Nolan Gasser
Architect of Pandora’s Music Genome Project, helping organizations harness data, AI, and creativity to drive innovation.
Why book Nolan Gasser for your next event
- Author of the acclaimed Why You Like It and host of the hit PBS special, Nolan distills complex science into actionable insights that resonate across business and creative industries.
- A celebrated composer and pianist with works performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Nolan brings a rare blend of artistic mastery and scientific precision to every keynote.
- Nolan Gasser equips organizations with a powerful framework for using AI, data, and creative intelligence to drive human-centered innovation and unlock new market opportunities.
Non-binding request for Nolan Gasser
The Science of Musical Taste, AI, and Innovation
Unlock the science of music, data, and AI with Nolan Gasser - Pandora Radio’s Chief Architect, leading generative AI expert (Google DeepMind), pioneer of genomic data, Stanford Ph.D., bestselling author of Why You Like It, and acclaimed composer & pianist.
Nolan Gasser is a music-tech pioneer and global thought leader who unlocks the power of data, AI, and musical taste to transform creativity, innovation, and business. Drawing from decades at the forefront of music technology, generative AI, and genomic data, he helps organizations navigate change, drive discovery, and inspire audiences worldwide.
Keynote Speaker Nolan Gasser led the digital musical revolution of the early 2000s through his seminal work as co-creator of Pandora Radio and architect of the Music Genome Project. His innovations in genomic data have shaped the recommendation engines behind today’s leading platforms, from Netflix and Spotify to TikTok. Today, he continues to break new ground through his work with Google DeepMind, Meta, and his own company, Katch Data.
Dr. Gasser is also the bestselling author of Why You Like It: The Science, Music & Culture of Musical Taste, praised by The Economist as “a work of staggering erudition and breadth.” The book forms the basis of his hit PBS Special, Why You Like It: Decoding Musical Taste, blending live concert performances, scientific insights, and interactive app technology - with over 1500 national airings to date.
Beyond his technology leadership, Dr. Gasser is an acclaimed composer and pianist, with works performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Rose Bowl. His theater credits include The Secret Garden (SF Opera) and the Broadway-bound musical Benny & Joon. His band, The Mighty Mighty, features prominently on his PBS show, with a new album, Border Crossing, forthcoming in 2025.
With a Ph.D. in Musicology from Stanford University and an M.A. in Composition from New York University, Dr. Gasser blends scientific expertise with artistic mastery - offering keynote audiences a uniquely engaging, interactive, and inspiring experience.
Keynotes
Keynote by Nolan Gasser:
AI, Authorship, and the Future of Art
What is AI doing to human creativity? Will the future still need musicians, artists, and poets?
The AI revolution has thrown into flux ancient questions about individual creativity and ownership, with dramatic implications for the art and media industries as well as individual creators. In this provocative keynote, Dr. Gasser unwinds the impact of AI on media, music, and art - both positive and negative - and how today’s artists and consumers are responding.
Through his cutting-edge work with Google DeepMind, Meta, and his own company, Katch, Dr. Gasser brings a uniquely accessible perspective to this complex and urgent intersection of technology, creativity, and ethics. Audiences will leave with a deeper understanding of where AI is leading us - and how human creativity can thrive in an AI-powered world.
Key Takeaways:
- Explore how AI is transforming art, media, and creativity.
- Understand the ethical and legal questions surrounding AI-generated content.
- Discover how creators and consumers are adapting to new realities.
- Gain insider insights from Dr. Gasser’s work with top AI companies.
- Learn how human creativity can continue to thrive alongside AI.
Keynote by Nolan Gasser:
The Sources & Blessings of Our Musical Taste
A mind-expanding journey into the science of musical preference, based on Dr. Gasser’s acclaimed book and PBS series Why You Like It.
Why do we love the music we love? What do our favorite songs reveal about us? In this mind-expanding keynote, Dr. Gasser takes audiences on a fascinating journey into the science of musical preference - blending psychology, culture, neuroscience, and live piano performance.
Based on his acclaimed book and PBS series Why You Like It, Dr. Gasser shares groundbreaking insights into the universal human love for music and how it shapes our emotions, identities, and well-being. Audiences will experience music in a whole new way - and leave inspired by the profound power of sound.
Key Takeaways:
- Discover the hidden science behind why we love certain songs.
Learn how psychology, culture, and neuroscience shape our musical tastes. - Experience live musical demonstrations that bring the science to life.
- Understand how music can enhance happiness, health, and emotional well-being.
- Gain new appreciation for the universal language of music.
Keynote by Nolan Gasser:
The Sound of High Performance: Using Music to Supercharge Creativity and Focus
How music can unlock creativity, sharpen focus, and boost productivity in today’s fast-paced work environment.
Stressed, overwhelmed, uninspired - today’s workforce faces endless distractions and pressures that can drain creativity and performance. But there’s an ancient and powerful remedy: music.
In this energizing keynote, Dr. Gasser reveals how music can be a science-backed tool for unlocking flow, enhancing emotional well-being, and building high-performing teams. Drawing on cutting-edge research and real-world examples, he equips leaders and teams with actionable strategies to use music as a secret weapon for creativity and productivity.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand how music influences the brain and enhances focus.
- Discover how to use music strategically to reduce stress and boost performance.
- Learn science-backed techniques for integrating music into work and team culture.
- Explore real-world examples of music transforming individual and team creativity
- Gain actionable tools for building high-performance environments through sound.
Keynote by Nolan Gasser:
How to Empower Your Data: Lessons from the Architect of Pandora’s Music Genome Project
Turn overwhelming data into actionable intelligence - from the man who helped revolutionize how we personalize content.
The world is awash in data - but how do you separate the signal from the noise? In this powerful keynote, Dr. Gasser draws on his groundbreaking work designing the Pandora Music Genome Project - the genomic approach now emulated by platforms like Netflix and TikTok - to reveal how anyone can better harness their data.
With clear, accessible frameworks, Dr. Gasser teaches leaders how to think “genomically” about data, unlocking new insights for business, content, and personal growth. Attendees will also learn how to leverage the latest AI tools to make data a powerful personal assistant.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn how to structure and analyze data for deeper insight.
- Discover genomic thinking: a revolutionary framework for making data actionable.
- Explore how companies like Pandora, Netflix, and TikTok personalize content through data.
- Gain practical tools to harness AI as a personal data assistant.
- Empower your business or personal growth through smarter data use.
