David Guetta: “If you have terrible taste, your music is still gonna be terrible, even with AI”With the rise of AI – don’t worry, not in the Terminator sense, yet… – musicians far and wide have weighed in on the rapidly emerging technology, offering their thoughts on whether it’s a force for good or bad in the music world.
Earlier this month, for example, music gear reviewer and musician Cuckoo took a positive stance towards the tech, saying he was ready for the challenge it poses. “When AI comes along, it’s challenging me, I’m here for it, I’m ready, it’s asking me questions: ‘Human, you’re a slacker, I can do what you’re doing – can you take me on? Can you?’” he said.
And in June, Nile Rodgers made his stance on AI clear, saying people should learn to embrace the technology rather than fear it.
Now, in a new conversation on Rolling Stone’s Music Now podcast, DJ David Guetta has weighed in on the conversation, offering a series of insights on the future of AI in music.
“I’ve been following this from the beginning,” he says, when questioned about the AI-generated Eminem rap he played during one of his sets earlier this year.

“I thought it was so interesting, that’s why I did this. I didn’t wanna release a record like this – it was just to open a conversation. And I think I was right to open this conversation.”
Guetta is then asked for his opinion on the viral AI-generated Drake and Weeknd song, Heart on My Sleeve, which landed on streaming services earlier this year before being taken down.

“There’s a bit of a loophole right now, because there’s no law because this is so new, but this is why when I did the Eminem thing, I did it on a record that was absolutely obvious that it was not an Eminem record. It was just to show technically that it was interesting what was happening.”
He continues: “But, to me, I don’t see this as a threat. A lot of people are freaking out at the moment. I just see this as another tool for us to make better records, make better demos. If I would wanna sell a record to Ariana Grande [or] Rihanna, I think it’s a good way to have her singing on it, so that she knows exactly how it’s gonna sound.”
Guetta says that producers and musicians should be less fearful, because there’s one thing that AI cannot replicate, and that’s taste.
“The more years [that pass], the more accessible music production [becomes],” he says. “You used to have to spend thousands of dollars to be able to be in the studio, have the instruments, have the musicians come in.
“Now, I do everything with my laptop, and nothing else. I don’t use any hardware. And this is something I believe in deeply. I really think that it’s the best way to work today.
“I think what matters is what I have to say as an artist. And what defines an artist is [their] taste, more than anything else – more than his technical ability. So, I think the fact that today you can go on ChatGPT and say, write me a verse in the style of Drake, doesn’t mean that you’re gonna say stuff that is exciting enough to beat Drake.”
Guetta concludes: “The way I see it, AI is gonna be one more tool to democratise music, but if you have terrible taste, your music is still gonna be terrible, even with AI. You can use the voice of Drake, The Weeknd and Prince at the same time – if the song sucks, it’s still gonna be a bad song.”
Listen to the full podcast on Spotify.
The post David Guetta: “If you have terrible taste, your music is still gonna be terrible, even with AI” appeared first on MusicTech.

e-instruments launch Valves Pro sample library The new Pro version of Valves introduces solo patches for each instrument and offers a much wider selection of articulations and pre-recorded phrases. 

Federal Reserve of San Francisco hiring crypto architect for CBDC projectSan Francisco's Federal Reserve Bank is seeking a crypto architect for a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Tesla stock falls as margins slip, VanMoof files for bankruptcy, and Aurora sells $820M worth of stockWelcome back to The Station, your central hub for all past, present and future means of moving people and packages from Point A to Point B. Your usual host Kirsten Korosec is still away, so you have me for one more week. Let’s jump in.
U.S. policymakers and agencies are looking for ways to regulate autonomous vehicles on a larger scale.
First, there’s the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which plans to announce a new rule-making in September that could benefit AV companies like Cruise and Zoox, both of which have plans to launch purpose-built robotaxis that don’t have steering wheels or pedals.
General Motors, which owns Cruise, submitted a petition in February 2022 to NHTSA to deploy up to 2,500 of the Cruise Origins annually without human controls and may soon have an answer.
At a congressional level, lawmakers will host a hearing on July 26 aimed at reviving long-delayed legislation on the safe and regulated adoption of self-driving cars. The panel will consider separate draft legislation from Representative Bob Latta (R-OH) and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI).
The hearing will be convened by a House subcommittee titled “Self-Driving Vehicle Legislative Framework: Enhancing Safety, Improving Lives and Mobility, and Beating China.” That last bit is important. American industry for decades has used the threat of some other great superpower gaining the upper hand as a narrative to drive forward technological progress, for better or worse.

Before we dive in, a quick highlight of my TechCrunch+ story this week that looks into Tesla’s stock price, which has dropped about 10% since the company reported Q2 earnings (more on that below), and why it’s priced as a tech company when its margins scream automaker.
Want to reach out with a tip, comment or complaint? Email Kirsten at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or Rebecca at rebecca.techcrunch@gmail.com. You also can send a direct message to @kirstenkorosec or @rebeccabellan.
Reminder that you can drop us a note at tips@techcrunch.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and various encrypted messaging apps.
Micromobbin’

Some more grim news from VanMoof as the e-bike darling that was venture backed to the tune of $189.1 million filed for bankruptcy. VanMoof is considering a third-party sale so that its activities can continue. Those activities being the highly customized parts and the unique digital unlock key that’s connected to VanMoof’s servers. We reported that Cowboy came up with an app to let VanMoof owners retail digital keys to their bikes, but the access is limited.
TechCrunch how the company managed to go bankrupt in a booming e-bike market. One industry insider told us that VanMoof spent big on marketing and over-ordering and neglected to think about supply chain and unit costs.
As TC’s Ingrid Lunden pointed out: “If the unit economics of the bikes never worked out, and an app can be built in a day to unlock those bikes that are in the market already, why would anyone want to assume the assets of the failed startup?”
In other news…
Bird is officially back in compliance with the NYSE.
London-based bike-share HumanForest has launched a new feature, Forest Parcel, to provide a zero-emission, on-demand parcel-delivery service.
Taur, the front-facing scooter manufacturer, has launched its second model, the Taur II, on Kickstarter. The scooter has up to 40 miles of range.
Taur also started a campaign to challenge the U.K. government on their stance on owned scooters, which are still illegal to ride on public roads. There are, however, shared scooter pilots, which often serve to sway government and public opinion away from scooters as a viable transportation option due to the behavior of renters and potential for street clutter. The company said it would reimburse the fines of any Taur customer who is fined by the police for riding on U.K. roads. And if the scooter is confiscated, Taur will replace it free of charge.
Commsignia launched a V2X device for e-bikes and other micromobility vehicles that broadcasts messages about the cyclist’s position and direction from other road users. It also receives messages from other vehicles and alerts the rider to potential hazards.
Deal of the week

Autonomous vehicle company Aurora Innovation has sold $820 million worth of stock. About $220 million came from a public offering that priced the stock at $3 per share, and the remaining $600 million came from a concurrent private offering of stock priced at $2.70.
Aurora, a pre-revenue company building frontier technology, has been spending a pretty penny in its pursuit of commercializing self-driving trucks by the end of 2024. In 2022, the company lost about $1.7 billion.
Aurora hasn’t been shy about its need to raise more funds in order to make it to commercialization and beyond. The company said it has about $785 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of June 30, 2023. This infusion of capital gives Aurora another $1.6 billion to play around with. The company is hoping the funds will take it “well into 2025.”
Other deals that got my attention…
Alpha Grid, a San Francisco–based EV charging deployment optimization startup, raised a $2.5 million pre-seed led by Asymmetric Capital Partners. Twine Ventures also participated.
Lithium-ion battery recycling company Aqua Metals has entered into a strategic partnership with Yulho, a battery materials company based in South Korea. The partnership includes a $5 million equity investment from Yulho into Aqua.
Berlin-based Cycle has secured $11.3 million in Series A funding to expand its e-bike subscription model for the last-mile delivery industry. The funds will be used to expand geographically throughout Europe, including the U.K.; bring on new customers in parcel and mail logistics; and grow its fleet size.
EVgo and its eXtend partners received $13.8 million in funding from Ohio’s DOT to deploy 20 fast-charging stations.
Farizon, Geely’s electric and hybrid truck unit, has raised $600 million to expand outside of China.
Fortescue Future Industries, a global green energy and metals company, will acquire EV truck maker Nikola’s Phoenix Hydrogen Hub project for $24 million.
Singapore’s ride-hailing and food delivery company Grab, via its car rental unit Grab Rentals, will acquire Trans-Cab, the city-state’s third-largest taxi operator. The terms weren’t disclosed, but the acquisition size is estimated at around $75 million.
New York–based supply chain and visibility startup Leverage raised $7 million in a round led by Chicago Ventures.
Auto supplier Magna is investing a whopping $790 million to build three new supplier facilities in West Tennessee, including the first two onsite at Ford’s BlueOval City.
Indonesia EV maker Maka Motors raised $37.6 million in seed funding to mass produce its two-wheeled EVs. Maka will start deploying its first pilot EVs this month and is aiming for volume production in late 2024.
Redwood Materials, the battery recycling startup founded by Tesla co-founder J.B. Straubel, is reportedly in talks to raise $700 million at a $5 billion valuation. The company would not confirm the reports.
Hong Kong–based delivery robot startup Rice Robotics raised $7 million in additional seed funding from Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Soul Capital, Audacy Ventures and others.
Truckstop was acquired by FreightFriend, a platform for capacity and freight management tools.
Notable news and other tidbits

ADAS
Mobileye has introduced a vision-only speed assist solution for automakers. The camera-based Intelligent Speed Assist is launching in production vehicles this year and lets cars sense speed limits without needing to rely on third-party map and GPS data.
Autonomous vehicles
Cruise’s full-page ad in several newspapers calling humans terrible drivers got the attention of the former NHTSA head. “Using the pain and suffering of those deaths for self-promotion of an unproven and unsafe product is unscrupulous,” said Joan Claybrook.
Speaking of Cruise, the company has officially started initial robotaxi testing in Miami.
Another Cruise-related issue. The California Public Utilities Commission — the agency that has the power to give Cruise and Waymo final sign-off on their plans to expand commercial robotaxi services across San Francisco 24/7 — will question the two companies over how they will deal with robotaxis malfunctioning and blocking access from first responders. The July 31 meeting, which will also hear from city agencies that are opposed to the expansion, might change the terms of the permits.
Kodiak Robotics is working with Drivewyze to launch a weigh station program for self-driving trucks on Texas interstates. The goal is to address how trucks will handle weigh station inspections without a driver present to facilitate the process.
Earnings
Online used car retailer Carvana reported higher-than-expected earnings of $2.96 billion in Q2, with adjusted EBITDA totaling $155 million. The company sold 76,530 cars during the quarter, which was slightly fewer than expected by analysts.
Carvana also announced it will reduce its outstanding debt by over $1.2 billion by exchanging existing unsecured debt with new notes. The company might also sell up to $350 million in new stock as part of the restructure.
The combined news of healthy earnings and debt exchange deal caused Carvana’s stock to spike Wednesday as high as $60.90. The company’s stock has come back down to earth somewhat, settling at around $47 Thursday at market close.
Tesla hit $25 billion in revenue in the second quarter, which just beat Wall Street estimates. Despite the record revenue, Tesla’s stock started to slide in after-hours and the next day by as much as 10%. That was likely a response to Tesla’s continued hit to automotive gross margins after a series of price cuts. Margins slid to around 18%, which is down from the 25% Tesla was rocking a year ago.
Tesla also reported that solar installations are slipping, but energy storage installations saw a boost in the second quarter.
Electric vehicles
Ford has slashed the price of its F-150 Lightning, in some trims by as much as $10,000. The automaker cited manufacturing efficiencies as the cause of the lower price.
Ford is also being questioned by House Republicans over its battery cell technology deal with China’s CATL in its upcoming $3.5 billion battery cell plant in Michigan.
General Motors is experiencing downtime at its CAMI plant in Canada (which builds the BrightDrop commercial EVs) in order to manage parts-availability issues. Regular operations will resume July 31, and it won’t affect GM’s overall EV production targets in North America — 50,000 in the first half and 100,000 in the second.
Remember the Kia Boys? The people who had been following a viral trend on TikTok to steal Kias using a USB cord? A 14-year-old Texas boy has been linked to nearly 40 thefts.
The NHTSA has opened up its third special investigation into a Tesla crash this year. This is related to a fatal crash involving a 2018 Model 3 and connected to the vehicle’s Autopilot system.
Nissan has joined the ranks of automakers that have adopted Tesla’s NACS charging standard for its Ariya and future EV models.
Rivian can move ahead with its EV facility production plans in Georgia after the state’s Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the validity of about $700 million in tax breaks the EV startup expects to receive.
Stellantis has signed $11.2 billion worth of contracts through 2030 to secure semiconductors needed for its EVs and high-performance computing functions.
India’s Tata Motors plans to build a 40 GWh battery cell gigafactory in the United Kingdom. The over $5.16 billion investment will deliver batteries for JLR and Tata Motors, with supplies beginning in 2026.
Vietnam’s VinFast will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at its electric vehicle factory in North Carolina on July 28. The company expects to invest $4 billion in the factory, which is designed to reach a capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year.
Volkswagen’s Knoxville Innovation Hub has published research breakthroughs to increase EV range and recycle vehicle materials, the company said. These include a wireless EV charging concept.
TeslaCrunch
It was another big week of Tesla news, especially with the automaker kicking off earnings season. Let’s dive in.
During Tesla’s Q2 earnings call, Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla was in talks with a major OEM to license its FSD software and hardware out to them. FSD (“full self-driving”) is Tesla’s advanced driver assistance system that is NOT fully autonomous, despite the tech’s confusing name. Musk also said that for Q3 only, Tesla owners looking to upgrade to newer models could transfer their FSD over.
Earlier in the week, Tesla announced that drivers with home solar and a Powerwall charger now have an in-app option to exclusively charge up their vehicle via excess solar energy.
The automaker also showed off its first Cybertruck built at Giga Texas over the weekend, to much fanfare but few specifics. We’re still wondering about production capacity and price, which were not addressed during the earnings call.
Outside the U.S., Tesla is hoping to expand its German factory, but residents want assurances on water use, biodiversity protection and environmental impact.
Also, Tesla directors, including Musk, will have to pay $735 million back to the company to settle claims from shareholders that they excessively overpaid themselves. As part of the deal, the directors also agreed not to receive compensation for 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Miscellaneous
ByteDance’s Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) is doing food delivery now? So food delivery giant Meituan decided to add more video to its app in kind.
Policymakers have introduced a bill that would increase fuel taxes for private jet travel from the current $0.22 to $1.95 per gallon, and remove existing fuel tax exemptions for logging and oil or gas exploration. The idea is that if the rich want to pollute our skies, they can pay extra. The revenue generated by the so-called FATCAT Act would be transferred to a fund that would support air monitoring for environmental justice communities.
Spotify is bringing a new experience to Teslas that will make displaying content bolder and more accessible. Drivers can take advantage of features like QR codes for easy log-in, access to audiobooks, and one-touch jump to artists and album pages.
Uber Freight has laid off almost 50 brokerage employees.
People
EVTOL startup Archer has brought on Nikhil Goel, co-founder of Uber Elevate, as the company’s chief commercial officer. This comes on the heels of adding former FAA administrator Billy Nolen.
Ride-hail
InDrive has launched its bid-based ride-hail app in Miami, its first U.S. market. The company’s business model is based on customers naming their own fare and nearby drivers accepting, declining or countering the offer.
Revel, the Brooklyn-based startup doing shared e-mopeds, EV charging hubs and an all-electric, all-employee ride-hail service, announced that it has hired over 1,000 New Yorkers as Q2 employee drivers.
The California Supreme Court rejected an argument by Uber that hoped to limit the ability of its drivers to take employment-related disputes to court. The court unanimously determined that the defendant, driver Erik Adolph, couldn’t sign away his right to represent his peers in a class-action lawsuit, even though his contract requires him to take any employment-related disputes to arbitration. This ruling could have ripple effects in the gig economy space.

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How To Set Up A Trombone: Assembly Steps Made Simple!Putting a trombone together looks like a tough task for those who’ve never done it before, but after a couple of times doing it, it’s quite easy.

In this post, I’ll go the steps I and many other music teachers have used for years to teach people how to set up a trombone.

Let’s dive in!

Steps For How To Set Up A Trombone

#1 Put The Case On Stable Ground Or Surface

Take your case and lay it flat on the ground or a table that doesn’t move. You’d feel terrible if you opened the case to let the trombone drop on the ground!

Often, the label faces up when opening the case.

#2 Open The Case And Remove The Slide

The latches are different by make, so you’ll have to figure out how to undo the latches on your own (I believe in you!).

Open the case up all the way and take a look at the parts. Again, each case is different, so the different parts may be stored in different ways.

We’re looking for the slide of the trombone now. It’s a long U-shape with a bar going across the middle on one end.

The bell may also have a U-shape to it, but the bell is the end with the large opening that flares out. We don’t need this yet.

Remove the slide once you locate it. Double-check the slide lock is holding the inner slide and outer slide together. Often, this is a little turning part near the slide brace (the middle part).

Hold the slide perpendicular with the ground, so the two opening are facing up and the U part is facing the ground.

#3 Attach The Bell To The Slide

Remove the bell and line up the opening on the slide that has the threads to attach the bell. Align and attach the smaller end of the bell part to it.

As you tighten the parts to each other, adjust the angle of the slide and bell. They need to be 90 degrees with each other with the slide going off to the right when the large bell end is up.

Ensure the bell-slide connection is finger-tight and not wiggly as you move it around.

#4 Insert The Mouthpiece

Take your mouthpiece and insert the smaller end into the remaining slide opening.

Give it a slight twist when you put it in to ensure a solid connection through friction.

If the mouthpiece is too big to fit or it’s too small and keeps spinning, you have the wrong bore mouthpiece.

Check out our complete guide to the best trombone mouthpieces for more info to help you pick the right one.

At this point, you’re technically done, but I’d like to offer one more bonus step that most guides skip completely.

#5 Lubricate The Slide (Optional)

Your slide is how you change notes, so keeping it working smoothly is critical! Before you even play, I encourage you to lubricate it a little bit.

Taking care to hold your slide braces, undo the slide lock to release the inner slide. Let it move out, but keep a hand on it so it doesn’t fall all the way out.

Take a spray bottle with water and give the length of the slide a quick spritz.

Now, move the slide in and out to distribute the moisture.

If you notice it still doesn’t move well, you may need to do a deeper clean.

For a full guide, check out our post on how to clean a trombone slide.

How To Dissemble Or Take Apart A Trombone

Taking a trombone apart is the same as putting it together, just in reverse order.

Make sure the slide lock is on!

Remove the mouthpiece, then take the bell off and put it away.

Finally, put the slide in the right place. Close the case and latch it, and you’re on your way!

Commonly Asked Questions Related To Trombone Assembly

How Do You Hold A Trombone?

The trombone is held in a balanced position between the left and right hands. The left hand grips the brace located near the bell, fingers wrapped around the slide cross bar for support.

Thumb rests on the brace behind the mouthpiece.

Meanwhile, the right hand, pinching the movable brace with two/three fingers and a thumb, moves the slide in a smooth horizontal motion.

It’s important to maintain a relaxed posture to avoid strain and facilitate optimal playing performance.

Is Trombone Easy For Beginners?

Learning to play the trombone can be a challenge for beginners, as it requires mastering several skills simultaneously, including breath control, lip tension, slide positions, and reading music.

Unlike other instruments with defined notes like piano or guitar, trombone relies heavily on the player’s ear for pitch accuracy.

However, with proper instruction and regular practice, many beginners find the journey rewarding and achievable.

The learning curve varies from person to person, but patience and persistence always pave the way for improvement.

How Often Should You Oil A Trombone?

The frequency of oiling a trombone largely depends on usage and the player’s personal comfort. However, as a general guideline, it’s recommended to oil the trombone slide once a week.

Regular lubrication ensures smooth movement and extends the instrument’s longevity. If the trombone is played heavily or feels sluggish, oiling may need to occur more often.

Always remember to wipe off any excess oil to avoid buildup.

Do Trombones Need To Be Tuned?

Trombones need to be tuned, but they do tune on the fly as well.

Because they change pitch with their slide anyway, small adjustments are easy to make.

However, trombones need their fundamentals tuned to make everyone’s lives easier and limit the adjustments needed as they play.

For a full guide, check out our post on how to tune a trombone.

Free educational resources from TiME Technology in Music Education is an organisation that aims to offer everyone with access to free music technology resources.

SEC reviews Ripple ruling, US bill seeks control over DeFi, and more: Hodler’s Digest, July 16-22The SEC examines the ruling in the Ripple case, a U.S. Senate bill seeks to regulate DeFi, and the poor performance of altcoins in the second quarter of 2023.

Getting It Done: Last week in D.I.Y & Indie MusicThis week, our tips and advice for the independent, do-it-yourselfers out there covered how to legally release a cover song, how to utilize your analytics, and more… 5 Questions to. Continue reading
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REWIND: The new music industry’s week in reviewA busy week by any definition, the music industry was no exception, with TikTok Music getting ready for the US, the stock market meets the music industry, and more… Vinyl. Continue reading
The post REWIND: The new music industry’s week in review appeared first on Hypebot.

An AI-generated ‘South Park’ episode, Microsoft’s security woes, and Tesla’s first Cybertruck buildHey, folks, welcome to Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch’s regular roundup of the past week in tech. Too busy to check the headlines this week? Don’t sweat it. That’s why WiR exists — we’ll get you caught up to speed.
This edition of WiR features pieces about a fake AI-generated “South Park” episode; the surging downloads of Threads, an app that shares the same name as Meta’s Twitter competitor; and Tesla’s first Cybertruck build. We also recap the CEO of OnlyFans stepping down; Wix’s new tool that can create websites on the fly, using generative AI; and Plex’s free Winamp-inspired music player.
That’s a lot to cover, so let’s get cracking. Oh, and if you haven’t already, sign up here to get WiR in your inbox every Saturday.
Most read
Poor timing for AI-generated TV: AI startup Fable Studios demoed its platform this week, using it to create a full, fake “South Park” episode in which Cartman tries to apply deepfake technology to the media industry. The tech was impressive, Devin writes, but — juxtaposed against the ongoing strike of creatives in TV and film — the stunt came across as a tad inartful.
Not a good look for Microsoft security: Microsoft still doesn’t know — or want to share — how China-backed hackers stole a key that allowed them to stealthily break into dozens of email inboxes, including those belonging to several government agencies. The company first disclosed the incident last Tuesday, attributing the monthlong activity to a newly discovered espionage group it’s calling Storm-0558, which it believes has a strong nexus to China.
The other Threads surges to new heights: Instagram’s Twitter clone Threads enjoyed a fairly fruitful first week in existence, sailing past 30 million users in the first 24 hours. But it’s had the unintended effect of thrusting Threads, an unrelated app first pitched as a Slack alternative, into the spotlight. Threads (the Slack alternative) reportedly racked up more than 880,000 downloads on iOS between July 6 and July 12, after Meta’s Threads launched, having had few downloads prior to this point.
Telsa unveils the first Cybertruck build: Tesla over the weekend said its first, much-anticipated Cybertruck came off the production line in Texas. The debut of the long-delayed, futuristic-looking pickup truck comes in the lead-up to Tesla’s second-quarter 2023 earnings call.
OnlyFans CEO steps down: After about two and a half years at the helm, Ami Gan is leaving OnlyFans. Chief strategy and operations officer Keily Blair will take over as CEO. As Amanda writes, OnlyFans is perhaps the best-known creator platform that supports adult content; according to Gan, the company paid out $10 billion to creators while she was CEO.
New sites, generated by AI: Wix, a longtime fixture of the web-building space, is betting that today’s customers don’t particularly care to spend time customizing every aspect of their site’s appearance. The company’s new AI Site Generator tool, announced this week, will allow Wix users to describe their intent and generate a website complete with a homepage, inner pages and text and images — as well as business-specific sections for events, bookings and more.
Plex makes its Winamp-inspired player free: Plexamp, the music player originally incubated by the Labs division of media company Plex, is now free. The project was first launched in 2017 as a subscription-based spin on the classic Winamp media player app, offering visualizations to accompany your tunes, tools for programming mixes, and more recently, a ChatGPT-powered “Sonic Sage” feature that builds unique playlists from users’ music libraries.
VanMoof e-bikes, saved: Since struggling e-bike startup VanMoof confirmed it has asked for a deferment of payment in Holland, there’s been a question hanging over the VanMoof bikes out there in the wild. Riding to the rescue, somewhat improbably, is Cowboy, VanMoof’s e-bike competitor over the border in Belgium. Cowboy’s “Bikey” app enables VanMoof riders to generate their unique digital key and keep riding, Mike writes.
Audio
TechCrunch’s roster of podcasts is, as the kids say, giving. Tune in for great new content this week.
On Equity, PitchBook venture guru Kyle Stanford came to riff with the crew on the venture capital in Q2 2023: the good, the bad, and the late stage.
The latest episode of Found, meanwhile, spotlighted Catherine Tabor, the founder and CEO of Sparkfly, a company that helps brands with marketing and customer engagement. Tabor talked about building a company fluid enough to adapt to changing technology trends over the last decade and how she was dismissed by venture capitalists despite landing notable customers.
TechCrunch+
TC+ subscribers get access to in-depth commentary, analysis and surveys — which you know if you’re already a subscriber. If you’re not, consider signing up. Here are a few highlights from this week:
Electric utilities drive customers to startups: Of all the companies that should be eager to embrace the electric transition, electric utilities would seem to be at the top of the list. Yet they also appear to be some of the most hesitant. Startups are taking advantage of the situation, Tim writes.
Mixed-gender founding teams raise over a billion dollars: U.S. startups with mixed-gender founding teams — meaning they have at least one female founder — raised $24.1 billion in the first half of 2023, which breaks down to $17.2 billion in Q1 and $6.9 billion in Q2, per the latest PitchBook data. That’s a big deal — but it’s important to note that startups with all-women founding teams are still struggling to raise money this year.
Ripple’s XRP case and the lack of regulatory clarity: Last week, the crypto community celebrated a U.S. federal court case that ruled Ripple’s XRP token does not make up illegal securities sales — but only in some cases. Though many celebrated the ruling, it’s not a true win for crypto — Jacquelyn explains why.

Get your TechCrunch fix IRL. Join us at Disrupt 2023 in San Francisco this September to immerse yourself in all things startup. From headline interviews to intimate roundtables to a jam-packed startup expo floor, there’s something for everyone at Disrupt. Save up to $600 when you buy your pass now through August 11, and save 15% on top of that with promo code WIR. Learn more.

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Spotify to raise U.S Subscription priceSpotify will finally follow its major streaming music competitors and raise its U.S. premium subscription price from $9.99 to $10,99. The major record labels have been calling on Spotify to. Continue reading
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