Soundiron Harpsichord The Harpsichord, a keyboard sensation from the 16th to mid 18th century, once ruled European music. This versatile instrument was a star in both Renaissance and Baroque compositions, shining... Read More

YouTube Shorts sponsors Manager of the Year category at A&R AwardsShort-form video platform backs management showdown at UK industry's elite awards night
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Latin music super fans spend over 30% more on music-related activities than other music super fans in the US (report)US market monitor Luminate has published its new Latin Music Report
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OCTO8R Autumn Vibe Autumn Vibe for bx_oberhausen Embrace lo-fi colors of autumn. 100 presets include: Arp - 10 (+14 Bonused). Bass - 5 (+6 Bonused). Keys - 10 (+15 Bonused).... Read More

VSL introduce Synchron Duality Strings Sordino Synchron Duality Strings Sordino again captures ensembles of different sizes performing in two contrasting rooms, but with mutes fitted at the bridges of each instrument.

JME: Spotify should create “unlockable music” only available by attending eventsJME may have stepped back on regularly releasing new music in the past decade, but he’s still full of ideas. The UK grime MC, songwriter and record producer recently shared on social media a vision for a Spotify tool that could help re-introduce a “tangible” dimension to new music consumption.

READ MORE: Spotify unveils tool for artists to pay to promote music on home screen

The idea, according to JME, would require fans to go to a physical event or location in order to “unlock” albums, EPs or singles on streaming platforms rather than just being given them instantly. This would mean the music is only listened to by the biggest fans who are willing to put in the effort in order to be able to listen to it, rather than just being delivered as part of a recommended playlist, for example.
“I don’t want to throw music into the communal abyss,” JME writes in an X post, referring to the vast swathes of new music going on Spotify and Apple Music on a daily basis. “But I want people that actually care and love music to have it. I miss the days of tangible music. The process of going somewhere to get the music meant you actually cared.
“So I had an idea… Spotify & Apple Music should make streaming music slightly more tangible by having unlockable albums/songs. Make it so that some songs are available only by attending an event/location.”

This one comment made me think,
I don’t want to throw music into the communal abyss,
But I want people that actually care and love music to have it.
It’s not all about money either, even though we get 0.005p per stream…
I miss the days of tangible music.
So I had an idea… pic.twitter.com/L6f4T479kA
— Jme (@JmeBBK) October 3, 2023

Big Zuu responded with “That would be cold.” One fan, however, wasn’t entirely sold on the idea, writing, “Issue is though, some people may not be able to get there if it’s an event. Maybe if you had to get down to your local HMV or something but then that’s just buying a CD basically, isn’t it?” Another said, “you have to think of accessibility and fans that aren’t privileged geographically to benefit from this.”
“If they can’t get there then they can’t get there,” responds JME, “That’s the point? If I make a song and I want everyone at Wireless [festival] to have it, and you can’t get there, then you don’t get it.”
Recent statistics in vinyl record purchases show an uptick in music fans looking for more tangible ways of consuming music. MusicTech’s recent feature, How the vinyl industry weathered pandemic disruptions to emerge stronger than ever, highlights that record stores are “places to get in touch with new music in an accessible way”. A recent Luminate report also showed that US vinyl record sales increased by 21.7 per cent in the first half of 2023.
Follow JME on Twitter/X.
The post JME: Spotify should create “unlockable music” only available by attending events appeared first on MusicTech.

Monster Toys Is A FREE Toy Instrument Plugin By MonsterDAW
MonsterDAW releases Monster Toys, a FREE toy instrument plugin for macOS and Windows. MonsterDAW is the brand behind previous releases like Monster Synth, Monster Strings, and generally, all things monster-related around here. Agus Hardiman is the mastermind behind MonsterDAW, and it’s fair to say that his latest development is his most serious work to date. [...]
View post: Monster Toys Is A FREE Toy Instrument Plugin By MonsterDAW

Spotify prompt-driven AI playlists risk devaluing many artists, genresSpotify is testing AI-generated playlists based on custom prompts. The streamer successfully launched its AI-powered DJ feature last year. Code pointing to prompt-driven AI playlists was discovered within the Spotify. Continue reading
The post Spotify prompt-driven AI playlists risk devaluing many artists, genres appeared first on Hypebot.

An emerging artist’s guide to building a profitable tourThere are so many pieces to planning a successful tour, which can be especially hard to put together as an up-and-coming artist. Here are some tips to help get musicians. Continue reading
The post An emerging artist’s guide to building a profitable tour appeared first on Hypebot.

“One thing I don’t like about major studios is that there are buttons everywhere,” says AfrojackDutch EDM producer and DJ Afrojack has expressed his dislike for major recording studios that offer overwhelming hardware options that often end up going unused.

READ MORE: Tycho’s $160,000 studio collection is flying off Reverb’s shelves: Why he’s selling and what to expect from his 2024 album

The statement was made during a recent interview with MusicTech about his newly-built Belgium-based WALL Records headquarters and artist development company. During the chat, Afrojack talks about teaching young producers about “hype” in the industry, how he uses his new studio to help budding talent, and AI.
“One thing I don’t like about major studios is that there are buttons everywhere,” he says. “They have all the equalisers and compressors, there’s always [an Empirical Labs] Distressor – no one ever uses it but it’s everywhere – but, for me, if it’s not being used most of the time then I don’t want to see it. I want the sound quality of a production studio but the feeling of a comfortable living room.”
Image: René van Dongen
While his studio does include high-end studio gear, it’s minimal, with the focus revolving more around inspiration and comfort than hardware.
“I wanted to create an inspirational space for young artists,” he says. “I wanted to make it so nice that, when people come here, they’re motivated to work harder – so that they can come back again.”
Also in the interview, Afrojack discusses the importance of “hype” in the music industry today, arguing that not enough is being done to teach new producers about how to promote their music.
“I know artists with more than 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify who are not getting anywhere because no one cares. At the same time, there are artists with almost no monthly listeners and they’re playing fucking everywhere – because they have hype.”
“We’re building an academic package on that side of things because there are so many tutorials on YouTube about how to make music, and there are so many tutorials about how to be a successful entrepreneur. Even though you’re going to need both if you want to make it in a creative industry, for some reason, no one thought to bring these two things together. So that’s a really big part of what we’re trying to teach.”
Be part of Afrojack’s WALL Recordings family by visiting wallrecordings.com.
The post “One thing I don’t like about major studios is that there are buttons everywhere,” says Afrojack appeared first on MusicTech.

Fender unveil Tone Master Pro system Fender's new Tone Master Pro aims to offer guitarists the ultimate all-in-one amp modelling and effects solution for the studio and stage.

Sonible’s Pure:Limit FREE With Any Purchase At Plugin Boutique
Plugin Boutique offers the pure:limit intelligent limiter plugin by Sonible as a free add-on with any purchase this month. Who doesn’t love a good dynamics processor? If you’ve been waiting with bated breath at what the next Plugin Boutique freebie might be, your wait is over. This month brings Sonible’s pure:limit, which is free with [...]
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“I’m curious how copying a product and selling it at the exact same price is a ‘not for profit’”: Loopop slams Behringer’s “not-for-profit” claimsLoopop has fired back at music tech brand Behringer after the brand once again took aim at the product reviewer recently, claiming “‘influencers’ have decided not to support us anymore because we don’t provide free products for reviews”.

READ MORE: “We don’t pay to play”: Behringer further outlines policies on supplying free gear to reviewers

In a post to X made yesterday, Loopop questions Behringer’s ethical stance following claims made by the company in August that they’re a “not-for-profit” organisation. The post features a screenshot of Behringer’s Arturia Keystep clone, the Swing, alongside the original and set at the same price on the online gear store, Sweetwater.
It reads: “I’m curious how copying a successful, in-production product and selling it at the exact same price is a ‘not for profit’ or ‘empowering the ones who have not’, as opposed to, say, simply making a profit off someone else’s investment in product design (source: Sweetwater Oct 2)”

I’m curious how copying a successful, in-production product and selling it at the exact same price is a “not for profit” or “empowering the ones who have not”, as opposed to, say, simply making a profit off someone else’s investment in product design (source: Sweetwater Oct 2) pic.twitter.com/0sAo44qbNA
— Loopop Music (@loopopmusic) October 2, 2023

“I’m no FTC lawyer,” he responds to one X user, “but it sounds deceptive to me to tell your customers you’re a non-profit that empowers the have-nots, but then go and sell the same product at the same price “have-nots” buy from for-profit companies (and yes, a cheaper copy sucks too)”
The claim Loopop’s referring to was made in a Facebook post by Behringer in August. The post reads: “Purpose before Profit. At Behringer [sic] we pay zero dividends to shareholders and we reinvest all our earnings. This is the reason why we’re selling our products at such low prices and at times even below cost.”
In the comments, Behringer goes on to say, “If profit was out [sic] focus, we wouldn’t sell our products at such low prices. At times we’re even selling them below cost. We are a ‘not for profit’ org as all our earnings are reinvested.”
Despite all this drama, Behringer is continuing to tease and launch loads of new products. Stick around on musictech.com to discover every synth, drum machine and controller Behringer is working on.
The post “I’m curious how copying a product and selling it at the exact same price is a ‘not for profit’”: Loopop slams Behringer’s “not-for-profit” claims appeared first on MusicTech.

Michael Bibi surprises Ibiza partygoers with DJ set amid cancer treatmentDJ Michael Bibi surprised Ibiza partygoers last week with a set at the DC-10 nightclub, just days after leaving hospital amid cancer treatment.
Bibi’s set was part of the closing party for a string of Thursday night events hosted at the club by his label Solid Grooves throughout the summer. It marked his first show since June, and the first time he played onstage since revealing that he had cancer earlier this year.

READ MORE: “I know artists with more than 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify who are not getting anywhere because no one cares”: Afrojack says “hype” is key to success

Watch footage of Bibi playing an unreleased track, Sungazing, at the event below:

Michael Bibi playing his unreleased track “Sungazing” during his epic comeback tonight at DC-10. Breaks down into tears at the end. Emotional moment. All love to him
(via luca_dea_official/IG) pic.twitter.com/9XCiUpbbZl
— That’s Fyre (@ThatsFyre) September 28, 2023

Before appearing at the club last Thursday (28 September), Bibi teased fans with the possibility of an appearance, writing on X: “One life, live it.”

one life, live it.
— Michael Bibi (@MichaelBibi1) September 28, 2023

The cryptic message came just two days after he revealed he’d left hospital having completed his “main treatment”.
“When I first came into hospital I was barely able to walk,” he said. “Today I walk out with a smile having completed my main treatment. tired but happy… My fight against cancer is not over… But for now a break & some extra time to enjoy life.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MichaelBibiOFC (@michael_bibi_)

Michael Bibi’s management agency revealed to fans back in June that he was undergoing treatment for CNS lymphoma, a rare form of cancer which forms in the lymph tissue of the brain or spinal cord. It was also confirmed that Bibi would not be performing for the “foreseeable future”.
The update came while Bibi was underway with his residency at the DC-10 nightclub, and was set to perform at other events in Europe during the summer.
The post Michael Bibi surprises Ibiza partygoers with DJ set amid cancer treatment appeared first on MusicTech.

“I know artists with more than 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify who are not getting anywhere because no one cares”: Afrojack says “hype” is key to successNick van de Wall AKA Afrojack has spoken about the importance of “hype” for young producers looking to catch their big break in the music industry.

READ MORE: “Many media outlets and ‘influencers’ have decided not to support us anymore”, Behringer claims

The DJ/producer recently launched a new programme called WALL Academy, which aims to provide support and education for budding talents in the music scene.
Speaking to MusicTech, Afrojack says that oftentimes, a lack of success in an artist’s music career is not due to a lack of talent, but rather “a lack of knowledge about how the music industry works, how to network, [and] how to get your records played.”
“I know artists with more than 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify who are not getting anywhere because no one cares. At the same time, there are artists with almost no monthly listeners and they’re playing fucking everywhere – because they have hype.”
Of the ever elusive “hype”, Afrojack says that one of the major goals of his programme is to teach young music makers how to go about self-promoting as well as how to build hype systematically.
“There are so many tutorials on YouTube about how to make music, and there are so many tutorials about how to be a successful entrepreneur. Even though you’re going to need both if you want to make it in a creative industry, for some reason, no one thought to bring these two things together. So that’s a really big part of what we’re trying to teach.”
At the end of the day, Afrojack believes that “It is possible to achieve a level of success in the music industry if you abide by a certain discipline and certain rules.”
“A lot of people will say ‘it’s all luck.’ Well, sure, luck is part of it; playing the Tomorrowland mainstage as a headliner requires some luck. But a base level of success, like playing local clubs or having enough records out that people will buy tickets to see you on tour, this is completely possible to do.”
You can read the full interview with Afrojack on MusicTech.com.
The post “I know artists with more than 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify who are not getting anywhere because no one cares”: Afrojack says “hype” is key to success appeared first on MusicTech.