5 tips on growing as an artist from BAER
Pop powerhouse BAER shares five actionable tips from her career that helped her grow into the artist she is today.

Artist Profile: Jessica Downs at Illuminate StudiosNestled in the heart of Studio City, Illuminate Studios stands as a beacon of ingenuity in the entertainment industry. This hidden gem, known for over 22 years for delivering production and post-production excellence to the major studios and independent producers alike, recently called upon visionary artist Jessica Downs.

Owners Steven Wiener and Jim Hardy, the driving forces behind Illuminate, recognized the need for a fresh perspective during their studio's remodeling phase. A quest for inspiration led them to a Music Connection Magazine article titled "She Paints with a Knife," featuring the upcoming artist Jessica Downs.

Jessica's unique painting style, employing a palette knife to blend colors and textures, had already earned her accolades in the art world. Now, she was poised to bring her artistic talents to illuminate. Jessica rose to the challenge of blending and balancing the studio's Feng Shui catering to the furnishings Wiener and Hardy had just installed. Her artistry resulted in eight original canvas pieces that breathed new life and creativity into the space.

Illuminate, Studio City's best kept secret, is not just any space. It boasts a turnkey Broadcast Studio and Sound Stage complete with a vast 60-foot green cyc, ideal for shooting music videos, talk shows and other creative endeavors along with a post production finishing division second to none. As one of only two studios located in Studio City, Illuminate shines as a one stop shop for both Television and Feature Production.  Now, as her artwork graces Illuminate's walls, it welcomes creatives from the entertainment industry.  Jessica Downs and Illuminate Studios promise a brighter, more vibrant arena for all who enter their doors, all while remaining Studio City's best-kept secret.

For more info on Jessica's art and Illuminate Studios, contact Sammy Oriti at 310-985-5511

Artist Profile: She Paints With A Knife... Meet  Jessica Downs―Artist / Model

Sub Pop Records Launches 18th Annual 'Loser' ScholarshipSub Pop Records has announced the return (for its 18th year!) of the Sub Pop Loser Scholarship. Further details on the scholarship are below, and even further below is some clarification on what they mean with all this “Loser” business.

Sub Pop Records is offering a grand total of $18,000 in college scholarship money to three eligible high school seniors. There are three scholarships—each for $6,000! As longtime, proud losers ourselves, we’re exceedingly happy to be able, in some small way, to help further the education of art-enthused misfits from the NW. Individuals from all cultures and communities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be residents of Washington or Oregon, and graduating seniors on the way to full-time enrollment at an accredited university or college. We are looking for applicants who are involved and/or interested in music and/or creative media and arts in some way. However, you do not need to be pursuing an education in the arts.

To apply: you must submit an essay, one page or less, using any combination of the following questions as a guide (or write something completely your own, be inspired and creative!). Please list the school you are graduating from and the school you plan to attend in the fall at the top of your essay, along with your contact information.

- What are you doing in the arts/music field in your community?- What does being a Sub Pop ‘Loser’ mean to you?- What are your influences and/or who inspired you to become involved in the arts?- Describe your biggest failure and explain how it has brought you closer to your goal(s).- Discuss a special attribute or accomplishment that sets you apart.- How has your family or community background affected the way you see the world?- Why should you be the Loser winner?

The deadline for applications is Tuesday, March 19th, 2024. Please send all submissions and attachments to scholarship@subpop.comby Tuesday, March 19th. We will announce the scholarship winners during the first week of April.

‘World’s biggest casino’ app exposed customers’ personal dataThe startup that develops the phone app for casino resort giant WinStar has secured an exposed database that was spilling customers’ private information to the open web. Oklahoma-based WinStar bills itself as the “world’s biggest casino” by square footage. The casino and hotel resort also offers an app, My WinStar, in which guests can access […]
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Sub Ninja Bass Analyzer Plugin Is FREE Until February 29th
The Him DSP offers the Sub Ninja bass analyzer plugin as a free download until February 29th, 2024. Sub Ninja is a plugin that provides in-depth visual feedback on the lower frequencies to help ensure the perfect kick/sub/bass on every track. The plugin comes from the mind of Dutch DJ The Him, a man who [...]
View post: Sub Ninja Bass Analyzer Plugin Is FREE Until February 29th

You can get up to 93% off Sonnox, Solid State Logic, UJAM plugins over at Plugin Boutique right nowPlugin Boutique’s 12th birthday is proving to be quite the celebration. A slew of top-grade plugins are currently available for up to 93% off, with many killer pieces of software sitting at around the £20 mark.
The biggest drop in price is Solid State Logic’s FlexVerb, dropping from £276 down to just £17.99 – that’s 93% off, with a saving of £258 up until 21 February. It’s a small price to pay for an extremely versatile, polished reverb plugin. The FlexVerb’s quick, intuitive design allows users to fine-tune their tracks with professional levels of precision. It boasts a 6-band EQ, as well as room, hall, plate and chamber reverb types, to capture and fine-tune your desired sound.

Sonnox’s sale offers up to 87% off a dynamic range of mixing and mastering tools until 14 February. The comprehensive EQ plugin Claro is currently £23, while the Oxford Dynamic EQ sits at £39. There’s also an exclusive sale on the Essential Plugin Bundle for anyone currently owning any Sonnox plugin; the offer will allow Sonnox fans to get the bundle for only £95 instead of £684.60. The bundle includes a slew of Sonnox’s Oxford tools, including the Oxford Dynamics, Oxford EQ, Oxford Reverb and Oxford SuprEsser.
Elsewhere, Excite Audio’s KSHMR Chain is 40% off, going for £29. The innovative tool makes copying plugin chains easy as pie, allowing you to duplicate your chains and edit the settings across multiple tracks with one single, central control panel. The deal will be available until 25th February.
UJAM have three great tools available for just £17 each. The riff-ready IRON 2 offers guitarists over 30 styles, stomp box effects and 60 Finisher FR modes. The CIRCUITS analogue drum plugin is also up for grabs, as is the multi-effect Finisher NEO, with a mind-boggling array of 80 presets, 27 algorithms and 50 multi-effects modes.

Tracktion round things off with a huge selection of synths and samplers available for up to 70% off until 15th February. From Theia’s gorgeous emulation of the iconic Hyperion synth, to F.’em’s ultra-powerful hybrid quad-timbral synthesiser, Tracktion are sure to have something that will take your fancy. The groundbreaking Dawesome synth range is even on sale, its unique, colourful and fascinatingly mouldable approach to layering samples and synths going for a fraction of the price.
Any anniversary purchase will also allow users to claim a free gift, up until 29 February. Users can choose between Universal Audio’s PolyMAX, Pulsar Audio’s W495 or a month of Loopcloud.
All these deals can be found on the Plugin Boutique website.
The post You can get up to 93% off Sonnox, Solid State Logic, UJAM plugins over at Plugin Boutique right now appeared first on MusicTech.

From Warner’s best-ever quarter to Spotify’s $9bn payout to the music industry… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-UpThe five biggest stories to hit our headlines over the past seven days…
Source

RME Fireface range gains immersive audio facilities The latest Fireface drivers and firmware introduce a range of room correction facilities for immersive audio setups.

85% of TikTok and 84% of YouTube videos include musicA new analysis shows just how high the stacks are in the battle between TikTok and UMG and reinforces how important music is to TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram...
The post 85% of TikTok and 84% of YouTube videos include music appeared first on Hypebot.

80% of people experience emotional and mental health benefits at electronic music events, report findsThe Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has conducted its second annual report into the electronic music industry, finding that 80 percent of its respondents experience emotional and mental health benefits when at electronic music events.
This report, titled Electronic Beats, Economic Treats 2024, follows on from last year’s first ever UK Electronic Music Industry Report, and has been produced in association with Audience Strategies to highlight the economic significance and evolving trends within the electronic music sector.

READ MORE: UK’s music streaming market hit record high in 2023, per report by British trade body

The report presents an overview of the electronic music scene, covering the sector’s economic contributions, including recorded music, music publishing, and the live scene, plus new analysis into the perspectives of the audiences.
Some of its key findings paint an impressive picture for the electronic sector, revealing that the genre ranks at the second most popular in the UK across digital streaming services. 73 percent of the top 30 global artists are also “significantly influenced” by electronic music.
Elsewhere, the report states that 79 percent of women and 87 percent of men “believe the electronic music scene promotes diversity and inclusivity”, with 70 percent of respondents also stating they view dance/electronic events as centres of creativity and innovation.
Other important takeaways include:

80 percent of UK electronic music fans listen to the genre daily, including 75 percent of those aged 45 and over
30 percent of artists at UK festivals are electronic artists, leading other genres
£2.5 billion is the total measurable impact of electronic music on the UK
90m visits were made to nightclubs for electronic music, indicating a 9 percent decline. £1,457.3m was contributed by nightclubs to the economy, a 14 percent decrease
£210.6m was generated from recorded music, an increase of 16 percent
£567.8m was the economic contribution from festivals, up 9 percent
£285.5m came from other live electronic music events, reflecting a 5 percent increase

Despite many positive indicators of our industry in the report, it also acknowledges that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 396 nightclubs (32 percent) have been lost, including 31 in the last year alone.
Michael Kill, NTIA CEO, says of the report, “As we navigate the vibrant landscape of sound and culture, let us celebrate the resilience, talent and sense of community that define this extraordinary musical movement.
“What truly sets the UK electronic music scene apart is its sense of community. Beyond the pulsating beats and infectious melodies lies a collective spirit that unites individuals from diverse backgrounds. This community transcends borders, bringing together people who share a passion for the transformative power of electronic music. It is a space where differences are celebrated, and the universal language of beats and rhythms creates a sense of belonging that knows no bounds.”
View the full report by entering your email address over at the NTIA website.
The post 80% of people experience emotional and mental health benefits at electronic music events, report finds appeared first on MusicTech.

Why are playlists so important?Mathilde Neu of Reprtoir looks at how crucial playlists are to today's music ecosystem and how to get your fair share of placements...
The post Why are playlists so important? appeared first on Hypebot.

How do musicians make money on TikTok?UMG tracks accounted for 35% of the TikTok Top 50 last week, so pulling all their music off the platform has presented a unique opportunity for independent musicians to fill the void...
The post How do musicians make money on TikTok? appeared first on Hypebot.

Kaskade “beyond excited” to become first in-game DJ at the Super BowlKaskade has been announced as the first ever in-game DJ for the Super Bowl, which is due to take place this Sunday (11 February). He will be taking the slot as Tiësto, who was originally set to play at the event, pulled out due to a family emergency.
Kaskade will perform both prior to kickoff and during featured breaks within the game, making him the first artist to perform throughout the famous sport event.

READ MORE: Legowelt, Mr Scruff, Nightmare On Wax & more will play at Houghton Festival 2024

Sharing his excitement and gratitude, Kaskade took to social media: “As a kid who grew up in Chicago watching the NFL Super Bowl every year with my family this chance to actually be part of it is absolutely mind blowing.
“Las Vegas has been my second home for the past decade, as an architect of creating a landscape that includes House and Dance Music residencies as part of its destination,” he adds. “To be able to be the first Electronic Musician to be part of the full game experience of the Super Bowl held in Las Vegas seems like coming home, and I’m beyond excited to represent my community.”

As a kid who grew up in Chicago watching the @NFL Super Bowl every year with my family this chance to actually be part of it is absolutely mind blowing. Las Vegas has been my second home for the past decade, as an architect of creating a landscape that includes House and Dance… pic.twitter.com/UQ9w6cUNyr
— Kaskade (@kaskade) February 9, 2024

Tiësto announced his withdrawal from the Super Bowl just yesterday (8 February), revealing that an important family matter means he must return home this weekend.
He wrote online, “Me and my team have been preparing something truly special for months, but a personal family emergency is forcing me to return home Sunday morning. It was a tough decision to miss the game, but family always comes first. Thank you to the NFL for the collaboration and looking forward to working with them to deliver something incredible together in the future !”

Me and my team have been preparing something truly special for months, but a personal family emergency is forcing me to return home Sunday morning. It was a tough decision to miss the game, but family always comes first. Thank you to the @NFL for the collaboration and looking…
— Tiësto (@tiesto) February 8, 2024

Super Bowl LVIII kicks off on 11 February at Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium at 6:30pm EST (11:30pm GMT). The game will see the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers go head-to-head. Kaskade’s performance will air on the CBS Super Bowl LVIII broadcast and will be streamed live on his social media channels.
Find out more at the NFL.
The post Kaskade “beyond excited” to become first in-game DJ at the Super Bowl appeared first on MusicTech.

Baby Audio’s new physical modelling synth plugin, Atoms, “constantly shifts and regenerates like a natural organism”Baby Audio has released a new physical modelling synth plugin, Atoms, which can be used to produce both “otherworldly” and “organic” sounds.
Modelled on the behaviour of real-life instruments, Atoms consists of six main parameters – Chaos, Force, Drive, Order, Overtones and Filter – that can be automated with a series of motion options, in order to create soundscapes that are “constantly shifting and regenerating, like a natural organism”. There are also options to randomise the parameters and the choice to lock parameters from changing.

READ MORE: These gold speaker systems are a level of bougie we’d probably never be able to afford

The bottom panel of the synth, which controls things such as attack, release, modulation, space and more can be used to further sculpt the sounds.
“Nothing in the natural world is ever truly static,” Baby Audio says. “Physical modelling mimics this by generating sounds with the same organic fluctuations as acoustic instruments.”
The brand goes on to explain that the plugin uses features that are “deep enough to explore the outer bounds of sound design, yet so simple that you can easily mangle, shape and create”.
“At its heart, Atoms is like a bowed string instrument created in a science lab, living and breathing with a mind of its own,” Baby Audio says. “It’s capable of everything from sci-fi ambience to naturalistic string sounds. Since Atoms is based on a virtual acoustic structure, you can think of it like an evolution of a traditional musical instrument.”
You can watch the synth in action below:

Atoms is available now for $59. For more information, head to Baby Audio.
The post Baby Audio’s new physical modelling synth plugin, Atoms, “constantly shifts and regenerates like a natural organism” appeared first on MusicTech.

UKG legend Scott Diaz: “The top artists are not saturating the market with average tracks on a weekly or fortnightly basis. They wait until they have something strong”Scott Diaz has shared some thoughts on how to make an impact as an artist in a new social media post, stressing quality over quantity.

READ MORE: Jack Antonoff awarded Producer Of The Year for the third year in a row at the 2024 Grammys

The UK garage and house legend begins, “If you’re releasing tracks pretty much every week and they’re not making any impact, maybe you should start thinking about why that is, and strongly consider slowing down your output and focusing on getting it right if it means you can make higher quality music.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Scott Diaz (@scott_diaz)

He says that this will be “more effective for your career, your confidence and your potential future opportunities”, explaining that the most successful artists aren’t saturating the market with “average tracks” on a regular basis. Rather, they wait until they have a strong track.
He finishes, “Release as much music as you want – but if it’s not strong, then you’re doing more harm than good in the long run. Said with love.”
Diaz has been busy in the studio, too, with his new EP Sometimes The Rain Writes The Music out on 1 March on Grand Plans, while he’s been working with frequent collaborator LOA.
But as well as working on new music, he’s also been looking back on his discography to date. Sharing a similar sentiment to that expressed in his above post, he said in a Facebook post last week, “There seems to be such a constant focus on pushing out new music and making the next thing that it’s really easy to forget what you did in the past, and what impact it had.

“Going to start sharing back catalogue gems that I’m most proud of for whatever reasons. Seems like it’ll serve as a nice reminder and hopefully the music will be new to some of you.”
Alongside the message, he shared the track Philadelphia from his 2016 release Lovesick Part II.

There seems to be such a constant focus on pushing out new music and making the next thing that it's really easy to…
Posted by Scott Diaz on Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Stay up to date with Scott Diaz via his official website.

The post UKG legend Scott Diaz: “The top artists are not saturating the market with average tracks on a weekly or fortnightly basis. They wait until they have something strong” appeared first on MusicTech.