Charli XCX on the Troye Sivan Sweat TourClubgoers, ravers, renegade ragers, and all who “J’adore Hardcore” Melbourne trance and the ‘cutting shapes’ style of London dance, poured out from Seattle Center’s suspended monorail station onto the Climate Pledge Arena’s International Lawn. The expansive field, adjacent to the venue with its lit LED fountain, was a perfect pre-show meeting point for rave baes flaunting their DIY brat meets couture trash fashion aesthetic before Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s sold-out PNW show, the last stop on their joint North American SWEAT tour.

As the crowd grew, old-school beats and new-school bangers pulsated through the venue’s open-air speakers. These party anthems provided a pounding rhythm for the perversely pouting, ever-giddy fans to channel their inner Miss Essex while power-stomping-runway-walking toward the ‘Climate Club’ - all in hopes of finding the shortest queue to experience the summerlong-awaited bash inside. 

The pre-rave scene, albeit in Seattle – a city better known for Nirvana’s squiggly, X-eyed smiley than for EDM’s straightforward acid house smiley —had enough U.K. sensory similarities to evoke the sensation of exiting an East London Tube station and walking the streets to discover ‘the rager’ under the railway arches. While the vastness of the Climate Pledge Arena initially called to mind Ministry of Sound -the legendary London nightclub that tilts more toward touristy types than club kids - the preconceived visual interpolation was soon squelched as the venue’s lampy hit the switch. Suddenly biting brash sound blips and bright white strobes ignited, showcasing the SWEAT stage. The scene, Charli and Troye’s club, a warehouse-like space featuring giant multi-tiered scaffolding and a tunnel leading to the dancefloor below. The setup, a perfect area for devoted fans to show their trenchant brat attitudes with an “I don’t care’ exhibitionist flair.

The strobes continued to blast in time as Troye and his set of strapped dancers hit the stage with “Got Me Started” from 2023’s Something to Give Each Other. The track’s infectious groove, combined with his troupe’s hyper-synchronous, evocative dance moves, put the entire venue in a celebratory mood. His slinky micro-set – a collection of three songs - ended with the dreamy “My My My” from 2018’s Bloom, which made an excellent segue just as another round of ear-splattering electro-lux sounds drew all eyes toward the tunnel top stage. There, Charli’s signature acid-green brat banner magically appeared.  Seconds later, it fell to the ground revealing the no-holds-barred singer/songwriter who dares to defy today’s norm of what it means to be a bona fide female pop star.

Charli raging in full stiletto boots,  didn’t hold back. Singing the superfast “365” party girl remix from this year’s brat and its completely different but also still brat, the club chanteuse ensnared the sold-out crowd with club-inducing vivaciousness, making the entire venue jump in time with Day-Glo gloved hands in the air and vibrate from the ground up. Shygirl, the brilliant opening act, was brought out on stage to accompany Charli for the last chorus. The pairing amplified the contagious song’s dance until the dawn party anthem. 

XCX’s three-song subset, including “360” and “Von Dutch,” both from this spring’s brat pushed out hyper full-based beats signaling the evening would not be slowing down. Charli commanded the stage alone throughout the entirety of the show. Her raw vitality was captured by a lone cameraman following her through the throes of the night’s makeshift underground warehouse studio. The effect allowed fans, no matter how far away from the stage, to feel as if they were Charli’s rave bae as she moved through the club. 

The vacillating micro-sets between Troye and Charli –including a wide range of wardrobe changes -  created a fun guessing game for the audience making them wonder what ‘drip girl’ outfit would appear next. In addition, the rhythmic switched-up subsets produced a virtual experience for concertgoers, allowing them to visualize Troye and Charli’s club time flow, two friends navigating different night-to-dawn adventures and periodically meeting up to compare notes. The result made for a wonderfully well-paced and entertaining show.

Moreover, each mini-set highlighted a plethora of hits made complete with several knockout moments. Charli’s stellar performances of “Sympathy Is a Knife” and “Girl, so confusing,” both anthemic tracks from brat, exploring the inner dagger-like-dark complexities of females navigating their way in an ever more cannibalistic social media-driven world, were two standouts. Hyper-electro club beats, however, rode to the top for most of the show and provided maximalist, spitfire-like fun. The sparky “I Love It” and the hyperpop “Vroom, Vroom” were two of many fan favorites.  The latter had everyone screaming its irresistible “beep, beep so let’s ride” chorus. The entirety of Troye’s sets included provocative lyrics meshed with spectacular singing and dancing, but the Ibiza, house-beat-infused “Rush,” complete with a coordinated keg stand, had a few concertgoers mimicking the sextet of dancers moves.

Similar to all-night raves, the fans could have danced until dawn, making the arrival of the encore seem almost unthinkable. Charli and Troye resolved this with their flirty and fun, glitchy beat brat duet, “Talk talk,” serving as the last drop of the night. Their embrace as the house lights turned up showcased the admiration the two performers have for one another and embodied the PLUR rave principle: peace, love, unity, and respect. While the ‘Climate Club’ rave  was over, the mantra was readily felt following fans as they headed to various ‘afters’- but of course infused with a smidge of Charli’s strong sense of self-worth and can’t be bothered attitude.

SETLIST

Act I - Troye Sivan

Got Me Started-

What's the Time Where You Are?

My My My!

Act I - Charli XCX

365

360

Von Dutch

Act II - Troye Sivan

In My Room

Dance to This

Rager teenager!

Act II - Charli XCX

Club classics

Unlock It

Sympathy Is a Knife

Guess

Act III - Troye Sivan

Bloom

Act III - Charli XCX

Spring breakers

Girl, so confusing

Act IV - Troye Sivan

The Call

One of Your Girls

Act IV - Charli XCX

Everything is romantic

Speed Drive

Apple

Act V - Troye Sivan

Silly

You

STUD

Act V - Charli XCX

365

Vroom Vroom

Act V - Charli XCX & Troye Sivan

1999

Encore - Charli XCX

Track 10

I Love It

Encore - Troye Sivan

Honey

Rush

Encore - Charli XCX & Troye Sivan

Talk talkThe post Charli XCX on the Troye Sivan Sweat Tour first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

How TikTok calculates payments shifts as Indie takedown fears fizzleHow TikTok payments are calculated is changing as most indie labels and distributors appear to have avoided forecast takedowns.
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Independent music market share hits 46.7% based on ownership [MIDIA’s Mark Mulligan]Independent music market share is growing and now nears 50% when measured on an ownership basis, according to an extensive new MIDiA study.
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TikTok Album Pre-Saves are coming in boost to music release marketingTikTok album pre-saves are coming soon. The in-app feature will boost music promotion on the platform. Here's what we know...
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Classical Highlights for October 2024The highlights of October's new reviews seem to be mainly vocal releases, with a diversity of styles. Of particular note: the women of the Corvus Consort (pictured) are joined by Louise Thomson for a variety of works specifically for female voices and harp. Please explore our classical highlights for October.

Independent and DIY Musician News Last WeekLast week, our tips and advice for independent and DIY musicians news last week covered how to book more gigs, promote internationally, and more...
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Music Business News Last Week: Growth, Controversies, LayoffsMusic business news last week was a busy week by any definition, the music industry was no exception, with strong Threads growth, the potential fall of TikTok, DistroKid and TIDAL. Continue reading
The post Music Business News Last Week: Growth, Controversies, Layoffs appeared first on Hypebot.

Kingfish to Launch Red Zero Records Imprint Via Exceleration MusicGrammy-winning guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Christone “Kingfish” Ingram has teamed with Exceleration Music to launch a new label, Red Zero Records. The label’s inaugural release slated for 2025 will be the third studio album by Ingram and will follow up his 2023 chart-topping, critically-lauded Live in London, which was Grammy nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

In addition to releasing his own recordings under the Red Zero banner, Ingram will serve as the label’s CEO. His longtime manager and label co-founder Ric Whitney will assume the role of president, and both will be directly involved in signing and developing artists on the label’s roster.

Under the terms of their partnership agreement, Exceleration Music and Redeye Distribution will exclusively provide label services and global distribution for Red Zero. This new imprint provides Ingram and Red Zero artists with the ability to tap into expertise that exists across the Exceleration labels and central teams, including Alligator Records, who released his first three albums, including the Grammy-winning 662.

“The name Red Zero Records is a nod to my early days in both Clarksdale, Mississippi and in music,” said Ingram. “As a kid, I played my first few live performance gigs in my hometown at Red’s Lounge and Ground Zero Blues Club. These places and the people there were instrumental in my development as a musician, so we wanted to pay homage in a unique way.”

Learn more at www.excelerationmusic.com.The post Kingfish to Launch Red Zero Records Imprint Via Exceleration Music first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Ricky Martin Headlining AIDS Healthcare Foundation World AIDS Day ConcertGlobal superstar Ricky Martin will headline the annual World AIDS Day concert, presented by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest nonprofit HIV/AIDS service provider. The event takes place on Monday, December 2, 2024 at the Watsco Center at the University of Miami (UM) in Coral Gables, Florida.  Complimentary tickets are available by registering at AHFevents.org.

World AIDS Day is commemorated each year on December 1st and is an opportunity for communities to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV, and remember those we’ve lost. The evening’s event also will feature a performance by renowned DJ and rapper DJ Spinderella, and the AHF Lifetime Achievement award will be presented to Dr. Julio Frenk, UM’s outgoing president and chancellor-designate for UCLA.

Multi award-winning Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Ricky Martin, known globally as the “King of Latin Pop,” has used his platform to bring greater awareness and support for various issues around HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, and LGBTQIA+ rights. Dr. Julio Frenk played a pivotal role in launching AHF’s Global Public Health Institute at UM. His groundbreaking contributions to HIV/AIDS response include securing universal access to antiretroviral therapy in Mexico, advancing anti-stigma efforts, fostering global health collaborations, and strengthening public health policies worldwide.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 2.1 million individuals across 47 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, visit online at AIDShealth.org,The post Ricky Martin Headlining AIDS Healthcare Foundation World AIDS Day Concert first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Ed Sheeran’s copyright appeal win to the asset-backed securities boom… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-UpThe biggest stories from the past week – all in one place…
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Ed Sheeran beats ‘Thinking Out Loud’ copyright appealSheeran's single did not copy Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On, says appeals court
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Best TikTok Alternatives for Musicians as indie takedowns loomOctober 31st was the expiration date for hundreds of licensing deals for independent distributors and labels including DistroKid, CD Baby, Secretly and Beggars. So what are the best TikTok alternatives?
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Socials & AI lowers barriers, raises competition: Strategies to AdaptSocial media and AI lowers barriers making it easier to get started but harder to thrive. Uncover the emerging obstacles, how they’ll impact the next generation of creators and strategies to adapt.
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Just 20% of Artists get 1000 Monthly Streams on SpotifyOnly 20% of artists get 1000 or more monthly streams on Spotify according analysis by Luminate. Learn why most artists fall short.
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Graham Lyle to Be Honored as a BMI Icon at the 2024 BMI London AwardsBMI announced that Graham Lyle will be presented with the BMI Icon Award at the 2024 BMI London Awards to be held 9 December at The Savoy. The legendary songwriter, guitarist and producer will be honored in celebration of his illustrious career spanning over 50 years and his enduring catalog of hit songs, which have left a lasting impression on generations of music lovers worldwide. The private event will be hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill.

“We’re very honoured to salute the incomparable songwriter Graham Lyle with the BMI Icon Award in celebration of a lifetime of timeless hit songs that deeply resonate with global audiences,” said O’Neill. “We’re also excited to pay tribute to all our outstanding 2024 BMI London Award winners and recognise their incredible accomplishments. It’s going to be a fantastic evening.”

The ceremony also pays tribute to the British and European songwriters and publishers of the previous year’s most-performed songs on US streaming, radio and television from BMI’s repertoire of over 22.4 million musical works. The BMI London Song of the Year, Million-Air Awards, and awards for Pop, Film, Television and Cable Television Music will also be presented throughout the evening.

As one of the most successful British songwriters of his generation, Lyle has written countless hit songs, including Tina Turner’s classic, “What’s Love Got To Do With It” with Terry Britten.  The global smash reached No.1 in the US, Canada and Australia, won Song of the Year at the 1984 GRAMMY Awards, and eventually became Turner’s best-selling single. It also earned Lyle multiple BMI Million-Air Awards, ultimately reaching eight million broadcast performances on U.S. radio. As a testament to its enduring legacy, many artists have performed and covered the massive hit over the years, including Mickey Guyton at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 2021, rapper Warren G released a hip-hop version in 1996, and Norwegian DJ/producer Kygo released a remix with Turner in 2020.

Over his career, Lyle has received multiple BMI Awards, as well as BMI Million-Air Awards for many of his other iconic hits, including “What’s Luv?” by Fat Joe ft. Ashanti, which sampled “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “I Don’t Wanna Lose You,” “Jewel of the Nile,” and “Typical Male,” each with two million performances. “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” also performed by Turner, “Joe Knows How to Live,” “Stay Young,” and “Women Like Men” have accumulated one million performances.  He also received an Ivor Novello in 1986 and a Tartan Clef Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2010, and in 2012, he co-wrote “One Woman: A Song for UN Women,” released on International Women’s Day, to support the empowerment and gender equality of women around the globe.

More info here: BMI

Follow BMI on Facebook, IG and on X, and use #BMILondonAwards to join the conversation.
The post Graham Lyle to Be Honored as a BMI Icon at the 2024 BMI London Awards first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.