NEWS

The discussion explored how streaming platforms are evolving beyond passive listening. While the past decade of music streaming has often focused on catalogue size, subscriber growth and personalisation algorithms, the next chapter is increasingly being shaped by active fandom, local scenes, creator participation and deeper fan engagement.

Watch the recording or read our warp up.

At SXSW Austin, Tuned Global joined leaders from SoundCloud and Audiomack for a panel discussion on how superfans, community and local music discovery are shaping the next phase of music streaming.

The session, titled The Future of Streaming in the Superfan Era, was moderated by Janishia Jones, CEO and Founder of Encore Music Tech Solutions. She was joined by Con Raso, CEO and Founder of Tuned Global; Brian “Z” Zisook, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Global Operations and Head of Artist and Label Services at Audiomack; and Jordan Pettinato, Senior Director of Business Development at SoundCloud.

The panel explored how music platforms can better serve superfans, support artist-fan relationships and create more participatory streaming experiences.

The conversation covered several major themes, including the difference between casual listeners and superfans, the role of fan-powered monetisation, the importance of local repertoire, and the way music platforms are becoming more community-driven.

For Tuned Global, the discussion reinforced a long-standing belief: the future of music streaming will not be one-size-fits-all. The most successful platforms will be those that reflect the communities, cultures and business models they serve.

Watch the SXSW panel

Key takeaways from the SXSW panel

1. Superfans are more than listeners

One of the central themes of the panel was the difference between listeners, followers, fans and superfans.

A listener may stream a song. A follower may keep up with an artist online. But a superfan goes further. Superfans invest time, attention and money into the artists they care about. They buy merch, attend shows, join fan clubs, collect physical releases, share music and actively participate in an artist’s growth.

This distinction matters for music platforms because superfans need more than access to songs. They need ways to participate, show support and feel part of a wider community.

2. Music streaming is becoming more participatory

The next generation of music streaming is not only about listening. It is about participation.

During the panel, Con Raso referenced Tuned Global’s Social Radio solution as an example of how music services can become more interactive and community-led. Social Radio enables listeners, artists and DJs to host live shows that combine music mixing, commentary and audience interaction.

This reflects a broader shift in the industry. Music users increasingly want to curate, comment, share, host, support and create around the music they love. Platforms that enable those behaviours can build stronger engagement and more meaningful user relationships.

3. Fan engagement can create new revenue opportunities

The panel also explored how fan engagement can create new revenue layers for artists and platforms.

Audiomack discussed its Supporters feature, which allows fans to purchase support badges for artists. SoundCloud shared insights from its fan-powered royalties model, which allocates revenue based on what individual users actually listen to, rather than relying only on a pooled pro-rata model.

These models show how streaming platforms are experimenting with ways to recognise and monetise deeper fan relationships. They also highlight a broader shift from stream volume alone towards engagement-based value.

4. Local music discovery is becoming more important

Another major theme was the importance of local repertoire and culturally relevant discovery.

Drawing on Tuned Global’s experience powering music services in markets such as Greenland, Mongolia and Egypt, Con Raso explained that local music can significantly outperform its catalogue share when audiences are given the right way to discover it.

In some markets, local repertoire may represent only a small percentage of the total catalogue, yet account for a much larger share of listening. This shows that audiences often want music that reflects their culture, community and identity, provided the platform is designed to surface it effectively.

5. The future of streaming will combine music, community and culture

The SXSW panel also touched on remix culture, derivative works, social music experiences, licensing complexity and the convergence of music and creator platforms.

Across the conversation, one idea stood out: the future of music streaming will not be defined by passive consumption alone. It will be shaped by how fans participate, how artists build communities, and how platforms support more meaningful engagement around music.

Why this matters for music platforms

For businesses building music streaming services, the superfan era creates both an opportunity and a challenge.

The opportunity is to build differentiated experiences that go beyond standard streaming functionality. This could include community features, fan recognition, social listening, live-hosted music experiences, local discovery, artist engagement tools or new monetisation models.

The challenge is that these experiences require strong technology infrastructure. Music platforms need to manage licensing, rights, catalogue delivery, analytics, reporting, personalisation and user engagement in a way that is scalable and compliant.

This is where Tuned Global helps businesses launch and scale tailored music experiences. Through its music cloud platform, APIs, white-label apps, licensing solutions, rights management systems, analytics and AI-enabled music discovery, Tuned Global supports companies building digital music services across telecom, media, gaming, fitness, health, aviation, kid's tech and entertainment.

Frequently asked questions

How are superfans changing music streaming?

Superfans are changing music streaming by creating demand for more participatory experiences. They want to do more than listen. They want to support artists, join communities, access exclusive experiences, share music and be recognised for their fandom.

Why is local music discovery important for streaming platforms?

Local music discovery is important because listeners often want music that reflects their culture, language, community and identity. Platforms that surface local repertoire effectively can create stronger engagement and differentiation.

How does Tuned Global support music streaming platforms?

Tuned Global helps businesses integrate commercial music into apps or launch complete streaming services using APIs, white-label apps, licensing solutions, rights management, analytics, AI-enabled music discovery and scalable music technology infrastructure.

Build a more engaging music experience with Tuned Global

Explore how Tuned Global’s music cloud platform, APIs and white-label apps can help you launch, scale and personalise a music streaming service for today’s more active, community-driven audiences. Connect with us today.