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.
I've spent this year developing this global music discovery game! Give it a whirl at https://pindrop.cc
1 Dec 2023
Alabama Music Cities: Huntsville
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
1 Dec 2023
Alabama Music Cities: The Shoals
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
7 Jul 2023
IBK Ademoye, on guerilla marketing from Nigeria to the world
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
23 Jun 2023
Mattias Tell, on booking Swedish indie bands in Denmark, Europe, and beyond
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
9 Jun 2023
Ken Kobori, on Japanese & Korean music industry collaboration with Western producers
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
26 May 2023
Diego Maldonado, on riding the streaming wave in Latin America, music rights, and music education
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
12 May 2023
Dr. Shain Shapiro, on how music can transform a place's economy, tourism, and quality of life
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
28 Apr 2023
Stephen Dowler, on building electronic dance communities in Asia-Pacific
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
14 Apr 2023
Foza Fawehinmi, on West African artist development, music law, and promotion strategy
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
31 Mar 2023
Jocelle Koh, on Rina Sawayama and Asian diaspora musicians
In today’s episode, journalist, label leader, and all-around Asian Pop expert Jocelle Koh joins me to discuss British-Japanese superstar Rina Sawayama and strategies for Asian diaspora musicians in the West.
Songs:
Cyber Stockholm Syndrome by Rina Sawayama
STFU! by Rina Sawayama
多遠都要在一起 (LONG DISTANCE) by G.E.M.
Chosen Family by Rina Sawayama
17 Mar 2023
Eric de Fontenay, on promoting Chinese rock & roll
In today’s episode, I welcome Eric de Fontenay, founder of Beijing-based promotion company MusicDish. We discuss Eric’s experience managing the ineffably unique Chinese rock band Second Hand Rose on their American tour; and the reverse: promoting Norwegian duo Sturle Dagsland on a Chinese tour, among many other fascinating tidbits.
Songs:
瘋狂的外星人 (Crazy Aliens) by 二手玫瑰 (Second Hand Rose)
Nyckelharpa by Sturle Dagsland
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Contact Export the Sound
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Export the Sound?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
