SoundRiver Advisors and Emerging Artist Network
This week we sat down with experts from SoundRiver Advisors and Emerging Artist Network. Bo Wilkins, one of the experts from SoundRiver Advisors who focuses on insurance strategies and solutions came back on and introduced us to Dave Sutton of Emerging Artist Network. Dave brought along his partner, well-known guitarist, Peter Stroud. SoundRiver Advisors is an Atlanta firm whose team is made up of investment finance, insurance, and tax experts. They work with privately-held companies to help them plan compensation packages for key executives as well as position themselves for generational transition.
Bo introduced me to Dave Sutton, who along with Peter Stroud and Dan Lipson, had started a technology company called Emerging Artist Network. With his extensive background as a marketing expert with TopRight Partners charged with helping companies expand their brands’ awareness, he saw an opportunity to fill a void in the entertainment industry. Dave has leveraged this experience with brand development and marketing with a passion for music to help develop a technology platform that utilizes a collection of data points about emerging bands as well as brands. The data enables Emerging Artist Network to use gamification and analytics to match brands seeking to grow to emerging artists whose data profile and band dynamic matches the picture for that particular brand. Peter Stroud has been a touring musician with a long list of artists such as Sheryl Crow, Sara McLaughlin, Don Henley, Peter Droge, and numerous others. He co-founded the boutique amplifier company, “65amps“, whose amps are used by a host of accomplished artists as well.
Dave and Peter talked about how challenging the music business is now for artists to make money on their music, outside of touring. In today’s digital age that has changed the way fans purchase music, royalties have declined significantly. That means emerging artists must look for sources of revenue to support their creative efforts and recording costs through such channels as strategic relationships with brands willing to sponsor their work. Peter talked about how securing sponsorship has often had a negative stigma in the music industry among artists, being viewed as “Selling out”. Emerging Artist Network seeks to get to know a band, their style/genre, and their listeners and using innovative algorithms, they’re able to match artists with brands who are looking to include musical acts in their brand awareness campaigns. As Peter and Dave described, they seek to let the bands they work with be who they are rather than seeking to change them to fit a sponsor. I look forward to having them back on the show to feature a delighted brand they were able to link up with a band.
Special Guests
Bo Wilkins, Partner, SoundRiver Advisors 
- Former Executive Managing Director, Wealth Management, Reliance Trust Company
- Former Partner, Nease, Lagana, Eden, & Culley
- BA, History & German, Hampden-Sydney College
- CLU – Chartered Life Underwriter; ChFC – Chartered Financial Consultant; CAP – Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy
Dave Sutton, CEO/Co-Founder of Emerging Artist Network 
- MBA, Marketing, George Washington University
- Published Author
- President/CEO, TopRight Partners
Peter Stroud, Co-Founder/ Artist Relations of Emerging Artist Network
- Guitarist, Musical Director for Sheryl Crow
- Co-Founder/Partner, 65amps
- Founder of the band, Big Hat
