When Pandora and Spotify launched in the 2000s, digital streaming platforms revolutionized the music industry. Listeners could now access millions of songs and albums free-of-charge, and easily share stations and playlists with friends. The rise of digital also initiated a powerful new business model. By 2018, 75 percent of all music revenue globally was shared by streaming services, including newcomers Amazon Music and Apple Music.
Recent 2022 Kogod graduate Brian Davies noticed a problem, however. Users could share music within the same streaming platform but couldn’t transfer data between platforms. For instance, if Davies used Apple Music, he couldn’t share playlists with Spotify or Amazon Music users. To collaborate, friends had to open a completely new account.
“I kept saying to myself, ‘There must be a better way to do this,’” says Davies. “I wanted to solve the problem.”
When Davies didn’t find a solution, he created one. In 2021, along with friend and cofounder Matthew Toppi, Davies launched Cassette Technologies, a software start-up that facilitates cross-platform music sharing. The company is still in the beginning phase—Davies and his team are currently focused on marketing and capacity-building—but his vision is clear.
Step one: research. Davies turned to Reddit, where many users post curated playlists, to gauge interest and opinion of the budding company. After just several months, Cassette Technologies garnered a following of more than 5,000—a solid sign of approval (and brand recognition).
Davies also made a pivotal commitment: joining the American University Center for Innovation (AUCI) Entrepreneurship Incubator. The AUCI program, recently ranked in the 50 Best Undergraduate Programs for Entrepreneurs by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur, provided Davies with the physical space and mentorship needed to grow. Working with incubator directors Tommy White and Bill Bellows, Davies laid Cassette Technology’s foundation through marketing collateral, legal documentation (like non-disclosure agreements), and a nationwide internship program.