Danny Garcia of SongTools on How Artists Shape Culture

Helping indie music companies and talent gain more market share

Danny is CEO and co-founder of SongTools, a tech platform that simplifies music marketing for creators and companies, helping over 1.5 million songs get discovered worldwide.

We spent two minutes with Danny to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired. 

Danny, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I grew up in South Florida, went to college in NYC and stayed there for 10 years. Now I’m back in sunny Miami.

Your earliest musical memory.

The satisfaction of learning my first full song—“Jingle Bells”—on the guitar when I was in the 2nd grade.

Your favorite bands/musicians today.

I have been on a huge Steely Dan kick, and anything yacht rock-related.

One of your favorite projects you’ve ever worked on.

One of my most cherished projects was Kurrent Music in 2015. Envision a platform like Medium tailored for music blogging, where fans could post articles about their favorite artists and albums, all showcased on a beautifully designed website to showcase new releases. This marked our inaugural venture into the music/tech sphere. We gained invaluable insights into collaborating with various metadata providers and presenting content in innovative ways.

A recent project you’re proud of.

The “Artist Growth Tab.” This feature lets our community of over 100,000+ artists and companies visualize the impact of their campaigns across DSPs and social platforms, giving insights into how their efforts are driving growth. I’m especially proud of this launch because it empowers artists to see the real results of their hard work and marketing investment.

One thing about how the music world is evolving that you’re excited about.

I’m thrilled that independent music companies and artists are gaining more market share. This development paves the way for innovative business models and solutions tailored for this significant group of artists. It also highlights extraordinary talents who are creating groundbreaking sounds that would have previously been overlooked.  

Someone else’s work, in music or beyond, that you admired lately.

The new White Lotus season, specifically whoever did the music supervision—10/10!

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

Scott Galloway’s The Algebra of Happiness book. 

An artist you admire outside the world of music.

Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is amazing. 

Your favorite fictional character.

Dewey Finn—Jack Black in School of Rock 

How musicians should approach working with brands.

Start by researching emerging brands within niches that align with your style—like fashion or skincare. Once you’ve identified potential partners, reach out with a concise pitch explaining your project and how a collaboration could benefit both parties. Propose creative ways to cross-promote, such as featuring their products in your promo clips and social content, while they showcase your music in their campaigns.

How brands should approach working with musicians.

Teaming up with artists is one of the best ways to elevate your brand. When you collaborate with them, you’re tapping into those authentic vibes and subcultures that resonate with real audiences. Plus, using fresh, original music can hit way harder than stock tracks or pricey mainstream syncs—often performing 20x better without breaking the bank. It’s a smart way to stay relevant, connect with new audiences and create content that actually sticks.

A mentor who helped you navigate the industry.

My co-founder and longtime artist manager Gonzalo Mahou has been indispensable to both my professional development and the overall success of our company. A true sherpa!