Export the Sound

Ben Ma

Export the Sound is a new podcast exploring how the music industry moves music across borders. Driven by interviews with the industry experts behind crossover stars, host Ben Ma sheds light on the tough cultural obstacles facing international music export and the creative strategies that have worked (or not!) to overcome them.

12 Episodes

Pindrop, a new game to hear the world
8/24/2024
3:08
I've spent this year developing this global music discovery game! Give it a whirl at https://pindrop.cc
Alabama Music Cities: Huntsville
12/1/2023
42:48
Huntsville, AL - a.k.a. Rocket City. It's got NASA's Marshall Center, the Army's Redstone Arsenal, and a major FBI operational center. It's got the highest engineering degrees per capita in the whole U.S. And now, it has an administration who wants to build it into a Music City with intentional and committed policymaking. But there's no guarantee that if you build it, they will come. I traveled to northern Alabama to interview folks involved, and hear their takes on why they think it will work - or not. Export The Sound & Music Cities Events present: The Shoals & Huntsville How to put a music city on the map - by leveraging its musical history, or making one
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Alabama Music Cities: The Shoals
12/1/2023
29:57
Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Percy Sledge, Bob Seger, the Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett, George Michael, Paul Simon... all trekked to the corner of Alabama to record in Muscle Shoals. I traveled to Northern Alabama to find out more about this history, and what the city is trying to do today to carry its cultural inheritance to future musical placemaking. Export The Sound & Music Cities Events present: The Shoals & Huntsville How to put a music city on the map - by leveraging its musical history, or making one
IBK Ademoye, on guerilla marketing from Nigeria to the world
7/7/2023
24:09
My guest today is Ibukun Ademoye, a manager, Artists & Repertoire (or A&R) executive, and all around hustler in the Nigerian music business based in Lagos. Ibukun has been recently setting his sights on going international by arranging a UK tour for an up and coming Afrobeat artist he's managing, Ladé, with more planned for the future. SONGS Ladé - Duduke (cover of song by Simi) Ladé - Adulthood Anthem
Mattias Tell, on booking Swedish indie bands in Denmark, Europe, and beyond
6/23/2023
39:08
Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, the founder of Westside Music, Mattias Tell, joins me to discuss the ins and outs of booking Swedish indie bands in Europe and beyond: through the examples of psychadelic cocktail boogie outfit Boo Boo Bama Orchestra and shoegaze dream band Boy with Apple we learn how to book tours, what bands make the cut, and how booking within the European Union is a lot easier than elsewhere. SONGS The Boo Boo Bama Orchestra - THE HEAT Boy with Apple - Strawberry Boy
Ken Kobori, on Japanese & Korean music industry collaboration with Western producers
6/9/2023
33:00
In this episode, Ken Kobori, founder of Tokyo-based music marketplace SURF Music, joins me to talk about helping Western producers collaborate with East Asian record labels, Japan's unique lead publisher system, the formation of the K-Pop sound thru overseas collaboration, and karaoke, baby! SONGS Little Glee Monster - SPIN Ken has also provided a 50% off discount code for SURF Music, for Export the Sound listeners: EXPORTTHESOUND50
Diego Maldonado, on riding the streaming wave in Latin America, music rights, and music education
5/26/2023
38:35
In this episode, Diego Maldonado, global head of rights management for ONErpm, joins me to discuss the Latin American streaming market, what it takes to come up in this market as a new artist, Brazil as a musical planet, and why Latin America (or LatAm) needs a big education boost on music rights. SONGS Nanpa Basico - Flaca Kevin o Chris - Incendeia
Dr. Shain Shapiro, on how music can transform a place's economy, tourism, and quality of life
5/12/2023
31:27
In today’s episode, I invite Dr. Shain Shapiro of Sound Diplomacy to discuss how music policy can transform a place: how it can make a difference in a place’s economy, tourism, and quality of life. We talk about Belfast and Anguilla as local examples, and a handful of national-level music policies as well. Songs Barnbrack - Belfast Andy Palacio - Gimme Punta Rock
Stephen Dowler, on building electronic dance communities in Asia-Pacific
4/28/2023
32:47
In today’s episode, I am joined by Stephen Dowler, head of Asia Pacific at Monstercat. We talk about Monstercat’s distribution approach across the variety of channels in the region, the labels’ community building efforts both online and offline, and the particular case study of Dexter King, a leading house producer and DJ from China. Songs: Sugar by Weird Genius & Sarah de Warren Take Me Into Space by DEXTER KING & Dada Life
Foza Fawehinmi, on West African artist development, music law, and promotion strategy
4/14/2023
25:07
My guest today is Foza Fawehinmi, a Lagos based music lawyer, business executive, and talent manager working in the West African music industry for over a decade. She is truly a multifaceted player from both the law and the business side, working licensing deals with international entities like the NFL and the Ellen Show, while also developing up and coming talent like P.Priime, Tempoe, and Gbasky with the Sarz Academy. Songs: Love Nwantini by CKay Logba Logba by Simi Calm Down (ft. Selena Gomez) by Rema

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Export the Sound

Ben Ma

12 Episodes

Pindrop, a new game to hear the world

Alabama Music Cities: Huntsville

Alabama Music Cities: The Shoals

IBK Ademoye, on guerilla marketing from Nigeria to the world

Mattias Tell, on booking Swedish indie bands in Denmark, Europe, and beyond

Ken Kobori, on Japanese & Korean music industry collaboration with Western producers

Diego Maldonado, on riding the streaming wave in Latin America, music rights, and music education

Dr. Shain Shapiro, on how music can transform a place's economy, tourism, and quality of life

Stephen Dowler, on building electronic dance communities in Asia-Pacific

Foza Fawehinmi, on West African artist development, music law, and promotion strategy