Music & Tech Visionary | CEO & Co-Founder Belong | Ex Global Head of Music at Spotify |
New York, USA
Joined July 2008
- Tweets901
- Following356
- Followers1.4K
- Likes285
We don't have jobs. We have a standard, and a door that's always open.
Out of stealth in July. Getting ready to launch. Music first, and increasingly sports, creators, fandom wherever it forms.
Read the manifesto. Then introduce yourself.
join.belong.us
Probably the most important interview you’ll watch or listen to if you want to understand what the next 10 years may look like.
Whether you agree with every prediction or not, this conversation covers AI, robotics, energy, space, economics, and what Elon believes is coming next.
“The most likely outcome is an age of amazing abundance.”
Watch the full interview from @TheEconomist featuring @elonmusk:
youtu.be/eEiEMMRYerM?si=pvIv…
🤖 Made with AI
‘Bank rails’ superfans startup Belong emerges from stealth musically.com/2026/07/22/ban… via @MusicAlly
Thank you Troy, so happy to have you onboard on this journey! 🚀
@nickmanic and @AshPournouri have built what I think will change the economics of the music artists forever. Even artists like Taylor Swift and Jay Z who can move GDP don't capture most of the financial value they create. Belong changes everything. Proud to be an investor/advisor.
Fans have been proving their devotion for decades. The industry just never kept the receipt.
Building this with @AshPournouri @wallinex, @robertpohl @justcallmetroy @hansvestberg @ChrisZarou. Backed by @speedrun, @BlitzVentures, Prevail Venture Capital and @BackwardsCapVC
First artist programs, invitation only, soon. musicbusinessworldwide.com/n…
So we built it underneath.
Every Belong membership runs on bank rails — every member is a verified real person, not a handle. We connect that to how a fan actually shows up, and the artist finally sees it.
The money fans spend routes back to the artist, not the middle.
After 18 months in stealth, Belong is live.
Streaming counts plays. Ticketing counts sales. Social counts followers.
None of it tells an artist which actual person has been in the room ten times.
Seed round closed. 🚀
Grateful for the support of an incredible group of investors as we build the financial infrastructure of fandom.
Now we build. 🌕
Nick Holmsten retweeted
It's time to build!
ok - dropping big dates/news for a16z speedrun:
- starting TODAY, founders can apply for the 2026 program that runs July 27 to Oct 11 in SF
here's the link: speedrun007.a16z.com/ac
- we will be investing up to $1M and funding 70+ companies over the next few weeks
- But there's also $5M in credits/tokens/etc from AWS/GCP/Open AI/Azure/NVIDIA/Deel/Stripe/etc. You'll also work with our amazing operating team (GTM, talent, brand, people, and more), and join our community of elite founders
- we offer a Global Founders Program for international founders, to help with visas, banking support, relo recommendations
- yes you can be solo (but better if you're further along, and have built a team). No you don't have to have an idea yet. Yes you have to know how to build (even if you're not technical)
- Also, in other news: speedun is officially moving full-time to SF. (prev it alternated SF/LA) this is for all the obv reasons
- we've continued to have an insane lineup of speakers, including the founders of Carta / DoorDash / Twilio / Figma / Zynga / Airtable / Twitch / and of course, lunch/dinners with Marc/Ben alongside a16z team - and much more
- the deadline for applying is May 17!
Sharing this from @speedrun — they just opened up Speedrun 07 today.
If anyone in your network is a strong fit, happy to make an intro to the team. They take referrals seriously and prioritize them.
ok - dropping big dates/news for a16z speedrun:
- starting TODAY, founders can apply for the 2026 program that runs July 27 to Oct 11 in SF
here's the link: speedrun007.a16z.com/ac
- we will be investing up to $1M and funding 70+ companies over the next few weeks
- But there's also $5M in credits/tokens/etc from AWS/GCP/Open AI/Azure/NVIDIA/Deel/Stripe/etc. You'll also work with our amazing operating team (GTM, talent, brand, people, and more), and join our community of elite founders
- we offer a Global Founders Program for international founders, to help with visas, banking support, relo recommendations
- yes you can be solo (but better if you're further along, and have built a team). No you don't have to have an idea yet. Yes you have to know how to build (even if you're not technical)
- Also, in other news: speedun is officially moving full-time to SF. (prev it alternated SF/LA) this is for all the obv reasons
- we've continued to have an insane lineup of speakers, including the founders of Carta / DoorDash / Twilio / Figma / Zynga / Airtable / Twitch / and of course, lunch/dinners with Marc/Ben alongside a16z team - and much more
- the deadline for applying is May 17!
Excited to share that @belongrewards has raised $2.7M in Seed capital 🚀
Grateful to be backed by an incredible group of investors, including a16z Speedrun, Lakestar, Backwards Capital, and Prevail, alongside an outstanding group of angel operators and entrepreneurs.
Belong is building the world’s first FanTech company — with a bold mission:
To recognize fans for their passion, help artists truly own their audience, and turn culture into a new financial system.
🚀 The Direct-to-Consumer Revolution Has Only Just Begun
The world is shifting to direct-to-consumer (D2C) — across every industry.
What started in retail and media is now reshaping the music industry.
For decades, businesses relied on layers of middlemen — distributors, retailers, broadcasters, labels, payment systems — to reach the end consumer. But technology has changed the rules.
Today, artists and brands can connect directly with fans. They can manage inventory, distribution, sales, and payments with just a few clicks. The result?
Closer relationships between creators and fans.
Lower prices for consumers.
Higher profits for artists and brands.
But this shift isn’t just about efficiency — it’s about belonging.
Humans are wired to be part of tribes and communities. When fans feel connected to a brand or artist, they don’t just buy — they believe, share, and engage.
That’s the foundation of the Engagement Economy — where fandom drives commerce, and both artists and fans win.
The next decade will be defined by this movement.
New technologies will accelerate it.
And those who embrace D2C will define the future.
How Piracy, Playlists, and Pop Culture Hacked the Music Industry - Nick ... youtu.be/FGP6jFgTxlg?si=7iAp… via @YouTube
Nick Holmsten retweeted
.@nickmanic will take the stage at NFT.NYC 2025.
From artist and songwriter to Global Head of Music at @Spotify, Nick helped shape playlist culture and global music discovery. Now co-founder of @TSXent in @TimesSquareNYC, he’s redefining how the world experiences music, tech, and culture.
Nick Holmsten retweeted
The Entertainment Track at NFT.NYC 2025 is shaping up to showcase how NFTs are being used across sports, music, film and the performing arts.
View the speaker list 👉nft.nyc/speakers/entertainme…
Had a great chat with @NeilCHughes about the Music Industry, Tech and the importance of fans. Hope you enjoy it.
open.spotify.com/episode/35z…
We’re living in the new Roaring 20s—a time of unprecedented innovation and disruption. The opportunities to build, challenge, and redefine industries have never been greater. Embrace the moment, take bold risks, and push boundaries. I know I will. Who’s with me? #Innovation #Disruption #Roaring20s
🎧 Had an amazing time on the Music Explored Podcast with Dee and Anthony! We talked about the evolution of playlists, building authentic fan connections, and how tech like AI and blockchain can enhance—not replace—artistry. I also shared insights on my work with TSX Entertainment and the vision behind Fan-Powered Futures.
Check it out here: open.spotify.com/episode/3JK…
#MusicExplored #FanEngagement #MusicInnovation
