ABOUT
Jacob Paul is VP of Platform Growth & Brand Strategy at Kobalt, where he drives development and expansion of the company’s global platforms. He is also a founding team member of KOSIGN, Kobalt’s flexible publishing platform, focused on growth, commercial strategy and marketing.
Since joining Kobalt in 2015, Jacob has worked across strategy, A&R and partnerships, contributing to major initiatives including the acquisition of SONGS Music Publishing and the evolution of Kobalt’s publishing partner model. His work focuses on building tools, platforms and commercial structures that empower artists with transparency, flexibility and control in the 21st Century music economy.
Outside of Kobalt, Jacob is a lifelong musician, producer, and studio rat. A classically trained trumpet player who studied at Juilliard and Yale, he has composed for film, produced major label records and music directed.
PANELS
Investing Across the Music Economy: A Fireside Chat with Charles Goldstuck on Where Value Comes Next
Music has long been an established investment asset, but the market — and the opportunities within it — continue to evolve. Today, capital is being deployed not only across music rights and catalogs but throughout the businesses, technologies, distribution platforms and services that power the broader music ecosystem. GoldState Music founder Charles Goldstuck brings the rare perspective of a longtime music industry operator and accomplished investor. Drawing on experience from both sides of the table, he’ll explore where he sees value today, what separates a great music investment from a poor one, how active ownership can create value well beyond simply providing capital, and where the next generation of opportunities across music may emerge.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 2:00 PM
PANELS
Artist Development Reimagined: Who Builds a Career in 2026?
Artist development was once largely associated with the traditional label model. Today, artists can emerge from virtually anywhere, audiences can develop before traditional industry infrastructure is in place, and the path from discovery to a sustainable career is increasingly nonlinear. Managers often play a central role, but labels, distributors, agencies and other partners may enter the process at very different stages. This conversation examines what artist development actually means in 2026 — how talent is discovered, audiences are identified and grown, creative and commercial strategies evolve, and early momentum is converted into lasting opportunity. As traditional roles and timelines continue to shift, who drives the process, when do different partners enter the picture, and what does meaningful artist development look like today?
Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 2:50 PM