Is gaming really the next frontier for music, or is that just wishful thinking?

In this episode, Dmitri sits down with Jenn Garcia, co-founder and CEO of Metamoki, the mobile gaming studio behind Mob Wars and Wiz Khalifa's Weed Farm. With nearly two decades of experience in mobile gaming, social gaming, and community building, Jenn brings a fresh outside perspective on where the music industry is leaving opportunity on the table.

They dig into what early social gaming taught Jenn about monetization and emotional connection, why artist involvement is the single biggest factor in whether a music game succeeds or fails, and what music startups can borrow from gaming's rapid prototyping and product cycles.

If you work in music tech, music marketing, or the creator economy, this conversation will challenge how you think about fan engagement, music monetization, and building products that actually last.

The news

• An open letter to Suno's Mikey Shulman.

• WMG boss: 'There's clearly more share of the wallet left for music'

• Apple Music Introduces Tagging for AI Songs, Its First Regulation on AI Use

• Qobuz/Deezer High-res music service Qobuz joins France's Deezer in flagging AI-generated tracks on its platform

• Feds point to Taylor Swift ticket fiasco as evidence of Live Nation and Ticketmaster's monopoly

• https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/as-live-nation-antitrust-trial-begins-doj-tells-jury-the-concert-industry-is-broken/

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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What happens to a rock band's legacy when the touring stops forever?

When Pophouse acquired the KISS catalog, brand, name, image, and likeness rights, they didn't just buy music. They bought the blueprint for keeping one of rock's most iconic bands alive indefinitely through digital avatars, biometric data, and AI-driven live experiences. This deal, built on the success of ABBA Voyage and developed in partnership with Industrial Light and Magic, may be the most forward thinking music IP acquisition ever negotiated.

In this episode, Dmitri unpacks it all with Spencer Klein, chair of Morrison Foerster's Global Mergers and Acquisitions Group, who represented KISS co-founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley in the deal. Together, they explore how music catalog valuation is expanding beyond audio rights into merchandise, transmedia storytelling, and immersive concert experiences. They also dig into what this means for the broader music industry as artificial intelligence and digital avatar technology begin reshaping how artist IP is valued, monetized, and preserved for future generations.

Whether you follow KISS, entertainment law, or the future of artist brands, this episode offers a rare inside look at how the music industry is evolving beyond the limits of what any band can do in a lifetime.

The news

• Mogul says it has tracked $1.5B in music royalties, raised $5M in funding | TechCrunch

• Neptune Raises $1.5 Million to Scale Digital Music Education in the UAE

• AI Sample Generator Just 4 Noise Closes $1 Million Round

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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Most founders think about building. Fewer think carefully about selling.

In this episode, Dmitri talks with Phil Barry, the founder of music rights and licensing platform Blokur, about what he learned from nearly a decade of building and ultimately selling his company to Music Reports in 2024.

Phil opens up about the early challenges of finding product-market fit, the long relationship-building that made the acquisition possible, and the operational details that can make or break a deal. He also reflects on what he'd do differently, why he'd push back harder on pressure to grow too fast, and what it felt like to finally step away after years of startup intensity.

Whether you're an early-stage founder or mapping out your exit strategy, this episode is full of honest, practical perspective from a founder on the other side of the exit

The news

• Why YouTube Is the Sleeping Giant of Music Catalog (Guest Column)

• Did Taylor Swift and Lyor Cohen Just Give the Music Streamers a Video Strategy?

• Apple Music's iOS 26.4 beta introduces AI-powered playlist tool

• Deezer debuts 'Flow Tuner' to help listeners tune its algorithm

• TikTok tests letting users stream full songs through Apple Music without leaving the app

• Apple Music Strongly Hints That It Won't Be Lowering Prices Following Spotify and Amazon Music Increases — How Much Will This Matter In 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!

Get Dmitri's Rock Paper Scanner newsletter.