Suno wants to offer tracks pressing to vinyl, really? Interesting move from the point of rights in #AI #MusicBusiness

"LEMONADE" by AespaSM EntertainmentProducers: Various

Aespa shines the brightest when their bold personalities take center stage. Their second studio album LEMONADE startsoff strong with the catchy hooks and explosive lyrics of “LEMONADE” and “SHAKIN.” The album’s clear production really highlights the K-pop group’s vocal prowess especially in the rock inspired track “Can’t Help Myself.” The biggest stand out is “Switchblade (feat.Ty Dolla $ign),” the songs experimental electronic production is euphoric and Ty Dolla $ign’s feature works nicely. The last half is when things start to fall apart as songs feel less ambitious and more generic. Overall, LEMONADE is filled with more sweet notes than sour. The post "LEMONADE" by Aespa first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Why Gen Z’s most culturally powerful rappers aren’t its biggest starsCultural relevance in hip-hop has decoupled from mainstream scale. The artists proving it are reshaping where the industry should be looking, says Diana Umana…
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The Night the Rolling Stones Played Altamont - And Nobody Could Stop What Happened Next

Sunset Marquis Hotel’s Legacy Recounted at Events with Lzzy Hale and Sharon OsbourneHeld at Landmark Theatres on Sunset Boulevard, just steps from the Sunset Strip, the double-header premiere of If These Walls Could Rock celebrated the new documentary chronicling the legendary history of the Sunset Marquis Hotel. Friday, August 14 featured a Q&A with Allison Hagendorf and Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, while Saturday, August 15 featured MC contributor Lyndsey Parker, and Sharon Osbourne.

Directed by Tyler Measom and Craig A. Williams, the 93-minute documentary spans more than 60 years of Sunset Marquis history and features over 40 music-industry figures, including Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Slash, Dave Grohl, and Morrissey. The film also explores the relationship between father-and-son owners George and Mark Rosenthal and the hotel’s evolution alongside Los Angeles’ changing music scene.

Following Friday’s screening, Hale recalled first arriving in Los Angeles with her band, stopping at the hotel’s famed bar and running into the late, great Amy Winehouse.

Saturday’s screening welcomed guests including Howie Mandel, followed by a Q&A in which Sharon Osbourne recalled the Osbourne family’s many stays at the Sunset Marquis, describing it as a place where Ozzy felt comfortable being himself. She also expanded on a story from the film about daughter Kelly Osbourne trying cocaine for the first time at the hotel, revealing that Courtney Love was the previously unnamed rock star who gave it to her. These stories offer just a glimpse into the countless tales brought to life throughout the documentary.

If These Walls Could Rock is a worthwhile watch for music fans interested in the stories behind one of Los Angeles’ most storied rock 'n' roll hotels - a place some rock stars still regularly call home while in town. The film is now playing in select theaters and is available to watch digitally on Apple TV and Prime Video.The post Sunset Marquis Hotel’s Legacy Recounted at Events with Lzzy Hale and Sharon Osbourne first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Robert Kyncl justifies Suno deal, as UMG and Sony press on with lawsuit: ‘In my opinion, you embrace it.’Kyncl appeared on Semafor's Mixed Signals podcast on Friday (August 14), where he discussed Suno – and why he'd start a music service at Netflix.
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Do What You Fear Most: The Top 5 Velvet Underground Albums

AROOJ AFTAB JOINS NORAH JONES FOR PODCAST PERFORMANCEArooj Aftab appeared on Norah Jones’ podcast Norah Jones Is Playing Along, where the two performed selections from their catalogs and a cover of Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”

The episode highlights their musical chemistry and conversation, arriving as Aftab continues a series of collaborations and sets off to open select dates on St. Vincent’s orchestral tour.

The post AROOJ AFTAB JOINS NORAH JONES FOR PODCAST PERFORMANCE first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Suno’s BMG breakthrough to Live Nation’s counterfeit crackdown… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-upThe biggest headlines from the past few days...
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Suno launches Studio 2.0 with MIDI support, an AI chat bar… and no download limitSuno claims that "Grammy-winning artists" have used Suno Studio in the past to "make chart-topping hits"
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Moon Walker at the The Vera ProjectEclectic alternative people of varying ages could be found littered around Seattle Center on June 14th, all of whom were clearly residents of “Wasteland Country”, courtesy of Brooklyn-based band Moon Walker. Harry Springer, better known as the face and front man of the project Moon Walker, is known for weaponizing the short-form algorithm in his favor to promote his dystopian, politically charged indie rock. In an era where social media has a chokehold on the music industry, many artists are forced to become influencers in order to promote their art; Moon Walker, however, has been able to use this formula to push his artistic message of anti-capitalism and general political nihilism.

Arriving at notorious all-ages venue The Vera Project early was clearly the strategy, as the merch line spanned across the entire venue, right as doors opened. From New Order to Militaire Gun, band shirts could be seen all over the main ballroom on older crowd members, presumably those who hear older glam and psychedelic influences in the bands’ sound. While functioning primarily as an indie/rock group, Moon Walker has been cited as having influences all over the map, including blues, glam, garage, and psychedelic rock.

Super Cassette

Initial opening band Super Cassette gave the crowd a queer Californian pop-punk summer, as they chanted original songs about drugs, satan, and gender to a crowd hungry for whimsy. While still maintaining a core pop sound, the band could diversely channel Pansy Division-style pop-punk one minute and The Strokes-style indie melancholia the next. Chicago-based band Pretoria followed shortly after, making what can only be described as 2000s Disney Channel montage music, with a bit of subtextual jazzy surfy-ness.

Pretoria

After a quick coffee break at The Vera Projects' in-house cafe, it was time to be consumed by the bleak bright yellow world of Moon Walker’s fifth album, WASTELAND COUNTRY. Aesthetic consistency was on full display as the band arrived in matching jumpsuits, à la Devo. It was clear that the “Wasteland Country” concept ran far deeper than just the album, as the backtrack serenaded the crowd with a haunting orchestral melody before robotically announcing “Each day begins with a happy face”. The band quickly jumped into hits off the album such as “HAPPY FACE”, “SUPERNATIONALIST”, and “EVERYBODY GOES TO HEAVEN”. The tracks took

on a far darker and more blues-inspired tone when performed live as the raw guitar melted seamlessly with the deep, hollow bass notes.

Other tracks from the project's past, like “Regular People” and “Ban This Song,” were resurrected, alongside covers of Nirvana's “Heart Shaped Box” and Black Sabbath's “War Pigs”. The covers were, of course, given an apocalyptic sci-fi brutalist spin to fit the show's message. The band's presence left little to be desired as they maintained a rockstar-like swagger with a throughline of chaotic insurgence

Moon Walker is a project that is incredibly sure of itself; between the social media marketing and the visual direction of the latest releases, Springer knows he’s going places. These days it's sacrilege not to be self-deprecating and overtly humble, so this project feels like a breath of fresh air. It will be interesting to see what other stories the band has to tell us in the coming years through their albums and tours.

Moon WalkerThe post Moon Walker at the The Vera Project first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

The Day Roger Waters Quit Pink Floyd — And Why It Ended Up in Court

"CONFESSIONS II" by MadonnaWarner RecordsProducer: Stuart Price

The queen of pop returns to rule the dancefloor with CONFESSIONS II. The highly anticipated sequel to Confessions on a Dance Floor reunites Madonna with British producer Stuart Price. Like the 2005 release, all 16 songs of CONFESSIONS II blend together like a DJ set. Spoken word monologues are sprinkled throughout each song, bringing us closer to Madonna’s world. The album opener “I Feel So Free” reveals her struggles of being in the public eye and finding comfort in a crowded club.

The album is ultimately a love letter to the dance floor as she asserts, “The dance floor is not just a place/ It’s a threshold, a ritualistic space where movement replaces language” in the track “One Step Away.” The album delves deeper into her life as the French touch electronic song “Danceteria” is named after the New York club where she worked and got discovered by DJ Mark Kamins.

The latter half of the album takes a more somber tone as “Fragile” is a heartfelt nod to her late brother. She also duets with her daughter Lourdes “Lola” Leon in “The Test.” The raw track highlights their strained relationship and the pressures of living in the spotlight. The album perfectly captures and revitalizes Madonna’s signature sound. The post "CONFESSIONS II" by Madonna first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Anghami co-founder Eddy Maroun launches Arabic music IP platform IPNation, targeting $100m with backing from Influence Media PartnersIPNation describes itself as the first investment platform dedicated exclusively to Arabic music catalogs and entertainment IP.
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Did EMI Tell Queen to Cut "Bohemian Rhapsody" in Half?