January 15, 2026
What do entrepreneurship and music have in common? They’re both fueled by passion, by a desire to create and share with others. Zack Amaral took this commonality and pushed it further, using it as the foundation for a service that allows artists to connect with fans in a fun new way.
Musicbuff is a platform that enables artists to give their fans a live, interactive concert experience from their screens. While similar to other community streaming sites like Twitch, Musicbuff allows users to directly support their favorite musicians by locking performances behind ticket purchases.
“I love music more than anything, and I love live music even more,” said Amaral. “I know a lot of other people share this love, so I wanted to create a way to bring live music experiences right to people’s homes.”
Despite his current drive to get his product to the masses, it hasn’t always been Amaral’s plan to start his own venture. In fact, he didn’t identify his desire to become an entrepreneur until he began attending the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business.
“I had always thought business was so difficult and hard to do, but turns out I’ve found it to be very fun and exciting,” he said. “I’ll never forget the day I met local MBA students, and they filled me in on two things: the value of being your own boss, and the importance of giving back.”
Amaral’s mindset was further nurtured by resources and organizations such as SCORE, which offered mentorship, Grow Utah, which helped him identify investors, and his local Small Business Development Center, which guided him through the creation of his business plan.
“The most influential thing I’ve ever learned in life was about the law of attraction,” Amaral said. “I like to think back to innovators like Thomas Edison, who persevered to find success. You may not always know how to do everything from the beginning — we’re all learning in our own unique ways — but you can do anything you put your mind to.”
When it comes to Utah’s impact, Amaral shared his love for the postcard-esque scenery, the diversity of seasons, great schools, and a community that cares for one another. “This is the perfect place to start a business and a life.”
Thank you to Musicbuff for being a part of Utah’s startup community. Do you own a small business in Utah? Share your story with us for the chance to have your company featured, or learn how to start your business here.
The information in this article is current as of the publishing date and is intended for informational purposes only. This article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal, tax, or business advice. Any resources and organizations mentioned, unless an entity of or a partner of the state of Utah, are not formally endorsed by the Startup State Initiative or state of Utah.