Utopia divests again, as Absolute Label Services gets reacquired by original leadership teamNews marks the third time this year that Utopia has offloaded a company that it previously acquired within the past 18 months
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New documentary MIXTAPE explores impact of mixtapes on hip-hop cultureA recently announced upcoming documentary is set to explore the history of hip-hop mixtape culture.

READ MORE: Documentary about Avicii in the works: “People think they know the story”

The documentary, MIXTAPE, is part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of hip-hop. It focuses on how mixtapes helped to spread hip-hop culture into the mainstream, after first appearing in New York in the 1970s and now being a popular format for major artists such as Tyler, The Creator, Drake, Danny Brown and Chance The Rapper.
Among the artists featured in the documentary are Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, 2 Chainz, Big Boi, Fat Joe, Kid Capri, DJ Drama, and KRS-One. Meanwhile, the soundtrack album, The Def Tape, will be released in August via Def Jam.
MIXTAPE is directed and produced by Omar Acosta. He said: “Hip-Hop is 50 years old and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate its journey and contextualise its evolution than through the story of the mixtape. Every voice in this film played a critical role, especially the DJs who, as KRS-ONE says beautifully in the film, risked everything to ‘bring us the music’.”
Crosley has also marked the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and hip-hop culture by launching a limited-edition turntable. It’s been developed in partnership with whisky brand Ballantine’s and in collaboration Wu-Tang Clan legend RZA. On Crosley’s website, it says: “Rooted in a shared love of analogue music, RZA brought Ballantine’s and Crosley together to celebrate music, whisky and personal tastes”.
Speaking of historical hip-hop items, one of the genre’s early pioneers, DJ Kool Herc’s turntables, disco ball and more went up for auction in Christie’s Birth Of Hip-Hop collection in 2022, fetching over $200,000.
MIXTAPE has been produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, Mercury Studios and Saboteur Media in association with Def Jam Recordings. It will premiere on 1 August 2023 in the US and Canada exclusively on Paramount+, airing in the UK, Australia and Latin America a day later.
Watch the full trailer and find out more information about MIXTAPE at imdb.com.
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Audius joins SoundCloud in offering free artist to fan direct messagesDecentralized music platform Audius has added a direct messaging feature that enables artists to connect with each other and their fans via text and emoji reactions. Audius has also created. Continue reading
The post Audius joins SoundCloud in offering free artist to fan direct messages appeared first on Hypebot.

5 Questions to ask before your next Live ShowLearn from a professional who has learned the tricks of the touring trade on how to best prepare for your next gig with just 5 simple questions. by David Andrew. Continue reading
The post 5 Questions to ask before your next Live Show appeared first on Hypebot.

Sony’s C-80 condenser microphone offers recording brilliance in a compact form factorHow can you make the power of an $11,000 microphone more accessible to studios around the world? Sony’s C-80 may be an ideal solution.
READ MORE: Warm Audio WA-8000 review: if the Sony C-800G had a kid, this would be it
The tech giant’s recent C-series shares construction technology with the lauded Sony C-800G, the ultimate, high-end, bright tube mic for countless pop, rap and country artists. To evoke the spirit of the C-800G at a lower price point, Sony launched the C-100 in 2018 with a two-way condenser and back-electret capsule, multiple polar patterns and a frequency response extending all the way up to 50kHz.
Sony’s new C-80 comes in at less than half the price of the C-100 and has a fixed, cardioid pattern. However, it sports a second diaphragm with the sole purpose of taming the unwanted effects of proximity, rather than capturing a signal.
Sony C-80. Image: Sony
The C-80’s build quality is first-rate, as you’d expect from Sony. Although compact, the mic body is reassuringly heavy, the onboard pad and filter switches don’t feel flimsy, and there’s no unwanted spring in the headbasket either. The overall impression is that it’s made with care and made to last. The included shockmount – albeit plastic in construction – is also sturdy, gripping the mic body tightly but, unfortunately, there’s no 5/8”-to-3/8” thread adapter in the box. A little stingy, Sony, and frustrating to discover mid-session!
At 25mm, the C-80’s main capsule falls more into the medium-diaphragm category, giving a slightly keener transient response than a large-diaphragm design, and typically lower levels of self-noise than a small-diaphragm mic.
Sony C-80, image: Sony
Given the mic’s physical size, you’d easily be able to position it in a tight spot and enjoy the advantages of a medium-diaphragm mic tuned for vocal clarity in applications where you’d typically only be able to fit a small-diaphragm pencil condenser.
Its slightly slower transient response compared to a small-diaphragm mic and vocal-tuned presence peaks would be well-suited for capturing a sizzly, peaky snare bottom, for example. Here, the pad is a welcome addition.
In the studio, the C-80 impresses on female vocals with a high-frequency presence, shaping the sound so it’s immediately closer to the final product. Such clarity also means that the live mic signal in the foldback is well-defined and differentiated from the acoustic signal outside the headphones without adding EQ or having to resort to a louder headphone mix.
Our vocalist can easily tell the difference between the acoustic and mic’ed signal while also enjoying the brightness of the C-80’s response.
We do perceive a lack of bite in the high-mid range though – handy when layering lots of pop vocal lines perhaps, although perhaps lacking the push required to allow a solo vocal line to cut through a hectic mix.
Sony C-80, image: Sony
On acoustic guitar, the recordings are equally flattering. The high-frequency lift isn’t brittle but allows for some upper harmonic richness and plectrum attack that don’t usually get captured with such clarity. The C-80 is a mic that feels somehow more three-dimensional than the limits of its mono sound field. The dual-diaphragm design, meanwhile, keeps sounds less boomy up close and not excessively thin further out from the source. Nice!
Sony C-80, image: Sony
Around the back, in the null point of the cardioid pattern, the off-axis response is really natural, without nasty scoops, resonance or phase-y qualities. This is another key selling point for the mic’s potential use in broadcast (such as with multiple presenters) or when there’s lots of spill going on around the mic.
Mics with well-behaved off-axis responses allow you to live with – and even embrace – spill as you don’t spend all your time trying to cut it because it sounds awful.
In a crowded market, Sony’s C-80 has stiff competition and is a tad expensive. But, if you like your vocals and guitars with a bright sheen out of the gate, or you’re inspired by the signature sound of the much-more-expensive C800G, it could prove to be a cost-effective winner for you. Compact size, a great off-axis response and useful pad/filter switches all add to its versatility.
Key features
Price: £499 street price
Cardioid condenser
25mm diaphragm
Second diaphragm to minimise effects of proximity
20Hz-20kHz frequency response
12.5dB self noisech
High pass and pad switches
Anti-vibration technology on mic body
Dimensions: 40 mm × 158 mm
Weight: 215g
Comes with suspension cradle and padded carry case
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Orbital M25 rave barman recounts 90s acid house scene in new book, Rave New WorldA barman at Orbital’s famed warehouse raves on the M25 has released a book that documents the UK acid house scene of the 90s.

READ MORE: In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats – A multi-sensory VR joyride into Acid House

Rave New World: Confessions of a Raving Reporter, written by author Kirk Field, provides an authentic firsthand account of the explosive rise of acid house and the clubbing scene in the 1990s.
Drawing from his experiences serving drinks at and reviewing the original M25 raves organised by electronic music duo Orbital, Rave New World offers a matter-of-fact narrative on acid house. Field says this differs to the “media lies” that were written about acid house and the rave scene by tabloid papers at the time.
With an honest and straightforward approach “from a raver”, Field combines personal anecdotes with poignant social commentary. While shedding light on the darker aspects of attending such raves, he also celebrates the nostalgic spirit that defined the “naughty ’90s.”
In Rave New World, Field attempts to paint the picture of the 90s by covering the scene’s key figures and other definitive people of 90s culture. Field writes about the likes of Diego Maradona, Timothy Leary, Boy George, Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, Genesis P-Orridge, Brigitte Nielsen and Boris Yeltsin. Even Saddam Hussein’s wife, the president of Tunisia, and Queen Elizabeth II are mentioned.
“I decided to write this book,” Field writes in the introduction, “in the hope that (perhaps when I wasn’t looking) my teenage sons could learn about the adventures I had before they came along; the ups and downs, the moments of revelation and despair – while learning something about the life I once led. If any of this resonates with you, please feel free to hand your teenagers this book when you have fin-ished [sic], with a knowing wink and those immortal words, ‘When I was your age ..!’”
Read more about Kirk Field’s Rave New World: Confessions of a Raving Reporter and purchase the book via kirkfield.net.
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Vinyl sales are up, and Disc Makers cut the cost to manufacture by 35%FACT #1: Revenues from US vinyl records grew 17% to $1.2 billion last year and accounted for 71% of physical format revenues. FACT #2: Physical music sales at the merch table remain. Continue reading
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‘Amazon Music operates at 100 miles per hour, at all times. That’s fine. It matches mine and the team’s ambition’Laura Lukanz, Amazon Music’s principal point person for the industry in the UK, looks back on her time in radio and then management, and discusses the power and future of streaming…

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Digit’s CMPSR joystick MIDI controller is for retro gamers and music makersAre you great at making music and playing Donkey Kong?  If so, the CMPSR might just be the MIDI controller for you.

READ MORE: Best MIDI controllers to buy in 2023: 13 best Ableton Live controllers to buy

This joystick controller, pronounced “composer”, makes music production more accessible, says its makers, Digit, and ties in vintage gaming aesthetics with modern functionality for making music. It connects to your setup via USB-C or Bluetooth, and also hosts eight RGB trigger pads.
At the top sits two customisable buttons which can be assigned to trigger loops, add effects or control a filter. Below are buttons for sustain, chord inversions, chord extensions, and two yellow buttons to either transpose your chords by an octave, or switch playing to include semi-tones.
The CMPSR has an “always in key” chord engine that is said to simplify playing melodies and chord progressions. Another interesting quirk is that it is also capable of producing haptic feedback for a more immersive and video game-like experience.
For a better idea of how it works in play, check out the demo below:

The CMPSR is a plug-and-play device, meaning little to no set-up is required to get going. It also has a rechargeable battery that provides up to 12 hours of operation time when being used wirelessly. Currently, the product is sold as part of a package which includes a copy of Bitwig Studio 8-Track and a range of Bitwig templates. It also comes with over 1GB of royalty-free samples, loops and presets.
Digit has also provided plenty of tutorials and resources available to CMPSR users, for learning the very basics through to advanced music production skills and techniques using this intriguing device.
Digit Music’s CMPSR is available now for £299 and is compatible with all major DAWs. Find out more on digitmusic.co.uk.
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SoliderSound introduce S Pulser Pro plug-in S Pulser Pro generates rhythmic pulsing effects from any sound source, and is equipped with a versatile range of tools to customise the patterns it produces.

The best podcasts for music producers in 2023It feels like everyone has a podcast right now. For music producers, it’s fantastic – if you can sift through the noise of food, politics and comedy ‘casts. We’ve done the hard work for you here and plundered into the podcasting platforms to find the best music technology shows out there. Music production professionals have taken it upon themselves to create podcasts that can educate, entertain and inspire you in your quest to become a better producer.

READ MORE: RØDE launches 7 podcasting items in “biggest product drop ever”

We’ve rounded up 12 of our favourite music production podcasts out there right now. You’ll be able to listen to most of these on your favourite podcasting platform, but if you’re unable to find it, we’ve linked the podcaster’s websites to listen directly. Plug in your headphones and hear the masters break down their tracks, express their love for synths and share their top nuggets of wisdom.
My Forever Studio
My Forever Studio. Image: Music Tech
MusicTech’s own My Forever Studio invites producers, musicians and industry figures to dream up their fantasy forever studio space. Hosts and tech nerds Chris Barker and Will Betts ask: Where in the world would this studio be? What would the vibe be like? What gear would be included? Any whacky additional items like furniture? Guests are limited to just six studio items, alongside a DAW and a pair of studio monitors. There is just one rule: there can be NO BUNDLES!
Soon to be cruising into its sixth season, My Forever Studio has so far discovered the wild ideas of Amon Tobin, Jessy Lanza, Jacob Collier, Flava D, Deadmau5, William Orbit, BT, and loads more. Even Gary Barlow featured on episode 26 in 2020. And it’s not just gear the guests end up discussing, often production techniques are shared, alongside entertaining anecdotes and just straight-up odd moments.
Learn more at musictech.net.
Tape Notes
Image: tapenotes.co.uk
John Kennedy hosts Tape Notes, a podcast that invites artists, producers and bands to reflect on the production of their releases. Some guests are producers in their own right, such as Paul Epworth, Disclosure, Bicep, Caribou and DJ Shadow, but Kennedy often reunites a band or artist with their producer to discuss the highlights of their creative process. Such acts include Lianne La Havas, Glass Animals, Haim, Jacob Collier and Wolf Alice.
Tape Notes pulls apart elements and stems from the original recording, discovering how the song transformed from its original idea into a pristine final product. Expect a few fun stories from the journey, too. This podcast is a fascinating look at the methods of producers, and the creative decisions they make to actualise their visions.
Learn more at tapenotes.co.uk.
Song Exploder

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With a recent adaptation as a Netflix series, Song Exploder is one of the greats of music production podcasts. The show, similar to Tape Notes, sees musicians and producers dissect their songs and outline the decisions of each part of the recording. Host and creator Hrishikesh Hirway cleverly removes his dialogue to present the bite-sized show as a story told by the artist.
Not only will you learn the secrets behind some stellar productions, but you’ll also hear the human journeys that take place during the creation of their work. You’ll hear artists such as Kelly Lee Owens, Khruangbin, Tokimonsta, Nine Inch Nails and Run The Jewels open up about their craft. You’ll also hear from video game soundtrackers, theme tune creators and film scorers. Deep into its seventh running year, Song Exploder shows no signs of slowing down.
Learn more at songexploder.net.
Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Bruce Headlam & Justin Richmond
Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Bruce Headlam & Justin Richmond. Image: Pushkin
Broken Record, presented by revered producer and Def Jam founder Rick Rubin, revitalises the magic of liner notes in a world where they no longer exist. If you don’t know, liner notes are a section of text found on the back of inside the sleeve of a record that explain the context of the record, or display the song lyrics or any message the artist wants to get across. Each episode feels like reading these notes, exploring backstories behind how tracks were made and often ending in debate, laughter or tears.
Rubin’s joined by journalist Malcolm Gladwell, and New York Times journalist, Bruce Headlam. Each week they draw in huge names, from Damon Albarn to John Frusciante to Tom Jones, Arlo Parks, Kesha – the list goes on and on and on.
Music Ally Focus
Music Ally Focus. Image: Music Ally
Music Ally Focus is a snappy 25-minute podcast created by Music Ally, a hub for all things happening behind the scenes in the music industry, from news to recent job vacancies and more. It’s hosted by Music Ally’s editor, Joe Sparrow.
In this podcast, you can hear from a range of decision-makers leading the way in the world of music tech discussing the big issues surrounding the industry today. For example, Splice’s CEO Kakul Srivastava talks about sampling, microtrends in music production and AI in one episode. In another, it’s all about ticket touting and another is all about Spotify’s controversial RADAR scheme.
The Zane Lowe Interview Series
The Zane Lowe Interview Series. Image: Apple Music
Zane Lowe came to the UK from New Zealand in 1997, going on to land a job on primetime BBC Radio 1 showcasing the world’s greatest new music. Since then, he’s established himself as an enthusiastic music devotee and a tastemaker with a talent for bringing the best out of artists through intimate interviews.
The Zane Lowe Interview Series is Lowe at his best, putting the vital questions on Apple Music’s radio platform, Apple Music 1, to the world’s biggest artists. And when we say big, we mean big – name any star; they’ve most likely been interviewed by Lowe. From production insights to heartwarming anecdotes, this is a deep dive into the greatest musical minds around today.
The Will Clarke Podcast
The Will Clarke Podcast. Image: Apple Music
Dance fans will love the vibe of The Will Clarke podcast. Clarke is an EDM producer who has released tunes on the likes of Dirtybird, Trick, Truesoul, Filth on Acid, Kneaded Pains, Drumcode, We Are The Brave, and his own label All We Have Is Now.
On the podcast, the bearded dance don speaks to DJs and producers in the industry, from Danny Howard to Chloé Robinson to Dubfire, Kevin Saunderson, DJ Bone and loads more. They’ll chat about music production but mostly about how to survive in the saturated world of electronic music.
The Process of Production
The Process of Production. Image: Spotify
The Process of Production is ideal for producers and audio engineers who work regularly with vocalists and bands. It’s hosted by Bob Matthews and Lawrence Diamond. While Matthews is an experienced music professional with over 15 years of expertise working from the prestigious Hackney Road Studios, Diamond has spent eight years as an artist and composer on some of Europe’s best indie labels before making music for brands like O2 and Gucci.
Listeners learn about how producers and engineers have helped the likes of Bastille, Kygo and Arlo Parks – and many more – reach the top of the charts with their expertise. It’s also a genreless podcast, perfect for the general music lover, with subjects varying from major, legendary artists likes Thom Yorke to new, emerging names.
Not A Diving Podcast With Scuba
Not A Diving Podcast With Scuba. Image: Apple Music
Techno heads – this one’s for you. Techno artist and head of Hotflush Recordings, Scuba, has always been an advocate for opening up about his bouts of depression, speaking his mind, and discussing openly the obstacles that artists face. In this podcast, you can hear incredibly frank revelations about the scene as well as deep dives – pardon the pun – into how underground electronic producers make their music.
Seth Troxler, DVS1, Alan Fitzpatrick, Dave Clarke, Elijah – any figure in the industry with wise words to say – sit down with Scuba once a week to dig into the important issues.
Girls Twiddling Knobs

Isobel Anderson hosts the Girls Twiddling Knobs podcast, with a strong focus on female-identifying musicians and producers. Part of the Female DIY Musician brand, the series invites women onto the show to explain how they use technology to make their music and how they overcome challenges in the industry to achieve their goals.
Although Girls Twiddling Knobs has only been running for four months, a range of intriguing topics has already been touched upon. This includes experimenting with sample packs, composing for film and TV, overcoming doubt, overcoming your music tech gremlins and much more. This podcast is thought-provoking and informative for producers from all walks of life.
Learn more at femalediymusician.com.
Appetite For Production

Appetite For Production is brought to you by music technology journalist veterans Tim Cant and James Russell. This podcast is like listening to two music production nerds discuss new hardware, plug-ins and samples at the pub. And it’s as lighthearted and loopy as you’d expect.
Despite its entertaining nature, the bi-weekly podcast will keep you informed on the latest developments in the music tech world. The duo uses their expert knowledge to analyse the effect of new products on the industry, making trivial updates on DAWs and plug-ins more interesting and, frankly, hilarious.
Learn more at app4ppodcast.com.
Working Class Audio
Image: Matt Boudreau/ workingclassaudio.com
Working Class Audio does more than teach you about music production techniques. Matt Boudreau invites an eclectic range of industry professionals onto the show who share their career journeys, anecdotes and tips for navigating the music technology industry.
You’ll hear from producers, engineers, soundtrackers and mixers who have made their name creating revered records, scoring and producing blockbuster films and designing audio for video games, among other achievements. Their journeys give you insight into the human challenges you may have to overcome as a professional – and you’ll feel inspired after every episode.
Learn more at workinclassaudio.com.
Pensado’s Place

Dave Pensado and Herb Trawick have been presenting the weekly Pensado’s Place show for ten years, inviting the world’s top producers and recording engineer’s to hear about their best practices. As a prolific, Grammy-winning producer himself, Dave Pensado doesn’t hold back on getting technical with his guests, talking all things studio-related, with Herb Trawik using his music business wisdom to discuss industry navigation.
Pensado and Trawik’s recent guests include Kenny Beats, Al Schmitt, Che Pope, HAIM, Keith Urban, and Finneas. Regardless of your genre, style and role in the studio, this acclaimed podcast will have you laughing and learning every single time. If you’ve ever attended The NAMM Show, you may even know the show from their regular live panels at the event.
Learn more at pensadosplace.tv.
SonicTalk

Those of you familiar with Nick Batt and Gaz William’s gear reviewing antics on the SonicState YouTube channel will enjoy their company on the weekly live SonicTalk show. Nick teams up with regular guests including Gaz, MATTHS, Yoad Nevo, Dave Spiers, Rich Hilton and more to talk about the latest developments and gear releases in music technology.
As the show is streamed live across Facebook and YouTube, you can hop on the chat and discuss the topics with fellow listeners and with the presenters themselves. With SonicState’s expertise on synths, sequencers, samplers and studio gear in general, you’re sure to get an immediate analysis on how effective a new music production tool really is.
Learn more at sonicstate.com.
Hanging Out With Audiophiles

Warp Records artist Jamie Lidell sits down with some seriously talented musicians and producers in Hanging Out With Audiophiles. Imogen Heap, Four Tet, Richard Devine and Matt Black are among his many guests, who go deep on their production techniques and share the gear that helps them get their sound.
Lidell also explores iconic music tech innovations and discusses their influence with his guests, as well as sharing some of his own studio tips along the way. Music tech gear enthusiasts and audio perfectionists will find this podcast extremely interesting, relatable and packed with information.
Learn more at jamielidellmusic.com.
Why We Bleep
Image: whywebleep.com
Music technology YouTuber Mylar Melodies brings music-makers and synth-makers onto the Why We Bleep podcast to get geeky about gear. Mylar Melodies speaks to representatives from some of your favourite software developers and hardware manufacturers, such as Valhalla DSP, Moog, System 80 and Signal Sounds.
You’ll also hear from well-loved figures in the synth world, including Gaz Williams and DivKid, along with appearances from revered producers – BT, Sub Focus, Sarah Davachi and more. The only issue is that a new episode only comes once a month, leaving you aching for more.
Learn more at whywebleep.com.
Recording Studio Rockstars

Recording Studio Rockstars shines a light on the talented producers behind the glass on some of the greatest artists and records of all time. Lij Shaw, the host of the podcast, speaks with industry professionals to dig deep into their knowledge and experience to help you become a studio rockstar yourself.
Some of Lij Shaw’s guest so far include Morgan Page, Steve Albini, Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg mixer Rafa Sardina, Alicia Keys, Wu-Tang Clan and Luther Vandross engineer Tony Black, Electric Lady Studios designer John Storyk and more. On this weekly podcast, you’ll hear tons of interesting stories and tidbits to help you progress as a producer, mixer and engineer.
Learn more at recordinigstudiorockstars.com.
SoundGirls Resonating Beyond Sound

SoundGirls is an organisation that works to amplify the voices of women in the music industry and inspire them to reach their goals. The Resonating Beyond Sound podcasts interviews professionals from all around the music technology industry, including CEOs, journalists, engineers, stage managers and more.
The hosts, Becky and Susan, learn how the music industry can be more supportive and cultivate a more diverse community. They discover what it’s like to live a day in the life of their guests, how they became successful and the challenges they face today.
Learn more at soundgirls.org.
Mixing Music

This podcast is pretty self-explanatory. Mixing Music is about mixing music. Presented by mix engineer Dee Kei and Lu Moreno, the show discusses topics such as analogue vs digital gear and the best vocal mics, explains the different types of reverbs, teaches you about dynamics, and provides essential advice on how to charge for your work, how to get more clients and more.
Mixing Music also invites guests to share their techniques, such as Chris Brown’s engineer, TEEZIO, who talks about how he produced the artist’s latest album. This podcast will prove as a useful resource for all types of producers, from beginners to industry professionals.
Learn more at mixingmusicpodcast.com.
For more music technology news, reviews, features and guides, click here.
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Ripple decision is 'troublesome on multiple fronts', says former SEC officialAccording to John Reed Stark, former attorney in the SEC's Enforcement Division, the ruling in favor of Ripple Labs "resides on shaky ground".

VanMoof skids off track, another mobility startup goes SPAC and e-bike batteries catch fireWelcome 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 off having a glorious vacation, so I will be doing the roundup this week.
As the EV revolution takes hold, one problem keeps plaguing automakers: Batteries are heavy, and heavy means less efficient. As a result, billions of dollars are being poured into research for cheaper, lighter, more efficient and safer batteries. The potential answer? Solid-state batteries.
In TechCrunch+ this week, Haje Jan Kamps detailed the major players in the quest for solid-state batteries, from startups to legacy automakers and everything in between.
Before we jump into the news of the week, a bit of housekeeping. We put out a first look at our agenda for TechCrunch Disrupt 2023, taking place September 19–21 in San Francisco, where we will have a dedicated Sustainability Stage.
On this stage, we’ll cover the challenges for startups seeking to raise capital, explore how cities are turning to innovation to adapt to and mitigate climate change, and learn where there’s been progress and opportunities in the worlds of fast fashion, energy and agriculture.

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’

It’s been a week for VanMoof, the e-bike darling that appears to be going under. After noticing that VanMoof had stopped taking orders on its website, TC started the week with this scoop that details the departure of senior staff, including the CEO; a pause in orders; and a question of whether the company will survive.
A day later, VanMoof came out with its application for an official suspension of payment provision after it ran out of money. The application isn’t technically filing for bankruptcy, but it’s close. The company shut down pretty much all operations as it entered a cooling down period.
But what does that mean for the thousands of e-bikes out there that are entirely controlled by VanMoof’s app?! We’re glad you asked. An unlikely white knight, Belgian competitor Cowboy, came to the rescue with a new app called “Bikey” that will enable VanMoof riders to generate their unique digital key and keep riding.

E-bike rebates are stupidly popular in cities and states where they exist, so why aren’t governments doing more to back a mobility innovation that boosts health, protects the environment, relieves traffic flow and improves urban quality of life? (Pssst, Minnesota just announced an e-bike rebate for next year, so hopefully it’s catching.)
Battery fires in e-bikes have been rising, plaguing New York City in particular. Check out this deep dive into the issue, which will tell you everything you need to know about the lithium-ion battery fires — why they happen, how to stay safe, and what your government is doing to help.
I also looked into the unique problem of NYC delivery workers being disproportionately at risk of e-bike fires, and I asked whether gig companies like Uber, DoorDash, Grubhub Relay have a responsibility to help solve the problem.
Rad Power Bikes has given up on Europe and will focus on its U.S. market.
Want a one-stop shop for all micromobility vehicle reviews? Check out the aptly named Ride Review, from the team over at Micromobility Industries.
Voi and Swobbee have teamed up to bring battery-swapping stations to Hamburg.
Deal of the week

We’ve got another mobility SPAC on our hands.
Marti Technologies became the first Turkish company to go public on the New York Stock Exchange this week after merging with Galata Acquisition Corp., giving the combined company a post-money valuation of $549 million. Marti expects to receive proceeds from the $62 million convertible note PIPE commitments, plus assumed incremental PIPE commitments of up to $88 million to be raised post-announcement.
Marti claims to be Turkey’s first transportation super app. The company offers a mixture of ride-hailing and shared micromobility, similar to Bolt in Europe, and says it has a 59% market share in Turkey.
The company’s stock immediately began to fall once it hit the market Tuesday. Marti opened at $8.69 per share, its high for the day, and dropped as low as $5.03 per share. By market close Friday, Marti was trading for $2. 
Perhaps the market is reacting to Marti’s method of going public. The Turkish company isn’t the first SPAC to see its share price plummet immediately. We have trouble summoning up a single transportation SPAC that is doing well today and not at risk of being delisted from the stock market or bankrupted.
A quick look at Marti’s financials show that the company pulled in $25 million in revenue in 2022, a 45% increase from 2021. However, that’s on top of a net loss of $29 million. In 2023, Marti expects to just break even on revenue and expenses, but only after factoring in the PIPE money, according to Marti’s investor deck.
Other deals that got my attention…
Indian two- and three-wheeled EV battery-swapping startup Battery Smart raised $33 million in a pre-Series B round from Tiger Global, Blume Ventures, the Ecosystem Integrity Fund and British International Investment.
Bedrock, a developer of autonomous underwater vehicles for mapping coastal areas, raised $25.5 million. The round was co-led by Northzone and Primary Venture Partners.
Black Sesame, a Chinese auto chip maker and Nvidia rival, filed to go public in Hong Kong a couple weeks ago. Rita Liao dug into the company’s filing and found that Black Sesame’s revenue tripled between 2020 and 2022 to $7.33 million, but its losses ballooned to $140 million in 2022, a more than 200% increase from 2020.
California-based EV maker Fisker plans to sell $340 million in convertible debt to support corporate operations and add a battery pack line to support growth in 2024 and beyond. The company hopes to secure net proceeds of $296.7 million from the sale.
RideTandem, a U.K.-based MaaS startup, has raised £2.3 million in new funding in a round led by Blackfinch Ventures.
Rocsys, a Dutch startup that wants to automate EV charging, raised a $36 million Series A. The round was led by SEB Greentech Venture Capital, with participation from Graduate Entrepreneur, the European Investment Bank.
Surf Air Mobility, an electric aircraft carrier, is expected to go public on the NYSE this week via a direct listing, after previously considering a SPAC. The company raised nearly $100 million from Anthem Venture Partners and ff Venture Capital.
Swiggy, an Indian food delivery startup with a $10.7 billion valuation, will buy Indian retail logistics startup LYNK.
Notable reads and other tidbits

ADAS
Ford dropped its BlueCruise 1.3 ADAS this week, and we explored the company’s strategy to iterate on new software regularly so that it can ensure that drivers keep their hands off the wheel for as long as possible.
Chinese automaker Nio has launched its Navigate on Pilot (NOP+) ADAS in Beijing.
Air mobility
EVTOLs are coming to the U.S., and the industry is pushing cities to ready their infrastructure. The vehicles are being hailed as the next thing in ride-hailing, but they’ll likely find a use case in aiding law enforcement and firefighting, as well as providing emergency medical and freight transportation.
Autonomous vehicles
A California bill that would require all autonomous trucks operating on public roads to have a human safety driver behind the wheel passed the state Senate. This as the DMV pushes doggedly ahead in its rule-making workshop for regulating AV trucks.
The California Public Utilities Commission pushed back a hearing for the second time that would approve the expansion of Cruise and Waymo robotaxis in San Francisco. The delay comes as residents, city agencies, taxi drivers and safe streets advocates have pushed back on the expansion, which would give the companies permission to operate fully autonomously in all parts of the city 24/7.
Waymo and Cruise have gone on the offensive, each putting out campaigns that paint human drivers as the real problem. Waymo published a blog post with a study showing how drivers speed too much, and Cruise put out full-page ads in major newspapers that say, “Humans are terrible drivers.”
NHTSA is expected to publish a notice of proposed rule-making on automated driving systems this fall, which may result in an increase in the number of driverless vehicles allowed to drive on U.S. roads.
Electric vehicles
Canoo has delivered three “specially designed” EVs to NASA that will shuttle the Artemis crew and equipment to a launchpad at JFK Space Center in Florida.
Ford appears to have built too many Mustang Mach-Es. Thousands are sitting on lots across the country, and dealers can’t move them.
Michigan has been a hub of EV manufacturing, but now the state has a NIMBY problem as some residents don’t want to see large factories sprouting up in their backyards.
Europe and the U.K. passed two big laws that make EV charging a lot easier. The EU will mandate 400 to 600 kW charging every 60 kilometers, and the U.K. will mandate a 99% charging station reliability.
Kia will invest $200 million in its Georgia factory so it can begin production of its three-row EV9 SUV there next year.
Tesla said the $7,500 federal tax credits for its Model 3 and Model Y EVs are likely to be reduced after December 31. The automaker didn’t say why, but it could have something to do with stricter battery and critical minerals requirements going into effect next year.
Tesla is also reportedly thinking about investing in India to set up an EV factory and use the country as an export base to ship cars to countries in the Indo-Pacific region. CEO Elon Musk, who has been on a bit of a world tour courting leaders around the globe, has said nothing on the matter, so take it with a grain of salt.
Texas has delayed voting on grants of federal funds to build EV chargers with Tesla’s charging standard amid pushback from the charging industry.
Lucid Motors’ stock tanked 12% after the company missed Wall Street delivery expectations. Lucid delivered 1,404 Air sedans in the second quarter, short about 600 from analysts’ expectations. The startup also built fewer vehicles in Q2 than in Q1.
Miscellaneous
Bosch will invest around $2.8 billion in hydrogen fuel cell technology until 2026 and expects to bring in roughly 5 billion in sales from it by 2030.
Car-sharing revenue could be a first step to mainstream adoption of web3 in the enterprise.
Elon Musk, notorious billionaire couch-surfer, wants a house that looks like an Apple store. At least, that’s what an internal Tesla probe — which is investigating whether the CEO embezzled Tesla money for materials to build himself a glass house — has found. Real talk, though, maybe Musk needs a glass house to stop himself from throwing stones.
General Motors is ditching Apple’s CarPlay, instead focusing on building cars with Google built in, and dealers are concerned.
People
Struggling British commercial EV-maker Arrival has lost a board member. Kristen O’Hara served on the board’s compensation committee and as chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee for the last two years and handed in her resignation July 5.
Joby Aviation brought on Claire Boland as sustainability lead. Claire previously held ESG and life cycle assessment roles at PepsiCo and PVH Corp.
India’s Motive, formerly KeepTruckin’, laid off 6% of its workforce.
Trucks VC welcomes Puneeth Meruva as a new partner. Meruva started his tenure at Trucks VC as an intern while studying at MIT.
Uber CFO Nelson Chai is reportedly planning to leave the company.

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VanMoof skids off track, another mobility startup goes SPAC and e-bike batteries catch fire by Rebecca Bellan originally published on TechCrunch

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