Avsnitt
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My April 2026 interview with Clive Davis (watch here or listen here) was one of his last before he passed away in June 2026. Here are my reflections on my interactions with Clive, and a few parts of his legacy that still get overlooked.
You can also revisit our original Trapital episode on Clive’s career Here.
CHAPTERS
04:23 Reflecting on our interview
06:03 Clive's overlooked career peak
10:03 Clive's relationship with American Idol
13:15 Clive and the Future of Music
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AI keeps getting called music's biggest threat. Or its biggest opportunity. Both framings miss the point.
The real question is harder: if AI can handle the cognitive work, what's left that actually matters?
We're joined by Jessica Powell, CEO and co-founder of AudioShake, to figure that out. We talked about why experienced practitioners get the most out of AI, what happens to the creators caught in the middle, and whether "AI-generated" is already a useless label.
We also break down how AudioShake works — not generative AI, but subtractive stem separation and why physical media and community could be music's quiet hedge against digital abundance.
CHAPTERS
04:53 Music vs. Code
07:46 Taste and Differentiation
14:27 Should We Label AI Music?
17:41 How AudioShake Works
26:23 Vibe Coding, Jobs, and Disruption
SUMMIT
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Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Interstellar wasn't a phenomenon when it dropped in 2014. Now it's widely seen as a masterpiece. It’s more popular now than it was on release.
How does that happen? Can we see it coming?
In this solo episode, we break down the mechanics of a cultural reappraisal: why some polarizing work ages into greatness, and why other art quietly disappears. From Yeezus to Reasonable Doubt, Mr. Brightside to Cruel Summer, the pattern is more predictable than you'd think.
CHAPTERS
02:16 The Four Buckets
03:25 Cruel Summer, Mr. Brightside, Queen, Freaks and Geeks
06:01 Dan's Top 5
13:55 What Enables Reappraisal
18:39 Recent Candidates
26:30 Why Reappraisal Fails
SPONSORS
Trapital Summit Tickets - Get them here
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Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. -
Was there ever truly a "monoculture”? Or have we been telling ourselves a comforting story about past shared experience? We sit down with Tatiana Cirisano, VP of Music Strategy, MIDiA Research to unpack how we got from finale watch parties to infinite algorithmic feeds.
If culture is so fragmented, why does everything online look, sound, and feel the same?
We did more into the great cultural collapse, and whether live events are the last water-cooler moments standing.
CHAPTERS
04:11 Was Culture More Fragmented Than We Remember
05:42 Consumption vs. Consciousness
10:35 Stages, Porches, and Living Rooms
15:44 Internet Culture Sameness
20:39 Algorithms as Gatekeepers
29:03 Live Events and Differentiation
SPONSORS
Trapital Summit Tickets
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Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more
TRAPITAL
Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. -
K-Pop is in a unique situation. The genre “feels” like it’s everywhere. BTS, Blackpink, Stray Kids, and KPop **Demon Hunters have topped Billboard and Netflix charts. But recent data shows that roughly 2% of global streams are from K-Pop, and the genre is and trending down.
We are joined by Will Page, former Chief Economist at Spotify and author of Pivot. He released a new report on Music Business Worldwide in collaboration with Jeongbeom ‘JB’ Kim, Chief Data Officer at the Korean-based KreatorsNetwork.
We discussed how K-Pop’s demand is centralized at the top, why even a phenomenon like KPop Demon Hunters didn't lift the rest of the genre, and what Western labels keep getting wrong when they try to copy the model. We dive deep into Korea's "export or die" culture, and what other sports may teach music about reaching new audiences.
CHAPTERS
04:47 The Status of K-Pop
08:28 The Impact of BTS' Hiatus
17:02 The Limitations of Superfan Monetization
24:38 "Export or Die" Model
29:44 Inflation's Impact on Music
31:28 Lessons from Formula 1
SPONSORS
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Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more
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Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. -
"Blue dot fever" is the new phrase floating around for artists whose tours have seat maps full of unsold blue dots for concerts, especially in arenas and stadiums. It’s said to be a precursor to a cancelled tours. The term is catchy, it captures headlines, but is the “problem” a bit exaggerated?
With blue dot fever now part of the discourse, we dive deep into the latest in the business, how agents anticipate demand, and what usually leads to a successful or unsuccessful tour.
CHAPTERS
03:27 What is Blue Dot Fever?
08:07 Ticket Costs and Pricing
13:06 The Leap to Arena Tours
18:17 Tour Packaging and Residencies
20:35 VIP & Ancillary Revenue
SPONSORS
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Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more
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The multiples for music rights and catalog sales continue to rise, despite high interest rates. Selling can look rational in the moment but great music keeps finding new formats, new buyers, and new value. But it's hard to look at sales are pure financial decisions. As most investors know, there are countless factors that can go into a sale.
We are joined by Josh Gruss, founder of Round Hill Music. We dive deep into the deals that he's worked on that blew past expectations (The Offspring, Goo Goo Dolls), the ones that got away, and Round Hill's public and private journey over the past decade and a half.
CHAPTERS
01:54 Deal cycles in music rights
06:05 The Wind-up Records miss
12:45 The Offspring breakthrough
15:49 Goo Goo Dolls and "Iris"
24:02 Round Hill going public, then selling to Concord
SPONSORS
Trapital Summit Tickets Early bird tickets are available until July 15. Capacity is limited.
AI on the Lot The largest AI media conference bringing together artists, innovators, filmmakers, media execs, startups, creators, and developers.
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I sat down with Troy Carter during SXSW in Austin. We talked about Suno role in music, where record labels stand today, artist management, catalog sales, estates, we covered it all!
The conversation was hosted by Chaka Mahone at his company, DAWA, 4-day event titled Vision 8291, in collaboration with Venice Music, where Troy is the co-founder and CEO.
CHAPTERS
03:30 Stayed Ahead of AI News
08:37 Why Suno Matters
14:38 AI and Fair Use
24:25 Art vs. Content
29:43 Investing in Music Rights
31:26 Prince and Michael Jackson estates
SPONSORS
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Is “Artists vs. AI” the wrong way to think about music’s future?
At HumanX, I hosted a conversation with Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava and Universal Music Group’s Michael Nash on how AI can become a creative force multiplier for artists, not a replacement.
We discussed why music’s supply problem existed long before generative AI, how artists are using new tools to reduce production friction, and why authentic connection still matters more than infinite output.
The conversation also breaks down Splice and UMG’s partnership to build AI-powered music creation tools with artist control, copyright respect, and more.
CHAPTERS
01:24 Artists vs. AI
04:27 Splice Tools
06:14 UMG x Splice
08:04 Ethical AI
12:42 Artist Control
14:31 Better Music
17:07 Five-Year Vision
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SoundCloud is at a turning point, and CEO Eliah Seton takes us inside the strategy shaping its future.
In this conversation, we break down how SoundCloud evolved into a two-sided marketplace for artists and fans, why it moved on from potential sales, how it's embracing AI, and doubling down on the moves that work best for both creators and fans.
CHAPTERS
03:34 Update on a Potential Sale
08:23 How SoundCloud is Structured Today
21:20 AI Principles
33:23 Financial Health and Profitability
SPONSORS
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Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more
TRAPITAL
Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. -
In part two, you'll hear Clive Davis reflect on strategic decisions made when running a record label and career revivals he helped shape that defined another chapter of his run.
He discusses the balance of control and economics in label joint ventures, why hitmakers are not always great talent scouts, and how LaFace became a powerful force through artists like Toni Braxton, TLC, and Pink. Davis also shares how he revived the careers of timeless artists, including Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, Santana, and Luther Vandross. It’s a conversation about instinct, patience, and the discipline it takes to build lasting success in the music business.
CHAPTERS
02:51 LaFace, Label Deals, and Joint Ventures
09:42 TLC, Toni Braxton, and P!nk
12:37 The Cost of Breaking Artists
17:05 Aretha, Rod Stewart, and Santana
21:14 Catalog vs. Career Revival
25:30 Follow-up Call
SPONSORS
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Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more
TRAPITAL
Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. -
I sat down with the legendary record executive Clive Davis. We looked back on the career-defining moments that made him one of the most influential figures in music.
He shares memories from the Beverly Hills Hotel, where we recorded the conversation. We also discussed the evolution of his famed pre-Grammy gala, and the philosophy behind honoring artists in the room. Davis also revisits being pushed out at Columbia, Arista, launching J Records, and the story behind Whitney Houston recording “Why Does It Hurt So Bad.” It’s a conversation about instinct, reinvention, and what it takes to keep going at the highest levels in business.
CHAPTERS
04:21 Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Gala
11:30 Lessons Learned at Columbia
15:38 From Arista to J Records
23:41 When Whitney Houston and Clive Disagreed
SPONSORS
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Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more
TRAPITAL
Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. -
Coachella sold out in five days after announcing Justin Bieber as headliner. That's the good news. The bad news? It tells you how hard it's become to book a headline act who can actually move 250,000 tickets for the one of most premiere music festivals in the world.Dave Brooks, a music correspondent at Puck and host of the Decibel and Docket podcast, joins the show to break down the business of festival season 2026. We get into why the biggest artists no longer need Coachella, which festivals are actually profitable, and what's ahead for live music.CHAPTERS07:46 The Bieber Effect08:02 Stadium Money11:50 Why Stagecoach is Different21:13 Lollapalooza23:43 Chris Brown and Kanye WestSPONSORSAll People Powered is a live concert and pitch competition on Saturday, April 11 where three Bay Area founders pitch on stage for $30,000 in real funding. Get your ticket here.Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your , TikTok, YouTube, and more
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Now that Wasserman Agency has rebrand itself to "The Team," what's next? Who will lead The Team? Who will the new owner be? What will they do with it? Elsewhere in the talent agency world, CAA has a new managing director for music touring, and UTA's longtime leader has stepped down. Who will lead the next era?
I am joined by Ben Sisario from the New York Times to unpack the talent agency business, the leadership and reputational questions surrounding the companies, and what it all signals about succession, private equity, and the future of agency power.
CHAPTERS
05:05 Wasserman's Rebrand
08:23 Sale Scenarios
12:52 Margins And Risk
21:16 Why Music Lags
26:08 The Black Box of Talent Agencies
SPONSORS
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Linktree: Share music, sell merch, and connect with fans on one simple link. Linktree is the #1 link in bio tool that musicians and artists use to connect fans to everything they do.
Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more
TRAPITAL
Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. -
As streaming growth slows, the music industry is searching for its next big opportunity. One of the leading bets? AI-powered music creation.
I'm joined by MIDiA Research’s Tati Cirisano to break down whether platforms like Suno represent a true growth engine or just another niche product.
We explore the rise of consumer creation, the limits of the “superfan” narrative, and why the future of music revenue may be more fragmented than the industry hopes.
CHAPTERS
02:10 Rise of AI music tools
06:00 The superfan idea
14:30 The superfan landscape
22:30 Suno’s growth
40:00 AI vs. streaming
46:00 Labels and deals
52:00 Streaming’s future
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Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week
Linktree: Share music, sell merch, and connect with fans on one simple link. Linktree is the #1 link in bio tool that musicians and artists use to connect fans to everything they do.
TRAPITAL
Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. -
The Department of Justice has settled its lawsuit against Live Nation - Ticketmaster. There will be no breakup of the live entertainment company, but Live Nation has agreed to several remedies in an effort to improve the ticketing industry. But more rust that’s settled… what’s next? What will this change?
In this episode, we are joined by returning guest and NYU professor Larry Miller to break down the DOJ’s settlement with Live Nation/Ticketmaster.
We also dig into the bigger question fans care about most: will this make tickets cheaper?
CHAPTERS
04:13 Why Did DOJ Want to Settle?
11:14 Will Ticket Prices Fall?
13:05 Primary vs. Secondary Ticketing Market
22:48 StubHub and SeatGeek’s Challenge
24:56 Live Nation’s Consent Decree
SPONSORS
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Linktree: Share music, sell merch, and connect with fans on one simple link. Linktree is the #1 link in bio tool that musicians and artists use to connect fans to everything they do.
TRAPITAL
Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. -
Investors have poured more money into music than ever before. Music as an asset class if hotter than ever,. But the public markets have discounted the value of music companies:
UMG stock is currently trading near its all-time low
WMG trades at a discount on its earnings relative to UMG
RSVR is going through a takeover attempt
Several publicly traded music companies have been taken off the public markets
This is a huge disparity, and it was time to explain why.
In this solo episode, I break down this paradox. We will also connect the dots to real estate, the post-2021 repricing, and why more take-private attempts may be ahead.
CHAPTERS
00:10 Private vs Public Money in Music
07:26 Similarities in Music
08:19 2021 Reset
15:10 WMG and UMG
24:02 What’s Ahead
SPONSORS
Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week
Linktree: Share music, sell merch, and connect with fans on one simple link. Linktree is the #1 link in bio tool that musicians and artists use to connect fans to everything they do.
TRAPITAL
Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. -
Sphere Entertainment is now profitable, Wizard of Oz was a hit, and more locations are coming. Has the business turned the corner, or are there still question marks?
In this episode, I’m joined by Tati Cirisano, MIDiA Research, to assess where Sphere Entertainment stands in 2026. We unpack the company’s narrative, scalability, residencies, challenges, and more.
CHAPTERS
01:34 Is It Really Profitable?
10:01 The Concert Residency Model
14:58 Sphere Expansion Plans
22:33 Novelty Risk
26:07 Does Sphere Have a Comp?
SPONSORS
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In music right now, the winners aren’t just the artists with the biggest audiences, they’re the teams that control the infrastructure.
First, I sit down with Mag Rodriguez, CEO and co-founder of EVEN, to break down how Even became a key part of J. Cole’s The Fall Off rollout, from exclusive drops and direct-to-fan sales to tour presales and fan community features designed to keep people coming back.
Then, I’m joined by Lior Tibon, CEO and co-founder of Duetti, to unpack the financial plumbing behind catalog deals: how Duetti raised $200M, why equity and debt get used differently, and how data, underwriting, and marketing operations power the rights-acquisition machine.
CHAPTERS:
04:27 Why J. Cole Uses EVEN
10:16 EVEN-UMG Deal, Explained
16:49 Clearing the Rumors
32:30 Duetti’s Equity vs. Debt Stack
33:34 What a typical Duetti deal looks like
38:38 Catalog Marketing Playbook
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Linktree: Share music, sell merch, and connect with fans on one simple link. Linktree is the #1 link in bio tool that musicians and artists use to connect fans to everything they do.
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Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free. - Visa fler
