Former label exec Targa Sahyoun is using AI’s power to ease the burden of music admin...
The foundations of a successful career in music not only involve creativity, but also meticulous administration to protect the rights of artists and songwriters.
There’s a tension between spontaneity and management, which is where File Eaters can help. The LA-based start-up’s software aims to revolutionise music file management and eliminate the administrative task of delivering audio and video files.
“We want to give creatives back their valuable time,” says co-founder Targa Sahyoun. “Creating great music can only happen when you have the headspace to feel and think. We have built a humble but powerful tool to automate asset deliverables – the most boring administrative part of music creation.”
With the tech focused on replacing admin rather than artistry, Sahyoun describes File Eaters as the “anti-AI AI”.
Creatives will have the ability to protect their IP at audio stem level with a watermark before assets are delivered. It means any part of a composition or recording can be tracked if it’s repurposed or sampled without permission.
The subscription-based app embeds writer splits, publishing, IPI numbers for songwriters and PRO information. Files are grouped in a way that enables them to be sent to recipients automatically via preferred delivery specifications.
Sahyoun has extensive experience in the music industry – including at Capitol and Columbia – working across major global hubs such as New York, London, Toronto, Sydney and Los Angeles. She developed campaigns for top artists, focusing on creative and content strategy.
“After 17 years spent dealing with incorrectly delivered assets that drained my team’s bandwidth and creative force, I recognised the incredible value File Eaters could bring to our creative community, artists and music companies,” she says. “Chasing files and metadata cost us significantly. I got tired of artists and executives complaining to me when releases were delayed.”
Creating great music can only happen when you have the headspace to feel and think
Targa Sahyoun
As a former member of Boys Like Girls, co-founder Morgan Dorr provides the artist and songwriter perspective. Signed to Sony Music Publishing, he has co-written across multiple genres and composed for film and TV.
“I was constantly looking over Morgan’s shoulder, watching him spend his time and talent as a producer and composer on the admin side, delivering countless iterations and files to his clients,” reflects Sahyoun. “What creators don’t realise is that they are losing opportunities and money by delaying releases with incorrectly delivered assets. We thought, ‘There has to be a smarter way – can’t AI do this?’ And so we built it!”
File Eaters is now working with 26 clients on customised set-ups on the platform. The official launch arrived during Grammys Week when the company co-sponsored the annual Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing private celebration. Members were gifted an early invitation to the beta product.
“Having a vote of confidence from them was the checkmark in the box we needed to assure creatives that this was a valuable use of AI,” says Sahyoun. “Creators are encouraged that there’s finally a company focused on what they need – one that doesn’t use their data to create music.”
The start-up has already closed over $1 million of funding in their seed round. The advisory board includes executives from UTA and DreamWorks.
“We have been very humble from the start, as we are both creatives first with limited entrepreneurial experience. So we’ve welcomed the incredible folks who’ve asked to join our mission and help grow the company,” says Sahyoun.
With an early revenue injection at the start of their industry journey, further investment rounds will be strategic as required for File Eaters’ growth.
“Right now, we are exploring strategic partners that will help us canvass the industry faster and achieve wider global reach,” says Sahyoun. “We are growing fast and need brilliant minds to stay on the side of the creators.”
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