Ep. 40 From Radio to Spotify: Industry Lessons and 2026 Predictions with John Butler

In our first guest episode of The Sound Mind, we sit down with John Butler to explore a life immersed in every corner of the music industry, from college radio and record labels to Spotify and the era of streaming. We discuss what it truly means to listen: to music, to audiences, and to the cultural shifts shaping the way we connect with sound. Plus, John shares his bold predictions for 2026, from the gamification of music to the impact of AI on how we experience music.CHAPTERS:0:00 Intro02:18 Meeting Cyndi Lauper and the Moment the Industry Became Real 09:37 From College Radio to First Promotion Projects32:49 The Spotify Era: Balancing Data and Musical Intuition45:40 2026 Predictions: Gamification, Genre-Less Radio and Catalog-Only Labels59:56 AI Music and the Future of Human Connection01:03:38 Guiding Artists Today: Mentorship and Community01:08:30 Summary and OutroFollow us on Instagram: @thesoundmindtalksSupport us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/thesoundmindtalks⁠Connect with John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-butler-29727b/All Hands Collective: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-hands-collective/