From Apple Music to Barcelona: Soundstorming Aims to Revolutionize How Artists and Superfans Connect
Barcelona, Spain – In a move shaking up the music tech landscape, Arnau Bosch, formerly the creative director of Apple Music, has left his post to launch Soundstorming, a Barcelona-based platform designed to directly monetize the creative process for musical artists. The venture, fueled by a recent €600,000 investment, is poised to redefine the relationship between artists and their most dedicated fans – the superfans.
The Problem Soundstorming Solves: Untapped Value in Artistic Creation
Bosch, alongside his brother Homer (marketing specialist) and Javier Piñol (ex-Spotify global director), identified a significant gap in the music industry: the lack of direct monetization for the often-shared, behind-the-scenes moments of artistic creation. “The moment of musical creation is not being monetized enough,” Bosch explained. “New generations of artists are already sharing snippets of their work on social media – lyrics, melodies, works in progress – and that content *has* value.” Soundstorming isn’t about replacing traditional music sales; it’s about adding a new revenue stream by capitalizing on the demand for exclusive access and interaction.
From Subscription Model to Commission-Based Success
The journey wasn’t immediate. Initially launched in the United States with a subscription-based model, Soundstorming faced early challenges. A strategic pivot in 2023 brought the company back to Barcelona and shifted the focus to a commission-based system. This new approach charges artists a fee for services fans purchase *through* the platform – think exclusive content, discounted concert tickets, and limited-edition merchandise. The platform utilizes a gamified points system, rewarding fan engagement with opportunities to redeem rewards, fostering a deeper connection and incentivizing participation.
€600K Investment and Key Partnerships Fuel Growth
The recent €600,000 funding round, led by BStartup (Banco Sabadell), Grifols, and prominent individuals like Chris Bouwer and David Pellicer, validates Soundstorming’s innovative approach. This capital injection will be crucial for expanding the platform’s reach and forging new alliances. Notably, Soundstorming has already secured a collaboration with the popular Spanish talent show Operation Triumph and Amazon Prime, and boasts a growing user base of 25,000 monthly active users. This partnership demonstrates the platform’s ability to integrate with established entertainment properties and reach a broad audience.
The Future of Fan Engagement: A Glimpse into the Music Industry’s Evolution
Soundstorming’s ambitions don’t stop there. The company aims to achieve a €1.5 million turnover in its first year of operation and plans to hire over six new team members. A further investment round exceeding €2 million is already in the pipeline, signaling strong confidence in the platform’s potential. This isn’t just about a new platform; it’s about a fundamental shift in how artists connect with and monetize their relationship with their fans. The rise of the “creator economy” has shown us that audiences are willing to pay for direct access and participation, and Soundstorming is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this trend within the music industry. As artists increasingly embrace transparency and collaboration, platforms like Soundstorming will become increasingly vital for fostering thriving communities and sustainable careers.
Soundstorming’s success story is a testament to the power of identifying unmet needs and adapting to market demands. By focusing on the value of the creative process and empowering superfans, Arnau Bosch and his team are not just building a company; they’re building a new model for artist-fan engagement that could reshape the future of music.
