A single headline sent me down a rabbit hole: Napster, the name that once shook the music world, is now pausing streaming to chase AI companions and immersive experiences. We unpack what that actually means, tracing the arc from MP3 file sharing and courtroom showdowns to corporate hand‑offs, VR concerts, blockchain detours, and a bold new pitch about social music.

We start with the 1999 shockwave that rewired discovery overnight and explore why the industry struggled to catch up. From the lawsuits that ended the original service to the lost decade before streaming stabilised payouts, we map the behaviour shifts that shaped listeners, creators, and labels. Then we walk through the brand’s winding ownership path—Roxio, Best Buy, Rhapsody, Melody VR, Algorand, and Infinite Reality—and ask a simple question: does brand equity still matter if the product doesn’t clearly help artists and fans?

From there, we get practical. What would make AI taste companions genuinely useful? How could interactive playlists and spatial concerts create real value rather than add noise? We compare promises with what other music and Createch founders are building, probe big funding claims, and outline the metrics that matter for creators: data ownership, fair payouts, superfans, and conversion to paid experiences. The conversation lands on a clear takeaway—technology only matters when it moves money, meaning, or community.

If you care about music business strategy, artist monetisation, and where streaming goes next, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves music tech, and tell us: revolution ahead or just a rerun of old hype?

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What if three notes could carry an entire story? I sit down with Erik Reiff, CCO of Black Cat White Cat Music, to unpack how composers build sonic identities for global brands and screens without losing the soul of the music. From Nike to sci‑fi dramas, Erik shows how a tight brief, a clear arc, and a few perfectly chosen sounds can do the heavy lifting that visuals alone can’t.

We dig into the real difference between scoring long‑form narratives and crafting short‑form hooks for social feeds, where you have seconds to win attention. Erik breaks down why space and simplicity matter, how motifs travel across formats, and when to reach for a preset versus invent a new texture from scratch. He shares the hidden skill that powers great work under pressure: taste. The ability to select, place, and pace sounds quickly is often more valuable than reinventing the synth wheel, especially when deadlines loom and the mix must land fast.

Erik’s journey from touring songwriter to agency co‑owner reveals how craft evolves with collaboration. He talks candidly about translating directors’ language into musical choices, building daily feedback loops with artists, and using empathy to align on tone when references are vague. Along the way we explore resilience, celebrating failures, and borrowing inspiration from chefs, athletes, and even accountants who solve problems with their own creative logic. If you’re a composer, producer, or brand leader curious about sonic branding, storytelling, and working smarter under constraints, this conversation offers field‑tested insights you can use today.

Enjoy the episode, share it with a friend who loves music and film, and leave a review to help more creators find the show. Subscribe for more deep dives into the craft and business of music.

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Want to understand why some young artists accelerate while others stall? We sat down with Mike King—VP of Enrolment Management and Marketing at Interlochen Center for the Arts and longtime music marketing educator—to map the through-line from community and craft to career momentum. Mike shares what makes Interlochen unique: a culture where students “find their people,” learn to live and create at a high standard, and step onto stages with top orchestras and icons.The result isn’t just prestige; it’s a repeatable pathway where skills deepen, networks form, and artistic identity hardens through real-world pressure.

We dig into how Gen Z actually learns and why traditional lectures fall flat. Short-form, visual, collaborative, and asynchronous models don’t lower the bar—they move it to where attention lives. Mike explains how to design learning and fan engagement around these patterns so growth compounds. From there we trace the arc of music marketing since 2007: early DIY optimism, tool sprawl, consolidation, and today’s renewed window for artist-led success. The constant is a reliable framework: own your website, grow permission-based contacts, and understand fans at a psychographic level so campaigns feel like a conversation, not a pitch.

Then we get practical. Jónsi and Alex’s vegan cookbook shows how non-music value can perfectly align with fan identity while building your list. Boards of Canada’s cryptic trail proves how to mobilise a committed community with puzzles and play. We talk about choosing niches over trends, proving craft through performance, and avoiding the common mistake of selling before you have a community. Most importantly, we break down why rights ownership and smart deals change your revenue story more than social metrics ever will. If you’re an emerging artist, manager, or educator, you’ll leave with a roadmap you can use this week.

Enjoy the conversation? Follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a marketing reset, and leave a quick review to help more music creators find us.

https://www.interlochen.org

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