Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Music Tectonics Conference 2023 in Santa Monica, CA. It was an amazing event that brought together music tech innovators from across the industry spectrum. I learned a lot, met some great people, and had a lot of fun. Here is my experience.
You can’t talk about the conference without mentioning the amazing panels and networking. The conference kicked off with a really interesting talk by Maria Egan, David Knox, and Vickie Nauman about gaming and music. They shared some insights into where the industry is going. They also talked about some of the challenges and opportunities that the industry faces in the age of Web3, such as data ownership, transparency, and decentralization.
The conference also featured several panels that covered a variety of topics, such as:
– Untapped Opportunities in the Music Market: This panel discussed how the streaming boom has created a surge in demand for music catalogs, and how artists, labels, publishers, and investors can benefit from this trend.
– The Billion $ Problem: Emerging Solutions to the Music Industry’s Streaming Fraud Conundrum: This panel explored how music tech platforms are fighting fraud and making sure artists get their fair share of the pie.
– And many other amazing conversations.
The Exhibitors and Activations
The conference also had a lot of exhibitors around the pool at the Annenberg Beach House. They showcased some of the latest and coolest music tech products and services. I got to see demos, try out some gadgets, and chat with the founders and reps.
Some of the exhibitors that caught my eye were:
– LANDR: LANDR is an online platform that provides AI-powered mastering, distribution, collaboration, and promotion tools for musicians.
– LyricFind: LyricFind is a global leader in licensed lyrics solutions, powering thousands of websites and services with lyrics from over 4,000 publishers. I learned how lyrics can enhance the music discovery and consumption experience, and how they can generate revenue for rights holders.
– getmoments.com: an app that helps you get more out of concerts.
Next, I had the opportunity to speak to the founder of the conference Dmitri.
Dmitri started the Music Tectonics Conference in 2019 as an in-person event in LA. He noticed that there was nothing going on in the LA area for music tech, and he wanted to do something on the west coast this time of year. He chose LA as the spot because he felt that music is crossing over to more and more verticals, such as gaming, Hollywood, streaming, social media, and more.
He also wanted to create an ecosystem play, where music tech innovators can connect with the whole industry, including record labels, publishers, investors, management companies, consultants, attorneys, and more. He believes that startups need to be part of the conversations and partnerships that will shape the future of music.
The Current and Future Trends in Music Tech
Dmitri shared with me his observations on what’s happening right now in music tech, and what’s coming next. He said that there are two big things that are happening right now: artificial intelligence and Web3.
Artificial intelligence is making the tools of production more and more accessible to anyone who wants to create music. He said that it’s not about replacing human creativity, but rather enhancing it and democratizing it. He gave examples of some of the AI-powered platforms and tools that were showcased at the conference, such as LANDR, which provides online mastering, distribution, collaboration, and promotion services for musicians.
Web3 is transforming the music rights landscape with technologies such as blockchain, smart contracts, and NFTs. He said that it offers new possibilities for data ownership, transparency, and decentralization for both artists and fans. He gave examples of some of the Web3 disruptors that were featured at the conference, such as Vibrate, which tracks and analyzes live music events around the world using big data and machine learning.
He also said that live music tech is another area that is evolving rapidly with technologies such as VR/AR, spatial audio, interactive lighting, and more. He said that it can enhance the live music experience for both artists and fans, especially in times of COVID-19 restrictions. He gave examples of some of the live music tech tools that were presented at the conference, such as getmoments.com, which is a social app that helps you find and connect with like-minded people who share your interests.
The Advice for Music Tech Startups
Dmitri also shared with me his advice for music tech startups who want to succeed in this industry. He said that they need to be committed to their passion for music and technology because it’s always going to be a hard road. He said that music has a smaller total addressable market than other industries, such as gaming or fintech or health tech or cyber security. He said that music tech startups need to find their niche and their value proposition in this competitive space.
He also said that music tech startups need to be part of a community where they can get support, information, feedback, and exposure. He said that Music Tectonics is one of those communities, as well as a platform where music tech founders can meet and network with other innovators from across the industry spectrum, and showcase their products and services to potential partners and investors.
The Networking and Connections
One of the best things about the conference was the networking opportunities. I got to meet and connect with so many amazing people who work in music tech. I exchanged ideas, insights, feedback, contacts, and business cards with them. I also made some new friends who share my passion for music and technology.
Meeting X LI the legendary web 3 artist and co-founder of Soundctrl.XYZ, startup founders, CEOs, musicians, creatives. The relationships that I made here are priceless. I walked away very impressed with the people here.
The Conclusion
The Music Tectonics Conference 2023 was an incredible event that exceeded my expectations. I learned a lot, met a lot of great people, and had a lot of fun. I want to thank Dmitri Vietze for his time and insights, and for organizing such a wonderful conference. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in music tech. I can’t wait for the next one!
