Jason Mraz at the GRAMMY Museum, Los Angeles, CAWeb: jasonmraz.comContact: ashley@ashleywhitepr.com

Sitting down with rising artist Philip Labes for a Q&A session with Dan Povenmire (Phineas and Ferb) following the screening of music documentary The Opener, it is clear that two-time GRAMMY winner and Songwriters Hall of Fame Honoree Jason Mraz is a fan of Labes’ art.

Sharing the inspiring journey of a street performer-turned-opening act, The Opener navigates how the life of a viral TikTok artist changed the day Jason Mraz joined his livestream. “I took a risk [interacting with Mraz] and he stuck around,” shared Labes. “I was already familiar with the music,” says Mraz. “I clicked on it and he says, ‘Hi Jason Mraz.’ I thought maybe A.I. was communicating with me, but it was so sincere. I watched his entire performance that evening.” 

A few days later, Mraz invited Labes to be his opening act.

Labes’ friends, Jeff Toye and Sunya Mara joined the tour to document the adventure, planning to capture social media footage, but the adventure grew into a full-length documentary. Says Mraz, “I still cry when I see it, probably because I can relive my journey through the way Philip conducted himself on this tour. He went above and beyond and absolutely nailed it.” Labes says he feels like it is a “love letter to creatives and the impulse to be creative.” He hopes it inspires more creativity. 

Performing “(This Movie Is) Rated Ours” and fan favorite “I Won’t Give Up,” Mraz interacted with trademark humility, delivering stunning pure vocals and breathtaking guitar stylings, leaving the room in quiet awe before Philip Labes hopped on stage. Sharing new track, “Big Scary Thing,” sing-a-long “CANNONBALL!," and breakout favorite, “A TV Show Called Earth,” Labes’ combination of softness and sharp wit make him an absolute delight. The full-circle evening (Labes busked outside GRAMMY museum doors 13 years ago) was a magical breakout, with Mraz returning to wrap the evening with a gorgeous rendition of biggest hit, “I’m Yours.”

On creating art, Mraz shared to, “take a deep breath, exhale, [and] make a noise. Maybe the first song is all tears, sorrow and chaos, but maybe the next song has a little bit more clarity, and then after that, you have the laughter again.” 

Grandma’s Gospel Favorites—originally recorded almost 20 years ago for Mraz—is out this month, including songs recalled from his earliest church memories, a few standards with mandolin and upright bass, a Johnny Cash cover, and a couple of originals. Features include longtime collaborator Noel ‘Toca’ Rivera, Andy Powers (CEO/Chief guitar designer at Taylor Guitars), and Ray Suen.

Photo courtesy of the Recording Academy, by Rebecca Sapp, Getty ImagesThe post Jason Mraz at the GRAMMY Museum, Los Angeles, CA first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Primary Wave’s Kobalt acquisition to CVC’s DistroKid deal… it’s MBW’s weekly round-upThe biggest headlines from the past few days...
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12 Madonna Albums That Defin​e Pe​ak Madon​naOn July 3rd, she relea‍sed Confessions II, a full-circle sequel to 2005's Confessions on a Dance Floor that reunites he⁠r with p‍roducer‍ Stuart Pri‍c⁠e for another‍ night⁠ on the dance floor. Acr‍oss more tha⁠n four d‍e‌cades, M‍adonna has never‌ settle⁠d into‍ one ver‌sion of hers‍elf, which is exactly why "peak Madonna" i‍sn't a‍ sing‌le soun‍d —‌ it'‍s a recurring event‍. Here are 12 albums that c⁠ap⁠ture⁠ Madonna at her most Madonna.

Believe restructures global organization to ‘accelerate artist development strategy’Romain Becker named Group COO, Elsa Bahamonde Bourgain to lead combined Artist Services and Label & Artist Solutions
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The Over‍looked "Australian Invasion": The '80s Down Under Expl⁠osi⁠on Tha‍t Ne‌ver G‍ot Its DueFrom AC/DC's Back in Black to Men at Work, INXS, and Midnight Oil, Australian artists left an undeniable mark on the 1980s. In this exclusive excerpt from Down Under: The Men at Work and Colin Hay Story, Greg Prato investigates why this remarkable era has remained one of rock history's most underappreciated musical movements.

How 23dB Productions Is Revolutionizing Audiobook Recording with Focusrite Scarlett 4th GenPictured L-R: Denis Orynbekov, 23dB Productions co-founder and chief engineer; and Fela Davis, 23dB Productions co-founder.

The audiobook boom shows no signs of slowing down—and 23dB Productions is making sure geography doesn’t either. The company has expanded its remote production services into a streamlined audiobook workflow that allows authors to record professional-grade narration from just about anywhere, no studio commute required.

At the center of this operation is the Focusrite Scarlett 4th Generation audio interface, a piece of gear that’s quietly doing a lot of heavy lifting. By pairing intuitive hardware with a highly managed remote workflow, 23dB Productions has effectively turned bedrooms, offices, and hotel rooms into viable recording spaces for authors across the country.

The idea didn’t come out of nowhere. It evolved naturally from the company’s remote podcast services, which gained traction during the pandemic and quickly revealed a broader opportunity. “Our podcast clients started asking if we could help them create audiobook versions of their books,” said co-founder Fela Davis in a press release. “We had already been helping authors on a limited basis, but when we realized how effectively we could manage the entire process remotely, it opened the door to a completely new service offering.”

What 23dB ships out isn’t just a mic and a wish for the best. Authors receive a curated recording kit—complete with a microphone, laptop, and Scarlett interface—along with real-time support from an engineer who remotely monitors each session. The result is a guided experience that feels closer to a studio session than a DIY recording attempt.

According to co-founder and chief engineer Denis Orynbekov, the Scarlett 4th Gen has been a game changer for simplifying what could otherwise be a technically intimidating process. “The ability to control the interface through software allows us to remotely manage critical functions without asking authors to deal with technical settings,” he explained. “Many of our clients have never recorded professionally before, so the simpler we can make the experience, the better.”

The system recently proved its value during the production of former NBA player and coach Bill Cartwright’s audiobook. With a schedule that made traditional studio bookings nearly impossible, Cartwright was able to record on his own time while 23dB handled everything behind the scenes. “The author simply connects to the internet and starts reading,” said Orynbekov. “Meanwhile, we’re managing the session, monitoring performance and making sure we capture the cleanest audio possible.”

For Davis, the appeal of the Scarlett platform goes beyond convenience—it’s about authenticity. “What I love about Focusrite is how accurately it captures the human voice,” she said. “Audiobook listeners want authenticity. Authors want to sound like themselves. Scarlett delivers that natural, transparent sound without adding anything artificial.”

That balance of quality and reliability has been key as 23dB scales its services. Whether working with musicians, podcasters, or first-time authors, the company relies on consistent performance across every session. “We know what we’re going to get every time,” Davis added. “That consistency gives us confidence when we’re recording someone who may be hundreds or thousands of miles away.”

Focusrite, for its part, sees 23dB as a prime example of how adaptable technology can unlock entirely new creative workflows. “We've had the privilege of watching 23dB Productions grow alongside Focusrite for many years, and it's exciting to see how they've continually adapted our technology to meet new creative opportunities,” said Dan Hughley, Director of Marketing, Focusrite Group. “From music and podcast production to today's rapidly growing audiobook market, they've demonstrated that when dependable technology is paired with creative thinking, entirely new business models become possible. We're proud that Scarlett continues to be a trusted part of that journey.”

As for what’s next, 23dB Productions is betting big on the future of audiobooks. With a large percentage of published titles still unavailable in audio form, the runway is long—and their remote-first model is built to meet the moment.

“The audiobook market is still massively underserved,” said Orynbekov. “Focusrite gives us the ability to bring studio-quality production directly to authors wherever they are…without compromising audio quality.”

In other words, the studio hasn’t disappeared—it’s just been shipped directly to your door.The post How 23dB Productions Is Revolutionizing Audiobook Recording with Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

NewJeans face copyright lawsuit from US music publisher over ‘ETA’All Surface Publishing claims "ETA" copied a combination of musical elements from a dance track released nearly two decades earlier, without a license.
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The Hidden Verses That Made Grath Brooks' "Double Live" Album a Country Music BibleGarth Brooks' Double Live wasn't just a record-breaking live album—it became the only way fans could experience his concerts for years. Discover the two hidden verses that turned the album into a legendary piece of country music history.

Done deal: Primary Wave’s acquisition of Kobalt has closedMBW sources close to the deal have confirmed that the acquisition closed on Tuesday (July 7) after passing all relevant regulatory scrutiny.
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Platten’s Diamond Award, SESAC Celebrates Artists Marking over 10 million units sold in the United States, singer-songwriter Rachel Platten receives RIAAA’s Diamond Award for “Fight Song” by Sony Music Publishing, joining Beyoncé, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and others as one of only 25 solo female artists to receive the honor.

[L-R: Jon Platt (Chairman/CEO, Sony Music Publishing), Rachel Platten, Dave Bassett at Sony Music Publishing’s celebration of Rachel Platten]

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Celebrating the SESAC Film & Television Composer Awards, this year’s honorees included Laura Karpman (Captain America: Brave New World), Daniel Lopatin (Marty Supreme) and The Newton Brothers. SESAC’s annual Latina Music Awards honored Kapo, Edén Muñoz, and Sony Music Publishing for global chart successes. Details HERE, Latin HERE.

With growing international efforts, the organization recently established the “John Sweeney Stage” at the Sound City Festival in England, and the John Sweeney Impact Prize for promising new artists, in honor of SESAC’s late Vice President of International and cornerstone of UK’s music community.The post Platten’s Diamond Award, SESAC Celebrates Artists first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

13 Great​ Alter⁠native Rock​ Albums from the L⁠ate 1970s‍The late 1970s‍ is often defined by‌ punk's exp‌losi‌on,‌ but this⁠ list de‍li⁠bera‍te​ly step‌s ou​tsid‌e the strict boundaries of punk rock. What emerged in this era was⁠ something broader and more e⁠xperimen⁠tal: post-‌punk ten‍sion, ele‌ctronic minimalis‌m, art-​rock ab‌s‌tr⁠a​ction, an⁠d new-w‍a‌ve irony​.‌ These albums didn't just re‌flec⁠t the late '70‍s—they​ he​lped define⁠ the sonic blueprint for a⁠lternati‍ve r‌ock in the decad​es that followed.

FILM - TV - THEATER - GAMES: Assassin's Creed, Small Plates Choreography FestivalThe music from Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag has released on vinyl in two formats, a 5LP collector's box set and a double LP set, via Ubisoft and Laced Records. Timed to the announcement of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, both releases featured new cover artwork by illustrator Jeff Langevin alongside archival environment pieces from Ubisoft. Exclusive variants include a blue-disc 5LP and a blue-and-orange double LP, available only through Laced Records. The 5LP includes 79 tracks from Brian Tyler's original score, multiplayer music by The Flight and Christian Henson, popular sea shanties, and Olivier Deriviere's Freedom Cry DLC score. The 2LP features 36 highlights from Tyler's score and a selection of shanties. For more information, contact Greg O'Connor-Read at greg@topdollarpr.com.

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August 1 is the deadline to submit work to The Small Plates Choreography Festival, which is open to both emerging and seasoned choreographers. 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: Assassin's Creed, Small Plates Choreography Festival first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

CVC Capital Partners to acquire majority stake in DistroKidThe transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Terms were not disclosed.
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50​ Y‌ea⁠rs Ago: 12 Al⁠bum‍s That Defined 1976‍With‍ the Unit‌ed States marking 250 years since the adoption o‍f‍ the Declaration of Indep‌endence‌ this July 4, now is the‍ perfe⁠ct moment to revi⁠sit 1976—the nation's bice‍ntennial year‌—and the cl‌assic alb⁠ums it produced.

Ranking‌ Eve‍ry Bon J​ovi A⁠lbum, From Worst to B​estWith Bon Jovi returning to Madison Square Garden this July, we ranked all 17 studio albums using AllMusic's star ratings — from a 1.5-star contractual obligation to the 4.5-star arena-rock blueprint.