For the first Where Do We Go From Here? conversation, I spoke with my friend Tony Lashley, founder of music platform Marine Snow.
Tony worked at Spotify, where helped develop playlists like Pollen to better match listening habits that defied clear genre lines. His time at the Swedish streaming giant coupled with his work for Frank Ocean’s blonded informed his unique take on music streaming (or, as Marine Snow’s website refers to it a “global hall of songs, curated and contextualized like paintings in a museum”).
Tony is one of the most insightful people I’ve had the chance to get to know because of this business. His knowledge is expansive, his taste excellent, and his penchant for pointed historical analysis has made all of our conversations, lunches, and long walks over the years illuminating for me. I’m honored to have him as the first guest.
A few key takeaways from our conversation…
The Value of Music: Tony and I are both fixated on the question of music’s value in different forms. We spend a lot of time talking about that question and how it instructed some of the solutions Tony’s been exploring.
Niche vs. Mass Market: Often lost in the conversation about what Spotify does right and wrong for musicians and artists is the fact that it is a product designed to be digital radio for the masses. It is often perceived as failing the little guys, but, frankly, it’s not designed for the little guys. Tony and I discuss how Marine Snow’s radical philosophy and business structure enable it to focus on different solutions for a set of artists not necessarily served by Spotify. As Tony also reminds me, niches can be very lucrative.
Walled Gardens, Well-Curated Soundtracks, Recognizable Brands: Tony has pulled a lot of inspiration from the likes of the Criterion Collection and A24. His quest to build a better consumer platform is rooted in a belief that most music platforms lack the sort of focus and brand identity that Criterion and A24 have been so clever and resolute in building over many years. Here we also came back to the question of value beyond entertainment: Community, identity, social status, memory, and communication can all take root in music. Artists and platforms that tap into these deeper values can build stronger connections with their audience. Marine Snow is attempting to build one such community and potentially others branching off of it, emphasizing musical niches and little regard for mass market plays.
Artist Equity: One of the more radical, exciting concepts we discussed was Tony’s stated goal of giving artists equity in Marine Snow as a part of future deals. While this shouldn’t be radical, it was refreshing to hear. Tony’s perspective lights a path for building media companies with an eye towards the artists, writers, filmmakers, and creatives of all stripes seeking refuge from systems that continually fail them.
As well, Tony shared this amazing Brazilian funk mix with me after we recorded. Worth 31 minutes of your day.
Special thanks to Anna Kasper for producing, Will Grogan for providing music, and Hugh Huntingford for designing the Applied Science logo and podcast cover image.
Los Angeles Fire Support Resources:
Mutual Aid Network of Los Angeles’s spreadsheet lists an expansive number of funds, organizations, and aid types across the expanse of the city. A great place to start.
HitsDailyDouble has compiled a wealth of resources for people within the music community, including emergency financial assistance, support with pets/animals, temporary shelter, food, medical and mental health services, gear storage, and free clothes.
A comprehensive volunteer and support guide from local organization LA2050.
A good post from The Angel on different ways to get involved with relief efforts.
A book/PDF written for parents to help explain the enormity of wildfire to their children.
PBS SoCal’s resources for how to talk to children about wildfires.
A U.S. government fact sheet on protecting children from wildfire smoke and ash.
A spreadsheet of GoFundme’s for Black families from Altadena who have been displaced or lost their homes. Altadena is one of Los Angeles’ historically Black centers, a place where generations of hard-earned wealth and equity in the land were decimated in a matter of days. (first seen via Saul Williams)
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