• UMG vs TikTok, Kids’ Music, and Beyonce - Verizon (Trapital mailbag episode)

    It's time to dig into the mailbag again. I asked Trapital listeners to send me their most burning questions about the music industry. But this time we’re doing things a bit differently: you’ll be hearing the questions directly from our listeners.

    We dug into the TikTok vs. UMGc dispute, children’s entertainment media, and the Beyoncé - Verizon relationship leading to album ‘Act II: Cowboy Carter.”

    00:00 UMG vs TikTok 15:17 Kids’ music 19:55 Beyoncé, Verizon, and Cowboy Carter

    Make sure you listen in for our new Chartmetric stat of the week!

    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    29m | Mar 22, 2024
  • What’s Next For Concert Films?

    2023 was a big year for concert films. Taylor Swift's “Eras Tour” film became the highest grossing concert film of all time with nearly $270M in worldwide box office gross. Beyonce’s Renaissance film grossed over $44M. Was this just a Beyonce and Taylor thing, or will this continue?

    In this episode, I’m joined by Jimmy Stone, Founder of Alderbrook Companies, to dive deep into the rise of concert films, the economics behind them, the highest grossing concert films of all time, and so much more.

    At the end of our conversation, we also included an audio segment of the guest essay that Jimmy wrote for Trapital: “What Is Driving The Rise Of Concert Films?”

    00:00 Why are concert films becoming so popular? 06:50 Transmedia storytelling in music 12:48 The economics of concert films 21:11 Which artist could make a successful concert film in 2024? 31:22 Jimmy’s essay: What Is Driving The Rise Of Concert Films?

    Make sure you listen in for our new Chartmetric stat of the week!

    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    38m | Mar 15, 2024
  • Why We’re Still Early on AI Music

    There’s been a lot of discussion (and concern) about the impact of generative AI on music and whether the industry is on the verge of another Napster moment. But according to Jessica Powell, CEO of AudioShake, it’s going to take a lot more than a text prompt to kill music as we know it.

    On today’s episode, Jessica and I did a dive deep into the rise of generative music, its actual opportunities, and what it means for the industry moving forward.

    At the end of our conversation, we also included an audio version of the essay that Jessica wrote for Trapital: “Is Generative Music Really the Next Napster?”


    00:00 Will AI music have a Napster moment?

    08:07 The rise of generative music

    12:14 Main challenges and opportunities

    20:26 Audio essay: “Is Generative Music Really the Next Napster?”


    Make sure you listen in for our new Chartmetric stat of the week!

    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    27m | Mar 8, 2024
  • The Oscars: Hit Songs, All the Drama, and Tons of Money

    This episode is about Hollywood's biggest night, the Academy Awards. I’m joined by friend of the pod Zack O'Malley Greenburg to dive deep into the Oscars, how it compares to the Grammys, its relationship with music, the money spent on campaigns, the dramas, the major controversies, and some wild theories.


    00:00 The money behind the Oscars

    06:30 Why the Grammys gets worse ratings than the Oscars

    22:05 What happened to big movie soundtracks?

    31:36 Controversies over the years

    40:02 Biggest snubs of all time

    44:39 How to improve the show


    Make sure you listen in for our new Chartmetric stat of the week!

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    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    43m | Mar 1, 2024
  • Virgil Abloh: Off-White, Luxury, and Open-Source Fashion

    The late Virgil Abloh’s legacy lives on. From luxury rap to high fashion, his influence changed an entire industry, and several other adjacent ones.

    In this episode of Trapital, I’m joined by friend of the pod Zack O'Malley Greenburg. We broke down Virgil’s early years that shaped his future, his relationship with Kanye West, brands like Pyrex Vision, Off-White, his 3% rule, his open-sourced approach to business, his highs, lows, and so much more.

    00:00 How Virgil entered the fashion world

    07:44 Virgil’s influence on hip-hop and ‘luxury rap’

    15:57 Open-source fashion

    23:23 The Virgil-Kanye West relationship

    27:20 Legacy and controversies

    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    40m | Feb 23, 2024
  • Yeezy: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

    The rise and fall of the Yeezy brand is a Hollywood screenplay in the making. But this is less like the movie AIR, and more like The Wolf of Wall Street.

    To break it all down, I'm joined by Zack O'Malley Greenburg, who covered the Yeezy business through his reporting at Forbes. Together, we explore Kanye West's partnerships with Nike, Adidas, and Gap and the highs and lows along the way.

    Make sure you listen in for our new Chartmetric stat of the week!


    00:00 Kanye West enters the fashion world

    08:52 You don’t have the answer, Sway.

    24:56 Yeezy becomes a billion dollar brand

    30:28 The downfall

    37:04 Yeezy’s independent future


    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    49m | Feb 16, 2024
  • The Rise of Las Vegas Concert Residencies

    From gamblers paradise to entertainment mecca, on this episode of Trapital, we take a trip to Las Vegas and how its coveted residencies have evolved over time, the economics of how they work, and predictions for the future.

    I’m joined by Tati Cirisano from MIDiA Research. We explore the Las Vegas’ origin with mob ties, the ground-breaking 2003 Celine Dion residency, and the changing demographic of Vegas attendees.

    Want to leave us a question for our upcoming mailbag episode? Leave us a voicemail at memo.fm/trapital


    This episode is brought to you by DICE. Want to learn more about how you and your artists can reach a packed room of your superfans? Learn more at dice.fm/partners

    Make sure you listen in for our new Chartmetric stat of the week!


    2:30 Las Vegas evolution in music

    14:26 Celine Dion's 2003 residency

    21:50 The millennial demand

    29:59 Weekends with Adele

    41:42 The Sphere

    48:04 The Future of Residencies


    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    44m | Feb 9, 2024
  • SoundCloud and the Future of Superfans

    We hear a lot about superfans and how important they are for an artist, but we rarely see any data to quantify how valuable they actually are.

    In this episode, I'm joined by Will Page, author of Pivot and former chief economist at Spotify, to break down his most recent report, Soundcloud Rockonomics. We discuss the company’s Fan Powered Royalties, the user centric model, how artists like Lil Uzi Vert can measure their fans, and the impact on the industry.

    Today’s episode is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Build a stunning website today. Start your free 30-day trial and use promo code ‘trapital’ to get 15% off your first year.

    Make sure you listen in for our new Chartmetric stat of the episode!

    00:00 SoundCloud’s fan-powered royalties

    12:17 Lil Uzi Vert’s superfans

    20:17 Helping artists nurture superfans

    25:14 Streaming fraud

    29:09 What the industry can learn from this model

    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    32m | Feb 2, 2024
  • The Business Behind The Grammys

    This episode is about music's biggest night. But we’re not interested in who should win. This is about the business behind the show and everything surrounding it.

    We break down how the show makes money for CBS and the Recording Academy despite the viewership decline, the massive For Your Consideration business, the campaigning required to win an award, and major controversies over the years.

    I'm joined by Zack O'Malley Greenburg, friend of the pod, who covered The Grammys several times while at Forbes.

    This episode is brought to you by DICE. Want to learn more about how you and your artists can reach a packed room of your superfans? Learn more at dice.fm/partners

    Make sure you listen in for our new Chartmetric stat of the week!

    00:31 Why The Grammys were started

    08:04 The Grammys cultural impact over time.

    16:50 How The Grammy elevated the perception of musicians

    32:03 How The Recording Academy Works

    52:15 Changes we would make to The Grammys


    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    1h 2m | Jan 26, 2024
  • How Insurance Ads Became the Industry Standard

    It's been over 10 years since State Farm's first Chris Paul - Cliff Paul ad. It's been over 20 years since GEICO first introduced the gecko. These ads from insurance companies have been the biggest ad campaigns and their impact continues to grow.

    I'm joined by Dr. Marcus Collins, who helped develop the Chris Paul - Cliff Paul campaign during his time at Translation. We talked about why there are so many insurance ads, how Chris Paul - Cliff Paul happened, and how its legacy lives on.


    This episode is brought to you by Primary Wave, the home for legends. Learn more about how Primary Wave continues to legacy of the biggest artists from yesterday and today at primarywave.com

    Make sure you listen in for our new Chartmetric stat of the week!


    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    1h 1m | Jan 19, 2024
  • Why Radio Still Matters

    Radio is the music format with nine lives. Despite all of the new evolutions in AI, streaming, and short-form video, radio continues to live on; and will do so for several more years.

    In this episode, I’m joined by a friend of the pod, Tati Cirisano from MIDiA Research. We dive into radio’s impact in music over the years, current cutbacks and layoffs, and what the future of radio looks like in today’s era.

    Today’s episode is brought to you by Bandzoogle. Build a stunning website today. Start your free 30-day trial and use promo code ‘trapital’ to get 15% off your first year.

    Make sure you listen in for our new Chartmetric stat of the week!

    09:100 The underestimation of radio’s impact.

    15:20 Debates for royalty payments

    22:20 How streaming flipped radio's role in promotion

    37:15 The Breakfast Club's success

    48:14 What streaming can learn from radio

    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    1h 1m | Jan 12, 2024
  • Can New Superstars Ever Surpass Current Superstars?

    Music has several big new stars with tons of talent, but will they ever have a year as big as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé in 2023. Both women have been commercially successful for decades and continue to dominate the charts even to this day. They came up in a different time, which works to their advantage.

    But what does this mean for the streaming and TikTok era artists who want to break through all the noise? Can they ever reach the same level of stardom?

    In this episode, I’m joined by Tati Cirisano from MIDiA Research to discuss what it takes, the impact of streaming and TikTok, and whether artists like Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and others will ever reach the level of superstardom of artists like Beyoncé, Drake, Adele or T Swift.


    04:16 Breaking through in a saturated industry

    08:32 Monoculture

    09:36 The impact of streaming and TikTok

    14:30 Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Burna Boy, Post Malone

    33:44 Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, SZA

    58:29 Morgan Wallen, Bad Bunny

    01:11:23 The monetization of streaming by genre

    This episode is brought to you by Steed, the tax strategy firm built for our industry. Trapital listeners can skip the 1,600 person waitlist and schedule your free tax consultation today.


    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    1h 24m | Dec 22, 2023
  • Why Celebrity Fast Food Meals Took Off

    It’s been 3.5 years since McDonald’s Travis Scott meal, and we still see new celebrity fast food meals all the time.

    In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Marcus Collins, author of “For the Culture,” as we explore how fast food chains like McDonald's bounced back to its partnerships with influential artists and musicians.

    Marcus and I discuss McDonald’s history in celebrity fast food partnerships, how other fast food chains have had their own meals, what works what doesn’t, and where things are headed.


    03:20 Why McDonald’s partnered with artists.

    07:19 McDonald's and the McJordan.

    16:39 The impact of social media on celebrity fast food meals.

    27:53 The Travis Scott meal.

    44:47 How fast food chains partnered with artists.


    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    1h 3m | Dec 15, 2023
  • Adidas: Sneakers, Hip-Hop and Culture

    Adidas has one of the most insane backstories of any major apparel company. From its ties to the Nazi party, and its turbulent relationship with Kanye West, to its partnerships with Hip-Hop, and its influence in soccer, we cover it all.

    We also talk about the brands rise, its strongest years, Beyoncé, Ivy Park, and why celestial star power isn't always enough.

    In this episode I’m joined by friend of the pod Zack O’Malley Greenburg as we break it all down. We examine Adidas’ story history, strategic moves, missteps and more.


    03:40 Adidas’ history with the Nazi party.

    20:04 Adidas' turbulent 1990s and missed opportunities.

    34:12 Adidas’ Yeezy deal with Kanye West.

    41:07 The Yeezy anti-semitism controversy.

    47:19 Brands need to reconsider celebrity partnerships strategy.

    58:20 Why Beyoncé and Ivy Park didn’t work.


    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    This episode was brought to you by Audiense. Take your marketing strategy to the next level. Trapital listeners can start a free trial of Audiense. Learn more here.

    This episode was brought to you by Bevel . Get 20% off everything sitewide until 12/22! Visit getbevel.com.

    1h 3m | Dec 8, 2023
  • YouTube’s Impact on Music

    It’s hard to imagine what music would be like today without YouTube. The platform has done more to lower the entry barriers to music creation and distribution than any other platform.

    From the early days when acts like Soulja Boy harnessed the raw power of YouTube to drive their careers, to modern narratives like NBA YoungBoy mastering Creator culture, in this episode we delve into how YouTube's become an essential player in the music industry.

    In this episode, I’m joined by Tati Cirisano from MIDiA Research to discuss the origins of YouTube entering the space, the rocky relationships with music rights holders, the importance of UGC (User Generated Content), and so much more.

    [00:01:23] YouTube Enters The Music Industry

    [00:08:37] Google Acquires YouTube, DMCA

    [00:21:12] The Monetization-Exposure Trade Off

    [00:28:36] YouTube’s “Value Gap”

    [00:44:48] Improving Relationships With The Music Industry

    [00:49:49] Content ID

    [00:56:44] YouTube and AI

    This episode is brought to you by Downtown Music, the world leader in music services with over 2 million clients. Visit Downtown today to learn more.

    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    1h 10m | Dec 1, 2023
  • Why Music is a $40+ Billion Industry

    How much money does the music industry really make on an annual basis? The answer is not as straightforward as you think. Most of the outlets that publish figures only report on one side of the business. But since 2014, former Spotify chief economist and author Will Page has made it his job to answer this question in his annual report on global music copyright. This year the global value is at $41.5 billion.

    In this episode, I’m joined by Will and friend of the show, Tati Cirisano from MIDiA Research. We dive deep into the key findings of the report, the growth of publishing, vinyl sales, why “back catalog” is a dated term, AI’s disruption, and a whole lot more.

    [00:04:06] The need for data transparency

    [00:30:51] The rise of vinyl

    [00:46:43] How music relates to gaming

    [00:54:42] Streaming price increases

    This episode is brought to you by DICE. Want to learn more about how you and your artists can reach a packed room of your superfans? Learn more at dice.fm/partners

    Want to write a guest post while I’m on paternity leave in 2024? Here’s the form to fill out

    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    1h 10m | Nov 17, 2023
  • Reebok: Sneakers, Hip-Hop, and Missed Opportunities

    It wasn’t that long ago that Reebok was head-to-head with the biggest athletic apparel companies in the world. In 1989, Reebok sales had exceeded Nike. In 2001, Reebok’s two biggest stars, MVPs Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson, faced off in the NBA Finals. In 2003, two of hip-hop’s biggest stars, 50 Cent and Jay Z, had their own Reebok sneakers.

    But less then a decade later, the brand was a… struggling CrossFit brand under the Adidas umbrella. What happened?

    In this week’s episode of Trapital, Zack O’Malley Greenburg and I take a trip down memory lane. We examine Reebok’s rise, challenges faced, big partnerships, failed acquisitions, and missed opportunities.

    [00:03:35] Reebok vs. Nike

    [00;15;34] Allen Iverson and hip-hop

    [00;19;59] Jay Z’s S. Dots, 50 Cent’s G-Unit sneakers

    [00;34;39] Adidas acquires Reebok

    [00;51;03] ABG acquires Reebok

    [01;02;11] AI and Shaq now Reebok execs

    This episode is brought to you by Bevel. Beat the holiday rush and get 20% off the device of your choice. Offer ends Sun Nov 19. Get your device today.

    Want to write a guest post while I’m on paternity leave in 2024? Here’s the form to fill out

    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    1h 3m | Nov 10, 2023
  • The Trapital Report 2023

    The Trapital Report 2023 is here! In this episode we break down a few big takeaways from the report on streaming, live music, the state of hip-hop, and the most valuable songs in the world. I’m joined by David Boyle from Audience Strategies, who first reached out to me about working on this report and we’ve been working together ever since.

    We have two report versions. You can download the free preview of the report here.

    We also have a premium version of the report available with insights on engaging superfans, emerging technology, country music’s moment, the impact of TikTok and short-form video, generational preferences, and more.

    You can buy the premium report here.

    [00:04:36] Hip hop outshines electronic music.

    [00:05:51] Hip Hop's growth was tapering off.

    [00:16:21] Headlines without context can impact decisions.

    [00:23:32] Fans want identity, self-expression, and memories.

    [00:33:11] Leaning in to generative AI.

    [00:35:24] How best to split the pie

    [00:42:55] Different worlds for artists on different tours.

    [00:46:00] Historical bias and price influence hip hop tours.

    [00:51:19] YouTube active users prefer pop audience.

    Thanks again to the report’s presenting sponsor, DICE, and our presenting sponsors, Downtown Music and Audiense for making this report possible. Thanks to Luminate and Pollstar for sharing your data with us, and thanks again to Simon Jacobs and David Boyle from Audience Strategies.

    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    1h 1m | Oct 30, 2023
  • Apple’s Impact on Music: From iPods to AirPods

    Apple has been the most influential company in music in the 21st century, and music was the major driver behind Apple’s comeback. Join us for a deep dive on where Apple was before its music journey, the impact of iTunes, Steve Jobs, iPod, U2, iPhone, Apple Music, Drake, Taylor Swift, Frank Ocean, and a whole lot more.

    I’m joined by friend of the pod, Zack O’Malley Greenburg. We discuss how music helped Apple exceed the value of the entire music industry. We also discuss the company’s strategy with software, hardware, and how it all worked together. Hope you enjoy it.

    [00:03:55] Steve Jobs returns to Apple

    [00:10:13] iTunes, iPod, iTunes Music Store

    [00:34:48] How U2 got their own iPod

    [00:44:20] Why Jobs was against subscription-based music streaming

    [00:51:27] Apple buys Beats Electronics

    [00:56:48] How U2’s album got on every iPhone

    [01:07:54] Apple Music launch

    [01:14:04] What would Jobs say about Apple’s current music strategy?

    [01:21:54] Apple Music’s old exclusives strategy

    Enjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapital

    Trapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital’s free memo.

    1h 31m | Oct 20, 2023
  • Trapital Report coming soon!

    No new episode this week. We’re working hard on this year’s Trapital Report, which is out at the end of October! Make sure you’re signed up for our email newsletter to get the report once it’s live.

    Next week we’re back with another deep dive episode. Listen to this brief episode for a few hints! Talk to you next week.

    1m | Oct 13, 2023
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