INDUSTRY
Here is a Snowballing List of Black-Owned Record Shops to Support
After a Discogs user asked forum contributors to submit information about Black-owned record shops, the popular music platform is now calling on its supporters to help flesh out a snowballing list of stores and establish a “worldwide directory.” The user, Ben Kessler from Washington DC, wants to galvanize those who buy records amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to do so in support of Black record store owners. “After the murder of George Floyd, it became common to share lists of Black-owned businesses serving particular cities or interests,” Kessler told Discogs. “People were already doing their best to stay loyal to their favorite small business — record store or otherwise. And as mainstream America turned its attention to the ind...
Ad Space on an Album Cover? This Indie Electronic Duo Wants to Shake Up the Music Industry
An indie electronic duo is trying to introduce a new advertising medium that would make Don Draper proud—or cringe. It remains to be seen whether or not OYLS‘ new venture will stick in the music industry, but it sure is a situation to keep an eye on. In a landmark move, the Los Angeles-based band recently announced they are selling advertising space on the cover of their forthcoming album. For $4.99, brands can thrust a flagpole on the artwork, which will live on a slew of DSPs and streaming platforms. The self-proclaimed “profit conscious musical duo” are planning to release their debut full-length album on October 2nd, 2020. According to a press release issued to announce the initiative, the album art will be live on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Pandora, ...
Leaked Images Suggest Spotify Is Working On a Virtual Concert Feature
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced a rapid switch from in-person to virtually hosted events overnight. While platforms such as YouTube and Twitch have had the infrastructure to host such events for a number of years, it seems the surge in demand for remote events has grabbed Spotify‘s attention. Screenshots from Jane Manchun Wong, an engineer with a history of uncovering features from major tech companies before they are rolled out, suggest Spotify is beginning to build out its infrastructure for the livestream event era. Wong’s photos show fans may soon have the opportunity to search for virtual events an artist is playing, just as they would today for in-person concerts and music festivals. A move to expand its footprint in the virtual events arena makes sense ...
PLS&TY Teams Up with Ethereum Blockchain Platform to Sell Limited Edition “Very Special” Vinyl
PLS&TY is on a mission to connect music and technology by joining forces with the Ethereum blockchain platform Foundation to sell limited editions of his Very Special EP on vinyl. The EP made waves when it was released back in April, featuring tracks with Sean Kingston, Alex Aiono, and Wifisfuneral, among others. He’s now using this momentum to shine a light on Foundation’s mission to serve as a stock exchange for art and culture, with hopes of inspiring other artists to do the same. The platform allows the market’s natural supply and demand to dictate the price of the goods sold on the platform. Through this dynamic pricing model, artists will benefit directly from the hype that surrounds their work. “For a lot of people, crypto might feel inaccessible or ...
UK’s Night Time Industries Association Wants Nightclubs to Reopen—With Masks and Social Distancing
With nightlife across the United Kingdom (and the rest of the world) still at a virtual standstill amid regulations and safety precautions enacted in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, nightclubs and venues are facing a severe fallout with no way to reopen. The Night Time Industries Association is now making a push to get the UK government to allow clubs to operate once again, but if it happens, things certainly won’t go back to the way they were before the pandemic. “Whilst there are some areas of increased risks over other sectors there are many real benefits that such businesses have over other sectors,” said a report from the NTIA. “Particularly, [as] all our venues have security to give 100% cover of matters such as temperature checks, track and t...
Drug Use Is Prevalent During Virtual Raves, According to New Study
As consumer behavior has made the dramatic switch from in-person to virtual entertainment over the past few months, researchers are beginning to learn more about how fans are adapting to the change. Researchers at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the NYU School of Global Public Health studied one particular aspect of the switch, inquiring whether virtual festival attendees have a propensity to use drugs during the event. According to the study’s lead author, Doctor Joseph Palamar, that’s an affirmative. “We explored whether stay-at-home orders changed how people use drugs—and it appears that drug use during virtual gatherings is somewhat prevalent among the party-going population we studied,” Palamar said. Around 40% of those surveyed who atte...
New Documentary to Underscore Lack of Female Inclusivity in Dance Music
A new documentary underscoring the blatant lack of female inclusivity in the dance music industry is primed for its world premiere. Sponsored by Bud Light Canada, “Underplayed” will feature a litany of influential women in the electronic dance music scene, including REZZ, NERVO, Anna Lunoe, Alison Wonderland, and TOKiMONSTA, among others, who will wax poetic about their gross underrepresentation in a modern musical zeitgeist they helped to popularize. The film will also explore their insights into how women can champion change in a historically male-dominated industry. “The world of electronic music was created to promote diversity and inclusion,” Bud Light pointed out in a tweet. “Yet, in 2019, only 5 of the world’s top 100 DJs were women.” T...
Spotify Signs Deal to Be Exclusive Audio Streaming Partner for Global “League of Legends” Esports Events
Spotify and Riot Games have joined forces to spawn quite a formidable tandem in the EDM and gaming crossover space. The streaming behemoth has signed an exclusive deal with Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, to become the official audio streaming partner for the game’s Esports global events. The momentous partnership kicks off ahead of the game’s 2020 World Championship on September 25th and will also encompass the Mid-Season Invitational and All-Star Event. The Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game remains the most popular Esport in the world. In 2019 alone, massive tournaments were held in over 37 different cities across five continents, amassing a record-breaking viewership of 21.8 million average minute audience. Moreover, the official Leag...
Geofenced Streams Could Lead to Virtual Concert Tours
Haitian DJ Michael Brun is experimenting with a way to help artists earn additional revenue during the worldwide live music shutdown. Rather than perform as a part of a large livestreamed festival, he’s exploring a new method for artists to limit their audience to fans in a particular area—geofencing. By hosting geofenced livestreams, artists can host shows specifically in one city and justify admission based on the fact that it’s an exclusive performance. When speaking with the Deccan Chronicle, Brun stated that he will be treating each city on his experimental virtual tour to exclusive setlists and stage production. This opens the door for other artists to follow in his footsteps and embark on virtual concert tours from the comfort and safety of their homes or studi...
Insomniac Ventures Into Publishing with CTM Partnership
Insomniac has announced that they will be stepping into the publishing world via their new partnership with The Netherlands’ CTM Publishing. It’s been reported that they will operate under the name Sounds That Never Sleep Publishing. In a quote obtained by Music Business Worldwide, the CEO of CTM, André de Raaff, spoke on his excitement to have the major dance music promoter on board. We are pleased and proud that they have chosen CTM as their partner and we are convinced that we can be the right company for them based on our music publishing experience, network and worldwide knowledge and we look forward to making Sounds That Never Sleep Publishing a leading player in the music publishing space of the dance music world, where Insomniac is already a dominant pla...
Scottish Government Bans Background Music at Venues, May Allow “Acceptable Decibel Levels”
Bars, live venues, and restaurants were included in a sweeping ban from the Scottish government that prohibits background music amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to a report by BBC News, Scotland venues are not permitted to play background music and televisions should be muted so that patrons do not have to lean in to be heard. The proposed music ban in hospitality venues was criticized over the weekend after Nick Stewart, owner of famed Edinburgh venue Sneaky Pete’s, called it “misguided” and asserted that it would “drive people to seek music in uncontrolled environments instead, such as house parties.” “A music ban is not safer than having properly controlled background music,” added Stewart, who spoke to the Edi...
Italy Shuts Down Nightclubs as COVID-19 Cases Rise
The Italian government has reimposed nationwide shutdowns on nightclubs as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Despite recent reports of the country’s success in handling the second wave of the virus, Italy is now shuttering all nightclubs and making it mandatory to wear masks outdoors in some areas. According to a report by Reuters, new cases in the past week in Italy were more than double those registered three weeks ago. The median age of people contracting the virus also dropped below 40, which seems to be the impetus behind the new nightlife edict. 479 new cases were confirmed on Sunday, August 17th. The news arrives after the Italian nightlife sector was placed under an intense public microscope in recent we...
