legal Model That Created a New Music Economy: Tom Höglund | 02 Dec 2025 | 01:05:50 | |
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. | |||
| ESNS 2026: Innovative Ticketing Strategies: Mike van Gaasbeek and Yannick Corbeau | 29 Jan 2026 | 00:57:25 | |
Let's go behind the scenes of live music digitalization in this special Sound Connections session from the ESNS 2026 Conference. | |||
| #061: ARTIST: Sharmin Sultana Sumi: From Chirkutt's Front Lady to a Bangladeshi marketing CEO | 25 Jun 2024 | 00:58:42 | |
Patrick Ermlich, a music industry expert with 24 years of experience, joins the conversation to share his insights on artist growth, creativity, and entrepreneurship. In this episode, he offers a fresh perspective on guiding artists through personal and professional development while navigating the complexities of the music business. Packed with actionable advice for both emerging and seasoned artists, this discussion explores what it takes to achieve lasting success in an ever-evolving music landscape.
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| #067: EXIT: Lasse Andresen: From Rockstar Dreams to ForgeRock's $3 Billion IPO | 06 Aug 2024 | 00:52:40 | |
The evolving relationship between music and technology takes center stage in this episode, featuring insights from industry leaders. These are the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the music business and the innovative strategies they’ve used to overcome them. Highlights:
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| #045: EXIT: Scott Cohen: From Financial Ruin To Selling The Orchard | 30 Apr 2024 | 00:56:28 | |
Uncover the inspiring story of Scott Cohen, co-founder of The Orchard, in this engaging episode of *Sound Connections*. A true pioneer in music technology, Scott shares his journey from humble beginnings to revolutionizing the industry with the creation of the first digital distribution company.
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| #043: FOUNDER: Dmitri Vietze: Mastering the Art of Innovative Storytelling in Music Tech PR | 23 Apr 2024 | 00:46:19 | |
Discover the fascinating intersection of music, technology, and storytelling in this episode featuring Dmitri Vietze, founder of Rock Paper Scissors. Dive into the challenges and triumphs shaping the modern music industry, as Dmitri shares his journey in building a thriving PR firm and fostering innovation in music tech. From the rise of startups to opportunities for artists and entrepreneurs, this conversation unveils how music tech continues to transform the creative landscape.
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| Spotify vs. MLC: The Bundled Royalties Showdown | 10 Aug 2024 | 00:03:12 | |
In this episode of Sound Connections, we explore the ongoing legal battle between Spotify and the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) over bundled royalties. At the heart of the dispute is Spotify's controversial reclassification of its subscription plans to include audiobooks, a move that allows the streaming giant to pay lower mechanical royalties to songwriters and publishers. Join us as we break down the stakes, the legal arguments, and what this battle means for the future of music streaming and compensation for creators. | |||
| Music Royalties: The Case for 'Completion' | 03 Aug 2024 | 00:03:08 | |
Join us on Sound Connections as we delve into the evolving world of music royalties with AI Jake. In this episode, we tackle the widely debated pro-rata model and introduce economist Will Page's innovative 'Completion' model. Discover how this proposal rewards fully streamed songs, combats streaming fraud, and offers a straightforward implementation for the music industry. We examine the potential winners and losers, address concerns about genre bias, and explore the model's alignment with current industry trends. Tune in for a comprehensive look at how the Completion model could pave the way for a fairer and more sustainable royalty system. | |||
| #36: EXIT: Agnes Chung: The Story of Musicube's AI Metadata Mastery & Songtradr Acquisition | 18 Mar 2024 | 00:42:36 | |
Peek into the evolution of a cutting-edge music search platform as co-founder Agnes Chung delves into Musicube’s origins and its groundbreaking AI-driven capabilities. Gain insights into the startup’s recent acquisition by Songtradr, and follow Agnes’ own path from musicology to entrepreneurship. This episode reveals the hurdles faced, the wins celebrated, and a forward-thinking approach that’s redefining how we find and engage with music.
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| #050: WISE Festival: Investing in the Future: Navigating AI Trends in Music Tech | 16 May 2024 | 00:40:11 | |
Get an insider’s perspective on the future of music technology in this special episode from the WISE Festival. Host Jakob Wredstrøm leads a thought-provoking panel discussion with Savia Peters (LeanSquare), Thierry Bujod (Media Deals), Hazel Savage (SoundCloud), and Florian Stadler (Deutsche Telekom) to uncover how AI is revolutionizing the music industry.
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| #40: FOUNDER: Karl Richter: Building DISCO: Revolutionizing Music Sharing and Discovery | 11 Apr 2024 | 00:55:13 | |
Explore the innovative world of music technology with Karl Richter, the founder of Disco in a detailed discussion about how Disco is redefining music sharing and discovery for music supervisors. Karl provides an inside look into the development of a B2B SaaS platform tailored to the unique challenges of the music tech industry. He shares his strategies for fostering creativity and driving innovation to ensure Disco's growth and success. This episode offers practical insights into building a sustainable startup and addresses the real-world problems Disco aims to solve within the music supervision landscape. Highlights:
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| KISS Sells to Pophouse: A $300 Million Legacy Deal | 08 Apr 2024 | 00:03:52 | |
In this episode of Sound Connections, co-host AI Jake takes us through the substantial deal between rock icons KISS and Pophouse Entertainment, where KISS sold their song catalog, brand, and intellectual property for $300 million. This significant agreement includes their famous face paint designs, shares of master recordings, and publishing rights, marking a notable shift in the music industry's landscape. We explore what Pophouse's acquisition means for the future of KISS's music and brand. The episode discusses Pophouse's intention to leverage technology to enhance and perpetuate KISS's legacy, drawing parallels with their successful ABBA Voyage project. This strategy indicates a new era where technology ensures the longevity of artists' impacts, blending historical music influence with modern digital experiences. | |||
| #114: EXPERT: The Business of Music Catalogs: How Artists can Profit from IP || Yonas Aregai | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:46:20 | |
How does a song become a multi-million dollar asset?
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| #126: WALLIFORNIA: Music Tech Funding Is Broken – Who Might Fix It? | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:46:02 | |
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. | |||
| #131: BIME: Why Audience Data Is the New Currency in Live Music || Lauriane Saint-Denis | 24 Oct 2025 | 00:51:35 | |
What does it really mean to own your audience in today’s music industry? __________________________________________________________________________ | |||
| #135: MTEA: Rethinking AI, Consciousness, and Creativity: Alex Braga | 17 Nov 2025 | 00:42:32 | |
Discover how Alex Braga built an AI 'Instrument' a decade ago — not to replace musicians, but to rediscover what makes us human. This is a partnership episode with Music Tech Europe Academy: https://www.musictecheuropeacademy.eu/
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| #039: EXPERT: Dani Deahl: The Future of Music at BandLab Technologies | 03 Apr 2024 | 00:44:19 | |
In this episode of Sound Connections, host Jakob Wredstrøm sits down with Dani Deahl, Head of Communications at BandLab, to discuss the platform's impressive growth and its transformative impact on the music industry. Discover how BandLab is empowering a new generation of music creators around the world by breaking down traditional production barriers and fostering a vibrant global community. Dani shares insights into the innovative features that set BandLab apart and explores the future of music creation in an increasingly digital landscape.
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| Spotify's $4.5 Billion Indie Milestone | 15 Mar 2024 | 00:03:23 | |
In this episode of Sound Connections, we delve into Spotify's groundbreaking announcement: independent artists and labels earned $4.5 billion in 2023, making up half of the platform's total payouts. Explore the implications of this significant shift towards the democratization of music distribution, the explosive growth of the indie sector, and the opportunities this presents for entrepreneurs in the music industry. Join Jake, an AI co-presenter, for an insightful analysis of Spotify's impact on global recorded music revenue and what this means for the future of music creation and consumption. | |||
| #035: SØRVEIV: Pål Bråtelund: Collaborative Models in the Music Industry | 14 Mar 2024 | 00:45:03 | |
Discover how fresh alliances are transforming the music business in this conversation with Pål Bråtelund. Hear firsthand how smaller enterprises can thrive through strategic teamwork rather than following the conventional acquisition route. From rethinking old business models to forging innovative collaborations in music tech, this episode offers a forward-looking perspective on creating sustainable success in a rapidly shifting landscape.
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| #029: EXPERT: Amanda Schupf: Unlocking the Money / Guide to Music Tech Fundraising | 06 Feb 2024 | 00:36:34 | |
Join us in this episode as we explore the details of music tech fundraising with expert Amanda Schupf. Learn about the challenges and strategies for securing investments in the changing music technology sector. From building trust with investors to identifying real industry problems, Amanda shares her journey and expertise in connecting traditional music businesses with innovative tech startups.
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| #030: FOUNDER: Peder Jørgensen - Pioneering Next-Generation Audio Enhancement with Hance.ai | 14 Feb 2024 | 00:40:28 | |
Join host Jakob Wredstrøm for an engaging conversation with Peder Jørgensen, founder of Hance.ai, to explore his remarkable journey in audio enhancement. This episode covers the fusion of music, sound design, and technology, showcasing how Peder's innovative work is changing our sound experience.
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| #021: EXPERT: Matthias Strobel: Navigating the Music-Tech Landscape in Europe | 04 Dec 2023 | 00:51:20 | |
Enter Europe’s evolving music-tech sphere with Matthias Strobel, a key force behind MusicTech Germany. Hear about his journey from building a leading organization to uniting vibrant communities and events at the intersection of technology and music. Explore the hurdles and opportunities in this fast-changing industry, the value of strong networks, and the influence of new tech. Matthias also highlights how startups, investors, and a supportive environment can fuel innovation across the music-tech landscape.
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| #108: EXPERT: Audiomack is Changing Latin Music and Fan Culture || Gineyda Cornelio | 06 May 2025 | 00:39:40 | |
From island beats to global charts, Gineyda Cornelio, Director of Marketing & Latin Strategy at AudioMack is rewriting the rules of today’s music business. | |||
| #024: FOUNDER: Svitlana Pozniakova - Data, AI, and Outsider's Perspective with Nexro | 03 Jan 2024 | 00:38:11 | |
Join Svitlana Pozniakova, founder of Nexro, to explore how data and AI are changing the way artists plan their careers. She describes her path from Ukraine to Norway, the shift from a royalty exchange platform to predictive analytics, and why data-driven insights matter for independent artists. Learn how Nexro helps safeguard and support creators in a rapidly evolving music industry.
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| #009: EXPERT: Turo Pekari: Mastering the Art of Networking in Music | 02 Oct 2023 | 00:32:21 | |
In this Sound Connections episode, Turo Pekari, a familiar face in the Nordic music world, talks about the value of strong connections in the music business. Highlights:
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| #002: EXPERT: Josh Greenberg: Merging Music and Technology | 19 Aug 2023 | 00:44:27 | |
Musical innovator Josh Greenberg discusses how technology and creativity blend to drive the music industry forward. Drawing on his work with global brands like Red Bull and Spotify, he shares the lessons he's learned from life in the studio to influencing corporate music culture. Get ready for a firsthand look at how artistry and tech intersect to shape today's evolving soundscape. Highlights:
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| #145: EXIT: The 5-Year Exit Nightmare: Surviving My Acquirer's Collapse: Jan Willem | 04 Mar 2026 | 00:47:10 | |
Join us for a grounded conversation with Jan Willem, Co-Founder of Momants and the strategic mind behind Paylogic. Jan Willem reflects on Paylogic’s journey as a fintech pioneer which provided a white-label ticketing solution that let event organizers sell directly to their own audience. This technology famously scaled to handle massive peaks for global events like Tomorrowland. We explore his "horror story" exit, a grueling five-year marathon through corporate instability before the company’s final sale to Vivendi. The conversation centers on his transition from a "non-music guy" to a seasoned investor and initiator of The Chorus at Amsterdam Dance Event, where he mentors the next generation of entrepreneurs. Jan Willem explains why he believes today’s AI-driven landscape finally allows startups to challenge legacy players and rebuild what's broken from the ground up. Don't miss this honest conversation about starting a company, surviving a tough exit, and finding the spark to go again.
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| #091: EXPERT: Jean Christophe Barat: Allfeat and The Future of Royalties | 23 Jan 2025 | 00:44:55 | |
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 role in creating transparent and efficient solutions for artists and music professionals.
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| #081: Founder: Clément Souchier: From Creaminal.io to Bridge Audio: The Switzerland Of Music Assets | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:58:43 | |
The management and transparency of music assets take center stage in this episode as Clément Souchier, founder of Bridge Audio, shares his journey. From his early career at Creaminal.io to establishing Bridge Audio as the "Switzerland of Music Assets," Clément delves into the challenges and innovations shaping the future of the music industry.
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| #129: FOUNDER: Building Sustainable Music Tech Companies in a Resistant Industry || Edward Ginis | 24 Sep 2025 | 01:04:29 | |
For over two decades, the music industry has struggled to answer three deceptively simple questions: | |||
| #125: FOUNDER: Changing the Music Industry’s Artist Revenue Model: Mag Rodriguez | 14 Aug 2025 | 00:57:12 | |
It takes just one person to believe in the vision you are building. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ | |||
| #007 Nurturing Talent and Community | 19 Sep 2023 | 00:30:59 | |
Discover the inspiring journey of Capella Entertainment’s co-founders, Jonah Bjerga and Moi Sultan, as they share how they built a forward-thinking hub for Scandinavian music. Gain insights into their talent-nurturing philosophy, the importance of supportive workspaces, and the steps they took to redefine industry norms. They also reveal strategies for launching a music venture studio, tackling local obstacles, and empowering artists and entrepreneurs to push their creative limits. | |||
| #118: FOUNDER: The Truth About AI Mixing, Mastering, and the Future of Music Tech || David Ronan | 01 Jul 2025 | 00:50:29 | |
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 why assistive AI is the future of creative workflows in audio. | |||
| #038: EXIT: Hazel Savage: Building Musiio and the Path to SoundCloud | 26 Mar 2024 | 00:51:58 | |
Experience the inspiring journey of Hazel Savage, co-founder of Musiio, in this compelling episode of the Sound Connections podcast. Host Jakob Wredstrøm delves into how Hazel navigated the intricate music tech landscape, steering her AI-driven startup to a successful acquisition by SoundCloud. Gain firsthand insights into the challenges of fundraising, the strategic decisions that attracted Musiio’s initial clients, and the vital role of leadership in driving sales.
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| #137: FOUNDER: Music IP Rights — Valuing Catalogs, Due Diligence & The 10-Year Rule: Alan Wallis | 11 Dec 2025 | 00:58:25 | |
Veteran catalog expert and CEO of Dynamite Songs, Alan Wallis joins Jakob to break down the real mechanics behind IP rights, music catalog sales, sync revenue, valuations, private equity, and long-term music investing. | |||
| #071: INVESTOR: Gareth Deakin: Cracking the Code of Music Tech Investments and Startups | 03 Sep 2024 | 01:07:14 | |
Learn what it takes to succeed in the competitive world of music tech investments in this episode featuring Gareth Deakin. With years of experience building a strong profile in the music tech sector, Gareth shares actionable insights for entrepreneurs and investors looking to make an impact. From navigating startup ecosystems to understanding the latest trends, this episode delivers the knowledge you need to thrive in this ever-evolving industry. Highlights:
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| #005: EXPERT: Rasmus Rex: Unpacking the User-Centric Distribution Model in Music Streaming | 06 Sep 2023 | 00:28:37 | |
Rasmus Rex unpacks the contrasting user-centric and pro-rata streaming models, shedding light on how these frameworks shape the careers of artists and the broader music ecosystem. Discover the influence of digitalization on streaming platforms, the power of devoted fans, and the economic underpinnings that drive the industry forward.
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| #017: Ole Dreyer: Navigating Music Publishing, Sync Deals, and Industry Politics | 06 Nov 2023 | 00:43:09 | |
Take a closer look at how AI is reshaping music as Einar Helde, co-founder of AIMS API, shares his unexpected path into the industry. Discover how advanced data tools are improving music discoverability and boosting audience engagement. Along the way, he recounts the start-up hurdles he had to overcome, the successes that fueled AIMS’ growth, and the forward-thinking vision for blending AI and creativity in the music scene.
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| #121: EXPERT: The Future of Physical Music Collectibles in a Digital World || Jennifer Sullivan | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:52:37 | |
Can Physical Music Make a Comeback? | |||
| #063: EXPERT: Dr. Kobi Abayomi: The Future of Music Creation: AI's Role in the Industry #aiinmusic | 09 Jul 2024 | 00:59:11 | |
Generative AI is transforming music creation, revolutionizing production, creativity, and copyright. In this episode, Dr. Kobi Abayomi explores its implications for the music industry and its potential to shape the future for creators, offering key insights into the intersection of technology and artistry.
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| #053: EXPERT: Dr. Chinedu Chukwuji: Inside the Nigerian Music Industry and Its Global Influence | 28 May 2024 | 00:59:54 | |
Discover the Nigerian music industry's dynamic landscape with Dr. Chinedu Chukwuji. This episode explores Afrobeat's evolution, its worldwide impact, and Nigeria's creative sector growth potential. Dr. Chukwuji offers insights from his career, highlighting Nigeria's transformation into a hub of musical innovation and global partnerships.
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| #134: EXPERT: The Mood Music Model: A New Way to Make a Living in Music: Niklas Brantberg | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:56:48 | |
Who are the people behind the music that shapes how we listen? | |||
| #101: FOUNDER: Creating Music with TUNEY || Antony Demekhin | 25 Mar 2025 | 01:01:55 | |
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 creativity and accessible workflows. Explore here: https://tuney.io/ Sponsored by Allfeat: Decentralized Blockchain Solutions for the Music Industry - https://www.allfeat.com/ Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Music Tech - https://amplitude.ventures | |||
| #079: INVESTOR: Michael Böwadt & Rie Pripsø: Fueling SoundTech Success with SoundHub & SoundInvest | 17 Oct 2024 | 01:00:56 | |
Michael Rohde Böwadt and Rie Kold Pripsø dive into the thriving SoundTech industry, sharing how SoundHub and SoundInvest are driving innovation and business growth. Discover Denmark's legacy in audio technology and how these initiatives are shaping the future through accelerator programs and strategic alliances. This episode explores the challenges of building a robust SoundTech ecosystem, the importance of hardware in startup success, and the impact of fostering innovation in this transformative sector.
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| #110: FOUNDER: Muserk is Solving the Royalty Problem || Hans Peter Roth | 23 May 2025 | 00:53:26 | |
In a world where billions of songs compete for attention, one company is ensuring every creator gets paid what they’re owed. | |||
| #008 Failure: The Story of Timbre with Jonas Krossli and Kristian Wredstrøm | 25 Sep 2023 | 00:53:26 | |
This is the ambitious story of Timbre with co-founders Jonas Krossli and Kristian Wredstrøm. This candid conversation dives into their bold idea of democratizing music IP investments, the tough realities they encountered, and the hard-earned lessons of resilience. Uncover the vision behind Timbre’s quest to reshape the music business—and learn why even the most innovative efforts can face an uphill battle against industry constraints.
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