Technology

Music critic and content creator Anthony Fantano has shared his thoughts on the streaming model in a new in-depth conversation with Rick Beato. With artists making less than a penny per stream on most streaming platforms, the business model is continually brought under fire, with the largest platform, Spotify, facing the most criticism. In its Loud & Clear annual report for 2024, Spotify spoke of the “paradox” of the modern music industry, where it said “the sheer volume of uploaders” to it

The great pre-recorded DJ set debate has risen once again, and this time, it’s among artists James Hype and deadmau5. The beef between the two was ignited as Hype shared a promotional video to his Instagram page for his new live show, SYNC. Within it, he references old comments from 2021 made by deadmau5 where he claimed DJs were often required to play pre-recorded sets at large scale events and festivals. READ MORE: The best rotary mixers to buy in 2025: 15 best mixers for DJs The video in

Three months after selling the rights to his entire catalog to Create Music Group, deadmau5 has spoken on the sale. In a new interview with Billboard Canada, the DJ and producer – real name Joel Zimmerman – shares his reasoning behind the monumental sale, which reportedly netted him a cool $55 million. READ MORE: Get Massive for £24.50 in Native Instruments’ Summer of Sound sale – yes, we’re serious “It was time to just let it go,” deadmau5 says. “I’m not so attached to [my catalogue] tha

Rhodes has added a new instrument to its virtual arsenal: the Wurli. It’s modelled on the Wurlitzer, a historic electric piano which generates sound from hammers striking metal reeds. This plugin is specifically based on the 200A, a variation of the Wurlitzer which has been used in classic songs like What’d I Say by Ray Charles, I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye, and You’re My Best Friend by Queen. READ MORE: Can Linux really replace Windows and macOS for music production? “

Vaughn Oliver, one half of the production duo Oliver, is no stranger to crafting killer drum loops. As the creator of Power Tools, one of Splice’s most downloaded sample packs, his sounds have featured in hits by the likes of Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, SZA, Doja Cat, Adele and many more. Now, in a new tutorial, the producer, DJ, and mix engineer peels back the curtain on some of the techniques behind his signature loops, and offers tips on levelling up your drum sound. READ MORE: Thomann just laun

Ricky Tinez, an artist and music production educator on YouTube, is stepping back from his channel for a new career with Apple. Tinez has also stepped down from his role as brand manager at Elektron for his new career move, though he assures all was left on a good note. He will be joining Apple’s worldwide product marketing team. Tinez’s YouTube channel spans videos from across nine years, and features content on production tips and tutorials, gear reviews, and more. READ MORE: Apple Logic Pr

Musicians uploading to SoundCloud recently raised concerns that their content could be being used to train AI, but according to the music sharing platform, there’s been a misunderstanding. An extract from the Terms of Use , which is publicly outlined on the SoundCloud website, began to cause alarm among artists last week, as it states that “in the absence of a separate agreement that states otherwise, you explicitly agree that your content may be used to inform, train, develop or serve as input

Steve Albini’s estate is selling some of his belongings, a year on from his death at the age of 61. The esteemed producer, who famously worked with Nirvana as well as PJ Harvey and the Pixies, died of a heart attack last year. He worked on over 2,000 albums across his career. A generous portion of his belongings are currently being sold via a website called Steve Albini’s Closet, with all proceeds directed back towards his estate. READ MORE: Read Steve Albini’s 1992 letter to Nirvana: “Paying

After over 20 years of touring the world, producing music festivals, and running record labels, Claude VonStroke is living his life of leisure. He is now a 100% independent artist, releasing the music he wants the way he wants. Broken down individually, “the music he wants” could mean everything from wacky house music as Claude VonStroke, or hard-hitting beats under his birth name, Barclay Crenshaw. READ MORE: JKriv: “A finished track is better than a perfect track, every single time” “How

Back in 2005, Moby launched mobygratis, an extensive digital library of royalty-free music. 20 years on, Moby has given mobygratis a new lease of life, relaunching the online music resource with a wealth of new instrumental tracks and audio files. Relaunched in partnership with Little Walnut Productions, mobygratis now boasts 500 new instrumental tracks, with plans to add 250 later this year. The library is also set to continue growing over the coming years, with 500 new instrumental tracks alr

British producer Danny L Harle is shining a light on what he considers an “undervalued” skill among musicians today: taking the time to listen and reflect on one’s own music. Harle, who co-produced Dua Lipa’s 2024 hit album Radical Optimism and worked with the likes of Charli XCX and Caroline Polachek, is currently lending his expertise to the Amex Unsigned initiative — a mentorship program offering six unsigned artists the chance to work with him at London’s iconic Metropolis Studios. In a ne

Artist and label owner JKriv feels we should focus less on DJs during live sets, and instead shift our priorities to the energy in the room and the people dancing. JKriv, who co-founded the Razor-N-Tape label with Aaron Dae, has opened up on the different “hats” he wears as both a music maker and label co-owner, sharing his opinions on matters such as streaming and the current state of live music in a new interview with MusicTech. READ MORE: “Your favourite producer’s sounds are made here”: V

Hefty tariffs imposed by US president Donald Trump are already wreaking havoc, as manufacturer Sonicware now warns that the price of its CyDrums drum machine will likely jump to over $900 from a much smaller price tag of $399 for customers based in the States. President Trump has already placed a 10 per cent universal tariff on the import of goods from foreign countries, but even higher rates – which he calls “reciprocal tariffs” – could be put in place for further specified countries by July.

Behringer CEO and founder Uli Behringer has announced a major restructuring at parent company Music Tribe, replacing the traditional C-suite with an AI-supported, data-driven leadership model. Explaining the decision in a recent LinkedIn post, Behringer writes: “The traditional and siloed C-suite model has served its time. But in today’s world of rapid change and continuous innovation, it’s no longer the most effective way to lead and often becomes a liability.” READ MORE: Behringer 2025: Eve

Like it or not, AI is here in music, and it’s changing things fast. And while many musicians and industry figures are strongly opposed to the greater presence of artificial intelligence in all stages of music creation and distribution, others are more accepting, and say artists should simply adapt to the changing times. In a new conversation on MusicTech’s My Forever Studio podcast – which sees producers and musicians choose items to go in their fantasy forever studio – production prodigy Charl

An unlikely duo convinced Hans Zimmer to go on tour: Johnny Marr and Pharrell Williams. Per Associated Press, he describes the pair as “absolutely forcing” him to head out on tour in North America. He quotes them as saying, “‘You have to look your audience in the eye, you can’t hide behind the screen forever. You owe it to your audience.’” READ MORE: Justice: “We heard Sicko Mode by Travis Scott and said, ‘Wow, we’re still thinking about music in an ancient way’” He calls the US “incredibly

Singer-songwriter turned producer, Grace Davies, has come a long way since her time on the world-famous singing competition, The X Factor. With four EPs and one on the way, she’s learnt what it takes to work both independently and under major record label Syco, and is now spreading her producer wings with her upcoming album, The Wrong Side of 25, showcasing the first time that Davies has sat in the producing chair for an entire project. Alongside her notable sync work, which has seen her catalo

Tame sibilance, apply pitch correction, control dynamic range, add clarity, and apply creative effects to your vocal recordings.View the full article

Learn how to make more money with your music using these marketing and promotion tips.View the full article

In recent years, cuts to arts funding have taken their toll on music education, but it’s not all bad news. London’s pointblank Music School has just opened a new 19,000 square-foot Shoreditch campus, hosting 13 studios catering to DJing, production and engineering. Studios include two immersive Dolby Atmos facilities fitted with Solid State Logic Duality Delta and Origin consoles, Adam Audio S Series monitors, and Avid Pro Tools HD, offering students the “most advanced spatial audio experience

As the 2024 festival season approaches, the UK is witnessing a concerning trend: 21 festivals have either been cancelled, postponed, or scrapped – with many more in danger of disappearing without immediate action. The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), which conducted the research, said that “The timing of this milestone suggests that the number of festival cancellations this year will far outstrip 2023, when a total of 36 festivals were cancelled before they were due to take place.”

Learn about 25 of the best VST plugins that will help you produce, mix, and master your music better.View the full article

Learn which budget audio interface has the best input and output options, software bundle, and price.View the full article

Learn about some of the most popular and affordable music production speakers, ranging in price from $149 to $359.View the full article

Learn about the best limiter for maximizing loudness, limiting sub-mixes, and mastering your music in general.View the full article