About this episode
Brian Zisook, co-founder of AudioMack, shares the origin, mission, and evolution of the music streaming platform. He discusses how AudioMack carved out a niche as a discovery-focused service initially rooted in hip hop and now with a major presence across Africa, Latin America, and multicultural youth markets worldwide. By providing free tools and empowering independent artists through human curation, education, and innovative features like geo-targeted playlists and in-app messaging, AudioMack has democratized music access globally. Brian also tackles broader themes around music marketing, fan engagement, the importance of community and regional identity in music, and the current shortcomings in artist management and industry practices—all while offering thoughtful insight and practical advice for creators navigating today’s music landscape. Find My .4 Cents On Your Favorite Podcast App And Subscribe Here https://beacons.ai/mypoint4cents 00:00 - Introducing Brian Zisook from Audiomack 00:22 - What Is Audiomack? 01:02 - The Genesis of Audiomack in 2012 02:17 - Early Days and DJBooth Crossover 02:43 - Shaping a Platform for Independent Artists 03:43 - Audiomack’s Focus on Hip-Hop and Global Growth 05:19 - Why Africa Chose Audiomack 07:27 - Building Communities Through Localization 09:39 - Regional Music Curation in the U.S. 10:54 - Global Misconceptions About African Music 13:01 - Where Audiomack Fits in the Artist Marketing Mix 14:53 - Investing in Human Curation 16:49 - The Audiomack Tastemaker Program 20:10 - Solving Artist Discovery and Engagement Problems 22:38 - The Future of Audiomack and Global Expansion 25:32 - Audiomack vs Full-Catalog Streaming Giants 27:39 - Favorite Emerging Music Marketing Tactics 30:12 - The Power of Fan Clubs and Direct Artist Access 36:13 - Marketing Advice for Artists in Emerging Markets 38:42 - Follow Andrew Southworth @andrew.southworth https://andrewsouthworth.com/ https://www.youtube.com/andrewsouthworth Follow Jesse Cannon @jessecannon jessecannon.com Follow Dustin Boyer @dustintheindustryplant Follow MattBacon @bacons.bits dropoutmedia.net sapphireeye.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.