Music implementation is the backbone to any interactive video game soundtrack. How to build an interactive music system for video games?

The global dance music industry grew by 34% in 2022Last week I was the International Music Summit in Ibiza, the annual music industry business event. This year MIDiA compiled the annual IMS Music Business Report and I presented the findings at the opening of the event. The full report is available here for download and you can view a video of the presentation here. Here are some of the key findings of the report.

The dance music industry has long been among the first music genres to be shaped by emerging technologies, not least because technology plays such an integral role in the production and performance of dance music. This has helped ensure that dance music has ridden the waves of music industry change. But it has also always been a genre built around performance, DJing especially. So when the pandemic came, dance music felt the impact particularly keenly, with festivals, clubs and bars all being hard hit. 2020 and 2021 were thus fallow years for dance music revenues, years in which DJs struggled to perform and the global industry looked much more towards its other revenue streams. With the global opening up of 2022, the dance music industry not only grew, but ended up bigger than pre-pandemic, pointing to the growing cultural reach and impact that dance music has in today’s global music business.

All of the key elements of the dance music business were up in 2022:

Recorded music up 11% to $1.5 billion

Publishing up 22% to $0.4 billion

Music hardware, software, sounds and services up 4% to $2.8 billion

Live up 78% to $4.5 billion

The result was that the total revenue of the global dance music industry rose 34% in 2022 to hit $10.2 billion. 

Hardware and software

Music hardware, software, sounds and services represents one of dance music’s super powers. Dance music producers have always relied on these tools, but now they are becoming the mainstay of the wider music creator economy. With music software used more across all genres, dance music sounds and techniques will influence all genres

Skills sharing and learning grew fastest, and it was worth $108 million in 2022. Plus, demand will increase still, due to fast evolving production techniques and new software

This will be a long-term growth area for dance music, with producers constantly seeking to upskill to the fast changing world of music production tech and techniques

Live

In live, Ibiza club ticketing revenue reached €124 million in 2022, up 55% from the €80 million registered in 2019. This was underpinned by increases in the number of events per venue, average ticket prices, and the total number of tickets sold going from 2 million in 2019 to 2.5 million in 2022

Globally, the top 100 DJs saw their 2022 bookings grow by around threefold on the pandemic hit 2021, though male DJs grew bookings more than half faster than their female counterparts. Female DJs represented 15% of all top 100 DJ bookings in 2022. Building popularity and getting bookings is a virtuous circle, but if female DJs are losing share of bookings to male counterparts, then the virtuous circle becomes a vicious circle.

A bright, diversified future

Finally, the dance music industry has shaken off the effects of the pandemic, coming out the other side, bigger, better, stronger and more relevant than ever. The pandemic shone a harsh light on the industry’s heavy-reliance on live. Now, that reliance is even higher because of live’s huge growth. There are two key differences from 2019: 1) a resurgent creator tools sector; and 2) a music publishing business that is finally beginning to find its share. The future is bright, with the rise of creator culture, bringing ever more people into dance music, both as fans and creators, with the creator-fan set to be at the centre of tomorrow’s dance music world.

Google launches AI text to music creation tool MusicLMGoogle has launched MusicLM, a new experimental AI tool that turns text descriptions into music. It’s still in beta, but starting today, you can sign up to try it in Google’s AI. Continue reading
The post Google launches AI text to music creation tool MusicLM appeared first on Hypebot.

TikTok’s new ‘Work With Artists’ could be the best way to grow quicklyTikTok is testing out a new feature where users are able to make money by including certain sounds/music in their videos, giving artists more plays and more exposure… by Bobby. Continue reading
The post TikTok’s new ‘Work With Artists’ could be the best way to grow quickly appeared first on Hypebot.

Music implementation is the backbone to any interactive video game soundtrack. How to build an interactive music system for video games?

Learn 7 misunderstood facts about Music Copyright in 4 mins 44 secs [Bobby Borg]Copyright and protecting your songs can be daunting, but as Bobby Borg proves in this 4-minute and 44-second video, it does not have to be, Bobby Borg is an author,. Continue reading
The post Learn 7 misunderstood facts about Music Copyright in 4 mins 44 secs [Bobby Borg] appeared first on Hypebot.

Music, AI & the Metaverse ‘offer limitless possibilities’The potential for AI to disrupt music is the topic de jour, but add the Metaverse to the mix, and the possibilities become even more mind-boggling. Guest post by Eric. Continue reading
The post Music, AI & the Metaverse ‘offer limitless possibilities’ appeared first on Hypebot.

Overcome Writer’s Block With FREE Creative Strategies Plugin By SampleScience
SampleScience releases Creative Strategies, a freeware VST plugin that can help you overcome writer’s block when producing and mixing your songs. Writer’s block is an absolute drag, and we’ve all truthfully been there. There is nothing quite as harrowing as sitting in front of your DAW, empty screen in place, and you want to create [...]
View post: Overcome Writer’s Block With FREE Creative Strategies Plugin By SampleScience

Overcome Writer’s Block With FREE Creative Strategies Plugin By SampleScience
SampleScience releases Creative Strategies, a freeware VST plugin that can help you overcome writer’s block when producing and mixing your songs. Writer’s block is an absolute drag, and we’ve all truthfully been there. There is nothing quite as harrowing as sitting in front of your DAW, empty screen in place, and you want to create [...]
View post: Overcome Writer’s Block With FREE Creative Strategies Plugin By SampleScience

Does your track ever feel too static or lack depth? Here are 3 ways to create interesting soundscapes. Published at Splice Blog.
At https://vlcam.com I really like to make effects sound 3d-like to work good for a track.
#musicproduction #Producer #VLCAM #independent #Artist #Effects #3d

Apple introduces Logic Pro & Final Cut Pro for iPad On May 9th, Apple hosted an informal event in Los Angeles to unveil Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro for iPad.

Leading cryptocurrency exchange Binance briefly halted withdrawals on the Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain as the network experiences unprecedented congestion. The exchange briefly halted withdrawals twice on Sunday, as the number of unconfirmed transactions reached record levels.

Kenya partners with Abu Dhabi's Venom Foundation to build blockchain, Web3 hubThe blockchain and Web3 hub will serve as a center for knowledge exchange and collaboration between technology firms and government entities in Africa.

Disney+ and Hulu content to combine into one streaming appIn a significant move made by Disney, the company announced Wednesday that U.S. customers are getting a new app that combines Disney+ and Hulu content.
The company also announced that it is raising the price of the Disney+ ad-free tier later in the year.
During Disney’s quarterly earnings call, CEO Bob Iger revealed that the new streaming option will launch later this year. However, the company also plans to keep Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ as standalone platforms.
The news comes after Disney+ lost four million subscribers in the second quarter of 2023. Hulu gained 200,000 subs.
“While we continue to offer Disney plus Hulu and ESPN plus as standalone options, this is a logical progression of our [direct-to-consumer] offerings that will provide greater opportunities for advertisers while giving subscribers access to more robust and streamlined content, resulting in greater audience engagement and ultimately leading to a more unified streaming experience,” Iger stated during the earnings call.
Many of us saw this announcement coming since former Disney CEO Chapek hinted at the plans in September 2022.
“Right now, if you want to go from Hulu to ESPN+ to Disney+, you have to go out of one app to another app. In the future, we may have less friction,” Chapek told Variety last year.
This also appears to support the reports that Disney will likely buy Comcast’s stake in Hulu. Disney is reportedly expected to buy Comcast’s stake in Hulu by 2024. Currently, Comcast owns 33% and Disney owns 66%.
The integration follows other moves made by competitors, such as Paramount+ combining with Showtime as well as Warner Bros. Discovery announcing its new streaming service, Max, which merges HBO Max and Discovery+ into one platform.
Subscribers in select countries outside of the U.S. already have Hulu content bundled with Disney+.
When the streamer launched its ad-supported plan in December, the cost of its premium tier went up to $10.99/month, compared to $7.99. Disney+ will get yet another price hike for its ad-free subscription. Soon, subscribers will have to pay even more to get content with no ads.
“The pricing changes we’ve already implemented is proven successful, and we plan to set a higher price for our ad-free tier later this year to better reflect the value of our content offerings,” Iger added. “As we look to the future, we will continue optimizing our pricing model to reward loyalty and reduce churn to increase subscriber revenue for the premium add free tier and drive growth of subscribers…”

Disney+ loses subscribers for second quarter in a row, drops 4M subs

Disney+ and Hulu content to combine into one streaming app by Lauren Forristal originally published on TechCrunch

Runaway June Signs with Quartz Hill Records and Brown Sellers Brown MgmtRunaway June has signed with Quartz Hill Records for label and Brown Sellers Brown Management for management, effective immediately, giving the band a new home to share all of their new music on the way. On the heels of their exciting news, the trio is also announcing their upcoming single, "Make Me Wanna Smoke," a burn-it-down country rocker with blowtorch vocals and attitude to match, available everywhere on May 19.

"We cannot wait to start this new journey with Quartz Hill Records and the amazing team there," Runaway June shares. "We couldn't ask for more passionate, talented, hardworking, true believers fighting for us. Benny Brown signed this band from the beginning, and to be together again is a dream come true. We are counting down the days until we can share the new music we are creating together with the world!"

"It's so great to be working with Runaway June again," adds Benny Brown, Managing Partner, Brown Sellers Brown Management. "They're all so talented and I've always been a big believer in them and their music — I think this is some of the best music they've ever done and can't wait for everyone to hear it."

On Wednesday (5/10), Runaway June members Jennifer Wayne, Natalie Stovall and Stevie Woodward appeared on the latest episode of The Bobby Bones Show, where "Make Me Wanna Smoke" exclusively premiered. During the episode, Wayne, Stovall and Woodward chatted with Bones and updated him on all things Runaway June before playing "Make Me Wanna Smoke."

"This is a totally different vibe than what we've done in the past and it's really exciting, very edgy, more rock elements," Runaway June exclusively told Bobby Bones of the song, adding, "It has a really cool way of incorporating all of our styles into it. We're really excited about it."

"Make Me Wanna Smoke" was written by Jason Sellers, Ella Langley, and Bobby Hamrick, the track captures a conflicted heart struggling with love it can’t quit – even when it feels like a bad habit. Produced by Mickey Jack Cones as a stomp-and-shout anthem with addictive three-part harmonies and a red-hot rhythm section, Wayne, Stovall and Woodward try their best to resist the temptation. But in the end, this is one romantic habit they just can’t escape.

In late 2022, Runaway June kicked off their latest musical era with the relatable heartbreak rocker "BROKEN HEARTS (DO BROKEN THINGS)," which was highlighted by Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, E! News, CMT and more. The grab-your-girlfriends music video premiered across CMT along with the Paramount Times Square Billboard in New York City, streaming the groove-worthy track's message across the Big Apple.

Runaway June is set to take their new music on the road this summer with planned stops in California, Colorado, Nashville and more. See the band's full list of tour dates here.

Photo by: Ford Fairchild