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62% of TikTok users in the United States pay for a music streaming service (report)A TikTok-commissioned study by Luminate found that TikTok users are more likely to pay for a music streaming subscription, and spend more on music, than other consumers.
Source

Universal prevails in lawsuit alleging it owed artists $750m in Spotify royaltiesA US District Court judge has ruled that UMG had 'wide discretion' in negotiating royalty rates with Spotify
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5 of zZounds’ best early Black Friday deals on headphones, synths, MIDI controllers and moreWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. For more information on how this works click here.
It’s nearly Friday. But not just any Friday – Black Friday. That means that brands, starting this week and leading, for many, right up until Christmas, are taking the prices of their products down a notch. A yearly ritual, Black Friday in the world of music tech is an exciting window to get your hands on a mouth-watering steal. Whether it’s a reverb or a rotary mixer, a synth or a speaker – now is the time to purchase that piece of kit lingering on your wishlist.

READ MORE: Black Friday deals 2023: Best early deals for music producers, DJs, beatmakers and musicians

And where better to find a Black Friday offer than on zZounds. zZounds is a fantastic, US-based burgeoning retailer that sells everything from acoustic instruments to modular gear and pedals. It’s no surprise then, with so many brilliant music-based products in its catalogue, that it’s dishing out a wealth of saucy offers on mixers, controllers, headphones and more. Here are five for you to gawk at.
Five of zZounds’ best early Black Friday deals at a glance:

Native Instruments Maschine Plus Production Workstation – save $200
TASCAM Model 12 Mixer, USB Audio Interface and Multitrack Recorder – save $100
Yamaha HS8 Active Studio Monitor – save $99
AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ XE Headphones – save $41
Rane ONE Professional DJ Controller – save $40

Native Instruments Maschine Plus Production Workstation – save $200

Want to make music without having to look at a screen all day long? The Maschine+ is a standalone music production device, which means you essentially can make music on it without a DAW. It combines a powerful hardware controller with a built-in computer, offering a range of sampling, sequencing, and sound manipulation tools, making it a versatile all-in-one music production solution.

Reduced price: $999
Find this deal at zZounds

TASCAM Model 12 Mixer, USB Audio Interface and Multitrack Recorder – save $100

The Model 12 by TASCAM is a popular compact mixer tailored for loads of people – music producers, multimedia creators, songwriters, performers… the list goes on! It includes TASCAM’s renowned multi-track recorder, USB audio/MIDI interface, DAW control options, and specialised podcasting features such as mix-minus and smartphone inputs.

Reduced price: $599
Find this deal at zZounds

Yamaha HS8 Active Studio Monitor – save $99

The Yamaha HS8 Active Studio Monitor is a professional-grade speaker designed for audio monitoring and mixing in studios. However, they can be used at home too. Delivering accurate and clear sound reproduction, it features an 8-inch cone woofer and 1-inch dome tweeter, providing a flat frequency response ideal for music production, mixing, and mastering. Whether you’re a pro or a beginner, HS8s are a safe bet.

Reduced price: $299
Find this deal at zZounds

AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ XE Headphones – save $41

One of the finest DJ headphone releases of 2023, the TMA-2 DJ XE Modular DJ headphones by AIAIAI offer balanced sound and high isolation with PU leather earpads, weighing just 168g. Featuring 40mm bio-cellulose diaphragms for reduced distortion, they excel in loud environments. They’re good for the environment, too, thanks to their interchangeable components, which also mean you can customise your headphones to suit your unique sound, comfort and style needs.

Reduced price: $98
Find this deal at zZounds

Rane ONE Professional DJ Controller – save $40

The Rane ONE, a high-end Serato DJ controller, caters to turntablists thanks to its 7.2″ motorised platters, a Mag Four crossfader, and a dedicated loop section. Embracing RANE’s performance layout, this professional DJ solution prioritises DJing fundamentals while broadening access for more experimental DJs. It also has customisable torque settings for a traditional vinyl experience, even if you are playing MP3 YouTube rips.

Reduced price: $1,299
Find this deal at zZounds

For more Black Friday deals, head to MusicTech.
The post 5 of zZounds’ best early Black Friday deals on headphones, synths, MIDI controllers and more appeared first on MusicTech.

New Mountain Capital Announces Majority Growth Investment in BMINew Mountain Capital, LLC, (“New Mountain”), a leading growth-oriented investment firm with over $45 billion in assets under management, announced today that it will lead a shareholder group to acquire Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”), the world’s largest performing rights organization (“PRO”). Headquartered in New York, BMI protects the rights of and advocates for more than 1.4 million songwriters, composers and music publishers (“affiliates”). BMI secures royalties for its affiliates by offering licenses to businesses for the performing rights in 22.4 million musical works. Mike O’Neill, BMI’s President & CEO, will continue to lead the company, along with his leadership team, following the closing.

New Mountain will acquire the company from the shareholders who own BMI today. New Mountain has also reserved additional capital to fund growth investments, new ventures and technology enhancements to help accelerate BMI’s long-term plan to maximize distributions for its affiliates and improve the service it provides to songwriters, composers and publishers.

As part of the agreement, and in recognition of the creativity of the songwriters, composers and publishers they have had the privilege to represent, BMI’s current shareholders will allocate $100 million of the proceeds of the sale to affiliates shortly after the transaction closing. The allocation of those funds, while not a distribution of royalties, will be in keeping with the company’s distribution methodologies, which are based on performance levels over a set period of time. BMI will work to finalize an equitable payout plan for this allocation in the coming months.

“Today marks an exciting new chapter for BMI that puts us in the best possible position to stay ahead of the evolving industry and ensure the long-term success of our music creators,” said Mike O’Neill, BMI President & CEO. “New Mountain is an ideal partner because they believe in our mission and understand that the key to success for our company lies in delivering value to our affiliates. We are excited about the many ways New Mountain will accelerate our growth plan, bringing new vision, technological expertise and an outstanding track record of strengthening businesses, all of which will help us build an even stronger future for BMI and our songwriters, composers and publishers.” He added, “I would also like to thank the BMI Board of Directors and BMI’s shareholders for their excellent stewardship and unwavering support of our creative community since the company’s founding in 1939.”

“BMI has been a trusted guide and champion of music creators from the beginning, and we are privileged to work with the company and its 1.4 million affiliates to build on that incredible legacy,” said Pete Masucci, Managing Director at New Mountain. “There are numerous growth opportunities ahead for BMI with significant potential to generate more value for the work of its songwriters, composers and publishers. We look forward to working together alongside Mike and his team to capitalize on those opportunities for the benefit of all BMI stakeholders.”

“While the music industry has undergone a technology-driven transformation over the past two decades, music infrastructure, including the performing rights ecosystem has been slower to transform,” said Mike Oshinsky, Director at New Mountain. “There is tremendous opportunity to modernize this critical part of music infrastructure and ensure that long term royalty collections for songwriters, composers and publishers continue to grow. With our support, BMI is ideally positioned to drive this transformation as the only PRO in the world to combine an open-door policy to all music creators with the innovation and commercial drive of a for-profit business.”

Growth Plan to Accelerate Value for Affiliates

New Mountain’s motto is “building great businesses,” and it brings to BMI significant experience partnering with management teams to grow and add value to the benefit of all constituents. The firm has added or created nearly 69,000 jobs, net of job losses across all of its current and past portfolio companies, has invested over $7 billion into research and development, software, and capital expenditures and generated an estimated $79 billion of enterprise value gains.

New Mountain’s growth investment in BMI will accelerate the company’s ambitious value creation plan, which has three core tenets:

First, to continue to grow cash distributions for its affiliates.

Second, to invest in next generation technology platforms and new service offerings that will improve royalty collections, enhance BMI’s customer service, and deliver the best possible experience for its affiliates.

Third, to add new revenue streams driven by organic growth investments and M&A opportunities, with an initial focus on improving general licensing royalty collections, international partnerships and new service offerings. New growth investments will create additional opportunities for distribution income for its affiliates. 

New Mountain’s investment does not change the distribution targets previously communicated, which is the same approach the company followed in calendar year 2023 and which it will follow moving forward. For the calendar year, BMI targeted a payout of 85% of its licensing revenues and delivered +11% growth in cash distributions to affiliates over 2022’s distributions, which were reflective of the company’s prior not-for-profit model.  

The transaction is subject to approval by BMI shareholders and customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of Q1 2024. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial advisor to BMI and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP served as its legal advisor. Moelis & Company served as financial advisor to New Mountain, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, LLP served as its legal advisor. As part of New Mountain’s investment, CapitalG will also invest a passive minority stake in BMI.

bmi.com

New Mountain Capital buys BMI, Songwriters & Publishers receive $100MUPDATED: A New Mountain Capital-led shareholder group has acquired BMI. Current shareholders must still approve the sale, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024. With. Continue reading
The post New Mountain Capital buys BMI, Songwriters & Publishers receive $100M appeared first on Hypebot.

Riot Games teams up with Steve Aoki and BandLab for Teamfight Tactics Remix Rumble updateRiot Games has enlisted Steve Aoki and BandLab for its most ambitious update yet to Teamfight Tactics, which has involved putting a musical spin on the game.
In the game’s 10th update, Remix Rumble, players aren’t just battling to the top but encounter new musical-themed elements along the way. The game incorporates a wide variety of genres,  including 8-bit chiptunes, country, disco, pop, punk, emo, EDM, and more, as well as other elements inspired by Riot’s pioneering virtual bands.
Players can incorporate characters – or Champions – representing different genres into their roster, or stick to one and reap the benefits of the synergies of the playable characters. They also have specific powers based on the genre they represent – for example, disco groups can drop a disco ball on their playfield, which heals its nearby allies in a dazzling light show.
The update also includes an array of new arenas to battle within within, including a special K/DA arena that
features interactive light show and multiple visual phases.
Aoki’s contribution comes in the form of a remix used to soundtrack the game’s trailer, titled League of Legends – Remix Rumble (Steve Aoki Remix) which utilises sounds from the game – check it out below.

In a new video posted to Instagram, Aoki introduced another way that fans could engage with the game. They are able to use BandLab to make their own remixes, which they can submit for consideration to play in a listening party on 29th November.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Steve Aoki (@steveaoki)

However, despite the musical elements, Riot Games has assured players that Teamfight Tactics isn’t turning into a rhythm game. “The same core Teamfight Tactics is firmly in place – it’s just going to sound even more incredible.,” it says per a press release.
The game is available to play as of today (21st November) on PC and mobile. The update also includes a UX refresh on mobile, providing a visual and UI upgrade to better match the PC experience and it is also now supported on tablets.
The post Riot Games teams up with Steve Aoki and BandLab for Teamfight Tactics Remix Rumble update appeared first on MusicTech.

Plans for Vegas-style MSG Sphere venue in London have been rejectedPlans to build a MSG Sphere in east London have been rejected by London mayor Sadiq Khan.
The proposals were first drawn up in 2018 and if built, the 21,500 capacity arena would have been the largest in the UK. They were put forward by the same company that runs iconic New York arena Madison Square Garden.

READ MORE: Black Friday deals 2023: Best early deals for music producers, DJs, beatmakers and musicians

The company had purchased a 1.9-hectare (4.7-acre) site in Stratford adjacent to the Olympic Park and Westfield shopping centre on which to build Sphere, which also would have housed shops, restaurants and potentially a smaller 1,500 capacity venue to help support grassroots artists. The land had been used as a coach park during the London 2012 Olympics.
Now, Khan has rejected the plans at the stage 2 decision following widespread opposition from local residents as well as the area’s MP, Lyn Brown, who had called the venue a “monstrosity”.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “London is open to investment from around the world and Sadiq wants to see more world-class, ambitious, innovative entertainment venues in our city.
“But as part of looking at the planning application for the MSG Sphere, the Mayor has seen independent evidence that shows the current proposals would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents.”
Concerns had been raised over the impact of light pollution and environmental impact caused by the estimated 1,000,000 LED light bulbs and bright advertisements that would have been used on its exterior. MSG had promised to provide blackout blinds to homes within 150 metres of the venue, as well as those with a direct view of it, and set up a telephone line for complaints.
Other opponents of the plans pointed to the potential for the venue to put strain on local infrastructure, especially the nearby Stratford station which already handles a large volume of people from Westfield and for London Stadium, which is used by West Ham football club.
Sphere. Credit: Tayfun Coskun/Getty
The venue  also faced opposition from AEG, which objected due to the proximity of the proposed site to its own arena, The O2, which is only four miles away.
Nate Higgins, the local Green Party Councillor for Stratford Olympic Park, shared a statement on Facebook, writing: “Absolutely delighted to share that our campaigning on behalf of residents in Stratford Olympic Park alongside Against the MSG Sphere London has paid off, and Sadiq Khan as Mayor of London has today rejected the MSG Sphere planning application in his stage 2 decision.
He added: “London’s cultural venues are incredibly important, but this application was always completely inappropriate for the site and the 25 year advertising consent the applicants demanded show they were not interested in contributing to our capital’s cultural scene – only bombarding the residents of Stratford with endless advertising.
“We’ll have more to say in the coming weeks about what happens next, but this incredible victory goes to show the value of community organising and listening to residents. As the local councillors, we’ll never stop doing that.”
A statement from a Sphere Entertainment spokesperson said: “While we are disappointed in London’s decision, there are many forward-thinking cities that are eager to bring this technology to their communities. We will concentrate on those.”
The Las Vegas Sphere opened in September with a residency from U2, which recently got extended until February 2024. However, it was recently reported that the venue had made a loss of $98.4 million, having cost $2.3 billion to build.
The post Plans for Vegas-style MSG Sphere venue in London have been rejected appeared first on MusicTech.

TDR Prism Is A New Free Analyzer Plugin By Tokyo Dawn Labs
The TDR Prism frequency analyzer is free to download at the Tokyo Dawn Records website.  The plugin is available for Windows and macOS, and the company describes it as a “modern frequency analyzer with a focus on human audio perception.” Tokyo Dawn Records has provided a very easy install process, as you can just click [...]
View post: TDR Prism Is A New Free Analyzer Plugin By Tokyo Dawn Labs

Free ValhallaRoom 2.0 update: new Lo Cut and Space controls addedValhalla DSP has unveiled ValhallaRoom 2.0, a significant free update to one of its revered reverb plugins.

READ MORE: Black Friday deals 2023: Best early deals for music producers, DJs, beatmakers and musicians

Valhalla’s software-based reverb effects, such as ValhallaRoom itself, Valhalla VintageVerb, Valhalla Plate and – last but not least – Valhalla Supermassive, are used widely by music producers. This latest update to its reverb collection opens up more opportunities for space control, meaning you can create even more unique or realistic-sounding spaces for your sounds to sit in.
The update notably introduces two key additions: the Space knob, allowing for subtle feedback manipulation for pre-delay and early reflections, and a new Lo Cut control for toning down bass frequencies in the reverb output. These additions give you more flexibility, so you can create diverse timbres from realistic short decays and metallic resonances to lush modulated reverbs.

Adjusting the Space knob gradually reveals distinct impacts: subtle audibility at 25 per cent, shorter decay at 50 per cent, and a complete transformation of early reflections into standalone reverbs beyond 60 per cent. Paired with tweaks to Early Size and Predelay lengths, you can gain precise control and create echoes or expansive reverbs.
The other addition is the Lo Cut control, located next to the Hi Cut slider. It refines output by attenuating bass frequencies, enhancing integration within modern mixes.
For existing ValhallaRoom owners, you will be able to find the update in your user account by logging in and downloading the latest installer. If you don’t have ValhallaRoom yet, you can test it out by heading to the Demo and Downloads page on Valhalla DSP’s website, where you can install a demo.
As with all of Valhalla’s plugins, ValhallaRoom 2.0 is $50 for first-time buyers.
Find it at Valhalla DSP.
The post Free ValhallaRoom 2.0 update: new Lo Cut and Space controls added appeared first on MusicTech.

TikTok’s massive music marketing impact confirmed by new studyA new Luminate study shows TikTok’s incredible reach and impact on music discovery, marketing, and monetization. The fact that TikTok commissioned the analysis may make its findings a bit suspect.. Continue reading
The post TikTok’s massive music marketing impact confirmed by new study appeared first on Hypebot.

Music: What is it Good For? [Hanna Kahlert, MIDiA & Stephen Love, Socially Driven Music][EXCLUSIVE] In this companion piece to “Music – It’s About Purpose, Stupid,” Stephen Love, former EVP of ATV Music, and Hanna Kahlert of MIDiA Research dig deeper into how revaluing. Continue reading
The post Music: What is it Good For? [Hanna Kahlert, MIDiA & Stephen Love, Socially Driven Music] appeared first on Hypebot.

Boz Digital Labs New York L Piano Bundle A bundle of 2 piano plugins. Same model. Nearly a century apart. Features: Two Pianos: New York L 1926. New York L 1991. Multiple Microphone perspectives. 6 Band EQ.... Read More