Trapital

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.

There are millions of companies worldwide that use personal music streaming accounts for their businesses’ music. But if those companies had the business-level streaming they should, it would add billions of annual revenue to the industry. So why isn’t this a priority? Well, it’s a priority for today’s guest, Ola Sars. He’s the founder and CEO of Soundtrack, which has been solving this problem for ten years. His business spun out of Spotify to tackle the SMB opportunity. He brought us under the hood to talk about how he convinces business to use his service, his revenue, churn, and plans for the future. 03:49 How Big is the B2B Market 13:04 Soundtrack’s Products and GTM 21:58 B2B vs Consumer Streaming Economics 25:54 How Labels Feel About Soundtrack Trapital Summit: September 10 in LA. Get your tickets here! This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

Everyone’s talking about “superfans,” but artist management companies have been focused on their top fans for quite some time. We sat down with Jonathan Daniel from Crush Music. They manage Green Day, Miley Cyrus, Sia, Weezer, Fall Out Boy, Train, and others. We talk about Coachella, touring strategies, how they use data, business ventures and more. I also ask JD about acquisition offers, why they focus on rock and pop acts, and a whole lot more. We dive into the realities of managing creatives, building trust within teams, and striking the balance between creative freedom and structure. We also introduced a new segment to the show called “Market Moves” with our producer, Eric! 00:28 Coachella highlights 08:12 Touring Strategies and Challenges 19:12 Business Ventures and Sync Opportunities 33:45 Why Crush focuses on Rock and Pop 35:40 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. Trapital Summit - Super Early Bird Tix Available Until 4/30.

Let’s cut through the noise and get real about what it takes to build a sustainable business on the world’s biggest video platform. Joining me are Ten2 Media founders Donna Budica and George Karalexis, who help artists like Benson Boone and Brent Faiyaz maximize YouTube. ****We dive into insights on how artists can take advantage of the YouTube ecosystem. Whether you're an artist, content creator, or curious about what really drives YouTube success—this episode is for you. 00:10 Impact of TikTok Ban 04:11 Content Formats and Artist Strategies 13:30 Navigating Artist Preferences 19:49 Comparing YouTube and Spotify 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 time for a Trapital Mailbag! We dive into hot topics like the Coachella’s payment plan debate, Tubi’s strategy under Fox, Meta vs the FTC, Lucian Grainge’s tenure at UMG, and a special section on how we use AI tools at Trapital! 00:55 Coachella Payment Plans 07:07 Tubi's Long-Term Strategy 15:42 Lucian Grange's Impact on UMG 26:14 Meta and the FTC: A Legal Battle 29:47 AI Tools for Trapital Trapital Summit tickets here: early bird tickets until April 30! Want to be featured in the next partner spotlight? podcast@trapital.com Summit partnership opportunities: summit@trapital.co

Our episode today is a two-parter. I start at the top with my take on TikTok. We then transition to our partner spotlight! Part 1: The April 4 deadline has passed, and there’s still no deal on TikTok. The app got caught in the middle of the U.S. - China trade war and the ongoing tariffs. How will this all play out? Part 2: I’m joined by beatBread’s CEO Peter Sinclair as we discuss the company’s Deal Comparison Tool and how it helps both artists and labels make the best possible decisions. 00:10 TikTok’s Role in the Trade War 06:15 Potential Outcomes for TikTok 10:11 beatBread’s Peter Sinclair joins us 011:06 Independent Labels and Financial Distress The beatBread Deal Comparison Tool This tool provides a side-by-side analysis of different deals, focusing on key financial aspects such as upfront cash, long-term costs, and cash flow projections over time. Trapital Summit tickets here: early bird tickets until April 30! want to be featured in the next partner spotlight? podcast@trapital.com summit partnership opportunities: summit@trapital.co

It’s Data Week at Trapital and for part 2 in this week’s episode, we take a closer look at Spotify’s economic structure and the platform’s evolving role in the music industry. Spotify’s Head of Marketing & Policy for Music, Sam Duboff joins me as we take insights from the company’s Loud and Clear report, we explore how money flows through the system, what it means for both major and independent artists, and the ongoing conversation around fairness and sustainability. 01:27 Loud and Clear Report 09:20 What Does Independent Mean? 14:36 The 225K Emerging and Professional Artists 17:46 Superstar Artists and Global Reach Loud & Clear by Spotify 2025 Report 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 Data Week at Trapital! In 2024, music streaming revenue growth slowed down, but not for everyone! MIDiA Research’s Mark Mulligan joins me to break down the compaby’s annual report and the latest trends. How will the rise of the global south shape the industry? Which sectors of the “indie” market are actually growing? Will expanded rights be the next big thing? 03:18 MIDiA Research’s Recorded Music Report 08:57 Expanded Rights and Fandom 13:06 Independent Music Growth 18:05 Non-Major Labels and Market Share 22:09 Future of Music Publishing MIDiA Research 2024 Global Recorded Music Revenue Report 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 Apple Music shaping the future of streaming, or is it just playing catch-up? In this episode, we discuss the past ten years of Apple Music, its role in music streaming, and whether it’s more important to the music business than it is to Apple overall. Join me and Tati Cirisano from MIDiA Research as we break down the moves that led to this point, the exclusives, its stalled growth in recent years, and how it fits into Apple’s broader ecosystem. 00:15 Drake Announcing Apple Music at WWDC in 2015 04:30 Apple Music's Market Position 11:11 The Apple Ecosystem 18:53 Apple Music's Editorial and Curatorial Efforts This episode is presented by Trolley, the payout platform built for the music industry, helping artists, labels, and platforms seamlessly manage and distribute royalties worldwide.

The most influential conversations about your industry might be from an anonymous commenters who is validated by hundreds of upvotes on popular subreddit thread. Join me and Dr. Marcus Collins, the award-winning marketer, author, and friend of the pod, as we discuss the significant cultural influence of Reddit, its evolution as a community of subcultures, and how the business has evolved. 02:08 Reddit as a Market Research Tool 04:54 The Power of Community and Moderation 15:29 Will Monetization Match its Cultural Influence? 19:41 If We Ran Reddit 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 today’s entertainment landscape, with more platforms and formats than ever, do true moguls still exist? If we’re being honest, they may have more power today than ever before. From Lew Wasserman’s Hollywood dominance, to Ted Turner’s cable news empire, to today’s tech titans, we explore how these power players shaped the industry, and who might be next in line. Join me and Web Barr, Founder and CEO of Hi Barr Media. Web recently launched Media Moguls, where he dives deep into Ted Turner’s journey. 02:38 Ted Turner’s Rise 05:45 The Classic Definition of Media Mogul 11:16 Two Types of Moguls Today 18:46 The Future of Media Moguls 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. If you enjoy Trapital, please rate and review on your favorite podcast platform!

What if the most important social network in the world isn’t a social network at all? In this episode, we explore how WhatsApp—often overlooked in the U.S.—has become a lifeline for families, businesses, artists, and economies worldwide. Join me and Tati Cirisano from MIDiA Research as we break down whether WhatsApp is the closest thing to a true “everything app,” how it differs from iMessage and texting, and why Meta has struggled to monetize it despite its massive reach. 04:33 WhatsApp's Global Growth Strategy 17:07 WhatsApp's Advertising and Privacy Dilemma 21:34 WhatsApp's role in Meta l 24:22 Instagram DMs vs WhatsApp 29:38 WhatsApp's US Growth Prospects 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. If you enjoy Trapital, please rate and review on your favorite podcast platform!

It’s the perfect time to revisit one of our more popular episodes. Taylor Swift and Beyoncé are still at the top of the music industry despite the newer artists that do well on streaming and TikTok. That said, can today’s new class of stars ever match that same level of superstardom? . In this episode, I’m joined by Tati Cirisano from MIDiA Research to explore how artists like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and Bad Bunny are navigating the ever-changing music landscape. What does it take to break through the noise, and is music stardom evolving into something completely different? Let’s get into it 02:00 Streaming's Impact on Music Industry 07:06 The impact of streaming and TikTok 11:09 Olivia Rodrigo's Streaming vs Sales 15:03 Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, SZA 23:23 Morgan Wallen, Bad Bunny 30:28 "Music Industry Aspirations and Realities" 33:39 Emerging Artists: Success Through Unique Roots Trapital Summit tickets are on sale! Super early bird discount until April 30. Register here. This episode is presented by State Farm, the home for your small business needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Make sure you check out TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, Equity. Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week. If you enjoy Trapital, please rate and review on your favorite podcast platform!

According to Bloomberg, Spotify is exploring a new premium tier, Music Pro, which will include several new features and perks. But given what we know about music streaming, consumers, and record labels, who is this product really for? Will it work? Listen to me and MIDiA Research’s Tati Cirisano break down all aspects of the industry’s goal to get consumers to pay more for music streaming. 05:15 Breaking Down Music Pro 07:52 Challenges in Music Streaming 15:56 How Concert Presale Tickets Work 20:33 Consumer Behavior with Music Streaming 28:31 Alternatives to Music Pro This episode is presented by beatBread. Check out their Deal Comparison Tool at beatBread.com/compare Listen in for our Chartmetric Stat of the Week. If you enjoy Trapital, please rate and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Every few years, Meta makes a big push with a media-related product, but few of then have lasted long. Instant Articles, Facebook Watch, Instagram Live, podcasts, music videos and more. Why don’t these initiatives stick? Is this similar with most social media platforms that try new things? How will this evolve in the future? Join me and MIDiA Research’s Tati Cirisano as we discuss Meta, its suite of apps, and why these initiatives come and go. 04:32 Entertainment vs. Social Platforms 12:29 Meta’s Opportunity Cost 17:01 Instagram, WhatsApp, and acquisitions 23:21 The Future of Facebook 25:38 Social Media Trends 30:13 Open vs Closed Social Platforms 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. If you enjoy Trapital, please rate and review on your favorite podcast platform!

The most streamed song on Spotify from the 1980s is not from Queen, Michael Jackson, Prince, or Madonna. The most streamed Spotify song from the 2000s is not from Eminem, Usher, Beyonce, or Kanye West. The streaming data is full of unique takeaways about what people really listen to. Join me and Zack O'Malley Greenburg as we delve deep into Spotify and YouTube data, unraveling the surprises and the complex layers of music consumption. 04:10 Queen vs. Michael Jackson 07:23 The Rise of 'Mr. Brightside' 24:33 Does “Not Like Us” Have Global Reach? 28:46 TikTok's Influence on Radio 31:45 Music Catalogs and Value 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. If you enjoy Trapital, please rate and review on your favorite podcast platform!

When it comes to music, Disney is a generational hitmaker. From Miley Cyrus to Hilary Duff, Disney has consistently produced some of the biggest names in music over the past few decades. We break down what worked well, what hasn’t, and how it has evolved with artists like Olivia Rodrigo. Join me and MIDiA Research’s Tati Cirisano as we dive in Disney’s enduring influence in the music industry. 02:00 The Pop Star Pipeline 05:16 The Eras of Disney’s Pop Stars 09:04 Why Nickelodeon Doesn’t Have a Pipeline 17:33 Disney's Impact on Artist Careers 34:32 Can Other Companies Do The Same 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. If you enjoy Trapital, please rate and review on your favorite podcast platform!

Join me and Billboard’s Kristin Robinson as we break down everything from the political context up to creator reactions to TikTok’s Shutdown. 9:11 Stalled Antitrust Efforts 14:12 How Creators Reacted to the Ban 16:05 TikTok's Role for Creators 25:12 Predictions on TikTok Ownership 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. If you enjoy Trapital, please rate and review on your favorite podcast platform!