“A visionary whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the trajectory of contemporary music”: Richard Russell awarded MPG’s Inspiration AwardThe Music Producers Guild has announced another winner in the lead up to its official award ceremony next week. Following on from Lauren Laverne’s Special Recognition Award, producer Richard Russell has received his own prestigious MPG Inspiration Award.
Alongside founding the XL Recordings label, which platformed acts like Adele, Radiohead and The Prodigy, Russell’s production credits are varied. From newbie Samantha Morton’s eccentric trip hop debut record, Daffodils & Dirt, to collaborating with the legendary Peter Gabriel on 2023’s Four Kinds Of Horses, Russell is a versatile talent.

READ MORE: A. G. Cook, Charli xcx and Saltburn shortlisted for Music Producers Guild 2025 awards

Elsewhere, he’s also worked closely with Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn, co-producing Albarn’s 2014 solo debut, Everyday Robots. The pair went on to work together on R&B singer Bobby Womack’s 2012 comeback album, The Bravest Man In The Universe.

Collaboration is a key element of Russell’s creativity, and defined his 2018 music project, Everything Is Recorded. The project saw Russell incorporating a wide range of musical textures, melding dub, garage and soul, alongside the likes of Sampha, Obongjayar, Giggs, and Canadian indie pop violinist Owen Pallett. Everything is Recorded was even shortlisted for the 2018 Mercury Prize.

“Whether in the studio or guiding from behind the scenes, Richard Russell continues to inspire through his fearless approach to creativity and unwavering commitment to artistic freedom,” MPG Executive Director Anu Pillai says.
“The MPG is proud to honour a visionary whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the evolution and trajectory of contemporary music; from Kicks Like a Mule, to Everything Is Recorded, and countless highlights in between.”
The official Music Producers Guild Awards will take place on the 24 April. The awards span across 15 categories, including standout Self-Producing Artist and Breakthrough Producer of the Year. The nominees list includes Charli xcx, A. G. Cook, Rachel Chinouriri and more.
The event will take place at London’s Troxy next week on 24 April. Tickets for the ceremony are on-sale now.

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Women in Live Music: New report reveals gender disparitiesA new report, ‘Seat at the Table: LIVE Edition’ looks at the role of women in live music and the battle for more equitable gender representation.
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Universal Audio transforms another of its amp modelling pedals into a plugin – this time the Woodrow ’55Want vintage guitar tones without the fuss? Universal Audio has transformed yet another of its classic amp modelling pedals into a plugin. The UAD Woodrow ’55 allows you to tap into the vintage tones of Fender’s 1955 5E3 Tweed Deluxe, all from the comfort of your DAW.
The UAD Woodrow ’55 plugin joins Universal Audio’s digital collection of studio-grade amp modelling plugins. It joins Dream ’65, another Fender emulation, as well as Marshall and Vox amp emulators Lion ’68 and Ruby ’63.

READ MORE: Pro-Ject’s new fully automatic A1.2 turntable is a masterclass in effortless vinyl playback

With the Woodrow ’55, users have a vast array of tone-shaping options, with the ability to fully customise mic and speaker pairings, or utilise presets for any desired genre. It’s a quick and easy way of injecting some rock ‘n’ roll grit to your mix, or toy with some soulful Americana.
From ripe cleans to tube-driven overdrive, the plug-in captures the circuit in end-to-end detail. It could be the perfect fit for anyone on the hunt for old school bluesy guitar tones – of if you want to add a Chuck Berry or Joe Bonamassa edge to your track.
Back in 2016, we argued that UA’s original Fender Tweed Deluxe emulation was “the most authentic and sonically detailed emulation we’ve seen of any guitar amplifier to date”, praising its dynamic response.
“This is the amp that defined what electric guitar sounds like – from the first fuzzed-out rock records to today’s alt-country and Americana,” Lev Perrey, VP of Product at Universal Audio, explains. “With UAD Woodrow ’55, we’ve made that iconic tone accessible to anyone producing music in the box.”
Credit: Universal Audio
For anyone keen to tap into Universal Audio’s full collection of vintage amp models, the company is currently running a UAD Guitar Amp Bundle deal, which includes UAD Woodrow ’55, Ruby ’63, Dream ’65, and Lion ’68 amps in one package for $399.
The release coincides with the 3rd anniversary of Universal Audio’s subscription service, UAD Spark. To celebrate the occasion, the company is offering users two years of UAD Spark for just $99 per year. The subscription allows access to over 50 of the company’s UAD plugins, including UAD Woodrow ’55.
The UAD Woodrow ’55 plugin is available now for $199. Alternatively, you can grab the UAD Guitar Amp Bundle deal for $399.
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“Your favourite producer’s sounds are made here”: Vaughn Oliver shows off his synths and studioVaughn Oliver – one half of the iconic production duo Oliver – is giving fans a peek inside the studio where the magic happens, showing off his synth collection and the gear he swears by.
Known for crafting genre-blending sounds that often fuse disco, funk, and electronic music, the Canadian producer, DJ and mix engineer has worked with the likes of Chromeo, Kaytranada, and Nicki Minaj, and has produced official remixes for artists like Foster the People and Beck.

READ MORE: Sample libraries are here to stay – so why do some producers still find their use illegitimate?

He’s also the mastermind behind the Power Tools sample packs on Splice, one of the platform’s most downloaded series, used by producers behind hits from Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, SZA, The Weeknd, and Adele. So yeah, his studio is probably a goldmine for synth nerds and production heads alike.
Kicking things off with what he calls his “favourite” piece in the room, Oliver introduces a Roland SH-5 from 1976: ”This is like the oldest synth I have, probably my favourite one,” he says. “It doesn’t actually have MIDI on it but I use this Kenton thing here for like CC to MIDI so I can still run MIDI from Ableton to this.”
Describing the instrument as “very badass”, Oliver says he loves it “‘cause I kind of never know what I’m going to get out of it.”
“It’s not a go-to if I’m like ‘Oh I want a nice clean bass patch’ or something. I just turn it on and kind of do what I just did there for like half an hour and then I have all kinds of crazy stuff to choose from.”
From there, he runs through a stacked collection of analogue classics, including the Roland Jupiter 8 (“one of the most coveted synths of all time… This one has a MIDI mod”) and the Juno 106, which he says he uses more than anything else because “it’s hard to make it sound bad”.
“I probably have [the Juno’s Chorus effect] on more records than anything else,” the producer notes.
The Sequential Prophet 10 and Jupiter 6 also make an appearance, with Oliver noting he might like the 6 “equally if not better” than the 8. And then there’s his new Rhodes MK8, which he bought “as a reward”.
“Some people get like a new car or a Rolex,” he jokes. “I was like, I want the new Rhodes, please.”
“It’s just cool to have something in the studio I can turn on and make sound,” Oliver adds. “I know that sounds crazy, but a lot of studios you go into and you’re like, ‘Wait, what key is this in?’ There’s nothing to just hit to make sound.”
While most of his production still happens “in the box,” Oliver says these synths are “fun” to have around for their character, and sometimes unpredictability.
“I use them for the more unexpected things that happen,” he says of the Roland SH-5 and Jupiter 8 in particular.
As for what’s next on his gear wish list? The producer admits the only thing he wants right now is a “a bad workstation synth.”
“By bad I mean like a Triton or Motif. I love those sounds – like an M1 or something.”
Check out the full studio tour below.

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Audio Technica’s $10k Hotaru turntable spins your records on a floating, light-reactive platformAudio-Technica is reimagining the vinyl experience with Hotaru, a $9,999 floating turntable that fuses light, levitation, and high-fidelity sound into a single analogue machine.
Unveiled recently at Milan Design Week as the second installment of Audio-Technica’s “analog ~ naturally” program, the Hotaru turntable (Japanese for “firefly”) is designed to deliver more than sound. With its unique floating structure and lighting display, the deck adds a striking visual element to analogue audio, creating a unique ambience where sound and light intertwine.

READ MORE: Pro-Ject’s new fully automatic A1.2 turntable is a masterclass in effortless vinyl playback

At the core of Hotaru’s appeal is its floating structure. Magnets in both the upper turntable and lower speaker sections of Hotaru repel one another, causing the turntable section to levitate – physically separating it from the sound system and eliminating vibrations that can degrade sound. This dramatically reduces resonance and increases the playback accuracy of the cartridge.
The platter is powered by a concealed belt-drive system with a DC servo motor and supports both 33⅓ and 45 rpm speeds. Playback is handled by a specially designed VM stereo cartridge mounted on a statically balanced carbon tonearm.
Image: Audio-Technica
That said, it’s the light-reactive element that truly sets Hotaru apart. As records spin, a custom lighting system interprets and reacts with your music and projects colour accordingly. Users can select from three lighting modes: Basic Mode, where the colour of the light remains unchanged; Gradation Mode, where light smoothly transitions from one color to the next; and Link Mode, where the light’s color changes in response to the character of the music.
The light show spans a palette of twenty colours and adds a meditative or energetic glow depending on the selected mode and music playing. “This multisensory design allows listeners to engage with the music – and the space – more deeply to form lasting memories of the entire environment,” says Audio-Technica.
Image: Audio-Technica
Complementing the light and levitation is a built-in speaker system housed in the aluminum case. The setup includes two 2.5-inch full-range speakers and two 0.75-inch tweeters, delivering a frequency response of 60Hz to 20kHz and a sensitivity of 82 dB. Thanks to its floating isolation and high-end materials, like the brass feet and “precision-crafted acrylic”, the speaker system stays free from unwanted resonance and maintains remarkable clarity and dynamic range.
In terms of connectivity, Hotaru features a line-out, a subwoofer output, and a power connector for its 12V supply, making it flexible for use in standalone setups or integrated systems.
Priced at $9,999, Hotaru is firmly in luxury territory – but for vinyl aficionados and audiophiles seeking a unique fusion of form, function, and sensory delight, it may well be worth the splurge. Pre-orders are now open, with an official release expected this fall.
Learn more at Audio-Technica.
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My Forever Studio: Will Clarke won’t spend 7 years making a trackWhat would your dream music studio look like? Where would it be? And, if we only gave you 6 items to make music with forever, what would you choose? We pose these questions and more to producers, engineers, DJs and beatmakers in the My Forever Studio podcast, created in partnership with Audient.
Revered British artist, DJ, producer and podcast host Will Clarke joins us for the opening episode of My Forever Studio Season 7.
Recorded at TYX London, Clarke shares his prodigious journey from playing at a local caravan site to blowing up in Ibiza’s club scene. Along the way, he reveals the unique Russian drum machine that forms the backbone of his techno tracks, and explains how he avoids using other people’s samples in the studio.
Check out the entire episode below to find out about his Somerset dream studio, the must-have synth that could fuel his creativity forever, and which readily available mic he trusts for capturing vocal recordings.

The My Forever Studio podcast – created in partnership with Audient – sees artists, producers, and engineers create their dream fantasy Forever Studio, wherever they want in the universe. However, hosts Chris Barker and Will Betts impose some strict rules in the Forever Studio. Our guests are permitted a limited number of items in their creative space, so they must choose carefully. There will be nostalgia. There will be anecdotes. There may be gags. But there will be no bundles!
Subscribe to My Forever Studio on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and check out all episodes so far via MusicTech.
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Before Nirvana: 11 Great Alternative Rock Albums from the Late 1980sA lot of great music in the 1980s didn't sell, and many of the best artists reaped neither fortune nor fame. Author Daniel de Visé covers 11 great records from the pre-Nirvana years, 1987 to 1990, focusing on albums that represent an artist's best work.

Oliver (Kim Petras, Chromeo) gives an exclusive studio tour
In celebration of the release of his new sample pack, Oliver invited us to his studio to share the insights and anecdotes behind his go-to gear.

Lime’s scooter and ebike batteries will be recycled by Redwood MaterialsShared micromobility company Lime has reached an agreement to send batteries used in its scooters and e-bikes to Redwood Materials, which will extract and recycle critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. The agreement announced Monday makes Redwood Materials the exclusive battery recycling partner for Lime’s shared scooters and e-bikes located in cities […]

Don’t Cut Your Drummer Into Publishing…Whew. I caused quite a stir on social media for my “Don’t cut your drummer into publishing” video.

Sony, Warner Chappell, Concord, Reservoir urge less regulation of PROs in responses to US Copyright Office inquiryAll companies have argued strongly for reduced regulation in the sector
Source

Trade wars could spur governments to embrace Web3 — TruebitEscalating trade wars are rattling cryptocurrency markets — but they are also creating new use cases for blockchain networks, Truebit executives told Cointelegraph. On April 2, President Donald Trump announced plans to charge sweeping tariffs on US imports, prompting other nations to threaten retaliatory measures. Trump later paused the tariff rollout for certain countries — but the possibility of a global trade war still looms, especially after Trump reiterated his commitment to taxing Chinese goods. If high tariffs materialize, blockchain technology can play an important role in ensuring governments apply them fairly, according to the executives. Blockchain can “really help you prove provenance [...] proving the chain of custody,” Federico Kattan, Truebit’s chief technology officer, told Cointelegraph. Trump’s proposed tariffs would transform global trade. Source: StatistaFor example, a company might “assemble or do some packaging in a low-tariff country and then import into the US at 10% instead of 58%... [but] blockchain can help establish where the product actually came from,” Kattan said.Blockchain networks can enhance supply chain transparency by recording every transaction on an immutable public ledger, greatly limiting the scope for fraud across trillions of dollars worth of imported goods. Trump’s proposed tariffs would impact $2.4 trillion worth of imports, according to a report by the Tax Foundation. Retaliatory measures by other countries could add to that figure. Truebit is a blockchain network specializing in helping users add trustless verification to a wide variety of applications. It is already in talks with software vendors servicing the US government and has been working on a European Union-funded project exploring Web3’s potential role in global supply chains, the executives said. "We’re not yet talking directly to governments, but to the software vendors trying to interface with them — because that’s where we want to be,” Jason Teutsch, Truebit’s CEO, said.Truebit’s native token has struggled since launching in 2021. Source: CoinGeckoRelated: Trade tensions to speed institutional crypto adoption — ExecsTruebit was launched in 2017 and launched its TRU token in 2021. The token has a fully diluted market capitalization of $20 million, according to CoinGecko.Trade war risksHowever, several other crypto executives cautioned that tariffs pose serious risks to blockchain networks’ integrity and accessibility to users. Worsening trade wars threaten to disrupt networks’ physical infrastructure, fragment regulatory regimes, and censor users, they said. “Aggressive tariffs and retaliatory trade policies could create obstacles for node operators, validators, and other core participants in blockchain networks,” Nicholas Roberts-Huntley, CEO of Concrete & Glow Finance, told Cointelegraph.Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again

Live Music Stocks mixed Monday despite broad market rally​On Monday, April 14, 2025, U.S. stock markets experienced a notable rally, driven by easing trade tensions and optimistic signals from the Federal Reserve. But live music and entertainment stocks showed a mixed performance.
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ESP32-Powered Clock Brings Aviation Style To Your DeskThere’s something cool about the visual design language used in the aviation world. You probably don’t get much exposure to it if you’re not regularly flying a plane, but there are other ways you can bring it into your life. A great example would be building an aviation-themed clock, like this stylish timepiece from [oliverb.]
The electronic heart of the build is an ESP32. This wireless-capable microcontroller is a popular choice for clock builds these days. This is because it can contact network time servers out of the box, which allows you to build an incredibly capable and accurate clock without any additional parts. No real-time-clock needed—just have the ESP32 buzz the Internet for an accurate update on the regular!
As for the display itself, three gauges show hours, minutes, and seconds on aviation-like gauges. They’re 3D-printed, which means you can build them from scratch. That’s a touch easier than having to go out and source actual surplus aviation hardware. Each gauge is driven by a NEMA17 stepper motor. There’s also an ATMEGA328 on hand to drive a 7-segment gauge on the seconds display, and a PIR sensor which shuts the clock down when nobody is around to view it.
It’s a tidy build, and one with a compelling aesthetic at that. We’ve seen some similar builds before using real aviation gauges, too. Video after the break.

The Live Beat: My Chemical RomanceMy Chemical Romance has never been one for subtlety—and thank the eyeliner gods for that. The band that soundtracked your teenage angst with a whole lot of “woe is me” is back on the road in 2025, and things are getting beautifully extra.To celebrate the 21st anniversary of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, MCR is not only releasing a freshly remixed and remastered deluxe edition (with zoetrope vinyl and etched sides—because aesthetic), but they’re also hitting the stadium circuit with a tour that sold out faster than you could say “I’m Not Okay.”A statement from the company discloses that their 2025 North American stadium tour—titled Long Live: The Black Parade—"sold out merely hours after tickets went on sale." That’s right: the emos have risen once more, and they brought their credit cards.So dig up your old band tees, sharpen your eyeliner, and prepare to scream along to every lyric like it’s 2005. If you scored tickets, congrats—you’re about to have the most emotionally cathartic night of your adult life. And if not? Well, there’s always a way... as more tickets have been added just for you.More info and ticket prices can be found HERE.Photo credit: Chapman BaehlerThe post The Live Beat: My Chemical Romance first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.