To succeed in music, you need to understand the culture around the product you’re selling. The music industry is an industry like any other but the rules are different. If you don’t involve the wider community, it’s not going to work… #music #tech #innovation

This Brian Eno quote is an inspirational reminder to keep exploring and to keep trying new things. We can’t know what will define the sounds of future generations if we don’t keep pushing limits and experimenting. New art and new ideas are only going to come from innovation.

Reading through Billboard’s list of the Biggest Music Deals in 2023, you’ll see some big numbers. There’s an insane amount of money flowing in the music industry at the moment. It’d make you wonder why a lot of artists are struggling to survive off incomes from their music…

In 2023 vinyl sales in the UK increased for the 16th year in a row. The vinyl phenomenon has been interesting to watch when you consider how dead the industry was back in the early 2000s. We want more from music, we want connect to music beyond just pressing play on our phone.

Aphex Twin’s live shows are a glimpse into what concerts of the future will look like with AR. Think about what he’d achieve with the full capabilities of AR at his disposal. New tech like AR is going to produce art and experiences that are going to truly blow our minds.

Following Bandcamp's acquisition in 2023 fans are concerned for its future. Financially they were struggling to survive and stand by their mission of supporting indie artists. We need to find a balance between commercial viability and a system that works for indie artists...

DMX fans have been outraged by the release of new music that they believe to be AI generated. They don’t view these tracks as a tribute but a misuse of his art. It's ultimately an issue of consent Artists deserve ownership and control over their IP. #music #AI #DMX

In 2024 we’re going to be seeing a lot more music startups and a lot more independent artists. New tech has lowered barriers for entry. It’s never been easier to get in the game, but there’s no shortcut to standing out and succeeding, you have to aim to be the best.

What’s worth more - hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners on a streaming platform or a passionate and engaged fanbase who've built a community around an artist? Financially, it’s the second option. When it comes to fans in the age of streaming, it’s quality over quantity.

83% of tracks on streaming platforms get less than 1000 streams. 25% of tracks get none. Delivering high quality music is one thing, but people actually listening to it is a different thing entirely. #streaming #independentartists #equity

How do you discover new music? For 90% of people, it’s through an algorithm. There’s a whole generation of people who’ve grown up with music being fed to them by algorithms. We need to find ways that bring real diversity into how we discover new music. #music #discovery #tech

There’s so little transparency in music that no one really knows what anyone else is getting. It’s one rule for some and another for the rest. Knowing how decisions are made will empower artists to fight for their rights. No more gatekeeping data or payment structures. 💪

Tech innovation has given us a music industry that is more accessible than ever before and the barriers for entry keep getting lower. It’s time that the industry started properly looking at all the untapped talent that’s out there… #musictech #AI #homerecording

Justin.tv was a project founded by Justin Kan in 2007 where he live streamed every thing he did 24/7. From this came Twitch. A reminder of what can be achieved with an understanding of online culture and how it can be applied to tech innovation.

15 years ago, the music industry was in trouble. When streaming came onto the scene, that all changed. The money tap was turned back on and a new status quo was put in place. 15 years on and nothing much has changed. We need to build a new industry that works for artists.

Streams are an artist’s livelihood. And they’ve no control over them. Artists can’t control what an algorithm is going to push but they can control their brand and the community they build around it. You can’t wait for streams, you have to go get them. #music #tech #branding

2017: Independent artists account for 13% of streams on Spotify. 2023: Independent artists are now 26% of total streams. The big labels don’t have absolute control the way they used to. Independent artists are making their mark. 💪 #music #tech

In 2007, Soundcloud was ahead of its time. Its survival to this day is a result of how well it understood the communities it was built to serve. Soundcloud has stood the test of time because it understands who it's for - the artists.

Some artists just understand how to embrace innovation. Bjork is one of those artists - constantly ways of integrating new tech into her performances. Artists have so much at their disposal to make groundbreaking art. This was 2015, imagine what will be achieved in 2024.

In 2024, the strength of an artist’s fandom can define a career. But it isn’t something that can just be engineered. You can’t work around the power of an artist’s relationship with their fans. Communities will define an artist’s career but the artist has to be given control.