Music Tectonics Podcast Releases New How to Startup Episode “Startup Reality Check"

 There is so much of a good thing in podcasting that much of the time we discover new podcasts from a recommendation from a friend, relative, podcast review sites like mine, and publicists. Of course, publicists has a lot of skin in the game. They're paid to push a podcast. 

So when I heard from publicist Christian Harp from Rock Paper Scissors Biz, about a podcast called Music Tectonics, I certainly investigated. I found that the podcast called Music Tectonics was developed by -- you guessed it -- Rock Paper Scissors Biz. 

With my skeptic sense on high alert, I listened to ten episodes of the Music Tectonics podcast and discovered that Harp was correct. It's a terrific podcast, especially for music lovers who nerd out on tech. 

The Music Tectonics podcast, apparently known for exploring how technology is changing the way business is done in the music industry, recently released all five episodes of its new series “How To Startup.” For each installment, host Dmitri Vietze, CEO of music technology-focused PR firm Rock Paper Scissors, was joined by experts with experience in fields from licensing and publishing to law and partnerships, to break down all the necessary steps to build a successful startup.

In the first episode, “How To Startup: Is My Idea Any Good?” Dmitri Vietze and guest host Cliff Fluet, Digital Media Lawyer and Strategist, explain how to determine if your idea fixes a real problem. Vietze and Fluet discuss the importance of testing your technology through multiple channels, small and large-scale pivoting, and more. From their conversation, the duo highlights three key takeaways that can make or break a startup –  going out into the industry and testing your product, researching other companies that are aiming to provide a similar solution, and consulting with industry experts.

In the second episode, “The Startup Mindset with Vicki Nauman,” Vietze and Vicki, founder and CEO of CrossBorderWorks, lay the framework for properly positioning your startup for success from the start, and what’s important to keep in mind as you develop. Together they highlight where to start, when to build a team and to what scale, how to approach funding, the importance of identifying real customers, and more.  

Just released in early May, the fifth installment of the How To Startup series, has host Dmitri Vietze and guest Bob Moz, former Managing Director of Techstars Music, dissecting the recent trends and investment shifts that have been witnessed shaking up the music tech ecosystem.

Together they break down the ways that accelerators and incubators along with an active presence at conferences can be vital aspects to getting your startup off the ground, and more. This episode was part of a recent Music Tectonics Seismic Activity open to all and held monthly. RSVP for the next one here.

This is how the podcast connects to the business because this miniseries represents Music Tectonics and Rock Paper Scissors’ mission to provide the music tech and business community with valuable advice and educational insights.

Founded in 1999, Rock Paper Scissors, Inc. is a music tech PR firm composed of a diverse team of communicators, creatives, and business minds. Its roster includes clients in music technology, music gear, B2B music agencies, music consumer products and apps, artist-facing and label services, music sync platforms, music AI, fintech for music, and much more.

 Having written all this, you're right in demanding to know what topics are covered in Music Tectonics?

The podcast has been around since December 2018. I listened to some 2019 shows and, like many podcasts, the episodes and hosts have gotten better over time. Dimitri Vietze is an excellent host. Why is that such an important point? Because CEOs are not known for their podcast hosting talents. I liken it to authors reading their own book for the audiobook format. There are times that the author is a superb narrator, but there are many more times when the author should stick to writing instead of reading.

Vietze has strong hosting skills. He's enthusiastic, but not fake; he's articulate but not arrogant; he's funny but not trying too hard to be witty, and he's a strong interviewer with good listening skills and adept at asking follow-up questions. 

An episode on March 6 spent time dissecting the TikTok / Universal Music "game of chicken," and Vietze's insights clarified the messy standoff. One of my favorite episodes is from February 28, 2024, when the guest is Jim Griffin, who talks about NIL (name, image, and likeness) for musicians and how much they are leaving on the table. If you're a budding musician, I would make this episode a must-listen.

There's no topic tangentially related to music that is off-limits on this podcast. For example, possibly my favorite episode is from October 2023 called "The Cool and Creepy History of Artist Estates."

This episode had it all -- hologram tours with deceased musicians, Elvis, the Marvin Gaye "Blurred Lines" lawsuit, and the in's and out's of an artist's estate such as publishing rights, recorded music rights and NIL.  

Check out the Music Tectonics podcast for the miniseries, but I urge you to dive into their episode archives. If you're interested in the music business, music tech, and music as an artist, the podcast is certainly worth some of your ear time.