DOA: CALCULATING FUTURE ROYALTIES?
At its conceptual core, Opulous.AI affords its users a tantalizing glimpse into the future, endowing them with the ability to prognosticate royalty earnings across a plethora of streaming platforms, drawing from the artist's extant Spotify performance. This transformative tool, a veritable lodestar for stakeholders ranging from astute negotiators to discerning labels, venture capital firms, and covetous financiers eyeing music catalog acquisitions, heralds a paradigm shift in the course of informed decision-making.
CROSSROADS OF DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATIONS (DAWS)
As the velocity in the shifting landscape of music production augments, the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) finds itself at a critical juncture. Surrounded by the rapid advancement of technology, burdened by legacy code, and constrained by user expectations of continuity, music-making software grapples with a pressing question: will the DAW adapt or succumb to obsolescence?
OVERWHELMING THE SENSES: THE NEW AV FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
From Tale Of Us’ Afterlife, to Eric Prydz’s HOLO, and on to festivals such as Amsterdam’s Our House, the rise in so-called “immersive” events has been a staggering one, as they override our senses with a barrage of gargantuan LED panels, faux-futuristic installations, and sugar-laced corporate marketing. But, as with every turn, a new question arises, and this time, it’s no different…Is this unstoppable assault on the senses thrusting us closer to the music?
A BOYS CLUB: MISOGYNY IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
Published on January 30, the excoriating Misogyny In Music report says that the music industry remains a “boys club” where women face numerous barriers to career progression and are often subjected to harassment and abuse. These incidents frequently go unreported due to women’s fears that speaking out will end their careers, and because some companies suppress them with non-disclosure agreements.
HAS THE PROGRESSIVE EDGE GONE?
In a subtle nod to its self-aware forebearer, progressive rock, the initial conceptualization of progressive house was a rebellion against the predictable cadence of "classic" club beats. However, recent years have cast a shadow over its once-dynamic evolution, revealing a current devoid of the vitality that once propelled progressive house into uncharted territories. While venerable figures like Sasha and Digweed, custodians of the genre, persist in upholding its legacy, the broader panorama unveils a scene caught in the echoes of its former brilliance.
THE RISE OF AI: ORCHESTRATING THE NEXT WAVE
Playing Robots Into Heaven, an already poignant ode to UK club music, finds new life in the hands of Endel's AI algorithms. It's not merely a reinterpretation; it's a metamorphosis. The algorithms dissect Blake's melodies, rhythms, and sonic nuances, then recompose them in a harmonious dance with the digital realm. The result is an otherworldly soundscape that resonates with the soulful echoes of Blake's original vision while transcending the limitations of the physical realm.
OVERPLAYED: ARE ALL THE FESTIVALS THE SAME?
At a superficial glance, the surge in the popularity of EDM festivals appears as a positive sign — increased attendees, broader geographical reach, and music permeating diverse corners of the world. Yet, a disconcerting reality emerges upon scrutinizing the lineups and festival bills. Despite the vast array of locations and numerous festivals, there exists a striking sameness.
THE VIRAL EQUATION: DECODING TIKTOK'S IMPACT
UMG's decision to withdraw its entire catalog from TikTok reverberates as a seismic shift in the symbiotic relationship between content creators, corporate behemoths, and the digital platforms that mediate their interactions. Rooted in grievances over royalty rates and the unchecked proliferation of AI-generated music, UMG's maneuver exposes fault lines within the music industry's digital infrastructure, laying bare the tensions between profit motives and creative autonomy.