Audio Talks

In this episode of Audio Talks, host Oisín Lunny sits down with Sean Olive, former Senior Fellow at HARMAN and one of the most influential figures in modern audio research. Known for his groundbreaking work on the HARMAN Sound Curve, Sean has helped elevate the entire industry's understanding of sound quality - bridging the gap between how we hear and how we measure sound. From struggling with poor recordings of his own piano recitals and jazz orchestrations to his mentorship under audio legend Dr. Floyd Toole and leadership as President of the Audio Engineering Society, Sean's mission has always been to transform the way we experience sound. Here, he shares the personal and professional journey that led him to reshape how we think about listener preferences, headphone equalization, and predictive modeling of sound quality.

In this episode of Audio Talks, host Oisin Lunny explores the rich history and exciting future of portable audio with Carsten Olesen from Harman International and Guy Hammett from Futuresource Consulting. From the vinyl Dansettes of the 1950s to today's AI-enhanced Bluetooth speakers, the conversation traces the cultural, emotional, and technological evolution of music on the move. The guests discuss pivotal innovations like the JBL Flip and JBL Charge series, the rise of rugged party speakers, and the transformative potential of Bluetooth LE and Auracast. With personal stories, industry insights, and a look at what's next, this episode is a celebration of how portable audio continues to shape our lives.

In this episode of Audio Talks, host Oisin Lunny engages with audio preservation experts David Seubert and Gerald Seligman to discuss the critical importance of preserving master recordings and audio heritage. They explore the devastating impact of the 2008 Universal Fire at Universal Studios, which destroyed countless irreplaceable recordings, and the broader implications for music history and cultural memory. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by both public institutions and commercial record labels in preserving audio, the fragility of audio heritage, the role of technology in restoration efforts, and how listeners can contribute to preserving sound history.

In this extended episode of Audio Talks, we explore how the live events industry is rising to the challenge of the climate crisis. Recorded on Earth Day, Oisin Lunny discusses what a greener live music industry could look like with Claire O'Neill - CEO and Co-Founder of A Greener Future and Katy Templeman-Holmes - Senior Director of Product Strategy & Sustainability at Harman Professional. From cultural shifts across the live music industry, innovative solutions like Act 1.5, and the impact of power consumption, hear how everything from powerful collective action, food choices, and innovations in manufacturing are helping the industry reduce its carbon footprint and accelerate towards a greener future.

In this energy-loaded episode of Audio Talks, host Oisín Lunny is joined by two leading voices for change in the music industry: Linda Coogan Byrne, music publicist, DEI strategist, and author of Why Not Her?, and Vic Bain, music business consultant, academic, and founder of The F-List for Music. Together, they dive into deep-rooted gender inequalities in the industry, discuss latest data and share their personal journeys as activists, researchers, and change-makers. Tune in for a vivid conversation about resilience, representation, and rewriting the soundtrack of the future.

AI is revolutionizing everything – and audio is no exception. Get ready for a game-changing conversation as HARMAN CTO Armin Prommersberger joins host Oisin Lunny to dive into the electrifying intersection of AI, next-gen connectivity, and cutting-edge audio tech. Together, they'll unveil a vision for the future — where sound isn't just heard, but experienced with intelligence. Recorded live at the Club JBL Event in London.

In this episode of Audio Talks, host Oisin Lunny explores the powerful relationship between music and influence with Edgar Dino Gankendorff, Co-Managing Partner at Provosty & Gankendorff LLC and Richard Kirstein author of "Music Rights Without Fights" and founding partner at Resilient Music LLC. They discuss the role of music in shaping public narratives, from campaign anthems to cultural moments, and dive into the challenges artists face when their music is used without consent.

In this episode of Audio Talks, host Oisin Lunny sits down with Andy Robinson, Founder and CEO of Interstellar Music, to explore revolutionary business models, reshaping the music industry. Andy reveals how his groundbreaking pay-by-the-hour artist management service empowers creators without the exploitative contracts of the past. From managing rights to leveraging technology, discover how independent artists can build sustainable careers while staying in control of their art.

In this Audio Talks episode, host Oisin Lunny explores whether the music industry can handle tech-powered forgery, copyright infringement, and AI-driven fakery. Virginie Berger from MatchTune discusses tools for detecting AI-generated copyright violations, while Beatdapp co-founder Andrew Batey dives into the impact of streaming fraud on artists' livelihoods. Together, they reveal how music tech can both empower and protect creators in a landscape of increasing digital deception.

In this episode of Audio Talks, we explore the rise of Music Tourism. Oisin Lunny talks to Dr. Leonieke Bolderman – Assistant Professor of Geography of Media & Culture at the University of Groningen and Anthony Diaz, COO and Partner at Topeka Music Vacations. From trips to festivals and concerts, to visits of places with musical history – discover how music can transform travel into unforgettable experiences, fosters community and boosts local economies.

Tune in to explore the art of sound with a very special guest, Josh Harmon. Josh is a Foley artist, percussionist, and the creator of the hit online series, "Rhythms of Comedy". With millions of followers on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, he brings a unique blend of comedy, music, and sound design to his massive audience. On Audio Talks, we dive into his fascinating journey, his passion for drumming, and how he's turned everyday objects into instruments of joy for people all over the world. Tune in for some rhythm, sound, and laughter!

Discover the Future of Sports Broadcasting! In this episode, host Oisin Lunny dives deep into the cutting-edge world of sports broadcasting with two industry experts: Nuno Duarte, Broadcast Sound Design & Audio Manager at Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), and Anaïs Libolt, Director of Broadcast & Content, Europe at Dolby. Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how immersive audio and Dolby Atmos are revolutionizing the way we experience live sports—especially monumental events like the Olympics. From innovative sound design to the latest tech advancements, this conversation unveils the future of global sports audio.

Explore how Auracast is set to transform audio experiences and connectivity across various devices. In this episode, Chuck Sabin, Senior Director of Market Development at Bluetooth SIG, and Mikael Herje, Director of Global Category Communication for Headphones and Wearables at HARMAN, discuss the latest in Bluetooth innovation - recorded live from IFA in Berlin. Together with host Oisin Lunny, they're exploring the revolutionary Auracast technology and its impact on the future of audio.

In this episode, we explore the immersive world of JBL Land on Roblox. Our guests include Antonina Filonenko, Social Media Manager for JBL Land and Roblox Lead at Harman ; Tim Van der Wiel, Founder at GoSpooky; and Annabelle aka Robuilds, a renowned Roblox influencer with over 21 million views on YouTube. Together, they share insights on how brands can revolutionize virtual engagement through music and gaming and creativity.

Go behind the scenes of the groundbreaking Art of Noise exhibition at SFMOMA. Curator Joseph Becker takes you on an immersive audio/visual journey through 100 years of design revolutionizing how we experience music - from classic album artwork to innovative sound installations and vintage audio tech.

In this episode, AudioTalks host Oisin Lunny chats with musician, marketer, and entrepreneur Akshai Sarin. Dive deep into his path and experiences in the music industry, disruptive marketing, spirituality, and entrepreneurship. Explore Akshai's groundbreaking creation SonoKinesis that transforms everyday objects into dynamic musical instruments. And discover how he turned an entire cruise ship into a playable sonic sculpture through this fusion of art, music, and technology.

This episode is a must-listen for all aspiring musicians and entrepreneurs. Tune in to discover two fascinating life paths that couldn't be more different yet eventually intersected: Able Heart, former Olympic-level snowboarder turned music producer, and Lior Tibon, CEO & Co-founder of Duetti and former COO of Tidal. Lior shares his groundbreaking approach to financing in the music industry and how Duetti supports independent artists. Able reveals how this partnership has empowered him to scale his career.

In this episode, Audio Talks host Oisin Lunny chats with Enno Vandermeer, visionary founder of Roon Labs. Gain insights into the functions of the innovative music server system Roon, its role in the music streaming market, and thoughts about future developments in the audio market.

In this episode, Audio Talks host Oisin Lunny chats with renowned music critic and author of "The Sound of Being Human" Jude Rogers about the fascinating impact that music can have on our lives. Get scientific insights on how the development of the adolescent brain influences our love for music and how we perceive sound even before we are born.

Join us for a deep dive into how to grow, succeed, and make money in the music and music licensing business! With over 6000 music placements and multiple awards, including an Emmy, there's no one better to discuss this topic with than Michèle Vice-Maslin, hit music producer, songwriter, publisher, speaker and educator.

Hot off the press from HARMAN ExPLORE in Las Vegas! Tune in to find out what will be driving the audio business in 2024: what are the trends, what do consumers want and what new products and features can we look forward to? Host Oisin Lunny is joined by two experts to discuss all things audio. Evelyn Heinbach, Vice President, Corporate Strategy - Lifestyle Division HARMAN and Carsten Olesen, President Consumer Audio at HARMAN. The episode kicks off with Guy Hammett, Senior Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting who shares some insights into the audio market of 2024.

Tune in as Oisin Lunny speaks to Charlie Harding & Nate Sloan, whose passion for pop has ignited the airwaves since 2014 with Switched on Pop - a podcast that has broken down plenty of pop songs to find out: What makes a hit?

Can music make your cats and dogs happier, calmer and more relaxed? In this episode, Oisin Lunny speaks to Amman Ahmed, President of Music For Pets, nicknamed "Petflix," the company that makes calming music to ease the sensitive souls of our furry friends, prone to separation anxiety and fear of unknown noises.

In this episode host Oisin Lunny is joined by two experienced musicians who take you behind the scenes into the secret lives of session musicians: Steven Fuller, conference moderator and speaker and Global Community Manager for Race in STEM and former session musician with the likes of Lily Allen and the James Taylor Quartet. And Shawn Lee, session musician (e.g. Spice Girls!), multi-intrumentalist, DJ, composer and recording artist.

In this episode we speak to two AI visionaries to get the lowdown on AI, IP and creativity. Are the new tools friend or foe to our most human capabilities – the capability to create? And what does generative AI mean for the laws around intellectual property? Our guests: - Arun Sundararajan, NYU professor of Entrepreneurship and Technology & author of "The Sharing Economy: The End of Employment and the Rise of Crowd-Based Capitalism"​ - Ric Scheuss, Managing Director at TRO

Get an exclusive peek behind the curtain at the Martin Garrix & JBL Music Academy, where selected young talents from all around the world were getting the lowdown on everything they need to be successful artists. From music writing, DJ skills, production, toplines, and remixing alongside marketing, social media, PR and personal branding, everything is covered. Who were the teachers? Martin Garrix himself and a VIP guestlist – powered by STMPD Records – of the best names in the music business.

Music can bring back memories, soothe the soul and make your heart beat faster, but can it "biohack" the mind? Two of the world's leading experts on ceremonial music, Regan Hillier and JoanPa speak about their own journeys of ritual, initiation, discovery and healing through music, and outline the effect that ceremonial music can have on every aspect of your being. Prepare to be uplifted and biohacked in the best possible way.

We're back with Season 8 of Audio Talks! Recorded on site at CLUB JBL in Berlin - join us for a deep dive into the captivating world of spatial audio, where immersive sound takes center stage. From cinemas to cars, from headphones to homes, we're breaking the stereo barrier and stepping into a new era of audio magic. Join host Oisin Lunny as he unravels the tech, innovation, and artistry behind Spatial Audio with audio visionaries Sharon Peng from HARMAN and Javier Foncillas from Dolby Labs.

Join us and meet one of the greatest names in modern music, a creative giant who's work has moved the hearts of millions with his countless hits like Slumdog Millionaire and Jai Ho: A. R. Rahman, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer and performer. Host Oisin Lunny speaks to him about his (spiritual) way to success, his career, biggest projects, what inspires him most, and why it's so important to open the way to music for upcoming generations at an early age.

What happens when the exacting standards of new generations of digital natives meet design inspiration, technical innovation and engineering excellence? The audio Luxumer is born! Could this be the most sophisticated consumer yet? Audio Talks is joined by two of HARMAN's foremost luxury audio experts, recording live at the High-End music tech conference in Munich, to discuss this fascinating new arrival to the audio market and the JBL Classics line of audio equipment that was built for the Luxumer. Jim Garrett, Sr. Director, Product Strategy & Planning - Luxury Audio Business Unit & Paul Neville, Director of Global Engineering, Luxury Audio

In this episode we investigate the fine art of library music, where some of the world's best musicians produce collections of music to be used as sonic backdrops to films, TV series and viral social media videos. Oisin Lunny speaks to top-flight musicians, producers, composers and long-time creative partners Ted Barnes and Ali Friend about how they got into making library music and what makes it so special.

From accountant to founder of a music school that empowers women to produce music, tune in for a fascinating podcast with Xylo Aria. Talented musician, songwriter, engineer and producer in addition to her work for MPW. Inspiring not only for women seeking their place in the music industry, but also for men who want to be their champions.

We're getting up close and personal with one of the most enigmatic names in dance music nightlife: The Secret DJ. He has experienced it all throughout four decades at the pointy end of electronic music. Host Oisin Lunny speaks to him about his life spent in nightclubs and the profound shared experience of dancing to great music on great soundsystems. Tune in!

From the first words of the "talkies" in 1927, the art of cinematic sound has been driving the latest innovations in audio technology for almost 100 years. But in the aftermath of the global pandemic and with the rise of the video streaming giants such as Netflix, more and more consumers are enjoying epic cinematic masterpieces at home. But can they enjoy epic cinema sound as well? Host Oisin Lunny talks to Hollywood producer and author of Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound Bobette Buster and HARMAN's Senior Director of Sales for Strategic Partnership and Business Development Søren Majlund for a journey through the art and tech of cinematic sound.

Tune in and find out why fractional ownership is the ultimate growth hack for the music industry. Audio Talks host Oisin Lunny met music industry digital pioneer and firestarter Scott Cohen on location at ESNS in Groningen, Netherlands to talk about the revolutionary idea behind his new company JKBX. If you can buy shares of a company, why can't you buy shares in Justin Bieber's music catalog? Now you can, thanks to some tech-powered wizardry from Scott and his team. The idea: Revolutionizing the ownership of royalties by creating a platform - JKBX - that offers fans, retail investors, and music lovers the opportunity to invest in music royalties at scale and in a regulated marketplace.

Hot off the press from HARMAN ExPLORE in Las Vegas, here's the inside scoop on 2023's most important audio trends. Tune in for a fascinating Q&A on all things audio in 2023 and beyond. Host Oisin Lunny is joined by three experts to discuss all things audio. Dr. Sean Olive, Acoustic Research Senior Fellow at HARMAN Dave Tovissi, Vice President & GM, Luxury Audio at HARMAN Guy Hammett, Senior Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting

Join us for a little dive into the world of sacred music. Oisin Lunny speaks to someone who gives a fresh new perspective on the matter: beatboxer, zen music artists and buddhist monk, Yogetsu Akasaka

In this episode we'll explore the fast-paced world of social media in the music industry with a master of the art: Moody Jones, SVP, Digital & Creative, EMPIRE & Founder, Everybody Knows. Tune in as Oisin Lunny and Moody Jones discuss what it means for artists and songs to go viral and how new platforms change the industry.

We're celebrating our 50th episode by attempting to answer the questions of all questions: Can music change the world? Host Oisin Lunny is joined by three experts who do just that: Helen Sildna, Founder and Head of Tallinn Music Week and Station Narva Dr. Shamender Talwar, Co-Founder and Trustee of TUFF Pamela Lewis, President and CEO of PLA Media

Tune in as two of the music world's leading coaches share some secrets to crushing your creative career: Remi Harris MBE, Creative Business Trainer and Coach, founder of Remi Harris Consulting, co-founder of the Music Leaders Network and the Young Guns Network. Rifa Thorpe-Tracey, award-winning coach, consultant and connector at Refigure Ltd, Chief Community Officer at Wired Sussex & the engine behind SheSays Brighton and Spring Forward Festival.

In this episode, we will shine a light on how AI can take audio to the next level – from composition to mastering to every step of enjoying the final output. With Daniel Rowland, Head of Strategy and Partnership at LANDR, Oscar-winning & Grammy-nominated audio engineer and producer, and Armin Prommersberger, Senior Vice President Product Management Automotive Division at HARMAN.

Music is our universal language. But what happened to music when we started to write it down? And what happens next in a world of digitization and interactive technology? With Michael Spitzer, Professor of Music at The University of Liverpool and Gerd Leonhard, Keynote Speaker, Author, Futurist & Humanist, CEO of The Futures Agency, Video and Audio Podcast Host, Film Maker & Musician.

In this special episode live from the Montreux Jazz Festival, our Audio Talks Podcast host Oisin Lunny catches up with Robert-Jan van Dormael, VP Integrated Marketing EMEA at HARMAN International, and Adam Fell, Co-Founder of OneOf and President of Quincy Jones Productions. They talk about the Harman Kardon Suites Art of Sound digital art competition, the godfather of the MJF Quincy Jones, what role NFTs play for the music industry and what potential they hold for the future.

Tune in as we discuss music rights, relationships and technology and how this can help you get paid as an artist in a digital age. Oisin Lunny talks to two real experts in this field: Vickie Nauman, Founder and CEO of CrossBoarderWorks & Åsa Carild, expert on Digital Music and Business Development & VP Platform at Utopia Music.

Tune in for a refreshing and inspiring talk with superstar Martin Garrix, one of the most dynamic DJs of our time. He tells us about his latest projects, how he has used the time in lockdown for his creative work and the story behind his recent coop with Zedd. As a global JBL ambassador he also let's us know about the collaboration and which JBL products he couldn't live without.

In this episode we dive into the power of music, culture and poetry. Host Oisin Lunny speaks to two people that are at the forefront of modern Irish culture: the Irish Ambassador to the USA, Dan Mulhall & Tadhg Byrne, DJ, musician and founding member of the irish cultural collective Sim Simma.

Tune in as we pay homage to the beautiful world of vinyl records. After returning from obscurity, 2022 will be the sixteenth consecutive year that vinyl sales have grown. We'll take a closer look at this phenomenon by welcoming two vinyl lovers and experts: Cameron Schaefer, CEO of Vinyl Me, Please & Chris Dragon, Senior Director, Global Product Marketing at HARMAN.

Tune in as we celebrate dance music, club culture and DJ history. From resolutely underground beginnings, dance music has exploded into mainstream over the last decades. Oisin Lunny speaks to Bill Brewster, renowned DJ, music historian, writer, and co-author of "Last night a DJ saved my life", and Arne van Terphoven, author, dance music publicist, owner of the Mary Go Wild record shop and founding member of Our House, a new museum of club cuture in the heart of Amsterdam. What were some of the milestones in dance music's global growth and who were the maestros behind the movement?

In this episode, we peek through the keyhole into the world of home studios. Get the inside scoop on the role equipment plays, and some expert advise on how to set up your own home studio space.

In this episode, we're talking about diversity in the music industry. Our two inspiring guests, Marta Pallarès Olivares, Head of International Press & PR at Primavera Sound, and Andreea Gleeson, CEO of TuneCore & US Ambassador for KeyChange discuss how we can all support diversity. Tune in!

Get the low-down on the latest tech and consumer experience trends in the fast-moving audio space. Tune in to hear what two of our leading experts, Alfredo Fernandez Franco, Senior Director, Intelligent Audio & Mikael Herje, Category Director, Headphones & Wearables, have to say about the innovations and new products to come in 2022.