The music industry is learning Hollywood’s lessons about the power of franchisesWould the music industry do well to throw marketing budget behind slightly-forgotten artists from the 'naughts', wonders Tim Ingham
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YouTube layoffs to hit 100 employees as company reorgs music and other media teamsYouTube to make job reductions as part of reorganization designed to streamline operations as it handles an ever-growing number of creators on its platform and focuses on new technologies like AI
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Will Justice’s new album feature The Weeknd? Fans speculate a new track is on the wayThe Weeknd appears to be hinting that he may have collaborated with French electronic duo, Justice.
The pair – Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay – have been teasing unreleased music and a new album, which will be their first since 2016’s Woman. It is due to be released this year.

READ MORE: Kraftwerk’s Wolfgang Flür and Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter have been making music together

Pedro Winter, who founded the Ed Banger label to which Justice are signed to, broke the news of their return in an interview on a French radio station last year, declaring “I can tell you now. There will be a new album and a new tour in 2024.” The duo are also set to perform at this year’s Coachella festival.
Speculation of a collaboration with The Weeknd began to circulate after the artist posted a range of cryptic images on Instagram containing Justice’s signature cross logo, with one also featuring a French flag. Take a look below:

The Weeknd teases possible collaboration with French duo Justice pic.twitter.com/YmG4AUP4de
— The Weeknd News (@NewsWeeknd) January 16, 2024

Producer Mike Dean, who has worked with both artists in the past, further added to the speculation by also sharing images of both The Weeknd and Justice together on his own Instagram account:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MIKE DEAN (@therealmikedean)

Despite this, The Weeknd had previously said he had recorded his final feature back in 2023, and that he would not be appearing in any further collaborations unless Daft Punk reunited, hence why there has been talk of the cryptic posts in the Daft Punk subreddit:
Could it be? byu/StonerPowah61 inDaftPunk

However, The Weeknd is also preparing to release his own album, which will finalise the trilogy he has formed with 2020’s After Hours and 2022’s Dawn FM.
Back in October, Winter shared that the forthcoming Justice record gave him the same feeling he felt when listening to their 2007 Cross album: “Listening to Cross, I had goosebumps – I loved each and every note of this record, and I have goosebumps when I’m listening to the forthcoming [2024] Justice album, too.”
He continued, “I can only be proud as a manager to work with a band that is pushing the boundaries and innovating like them. We are celebrating the 20 years of Ed Banger, but we are also celebrating 20 years of Justice.”
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Audient ORIA: Immersive interface & monitor controller Designed specifically for immersive audio, Audient's new ORIA audio interface and monitor controller packs everything you need to calibrate and run a 9.1.6 speaker setup into 1U of rack space.

Web3 DAO TRAX raises $2.9M to expand its Music Superfan platformThe CEOs of both UMG and WMG are among the many touting the need for a focus on superfans, and TRAX just raised $2.9 million to build tools to help. Continue reading
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Is analog music making a comeback? [Hanna Kahlert of MIDiA]In this complex, uncertain, and always-on world, many people are craving the nostalgia of a simpler time. Just as vinyl made a major comeback, will artists and fans return to. Continue reading
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NAMM 2024: Audient launches ORIA, an all-in-one interface that “prioritises immersive audio workflows”NAMM 2024: Audient has introduced the ORIA – an “all in one” interface and monitor controller designed specifically for multi-speaker arrays, from stereo to 9.1.6 setups and everything in between.
ORIA doubles up as a USB-C audio interface with 16 outputs and a standalone monitor controller via its ADAT Inputs or an Optional Dante Card.

READ MORE: NAMM 2024: The microKorg is back, packing classic “essence” with “powerful new features”

Set to arrive in the first quarter of 2024, ORIA also offers two dedicated relayed switched stereo outputs, two independent headphone outputs, BNC Word Clock in and out, as well as two Audient Console Mic Preamps and 16 ADAT inputs.
It also hosts Advanced Speaker Processing, allowing users to create up to 32 custom onboard calibration Profiles (presets) for any monitoring format by utilising per channel 8-band EQ, Speaker Delay, Trim and Bass Management tools.
Especially for this new product, Audient has partnered with “calibration experts” Sonarworks so that users can load SoundID Reference profiles directly into its hardware. Measure and calibrate your room in under an hour, then make use of full control of your stereo, surround or Dolby Atmos environment, via its software and iPad Remote.
“As immersive audio continues to become more prevalent across music, film, TV, game and VR production, our goal was to design a purpose-driven and affordable solution for those wanting to work in the immersive space,” says Audient’s Andrew Allen.
“ORIA is designed to prioritise immersive audio workflows, giving you onboard room and speaker calibration DSP, true immersive monitoring control and professional audio performance, alongside intelligent integrations with Sonarworks and Dolby Atmos.”
ORIA ships with a Sonarworks Reference Measurement microphone and a 60-Day free trial of the SoundID Reference for Multichannel software both included in the box.  Audient will eventually integrate support for the Dolby Atmos Renderer, but further details are yet to be revealed on this.
ORIA will retail at £2520/€2885/$2625. The optional Dante Card is £600/€685/ $625. You can visit Audient at The NAMM Show, booth #7003, Hall C. Find out more over at the official Audient website.
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Tips for Successful & Profitable Touring as a small Independent ArtistTouring requires a lot of planning and preparation, especially if you want to make a profit. This guide can help make your tour more than possible. by Chris Robley from. Continue reading
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Kraftwerk’s Wolfgang Flür and Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter have been making music togetherFormer Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flür has revealed that Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter, Juan Atkins and New Order’s Peter Hook have all contributed to his upcoming solo album.

READ MORE: Unearthed 1982 Brian Eno interview: “I generally don’t like electronic sounds”

Flür, who was the percussionist for Kraftwerk before exiting the band in 1997, later releasing solo albums Eloquence: Complete Works in 2015 and Magazine 1 in 2022, is set to put out his next work, Time, in September.
According to a new interview with German news channel Blick, Flür hasn’t held back on getting legendary talent in the studio to work on the album. He says Peter Hook, bassist and co-founder of Joy Division and New Order, Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk, and Detroit techno pioneer Juan Atkins have all contributed.
“My album Time will be released in September,” he tells Blick. “Great people are involved: Peter Hook from New Order, Thomas Bangalter from Daft Punk, U96 from Hamburg – and Juan Atkins from Detroit. I will present dance versions of the songs in Zurich.”
Since Daft Punk’s split in 2021, Thomas Bangalter’s working on a number of solo projects. In 2022, he released a solo orchestral album called Mythologies, and in 2023, Bangalter scored the movie Daaaaaalí!, a film exploring the life of artist Salvador Dalí.
Recently, the Daft Punk member was interviewed by French news channel Brut. In it, he revealed that he was once unknowingly sold a ticket to his own show and he also discussed the impact of anonymity as a result of wearing Daft Punk’s iconic robot helmets.
He said: “At some point, it seemed pretentious to continue staying anonymous, and I found myself in situations where people apologised for not having photos to ensure I wouldn’t be disturbed. I wasn’t seeking attention, but the anonymity started to attract more attention than it removed.”
For more artist news, head to MusicTech.
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NAMM 2024: The microKorg is back, packing classic “essence” with “powerful new features”NAMM 2024: Korg has revived one of its most successful classic synths with the all-new microKorg 2. This new offering captures the “legacy of innovation and excellence” which has kept the original microKorg a “mainstay” in studios for more than twenty years, but with exciting contemporary features.
In celebration of the release, two limited edition colour variants will be available – metallic black and metallic white. Both models are accentuated with aluminium details and come with a matching soft case.

READ MORE: NAMM 2024: Korg’s KR-11 is a compact yet feature-packed rhythm box

“The microKORG 2 is not just a new instrument; it’s a new chapter in synth history,” says Korg. The brand had previously celebrated the microKorg’s 20th birthday back at Superbooth last year with a special Crystal edition, but this is the first time the brand has offered an entirely new and upgraded successor.
The microKorg 2 hosts five dynamic knobs, each one a “gateway to fine-tuning your sound”, plus an expanded bank selection. It has a 2.8-inch colour display, where you can see your parameters come to life by animated effects for instant feedback. Users can also switch to an oscilloscope view to watch their changing sound waves.

One distinctive feature of the original microKORG was its own mic. It offered the ability to produce unique robotic voices, which at the time, was a tool typically reserved for specialised studio equipment. The microKorg 2 now offers a new vocal processor with advanced technology, including hard-tune pitch correction and a harmoniser feature.
As for effects, users can decorate their vocals with reverb, crisp delay, and more. The famed gooseneck design of the mic also now has a metallic aesthetic for that added modern flair.
Elsewhere, it also integrates a loop recorder, an arpeggiator, and a new programme selector with eight preset programmes for each bank, and room for up to 64 saved custom sounds. All the usual patching capabilities are on offer, but this time with a “digital twist” where you can shape your sound and see your patches come to life on the screen.
The microKorg 2 is due for a June 2024 release. Find out more at Korg.
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OSC Audio’s Kalimba Keys Virtual Instrument is FREE for Limited Time
OSC Audio released the Kalimba Keys virtual instrument, and it’s available for free download for a limited time.   Kalimba Keys is available for Windows, MacOS, and iOS in VST3, AU, AUv3, and standalone formats.  OSC Audio has made Kalimba Keys available in a ‘name a price’ format. If you enter the coupon “kalimbakeysfree” at checkout, [...]
View post: OSC Audio’s Kalimba Keys Virtual Instrument is FREE for Limited Time

Every electronic artist playing Coachella 2024 at a glanceThe official Coachella 2024 lineup has landed, and this year festival goers can catch sets from over 60 electronic artists in total.
Due to take place across 12-14 and 19-21 of April at its home of the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, the festival will host headline performances from Lana Del Rey, Tyler, The Creator and Doja Cat.

READ MORE: Four Tet played at his daughter’s birthday to “deeply unimpressed” teenage girls following Coachella set

Many of the dance and electronic artists lined up for this year’s event are listed high up the bill, with acts spread across nearly all of its stages such as the mainstage (of course), the Outdoor Stage, the Sahara Tent, the Yuma tent plus others. The Do Lab also hosts a range of electronic artists at its own space, but this lineup is yet to be announced.
Fans are particularly excited to see that duo Justice will be performing at the festival – their first time returning to Coachella since 2017. Peggy Gou, who has also not performed at the festival since her debut in 2018, will be making a return.
View a round up of all of the electronic artists due to perform below (via Billboard):
Friday April 12 & 19

Justice
Everything Always (Dom Dolla & John Summit)
Peggy Gou
Anti Up (Chris Lorenzo & Chris Lake)
Steve Angello
Cloonee
Gorgon City
Tinashe
ANOTR
Adriatique
BLOND:ISH
Mall Grab
Kevin de Vries x Kölsch
Skin On Skin
Innellea
Miss Monique
Ben Stering
Keyspan

Saturday April 13 & 20

Gessafelstein
Jungle
Dom Dolla
Grimes
Charlotte de Witte
ISOxo & Knock2
Purple Disco Machine
Skream & Benga
Orbital
The Blessed Madonna
SPINALL
Oneohtrix Point Never
Kenya Grace
Patrick Mason
Reinier Zonneveld
Mahmut Orhan
Âme x Marcel Dettman
Brutalismus 3000
Maz
Will Clarke
Rebuke
Kimonos

Sunday April 14 & 21

Anyma
John Summit
DJ Snake
BICEP
ARTBAT
Barry Can’t Swim
Two Shell
Folamour
Carlita
Adam Ten x Mita Gami
Eli & Fur
Flight Facilities
DJ Seinfeld
JOPLYN

Pre-sale starts Friday 19 January at 11am PT. Find out more over at Coachella.
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Voice Enhancement Assistant (VEA) plug-in by iZotope VEA offers an intuitive all-in-one vocal processing solution using the technology found in iZotope's RX, Ozone and Nectar software.

Voice Enhancement Assistant plug-in by iZotope VEA offers an intuitive all-in-one vocal processing solution using the technology found in iZotope's RX, Ozone and Nectar software.

Arturia’s AudioFuse 16Rig is excellent for the modern studios of synth lovers£1,159 / €1,299 / $1,499, arturia.com
Better known for its synth products, Arturia launched the AudioFuse interface in 2017, which instantly won fans with its innovative ergonomics, ease of use, and assortment of useful extras. The range has grown to include interfaces with progressively more inputs and outputs — with the desktop format Studio and the rack-mounted 8Pre — and now comes the impressively equipped flagship: the 16Rig.

READ MORE: SR Studio 1073-style preamp achieves a classic analogue sound at an extremely attractive price

Armed with a dazzling array of inputs, outputs and similarly useful extras, the 16Rig is for home and project studios with lots of external gear to plug in. It easily fends off competing products from the likes of MOTU and RME, but also comes at a reasonable price and is in strong supply. A recipe for sweet success – but how does the new leader of the AudioFuse gang fare in the wild?
Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig
What inputs and outputs does the AudioFuse 16Rig have?
Arturia has many bases covered with I/O, with 16 analogue line ins and 10 line outs. That’s ideal for leaving an array of external synths and drum machines plugged in and ready to go or, in a recording studio, for interfacing with a clutch of external mic preamps and outboard.
Handily, all line connections have digital trim adjustable in 0.1dB steps — perfect when lining up levels with external gear. Two parallel headphone sockets are forced to share the same feed and volume control, but there’s another easy way to set up multiple pairs of headphones — more on that later.
Also on the analogue side — around the front — are a couple of digitally-controlled mic preamps for when you don’t have boutique preamps plugged in. Two alternative TRS jack sockets offer multiple purposes; the most useful being passing an instrument level signal out for re-amping — ideal for sending clean guitar sounds to an amp or sending synths and guitars through a chain of pedals (and subsequently returned to inputs 1 and/or 2 at the front if required since these can be switched to instrument level).

Alternatively, during a tracking session, you can also use the Multi sockets as additional headphone outs. Or, switch them to line level for connecting gear that isn’t usually plugged in without diving to behind the rack. Finally, a stereo minijack input alternates with line ins 3-4, ideal for quickly plugging in mobile devices.
All of these forward-facing sockets alternate with corresponding ins and outs around the back. So, to help ease frustrations in the studio, you can switch between front and rear options without unplugging cables (you can even save presets in the software).
Digital expansion comes via two banks for ADAT ports, offering up to 16 extra ins/outs at sample rates of up to 48kHz. A word clock is provided to keep everything tightly clocked together.
Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig I/O
Can you plug MIDI devices into the AudioFuse 16Rig?
AudioFuse 16Rig has a pleasing range of MIDI options. As well as DIN sockets for in, out and thru, you can get your devices hooked up in other convenient ways. This includes a USB MIDI port and, for those analogue rarities, line outs can transmit CV data.
Speaking of USB, there are two extra hub sockets for chaining extra devices. Arturia seems to have thought of everything — all these features truly establish the interface as an all-in-one synth studio solution. Bravo!
Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig in use
What is the AudioFuse 16Rig like to use?
Getting going is simple. Download the control software and you can access the attractive bundle of the brand’s plugins including a nice Neve-style preamp with EQ, a plate reverb, plus the Analog Lab Intro sound collection.
On the hardware end, we’re suckers for a decent graphical user interface with metering. This one displays input and output banks with a clear screen layout. Preamp controls are also quickly accessed and easy to adjust without recourse to using the software.
But an annoying blip occurs with switching between meter screens; instead of using a quick access button to toggle between banks, you’re forced to scroll through the channels on screen with the rotary encoder until they reach the next bank; we hope the user experience here might be improved in a firmware update.

Setting up line inputs and mixing through analogue gear is a breeze with trim levels and input gain offering fine control and being easily recallable. This is especially flexible when you’re sending the signal through a chain of outboard processors and want to drive the outboard in the analogue domain but bring the signal back to the A/D converters at a sensible level.
The control software offers useful versatility in setting up a headphone mix using either the pre-defined cue mix or via aux sends. There’s a learning curve, but the upside is that you can set up more than one independent alternative mix.
Sadly, the loopback implementation is poorly documented — there’s no easy way of finding out how it works without searching out third-party demos on YouTube.
Monitor controller features — not always present on this type of interface — provide useful alternative speaker switching from any line out pair, dim, plus two physical buttons (mute and a multifunction button switchable between dim, mono and alt speakers). However, there’s no talkback and you can’t assign the monitor dial to multiple pairs of line outs — really limiting if you’re working with a surround setup.
Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig alongside other gear
How does the AudioFuse 16Rig sound?
With a mic plugged in, there’s plenty of clean gain with the impression of slightly more high-end detail when compared to our Audient iD44.
16Rig’s converters all measure well in the specs and this manifests itself in noise-free, crystal-clear sound when playing back audio and looping it through outboard gear. Meanwhile, the headphone preamp has loads of level — switchable sensitivity is also a bonus here — so you hear the fine detail of everything you’re tracking.
Core Audio is used on MacOS rather than a proprietary driver, so the interface is not going to compete with RME’s ultra-low latency figures, if it matters to you.

Should you buy the Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig?
Minor grievances aside, Arturia has hit the target perfectly with the AudioFuse 16Rig, and then some. The interface combines a range of analogue ins, outs and ADAT interfacing just as other products do, at a highly competitive price.
But then there’s the array of neat features that truly help seal the deal: a couple of mic preamps, basic monitor controls, multi-outs with re-amp capability as well as an array of MIDI, CV and USB options. Oh, and genuinely useful bundled software, which might find regular use in sessions.
Synth heads and hybrid mixing fanatics will be licking their lips at all this goodness. We predict that many-a patch cable will be dropped in amazement even, and then quickly consigned to the cupboard.
Key features

USB-C connectivity with two-way USB Hub
16 analogue inputs
2 mic preamps with digital gain, phantom power and instrument level option
10 analogue outputs
2 multi-out sockets
Headphone preamp with parallel 3.5mm/6.3mm sockets
Dual ADAT ins/outs
Wordclock in/out (BNC and minijack Clock Out)
MIDI in/out/thru plus USB MIDI connector
Basic monitor controls (mute, alternate monitor switching and multi-function button)
Comes with USB cables, power supply, desktop and rack ears

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