Jesse Kirshbaum of Nue Agency Shares His 2026 Music Predictions

Hypebot’s Future Predictions series is back. Join us as we ask the music industry’s expert analysts what they think might unfold in the world of music in 2026.

Jesse Kirshbaum is the powerhouse founder and CEO of Nue Agency, a creative firm redefining the intersection of music, branding, and technology. Known for shaping cultural movements through platforms like SoundCtrl and CRWN, Jesse has championed artist-driven storytelling that bridges creators, culture, and brands. With his acclaimed newsletter Beats + Bytes, he’s become one of LinkedIn’s most influential voices in music-tech, offering deep insights into where the creator economy is headed. Jesse is a frequent contributor to Hypebot.

We asked Jesse if he had any predictions for the music industry in 2026. Here’s what he had to say:

“My focus is the intersection of entertainment, brand partnerships, and technology. I’ve been running an indie boutique called Nue Agency for nearly two decades. It started as a talent agency finding and developing artists with the belief that we had to think differently to help our artists break. I had tremendous success representing talent such as Pusha T, Wale, MIMS, Big Sean, Mike Posner, J. Cole, Logic, Action Bronson, White Panda (which spawned Gryffin), 2AM Club (which launched Marc E. Bassey), and many more. So, what can you expect from me?

I’m moving at the speed of culture. I see through an artist’s lens, but I understand what it takes to service the biggest brands in the world. I’m an indie at heart that’s a big-thinking entrepreneur. I love to make predictions, forecast trends, have off the record, real world conversation, chase art and connect dots. I’m a techno-optimist.

In many ways, we are in a golden era of music. Despite concerns about ‘devaluation’ of music, its new-found ubiquity has proven incredibly powerful. There are more artists creating (and owning their material), and more fans consuming and connecting with music than at any point in history. The red tape has finally been cut and new tools have helped grow the long tail as catalog material is given new life and amateurs join the fun.

The live business is healthy, with festival culture staying strong (Coachella already sold out next year) and plenty of room for boutique and niche events. Venture capital and tech investments are flowing, helping musicians build better fan experiences, while brand dollars and the creator economy provide a mechanism for financial support to reach artists big and small. Music is the #1 passion point and the top identity driver with teens, more than fashion and more than sports. All that, and the space remains ripe for innovation.

Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Is it getting harder to cut through the noise, or for a new song to stay top of mind? Absolutely yes. There was no “song of the summer” and some say this marks the end of the mainstream popularity era. I’m not sure about that, although my attention is being gobbled up by something different every week, since so much inspiring music is being released.

Looking up, there is a lot of blue sky for our industry. My personal mission is to find innovative ways to bring more brand dollars to artists, storytellers, and the music business as a whole. I couldn’t be more psyched to be here.”

Learn more about Nue Agency and subscribe to Beats + Bytes here.