Cherie Hu
Cherie Hu is an award-winning music technology researcher, writer, and educator, widely recognized as one of the leading voices at the intersection of music and technology. She is the Founder of Water & Music, a global innovation platform dedicated to exploring how emerging technologies are shaping the future of the music business. Through Water & Music, Hu leads collaborative research projects with industry experts to analyze trends and uncover new revenue opportunities in the digital music ecosystem. Her freelance journalism has received multiple awards, and she has contributed thought leadership pieces to top publications including Forbes, Billboard, NPR Music, and Rolling Stone. As a sought-after speaker on music industry trends, music-tech innovation, and digital strategy, Hu has delivered guest lectures at universities and appeared as a panelist or keynote speaker at more than 40 conferences worldwide.
Cherie Hu Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Founder and Publisher
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Adjunct Professor, Bandier Program
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Adjunct Professor and Researcher
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Media & Entertainment Contributor
Academic History
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B.A., Statistics
Cherie Hu is the Founder of Water & Music, a global innovation platform where she leads collaborative teams of industry experts to track how emerging technologies—from AI and Web3 to NFTs and gaming—are shaping future music revenue streams.
She advises both major rights holders and early-stage startups on their music-tech strategies, and has published groundbreaking research quantifying how much musicians have earned in the NFT economy.
EARLY CAREER & EXPERTISE
With deep expertise in analyzing and critiquing innovation in the global music industry, Cherie has become a recognized authority on the impact of AI, blockchain, NFTs, virtual reality, and gaming on the future of music.
She began her career as a Media & Entertainment Writer at Forbes, covering the intersection of technology and music business trends.
She has also served as an expert commentator on CNBC, delivered guest lectures at leading universities including Harvard, NYU, Northeastern, and Berklee Valencia, and continues to shape discussions on the future of music through her research and teaching.
A Juilliard-trained classical pianist, she has performed solo concerts across China, Europe, and the United States.
RECOGNITIONS
2020 ALT LIST Ambassador
2019 Alternate Power 100 Music List Honoree
2018 Fortune NFTy50
2017 International Music Business Journalist of the Year
MEDIA PRESENCE
Cherie’s thought leadership has been featured in top publications such as Billboard, Forbes, Pitchfork, and Variety, while her insights have been cited by WIRED, CoinDesk, Bloomberg, The Ringer, and Real Vision.
She has spoken at more than 40 global conferences, including SXSW, Sónar+D, and Web Summit, making her one of the most sought-after voices in music-tech innovation and industry trends.