Trapital

37:23

SoundCloud’s Big Bet for the AI Era

Trapital ·

2026/04/21

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

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31:31

Clive Davis Part 2: Reviving Careers, Industry Power,...

Trapital ·

2026/04/14

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,

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31:11

Clive Davis Part 1: Whitney Houston, Resilience, and ...

Trapital ·

2026/04/14

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

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29:34

Coachella’s Dilemma: Stadium Money vs. Festival Money

Trapital ·

2026/04/06

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

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30:34

Talent Agencies: Who Leads the Next Era?

Trapital ·

2026/03/30

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

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32:35

Can AI Music Creation Be a Real Growth Market?

Trapital ·

2026/03/23

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

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29:03

Live Nation and DOJ Settled. Now What?

Trapital ·

2026/03/16

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

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27:39

Private Investors Love Music. Why Doesn’t Wall Street?

Trapital ·

2026/03/09

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

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1:02

Trapital: Where Business Meets Culture

Trapital ·

2026/03/09

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35:18

Is The Sphere… A Good Business?

Trapital ·

2026/02/26

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

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42:40

Follow The Money: EVEN, Duetti, and The New Deal Stack

Trapital ·

2026/02/20

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

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26:21

Why Netflix and Spotify Won in Paid Streaming

Trapital ·

2026/02/11

For the past 20 years, subscription streaming has produced an outcome that still gets overlooked. The category winners weren’t the big tech giants or the major studios. In music, Spotify became the default. In premium video, Netflix did the same.In this episode, we break down how pure-play focus, faster decision-making, and a single retention-driven scoreboard create compounding advantages that big tech’s money and bundling can’t easily copy. CHAPTERS 01:03 Why Spotify and Netflix

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38:27

Inside Grammy Week: Galas, Deal Rooms, and “The Two...

Trapital ·

2026/02/04

We just came back from the 68th Grammy Awards. I am joined by Tati Cirisano of MIDiA Research break down what it’s actually like to the experience the Grammys up close from industry events and late-night conversations to crossing paths with artists, executives, and power players shaping the music business. We unpack standout performances, unexpected moments, and how attending the show in person is different from watching at home.CHAPTERS 01:43 Bad Bunny’s Big Night 05:11 The Grammys In

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18:59

Can YouTube Have It All?

Trapital ·

2026/01/23

YouTube is the biggest TV, music, and video platform in the world, but it’s not satisfied. The company still wants to compete for the dollars that go to traditional TV. But can YouTube have it all?In this episode, we examine YouTube’s push into the living room, from securing the NFL Sunday Ticket to becoming the exclusive home of the Oscars starting in 2029. But as YouTube chases TV legitimacy and higher profit margins, it faces a core tension: how can it get there without losing the

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22:58

The Rise of Reels: Meta’s $50B Ad Machine

Trapital ·

2026/01/15

Meta’s short-form video surface, Reels, now generates $50 billion in annual run rate. That’s more than some of the largest media companies like Netflix, TikTok, and YouTube’s ad business.Reels may be less culturally relevant than those companies, and its users spend less time on the platform than others, but it prints money and shows no signs of slowing down. This episode explores how Meta’s infrastructure made Reels one of the most successful monetization plays in modern tech and what could

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35:18

Music is a $47 Billion Industry. Why Isn’t It Bigger?

Trapital ·

2025/12/23

In this episode, we sit down with Will Page, economist and author of Pivot, for a deep dive on the global economics of music. Using Will’s latest Global Value of Music Copyright Report, we explore streaming economics, global market gaps, AI, and where the music industry’s next phase of growth may come from.CHAPTERS 02:45 Global Value of Music: 10 Years in Review 11:24 Emerging Music Markets 13:37 Africa’s Music Economy 18:11 Brazil’s Music Market 21:12 The Crocodile Smile 33:18 AI and

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25:53

Polymarket and Kalshi: Financial Tools or Casinos?

Trapital ·

2025/12/12

Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi have had a big year in 2025, but what are they really? Securities? Derivatives? Sportsbooks? They may be all of the above.Listen to my breakdown on how these markets have evolved over time, and what led to their current rise today. We then dive into the opportunities, risks, and the regulatory challenges that may shape their future. CHAPTERS 02:54 The Origin of Prediction Markets 06:43 Polymarket, Kalshi, and Modern Prediction Markets 09:16

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51:02

How MTV Lost Its Way

Trapital ·

2025/12/05

People say they miss when MTV played music videos, but their viewing habits say otherwise!We revisited one of our most popular episodes from 2023, but trimmed it down to include the best parts. I’m joined by Zack O’Malley Greenburg to unpack MTV’s rise from a scrappy video platform to a cultural powerhouse. We break down breakthrough moments like Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”, the rise of reality TV, the networks influence, rise, fall, and what’s next? CHAPTERS 01:04 The Birth of MTV 04:45

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15:45

Five Bold Predictions: Netflix and Spotify,...

Trapital ·

2025/11/20

We continue our Trapital Summit series with Dan and MiDIA Research’s Tati Cirisano sharing bold predictions from Trapital Summit attendees and sharing their thoughts.We debate the long-term viability of major record labels, whether a Netflix + Spotify merger make sense (we recorded this before the podcast partnership!), we also discussed whether we’ll return to mass mainstream monoculture, future growth opportunities, and which new opportunities will be unlocked by AI-powered

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38:08

What's a Grammy Worth? New Voters, New Winners, and...

Trapital ·

2025/11/13

This episode is in partnership and collaboration with our friends at The Recording AcademyYou’ll hear our deep dive on what we can learn from this years Grammys with our usual analysis and a few select guests including: Panos Panay (President of The Recording Academy), Tati Cirisano (MIDiA Research), Zack O’Malley Greenburg, author and investor. We discuss the biggest takeaways from the 2026 nominations, the rise of international music, how the voting body has evolved, and the economic lift of a

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