"...allowing artists to lock individual pieces of audio content, and charge for access to it, could be a new way for Spotify to let artists generate potentially significant additional revenue from superfans."
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/did-spotify-just-confirm-that-superfan-clubs-are-coming-to-its-platform/

Superfans, superfans, superfans... When market is changing but #majors want to continue their domination position.
#MusicIndustry #MusicBusiness #decentralization

Audeze Announces Dolby Atmos Integration, to Host Workshops at NAMMAudeze, premium headphone manufacturer, has announced the official release of the head tracking integration for their Maxwell headsets, expanding support for Dolby Atmos® binaural rendering at NAMM 2024.

Audeze will also host interactive workshops throughout the show with Grammy winning recording engineers and artists, building on the growing interest in using headphones for mixing, mastering and spatial audio.

NAMM attendees will have the opportunity to learn from and interact with legendary recording engineers who’ve worked with the likes of Beyonce, Tom Petty, Red Hot Chili Peppers and more.

Space is limited for these workshops that run from Thursday January 25th to Saturday January 27th, 12PM-4PM.

For the detailed schedule check the Audeze website.  

The post Audeze Announces Dolby Atmos Integration, to Host Workshops at NAMM first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Self-driving vehicle company Aurora cuts 3% of its workforceAurora Innovation, the autonomous vehicle technology company aiming to launch a “driverless” self-driving trucks business by the end of 2024, laid off dozens of workers this week, according to sources familiar with the action. The Pittsburgh-based company, which also has facilities in California, Colorado, Texas and Montana, has since confirmed that about 3% of its […]
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Rick Gerson’s Alpha Wave Global, backer of Elon Musk and X, has invested in GammaGamma's logo started appearing on the section of Alpha Wave's homepage reflecting its investments earlier this month
Source

Did Spotify just confirm that ‘superfan clubs’ are coming to its platform?Spotify appears to have revealed this information in a blog post
Source

Why is Pioneer DJ rebranding its products with the AlphaTheta name?Pioneer DJ’s parent company, AlphaTheta corporation, has determined that its new DJ-focused products will come with the AlphaTheta stamp, retiring the Pioneer DJ name.
READ MORE: Best DJ plugins of 2024: Free software and apps for DJing
On Pioneer DJ’s 30th anniversary (its inaugural 1994 release being the CDJ-500), it has announced its “new beginnings” as AlphaTheta. In a press release, the company says, “With products launching as AlphaTheta, we’ve created a brand that will propel us into the future, while also maintaining the quality and innovation that you’ve come to expect from us.”
Although the AlphaTheta Corporation has been the name of Pioneer DJ’s parent company since 2020, DJs online are perplexed by the origin of AlphaTheta. Pioneer D— er, AlphaTheta — sets the record straight: “The name AlphaTheta directly refers to the brain wave frequencies achieved in optimal performance. Music often guides us into these extremely powerful states of mind. Our aim is to use our innovative technologies in sound and music creation to enable and enrich these peak moments.”

New beginnings – One Through Music. Since the introduction of the CDJ-500 in 1994, Pioneer DJ has built a strong legacy of state-of-the-art products for professional DJs and a pathway for those beginning their DJ journey.
— AlphaTheta/Pioneer DJ Global (@PioneerDJglobal) January 23, 2024

The statement goes on to assure that “AlphaTheta embraces diversity and inclusion, and celebrates the playfulness of DJing and producing music. We look forward to growing alongside you, the community who are connected by a passion for music and its culture.”
The question is: why the change? Journalists and DJs have speculated — and poked fun at — the reason for the new branding.

YOU DARE CHALLENGE ME TO THE ALPHATHETA FORBIDDEN 4 DUEL?! pic.twitter.com/X7v8NL9hXq
— CONCENTRATES | DPMO (@Concentratesdub) January 24, 2024

DJTechTools has put together eight theories about the new name, and we presume these two to be most likely:
“Name Licensing? 10 Years Since Pioneer split off Pioneer DJ” – The original Pioneer brand, which is renowned for its home hi-fi products (I remember my Pioneer car stereo fondly), has been separated from the Pioneer DJ brand for “exactly a decade,” says DJTechTools. It seems likely that AlphaTheta wants to be its own brand entirely, particularly with its new acquisitions. It could also be a legal issue — AlphaTheta’s permission to use the name “Pioneer” may have come to an end.
“Their New Owners, including Serato DJ, and the acquisition” — In 2020, the AlphaTheta Corporation was sold to Japanese holding company, Noritsu. DJTechTools speculates that Noritsu is interested in a fresh start for the DJ conglomerate. And, with the pending acquisition of reputable DJ software brand Serato, Serato staff may be “have an easier time integrating into a company that is not so explicitly ‘Pioneer DJ’”, says DJTechTools.

pic.twitter.com/guoBZHQwNz
— Pioneer DJ JPN (@PioneerDJJPN) January 23, 2024

But what will the next generation of Pioneer DJ/AlphaTheta products look like? Time will tell, but a quick look online will show you that customers are yet to latch onto the name.
Read the full press release at Pioneer DJ.
The post Why is Pioneer DJ rebranding its products with the AlphaTheta name? appeared first on MusicTech.

Cranborne Audio unveil Carnaby HE2 Cranborne Audio's new HE2 combines two channels of their innovative Harmonic EQ circuitry with mid-side processing and remote control/setting recall from a DAW plug-in.

Searching for Superfans: Forget the numbers; concentrate on communityAs we continue Superfan Week on Hypebot, Janelle Borg weighs in with a piece on how Superfans are particularly important in this era of algorithms and a stark reminder that. Continue reading
The post Searching for Superfans: Forget the numbers; concentrate on community appeared first on Hypebot.

The crumbling of music media is a disaster for the music industry [Tatiana Cirisano]Tatiana Cirisano of MIDiA Research looks at the gutting of Pitchfork, the state of music reviews and music journalism, and its effects on the future of the music industry. by. Continue reading
The post The crumbling of music media is a disaster for the music industry [Tatiana Cirisano] appeared first on Hypebot.

NAMM 2024: Supercritical announces first ever desktop synthesizer, Redshift 6NAMM 2024: Supercritical, a new synthesizer manufacturer based in Finland, has launched its first ever desktop synthesizer – Redshift 6.
The brand says it has a “lush and warm sweet spot” inspired by analogue polysynth tradition, but it can also provide a range of tones from “almost digitally sterile” cleans, to chaotic distortion and beyond.

READ MORE: NAMM 2024: The hottest rumours and latest announcements from this year’s show

The filter core in Redshift 6 is an analogue four-pole state variable filter, digitally controlled to act like almost any classic vintage synthesizer filter. Additionally, it further packs in all the typical features expected of a modern synth, including plenty of modulators, flexible voice routing, multitimbrality, MPE, and DSP effects.
“Redshift 6’s idea is something that is wrapped in the moniker ‘Variable Character Synthesizer’”, says the brand. “Each voice’s analogue path regarding tuning, gain staging, filter, and more is under strict digital control.”
Technology from Supercritical’s previous products have made their way into Redshift 6. For example, its oscillator has already been “road-tested” in its Demon Core Oscillator Eurorack module, and is now featured in each of the six voices within the synth.
Users can also choose from traditional twin oscillator engines, supersaw engines, flanging phase sync engines, and transistor organ engines, all of which are easily controllable and modulatable.
You can also choose between true six-voice polyphony, a classic vintage poly dual layer mode with 3+3 voices, six individual voices each with their own patch and physical output, or any combination of the above. Each of the six voices can operate as a paraphonic voice with up to 16 note paraphony, and multiple filters can also be chained by routing audio from one voice to another.
Check out more in the video below:

Redshift 6 will be available this Summer 2024 for an MSRP of 1259€. Find out more and pre-order now over at Supercritical.
The post NAMM 2024: Supercritical announces first ever desktop synthesizer, Redshift 6 appeared first on MusicTech.

How to book your first music festival gig

Festivals are a great way to acquire new fans and open doors to opportunities. Even if just 5% of a crowd of 5,000 loves what they see on stage, that’s.

Masterchannel launch Wez Clarke AI Wez Clarke AI is said to allow users to learn and achieve professional sound quality by experiencing the unique skills of Grammy-winning engineer Wez Clarke.

NAMM 2024: The Korg Grandstage X stage piano offers “unparalleled sound quality” with seven sound enginesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. For more information on how this works, see our terms of use.
NAMM 2024: Korg continues its efforts to be the bell of the ball at NAMM 2024 with its announcement of the Korg Grandstage X stage piano.

READ MORE: The hottest rumours and latest announcements from NAMM 2024

Far more than just a digital grand piano, the Grandstage X acts as an elegantly modern-looking, sleek centrepiece for the stage with its aluminium-crafted white ivory-style body. This, says Korg, houses an intuitive piano offering “unparalleled sound quality”. It ships in June and you can pre-order it now on Thomann.
Credit: Korg
The Korg Grandstage X boasts seven specialised sound engines, each playing a distinct role. The SGX-2 engine delivers authentic acoustic piano sounds, while the EP-1 focuses on vintage electric piano tones. The AL-1 provides analogue modelling for a range of leads and brass sounds.
Dedicated to tonewheel organs, the CX-3 engine replicates classic organ characteristics while the Vox Organ and FC-1 engines recreate the unique sounds of transistor organs. Additionally, the HD-1 PCM Sound Engine enriches the sonic palette with a variety of keyboard sounds, from electric grands to harpsichords and pipe organs.

In terms of design, the Korg Grandstage X’s intuitive layering, splitting, and Real Weighted Hammer Action keyboard accurately capture all your nuances while playing like with an acoustic grand piano. Nutube technology provides analogue-like sound conditioning, and the Unison function adds depth.
As NAMM Show 2024 kicks off tomorrow, we expect Korg’s stall to receive some major attraction from those attending the event. That’s because the Japanese brand has announced not just the Grandstage X, but also the long-awaited MicroKORG 2, the Opsix MKII, the KR-11 mini rhythm box, new additions to its Nu:Tekt DIY kit range, a new portable turntable called the Handytraxx Play, and loads more.
Other big announcements that have arrived in time for NAMM include Yamaha’s new SEQTRACK, Audient’s new ORIA all-in-one controller for immersive mixing setups, and Sennheiser’s new flagship reference headphone pair, the HD 490 Pro.
The Grandstage X will start shipping in June 2024 and costs $2,961/£2,333.
Find out more at Korg.
The post NAMM 2024: The Korg Grandstage X stage piano offers “unparalleled sound quality” with seven sound engines appeared first on MusicTech.

Leaked photos suggest an Akai MPC Key 37 is on the way just in time for NAMMIt looks like a new compact Akai product is on the way, as leaked photos of a small MPC with 37 keys have surfaced online.
Fans are speculating that these photos suggest an Akai MPC Key 37 is likely to land this weekend in time for The NAMM Show, and that it will arrive in a vibrant red finish.

READ MORE: NAMM 2024: The hottest rumours and latest announcements from this year’s show

Two photos of what looks to be the AKAI MPC Key 37 appeared on Reddit earlier this week (22 January). One photograph showed a collection of boxes on a cart with Akai MPC Key 27 written on them, whereas in the second was a blurry capture of the instrument itself, which is a vibrant red colour (via Gear News). This finish was introduced with the MPC One+ last year.
Just yesterday, another photo appeared in higher resolution. Information on exact specifications is of course not yet available as Akai remains tight lipped, but it’s likely to come at a lower price point due to its compact size. You can view the photos below:
Akai MPC Keys 37 spotted byu/ElVerdaderoGatoFiero inmpcusers

High resolution MPC Keys 37 leak byu/Makaveli4ever1 inmpcusers

 
The MPC One+ landed in May 2023, hosting AIR’s Juno-60-inspired plugin, wifi and Bluetooth capabilities and increased storage. It arrived just a week after the launch of Ableton’s standalone Push, and its glossy red finish was launched to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the MPC series.
The NAMM Show is taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend (25 and 28 January), and a multitude of new products have been announced as a result. These including the new microKorg – due to land this June – Audient’s new ORIA interface which prioritises immersive audio workflows, and even the new SEQTRACK from Yamaha.
MusicTech has reached out to Akai for comment. Head to the official Akai website to view its full product range, or find out more on the latest product announcements over at our NAMM 2024 hub.
The post Leaked photos suggest an Akai MPC Key 37 is on the way just in time for NAMM appeared first on MusicTech.

Spotify calls Apple’s new 27% fee hike for developers “outrageous”Apple recently announced it will be charging a steep 27% in transaction fees for developers steering customers away from the Apple Store. Spotify has since raised its concerns, calling the plan “outrageous”.
The fees were officially announced on Friday 19 January, in correspondence to Apple’s long-standing legal debate with Epic Games. While a huge success for Apple, this new law warrants a threat to competitive business. Right now, Apple’s system is costing some of the biggest developers up to 30% and small developers around 15%.

READ MORE: NAMM 2024: The hottest rumours and latest announcements from this year’s show

In response to these numbers, Spotify says: “Once again, Apple has demonstrated that they will stop at nothing to protect the profits they exact on the backs of developers and consumers under their app store monopoly.” 
It adds: “We strongly urge UK lawmakers to pass the bill swiftly to prevent Apple from implementing similar fees, which will help create a more competitive and innovative tech industry for UK consumers and businesses.”
Spotify isn’t the only developer to speak out, with the CEO of Epic Games, Tim Sweeney, writing to Twitter, that the changes were of “bad faith”. The Coalition for App Fairness Executive Director Rick VanMeter also expressed his feelings, stating that he felt, “these changes do nothing to enhance consumer choice”. 

Apple filed a bad-faith "compliance" plan for the District Court's injunction. It totally undermines the order allowing “buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms, in addition to IAP”.https://t.co/ofbuMwe7SH
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) January 16, 2024

While Spotify has vented its frustrations against the fee spike, it doesn’t exactly have the most consumer-friendly track record either. The streaming platform was not long ago criticised for its streaming law that stated artists needed 1k streams to receive royalties for their music. Even with that said, when those royalties are earned, the maximum take-away unit was stated to be as low as $0.003 per stream.
The post Spotify calls Apple’s new 27% fee hike for developers “outrageous” appeared first on MusicTech.