Sound Connections

#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.

#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.

#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.

#145: EXIT: The 5-Year Exit Nightmare: Surviving My Acquirer's Collapse: Jan Willem

Join us for a grounded conversation with Jan Willem, Co-Founder of Momants and the strategic mind behind Paylogic. Jan Willem reflects on Paylogic’s journey as a fintech pioneer which provided a white-label ticketing solution that let event organizers sell directly to their own audience. This technology famously scaled to handle massive peaks for global events like Tomorrowland. We explore his "horror story" exit, a grueling five-year marathon through corporate instability before the company’s final sale to Vivendi.The conversation centers on his transition from a "non-music guy" to a seasoned investor and initiator of The Chorus at Amsterdam Dance Event, where he mentors the next generation of entrepreneurs. Jan Willem explains why he believes today’s AI-driven landscape finally allows startups to challenge legacy players and rebuild what's broken from the ground up.Don't miss this honest conversation about starting a company, surviving a tough exit, and finding the spark to go again. Subscribe now!

#144: FOUNDER: Staying Lean as a Competitive Edge in Music Tech: Christian Ringstad Schultz

We welcome Christian Ringstad Schultz, CEO and co-founder of the Norwegian music tech company Masterchannel – delivering industry-grade audio mastering.With a team of just two and a half people, Masterchannel has reached a million-dollar revenue run rate while mastering nearly 100,000 songs every month.In this episode, Christian shares how proprietary AI, white-label partnerships, and disciplined cost control have shaped a sustainable company in an industry where most struggle to survive.We explore the economics of staying small, building trust over time, and creating long-term advantage in a competitive AI-driven market.Listen in and join the conversation.