TikTok’s parent company quietly launched a music licensing platform called EasyOdeByteDance appears to have a service in the works that could shake up the global music licensing market.
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FLOSS Weekly Episode 819: Session, It’s all Abot the MetadataThis week, Jonathan Bennett talks Session and cryptocurrency skepticism with Kee Jefferys! Why fork Signal? How does Session manage to decentralize? And why the cryptocurrency angle? Listen to find out!

https://getsession.org/
https://github.com/oxen-io/

Did you know you can watch the live recording of the show right on our YouTube Channel? Have someone you’d like us to interview? Let us know, or contact the guest and have them contact us! Take a look at the schedule here.

Direct Download in DRM-free MP3.
If you’d rather read along, here’s the transcript for this week’s episode.
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Theme music: “Newer Wave” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

K-Pop in crisis? Around 93m albums were sold in South Korea in 2024 – 23m fewer than in 2023New data shows that, even as K-Pop gets bigger in the US, album sales declines in its home country in 2024
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Is this the perfect card game for music producers?Ever find yourself hitting a creative wall in the studio? Flipspark Elements might be the solution. It’s a card game perfect for any producer in a creative rut – or anyone keen to experiment with new production ideas.
Every deck comes with 64 cards divided into four suits (Element, Instrument, Pattern, and Effects), with each card providing a creative prompt. Element cards represent the key components of a track, like the bridge, bass, or chords, while Instrument cards refer to your sound source. Pattern cards might suggest a melody idea, and Effects cards will knock out engineering ideas like delay, distortion or reverb.

READ MORE: Spotify confirms 2024 was its first full year of profitability – amid ongoing industry debate surrounding artist payouts

There are no set rules to the game – meaning you could grab a handful of cards and attempt to make a track that with every suggestion, or just select a pair of cards. Whatever your approach, the idea is to challenge and inspire you to try out new approaches in the studio.
Flipspark Elements isn’t only intended to inspire solo creatives. It could even be used in parallel with a collaborator, or treated as a competition; two producers could battle it out to make the best tune, abiding by the guidelines of a selection of cards.

The game is currently available as a digital download, costing just $9. The set also comes with some blank cards, so you can create your own prompt cards to throw into the mix.
Flipspark also has an Inspire card game available, which is more in line with Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt’s 1975 classic, Oblique Strategies. Rather than specific production and mixing prompts, it’s a lot more writing and ideas focused, prompting users to ask “what if?” There are also some ‘consider; cards thrown in, to get artists to ponder things like their project’s themes.
The company has even released a Kids Contrast kit, if you want to teach your kids about EQ alongside their ABCs. It’s a set of high contrast photos of things like audio cables, vinyls and cassette tapes, intended to get children familiar with music equipment from an early age. Certainly more useful than photo cards depicting farm animals if you want your child to become a virtuoso.
Flipspark Elements is on sale for $9, while the Inspire and Kids Contrast packs are both available for free.
The post Is this the perfect card game for music producers? appeared first on MusicTech.

Howard Benson: “The producer credit is different than it was 20 years ago, because so many people take it now”Howard Benson has been a producer for nearly 40 years. In that time, he’s produced records for a dynamic selection of artists, from emo rockers My Chemical Romance to his Grammy-winning work on popstar Kelly Clarkson’s 2011 record, Stronger. However, over the last two decades, he’s noticed a shift in respect for record producers.
Speaking to SPIN, Benson notes that, nowadays, record production is misunderstood. He insists people have “no idea” what he truly does. “The producer credit is a really different credit than it was even 20 years ago because so many people take it now,” he says.  “It’s an easy credit for bands to give away because they just go, ‘Aw fuck it, make them a producer.’”

READ MORE: Bandcamp to donate 100% of proceeds to MusiCares in support of Los Angeles wildfire relief during special event this February

Due to the credit being dished out so readily, Benson says it’s diluted the true meaning of the title. “You’re not really doing the producer’s job just because you came up with a guitar part or something like that,” he says. “But sometimes you can’t fight that battle because the bands just want what they want.”
He also explains how splitting the producer credits can also put a heavy dent in how much the real producer actually earns. For this reason, Benson insists you have to be firm about how much you’re earning.  “And at some point, it just becomes about the money,” he says. “You just go, ‘You know what, if you’re going to take my producer credit, you’re going to have to pay me this much to take that credit from me or split the credit with me.’”
For those confused about what a producer actually does, Benson explains that a record producer is in the business of “feeling” above all else. “I don’t care how ‘good’ [a track] sounds,” he insists. “My job as a producer is to sell feelings.”
“If I [hear a track and] really hate it, it’s probably good,” he explains. “If I really love it, it’s probably good. But, if I feel absolutely nothing, then the production sucks.”
He notes his work with All-American Rejects for their 2005 record, Move Along. “I had to stop [for a while],” he recalls. “I have a friend who was going through a lot of trouble at that time in his life… The lyrics are about getting through the day, step by step, trying to move along. And I just went like, ‘Oh my God, I just can’t believe how tough his life is right now.’ And I went, ‘This is going to be a hit.’”
Beyond feeling, Benson’s job also comes with a side of babysitting. “You’re just trying to keep the band from imploding,” he says. “I’ve done some bands that literally fight the entire time they’re in the studio. Every producer I meet who’s really good has a good sense of musicality, engineering, and psychology, all three things.”
The post Howard Benson: “The producer credit is different than it was 20 years ago, because so many people take it now” appeared first on MusicTech.

Fix The Tix says TICKET Act would legalize ‘ghost’ ticketsThe Fix The Tix Coalition of more than 30 live music industry organizations including NIVA, NITO, the RIAA and Bandsintown is calling for major changes to pending TICKET Act legislation including restrictions on speculative tickets, often referred to as ghost tickets.
The post Fix The Tix says TICKET Act would legalize ‘ghost’ tickets appeared first on Hypebot.

Musical AI raises $1.5M for rights managementMusical AI raises $1.5M USD / $2.1M CA for rights management for generative AI. The investment will support its music’s attribution model.
The post Musical AI raises $1.5M for rights management appeared first on Hypebot.

Spotify loves Background Music, but is it a long term win?Spotify loves background music, but it could hurt music culture in the long run. As the AI and passive listening accelerates, dedicated fans and artists may start looking elsewhere.
The post Spotify loves Background Music, but is it a long term win? appeared first on Hypebot.

“The Bentley of Keyboards”: You can now get $150 off Arturia’s KeyLab MKII 49 via its official Reverb storeArturia’s KeyLab MKII 49 is currently being sold for just $299 via its official Reverb shop while supplies last – that’s a saving of $150.
Branded by one Reverb shopper as “the Bentley of MIDI Keyboards”, the KeyLab MK II 49 was first released in 2019, and is a versatile MIDI controller that can work with a full rig – including your DAW, virtual instruments, hardware, and modular gear.

READ MORE: Arturia launches Pigments 6, the sixth iteration of its powerful sound design software

This drop of KeyLab models on Reverb consists of B-Stock, meaning the items have previously been opened, used or possibly blemished. However, they are of course sold via an authorised dealer or original builder – which in this case is Artuira itself, as it has been running its official Reverb store since 2024.
The KeyLab MKII 49 features dynamic performance and studio controls, including a 49-note keyboard with aftertouch, 16 RGB backlit pads, nine faders, nine rotary knobs, plus DAW and transport controls. It also has CV / Gate outputs, so you can take command of outboard synth and Eurorack modules, and comes with three software titles – Analog Lab, Piano V, and Ableton Live Lite.
If you need more of a refresher on what it can do, check out the video below (featuring its slightly larger sibling, the 61 note KeyLab MKII):

In other Arturia news, the brand has also just launched a new version of the DrumBrute Impact with a retro, 1980s-inspired makeover. Originally launched in 2016, the DrumBrute was designed to “deliver raw, unapologetic drum sequences for producers and performers alike”. This new limited-edition version sees the same 10-voice machine reimagined with an off-white finish.
Head over to the official Arturia Reverb shop now to find out more about the KeyLab MKII 49, or grab yours while stock lasts.
[deals ids=”GN2vULVIRzpF5bbManFcV”]
The post “The Bentley of Keyboards”: You can now get $150 off Arturia’s KeyLab MKII 49 via its official Reverb store appeared first on MusicTech.

Arturia to release Drumbrute Impact 1984 The latest version of Arturia's compact drum machine sports a striking new off-white finish. 

Ocean Swift Synthesis Dystopia DiaryYouTube.com/watch?v=s5HvxbV41Eo Ocean Swift Synthesis proudly presents Dystopia Diary, a groundbreaking cinematic sound design tool for Kontakt 8 Player. Built for composers, producers,... Read More

Arturia’s DrumBrute Impact has been given a retro ’80s makeoverArturia has updated its DrumBrute Impact analogue drum machine with a new, retro-inspired aesthetic.
First launched in 2016, the DrumBrute was designed to “deliver raw, unapologetic drum sequences for producers and performers alike”. Now, the limited edition DrumBrute Impact 1984 sees the same 10-voice machine reimagined with an off-white finish.

READ MORE: Arturia’s Tape J-37 plugin recreates the legendary Studer J37 tape machine

DrumBrute Impact 1984 mixes analogue percussion with a polyrhythmic 64-step sequencer and modern-sounding upgrades. Its 10 voices include kick, snares, toms, hats, cowbell, cymbal, and FM, and there are 64 patterns on board with up to 64 steps, which are chainable in Song mode.
Users can record or perform beats on the fly using its eight responsive pads, and can also switch banks while playing, or quickly mute or solo channels as desired. There’s a swing control to add groove (per instrument or globally), and a Random control to generate beat variations.
The DrumBrute also lets you “sync to anything” via USB, MIDI, or Clock, and it has a 3.5mm headphone output with metronome override, and group outputs for kick, snares, hats, and FM.
Take a closer look below:

In other Arturia news, the brand recently launched the sixth iteration of its powerful sound design software, Pigments. It features a new Vocoder, which enables producers to get creative with voice modulation, plus a new Modal engine, new filters and modulators, and an improved user interface. If you’re an existing Pigments user, you can download the update for free.
The DrumBrute Impact 1984 is priced at €299. Find out more via Arturia.
The post Arturia’s DrumBrute Impact has been given a retro ’80s makeover appeared first on MusicTech.

Bandcamp to donate 100% of proceeds to MusiCares in support of Los Angeles wildfire relief during special event this FebruaryBandcamp is joining forces with a number of music brands to aid musicians affected by the Southern California wildfires.
On 7 February from midnight to midnight PST, 100 percent of its proceeds will be donated to MusiCares to support its emergency and recovery programmes following the destruction across LA. Bandcamp is also partnering with A2IM, Harman, Lagunitas, Roland, Shure, Victrola, and WIN for this initiative.

READ MORE: New fintech to launch for independent musicians and creators offering financial resources and music business education

Several wildfires broke out across LA in January, leading to 29 people losing their lives and thousands of acres of land being destroyed by the blazes. Many lost homes and precious belongings, including artists such as Madlib – who lost his home in the Palisades fire along with his entire record collection – and Bob Clearmountain, who lost his home and studio as well.
Artists can support Bandcamp’s initiative by adding new music or exclusive merch to their Bandcamp stores to encourage purchases, or share personal stories or behind-the-scenes content with fans to boost engagement. If you’re a fan on the platform, by simply purchasing music, merchandise, or exclusive tracks throughout the event you’ll be helping to raise money for those affected.

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“Los Angeles is the hub of the music industry, and the wildfires have impacted every part of it, from musicians to producers to recording studios. Bandcamp is proud to do our part to directly support musicians in LA, rallying the power of our community and music to help them rebuild,” says Dan Melnick, General Manager of Bandcamp.
“We are deeply appreciative of the significant support from the Bandcamp community and their partners. This generosity will help us continue providing vital resources and assistance to music people in need, and we are truly grateful for the community’s commitment to making a difference,” comments Laura Segura, Executive Director at MusiCares.
To find out more on how you can help, head over to Bandcamp. 
The post Bandcamp to donate 100% of proceeds to MusiCares in support of Los Angeles wildfire relief during special event this February appeared first on MusicTech.

How This DIY Darkwave Band From Texas Sells Out Venues Around The World & Gets Millions of StreamsThis week, Ari is joined by Twin Tribes, a popular dark wave duo, to discuss how they’ve reached global success without a label.

Xvive’s More You interface & monitoring system The latest addition to the Xvive line-up is a compact and convenient system that combines a USB audio interface with a personal monitoring mixer system for up to eight users.