Introducing Two New Speakers from One Unstoppable PRX900 Powered Portable PA FamilyIntroducing two PRX900 Series loudspeakers that offer an even wider range of powered portable PA system versatility.The PRX925 two-way and PRX935 three-way loudspeakers take portable PA performance to the next level with advanced acoustics, comprehensive professional DSP, unrivaled power, durability, and complete BLE control via theJBL Pro Connect app. DISCOVER NOWThe post Introducing Two New Speakers from One Unstoppable PRX900 Powered Portable PA Family first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Good, Bad & Ugly for Indie Music in Year-End ReportThe there is good, bad, and ugly news for indie music in year-end report from Luminate.
The post Good, Bad & Ugly for Indie Music in Year-End Report appeared first on Hypebot.

The Spice all-in-one sonic enhancement plugin by Phil Speiser is FREE for a limited time
Phil Speiser is a musician, producer, and developer who embodies the term one-man-band.  Now, The_Spice, his all-in-one sonic enhancement plugin, is free for a limited time. Everything on his website (including the website design), from music to sounds and plugins, is 100% Phil. I’m sure we’ve all worked on songs or projects that change in [...]
View post: The Spice all-in-one sonic enhancement plugin by Phil Speiser is FREE for a limited time

As TikTok prepares to shut down in the US, Trump mulls executive order to keep it running (report)Legal experts have questioned the Trump administration’s ability to delay or water down the TikTok law through executive orders
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Musicians and TikTok ban: How to prepare now!Reuters has reported that TikTok is planning to shut down immediately if it is banned. "Musicians and TikTok ban: How to prepare now!" offers strategies to ensure your audience stays connected and content remains visible across multiple platforms.
The post Musicians and TikTok ban: How to prepare now! appeared first on Hypebot.

Reservoir acquires publishing catalog of Lastrada EntertainmentNew York-based Reservoir has spent some $1 billion on catalog acquisitions since its founding
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Focal announce Utopia Main 112 & 212 Focal’s new Utopia Main series see the company take a step into the field of large-format monitoring systems designed for the most demanding audio professionals. 

Caldecott Music Group announces two key divisional appointments at BandLab Technologies and Vista Musical InstrumentsCaldecott Music Group (CMG) – the global music industry operator behind BandLab Technologies, NME Networks, and Vista Musical Instruments – has newly announced two key divisional appointments.
Long-serving leader, David Nam Le, has been promoted to Managing Director of Vista Musical Instruments, and music industry veteran, Jon Bahr, now joins BandLab Technologies as Senior Advisor, Artist & Label Services.

READ MORE: BandLab’s Meng Ru Kuok: “I think there will be over 1 billion music creators by 2030, potentially even sooner”

CMG says these new appointments reinforce its “commitment to empowering music creators worldwide”, as it continues to deliver “meaningful products, content, and experiences for music lovers and makers everywhere”.
Le began his career at Swee Lee when Group CEO, Meng Ru Kuok, first took ownership and rose through roles in category management, buying, and product development. Le was also instrumental in the successful relaunch of legendary guitar brand Harmony, and also played a key role in the acquisition and integration of MONO and Heritage Guitars. Le will now collaborate on higher-level strategy and cross-group initiatives.
Also reporting directly to Kuok, Bahr will guide BandLab Technologies’ expanding suite of artist service offerings, which include licensing, distribution, publishing, and broader industry partnerships. He brings extensive experience from Downtown Music Holdings, where he served as Vice President of Business Development & Strategy and cultivated opportunities across operating companies such as CD Baby and FUGA. Prior to Downtown, Bahr spent over a decade at ASCAP, rising to Senior Director of Marketing & Communications.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead and work alongside our dedicated teams at Vista Musical Instruments,” comments Le. “We’ve crossed so many milestones in the last ten years, but there is still so much more to come from our brands and products, and I’m eager to do even more to drive meaningful impact across the division, group and the wider music industry.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to join Meng and the BandLab Technologies team,” adds Bahr. “BandLab Technologies has a thriving at-scale enterprise of creator-focused platforms and best-in-class technology that’s reshaping the way music is created. For the past year, Meng and I have been discussing how to support and build services for the global music business of the future, and I can’t wait to continue that work at an operating level.”
Kuok says both Le and Bahr are “passionate leaders with a wealth of experience”, and adds, “I’m proud to embark on this next chapter with both David and Jon, to strengthen our offerings and continue innovating across the music landscape.”
Find out more about Caldecott Music Group.

Editor’s note: BandLab, Vista Musical Instruments and MusicTech are all part of the Caldecott Music Group.

The post Caldecott Music Group announces two key divisional appointments at BandLab Technologies and Vista Musical Instruments appeared first on MusicTech.

“There’s a strange magnetism to this machine”: A rare piece of Beatles history is up for auctionA two-track reel-to-reel mastering machine once owned by Ringo Starr is currently up for auction on Catawiki. The Studer A80-VU II Audio Recorder was originally commissioned by The Beatles drummer and used at his personal recording studio, Startling Studios, in Tittenhurst Park.
The mastering machine is accompanied 4 original Dolby 360-1 units modules, as well as a Certificate of Authenticity from its designer, sound engineer Eddie Veale.

READ MORE: What to expect at NAMM 2025

Veale originally modified the machine per Starr’s request in the early 1970s. He commissioned it following his purchase of his Tittenhurst Park estate in 1973, where he used the Studer A80-VU II in Startling Studios. When Ringo sold Tittenhurst Park in 1988, the mastering machine was included in the sale.
The Studer A80-VU II currently sits in the studio of Dutch DJ Lex van Coeverden. Though he is auctioning the machine off, he insists this unique piece of Beatles history is fully functional. Experts value it between €39,000 and €46,000.
“There’s a strange magnetism to this machine – it’s like it carried its history with it, quietly waiting to tell its story again,” he says. “When I saw it, I didn’t just find a recorder; I snagged a piece of music’s soul.”
Credit: Catawiki
In Coeverden’s eyes, the machine serves as a reflection of The Beatles’ forward thinking musical experimentation. He’s utilised it for a decade, and now hopes another artist can take advantage of this uniquely creative tool.
Ariel Cabello, music expert and department lead at Catawiki, has also emphasised the rarity of this piece. “This recorder is a rare piece of musical evolution, a tool that has both witnessed and shaped the creative process of legends,” she says.
“Its analog complexity doesn’t just capture sound, it translates emotion–qualities that digital technology still strives to replicate,” she adds. “We’re beyond excited to be a part of this historic sale!”
The auction runs until February 2nd on Catawiki. The site also has a selection of other Beatles-related memorabilia up for auction, from watches to Zippo lighters.
The post “There’s a strange magnetism to this machine”: A rare piece of Beatles history is up for auction appeared first on MusicTech.

The producers, studios, DJs and artists affected by LA wildfires — and how you can helpWe’ll be updating this page as more information as it happens. 
Los Angeles is still enduring the massive wildfires that sparked last week. Since the blazes began in Southern California on 7 January, 24 lives have been claimed, 16 people are reported missing, over 180,000 people have been displaced from their homes, more than 13,000 structures have been destroyed, and the two biggest blazes, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, are yet to be contained.

READ MORE: What to expect at NAMM 2025

As one of the world’s greatest hubs for music, hundreds of artists, producers, engineers, and other industry professionals have lost their homes, studios and equipment. Furthermore, numerous acclaimed music studios were lost as well. This public document lists those affected and how to donate.
Madlib, the legendary hip-hop producer who’s worked with MF DOOM, De La Soul, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Anderson .Paak, Freddie Gibbs, and countless others, lost his home in the Palisades fire along with his entire record collection, which fueled his sample-heavy production style. As of 2016, he was estimated to own over 16,000 records, many of them extremely rare. Also lost were many pieces of his recording equipment.
On Madlib’s Donorbox page, a statement assures that donations are directed to “provide assistance to help Madlib with immediate personal needs, essentials like clothing, temporary housing, transportation costs and the tools Madlib needs to continue creating the music that has touched so many lives.”
Madlib performing at Blue Note Jazz Festival in 2023. Image: Richard Bord/Getty Images
Another production hero, Bob Clearmountain, lost his home and studio as well. Clearmountain’s credits are all over rock and roll history. He has made records for Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Roxy Music, Pretenders, and Bryan Adams. He is also a revered mixer who ran the board at Live Aid, The Concert for New York for 9/11, and the tribute performances for the late Foo Fighters drummer, Taylor Hawkins.
The home of Jeffrey Paradise, the sole remaining member of the modern electronic project Poolside, was destroyed in the Palisades fire along with his home studio: “It’s all gone. Every piece of gear. Every guitar. Every flier I saved. Every record I dug for years and years. It’s all gone in an instant,” he wrote on Instagram.

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A post shared by POOLSIDE (@poolside)

Harbor Studios — a staple of the Los Angeles recording community from when Joe Zawinul was recording works for Weather Report until Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj recorded their newest albums — is now gone. On Instagram, the team wrote “This is not the end of Harbor. We are restarting from scratch (again)… nothing we haven’t done before…We will come back stronger from this.”
Other major players in the world of music who have been affected include Mark “Spike” Stent, a producer who’s contributed to music from Madonna to Massive Attack to Coldplay to Frank Ocean, whose home burned down. Jhené Aiko, Diane Warren, Harry Mack, and Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith, lost their homes as well.
However, as the destruction continues, the global music community is coming together to aid in relief. Several benefit concerts have already been announced by giant promoters such as Live Nation and Insomniac plus independent entities including Another Planet Entertainment and Framework.
Some organizations are already working to provide relief throughout the city. Universal Music Group cancelled its Grammy-week events and is donating those allocated funds to fire relief. MusiCares, the non-profit arm of The Recording Academy is currently distributing immediate assistance specifically to over 1,000 musicians, and The NAMM Foundation has also started the LA Fires Relief Fund in response to the devastation:
“Needs-based assistance will be provided to NAMM members, employees of NAMM member companies, music education programs, and music makers affected by the January 2025 fires,” the website reads.

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A post shared by NAMM Foundation (@nammfoundation)

Certain individuals in music have made significant contributions as well. Beyoncé donated $2.5 million to a fire relief fund she established through her charity, BeyGOOD. Members of the classic rock band, Eagles, pledged the same amount to FireAid, the title of Live Nation’s benefit concert. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is now donating the proceeds from his country concerts, Ringo & Friends At The Ryman, to fire relief as well.
These efforts are not reserved for major artists and organizations, though. Many other members of the LA community are doing their part to help.
Tristan Hoogland, a mixer and engineer for artists like Flume, James Blake, and SG Lewis has launched an equipment drive for musicians asking for donations of guitars, cables, synths, mics, and everything else musicians need to continue working in spite of the loss. Alex Rodriguez, who owns the LA record store Record Safari, is donating rare records from his personal collection for crate diggers who may have lost rare gems. Leaving Records, an independent ambient label is hosting its own benefit concert and giving the funds directly to struggling artists.
For anyone who is in immediate need of assistance, in the same sheet listing the music industry professionals who have been affected, there are also tabs for musician-specific resources and general resources to help with housing, transportation, food and other essential items, mental health and more.
For those who are interested in donating or volunteering to support relief efforts, Billboard has collated a comprehensive list of organizations that are addressing the situation.
Firefighters battle the Eaton Fire in Pasadena, California, on January 7, 2025. Image: David McNew/Getty Images
Here are some organisations MusicTech recommends:

The Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network has created an exhaustive list of ways those affected by the fires can find food, shelter, goods, pet care, money, WiFi, and means of charging their electronic devices.
The CA Fire Foundation works with local fire agencies as well as other community groups to financially support residents who have been affected by the fires. They also focus on supporting firefighters and their families.
World Central Kitchen provides free meals to first responders and families impacted by the fires.
Animal Wellness Foundation has opened its old veterinary care center to shelter animals that evacuated owners could not bring with them. Donations will go towards housing and feeding the animals.

The post The producers, studios, DJs and artists affected by LA wildfires — and how you can help appeared first on MusicTech.

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Reusable rocket startup Stoke raised another massive round: $260MY Combinator alum Stoke has an ambitious goal to build the first fully reusable rocket and VCs have opened their wallets wide.
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XRP rally to $3 holds, overtaking Bitcoin searches on Google TrendsXRP spot traders provided the volumes needed to send the altcoin above $3. Is a new all-time high the next stop?

Universal Music hits back at Drake, says he ‘seeks to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist’s creative expression’UMG: "We have not and do not engage in defamation — against any individual."
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Forget the Coax, Wire Up Your Antennas with Cat 6 CableThese days, anything with copper in it is expensive. If you doubt that, a walk into any Home Depot electrical department, where the wire is locked up tighter than Fort Knox, will prove otherwise. Coaxial cable is a particularly expensive species, which is a pity for hams and other radio enthusiasts since it’s the only thing we can use for antenna feedlines.
Or is it? [Steve (VE6WZ)] has found a way to use ordinary Cat 6 Ethernet cable for antenna feed lines that seems pretty clever. As he points out, Ethernet cables are designed to handle frequencies that coincide nicely with most of the interesting amateur radio bands, and their insertion losses are acceptably low, especially for Cat 6 cable. The twisted pairs are also a balanced system that’s good at rejecting common mode noise. Cat 6 cable also has four pairs of conductors, allowing you to feed multiple antennas with one cable, or to distribute power to amplifiers and switches along with antenna feeds.
The downside? Cat6 conductor pairs have a characteristic impedance of around 100 ohms, which isn’t a match for the 50-ohm feedline impedance universally expected by ham radios. Also, the relatively small wires probably aren’t up to the job of carrying much current, limiting their use to feedlines for receive-only antennas. That works for [Steve] since he uses Cat 6 to support his massive Beverage antenna farm (Beverage antennas are non-resonant horizontal antennas that live close to the ground and point in the direction of the signal, rather than broadside to the signal as with a resonant antenna like a dipole.) Each antenna in his farm has a transimpedance amplifier that needs to be powered, plus switching relays so he can turn the correct antennas on for the signals he wants to receive. He describes the amps in detail in the video below, along with the custom impedance-matching transformers he uses and the combining gear.
Coax will probably still be the cable of choice for most feedline applications, but it’s nice to know there are alternatives. And who knows—if you stick to QRP work, maybe Cat 6 could even be used for transmitting.