In this episode of the SoundBreaker podcast, host Bob Shami sits down with Jorge Brea, founder and CEO of Symphonic Distribution, to explore the incredible transformation of the music industry over the past two decades.

Jorge shares his journey from passionate DJ and vinyl collector to building one of the leading independent music distribution companies in the world. Together, they discuss the industry’s evolution from physical media to streaming dominance, the explosive rise of TikTok and short-form content, and how AI is rapidly reshaping music creation and distribution.

The conversation dives into the opportunities and challenges facing artists, labels, and distributors today—from licensing and rights management for AI-generated music to monetization strategies in an increasingly digital landscape. Jorge also explains what makes Symphonic Distribution unique, how the company approaches acquisitions and expansion, and why adaptability is essential for long-term success in the music business.

Whether you’re an artist, music executive, producer, or simply fascinated by the future of entertainment, this episode delivers valuable insights into where the music industry is headed next.

Jorge Brea : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeebrea/ | https://jorgebrea.com/

Symphonic Distribution : https://symphonic.com/

In this episode of SoundBreaker, we meet JC Barat, co-founder of Allfeat, a blockchain infrastructure designed specifically for the music industry. Drawing from a background in wealth management and HR, JC explains how a personal encounter with his daughter’s musical journey exposed a deeper structural issue: the global music rights system is fundamentally broken.

Today, more than $2.5 billion in royalties go unpaid every year — not because the money doesn’t exist, but because rights data is fragmented across disconnected systems. Six separate identifiers (IPI, ISNI, ISRC, ISWC, UPC/EAN, and more) live in isolated databases that do not communicate, making it nearly impossible to reliably connect creators to their earnings.

JC walks us through how this fragmentation creates “black box” revenue losses, especially when compositions and recordings are not properly linked. He explains how even one missing connection can permanently erase royalty flows for artists.

Allfeat proposes a new foundation for music rights: an open-source, blockchain-based certification layer governed by a Swiss non-profit. Through the Allfeat Timestamp Service, creators can instantly register proof of authorship, while the MIDDS (Music Industry Decentralized Data Structure) connects rights metadata across the entire lifecycle of a work.

The conversation also explores three major revenue breakthroughs enabled by this infrastructure:

• Sync licensing, where verified rights drastically reduce clearance friction
• AI training rights, where artists can define usage consent at the protocol level
• Licensing automation, where machine-readable rights replace static contracts

Ultimately, this episode raises a bigger question: will blockchain redistribute power in the music industry — or simply reinforce existing structures in a new format? JC argues that only a neutral, open infrastructure can ensure that artists, not intermediaries, benefit from the next wave of digital transformation.

JC Barat: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcbarat/

Allfeat: https://allfeat.org/

In this episode of SoundBreaker, host Bob Shami sits down with Eric Petersen, founder and CEO of FanzPass, to explore the future of the creator economy and how super fans are transforming the way athletes and musicians monetize their audiences.

Eric shares the inspiration behind building FanzPass and explains why the traditional models of streaming revenue and merchandise sales are no longer enough for modern creators. Instead, the key lies in identifying and activating super fans — the most loyal and engaged supporters who drive real revenue and community growth.

Drawing from his experience in NFL licensing and merchandise strategy, Eric discusses how sports and music industries can rethink fan engagement by focusing on deeper connections rather than mass audiences.

The conversation dives into:

• How FanzPass creates a new vertical for creator monetization
• Why super fans are the most valuable asset for creators
• Lessons from sports merchandising that apply to musicians
• The role of social media, digital communities, and emerging technologies
• How the creator economy must evolve beyond traditional streaming platforms

Eric also shares his perspective on innovation, belief systems, and why understanding fan psychology is critical to building sustainable revenue streams.

If you're a creator, athlete, musician, entrepreneur, or fan of the creator economy, this episode provides valuable insights into the next wave of fan-driven monetization and community building.

Eric Petersen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-petersen-5981ba62/ | eric@teamspiritstoreusa.com

FanzPass: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fanzpassvip