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Forbes
5 minutes ago
- Business
- Forbes
Inside Music Biz 2025: AI, Attribution And The Evolving Music Ecosystem
Music Biz Logo This year's Music Biz 2025 conference in Atlanta brought together an eclectic mix of executives, technologists and policymakers to unpack the future of music. If there was one unifying theme across dozens of panels and town halls, it was this: the music industry is not just transforming—it's decentralizing, digitizing and demanding new rules for engagement. The OpenPlay Hackathon: Co-Creating The Future Of Music Tech One of the most compelling examples of this transformation was the OpenPlay x Music Biz Hackathon. Participants used 'vibe coding'—prompt-based AI programming—to rapidly prototype software solutions with tools like Cursor, Lovable, and Bolt. More than a showcase, the hackathon functioned as a collaborative lab for next-gen tools, backed by a $10,000 prize pool. The event exemplified the conference's drive to dismantle systemic silos: 18 companies opened their technology stacks to developers, music professionals, artists, and students who co-created products addressing challenges like rights tracking, revenue attribution, and fan experience design. As hackathon Director, Chris McMurtry explained that for a moment, 'the data silos were truly broken.' Diego Leon, a student based in Berlin, won first place with an app that used Audio Shake and Surreal APIs to analyze audio and recommend rights-holder percentages. Second place went to Serona and Katrina from the Mechanical Licensing Collective for Samplify—an app providing automated analysis for music interpolation and sampling requests. A New Global and Cultural Mandate Conversations around global strategy and diversity — from 'Breaking Borders' to 'Gender Bias in Music Recommendation' — reinforced a powerful mandate for 2025 and beyond: success will require cultural fluency, ethical clarity, and algorithmic accountability. Julie Knibb, Co-Founder of Music Tomorrow, frames it succinctly: 'A model mirrors its data, not reality. Catalogs skew male, so male artists dominate. But listeners often favor artists of their own gender. Hyperpersonalization amplifies this, reinforcing existing tastes rather than correcting systemic imbalance.' This cycle isn't just an ethical concern—it's an economic one. Algorithmic bias determines who gets discovered, who gets paid, and ultimately, what audiences hear next. Whether building localized DSP strategies or correcting systemic bias, the road ahead demands more than just technical agility—it requires intentional leadership and proactive reform. Human First: Resilience, Burnout And Reinvention Mental health wasn't just a side conversation; it was a core part of the conference's ethos. In 'The Moments In Between,' moderators Kei Henderson and Brandie Johnson explored the emotional valleys creatives traverse between high points. Alongside this, 'Money For Something' tackled the economics of burnout—linking poor mental health directly to lost revenues from canceled tours and burned-out teams. The message was clear: supporting people isn't a cost—it's an investment. Independent And Ascending Independents are no longer the scrappy underdogs—they're reshaping the business model. With MIDiA reporting indie market share at 47%, up nearly 10 points since 2022, panels like '47% And Climbing' and 'How To Grow And Stay Independent' zeroed in on how technology and financial innovation are fueling growth. Indie artists and leaders are building companies that scale without sacrificing creative or economic control, often relying on interoperability and direct-to-fan platforms to stay agile and profitable. AI, Attribution And The Age Of Machine Music The influence of artificial intelligence was everywhere—not in theory, but in tools. From the 'AI Town Hall 2.0' retrospective to 'Value Creation In The AI Era,' the conversations focused on tangible innovation. Panels such as 'Attribution First' and 'AI In Music' warned of the dangers of skipping over proper crediting and licensing. and OpenPlay showcased how modern infrastructure can finally close attribution gaps and future-proof revenue flows. Yet ethics weren't far behind. 'The Art Of Licensing' and 'Coding Fairness' examined the deeper philosophical questions: Who owns art in an AI world? What price should creators pay for innovation? These weren't just hypotheticals—they were frameworks for action. Metadata And Monetization: Infrastructure Reimagined Sessions on metadata, rights management and fraud prevention got into the technical weeds while doubled down on the urgent need for action. 'Metadata Mastery' and 'Catalog Power Play' reminded attendees that revenue starts with clean, structured data. Meanwhile, 'Liable Or Safe?' sent a chilling message to execs ignoring streaming fraud: legal liability is no longer optional—it's imminent. The Money Behind The Music Capital is flooding into music rights—and not just for the major players. Panels like 'Indie Music Rights: Major Money Moves' and 'Investing In Music's Future' demonstrated how royalty-backed financing and catalog optimization are being extended to mid-tier and independent artists. Companies like Sound Royalties and Primary Wave outlined financial models that offer cash flow without surrendering control. Engagement Reimagined: From Roblox To Reels Reaching fans today requires an evolved playbook. The demise of the playlist model was underscored in 'Playlists Are Dead,' which highlighted how immersive experiences on platforms like Roblox are outperforming traditional digital strategies. Meanwhile, 'User-Generated Hits' and 'Finding Fan Archetypes' explored how remixes, mashups and algorithmic virality can drive discovery—if artists are prepared to license and monetize them properly. Building Bridges, Not Silos Lastly, panels like 'Plug & Play Success' and 'Break The Silos. Build The Future.' addressed a core infrastructural problem: fragmentation. Whether it's metadata silos, disconnected platforms or outdated licensing pathways, inefficiencies are eroding value. By embracing interoperability and collaborative tech ecosystems, the industry can scale faster—and smarter. The Takeaway Music Biz 2025 wasn't about predicting the future—it was about building it. Whether you're an artist, investor, label or tech founder, the message was consistent: the next era of music won't be dominated by the biggest companies, but by the most adaptable ones. Those who can balance innovation with attribution, data with empathy and independence with scale are the ones that thrive.
Forbes
11 minutes ago
- Business
- Forbes
This Is How Trump Should Interpret WWIII Warning From Top ‘Putin Lackey': Retired Rear Admiral
Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the FDD, joined "Forbes Newsroom" to discuss the ongoing ceasefire talks between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine, as well as the escalating tensions between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Watch the full interview above.
Forbes
20 minutes ago
- Business
- Forbes
Could Hugo Ekitike Fit Liverpool's Summer Transfer Window Rebuild?
Eintracht Frankfurt's French striker #11 Hugo Ekitike celebrates scoring the opening goal during the ... More UEFA Europa League quarter-final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Eintracht Frankfurt at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on April 10, 2025. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) Liverpool has been linked with a transfer move for the Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, who became the latest of numerous names to be linked with a move to the Premier League champions this summer. Arne Slot's side will be in the transfer market for reinforcements as it looks to defend its title, but though there are a number of deals in the works, none have been officially confirmed as yet. Despite winning the Premier League with four games to spare, there are still obvious areas for improvement in this Liverpool team. It might seem like nitpicking to point out weaknesses in a team that performed so well in a tough Premier League this season, but the areas for improvement can be easily identified. This in itself puts Liverpool in a good position, as it means the club is building from a position of strength. LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 15: (L-R) Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong of Leverkusen during the ... More Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München at BayArena on February 15, 2025 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images) The obvious position where a new signing is needed is right-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave the club on a free transfer to Real Madrid this summer, now that his contract is up, and a new right-back is clearly needed. The club has moved quickly to identify potential replacements in this area and is expected to announce the signing of Bayer Leverkusen's right-sided wing-back Jeremie Frimpong in due course. On the other side of the back four, left-back has also looked like an area that could be improved. Though Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas are not bad players, and Robertson in his prime was one of the best around, a team challenging on multiple fronts at the top level in the Premier League and Champions League could do use some extra quality in this area. This is why there are strong links with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who at 21 years old could be seen as a long-term replacement for Robertson. This is another deal Liverpool is expected to get done sooner rather than later this summer. The biggest transfer news for Liverpool so far this summer is the potential big-money acquisition of another Bayer Leverkusen star, Florian Wirtz. The 22-year-old German is considered one of the best young players in the game right now and, having played regularly at senior level since the age of 17, is already approaching his peak. The transfer fee for Wirtz will likely set Liverpool back around $160 million, but they will believe that such a rare talent is worth the money. Wirtz would add plenty to Liverpool's attack as he's able to drive a team forward using his pace on the ball and his passing ability. LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 14: Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal ... More with Darwin Nunez during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield on December 14, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Wirtz's arrival might even allow Liverpool to get the most from existing attacking players who might not have had the best seasons in 2024/25 despite the title win. Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez would fall into that category, though you get the impression the club would be open to selling any attacker not named Mohamed Salah if a reasonable offer came in. The arrival of Wirtz, however, means it is under no pressure to do so. If offers do come in, and players are sold, it would open the door for Liverpool to sign a striker. The Núñez experiment brought plenty of unpredictability to the team's attack, and though this sometimes helped them, it sometimes didn't, so there is the option for the club to try something else in this area. It is here that other players for the central forward position can be considered. The rangy Eintracht Frankfurt striker Ekitiké will be one of the targets for Europe's top teams this summer, and Liverpool has thrown its hat into the ring along with fellow Premier League side Chelsea as one of the teams interested. Sky's Florian Plettenberg reported on Wednesday that Liverpool has joined the race for the striker who scored 15 goals in the Bundesliga this season, and that the Liverpool hierarchy, including sporting director Richard Hughes, is keen to bring him to the club. Liverpool made no notable signings in Arne Slot's first season, so should have plenty of room to maneuver financially, but adding another player who would likely cost over $100 million would mean sales are needed. There will be interest in Núñez and Jota. Even though they have not set the Premier League alight in 2024/25, teams will know of their ability from previous seasons. Maybe a team will think they can do what Liverpool couldn't quite manage and convert Núñez's elite chance-getting into goals. This ability to get into positions to score is what persuaded Liverpool to part with a record transfer fee for the Uruguayan in the first place, and another team might see similar potential. Ekitiké is an all-round striker who, like Wirtz, has created chances as well as scored goals in the Bundesliga in 24/25, but unlike Wirtz is obviously a forward rather than an attacking midfielder. It's worth noting that this past season is only the Frenchman's second campaign where he has reached double figures for goals, but both those returns came in the seasons he was established in a team and playing regularly—the other being for Reims in Ligue 1 in 2021/22 prior to a move to Paris Saint-Germain. Another important asset Ekitiké brings is height. Many managers and coaches like to have a certain number of tall players in their teams simply for defending set pieces. It's an under-reported part of the game that can often explain lineup decisions that might otherwise seem unusual. One of Núñez's strengths is clearing the ball at defensive set-pieces, and regardless of heading technique, simply winning the ball in such situations is important. The players Liverpool has been linked with so far this summer are all under 6 feet tall and not noted for their aerial ability, but at 6 foot 3, Ekitiké would offer something in this area on top of his other attributes. 06 October 2024, Hesse, Frankfurt/M.: Soccer: Bundesliga, Eintracht Frankfurt - Bayern Munich, ... More Matchday 6, Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike (l) celebrates the 2:1 goal with Omar Marmoush. Photo: Uwe Anspach/dpa (Photo by Uwe Anspach/picture alliance via Getty Images) Manchester City has already signed one of the outstanding players from Eintracht Frankfurt in Omar Marmoush; now Liverpool has joined Chelsea in the race for another. Despite Marmoush's exit halfway through the season, the four goals he assisted for Ekitiké made them one of the most common combinations in the Bundesliga in 2024/25. Liverpool has plenty of players who can provide chances similarly, with Salah's additional creativity in recent seasons and the potential addition of Wirtz. Incidentally, the most common assister to goalscorer combination in the Bundesliga this season was Wirtz to Patrik Schick with seven. One could easily see that becoming Wirtz to Ekitiké in the Premier League. The more the numbers and the fit are considered, and if the potential for selling existing players turns into concrete bids, the more a move for Ekitiké makes sense for Liverpool. It is an area of the field where the club has plenty of options to fund a new purchase through sales, and one where, once that money is available, it makes sense to try something new. Ekitiké could be that player.
Forbes
20 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
UFC Vegas 107 Main Event: Blanchfield Vs. Barber Odds And Predictions
ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 30: Erin Blanchfield prepares to face Manon Fiorot of France in a ... More flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Boardwalk Hall Arena on March 30, 2024 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) The next fight card on the UFC schedule is UFC Vegas 197, which takes place on Saturday, May 31, from UFC Apex in Las Vegas. In the main event, two of the top-ranked competitors in the UFC women's flyweight division meet in a pivotal matchup. In that contest, the No. 4 ranked Erin Blanchfield faces the No. 5 ranked Maycee Barber. EDMONTON, ALBERTA - NOVEMBER 02: (L-R) Erin Blanchfield punches Rose Namajunas in a flyweight fight ... More during the UFC Fight Night event at Rogers Place on November 02, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Blanchfield (13-2) is the No. 4 fighter in the official UFC women's flyweight rankings. The 26-year-old Blanchfield was riding a nine-fight winning streak when she faced Manon Fiorot in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card in March 2024. Fiorot won that bout with ease, ringing up three 50-45 scores from the judges. The victory earned Fiorot a UFC 315 matchup against UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko, a bout Shevchenko won via decision. Blanchfield took a step back toward a title fight in November when she scored a decision win over former UFC women's strawweight champion Rose Namajunas. MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: Maycee Barber prepares to face Katlyn Cerminara in a flyweight fight ... More during the UFC 299 event at Kaseya Center on March 09, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Barber (14-2) is the No. 5 fighter in the UFC women's 125-pound division. She opened her UFC career with a 3-2 record, but is undefeated since dropping back-to-back decisions to Roxanne Modafferi and Alexa Grasso in 2020 and 2021. The 27-year-old Barber is riding a six-fight winning streak heading into UFC Vegas 107. Her most recent victory was a March 2024 decision win over Katlyn Cerminara. Barber was schedule to face Rose Namajunas in July 2024, but she dropped out of that fight due to illness. Barber later revealed she had Epstein-barr virus. In December she told Morning Kombat, "Everything's going great now. It has been a long journey. I was so bummed when – well, first of all, I was so excited to fight Rose because not only was I fighting Rose, but I was also fighting in Denver where I made my UFC debut. So for me, it was my first main event. "It was a very huge opportunity for me, and I was so excited and then I was devastated when I was told, 'Hey look, you're not going to fight on this card.' Obviously the health is more important. So I was very devastated, but I have made a lot of progress coming forward, and I can't wait to be back." EDMONTON, ALBERTA - NOVEMBER 02: Erin Blanchfield reacts after a victory against Rose Namajunas in a ... More flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Rogers Place on November 02, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) When the betting lines for Blanchfield and Barber opened, Blanchfield was listed as the -200 betting favorite over the +150 Barber. Today, Blanchfield is listed at -238, while Barber is the +203 betting underdog. Odds via BetOnline. ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 30: Erin Blanchfield prepares to face Manon Fiorot of France in a ... More flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Boardwalk Hall Arena on March 30, 2024 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Blanchfield uses pressure and striking to get the fight to the mat. While her strikes are not all that powerful, Blanchfield is not a fighter who looks for knockouts. Instead, Blanchfield uses her high-output striking attack to put her opponents on the back foot and then look for takedowns. In her last outing, Blanchfield attempted eight takedowns while picking up nearly nine minutes of control time. Barber is a better technical striker than Blanchfield, and she has four knockout wins under the UFC banner. She lands at a good clip and has better striking accuracy than Blanchfield, but her takedown defense is worrisome, as Andrea Lee went five-for-five in takedowns against Barber in 2023. The betting pick for the UFC Vegas 107 main event is for Blanchfield to be very active with her wrestling and ground control to pick up the decision win over Barber. We will have more on UFC Vegas 107 as fight-night approaches.
Forbes
21 minutes ago
- Health
- Forbes
Can Algorithms Revamp Love? The Neurobiology Behind AI-Driven Bonding
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - MARCH 18. Photo by. Love may be timeless, but the ways we fall into it (or swipe right for it) are anything but. As artificial intelligence redefines human interactions, one question persists with scientific urgency and cultural weight: What happens to the brain's romantic blueprint when intimacy is filtered through screens, swipes and simulations? Enter: Algorithmic romance or the experience of not only choosing our partners differently but neurochemically responding to them in ways shaped by technological mediation. Whether you're bonding through a dating app, flirting via avatars, or maintaining emotional intimacy with an AI companion, your brain is unquestionably adapting. And the latest neuroscience helps us understand precisely how. Romantic love activates some of the most ancient reward circuitry in the brain, especially the mesolimbic dopamine system. In both early and long-term relationships, dopamine release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens stimulates pleasure, motivation and focused attention toward a romantic partner. But this same reward system also overlaps with addiction pathways, offering insight into why we often crave love as intensely as a drug. Digital platforms like dating apps or AI-enhanced matchmaking tools are now replicating the anticipation and novelty central to dopamine-driven behaviors. The "intermittent reward" model, used by platforms to encourage user engagement, mimics the unpredictability of romantic reward, triggering compulsive checking, swiping, seeking, and beyond. In neurobiological terms, however, algorithms have learned to manipulate the brain's dopaminergic system by amplifying its responsiveness to cues of reward and attention, even before love begins. Naturally, this raises a necessary question for both users and designers: If love is already a neurochemical feedback loop, what happens when the loop is artificially optimized? Known as the "bonding hormone," oxytocin is crucial to emotional closeness, trust and long-term attachment. Released during physical touch, eye contact and emotional disclosure, oxytocin builds the foundation of what makes love feel secure and safe. It is also instrumental in differentiating romantic bonds from platonic ones, working in tandem with vasopressin and dopamine to create lasting pair bonds. In digital or AI-mediated relationships, though, these oxytocin-releasing triggers may be absent or artificially simulated. Chatbots designed to offer empathy or erotic roleplay, such as Replika, attempt to mimic emotional responsiveness. Yet, studies have shown that while some users report genuine emotional connection and stress relief, the neurochemical mechanisms behind these reactions remain poorly understood and under-researched. The risk? When real oxytocin-inducing experiences are substituted with digital surrogates, our internal bonding systems may engage in misleading ways, reinforcing emotional dependency on artificial agents that cannot reciprocate or evolve biologically. Early-stage love is both majestic and stressful. Elevated cortisol levels during romantic infatuation have been documented across multiple studies, suggesting that love initially activates the body's stress response, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This "love-induced hypercortisolemia" primes the body for social risk-taking, enhancing alertness, memory formation and emotional sensitivity, to name a few. Within a digital context, this stress-reward balance becomes skewed. Ghosting, infinite choice, algorithmic rejection and performance pressure can prolong cortisol spikes without the neurochemical resolution that physical proximity or mutual presence offers. What should be a bonding experience instead can become a feedback loop of stress without release and love without anchoring. Ironically, then, the platforms designed to help us connect may be triggering the very hormonal mechanisms that undermine lasting emotional intimacy. From prairie voles to humans, one biological goal of love has remained invariant: stable pair bonding for mutual care and survival. The same oxytocin and vasopressin systems responsible for long-term romantic bonding in monogamous species are also activated in human relationships, with observable effects on neural regions like the anterior cingulate cortex, ventral pallidum and insula. But what happens when digital avatars or non-human partners trigger these systems? Emerging research suggests that emotionally responsive AI can provoke attachment behaviors similar to those observed in human-human interactions. Nevertheless, when taken with a grain of salt, the stability and biochemistry of these bonds are still speculative. Without the hormonal feedback of touch, scent or bi-directional emotional co-regulation, these connections may produce the illusion of intimacy without the neurobiological reinforcement required for sustainable, embodied attachment. This mismatch could explain why some AI companionships intensify feelings of loneliness or heartache over time: the body is asking for the physiological correlates of love and receiving none. Understanding the neurobiology of love isn't about stripping it of its mystery but about reclaiming self-agency. In other words, when desire is increasingly automated, knowing how love shows up in the brain gives us a blueprint for designing ethical, human-centered technologies that support real, optimal emotional health. That means, for instance, creating platforms that respect attention rather than hijack it, encouraging behaviors that support oxytocin release in real life, not just in code and integrating safeguards to protect vulnerable users from the psychological risks of emotionally deceptive tools. Romantic love, as neuroscience affirms, is not just an emotion. It is a motivation system grounded in hormonal feedback, evolutionary design and cognitive vulnerability. If our digital tools are shaping this system, then it might be worth asking: Are they amplifying love or engineering it in the opposite direction? Desire isn't digital. Even as algorithms learn to simulate intimacy, mirror our preferences, and replicate emotional harmony, the biological infrastructure of love remains profoundly human. Dopamine, oxytocin and cortisol don't respond to data; they react to presence, touch, voice and trust built over time. These neurochemical loops evolved not for seamless UX experiences but for survival, connection and embodied care. The nervous system remembers what authenticity feels like. And while AI may shape how we initiate relationships, it cannot substitute for the rituals (physical, emotional, sexual, hormonal) that anchor real love in the body. The future of intimacy will be technologically informed and shaped, yes, but it will also and hopefully remain biologically authentic. The most meaningful connections will hardly be algorithmically perfected but felt, co-regulated and lived in skin, in memory and the splendid rhythm of the human heart.
