What Failing Taught This Music Founder About Himself

Most s hide behind their guests. Jakob Wredstrom, host of and founder of , did the opposite -- sat down to be interviewed about his own journey. The result is a short, honest portrait of unconventional music entrepreneurship.

The Short Version

Jakob failed before he succeeded. His previous company, Tamber, taught him what success never could: understanding himself.

"The failure from Tamber was really a story about trying to make something and maybe not understanding yourself fully. The only way I'm able to run a company now is by failing before."

His key realization: he's a creative and an enabler, not a doer. So he hired a general manager from tech and a COO from music tech to handle operations. He runs a 20-person company by staying in his creative lane.

The Capital Gap in Music

Jakob's thesis at : the music industry lacks private capital. Want money as a music company? Your options are three major labels or random enthusiasts who think owning a music company sounds cool. There's no meaningful venture capital infrastructure focused on music.

"I love the music industry more than I love music. My love does not come from music. I like music. I don't love music. But I love building and I love the complexity of the industry."

Two Takeaways Worth Keeping

Know your role. Jakob deliberately doesn't run operations. He builds partnerships and thinks about the future. Every founder should be honest about what they're actually good at -- and hire for the rest.

Failure is prerequisite. Multiple failed companies gave him the self-knowledge to build something that works. If you haven't failed yet, you probably don't know yourself well enough to succeed.