What does it take to build a music streaming service around culture, access, and long-term value?

In this episode of Sound Connections, we sit down with Faraan Irfan, Founder and CEO of Saarey Music, to unpack how he’s solving one of music’s biggest access problems.

Saarey is a streaming platform dedicated to South Asian classical music, built on exclusive rights, deep cultural metadata, and a business model that challenges traditional streaming economics. With strong engagement and global users, the platform is proving that underserved genres can become powerful digital businesses.

Faraan shares his journey from personal frustration as a listener to building a company that works directly with artists, preserves rare recordings, and creates meaningful access for a global audience.

A grounded, honest conversation on building in music tech beyond the mainstream.

If you want to learn more about Saarey music:

Socials:

Saarey website: https://www.saareymusic.com

Saarey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saarey/

Saarey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saareymusic

Saarey Insta: https://www.instagram.com/saareymusic

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.

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.

Rob Abelow, product leader at OpenStage, joins Sound Connections to go deep into the infrastructure behind fan relationships and why they are becoming central to music growth.

This conversation breaks down how today’s ecosystem fragments fan data across multiple platforms, limiting visibility and control for artists. Rob shares how bringing that data together into unified fan profiles changes how artists engage, monetize, and build long-term value.

We also discuss the shift away from algorithm-first growth toward a model that starts with core fans and expands outward, and how ticketing, premium experiences, and direct communication play a role in that evolution.

Finally, we get into the realities behind the industry, from bot-driven ecosystems and distorted metrics to why many superfan strategies fall short, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.

Now live on Sound Connections Podcast.

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If you want to learn more about OpenStage visit: https://openstage.live/

Produced by Amplitude Ventures AS.

This conversation explores how Jakob Løkkegaard built W.A.S. Entertainment from the ground up, defying industry doubts and financial setbacks along the way. Hear about his creative approach to management, from forming strategic alliances to promoting equality in the music scene—and gain insight into how one vision can drive lasting change in the industry.

Highlights:

• The beginning of W.A.S. Entertainment and its development over the years.
• Challenges encountered and lessons gained in the competitive music industry.
• Insights into creating a lasting and prosperous music management company.
• Jakob’s vision for the future and his dedication to supporting new talent.

In this episode of Sound Connections, hosted by AI Jake, we explore the transformative partnership between TikTok and DistroKid aimed at revolutionizing the process of creating official TikTok Artist Accounts for independent musicians. Join us as we discuss how this collaboration is set to drastically reduce account setup times from weeks to just hours, providing artists with seamless access to a suite of innovative features.

AI is revolutionizing the music industry, and this episode dives into its impact with insights from Daan of Copyright Delta and other innovators. From boosting creativity and collaboration to navigating complex legal and rights management challenges, the discussion sheds light on the opportunities and hurdles AI presents.

Highlights:

• The role of AI in transforming music industry practices.
• Challenges and opportunities in AI-driven music rights management.
• The evolution of digital infrastructure and its impact on music creators.
• Insights into building a collaborative and sustainable music ecosystem.

Understanding music royalties has never been more important, and in this episode of the podcast, we tackle the topic with Serona Elton, head of educational partnerships at the Mechanical Licensing Collective. Serona shares expert advice for songwriters on how to ensure they’re collecting all the royalties they’re owed.

Learn how the Music Modernization Act is transforming the industry and how the MLC is simplifying the management of digital mechanical royalties. This episode offers invaluable insights for anyone navigating the financial side of the music business.

Highlights:

• Understanding the role of the MLC in managing music royalties.
• The impact of the Music Modernization Act on songwriters.
• How songwriters can ensure they are collecting all their royalties.
• Educational initiatives to support rights holders in the music industry.