SparkLabs Group : Innovations in Music During These Uncertain Times

Uncertainty can be a great innovator, especially during times like these. Join us for this virtual panel to listen to some of those at the forefront of innovation in the music industry.

Recently on April 26th, SuperM, the South Korean boy band, hosted a live stream online concert that had over 75,000 paid viewers and generated over $2 million. Kiswe is the technology company powering BTS's Bang Bang Con: The Live on June 14, 2020, so we are excited to have Kiswe's CEO Mike Schabel on this panel.

Our esteemed panelists will be discussing new trends and innovations being launched and how these uncertain times have affected the music industry overall.

Tuhin Roy
SVP New Digital Business & Innovation @ Universal Music Group

Tuhin is leading UMG's efforts to support a robust ecosystem of early-stage digital music companies.  As part of this effort, he designed and launched the UMG Accelerator Engagement Network which is building partnerships with accelerators around the world to foster a new generation of digital music companies.  Current Accelerator Network partners are located in New York, Belgium, Berlin, Seoul, Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai, Paris, Toronto, Melbourne, Berkeley, Jerusalem, Mexico City, Campinas (Brazil) with new partners being added regularly.  

Tuhin has also been closely involved with the development of a new form of innovation license that enables early stage companies to launch products legally with a minimum of process for both UMG and the entrepreneurs involved.  Tuhin assisted Capitol Records senior management in launching Capitol360, a new innovation center based at the legendary Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California.  Beyond his work with the early-stage eco-system, Tuhin is negotiating new model deals involving data-driven A&R, short UGC video services and next generation subscription music services.

Jaeson Ma
CEO @ East West Ventures • Co-Founder @ 88rising • Co-Founder @ Stampede Ventures • Co-Owner @ Triller

Jaeson Ma is a media executive, artist, and serial entrepreneur. He is a principle co-owner in social music video app Triller, co-founded premium production studio Stampede Ventures, digital music label 88rising, and east-west talent, brand strategy & investment firm East West Ventures. Jaeson is a Senior Advisor to Tencent Music Entertainment & KKBox fund KKFarm, SparkLabs Foundry & a Network Partner for consumer tech fund GoodWater Capital. Jaeson is considered one of the leading financiers to companies, institutions, and individuals investing in Asian media, entertainment & tech. Investments include Musical.ly (TikTok), Grab, Dark Horse Comics, Slock.it, Brain, Oursong, Triller, Kind Heaven, NanoTech Energy & MAUM restaurant (Michelin Star).

Mike Schabel
CEO @ Kiswe Mobile

Mike Schabel has built his career around building global businesses in new and emerging markets. Mike earned his Doctorate at the University of Arizona in chemical engineering, a Masters in materials science and a Bachelor’s in aerospace engineering. Starting his career with Bell Labs in 2000, Mike quickly transitioned to commercializing technology as well as trying to invent it. Through his career, Mike ran Nokia’s Internet of Things business, created and led Alcatel-Lucent’s Small Cells wireless business culminating in deployments with 83 wireless operators in 55 countries, built a successful wireless analytics business, and led the turnaround of a distressed mobile soft-switch business. Mike joined the team at Kiswe Mobile, a pioneer in interactive-social mobile experiences, in 2016, and has led a world-class team of business and technical experts since 2017.

Sung Cho
Founder & CEO @ Chartmetric.com

Sung Cho is Founder and CEO of Chartmetric.com, a data analytics company dedicated to serve the music industry, by solving the complex problem by tracking a large amount of data and meeting the industry needs around playlist marketing.

Prior to starting Chartmetric, he worked as Principal Product Manager at Oracle Corporation. Prior to that, he was first employee/engineer at Gamevil (KQ:063080, Market Cap: $600MM), where he initiated mobile game development and eventually positioned the company as a leading mobile game developer. Sung graduated with a bachelor’s degree of electrical engineering and computer science from Seoul National University, and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Bernie Cho
Founder & President @ DFSB Kollective

Bernie Cho is the President of DFSB Kollective, a Seoul-based Artist & Label Services agency that specializes in providing digital media, marketing, and distribution solutions to 600+ Korean Pop music artists. As more K-Pop acts aspire to go independent and international, DFSB Kollective collaborates with artists and their management companies to devise customized strategies that directly connect them to their local and global fans. Since 2009, the agency has successfully produced numerous K-Pop concerts and showcases in North America, Asia, and Europe as well as secured #1 Apple iTunes Music chart debuts for various K-Pop albums in the US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Greater China, Australasia, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

In order to raise the recognition of Korean music internationally, DFSB Kollective is a member of Merlin Network (global digital music rights agency for world's leading independent labels) and an official Korean content provider for Apple iTunes Music, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeart Radio, Facebook, TikTok, KKBox, AWA, JioSaavn, Boomplay, and Yandex. As one of the first and foremost K-Pop music exporters, DFSB Kollective and its artists have been featured speakers/performers at top international music industry events (CMJ, CMW, SXSW, Coachella, The Great Escape, Glastonbury, Summer Sonic, Music Matters, MusicBiz, MIDEM).

Prior to founding DFSB Kollective, Bernie served as the Head of MTV Korea’s Digital Media Production and worked for nearly 2 decades in the Korean music TV industry as a Creative Planner, Program Producer, and Show Host. He has earned a BA from Dartmouth College in Government/Asian Studies and has graduated from the UCLA Anderson School of Management (Executive Entertainment & Media Program) and the Vancouver Film School (Foundation Film Program).