Sound Connections

Hosted by Amplitude Ventures

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Episodes

174

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

This is the intricate world of music entrepreneurship. Hosted by Jakob Wredstrøm from Amplitude Ventures, this podcast offers listeners a unique blend of insightful interviews, industry expertise, and behind-the-scenes stories from the global music landscape. From the challenges of breaking into the industry to the nuances of music tech innovations, each episode is a journey into the lives of music professionals, founders, artists, and innovators. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, an industry veteran, or just a music enthusiast, "Sound Connections" provides a fresh perspective on the ever-evolving world of music. Listen and connect with the sounds and stories that shape the industry.

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60 recent

June 11, 2026Episode 15357 min

#153: FOUNDER: AI Is Rewriting the Business of Music Software: Noam Levinberg

Are traditional music production tools entering their last era?Noam Levinberg, founder of Safari Audio, believes the future of music creation may look very different from the world producers know today.In this episode, we explore the rapid impact of AI on music software, why traditional plugin businesses are being challenged, and how the next generation of creators may never adopt the workflows that defined the last 30 years of music production.Noam shares the story behind Safari Audio, a bootstrapped company that has grown to more than 170,000 users by building creative, unconventional tools for music producers. We discuss startup building, product-market fit, software distribution, customer loyalty, and the difficult challenge of staying relevant in a market changing faster than ever before.Whether you're a music producer, founder, engineer, or music technology enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insight into the future of creative tools and entrepreneurship.Subscribe for more real conversations on music, startups, and innovation.

June 1, 2026Episode 1521 hr 0 min

#152: FOUNDER: The Metadata Problem Costing Creators Millions: Niclas Molinder

What happens when creators make music, but the industry does not know who to pay?In this episode of Sound Connections, Jakob Wredstrøm sits down with Niclas Molinder, songwriter, producer, founder of Session, and one of the music industry's leading advocates for creator rights.Niclas shares how missing rights data continues to cost creators credits, royalties, and recognition, and why solving this problem has become his life's work. He explains how Session was built to capture metadata directly during the creative process, why industry legends Björn Ulvaeus and Max Martin joined the mission, and what it takes to build a company around one of music's least glamorous but most important challenges.The conversation also explores Session's journey into Salt, the realities of founder-led innovation, and the broader education efforts behind the Music Rights Awareness Foundation and Clip.If you're curious about how the music business really works, this episode offers valuable insights into the systems that determine who gets credited, who gets paid, and why that still matters more than ever.Listen now and join the conversation.If you want to learn more about Session visit here: - Website: https://www.sessionstudio.com/ - Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/SessionCredit?_rdc=1&_rdr# - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sessioncredit/

May 11, 2026Episode 15144 min

#151: EXPERT: The Business Model Independent Music Is Missing: Thierry Ascarez

Streaming changed music, but it did not solve the business problem for most independent artists.In this episode of Sound Connections, we welcome Thierry Ascarez, Chief Business Officer at Winamp, to discuss how the company is reimagining its role in the music industry after nearly three decades of history.From its origins as the iconic MP3 player that helped define the early internet music era, Winamp is now building a platform designed to help artists monetize, manage, and control their careers beyond streaming. Thierry walks through the company’s journey across audio streaming, radio technology, advertising, acquisitions, public markets, and the decision to return Winamp to the center of the group’s strategy.Together, Jakob and Thierry explore why independent artists increasingly need to think like entrepreneurs, how direct fan relationships can create new revenue, and why owning data, websites, and monetization tools matters in today’s music economy.The episode also takes a candid look at music tech as a difficult but necessary space to build in. Thierry reflects on patience, resilience, investor expectations, and the belief that meaningful innovation in music still needs people willing to stay the course.Tune in for insight into the future of artist tools, music business infrastructure, and the next chapter of Winamp. If you want to learn more about Winamp, visit here: www.winamp.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/winamp/https://www.facebook.com/Winamphttps://www.instagram.com/winampforcreators/Produced by Amplitude Ventures AS.

May 4, 2026Episode 15046 min

#150: EXPERT: From Fan Economy to Artist Economy: John Lister

Most music platforms are built for listeners. This one is built for creators.In this episode of Sound Connections, Jakob Wredstrøm sits down with John Lister, Head of Community at Rap Fame, to explore how a global rap platform is reshaping music creation, discovery, and artist communities.From recording directly on a phone to joining crews, entering competitions, and exchanging real-time feedback, Rap Fame turns music creation into a shared process. Artists don’t just upload music; they grow through each other.What we cover in this episode:How peer feedback influences modern music creationWhy artist-to-artist communities drive deeper engagementThe role of competitions and recognition in creator growthHow platforms like Rap Fame support independent artistsAt its core, this conversation explores a shift: when artists support, challenge, and learn from each other, entirely new paths for growth, monetization, and creativity begin to emerge.If you're building in music, working on a creator platform, or thinking about the future of music technology, this episode offers a grounded look at what’s actually working today.Produced by Amplitude Ventures AS.If you want to learn more about Rap Fame visit:Website: https://www.raptech.co/Linkedin: / rap-tech-studios-ltd-rap-fame-appInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rapfame_app...Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rapfame_app?_...

April 27, 2026Episode 14953 min

#149: FOUNDER: Turning Cultural Gaps into a Streaming Business: Faraan Irfan

What does it take to build a music streaming service around culture, access, and long-term value?In this episode of Sound Connections, we sit down with Faraan Irfan, Founder and CEO of Saarey Music, to unpack how he’s solving one of music’s biggest access problems.Saarey is a streaming platform dedicated to South Asian classical music, built on exclusive rights, deep cultural metadata, and a business model that challenges traditional streaming economics. With strong engagement and global users, the platform is proving that underserved genres can become powerful digital businesses.Faraan shares his journey from personal frustration as a listener to building a company that works directly with artists, preserves rare recordings, and creates meaningful access for a global audience.A grounded, honest conversation on building in music tech beyond the mainstream.If you want to learn more about Saarey music: Socials: Saarey website: https://www.saareymusic.comSaarey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saarey/Saarey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saareymusicSaarey Insta: https://www.instagram.com/saareymusic

March 30, 2026Episode 14842 min

#148: FOUNDER: The Rise of Functional Music in Wellness Spaces: Freddie Moross

Freddie Moross, founder of Myndstream, joins Sound Connections to unpack the growing role of functional music in wellness, hospitality, and care environments.This conversation explores how intentional audio can shape experiences inside spas, hotels, and treatment spaces, and why music should be treated as infrastructure rather than background noise. Freddie explains how soundtracks can guide guest journeys, influence emotional outcomes, and help wellness spaces create more meaningful environments.We also discuss the economics behind the global wellness industry and why wellness-focused consumers represent one of the fastest growing and most engaged segments in hospitality.Along the way, Freddie shares lessons from building a music technology startup in a niche category, including the advantages of starting with owned assets, the challenges of licensing and distribution, and what it takes to scale a focused product in a complex industry.Now live on Sound Connections Podcast.[Links in bio]Produced by Amplitude Ventures AS.

March 23, 2026Episode 14749 min

#147: FOUNDER: What It Takes to Build Music Tech in a Resistant Industry: Mark Bamford

Mark Bamford joins Sound Connections for an open discussion on startup building, video monetization, and the hard truth about innovating in music. As the founder of Viktrs, Mark is working on a new model for video that aims to unlock more value from every view by focusing on engagement, discovery, and data rather than the traditional advertising-driven approach used by major platforms.Mark unpacks his path from a career in construction, consulting, and strategy into the world of founders and music technology. He reflects on what surprised him most about entering the music space, why innovation often struggles inside established systems, and how founders are forced to make difficult choices when a meaningful vision meets a difficult market.This episode dives into the economics of music startups, the limits of pure storytelling when fundraising, and the importance of reaching tangible results with as little capital as possible. Mark also shares why Viktrs has expanded into non-music categories such as food and politics while keeping music as a long-term mission, using those adjacent markets to build leverage, revenue, and proof before coming back stronger.For anyone working at the intersection of technology, media, and culture, this episode brings a sharp and honest perspective.Watch the full episode on your preferred podcast platforms![Links in bio]If you want to know more about Viktrs visit: https://viktrs.com/Produced by Amplitude Ventures AS.

March 18, 2026Episode 1461 hr 1 min

#146: EXPERT: Building Real Fandom in the Age of Algorithms: Rob Abelow

Rob Abelow, product leader at OpenStage, joins Sound Connections to go deep into the infrastructure behind fan relationships and why they are becoming central to music growth.This conversation breaks down how today’s ecosystem fragments fan data across multiple platforms, limiting visibility and control for artists. Rob shares how bringing that data together into unified fan profiles changes how artists engage, monetize, and build long-term value.We also discuss the shift away from algorithm-first growth toward a model that starts with core fans and expands outward, and how ticketing, premium experiences, and direct communication play a role in that evolution.Finally, we get into the realities behind the industry, from bot-driven ecosystems and distorted metrics to why many superfan strategies fall short, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.Now live on Sound Connections Podcast.Subscribe now!If you want to learn more about OpenStage visit: https://openstage.live/Produced by Amplitude Ventures AS.

May 16, 2024Episode 5040 min

#050: WISE Festival: Investing in the Future: Navigating AI Trends in Music Tech

Get an insider’s perspective on the future of music technology in this special episode from the WISE Festival. Host Jakob Wredstrøm leads a thought-provoking panel discussion with Savia Peters (LeanSquare), Thierry Bujod (Media Deals), Hazel Savage (SoundCloud), and Florian Stadler (Deutsche Telekom) to uncover how AI is revolutionizing the music industry. Find out what investors value most in startups, the critical role of timing, and how AI is reshaping creative industries. This episode is packed with insights for anyone passionate about music, tech, and innovation.Highlights:Key insights from top investors in the music tech space.Understanding what makes a sound investment in AI trends.The importance of timing and proprietary technology in startup success.The evolving role of AI in empowering creative industries.

February 14, 2024Episode 3040 min

#030: FOUNDER: Peder Jørgensen - Pioneering Next-Generation Audio Enhancement with Hance.ai

Join host Jakob Wredstrøm for an engaging conversation with Peder Jørgensen, founder of Hance.ai, to explore his remarkable journey in audio enhancement. This episode covers the fusion of music, sound design, and technology, showcasing how Peder's innovative work is changing our sound experience.Highlights:Peder's shift from music production to impactful tech innovations.The creation of Soundly and its influence on sound design.Insights into Hance.ai's advanced machine learning in audio.Overcoming industry challenges and embracing new sound technology opportunities.