“It’s disappointing that Spotify’s payments are not making it through to Kate herself”: Spotify responds after Kate Nash calls out its “very, very poor and unethical” payoutsWith her bid to save grassroots venues, and openly funding tours via OnlyFans, Kate Nash has become a mouthpiece for working-class musicians in the UK. Now, she’s calling out Spotify, accusing it of low streaming payouts.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour, Nash discusses what she deems her low Spotify royalties. “Foundations has over 100 million plays on Spotify,” she says. “I am shocked I’m not a millionaire when I hear that! I am shocked at the state of the music industry and how the industry has allowed this to happen.”

READ MORE: Depeche Mode’s Memento Mori tour will live on forever through Depeche Mode: M

“We’re paid very, very, very poorly and unethically for our recorded music,” Nash claims. “It’s like 0.003 of a penny per stream. I think we should not only be paid fairly but we should be paid very well – people love music and it’s a growing economy. There are plenty of millionaires in the industry because of us, and our music.”
A string of artists have been accusing Spotify of low payouts as of late. James Blake and Snoop Dogg have even taken things a step further, with both artists migrating to different streaming platforms in an attempt to earn more from their music.

 
In Kate Nash’s opinion, the royalty system hinders working-class musicians before they can get the ball rolling. “[Spotify are saying] ‘You’re not welcome here, you can’t do this, we don’t want to hear from you,’” she says. “It’s not possible to even imagine having a career if you don’t have a privileged background or a privileged situation right now!”
A response from Spotify to Kate’s comments, read by host Nuala McGovern during Women’s Hour, reads: “We’re huge fans of Kate Nash. For streams of her track Foundations alone – which was released before Spotify existed – Spotify has paid out around half a million pounds in revenue to Kate Nash’s rights holders.”
The company seems to imply that the issue at hand is with Nash’s record label, rather than its royalty system. “Her most streamed songs were released via Universal Music Group,” it notes. “Spotify has no visibility over the deals that Kate signed with her rights’ holders. Therefore, we have no knowledge of the payment terms that were agreed upon between her and her partners.
“We do know that British artists generated revenues of over £750 million on Spotify alone in 2023, a number that is on the rise year on year. So it’s disappointing to hear that Spotify’s payments are not making it through to Kate herself.”
After the radio show, Nash reflected on Spotify’s response in an Instagram story. “This is great,” she wrote. “I knew I was getting to them! I’m so happy. It’s such a good feeling.”

The post “It’s disappointing that Spotify’s payments are not making it through to Kate herself”: Spotify responds after Kate Nash calls out its “very, very poor and unethical” payouts appeared first on MusicTech.

Musician’s Guide to Threads: Conversation and CommunityWith this Musician's Guide to Threads learn how build real fan connections, boost engagement, and share your creative journey more authentically.
The post Musician’s Guide to Threads: Conversation and Community appeared first on Hypebot.

ART celebrate Tube MP’s 30th anniversary ART are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Tube MP, a compact and affordable valve preamp that was introduced in 1995 and remains part of their current product range. 

Depeche Mode’s Memento Mori tour will live on forever through Depeche Mode: MIf you couldn’t make it to Depeche Mode’s Memento Mori world tour, you’re in luck. The synth pop royals have announced Depeche Mode: M, a feature-length tour film that will allow fans to indulge in the magic of their 2023-24 tour – and it’s set to hit theatres later this year.
Depeche Mode: M compiles footage from the band’s sold-out three-night stint in Mexico City’s Foro Sol Stadium. Bolstered by the howls of 200,000 eager Mexican fans, the film captures the electronic icons at their finest as they soar through a career-spanning set.

READ MORE: Fyre Fest 2 permit only allows for 12-hour listening party with 250 people – as a psychologist deems Billy McFarland “mentally ill”

The tour saw the band performing 112 shows around the globe, and served as a multi-layered celebration of live. The tour contrasted vibrant joy with sombre reflections, from the electrifying Can’t Get Enough to the brooding darkwave of My Cosmos Is Mine.
The existential undertone of the tour makes sense; 2023’s Memento Mori was written in the aftermath of keyboardist Andrew Fletcher’s death in 2022. The record and tour reflected on mortality, even including a poignant nod to the band’s late keyboardist.
Depeche Mode: M will allow fans to relive the existentialism, as well as featuring the band’s loving tribute to Fletcher. As a result, the film is a testament to the power of music in the face of tragedy.

“For me, when Andy died it cemented the idea that we had to carry on with these songs and the title,” frontman Dave Gahan reflected in an interview with The Guardian.
“The idea that we should all be making the most of our time on Earth and it’s very limited – it’s kind of an important message. And it’s even more important now Andy’s gone.”
The tour film is directed by Fernando Frias, and promises to be a true “cinematic experience” above all else. The Mexican filmmaker is best known for his award-winning dramas, including 2019’s I’m No Longer Here. The film won 10 Ariel Academy Awards, from Best Picture to Best Direction. His latest film, crime thriller I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me, was released in 2023.
Depeche Mode: M will premiere in threatres later this year.

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SEC drops suit against Helium for alleged securities violationsThe US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dismissed a lawsuit against Nova Labs, developer of decentralized wireless network Helium, for allegedly issuing unregistered securities, Helium stated in an April 10 blog post. Filed in January 2025, the lawsuit was among the SEC’s final enforcement actions against a cryptocurrency developer under former Chair Gary Gensler, who stepped down from his post on Jan. 20 after US President Donald Trump took office. The dismissal with prejudice means the blockchain developer cannot be charged with similar violations again for issuing in 2019 its native token Helium (HNT), the company said. “[W]e can now definitively say that all compatible Helium Hotspots and the distribution of HNT, IOT, and MOBILE tokens through the Helium Network are not securities,” Helium said. “[T]he outcome establishes that selling hardware and distributing tokens for network growth does not automatically make them securities in the eyes of the SEC [and] that the SEC cannot bring these charges against Helium again,” it added.Source: HeliumThe SEC’s Helium reversal came the same day Trump-nominee Paul Atkins formally replaced Gensler as SEC Chair after a lengthy confirmation process in the Senate. Helium is a blockchain network designed to let “anyone build and own massive wireless networks,” according to its website. The protocol reports having roughly 375,000 active hotspots. According to CoinGecko, HNT has a market capitalization of approximately $480 million as of April 10 — down from highs of more than $5 billion in November 2021. HNT’s price since 2019. Source: CoinGeckoRelated: SEC will drop its appeal against Ripple, CEO Garlinghouse saysChanging policy stanceUnder Gensler, the SEC brought upward of 100 charges against Web3 developers for various alleged securities violations. Since Trump took office, the SEC has sharply reversed course, dropping numerous charges against crypto firms, including Coinbase, Kraken, Ripple and Uniswap. Trump has positioned himself as a pro-crypto President, promising to make America the “world’s crypto capital,” appointing industry-friendly leaders to key regulatory posts, and ordering the federal government to create a national Bitcoin (BTC) reserve.For some crypto executives, Trump's policies — such as announcing sweeping tariffs on US imports in April — threaten to stymie crypto’s progress.Magazine: 3 reasons Ethereum could turn a corner: Kain Warwick, X Hall of Flame

Fintech founder charged with fraud after ‘AI’ shopping app found to be powered by humans in the PhilippinesAlbert Saniger, the founder and former CEO of Nate, an AI shopping app that promised a “universal” checkout experience, was charged with defrauding investors on Wednesday, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Founded in 2018, Nate raised over $50 million from investors like Coatue and Forerunner Ventures, most recently raising […]

Tom Allen moves to CTO, Downtown Music; Richard Leach appointed to President of CurveTom Allen has served as interim CTO since April 2024, while Richard Leach previously served as Managing Director of Curve
Source

Emerson College Expands Production Facilities with Focusrite RedNet SolutionsAudio classroom at Emerson College, featuring Focusrite RedNet components.Emerson College, a private education institution in Boston, MA, has, according to a statement, "integrated Focusrite’s RedNet solutions into its state-of-the-art production and learning environments at its main campus in Boston."Bruno Caruso, Manager of Design and Integration at Emerson College’s Engineering Department headed up the project. "Emerson’s Media Technologies and Productions Department designed and supports their facilities, which span the media production techniques, from pre-production and recording to sound design, mixing, and final deliverables," the statement reads.“Focusrite has been ahead of the curve in Dante® networking, and that was a major factor in our decision to go with their RedNet solutions,” said Caruso. “We were looking for interfaces that provided a comprehensive range of I/O, including Dante, analog, optical, and MADI, without compromise. The RedNet lineup checked all those boxes, and its reliability and reputation in the industry made it an easy choice.”Among Emerson's facilities are: "five theaters, two television studios, immersive sound stages, a radio station, three recording studios (which serve as classrooms), and mix and post-production suites that cater to multiple disciplines throughout the College of Communication."“We can route audio across multiple buildings in downtown Boston, using smaller rooms as remote voice-over booths, amp rooms, or ADR spaces," said Caruso. "Because of our Dante infrastructure, a performance in our largest theater can be recorded in a completely different building in real time, while our radio station does a live mix for broadcast—all with virtually zero latency.”For more, visit focusrite.com.The post Emerson College Expands Production Facilities with Focusrite RedNet Solutions first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

AudioKit Pro KING OF VHS: VCR SYNTHKING OF VHS: VCR SYNTH features synths recorded with a VCR by Brian Funk, then resampled. Perfect for synthwave, hip hop, indie, rock, ambient, soundtrack, lo-fi, and more. "KING OF VHS is the Best Lo-Fi instrument I've ever played, seriously sounds good!" – The SoundTest Room. Features: Over 160+Multi-Sampled PCM Instruments Total – Thousands of high-quality VCR/VHS recorded samples. Built-In Synth Engine – making VCR Synth a true VA synth, not just a sample player. 3 LFOs with Tons of Mod Destinations. VCR Sound Effects (Buttons, Tape Hiss, More). VCR FX section to customize the sounds. FREE Expansion Pack: OP-1 recorded with a VCR. iPhone & iPad + iOS AUv3 plugin included for one low price. Over 380+ presets to inspire you. "Perhaps the best iOS Music App you'll see this year" – The GarageBand Guide. Full Website: https://audiokitpro.com/kingvhs Read More

A New Mechanical Keyboard for an Old ComputerAs computers age, a dedicated few work towards keeping some of the more interesting ones running. This is often a losing battle of sorts, as the relentless march of time comes for us all, human and machine alike. So as fewer and fewer of these machines remain new methods are needed to keep them running as best they can. [CallousCoder] demonstrates a way of building up a new keyboard for a Commodore 64 which both preserves the original look and feel of the retro computer but also adds some modern touches.
One of the main design differences between many computers of the 80s and modern computers is that the keyboard was often built in to the case of the computer itself. For this project, that means a custom 3D printed plate that can attach to the points where the original keyboard would have been mounted inside the case of the Commodore. [CallousCoder] is using a print from [Wolfgang] to get this done, and with the plate printed and a PCB for the keys it was time to start soldering. The keyboard uses modern switches and assembles like most modern keyboards do, with the exception of the unique layout for some of the C64 keys including a latching shift key, is fairly recognizable for anyone who has put together a mechanical keyboard before.
[CallousCoder] is using the original keycaps from a Commodore 64, so there is an additional step of adding a small adapter between the new switches and the old keycaps. But with that done and some amount of configuring, he has a modern keyboard that looks like the original. If you’re more a fan of the original hardware, though, you can always take an original C64 keyboard and convert it to USB to use it on your modern machines instead.

Apple AirPods Max: Low-latency & lossless support Apple’s John Danty and Eric Treski have kindly provided SOS with a detailed breakdown of what the new AirPods Max features mean for pro-audio users.

“This is a game-changer for DJs looking to break free from cables”: AIAIAI’s TMA-2 DJ Wireless headphones boast 20 hours of battery life – and they’re now available for purchaseDanish audio company AIAIAI has finally launched its new TMA-2 DJ Wireless headphones, designed, as you might guess, with DJs in mind.
Available for purchase from today (10 April), AIAIAI calls the TMA-2 Wireless cans the first “truly wireless headphones designed for DJs”, using ultra-low latency wireless technology to ensure precise beatmatching and seamless mixing.

READ MORE: FL Studio 2025: Rumours, release date, and everything we know so far

Chief among the model’s specs is an impressive 20-hour battery life, which can be fully charged in just two hours. They’re also lightweight at just 217g, ensuring maximum comfort during long DJ sets.
Other specs include a 10m range, 40mm signature bio-cellulose diaphragm for detailed sound with bass and treble in loud venues, and Soft PU Leather on ear cushions to aid in audio isolation, and the ability to connect to AIAIAI’s app to shape EQ preferences.
AIAIAI says the TMA-2 DJ Wireless is the latest in its mission to “remove limitations for music creation and performance”. They follow the launch of the TMA-2 DJ wired headphones 10 years ago in 2015, which were billed as the “world’s first modular headphone system, allowing the replacement and customisation of parts”.

“With TMA-2 DJ Wireless, anyone who purchased TMA-2 in the last decade can simply upgrade their speaker units and transmitter. This allows for adoption of the latest technology while reducing electronic waste through AIAIAIs commitment to one headphone for life,” AIAIAI says.
“With the TMA-2 DJ Wireless, we set out to create wireless DJ headphones that truly meet the demands of DJs,” says Frederik Jorgensen, founder of AIAIAI. “For years, wireless technology meant compromising on performance, but with our ultra-low latency wireless technology, we are finally able to deliver a solution that offers both freedom and precision.
“This is a game-changer for DJs looking to break free from cables.”
The new headphones follow AIAIAI’s release of the TMA-2 Studio Wireless+ in 2021 and last year’s UNIT-4 Wireless+ studio monitors, as the company focuses on products that allow creators to “free themselves from the cable”.
The TMA-2 DJ Wireless is available now for £250. For more info, head to aiaiai.audio.
The post “This is a game-changer for DJs looking to break free from cables”: AIAIAI’s TMA-2 DJ Wireless headphones boast 20 hours of battery life – and they’re now available for purchase appeared first on MusicTech.

How Trump Policies, Trade Wars and Tariffs impact Live MusicPresident Trump's policies, trade wars and tariffs impact live music and the live music industry.
The post How Trump Policies, Trade Wars and Tariffs impact Live Music appeared first on Hypebot.

FL Studio 2025: Rumours, release date, and everything we know so farAt 30,000 daily downloads, Image-Line‘s FL Studio is among the most popular Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) on the planet. We’re now on FL Studio 2024, which is named so for the year it was released, with FL Studio 2025 seemingly coming soon.
Keen FL Studio users and testers currently have access to the FL Studio 2025 beta and have been trying out a wealth of new features on the DAW. FL Cloud, an accompanying product by Image-Line, is also expecting some updates, as hinted at by CEO Constantin Koehncke in his exclusive interview with MusicTech.  “We’re going to continuously expand our offering in FL Cloud,” he said. “The goal is to have access to the right set of tools, some free, some paid, but most importantly, all integrated directly with FL Studio to make it easy and fast for users to get creative.”
So, with that in mind, what can we expect in FL Studio 2025 and FL Cloud, when can producers get their hands on it, and what surprises could be in store?
READ MORE: “FL Studio’s duty is to get more people to stick with music-making”: CEO Constantin Koehncke on FL Studio 2025 and beyond
Image: Image-Line
What’s been announced for FL Studio 2025 so far?
FL Studio 2025 Beta 2 has been available since 28 March, giving test users the chance to check out upcoming features and provide feedback to the Image-Line team. There’s plenty more to be implemented into the final release, but some notable features and improvements, according to COO Scott Fisher, include:
Workflow 

FL Studio now has better handling of duplicate sample names when exporting to a ZIP file.
You can now delete and add Mixer Tracks as needed, with the maximum number of Insert Tracks now increased to 500, up from 125.
Insert one track, Insert mixer tracks or add Tracks from a preset list.
Additional per-Clip ‘Disabled’ declicking option for Fade in and Fade out envelopes.
Added support for FL Studio Remote Version 2.
Deleting Mixer and Playlist Tracks can now be undone.
You can now choose to keep the Communications Panel open to use Manual or other Tabs more easily.
The Mastering window can now update previews in real time based on parameter changes.
You can now show the Sample and Content preview for folders in the Tab Menu ‘Columns’ view mode.

New plugins

FL Studio Mobile Rack: Lets you access all FL Studio Mobile plugins separately or combined as Instruments or Effects
Patcher: A new VFX Script effect plugin.

Updated plugins 

Drumaxx
FLEC
FPC
Transporter
Drumaxx
Fruity Balance
Fruity Granulizer
Fruity Slicer

When will FL Studio 2025 be available?
There’s no official word on when the final release of FL Studio 2025 will be available. However, given how long the Beta and Beta 2 versions have been available, we wager that FL Studio 2025 is perhaps only a couple of months, or even a few weeks, away. For reference, FL Studio 2024 was released in July 2024, so we could be looking at a similar timeline.
FL Cloud. Image: Image-Line
How much will FL Studio 2025 cost?
Good news for current FL Studio users — FL Studio 2025 will be a free upgrade, as promised by the Lifetime Free Updates pledge by Image-Line on FL Studio.
For new users, the price will likely remain similar to FL Studio 2024:

Fruity Edition: $99/£89
Producer Edition: $179/£199
Signature Bundle: $269/£279
All Plugins Edition: $449/£469

READ MORE: Best MIDI controllers to buy in 2025: 8 best FL Studio controllers to buy
What can we expect in FL Cloud?
FL Cloud is a platform by Image-Line that offers over a million royalty-free samples, third-party plugins, AI mastering, music distribution and more. It integrates neatly with FL Studio, too.
We’re yet to hear any official word on what’s coming for FL Cloud in 2025. However, speaking on the development of FL Cloud, Koehncke said to MusicTech: “We’re going to continuously expand our offering in FL Cloud…We’ve tripled the size of our sound catalogue since we launched. The goal is to have access to the right set of tools, some free, some paid, but most importantly, all integrated directly with FL Studio to make it easy and fast for users to get creative.”
So, producers can likely expect more partnerships with plugin developers and sample creators this year, and perhaps an update to current features.
FL Cloud. Image: Image-Line
Will FL Studio 2025 be available on other platforms?
FL Studio Mobile is currently the best option for producing on the Image-Line DAW when you’re away from the computer. You can’t sync projects between platforms, but you can export from FL Studio Mobile to FL Studio desktop. The app is currently on version 4.7, so we may see an update in 2025 alongside FL Studio 2025.
Elsewhere, we’ve seen a few people on Reddit threads and in FL Studio forums asking if we’ll ever see FL Studio come to game consoles like Nintendo Switch, Sony PS5 and Microsoft Xbox. Some users have even produced on FL Studio using a Steam Deck. In our interview with Koehncke, we asked the Image-Line CEO whether FL Studio console is such a crazy idea after all. His response? Vague, but interesting.
“We just want to be wherever somebody’s thinking about creating music; it’s about being wherever your users might be,” he said.
It’s doubtful that FL Studio 2025 will drop with a Nintendo Switch 2 port at the ready, but we expect producers aren’t far off from DAW makers giving them beatmaking powers on their favourite console.
You can read the full rundown of new features in the Image-Line FL Studio manual. 
Read more FL Studio news on MusicTech. 
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20 Short-Form Videos for song promotion on TikTok and ReelsHere are 20 short-form video ideas for song promotion on TikTok and Reels. These scroll-stopping videos are being used by indie artists right now to boost visibility, connect with fans, and rack up streams.
The post 20 Short-Form Videos for song promotion on TikTok and Reels appeared first on Hypebot.