This is a solo episode! I break down four important topics:Saudi Arabia investing in musicThe “Song of the Summer” is no morePop star decline: winners, losers, and trendsSpotify’s podcast strategy and the creator economy[00:04:22] Saudi investors exploring entertainment and tech, except music.[00:07:50] Music festivals present opportunity for strategic investment.[00:08:47] Investment activity in acquiring back catalog.[00:13:12] Songs of summer: fragmented, subjective, lost meaning.[00:16:52] Song anticipates spring/summer, dominates airwaves, summer-themed video.[00:20:51] Pop star decline: articles highlight big changes.[00:24:22] Limited inventory shifted to infinite digital options.[00:28:20] Music industry shifts in less than a decade.[00:32:12] Valuable data for advertisers and podcasters.[00:36:05] ConvertKit founder rejects Spotify acquisition attempt; insights on equity sharing for bootstrap businesses. Podcasters' success rate low but valuable. Creator economy companies seek capital for growth.[00:38:27] Unicorn-like success stories, underestimated expectations.[00:41:27] Personalized services to artists, potentially disrupting the traditional role of major record labels.Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapitalTrapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

In today's episode, I’m joined by Kakul Srivastava, CEO of Splice. We discuss the untapped potential of the music production market, how music shapes our lives, and the need for more accessibility in music. We also discuss the potential of AI in creative tools, Splice’s future, and more:[00:04:56] Music’s overlooked and underserved market[00:06:43] A tale of two cities[00:12:29] The digital music producer market[00:21:26] The right balance with AI[00:29:56] Leading with empathy[00:33:12] Hard decisions made at Splice[00:41:05] Splice and the billion-dollar exit[00:46:39] How Nike inspires SpliceThis episode is sponsored by DICE. Learn more about why artists, venues, and promoters love to partner with DICE for their ticketing needs. Visit dice.fmEnjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapitalTrapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by readingTrapital’s free memo.

Napster. The name alone brings back memories of the wild, wild west of the dot-com bubble.We'll take you back to the late 90s and early 2000s. Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning’s creation was a game-changer. But was its influence bigger than its actual impact? Who won and lost the most from Napster? Could the situation have been handled differently? We break down all that and moreI’m joined by Tati Cirisano from MIDiA Research. Here’s everything we covered this episode:[00:002:13] Napster's rise[00:8:25] CD boom, internet growth, Sean and Shawn[00:13:43] Internet culture in the late 90s[00:18:21] Napster's early growth in users.[00:25:07] Artists picked sides on the Napster debate[00:36:55] Legal and business model challenges.[00:42:13] When Napster shut its doors[00:48:32] Asking for permission vs forgiveness[01:00:10] Limewire, BearShare, and KaZaa[01:08:16] Life after Napster for Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker[01:14:41] Where Napster is todayThis episode is sponsored by DICE. Learn more about why artists, venues, and promoters love to partner with DICE for their ticketing needs. Visit dice.fmEnjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapitalTrapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by readingTrapital’s free memo.

I Want My MTV! We broke down one of the most influential companies in music: MTV. I’m joined by friend of the pod, Zack Greenburg, who wrote a book about one of MTV’s biggest star’s ever, Michael Jackson.We discuss the highs, lows, challenges, controversies MTV faced. From its business model over the years, shift to reality TV, VMAs, TRL, Yo MTV Raps, impact on culture, and its missed opportunities.[00:08:43] MTV business model, rise of cable TV, untapped teenage market[00:15:50] The impact of Michael Jackson and “I Want My MTV”[00:25:22] How MTV sparked one-hit wonders[00:30:01] Yo MTV Raps![00:38:59] Movies, VMAs, and more[00:53:55] Reality TV vs music videos: what fans really want?[01:00:47] MTV animated shows, spring break, Super Bowl, Rock the Vote[01:05:58] Music industry peak, TRL, and big budget music videos[01:12:17] Why Ridiculousness is now on MTV all the time[01:20:44] MTV’s missed chances over the years[01:37:26] Who won and lost the most from MTV?This episode is sponsored by DICE. Learn more about why artists, venues, and promoters love to partner with DICE for their ticketing needs. Visit dice.fmEnjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapitalTrapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

Taylor Swift is on track for the first $1B+ tour ever, but that’s old news..In this episode, we look beyond the public drama surrounding her masters and unpack the questions that have been overlooked.How valuable are the original recordings compared to Taylor’s Version? How will that change once '1989' is re-released? How much money will Ithaca Holdings, Shamrock Capital, Big Machine Label Group, and Taylor herself make in the end? Can anyone else in the music industry pull this off??Join me and Tim Ingham, founder of Music Business Worldwide, as we unravel the complexities and explore the various stakeholders involved, offering insights and analysis from industry experts.02:48 Taylor Swift’s record sales and tour results10:47 Taylor’s NDA with Scooter Braun and 13 Management17:18 Scooter Braun buys Taylor’s Masters23:47 The Value of Taylor’s catalogue overtime28:02 Shamrock Capital ownership of Taylor’s original versions29:18 Taylor Swift's re-recordings 41:31 Tim’s experience writing deep dive articles on TaylorThis episode is sponsored by DICE. Learn more about why artists, venues, and promoters love to partner with DICE for their ticketing needs. Visit dice.fmEnjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapitalTrapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.