Mastering the Art of Music Curation
Feed.fm music curators discuss how they engage with music and what goes into creating music stations that work for various businesses and use cases. Plus, hear about the latest trends in music as they look ahead to upcoming releases.
by Melissa Clark of Feed.fm
VIDEO & SUMMARY
Inside Music Curation Episode 46 | Listen Like a Curator
Go behind the scenes with the Feed.fm music curators to better understand how they engage with music, and what goes into creating music stations that work for a variety of businesses and use cases. Plus, hear about the latest trends in music as we look ahead to upcoming summer releases.
In the “Inside Music Curation: Listen Like a Curator” YouTube video, the team at Feed Media Group discusses the significance of listening like a curator in today’s music landscape. Claire, a music curation professional, shares her insights on the impact of streaming on music consumption and discovery, noting the emergence of post-genre pop and the influence of various music genres from around the world. Juan, another team member, expresses his passion for music and his role as a curator, emphasizing the importance of being connected to the music community and observing audience engagement to inform selection. The speakers discuss methods for discovering new music, such as checking editorial playlists and using Shazam, and the importance of balancing well-known and lesser-known tracks. They also discuss current trends in pop music, including the blurring lines between genres and the impact of TikTok on music discovery. Juan shares his excitement about a new band, Knock Loose, and their unique blend of heavy dembow drone beats and hardcore metal music. Overall, the team emphasizes the importance of curators in helping brands and listeners navigate the vast volume of music available and the excitement of the ongoing evolution of music trends.
00:00:00 In this section of the “Inside Music Curation” YouTube video, the team at Feed Media Group discusses the importance of listening like a curator in the current music landscape. Claire, a music curation professional with over a decade of experience, shares her insights on how the shift to streaming has impacted music consumption and discovery. She notes the emergence of post-genre pop and the influence of various music genres from around the world. Sten adds to the conversation, emphasizing the anthropological significance of music discovery and the increasing importance of curators in helping listeners navigate the vast volume of music available.
00:05:00 In this section of the “Inside Music Curation: Listen Like a Curator” YouTube video, Juan shares his passion for music and his role as a curator at Feed. He explains how his obsession with music benefits his role in the small, professional space of music curation. Juan identifies himself as a lover of live music and appreciates the art form’s dexterity and composition. He discusses the importance of being connected to the music community and how live music and streaming work hand in hand. Juan emphasizes the value of observing how audiences engage with music and using that perspective to inform the selection process for various use cases. Mike, another team member, is also discussed as having various touch points in music and approaching new discoveries through TikTok and other sources.
00:10:00 In this section of the “Inside Music Curation: Listen Like a Curator” YouTube video, Mike discusses his methods for discovering new music and staying informed about current trends. He mentions regularly checking editorial playlists on Spotify and SiriusXM stations, as well as media-based radio charts, to identify popular tracks that may resonate with audiences. He also mentions using Shazam to discover music in various settings and acknowledges the potential distraction of constantly being in curation mode. He emphasizes the importance of familiarity in music curation and the role of cultural moments in shaping musical tastes. When curating outside of one’s taste, he emphasizes the need to learn about the impact and significance of the music or artist in question to effectively bring value to customers.
00:15:00 In this section of the “Inside Music Curation: Listen Like a Curator” YouTube video, Eric “Stens” Stensvaag discusses the role of a music curator and the importance of balancing well-known and lesser-known tracks. They explain that curators have unique tastes and preferences, which they can use to introduce listeners to new artists or songs. However, they must be mindful of their audience’s preferences and ensure that their selections align with the listeners’ tastes. The speaker also mentions the importance of collaboration between curators and clients to understand the audience demographics and tailor the music selection accordingly. They conclude by sharing that the amount of new music released this year has been impressive, making it an exciting time for music curation.
00:20:00 In this section of the “Inside Music Curation: Listen Like a Curator” video, the team discusses the current trends in pop music and the blurring lines between different genres. They mention the rising popularity of artists like Tommy Richmond and “Million Dollar Baby”, as well as collaborations between established artists and newer ones. The speakers also highlight the impact of TikTok on music discovery and the excitement of the ongoing evolution of mainstream sounds. They share their personal favorite songs of the summer, including “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, and Beyonce’s “YA YA,” and express anticipation for upcoming releases from artists like Kendrick Lamar and a group of Irish children called The Kabin Crew and The Lisdoonvarna Crew with their song “The Spark.”
00:25:00 In this section of the “Inside Music Curation: Listen Like a Curator” YouTube video, Juan discusses his role as a music curator and shares his excitement about a new band, Knock Loose, that he’s been following for over a decade. The band, which started as a small DIY act, has recently gained popularity and is currently the number 25 artist on Spotify, surpassing Taylor Swift’s ranking. Knock Loose’s latest single, “Suffocate,” features alt-pop artist Poppy and showcases a unique blend of heavy dembow drone beats and hardcore metal music. Juan expresses his admiration for the band’s boundary-pushing approach and their ability to appeal to the current music trends. He also encourages viewers to share their favorite songs of the summer in the comments.
Thank you for checking out Inside Music Curation, we hope you enjoyed this discussion. Stay tuned for more exciting conversations on music curation in future episodes.
About the live video series:
At Feed Media Group (FMG), our music curation team excels at handpicking music for businesses. While technology and analytics play a vital role in the curation process, it is the expertise, curiosity, and ability of our music curators to bring the world around us into focus that truly sets our unified music system apart.
By staying attuned to pop culture trends and understanding the wider societal context of songs, we are able to craft exceptional music stations. It is this connection, context, and attention to detail that distinguishes our stations from those generated by even the most advanced algorithms used by major streaming platforms.
Come on a journey with us as we delve into the fascinating world of curating music for businesses and brands. We will explore everything from the practical applications to the user experience, taking a deep dive into genres, audience preferences, data analysis, and the latest trends.
Live on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn, select Wednesdays at 1 pm Pacific.
