Music Moneyball
Music Moneyball is a podcast about the future of music rights investment. Inspired by the Moneyball philosophy, we spotlight the funds, investors, and innovators using data, strategy, and creativity to unlock hidden value in catalogs and define music as one of today’s most compelling alternative asset classes.
Veckovis, oftast på tisdagar kl. 10:0024 avsnitt
Senaste avsnittet23 jun 2026 · 57 min
What happens when an ABBA icon and a private equity titan build a music investment company together? At Pophouse, the answer is a value-creation model that treats music catalogs not as passive royalty assets, but as the foundations for larger entertainment brands. In this episode, we’re joined by Natalia Fontecha, Partner and Head of Capital Raising & Investor Relations, and Per Sundin, President of Music & Artist Relations, to unpack how that model works in practice. From ABBA Voyage to KISS, we discuss the brand and narrative diligence Pophouse applies alongside the usual financial and legal work: the scope of the rights package, the strength of the fan connection, and whether there is a credible path to build an entertainment business around the artist. Per shares the creative thesis for the model, while Natalia explains what makes it investable: underwriting the cash flows song by song, stress-testing the downside and managing portfolio risk. Brought to you by Standard Innovation. ► Stay up to date Newsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyball LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd ► About Standard Innovation Standard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure. ► Episode Links Pophouse Entertainment: https://pophouse.se Standard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com ► Credits Guests: Natalia Fontecha & Per Sundin, Pophouse Entertainment Hosts: Tom Mullen and Emma Griffiths, Standard Innovation Theme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
Alla avsnitt
What happens when an ABBA icon and a private equity titan build a music investment company together? At Pophouse, the answer is a value-creation model that treats music catalogs not as passive royalty assets, but as the foundations for larger entertainment brands. In this episode, we’re joined by Natalia Fontecha, Partner and Head of Capital Raising & Investor Relations, and Per Sundin, President of Music & Artist Relations, to unpack how that model works in practice. From ABBA Voyage to KISS, we discuss the brand and narrative diligence Pophouse applies alongside the usual financial and legal work: the scope of the rights package, the strength of the fan connection, and whether there is a credible path to build an entertainment business around the artist. Per shares the creative thesis for the model, while Natalia explains what makes it investable: underwriting the cash flows song by song, stress-testing the downside and managing portfolio risk. Brought to you by Standard Innovation. ► Stay up to date Newsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyball LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd ► About Standard Innovation Standard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure. ► Episode Links Pophouse Entertainment: https://pophouse.se Standard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com ► Credits Guests: Natalia Fontecha & Per Sundin, Pophouse Entertainment Hosts: Tom Mullen and Emma Griffiths, Standard Innovation Theme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#24 · 57 min · 23 jun 2026
Music ABS is changing how serious capital moves through the music rights market. In this episode, Paul Sipio, Managing Director at Apollo, explains how music went from a niche alternative asset to something institutional investors can underwrite, structure and finance at scale. We discuss the catalysts behind that shift, from streaming growth and public market validation to the rise of scaled, diversified catalogs. Paul also takes us inside Apollo’s work with Concord, and how creative ABS structures can give music companies more than a lower cost of capital. The conversation gets into why repeatable financing platforms matter, how they can support faster acquisition execution, and what funds need to have in place before they can access institutional capital. This episode follows the release of Standard Innovation’s new whitepaper, Music ABS and Institutional Readiness, which is available here: https://standard-innovation.com/guides/music-abs-and-institutional-readiness Brought to you by Standard Innovation. ► Stay up to date Newsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyball LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd ► About Standard Innovation Standard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure. ► Episode Links Apollo: https://www.apollo.com Standard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com ► Credits Guests: Paul Sipio, Managing Director, Apollo Hosts: Tom Mullen and Emma Griffiths, Standard Innovation Theme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#23 · 50 min · 16 jun 2026
Decay curves have become one of the dominant frameworks used to value music catalogs, but how reliable are they really? Earlier this year, we brought together the UK music rights investment community in London for the first ever live recording of Music Moneyball. Standard Innovation CEO Tom Mullen sat down with Alex Bowler of Y Royalties and Sachin Saggar of RedBrick Advisors to unpack how valuations actually work in practice, from forecasting royalty earnings and modelling decay, to understanding how touring, viral moments and artist activity can materially change a catalog’s value. The discussion explores how decay curves are actually built, where they break down, whether there might be a better way to forecast future catalog earnings, and what we can learn from more mature asset classes like infrastructure and renewables. Brought to you by Standard Innovation. ► Stay up to date Newsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyball LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd ► About Standard Innovation Standard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure. ► Credits Guests: Alex Bowler (Y Royalties) & Sachin Saggar (RedBrick Advisors) Host: Tom Mullen (Standard Innovation) Theme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#22 · 41 min · 26 maj 2026
In this Music Fastball episode, we’re joined by Ryan Hamilton to explore two areas where catalog investors leave money on the table: deal optimization and commercial music usage across social platforms.First, we break down how the agreements and structures investors inherit can constrain catalog performance — and how taking a more active approach to catalog management can unlock greater commercial leverage and upside.We then explore one of the fastest-growing areas of music monetization: identifying and enforcing commercial music usage across platforms like TikTok and Instagram using AI tools that now make this possible at scale.Ryan is the founder of CTLGMGMT and brings nearly two decades of catalog management experience, helping rights holders and investors turn passive catalogs into active revenue-generating assets.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksCTLGMGMT: https://catalogmgmt.comStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGuest: Ryan Hamilton — founder, CTLGMGMTHost: Sam Morey, Standard InnovationTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#21 · 31 min · 12 maj 2026
The catalog investment boom has largely been built around 5-10 year fund models. But does that structure actually fit the asset?In this episode, Josh Gruss, CEO of Round Hill Music, argues that some of the biggest returns in music come later than most investors expect, and that selling too early can leave a lot of value behind.We discuss how catalogs evolve over time, from streaming growth to sync and unexpected rediscovery, and why holding through those moments matters. Josh also reflects on selling assets that would likely be worth more today, and how that shaped his view on evergreen structures.Along the way, we get into what really drives catalog value, how Round Hill approaches portfolio construction, and why data is becoming a core part of their strategy.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksRound Hill Music: https://www.roundhillmusic.comStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGuest: Josh Gruss — CEO, Round Hill MusicHosts: Tom Mullen and Emma Griffiths, Standard InnovationTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#20 · 54 min · 5 maj 2026
This episode looks at an overlooked source of revenue leakage in music catalogs: recordings that aren’t set up to earn properly in the first place.We’re joined by Richard Hinkley from Repped Music, who has over 25 years of experience working at major record labels and now works with catalog owners and investors to identify and resolve operational gaps in recorded music.In this Music Fastball episode, we break down how gaps in availability, fragmented rights, and operational issues during catalog transfers can leave parts of a catalog underperforming — and why issues at the recording level ultimately limit downstream royalty generation.We focus on the operational layer: identifying where those gaps exist, validating what should be available, and ensuring catalogs are set up to capture the revenue they’re already driving.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksRepped Music: www.reppedmusic.comEmail Richard: richard@reppedmusic.comStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGuests: Richard Hinkley — Co-Founder, Repped MusicHost: Tom Mullen — CEO, Standard InnovationTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#19 · 27 min · 21 apr 2026
This episode gets into two of the things music funds care about most: cost of capital and multiples — and how both are shaped in practice.We break down the financial pillar of the Catalog Maturity Curve and explore how operational maturity — from reporting and visibility to financial infrastructure — directly impacts how capital providers price risk, value assets, and determine who can access the deepest pools of capital.As institutional capital continues to scale into the asset class, the gap between platforms is widening. Funds with stronger financial operations are able to access better capital, move faster, and operate with more flexibility, while others face higher costs, limited options, and more friction when raising or refinancing.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGuests: Firdaus Dawood — Private credit, institutional capital (ex-BlackRock)George Williams — Private equity and M&AHost: Tom MullenTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#18 · 25 min · 14 apr 2026
Brokers sit in the middle of every deal, seeing both sides of the market in real time.In this episode, Matt Herzfeld shares what he sees from hundreds of transactions each year — working directly between buyers and sellers to price, structure, and close deals. From that vantage point, he explains where the real activity sits today, including how much of the market is made up of smaller, under-the-radar deals, and why that matters for investors.We also explore how buyers think about different types of income, why sync is often discounted, and how unpredictable earnings can lead to deals being retraded.Along the way, Matt breaks down the risk and opportunity in newer catalogs, how different assets behave over time, and why operational capability is becoming a key differentiator in this space.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksSeasons Music Group: https://seasonsmusicgroup.com► CreditsGuest: Matt Herzfeld, Seasons Music GroupHosts: Tom Mullen, Emma Griffiths, Sam MoreyTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#17 · 56 min · 7 apr 2026
Deals don’t usually fail because of price. They fail because the process breaks down.In Part 1 of our conversation with Cliff Fluet, we asked a simple but critical question: what are you actually buying in a catalog deal?In Part 2, we turn to the next challenge: how funds build a process that allows them to evaluate and close catalog deals consistently.As more capital flows into music rights, investors are reviewing higher volumes of smaller opportunities. The traditional white-glove approach to legal diligence quickly becomes a bottleneck.Cliff explains how leading investors systemise catalog acquisitions — introducing pre-investment legal reviews, structured diligence workflows, and standardised processes that allow teams to move faster.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksLewis Silkin: https://www.lewissilkin.com► CreditsGuest: Cliff Fluet, Partner, Lewis SilkinHost: Tom MullenTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#16 · 18 min · 24 mar 2026
Most music catalog deals start with the price — but they’re ultimately won or lost on the rights.In this two-part Fastball, we’re joined by Cliff Fluet (Partner at Lewis Silkin) to explore the legal side of catalog operations and how it impacts where funds sit on the Catalog Maturity Curve — how clearly rights, obligations and key dates are understood and managed.Part 1 focuses on a deceptively simple question at the heart of every catalog transaction:What are you actually buying?Cliff explains why financial investors approach diligence differently from record labels, why deals often anchor on price before the real work begins, and how gaps in title, documentation or consents can completely change the economics of a deal.Part 2 will explore what happens next: how buyers operationalise those rights once the transaction is complete.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksLewis Silkin: https://www.lewissilkin.com► CreditsGuest: Cliff Fluet, Partner, Lewis SilkinHost: Tom MullenTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#15 · 22 min · 17 mar 2026
Most music investors focus on hit songs. Cutting Edge Group built a billion-dollar business around the music inside film and television instead.In this episode, CEO Philip Moross and COO Tara Finegan explain how media music really works as an asset class — from the copyright structures that make it more defensible than commercial catalogs, to the performance royalties that flow every time a film or TV show is watched anywhere in the world.We also explore what actually creates value after acquisition. Cutting Edge isn’t just buying catalogs — it’s actively managing them: tracking royalties across global markets, partnering with composers, and working with studios to unlock revenue most investors never see.Along the way we discuss the strategy behind deals with Warner Bros Discovery and AMC, why media music has historically been overlooked, and what it takes to build an operating platform in a rights market most investors barely understand.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksCutting Edge Group: https://www.cuttingedgegroup.com► CreditsGuests: Tara Finegan, COO & Philip Moross, CEO, Cutting Edge GroupHosts: Tom Mullen, Sam Morey, Emma GriffithsTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#14 · 51 min · 10 mar 2026
Cynthia Katz has a front-row seat to a huge volume of catalog deals. In this episode, we ask her what the smartest buyers are doing differently, and where the market goes next.We get into the shift to institutional-grade diligence, why assets are now being underwritten with the next transaction in mind, and how data, structure and operational capability are separating the platforms that can scale from those that can’t.We also look at the next wave of growth as capital moves beyond the Western markets into more complex cross-border opportunities. What actually changes when you do deals in new territories, where buyers get caught out, and why execution on the ground is now a core part of the investment case.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksFox Rothschild: https://www.foxrothschild.com► CreditsGuest: Cynthia Katz, Partner, Fox RothschildHosts: Tom Mullen, Sam Morey, Emma GriffithsTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#13 · 1 h 13 min · 24 feb 2026
There’s a lot of noise around data in music rights. Very little of it helps you decide what to do on a Monday morning.We recently introduced the Catalog Maturity Curve to benchmark what “good” looks like for music funds. In this Fastball we take the first driver of maturity, Data & Infrastructure, and make it practical.This is where most teams start to feel the strain. More catalogs, more statements, more investor questions. The challenge is knowing what to prioritise. What is essential, what is strategic, and what is just more work?We walk through a simple approach: establish the baseline, focus on the capabilities that move the needle, and turn that into a plan you can actually deliver.As the market matures, this is becoming a real point of differentiation.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsHosts: Emma Griffiths, Tom MullenTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#12 · 25 min · 17 feb 2026
What happens when institutional capital meets creative execution?In this episode of Music Moneyball, we’re joined by Evan Bogart, Founder and CEO of Seeker Music, and Ciaran Mulligan, CIO at M&G Life, to explore how their partnership bridges two worlds to build a modern music investment platform.Evan and Ciaran share how Seeker combines frontline creative strategy with institutional investment discipline, underwriting stable catalog cash flows while layering creative upside on top. We discuss Seeker’s acquisition philosophy, why strategy comes before modeling, and how an active approach to catalog management can change an asset’s trajectory. The conversation also covers operational rigor, in-house administration, and what it takes to translate between finance and music as the asset class continues to mature.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksSeeker Music: https://www.seekermusic.comM&G: https://www.mandg.com► CreditsGuests: Evan Bogart, Founder and CEO of Seeker Music, and Ciaran Mulligan, CIO at M&G LifeHosts: Tom Mullen, Sam MoreyTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#11 · 50 min · 10 feb 2026
Music catalog valuation lives or dies on data quality.In this episode of Music Fastball, we’re joined by valuation expert Alaister Moughan, who talks through the messy reality of music royalty data and why headline revenue numbers can be misleading when valuing catalogs.We also dig into what happens after the deal. As institutional standards rise, funds are being judged not just on valuation at acquisition, but on how assets perform in day-to-day operations. We discuss why the handoff between valuation and operations often breaks down, and why closing that gap matters for accountability, reporting, and understanding performance over the life of a fund.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksMoghan Music: https://www.moghanmusic.comStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGuest: Alaister Moughan — Founder, Moghan MusicHosts: Tom Mullen, Sam MoreyTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#10 · 26 min · 3 feb 2026
Institutional investors are changing how music rights are evaluated.In this episode of Music Moneyball, Brian Richards, Founder and Managing Partner of Artisan, joins us to explain what that shift looks like in practice, from pricing and capital structure to execution and exits.Brian sits at the centre of the catalog market, advising funds, labels, and platforms on capital raising, portfolio sales, and complex financing. Drawing on that vantage point, he breaks down how expectations have evolved as the market has matured, why realised outcomes now matter more than narrative, and where differentiation still creates edge.We also explore why headline multiples are misleading, how private credit has reshaped capital structures, and why secondaries are becoming a normal part of portfolio management rather than a red flag.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksArtisan: https://www.artisan1.comStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGuest: Brian Richards — Founder and Managing Partner, ArtisanHosts: Emma Griffiths, Tom Mullen, Sam MoreyTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#9 · 49 min · 27 jan 2026
The bar has moved in music rights investing.As institutional capital continues to scale into the asset class, funds are being judged less on what they buy and more on how portfolios are run. Operating maturity is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s being priced into outcomes.In our first Music Fastball episode, we introduce the Catalog Maturity Curve — a new operating benchmark for music investment funds. We explore how leading asset classes define operating maturity, why it now matters for music rights investors, and how maturity shows up in underwriting confidence, reporting, diligence, and exits.Benchmark your fund with our quick assessment: https://standard-innovation.com/assessments/data-maturity-assessmentBrought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsHosts: Emma Griffiths, Tom Mullen,Theme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#8 · 16 min · 21 jan 2026
What separates enduring music rights companies from the rest? In this episode of Music Moneyball, we’re joined by Golnar Khosrowshahi, Founder and CEO of Reservoir, to explore how a disciplined, data-led approach has shaped one of the most respected independent music companies in the world.Golnar reflects on the deals that shaped Reservoir’s evolution, from TVT to Tommy Boy, and how they reinforced a long-term, music-first investment philosophy. We discuss how Reservoir evaluates music at the song level, prices risk realistically, and creates value through operational execution. The conversation also looks at Reservoir’s growing presence in emerging markets, where local partnerships position the business for the next wave of global music growth.Brought to you by Standard Innovation. ► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd/► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksReservoir: https://www.reservoir-media.comStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGolnar Khosrowshahi — CEO and Founder, ReservoirTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#7 · 38 min · 6 jan 2026
How do you take an artist whose prime was nearly a century ago and make them feel culturally relevant today? In this festive Music Moneyball special, Adam Lowenberg (CMO, Primary Wave) breaks down the playbook for reactivating legacy catalogs, using Bing Crosby as the case study.We cover how Primary Wave builds multi-year marketing plans with estates, turns sexasonal spikes into long-term growth, and executes across digital, brand partnerships, sync, and global markets — balancing commercial ambition with artist integrity.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksPrimary Wave: https://primarywave.comStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGuest: Adam Lowenberg — Chief Marketing Officer, Primary WaveHosts: Emma Griffiths, Tom Mullen, Sam MoreyTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#6 · 53 min · 16 dec 2025
The music industry is standing at a crossroads where AI will either become the biggest new revenue stream in its history or trigger the largest transfer of value away from rights holders and into AI platforms. In this episode, we sit down with entrepreneur and technologist Benji Rogers (Sureel AI, Lark42) to unpack what that means for music investors and catalog buyers. Benji argues that most funds are still pricing catalogs off 10–18x past revenues as if the next decade will look like the last, without modelling how AI will change what gets played, synced and surfaced by pushing the cheapest viable audio over premium IP.We explore how attribution and licensing design could turn AI from an opaque threat into a metered, recurring revenue stream, and why unreleased, un-scraped and more novel recordings may soon become some of the most mispriced assets in the market. At stake is whether music investors capture the upside of this shift — or accidentally finance the next major wealth transfer out of the music ecosystem.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksSureel AI: https://www.sureel.aiLark42: https://www.lark42.comStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGuest: Benji Rogers — Co-President, Sureel AI; Partner, Lark42Hosts: Emma Griffiths, Tom Mullen, Sam MoreyTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#5 · 1 h 13 min · 10 dec 2025
The smarter money in music is quietly moving into the overlooked layers of the market, where only a few operators have the infrastructure to compete. In this episode, we sit down with Tom Tyler, CEO and co-founder of Rezonate Music Rights, to unpack how he and co-founder and hit producer Cam Blackwood are building one of the most differentiated platforms in the space.Drawing on Tom’s two decades in capital markets and Cam’s studio track record, we dig into Rezonate’s core thesis: producer and mixer royalties that are credible, cash flowing and meaningful in scale, yet historically underserved because they are operationally hard to underwrite. Tom walks through how they combine transparent liquidity for producers with a purpose-built valuation and data stack, and how their partnership with Bridgepoint is structured to scale capital while keeping culture at the centre of value creation.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode LinksRezonate Music Rights: https://rezonatemusicrights.comStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGuest: Tom Tyler — CEO & Co-founder, Rezonate Music RightsHosts: Emma Griffiths, Tom Mullen, Sam MoreyTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#4 · 39 min · 2 dec 2025
The next wave of returns in music won’t come from buying bigger catalogs, but from buying smarter. In this episode, we sit down with Michael Poster, Partner and Chair of Music Acquisitions & Financing at Michelman & Robinson, to unpack how the market has broadened and matured, why “alternative” strategies aren’t alternative anymore, and how smart buyers are quietly creating value through structure, aggregation, and data-led uplift.From sub-$10m deals to billion-dollar portfolios, Michael’s seen the full cycle: raising capital, rolling up catalogs, exiting to large asset managers, and now architecting the secondary sales that define the next phase of music as an asset class.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode linksMichelman & Robinson: https://www.mrllp.comStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGuest: Michael Poster — Partner and Chair of Music Acquisitions & Financing at Michelman & RobinsonHosts: Emma Griffiths, Tom Mullen, Sam MoreyTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#3 · 40 min · 25 nov 2025
At Music Moneyball, we believe value doesn’t come from just owning a catalog—it comes from how well you run it. In Episode 2, we sit down with Henry Marsden (Founder, Fix Music) to unpack why operational discipline and clean data are the real edge in music rights. Henry’s seen this from every angle—touring as a musician with Elton John, building and selling an indie publisher, managing iconic catalogs, and now helping funds and rights owners unlock yield through better data operations.Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode linksFix Music: https://www.fixmusic.ai/Standard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com/► CreditsGuest: Henry Marsden — Founder, Fix MusicHosts: Emma Griffiths, Tom Mullen, Sam MoreyTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#2 · 54 min · 11 nov 2025
Is catalog value about owning the biggest hits, or knowing how to operate the rights you buy? Sachin Saggar (RedBrick Advisors) joins Emma Griffiths, Tom Mullen, and Sam Morey (Standard Innovation) to break down how the smartest buyers value music catalogs today—what drives premiums, where hidden basis points live, and why better data and infrastructure are the edge. Plus: AI’s real impact and the pitfalls investors still underestimate. Brought to you by Standard Innovation.► Stay up to dateNewsletter: https://standard-innovation.com/subscribe/music-moneyballLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-innovation-ltd► About Standard InnovationStandard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.► Episode linksRedBrick Advisors: https://redbrick-advisors.comStandard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com► CreditsGuest: Sachin Saggar — Co-Founder, RedBrick AdvisorsHosts: Emma Griffiths, Tom Mullen, Sam MoreyTheme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records
#1 · 41 min · 29 okt 2025