Sound Connections #146: EXPERT: Building Real Fandom in the Age of Algorithms: Rob Abelow
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Mar 18, 2026 
Rob Abelow, product leader at OpenStage and music-industry technologist, explains why fan data matters. He discusses fragmented platforms, building unified fan profiles, and shifting from algorithm-first growth to fan-first flywheels. Conversations cover ticketing, premium experiences, bot problems, and real-world fan-led campaign examples that scale authentic engagement.
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Algorithmic Reach Creates Fragile Funnels
- Chasing top-down algorithmic reach creates fragile success because attention is temporary and funnels send people to other artists.
- An inside-out model focused on core fans yields compounding, reliable fandom rather than one-off impressions.
Segment Fans By Interaction History
- Do track rich fan histories beyond contact info to segment engagement and tailor outreach frequency.
- Combine clicks, purchases, show attendance and sentiment to know who needs weekly contact versus semi-annual outreach.
Lewis Capaldi Called Top Fans
- Lewis Capaldi personally called opted-in top fans during an album week to show appreciation.
- The gesture used OpenStage segmentation to identify highly engaged fans and create memorable, shareable moments.