The Live Beat: KAYTRANADA x JusticeFrench electronic music duo Justice and GRAMMY-winning DJ, producer, rapper, and singer KAYTRANADA are joining forces for a co-headlining North American tour, and it’s shaping up to be a dance floor dream.Kicking off October 16 in Vancouver and wrapping November 16 in Miami, the month-long run will cruise through key cities like Seattle, Portland, Chicago, New York, and Atlanta—offering fans across the continent a chance to experience both acts in one electrifying night.This tour isn’t just a first—it’s a reunion. The pair last shared a bill at the iconic Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre in Paris last June, and now they're bringing that energy stateside.With Justice known for their thunderous live sets and KAYTRANADA’s genre-fluid groove, this co-headliner is a rare alignment of sonic forces you don’t want to miss.More info and ticket prices HERE.Photo credit: Gerard Romans Camps, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic licenseThe post The Live Beat: KAYTRANADA x Justice first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

FTC goes after Ticket Scalpers, seeks Tens of Millions in DamagesThe U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking legal action against ticket resellers for violation of the BOTS Act seeking millions of dollars in damages.
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How to Get Music on Spotify PlaylistsLooking to get music on Spotify playlists? This guide walks you how Spotify playlisting works, and proven strategies to increase your chances on getting your music out to new listeners.
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My Big Mouth: The Wit and Wisdom of OasisThe new Simon & Schuster book "Oasis Talking Shite" lays out some of the best of the worst quotes from the Gallagher brothers, roughly organized by topic and accompanied by photos spanning decades of haircuts and parkas. Check out the highlights in our book review.

Tip Jar: A Personal Reflection: The Journey, The Shift, and The CallingBy Keith MitchellWhen I considered writing this piece, I knew it was time to be vulnerable—to release certain elements of my story that haven’t been shared in other versions.Let me begin with what’s familiar: I was part of the group After 7, a journey that opened many doors and opportunities for myself and the two other gentlemen I sang with for over 34 years—Kevon Edmonds and his brother, Melvin Edmonds. We were produced by mega-producer Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, their younger brother, along with his creative partners Daryl Simmons and L.A. Reid. Together, they crafted some of the most passionate, heartfelt, and classy music that continues to resonate—songs like “In the Heat of the Moment,” “Ready or Not,” “Can’t Stop,” and “One Night.”In 1989, Virgin Records signed us sight unseen, purely on the reputation of Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. He even gave us our name, After 7—defined as casual elegance. We embraced that identity through our attire, photography, videos, and performances. Our first album earned two gold singles, reached platinum+status, and even garnered a GRAMMY nomination.Looking back, there wasn’t much representation for a group like ours in the early days. But we seized the moment, creating a legacy that still stands.We toured for two years before recording our second album, Taking My Time—this time, without Babyface’s direct involvement. Fortunately, Daryl Simmons and Dallas Austin stepped in, producing hits like “Baby, I’m For Real” and “Kickin’ It.” Al Haymon also played a pivotal role, placing us on shows with legends like Regina Belle, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, The Whispers, Gladys Knight, and Whitney Houston.Tip #1: In the music business, expect the unexpected. Be flexible and commit to responding, not reacting, to situations beyond your control. We didn’t anticipate Babyface stepping back for the second album, but we pushed forward and gave it our all.The Reflections album was the last studio project recorded prior to After 7’s musical hiatus of 20 years, after which we re-emerged with the Timeless album. During the season of Melvin Edmond’s passing, his son Jason Edmonds stepped in to support the group. Thirteen years later, Daniel McClain joined us during the recording of the fifth album, Unfinished Business.It’s worth mentioning that while attending Indiana University, I majored in business so I could understand how to run a business successfully. That education taught me music is more than art—it’s a business. Many may not know this, but I served as the road manager for After 7 at one point. That meant handling money, per diems, salaries, making sure the tour bus was funded, and reporting weekly to the business manager. It’s sobering to realize that after all the logistics and travel, you can come home with little to show financially. That kind of disparity can cause tension in any group—especially when family dynamics are involved.Tip #2: Learn everything you can about the music industry—because it is a business. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify your interests to build long-term stability and income.Over time, we began to grow apart in how we processed and responded to the challenges. What kept me rooted was loyalty. I pledged Kappa Alpha Psi while in college, where I was taught not to desert or condemn. So staying committed to the group—despite disagreements—wasn’t always easy, but I showed up. Even when Melvin stepped away at times, we kept pushing, doing more of one thing, less of another, whatever it took.Then came the inevitable. In January 2025, I decided it was time to say goodbye.It felt like a train journey—one where people get on, and eventually, people get off. Most people do not know that I was never financially compensated at a rate that reflected an escalating value for a member who was loyal to a group for 30 plus years. Often, valuable tools to maintain my professional sound quality were stripped away from me and I was marginalized to singing the equivalent of back up vocals with occasional one liners in songs. Thus I chronically felt undervalued and underpaid both on and off stage. Rather than continue to compromise my self-worth, I knew it was time to leave. God opened up the doors and on His timing I departed from the often toxic environment. I had given everything—my time, my energy, my heart—to individuals and the group. Was I perfect? No. Did I always make the right decisions? No. But I showed up. I didn’t miss engagements. I was on time for rehearsals. I participated in every promotional effort.Eventually, it became clear that my personal interests no longer mattered within the group dynamic. One member began focusing on themselves more than honoring our three-man unity. That was just one of the reasons I left.The other was this: God called me back to gospel music—my first love, and where I first discovered my gift. I was also navigating the emotional toll of a divorce I didn’t want. I felt completely alone. But in that brokenness, God revealed my life to me. He walked me through healing, and that process birthed new purpose.It was during that season—while attending World Changers Church, under the teachings of Creflo Dollar—that everything changed. That’s when I began writing the songs that would become my new gospel album, Food for Your Life. That’s when I made the decision to walk away from After 7.Tip #3: Know when your time in a certain situation has ended. Plan your exit with wisdom and discretion. Stay committed until the shift becomes clear. Keep God at the center of everything you do, and never move without His guidance.The post Tip Jar: A Personal Reflection: The Journey, The Shift, and The Calling first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Independent Musician News Last Week: PR, Live, Merch & MoreIndependent musician news last week was filled with tips and guides to thriving in a competitive industry from live show booking hacks, finding the best PR team, to selling the right merch items, and more...
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Music Business News Last Week: Equity, Rock, Super ListenersMusic business news last week included Chartmetric reports on gender roles in music and rock's latest resurgence, Spotify targets Super Listeners, and much more...
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New Music Critique: AhhmandaContact: vivavillamusic@gmail.comWeb: instagram.com/_ahhmanda_Seeking: Label, Booking, New listenersStyle: Psychedelic Rock, Alternative, IndieAhhmanda’s debut track “Holy Mountain” introduces a promising new voice in psychedelic rock. The Los Angeles-based artist leans into hazy distortion and swirling textures, crafting a moody, atmospheric sound that pulls the listener in. It’s a bold move to submit just one song for review, but it mostly paid off—“Holy Mountain” feels intentional and vibey, if still a bit raw. “I only have one song out so far (my first),” she notes, “and more to come very soon.” It’s a solid foundation that hints at a distinct artistic identity in the making.The post New Music Critique: Ahhmanda first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Concord’s $1.76 billion ABS transaction to Universal Music Group’s EU scrutiny… it’s MBW’s weekly round-upThe biggest music biz headlines from the past few days, all in once place.
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Book More Live Shows with these Bandsintown HacksIn addition to being the top global destination to discover and market live concerts, Bandsintown can also be used by artists, managers and agents to book more live shows.
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Why Strong Artist Brands Matter to Fans TooA strong brand isn’t just good for the artist; they matter to fans too, They make the fan experience more personal, meaningful, and connected. This is about more than just music. It's about identity, community, and feeling seen.
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DIY Spotlight: Charlotte MorrisPhiladelphia folk artist Charlotte Morris was highly scored in a recent New Music Critique, so impressed were we with the songs from her Both Sides album. She’s worked hard to get to this point, having fallen in love with music as soon as she could walk and talk.“By age 12 I was writing songs and teaching myself guitar, piano, ukulele, and others,” Morris says. “With songwriting, music grew from something I loved into something I needed.”After college, Morris moved to New York to pursue theatre. “However, it was at that time that I found my way back to songwriting,” she says. “This was the biggest change I’d ever been through—making such a huge move—and I didn’t know how else to process it other than writing. A little less than a year after moving, I released my debut EP, To New York, with Love, and started to figure out how I could move forward in this crazy industry that is music.”Morris describes her sound primarily as folk/Americana. “First and foremost, my music is rooted in honest and emotional storytelling,” she says. “I write what I’m feeling, so that might be really folky one day but super rock/pop-driven the next. Overall, my music is intimate, personal, and raw; it’s meant to feel like a conversation between best friends or a look into my personal diary.”The aforementioned Both Sides was released in May of this year. “It is the most honest and vulnerable I’ve ever been in my music,” Morris says. “It’s a collection of stories—some mine, some inspired by others—but all rooted in truth, growth, and the messiness of being human.”For Morris, DIY means owning “every aspect of your artistic identity.”“From writing, arranging, and performing, to recording, releasing, booking shows, and marketing,” she says. “Of course, it’s great to have help in as many of these areas as possible, but I still want to have ownership over the final decisions and what the world sees of me.”Morris is taking a well-earned break this summer but will be back on the road later in the year.Visit charlottemorrismusic.com for more.The post DIY Spotlight: Charlotte Morris first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Germany’s recorded music sales grew 1.4% in the first half of 2025, marking a significant slowdownThe country's recorded music industry trade group is urging the EU to create the conditions needed for an AI licensing marketplace
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Helping Artists identify and nurture Spotify Super ListenersAs a fans move along the path from initial discovery to superfan, being active listener is an important milestone in the journey. As their own plans for superfans take shape, the streamer is helping artists identify and nurture Spotify Super Listeners.
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Top 5 Best Selling Merch for MusiciansThinking about selling merch but not sure where to start? Learn the best selling merch for musicians. They are easy to launch, customizable, and perfect for musicians at any stage.
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