Beggars Group is now a £100m+ annual revenue companyNevertheless, the record company has seen its operating profit slide amid rising costs
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FLOSS Weekly Episode 798: Building the Rust Desktop with COSMICThis week Jonathan Bennett and Rob Campbell chat with Carl Richell about System 76, COSMIC, Wayland, Rust and more! What was the “last straw” that convinced System 76 to write their own desktop environment (DE)? What’s the story with smithay, and why did that jump start the whole process? Listen to find out!

https://system76.com/cosmic

Did you know you can watch the live recording of the show Right on our YouTube Channel? Have someone you’d like us to interview? Let us know, or contact the guest and have them contact us! Take a look at the schedule here.

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SSL release GateVerb plug-in The latest addition to SSL's ever-expanding software line-up is dedicated to creating gated reverb effects. 

Back to School, Back to Music: Universal Audio Supports Save The Music Foundation with Charitable GiveawayUniversal Audio, a worldwide leader in audio production tools, partners with leading nonprofit organizations through its philanthropic arm, UA Giving. UA Giving is proud to continue its long‑standing partnership with Save The Music Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps students, schools, and communities reach their full potential through the power of making music.

To support this goal, Universal Audio is running a back-to-school giveaway campaign from August 28 to September 1, encouraging donations to help fund a Music Technology Grant, which will allow students in grades 9-12 to learn the fundamentals of electronic music creation, recording, and production.

"We're thrilled to continue our partnership with Universal Audio, an incredible supporter of music education," says Danielle Zalaznick, Deputy Executive Director & Chief Development Officer at Save The Music. "Their commitment ensures that students can create music during the school day, fostering creativity and learning."

"Keeping music education in schools is something we care about deeply at UA," says Bill Putnam Jr., CEO of Universal Audio. "It's our goal to make the art of creating and recording music accessible to as many people as possible, and Save The Music is an incredible organization focused on making that dream a reality."

Throughout the giveaway campaign, participants can enter for a chance to win an exciting prize package from Universal Audio consisting of a Sphere DLX Modeling Microphone, Bock 187 FET Condenser Microphone, Apollo x8p Thunderbolt Audio Interface, UAFX Dream '65 Reverb Amplifier Pedal, UAFX Lion '68 Super Lead Amp Pedal, UAFX 1176 Studio Compressor Pedal, UAFX Teletronix LA-2A Studio Compressor Pedal, UAFX Del‑Verb Ambience Companion Pedal, and UAFX Orion Tape Echo Pedal.

The post Back to School, Back to Music: Universal Audio Supports Save The Music Foundation with Charitable Giveaway first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Yelp drops TicketNetwork after NIVA exposes fake, overpriced ticket salesUPDATE: After The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) called on Yelp to stop sending users to an affiliated site selling fake tickets and inflating prices, the recommendation site eliminated the offending links. But the war of words between NIVA and offending ticket reseller TicketNetwork has just begun.
The post Yelp drops TicketNetwork after NIVA exposes fake, overpriced ticket sales appeared first on Hypebot.

Chappell Roan manager Nick Bobetsky: An InterviewChappell Roan manager Nick Bobetsky offers insights into his career, from starting to managing top artists. He shares his most significant risks, upcoming projects, and advice for aspiring managers and artists.
The post Chappell Roan manager Nick Bobetsky: An Interview appeared first on Hypebot.

OVM Plugin releases Diatonica, a FREE mono sequencer synth for Windows
Developer OVM Plugin has released Diatonica, a free mono sequencer synth for Windows. Despite teasing the addition of a Windows machine to my setup for some time, I remain macOS exclusive, and that’s fine for the most part, although it often feels like the numbers in this camp are dwindling. Every once in a while, [...]
View post: OVM Plugin releases Diatonica, a FREE mono sequencer synth for Windows

Essential Financial Strategies for Touring MusiciansIncome from live performances has become less reliable, but there are financial strategies for touring musicians that help turn a road trip into a profitable success. Avoid common pitfalls and learn how to maximize your earnings while on the road.
The post Essential Financial Strategies for Touring Musicians appeared first on Hypebot.

Instagram reported to be working with Spotify on continuous music sharing featureInstagram and Spotify appear to be working on a new feature that would let Instagram users continuously share what songs they’re listening to via the app’s Notes section.
Though not yet official or confirmed for a launch, the potential feature has been leaked by app researcher and reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi on Threads. If true, it looks like we’re heading ever-closer back to the days of Myspace, when music was more widely shared on online profiles.

READ MORE: Spotify gained 10 million more paying users in the first half of 2024

Paluzzi’s Threads post shows a screenshot with a new option that would allow users to “continuously share” their music from Spotify, instead of selecting a song from Instagram’s catalogue, though it states that you can “stop sharing at any time”.
Instagram already launched the ability to share 30-second song clips over a year ago via Notes. The Notes feature itself arrived in December 2022, and began allowing users to share small status updates via thought bubbles. These display above a user’s profile picture on their profile page and via the direct messaging feature.
In other Spotify news, CEO Daniel Ek revealed in July that a deluxe tier of the streaming platform is indeed on its way, following rumours of a Hi-Fi subscription plan with lossless audio circulating for a number of years.
It’s been suggested that it could bring more AI-powered features, headphone sound quality optimisation, and advanced library management. Ek said it may arrive “at around a $17 or $18 price point”, and will be “sort of a deluxe version of Spotify that has all of the benefits that the normal Spotify version has, but a lot more control, a lot higher quality across the board, and some other things that I’m not ready to talk about just yet”.
It is currently predicted that Spotify will release the deluxe version later this year.
The post Instagram reported to be working with Spotify on continuous music sharing feature appeared first on MusicTech.

“I used to be very shy but I would observe what everyone was dancing to and what worked”: How The xx’s Romy found her confidence as a DJRomy has revealed how she found her confidence to enter the world of DJing in a new video series produced with White Claw.
The Grammy nominated DJ and vocalist/guitarist for The xx has collaborated with the hard seltzer brand to launch its Refreshing Sounds Series, in which she dives deeper into the stories and connections that have influenced her solo career.

READ MORE: “Apple leaked it so I can say it”: Flying Lotus confirms he made two of Apple’s iPhone ringtones

Since embarking on her solo DJ career in 2022, Romy has collaborated with the likes of Fred again.., Calvin Harris, Charli XCX, Dua Lipa and HAAi. Exclusively via MusicTech, you can now get the first-look at Episode 2 of the series, which offers fans a look “behind the decks” into Romy’s world.
Speaking of her first steps into DJing, Romy recalls how watching from the sidelines helped her to navigate her own shyness and find the confidence to become one herself.
Image: Romy x White Claw for Refreshing Sounds
“[In] UK club culture, there’s a unity and a hopefulness,” she states. “There was a club in Soho called Ghetto, it is now Tottenham Court Road tube station. I used to go all the time and I used to be very shy but I would observe what everyone was dancing to and what worked and that really stayed with me.
“When these other amazing DJs have been part of the gig I just go out into the crowd. I love feeling the energy, and it makes me feel less nervous. It’s all about discovery, and about leaving the night with something that you didn’t come there with.”
You can take a look at the episode below:

The episode forms part of a three-part series which complements Romy’s exclusive mix of fan favourite track Twice. The Refreshing Sounds series captures exclusive BTS content on Romy’s musical journey across London and Ibiza, where she is set to debut the track to an intimate crowd.
To find out more, or catch up on Episode 1, head over to White Claw Refreshing Sounds.
The post “I used to be very shy but I would observe what everyone was dancing to and what worked”: How The xx’s Romy found her confidence as a DJ appeared first on MusicTech.

Disclosure London Boiler Room set shut down due to crowd surgeDisclosure had their London Boiler Room set over the weekend cancelled after a crowd surge at the Lee Valley Showground in Waltham Cross.
The duo were announced as performers during the event three days before it was scheduled to take place on 25 August. Other artists on the lineup included Sara Landry, Flowdan, Giggs and Rosey Gold.

READ MORE: Long live pub raves: How big-name DJs are helping to save British pubs

Per Mixmag, at the time Disclosure’s set was announced, only 100 tickets were left to be purchased. These sold out shortly after.
An eyewitness told Mixmag that attendees began queueing to enter the tent where Disclosure were set to play around half an hour beforehand. A crowd surge then occurred when some pushed their way into the tent via a forcibly opened gap. The duo’s set was then halted only five minutes in to allow security to deal with the unfolding issue.
Disclosure’s set was then cancelled entirely, though other artists continued to play their planned sets on the same stage afterwards.
“Unfortunately it’s out of our control, but the festival has deemed it unsafe for us to play due to crowd surges,” the duo said in an Instagram story. They shared their disappointment, adding that they had flown to London from LA specifically for the event.
This isn’t the first time in recent memory Boiler Room events have been marred by uncontrolled crowds.
Last month, Peggy Gou’s Boiler Room headline set in Seoul, South Korea was shut down due to overcrowding at the city’s SFactory. No casualties were reported, however 11 fire engines and 42 firefighters were sent to the venue to assist.
“During the party we faced crowd-flow issues, causing safety concerns and [leading] to the early closure of the event,” Boiler Room wrote at the time.
It added: “Contrary to what has been reported, we sold to the capacity that was instructed by our partner in Seoul and at the time the event ended we were under capacity.”
The post Disclosure London Boiler Room set shut down due to crowd surge appeared first on MusicTech.

Warm Audio reveal Titanium WA-47T & WA-87 R2 TS Warm Audio have announced the launch of Limited Edition Titanium versions of two of their popular mics, the WA-47T and WA-87 R2.

Bastl Thyme+ is a delay pedal for maniacs$550 / £535 / €495, bastl-instruments.com
In theory, delay is simple. You play something, your delay pedal (or plugin, or rack unit, or DIY tape unit) captures what you played and spits it back out after a predetermined amount of time. And then it repeats for as long as you tell it to. That’s basically it. Sure, there are ways to dress it up but, at its core, that’s all delay is.

READ MORE: We dare you to try and reach Elektron Digitakt II’s limitations

But the wonderful weirdos at Bastl Instruments are never content to leave things as they are. Thyme+ is a delay unit, but one unlike any other we’ve ever encountered. In fact, getting it to behave like a traditional delay can be a challenge. This is a delay for maniacs; for people who demand the most bizarre sounds and who are willing to pay for them.

Bastl uses the metaphor of a tape machine to describe Thyme+, but it is unabashedly digital. You can reduce the fidelity, modulate playback speed slightly, and add a low-pass filter to darken the tone. But it’s never going to sound like tape. It’s always going to sound like a slightly lo-fi digital delay that can be pushed into bit-crushed chaos. Thyme+ has a fair amount of aural character (even if the filter is a little dull), but that’s not the reason to get one — it’s all about the Robots.
The “Robots” Bastl constantly mentions in its marketing materials are basically just LFOs (well, more like cycling envelopes). But there are a lot of them — nine, in fact; one per parameter for almost all the knobs on the front of the device. The only parameters you can’t modulate are the input gain and the rate and amount of the modulation. Everything else is not only fair game, but has its own dedicated Robot. So you can slowly change the fine timing of the delay to get gentle, tape-esque warbles, while harshly and quickly modulating the volume into ringmod territory yields complex effects that would be impossible on most other delay units.
Robot switch on the Thyme+
There are a lot of waveshapes to choose from for the LFOs, from slewed randomness, to stepped triangles and, of course, sine. Beyond that though, the robots can be put into one-shot mode, controlled by an external CV source or, our favourite, triggered by an envelope follower. If you use the envelope follower on the volume in the patch described above, you get something that sounds like a broken radio sputtering to life when you first play a note as the transient is cut off and the volume drops in and out, before gradually settling into drunken echoes that toddle off into infinity.
Now, here’s the really wild part. You can save those settings as presets. There are eight banks of eight, for 64 in total. And you can essentially play those presets like an instrument simply by pressing the keys on Thyme+. The keys can be latching, or momentary for punch-in style effects. You can also hold down the select button while changing parameters on the fly and when you let go, they revert back to the preset. You can even connect a footswitch to the back for controlling the bypass switch. This all makes Thyme+ a treat for live performance.
The other major feature that makes Thyme+ stand out is a 32-step sequencer with four patterns. Sync it up with your DAW or Eurorack skiff via MIDI or CV and you can dole out rhythmically consistent doses of chaos, or create completely new riffs based on the timing of the effects. Without having to resort to complicated automation or MIDI routings in a DAW, we can’t think of another way to accomplish the same task.
Preset bank on the Thyme+
The biggest knock against Thyme+ is that it is difficult to tame and master. The line between subtle modulation and out-of-control weirdness is thin on many of the parameters. And while the idea of sequencing a bunch of delay presets together to create something unique is superb, actually getting musical results is difficult.
Creating a Karplus-Strong preset and punching it in on drums for some Aphex Twin-style outbursts is fun. But using that in a sequence with other presets rarely gives reliable results. With more time we’re sure we could master the quirks of Thyme+ but it demands just that… time.
At $550 Bastl Thyme+ isn’t an impulse purchase, though. If you have your eye on one, you probably know what you’re in for. Lots of weirdness with a steep learning curve. If you’re not turned off by a challenge and don’t mind dropping a decent chunk of change on a pretty niche instrument, you won’t find anything else quite like it.

Key features

3 read heads for multitap delay
Morphable low-pass to high-pass filter
9 “Robot” modulation sources
5 morphable wave options for modulation
Envelope follower and CV control of “robots”
3.5mm MIDI in
Sync via MIDI or analog clock
6.5mm stereo in and out
64 presets
32-step sequencer with 4 patterns
Dimensions: 215 x 115 x 30 mm
Weight: 700 g

The post Bastl Thyme+ is a delay pedal for maniacs appeared first on MusicTech.

What can you do with a degree in music production or music technology?Many hobbyist musicians and producers consider a degree in music technology because they’re passionate about honing their craft and dream of making music full-time. Happily, these versatile qualifications can unlock an incredibly wide variety of other paths too, blending creativity with technical expertise.
Whether you’re drawn to live sound, fascinated by the intricacies of audio post-production, or are eager to develop your own music software, a music technology degree equips you with the tools to break into these exciting fields and many more.

READ MORE: How will young people learn music and production in a post-AI music industry?

If you’re just starting your research, you might not even realise some of these roles exist — but the career opportunities are vast and varied. Here is a list of potential job paths for music technology graduates, aiming to inspire you and show how you can turn your passion for music into a rewarding career.
Becoming an artist
We’ll start with the obvious — transforming your own musical endeavours into a profession. It’s definitely not an easy or certain path, but many music technology students dream of becoming the next chart-topping producer or DJing to sold-out crowds around the world.
Through a music technology degree, you’ll develop advanced skills for composing, mixing, and mastering your music and taking your ideas to their full potential. Some degrees also include modules related to the inner workings of the music industry, arming you with the knowledge to build a career as an artist. Of course, you’ll need an immense amount of dedication and perseverance, too!
A foley artist working in a studio. Image: EvgeniyShkolenko/Getty Images
Audio post-production
Those with a penchant for storytelling might consider a career in audio post-production. This diverse field plays a vital role in bringing films, TV shows, and digital content to life through the use of sound.
Roles on the more creative side include foley artists, who use everyday objects to recreate the sounds seen on screen, and soundtrack composers, who craft original music that elevates the emotional impact of a scene.
If you’re looking for a more technical position, you might consider dialogue editing, where you’ll be polishing performances using advanced tools like iZotope RX.
Seeking a more holistic role? The dubbing mixer is the person who layers dialogue, sound effects, and music into a polished final product that pulls the audience in.
Sound and lights panel console at a live gig. Image: guruXOOX/Getty Images
Live sound
As the lifeblood of any concert or event, live sound offers a range of exciting — and often challenging — roles to those with a music technology degree.
As a front-of-house (FOH) engineer, you’ll shoulder the mighty responsibility of what the audience hears. If you prefer working closer to the action, monitor engineers handle the customised mixes for performers to ensure they can hear exactly what’s required to deliver a stellar performance.
If you’re a bit of a gearhead, working with playback could be up your street — many of today’s live rigs run on Ableton Live and incorporate complex networks of MIDI devices and other hardware. You could even find your place as a lighting designer, many of whom got their start in music before discovering they had a knack for combining audio and visuals with a strong degree of musicality.
A keyboard lesson in a home setting. Image: hobo_018/Getty Images
Music educator
If you find joy in sharing your love of music with others, becoming a music educator might be your calling.
You could teach high-school music technology courses, or step into the role of a lecturer at a university, guiding the next generation of musicians and producers through the intricate world of music technology. What’s more, these institutes also need technicians to look after department equipment and resources if you’d rather sit behind the scenes.
For a more personal touch, tutoring lets you work one-to-one with students, helping them hone their skills and passion for music. You could even set up your own YouTube channel or Patreon to impart your music technology wisdom even further afield.
Video game sound designer
Another thrilling field many music technology graduates gravitate towards is video game sound design.
You might find yourself creating sound effects and ambiences that bring game environments to life, to crafting original scores that set the tone and mood for different scenarios.
The technical aspect makes video game sound design even more exciting. Unlike TV and film audio, where everything is laid out against the footage, integrating sound assets into a game requires a more interactive approach where effects and music trigger at the correct times during gameplay. If you’re interested in this area, you might want to get some experience writing code or using industry-standard software like Wwise.
An audio engineer recording a vocalist in a studio. Image: shironosov/Getty Images
Studio work
Fancy a spot in the studio hot seat? With a music technology degree, you could embark on a career in the world of commercially recording music.
From technically focused audio engineers who ensure the studio session runs smoothly for clients, to mixing and mastering engineers who deliver a radio-ready final product, there are many hats you can wear in this field.
You could specialise in a single area you’re particularly passionate about, or become a jack-of-all-trades producer who can take an artist all the way from rough ideas and demos to a polished recording. For those who thrive on creativity and collaboration, studio work offers a blend of technical precision and artistic expression.
Music software developer
Perhaps the career most emblematic of the words ‘music’ and ‘technology’ is that of a music software developer. Typically, this path involves creating the tools that musicians and producers use every day — but the possibilities are endless.
You could be developing digital audio workstations (DAWs) that enable people to record, edit, and produce music. Or, you could design plugins and virtual instruments that help them unleash their creativity through innovative effects or inspiring synthesisers.
On a simpler level, you could even just create and sell patches for platforms like Max/MSP and Reaktor — many musicians use this as a side hustle. Mobile app development is another area worth exploring. In any case, this career path is ideal for individuals who enjoy coding and want to have an impact on the musical creation process.
Working for audio brands
If you’re a little more hands-on, working for a gear company could be a good fit, with music technology graduates in demand at companies that design and manufacture everything from microphones to mixing consoles.
Like many on this list, audio gear is a pretty varied field to get into. You might hold a role as a product specialist or a salesperson, who knows the ins and outs of the hardware and can explain its features to potential customers. Or, you could work as a technician who provides support and maintenance for gear used in studios, live venues, and other settings.
One particularly exciting area is product development. Like audio software developers, you’ll be shaping the creation process by collaborating with engineers to deliver innovative hardware tools that musicians and producers rely on.
An A&R working with a mix engineer. Image: Tashi-Delek/Getty Images
Record labels, A&R and PR
A music technology degree can open doors to the business side of the music industry too, particularly within record labels. You could work as an A&R (artists and repertoire), discovering and nurturing new talent while helping artists develop their sound. On the publishing side, licensing and sync specialists manage the rights and permissions for music used in films, TV shows, adverts, and other media.
You might even consider starting your own label if you’ve got a more entrepreneurial spirit, allowing you to support artists and shape the landscape of a particular scene. Many smaller independent labels — particularly those dedicated to niche or underground subgenres within electronic music — are run by those with music technology or production backgrounds.
Acoustic design
Those with a keen interest in the physical, real-world side of audio could consider a career in acoustic design. Here, you’ll be optimising sound within various environments in a highly specialised role.
For example, you could be designing spaces like concert halls, theatres, and recording studios to achieve optimal sound quality, or configuring audio systems for venues to ensure clear and balanced sound distribution. In any case, you’ll need significant technical know-how and a creative mindset for problem-solving.
Audio forensics
A more unusual role you might not have considered is audio forensics, where sound expertise is applied to legal and investigative contexts. With a music technology degree, you could work as a forensic audio analyst, enhancing audio recordings for use in legal cases, analysing audio evidence from crime scenes, or providing testimony in court as an expert witness.
If you’re interested in applying your audio processing skills to important real-world situations, audio forensics could be a highly rewarding career path.
A journalist working on an article. Image: Tero Vesalainen/Getty Images
Music technology journalist
For those who love writing, a career as a music technology journalist is one to consider. The field is broad, encompassing articles, reviews, and guides on the latest gear, trends, and techniques in the industry.
In fact, many of us who write for industry magazines and websites — MusicTech included — began our journeys with a degree in music technology. Our studies gave us the technical foundation and industry insight needed to inform and inspire our readers.
Music technology journalism not only allows you to stay connected with the latest developments but lets you contribute to the community by sharing your knowledge and passion. It’s a role that works well as a side gig alongside another career too, whether that’s in music technology or something entirely different. Who knows — you might even attend high-profile industry events like NAMM, SXSW, and ADE.
The post What can you do with a degree in music production or music technology? appeared first on MusicTech.

Streaming Music and Sound Sample Clips on AllMusicOnce there was a pipe dream of an infinite faucet of music that could be turned on and (nearly) every song ever recorded would be available to hungry listeners and curious audiophiles. We're happy to announce a project to add the ability to stream music directly from AllMusic album and artist pages.