#146: EXPERT: Building Real Fandom in the Age of Algorithms: Rob Abelow episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 18, 2026 · 1H 1M

#146: EXPERT: Building Real Fandom in the Age of Algorithms: Rob Abelow

from Sound Connections · host Amplitude Ventures

Rob Abelow, product leader at OpenStage, joins Sound Connections to go deep into the infrastructure behind fan relationships and why they are becoming central to music growth.This conversation breaks down how today’s ecosystem fragments fan data across multiple platforms, limiting visibility and control for artists. Rob shares how bringing that data together into unified fan profiles changes how artists engage, monetize, and build long-term value.We also discuss the shift away from algorithm-first growth toward a model that starts with core fans and expands outward, and how ticketing, premium experiences, and direct communication play a role in that evolution.Finally, we get into the realities behind the industry, from bot-driven ecosystems and distorted metrics to why many superfan strategies fall short, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.Now live on Sound Connections Podcast.Subscribe now!If you want to learn more about OpenStage visit: https://openstage.live/Produced by Amplitude Ventures AS.

Rob Abelow, product leader at OpenStage, joins Sound Connections to go deep into the infrastructure behind fan relationships and why they are becoming central to music growth.This conversation breaks down how today’s ecosystem fragments fan data across multiple platforms, limiting visibility and control for artists. Rob shares how bringing that data together into unified fan profiles changes how artists engage, monetize, and build long-term value.We also discuss the shift away from algorithm-first growth toward a model that starts with core fans and expands outward, and how ticketing, premium experiences, and direct communication play a role in that evolution.Finally, we get into the realities behind the industry, from bot-driven ecosystems and distorted metrics to why many superfan strategies fall short, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts.Now live on Sound Connections Podcast.Subscribe now!If you want to learn more about OpenStage visit: https://openstage.live/Produced by Amplitude Ventures AS.

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#146: EXPERT: Building Real Fandom in the Age of Algorithms: Rob Abelow

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This episode was published on March 18, 2026.

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Rob Abelow, product leader at OpenStage, joins Sound Connections to go deep into the infrastructure behind fan relationships and why they are becoming central to music growth.This conversation breaks down how today’s ecosystem fragments fan data...

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