84: Music, AI & the Future of Music Promotion with Paul Loeb

In this episode of AI Snacks with Romy & Roby, Anastassia Lauterbach welcomes Paul Loeb — entrepreneur, musician, audio engineer, and the founder of DropTrack, the world's first AI-powered music promotion platform. The conversation moves fluidly between Paul's personal journey from bedroom DJ and record label founder to tech executive at Beats by Dre, Apple, GitHub, and Ticketmaster, and the real-world mechanics of how DropTrack is changing what it means to be an independent artist in the age of AI.At its heart, this episode is about democratisation: of music promotion, of AI literacy, and of access to audiences that were previously reachable only by those with money, connections, or industry clout. Paul and Anastassia dig into the tension between AI as a creative threat and AI as an empowerment tool, explore the copyright battles reshaping the music industry, and discuss how independent artists and major labels alike need to rethink their strategies — before the window of opportunity closes.The episode closes with a call to action for conservatories and music schools: AI literacy is no longer optional for the next generation of artists.Chapters00:00 Introduction to AI Snacks and the episode topic00:55 The journey of music from creation to listener01:54 Paul Loeb's background and path into music and tech03:37 Challenges of music promotion and the birth of DropTrack07:16 How DropTrack uses AI to match music with opportunities11:01 Using AI for music analysis and readiness assessment12:43 Matching music to labels, playlists, and licensing opportunities15:21 The role of human curation and AI in discovering new music18:30 Global reach and different strategies for artists21:49 Disruption of traditional music industry giants24:38 Copyright, metadata, and royalties in AI-driven music28:24 Training AI models with existing music and copyright concerns33:31 Common mistakes and misconceptions about AI in music36:29 AI literacy as a crucial skill for young artists39:27 Closing remarks and the future of AI in musicAbout the GuestPaul Loeb is the Founder and CEO of DropTrack, the world's first AI-powered music promotion platform. He has over 20 years of experience spanning music and tech, with roles at Beats by Dre (acquired by Apple), GitHub (Microsoft), and Ticketmaster/Live Nation. He founded No Ego Records in 2010, signing over 50 artists and releasing more than 100 tracks. A USC graduate and Certified Pro Tools Expert trained under Steely Dan producer Roger Nichols, Paul also produces and DJs electronic music under the alias Really Cute Cats. He is based in Los Angeles, California.About the PodcastAI Snacks with Romy & Roby is the AI literacy podcast hosted by Dr. Anastassia Lauterbach, Founder and CEO of AI Edutainment GmbH. Each episode transforms complex ideas in artificial intelligence into something accessible, tangible, and actionable — for educators, executives, artists, and curious humans everywhere. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.