The intersection of music, creativity, AI and advanced technologies took center stage at the recent Music Tech Pitching session at Sónar+D. The event, organized by Barcelona Music Tech Hub in collaboration with Music Tech Europe and Sónar, brought together 10 innovative startups and industry leaders who showcased groundbreaking ideas that bridge the gap between music and technology in front of a crowded room with around 90 attendees. From impact analytics for events to AI-powered music instruments, the pitches highlighted the transformative power of technology in shaping the future of the music industry. 

Sónar+D is an annual international congress that brings music industry creatives from all around the world together in order to create and share innovative ideas for our future. 

The following startups were the ones, selected from all the top-level applications received, to pitch their projects’ present and future needs in front of investors and experts in their respective fields.

Measurevent: Amplifying the Impact of  Events 

Speaker: Felix Barros 

Country of origin: Chile

Link to website

This unique startup provides comprehensive impact analytics for music events, allowing organizers to accurately report key parameters such as economic impact and carbon footprint. With a track record of analyzing over 115 events, their data-driven insights have been instrumental in informing policymakers about the positive economic effects associated with these events. By proving the significant impact of music festivals on the cities they are hosted in, the startup has successfully secured additional funding for one of Chile’s prominent music festivals, ensuring its financial stability for the next five years. Currently, they are seeking expansion opportunities to extend their event measurement services to European markets.

Soundsmarket: Empowering the Secondhand Music Instrument Market

Barcelona Music Tech Hub Member

Speaker: Pau Agustí

Country of origin: Spain

Link to website

Soundsmarket has identified a gap in the market of specialized secondhand platforms catering specifically to music instruments and DJ sets. As the demand for sustainable alternatives continues to rise, the absence of a reliable marketplace for such items has become increasingly evident. Consequently, Soundsmarket’s visionary founders set out to address this void by establishing a secure and highly efficient platform tailored to the unique needs of this market segment. Their focus on logistics, protection against scammers, and marketplace infrastructure sets them apart from competing marketplaces and reinforces their position as industry pioneers.

Daft Springer: Transparent Revenue Sharing for Artists

Speaker: Jeff Bacon

Country of origin: United Kingdom

Link to website

Daft Springer introduced an innovative solution to one of the industry’s long-standing challenges: the high costs associated with creating revenue-sharing contracts. This startup offers a transparent platform that enables artists to distribute revenue equitably while retaining authoritative control over their creative works. Using  Web3 technology, Daft Springer effectively reduces costs associated with releases, empowering artists to optimize the value derived from their personal investments. Through a solid commitment to expansion and collaborative synergy, the startup has successfully facilitated over 100 mutually beneficial revenue-sharing agreements and is currently preparing to release a marketplace that further enhances artist opportunities.

Aulart: Revolutionizing Music Education 

Barcelona Music Tech Hub Member

Speaker: Marc Marzenit

Country of origin: Spain

Link to website

Recognizing the need for a platform that connects music students directly with artists, Aulart brings a cutting-edge edtech solution to the table. Their online platform provides students with access to courses and masterclasses taught by renowned industry professionals such as artists, producers and managers. It has already garnered a user base of 13,000 students. By leveraging AI-powered translations, Aulart has started offering specialized bootcamps this year and plans to expand its platform’s reach and enhance the user experience, ultimately revolutionizing music education worldwide.

Rights Hub: Simplifying Rights Management 

Speaker: Lee Morrison

Country of origin: United Kingdom

Link to website

Rights Hub addresses the complexities surrounding rights management, with a particular focus on catering to the needs of indie music professionals. They offer cost-effective and easily accessible technological solutions that encompass a range of modules, a robust contracts platform, and comprehensive data sets, all of which facilitate the process of music distribution. In contrast to competitors, which tend to be costly and offer limited services, Rights Hub endeavors to bridge this gap by delivering affordable alternatives without compromising on functionality. By forging strategic partnerships and prioritizing the establishment of valuable connections, the startup is committed to expanding its business operations while fostering meaningful collaborations between artists and other industry professionals.

Soundstorming: Creating interactions between artists and fans

Barcelona Music Tech Hub Member

Speaker: Arnau Bosch

Country of origin: Spain

Link to website

One of the common challenges artists face is reaching their target audience and building as well as maintaining a loyal fan base. Soundstorming aims to address this by providing a platform that involves fans in the musical creation phase. By facilitating community polls where fans can vote as well as offering live chat features to interact with artists, Soundstorming fosters engagement. The company’s future projects include leveraging blockchain technology to create valuable and decentralized communities that encourage stronger links between artists and fans. 

Kieku AI: Enhancing Music Production with AI

Speaker: Jonas Verwijnen

Country of origin: Finland 

Link to website

Kieku AI showcased the potential of AI-powered music instruments to elevate music production. While AI has made remarkable advances in generating visual imagery and textual content, it encountered an obstacle when creating music: the difficulty of describing musical concepts to AI systems. Kieku AI addresses this challenge by developing an AI that listens to music, analyzes elements like genre and notes, and starts playing along with the artist. This AI acts as a collaborative partner, as if it were live in a jam session, enhancing creativity and pushing the boundaries of music production. Their vision includes assembling a band of AI-powered musicians, including drummers, samplers, keyboard players, and riff makers. 

Motmo: Transforming Music Education

Barcelona Music Tech Hub Member

Speaker: Bruno de Zabala

Country of origin: Spain

Link to website

Motmo aims to transform music education by providing a platform where musicians teach aspiring learners how to play songs accurately. With over 130 artists already teaching on their platform, Motmo offers a revenue-sharing model that benefits both artists and publishers. Their unique approach focuses on teaching how to play specific songs, rather than just instruments, setting them apart from their competitors. Additionally, Motmo has developed an algorithm that automatically creates sheet music when artists upload videos. This streamlines the learning process and ensures precision. With plans for growth and expansion in the coming year, Motmo is set out to redefine music education and provide aspiring musicians thanks to comprehensive and accessible learning experiences.

Jamahook: Empowering Music Production and Collaboration

Speaker: Steffen Holly

Country of origin: Switzerland

Link to website

Jamahook has used AI to develop a virtual personal production assistant, revolutionizing the music production process by enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. Serving as a highly capable recommendation engine for loops and beats, Jamahook ensures that the rightful ownership of creative works remains with the original creators, whilst making producer’s jobs easier. Looking ahead, the company envisions the launch of a mobile application, capitalizing on the rising influence of social media platforms. 

Hall Up – Empowering Musicians with Remote Recording Solutions

Barcelona Music Tech Hub Member

Speaker: Sylvain Martineau

Country of origin: France

Link to website

Hall Up is an innovative startup that has pioneered remote solutions for music creation and production. By providing artists with the means to compose and finalize songs for streaming platforms without the requirement of costly recording studios, Hall Up wants to position itself at the forefront of the flourishing music recording industry. What sets Hall Up apart from its competitors is its commitment to delivering affordable and customized services tailored to the unique needs of its clients. Looking ahead, Hall Up aspires to foster meaningful connections with industry professionals, recognizing the significance of building valuable relationships within the music sector.