May brings wellness and new releases from a duo from Argentina, an abolitionist in California, and here in LA, look who's happier than ever because LIVE is back, with a big band.
We talk to the producer who brings us this month's video spotlight. We visit studios in Burbank, Hollywood, Cotati, and Cleveland where music is served. Meet the promoted. Learn why user-generated content and Audio NFTs are getting traction. Get internet money and stream your music with Arabian nights. Stay in Miami with the good-time guys, get sage advise and more...We have news from studioexpresso community and grateful to you, our sponsors and readers.
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Work With Award-winning Producers In Legendary Studios |
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Cande Y Paulo's Debut Produced by Larry Klein |
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A Conversation with The Producer |
Larry Klein grew up in California. It was an after-school musical program at U.S.C. that enabled him to hone his playing & compositional skills while still in high school. He began sitting in with various Jazz and Latin groups while in college at Cal State L.A But it would be Klein's celebrated collaboration in and out of the studio with revered singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell that critics view as the nexus of his career. Klein's collaborations include, writing with and for great talents like Bonnie Raiit - The Fundamental Things, and Warren Zevon.
His production credits include: Herbie Hancock, Madeleine Peyroux, Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding and a new album from Cande and Paulo out on June 4 via DECCA Records.
Enjoy this exclusive studioexpresso interview with Grammy-winner Larry Klein.
SE: What was your approach in song selection for Cande Y Paulo's new album? Songs like Leonard Cohen's Treaty and Tuyo sounds like definitive singles. Is there an overall theme that ties the album together?
LK: We wanted to create a musical language that was a combination of elements from Argentinian music, minimal nature of Bossa Nova and jazz, with just a shadow of some electronic elements entering the picture. In choosing the songs, we looked for great songs that felt like they could be re-imagined through this lens without feeling forced or laminated. Leonard Cohen (below) was a dear friend, and also one of my favorite songwriters. I seem to work with a lot of his songs these days, partially because they are so great, and probably partially because it keeps him around me. I’m getting ready to work on a whole album of his songs. The other songs were chosen for different reasons, but they all had to be undeniably great songs, and we all had to feel that they resonated deeply with us. Cande and Paulo come from San Juan Argentina, right by the Chilean border, and there is an element of mysterious depth to them that I wanted the album to evoke. Like a Jorge Luis Borges story… there are things stated, but much more is unsaid. We worked together to distill that part of their musical persona, then built the album around it with the help of great musicians like Anthony Wilson on guitar and Victor Indrizzo on drums and percussion. We wanted the album to be a combination of songs in Spanish and English, so in some cases Cande and Paulo did Spanish translations.
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SE: How did you meet the duo from Chile and what's your criteria for working with new artists?
LK: I am truly a musical omnivore. I love music from many parts of the world, both traditional and pop, and I come from a background of jazz, pop, and classical music from many countries. I have always been curious by nature, and this is especially so in music.
I intentionally don’t plan my work schedule out too far in advance, so that serendipity can take a hand in things. I was contacted by Decca UK about working with Cande and Paulo. They had been signed by an A&R consultant after a YouTube video of them performing “Barro Tal Vez” went viral. We spoke on the phone, and I jumped in. I can generally tell pretty quickly whether I want to work with an artist. I want to learn from every project that I do. I want each project to take me somewhere new, and I love working with other curious artists. This album certainly was new in many ways. it was the first time that I had to have a translator (Gabi Martinez, himself a very talented guitarist from Spain) present during the sessions.
SE: As a country and as people we seem to be always in a soul-searching mode, do you think artists should reflect their times or just express what they feel?
LK: I tend to be drawn to artists who are searching for something; who have the impulse in them that drives them to try to find something fresh and new in what they write and make, as well as the need to express what they feel. I’m always drawn to honesty over ambition, so what they do generally reflects the time that we live in, both musically and poetically, while not trying to do so in an intentional way. Trends are intrinsically hindsight to a degree. Life is too short to try to hop on a trend because it is prevalent at a given time.
SE: You have had many memorable sessions with iconic talent in the studio. Was there a time that you went home thinking, wow, that was different...I could have not anticipated it, but phew, glad someone saved the day!
LK: Every time I go into the studio with other musicians there is an element of that happening! That’s why I love the collaborative part of working with other talented musicians rather than making records in the box. The art of doing the job of being a producer is a delicate and subtle thing. In order to do the job well, you have to draw the best out of the artist; to help them even go beyond what their “best” is, and do the same with the musicians that you are working with. This art manifests itself in how much information you give people, how you direct the session, even how much or little you do in regard to specific arrangement elements. You need to know what to say when, and how to say it! Recognizing when magic occurs is an art in itself. You set up an environment where it can happen, nudge things toward it, wait for it, then jump on it when it happens.
SE: Your top 3 "to do's" before starting a project
LK:
1. To make sure that I have a kindred aesthetic with an artist. We don’t have to be perfectly aligned in this sense, but a feeling that we basically see things similarly.
2. To feel that we share a basic sense of curiosity.
3. To feel that the artist and the musicians involved have a feeling of security and respect for each other. The only way that you can make great music is if you feel like you have license to take chances. Herbie Hancock said that Miles told him
“I don’t pay you to play perfect, I pay you to make mistakes!”
SE: Best advise you've gotten or want to give
LK: An old actor once told Joni (Mitchell) “Hold on to the divine dissatisfaction, but don’t worry”. That is an amulet that I carry around.
SE: An artist you haven't work with who's on your wish list
LK: Oh, there are so many! Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Sara Bareilles, Olivia Rodrigo, Iggy Pop, Billie Eilish. I have some strange ideas that I would love to try with the right hip-hop artist; Drake, Polo G. I’d love to write a musical. I’m working on getting a different kind of documentary done on Wayne Shorter. I want to do more film music and music for TV. So much great work being done in the world of TV now.
SE: Any tips for budding producers?
LK: The best single piece of advice that I can give aspiring producers is to start your sentence with “What if” rather than “You should”.
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of the month
Cande Paulo
DECCA
June 4
Summer is almost here and Cande Y Paulo's romantic music goes with road trips and al fresco dining, like milk and honey.
The duo from Argentine sing classic standards with their unique twist of laid-back charm and skilled musicianship.
Their debut is out on June 4.
4X Grammy-winner producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Lang Lang, Herbie Hancock, Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding) produced their debut for DECCA. Klein (left), though best known for producing, is also done scoring work in film and TV. His fourth album for Universal Music singer and songwriter Madeleine Peyroux received rave reviews.
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Early in May, the Argentinian duo performed selections from their debut album on NPR’s Tiny Desk streamed from the original theater where they recorded their viral performance of Barro Tal Vez, a song by Luis Alberto Spinetta.
They're simply known by their first names:
Vocalist and upright bassist Cande Buasso and keyboardist Paulo Carrizo are from San Juan, a very small town nestled by the Andes close to Chile.
Their secluded location may be contributing to their unique and very personal musical language. You can hear the emotive quality in Cande's voice, and Paulo's playing. The album offers nine (9) undeniably great songs in English and most are in Spanish.
The duo shares a deep love and respect for music - classical, jazz, Pop and Latin. On their Facebook, posts you'll find links to: Bella Davidovich playing Chopin's ′′ Great Brilliant Waltz, op 18 and
Bach: English suite No.3 in G minor Bwv 808 - Prelude played by Ivo Pogorelich, piano.
Another post shows their appreciation for Keith Jarrett playing his rendition of Over the rainbow.
On their new album, Cande Y Paulo express their love for renown American and Canadian composers Burt Bacharach (below) and Leonard Cohen (left).
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The album kicks off with Cohen's Treaty, from his 2016's You Want It Darker.
Producer Larry Klein adds his touch by capturing pristine performances with added musicians to include: Anthony Wilson on guitar and Victor Indrizzo on drums and percussion.
Summertime sounds jazzy and up-beat with syncopated rhythms flown in from their San Juan live session.
You'll enjoy their interpretation of Burt Bacharach/ Hal David classic, Walk On By, translated to Deja Atras, with a Bond-like soundtrack, in the introduction.
Limite En Tu Amor (limit to your love), is another cover song penned by Feist.
Cande Y Paulo's version of Tuyo (Yours) by beloved singer-songwriter, Rodrigo Amarante of Brazil, is my favorite. This one should get you on the dance floor. The arrangements are spars with savoring Latin rhythms and delicious Spanish guitars gliding in the melody line.
This year has been about slowing down, taking deep breaths, evaluating priorities. Cande Y Paulo remind us that there's beauty in taking it nice and slow.
There's an overall sense of longing and romanticism that ties the songs together. This one is going on my playlist for this summer's intimate dinner parties, al fresco!
Cande y Paulo are one of 2021's pleasant discoveries-- life Savers for times in isolation and beyond.
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studioexpresso @ NAMM feat producers, musicians from its community
Curt Bisquera (Sarah McLachlan, Elton John), Kenny Aronoff (Smashing Pumpkins, John Mellencamp, Sting), Greg Penny (Elton John, KD Lang), Rafa Sardina (Lady Gaga, John Legend), Niko Bolas (Neil Young, LeAnn Rimes), Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hedrix, Kiss), Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More), Cheche Alara (Christina Aguilera), Kim Bullard (Elton John, Kelly Clarkson), Cristina Abaroa (Celine Dion, Enrique Iglasias), Brady Leffler (Hot Chelle Rae, Justin Beieber), Al Schmitt (Diana Krall, Paul McCartney), Alex Acuna (LA Phil, Beck), Teddy Campbell (American idol, The Tonight Show w Leno), Ellis Hall (Ray Charles, Tower of Power), Jacob Armen (Prince), Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt), Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Melody Gardot), Manny Marroquin (Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys), Dave Schiffman (Adele, Limp Bizkit), Gregg Field (Sinatra, Pharell), Sylvia Massy (Tool, Johnny Cash), CJ Vanston (Toto, spinal Tap), Dame Gail Dorsey (David Bowie, Gwen Stefani), Jenny Mason (The Mrs), Neal Pogue (Outkast, Andre 3000), Leland Sklar (Phil Collins, James Taylor), Moogie Canazio (Sergio Mendes, Sarah Vaughan), Laura Dickinson (Frozen II, Lady and the Tramp), Daniel Seeff (KJazz, Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz), James Torme, and Brent Fischer (D'Angelo, Elvis Costello and The Roots).
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ATC Monitoring At Burbank's Rattle Room
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ATC models:
ATC of England is the insider’s studio monitor, demanded by the very top level of the music recording community. ATC designs and manufactures nearly all their proprietary components, drivers, and electronics in-house to the absolute highest quality standards. The best of the best rely on ATC monitoring as their main solution for tracking, mixing and mastering.
ATC monitors are something you have to experience to really grasp how different they are from everything else. Lets just say that you can hear details you’ve never heard before, leading you to faster, more accurate decisions in your creative process.
The models range from $5,000 to $50,000 per pair and all share a very similar sound. Choose the size that works for your space, SPL and bass output requirements. They are hand made in their factory in England, imported to the US by TransAudio Group Inc., ATC monitors are the last speaker investment you will ever make. More info here
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ATC SCM25A and 110s at The Rattle Room
The Rattle Room in Burbank offers a slew of audio production services for tracking, mixing and mastering at competitive rates. The room is packed with some of the best in digital and analog gear, giving its clientele an ample collection of production tools.
All bookings come with an assistant engineer and for additional fee they provide A List engineers, runners, catering and more. "We offer competitive studio rates without sacrificing quality," says management.
You can expect a "combination of SSL, ATCs and BURL converters, sweet outboard collection too," says a post on Trans Audio Group fbook. We hear they have internship openings!
Call for more info or Bookings 818.561.4147
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Trans Audio Group -- The Recording Studio Equipment Experts. Call to order from their trusted brands:
A-Designs (USA), ATC Loudspeakers (UK), Auratone, Bettermaker, Daking Audio, Drawmer, Hakan, Latch Lake, Mojave Audio, Mutec, Pete's Place Audio, Sabra-Som, Subwoofer Pros, and Tube-Tech
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Bridge Over Troubled Dreams
An Album + Book From Delta Goodrem
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(L-R) Delta cand songwriter Marla Altschuler; standing (L-R) are producer Mark Rankin, guitarist Matthew Copley, Wesley Seidman, engineer, and drummer Aaron Sterling. at United Recording Studio B
Photo by David Goggin.
Before Los Angeles issued its Safer at Home order, United Recording hosted sessions for Delta Goodrem. Since then mixing/mastering has been completed to coincide with a dual album release and Goodrem's first-ever book, "Bridge Over Troubled Dreams."
Delta's first-ever book, "Bridge Over Troubled Dreams" is available in hardcover, ebook and enhanced audiobook, published by Simon & Schuster. In the book, she shares the intimate stories and photos behind each of the tracks from her sixth studio album. Delta will be touring throughout Australia and New Zealand in September and October 2021.
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The album features already released fan favorites 'Keep Climbing', 'Solid Gold', 'Paralyzed', 'Billionaire' and 'All Of My Friends'. "We can all own our own stories - this is me owning mine," says Delta. "Each song represents a unique moment of my life. When producing and writing this album, each sound and instrument were carefully created to match the realness and intensity of the lyrics."
Both the album and book, "Bridge Over Troubled Dreams," are available now worldwide! For more information visit https://www.deltagoodrem.com
In 2016, Delta (left) starred in the role of Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical CATS – performing the powerful ballad "Memory" to sold out audiences throughout Australia.
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Click on the image to reserve your spot today!
Studio City location will be disclosed to confirmed ticket holders one day prior to performance
Limited sitting on the grass (bring a blanket) or enjoy seats separated in friends/family pods
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Sign Up for Cleveland Recording Summit
June 18-19, 9am -5pm
Hosted by Starsound Studios @ The Holiday Inn Strongsville, Celeveland, OH
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The Cleveland Recording Summit is a new event in the Cleveland area at the Holiday Inn, Trongsville, OH. Starting June 18th and 19th, 2021, Starsound Studios hosts the highest-level talent in the music industry to come and teach you about recording.
There will be 3 to 4 Masterclasses a year. You will also benefit from the career experiences of the best professionals at their respective craft.
The Cleveland Recording Summit will present recording drums, guitars, vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, mixing, mastering, and multiple music genres. There are 24 seats available, so act now; they will sell out fast.
Summit will cost $595.00 per person. The cost will include two days of instruction, coffee, water and pop, doughnuts, lunch, a chance to win several high-value raffle items, and everyone in attendance receives a swag bag. Call 216-374-8458 to book the studio. Sponsors include Sweetwater and ATC Monitors
Mark Hornsby is an award-winning producer and engineer who spearheaded Sweetwater Sound's educational programming and Masterclass series. His engineering and production work has spanned every genre and has seen him working with a wide variety of guitar talents, including Rick Nielsen, Paul Gilbert, Al Di Meola, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, and many more.
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Sons Of Lincoln
The Abolitionists
April 20, 2021
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Inspired by the Abolitionist Movement and the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, the new album by The Abolitionists is called The Sons Of Lincoln. The cover art is a scene, in sepia, from the funeral train procession carrying Lincoln's body from Chicago to Springfield.
A songwriting, recording, and performing spoken-word collective, The Abolitionists are comprised primarily of long-time Illinois-born collaborators and founders, producer and studio owner, Mark "Mooka" Rennick and poet Jim Cohn, founder and curator of Museum of American Poetics (top right).
Over the last two decades, the Abolitionists collective has featured the works of Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Lorde, St Vincent, Pink), Prairie Prince (The Tubes),
Dick Dale, Steve Kimock, John Allaire, Allen Sudduth, Jeff Sloan, among others, with a rotating cast of musicians contributing their creative DNA.
"Our mission is to educate, illuminate and remove ignorance, to abolish systemic racism," says producer, Mark "Mooka" Rennick. "One man practicing kindness is worth all the temples on this earth. This recording is nothing less than the sound of freedom," adds Cohn.
When we interviewed Mooka, he appeared emotional about current events, like the "2nd Amendment March" planned in Tulsa next week by members of Black Panthers. "1,000 legally armed citizens will descend on Greenwood on May 29, 4pm to pay homage to the armed Tulsans who died defending the neighborhood during the Tulsa race massacre in 1921 ," says Mooka.
The march is about unifying the Black community, not intimidation.
Rennick studied North Indian music at Akbar College of Music. You can hear the Indian musical influence throughout this album.
Mooka talks about Deepak Chopra's teachings influencing his work. "Start with attention and end with intention, combine them to make a difference, to change and to achieve goals."
"As Abolitionists, we acknowledge that issues facing us today have been with us since 1820s," says Mooka.
The Five American Abolitionists Who Fought to End Slavery were: Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher
Stowe, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman and John Brown.
Listen to the songs here and Connect The Dots. Produced by Mark Eugene “Mooka” Rennick and James Lewis Cohn
Co-Produced by Jay Klein
Mastered by Maximilien Hein, assisted by Nate Nauseda
Check out everything you want to know about Prairie Sun where Tom Waits, Primus, Van Morrison, Greg Allman, Kate Wolf, Mickey Hart, Faith No More and Journey have recorded. For more info call 707.795.7011 or write to info@prairiesun.com
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The lyrics are poetic, the music sounds experimental meets blues, blue grass, jazz, rock, with some eastern influences.
The new album of eight (8) songs from The Abolitionists puts our Freedoms, and the Human Condition under the microscope. Prairie Sun Studios' Mooka injects humor where things get heavy in a cacophony of spoken words that evoke branded Americana imagery: Dust bowls in forgotten western towns, plantations and prairie grass in vast spaces. The words speak of power disguised in powerlessness, our struggles with race, disease and recovery that persist today. Poet Jim Cohn says: "These songs have no time for poetry, except the poetry of what is."
History buffs will enjoy Lincoln at Big Sur, which opens the album, and Mississippi, features a gospel choir.
"I was mesmerized by how you have reforged Lincoln & Mississippi, in particular, into the mind-blowing profound arrangements where now they stand," says Cohn who paints a magical realism with his words.
Jim Cohn calls it an "achingly intimate and personal song" told by those close to Lincoln in the future.
Mooka, this man of the future, knows a thing or two about history. He has a political-science degree, but he easily admits to: I know Nothing in another song from The Abolitionists. Mooka plays acoustic and electric guitars, fretless bass, is also credited for the drum machine programming and vocals. Maximilien Hein is listed is one of the engineers. Max also plays keys, melodia, drums, and is credited for electronic sound design.
Procrastination tells story of a young man's awakening after experiencing "emptiness." The sound is Stones meets Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Mooka's version. It's inspired by CS Lewis' Screwtape Letters. Mooka learned how to meditate in his 20s, when he met Indian chief Eagle Feather in Illinois. He talks about the writing and recording session for Procrastination.
"We had a very old VOX bass guitar with a distortion pedal and guitar amplifier that decided right there on the downbeat of the last cord to blow up, literally in real time, and you can hear this cacophony and it just swells up and abruptly stops," says Mooka who had engineers, Adam Weiss, Matt Wright, Jay Klein and Jeff Sloan recording the song at Prairie Sun. Following this abrupt ending, enters the angelic vocals of Kate Van Horn, singing “My eyes Glimmer under the blue light.“ The cadenza builds up with Mooka's vocals, almost in trance, morphing into an R&B groove, then bursting into a rock'n roll shout “Judy Judy Judy” -- a clear expression of his love for Beatles and coming full-circle from his Sunday night Sullivan show beginnings. "It changed my life and I think for the better," says Mark "Mooka" Rennick.
Be Your Man is the longest song on the album, little over 8 minutes and examines complexities in relationships with a meditative riff (6 & 12 string guitars, dobro).
American Indian wisdom is summoned in a dream-like dance, a suite of musical trilogy comprised of a quick- step Appalachian waltz in Indian Mounds.
Finally, the album closes with a soothing instrumental, in Prairie Winds. This one has a cinematic feel, as you can hear the footsteps of the artist walking away to the light and leaves us all wanting more.
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Grand Enters Capitol &
Virgin Music
photo courtesy CMG
Edgar “Edd Grand” Machuca has been appointed to the newly created position of senior VP of A&R for both Capitol Records and Virgin Music Label & Artist Services, under the umbrella of Capitol Music Group. He’ll report to both CMG chairman-CEO Jeff Vaughn and Virgin president Jacqueline Saturn under the joint arrangement, signing artists and overseeing projects for both labels, based in the Capitol Tower. Machuca comes over to CMG from Warner Records, where he was a VP. He also worked at the independent Warner affiliate Artist Partner Group after starting his career at Atlantic Records. At these companies, he was involved in signing Grammy-winning songwriter Derrick Milano and Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers. Other artists whose hits he’s been involved with include Cardi B, Bad Bunny, J. Balvin, G-Easy and Megan Thee Stallion. “Edd has an intuitive feel for identifying game-changing artists, songs, and entrepreneurs,” said Vaughn.
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New Urban Music Heads At Arista Records
Khristopher Riddick-Tynes & Kendell Freeman
Arista Records has named two co-heads for its urban music division. Khristopher Riddick-Tynes will serve as VP of A&R and co-head of urban music, joined by Kendell Freeman as VP and co-head, urban music. The two new hires will split their work across the coasts: Riddick-Tynes is based in Los Angeles and Freeman in New York. Some of the initial artists whom Riddick-Tynes and Freeman will be working with in the hip-hop/R&B space include Princess Nokia, Audrey Nuna (below), Dada1k, and Yung Boi Rob.
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YAUDREY-NUNA Photo: Khufu-Najee |
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Give Audrey Nuna Space
Budding R&B artist and rapper, Audrey Nuna, celebrates her 22nd birthday with the release of her new single, Space. She's celebrating her Korean-American identity. The picture was directed by Loris Russier with Nuna and Khufu Najee helming creative direction. Space is the New-Jersey raised musician’s first official release of 2021 and there's more to come. She sang America The Beautiful during the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament. Now she's enrolled in New York University’s esteemed Clive Davis Institute. Nuna is signed with Artista Records under Sony Music Entertainment.
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Anghami Streams In Middle East
The world is still a big place. Do you have fans in Egypt, Morocco, Lebonon, Syria, Jordan or UAE? Gaining new markets for your music or podcast is king. Meet Anghami. Sony, Warner, Universal are already on this platform and now independent artists can join the only legal streaming platform in middle east.
Anghami is one of the largest digital music ventures in the Middle East with 21 million monthly active users and 1 million paying subscribers, according to its founders Eddy Maroun, and Elie Habib.
In 2021, Anghami became the first Arabic technology company to list on New York’s Nasdaq (following a merger with Vistas Media Acquisition Company) and it's valued at between $220-230 million.
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Internet Money
Internet Money Records is a record producer collective co-founded by Taz Taylor and Nick Mira. A blend of a YouTube channel, a record label, and a producer union, Internet Money is a medium for producers to sell beats, merch, as well as an aggregator for producers and creatives.
Lil Uze Vert is no stranger to self-made stardom, including landing a contract with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. The Philadelphia rapper was featured on Internet Money with His & Hers (left) ft. Don Toliver & Gunna, directed by Cole Bennett .
When it comes to Vert, he has made an art of making outrageous claims to entertain his more than 8.1 million Twitter followers. After he got a controversial face implant ($24 million pink diamond), he plans to get Elon Musk's brain chip. What?! Yup, and, he is now claiming Jay-Z has compared him to Prince. "Prince? Slow Your Role," says one fan post. Pioneering different sub-genres of hip hop is an open road - from emo rap to alternative trap - Internet Money may be for you.
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The New Hussle: #AudioNFT
A recent S&L Weekend Update episode features Elon Musk as the Financial Expert Lloyd Ostertag, speaking on Cryptocurrency. Asked 'what is dogecoin', Musk replies, "It's the future of currency. It's an unstoppable financial vehicle that’s going to take over the world." Then after multiple asks by host Michael Che, who's having a hard time understanding the concept, Tesla chief calls it a 'hustle'!
That was Funny. But, Musk will tell you act with caution with it comes to speculative investments. In February Tesla bought $1.5 billion worth of bitcoin and would soon accept it as a form of payment for its electric cars.
Let's say you're a musician with a few tracks released on Spotify, iTunes. And you promote your release, the project drops, you get thousands of hits and a few monthly listeners. The fiscal quarter ends and your traffic numbers look good, but your revenue looks really bad. According to this Spotify Royalty Calculator it would take 100,000 streams to make around $400. You could even go viral and hit 2 million streams, you're going to take home less than $8,000.
But if you're kicking ass on all of the major platforms then things could add up pretty nicely.
With Audio NFT's things work a little differently. You aren't being paid per-stream, you're being paid per edition. Think of it kind of like the digital version of a rare limited edition vinyl record release. You mint your audio token to the blockchain complete with album art and a high quality mp3. You determine how many editions you would like to make permanently available, then you release it on a marketplace. Instead of charging $1 USD for a downloadable single to an unlimited amount of people, you could charge .15 ETH (worth about $77 at the moment) for 1 of 15 available tokens. In the end you could potentially make close to $1155 for the direct sales of 15 digital files that you don't have to worry about hosting, tracking, or sending. You could then liquidate your $1155 in ETH and use the cash to fund your full project. No waiting for quarterly payouts and no chasing record labels for checks. Then depending on how you sold your NFT, you could instantly get a percentage of sales every time that NFT is resold. Simply put, Audio NFT's are a way to turn your digital music files into digital collectibles that can appreciate in value over time.
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The Rising Power of User Generated content (UGC)
Social Media Generated Global ad revenue to reach $5.907 billion in 2022
UGC or user generted content is growing so rapidly, labels and artists are having a hard time to keep up. The industry is missing out on fully exploiting this major revenue, as every consumer sees themselves as a content creator. The Rising Power of UGC report by UK’s MIDiA Research in partnership with Audible Magic looks at how UGC contributed over $1 billion to global music revenues in 2019, and the continued growth of UGC creation and consumption. The report stresses that a new, simpler licensing frameworks, especially for music, is needed for social media and UGC platforms.
Last year social media generated global ad revenue of $119 billion – a figure set for $5.907 billion in 2022 based on current growth rate.
MIDiA forecasts that UGC revenue from advertising will be worth $4.05 billion in 2020 or $2.2 billion for music rights holders – calculated to be $3.2 billion by 2022.
The expansion of global social media ad revenue hinges on Chinese platforms like TikTok, which account for 50% of growth between 2019 and 2022. User interaction is one of the key reasons TikTok continually outranks Spotify and other audio streaming services. Whereas YouTube relies upon a minority of users to create content for the majority. Enter in-app purchases and virtual merch monetisation.
The report said YouTube dominates music consumption across most markets globally. Opportunities are being lost because ad-funded models are not working, subscription revenues are in decline, and ways to monetise fandoms have not been successful. Music continues to be the soundtrack to both our lives and to UGC content. How are you using this tool?! Send us your experiences with UGC.
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"The art of life is not controlling what happens to us, but using what happens to us."
Music Lives & Moves
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TEC Awards Call for Entries Now Open
The TEC Awards Nominating Committee is now accepting entries for the 37th Annual TEC Awards to be staged as part of The 2022 NAMM Show on Saturday, January 22. Eligible products and projects were, or are to be, commercially available in the period July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021. We look forward to celebrating your innovations. submit here
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Find Your Rhythm this Summer At Goodtime Hotel |
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Pharell Williams knows a thing or two about being happy. Now he wants you to relax and enjoy poolside beats by guest DJs and craft cocktails at his new hotel in Miami Beach, FL. He and his partner David Grutman (left) bring us their new business collaboration, 266-room property, The Goodtime Hotel (their second joint venture following the celebrity-favorite Design District eatery, Swan).
Grutman also owns Miami celebrity-favorite nightclubs LIV and Story, and restaurants Komodo, and Papi Steak.
The venue transforms the space into a classic Miami Beach Art Deco era. Here, there's a touch of energy and style from old world Havana Cuba and Beverly Hills set against a palette of pale mint, coral and white. There are playful elements all masterminded by designer, Ken Fulk. The hotel features twin pools tiled in broad stripes and divided by a runway sprinkled with powder-coated palm fronds. Each room has special designer touches like classic phones in pale pale coral, of course! Go pool-side near shaded bungalows and signature striped cabanas near a jungle oasis. Visit Strawberry Moon on the third floor when you're ready to nosh on Mediterranean cuisine, order your afternoon high tea or try their chic cocktail, Purple Rain, fit for a prince, naturally! Guest rooms range from Queen bed accommodations to suites, boasting direct views west to Biscayne Bay or east to the Atlantic Ocean, guaranteeing Instagram-worthy sunrise and sunsets.Thanks to Pharell, finally we can all have some "Happy" time!
Williams and Celine Dion, Donald Harrison and Chad Hugo received honorary degrees from Berklee College of Music at this year's virtual graduation ceremony earlier on May 7.
601 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Reservation 786.687.0234
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A New Look, A New Video & A North American Tour For Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish is growing up. She directed her new video for her new song, Your Power, shot in Simi Valley featuring an 80-pound anaconda (right). She has shed her usual Gucci bucket hat, and manicure for simpler ware in khaki and returned to her natural blond hair. Her Madonna-like cover on Vogue made headlines earlier in May. You could say she's Happier Than Ever, her new release out on July 30 comes in CD, deluxe box set and vinyl.
Can she keep up the "What's next?"
We hope she keeps up wiring and performing with brother Finneas.
These two are truly the real deal amid the noise.
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Stay Healthy - mind, body, & Soul! |
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Until next month...surround yourself with good music, family and friends and stay healthy and in touch.
Music Lives and Moves!
Claris Sayadian-Dodge founder/editor
claris@studioexpresso.com
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Cicadas (not the LA club or the Argentinian Tango Sacadas, are known as the loudest bugs in the world. A multitude of cicadas emerge from hibernation every seventeen years. Scientists say Brook X, this year's class, may be the largest hatching seen since its last cycle, in '04. As temperatures rise, trillions of insects flood the sky -- you might hear them.
Finally graduation season brings advise from the sage.
This from Warren Buffet rings solid for me, and most probably good for your mental health and well-being
1. Pick your friends wisely
2. Go to bed smarter each night
3. Improve your communication skills
4. Say NO more often
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818-990-3031 fn
800.717.Keys Toll Free
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