The Network Studios hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at its headquarters in Culver City announcing it’s new ownership change. Not only did they roll out their new in-house podcast Socially Xceptable featuring Corrie Renee and SB Press, but they also hosted a reception to connect the community to the The Network Studios team. Guests were seen taking photos on the step and repeat, toasting to the occasion and engaging in organic banter while congratulating the owners for having one of the only black owned podcast studios in the greater Los Angeles area.   

The Network Studios is the #1 podcast studio in the greater Los Angeles area. Having produced over 12,000 episodes since its inception in 2012. In 2023, the business became 100 percent black owned under the ownership of Kenyon Ates (Tech Entrepreneur), Jalon Daniels (Kansas University Starting Football QB), Tyrone Dubose (IT Business Owner) and Les James (Real Estate Professional). Since acquiring the business, they have created a hub for black and brown content creators to bring their dreams to life. With the vision to redefine the brand identity of TNS by expanding the mission of the business, they have developed community partnerships. Through the creation and offering of a new media curriculum that is geared towards middle and senior high school students the current owners have built partnerships with the 501C3 Youth Guidance and their B.A.M initiative that is serving Los Angeles area students, LAUSD and Wilder’s preparatory academy in Inglewood.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Ates, Dubose, and Daniels to talk about their original content production, vision for the future of the business and what The Network Studios means to the community. Check it out below. 

Q’s Crackin’ Crab brings ‘soulful seafood’ to Florida beach community

Quinisha “Q” Bredwood and her husband, Anthony Bredwood, are a standout dining destination in Brevard County. Quinisha, a Satellite High School graduate (2001), launched the restaurant in 2020 amid the global pandemic, inspired by her parents’ entrepreneurial spirit. Positioned conveniently between Cocoa Beach Pier and Ron Jon Surf Shop, Q’s Crackin’ Crab & Seafood Kitchen is celebrated for its family-friendly ambiance and mouth watering “soulful seafood.” Since its inception, the restaurant has garnered significant attention, including features in Space Coast Living Magazine, Everything Brevard, Hometown News, and Florida Today. In 2021, it was a finalist for Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Startup Business of the Year and was named Best New Restaurant by Space Coast Living Magazine. The following year, the Bredwoods’ venture earned the Startup Business of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year awards from the Space Coast Black Chamber of Commerce. As a dynamic team, Quinisha and Anthony are deeply involved in their community. Quinisha is a participant in LEAD Brevard’s 2023-2024 class, Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Brevard Prevention Coalition, and a member of the Economic and Tourism Development Council with the Space Coast Black Chamber. Anthony, as General Manager, brings his own leadership to the restaurant, working alongside Quinisha and their daughter Amaya, who is an Assistant Manager and nursing student at Eastern Florida State College. Together with their five daughters, the Bredwood family has created a thriving business, exemplifying dedication, love, and exceptional seafood.

Music tech is booming, and companies are emerging left and right. The music industry itself has not seen many threats, and most executives are comfortable, believing that technologies like ChatGPT do not affect their jobs. However, they may be unaware that numerous other companies are slowly gaining ground, which will likely lead them to cut back on their vacation budgets this year.

Today’s focus? Tapped Ai, a live music data analytics company that enables performers to create a world tour through their iPhone. Tapped Ai credits its inspiration to Chartmetric, the leading music data analytics company used by most music industry professionals to discover up-and-coming artists through streaming and social stats.

Tapped Ai’s advantage lies in its adjacency to Chartmetric and its user-friendly platform, which simplifies data digestion. Data is not inherently sexy, but Tapped hopes to change that, making it appealing for performers. It’s clear this approach is working, as they have already attracted over 3,000 users and have opened up their beta testing “build a show” program to a handful of artists. Their database is also growing daily, currently featuring data on over 45,000 performers, 1 million+ bookings, and 25,000+ venues.

Tapped Ai , has recently caught the attention of major record labels with their recent April Fools prank. To find out how they pulled a massive prank on the entire music industry check their article out here: https://www.onthesceneny.com/uncategorized/april-fools-prank-turns-into-genius-marketing-by-these-two-entrepreneurs/

As these labels explore integrating Tapped Ai’s technology, there is growing speculation about the potential reduction in workforce as roles traditionally held by humans begin to be automated.

Tapped Ai simplifies the booking process for live performances, leveraging artificial intelligence to match artists with venues. This technology not only optimizes the booking process but also provides unprecedented data-driven insights into audience preferences, potential revenue, and performance logistics.

The platform represents a significant leap forward in efficiency and effectiveness, allowing record labels and music promoters to plan tours and performances with a level of precision previously unattainable. 

Gone are the days of relying on smoke and mirrors with social media followers and Spotify numbers. Tapped Ai aims to provide a clear understanding of how much revenue a performer can generate from a show or tour. This is particularly beneficial for smaller artists, as it allows them to get booked over bigger names. An artist with 10 million followers might not sell as many tickets as a performer with 20,000 followers who has a strong, loyal local following. This shift will be a game-changer for the music industry because booking will no longer be a gamble. It will be an educated decision based on analytics and data, enabling anyone to confidently book an artist for a show or a tour.”

Just last week a 17 year old kid used Tapped Ai’s app, which allowed him to find the right venue for him to perform at. Just an internet kid who makes music and wants to be in front of a crowd. No booking agent, no spending thousands of hours doing outreach, just finding the right venue and getting connected. This is the equivalent to how musicians can make music from their bedroom through bandlab, creating a marketing campaign through symphonyOS, and finding rising artists through Chartmetric to collaborate with. The future is here, but for some reason live music and live music data have been held back. 

As major labels look to incorporate Tapped AI’s technology into their operations, there is a growing concern among industry professionals about the implications for jobs. Many tasks, such as scouting for venue availability, negotiating deals, and scheduling tours, which typically required extensive human resources, can now be managed more efficiently by AI systems. This shift is leading some labels to consider downsizing their teams in favor of a more technology-driven approach. Since the launch of this article, one label fired four booking agents and started using Tapped Ai’s technology as a beta.

While the introduction of Tapped AI’s technology promises significant cost savings and increased productivity for labels, it also poses difficult questions about the future of employment within the industry. Industry analysts suggest that as Ai and machine learning continue to advance, the need for traditional skills in booking and promotions may diminish, leading to job cuts. The same way an A&R job has transformed because of social media and platforms like Chartmetric, being a booking agent will also be transformed. 

The transition towards AI-driven processes is not without its challenges. Industry leaders are now tasked with navigating the delicate balance between embracing innovation and managing the human impact of technological adoption. For many, this means reevaluating the roles within their organizations and identifying opportunities for upskilling employees to work alongside the new technology.

Education and training will play a crucial role in this transition, as current employees will need to adapt to new roles that require oversight and management of Ai systems rather than direct execution of tasks. Additionally, the industry must consider the broader cultural implications of reducing the human element in music production and promotion.

However it is not just Tapped Ai that is on the horizon but a couple other Ai companies that are already threatening jobs.

The potential reduction in workforce due to AI like Tapped Ai is a poignant reminder of the broader impacts of technology on employment across various sectors. For the music industry, this period of transition offers an opportunity to redefine roles and invest in a future where technology and human creativity are more intertwined than ever.

As discussions continue among major labels about the integration of AI technologies, the decisions made will likely set precedents for how other sectors might also adapt to similar changes. The role of companies like Tapped Ai will be crucial in shaping these outcomes, ensuring that innovations in AI bring about improvements not only in productivity and efficiency but also in the quality of music and live performances that reach audiences around the globe.

We also asked the founders their thoughts and they chose not to input any statement.

If you are interested in hearing more about tapped check them out here at www.tapped.ai