You just booked a show; now what?Micahel Brandvold and Jay Gilbert dive into the essential things every musician needs to do after they book a show or tour. MichaelBrandvoldMarketing · 574 Checklist of Everything You Need. Continue reading
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“The perfect blend of design culture, creative culture and engineering”: New Beats headphones collaboration with Samuel RossBeats has released new Studio Pro headphones in collaboration with fashion designer Samuel Ross and his design venture SR_A.
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The new headphones look the part but the brand assures it’s not a case of style over substance. They have fully-adaptive noise cancellation and transparency modes, and bespoke spatial audio with dynamic head tracking.
There’s 40 hours of battery life, too, and engineered leather and premium metal sliders. The headphones’ custom acoustic platform and 40mm drivers are designed for almost-zero distortion and improved clarity, and there are optimised sound profiles to suit listening to music, watching movies, playing games, or having conversations.
You can choose from four different colourways: black, deep brown, navy, and sandstone.
Image: Beats
In a press release, Ross said, “When Beats approached me to bring a new design language to the Studio Pro, my goal was to retain the integrity of the design while creating a more sophisticated look and feel that compliments all of the technological advancements. The result is the perfect blend of design culture, creative culture and engineering coming together”.
It’s not the first time the A-COLD-WALL* founder has worked with Beats, either. In 2021, he worked with the brand to revamp its Studio3 Wireless headphones.
Samuel Ross / Image: Beats
And, in June this year, he became Beats’ first principal design consultant. The move was part of Beats’ strategy to target younger consumers. Chris Thorne, CMO at Beats, said products must “have the right design, the colours right, the messaging and positioning. That’s something that Samuel is so good with for the brand.”
Thorne continued, talking about Ross’ previous work with Beats, “It went so well and designers enjoy working with him so much, they were almost asking for more”.
You can find the new headphones at Apple, where they’ll be available soon at a price of £349.99.
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A beginner’s guide to YouTube ShortsYouTube Shorts is growing and has proven successful for music marketing, partly because of its integration with the full YouTube ecosystem. by RORY DONAHUE of The Daily Rind Blog YouTube. Continue reading
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RZA’s signed E-Mu SP-1200 sampler sells for $70,000 in auctionThe E-Mu SP-1200 sampler that RZA used in 1991, and signed this year, has been sold for almost $70,000 in a Sotheby’s auction.
READ MORE: The E-mu SP-1200: How one sampler ushered in a revolution
The hip-hop legend used the equipment to create some of Wu-Tang Clan‘s 1993 debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Judging by the worn nature of the SP-1200, RZA used it for quite some time after the album was released, too. The listing does not mention whether the sampler is in full working order – but it does bear the RZA signature, at least.
Sotheby’s expected the sampler to sell for between $50,000 and $80,000, and eventually went for $69,850 yesterday (26 July).
Image: Sotheby’s
The E-Mu SP-1200 was first released in 1987, combining a drum machine and sampler into one. Per Sotheby’s, it was a “fundamental tool in unleashing the Wu-Tang’s inimitable sound”. It described the machine as one of the “greatest contributions” to both hip-hop and American music more generally.
“This is the first SP-1200 that I ever owned,” RZA said of the SP-1200. He confirmed that it was used in the production of a number of classic Wu-Tang releases, too, saying, “There’s DNA in this.”

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Also at the auction, the custom-made ring 2Pac wore at the last public appearance he made before his death sold for over $1 million, which far exceeded the estimated sale price of $300,000.
Both sales were part of Sotheby’s third annual hip-hop sale, which this year coincides with the genre’s 50th anniversary. But they were just two of almost 120 sales. Also up for grabs were a pair of Nike Dunks, Afrika Islam’s SP-1200 machine, and a curated collection of 394 sealed cassette tapes showcasing two decades of hip-hop.
And Wu-Tang fans were able to get their hands on more gear besides the drum machine. Up for grabs were nine cassettes of early Wu-Tang demos and RZA’s handwritten liner notes for the Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) album sleeve.
Read more music tech news. 
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London’s XOYO launching new Birmingham club in SeptemberXOYO is branching out of London with a new club in Birmingham opening in September 2023.
READ MORE: Primavera Sound will not return to Madrid in 2024, organisers confirm
This week, there have been a number of cryptic posters around the West Midlands city, reading “All we wanna do is dance” alongside a QR code. Scan the QR code, and you’re taken to a brand new XOYO Birmingham website.
On the website, there’s a countdown clock with 50 days remaining as of 27 July. So, it looks as though it’s going to open on 15 September – a Friday night.
And XOYO Birmingham has its own Instagram page, too. Its bio reads, “Coming Autumn 2023. New sister venue to XOYO London”.

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The page has shared some photos, too, adding that the venue will “embody the spirit of Birmingham itself” and will “embrace incredible homegrown talent in the Midlands”. So, while it’s not yet been revealed who’s going to be performing there, there could be some exciting local talent.
It continues, “Created by and for the people of Birmingham, this space will serve as a vibrant hub where creativity, music, and community converge.
“Celebrating international stars, while shining a spotlight on our city’s homegrown talent and an atmosphere of inclusivity. A dancefloor that welcomes everyone.”
It’s set to be another addition to Birmingham nightlife, alongside venues like LAB11, Snobs, Tunnel Club, and The Mill.
XOYO, in Shoreditch, opened in 2010, and has played host to a range of big names over the years. It’s led residencies from the likes of Goldie, Flava D, Andy C and Interplanetary Criminal, while DJ Randall has a residency throughout August.
Learn more about the upcoming venue launch at xoyobirmingham.co.uk.
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“Most of the music released nowadays is empty of any soul and emotions”: Folamour on modern dance musicFrench electronic DJ and producer Folamour has lamented the state of modern electronic music and the way it is, in his words, “empty of any soul and emotions”.

READ MORE: This £13k ‘Bauhaus-style’ turntable by Reed doesn’t include tonearms

The Marseille-based artist — who recently performed at the Hideout Festival in Croatia — told Complex that he hopes to see “a comeback of meaningful and messageful music in the electronic/dance scene.”
“Nowadays, I feel that sharing a message, values, even stories, is often overlooked,” he explains, adding that “most of the music released nowadays is empty of any soul and emotions, and I regret that.”
“Making music for people to dance to is great, but music 30 years ago carried a stronger social message, actually telling something to the world. So I’d love to see that come back.”
When asked about the one trend or scene that ‘absolutely needs to die right now’, Folamour doubles down on his previous comments, saying “All the soulless music made for people to get drunk on. Music should be more than that.”
The musician also shares the inspiration behind his latest mix at Hideout, saying “I didn’t think much about what I was going to play before my set, so I followed the flow of the night. It was warm and electric, and I think it pushed me into starting funky and moving to the housier part of my spectrum towards the end. The energy in Croatia is always special.”
Citing his remix of Udo Jürgens’ Peace Now as the one track he just had to include in the set, Folamour says, “Udo is a legendary German artist, and I was humbled to be offered to rework this gem of his. It has found a very special place in my sets these days with its universal love message.”

“I always express something in my sets and each track is selected for a reason, and this one has a clear message about peace that I truly cherish.”
Speaking with MusicTech for the May digital cover feature, Folamour elaborated on his values as an artist and producer, and explains why he is always the number one fan of his music.
“If I’m not dancing, something is wrong,” he said. “When I’m listening to my own music, I try to separate myself from it. I’ve been making music for almost 10 years, and there are some songs that I forget that I’ve made. I listen to music on Spotify, and a track comes on and I’m like, ‘Wow, this track is cool. I don’t remember who it is.’ And I find out it’s myself, in a weird way.
“So even with Manifesto, sometimes I would sit and listen to it like I’m someone else, and try to understand the message. I try to put myself in the case of someone discovering it. And it’s really important for me to still enjoy it, no matter what. Because if I’m not one hundred per cent a fan of something I do, it’s not meant to be out.”
Read more Folamour news. 
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VIRTU online mastering from Slate Digital Slate Digital's new online mastering service promises to give mixes the clarity, space and depth they need to compete with modern chart-topping hits.

This £13k ‘Bauhaus-style’ turntable by Reed doesn’t include tonearmsAttention all vinyl aficionados (with some serious cash to spare): Reed has unveiled the Muse 3A, a ‘Bauhaus style’-inspired turntable boasting a myriad of premium features and an equally premium price tag to boot.

READ MORE: Todd Edwards unpacks the floppy disk containing all 70 samples for Daft Punk’s Face To Face

Like its Muse 3C sibling, the new 3A uses a reverse sliding thrust ball bearing for its main axis. The bearing ball is made from stainless steel and lateral stability is achieved by using a very durable and low-noise sliding bearing.
Key features of this beast of a vinyl player include a Coreless DC motor, a toggleable traction system with both belt drive and friction drive options, as well as its ability to accommodate two tonearms. The unit also comes with a digital control system indicator that displays essential operating information such as the rotating speed of the platter.
Available in three colours — carnelian red, white, and black, the Muse 3A features an angular design and its entire body (including the bottom) is made out of birch plywood, which makes it durable, stable, and non-resonant. Meanwhile, the platter, which is raised slightly above the main body, has hidden feet that create the illusion of it hovering above your hi-fi rack.
This beast of a turntable also tips the scale at 15kg before any tonearms are mounted.
Price wise, the Muse 3A will cost you an eye-watering £13,000. But what’s money in the face of all that unadulterated audiophile deliciousness, right?
Find out more at the Reed website.
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The Modern Metal Songwriter Debuts NovaClip (Exclusive Deal)
The Modern Metal Songwriter releases NovaClip, an advanced peak clipper plugin for Windows and macOS. I don’t know who to thank for the sudden deluge of clippers on the plugin market, but it’s been great to see different takes. NovaClip is the most recent clipper released by The Modern Metal Songwriter, and it comes with [...]
View post: The Modern Metal Songwriter Debuts NovaClip (Exclusive Deal)

Orchestral Tools unveil Illuvia percussion library Illuvia contains a range of evolving, playable patches that are said to be the ideal fit for dystopian film, TV and video game scores.

Straight from Serato’s Chief Strategy Officer: How Serato Plans to Sustain its Beat After AlphaTheta’s Acquisition
DJTT spoke with Nick Maclaren, Chief Strategy Officer at Serato, about the changes that could happen under new AlphaTheta ownership.
The post Straight from Serato’s Chief Strategy Officer: How Serato Plans to Sustain its Beat After AlphaTheta’s Acquisition appeared first on DJ TechTools.

BMI ‘in discussions with outside parties’ after scrapping sale plans in 2022BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill issued a memo to staff addressing the company's reported sale talks and says, 'no final decisions have been made'.
Source

Audiobook platform Libro.fm announces its international launchLibro.fm, the audiobook retailer and listening app for local bookshops, launched internationally on Wednesday to give even more bookstores the ability to earn income via audiobook sales.
The platform is now available worldwide in six currencies: USD, CAD, EUR, AUD, GBP and NZD. Libro.fm currently partners with over 2,200 independent bookshops, with 146 of those being international stores.
At a time when independent bookshops face crushing competition from Amazon and other major online retailers, the international launch will hopefully help give smaller stores a chance to grow their businesses.
Libro.fm saw a demand among global readers for an audiobook app that supports smaller bookshops. In 2022, 29% of new Libro.fm users were from outside of the U.S., the company said.
More broadly, the global audiobook market size is predicted to reach $35 billion by 2030, per Grand View Research.
Image Credits: Libro.fm
Every time a customer makes a purchase or pays the membership fee, Libro.fm shares profits with the selected bookshop. So, instead of customers giving money to a large service like  Audible, they are providing necessary revenue to their local bookstores.
“What is significant for the bookshop is that every sale matters because of their business model… every book counts,” Libro.fm co-founder and CEO Mark Pearson told TechCrunch. “Whereas for Amazon, it’s a drop in the bucket if you sell a book.”
It’s completely free for bookshops to sell audiobooks on Libro.fm.
Meanwhile, if booksellers want to sell on Amazon-owned Audible, they either make 40% of the retail sales or a royalty rate of 25%, depending on whether they get exclusive or non-exclusive distribution rights. To sell a physical copy on Amazon, sellers must pay either $39.99 per month for a professional seller account (no per-sale closing fee) or 99 cents per sale if they have an individual seller account.
With Libro.fm, users choose one bookshop of their choice in their local area and then either pay a monthly membership ($14.99 USD), which gives them one audiobook credit per month, or purchase audiobooks à la carte. Members receive a 30% discount when buying individually.
Readers can listen to their audiobooks via the free iOS or Android app. All audiobooks are DRM-free, meaning they can also download and listen on other devices. Libro.fm hosts more than 400,000 digital audiobooks.
Libro.fm co-founder and CEO Mark Pearson
In 2014, Libro.fm was co-founded by Mark Pearson (Libro.fm CEO), Carl Hartung (CTO) and Nick Johnson (Creative Director).
“After starting my own publishing company, Pear Press, I saw growth in my audiobook sales. However, these independent bookshops had no way to participate in that growth,” Pearson told TechCrunch. “And so that’s why we decided to start Libro.fm. I myself, as a publisher, and my friends who had PhDs in computer science teamed up to build this platform. And we did it with no outside investors. We’re 100% employee-owned.”
With only 18 employees, Pearson says that the entire Libro.fm team are “super passionate” about bookstores and plans to keep the company “as small as possible” in order to “maximize the revenue that we share with our bookshop partners,” he added.

Amazon to shutter Book Depository, a UK-based online bookseller it acquired in 2011, on April 26

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