PANEL - The Power of Independent Distribution
Independent distribution has reshaped how artists release music, reach audiences, and build sustainable careers. With more options available, how can artists and their teams choose the right partner and develop a release strategy that supports their long-term goals? Featuring representatives from CD Baby, SoundOn/TikTok and Merlin, this panel explores the evolving relationship between distribution, marketing, audience data, and fan engagement. Panelists will share practical insights on evaluating distribution partners, turning discovery into lasting fan connections, and identifying opportunities for growth and revenue while maintaining creative and business control.
Molly Neuman, President, CD Baby
Molly Neuman is President of CD Baby, a Virgin Music Company and the leading music distributor dedicated to empowering independent and self-releasing artists.
As President, Neuman leads CD Baby’s strategy and management, supporting millions of artists worldwide. She continues to shape CD Baby into the go-to platform for modern music creators, driving the launch of innovative technology, expanded artist services, and tailored marketing support to meet musicians' and songwriters' evolving needs.
Molly previously served as Chief Marketing Officer at Downtown, where she led marketing efforts for the company and its subsidiaries, including CD Baby, Curve, FUGA, Songtrust, and Downtown’s Artist & Label Services, Publishing, and Neighboring Rights divisions. She also served as President of Downtown-company Songtrust, which, under her leadership, grew to manage more than 3 million copyrights for more than 350,000 writers in 145 countries. With a prolific career that has been focused on empowering musicians at all career stages, Neuman has been Head of Music at Kickstarter, Interim President and Vice President of the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), and has held senior roles in licensing in digital music, as well as label and artist management. Molly currently serves on the Advisory Board of Women in Music, We are Moving the Needle, and the board of Amplify Arts Project. She has previously sat on the boards of the Music Business Association, SoundExchange, and A2IM.
In 2025, Neuman was named Music Week’s International Woman of the Year and was recognized by Billboard on its 2018 Digital Power Players List, as well as its Women in Music Lists for every consecutive year from 2019 to 2025. Her musical career began as a drummer in Bratmobile, a punk band that was in the first wave of the riot grrrl movement.
Jon Foster, Music Business Development & Partnerships, SoundOn/TikTok
Jon Foster is an A&R at SoundOn, TikTok’s artist services and distribution platform. Working across A&R and business development, he builds partnerships with independent artists, managers and labels. His experience spans music licensing, distribution, publishing, rights management and artist development. Before transitioning to the business side of the industry, Jon spent more than a decade as a touring drummer, giving him firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges artists face throughout their careers.
Shilpa Sadagopan, Sr. Creator Marketing Manager, SoundOn/TikTok
Shilpa Sadagopan currently works on the SoundOn promotion team at TikTok, specializing in creator marketing and data driven trend analytics. Previously, she worked on digital marketing teams at Soundcloud and Virgin Music, and has successfully grown her own following on TikTok - helping to curate an understanding of the creator experience. Throughout all of these endeavors, the indie artist experience remains at the focal point and is the primary driving force for her work.
Leah Kraft, Member Relations Manager, Merlin
Leah Kraft is a Member Relations Manager at Merlin, where she helps strengthen the collective bargaining power of independent rightsholders to secure better pay and opportunities. Before joining Merlin, Leah worked in Artist & Industry Research at Spotify and spent many years as an artist manager. She holds a dual Master’s in Public and Business Administration and is passionate about bridging sectors to support and sustain a thriving independent music ecosystem
Austin Paragas, Lead, Streaming and Commercial Partnerships, Amuse
Austin Paragas leads streaming and commercial partnerships for Amuse’s Artist & Label Services. He works directly with major streaming platforms and tastemaker editorial teams to build exposure and support for Amuse artists and label partners. Austin has worked across A&R, marketing and digital operations, and he’s focused on building strategies that actually work for independents.
Moderator: Haley Jones, Head of Independents, Luminate
Haley Jones is the Head of Independents at Luminate, where she champions and empowers indie labels, artists, and creators across music, film, and TV with essential industry data and market insights. With an extensive background bridging entertainment analytics and media broadcasting—including leadership roles programming major radio brands—Haley specializes in helping independent organizations turn complex data into actionable growth strategies. She is a Gonzaga University alumna and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
