A&R in the Data Driven Era

The album is arguably the least suited format to modern digital consumption, yet it continues to thrive. The album has always been the defining artistic statement in popular music, yet almost every force in today's industry seems designed to work against it. Streaming encourages playlists, social media rewards snippets, algorithms favour constant releases, and attention spans are supposedly shrinking. So why and how has the album survived? Is it because the format itself is timeless? Is it because we're rediscovering something we've been neglecting? Is it because it gives us a direct insight into the creative voice of the artist? Or is it because it’s a collectible in a consumerist world?  Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy and Keith Jopling  join us for this National Album Day special episode, exploring why albums still matter, whether they need to evolve, and what the future of the format might look like. Links:https://colleencosmomurphy.com/https://classicalbumsundays.com/https://www.songsommelier.com/The Art of Longevity Podcast Producers: Amalie Briden & Laura BowerEditor: Laura BowerMusic: 'BPI Innovation Theme' by NevilleSounds

A&R has always been one of the music industry's most mysterious disciplines. For decades it has relied on instinct, relationships, cultural awareness and a deep understanding of artists. But today's A&R teams have access to unprecedented amounts of data, from audience engagement and streaming behaviour to social media momentum and fan communities. So what does great A&R actually look like in 2026? Has data fundamentally changed the job, or simply given experienced A&Rs another tool? Can algorithms identify future stars, or is human taste still impossible to replicate? Host, Amalie Briden, speaks with Beth Cherry, Business Development Specialist at Chartmetric, and Jon-Frode Bosåen, Managing Director of Regent Street Records to find out. This conversation explores how A&R is evolving, where technology is genuinely useful, where it falls short, and what skills the next generation of A&R professionals will need.Links:https://www.bpi.co.uk/https://chartmetric.com/https://regentstreetrecords.com/Jon & Beth are both industry experts for https://www.theteamaroundyou.com/Producer: Laura BowerMusic: 'BPI Innovation Theme' by NevilleSounds

The public conversation around AI and music has largely been framed as a battle: creators versus machines, copyright versus innovation, the music industry versus Silicon Valley. But behind the headlines, a more nuanced story is emerging. While the BPI has become one of the most influential voices advocating for strong copyright protections through campaigns such as Make It Fair, record labels and technology companies are simultaneously exploring licensing agreements, attribution systems, provenance technologies, and new commercial frameworks that could underpin an entirely new market for AI-powered creativity. Recent research commissioned by the BPI suggests the UK may be on the cusp of an AI licensing boom, with multiple licensing agreements already completed and many more under discussion (link to the report below). At the same time, companies such as SoundPatrol are developing the technical infrastructure needed to identify, track and enforce rights in a world where music can be cloned, transformed, remixed and generated at unprecedented scale. In this conversation, Sophie Jones, previous CSO of BPI, and Will Hughes, CRO of SoundPatrol, explore what is really happening beneath the rhetoric. Are AI companies and the music industry fundamentally at odds, or are we witnessing the early stages of a new rights economy? What are the biggest risks? Which commercial models are showing promise? What happens when AI evolves from today's generative tools towards more autonomous systems capable of creating, distributing and monetising content at scale? And crucially, who will own the intelligence layer? Will the next generation of music rights management will be powered by collecting societies, labels, AI companies, or entirely new intermediaries? Links: Driving UK Growth: The Role of Licensing Music in the Age of AIhttps://www.soundpatrol.com/Glossary:Neural FingerprintingNeural fingerprinting is a next-generation approach to identifying music and audio. Instead of relying solely on traditional audio matching, it uses neural networks to recognise the underlying characteristics of a recording, making it much more resilient to changes, edits and transformations of the original content.AI DetectionAI detection uses machine learning to analyse audio and determine whether music has been created or manipulated using generative AI. It can help rights holders, platforms and distributors understand the provenance of content and distinguish between human-created and AI-generated audio.Producer: Laura BowerMusic: 'BPI Innovation Theme' by NevilleSounds

Host:                                                                                                     Amalie Briden - Innovation Manager, BPI Guests: Dr Jo Twist OBE - CEO, BPIYolanDa Brown OBE DL - Chair, BPISynopsis:In this final episode of BPI Innovation Podcast Series 1, Amalie invites Dr Jo Twist, OBE BPI's CEO, and YolanDa Brown OBE DL, artist, educationalist, entrepreneur and BPI Chair, to the studio to discuss their thoughts on innovation in the recorded music industry. Touching on the role of trade bodies, what the term innovation actually means, the role that technologies play in creating 'shiny new' human experiences, AI, women in leadership and the crucial role that industry plays in shaping creative education, this episode is all about how important it is to be asking the right questions, at the right time, to both protect, reflect and allow real change to happen.Find out more about BPI and our guests via these links:https://www.bpi.co.uk/https://www.bpi.co.uk/bpi-insight-innovationhttps://www.yolandabrown.co.uk/Producer: Laura BowerMusic: 'BPI Innovation Theme' by NevilleSounds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host:                                                                                                     Amalie Briden - Innovation Manager, BPI Guests: George George - Label Manager, Regent St Records and Bassist/Frontman, RadiogeistNick Fellingham - CEO and Co-Founder, Condense RealitySynopsis:In this episode, Amalie interviews George George, Regent St Records, and Nick Fellingham, Condense Reality, to explore a visionary new tech company that is putting real world live content into games platforms. We hear about how the company started out, what its involvement and interest is in the music industry, and why it is so important to drop real world content into games platforms. Through exploring case studies developed with Regent St Records, we also discuss how indie labels and smaller players in the music industry can benefit from leaning in to emerging tech startups, both in terms of generating revenue, reaching new audiences and providing new types of content, but also remaining relevant and helping to shape the future of cultural consumption. Since recording this episode, Condense have signed a deal with BBC, which has seen them create a New Music Portal, allowing emerging artists to perform live gigs with fans joining as an avatar and engaging in real time. Nick adds “This partnership positions BBC audiences at the very forefront of the evolution of what it means to be a music fan in an age where people all over the world can now come together in-game to experience live music. You can attend a gig with your cousin who lives hundreds of miles away and share a real moment with your favourite artist through the New Music Portal.”BBC partners with Condense for immersive live eventsFind out more about BPI and our guests via these links:https://www.bpi.co.uk/https://condense.live/https://regentstreetrecords.com/https://radiogeist.com/Producer: Laura BowerMusic: 'BPI Innovation Theme' by NevilleSounds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host:                                                                                                     Amalie Briden - Innovation Manager, BPI Guests: Becky Lees – Head of LSO LiveChristina Calio – Co-Founder of PopinsSynopsis:What happens when a Classical Label partners up with a volumetric video Start-up to create collectible holograms of their players? What playful, risk-taking experiments emerge, that could shape the future of artist/ fan relationships, bring new revenue models and begin scaling new technologies? In this special edition, bite-size episode, we focus on the story of LSO Live and US start-up Popins. As part of the BPI Match Maker Programme, which brings together startups and UK indie labels, Popins came to London to create collectible holograms for over 100 indie artists. One of their partners - LSO Live - is a Classical label keen to lean in to emerging technologies, to explore AR as a pathway to enhancing the live concert experience, and using immersive storytelling techniques to introduce more people to the joys of classical music. This episode discusses their collaboration, their interest in using emerging technologies to enhance the audience and fan relationship, and just how long they think it’ll be before AR is adopted as part of the mainstream music industry. Find out more about BPI and our guests via these links:https://www.bpi.co.uk/https://lsolive.lso.co.uk/ https://www.popins.io/The London Symphony Orchestra debuts 3D AR holograms to celebrate 25 Years of LSO Live — PopinsProducer: Laura BowerMusic: 'BPI Innovation Theme' by NevilleSounds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host: Amalie Briden - Innovation Manager, BPI Guests: Rahmon Agbaje - Co-Founder, Loud ParadeDaniel Katty - Co-Founder, On Da BeatSynopsis:In this episode, Amalie chats with Rahmon Agbaje from Loud Parade, and Daniel Katty from On Da Beat. Both companies support artist development, and building brand partnerships – what does this look like in the modern music industry? What mutual benefit can there be for rightsholders and artists to work with brands, is it authentic and can it really help bring in new revenue streams and develop your career? This discussion focuses on the needs of artists, the role of labels and music companies in building pathways to success, and how AI is making its mark on the creative process. Find out more about BPI and our guests via these links:https://www.bpi.co.uk/https://www.loudparade.com/https://ondabeat.co.uk/Producer: Laura BowerMusic: 'BPI Innovation Theme' by NevilleSounds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host: Amalie Briden - Innovation Manager, BPI Guests: Chantal Epp FRSA - Founder, ClicknClearOlivier Parfait - Vice President, Global Business Development & Digital Strategy, Sony Music EntertainmentSynopsis:In this episode, we delve into the journey of ClicknClear, a pioneering startup that set out to solve a critical issue in the UK recorded music industry. We explore how founder Chantal Epp's innovative approach caught the attention of Sony Music Entertainment, leading to a collaborative partnership that not only addressed key industry challenges but also paved the way for education, and new revenue opportunities in music rights management. Through this case study, we'll uncover the realities of working with major labels, the lessons learned on both sides, the complexities of licensing, and what it takes for startups to successfully collaborate with industry giants like Sony Music.Links:For more information and how to apply to Grow Music please visit: https://www.bpi.co.uk/bpi-insight-innovation/grow-music-2024For more information about The Black Founders Programme please visit: digicat.org.uk/FSBlackFounders Find out more about BPI and our guests via these links:https://www.bpi.co.uk/https://www.clicknclear.com/https://www.sonymusic.co.uk/ Producer: Laura BowerMusic: 'BPI Innovation Theme' by NevilleSounds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host: Amalie Briden - Innovation Manager, BPI Guests: Pat Carr – Founder, Remote Control and Co-owner, The Vertex Music LabelTanguy Giraud - COO & LABs Program Director, Marathon Music Group Synopsis:In this episode Amalie, Pat and Tanguy explore the main threats and opportunities that the recorded music industry currently faces when it comes to innovation. Covering topics such as: What it is that labels really want from startups and external innovation companies versus what they can and are doing themselves in-house? What are the key components of successful collaborations between startups and labels, and what startups might want to consider before they start approaching labels? What areas ripe for disruption over the next few years and how can startups and labels can start proactively disrupting their models to get ready for the future? Pat and Tanguy share their wealth of varied and extensive experience in the ever changing music industry to bring you top tips and insights. Links:For more information and how to apply to Grow Music please visit: https://www.bpi.co.uk/bpi-insight-innovation/grow-music-2024 For more information and how to apply to Marathon Labs please visit:https://www.marathonmusic.group/labs or email [email protected] Find out more about BPI and our guests via these links:https://www.bpi.co.uk/https://www.marathonmusic.group/https://www.remotecontrol.agency/Producer: Laura BowerMusic: 'BPI Innovation Theme' by NevilleSounds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For more information and how to apply to Grow Music please visit: https://www.bpi.co.uk/bpi-insight-innovation/grow-music-2024The BPI Innovation Podcast shines a spotlight on all of the most interesting, innovative ideas happening across the music industry right now, the new technologies that are powering, or powered by, music, and the record labels and start-ups who are working together to drive the future of the industry forward. Hosted by BPI’s Innovation Manager, Amalie Briden, each episode examines a different issue – opportunity or challenge in the industry – and brings together record label execs and start-up founders, from across our BPI community, to explore their unique perspectives.It’s designed for anyone working in, or interested in the fascinating world of the recorded music industry, and the tech start-ups and scale-ups who are making real changes in how we discover, consume and engage with music on a day to day basis. Tune in to hear case-studies and real world examples of how innovation is blossoming in the music industry, to better understand the types of successful collaborations that are happening daily between record labels and start-ups, and to understand from the horses mouth the kind of issues, challenges and exciting opportunities our industry face. You might be sitting on the solution right now.Producer: Laura BowerMusic: 'BPI Innovation Theme' by NevilleSounds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.