GRAMMY Nominations 2025: Best Album NotesThe 2025 GRAMMY nominations are here and we're going to help you to untangle it all right up until the big event, continuing with the Best Album Notes category.

Take a look at the nominated albums below--who do you think will win?

See the full list of nominees in every category here.

Adios, Farewell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long: On Stage 1964-1974Scott B. Bomar, album notes writer (Buck Owens And His Buckaroos)

After The Last SkyAdam Shatz, album notes writer (Anouar Brahem, Anja Lechner, Django Bates, Dave Holland)

ÁrabeAmanda Ekery, album notes writer (Amanda Ekery)

The First Family: Live At Winchester Cathedral 1967Alec Palao, album notes writer (Sly & The Family Stone)

A Ghost Is Born — 20th Anniversary Deluxe EditionBob Mehr, album notes writer (Wilco)

Miles '55: The Prestige RecordingsAshley Kahn, album notes writer (Miles Davis)The post GRAMMY Nominations 2025: Best Album Notes first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Musk denies awareness of Grok sexual underage images as California AG launches probeThe California Attorney General has opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk's xAI after its chatbot Grok began generating nonconsensual sexual images of real women and even children.

420 Plugins 420 Stereo Widener420 Stereo Widener is a fast, mix-friendly way to open up the stereo image without sacrificing focus. It's built to add separation and dimension where it matters. Keys, guitars, pads, backing vocals, and wide background elements, while keeping the center solid and the mix translation-safe. Start by dialing in Width to set how far the sides expand, then use Bass Focus to keep your low end anchored in mono. Bass Focus sets the frequency below which content stays mono. For example, set it to 200 Hz and everything under 200 Hz remains centered and tight. Treble Focus works the same way in reverse: it sets the high-frequency cutoff above which content stays mono, helping you avoid brittle "phasey" top end while still widening the body and presence range. Use 420 Stereo Widener subtly for polish and clarity, or push it harder when you want an obvious spread that still holds together in mono. 420 Stereo Widener is part of the larger 420 Plugin Suite, and you can try the full suite free for 30 days. Read More

A New Life For An Old AmplifierAn audio amplifier was once a fairly simple analogue device, but in recent decades a typical home entertainment amplifier will have expanded to include many digital functions. When these break they are often proprietary and not easy to repair, as was the case with a broken Pioneer surround-sound device given to [Boz]. It sat on the shelf for a few years until he had the idea of a jukebox for his ripped CDs, and his returning it to life with a new main board is something to behold.
Internally it’s a surprisingly modular design, meaning that the front panel with its VFD display and driver were intact and working, as were the class AB amplifier and its power supply. He had the service manual so reverse engineering was straightforward, thus out came the main board in favor of a replacement. He took the original connectors and a few other components, then designed a PCB to take them and a Raspberry Pi Pico and DAC. With appropriate MMBASIC firmware it looks as though it was originally made this way, a sense heightened by a look at the motherboard inside (ignoring a couple of bodges).
We like seeing projects like this one which revive broken devices, and this one is particularly special quality wise. We’re more used to seeing it with gaming hardware though.

Music streaming platforms now host quarter of a BILLION tracks. Where does it end?New Luminate report reveals head-spinning volume of content on audio services, as debate rages over minimum-stream payout thresholds.
Source

Trinnov showcase the Nova & AltitudeCI at NAMM Room-correction experts Trinnov have announced that they will be showcasing two Dolby Atmos-capable room-correction systems at the NAMM Show 2026.

Apple to introduce Apple Creator Studio The bundle will include Logic Pro, Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor and MainStage, and will also include some new intelligent features and premium content for Keynote, Pages, Numbers and eventually Freeform for iPhone.

Splice at The 2026 NAMM Show
Splice will be at the NAMM Show (January 20-24) in Anaheim, California to speak about the latest in AI innovation and music education across the industry.

“Based”: Musicians celebrate as Bandcamp bans AI music from its platformThe prevalence of AI-generated music on streaming platforms has been a major talking point in the industry over the last year. Many ‘real’ artists are voicing concerns that such music is both diluting the royalty pools from which they are paid, and diminishing the creative integrity of the music on these platforms in general.
Now, Bandcamp – which is famously friendly to up-and-coming artists looking to monetise their music – has made the decision to ban AI-generated music from its platform.

READ MORE: Abbey Road and Chandler team up on the first EMI recording console in 50 years – and it’s fully modular

In a post on Reddit, Bandcamp explains its reasons for massively clamping down on AI music, citing the “sheer quantity of human creativity” on its platform, and how its “vibrant community of real people making incredible music is something we want to protect and maintain”.
“We want musicians to keep making music, and for fans to have confidence that the music they find on Bandcamp was created by humans,” the company writes.
In the post, Bandcamp outlines two main guidelines for AI on its platform:

Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp.
Any use of AI tools to impersonate other artists or styles is strictly prohibited in accordance with our existing policies prohibiting impersonation and intellectual property infringement.

The second point comes as numerous artists as of late have criticised streaming platforms for allowing AI-generated music which is heavily inspired by or derivative of their music. In some cases, such AI artists generate more plays than the human artists on which they are allegedly trained or inspired by.
Back in October, Lucas Woodland – of Cardiff metal band Holding Absence – called it “shocking, disheartening and insulting” that AI artist Bleeding Verse – which he accused of being trained on his music – had more Spotify monthly listeners than his own band.
Finishing its note on Reddit, Bandcamp encourages its users to report music which sounds AI-generated for review by its team, adding: “We reserve the right to remove any music on suspicion of being AI-generated.”
“We will be sure to communicate any updates to the policy as the rapidly changing generative AI space develops,” it concludes. “Given the response around this to our previous posts, we hope this news is welcomed.”
AI Generated Music on Bandcamp byu/bandcamp_official inBandCamp

While many have accused Spotify of not doing enough to combat the spread of AI music on its platform, the company did reveal a plan in September to crack down on what it called “AI slop” in a bid to protect artists.
Still, AI music generators remain widely popular and a hotbed of investment and hype; in November, Suno raised $250m in its latest funding round, bringing the platform’s valuation to $2.45 billion.
That said, a study released the same month revealed that over 80% of music producers are against AI-generated songs – with 81% supporting the clear labelling of AI-generated music on streaming platforms.
Reddit users in the comments section have praised Bandcamp’s decision to ban AI-generated music from its platform, with one user writing: “Bandcamp continues to be the best place to post your music.”
Another replies simply: “Based.”
Head to Bandcamp to learn more.
The post “Based”: Musicians celebrate as Bandcamp bans AI music from its platform appeared first on MusicTech.

Every US Venue That Was Awarded a Music in Action Grant in 2025LMS's Music in Action grants were set up to fund venues engaging with their local communities on a deeper level, and to support efforts to transform the role live music plays in society at large.
The post Every US Venue That Was Awarded a Music in Action Grant in 2025 appeared first on Hypebot.

Clio Music Awards 2026 Winners AnnouncedClio Music has named its 2026 winners. The awards recognize creative excellence in music marketing, brand/artist collaborations, and the use of music in advertising, film and trailers.
The post Clio Music Awards 2026 Winners Announced appeared first on Hypebot.

Abbey Road and Chandler team up on the first EMI recording console in 50 years – and it’s fully modularAbbey Road Studios and Chandler Limited have teamed up on the REDD Mixing System, the first EMI recording console in 50 years, and a fully modular unit which brings together “every era of EMI’s legendary recording equipment”.
The modular nature of the REDD Mixing System allows producers and engineers to design their optimal setup, combining REDD, TG and RS channels and busses in whatever configuration they like to suit everything from home studios to professional control rooms.

READ MORE: Apple Creator Studio: Logic Pro, Final Cut and all your favourite creative apps are now available in one subscription

The REDD Mixing System has been six years in the making, and is the result of “intensive collaboration” between Wade Goeke of Chandler Limited, Abbey Road’s Head of Audio Products Mirek Stiles and the wider Abbey Road team.
Abbey Road and Chandler are currently taking orders for the REDD Mixing System in the US only, with expected delivery dates of August 2026.
Credit: Abbey Road Studios/Chandler Limited
They say that given each console is made in America and the wide variety of possible configurations requested in each special order, time is required to “establish infrastructure for building and sales”, and determinations on wider distribution will be made at a later date.
“Development of the new desk was a labour of love,” says Goeke. “I wanted to include all the different sounding gear we make with Abbey Road as well as offering a modular approach that is more suited for modern recording setups.
“I can have a very small system at home and cover everything I need, whether it be tracking with tube or solid state gear, mixing in the box, reamplifying, inserting pedals with the sends, passive EQ on the busses, flexible control room options and even glow-in-the-dark faders that add a creative feel to a dimly lit studio. This has truly been the design of a lifetime and one I hope adds to the legacy of EMI, Abbey Road and Chandler Limited.”
Credit: Abbey Road Studios/Chandler Limited
“I was introduced to the TG and REDD desks at Abbey Road Studios when I was 18 years old,” adds Stiles. “I’d never seen or heard anything like them. I was blown away watching how producers like Mike Hedges, Jon Brion or Peter Cobbin would use them to colour the sound of their recordings and mixes in such a musical way.”
He goes on: “Examples of the original desks used on everything from The Beatles to film scores like Raiders of the Lost Ark are very rare indeed, so it’s with great pleasure to witness Wade revive these beautiful engineering classics for artists, producers and engineers of today, all of course with a modern innovative twist.
“Wade has created a modern classic, there simply isn’t anything else like this on the market. I truly believe the music production community now have access to a tool that will redefine what the mixing console is and how it’s used creatively.”
For a full breakdown of specs, head to abbeyroad.com.
The post Abbey Road and Chandler team up on the first EMI recording console in 50 years – and it’s fully modular appeared first on MusicTech.

FX-Mechanics releases TeAr, a FREE text-based arpeggiator for Windows and Linux
TeAr from FX-Mechanics is a free, advanced polyrhythmic and polyphonic arpeggiator featuring a text-based language system. The plugin is available in VST/VST3 formats for Windows and Linux. TeAr boasts four independent arpeggiator engines, each with dedicated pattern editors, and controls for subdivision and MIDI output channel. You can also turn engines on/off independently. Four engines [...]
View post: FX-Mechanics releases TeAr, a FREE text-based arpeggiator for Windows and Linux

Okeanos Pro: the “first augmented reality headphones” with 16 virtual loudspeakersNAMM 2026: Karlheinz Brandenburg – best known as the co-inventor of the MP3 audio format – is back with a very different kind of audio technology. His company, Brandenburg Labs, has launched the Okeanos Pro, a headphones-based system that promises an “immersive augmented reality listening experience” by simulating up to 16 virtual multi-channel loudspeakers.
At its core, the Okeanos System is designed to remove the need for large, costly physical speaker arrays by moving the entire listening environment into headphones. Using Brandenburg Labs’ Deep Dive Audio (DDA) technology, the system recreates the experience of working in front of a full multichannel speaker setup in a real, physical space.

READ MORE: Fender forays into consumer audio with two Bluetooth speakers and a set of wireless over-ear headphones

Okeanos Pro supports up to 16 virtual loudspeakers, covering everything from stereo and quad through to formats like 9.1.6, with the ability to switch between configurations almost instantly.
Importantly, the system isn’t locked to a single ‘ideal’ room. During setup, Okeanos Pro is calibrated to the acoustics of the user’s actual listening space, then combined with real-time six degrees of freedom (6DoF) head tracking.
As you move or turn your head, the soundstage responds accordingly, preserving the illusion that audio is coming from fixed speakers in the room. To achieve this, the system includes an HTC Vive Tracker and two Vive base stations, which monitor the user’s position in real time.
The result is a monitoring experience that behaves much like a traditional speaker setup. Users can place sounds precisely across a 360-degree field, judge spatial compositions, and audition how a mix translates across different speaker layouts – all from the desk, without taking their headphones off.
Credit: Brandenburg Labs
Control is handled via a browser-based interface, where users can create and switch between custom speaker setups using a 3D visual layout. The system also includes tools for shaping how virtual speakers behave, including adjustable directivity patterns that let you emulate the way different loudspeakers project sound into a room.
On the technical side, the system supports up to 32-bit/ 48kHz audio, with 96kHz support planned, and integrates with professional studio hardware via Dante or Ravenna.
“From the early proof of concept, we put in a lot of work to make the system ready for real-world usage,” says Brandenburg Labs founder and CEO Karlheinz Brandenburg. “Now, we’ve made it and are beginning to sell our systems to professional studios and educational institutions worldwide.”
At $5871/€5000 (before tax and shipping), Okeanos Pro isn’t cheap, but Brandenburg Labs argues the price sits well below the cost of installing, calibrating and maintaining a physical 16-speaker studio.
For those attending NAMM 2026 in Anaheim, Okeanos Pro will be available for live demonstrations at Booth #14916.
Learn more at Brandenburg Labs.
The post Okeanos Pro: the “first augmented reality headphones” with 16 virtual loudspeakers appeared first on MusicTech.

Warm Audio team launches Audio Collective Group to scale and support music industry brandsThe team behind Warm Audio has officially announced Audio Collective Group (ACG), a new parent company designed to help music industry brands grow while preserving the quality, identity, and innovation that make them unique.
Founded by the same team that built Warm Audio into a global brand, ACG has been operating quietly for over a year, providing sales, manufacturing, distribution, logistics and marketing support to a growing roster of partners. The idea is simple – let brands focus on building great products, while ACG handles the infrastructure and operational support needed to scale.
Current brands supported by Audio Collective Group include Warm Audio, RockNRoller Multi-Carts, Tegeler Audio, Tokai Guitars, Wavebone, Gotham Audio Cable and Pop Audio, with more partnerships expected to be announced.

READ MORE: PreSonus Studio One is now Fender Studio Pro, as Fender launches its own fully-fledged DAW environment

Importantly, Warm Audio isn’t going anywhere. The brand will continue to operate independently, but the same team that helped establish Warm’s reputation is now extending its support to more companies across the music and pro audio space.
“Warm Audio was founded on a simple mission: to give more musicians and creators access to truly great sound. That same commitment now fuels our ability to support other outstanding brands,” says Bryce Young, President of Warm Audio & Audio Collective Group.
“As this vision expanded, it became clear we needed a broader platform to serve the industry, which led to the formation of Audio Collective Group. Through ACG, we’re able to share our strengths in worldwide sales and channel reach, operations, marketing, fulfilment, customer support, and global logistics – helping more brands thrive while staying true to the craftsmanship and character that earned their place in the music world.”
Young points to RockNRoller Multi-Carts as an early example of the model working in practice: “We’ve expanded distribution, stabilised pricing, refreshed branding, and grown the retail footprint,” he says. “The response from the channel has been overwhelmingly positive regarding our expansion and support of other ACG brands.”
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Audio Collective Group says additional partnerships are already in the pipeline.
Learn more at Audio Collective Group.
The post Warm Audio team launches Audio Collective Group to scale and support music industry brands appeared first on MusicTech.