Sound Connections

#136: FOUNDER: Epidemic Sound: The Legal Model That Created a New Music Economy: Tom Höglund

Tom Höglund, a key figure from the founding team of Epidemic Sound, breaks down how they built a unicorn by disrupting the century-old music licensing industry.From his early days as a lawyer to creating an alternative model that pays musicians upfront and offers a 50-50 split , Tom shares the controversial journey. Discover the audacious vision to make music licensing simple and global for content creators on platforms like YouTube, challenging the traditional Performing Rights Organizations (PROs). Hear the grind, the early struggles, and the international mindset that fueled this Swedish success story.Know more about Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

#135: MTEA: Rethinking AI, Consciousness, and Creativity: Alex Braga

Discover how Alex Braga built an AI 'Instrument' a decade ago — not to replace musicians, but to rediscover what makes us human.In this episode of the Sound Connections Podcast, Alex Braga, award-winning artist, performer, and creator of the A-Mint AI instrument, joins Jakob Wredstrøm to unpack the philosophy and ethics behind AI in art. From the meaning of human creativity to the illusion of machine consciousness, Alex breaks down what separates creation from generation — and why intention still defines everything.🎧 In this conversation:- Why AI-made music often lacks meaning — and what “meaning” really is- How algorithms mirror our cultural biases- The ethics of data scraping and AI training- Why we must learn to use technology without losing ourselves- Why “We Are Technology” — and what that means for the future of creativityAlex doesn’t see technology as the enemy — but as a mirror reflecting how conscious (or unconscious) we are in how we use it.This is a partnership episode with Music Tech Europe Academy: https://www.musictecheuropeacademy.eu/Find out more about A-Mint AI here: https://www.alexbraga.me/a-i__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

#134: EXPERT: The Mood Music Model: A New Way to Make a Living in Music: Niklas Brantberg

Who are the people behind the music that shapes how we listen?In this episode of Sound Connections, host Jakob Wredstrøm sits down with Overtone Studios CEO Niklas Brantberg, who shares how Epidemic Sound and his label built a new music economy for creators, one where focus playlists turn into real income. Jakob and Niklas unpack the business of mood music, the shift from faceless tracks to artist identity, and the impact of AI in music production.Perfect for music entrepreneurs, producers, and founders seeking inspiration on creating sustainable careers in today’s music tech landscape.Find out more about Overtone Studios here: https://www.overtone-studios.com/__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

#133: FOUNDER: Democratizing Music Ownership Through Smarter Finance and Technology: Lior Tibon

Can finance make the music industry fairer?In this episode, Lior Tibon, CEO and Co-founder of Duetti, shares with host Jakob Wredstrøm how he’s building a platform that lets artists turn their catalogs into opportunity. From Tidal to Duetti, Lior’s journey blends financial innovation with deep respect for creators. Hear how technology, transparency, and smarter capital are shaping a new path for music ownership and catalog investment. This episode offers rare insight for music founders, investors, and creators redefining what it means to own music.Listen for lessons in creative business growth.Find out more about Duetti here: https://www.duetti.co/__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr

#132: AI, Localization, and the New Music Economy: Ben Mendoza

Can AI and infrastructure finally make the music industry scalable?In this episode, Ben Mendoza, CEO and Co-Founder of Beatchain, joins host Jakob Wredstrøm to reveal how AI-driven infrastructure, data analytics, and localization are redefining the future of music entrepreneurship.Learn how Beatchain’s innovative arena model helps independent artists grow careers sustainably, how automation fixes music distribution and discovery, and why building long-term systems, not quick wins, matters for global creators.Tune in NOW for practical insights on scaling success in the music tech and creator economy revolution.Find out more about Beatchain here: https://www.beatchain.com/__________________________________________________________________________Produced by Amplitude Ventures Consulting: Partners in Early-Stage Venture Building - https://amplitude.venturesFollow on;Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2omT8uLhBamH3GFeih4oo3?si=45206dd146a84ae1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundconnectionspodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundconnectionspodcast?igsh=bDZzbnhrYXBlNHBr