To predict the future of music, you need two things: The right inputs, and the right methods for transforming those inputs into insights. The inputs should include a broad range of industry perspectives — from the macro financial trends driving major corporations, to the ground-level experiences of artists, fans, and entry-level professionals, to bold and novel ideas from industries outside of music. You also need a deep understanding of historical case studies, which serve as invaluable guides to what has and hasn't worked in the past. Once you have these diverse inputs — balancing the perspectives of fans, founders, investors, artists, and industry professionals — you need to employ the right techniques to connect the dots and identify meaningful patterns and trends, which could include anything from 1-on-1 expert interviews to consumer surveys, social media analysis, and market sizing and forecasting.