Reservoir Media faces activist investor call for ‘strategic review to maximize shareholder value’Irenic Capital, founded by Adam Katz and Andy Dodge, owns around eight percent of Reservoir
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‘Clinging to old-school methods of breaking artists is holding the industry back. It’s like, do you want to be Blockbuster or Netflix?’MBW's Trailblazers series meets Chief Zaruk and Simon Tikhman, co-founders and CEOs of country music company The Core Entertainment
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Music Industry vs Creator Economy: Bifurcation Is Here!The Q2 2024 music market is at a critical turning point, revealing the growing divide of the Music Industry vs Creator Economy.
The post Music Industry vs Creator Economy: Bifurcation Is Here! appeared first on Hypebot.

How to get a job at a Major Talent AgencyWant to get a job at a major talent agency? Learn how to stand out in the competitive entertainment industry job market with expert tips on networking, business skills, and clear communication.
The post How to get a job at a Major Talent Agency appeared first on Hypebot.

BraveWords is creating a Rock, Metal Record Store Directory: You can help!BraveWords.com is creating a rock and metal record store directory so fans can find their local favorites with just a few clicks.
The post BraveWords is creating a Rock, Metal Record Store Directory: You can help! appeared first on Hypebot.

AllMusic's Favorite Oasis Song that’s NOT on Definitely Maybe or Morning GloryRevisiting this year's mammoth 30th Anniversary deluxe edition of their breakthrough premiere Definitely Maybe and invariably continuing on through the superior(?) second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? got us to thinking: What are our favorite Oasis songs that are not from those two landmark albums? B-sides? Deep cuts? Guest spots? Solo projects? Sprawling coke-fueled follow-ups? Once you've removed the arguable cream from the top, what delicious treats still remain in the cup?

Let's find out.

Getting It Done: Last week in DIY and Independent Music NewsLast week in DIY and Indie Music News offers the latest tips and advice for the independent, do-it-yourselfers out there including how to prepare for a record deal, how to release a single successfully, why releasing an album still matters, and more...
The post Getting It Done: Last week in DIY and Independent Music News appeared first on Hypebot.

REWIND: Top New Music Industry News Last WeekIt was a busy week by any definition, and the music industry was no exception, with the Lyte collapse, TikTok Music on its way out, a closer look at music AI ethics, and more topping the new music industry news last week.
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Artist to Artist: Embracing the Power of DistortionEmbracing the Power of Distortion

What's missing in music is a highlight on the power of saturation and distortion. When it comes to music production and sound design, I find myself being a fan of distortion. Distortion is the engineer’s and musician’s biggest rival. Modern music industry tactics seek to limit and battle this wonderful beauty called distortion. The beauty of distortion is the abstract quality it adds to a sound—it's what I call the mysterious shimmer you hear or feel. Modern digital music creation methods have made it easier to achieve pristine, clear sounds with a lack of distortion. Yet the fundamental truth is that everything in life is distorted: ideas, feelings, dreams, even reality. Why remove the essence that creates reality? When that essence is distortion.

In much of my production, especially in beat making and vocal production, I use a variety of digital compressors (CLA-2A, Softube) and analog ones (1176, FMR PBC-6A) to add that magic. I also rely on wonderful Slate Digital plugins to give my saturation and distortion their own personal warmth and character.

As a songwriter, I feel like distortion gives your songs that extra heat, the flavor they need to not just live and breathe but also connect. Distortion in songwriting is like the difference between saying, as T-Pain does, “Put you in the mansion, somewhere in Wisconsin (Wisconsin).” The irony mixed with deliberateness is a skill that only the most masterful songwriters pay attention to and develop.

All in all, I believe music is about being aware of the unknown and allowing it to be exactly that. The best moments, especially in my case, have all sprouted from not realizing I was creating something great. That’s the beauty of making art. You create your piece and wait for the world to catch on to your own iteration of distortion.

About MyCompiledThoughts 

MyCompiledThoughts, born Carlheb Cemesca in Boston, MA, is an R&B/Soul artist known for his deeply personal lyrics and innovative production.  Growing up he would work out his often-abundant number of thoughts with frequent journaling and eventually adopted his Tumblr page name as his stage name.  

Now a Los Angeles resident, MyCompiledThoughts stays busy not only producing for himself but other artist including Teamarr, Love Moor and members of the Van Buren Collective.   

mycompiledthoughts.com

Home
The post Artist to Artist: Embracing the Power of Distortion first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Gibson: B.B. King “Rumble in the Jungle” 1974 ES-355 Limited-Edition Guitar Available WorldwideGibson, the iconic American instrument brand, has shaped sound across generations and genres of music, becoming one of the most relevant, played, and loved guitar brands around the world. Gibson is proud to commemorate the legendary B.B. King and his landmark appearance at the Zaire 74 music festival for one of the most iconic sporting events of all time, the “Rumble in the Jungle.” To honor his performance, Gibson Custom and the Murphy Lab have handcrafted a limited-edition recreation of the 1974 ES-355 that B.B. famously used at the festival in a striking walnut finish. This Gibson B.B. King “Rumble in the Jungle” ES-355 guitar is available worldwide at authorized Gibson dealers, and on www.gibson.com.

B.B. King’s performance at the Zaire 74 festival--which took place September 22-24 at the Stade du 20 Mai in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo)--was a powerful moment in music history, bringing the soul of the blues to the stage, uniting a global audience. B.B. King’s performance alongside James Brown and more set the tone for one of the most iconic sporting events of all time, the “Rumble in the Jungle,” a groundbreaking heavyweight championship fight between boxing legends Muhammed Ali and George Foreman, which ended up taking place on October 30, 1974.

“B.B. King’s performance at the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ was not just a concert--it was a defining cultural moment,” says Vassal Benford, CEO and Chairman of the B.B. King Music Company. “We are honored to collaborate with Gibson to create a guitar that captures both the artistry and spirit of B.B. King’s legendary performance. This instrument is more than a tribute-it’s a continuation of his enduring legacy, ensuring that future generations of musicians can connect with the heart and soul of the blues. The ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ guitar is a knockout, and Gibson’s craftsmanship is unmatched. This is a great surprise for the BIRTHDAY month of the Iconic Mr. King. Thank you, Gibson from the ALL of the King Family!”

Handmade by the master craftspeople of the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee, the B.B. King “Rumble in the Jungle” 1974 ES-355 is an instant collector’s item, and only 100 guitars will be made.

Explore the B.B. King 1974 ES-355 “Rumble in the Jungle” from Gibson Custom HERE.The post Gibson: B.B. King “Rumble in the Jungle” 1974 ES-355 Limited-Edition Guitar Available Worldwide first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Max Lousada’s farewell note to Warner Music Group staff: ‘Ultimately, music has to win. It’s just too important not to.’Max Lousada, the longtime CEO of Recorded Music at Warner Music Group, writes farewell note to WMG's staff
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From TikTok Music’s shutdown to Atlantic Music Group’s new leadership team… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-UpThe biggest stories from the past week – all in one place…
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Festivals caught in Lyte collapse deny ticket profiteeringTwo festivals caught in Lyte collapse deny ticket profiteering and paint a more nuanced picture of why they used the defunct ticket resale platform to move their own tickets. Festivals. Continue reading
The post Festivals caught in Lyte collapse deny ticket profiteering appeared first on Hypebot.

Focusrite announces three new Scarlett interfaces for project studiosToday, Focusrite announces a much anticipated expansion to the world ’s best-selling range of audio interfaces, Scarlett, completing the line’s fourth generation. The three new additions, Scarlett 16i16, 18i16, and 18i20, complement the existing range with greater connectivity to meet the demands of the modern project studio. 

Scarlett ’s fourth generation introduced several major advances that build on Focusrite ’s legacy in professional audio: best-in-class audio specifications, enhanced creative capability, powerful workflow tools and more. The three new interfaces add more analogue inputs and outputs, front-panel monitor switching and mute control, S/PDIF and ADAT connectivity, additional headphone outputs, and a built-in talkback mic on Scarlett 18i20.

Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen 16i16, 18i16, and 18i20 now feature:

Huge 122dB dynamic range, using the flagship RedNet range converters – found in the world’s best studios.

All-new, remote-controlled preamps with 69dB of gain for studio sound from any mic.

Pair Focusrite Control 2 for desktop with Focusrite’s new mobile app; enjoy full wireless control over inputs and monitoring mixes, allowing the adjustment of settings without being tethered by cables.

Re-engineered Air mode with Presence, and all-new Harmonic Drive, adding rich harmonics to recordings by emulating the characteristics of vintage preamps.

New Auto Gain and Clip Safe modes can handle up to eight microphones at a time, making session setup simple, and ensuring every take is a keeper.

Brand-new Custom-designed headphone amps for the best playback ever heard from Scarlett.

Redesigned Dynamic Gain Halos now with output as well as input metering.

Professional studio features included: A/B speaker switching, built-in talkback mic on 18i20 and more. 

MIDI in /out plus S/PDIF, and ADAT in/out.

Refreshed Easy Start tool, making it easier than ever to get set up and recording in minutes. 

Includes Ableton Live Lite, Pro Tools Artist 3 months, and FL Studio Producer Edition 6 months. 

Huge bundle of plug-in instruments and effects; including Antares Auto Tune, Marshall Amp Modelling, synths, keys, drums, EQ, compression, reverb, and more...

Three new Scarlett interfaces

Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen, an update to the flagship 3rd Gen model, is a rack-mountable USB audio interface featuring 18 inputs, including eight advanced fourth-generation Scarlett preamps, and 20 outputs. 18i20 not only has an impressive amount of analogue and digital I/O, but also features additional workflow enhancements that make it a perfect fit for even the most complex project studios: a built-in talkback mic; A/B speaker switching for instant referencing on different monitors; and eight channels of LED bar metering, assignable to inputs or outputs as well as master output metering.

Scarlett 18i16 is a desktop-format USB audio interface with 18 inputs, including four 4th Gen Scarlett preamps and 16 outputs. Ideal for multitrack recording and designed for producers, 18i16 is the industry-leading interface for project studios. It makes an ideal hub to integrate hardware with a DAW, providing enough analogue and digital I/O to connect a huge number of external instruments, processors, and effects. Plus, manage complex routing with ease via the included Focusrite Control 2 software for desktop and mobile devices. 

Scarlett 16i16 is a desktop-format USB audio interface which shares the same feature set as 18i16 but is slightly more compact, with 16 inputs, including two 4th Gen Scarlett preamps, and 16 outputs. 

Scarlett 4th GenA giant leap for the world ’s most popular audio interface range, Scarlett ’s fourth generation debuted in 2023 with the Solo, 2i2, 4i4, Solo Studio, and 2i2 Studio. 

All Scarlett 4th Gen interfaces feature re-engineered audio circuitry and professional-grade converters (taken directly from Focusrite's flagship RedNet interfaces), which deliver up to 122dB dynamic range. With up to 69dB of mic preamp gain on tap, they are designed to get the very best sound from any microphone. Custom-designed headphone amps with independent volume controls drive high-impedance headphones louder and with more clarity than any previous Scarlett.

Scarlett ’s 4th Gen mic preamps feature a re-engineered Air mode, based on the sound of legendary Focusrite consoles. Each one now includes a selectable all-analogue Presence mode, and a new DSP-based Harmonic Drive mode for added richness. 

The range also introduced two new features designed to ensure artists and producers never miss a perfect take: Auto Gain analyses ten seconds of incoming audio before setting set the perfect level, while Clip Safe automatically readjusts it to prevent clipping. These tools help artists record themselves easily and let experienced engineers quickly set multiple gains in high-pressure environments.

The included Focusrite Control 2 software takes care of setting up routing, levels, monitoring mixes, independent outputs, and routing options. In addition to the desktop application, the iOS and Android Focusrite Control 2 apps enables engineers and performers to adjust monitor mixes and mic preamp gains while away from the computer.

To help users get up and running with Scarlett in record time, Focusrite has developed an Easy Start tool that quickly guides from initial connection to their first recordings. 

All Scarletts come with Ableton Live Lite, three months of Pro Tools Artist recording software, and six months of FL Studio Producer Edition. Also included is a curated selection of essential production software from Focusrite, Softube, Native Instruments, Antares, and many more. In addition, there are five free masters from Landr that can be used at any time, plus a two-month subscription to Landr Studio, offering unlimited music distribution on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and TikTok.

These interfaces will be available beginning mid-October 2024 with U.S. pricing as follows:USD (excluding tax)                                                              Scarlett 18i20: $649.99                                   Scarlett 18i16: $499.99                                   Scarlett 16i16: $369.99                                  The post Focusrite announces three new Scarlett interfaces for project studios first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

The elephant is leaving the building: Hipgnosis name and branding set to change to reflect new structure under BlackstoneStorm Thorgerson-designed logo will no longer represent company with a new name likely, say MBW sources
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