Where music catalog valuation breaks down w/ Alaister Moughan
03 Feb, 2026
Music catalog valuation lives or dies on data quality.
In this episode of Music Fastball, we’re joined by valuation expert Alaister Moughan, who talks through the messy reality of music royalty data and why headline revenue numbers can be misleading when valuing catalogs.
We also dig into what happens after the deal. As institutional standards rise, funds are being judged not just on valuation at acquisition, but on how assets perform in day-to-day operations. We discuss why the handoff between valuation and operations often breaks down, and why closing that gap matters for accountability, reporting, and understanding performance over the life of a fund.
Brought to you by Standard Innovation.
00:42 – Pre- vs post-acquisition valuation realities
03:10 – Why royalty data, not models, breaks valuation
04:48 – Institutional scrutiny and rising standards
06:42 – Operational excellence as an investor requirement
10:46 – Accountability, reporting, and LP confidence
16:05 – Why headline revenue numbers can’t be trusted
23:08 – Institutional pressure and unintended creator benefits
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► About Standard Innovation
Standard Innovation is the data consultancy that helps music investment funds unlock higher valuations and exit multiples through better infrastructure.
► Episode Links
Standard Innovation: https://standard-innovation.com
Moghan Music: https://www.moghanmusic.com
► Credits
Guest: Alaister Moughan, Moghan Music
Hosts: Emma Griffiths, Tom Mullen
Theme: “Meet Me” — Outlines (Written by Sam Cox) — Courtesy of Bespoke Records