ReportWire

Tag: Spotify

  • Spotify Hates Albums. Here’s How to Fix That

    Spotify Hates Albums. Here’s How to Fix That

    [ad_1]

    I wish there were more options here. For example, it would be great if the end of one album could result in the start of a similar album, or if I could turn the feature off for albums and on for playlists. Still, it’s nice to have the choice, and I choose to keep this off.

    Listen to Multiple Albums by the Same Artist in a Row

    I sometimes like to queue up albums by the same artist. There isn’t a straightforward way to do this in Spotify, but it’s not impossible. Head to the profile page for any artist, then scroll down to the Discography section. You should see a Show all link in the top right.

    Spotify via David Nield

    Click this and you’ll see all albums in order. Click Play on the top one and Spotify will play through every track in every album, from most recent to oldest. You can filter out singles and EPs if you want; just click the arrow by the word All in the top-right corner and select Albums.

    Again, this isn’t perfect. I’d prefer to listen to an artist’s catalog in chronological order, as opposed to starting with the most recent album and working my way backward. The only way to get that is to make a playlist, or to search for a playlist made by someone else.

    Look for Playlists That Aren’t ‘For You’

    Screenshot of Spotify

    Spotify via David Nield

    You might think that playlists are the same for everyone, but that’s not true. Many are built automatically by Spotify using your playback history, which, if you’re an album listener, means the playlist is crammed with a hodgepodge of tracks from whatever you’ve got on regular rotation at the moment. This can make all playlists feel the same, but there’s a trick to staying out of this rut: Look for playlists that don’t have the “Made for” marker at the top. These are public playlists curated by actual human Spotify users, not something influenced by your personal listening habits. I find this method of avoiding the algorithmic For You playlists helps me discover new music instead of just rehearing familiar tracks.

    Search for Albums Without Using Your Mouse

    Finding an album in Spotify using just your mouse can take multiple clicks. Everything is a lot faster if you use the keyboard shortcut Control+K on PC or Command+K on Mac. This will bring up a search bar. Just type what you want to listen to and use the up and down arrow keys to browse to a result.

    Screenshot of Spotify

    Spotify via David Nield

    From here you can hit Enter to open the album, artist, or playlist page. You can also hit Shift-Enter to immediately start playing the current selection. It’s the fastest way to find and play something, albums included.

    [ad_2]

    Justin Pot

    Source link

  • Spotify Will Brick Every ‘Car Thing’ It Ever Sold

    Spotify Will Brick Every ‘Car Thing’ It Ever Sold

    [ad_1]

    Owners of Spotify’s soon-to-be-bricked Car Thing device are begging the company to open source the gadgets to save some the landfill. Spotify hasn’t responded to pleas to salvage the hardware, which was originally intended to connect to car dashboards and auxiliary outlets to enable drivers to listen to and navigate Spotify.

    Spotify announced this week that it’s bricking all purchased Car Things on December 9 and not offering refunds or trade-in options. On a support page, Spotify says:

    We’re discontinuing Car Thing as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline our product offerings. We understand it may be disappointing, but this decision allows us to focus on developing new features and enhancements that will ultimately provide a better experience to all Spotify users.

    Spotify has no further guidance for device owners beyond asking them to reset the device to factory settings and “safely” get rid of the bricked gadget by “following local electronic waste guidelines.”

    The company also said that it doesn’t plan to release a follow-up to the Car Thing.

    Early Demise

    Car Thing came out to limited subscribers in October 2021 before releasing to the general public in February 2022.

    In its Q2 2022 earnings report released in July, Spotify revealed that it stopped making Car Things. In a chat with TechCrunch, it cited “several factors, including product demand and supply chain issues.” A Spotify rep also told the publication that the devices would continue to “perform as intended,” but that was apparently a temporary situation.

    Halted production was a warning sign that Car Thing was in peril. However, at that time, Spotify also cut the device’s price from $90 to $50, which could have encouraged people to buy a device that would be useless a few years later.

    Car Thing’s usefulness was always dubious, though. The device has a 4-inch touchscreen and knob for easy navigation, as well as support for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and voice control. But it also required users to subscribe to Spotify Premium, which starts at $11 per month. Worse, Car Thing requires a phone using data or Wi-Fi connected via Bluetooth in order to work, making the Thing seem redundant.

    In its Q1 2022 report, Spotify said that quitting Car Thing hurt gross margins and that it took a 31 million euro (about $31.4 million at the time) hit on the venture.

    Open Source Pleas

    Spotify’s announcement has sent some Car Thing owners to online forums to share their disappointment with Spotify and beg the company to open source the device instead of dooming it for recycling centers at best. As of this writing, there are more than 50 posts on the Spotify Community forums showing concern about the discontinuation, with many demanding a refund and/or calling for open sourcing. There are similar discussions happening elsewhere online, like on Reddit, where users have used phrases like “entirely unacceptable” to describe the news.

    A Spotify Community member going by AaronMickDee, for example, said:

    I’d rather not just dispose of the device. I think there is a community that would love the idea of having a device we can customize and use for other uses other than a song playback device.

    Would Spotify be willing to maybe unlock the system and allow users to write/flash 3rd party firmware to the device?

    [ad_2]

    Scharon Harding, Ars Technica

    Source link

  • How to get your lyrics on Spotify, Instagram, Google, and more – ReverbNation Blog

    How to get your lyrics on Spotify, Instagram, Google, and more – ReverbNation Blog

    [ad_1]

    Want to get your lyrics on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, or TIDAL?

    Would you like your song lyrics to appear at the top of Google results?

    Looking to create engaging content on Instagram that automatically displays your words in-time with the music? 

    One simple process achieves all three objectives. Today I’ll show you how!

    A musician’s guide to Musixmatch

    Here’s how to get your lyrics delivered to streaming and social platforms so the words are synchronized to the music:

    1. Distribute your music

    Before you can synch your lyrics with a track on Spotify or Instagram, you need to make that music available on those same social and streaming platforms!

    With ReverbNation, you can release your music worldwide to every platform that matters.

    2. Get verified with Musixmatch

    Musixmatch can get your lyrics onto Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Google, TIDAL, Instagram, Facebook, and more.

    It’s an app where you enter, format, sync, approve, and deliver your lyrics, along with collaborator credits and song formatting tags.

    But first you need to get verified with Musixmatch.

    NOTE: You may need to upload a photo of a valid ID before you can submit lyrics. 

    3. Choose the song

    Once you have access to your Musixmatch dashboard, go to your “Roster” of songs. 

    You may immediately see songs in your “To Do” list that are missing lyrics. Otherwise, hit the “Music” tab. 

    Select the song and hit “Edit Lyrics.”

    4. Enter the lyrics

    You can paste the lyrics into the lyric field.

    Or listen along to the song and transcribe the lyrics in real-time. 

    For convenience, a player below the lyrics field will source audio from Spotify or Apple Music.

    5. Format the lyrics

    After typing or pasting the lyrics, be sure to follow Musixmatch’s formatting guidelines. 

    For instance: Every line should begin with a capital letter.

    If your entry doesn’t meet the formatting guidelines, you’ll see a helpful window with suggestions.

    A virtual assistant can automatically fix these errors. 

    6. Add section tags

    This is where you’ll categorize stanzas as verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge, etc. 

    If you have a longer instrumental section or solo between sections, you can mark that as #INSTRUMENTAL. 

    7. Sync the words to the music

    The Musixmatch app makes it easy for you to toggle through the lyrics while the track plays.

    This process time-stamps the lyrics so they’ll automatically sync when someone streams the track on Spotify. Or when someone creates an Instagram Reel using your song.  

    8. List credits

    Who wrote the words and music?

    Did someone else mix, master, and produce the track? Were there session players?

    You can credit everyone accordingly during this step.

    9. Submit the lyrics

    Hit the “Send” button when you’re ready.

    Then Musixmatch will deliver the words to their affiliated platforms.

    If there are any issues, you’ll see a warning appear and have a chance to fix it. 

    10. Share your lyrics!

    Now the fun part.

    It’s time to post creative content that showcases your words on Instagram and Facebook. 

    Conclusion

    One of the happy outcomes of the Social-Video Age is that people are accustomed to seeing captions now. They expect text on-screen. And they’re willing to READ IT to dive deeper into the content. 

    And guess what? That means people will engage with your lyrics. Great news for songwriters who want their social content to be an extension of their artistry!

    Thanks to Musixmatch, getting your lyrics synched-up with your tracks on major social and streaming platforms is easy. This is a process you should revisit every time you launch new music, and it’ll take you barely more time than it takes to listen to the song. 

    Release your songs on Spotify, Instagram, and more.

    ReverbNation is the best-kept secret in music distribution.

    With real support. Industry access. And you keep 100% of your royalties.

    [ad_2]

    Chris Robley

    Source link

  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

    [ad_1]

    Now that we’re in the wake of Taylor Swift’s epic release of The Tortured Poets Department anthology, other artists have gathered the courage to release music yet again…I mean, the album literally broke every Spotify record in the book- already surpassing 1 billion streams in five days, she has the most streamed song and album in a single day. You get the point.

    But now, you’ve replayed the album sufficiently and you’re ready for new music. I know, we’re all insatiable when it comes to streaming new tracks. It’s why fans of other artists are lamenting that their faves don’t release as often as Swift. If, say, Billie Eilish or Harry Styles started releasing more frequently alongside Swift, we’d have a lot of work to do…my playlists would grow endless.

    Every Friday, I like to compile a list of the hottest new hits released that day so you know which songs to listen to. Whether you’re heading into the weekend ready to party, or need to get some spring cleaning done and need a soundtrack…there’s a song on my Weekend Playlist for everyone.

    And yes…our playlists are now available on Spotify! So all you need to do is press play and let the music take you away from your laptops and into your weekend.

    So, without further ado, let’s get listening!

    Chris Lake, Sammy Virji, Nathan Nicholson- “Summertime Blues”  

    We are no strangers to the technical genius of Chris Lake here at Popdust. He has the power to hop on collaboration tracks and make a hit…which is exactly what happens in “Summertime Blues.” An instant house classic that will smoothly transition you from spring to summer.

    Every warm weather season needs its essential techno house track, and it looks like we already have it. “Summertime Blues” transcends the listener to a club somewhere far away, maybe in Ibiza. It’s an instant classic- bouncy, sunny, heavy on the bass. A perfect blend of Virji, Lake, and Nicholson. Chef’s kiss.

    R3HAB, Jason Derulo- “Animal” 

    Jason Derulo and R3HAB team up for the ultimate collaboration: “Animal.” With Derulo’s smooth vocals and R3HAB’s production talent, you’ll be playing this song over and over. If you want a song with sexy lyrics, Jason Derulo’s famed voice, and R3HAB’s ability to meld any track into gold, this one is for you.

    This is the fourth collaboration for the now iconic duo, and it shows. “Animal” is a product of two powerhouses in their respective genres who know how to make a hit. Combining sounds isn’t always easy, but R3HAB and Derulo make you think it is.

    Mabel- “Vitamins” 

    Mabel delivers a hard-hitting R&B track with “Vitamins.” Perhaps my favorite song on the playlist this week, Mabel reminds you that she’ll be good for you. It’s reminiscent of R&B greats like Mary J. Blige and Ashanti, with all the soulful vocals and heartfelt passion that only Mabel can convey in her music. It’s easy listening, a slow burn that keeps shining from start to finish. About the track she says,

    “This is my family and friends’ favorite song out of all the music I’ve made over the past couple of years. It’s a reminder to the man I love to take care of himself but also that in difficult times I’ll always be there in his corner. I dedicate the record to my uncle David Cherry who passed during the making of this song. He was a musician and I felt him guiding me musically during the session, to be braver and bolder with my songwriting.”

    The Scarlet Opera- “Catch Me If You Can” 

    The Scarlet Opera delivers an empowering symphony of guitar and keys with “Catch Me If You Can.” It’s your dose of rock-and-roll combined with a mixture of badass lyricism, an intoxicating chorus, and a whole lot of infectious melodies. The Scarlet Opera’s message is that they have their stuff figured out, and they’re not letting anyone stop them.

    “We don’t really believe in revenge, but we do believe in epic destiny. We’re fortunate that those who have and continue to doubt us, hold little space in our hearts– this record will act as a constant reminder that we’re in control. Catch us if you can!”

    Justice, Tame Impala- “Neverender” 

    A Tame Impala track is essential for warm weather. Teaming up with the all-encompassing French touch DJ, Justice, the duo delivers a solid track in “Neverender.” Upbeat, well-paced, and catchy, this song will get you through the weekend seamlessly.

    If you want to check out our playlists, listen on our Spotify below!

    Listen To The Playlist On Spotify!

    [ad_2]

    Jai Phillips

    Source link

  • Spotify tests Apple’s resolve with new pricing update in the EU

    Spotify tests Apple’s resolve with new pricing update in the EU

    [ad_1]

    It’s a post-Digital Markets Act (DMA) world, and Spotify continues to test what that means for its iOS app. The music streamer announced that it submitted an update for Apple’s approval that would allow Spotify to display “basic pricing and website information” on its app in Europe and “the bare minimum outlined under the European Commission’s ruling in its music streaming case.” Within a few hours, Apple had rejected the update.

    In the news, shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Spotify’s chief public affairs officer Dustee Jenkins further stated, “By charging developers to communicate with consumers through in-app links, Apple continues to break European law. It’s past time for the Commission to enforce its decision so that consumers can see real, positive benefits.”

    In the hours following Spotify’s stunt, Apple swiftly moved to reject the update. In a response sent to Spotify and shared with Engadget, the company said the following:

    Hello team at Spotify,

    We are reaching out to let you know about new information regarding your app, Spotify – Music and Podcasts, version 8.9.33.

    As you may be aware, Apple created a new Music Streaming Services Entitlement (EEA) for iOS and iPadOS music streaming apps offered in EEA storefronts. The entitlement allows music streaming apps to use buttons, external links, or other calls to action to direct customers to a purchase mechanism on a website owned or controlled by the developer. You must accept its terms before adding any of these capabilities to your app. Please find more information about the entitlement here.

    We note that your current submission includes a call to action to purchase a Spotify subscription on your website. As such, you must accept the terms of the Music Streaming Services Entitlement (EEA) and include the entitlement profile in your app for submission. To be clear, this entitlement is required even if your app does not include an external link (nor does it require that you offer an external link). We will, however, approve version 8.9.33 after you accept the terms of the Music Streaming Services Entitlement (EEA) and resubmit it for review.

    If you have any questions about this information, please reply to this message to let us know.

    Best regards,

    App Review

    Spotify is — surprise! — not pleased with this development. A spokesperson for the company told Engadget that “Apple has once again defied the European Commission’s decision, rejecting our update for attempting to communicate with customers about our prices unless we pay Apple a new tax.” They added that Apple’s “disregard for consumers and developers is matched only by their disdain for the law.”

    Apple and Spotify have consistently butted heads over what the latter can and can’t do with its iOS app. Following the DMA going into effect, Spotify submitted an update to Apple that would have allowed users to purchase plans directly from the app, but Apple rejected it. Apple did so even though the European Union had just hit it with a nearly $2 billion fine for “blocking” alternative music apps. The EU is also investigating Apple, Meta and Google for self-preferencing and charging developers additional fees.

    Update, April 25 2024, 2:50PM ET: This story has been updated twice since publishing. The first update, at 8:45AM ET, included Spotify’s reaction to Apple’s rejection. The second update, published at 2:50PM ET, included a letter sent by Apple to Spotify.

    [ad_2]

    Sarah Fielding

    Source link

  • An Iconic CD Changer Is Back to Challenge Streaming Fatigue

    An Iconic CD Changer Is Back to Challenge Streaming Fatigue

    [ad_1]

    Today, Bang & Olufsen—the audio company that has made what we called “the prettiest gadgets in the world”—is rereleasing its iconic CD player, the Beosound 9000. If you were alive in the 1990s, you definitely saw this CD player standing in a place of honor, six discs and glass lid gleaming, either in your bougiest friend’s home or in the background on an episode of Entourage. Now you can buy it again as a new item from Bang & Olufsen rather than bid for one on eBay.

    This is the second project in a series of what the company calls “recreated classics.” Bang & Olufsen sourced 200 original units of the Beosound 9000 and brought them to the company’s factory in Struer, Denmark. There, the Bang & Olufsen team—some of whom worked on the original models—carefully disassembled, cleaned, and repaired each unit. Each was then individually tested and fine-tuned to meet B&O’s audio standards.

    To lend it a more modern look, the team inverted the black and aluminum finishes of the original. The new black backplate makes the CDs stand out even more as works of art. But never fear—all the aluminum parts are still from the original Beosound 9000s. The pieces were all brushed, etched, and blasted in Bang & Olufsen’s factory, then re-machined and re-anodized to bring them in line with the looks of the classic player.

    The Beosystem 9000c is a complete package.

    Photograph: Bang & Olufsen

    The dressed-up CD players will only be sold as part of a package that includes a pair of high-end Beolab 28 speakers and a fancy Beoremote. The products are bundled together under the name Beosystem 9000c. Only 200 units are being produced, and each bundle costs $55,000. Even if that price puts it out of reach for most of us, the Beosound 9000’s design is worthy of celebration for what it represents.

    What Goes Around

    Beosystem 9000c CD player

    The player’s glass door swings open on a motor so you can change the discs.

    Photograph: Bang & Olufsen

    The Danish brand has long prioritized product longevity, using high-end materials and keeping durability in mind. Also, its products exude timeless, quirky vibes that you really just can’t get anywhere else. I always think of the Beosound Bluetooth speaker that looks just like a picnic basket, but in 2021 the company also released the Beosound Level, an exceptionally beautiful $2,000 Bluetooth speaker that was designed to be easily repaired; the battery, wood, and cloth elements are all replaceable, giving the speaker a lifespan of decades instead of years.

    “The consumer electronics industry is not as resource-efficient as it should be,” says Mads Kogsgaard Hansen, the head of product circularity and portfolio planning at B&O, who I reached over email. By tackling obsolescence through design, he says, his team can “create a movement toward a more long-lasting future, where products serve a purpose after their first useful lifecycle.”

    The original Beosound 9000 was designed by David Lewis, a legendary industrial designer whose work is currently showcased in the Museum of Modern Art. The player’s design—with its inner workings on full display and encased in glass—was based on the concept of “audiovisuality,” which is the idea that exposing a music machine’s basic functionality is beautiful.

    Of course, these days it’s no big deal to see a clear computer case or a folding phone with an exposed hinge. But back in the 1990s, watching a smooth clamp slide soundlessly between CDs or seeing the Beosound 9000’s motorized glass lid slowly swing open was the height of luxury.

    Comes Back Around

    Bang & Olufsen’s rerelease also comes at a time of a CD revival. In my twenties, I worked in a record store—which we called a record store, even though we mostly sold CDs. That’s where bands played free daytime shows and did CD signings and where we wandered over to the death metal or African funk listening stations because the country section was too crowded.

    That click-click-click of people shuffling through bins of jewel cases is permanently embedded in my brain. A lot of us miss it, even those of us who weren’t old enough at the time to listen to music on compact disc, as evidenced by Gen Z buyers gobbling up long-neglected CD collections.

    [ad_2]

    Adrienne So

    Source link

  • Don’t forget to mention these 4 things in your Spotify playlist pitch! – ReverbNation Blog

    Don’t forget to mention these 4 things in your Spotify playlist pitch! – ReverbNation Blog

    [ad_1]

    Want to get your new music onto official Spotify playlists?

    Then there’s a few things you’ll need to remember when you pitch an upcoming track. I’ll get to those in a sec.

    First, though…

    To pitch a song to Spotify:

    Spotify’s editorial team recommends you pitch a track at least 7 business-days in advance of the release, but the earlier the better.

    It’s this last step — the pitch itself — where many musicians miss key opportunities.

    And I don’t mean the part where you’re automatically prompted to choose specific characteristics from a pre-populated list. Things like instrumentation and the language of the lyrics. That’s easy!

    No, it’s the text-box towards the end of the process where many musicians freeze up or fumble. So let’s address what you SHOULD include when you write your pitch in that blank field.

    4 things to include when pitching to Spotify:

    1. The mood, vibe, or topic

    What feeling does the song elicit? What subject matter does it tackle? Tell them in the first few words!

    Not only does this lead with an emotional hook and plant curiosity for the editors, you’re also providing more keyword-rich context for where the song belongs in the Spotify ecosystem.

    2. What playlist the track belongs on

    Reference one or two existing playlists where the song would fit perfectly. It should be a relevant and genre-appropriate playlist, but don’t swing for the fences.

    Mention smaller playlists where emerging artists have a chance of gaining traction. If your tracks do well there, they could then get tested on bigger lists.

    3. Your plan to drive Spotify engagement

    What’s your marketing plan? If you have one, you’re ahead of the crowd. Good job!

    Now it’s time to tell Spotify exactly what that plan entails, specifically as it relates to their platform. Summarize what you will you do, create, and spend in order to get new and existing fans to listen on Spotify.

    4. Name-drop!

    Are there any notable producers, featured guests, or co-writers on the track? Tell Spotify.

    If there’s nobody to name-drop with a collaborator credit, you can list some other artists you sound like.

    Again, this is all about positioning your track in a larger ecosystem of musical peers and influences.

    Conclusion

    Whenever you release new music on Spotify, be sure to include these four things in your pitch. Even if this doesn’t lead to placement on an editorial playlist, you’re giving Spotify the information it needs to make smarter music recommendations.

    So this same process is also boosting your chances of appearing in algorithmic playlists such as Release Radar and Discovery Weekly.

    Happy pitching!

    Remember, the pitching portal is unlocked once your new music is delivered to Spotify.

    So distribute your music to Spotify today.

    [ad_2]

    Chris Robley

    Source link

  • Taylor Swift Smashes Several Spotify Records in Single Day

    Taylor Swift Smashes Several Spotify Records in Single Day

    [ad_1]

    Taylor Swift is riding high on 4/20, but not for the reasons you might think. Though she’s currently on a break from her Eras Tour, the billionaire singer is hard at work promoting her new double album, The Tortured Poets Department, which was released first thing on Friday; later that day, she announced its first single, dropped its first video, and announced a related social media challenge. All that hustling paid off Saturday, as music platform Spotify has announced that she’s smashed the streamer’s (and, in several cases, her own) records across multiple categories in only one day.

    On Friday, Spotify announced on X (formerly Twitter) that TTPD was its most-streamed album in a single day, but at the time that stat was quantified as over 200 million streams. Even that number put it heads and shoulders above the previous record holder, who also happens to be Taylor Swift: Her albums 1989 (Taylor’s Version) and Midnights had previously owned those top slots.

    Spotify revised that streaming figure Saturday, saying the final one-day tally was over 300 million, the first album in its history to reach that benchmark.

    Swift is also “the most-streamed artist in a single day in Spotify history,” the company announced. As with the album achievement, we don’t need to worry about the feelings of the previous title holder, as the last record was set on October 27, 2023 by none other than Taylor Swift, who’d just released 1989 (Taylor’s Version).

    And the hits keep coming, as Spotify tweeted on Saturday that the first single from TTPD, “Fortnight,” “became Spotify’s most-streamed song in a single day.” As of publication time, the company has not announced how many streams it took to achieve that distinction.

    For the sake of comparison, however, it was reported late last year that Mariah Carey’s 1994 holiday song, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” set a single-day streaming record on December 24, 2023 with 23,701,697 streams. Carey was also Spotify’s top single-day song stream artist the previous Christmas Eve, when the same tune received 21,273,357 streams.

    So, is Swift the Grinch who just stole Christmas? Spotify isn’t saying anything, and Vanity Fair’s request for more info was not responded to at the time of publication.

    But while some might not have predicted that Spotify’s previous top one-day single was a 30-year-old holiday song, it was easy to know that TTPD was going to achieve new heights, and we’re not just talking about her boyfriend’s sell-out merch and podcast (which has made some Spotify chart noise as well). Even before its release, TTPD had Spotify’s most pre-saved album countdown page in history, the company said via press release, so Swift’s dominance this weekend was probably as inevitable as Travis Kelce’s recent gridiron triumph. High times, indeed.

    [ad_2]

    Eve Batey

    Source link

  • Rolling Stone Future of Music Recap: Meet the Artists Shaping The Music Scene Today

    Rolling Stone Future of Music Recap: Meet the Artists Shaping The Music Scene Today

    [ad_1]

    It seems like there’s a new “emerging artist” every day. TikTok viral hits become international earworms overnight, propelling artists to instant, but fleeting, fame. It makes sense then, that artists with staying power have often toiled away for years before achieving mainstream success.

    It’s easy to believe that, these days, the music industry values virality above all. But the artists shaping music as we know it rarely emerge from nowhere.

    Just look at the
    2024 Grammy Award Winner for Best New Artist, Victoria Monét. Monét released five EPs before her debut studio album, Jaguar II (2023), and its lead single, “On My Mama,” gave her commercial success. But before Monét’s solo career took off, she was a frequent collaborator of Ariana Grande. She’s also worked on songs and albums for artists like Nas, Travis Scott, Blackpink, Fifth Harmony, T.I., Lupe Fiasco, Chrisette Michele, Brandy, Coco Jones, Chloe x Halle, and more. Over a decade in the industry prepared her to become the verifiable star she is now.

    Some of our other
    artists to watch for 2024 have experienced similar tenures in the industry before finally garnering long-term success. Sabrina Carpenter started her career with Disney and has finally become the popstar she was born to be with Emails I Can’t Send — her fifth studio album. Same with queer trailblazer Renee Rapp, who starred in Mean Girls: The Musical on Broadway before landing the role in the film adaptation and bursting onto the music scene with her debut album Snow Angel.

    What sets these artists apart from the bright but brief flames sparked on TikTok is their dedication to their artistry and self-image. Years of learning how to perform, sharpen their sound, and crafting their public persona prime them for impact and longevity. It takes time to hone lasting talent. And time makes it more satisfying when a musician or a band finally punches through to the mainstream.

    Many artists thrive in niche subcultures playing to curated crowds. Those are some of my favorites — there’s nothing like a basement show packed shoulder-to-shoulder with a small group of people who share your private music obsession. But the artists that shape music as we know it today are coming from all genres. They manage to transcend their niches and add to the collective conversation in a fresh way. But how do they do it? And how do we know which artists are changing music in real-time?

    What is the Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase?

    Everyone fancies themselves a music critic these days. I’m not immune to this. I watch deep dives on my favorite artists on TikTok, curate my
    Spotify playlists like they’re museums, and wax poetic about why my favorite albums deserved Grammys.

    Here at Popdust, we know a thing or two about emerging artists. Which is why we went down South to Austin, Texas for SXSW to catch some of this year’s most exciting acts in person.

    SXSW 2024 was bigger and better than ever. Its crowning jewel is the Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase, which brings together the buzziest and best music acts across genres. The four-night event caps off each evening at SX, bringing an array of artists and audiences together in Austin, Texas.

    What an ideal compliment to the dive bar shows and daytime music showcases. But this high-octane event is more than just a flashy festival. It’s a great predictor of the artists who will prove themselves influential in the coming years. “Artists of tomorrow,” as
    Rolling Stone likes to call them.

    Last year’s performers included artists like Coco Jones, Remi Wolf, Chlöe Bailey, Blondshell, and others who have only become even bigger stars over the past year.

    After this year’s lineup, wiill
    Rolling Stone’s penchant for successful predictions be proven again? Given the record-level excitement for the event, all signs point to yes.

    Emerging Artists to Watch From the Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase 2024

    With 40,000 fans RSVP’ing for the ACL Live event, Austin’s iconic Moody Theater was packed. Each night, fans lined up for hours for a chance to make it into the venue — some for over 14 hours — with the line for Música Mexicana superstar Peso Pluma stretching for blocks and blocks. Sponsors like StockX, ~Pourri, and Bacardi also put on activations and events to celebrate the music and the fans.

    With this much fan excitement, the lineup simply
    had to deliver. Genres included urbano, Southern rock, Afrobeats, hip-hop, amapiano, soul, funk, and good old indie-alt.

    Here is each day’s lineup:

    • Day 1 (Tuesday, March 12) — Teezo Touchdown, Veeze, Lola Brooke, and Chase Shakur
    • Day 2 (Wednesday, March 13) — Peso Pluma, Young Miko, Kevin Kaarl, J Noa, and Pink Pablo
    • Day 3 (Thursday, March 14) — Flo Milli, Pheelz, Preacher, Uncle Waffles, Black Sherif, and Flyana Boss
    • Day 4 (Friday, March 15) — Faye Webster, Red Clay Strays, Scowl, Dylan Gossett, and Jackie Venson

    Take note — you’ll be seeing these names everywhere soon.

    Recap: Everything you missed at Rolling Stone’s SXSW Showcase

    While all of the artists highlighted at this year’s
    Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase are sure to be somewhat influential, we’re most excited to see the trajectory of the headliners who are changing the game right now.

    Here’s a recap of their performances and why, if you’re not already a fan, you will be soon.

    Teezo Touchdown

    Texas’s own Teezo Touchdown headlined opening night. You’ve probably heard him on “RunItUp” by Tyler, the Creator; “Modern Jam” by Travis Scott; or “Amen” by Drake. After years of high-level features, he finally released his debut album
    How Do You Sleep at Night? in September 2023. On stage at SXSW, it’s clear that Teezo’s experience opening for Tyler, the Creator in 2022, and Travis Scott last year has contributed mightily to his magnetic stage presence. Running across the stage brandishing a microphone wrapped in a flower bouquet, Teezo’s energy was infectious. And the crowd ate it up.

    His blend of rock, rap, and pop music is telling of his generation — one who resists genres and embraces the fluidity of form. He also shared a heartwarming story about how he busked at SXSW in 2018. Look at him now! He recently announced a single “MASC” with Doja Cat and A$AP Rocky for Doja’s
    Scarlet 2 Claude Deluxe album. Touchdown’s only getting hotter and hotter.

    Peso Pluma

    Mexico’s favorite rockstar headlined Night 2. After earning the longest lines in SXSW history, his performance proved well worth the wait. Peso Pluma’s signature brand of “música mexicana,” took the crowd to exciting heights. His youthful energy filled the theater — especially when he joined the audience in the pit. It was a sight to behold.

    Dubbed the “Mexican Mick Jagger,” the Gen Z star will release his new album this summer. His undeniable charisma is embedded in his music, earning him a fanatic base of loyal listeners and a chokehold on the music scene. Just wait, he’ll soon transcend boundaries beyond Latinx Pop and hit everyone’s speakers this summer.

    Flo Milli

    Flo Milli had a lot to celebrate as she headlined Night 3 literally as her second album dropped. Iconic behavior. She took the crowd through familiar favorites, her new songs, and premiered a new remix featuring Cardi B and SZA — not bad co-signs for an emerging artist.

    I saw Flo Milli perform in 2020, and watching her on the giant Moody Theater stage was like watching her come alive on a whole new level. After her song “Never Lose Me” got massive attention last year, Flo Milli is poised to be one of music’s next It-Girls. Her versatility is thrilling and admirable, so is her personality and signature tag — if you know, you know.

    Faye Webster

    Like Flo Milli, I’ve seen Faye Webster before. Not once, not twice, but three times. The first was in 2017 — how can it be six and a half years ago? My penchant for “sad girl music” drew me to Webster’s artfully whiny voice and nostalgic yearning. But the Atlanta native is more than another girl whining about her breakups (even though, from Taylor Swift to Olivia Rodrigo, I eat them all up).

    Webster was signed to a rap label and takes lyrical influence from hip-hop and blues artists. She has an energetic stage presence that matches her quirky sound that kept the crowd moving all throughout her set.

    From the sultry sweetness of her TikTok viral hit “Kingston” to the high kicks and guitar riffs pulled off during songs like “I Think I’m Funny Ha Ha” and “In A Good Way,” Faye proves herself to be music’s ultimate cool girl. Rockstar and cry-inducing crooner in one? It’s giving Billie Eilish.

    What to learn from the Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase 2024

    The future of music, according to Rolling Stone, is genre-fluid, youthful, and packed with energy. It also has one important factor: the ability to connect to an audience. Whether it’s on stage of through headphones, all the emerging artists have managed to connect with their ideal audiences and stay there thanks to their dedicated artistry and unique perspectives.

    I’m excited to see what all these acts have in store for us next. And for
    Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase at SXSW 2025!

    [ad_2]

    Jai Phillips

    Source link

  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

    [ad_1]

    Breaking news: it’s Friday. So that means we have a whole week’s worth of new music. After Billie Eilish basically broke the internet by announcing a new album this week, everyone’s wondering who else is gearing up to release some future Grammy nominees. My guess? Harry Styles. (Or is that just a wish?)

    Either way, we have to focus on the present. While I’m overly ecstatic for it to be the weekend, I’m also equally excited to be listening to all these songs on Spotify. Plus, Coachella starts today, and I know a lot of you are going to need to add some songs to your pregame playlists.

    As always, I’ve combed through every New Music Friday playlist, I’ve read all the press releases, and I’ve done my own research. Here are some of the best new songs to listen to that were released today. Let’s get listening!

    Sabrina Carpenter- “Espresso” 

    Sabrina Carpenter is having herself a year. Ahead of her first Coachella performance this weekend, she releases “Espresso”, a fun-loving hit single that makes you want to lose all your worries and just move. Carpenter is having fun with her life, and it reflects her music. Written in Paris, she was in her traveler mindset just appreciating what the world had to offer. One of my favorite releases today, “Espresso” is a certified banger.

    Sabrina told Zane Lowe,

    “I don’t think I’ve ever gone into writing an upbeat, confident record being like, “I really want to write an upbeat, confident record.” I have to be in that headspace and I have to be in that mood. And this was one of those times in my life where it was just like, I just thought I was the shit in the moment.”

    Perrie- “Forget About Us” 

    Perrie Edwards may not be a familiar name by any means…formerly a leading member of Little Mix, Edwards’ vocal power set her apart from the crowd early on. “Forget About Us” is Perrie’s debut single as a solo artist, a pivotal song that’s both upbeat in melody and melancholic in lyricism.

    Written alongside Ed Sheeran, she reminds us in the same track that although relationships don’t always last, they’re still dynamic moments in our lives that shape who we are. Edwards says,

    “I look back on past relationships and do think happily about those times. Do I want to be there now? No. It didn’t work out that way and if it was supposed to be it would have happened. Relationships have been a huge part of my life and they’ve made me who I am now. I think it’s a nice sentiment to be honest about and it’s super relatable.”

    Peter McPoland- “Speed of the Sound (of you)” 

    Peter McPoland is a one-of-a-kind talent in the music industry. A special force who can write, produce, and record a record by himself and have it sound flawless, McPoland has an ear for a hit track. As his prowess grows, the songs get better…which is exactly the case with “Speed of the Sound (of you).”

    McPoland’s first song of 2024 doesn’t disappoint by any means. It’s a bop that’s worthy of playing over and over. Unique in its own way, Peter McPoland delivers yet another earworm-y song.

    Dua Lipa- “Illusion” 

    I’m getting a bit upset with Dua Lipa for not releasing any sort of ballad and declaring that her album would sound different than the rest…however, I can’t deny that her disco-pop style is great for partying. Although she hasn’t strayed far from her usual style, Lipa shows us she knows what it takes for a chart-topping record…and she’s sticking with what works.

    “Illusion” is every bit the 80’s workout sound you know and love.

    Future, Metro Boomin- “We Still Don’t Trust You” 

    Metro Boomin is the Jack Antonoff of rap, if that makes sense. A highly regarded producer and creator who can work with the best-of-the best and create a Grammy-nominated album every single time. Every time you hear that iconic “Metro Boomin want some more” intro, you know you’re getting a banger.

    “We Still Don’t Trust You” is an absolute vibe. A song I could see myself driving on the highway to at midnight, it’s more beat-heavy than about lyricism. Plus, a few melodies from The Weeknd make this even more of a brooding, moody tune that just works.

    Maggie Rogers- “The Kill” 


    Maggie Rogers has gone for the kill with her new album, Don’t Forget Me. A songwriter to her core, Maggie Rogers is highly regarded as one of the best indie alt stars of our generation. This album deserves its own separate article, but “The Kill” is one of her best submissions.

    About a relationship that has gone sour, Maggie Rogers reflects on how things used to be good…but now they’re just going for the kill.

    Chlöe- “Boy Bye” 


    Chlöe delivers an electric breakup anthem with “Boy Bye.” I immediately added this to my playlist because the song encapsulates being so done with a partner, needing to leave them because they don’t treat you right. She bids her boy bye with this upbeat R&B track, telling him to go back to his mother because she won’t even cry.

    It makes me even more excited for her debut album, In Pieces. The world is in desperate need of an R&B diva who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is…and I think we’ve found her.

    Suki Waterhouse- “Fun” 


    New mother, Suki Waterhouse, is wasting no time getting back to her music. In “My Fun”, she yearns for a partner who loves her like she loves having her fun. A folksy rock track that is reminiscent of classic greats like The Beatles, “My Fun” is the perfect ending to this playlist.

    Fun loving, scream worthy, “My Fun” is an easy listen. Suki Waterhouse makes no mistakes with her music.

    Listen To Our Full Playlist Here: 

    [ad_2]

    Jai Phillips

    Source link

  • Did Social Media Kill the Pop Song?

    Did Social Media Kill the Pop Song?

    [ad_1]

    Not everyone is buying it. Despite the study’s findings, “I don’t believe hip-hop lyrics are more angry,” says Dame Aubrey, head of A&R for CMG Records and Management, a music label that represents rappers Moneybagg Yo, BlocBoy JB, and GloRilla. If anything, Aubrey says, what changes we do hear are a product of how music has expanded. It’s simple, Aubrey says: more people, more perspectives. The medium is more accessible now because of the technology available. “There’s just a lot more artists with opportunities to be heard because it basically became a trend to make music.”

    One major adjustment in all of this is the mechanics of how a song gets popular, and what its popularity generates.

    In the age of social media, that can often translate into more of the same kinds of sounds, although that is not always the case. So when Lamar throws punches at Drake—dubbing him one of the “goofies with a check” and following that with “Fore all your dogs gettin’ buried / That’s a K with all these nines, he gon’ see the pet cemetery”—the verses gain traction on X because they feed into the theatrics of online socializing, which is defined by joy and camaraderie between users as much as heated confrontation.

    Rap has always gotten, well, a bad rap. Ego, anger, swagger—those emotions are part of the genre’s raucous identity. Since hip-hop’s founding 50 years ago, artists have wielded those sentiments to illustrate their realities. Rap is sport. It’s theater. It is the very kind of music that encourages the style of intense engagement that is increasingly common among fans online.

    Are less positive song lyrics actually on the rise, or is the popularity of a certain kind of song simply a reflection of what we think the algorithm wants to hear?

    Streaming transformed the music industry in every way possible. Crafting hit songs is somehow easier but just as difficult. The winds of virality can still be unpredictable. Although it is not an exact science, what is evident is how streaming playlists help deliver a song to large audiences in ways analog media couldn’t.

    “While there are certainly trends in organic popularity, one unique thing about playlists is the significance and importance of context,” says JJ Italiano, head of global music curation and discovery at Spotify. “Even the most popular songs can vary wildly in how well they perform, depending on the playlist that they’re in and the other songs around them in that playlist.”

    Dasha’s recent viral hit “Austin” had around 10,000 streams when Spotify editors began programming it for their playlists, Italiano says, and it did best when paired with similar on-theme pop songs that straddle country and pop, sequenced among summery, guitar-driven tunes (like Noah Kahan), narrative-rich country songs (like Zach Bryan), or similar heartbreak tracks from a different genre (like Mitski). “Eventually the song became so popular on Spotify that it made its way into our most popular playlist, Today’s Top Hits,” he says. But over time, Italiano notes, sequencing does become less crucial to a song’s lifespan as listeners develop a “deep familiarity” with the song.

    Artists, then, find themselves making music in line with what’s trending, trying to achieve the same level of reach that songs like “Austin” or “Like That” did. In years past, everything from war to heartbreak influenced the music of the moment. That’s still true, but now TikTok, X, and other platforms drive the conversation as much as anything else. “Social media definitely plays a part in song writing just as the community, movies, and television once played a part,” Aubrey says of rap. Depending on the temperature of exchange among users, which swings from lukewarm to indignant depending on the artist, it prompts certain songs to dominate the conversation. Taylor Swift’s most popular online tracks are often the ones detailing scorn.

    Even an artist like Milwaukee rapper Khal!l, who told WIRED in August that he wanted to “create an atmosphere where we can mosh-pit but then also cry and hold hands and shit,” finds himself beholden to the algorithm. He got famous thanks to TikTok, and the best way to sustain his presence on the app is to feed it the content that resonates: “We gotta ride this horse ’til the hooves fall off.”

    [ad_2]

    Jason Parham

    Source link

  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

    [ad_1]

    Happy Cowboy Carter day– oops, I mean Friday — to all who celebrate. Yes, it feels a bit sacrilegious to work on Opening Day, Beyonce’s Release Day, and Good Friday, but I digress. Some of us have to stay strong and power through the workday while others are enjoying the singular sunny day we’ve had all week.

    But, I’m not bitter. No. Because every Friday I jump out of bed and open my Spotify app, where I’m greeted by a plethora of new music that just makes the day go by quickly. And even better, I get to make a fresh playlist for everyone to enjoy throughout the weekend.

    With Easter coming up, we all have our plans to travel home and that entails tons of music. Whether you’re trying to ignore your family members, need something to pass the long hours traveling, or simply need some new tunes to fill your playlist with, I’ve got you covered. Because we all understand how difficult it can be to comb through every single playlist on Spotify, I do the work for you!

    While you may be streaming Ariana Grande’s Written By playlist on Spotify, which includes some of her own smash hits like “7 Rings”, “Positions”, and “Into You”, and also features collaborations with Missy Elliott (“Borderline”), Lil Wayne (“Let Me Love You”), Nicki Minaj (“Bad to You”), Pharrell Williams (“Blazed”), and The Weeknd (“Off the Table”), among others…it’s time for new music.

    It’s a new weekend filled with brand new music from artists like Beyonce, Becky Hill, and more. While Cowboy Carter has been all the rage as Beyonce makes her country debut, I took the time to shoutout a few songs you may have missed. I’m super excited, so let’s get listening!

    Becky Hill- “Outside Of Love”

    As her album inches closer, Becky Hill proves time and time again that she can push boundaries in the dance community. She can make a heartfelt ballad feel like a dance party- having a unique ability to isolate her vocal abilities while uplifting her lyrics. “Outside of Love” is one of her best to-date, which means it only gets better from here. Becky says,

    “I’m so proud to present my latest single ‘Outside Of Love.’ This song is a big anthemic dance ballad with fresh underground production and is one of the stand out moments of the new album. I wrote it with my long time collaborators Mike Kintish and Charlotte Haining ,and producers Parisi. I really hope people connect to this frustrated and isolated love song and still feel like they wanna dance their way through the shared sadness.”

    Anyma- Genesys II

    Anyma is a dynamic character in the electronic dance music world. Not only a record label founder and performer in his own right, but a visionary in production and creating music. Following up his debut album, Genesys, Anyma continues to dazzle listeners with Genesys II.

    Exciting and refreshing, Genesys II is exactly what you want from a sophomore album.

    Louis The Child- “Falling” with NJOMZA & Daniel Allen

    My favorite thing about Louis The Child is that they can take any track and turn it into something solely their own. With “Falling”, you get a perfect melancholic vibe that masks sad lyricism behind catchy beat drops. Louis The Child delivers yet another banger in their already impressive discography. They add,

    “We have this thing we love to do when we make music with NJOMZA. We’ll write a song super slow based around some emotional chords, then strip the production, speed the whole song up, and reproduce with the song in mind. This was originally written at 128bpm and sounded like a slow ballad, nothing like what you hear now. We loved the songwriting, and when we got together with Daniel Allan, we played it for him and it was like ‘oh for sure let’s do this.’”

    Quinn XCII- “Pasadena”

    His first song post-fatherhood, Quinn XCII returns with “Pasadena”- a reminder for all of us to just live our lives, because we’re too old to care. It’s about living in the moment, doing things for no reason just because you want to. Quinn XCII gives us the reminder that we don’t need to wait to do the things we love.

    Whether it’s going to Pasadena, or eating breakfast for dinner, this song is a great reminder to live for yourself.

    YUNGBLUD- “Abyss”

    Written as the opening track for the new anime series, Kaiju No. 8, YUNGBLUD traveled to Japan to write the song. What makes “Abyss” stand out is the attention to detail- how it perfectly encapsulates the struggle of the main character while remaining relatable. YUNGBLUD says,

    “I think there are times when we feelthat the world is cruel and not necessarily made for us. I think that’s expressed very beautifully in the story, and it’s really in line with what I’m trying to achieve myself. Tofind my place in the world, to find my friends. Don’t suppress your hidden talents andpower, even if you can’t be proud of them yourself. Because everyone is beautiful”

    [ad_2]

    Jai Phillips

    Source link

  • Joni Mitchell’s music back on Spotify 2 years after boycotting platform | Globalnews.ca

    Joni Mitchell’s music back on Spotify 2 years after boycotting platform | Globalnews.ca

    [ad_1]

    By The Staff


    The Canadian Press

    Posted March 23, 2024 3:28 pm

    Updated March 23, 2024 3:34 pm

    1 min read

    Joni Mitchell’s music is back on Spotify more than two years after the songwriter pulled it off the platform in protest of other content available on the popular streaming service.

    Mitchell herself did not release an official statement announcing the return to Spotify, but a search for her content on the app reveals her complete discography is available to play again.

    Mitchell pulled her music from Spotify in January 2022 in solidarity with fellow Canadian music icon, raised in Winnipeg, Neil Young, who removed his catalog to protest the company’s decision to give controversial podcast host Joe Rogan an exclusive platform.


    The email you need for the day’s
    top news stories from Canada and around the world.

    The email you need for the day’s
    top news stories from Canada and around the world.

    Young had given Spotify an ultimatum over concerns Rogan was spreading COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on his show.

    Young announced earlier this month he was coming back to Spotify, saying on his website that the same “disinformation podcast” is now featured on various streaming platforms and he can’t leave them all.

    Story continues below advertisement

    Rogan signed a new deal with Spotify in February, which the Wall Street Journal estimated was worth as much as US$250 million over several years.

    Trending Now

    This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 23, 2024.

    — with files from The Associated Press


    Click to play video: 'Taking a look at the musical history of Manitoba'


    Taking a look at the musical history of Manitoba


    &copy 2024 The Canadian Press

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • One Man’s Army of Streaming Bots Reveals a Whole Industry’s Problem

    One Man’s Army of Streaming Bots Reveals a Whole Industry’s Problem

    [ad_1]

    A man in Denmark was sentenced to 18 months in prison today for using fake accounts to trick music streaming services into paying him 2 million Danish kroner ($290,000) in royalties. The unusual case reveals a weak spot in the business model behind the world’s biggest music platforms.

    The 53-year-old consultant, who had pleaded not guilty, was convicted of data fraud and copyright infringement after using bots to listen to his own music through fake profiles on both Spotify and Apple Music, collecting royalties in the process. The data fraud took place between 2013 and 2019.

    Fake or “artificial” streams are a big problem for the streaming industry. Between 1 billion and 3 billion fake streams took place on popular music platforms in 2021, according to a study by France’s National Music Center. Fake streams are a problem, according to the music industry, because they divert royalty payments away from real artists and pollute streaming platforms’ data.

    “This is an example of a problem that’s becoming a liability within the music industry,” says Rasmus Rex Pedersen, an associate professor in communication at Roskilde University in Denmark, who researches music streaming. “The streaming services have had several years to develop tools to combat this type of fraud and apparently they haven’t been doing a very good job.” There are still services advertising sales of fake streams, he adds.

    In February, a court in the Danish city of Aarhus heard how the man, whose name was withheld, was accused of using bots to generate a suspiciously high number of plays on 689 tracks, which he had registered as his own music. In one week, 244 music tracks were listened to 5.5 million times, with 20 accounts responsible for the majority of the streams. The defendant had previously argued these playbacks were linked to his job in the music industry. He plans to appeal, his lawyer Henrik Garlik Jensen told WIRED.

    The man created software that played the music automatically, claims Maria Fredenslund, CEO of the Danish Rights Alliance, which protects copyright on the internet and first reported the case to the police. “So he didn’t really listen to the music. No one really listened to the music.” According to the Danish Rights Alliance, the defendant had 69 accounts with music streaming services, including 20 with Spotify alone. Due to his network of accounts, he was at one point the 46th highest-earning musician in Denmark.

    While the defendant created much of the music himself, 37 tracks were altered versions of Danish folk music, where the tempo and pitch had been changed, adds Fredenslund, who attended court.

    Starting in 2016, Danish artists noticed altered versions of their tracks circulating on streaming platforms. They reported the suspicious activity to Koda, a Danish organization that collects and distributes fees for songwriters and composers when their music is played online. In an investigation, Koda uncovered how amounts paid to the consultant went from zero to substantial sums in a short time. Koda then reported the case to the Danish Rights Alliance, which investigates fraudulent behavior. “It’s not just immoral, but blatantly unfair to manipulate payments that should rightfully go to dedicated and hardworking music creators,” says Jakob Hüttel, legal chief at Koda.

    [ad_2]

    Morgan Meaker

    Source link

  • Em Beihold: An Interview With An Understated Popstar

    Em Beihold: An Interview With An Understated Popstar

    [ad_1]

    For Em Beihold, the intention was never to become a popstar. It was never on her radar that she’d tour (spoiler alert: she’s currently touring), she never dreamt that millions of fans would stream her music (they have), or that she’d even be recording her songs.

    Music has called for Em Beihold her entire life. It started when she saw a piano in the window and begged her parents to buy it for her. They’d let her, but only if she practiced, and she admits to me with a laugh that she wasn’t very good,

    “I started playing the piano when I was 6 because I thought cool kids played instruments,” Beihold confesses. “So I started with classical music and then got bored and wanted to see where the notes would go.”

    From there, the piano evolved into not only an instrument to conquer, but a tool to help Em explore the world of music. After working with a teacher, who showed her the world of writing and introduced her ears to artists like Regina Spektor and Fiona Apple, the rest just falls into place.

    “Growing up, the piano felt like my therapy, my journal, my closest friend.”

    And as Em continued to grow up teaching music, she dreamt of making sync songs until she graduated high school (from her living room, she adds) during the pandemic in 2020. But everything changes with the rise of TikTok, an app capable of making your dreams come true and ruining the dreams of others.

    Relatably, Beihold admits that she joined TikTok because her crush was posting at the time. But beyond a bit of doom-scrolling on her crush’s account, Em quickly realized that this app leveled the playing field. Unlike YouTube, she mentions, you didn’t need a certain amount of followers to get a certain amount of views. Game on.

    “I secretly wanted to be an artist, but never let myself say it because I didn’t think it was feasible. I never dreamt that I’d be going on tour or anything like that.”

    It didn’t take long for the world to fall in love with Em Beihold’s bitingly honest lyricism, her crisp vocal range that transcends timelessness, and her natural talent of writing what we’re all feeling.

    When she released her first major label debut single, “Numb Little Bug”, which delves into her struggles of feeling nothing while on anti-depressants, fans were instantly captivated by her candid approach to mental health. But the success of “Numb Little Bug” didn’t mean Em wanted to be pigeon-holed into becoming the poster child for mental health music.

    “When ‘Numb Little Bug’ came out, I was always bracing for the fall,”

    After watching it climb to a million streams on Spotify in less than a day, Beihold remembers being frantic about it. While viral moments are amazing, she tells me how it can be hard to keep up with them when kicking off her career. But, nonetheless, 2022 was booked from there on out.

    She tells me how she’s always written about what she’s feeling- there’s no intention to be funny, or brutally honest, or mean- it’s just whatever is coming out at the time. One thing is for sure: Em Beihold’s music is deserving of the popstardom she didn’t allow herself to dream of…and it’s why she earned opening spots for acts like AJR, King Princess, and Lewis Capaldi. It’s especially why she’s in the midst of her very own headline tour.

    Her music led her to other artists like Lauren Spencer Smith and GAYLE, where they created what Em refers to as “Bang Bang Part Two” with their hit song “Fantasy.” The song’s a scathing breakup anthem- written in LA by the trio as they talked about boys and scrolled through Instagram- Beihold shares that the session was special because it didn’t feel like they were really writing a track, just hanging out.

    Aside from her own music, she hopped on Stephen Sanchez’s hit track, “Until I Found You”- a dreamy, nostalgic blend of their two voices on a timeless love song. She admits that she doesn’t write about love very much, so when she went to write her verse, she was surprised to find it happened in less than a day.

    They had created the song without meeting, coming together for the first time to perform at the Moroccan Lounge. The song worked so well that fans continue to speculate the pair are dating (despite the fact that she has a boyfriend who isn’t Sanchez).

    But her new music is where she shines the most, where she’s on her own and staying true to her songwriting. She credits a team that helps uplift her abilities and letting her shine in areas she’s strong in. With a plethora of instruments in her repertoire including the ukulele, the piano, the guitar, and more, Beihold can continue to surprise us with her music.

    Her most recent single, “Maybe Life Is Good”, is a bit of a sonic shift for her: upbeat, a pop number with a hint of rock, about dreaming of better days. Written during a rough patch in Beihold’s life, the song was more of an aspiration than a reality at the time of writing. You can listen to the song here:

    “‘Maybe Life Is Good’ was a bit of a lifeline. I was writing about what, at the time, wasn’t what I was feeling- which was optimism and positivity. So writing that song was a life vest for me.”

    As for the future, Em Beihold is currently on her very own Maybe Life Is Good tour, where $1 per ticket will go towards Active Minds, an organization that brings mental health services to college campuses, and there will be stands set up at every show. She teases surprise guests, special songs, and an overall amazing time.

    Throughout this interview, Em Beihold has been humble, thoughtful, and insightful, which is exactly reflected in her music. As she rises further into popstardom, it’ll be no surprise.

    [ad_2]

    Jai Phillips

    Source link

  • Bring your Spotify profile BACK TO LIFE in less than 5 minutes! – ReverbNation Blog

    Bring your Spotify profile BACK TO LIFE in less than 5 minutes! – ReverbNation Blog

    [ad_1]

    How you appear on Spotify impacts the way people hear your music. It’s just one of those weird things about human psychology.

    Are your tracks supposed to sound cool, funny, serious, brave, genius, virtuosic, haunted, or carefree? Well, the more your profile LOOKS like it, the better your songs will sound. Especially to new listeners who’ve just discovered you.

    Spotify provides quite a few tools for you to customize your visual vibe and professionalize your profile. Despite how easy these tools are to use though, it’s also easy to let our profiles grow stale. Or we only remember to make updates when we have a new album.

    There’s a quick fix: Put a monthly reminder in your calendar to refresh your profile.

    This monthly cadence coincides with the timeline for making changes to Discovery Mode campaigns, so you’ll want to be logging into Spotify for Artists at least that often anyways. When you do, it’ll only take you a few minutes to breath some new life into your Spotify presence.

    To help you out, here’s a list of 10 easy ways to refresh your Spotify profile. It’s time to make a bigger impact on one of the world’s most important music platforms!

    Your Spotify for Artists checklist

    1. Get verified. If you haven’t claimed ownership of your Spotify artist profile, head on over to Spotify for Artists. Be sure to also download the mobile app. 
    2. Add or update your artist photo. It’s the first and biggest thing people see. Whether they’re on desktop or mobile. 
    3. Swap your “Artist Pick.” Highlight what’s most important: a new track, playlist, album, or merch item.
    4. Drop in your latest bio. It doesn’t have to be long or formal. Tell ’em what’s happening right now in your musical life. 
    5. Add new photos to the Image Gallery. These give Spotify more visual options when they recommend your music in the app or through email.
    6. Check your social links. Are they current and complete?
    7. Share live shows. Display your event listings from Ticketmaster, Eventbrite, Songkick, etc.
    8. Feature a new artist playlist. Add a playlist to your Spotify profile to show off your best tracks, spotlight your heroes, or support your favorite indie artists.
    9. Run a campaign. Enable Discovery Mode for eligible tracks. Explore Marquee for new releases. Or check out Showcase. (These things won’t appear on your profile, but they can drive listeners TO your profile). Or if you have an upcoming release, pitch the track directly to Spotify’s editorial team.
    10. Add a new Canvas or Clips. Spotify is really pushing vertical video, so outfit the newest song in your catalog with its own short looping Canvas video. Or upload a new Clips video whenever prompted (the feature is still in beta for general use). It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just grab something interesting from your camera roll. Update it whenever you like. 

    That’s it! Brand refreshed. 

    But don’t forget that music moves quick. And your profile can all too quickly feel… tired. Or worse, expired.

    So check back in once a month to make sure your Spotify profile is still helping you put your best face forward. 

    Get your next track on Spotify with the best music distribution.

    [ad_2]

    Chris Robley

    Source link

  • Neil Young is begrudgingly returning to Spotify after admitting his protest against Joe Rogan was unsuccessful

    Neil Young is begrudgingly returning to Spotify after admitting his protest against Joe Rogan was unsuccessful

    [ad_1]

    Neil Young is returning to Spotify after a two-year absence—but he doesn’t seem especially happy about it.

    The folk-rock legend, best known for songs like “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man,” announced his return Tuesday, conceding that his protest of the service, which centered around what he called the spread of vaccine misinformation on Joe Rogan’s podcast, had been unsuccessful. And the expansion of Rogan’s program to other streaming platforms made it impossible to continue.

    “My decision comes as music services Apple and Amazon have started serving the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at Spotify,” he wrote in a post on the Neil Young Archives Website. “I cannot just leave Apple and Amazon, like I did Spotify, because my music would have very little streaming outlet to music lovers at all.”

    Deciding to come back doesn’t mean Young is throwing his support behind Spotify, however. In his announcement, he dinged the service, calling it “the #1 streamer of low res music in the world … where you get less quality than we made.” He also plugged rival services Qobuz and Tidal, which offer high-resolution music options.

    Young has been an evangelist for high-resolution streaming for years. In 2012, he co-founded Pono Music, which was dedicated to better quality recordings. That service went live in 2015, but shut down in 2017.

    High-resolution music was a side battle, though. Young’s real issues were with Rogan, who has also been criticized for being anti-transgender. That podcast, however, is Spotify’s most popular—and has been for four years.

    Young wasn’t the only artist to pull their catalog from Spotify. Joni Mitchell, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and David Crosby and India Arie all joined him initially. (Only Mitchell is still off the platform.) Billboard last year estimated Young’s boycott of Spotify had cost him $300,000 in royalties.

    Subscribe to the Eye on AI newsletter to stay abreast of how AI is shaping the future of business. Sign up for free.

    [ad_2]

    Chris Morris

    Source link

  • Neil Young Has Returned To Spotify, Conveniently

    Neil Young Has Returned To Spotify, Conveniently

    [ad_1]

    Neil Young, formerly part of iconic folk rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, is hailed as one of music’s greatest. He’s blended folk rock with country in innovative ways for decades, his music the blueprint of budding artists today. Loved by millions, Neil Young’s music could be found on streaming platforms everywhere…until 2022.

    When Joe Rogan’s podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, spread misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccination, artists like Joni Mitchell and Neil Young called for the removal of their music from Spotify. In a short-lived movement, these artists hoped to make a statement. To “stick it to the man”, if you will.

    Many of the artists who pulled their music from the platform have since returned. Because, at the end of the day, Spotify is the #1 streaming platform in the world. With the most users and traction, thousands of artists thrive on the app. Artists like Neil Young became popular at times where revolutionizing through music was the edgy, popular thing to do…however, Spotify is a misdirected target in this situation. Be mad at Joe Rogan for saying it.

    And recently, Neil Young announced he is returning to “low res” Spotify via his website, Neil Young Archives. He states,

    “Spotify, the #1 streamer of low res music in the world – Spotify where you get less quality than we made, will now be home of my music again. My decision comes as music services Apple and Amazon have started serving the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at SPOTIFY. I cannot just leave Apple and Amazon, like I did Spotify, because my music would have very little streaming outlet to music lovers at all, so I have returned to Spotify, in sincere hopes that Spotify sound quality will improve”

    As the #1 streaming platform in music, that means you lose a lot of streams from removing your discography from the app. Coincidentally, Neil Young is releasing an album with Crazy Horse on April 20, 2024 called F##IN’ UP — a perfect time to return to the app if you ask me.

    [ad_2]

    Jai Phillips

    Source link

  • How to Open Spotify Links If You Aren’t a Spotify User

    How to Open Spotify Links If You Aren’t a Spotify User

    [ad_1]

    Spotify dominates the music industry. This becomes really obvious if you don’t use Spotify: You end up being sent, and inevitably clicking on, Spotify links all the time. It happens on social media, yes, but also in text exchanges with friends, in emails, and in DMs. The thought is a good one; someone enjoyed a piece of music and wanted to share it with you. The problem, though, is that the Spotify link is mostly useless if you don’t use Spotify.

    What if you use other streaming apps, such as those offered by Apple, Amazon, and YouTube, to listen to music? Are you doomed to search for the track, album, or artist on those services manually? Is that forever your fate? Absolutely not. Here are a few tools that can help you turn Spotify links into links for your preferred music service. (Just note, these tools will work to locate songs, artists, and albums across platforms, but since playlists are usually unique to each platform, these methods won’t work with custom playlists.)

    Google Chrome: An Extension to Automatically Redirect Links

    If you use Google Chrome or a compatible browser like Microsoft Edge, the browser extension Music Link can automatically open all Spotify links in whatever music app you like. Just install the extension and click its icon to configure it. Choose which music service you prefer and you’re done: Any Spotify link you get from now on will redirect to your app of choice.

    You can optionally uncheck whatever services you’re fine with getting links to. SoundCloud, for example, tends to let you play music regardless of whether you have an account, and a lot of its offerings aren’t on other platforms, so you might as well not redirect those links. For the most part, though, this is the kind of extension you can install and never think about ever again.

    iPhone and iPad: Song.link for Apple Shortcuts

    Image may contain Text Electronics Mobile Phone and Phone

    Chrome extensions may not always work on iPhones or iPads, but thankfully there’s an Apple shortcut for redirecting Spotify links. Just copy any Spotify URL to the clipboard then launch the shortcut Song.Link. This will find the URL in your clipboard and offer you links to the song on other platforms. There’s even a YouTube link, which is helpful if you don’t subscribe to any streaming service.

    [ad_2]

    Justin Pot

    Source link

  • Apple Fined $2 Billion as Europe Sides With Spotify

    Apple Fined $2 Billion as Europe Sides With Spotify

    [ad_1]

    Apple has a Spotify problem—and it just cost the iPhone maker a $2 billion fine from the European Commission.

    For years, the two companies have been at war as the streaming service lured users away from Apple’s iTunes and accused the tech giant of exploiting its dominance to stifle innovation. In their long-running conflict, each has made incursions into the other’s territory. When Apple launched its own streaming service, Apple Music, in 2015, Spotify claimed Apple was able to undercut the platform’s prices because Apple didn’t have to pay the same App Store fees as rivals. In 2019, Spotify began an ambitious podcast spending spree, splashing out on high-profile shows, in another direct challenge to Apple.

    The feud’s early days were civil, with few barbs traded in public. “We worry about the humanity being drained out of music,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook in 2018, a cryptic comment widely interpreted as a jibe at Spotify’s heavy use of algorithmic recommendations. But Spotify became more outspoken as EU politicians started to call for laws to reign in Big Tech. The €1.8 billion ($1.9 billion) fine on Apple announced by the European Commission today shows that its tactics are working.

    The fine originates in a legal complaint filed with the European Commission by Spotify in 2019, challenging the restrictions and fees Apple places on developers listing their apps in the App Store. Today the European Commission agreed, saying that Apple’s App Store restrictions amount to unfair trading conditions that may have led iOS users to pay significantly higher prices for music streaming subscriptions.

    “For a decade, Apple abused its dominant position in the market for the distribution of music streaming apps through the App Store,” said Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s competition chief, in a statement. “They did so by restricting developers from informing consumers about alternative, cheaper music services available outside of the Apple ecosystem.”

    Apple’s App Store rules restrict music streaming companies and other apps from informing their users on Apple devices about how to upgrade or sign up for subscription offers outside of the app. Instead, app users can only see sign-up options for in-app subscriptions via Apple’s payments system, where prices are likely to be higher because Apple takes a cut. Some app makers, including Spotify, do not offer in-app purchases because they don’t want to pay this commission. “Some consumers may have paid more because they were unaware they could pay less if they subscribed outside the app,” Vestager said. “This is illegal under EU antitrust rules.” Apple, which says the EU has failed to provide credible evidence of consumer harm, has pledged to appeal.

    Big Number

    The fine is far bigger than expected, prompting Apple’s stock to drop 3 percent on Monday. Media reports based on unnamed sources had predicted a penalty of around €500 million. It’s also one of the biggest fines the EU has ever issued against a tech company, ranking below only two Google fines of $5.1 billion and $2.4 billion. Vestager explained in a press conference that the scale of the fine is intended to prevent the company from breaking rules in the future. She added that the amount includes a “lump sum” to “achieve deterrence.” $1.9 billion amounts to 0.5 percent of Apple’s global turnover, she said.

    Although Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has expressed disapproval of Apple’s business tactics, he’s also something of a reluctant figurehead in Europe’s fight against Apple. The self-described introvert has adopted the role of spokesperson for disgruntled European app developers who finally feel their complaints about Big Tech are being heard.

    On Monday, Ek posted a video on X in which he described Apple as a threat to the open internet. “Apple has decided that they want to close down the internet and make it theirs, and they view every single person using an iPhone to be their user and that they should be able to dictate what that user experience should be,” he said. Ek also claimed Apple wants to effectively levy a tax on Spotify while exempting its own music service, Apple Music.

    [ad_2]

    Morgan Meaker

    Source link