MIC Band Showcase Submissions Now OpenNews emerged on Monday that the "Music Industry Conference at Musikfest is expanding its offerings with a brand-new Band Showcase Program — and applications are officially open!"

Information, directly from the MIC, is below--

Selected bands will:

Receive professional coaching from a performing artist

Perform live on an official Musikfest stage

Get personalized feedback from industry pros, including agents, talent buyers, and programmers

This is not a competition — it’s an exclusive opportunity to gain real-world experience, grow your artistry, and connect directly with music industry professionals.

Only 10 bands will be selected to perform August 2–4, 2026, as space at the festival is limited. Bands may apply in one of several age group categories, so choose what best fits your ensemble.

Application Deadline: February 15, 2026

Please help us spread the word to other musicians and educators who might be interested in this exciting opportunity!

We can’t wait to see your band take the stage at Musikfest 2026!

— The Musikfest Music Industry Conference Team

Apply to be a part of the band showcase here

The post MIC Band Showcase Submissions Now Open first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

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Rhodes Announces Custom Shop ‘Golden Brown’ Piano Inspired by the Classic Rhodes Gold Sparkle Piano BassOn Friday, Rhodes Music announced "the third drop in its Custom Shop series: the MK8 ‘Golden Brown.’ Inspired by the Rhodes Gold Sparkle Piano Bass that was popularized onstage by The Doors, this limited‑edition MK8 pays homage to one of the most charismatic instruments of the 1960s. With a shimmering Gold Sparkletop hood and a Chestnut Brown tolex base, Golden Brown reimagines that vintage legend through the lens of modern craftsmanship."

“Golden Brown is one of my personal favourites from the Rhodes Custom Shop. Inspired by the rare gold-sparkle lid and brown Tolex Piano Bass of the 1960s, the Golden Brown MK8 oozes class and cool without ever feeling overstated. It captures the essence of that sought-after vintage aesthetic while pairing it with the MK8’s innovative features and hand-built precision. Pure class.”

"Golden Brown extends the legacy of the Rhodes Gold Sparkle Piano Bass into a modern MK8, combining vintage inspiration with custom‑shop craftsmanship," they say. "Each instrument’s autumn‑toned finish is accented by hand‑assembled components and Rhodes’ signature analogue signal path. Like all Custom Shop releases, Golden Brown is made to order, individually numbered, and will not be produced again after the drop concludes on October 30th. Hand‑built by master builders in England, this limited‑edition piano embodies a golden era at Rhodes."

Key Features (directly from Rhodes):

Gold Sparkletop Hood — A shimmering hood inspired by the vintage Gold Sparkle Piano Bass.

Chrome Front Panel with Black Inlays — Polished chrome panel featuring black preamp and FX inlays.

Harvest Gold Dial Caps & Logo Plates — Warm dial caps and matching black-on-Harvest Gold logo plates.

Chestnut Brown Tolex Base — The first non-black tolex finish on a MK8, echoing autumn tones.

73‑Note Kluge Keyboard — Precision keybed crafted by Kluge Klaviaturen (Steinway Group).

Custom Stereo‑Analogue FX Processor — Compressor, phaser, chorus and delay with true bypass and expression pedal control.

MK8 Analogue Preamp — Parametric EQ, analogue drive, envelope control, wah and vari‑pan with multiple wave shapes.

MIDI Optional — Available with or without MIDI; full MIDI integration is an additional £1299.

Golden Brown is available exclusively through the Rhodes Custom Shop for a limited time. Orders open on Thursday, October 16, at 3 PM BST and close on Thursday, October 30 at 3 PM BST.

Each piano is built to order, individually numbered, and will not be reissued once the window closes.

Pricing

£11,995 GBP (+ VAT)

€13,995 EUR (+ local taxes)

$15,995 USD

The post Rhodes Announces Custom Shop ‘Golden Brown’ Piano Inspired by the Classic Rhodes Gold Sparkle Piano Bass first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

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Anthem Music Publishing Inks Exclusive Co-Publishing Deal with Envy of NoneLeft to Right: Alex Lifeson, Gilles Godard, Alf Annibalini, Andy Curran, Maiah Wynne, Jason Klein, Andy Hawke 

Anthem Music Publishing announce on Thursday "an exclusive worldwide co-publishing agreement with Envy of None, the boundary-pushing rock collective featuring Alex Lifeson (Rush), Andy Curran (Coney Hatch), multi-instrumentalist Alfio Annibalini, and rising vocal talent Maiah Wynne."

"The deal will focus on expanding both creative and commercial opportunities for the band’s latest studio release, Stygian Wavz, which debuted on March 28, 2025 via Kscope," they said in a statement. "Under the agreement, Anthem will collaborate closely with the band and its partners to drive global sync placements, licensing, and strategic initiatives around the album and its standout tracks — including 'The Story,' 'Not Dead Yet,' 'Under The Stars,' 'Stygian Waves,' and the latest single, 'Thrill of The Chase,' launching September 19."

“Given our long-term relationship with Rush and Coney Hatch, it is fantastic that we’re able to extend our relationship with Alex and Andy, and to bring Alfio and Maiah into the Anthem family, through Envy of None,” said Jason Klein, CEO of Anthem Music Group. “This partnership allows us to shine a brighter light on the incredible songwriting and sonic depth that Envy of None brings to the table. We’re excited to help amplify their creative vision through strategic publishing efforts that extend the life and reach of Stygian Wavz well beyond the album cycle.”

"We are excited to join Anthem and can't wait to see where this takes us and our album Stygian Wavz,” said Envy of None vocalist Maiah Wynne.  “The team at Anthem already feels like family, so we know we are in good hands."

"Envy of None first emerged in 2022 with a self-titled debut that topped Billboard’s Top New Artists chart and established the group as a bold new voice in modern rock," the statement continues. "Their follow-up, Stygian Wavz, has further cemented their reputation, drawing critical acclaim and earning chart placements in both Canada and the U.S. Since its release, the album has amassed over 25,000 physical sales and millions of streams globally."

"With this co-publishing agreement, Anthem Music Publishing will work to support the band’s growing global presence by ensuring their songs are actively managed and creatively leveraged across all platforms."

Envy Of None:Alfio Annibalini - Guitar, Keyboards, ProgrammingAndy Curran - Bass Guitar, Synthesized Bass, Programming, Guitar, Background Vocals, StylophoneAlex Lifeson- Guitar, Mandola, Banjo, ProgrammingMaiah Wynne - Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, Keyboards

Follow Envy Of None:Website | Instagram | X | Tiktok | Facebook The post Anthem Music Publishing Inks Exclusive Co-Publishing Deal with Envy of None first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

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moe. and TELEFUNKEN Celebrate 35 Years with Rock The PinkThirty-five years on the road is no small feat—but for jam-rock veterans moe., the milestone comes with both volume and vision. The beloved six-piece band is marking its 35th anniversary with a twist on its trademark sound setup: bright pink TELEFUNKEN M80 microphones, used to raise awareness for Rock The Pink, a breast cancer initiative that fuses music and philanthropy.

The idea is simple but powerful. For the entire month of October, TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik will donate a portion of proceeds from sales of its M80 PINK dynamic vocal mic to Rock The Pink. At the same time, moe. is putting their own personal spin on the effort by autographing and auctioning off the same pink mics used onstage—with all proceeds going to the same charity.

It’s a fitting gesture for a band that’s built its career on connection, community, and the long jam.

moe. isn’t the type of band to compromise on tone, no matter how good the cause. Their stage manager and longtime front-of-house mixer Frank Hopkins says that, even when touring under wildly different conditions, one piece of gear remains non-negotiable.

“We carry our own Telefunken vocal mics everywhere,” Hopkins says. “We have so many open microphones and loud sources on stage… rejection and isolation are paramount, and the nice natural beefy tone we get from our M80s dependably night after night is a must have for moe.”

The pink version, it turns out, sounds just as good—and looks even better.

Formed at the University at Buffalo back in 1989, moe. has spent the last three and a half decades evolving from a scrappy college jam band into a cornerstone of the American improvisational rock scene. Their debut album Fatboy dropped in 1992, landing them alongside contemporaries like Phish and Widespread Panic in the growing jam-band movement.

Over the years, they’ve shared the stage with The Allman Brothers, The Who, and countless others, while headlining major venues from Radio City Music Hall to Bonnaroo (five times, no less). As American Songwriter once put it, the band’s “mind-bending musicality” and "witty, insightful songwriting” have made them a force of nature in modern rock.

This latest collaboration adds another layer to their legacy—one that goes beyond music. For TELEFUNKEN, which will showcase its lineup at AES in Long Beach on October 23–24 (Booth #303), the partnership is a way to spotlight both their gear and their giving spirit.

For moe., it’s about using the spotlight for something larger than themselves. Pink microphones may not change the world—but for a few weeks this fall, they’ll certainly help fund the fight.

Learn more about moe. and Rock The Pink.

The post moe. and TELEFUNKEN Celebrate 35 Years with Rock The Pink first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.