"Creation Is Actually the Entertaining Bit." Suno's Mikey Schulman

Sequoia Capital
Sequoia CapitalMay 16, 2026

Why It Matters

By turning passive listeners into creators, Suno could disrupt traditional music distribution, boost engagement, and open fresh monetization opportunities for platforms and artists alike.

Key Takeaways

  • Suno turns 90% of users into music creators daily.
  • Creation, not consumption, becomes the primary entertainment experience.
  • Technology enables universal creativity, tapping innate human desire.
  • Users find fulfillment beyond passive scrolling through music apps.
  • Social bonding emerges from collaborative, fun music-making sessions.

Summary

Suno, an AI‑driven music platform, is redefining how people interact with sound by shifting the focus from passive listening to active creation.

According to co‑founder Mikey Schulman, roughly 90 % of daily users generate original tracks, treating the act of making music itself as the entertainment. The service leverages generative AI to lower technical barriers, allowing anyone to compose melodies in minutes.

Schulman emphasizes, “Creation is actually the entertaining bit,” recalling personal memories of jamming with friends as the most rewarding experience—far more satisfying than endless scrolling on conventional music apps.

If this creator‑first model scales, it could unlock new revenue streams, increase user retention, and reshape the music‑industry value chain by turning billions of listeners into contributors.

Original Description

On any given day, 90% of Suno users create something — not consume. Mikey Shulman on why the creation is the entertainment, and what it means that everyone on Earth is finally a maker.
#podcast #shorts #ai #sunoai

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