As 2025 comes to a close, Dmitri and Tristra look back at the year's most significant music tech stories and what they mean for the industry ahead.

From AI music settlements and catalog securitization to sustainability initiatives at live music venues and the future of streaming royalty rates, this year-end roundup covers the trends that shaped music and technology in 2025 Dmitri and Tristra discuss Billboard's biggest stories, analyze the financial tools transforming music rights, and explore how AI is becoming normalized in professional studios, even as questions about fraud and attribution remain unresolved.

They also touch on overlooked but critical issues like healthcare access for self-employed musicians, plant-based catering's climate impact at festivals and the legal battles that will define 2026.

Whether you're wrapping presents or planning for the new year, this episode offers the perspectives you need to understand where music tech has been and where it's headed.

The news

• 14 Questions for the Music Business in 2026: AI, Live Nation, Spotify, UMG-Downtown & More

• The 23 biggest music business deals of 2025: From Taylor Swift to Tencent Music, Live Nation, and Chord. - Music Business Worldwide

• Year-End Roundup: The Biggest Music Business Stories of 2025 (And a Look Ahead to 2026)

The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how technology is changing the way business gets done. Visit musictectonics.com to find shownotes and a transcript for this episode, and find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

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This week, we're continuing our Conference Conversations series from last month's conference with a panel called "Brands and Creators: Creative Collaborations Everyone Can Agree To."

This panel covers all things brand partnerships, from what makes brands say yes to working with artists, as well as some stories about what not to do.

This panel includes Ryan Roth from Pioneer DJ, Mario Ponce from Shure, Kate Sheets from Blipblox and is moderated by our very own Emily Francis.

If you're looking to land your first brand deal in the new year, this one's for you.

The News

• On… Suno, Songkick, and a Reddit Revolt

• African Artists Are Reaching More Global Listeners With Help From Audiomack

The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how technology is changing the way business gets done. Visit musictectonics.com to find shownotes and a transcript for this episode, and find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

Get Dmitri's Rock Paper Scanner newsletter.

This week, we're continuing our Conference Conversations series from last month's conference with a panel called "Betting on the Future: Where Investors See Creator Tools Thriving Alongside AI."

In this panel, Andrew Kahn from Yamaha Music Innovation sits down with three venture investors who are actively shaping the future of creative technology: David Ma from Powerhouse Capital, Jason Yeh from Patron, and Connor Sunburg from Amplify.

They dive into what actually excites investors in the creator tools space, why most creative tooling companies probably shouldn't raise venture capital, and how to think about building products that people will use for thousands of hours instead of just experimenting with for a week.

Whether you're pitching investors next month or simply curious about the creator economy, this panel offers valuable insights on what separates fundable ideas from the rest.

The News

• Why YouTube Recap flopped and Spotify Wrapped is buzzing

• Did Spotify Wrapped Just Make a Comeback?

• YouTube introduces its own version of Spotify Wrapped for videos

The Music Tectonics podcast goes beneath the surface of the music industry to explore how technology is changing the way business gets done. Visit musictectonics.com to find shownotes and a transcript for this episode, and find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Let us know what you think!

Get Dmitri's Rock Paper Scanner newsletter.