In 2024, many Y Combinator startups only want tiny seed rounds — but there’s a catchWhen Bowery Capital general partner Loren Straub started talking to a startup from the latest Y Combinator accelerator batch a few months ago, she thought it was strange that the company didn’t have a lead investor for the round it was raising. Even stranger, the founders didn’t seem to be looking for one. She thought […]
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Complete Access is going live!You're invited to the first Complete Access live stream on Thursday 13th June (9 - 11am PST / 5 - 7pm UK)

On Thursday 13th June at 9am PST (5pm UK time), Slate Digital team members, Chad Carrier and Kevin Dorsey, will be hosting a live event, where they will show you they use plug-ins in the Complete Access bundle in their mixing and mastering sessions.

After the two-hour session there will also be a Q&A where you can ask questions and interact with the ever-growing Complete Access community.

The live event is FREE to sign up to and you do not have to be an active subscriber to attend.

What are you waiting for?

RSVP your place on the button below:

SIGN UP HEREThe post Complete Access is going live! first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

MNTRA Instruments Releases FREE Reson Modular Synth Library
MNTRA Instruments have released a new free modular synth sample library called Reson, which runs in their free MNDALA sampler. MNTRA Instruments have many sample libraries in their arsenal. They cover a wide range of styles with a common thread of sound design to create new sounds out of existing instruments. Some of their sample [...]
View post: MNTRA Instruments Releases FREE Reson Modular Synth Library

The IBM PC: Brainchild of a MisfitWe’ve read a number of histories of the IBM PC and lived through that time, too. But we enjoyed [Gareth Edwards’] perspective in a post entitled The Misfit who Built the IBM PC. The titular character is Don Estridge, a decidedly atypical IBM employee who was instrumental in creating the personal computer market as we know it.
It’s not that IBM invented the personal computer — far from it. But the birth of the PC brought personal computers to the mainstream, especially in offices, and — much to IBM’s chagrin — opened up the market for people to make add-on cards for printers, videos, and other accessories.
IBM was a computer juggernaut in the late 1970s. Its divisions were the size of other companies, and some have compared it to a collection of mafia families. The company was heavily invested in big computers, and management was convinced that personal computing was, at most, an avenue to video games and most likely a fad.
Known as a conservative company, the PC project drew from a number of corporate misfits who had been technically successful but often punished for coloring outside the lines. They developed a prototype. The post quotes one of the people involved as saying, “The system would do two things. It would draw an absolutely beautiful picture of a nude lady, and it would show a picture of a rocket ship blasting off the screen. We decided to show the Management Committee the rocket ship.” Wise choice.
That’s just the kind of tidbit in this post, and if you have any interest in computer history of the 1980s, you’ll definitely want to check it out. Estridge died in 1985, so he didn’t get to see much of the result of the market he opened up. Of course, there were many other players who appear in this story. The PC has many parents, as you might expect.
We’ve done our own recounting of this story. However, we tend to obsess more over the internals.

Kendrick Lamar is working on new music, producer Terrace Martin saysAfter a heated exchange of diss tracks with Drake last month, Kendrick Lamar‘s creative juices have continued flowing if the testimony of producer Terrace Martin is anything to go by.

READ MORE: Metro Boomin invites rappers to jump on beat mocking Drake

The update came when Martin responded to a fan’s comment on his Instagram Story, which predicted “the West Coast is about to return to the Mecca of Hip Hop”.
“We always been the Mecca, bro,” he wrote. “We take a little break sometimes. We gotta take breaks to let the other people have a little bit. We back, though.”
Martin went on to detail some other upcoming rap records that he’s excited about.

#TerraceMartin says he is super excited for #RoddyRicch and #KendrickLamar’s albums on his Instagram Live!
Possible Roddy Ricch x Kendrick Lamar collab finally happening #THENAVYALBUM LOADING…
(via @terracemartin on Instagram) pic.twitter.com/Ais4Kh8bJW
— RICCHSZN (@ricchszn) June 4, 2024

“Let me tell y’all the records I’m excited for. I’m excited for YG’s album, I’m excited for Mustard’s album,” said Martin. “I’m excited for a lot of people, but there’s two albums, I’m going crazy, I can’t wait ’til they drop — Roddy Ricch album and whenever Kendrick drops his album, I’m excited for those two. Those two Compton artists is like, I’m excited. So much shit bubbling, you know?”
The album Lamar is reportedly working on is the follow-up to 2022’s Mr Morale and the Big Steppers. 
In other news, following Lamar’s beef with Drake, Metro Boomin invited rappers to jump in on the action with a spicy “BBL Drizzy Beat Giveaway”.
Sharing the Soundcloud link to his version of BBL Drizzy (sampling a track by comedian and AI storyteller King Willonius), Metro announced on X: “Best verse over this gets a free beat. Just upload your song and hashtag #bbldrizzybeatgiveaway.”
The post Kendrick Lamar is working on new music, producer Terrace Martin says appeared first on MusicTech.

From price hikes at Spotify to Warner’s major new hire… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-UpThe five biggest stories to hit our headlines over the past seven days…
Source

TIDAL is now available directly on Bang & Olufsen audio devicesDanish high-end audio brand Bang & Olufsen has joined forces with TIDAL to provide customers with a new hi-res listening experience.
TIDAL positions itself in the streaming market as a provider of high-resolution lossless audio, which in tandem with Bang & Olufsen’s luxury speaker catalogue, will make for an enticing prospect for hardcore audio enthusiasts.

READ MORE: Bang & Olufsen is selling a CD player for $55,000

From today, TIDAL’s library is now fully integrated into the Bang & Olufsen app. Bang & Olufsen customers can now explore TIDAL’s high-res music catalogue and play tracks through their speakers.
“TIDAL is delighted to partner with Bang & Olufsen who share a legacy in giving fans music experiences with best-in-class sound”, says Dan Murphy, SVP of Partnerships and Business Development at TIDAL. “We understand the importance of sound quality for both artists and listeners and are excited to now make TIDAL easier to access in the Bang & Olufsen app.”
“With the partnership, we are merging the best audio formats from TIDAL with high-end sound systems from Bang & Olufsen,” adds Christoffer Poulsen, SVP of Business Development & Brand Partnering at Bang & Olufsen. “We strive to bring the best music experiences to our customers, and the sound quality of music streaming is imperative to that journey.”
Development teams have strived to make the wireless functionality as lossless as possible, with further functionality and updates coming down the line.
If customers are overwhelmed by the sudden influx of tracks, editorial specialists at TIDAL have also curated a selection of exclusive playlists for the Bang & Olufsen app.
The post TIDAL is now available directly on Bang & Olufsen audio devices appeared first on MusicTech.

DJs on Twitch can now split revenue with record labelsLivestreaming platform Twitch has announced a new programme for DJs that will enable them to use copyrighted music in their streams in exchange for a fee.
The new development has been expected for a while, with CEO Dan Clancy saying in April that DJs using Twitch would soon have to share their revenue with labels, but the platform would be helping to split the cost.

READ MORE: 76% of aspiring artists say a career in music is unsustainable

To make this happen, Twitch has signed deals with major labels including Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music as well as “hundreds” of independent labels.
Launching this summer, streamers will pay a percentage of their earnings from a stream to rights holders, but the amount will vary slightly depending on which monetisation methods streamers use. Twitch will split the cost with them 50/50 but to start with, the platform will cover “more of the cost”.

Attention DJs on Twitch!
We're launching a new DJ Program that will let you stream the vast majority of popular music in a new DJ Category launching later this summer.
Made possible by a first-of-its-kind partnership with hundreds of companies, including all major… pic.twitter.com/qblcnS7BTR
— Twitch (@Twitch) June 6, 2024

Some DJs can access a one-year subsidy paid for by the platform that covers the difference between their earnings and money paid to labels and artists. DJs who don’t monetise on Twitch won’t need to pay fees.
“DJs often build upon and leverage pre-recorded music from other artists as a critical part of their creative expression,” the company wrote in a blog post. “However, when streaming pre-recorded music over the internet, there are a variety of copyright issues that need to be considered that vary across regions.”
Until now, DJs have been left on their own when it comes to handling any copyright problems that have cropped up while they’ve been steaming on Twitch. Indeed, some Twitch DJs have said they’ve faced an influx of DMCA takedowns. While they’ve been negotiating with labels, the company says it’s been “mitigating” the risks of takedowns.
“It’s crucial that DJs understand the status quo on Twitch was not sustainable, and any viable future for the community required we find a solution,” Twitch said in the blog post.
The changes won’t apply to other types of content like video on demand and highlights, which are covered by a different set of rights than livestreamed content.
For more information, head over to Twitch.
The post DJs on Twitch can now split revenue with record labels appeared first on MusicTech.

DJs can stream legally on Twitch under new ‘pay-to-play’ label dealsTwitch's long-standing music licensing dispute over DJs spinning on the platform has been resolved thanks to new deals between the live streamer and UMG, Sony, WMG, and Merlin.....
The post DJs can stream legally on Twitch under new ‘pay-to-play’ label deals appeared first on Hypebot.

What is Tracklib? A look inside the pioneering music sample serviceFACT: 20% of songs on Billboard 100 contain samples. But where do they come from and how can they be used legally? Andreas Ahlenius from Tracklib joins Michael Brandvold and Jay Gilbert on the Music Biz Weekly podcast to discuss.....
The post What is Tracklib? A look inside the pioneering music sample service appeared first on Hypebot.

ASM reveal HydraSynth Silver Edition To celebrate the HydraSynth's fifth anniversary, ASM have announced the upcoming launch of Silver Edition versions of the 49- and 73-note versions.

5 tips for introverts looking to nail music networking eventsNetworking is crucial in the music industry, but it doesn’t come easy to everyone. Here are a few tips to help any introvert plan to impress people. by Chris Robley. Continue reading
The post 5 tips for introverts looking to nail music networking events appeared first on Hypebot.

Abletunes Analog Drums is a FREE Virtual Drum Rack for Ableton Live
Abletunes released Analog Drums, a free virtual drum rack for Ableton Live.  Analog Drums is an Ableton Live native release compatible with all editions of Ableton Live 11 or newer, including Intro, Standard and Suite. Abletunes states, “Analog Drums sets a new standard for drum racks, delivering a complete analog-style drum machine experience right inside [...]
View post: Abletunes Analog Drums is a FREE Virtual Drum Rack for Ableton Live

76% of aspiring artists say a career in music is unsustainableA new study has shown that 76% of new artists feel their career in music is unsustainable. The findings come after a series of comments by Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, in which he compared the music industry to professional football – saying only a few will be able to turn it into a career.
Part of Toolroom Academy’s report From Mix to Mainstage – The Blueprint for Emerging Electronic Artists [via Mixmag], the study aims to “identify and understand the barriers that emerging artists face and provide actionable strategies for overcoming these challenges, ultimately paving the way for sustainable careers in the industry”.

READ MORE: Serato promises “versatility and creativity” with new upgrades for DJ Pro 3.2.0

The study saw 250 up-and-coming artists surveyed, and interviewed more established artists, too.
These subjects were asked about what they felt were their personal, professional and financial barriers to success within the music industry. Key takeaways included that 50% of artists struggle with self-confidence, and 82% said they rely on jobs outside of the music industry to sustain themselves. Of these 56% work in said job in a full-time capacity, and 26% part-time.
The report concludes that “there is a significant gap between talent and recognition”, and Toolroom Academy subsequently announced the launch of its new Artist Development Masterclass, a 12-month programme which will help artists “create a complete business plan”, spanning topics including music law and networking.
In another blow to aspiring career musicians, Daniel Ek earlier this week said the cost of creating content in 2024 is “close to zero”, prompting swift and widespread outrage from the internet.
You can view the full report or find out more about the Artist Development Masterclass at Toolroom Academy.
The post 76% of aspiring artists say a career in music is unsustainable appeared first on MusicTech.

Are SONOS’ Ace headphones better than AirPods Max? It’s a close call£449, sonos.com
To sum up SONOS in a sentence, the long-running company pairs high-quality audio with convenience. Through a wide range of home speaker setups and soundbars, it brought competent wireless audio to loft apartments everywhere when AirPlay was still a glint in Apple’s eye. The California brand’s reputation for excellent-sounding speakers and a closed wire-free ecosystem that ‘just works’ (most of the time), has made them a staple sound solution for homes and businesses everywhere. Its users, though, have long been looking for a solution to take their beloved SONOS sound and services with them on the road and, after a series of leaks and teasers, SONOS’s first headphones have arrived. Meet the Ace.

READ MORE: DALI IO-12 are incredible headphones that serve a hyper-niche audience

Headphone tech has evolved rapidly over the past decade after being fairly static for the previous three. Reliable Bluetooth audio gave way to a new range of consumer cans, with both Beats and the subsequent AirPods becoming ubiquitous accessories almost overnight. Throw in high-quality ANC, the ongoing development of spatial audio and the shift in consumer expectation of what good headphones sound, look and feel like meant that SONOS had to wait to get it right. As a result, despite them being its “most requested product” the Ace headphones arrive 19 years after the first SONOS product launched. But are they worth the wait?
SONOS Ace in black colourway. Image: Press
The Ace shows up in a fairly unremarkable case, but for a reason – SONOS has built the Ace with a focus on sustainability, with the case being made from recycled materials. Inside, you’ll find the headphones, USB-C charging cable and USB-C-to-3.5mm cable in a handy pouch. The headphones look great – they’re available in a black or white colourway, and our matte black pair looks very sleek and feels lighter than their 312g would suggest. They’re supremely comfortable, the memory foam earcups providing a satisfyingly enclosed feel without being too claustrophobic. They feel light on your head while still gripping on solidly: a strong start.
SONOS Ace in black colourway with accessories. Image: Press
Once you begin to connect your Ace to your device of choice, the first surprise kicks in: the Ace doesn’t connect to the SONOS ecosystem. It can’t be added as an output in the app, and you can’t switch from your speaker setup to the headphones as you walk out the door or move the soundtrack of your commute to your flat once you get home, something that we feel is an obvious use case.
These are Bluetooth headphones, and although they do have a Wi-Fi chip it’s not used to make them an extension of any existing speaker setups you might have. SONOS explains the technical reason behind this on its Subreddit, which is worth a read if you’re a long-term SONOS speaker user. Long story short, they’d be too big, the battery wouldn’t last long and they’d get too hot if the Linux computer that runs SONOS speakers was integrated into their headphones. The Wi-Fi chip instead is used for a feature called TV Audio Swap which we’ll get to later.
SONOS Ace in use. Image: Press
Wi-Fi aside, once the Bluetooth 5.4 chip is connected, the Ace sounds fantastic. SONOS has managed to avoid the temptation of an EQ curve that hypes key frequencies to impress on the first listen but ultimately leads to fatigue. They’re not flat like studio headphones, but more subtle in their sound stage, bringing highs to life without sizzle, and emphasising lows without oomph. Ultimately, they’re an enjoyable listen and when directly compared with one of their most suitable competitors – the Apple AirPods Max – they’re a lot less tiring over long listening sessions.
But, as they’re Bluetooth and lossless isn’t supported on iOS, you’ll have to reach for the USB-C cable on your phone and laptop to experience them in all their glory. And when you do, the difference is striking. Using TIDAL lossless over USB-C, the sound shines further, and although it goes against the wireless ethos of the SONOS brand, it’s the best way to experience the Ace. However, the mics don’t work over USB-C-to-3.5mm cable, which might be frustrating for gamers.
We wouldn’t recommend using these headphones for mixing but they are a lot of fun for producing and creating. The USB-C cable also does away with most of the dreaded Bluetooth latency — they don’t work in passive mode over 3.5mm, though, they always have to be on and charged. There is a two-band EQ in the SONOS app if you want to tweak further, although, once you are connected, they no longer appear in the SONOS app, presumably because Bluetooth is switched off. That needs to be fixed. The cable will also charge them as you work so you’ll be fully charged once you do set off again.
Speaking of battery, SONOS claim an impressive 30 hours even with ANC on. In testing, they last even longer. True to the sustainability mission, the battery is replaceable, as are the earcups, reassuring for the longer-term commitment the price would suggest. SONOS makes a big deal of the quality of the ANC and it is excellent. Tested against the AirPod Max, they don’t remove the outside world to the same extent, but it’s more consistent as you turn your head and move around. Aware mode allows you to let the outside world in, where required.
SONOS Ace in white colourway. Image: Press
Outside of music, one of the truly unique selling points of the Ace is TV Audio Swap, its ability to hot-swap between SONOS soundbars and headphones. This is the only way it truly integrates with existing SONOS setups and to be fair, it is very cool and very useful.
If you’re watching a movie, for example, and someone goes to bed, press and hold the control switch on the Ace and the audio will magically move to your headphones you can continue to listen in full Atmos glory.
The headphones support Spatial Audio and Head Tracking away from the soundbar, but it’s less relevant for music listening. It comes to life for TV, film and gaming though, and you can turn it on separately for each mode, which is handy. It was a little buggy before a firmware update solved our issues. This only works with Sonos’ flagship Arc soundbar so far, but support for the Beam and Ray is forthcoming.
Another fancy feature is TrueCinema. It allows you to mirror the soundbar’s Trueplay room acoustics tuning, to make the switch from room to headphones more realistic. It takes the acoustic profile of the room, tuned using sine sweeps from the soundbar, and reapplies that profile to your headphone audio to make it seem like you’re still sitting on your sofa listening from the speakers. Innovative, cool, maybe a bit odd, but also not ready at testing. SONOS say it’s coming later this year.
SONOS Ace earcups. Image: Press
SONOS’ Aces are not cheap headphones, at all. They don’t integrate with the existing SONOS ecosystem beyond hot-swapping from a soundbar, and it requires a cable to hear it at its best lossless quality (same as most Bluetooth headphones, to be fair). But they’re still a resounding success.
The sound is addictive — we find ourselves re-listening to albums to hear them on the Ace, not because there are new details or elements we didn’t spot before, but because they are so enjoyable to wear and to experience. They’re the most comfortable over-ears we’ve tried over long periods and, for this new world of remote work and endless Zooms, that’s as important as anything else in a headphone this expensive. It should be an all-rounder, and it is.
For producers, DJs and music makers, the TV Audio Swap may be more novelty than necessity but it is fun and useful if you own a SONOS soundbar. Fundamentally these are stellar-sounding headphones, with excellent battery life and travel-friendly ANC that can also double up as beatmaking cans once cabled in – unless you’re happy programming drums with Bluetooth latency, in which case we salute you.
Key Features

TV Audio Swap lets you hot-swap between headphones and soundbar
That warm, balanced SONOS sound
30 hours of listening time, charged via USB-C
Lossless and spatial audio capabilities with head tracking and Dolby Atmos
Bluetooth 5.4
Adjustable EQ
Custom-designed 40 mm dynamic drivers

The post Are SONOS’ Ace headphones better than AirPods Max? It’s a close call appeared first on MusicTech.