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Artwork for The Future of What

The Future of What

Portia Sabin
Music Industry
AI In Music
Music Publishing
Streaming Services
Music Licensing
Artificial Intelligence
Independent Music
Sync Licensing
AI Technology
Data Management
Merch Cat
Copyright Law
Music Ethics
Music Leaders Network
Tiktok
Atlanta
Music Business Association
Revenue Generation
Merchandise Strategy
Music Rights

Founded by Music Biz President Portia Sabin as a way to educate musicians on the realities of the music business, The Future of What Podcast has become a forum where the most significant voices in our industry discuss important issues of the day. Tune in as she hosts important industry figureheads and innovators alike in exciting discussions on where the music business is headed next!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes333Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

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Artwork for The Future of What

Latest Episodes

The jukebox has existed as a catalyst for communal music discovery for nearly a century, with the anniversary of AMI Entertainment's production of the first coin-operated jukebox coming up in 2027. To celebrate, we spoke with AMI CEO Tommy Moreno abo... more

To be a successful artist management team means to be willing to think outside the box, which is just what mtheory CEO Cameo Carlson and team have done with artist Mickey Guyton, a Country singer who did not have traditional revenue lines in place li... more

PLUS1 has raised just about $40 million for over 1,200 nonprofits, with their keystone project being a small add-on of $1 per concert ticket to be donated to a charitable organization of an artist's choice. The idea grew out of founder Marika Anthony... more

The artist-fan relationship is arguably one of the most important in our industry, yet it is often undermined – management of each different aspect is often spread across platforms, and artist websites & channels are usually underutilized as connecti... more

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Recent Guests

Rob Sealy
Co-founder of Openstage
Openstage
Episode: Episode #298 — Connecting The Industry's Most Important Assets: How Openstage Nurtures the Artist-Fan Relationship
Naledi Nyahuma Seck
VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The Orchard
The Orchard
Episode: Episode #297 — It Takes a Village: A Conversation on DEI with The Orchard's Naledi Nyahuma Seck
Shelly Worcel
Director of Global Account Physical Strategy at Secretly Distribution
Secretly Distribution
Episode: Episode #296 — How Secretly Found Success by Sticking to Their Indie Roots: An Interview with Shelly Worcel!
Dmitri Vietze
Founder of Rock Paper Scissors, PR entrepreneur in music tech and entertainment
Rock Paper Scissors
Episode: Episode #295 — Rock Paper Scissors, Inc's Dmitri Vietze on Music Marketing, Tech, and Times of Change
Cynthia Katz
Partner at Fox Rothschild LLP with a focus on entertainment law
Fox Rothschild LLP
Episode: Episode #294 — The Past, Present & Future of Music Legislation: Hear from Fox Rothschild LLP's Cynthia Katz & Heidy Vaquerano!
Heidy Vaquerano
Attorney at Fox Rothschild LLP specializing in entertainment and music law
Fox Rothschild LLP
Episode: Episode #294 — The Past, Present & Future of Music Legislation: Hear from Fox Rothschild LLP's Cynthia Katz & Heidy Vaquerano!
Allison Moore
Head of Go-to-Market for Splash Music
Splash Music
Episode: Episode #293 — How Roblox Is Shaping Next-Gen Music Discovery: A Conversation with Allison Moore of Splash
Ahuvah Berger-Burcat
Executive at Revelator focusing on music distribution and royalty solutions
Revelator
Episode: Episode #292 — Live From Music Biz 2026: The Tech Hits & Misses in the Music Industry with Revelator's Ahuvah Berger-Burcat!
Simon Tam
Founder of The Slants, musician
The Slants
Episode: Episode #291 — Unequal Justice: Inside the Fight Over Free Speech in Music

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 106 ratings
  • YouTube Companion Videos??

    Can we get this podcast on YouTube, even if it’s just audio

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jae606B
    United States3 years ago
  • I'm Newly Hooked On This Great Podcast!

    I am a music biz professional for many a year and listen to music biz podcasts frequently. I recently discovered The Future of What podcast and have become a big fan. The music biusiness evolves so quickly, despite most thinking music is simply music. This informative podcast keeps music biz performers, songwriters, and behind the scenes support staff informed with what is going on. Being enlightened means less hard lessons learned the painful head butting way. Keep up the great work Portia Sabi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Capt. K
    United States6 years ago
  • An unbelievably informative and a great music discovery podcast. If you have not heard it what are you waiting for??

    Podchaser
    5
    Shaun Fanthome
    6 years ago
  • Essential/ informative

    Essential listening for independent musicians, labels, and other industry folks. Great info on the current workings of the music industry.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OnTelephone
    United States7 years ago
  • New Tools For Developing Artist Episode

    Thanks for producing such a fantastic episodes that addresses the realities of the business and not focused on “sound bites”. Cameo and Chelsea were great guests that have the necessary experience and knowledge of the modern music business to provide meaningful insights

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Max L. Storm
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's frank, insightful interviews and practical industry guidance.
Audiences highlight strong production quality and engaging, conversational tempo.
The show is seen as essential listening for musicians, labels, and educators aiming to navigate industry changes.
Guests are described as high-caliber experts who illuminate complex topics clearly.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#188
Finland/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode #294 — The Past, Present & Future of Music Legislation: Hear from Fox Rothschild LLP's Cynthia Katz & Heidy Vaquerano!
Q: What should artists and their teams do to stay ahead with AI and new technologies in music?
Build proactive strategies around IP protection, trademarks, and data-driven royalty systems, while adopting AI tools that add value rather than cannibalize core revenue, and maintain strong teams to manage these evolving assets.
Episode #294 — The Past, Present & Future of Music Legislation: Hear from Fox Rothschild LLP's Cynthia Katz & Heidy Vaquerano!
Q: How has the industry changed since the Napster era, and what does that mean for artists today?
The industry has shifted from a piracy-driven crisis to a catalog and rights-driven market where artists can leverage ownership and strategic branding, but with more responsibilities including estate planning, licensing, and direct-to-fan approaches.
Episode #294 — The Past, Present & Future of Music Legislation: Hear from Fox Rothschild LLP's Cynthia Katz & Heidy Vaquerano!
Q: I'm so happy to have you. So Fox Rothschild law firm, talk a little bit for people who don't know what entertainment lawyers really work on.
We handle a broad range of work from talent deals, publishing, catalog acquisitions, and corporate financing, to advising on IP protection, administration, and even strategic planning for artists and their teams.
Episode #295 — Rock Paper Scissors, Inc's Dmitri Vietze on Music Marketing, Tech, and Times of Change
Q: What's your story, man?
Dmitri explains his background in music education, his pivot to PR for international music, and how he built Rock Paper Scissors after gaining experience with music tech platforms and distribution companies, leading to the creation of Music Tectonics.
Episode #292 — Live From Music Biz 2026: The Tech Hits & Misses in the Music Industry with Revelator's Ahuvah Berger-Burcat!
Q: What changes have you seen in the last four years, if any?
Berger-Burcat explains the shift toward collective industry action with the Music Fights Fraud Alliance, emphasizing tighter controls on who can access funds, better collaboration among gatekeepers, and a growing focus on preventing fraud as the industry migrates toward more digital and AI-assisted systems.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Future of What

What is The Future of What about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on the evolving music business, exploring topics from rights, licensing, and distribution to AI's impact, fraud prevention, and education for artists and industry professionals. Episodes typically feature industry leaders, founders, and legal experts who unpack practical strategies for navigating a fast-changing landscape, often tying global trends to local ecosystems. Unique qualities include a strong emphasis on educator-style interviews, practical insights for independent artists and labels, and a culture of candid conversations at major industry events. Potential listeners can expect actionable guidance on monetization, rights management, and strategic leadership in music.

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How many listeners does The Future of What get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Future of What?

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How many subscribers and views does The Future of What have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Future of What?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Future of What:

1. Other Record Labels
2. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
3. Sound Opinions
4. The Daily
5. The Headlines

How many episodes of The Future of What are there?

The Future of What launched 11 years ago and published 333 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Future of What?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Future of What?

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What guests have appeared on The Future of What?

Recent guests on The Future of What include:

1. Rob Sealy
2. Naledi Nyahuma Seck
3. Shelly Worcel
4. Dmitri Vietze
5. Cynthia Katz
6. Heidy Vaquerano
7. Allison Moore
8. Ahuvah Berger-Burcat

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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