In a significant move within the music tech industry, Tracy Chan, former Chief Content Officer at SoundCloud, has joined the AI music company Splash as its new Chief Executive Officer. Chan’s appointment comes as Splash continues to make waves in the AI music space, with its Roblox game “Splash” amassing over 400 million all-time visits and averaging 3 million plays per month.
Everything you need to know:
✓ Tracy Chan, former SoundCloud CCO, appointed as CEO of AI music startup Splash
✓ Chan brings extensive experience from key roles at SoundCloud, Twitch, and Spotify
✓ Splash’s AI-powered Roblox game “Splash” has over 400 million all-time visits
Tracy Chan’s resume reads like a who’s who of (music) tech giants.
Chan brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously held key positions at SoundCloud, Twitch, and Spotify. During his tenure at SoundCloud, Chan oversaw music content, licensing, intelligence, and Creator strategy, leading the launch of several key product features such as the Fans tool for artists, direct messages on mobile, and a global licensing deal with Merlin.
Prior to SoundCloud, Chan served as the Head of Music at livestream platform Twitch and as the Director of Product Management at Spotify, where he led product strategy and development for Creator platforms and built analytics tools for artists and labels, including the widely-used Spotify for Artists.
Splash is making waves in the AI music world.
Splash, an Australia-born AI music company, has been making significant strides in the industry since its inception. The startup raised $20 million in Series A funding in 2021, backed by investors such as the Amazon Alexa Fund, Khosla Ventures, Bitkraft Ventures, and King River Capital. Splash’s AI-powered tools and games for music creation and performance have garnered attention from both music enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.
The company’s flagship product, the Roblox game “Splash,” has been a resounding success, with its AI-generated loops and sounds captivating players worldwide. Powered by an AI model trained on Splash’s self-created and owned music library, the game has become a testament to the potential of AI in the music industry.
As Chan takes the reins at Splash, he succeeds Stephen Phillips, who will transition into the role of Chairman. Phillips expressed his enthusiasm for Chan’s appointment, stating:
“His experience working across Tech and Music, always with an eye on creating value for Creators and Fans is going to be a huge accelerant for Splash.”
Stephen Philipps, Ex CEO of Splash
Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, one of Splash’s investors, also praised Chan’s abilities, saying, “Tracy has a unique ability to see what’s coming next in Tech and Music and to anticipate and build future-facing, culture-shifting products.”
“Music is ultimately about connection. I’m inspired by Splash’s vision to make music fun and accessible to anyone, and the momentum they’ve built within Roblox, using AI to power music experiences for over 400 million players.”
Tracy Chan on joining Splash as CEO
As the music industry continues to evolve and embrace new technologies, the appointment of Tracy Chan as CEO of Splash signals a new chapter in the company’s journey. With his extensive experience and proven track record in the music tech space, Chan is poised to lead Splash to new heights, further solidifying the company’s position as a pioneer in AI-driven music creation and performance.
