Live Review of Warren HaynesBlue Note LA  Los Angeles, CA

Contact: Bari Lieberman, Press Here Publicity - bari@pressherepublicity.com Web: warrenhaynes.netPlayers: Warren Haynes, guitar, vocals

Leading The Allman Brothers in their resurgence as lead guitarist and vocalist in 1989, founding Gov’t Mule alongside bassist Allen Woody in 1994, and known for collaborations with members of the Grateful Dead, Warren Haynes remains one of the most revered guitarists and southern rockers around. With over 20 live and studio records to date, and millions of track and album sales, the GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter-guitarist-producer blends folk, soul and Americana, collaborating in genres from blues to modern rock (recently joining forces with Billy Bob Thornton to create “Desiree” for Paramount+’s Landman).

Sharing music across his three-decade career (including selections from Man In Motion, Ashes & Dust, Life Before Insanity and Gov’t Mule’s Dose and Peace…Like A River), during the last show of his Winter of Warren series in Los Angeles, Haynes was in fine form, marinating the room in blissful nostalgia. Entering quietly through the crowd, his gentle, unassuming presence gave way to a powerful, stripped back solo performance for a packed house of sophisticated fans. Lauching into “This Life As We Know It,” a post-pandemic reflection from 2024’s solo album Million Voices Whisper, Haynes intense simplicity captured the crowd immediately. 

A “Gold Dust Woman” cover followed, with tasty minor underpinnings traversing a fabulous use of dynamics and subtly-graveled vocal. “Melissa” brought cheers and swaying from the crowd, while previously unrecorded/unreleased “Dusk Till Dawn” (on his cherry red signature 1961 Gibson ES-335) added an exquisite deep guitar tone, and gritty, swampy pedal effects. “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday” added more delicious southern rock sound before incredible vocal control sprang to the forefront in punchy lyrical lines on “Hattiesburg Hustle.”

Switching to his 12-string Epiphone Riviera, Haynes delivered grungier guitar sound on “Gone Too Long” (from Gov’t Mule’s Peace…Like A River), before “Life Before Insanity” added psychedelic stylings and intricate riffs, which continued into “Raven Black Night,” also sharing softer vocals and vibrato, and building an incredible sound for a solo act. “The Sky Is Crying” had Haynes taming his steel a fabulous thick blues and phenomenal slide guitar, before shifting back to his Guild acoustic for encore, “In My Life.” LA-centric bonus “Angel City” shared a divine guitar opening and beautiful vocals, walking the line between angels and demons in lyrics around homelessness.

Haynes’ distinct, masterful guitar stylings, warm vocals and earthy, wholesome sound brought forth the comfort of a bygone era of music. The post Live Review of Warren Haynes first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Concord forms strategic venture with Steven Victor’s Victor Victor Worldwide, expands hip-hop footprintVVW has launched the careers of artists including Pop Smoke and Ski Mask the Slump God.
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Studio Mix 2026: Feller, Justin Schaefers, Jacob Collier, and more

FELLER RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM SOUND COLORED PENNY

Chicago’s Feller released their debut album Sound Colored Pennyvia Shuga Records on February 13. The rambunctious trio of Pete Willson (vocals, guitar), Ethan Toenjes (drums), and Ramsey Bell (bass) have been making music together since 2023. Recorded last year in Chicago with producer Doug Malone, the album manages to capture the authenticity of pent-up energy, and being a young musician navigating a seemingly never ending big-city music scene in about 25 minutes of non-stop calculated power.

NYU’S SONY AUDIO INSTITUTE NAMES 7-TIME GRAMMY® WINNER JACOB COLLIER AS NEXT ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

The Sony Audio Institute at New York University announced that Jacob Collier has been named the Institute’s next Artist-In-Residence. A seven-time GRAMMY® winner and 16-time GRAMMY® nominee, Collier is widely recognized for his genre-spanning work as a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. In his residency, Collier will work directly with Sony Audio Institute students and faculty to provide mentorship, creative guidance, and real-world perspective on modern music-making—spanning composition, arrangement, production, and the evolving relationship between creative practice and emerging audio technology.

WAR CHILD RECORDS RELEASE NEW SINGLE “FLAGS”

War Child Records has released “Flags”—a new song by Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, and Kae Tempest—from the highly anticipated HELP(2) album. "Flags” is the crowning collaboration on HELP(2), a powerful reflection on youth and selfhood written by Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz), Grian Chatten (Fontaines D.C.), and recording artist/poet Kae Tempest. Produced by Albarn, James Ford, Marta Salogni, and Toby L, the track stands as a bold statement of resilience.

AUSTIN’S NIGHT TRAVELER SHINES AS GIBSON’S ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Each month, the Gibson Artist Spotlight introduces a new musician or group, connecting them with Gibson’s global audience, and February saw Austin, TX-based duo Night Traveler in the spotlight. Formed in 2018 by Adam Fischer and Hunter Glaske, Night Traveler is continuing to craft nostalgic, cinematic, indie rock built for midnight moments and headlights on an open road.

INDIE ROCK ARTIST JUSTIN SCHAEFERS RELEASES MODEST HITS

Boston-based indie rock artist Justin Schaefers has released his debut solo project, Modest Hits. Self-written and recorded with minimal, unconventional equipment, the project embraces imperfections to capture an honest, personal sound. With this release, Schaefers encourages listeners to feel the vulnerability, change, and intimacy of his world, while he continues sharing music through upcoming singles and live performances across New England and beyond.

TOMMY TORRES CREATES MUSIC MAGIC WITH KRK

Musician, producer, and engineer Tommy Torres gravitates toward tools that challenge him, and at his Miami studio sits his KRK ROKIT 8 Generation Five studio monitors—not because they glamorize the music, but because they refuse to. “What I love about KRK is that the speakers don’t lie to me. They don’t try to sound hi-fi or pretty—they make me work,” he says.

SINGER-SONGWRITER SAVANNA LEIGH AND ARTIST BERTIE NEWMAN RELEASE “WHAT’S NOT MINE”

Nashville singer-songwriter Savanna Leigh and London-based Bertie Newman released their new single, “what’s not mine.” A song about real connection and the fear of being fully seen, Leigh and Newman explain, “It unpacks the ways we protect love by staying surface-level… showing only the healed parts, holding back the truth, masking the mess. But real connection asks for honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s about learning that love can’t be unconditional if we’re not willing to be unconditional with ourselves.”

The post Studio Mix 2026: Feller, Justin Schaefers, Jacob Collier, and more first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

HYBE moves to crack down on bootleg BTS merch ahead of US tour datesLegal filing arrives ahead of BTS's performances at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in April
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The New Class of 5-Star AllMusic AlbumsFrom time to time, our editors go over the albums that may have come up in the estimation of the listeners, or made a larger impact on the genre than was initially received upon its' debut. The albums are re-evaluated and some get bumped up to the coveted 5-star rating. We asked our writers to pick out some of their favorites from this recent pass, and to tell us a bit about their reasoning.

Highlights of Coachella, Day 2Jack White photo courtesy of Coachella/Julian Bajsel 

Music Connection plays mailman

We handed out magazines and shirts to excited campers, making new friends and filling our unofficial role as festival mailman in the process. The gloriously-decorated tents and vehicles made the jaunt worthwhile.

Die Spitz

The Austin rockers shook the cobwebs away early on the Sonora stage with a set that was as sludgy as it was brutal.

Jack White

The late addition to the bill was predictably brilliant. The sound of the Coachella crowd singing the guitar refrain from "Seven Nation Army," full-voiced, won't leave us for a while.

Addison Rae

A visually dazzling set, jam-packed with great pop tunes. Another huge break-out from the fest.

Sombr

Sombr brought an anthemic, emotive rock vibe to the Outdoor Theatre. Queen-epic, but with a contemporary edge. The crowd lapped it up.

Coi Leray and Bia

Further proof that females are killing it in the hip-hop world. MC has long been a supporter of these two queens, and they ruled at Coachella.

Nine Inch Noize

Having moved from the Friday, the Nine Inch Nails/Boys Noize collar turned into a dark, crunching and ultimately epic performance on the Sahara stage. Stark and bleak in all of the right ways, it felt like a new day for industrial music.

PinkPantheress

Our February cover star put in a near-perfect performance last Mojave. "Stateside" kicked off what might be a career-defining night for the Brit.

David Byrne

We caught Byrne at Coachella 2018, and he was great again. 73 years old. and still able to rouse the rabble. Just look at set list (below).

Justin Bieber

This might be the year that, in the public's eyes, Bieber went from "former teen heart throb" to "genuine pop icon."

The post Highlights of Coachella, Day 2 first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

10 Things We Noticed at CoachellaPictured above: Holly Humberstone

Slayyyter

As we mentioned on Friday, Slayyyter's set was magnificent. By the end of the day, our early prediction was vindicated. Nobody--not headliner Sabrina Carpenter not anybody else--put in a better performance than Slayyyter. The buzz was palpable, and she will surely only go from strength to strength from here.

Bini

A day for the Girl Groups

Los Angeles-based Katseye is considered a "global girl group" with members from the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States. Getting anywhere near the Sahara stage proved an almighty task, such was the frenzy to catch their set. It was far easier to see Bini on the Mojave stage and, from what we saw, Filipino girl group Bini have the better songs. The buzz is Katseye's, but we can see Bini catching up soon.

Devo

Moby and Devo have still got it

With the Yuma stage full-to-bursting when Groove Armada played, halting our plans to see them, it was left to Moby to fill the "veteran electronic artist" spot in our day. Songs like the classic "Porcelain" and "When It's Cold I'd Like to Die" (the latter featuring vocalist Jacob Lusk) highlighted the man's longevity. Before that, Moby was spotted dancing to new wave icons Debo's set, and why wouldn't he. Devo were superb. "Whip It" and "Gates of Steel" would enhance any festival.

CMAT

Holly Humberstone and CMAT skillfully rep Britain and Ireland

Both were wonderful. CMAT gleefully toyed with the crowd, pulling all manner of poses while blasting out tunes like "The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station." Meanwhile, Humberstone's vibe is more subtle, slightly gothic, but equally effective. Expect bigger things from both.

The food is part of it

Gone are the days of nothing but greasy food at music festivals. At Coachella, the food is very much a part of the experience. That said, we star6ted with grease, getting a Breakfast Wrap from Smoothies & Wraps on the campsite. It was great, bursting with egg, tots and bacon. Later, we had a salmon poke bowl that looked delicious but was quite terrible. Oh well, you can't win 'em all.

Diamond Dave

We were planning on watching The Two Lips, but Teddy Swims changed our plans by bringing out David Lee Roth to fire through the Van Halen classic "Jump." That felt like a historic Coachella moment.

Other guests

Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers also joined Swims, while Lizzo joined Sexyy Red, HUNTR/X (from Kpop Demon Hunters) joined Katseye, and Sabrina Carpenter pulled up Will Ferrell. There were more, but these made us happy.

The Radiohead thing

Like Groove Armada, the Radiohead exhibit in the Bunker proved too difficult to get into. We'll have to catch it later with the rest of you. The art elsewhere, though, was breathtaking.

Lykke Li

Swedish artist Lykke Li stark yet warm alt-pop was the first act we caught on either of the two big outdoor stages, and she was glorious. Songs like the opening "Hard Rain" and "No Rest for the Wicked" highlighted the fact that she's an enormous talent. Like Slayyyter, Humberstone and CMAT, we think the next year will be huge for Li.

Sabrina Carpenter

There's no doubt that Carpenter was a valid and worthy Coachella. She's a great performer with a strong voice, and a few killer tunes. "Please Please Please" and "Go Go Juice" were particularly impressive at Coachella. This didn't feel like it'd be classified as one of the great Coachella headline sets (there was a weird bit where Carpenter griped at the crowd a bit), but it was strong.

The post 10 Things We Noticed at Coachella first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Assignments April 2026: Who Got Hired?

Chip Herter

SVP, Music Supervision & LicensingThe Syndicate

The Syndicate has announced the appointment of Chip Herter as the SVP, Music Supervision & Licensing. In this newly created role, Herter will build a division focused on creative music supervision, licensing, and end-to-end music support for The Syndicate's clients and partners. “The Syndicate has an incredible 28-year legacy in artist development, marketing, and culture-making,” said Herter. “I’m thrilled to join the team and launch a music supervision and licensing practice that prioritizes creative integrity, meaningful partnerships, and real impact for brands and artists alike." For more, contact chip@thesyn.com.

John Powenski

Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources OfficerBMI

BMI announced that John Powenski has joined the company as Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer. Powenski will lead Human Resources across the organization, focused on supporting BMI’s continued growth and organizational performance, including the company’s HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, Total Rewards, People Operations, and more. He will be based in BMI’s Nashville office. For more, contact lfischer@bmi.com.

Joe Rinaldi

PresidentThe National Independent Venue Association of California

The National Independent Venue Association of California has announced that Joe Rinaldi has assumed the role of President. "Independent venues are the heartbeat of California’s culture and economy," said Rinaldi. "After years of advocating for our community in Southern California, I am honored to lead the statewide effort to ensure our industry not only survives but thrives. Our mission is clear: we must unite our 630-plus qualifying venues, promoters, and festivals to become a self-sufficient force for change." For more, contact nivacalifornia@gmail.com.

Mikelle Schwartz

Co-Head, Label MarketingPosition Music

Position Music announced that Mikelle Schwartz has been named Co-Head of the company’s Label division. Schwartz will take on the role of Head of Label Marketing, where she will oversee Product Management, Digital Marketing, and DSP and distribution partnerships. "I’m excited to join Position Music and help shape the next chapter of its label business —building alongside Tyler, Mark and Garrett, who are all forward-thinking leaders redefining what growth and artist partnership look like today,” said Schwartz. For more, contact deborah@drpr.us.

Lindsay Hayes

Vice President of DevelopmentMusic Health Alliance

Music Health Alliance (MHA), the nonprofit dedicated to providing advocacy and access to healthcare and mental health for the music industry, has appointed Lindsay Hayes as Vice President of Development and announced several staff promotions across its advocacy and healthcare navigation team. In this role, Hayes will lead the growth of MHA’s fundraising and strategic partnerships to ensure long-term financial sustainability. “I’m thrilled to now make things official and join MHA at a time when their work has never been more vital,” said Hayes. For more, contact caitlin@musichealthalliance.com.

Bailey Aldrich

Senior Marketing and Event SpecialistKHS America

KHS America has announced the promotion of Bailey Aldrich to Senior Marketing and Event Specialist. In her new position, Aldrich will lead content and advertising deployment for all KHS America brands, implement digital marketing strategies alongside the Educational Brand Management team, and direct the administrative operations of major trade shows and industry events. "Since she started with KHS America, Bailey has consistently stood out for her exceptional initiative, organization, and team support," said Ryan Rehnborg, Creative & Marketing Communications Manager.  For more, contact kate@richlynngroup.com.

Björn Sandberg

Head of Commercial MarketingAudioSalad

AudioSalad, a music technology company, announced the appointment of Björn Sandberg to the newly created position of Head of Commercial Marketing. Based in London, Sandberg will lead the evolution of AudioSalad’s artist and label marketing and will report to CEO Iain Catling. "Björn’s experience and deep understanding of commercial marketing in today’s complex marketplace make him a tremendous addition to our team," said Catling. "His expertise further strengthens our distribution capabilities as we continue building best-in-class services for artists, creators, and labels." For more, contact jsmith@sesac.com.

Garrett Ream

Co-Head, Label CreativePosition Music

Position Music announced that Garrett Ream has been named Co-Head of the company’s Label division. Ream will take on the role of Head of Label Creative, where he will oversee Content & Digital Strategy and Radio Promotion, while continuing to play a key role in the label’s A&R and signing strategy. “Our focus has been building a digital-first infrastructure and in-house agency that allows us to move at the speed of the audience. I’m incredibly grateful to Mark and Tyler for their trust and support in building this vision and their commitment to being active partners to our artists,” said Ream. For more, contact deborah@drpr.us.The post Assignments April 2026: Who Got Hired? first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Pershing Square’s $64 billion bid for UMG to Wireless Festival’s Kanye West cancellation… it’s MBW’s weekly round-upThe biggest headlines from the past seven days...
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TuneCore partners with RoyFi to offer royalty advances to indie artistsArtists can secure direct cash advances without giving up equity or transferring ownership of copyrights.
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Signing Stories: Matthew StevensDate Signed: January 2025Label: Candid RecordsType of Music: JazzLegal: George HowardPublicity: Ashley Natareno - Big Feat PRA&R: Terri Lyne CarringtonWeb: mattstevensmusic.com

John Burk co-founded Concord Records in 1995, where he’s had major success with artists including Carlos Santana, Ray Charles, and Esperanza Spalding. He eventually created Exceleration Music in partnership with Glen Barros, Charles Caldas, Amy Dietz, and Dave Hansen. In 2020, that organization acquired jazz label Candid Records, the venerable home to many of the genre’s greats, such as Charlie Mingus, Max Roach, and Lee Ritenour.

After taking over Candid, Burk hired drummer and composer Terri Lyne Carrington to serve in an A&R capacity. GRAMMY-winning guitarist and producer Matthew Stevens knew both Burk and Carrington. He was part of Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah’s band in the early 2000s, which Burk signed to Concord Records as part of a multi-album deal. They did a bunch of recordings together at Fantasy Studios, which Concord then owned. And Carrington is someone who’s been a musical collaborator and mentor to Stevens for years.

“I started doing a bunch of sessions for Concord, like a Harvey Mason record,” recalls the Berklee College of Music professor. “And ultimately a Concord all-stars thing called NEXT Collective. John was involved in all of that, so he was the person I was around at the beginning of my career.”

Carrington first offered the deal with Candid in February of 2024. The contract was signed by the end of that year, and recording began the following May. The Toronto native previously released albums with U.K.-based Whirlwind Recordings. Contrary to what one might assume, Stevens was less cautious this time around. “Because I know John and Terri Lyne so well, I was happy to jump right in,” he proclaims. “It was a wholehearted gut feeling.”

The jazzman further chose Candid in part because he’s a huge fan of the label’s catalog, from Abbey Lincoln and Cecil Taylor to Memphis Slim. “They have a lot of historic significance,” Stevens remarks. “And I’m excited by the fact that they’re also signing new artists and pushing forward.”

Matthew Stevens (out May 8 via Candid Records) – pre-order hereThe post Signing Stories: Matthew Stevens first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Secretly Distribution acquires music data and analytics firms Entertainment Intelligence and Babel OpsBabel Ops was founded in 2020 by Erik Gilbert and Greg Delaney, who previously co-founded Entertainment Intelligence in 2014.
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Bill Ackman confident he’ll win over UMG shareholders to $64 billion bid, says Bolloré response was ‘music to my ears’The transaction requires the support of UMG's board and a two-thirds vote of shareholders who attend a meeting called for the purpose
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KRK Kreate 5 Monitors Elevate Miami’s 555 Studios Creative SpaceSome studios are built for recording. Others are built for content. 555 Studios, tucked inside Miami’s ever-electric Wynwood Arts District, is chasing something bigger—an ecosystem where creativity doesn’t just happen, it collides.

Inside the 10,000-square-foot labyrinth, it’s not unusual to find a podcast being tracked upstairs while a fashion shoot unfolds down the hall and a live performance pulses below. It’s organized chaos in the best way—exactly how Studio Manager Cristian “Cris” Castro envisioned it.

“I always wanted a place where independent artists could record their music, shoot their videos, take photos, and perform—all under one roof,” Castro says. What started as an idea now feels more like a living, breathing organism—one that “blends the energy of a live venue with the precision of professional production suites.”

That balance—between vibe and technical polish—is where KRK’s Kreate 5 monitors quietly earn their keep.

Originally brought in as playback speakers for the podcast studio, the Kreate 5s didn’t stay put for long. In a space that refuses to sit still, neither could they. “The Kreates were initially chosen to be playback monitors in our podcast room,” Castro explains, “but now they move all around the building.” And that mobility isn’t a compromise—it’s the point.

Compact enough to travel from room to room but still packing the punch of a larger system, the monitors have become a kind of sonic glue across wildly different creative setups. Whether it’s dialing in dialogue for a podcast, setting the mood during a shoot, or filling the lobby with clean, balanced playback, they’ve become a constant in a space defined by change.

“From recording to playback, consistency is everything—and that’s why KRK is part of the workflow at 555 Studios,” says Castro—and it’s a sentiment that’ll resonate with anyone who’s ever chased a mix across multiple environments. “555 blends the energy of a live venue with the precision of professional production suites. The KRK Kreate K5s give us a trusted clarity in a more flexible form factor. Whether we’re fine-tuning a podcast or setting the tone during a photo shoot, the monitors deliver a balanced, reliable sound that translates across real-world listening environments. Plus, the portability and Bluetooth make it easy to bring that quality into any room instantly, which is key in a space as dynamic as ours.”

And in a studio where one day’s workflow might look nothing like the next, that kind of dependability matters. A lot.

There’s also something refreshingly unpretentious about how the gear is used here. No sacred control room. No precious “don’t touch” setups. Just tools that move as fast as the ideas do—Bluetooth-enabled, easily repositioned, and always ready to adapt.

If 555 Studios proves anything, it’s that today’s creative spaces don’t live in neat categories anymore—and neither should the gear.The post KRK Kreate 5 Monitors Elevate Miami’s 555 Studios Creative Space first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Pearl Jam's Mike McCready on His New Graphic Novel, Classic Grunge, and His Heavy Metal RootsGuitarist, songwriter, and now author Mike McCready talked to AllMusic about his new graphic novel "Farewell to Seasons" which imagines an alternate history to the Seattle music scene.