Trapital

Suno is betting that music’s next big business is getting people to create and interact with songs. CEO and co-founder Mikey Shulman calls it “creative entertainment,” with a vision that reaches far beyond professional musicians.

Mikey and I sat down to discuss Suno’s business model, its partnership with Warner Music Group, and what letting fans remix their favorite artists could unlock. We also dug into the copyright disputes surrounding AI training, Suno’s approach to streaming fraud, and how fan-created music could become part of the live concert experience.

CHAPTERS

03:27 Suno’s Creative Entertainment Vision06:58 Lessons from Gaming08:52 Superfans and Artist Remixes14:22 From Lawsuit to Warner Partnership22:29 Beyond One Music Subscription27:12 AI Training and Copyright33:10 Tackling Streaming Fraud36:46 Human Artistry and AI Labels40:10 Suno’s Live Music Ambitions

SPONSORS

Chartmetric Flow: Flow is Chartmetric’s new AI-powered music intelligence tool that helps music professionals turn complex data into actionable insights. Ask questions in plain language, discover trends, and get the information you need to make smarter decisions, all without digging through dashboards.Learn more: https://flow.chartmetric.com/pricing/trapital

TRAPITAL

Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

Streaming numbers don’t always tell you how many tickets an artist can sell. Lee Anderson saw that firsthand with clients like ISOxo and Knock2. As co-president of music at THE·TEAM, formerly Wasserman, he helps artists build touring strategies around their goals and their fans.

Lee and I sat down to discuss the changing role of talent agencies, how he navigated the company’s leadership crisis, and why the stadium touring boom is putting pressure on festivals. We also talked about ticket pricing, balancing data with instinct, Skrillex’s live strategy, and why destination shows and superfan experiences could shape the future of touring.

CHAPTERS

03:45 From Promoter to Agent07:26 Leading THE·TEAM Through Change10:17 The Agency’s Role Beyond Touring15:10 Festivals and Stadium Tours23:40 Balancing Data and Instinct27:05 What Makes EDM Different32:27 Destination Shows, Merch, and Superfans

SPONSORS

Chartmetric Flow: Flow is Chartmetric’s new AI-powered music intelligence tool that helps music professionals turn complex data into actionable insights. Ask questions in plain language, discover trends, and get the information you need to make smarter decisions, all without digging through dashboards.Learn more: https://flow.chartmetric.com/pricing/trapital

Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers, ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more.

TRAPITAL

Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

NVIDIA is best known for everything it does to power AI, but its work in media and entertainment goes much further.

At the Trapital Summit I sat down with, Richard Kerris, VP and GM of media and entertainment at NVIDIA.

He discussed NVIDIA’s work with Universal Music Group, Adobe, Runway, Getty. and why entertainment companies’ public comments on AI can differ from what happens behind closed doors. We also discussed music discovery in a flood of AI content, how CEO Jensen Huang evaluates new opportunities, what happened to the metaverse, and how AI agents could give creators more control over their work.

CHAPTERS

03:48 NVIDIA and Universal Music Group06:44 The Disconnect Around AI Messaging10:10 Music Discovery and the AI Content Flood12:46 Zero Billion Dollar Opportunity17:21 AI Agents and the Creative Process

SPONSORS

Chartmetric Flow: Flow is Chartmetric’s new AI-powered music intelligence tool that helps music professionals turn complex data into actionable insights. Ask questions in plain language, discover trends, and get the information you need to make smarter decisions, all without digging through dashboards.

Learn more: https://flow.chartmetric.com/pricing/trapital

Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers, ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more.

TRAPITAL

Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

Jay-Z has spent years helping decide who performs at the Super Bowl halftime show. Now he’s taking the stage himself. After a year of stadium shows and playing offense, his 2027 headlining spot raises the question of what comes next.

Justin Tinsley of Andscape joins me for this bonus episode to break down the announcement, Roc Nation’s NFL partnership, and how Jay-Z turns cultural moments into business opportunities. We also discuss the gap between online criticism and ticket sales, potential appearances from Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter, and whether a new album or tour could follow.

CHAPTERS

03:33 Why Jay-Z, Why Now05:26 The Announcement and the Leak09:06 Online Backlash and Ticket Prices10:35 Roc Nation’s NFL Partnership12:35 Jay-Z’s Business Playbook14:20 What Comes Next in 202718:07 Expectations for the Halftime Show

SPONSORS

Chartmetric Flow: Flow is Chartmetric’s new AI-powered music intelligence tool that helps music professionals turn complex data into actionable insights. Ask questions in plain language, discover trends, and get the information you need to make smarter decisions, all without digging through dashboards.Learn more: https://flow.chartmetric.com/pricing/trapital

Symphonic NEXT: Unlock the value of your music catalog with flexible funding and strategic support from Symphonic Distribution. Whether you're an artist, manager, label, or rights owner, NEXT offers royalty advances, catalog sales, and growth opportunities tailored to your goals—without sacrificing creative control.Learn more: https://symphonic.com/next

TRAPITAL

Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.

I sat down with Saumil Mehta, Global President of Ticketmaster, at the 2026 Trapital Summit to talk about the future of ticketing.

Saumil and I discussed the challenges of earning fans’ trust, why he personally responds to complaints on X, and the fight against bots and ticket fraud. We also talked about the technology fans don’t see, venue exclusivity, and where he believes Ticketmaster’s public reputation differs from how the business operates.

CHAPTERS

02:58 From Square to Ticketmaster05:14 Product, Design, and AI06:17 Fan Trust and Transparency11:36 Bots, Fraud, and Resale13:21 The “Blue Dot Fever” Debate14:51 Beyond the Ticketmaster App17:09 Venue Choice and Exclusivity

SPONSORS

Chartmetric Flow: Flow is Chartmetric’s new AI-powered music intelligence tool that helps music professionals turn complex data into actionable insights. Ask questions in plain language, discover trends, and get the information you need to make smarter decisions, all without digging through dashboards.

Learn more: https://flow.chartmetric.com/pricing/trapital

TRAPITAL

Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.