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My .4 Cents
Spotify Launches Stories, Social Listening & More
Matt Bacon, Jesse Cannon, Andrew Southworth, and Dustin Boyer delve into a variety of topics surrounding the music industry, particularly focusing on innovations at Spotify and the integration of AI in marketing and music production. They discuss Spotify's new features like listening activity and the controversial "about the song" feature, which pulls third-party data to enhance song information. The episode also features an interview with Howard Bullows, an AI marketing professional and independent artist, who shares insights into how AI is revolutionizing the music creation process. Howard highlights the impact and ethics of AI tools in both the marketing and content creation arenas, giving listeners a glimpse into the future of music production. The hosts ponder on ageism in the music industry, discussing how age can influence a musician's career trajectory but emphasizing the potential for success at any age, especially with today's digital reach. They encourage musicians of all demographics to persevere despite the industry's often narrow standards and discuss how the rise of platforms like TikTok has democratized music discovery. Overall, the episode offers a comprehensive view of current trends and challenges in the music scene, imbued with a forward-looking perspective on technology's role in the arts.
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37. Spotify Artist Profile Protection & Chappell Roan Fake Drama feat. GameboyJones
01:14:46||Season 1, Ep. 37This week on My Point Four Cents, Andrew Southworth, Jesse Cannon and Dustin Boyer talk about Spotify's new artist profile protection feature and how Chappell Roan's recent drama may have been manufactured as a publicity stunt.The episode also features an interview with GameboyJones where they talk about microgenres and how he made his music go viral.
36. Apple Music Launches AI Disclosure Tags
50:11||Season 1, Ep. 36This week on My Point Four Cents, Andrew Southworth, Dustin Boyer and Matt Bacon talk about how Apple Music is adding AI disclosure tags and how China is now the 4th largest streaming country on Earth. The episode also features an interview wtih John McEntee of Incantation where they talk about the music touring landscape today and how its changed over time.
35. Why Labels Care More About Super Fans Than Virality
01:22:00||Season 1, Ep. 35This week on My Point Four Cents, Dustin Boyer, Maddie Elyse, Andrew Southworth and Matt Bacon talk about how labels are no longer chasing TikTok virality, but instead focusing on super fans, and how to avoid getting scammed by artist and label service companies. The episode also features an interview with Sam Duboff, the Global Head of Marketing & Policy at Spotify, where he talks about how Spotify actually pays artists, how the 1,000 stream threshold works, the 2026 Loud&Clear report and more.
34. Spotify Is The Highest Paying DSP Now?
01:19:23||Season 1, Ep. 34This week on My Point Four Cents, Matt Bacon, Dustin Boyer, Ryan Schutte and Andrew Southworth talk about Live Nation settling their anti-trust case and Spotify's 2026 Loud&Clear report. The episode features an interview with Morgoth Beatz to talk about his journey from playing guitar in metal bands to producing for artists like Juice WRLD and Machine Gun Kelly.
33. The Death of Spotify and Music Streaming?
01:12:49||Season 1, Ep. 33This week on My Point Four Cents, Andrew Southworth, Matt Bacon and Dustin Boyer talk about a statement from Jimmy Iovine and article from Joel Gouveia that music streaming services are 'minutes away from being obsolete', how Suno users don't listen to music like normal people and some changes happening to the podcast. This episode features an interview with Eyal Levi (founder of URM Academy, Riffhard and guitarist of DAATH) where he discusses how music artists can succeed and how the industry has changed over time.
32. Why TuneCore Is Paying Artists Late & AI Music Hell
01:17:06||Season 1, Ep. 32This week on My Point Four Cents, Andrew Southworth, Matt Bacon and Jesse Cannon have a wide-ranging conversation sparked by Adam Neely’s latest video on AI music, Suno, and what it all could mean for musicians, creativity, and the future of the industry, along with updates on host changes and a rotating fourth chair while Jesse dives deeper into filming his documentary Why There’s No Money in Music. The episode also features an interview with Dave Cool (formerly of Bandzoogle, now at GigSalad) about a lucrative, often-overlooked way musicians can earn meaningful side income through private and corporate gigs, before the group breaks down growing concerns around distributors—especially TuneCore—delaying royalty payouts, plus additional discussion on live music, virtual performances, and the shifting economics of releasing music today.
31. Distrokid Is For Sale! Is This Good For Musicians?
01:10:59||Season 1, Ep. 31In this episode of My Point Four Cents, Jesse Cannon, Dustin Boyer, Matt Bacon, and Andrew Southworth dive deep into the recent news that music distribution giant DistroKid is apparently up for sale. The crew explores whether this could mean notorious customer service improvements, unpacks why user support has become so problematic across various distribution platforms, and how profitability and automation may be influencing decision-making at the top. Jesse shares his conversation with Joshua Redbeard, the influential host of Short, Fast, Loud, and co-founder of Grayscale and Ninth Life Records, illuminating how passion and punk rock ethics shaped his journey from underage DJ to respected label head and radio voice. They also delve into how storytelling shapes artist marketing, the role of online comments in algorithm growth, what it really takes to start and run a record label, and how both human interaction and data-driven tactics are influencing modern music exposure in 2024.
30. Is Spotify Really Making A Music Middle Class?
01:00:26||Season 1, Ep. 30Jesse Cannon, Andrew Southworth, Dustin Boyer, and Matt Bacon discuss Spotify's colossal payouts to artists. As the conversation unfolds, they explore the intricacies of label deals and the reality behind Spotify's royalty distribution, offering insight into how record deals might impact earnings. The team also shares dos and don’ts in marketing, dispelling misconceptions around the effectiveness of certain strategies like influencer campaigns and pre-saves. Guest Maddie Elyse of Shark Attack and 19 Entertainment joins the discussion, shedding light on artist development post-reality shows like American Idol. The episode provides an intriguing blend of industry secrets and marketing truths, giving listeners a well-rounded understanding of what truly drives success in music today.
29. TikTokPocalypse Is Threads The Winner?
01:06:24||Season 1, Ep. 29Jesse Cannon, Andrew Southworth, Dustin Boyer, and Matt Bacon discuss the aftermath of TikTok's challenging week and its impact on content reach. The discussion delves into how artists are responding to changes in TikTok's algorithm and shifting their focus to platforms like Instagram and Threads. Jesse dives deep into an engaging interview with Chris Dalariva, the author of "Uncharted Territory," exploring the history and evolution of Billboard charts, the concept of hits being 'rigged,' and how music has transformed over decades. The conversation also touches on Anna's Archive, a site that controversially scraped Spotify's data, leading to massive legal actions against it. The hosts ponder the implications of technology on music preservation and the broader cultural importance of archiving media, drawing parallels with other industries like gaming. The episode examines the delicate balance between the open web ideals and the realities of copyright and intellectual property.