SoundBreaker

Building the Future of Sound with David Ronan

In this episode of SoundBreaker, host Bob Shami welcomes back David Ronan, CEO and Founder of RoEx, for a deep conversation on how technology is reshaping the future of music production. David shares how RoEx has achieved remarkable growth—processing more than five million tracks and supporting over a million artists—while expanding integrations with major platforms and accelerating direct-to-artist services. The conversation explores one of the industry’s biggest shifts: the role of AI in music production. Rather than replacing creators, David explains how AI can simplify technical barriers, improve workflows, and help artists focus on creativity. They also tackle one of the toughest issues facing independent artists today: monetization. From the realities of streaming economics to emerging opportunities through blockchain technology, David outlines where artists may find sustainable revenue models in the future. The episode dives into why audio quality and production standards remain essential in a crowded market, how collaborative partnerships unlock innovation, and what artists should prioritize as the industry continues evolving. If you're an artist, producer, music entrepreneur, or simply curious about where music is headed next, this conversation offers practical insights and a forward-looking perspective. David Ronan : https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmronan1/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmronan1/] | https://www.instagram.com/roexaudio/ [https://www.instagram.com/roexaudio/] | https://www.facebook.com/roexaudio [https://www.facebook.com/roexaudio] | https://www.threads.com/@roexaudio [https://www.threads.com/@roexaudio] | daveronan@roexaudio.com [daveronan@roexaudio.com]  RoEx : https://www.roexaudio.com/ [https://www.roexaudio.com/]

From Vinyl to Viral: Jorge Brea’s Journey with Symphonic Distribution

In this episode of the SoundBreaker podcast, host Bob Shami sits down with Jorge Brea, founder and CEO of Symphonic Distribution, to explore the incredible transformation of the music industry over the past two decades. Jorge shares his journey from passionate DJ and vinyl collector to building one of the leading independent music distribution companies in the world. Together, they discuss the industry’s evolution from physical media to streaming dominance, the explosive rise of TikTok and short-form content, and how AI is rapidly reshaping music creation and distribution. The conversation dives into the opportunities and challenges facing artists, labels, and distributors today—from licensing and rights management for AI-generated music to monetization strategies in an increasingly digital landscape. Jorge also explains what makes Symphonic Distribution unique, how the company approaches acquisitions and expansion, and why adaptability is essential for long-term success in the music business. Whether you’re an artist, music executive, producer, or simply fascinated by the future of entertainment, this episode delivers valuable insights into where the music industry is headed next. Jorge Brea : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeebrea/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeebrea/] | https://jorgebrea.com/ [https://jorgebrea.com/]  Symphonic Distribution : https://symphonic.com/ [https://symphonic.com/]

Why Artists Lose Billions; And How Blockchain Changes Everything

In this episode of SoundBreaker, we meet JC Barat, co-founder of Allfeat, a blockchain infrastructure designed specifically for the music industry. Drawing from a background in wealth management and HR, JC explains how a personal encounter with his daughter’s musical journey exposed a deeper structural issue: the global music rights system is fundamentally broken. Today, more than $2.5 billion in royalties go unpaid every year — not because the money doesn’t exist, but because rights data is fragmented across disconnected systems. Six separate identifiers (IPI, ISNI, ISRC, ISWC, UPC/EAN, and more) live in isolated databases that do not communicate, making it nearly impossible to reliably connect creators to their earnings. JC walks us through how this fragmentation creates “black box” revenue losses, especially when compositions and recordings are not properly linked. He explains how even one missing connection can permanently erase royalty flows for artists. Allfeat proposes a new foundation for music rights: an open-source, blockchain-based certification layer governed by a Swiss non-profit. Through the Allfeat Timestamp Service, creators can instantly register proof of authorship, while the MIDDS (Music Industry Decentralized Data Structure) connects rights metadata across the entire lifecycle of a work. The conversation also explores three major revenue breakthroughs enabled by this infrastructure: * Sync licensing, where verified rights drastically reduce clearance friction * AI training rights, where artists can define usage consent at the protocol level * Licensing automation, where machine-readable rights replace static contracts Ultimately, this episode raises a bigger question: will blockchain redistribute power in the music industry — or simply reinforce existing structures in a new format? JC argues that only a neutral, open infrastructure can ensure that artists, not intermediaries, benefit from the next wave of digital transformation. JC Barat: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbarat/ Allfeat: https://allfeat.org/

Why Super Fans Matter More Than Millions of Followers

In this episode of SoundBreaker, host Bob Shami sits down with Eric Petersen, founder and CEO of FanzPass, to explore the future of the creator economy and how super fans are transforming the way athletes and musicians monetize their audiences. Eric shares the inspiration behind building FanzPass and explains why the traditional models of streaming revenue and merchandise sales are no longer enough for modern creators. Instead, the key lies in identifying and activating super fans — the most loyal and engaged supporters who drive real revenue and community growth. Drawing from his experience in NFL licensing and merchandise strategy, Eric discusses how sports and music industries can rethink fan engagement by focusing on deeper connections rather than mass audiences. The conversation dives into: * How FanzPass creates a new vertical for creator monetization * Why super fans are the most valuable asset for creators * Lessons from sports merchandising that apply to musicians * The role of social media, digital communities, and emerging technologies * How the creator economy must evolve beyond traditional streaming platforms Eric also shares his perspective on innovation, belief systems, and why understanding fan psychology is critical to building sustainable revenue streams. If you're a creator, athlete, musician, entrepreneur, or fan of the creator economy, this episode provides valuable insights into the next wave of fan-driven monetization and community building. Eric Petersen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-petersen-5981ba62/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-petersen-5981ba62/] | eric@teamspiritstoreusa.com FanzPass: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fanzpassvip

From Telecom to Music Tech: Bob Barbiere on the Future of Music Data

In this episode of SoundBreaker, host Bob Shami sits down with Bob Barbiere, Executive Vice President and General Manager at OpenPlay, to explore the complex infrastructure behind the modern music industry. Bob shares his unconventional journey from telecommunications into music technology, and how that background helped him understand the deep structural challenges surrounding music rights management, metadata, and digital distribution. The conversation dives into one of the industry's biggest problems: accurate ownership data. With millions of songs being distributed globally, incomplete or incorrect metadata can mean lost revenue, delayed payments, and confusion around licensing. Bob explains how OpenPlay is building software designed to help music companies manage catalogs, track rights, and improve transparency across the ecosystem. They also explore the cultural and financial impact of DJ culture and remixes, highlighting how remixing and reinterpretation continue to drive discovery, creativity, and monetization in music. Looking ahead, Bob discusses the emerging role of AI and blockchain technologies in improving rights tracking and bringing clarity to one of the most fragmented industries in entertainment. Throughout the conversation, the theme remains clear: better data leads to better outcomes—for artists, labels, publishers, and the entire music economy. If you're interested in music tech, licensing, catalog management, or the future of music monetization, this episode offers a deep dive into the systems powering the global music business. Bob Barbiere: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbarbiere/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbarbiere/] OpenPlay: https://openplay.co/ [https://openplay.co/]