Karra, bifurcation and YouTube’s gainA couple of weeks ago, electronic music artist Karra posted a video on YouTube about why she took her album down from streaming (one that she spent $100,000 making) and is now going to focus her efforts on YouTube (“an incredible platform for [her] artistry”) as well as selling content to music creators. The details in here will be familiar to most and many of them (fraud, bots, demonetisation, fractional royalties, slow payments, lack of support) are widely recognised as ‘industry glitches’. But when they are all stitched together, they can become an insurmountable challenge for independent creators. Big labels and publishers have the organisational scale to swat these glitches away like flies, but for creators doing everything on their own, it can make the system feel rigged against them. Karra’s solution was to opt out of the streaming economy entirely. Is she an outlier, or a sign of Bifurcation gathering pace?

Karra’s story is one of an artist trying to do what a label artist would do (co-writers, mixing and mastering, photoshoots, videos etc) but on her own. The result was a wholly professional release but because she lacked the operational resources of a record label, all of the glitches (canvass not uploading, social not monetising, music taking down for suspected fraudulent activity, fraudsters posting to her streaming profile, dodgy merch companies not paying etc) simply became too much. The kicker though was that her streaming royalties added up to little more than one percent of her outlay. Sure, if the album had been more successful or if she had spent less making it, that equation might have changed but this was an album with over a million streams, so not nothing. The kicker however, is that her YouTube video telling the story generated more revenue in one week than the album did on streaming in one year. 

There may not be many artists who depend upon streaming royalties to pay their bills, instead using it to fuel their core income streams (live, merch etc). But when the investment and effort vs rewards equation is so imbalanced, it is not surprising that a growing number of creators are now looking elsewhere. Among the non-DSP artists MIDiA has been tracking, YouTube keeps coming up as the place they turn to. Creating ‘content’ on YouTube is not of course for all artists, but now, neither is streaming. The reality of today’s music business may be fragmentation and complexity but this also means that artists now have more paths they can follow. 

The flipside of the complexity and fragmentation is that this strengthens the case for record labels. The depth and breadth of expertise needed to navigate today’s music business simply cannot be recreated by an independent creator’s own team. The likely implication is that successful independent creators have a choice between staying independent but specialising on one or two platforms, or working with a label to work across all of them.

An interesting additional element to the case for YouTube is that it enables artists to tell their story. As we enter the AI era, story telling has never been more important for artists to differentiate from something generated by a text prompt. As Mary Spender puts it, YouTube can play the role of ‘proof of work’. If / when AI music swamps streaming, not only will artists face royalty dilution and attention competition, they will have no meaningful way of communicating their ‘human-ness’ there. Unlike, of course, YouTube.

Streaming’s problems are a combination of self-inflicted injuries, industry dysfunction and unscrupulous third-party behaviour. Fixes are needed from both within and without. While larger rightsholders might look at this and think that these are little more than glitches for their businesses, if streaming fails, they fail. For all its creator-level faults, streaming works well at the rightsholder level. Rightsholders revenues are now dominated by streaming. As we first outlined in Bifurcation Theory in early 2024, streaming’s problems are opportunities for the expanding, non-DSP side of the music business. With a growing body of newer, younger creators prioritising YouTube and social over streaming, it will only be a matter of time before this starts translating into a clear culture-shift. Expect that to happen even faster if Gen AI starts to dominate functional playlists on streaming. YouTube will be waiting with open arms.

Keep an eye out for MIDiA’s forthcoming ‘Future of Streaming’ report that uses conversations with streaming’s leaders to present a bold vision for the industry’s future.

4 Ways Artists Can Use YouTube Analytics to Grow Their ReachYouTube's guide for using analytics to help creators grow their channels offers artists some interesting tips and insights. Let's take a look!
The post 4 Ways Artists Can Use YouTube Analytics to Grow Their Reach appeared first on Hypebot.

Emmy-Nominated Composers and Songwriters Attend BMI Brunch(Top, L-R) Robert Lydecker, Kenny Wood, Christopher Lennertz, Brian Claeys, Bailey Gordon, Jesse Hartov, Ilan Eshkeri, Sean Douglas, Kathryn Bostic, Sherri Chung, Dominic Lewis, Mark Evitts, Carlos Rafael Rivera, Carl Johnson, Julia Newman, (Bottom, L-R) Duncan Thum, Rickey Minor, BMI’s Tracy McKnight and Barbie Quinn, Tova Litvin, Kyle Rodriguez, BMI’s Louie Stephens, and Doug Rockwell at BMI’s Emmy Brunch on Thursday, September 4, 2025, in Beverly Hills, CA. Photo credit: JC Olivera for BMI.On Monday, BMI released a statement to report that it had, "hosted an exclusive brunch at its Los Angeles office to celebrate its Emmy-nominated composers and songwriters, bringing together top talent and industry professionals for a morning of recognition and connection. Held on Thursday, September 4, 2025, the event honored the exceptional work of this year's Creative Arts Emmy contenders.""A highlight of the brunch was a video montage showcasing standout moments from the nominated scores, prompting cheers and applause from guests. Among the Emmy-nominated attendees were Sherri Chung (Based On A True Story), Christopher Lennertz (The Boys), Dominic Lewis (Your Friends & Neighbors), Rickey Minor (The Kennedy Center Honors), Julia Newman (Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story), Thomas Newman (Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story) and Carlos Rafael Rivera (Dept. Q), to name a few," they said. The celebration highlights BMI’s continued commitment to supporting and recognizing excellence within the composer and songwriter communities."The post Emmy-Nominated Composers and Songwriters Attend BMI Brunch first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

SoundExchange launches appeal of ruling in SiriusXM lawsuit, says satellite radio firm has underpaid royalties by $400MSoundExchange is challenging a judge's ruling that the PRO doesn't have authority under the law to sue on behalf of rightsholders
Source

A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Origins of Spinal TapBack in the '80s, before the internet, Spinal Tap fans could only speculate at the real-life inspirations for the many unforgettable scenes and set pieces in the film. Now, at last, we can reveal the truth. Here are the stories behind some of the finest moments in Spinal Tap.

Tay Keith Named BMI Songwriter of the Year at 2025 AwardsMemphis native Tay Keith has built a career on hits that define the sound of today’s hip-hop. Now, he’s earned one of the industry’s top honors. At the 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, the GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum producer received the Songwriter of the Year award.A statement from the company discloses that the recognition comes from his work on chart-dominating singles including Drake’s "First Person Shooter," Sexyy Red’s "Get It Sexyy," and Travis Scott’s "Meltdown."The honor is the latest in a growing list of milestones for Keith. A statement from the company states that he has previously been named Complex’s “Top Rap Producer in Their Twenties” and ranked No. 12 on Billboard’s list of Top Producers of the 21st Century R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. Recently, he also celebrated his fifth Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with Travis Scott’s “4×4,” making him one of only four hip-hop producers to achieve that distinction.Beyond the charts, Keith is pushing boundaries in other areas of music. A statement from the company discloses that he founded DRUMATIZED, the first record label created to bridge country and hip-hop, and established Nashville’s second Black-owned recording studio. His commitment also extends to philanthropy through efforts like the Music For Healing Initiative with the American Cancer Society and the My Memphis Poetry Challenge, designed to inspire the next generation of creatives.Keith first rose to prominence in his hometown, producing for Memphis artists such as Yo Gotti, Moneybagg Yo, and Blac Youngsta before breaking out with BlocBoy JB and Drake’s "Look Alive." He has since collaborated with Drake on multiple tracks, with the biggest being "SICKO MODE"—a multi-platinum hit that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a GRAMMY nomination.With this new recognition from BMI, Tay Keith’s role as both a hitmaker and an architect of hip-hop’s future is firmly established.The post Tay Keith Named BMI Songwriter of the Year at 2025 Awards first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From JYP’s AI artist venture to UMG’s Downtown deal inquiry pause… it’s MBW’s weekly round-upThe biggest headlines from the past few days – all in one place
Source

Contacts for Music Festivals That Book Emerging ArtistsHoping to land a spot on a festival lineup in 2026? Here are contacts for music festivals that are now accepting artist applications.
The post Contacts for Music Festivals That Book Emerging Artists appeared first on Hypebot.

How Artists Can Shape Their Brand in 2025In this era of music marketing, it's crucial for artists to take an active role in shaping their brand look and narrative. Here's a handy guide to artist branding to help you get started!
The post How Artists Can Shape Their Brand in 2025 appeared first on Hypebot.

Focusrite Group hosts inaugural Educational Summit at Create-it StudiosAttendees of the Focusrite Group’s inaugural Educational Summit, held August 14-15 at the cutting-edge Create-it Studios in Franklin, TN.The Focusrite Group announced on Thursday that it, "hosted its inaugural Educational Summit on August 14-15 at the cutting-edge Create-it Studios in Franklin, TN. Organized by Dr. Lee Whitmore, Vice President for Education, Focusrite Group Americas, the summit brought together leading voices in music, audio, and education for two days of thought leadership, collaboration, and exploration of best practices in preparing the next generation of creators.""The event followed closely on the heels of the July 26th Focusrite Group Create-it Takeover, held at Create-it Studios, a groundbreaking creative innovation space developed in collaboration with Walmart and sponsored by Full Sail University," they said in a statement. "Located inside Walmart in Franklin, TN, Create-it Studios is a one-stop destination for podcasting, music production, video creation and live events, open to everyone, regardless of experience or background.""At the Education Summit, attendees participated in panels, workshops, and discussions that spanned topics such as immersive audio, curriculum design, music technology innovations, and cross-industry collaboration. A highlight of the program was a Dolby Atmos® panel moderated by GRAMMY®-nominated engineer and audio educator John Merchant, with guest experts GRAMMY-winning engineer Jon Blass and noted electronic music producer/DJ Greg “Stryke” Chin sharing insights on the future of spatial audio.""Special thanks were extended to the Create-it team, along with Full Sail University’s Andrew Duncan and Michael Orlowski, for their contributions to the event."Attendees included representatives from:Belmont University

Calhoun Community College

Columbia State Community College

Dark Horse Institute

Dolby Laboratories

Eastman School of Music

Florida State University

Full Sail University

Greenwich High School, Greenwich, CT

Lipscomb University

Loyola University New Orleans

Metro Nashville Public Schools

Miami Dade College

Middle Tennessee State University

North Carolina State University

University of Alabama at Birmingham

University of North Alabama

Virginia State University“Focusrite has always been deeply committed to supporting education and empowering the next generation of music creators,” said Dr. Lee Whitmore. “This summit gave us the opportunity to bring together a remarkable group of educators, industry leaders, and innovators to share knowledge, inspire one another, and advance the role of music technology in education.”"The Focusrite Group Educational Summit marks the beginning of an ongoing initiative to foster dialogue and collaboration between academic institutions, industry leaders, and creators, ensuring that the tools, resources, and inspiration needed for tomorrow’s music innovators remain accessible and impactful."The post Focusrite Group hosts inaugural Educational Summit at Create-it Studios first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

On… The China ParadoxThis article originally appeared in Tim Ingham’s latest MBW+ Review email, issued exclusively to MBW+ subscribers.
Source

Music Tectonics Creator Fair: Hypebot readers save 66%!The Music Tectonics Creator Fair is happening on November 4 at Santa Monica Pier. It's a unique opportunity to explore the future of music-making and learn about tools that can move your career forward.
The post Music Tectonics Creator Fair: Hypebot readers save 66%! appeared first on Hypebot.

UK Live Music Industry: A Year of Growth and Growing PainsNewly released data shows how the UK live music industry closed out 2024 on a high note with record-breaking consumer spending. Yet, it also reveals an increasing strain on the grassroots scene that we see in the U.S. as well.
The post UK Live Music Industry: A Year of Growth and Growing Pains appeared first on Hypebot.

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DEVO DOCUMENTARY NOW STREAMING ON NETFLIXDEVO, the feature documentary about the pioneering New Wave band DEVO, is now streaming globally as a Netflix Original. The film premiered to rave reviews from critics and audiences at Sundance 2024:“A zippy, zany, whip(it)-smart documentary” - INDIEWIRE“For Devo fans, it’s 90 minutes of irresistible pop history and dazzlingly edited surrealist audio-visual candy.”  - VARIETY“This is utterly fantastic. On some level stupendous. This is not your average rock doc. You know, a linear retelling of the band's career, pure fact with a bit of rearview interpretation by those still alive. RATHER, this is all about the inspiration, this is all about the ARTISTRY! And we haven't had that spirit here for a very long time. If you're a baby boomer, you will remember. The inspiration of old films, from W.C. Fields to the Marx Brothers to Inherit the Wind, which had a profound effect on Mark Mothersbaugh. Who is inspired by a pamphlet given to him by a teacher which lays out so much of the Devo philosophy long before there even is a band.” –THE LEFSETZ LETTER  Netflix trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgV8X2x6xvE An announcement from Rhino touted 2025 DEVO endeavors:“Acclaimed filmmakerChris Smith (Wham!, Fyre, 100 Foot Wave, and Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond) captures the gloriously radical spirit that is DEVO – a rare band founded by a philosophy; a Dada experiment of high art meets low, hellbent on infiltrating American popular culture. Through never-before-seen archival and interviews with Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh, and Jerry Casale, DEVO relishes in the highs, lows, surreal moments and incredible performances of a 50-year career, embracing the spectacle of the band from their lo-fi beginnings to pioneers of the music video in the early days of MTV’s cultural dominance. “Band members are open with their memories and archives, charting their origins as Kent State University arts students shaped by the activism of the late 1960s. Following the 1970 massacre on their campus, the band’s concept of cultural “De-Evolution” turned from satirical humor to urgent social commentary, and what began as subversive counterprogramming to KSU’s 1973 arts festival would go on to warn of, comment on, and reflect back the absurdism of the late 20th century. Finding mainstream success at the height of 1980s consumerism, DEVO soundtracked the De-Evolution they’d long predicted – and influenced a 21st century they’d have never believed. “DEVO is a Library Films / VICE Studios production in association with Mutato Entertainment, presented by BMG, Undeniable (a Fremantle label), and Warner Music Group. The film is available exclusively on Netflix starting today. Listen to the DEVO Netflix Official Playlist here: https://netflixmusic.ffm.to/devo.“Accompanying the band's documentary is a companion piece, Energy Dome Frequencies: Songs From The DEVO Documentary, available as a 1LP and CD on October 31. Featuring unforgettable DEVO hits like "Girl U Want," "Uncontrollable Urge," and their platinum-certified single, "Whip It."“Energy Dome Frequencies: Songs From The DEVO Documentary track listing:Side OneMongoloid (Warner Version)

Jocko Homo (Warner Version)

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

Uncontrollable Urge

Girl U Want

 Freedom Of ChoiceSide TwoWhip It

Gates Of Steel

Working In The Coal Mine

Beautiful World

Through Being Cool

That's Good“In summer of 2025, the group is gearing up to unite with The B-52’s for the 2025 “Cosmic De-Evolution Tour”: a co-headlining 12-date run serving as both bands’ continuing concert farewells. Lene Lovich will open the trek, which launches September 24th in Toronto and wraps November 2nd in Houston.Tickets are available at LiveNation.com.” COSMIC DE-EVOLUTION TOUR DATES 2025:9/24 - Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage9/25 - Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre10/2 - Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center10/4 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center10/5 - Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater10/16 - Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre10/18 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl10/19 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl10/24 - Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion10/25 - Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre11/1 - Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater                                                                    In 1973, out of the remnants of late ’60s political activism and the rising post-punk music climate, the seminal band DEVO was born. The formative lineup consisted of two sets of brothers—Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, and Gerald and Bob Casale—along with drummer Alan Myers, all hailing from Akron, Ohio. The band’s prophetic message of “Devolution” and their strikingly original fusion of electronics and punk made them a singular influence throughout the ’80s and into the ’90s.”DEVO began when Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale met as students at Kent State University and began exchanging ideas about art and music. Deeply influenced by the Vietnam War, campus protests, and the tragic Kent State shootings of May 1970, the duo started making films and writing songs that would evolve into a wholly unique performance style.Their art-meets-music ethos quickly propelled them into the spotlight as one of the most high-profile acts in the New Wave movement.During 1976, it was the Hollywood-based music publisher Dan Bourgoise of Bug Music who played me DEVO recordings right after the group landed in Southern California. He also screened DEVO videos by director Chuck Statler. I met Mark in his office.  I saw DEVO’s debut in Hollywood, as well as numerous shows, including a gig at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium with Mink Deville.After interviewing Leonard Cohen for Melody Maker in the late seventies, we went to see DEVO at The Starwood. I recall Leonard and I talking about bluegrass music in the dressing room. In the late fifties Leonard was in a band the Buckskin Boys, and in 1968 recorded Songs From A Room in Nashville Tennessee with producer Bob Johnston. The members of DEVO quickly bowed out of any discussion with us on bluegrass and country music. It was obvious that these art heads were not at all interested, let alone wanting to be associated with past musical genres.      In 1978, after earning a fervent cult following that included David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Neil Young, after a show in New York at Max’s Kansas City, Bowie declared DEVO “the band of the future,” DEVO was whisked off to Germany. There, Brian Eno—along with Bowie’s collaboration—produced their debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are DEVO!. The record caught the attention of both critics and the industry, helping the band build a following. It wasn’t until their third album, Freedom of Choice—produced by Bob Margouleff and featuring the double-platinum single Whip It—that DEVO became a worldwide band.They continued to evolve, releasing influential albums such as New Traditionalists, Oh No! It’s DEVO, and Shout. Their visual and sonic innovations helped define the aesthetic of the early MTV era.In 1990, DEVO went on hiatus to pursue other creative paths and during 1996, DEVO reunited for the first time in six years at the Sundance Film Festival to an exuberant crowd—DEVO was back with the original lineup intact (except for Alan Myers, who was replaced by drummer Josh Freese), the band reignited their live performance legacy. Freese remained with DEVO for nearly two decades.Since then, DEVO has continued to perform at festivals and venues around the globe. Their message feels contemporary, and their influence can be heard in bands ranging from Rage Against the Machine and Nirvana to LCD Soundsystem and Santigold.Kurt Cobain once said, “Of all the bands who came from the underground and made it in the mainstream, DEVO were the most challenging and subversive of all.” (Nirvana covered DEVO’s Turnaround, featured on their 1992 compilation Incesticide.)In 2023, DEVO embarked on their 50th Anniversary Tour, featuring three original members—Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, and Gerald Casale. Jeff Friedl now holds the drumsticks, and Josh Hager has taken over for the late Bob Casale on rhythm guitar and synths. Their high-energy performances blend punk, rock, and synth-pop in a way that continues to delight a loyal audience.It was in 1990 when DEVO went on hiatus to pursue other creative paths.Mark Mothersbaugh received a call from friend Paul Reubens and went on to compose the theme and music for Pee-wee’s Playhouse. This unexpected opportunity launched him into a prolific career in film and television composition. He founded Mutato Muzika—a full-service music production house and a nod to his DEVO roots ("mutant" + "potato")—and brought in Bob Mothersbaugh and Bob Casale.Based in the Oscar Niemeyer building on Sunset Boulevard, Mutato became one of the most successful music houses in Hollywood. Mark has since become one of the most in-demand and highest-grossing composers in the industry. In addition to hundreds of commercials, games, and television projects, his film scores include The Rugrats Movie, Wes Anderson’s Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, The Lego Movie, Thor: Ragnarok, Cocaine Bear, and most recently, A Minecraft movie.Gerald Casale, director of most of DEVO’s music videos, became a notable figure in the MTV revolution, directing videos for bands like Rush, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, and Silverchair. He also built a successful commercial career, directing for brands including Miller Lite, Diet Coke, Mrs. Butterworth's and Tang.I’ve always enjoyed Mothersbaugh’s soundtrack score to The Royal Tenenbaums. A film starring Gene Hackman, Anjelica Houston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Luke Wilson. The Royal Tenenbaums is a hilarious, touching, and brilliantly stylized study of melancholy and redemption from Anderson.The Criterion Collection has released a Blu-Ray with a restoredhigh-definition digital transfer, supervised by director Anderson, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack · Audio commentary by Anderson · With the Filmmaker: Portraits by Albert Maysles, featuring Anderson · Interviews with and behind-the-scenes footage of actors Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, and Danny Glover · Outtakes · The Peter Bradley Show, featuring interviews with additional cast members · Scrapbook featuring young Richie’s murals and paintings, still photographs by set photographer James Hamilton, book and magazine covers, and storyboards · Studio 360 radio segment on painter Miguel Calderón, along with examples of his work · Trailers · Insert with Eric Anderson’s drawings of the Tenenbaum house · PLUS: An essay by film critic Kent JonesDuring July 2025, DEVO made available a restored version of their May 1976 short film, The Truth About De-Evolution. In 1977 the movie won first prize at the Ann Arbor Film Festival. The nine-minute film, directed by Chuck Statler, now incorporates upgraded audio and video by archivist, Peter Conheim, and the Cinema Preservation Alliance. It includes two DEVO renditions of “Secret Agent Man” and “Jocko Homo.” An Instagram post promised, “More restored films and mind-melting content coming soon.”Last century I was at a music business event in West Hollywood. At the food line, Mark Mothersbaugh introduced himself and praised my work with the Doors’ Ray Manzarek. Mark then offered, “Hearing the Doors’ ‘Light My Fire’ and Ray Manzarek’s keyboard was a big influence on a teenage kid in Akron, Ohio.”During 2006 I interviewed Mark Mothersbaugh.Q. How did you begin working with Wes Anderson?A. The Royal Tenenbaums. How it began. Asked to look at a film by someone at Sony that Owen and Wes wrote together Bottle Rocket. Saw a screening and thought it was much more interesting than other movies made about this generation.I’d like to do music for this that had nothing to do with rock ‘n’ roll or current trends or MTV. I was offered the score. I met with Wes and we talked, led to Rushmore and Tenenbaums. Now we have a vocabulary when we work. Since we had done two films, he was calling me when he was writing the script for The Royal Tenenbaums, so we were talking back then, trading music over a year before the movie came out.Q. What about the process of the composer working with the record label for soundtracks?A. Labels don’t really care about composers. That’s the truth. Generally speaking, a label is generally looking for a way to sell, they look at the movie as a poster, a commercial for their talent they’ve signed. And they don’t know what do with, and try and pick up movies that they think they can stick their songs into, and don’t care where, or how, usually.Most movies do not care about the underscore when it comes to a soundtrack album because, from a numbers point of view, it’s a rare soundtrack that sells numbers that are exciting to a record company.With my pieces on Tenenbaums, it’s Wes’ call. He was very adamant about the score being on the soundtrack. That’s the only reason it’s there. The movie is Wes’ vision. He’s an artist.Now movies are made, with a lot of lawyers in the middle and there’s a lot of focus, depending on your focus group, either 16 year old boys in Encino or 12 year old kids in Pasadena. Typically, they tell you how much money they have for a music budget and from the get go Wes knew he wanted some of these songs.Q. You’ve been the artist with DEVO, what’s the best way for the composer to work with a director and music supervisor?A. It took me a while to get there. I always looked at music supervisors as being unnecessary and meddlesome and over credited. And I think you have to try and understand everybody’s motivations and why they are there in the first place.The most important thing for me is helping a director achieve his vision. You’re given the limitations of what the film company thinks your worth, you have that many dollars to use towards that goal and a lot of time directors don’t have a clue about a soundtrack album. In the case of Wes, it was quite different. Every single piece of this movie is important to him. He sat with me while I was writing music for the film and scoring and we talked constantly during the process. Most times directors get nervous, or are too busy to do that, or they’re already on to the next project. He sat in the back room. He’s probably the most hands-on director I’ve ever worked with.In this case I wrote cues while temp music was already in place. It’s very common that the songs are in place before the film gets to a composer. But unlike our previous collaborations, this is the first time he called me to discuss music as he was putting the script together. So, I was writing sketches based on early drafts of the script and then sending them to him. That allowed him to listen to the music as he was filming.   Actually, I was writing music when he gave me the first draft of his script back in November of last year.Q. What drew you to Wes?A. His temp music was one of the reasons I wanted to work with him from the very beginning. Even in Bottle Rocket. Like in that one, he used the Rolling Stones’ ‘2000 Year Old Man’ which I really like. I thought, ‘what an odd choice, but it was a perfect choice.’ How interesting that he would go there instead of doing something from MTV.That’s what made me want to meet him in the first place. ‘This is somebody who needs somebody to protect him and to help him create his vision.’ He has interesting tastes and makes a lot of his choices intellectually, but they always resonate with what he’s doing. He picks things that compliment his picture. It’s like, there are movies I’ve worked on where because before they got to the end of the movie, they made a deal with a company or label, and it’s doesn’t matter who they are to the label, and it’s kind of at a certain point it doesn’t matter to the film makers, they just want an album and hoping and fishing for a hit song. And if it relates to the music, all the better, but if it doesn’t, they quite honestly could care less.By the time we mixed the movie we backed off from some of the score simply because there were so many songs in the audio, you didn’t want to distract anybody. But that’s a balance you find as you are going along and it becomes determined what songs are going and staying.Q. What about scoring for movies and directors who might like your band. Does it help?A. You know what, maybe a little bit, but I wouldn’t over rate that. I don’t think it’s necessarily a plus to come from a band. The reality is that there’s a lot of people who were in bands that tried to get into composing and it didn’t work. It’s a totally different monster. I think the writers that have the most success are ones that are empathetic and are able to. First of all, you have to understand what your job is, and your job is to help the director’s vision come to fruition. And when you’re in a band that’s not really what your job is at all. You have your own vision and your own story to tell, and pitty the person who tries to fuck with that.Q: As a band, DEVO have had songs in films and soundtracks.A: Jerry and I are both kind of active in that, and the other Devo members all work with me at Mutato, so sometimes they’ll be working on a project, like Bob has done a couple of movies for MTV where he’s been able to suggest things. There’s some involvement.Regarding music videos, we thought we were doing something different and bigger when we were making our films. We thought we were creating a new art form that was going to eclipse rock and roll, believe it or not. That’s what our intentions were.Unfortunately, MTV came along, we had ideas earlier about music television and sound and vision eclipsing rock and roll and visual audio artists, people who were multi-media artists would become more prominent in pop culture, but I think because it didn’t happen early enough lawyers had already started to figure out a way to turn it into home shopping network. What we were doing was sort of reduced to baby pictures for record companies. Just a 3 and a half- minute commercial. Q. What does music add to movies, since you’re in deep in the game now? How does music support a movie?A. I think composers know better than anybody what their music brings to a movie because when you are in the process of writing things you don’t always write what goes on the screen is probably not always the first thing that you write. In my case, sometimes it’s the third, fourth or fifth thing I’ve written for a scene, instead of the first.Q. There seems to be a trend where directors are really involved in the music in their films and hands on in music and songs on soundtracks, and maybe music informs the script. How do you see the role or roles of the soundtracks as far as the composers in the future and music on the screen?A. I think scores showing up on CD’s only relates to an economic viability to it. If they can figure out a way to do it and just hit the niche market that wants it. I don’t think you’re ever going to talk the general public into thinking that underscores should be listened to without the movie. They’ll be moments when the underscore catches someone’s fancy like a Henry Mancini theme that actually becomes a song that’s part of the movie. And stuff like that does happen. Rock music has been around so long now, it’s like the classical music of our time in a way.    (Harvey Kubernik is the author of 20 books, including 2009’s Canyon Of Dreams: The Magic And The Music Of Laurel Canyon, 2014’s Turn Up The Radio! Rock, Pop and Roll In Los Angeles 1956-1972, 2015's Every Body Knows: Leonard Cohen, 2016's Heart of Gold Neil Young and 2017's 1967: A Complete Rock Music History of the Summer of Love. Sterling/Barnes and Noble in 2018 published Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik’s The Story Of The Band: From Big Pink To The Last Waltz. In 2021 the duo wrote Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child for Sterling/Barnes and Noble.       Otherworld Cottage Industries in 2020 published Harvey’s Docs That Rock, Music That Matters. His Screen Gems: (Pop Music Documentaries and Rock ‘n’ Roll TV Scenes) is scheduled for 2025 publication.         Harvey wrote the liner notes to CD re-releases of Carole King’s Tapestry, The Essential Carole King, Allen Ginsberg’s Kaddish, Elvis Presley The ’68 Comeback Special, The Ramones’ End of the Century and Big Brother & the Holding Company Captured Live at The Monterey International Pop Festival.    In 2006 Kubernik appeared at the special hearings by The Library of Congress in Hollywood, California, discussing archiving practices and audiotape preservation. In 2017 he lectured at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, in their Distinguished Speakers Series. Amidst 2023, Harvey spoke at The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles discussing director Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz music documentary.    During 2007 Harvey appeared in the M-G-M/Sony Pictures New Wave Productions Deluxe Edition DVD of Jailhouse Rock starring Elvis Presley. He was interviewed in the video short The Scene That Stole Jailhouse Rock.   In 2014, Kubernik was a consultant and interviewed for an hour-long examination of the musical legacy of Los Angeles for the Australia television series Great Music Cities for Australian subscription television broadcaster XYZnetworks Pty Ltd (www.xyznetworks.com.au). Slash, Brian Wilson, Steve Lukather, Keith Richards and Lonn Friend were also lensed for the project. Senior Producer is Wade Goring for the music channel.     Kubernik was an interview subject for director Matt O’Casey in 2019 on his BBC4-TV digital arts channel Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac’s Songbird. The cast includes Christine McVie, Stan Webb of Chicken Shack, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, John McVie, Christine’s family members, Heart’s Nancy Wilson, Mike Campbell, and Neil Finn. Harvey was lensed for the 2013 BBC-TV documentary on Bobby Womack Across 110th Street, directed by James Meycock. Bobby Womack, Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones, Regina Womack, Damon Albarn of Blur/the Gorillaz, and Antonio Vargas are spotlighted.    Kubernik was interviewed for the August 2025 documentary, The Sound of Protest now being broadcast on the TVOD Apple TV broadcasting service. https://tv.apple.com › us › movie › the-sound-of-protest. Director Siobhan Logue’s endeavor features Smokey Robinson, Hozier, Skin (Skunk Anansie), Two-Tone's Jerry Dammers, Angélique Kidjo, Nina Simone, Holly Johnson, David McAlmont, Rhiannon Giddens, and more.    Harvey is also an interview along with Iggy Pop, Bruce Johnston, Johnny Echols, the Bangles' Susanna Hoffs and Victoria Peterson, and the founding members of the Seeds in director Neil Norman’s documentary The Seeds - The Seeds: Pushin' Too Hard. This November 2025, a DVD with bonus footage will be released via the GNP Crescendo Company.    The New York City Department of Education is publishing in 2025 the social studies textbook Hidden Voices: Jewish Americans in United States History. Kubernik’s 1976 interview with music promoter Bill Graham on the Best Classic Bands website Bill Graham Interview on the Rock ’n’ Roll Revolution, 1976, is included). The post CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DEVO DOCUMENTARY NOW STREAMING ON NETFLIX first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

JYP Entertainment is hiring for AI and Unreal Engine experts to develop an ‘unprecedented’ virtual K-pop artistJYP is hiring staff with expertise in artificial intelligence, motion graphics and more
Source