FILM - TV - THEATER - GAMES: PROPS AND OPPS FOR JUNE '26PROPS

Mega Ran, the GRAMMY-nominated rapper and educator known for pioneering nerdcore hip-hop and bringing the worlds of videogames and music closer together, returned to Morocco for a second national tour this spring. He was joined by rapper and gaming culture innovator Richie Branson, for a cross-country tour that brought the duo’s unique blend of hip-hop and video game culture to 12 cities. Through a partnership with the American Cultural Association and the American Language Centers, the tour was able to engage students and adults through live shows, workshops, and creative sessions focused on hip-hop fundamentals and game design for beginners. Together, the artists are using music and gaming as vehicles for storytelling, creative expression, and cross-cultural connection. Contact Jeff Moses at management@megaran.com for more information.

A live audience recording of Experiencing the Dream: MLK the Musical recently took place this spring at Greater Emmanuel Temple in Lynwood, California. Written by Kesha L. Ealy and co-written and composed by Marcus S. Mason, the 26-song production featured a 27-piece orchestra and explored the less-public side of the lives of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King from their courtship through the civil rights movement. Rather than focusing solely on King's legacy, the musical takes a look at the fear, love, and personal sacrifice in his private life, inviting audiences to see his story as an unfinished, living call to purpose. For more information, contact Tim Choy at t.choy@dcpublicity.com.

Five-time Emmy-winning composer Jeff Beal brought a newly imagined score for Fritz Lang's landmark 1927 silent film Metropolis to the stage at the Karlín Musical Theatre in Prague this past April. Conducting the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in a live-to-picture performance, Beal wove electronic sound design into the orchestral presentation to create a fully immersive experience for the audience. The event served as a highlight of the 5th Edition of Composers Summit Prague, an international gathering of leading film, television, and video game music composers. Beal drew on the film's themes of wealth inequality, artificial intelligence, and humanity's relationship with technology to connect Lang's vision to the modern age. For further details, contact Rebekah Alperin at ralperin@costacomm.com.

Orchestral Soundtracks, a San Diego-based community orchestra devoted to video game and anime music, teamed up with Scarlet Moon recently to present their free 2026 Spring Concert at Canyon Crest Academy. Founded in 2023 by volunteer musicians from across San Diego County, the group offered free admission on a first-come, first-served basis. The program featured arrangements drawn from popular titles and series including Xenoblade Chronicles, Genshin Impact, Frieren, Arcane and Beastars, among others. San Diego game music labels Scarlet Moon Records and Streaming Arrow Records also participated in the event. The orchestra was created by musicians with a shared passion for soundtrack music and a desire to keep performing together after college. Contact Jayson Napolitano at jayson@scarletmoonpromotions.com for further details.

OPPS

July 30 is the deadline to submit your work (the registration deadline is July 24) to the Indie Film Music Contest, a competition that focuses on musical storytelling without giving consideration to sound quality, so beginners have a fair chance. The winner will be announced September 18. This international competition is open to amateur composers of all ages who will have the chance to get feedback on their work from professionals in the field. Learn more at indiefilmmusiccontest.com.

Though applications for professionals are closed, pre-professional dancers can still video audition until June 15 for the Laguna Dance Summer Stage Festival, August 7-9. Video submissions will be fully reviewed by the Laguna Dance Artistic Team and stand an equal chance as live auditions. Laguna Dance is a nonprofit arts organization that offers world-class dance performances across theaters, film, and public spaces. Apply at lagunadance.org/about.

The Small Plates Choreography Festival, open to both emerging and seasoned choreographers, will accept applications until August 1. The November 13 and 14 event in New York entails a series of two curated dance performances with facilitated dialogue between the artists and audience. Learn more about this unique festival and how to apply by visiting smallplatesdance.com/performances/nyc.

The post FILM - TV - THEATER - GAMES: PROPS AND OPPS FOR JUNE '26 first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

UMG’s Bravado targets A$AP Rocky merch bootleggers on ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ tour with trademark suit, seizure orderA trademark infringement complaint was filed on Thursday June 11
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The Rolling Stones Song Keith Richards Wrote in His Sleep — and Almost Refused to ReleaseKeith Richards woke up with no memory of writing it. He thought it was a joke. Then his manager released it without telling him — and he heard it on the radio in Omaha. The story behind "Satisfaction."

DPA Mics Play a Crucial Role in Groundbreaking Immersive Audio Live EventsAccording to recent news from DPA Microphones, "For the worldwide anniversary tour celebrating AIR’s iconic debut album, Moon Safari, the French musical duo set out to deliver a live experience that felt as rich, precise and atmospheric as the record itself. Monitor Engineers Julien Vouillon and Florentin Convert had two goals: to recreate a sound as close as possible to the album and provide a fully immersive listening experience. To achieve this, the pair relied heavily on the clarity, precision and natural imaging of DPA Microphones. The result was a mix of solid technical innovation and audio quality that AIR’s music deserves."

“Since the rise of in-ears, a concert has to sound like the record—both at front of house and in the monitors,” Vouillon says. “AIR’s music demands that level of detail and space. The system is centered around binaural processing via spatial audio processing software (SPAT Revolution), feeding the musicians a spatially accurate, responsive ‘room’ inside their in-ears. But the immersive mix only worked with captured ambience that was stunningly clean and true. That’s where DPA came in.”

“What surprised us was how the DPA mics gave us the same drum sound every night, no matter the venue. You really hear the instruments as they are, not some interpretation of them, which is what makes the immersive mix feel like a studio recording happening live,” said Convert.

“Our goal was to get the musicians to listen to their own album, live. With the DPA 5100 and SPAT Revolution, we recovered what is always missing from classic in-ears: the natural 3D of the room, the air and the space,” added Vouillon.

According to a statement, Convert "immediately recognized the microphone as the ideal match for their approach."

“It’s discreet, easy to use and reproduces the natural 3D of the room,” he explains. “With SPAT Revolution, it adds the air and space that are always missing in classic in-ears.”

"To complement the main surround capture, the team relied on several models from DPA’s pencil microphone lineup, including the 2012 Compact Cardioid, 2015 Wide Cardioid and 2017 Shotgun Microphones for the ambience feed," they say.

According to Vouillon, “A crucial point was minimizing the delay between front-of-house and the ambience. If the system was too offset, the musicians would feel it immediately. The solution was adding a pair of DPA 2015s in ORTF stereo format facing the stage, helping musicians feel grounded in the physical space.”

Of AIR's live album release, Vouillon said that, "The vinyl was created directly from the live stereo monitor mix combined with the DPA 5100 room capture, mixed live during the performances and not reworked in the studio afterward. The only post-production step was mastering by Alex Gopher. It’s a good demonstration of how accurately the immersive monitoring system translated the live experience."

Vouillon adds, “The real refinement came when we added pink noise into the sidechain. It keeps the compression active until just the right moment, making the audience reactions feel natural and alive.” Vouillon, who long relied on other ambient microphone solutions, says the transition to DPA felt like a breakthrough. “After Florentin introduced me to the DPA mics, I was blown away. The mics have perfect transients and depth, and zero artifacts. I’ve replaced all my old habits with the DPA range.”

For more information, visit dpamicrophones.com.The post DPA Mics Play a Crucial Role in Groundbreaking Immersive Audio Live Events first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Music industry leaders, megastars pay tribute to Clive DavisRob Stringer, Patti Smith, Alicia Keys, the Lipmans, Merck Mercuriadis, and more pay tribute to legendary record exec
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Why Bob Dylan's Most Famous Question From 1963 Still Has No AnswerBob Dylan wrote "Blowin' in the Wind" in ten minutes in 1962. Presidents have quoted it. Protestors have sung it. Philosophers have wrestled with it. The answer is still blowing in the wind.

The Freddie Mercury Quote That Had Nothing to Do With MusicFreddie Mercury had everything the world could offer — and called himself the loneliest man alive. The quote that reveals who he really was when no one was performing for.

"In Times of Dragons" by Tori AmosUniversal/FontanaProducer: Tori Amos

Tori Amos’ 18th album sees the alt-pop veteran in full myth-maker mode, spinning political dread into fire-breathing allegory, where tyrants lurk like serpentine villains and hope flickers stubbornly underneath. It’s a sprawling 76-minute velvet coup that demands total surrender to its intricate, moss-covered melodies and, despite the record’s sheer density and occasional self-indulgence, it impressively navigates that tension between ancient folklore and modern chaos. In essence, it’s shadowy and just unhinged enough to remind us why she remains a high priestess of the avant-garde. Few artists could craft a campfire story for the end of the world that feels quite this essential. 

The post "In Times of Dragons" by Tori Amos first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Lionel Richie’s voice trademark bid to the Michael Jackson biopic box-office record… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-upThe biggest headlines from the past few days...
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Studio Mix June 2026: PinkPantheress, Taj Mahal, Easy Honey, and MoreOSCAR SCHELLER SCORES GLOBAL HIT WITH “STATESIDE” REMIX

U.K.-born producer Oscar Scheller lands a global breakthrough with his remix of PinkPantheress’ “Stateside” featuring Zara Larsson, which topped the Billboard Global 200. Reimagined from vocal stems into bouncy electropop, the track gained further momentum after its spotlight at the 2026 Olympics, underscoring Scheller’s growing influence behind some of pop’s biggest names.

ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO AND AYRA STARR CELEBRATE CONNECTION ON “AYE KAN”

Angélique Kidjo and Ayra Starr unite for “Aye Kan (Are You Coming Back?),” a warm, intimate collaboration brought to life in a candlelit video filmed at New York’s Power Station studio. The track, a love-as-wealth anthem, previews Kidjo’s upcoming album HOPE!!, blending personal history, cross-generational inspiration, and a message of connection and resilience.

BROOKSPEARE MUSIC UPGRADES STUDIO WITH SSL ORIGIN CONSOLE

U.K.-based Brookspeare Music has enhanced its remote recording studio with a Solid State Logic ORIGIN analogue console and UF8 DAW controller. Specializing in string sessions for film, TV, and games, the studio benefits from the setup’s flexibility and hybrid workflow, allowing seamless integration between analogue warmth and digital precision while supporting a wide range of recording projects.

CHRISTOPHER ARDRA ANNOUNCES SAW IT IN A DREAM WITH REFLECTIVE NEW SINGLE “REASONS”

New York songwriter Christopher Ardra previews his sophomore album Saw It in a Dream (out June 5) with the introspective single “Reasons.” Written after the end of his band Station, the track marks a personal turning point, setting the tone for a self-produced, multi-instrumental project that explores identity, catharsis, and the search for clarity.

WEIR BROTHERS LAUNCH NEW STUDIO CITY SOUND ERA WITH MICHAEL DAMIAN PROJECT

Studio City Sound has a new home, and the brothers Weir are putting the finishing touches on a new Michael Damian album there. Seen left to right: Producer Larry Weir who also runs National Record Promotion, recording artist, actor, and film director Michael Damian (Weir), producer, engineer, and Studio City Sound CEO Tom Weir. The new Michael Damian album is slated to drop this Summer.

EASY HONEY SETS THE MOOD WITH “BASEMENT KISSING” AHEAD OF PLAID EP

Charleston indie-rockers Easy Honey return with “Basement Kissing,” a hazy, late-night single previewing their EP Plaid. Written during a rapid cabin session in Colorado, the project finds the band expanding their sound while staying rooted in nostalgic hooks, as they gear up for a 25+ date North American headline tour.

TAJ MAHAL PREVIEWS TIME WITH BREEZY NEW SINGLE “WILD ABOUT MY LOVIN”

Taj Mahal returns with “Wild About My Lovin,” a swinging new single from his album Time (out now). Featuring longtime collaborators, the project blends blues, reggae, and soul, and includes a rare Bill Withers composition. The release arrives alongside a special GRAMMY Museum event, highlighting Mahal’s enduring, genre-spanning legacy.

PRODUCER PLAYBACK:

“One of the most important aspects of recording is the psychology of it… Some people perform better when you’re their bud and there’s camaraderie, others work better when you challenge them. You have to feel out the artist at the beginning of the session.” – Johnny K

The post Studio Mix June 2026: PinkPantheress, Taj Mahal, Easy Honey, and More first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Project 91 launches Playgrounds, a live experiences platform backed by Justin Kalifowitz’s Klaf CompaniesThe New York-based events company confirmed that Playgrounds will serve as an umbrella platform for concerts, branded experiences, and destination events
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Ringo Starr Twinkles With Friends at the GreekRingo Starr has been one of the biggest names in drumming world-wide for over 60 years. For the last 37 years Ringo has been touring with his All-Starr band, which has had some big alumni such as The Band’s Levon Helm and Rick Danko, The Eagle’s Joe Walsh, The E-Street Band’s Nils Lofgren and Clarence Clemons, Billy Preston, Dr. John, and drumming icon Jim Keltner.

To be a member, Ringo's requirement is at least three hits from their own band or as a solo act. The All Starr band returned to the Greek Theater in Los Angeles for the first time since 2024, as they played Yaamava Casino last year for the L.A. area show. Generally, the Greek shows are every other year but there have also been back-to-back years. This short West Coast run began May 28th at Pechanga Casino in Temecula, CA and concluded at the Greek on June 14.

The 16th incarnation of the All Starr band has included Toto’s Steve Lukather since 2012 (guitar/vocals), former David Lee Roth and ELO drummer Gregg Bissonette since 2008, Colin Hay of Men At Work on guitar and vocals (member in '03, '08 and since '18), Average White band bassist/vocalist Hamish Stuart (2006-08 and since '19), vocalist Warren Ham also a touring member of Toto (All Starr member since 2014). On keyboards is Buck Johnson from Aerosmith and the Hollywood Vampires, who originally was filling in for Edgar Winter starting in 2024. Lukather, Stuart, and Hay all played three songs from their bands.

The show began with Ringo on vocals for the first two songs starting with Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox” followed by solo hit “It Don’t Come Easy.” Starr stepped behind the drums for song three, which was Toto’s “Rosanna” led by Lukather. Starr double-drummed with Bissonette. Next Stuart was featured on Average White Band’s “Pick Up the Pieces.” Then it was Hay’s turn performing Men At Work’s “Down Under.” When the All Starr band members were featured, they would play three songs in a row (one each). Lukather plays bass on Average White Band’s “Cut the Cake” and a cover of the Isley Brother’s “Work to Do,” and Stuart plays guitar on those.

Each night during Average White Band’s “Cut the Cake,” the band minus Lukather, Bissonette and Johnson leave the stage and as a duo play bits of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” The Beatles “Come Together,” The Safaris “Wipe Out,” Rush’s "YYZ,” Led Zeppelin’s “Rock N’ Roll,” Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4,” Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Manic Depression," The Rolling Stone’s “Honky Tonk Woman,” Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” The Beatles “The End,” and finally Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher.” Last year Starr began performing “The No No Song” for the first time in many years. During Toto’s Africa, Lukather mentioned his fellow band co-founder David Paich being in the audience.

The closing songs were Starr’s “Photograph,” The Beatles’ cover of Johnny Russel’s “Act Naturally,”  and as always “Help From My Friends” with John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance.” At each show, there’s quite a bit of humor and before “Yellow Submarine,” Lukather and Ringo joked around, with Lukather playing the opening riff to The Beatles’ “Daytripper” and “Please Please Me.”

For the finale, Ringo always brings up a few friends including returning guests Jim Keltner and former Guns N’ Roses Velvet Revolver Drummer Matt Sorum, and Toto’s David Paich as well as Jackson Browne, Heartbreaker’s members Mike Campbell, and Benmont Tench and Allman Betts drummer Alex Orbison.

Ringo’s 86th birthday will be in just three weeks, on July 7.

Setlist:

Matchbox- Carl Perkins

It Don’t Come Easy

Rosanna- Toto

Pick Up The Pieces- Average White Band

Down Under- Men At Work

Boys- Shirelles (The Beatles Version)

I’m The Greatest- John Lennon

Yellow Submarine- The Beatles

Cut the Cake- Average White Band (Without Ringo)

Frankenstein-Edgar Winter Group (Without Ringo)

Octopus’s Garden-The Beatles

No No Song- Hoyt Axton

Overkill- Men At Work

Africa- Toto

Work To Do- Isley Brothers (Average White Band Version)

I Wanna Be Your Man- Beatles

Johnny B. Goode- Chuck Berry (Edgar Winter dedicated to his brother Johnny)

Who Can It Be Now?- Men At Work

Hold the Line- Toto

Photograph- Ringo Starr

Act Naturally- Buck Owens (Beatles Version)

With a Little Help From My Friends/ Give Peace A Chance- Beatles/John Lennon

The post Ringo Starr Twinkles With Friends at the Greek first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

BMG/Concord merger approved by competition authorities in United States and Germany (report)Deal cleared in US, Reuters reports, after official approval in Germany
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Mixed Notes June 2026: Leena Punks, ZHU, Paris WYA, and MoreLA ZORRA ZAPATA REIMAGINES A CLASSIC WITH “PALOMA”

Peruvian artist La Zorra Zapata unveils “Paloma,” a haunting reinterpretation of the classic “Cucurrucucú Paloma,” marking the first release from her upcoming covers album. Now based in Mexico City, she reshapes the beloved song into an atmospheric, introspective piece, reflecting her personal journey across cultures and her evolving connection to Latin American musical traditions.

THUNDERCAT RETURNS WITH DISTRACTED

Six years after his last LP, Thundercat has released Distracted via Brainfeeder. Blending humor with introspection, the album explores modern distraction and connection, with contributions from A$AP Rocky, WILLOW, and Tame Impala, alongside a previously unreleased collaboration with Mac Miller.

GLOBAL POP ARTIST PARIS WYA DEBUTS NEW EP MANNEQUIN

Globally raised pop artist Paris WYA has released her new EP MANNEQUIN, a trilingual, emotionally charged project exploring identity, pressure, and self-reclamation. Created with Adrian Cota and Morgan Taylor Reid, the EP reflects her upbringing across Shanghai, Paris, and New York, blending ethereal pop production with diaristic songwriting as she steps into a new creative chapter.

KOKO LOVE RECLAIMS HIS NARRATIVE WITH THE COST OF FREEDOM

Montreal-born artist Koko Love reemerges with The Cost of Freedom, a debut album shaped by reinvention and intention. After shedding his former moniker and keeping the project off streaming for a year, he built momentum through live shows and word of mouth. Now arriving widely, the album reflects his commitment to authenticity, connection, and redefining the path to alternative success.

LEENA PUNKS TEAMS UP FOR RETRO-TINGED SINGLE “HOLD ON ME”

Leena Punks joins forces with REYUS and Lauren L’Aimant on “Hold On Me,” a cinematic progressive house track infused with ‘80s-inspired synthwave textures. Released via Interstellar Recordings, the collaboration blends euphoric production with a striking vocal performance, as the rising London-based artist continues to build momentum with support from major electronic tastemakers.

SOMBR BUILDS MOMENTUM WITH NEW SINGLE AND ARENA TOUR

Fresh off a breakout Coachella debut, SOMBR shares his new single “Potential” alongside a cinematic video and announces a 39-date North American arena tour. The self-written track follows a string of chart successes, as the rising artist continues to blend indie rock and pop while expanding his global reach after a landmark year of performances and accolades.

ZHU RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS WITH CINEMATIC NEW ALBUM BLACK MIDAS

ZHU unveils BLACK MIDAS, a 14-track return to his club-focused origins, shaped by a year spent rebuilding and creating on the road after the Southern California wildfires. Blending deep house and melodic techno, the album features collaborations with Joyia, HNTR, and others, alongside his evolving BLACKLIZT concept and immersive global live performances.

The post Mixed Notes June 2026: Leena Punks, ZHU, Paris WYA, and More first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

The music industry is closing in on a billion global subscribers – with Spotify out in frontMIDiA Research estimates that the global subscriber count grew 10.1% YoY in 2025
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