I believe

The idea that software is suddenly easy now because of AI is a fallacy at best or a ruse at worst. Especially when it comes to streaming music.

And I say that as someone who is consistently in awe of what AI can do for software development.

Presuming your product or service requires the legal rights to use music, which it absolutely should, the heavy lifting is all on securing complex agreements in multiple territories with an almost infinite number of parties or costly upfront payments for global rights.

Let’s not forget the need to bring a compelling message to the market. And by market, I mean the artists, A&Rs, composers, curators, DJs, label managers, publishers, rights holders, songwriters, and everyone else in the music industry who has a say, not to mention the fans that support and sustain music with their time, energy, and money.

And if your product or service, like ours, is a new way to play and pay for music, it requires a massive uplift in education, relationship building, and peer affirmation. After all, the scars from the advent of streaming remain at the forefront for most decision makers.

Oh, and consumer preferences and perceptions are notoriously difficult to change.

But all this work is worth it. And the excitement of building that future every day keeps me up late and wakes me up early.

As always, I think back to the immortal words of Hugh MacLoed, aka Gaping Void, “The market for something to believe in is infinite.”

I believe.