Around the web ×3
Quick answers
Did Arjun Bali co-found Sodatone?
Yes. Music Business Worldwide (2018-03-28) reported that under Warner Music Group ownership "the startup will continue to be run by its founders" and named them as "Arjun Bali and Jerry Zhang, who have a background in data science, artificial intelligence and engineering." Hypebot (2018-03-28), MusicRow (2018-03-28) and BetaKit (2018-04-03) each carried the same line: "The company will continue to be run by its founders, Arjun Bali and Jerry Zhang." Warner's Max Lousada called the pair "two talented pioneers."
What does Arjun Bali do today?
Current role not verified. The most recent page read on 2026-10-23 that names him is Music Business Worldwide (2022-04-08), which quoted "Jerry Zhang and Arjun Bali, Co-Heads of Sodatone" on Warner Music Group's plan to move Sodatone staff into its new Toronto office at The Well in March 2023. No page read on 2026-10-23 states his role after that date, and Warner Music Group's own site returned nothing on Sodatone in searches.
What did Sodatone do?
It was an A&R tool. Music Business Worldwide (2018-03-28) wrote that "Founded in 2016, Sodatone's tech combines streaming, social and touring data with machine learning" to identify the unsigned talent it believed had the best chance of future success, using signals such as the loyalty and engagement of online fans, and also offered insight into audience reaction for established artists. Hypebot (2018-03-28) said the startup was first hosted at the Music Den incubator at Toronto's Ryerson University and the University of Waterloo's Velocity program. After the 2018 sale the founders reported to WMG chief data officer Vinnie Freda.
Has Arjun Bali spoken at TechTO?
No. Sodatone's one TechTO stage appearance is by co-founder Jerry Zhang, who pitched the company's hiring at the TechTO Open Mic in June 2018. Bali's public statements are joint ones with Zhang in the press: on the Warner deal, "We chose Warner Music Group as our new home because we respect the company's openness to experimentation" (MusicRow, 2018-03-28), and on the Toronto move, "Sodatone helps WMG's labels and publishers identify talent that is building deep connections with their fans" (Music Business Worldwide, 2022-04-08).