Trapital

Latest Episodes:

The Business of Touring and Talent Agencies Nov 05, 2026

Show notes

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 Agent
07:26 Leading THE·TEAM Through Change
10:17 The Agency’s Role Beyond Touring
15:10 Festivals and Stadium Tours
23:40 Balancing Data and Instinct
27:05 What Makes EDM Different
32:27 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.

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NVIDIA’s Vision for AI, Music, and Hollywood Nov 03, 2026

Show notes

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 Group
06:44 The Disconnect Around AI Messaging
10:10 Music Discovery and the AI Content Flood
12:46 Zero Billion Dollar Opportunity
17:21 AI Agents and the Creative Process

SPONSORS

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

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BONUS: JAY-Z’s Super Bowl Endgame Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

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 Now
05:26 The Announcement and the Leak
09:06 Online Backlash and Ticket Prices
10:35 Roc Nation’s NFL Partnership
12:35 Jay-Z’s Business Playbook
14:20 What Comes Next in 2027
18:07 Expectations for the Halftime Show

SPONSORS

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

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Inside Ticketmaster: Fans, Fraud, and False Narratives Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

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 Ticketmaster
05:14 Product, Design, and AI
06:17 Fan Trust and Transparency
11:36 Bots, Fraud, and Resale
13:21 The “Blue Dot Fever” Debate
14:51 Beyond the Ticketmaster App
17:09 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.

Amazon's Big Bets on Music, Twitch, and Podcasts Oct 23, 2026

Show notes

I sat down with Steve Boom, VP of Audio, Twitch & Games, at the 2026 Trapital Summit to talk about the competition for your attention. Boom oversees Amazon Music, Wondery, Twitch, Audible, and more.

Steve and I discussed the company's partnership with Oprah Winfrey, the tradeoffs of podcast exclusivity, and Amazon Music’s future. We also talked about streaming prices, Twitch’s evolution beyond gaming, and how AI could help Audible reach more listeners worldwide.

CHAPTERS

01:24 Competing for Your Attention
03:09 Oprah and Podcast Exclusivity
06:35 Amazon Music’s Growth
09:31 How Amazon Measures Success
12:55 Free Tiers and Streaming Prices
17:45 Twitch Beyond Gaming
20:38 AI and the Future of Audiobooks

SPONSORS

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

TRAPITAL

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

Why Some Artists Go Global (and Others Don't) Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

Brazil’s biggest music stars can build massive audiences at home, while Nigeria’s global stars often find most of their listeners abroad. Both are finding success, but the paths to building those audiences look very different.

Sung Cho, founder and CEO of Chartmetric, joined me at the Trapital Summit to break down the company’s new report, The New Sound of Global Music. We discussed how music from Mexico, Nigeria, India, Japan, and Brazil travels across borders, why one global hit doesn’t guarantee lasting momentum, and what streaming numbers can miss. We also talked about Chartmetric Flow, how AI can help plan tours and identify brand partnerships, and why execution still matters when everyone has access to the same tools.

CHAPTERS

01:54 The Ripple Effect of Global Hits
05:39 Brazil vs. Nigeria’s Superstars
07:41 What Streaming Data Misses
10:53 Introducing Chartmetric Flow
12:16 Tour Planning and Brand Partnerships
14:53 Why Execution Still Matters

SPONSORS

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The Business of Sold Out Tours and Festivals Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

Kevin Shivers started in an agency mailroom at 31. Today, he’s Co-President of Music at THE·TEAM, representing artists including Tyler, the Creator, Leon Thomas, and Kali Uchis. His approach to building the agency centers on teamwork, developing artists, and what he calls “unreasonable hospitality.”

Kevin sat down with Billboard’s Taylor Mims at the Trapital Summit to break down his journey, what he looks for when signing artists, and how he’s helped grow Tyler, the Creator’s touring business over 14 years.

They also discussed why stadium tours are making festival bookings harder, how fans are changing the way they buy tickets, and why selling out immediately isn’t always the right goal.

CHAPTERS

01:37 Building the Number One Agency
02:54 From the Mailroom to Co-President
06:42 Finding Artists with Staying Power
09:24 Tyler, the Creator’s Touring Growth
11:42 Festivals vs. Headline Tours
15:05 Stadiums and the Live Music Business
17:12 Ticket Sales and Sellout Strategy

SPONSORS

Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week.

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KevOnStage Keeps It Real on Touring Economics, Tubi, and Ownership Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

KevOnStage has millions of followers, a growing production company, and the largest creator deal Tubi has signed to date. But live touring still drives roughly 60% of his revenue, while his TV shows are more about building his long-term business.

Kev and I sat down at the Trapital Summit to break down his business model, why he can sometimes make more money selling 300 tickets at a church than 1,000 tickets at a traditional venue, and his frustrations with Live Nation and Ticketmaster fees. We also discussed his Tubi deal, the importance of ownership, lessons from Tyler Perry and Issa Rae, and how he's building an audience across platforms.

CHAPTERS

02:00 Tubi Deal and Ownership

07:29 KevOnStage's Revenue Breakdown

12:23 Live Nation and Ticketmaster Economics

17:23 Why Kev Prefers to Tour in Churches

20:11 Tyler Perry and Issa Rae

25:53 The Creator Business Flywheel

SPONSORS

Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week.

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.

Larry Mestel on What Makes a Song Worth Millions Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

I sat down with Primary Wave CEO Larry at the Trapital Summit.

When Larry started Primary Wave in 2006, the company had roughly $60 million to invest. Twenty years later, Primary Wave raised a record $2.2 billion fund dedicated. It has partnered with the estates and catalogs of Whitney Houston, Prince, Bob Marley, James Brown, Luther Vandross, and more.
Larry and I talked about how Primary Wave evaluates music rights, recent acquisitions, the rise of capital in the space, the criticism that the firm has given, and more. CHAPTERS

07:53 What makes a music catalog valuable
11:38 Active vs. passive management
12:16 Whitney Houston, Prince, and other estates
16:36 Why Primary Wave acquired Kobalt
23:09 The future of music rights valuations

This conversation was recorded live at Trapital Summit 2026 in Los Angeles.

Listen here: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Overcast

Links mentioned:

Primary Wave Music

Primary Wave’s acquisition of Kobalt

Primary Wave’s $2.2 billion Music IP Fund IV

Trapital Summit 2026

Why Investors Are Looking Beyond Iconic Music Catalogs — Trapital’s conversation with Flexpoint Ford’s Mike Morris

Presented by Chartmetric

What We Learned at Trapital Summit 2026 Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

The third annual Trapital Summit is officially in the books.

We are joined by MIdiA Research's Tati Cirisano to look back on what happened in Los Angeles, from the standout moments on stage to the conversations that continued throughout the room.

We break down the ideas that sparked the most discussion, the biggest takeaways from the day, and what the Summit revealed about where music, media, entertainment, and finance are headed next.

We also reflect on how the event has grown over the past three years and preview the Summit conversations coming soon to the podcast.

CHAPTERS

01:51 Entertainment Convergence
04:15 Platforms vs. Artists
06:14 Suno’s Major Label Deals
08:56 Netflix and Music
14:40 Finance vs. Artist Development
16:53 Merch and Fandom
18:19 KevOnStage’s Business Model

SPONSORS
Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week.

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.

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