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Artwork for The Future of What

The Future of What

Music Business Association
Music Industry
AI In Music
Music Publishing
Streaming Services
Music Licensing
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
Artificial Intelligence
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!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes323Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

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Artwork for The Future of What

Latest Episodes

This episode features Simon Tam of The Slants and Prof. Erik Nielson, co-author of “Rap on Trial,” who both have been instrumental in combating First Amendment right violations against minority musicians. Simon’s fight to get his all-Asian band the r... more

When listening to music brings so much joy, working with it every day should feel just as rewarding. In an industry that reflects our broader world, fear-based, ego-driven leadership is slowly being replaced with a culture of empowerment, seeing wome... more

When Music Ally COO Patrick Ross was looking for hotspots to show a Nordic delegation he was hosting in his hometown of Atlanta, the name Patchwerk Studios – a Black-founded studio with more than 30 years worth of gold & platinum records under its be... more

In an age where musicians are expected to meticulously audit their music data themselves to ensure money isn’t being left on the table, it is inevitable that something will get missed. Notes.FM is designed to lift this weight off of artists’ shoulder... more

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Recent Guests

Simon Tam
Founder of The Slants, musician
The Slants
Episode: Episode #291 — Unequal Justice: Inside the Fight Over Free Speech in Music
Erik Nielsen
Professor at the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
Episode: Episode #291 — Unequal Justice: Inside the Fight Over Free Speech in Music
Sarah Landy
Senior Vice President, FUGA Americas
FUGA
Episode: Episode #290 — Focusing on the “We:” Hear From Sarah Landy of FUGA on How Collective Empowerment Benefits Everyone!
Osman Bangura
Studio Manager and Marketing Coordinator for Patchwerk Recording Studios
Patchwerk Recording Studios
Episode: Episode #289 — Patchwerk Studios’ 30+ Year Legacy
Patrick Ross
Writer and researcher in the music space
Music Ally
Episode: Episode #289 — Patchwerk Studios’ 30+ Year Legacy
Tim Luckow
CEO and co-founder of Notes.FM
Notes.FM
Episode: Episode #288 — Recovering Royalties: How Notes.FM is Streamlining Artist Payments
Marcus Sanchez
CEO of Musicow IP
Musicow IP
Episode: Episode #287 — How Music Fans Can Become Music Investors: A Chat with Musicow’s Marcus Sanchez
Björn Lindvall
CEO of MusicInfra
MusicInfra
Episode: Episode #286 — Building a Backbone for Effective Rights Management: MusicInfra on Scalable Infrastructure
Grayson Sanders
CEO of Chordal
Chordal
Episode: Episode #285 — Reimagining Rights Management: How Chordal is Breaking Barriers

Host

Portia Sabin
President of the Music Business Association and host of multiple industry-focused discussions.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 105 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 States6 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 States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Content is consistently practical and actionable for artists and teams.
Production quality and interview flow are praised, though some episodes could balance guest depth with broader topics.
Guests are diverse across roles, giving a holistic view of the industry.
The host brings insider-level insights with accessibility for new entrants.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#48
Belgium/Music
Apple Podcasts
#161
Finland/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode #291 — Unequal Justice: Inside the Fight Over Free Speech in Music
Q: In light of current events and political climates, what is the most important takeaway about protecting free expression for artists and marginalized communities?
The core takeaway is that protecting speech begins with defending civil liberties broadly, because erosion of First Amendment rights tends to hit marginalized groups first and hardest. Strengthening protections now creates a foundation for fair treatment in many areas, from protest rights to artistic expression, ensuring a more just society even as other issues present themselves.
Episode #291 — Unequal Justice: Inside the Fight Over Free Speech in Music
Q: You started a band and chose a name that was controversial for its cultural implications. Can you walk us through the initial hurdles you faced registering that name and how the argument evolved?
We registered with the trademark office and were told the name was inappropriate for an all-Asian band, essentially disparaging our own community. We gathered extensive evidence—dictionary experts, community leaders, and national surveys—showing the name wasn't meant to insult but to reclaim. When that failed, we reframed the question from offense to why the name is considered offensive, which shifted the legal tact and eventually led to a First Amendment-centered defense that the government was prejudging speech based on race.
Episode #290 — Focusing on the “We:” Hear From Sarah Landy of FUGA on How Collective Empowerment Benefits Everyone!
Q: What does empowered leadership look like in day-to-day practice?
Leaders should create an environment where teams feel valued, authorized to own decisions, and are visible as part of the output, while modeling behavior through delegation balanced with involvement and clear, compassionate communication.
Episode #287 — How Music Fans Can Become Music Investors: A Chat with Musicow’s Marcus Sanchez
Q: Do you foresee AI playing a role in Musicow's future offerings?
AI will be integrated in ways that enhance artistic collaboration and fan engagement, but the core model emphasizes tangible ownership of real master revenue streams rather than speculative AI-generated assets; human artists remain central to the platform.
Episode #287 — How Music Fans Can Become Music Investors: A Chat with Musicow’s Marcus Sanchez
Q: What are the regulatory steps involved in launching a project like this?
The process involves obtaining SEC approval for the issuance, setting an issuance date, and structuring contracts with artists that specify the percentage of the master being fractionalized, ensuring a regulated environment for fan investors.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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?

A show that centers on the realities, trends, and opportunities shaping the music business landscape, with a strong emphasis on independent artists, labels, technology, education, and licensing. Episodes frequently explore global market expansion (notably Latin music), artist development, contract tech, and how education and policy intersect with industry innovation. Guests range from publishing executives and distributors to educators, lawyers, tech founders, and indie label leaders, yielding practical guidance for rising professionals and decision-makers alike. The format often threads market dynamics with hands-on strategies for monetization, rights management, and safeguarding the ecosystem against fraud and AI-driven disruption, making... more

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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. The Price of Music
2. Billboard On The Record
3. Pivot
4. The Daily
5. On the Media

How many episodes of The Future of What are there?

The Future of What launched 11 years ago and published 323 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Future of What?

Recent guests on The Future of What include:

1. Simon Tam
2. Erik Nielsen
3. Sarah Landy
4. Osman Bangura
5. Patrick Ross
6. Tim Luckow
7. Marcus Sanchez
8. Björn Lindvall

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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