In 1999, psychologists Schulkind, Hennis, and Rubin conducted a series of experiments in which they played both old and new popular songs for college students and older adults. They found that songs frequently evoked memories. Sometimes the song would evoke general recollection - a memory from a period in the person’s life or a special someone, and other times songs brought to mind specific recollections of particular events.
Schulkind and his colleagues found that the more emotion a song generated for someone, the more likely the song would cue a memory. In addition, older songs more often evoked memories for the older participants whereas recent tunes brought memories to mind more often for the college students.
In the age of streaming music, Many listeners believe the changes in the way we listen to music have compressed the gap between hearing a song and feeling nostalgic about it. Whereas older generations became nostalgic about their teenage years in their 40s or 50s, people are now experiencing those same feelings in their late 20s and early 30s.
When it comes to the relationship between nostalgia and music, something researchers know for sure is that the music we listen will continue to be incredibly influential on us for the rest of our lives.
Written By Victoria NelsonThe dawn of the internet gave rise to the concept of digital music sharing for the first time, beginning with Napster’s model of a free peer-to-peer sharing network. Today, consumer-facing apps have revolutionized how we access music.
Written By Victoria Nelson
]]>As tech innovation continues to disrupt the music industry time and time again, in the midst of this, it seems compensation for artists continues to fall by the wayside.
Streaming on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora accounted for 79.5 percent of the $8.8 billion total global revenue for recorded music last year. But … while these platforms generate monumental revenue gains through advertising and subscriptions, they pay out negligible amounts per stream, and only a portion of this ends up in creators’ pockets.
For platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, about 70% of the revenue goes to music rights holders which, sadly, is often not the artist. Further to this, a report from Citigroup shows that in 2017, artists only received 12% of the total revenue made by the music industry.
To make it even worse, Spotify has proposed a new feature that will enable artists and rights holders to boost specific tracks in the platform’s recommendation algorithms provided they agree to a lower royalty rate for those streams.
What can be done to properly compensate artists? We can look over to China’s Tencent Music for a few ideas. Whereas western streaming platforms wrestle with profitability, Tencent Music’s operating profits in 2019 were $664 million. What’s interesting is that only around 30 percent of Tencent Music’s revenue comes from subscriptions, music downloads, and advertising revenue; the lion’s share comes through a commission on one-off payments given to artists by listeners, called micropayments.
For example, a listener can send a few dollars as a sign of appreciation for a live stream performance. They can also customize their application with an artist’s image, and purchase behind-the-scenes content or a pre-release streaming block for a new record.
It’s somewhat of a leap to assume a seamless adoption of micropayments in the west, but against a backdrop of our current system’s shortcomings, and as Spotify continues to prioritize podcasting at the expense of musicians whose work it’s long relied upon, they present an alluring revenue source for musicians globally.
In the meantime, we must support artists in any way we can. We can do this by becoming active listeners. Subscribe to their Patreon page, if they have one, and consider buying your favorite releases in physical or downloadable form. If you enjoyed an album, consider adding a tip.
]]>Owning your work product, managing who you work with, and having the creative license to make changes are some of the many benefits. Self-promotion is easier as well. Social media is a great tool for getting yourself out there and it offers the preferred method because that is where most producers' audience lives.
There is no need to hire musicians or book studio time making money less of a barrier than ever before. Technology advancements also play a major role in the success of DIY music producers. They can create and share their music much more affordably with just one computer and some basic equipment.
The process can be so rewarding, but there is a reason that record labels are still growing: being an independent producer is hard. You have to navigate the music world without the money and access labels can provide for you.
But all of those benefits have the drawback of everyone having them too. Apple Music adds about 40,000 new songs to their seemingly unlimited catalog for streaming. Anyone can have the same ability to speak directly to a listener so finding your unique perspective and offering is more important now than ever.
The rise of DIY music producers because people are seeing the benefits and learning how to navigate those difficulties because betting on yourself and win, you get the benefits of that hard work.
Written By Angelique Killebrew
Festivals allow for combinations of musicians of different sizes, genres, and fanbases to get together at a more affordable rate for everyone to get involved. Festivals also give everyone a more fulfilling experience than the traditional concert with tons of vendors, some with carnival rides, insta-worthy shooting locations, and influencer opportunities. It often feels too good to be true at times. For festivals that don’t quite have the budget for that experience, fans are still getting the opportunity to see a variety of talented artists for a more palatable price. Festivals can serve some practical purposes, as well. With COVID not completely gone yet, most festivals take place in outdoor spaces with several acres of area for fans to explore, allowing for larger crowds in further proximity from each other than the traditional concert
Some of the current festivals ready to roll after COVID are Rock Fest, Rolling Loud. LollaPalooza, Coachella, Electric Zoo, Made in America, iHeartRadio, Gasparilla, and so much more are popping up each day. Keep your eyes out for your favorite artists banding together some time soon.
Written By: Makenzie Hall
]]>Albums are not expected to disappear anytime soon, but are released less frequently. Albums originally had a practical purpose of being cost effective both for consumers and artists. They were composed of the artist's greatest hits, a fun story concept, and/or experimental phases. However, with the rise of music streaming platforms, social media access,and quick-paced consumerism, there’s a lot less demand and pressure in putting out a full body of work for public opinion. So how are artist’s staying in the public eye with just singles?
Recently, it's been about creating a campaign and experience around each single, similar to how albums were promoted. Many artists have purposefully or accidentally used TikTok to promote teasers to upcoming songs, going viral off verse snippets, challenges, skits, etc. One example being, Lil Nas X, who teased his recent hit “Montero” for over a year before release or Chase Atlantic who’s formerly scrapped song “Oh Mami” blew up and fans begged for it’s release. Artists will spend time promoting on traditional talk shows, but invest in creating theatrical live performance videos, most recently done for Ariana Grande’s 2020 song, “POV,” another TikTok hit, as well as, Doja Cat’s most recent singles “Ain’t Sh**” and “Kiss Me More.”
With a push for aesthetics, performance, experience, and experimenting with new sounds, fans prefer more content consistently from their favorite artists, rather than waiting a year or two in between for full albums. That being said, the appeal of the full album, record breaking fan wars, and stories told through artistic decisions still has its place in the industry.
Written By Makenzie HallMusic has a huge influence on video gameplay. It can draw a player further into a world, warn them of danger and encourage them to take risks. The music in video games can also expose an artist to new audiences that would have never found their music otherwise.
Music Merchandise Consumer Spending
Video games and music have always been connected. Most avid gamers spend about 7 hours more steaming music than average, which is about 3.5 hours. Those that avidly play video games are also more likely to buy music merchandise; about 20 percent of gamers are likely to buy music merch, which compares to about 8 percent of the general population.
They are just more inclined to be enthusiastic buyers of the merchandise of their favorite things, and that includes the T-shirts and shoes of their favorite music artists.
Growth Opportunities For Artists
These partnerships are amazing growth opportunities for artists. Artists have partnered with popular video games to launch albums, merchandise, and singles. Virtual concerts on games like Fortnite and Roblox have also been hugely popular.
Music labels are going beyond the typical licensing model that has been used to monetize music for video games in the past. These new opportunities call for innovation in the way music labels partner with the gaming industry. One example of that innovation is in-game spending infrastructure. People could buy music the same way they buy in-game gear and level upgrades.
More consumers are moving away from just buying in-game products that give them advantages in the game. Personalization and self-expression are significant motivations to purchase. Music can be a part of that.
Leveraging Authentic Connections Into Social Media Sponsorships
Content creation is also a potential avenue for music and video game partnerships. These authentic partnerships are great for artists that are authentically connected to these games. This could mean partnerships with streaming services, social media sponsorships, and physical merchandise collaborations.
There is significant potential for an increase in revenue for artists; the options are much wider than the typical ways of the past. Innovation will be the key to the successful implementation of video games and music artist partnerships in the future.
Written by Angelique Killebrew
]]>Willow Smith is single-handedly bringing back pop-punk, and I’m living for every moment. The song reminds me of Paramore and Avril Lavigne at their peak. Travis Barker has been low-key been ushering in the latest generation of pop-punk rockers with artists outside of the Pop-punk genre. Next on his list is Young Thug. I can’t wait to hear the rest of her new album.
After two years of anticipation, Normani finally dropped a new song! Wild Side was worth the wait. This sultry music video pays tribute to the past: Janet Jackson inspired choreography, visuals feel on the level of TLC and Missy Elliot, and the song itself is a sample of Aaliyah's classic R&B standard "One in a Million”. Cardi’s Feature just ties it all together. It’s the brief pop of spicy that doesn’t overpower the song and allows Normani to shine. This is the perfect song to kick up hype for her upcoming album.
Industry Baby is a song to all Lil Nas X’s haters to let them know that he’s here to stay and he’ll turn their petty nonsense back at them to make it to the top. Together with fellow rapper Jack Harlow, Nas boasts about his place at the top of the heap and emphasizes that he’s only just getting started. Lil Nas X not being one to pass up an opportunity to turn his words into action, partnered with the non-profit organization The Bail Project to raise money with the goal of ending cash bail in the US.
McDonald has been experimenting with celebrity meals over the last year, featuring collaborations with artists such as Travis Scott, BTS, J Balvin, and now the Icy Girl herself, Saweetie. The Saweetie Meal, which debuted August 9, features a Big Mac, a four-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries, medium Sprite, Tangy BBQ Sauce, and something called “Saweetie ‘N Sour” sauce. The meal will be available to order in restaurants, the drive-thru, with McDelivery, and on the McDonald’s app using contactless mobile order and pay. McDonald’s said the meal’s price will vary based on location.
Written by Victoria Nelson
A platform can give an artist worldwide exposure while connecting with their fan base through their screens. Finding the right platform for artists is huge and determines your fanbase's demographics. Options such as Youtube Live or IGTV (Instagram TV) are available for use for viewers to watch artists right from their handheld devices. Many new artists such as Olivia Rodrigo are finding themselves going viral on TikTok to hold number one spots on music charts.
Artists should consider sharing their music through subscription channels or social media platforms to widen their reach. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok offer Live options to showcase performances made easy from smartphones. Youtube offers subscriptions to build a fanbase through their platform and let subscribers follow an artist and get notified when new videos are uploaded. Other platforms artists should join are Tumblr and Twitter since these apps are made for creatives and can give their music a different reach off of the main platforms artists tend to use.
Written By Chena MorrisonWelcome to the fan economy of KPOP music. In recent years, Korean culture in the form of K-drama, K-food, K-beauty, K-fashion, and KPOP has been shaking up their respective industries and are growing rapidly. KPOP alone has contributed $5 billion to the Korean economy, according to Bloomberg. Fans are an integral part of this economic boom.
KPOP fans are motivated to support their favorite idols in any way possible: streaming their videos on Youtube for views, buying digital and physical albums, and purchasing all kinds of merchandise. A KPOP idol group’s success heavily relies on the effort of the fans to spend. The KPOP Group BLACKPINK reportedly makes over $600,000 a month from just their youtube channel, in total their combined net worth is about $34 million.
The relationship between a KPOP idol and their fans goes beyond the music. Fans watch as their favorites go from a trainee to a fully-fledged star. They’re invested in their journey not only as a celebrity but as a person trying to achieve their dreams. With this, the fans can develop a certain level of loyalty for them to provide support to their favorite KPOP groups.
For outsiders looking in, spending time and money for someone you don’t personally know could be difficult to understand. But for fans, this is part of the experience and they are contributing to their favorite artists’ success.
Written By Victoria Nelson
Since quarantine everyone has been craving to get back to music festivals and live performances, and now that live music is back, we can kick off our loungewear and go back to planning our concert outfits. So what can we expect now that live music is making its comeback? Expect long lines and sold out tickets because fans of music artists are ready to get back to the music scene.
Return to live music may be a little different, since our new world has converted to everything six feet apart and digital media. Purchasing tickets may have changed all around, where venues are now offering touchless payments. The price is also altered slightly to add in the fees of safety precautions that venues need to uphold to keep live entertainment running smoothly. As ticket prices rise, eager fans still sell our venues to get the thrill of being back in the music crowd.
Concert arenas are limiting their maximum capacity and in some countries may even require you to be vaccinated to attend concerts. New York City venues are looking to enforce vaccinated only concert goers to provide the CLEAR app to prove you are vaccinated to attend. You may even see Covid-19 testing tests on site at some of these big events. Even with these restrictions many concert halls are having no issues selling out seats that may have you distance your group 6 feet apart. It comes to no surprise that you may still need to wear masks at indoor venues when you are not eating or drinking, or when leaving your seats. Extra precautions within a big crowded space is what can keep the show running. These restrictions that are put in place help make concert goers feel safe and comfortable to go ahead and purchase those tickets to attend their favorite artists' events.
Written by Chena Morrison
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This change in listening habits has altered the process in which artists make records and collaborate, and the genre rules we’re willing to bend as both music creators and listeners. As a reaction to this trend, curated playlists that are genre-less have become increasingly popular on Spotify and other streaming platforms.
What does this really mean for the future of music? As the genre-less playlists continue to pop up and algorithms become smarter, music will become something that is like a soundtrack for your life, with sounds to accompany everything you think and feel. For
R&B singer H.E.R. attended the 2020 CMT Music Awards to perform with country singer Chris Stapleton on a single they put out called “Hold On”. We then a year later saw H.E.R. attend the BET Awards in 2021 to put on an amazing performance and go on to win best female r&b/pop artist and best gospel/inspirational artist. H.E.R. is the perfect example of how an artist can be so diverse in music, leading her talent to perform on different platforms of crossover genres. H.E.R. gave a speech during the BET awards to thank God, her family, and team and goes on to explain how she had the pleasure of being on a stage of a different genre at the CMT Music Awards. She says when asked what she brings to that platform coming from R&B music, she replies that R&B and soul music laid the foundation for country music. “There would not be a lot of those other genres if it were not for black music” H.E.R. says as she finishes out her acceptance speech.
Junee Smollet-Bell is an American actress from New York City that has starred in many films and shows such as Tyler Perry’s Temptation, True Blood, and Lovecraft Country. She also starred in a women empowerment film by DC Comics, Birds of Prey as Black Canary, where she performs her first actual singing role. Smollet showcases not just her incredible acting skills, but she has a voice that compliments her talent on a whole other level. Birds of Prey is no musical film, in fact the opposite, action! Yet Smollet’s superpower as Black Canary is her “canary cry” which is a high frequency scream and a singing voice that belongs on an album. In fact, Jurnee Smollet made the soundtrack for Birds of Prey where she sings “It’s A Man’s Man’s World” an original James Brown hit.
Written By: Chena Morrison
]]>Songwriting / Publishing Royalties
Anytime you perform or one of your songs is played on streaming services,you can earn money in the form of royalties. The amount you receive varies on the amount of play your song gets and how long, but the money adds up. To start earning money from royalties, you’ll need to register with a royalty collection company. It’s their job to keep track of your music and collect money on your behalf. Then every so often (Usually months), They’ll send you a check for the royalties you’ve collected since your last payout.
Licensing your music for multimedia use
Video games, movies, tv, advertisements! All hese mediums need music in various projects and often seekout outside music creators to create songs that fit. The way licensing works is the song copyright owner(s) are compensated for limited use of their song. So essentially, they “rent” your song to be played for a certain amount of time and the owner gets paid for the usage. Competition for licensing is being more competitive, but don’t let that discourage you, there’s still room to rent out your songs.
Physical / Digital merch
Selling merch is a great way to both help build deeper connections with your fans while they can help support the musician they love. T-shirts, posters, and smaller items like buttons and stickers are usually good sellers. Merch doesn’t alway have to be in a physical form. There are plenty of fans who would pay a subscription to gain access to bonus content, sheet music, video lessons, and more. The bonus with digital merch is that while it may take more time to make, it's cheaper to produce and you don’t need to keep track of inventory. Be sure to have all of your merch items available for fans to buy directly through your website.
Online Courses
If you have mastered a skill up to a certain level, then you can teach it to other people. Whether you play instruments, know how to read notes, get musical theory, can sing (classical, jazz or any other style), produce music, know intellectual property law or get the music biz, these are all skills that people want to learn. Lessons, Workshops, digital products; There’s many ways to you can sell music education
Social Video monetization
Keeping an active social media presence is essential for any musician. If you have a large enough following, you may be able to monetize it. On Youtube, eligible channels have a way to earn ad revenue on their videos via the Partner Program. If you’ve built up a social media fanbase, local businesses, music companies, and even major brands could sponsor you to reach those fans. You can offer visibility with your live shows, on social media, your YouTube channel, and more.
There are many different ways to earn money as a musician, without having to rely on album sales and tour tickets. You might be surprised what skills you have to offer and the different ways in which they can be used within the music industry. Playing original music isn’t the only way to make it big, and many of today's successful musicians because of the networking opportunities that became available through giving music lessons, audio mixing and selling their songs to others.
Written By: Victoria NelsonToday’s most popular music platform with the best algorithm would be Spotify. In an article written by Sameer Balaganur, he breaks down how the streaming platform uses an AI to help with the organization and breakdown of music to each user. This AI helps with finding music and recommending songs based on what the user does with each song--skipping, repeating, etc. Spotify’s AI then recognizes all of these factors and helps create playlists with the users’ liked songs and add new songs that the listener might like. Spotify also comes with a browse tab that allows users to find new music outside of their tastes.
Apple music also does mirror the same features as Spotify; however, it also helps organize the different songs you already have downloaded onto your mobile device, which would normally be on iPhones.
Another music streaming platform that isn’t similar to Spotify or Apple music would be YouTube music. Similar to their videos, YouTube’s algorithm is based on multiple factors such as meta tags, watch times, categories, etc. This allows for playlists based on different types of music or new artists to show up on a listener's feed.
Data plays a huge part in algorithms, and although it seems a bit creepy for these streaming platforms to track the different sounds that you like, it does help with personalization and allows for more options to be available for the user.
Written by Romina Escano
Visual albums are short films that use visuals and connecting themes to tell a story which is soundtracked by the lyrics and music of the musician’s own album, enabling them to provide deeper context to their creative approach.
Though visual albums have been around since The Beatles, there's one person to thank for their recent resurgence: Beyoncé. It was the 2016 release of Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade, released to accompany the music, that brought visual albums back into the pop mainstream. She is just one of many musicians who has redefined cinema with her creative output.
Whilst it is perhaps technically more of a soundtrack, the film is a visual and aural experience that set the bar for future visual albums. It mixes 80s visuals, pop aesthetic and the color purple whilst following Prince’s The Kid. The character is a tortured musician experiencing the dark side of fame, and is infused with concert shots and electric performances.
Solange - When I Get HomeVisually stunning and eclectic, the film features surreal and futuristic imagery while celebrating Black culture, Afrofuturism, and paying homage to her hometown of Houston. Scenes range from Black cowboys riding through the city to glittery spaceship settings to various dance sequences, all set to songs from her celebrated LP like "Down with the Clique," "Almeda," "Stay Flo," and more. Solange's collaborations, from experimental dancers to experimental filmmakers, reveal the artist's wholly contemporary and game-changing approach to what it means to be a musician in the 21st century.
Janelle Monae - Dirty ComputerDescribed as an “Emotional Picture”, Dirty Computer depicts a surveillance state where queer people and people of color are hunted down for noncompliance. They’re stopped while driving by the police. They’re beaten and arrested at their own parties. The music videos for the songs act as an allusive, visually stunning novel-in-stories, intentionally paralleling our own reality in judgment. The whole of it is a testament to inclusivity both verbally and sonically. And Monáe’s love is liberation, for her and for us.
The visual album is a resurgent genre that seeks to combine music and visuals with a storyline. As a result, artists have a way to give additional context and framing to the music that they produce. This creates a richer storytelling and communication medium than music or videos alone can create, and goes above and beyond what the traditional music video is. Lemonade might not be the best album or the best visualization or even the best story, but it surely sets a new standard in pop storytelling by combining all three.
Written by: Victoria Nelson
With TikTok in particular, a significant contributor in what music is topping the charts, indie artists are not only promoting their new singles through normal singing and encouraging presaves, they are also creating viral dance challenges, memes, and doing frequent lives for new fans to get to know all about them. From there, indie artists are transitioning to Youtube for longer more music focused content, but still engaging with the comical, viralbility type of content that Gen-Z and younger Millennials have become known for.
In the age of aesthetic and relatability, indie artists are also on the rise due their fresh and unique sounds. While not indie, the emergence of artists like Willow and Olivia Rodrigo is reintroducing the Alternative Pop and Pop Rock teen angst and nostalgia sound back onto the scene which seems to be a common factor in many of today’s trending sounds. Indie artists in that genre waiting to be discovered really feel like a hidden treasure to the followers already rooting for them.
However, the platform growth from several up and coming artists of different genres like, Sub Urban’s “Cradles” and Flo Milli’s “Beef FloMix”; or Tokyo’s Revenge’s “GoodMorningTokyo!” has major record label’s already taking notice. Both labels and fans alike are quick to support the next big thing and with the current system in place, it could quite literally be you.
Written By MaKenzie Hall
Performers of all genres took to social media to comfort fans and lift the global spirit with a variety of livestreams. Some small and intimate, some large, concert-like productions, some free, and some paid, there was truly something for everyone and they were more popular than originally predicted. Prime example being KPOP global superstars, BTS, hosting their online concert, Map of the Soul ON:E, with a record-breaking 993,000 paid viewers from a total of 191 regions with an estimated revenue of $20 million. While it didn’t mend the hole left by in-person entertainment, it certainly was a welcomed window to a new way we can stay connected.
Now being recognized as the future of music, social media platforms such as Twitch, Youtube, and Instagram have seen anywhere between 70-526% increase in livestream viewership throughout the pandemic. Some of the notable differences between these livestreams and in-person concerts: interactivity -- for smaller performances, like pioneer, Erykah Badu, her audience got to choose her setlist and setting for each of her performances. For larger audiences, like Music Festivals, many implemented interactive 360° and AR elements, and highlighted and interacted with fans throughout the show, an unlikely case scenario in normal concerts. They also give access to fans who economically could not support their favorite artists in-person prior due to high ticket prices, while many Instagram livestream concerts remain free, larger, concert-like productions, are only charging on average around $30-50 which can still be an investment for some, but is a significantly cheaper alternative to the real deal.
In terms of evolving the industry, this is still a new and growing concept which comes with less profitability in the beginning, but is expected to continue in our new normal. The important factor is it shows the demand is there by the audiences and it is a new possibility for the music industry to continue exploring.
Written By: MaKenzie Hall
Written By Victoria Nelson
]]>You may have seen Rodrigo acting as Nine in the hit Disney+ series, the High School Musical: The Musical The Series (HSMTMTS). The 18-year-old is also famous for her role in the Disney Channel series called Bizaardvark. Her first single independent from her HSMTMTS tracks, 'drivers license', quickly rose to the top of the Billboard charts and has hit over 500 million plays on Spotify. Her debut album Sour featuring 'drivers license' and her two new singles, 'deja vu' and 'good 4 u', will be released this Friday.
You may have heard Erica Banks'Banks' latest hit when her song was trending for the Buss It Challenge all over TikTok and Instagram Reel. Banks, who is 22 years from DeSoto, Texas, signed to her label, 1501 certified, back in 2020 but just went viral this year. She is a female rapper and new to music altogether. Just two years before going viral, she actually stepped inside a recording studio for the first time in her life. From there is history, we expect to hear more viral hits from Banks.
Dixie D'AmelioD'Amelio is the older sister to Charli D'AmelioD'Amelio, who shares the spotlight of the most famous sisters on TikTok. They both also created a podcast called ''2 Chix'' to discuss current trends and inspiration. Dixie just released a song with Wiz Khalifa called ''One Whole Day'' that now has 24 million hits on Spotify.
Rubi Rose is not new to the scene, as she has been featured in music videos for the Migos' Migos' Bad and Boujee'Boujee' and is a well-known Instagram model. Her music started to take off, and she has made a sound for herself with her rapping style. She has gained recognition for her deep voice and beautiful music videos. Rubi currently balances her college life with her music career and still has time to create and drop new hits.
Last but not least, Arlo Parks is a British singer/songwriter who just released her album in January this year. ''Collapsed in Sunbeams'Sunbeams' hit number 3 on the UK Album Charts. Arlo is making her rise with her music that reflects her empathetic character in real life. She has taken the time and discovered her style and voice through different inspirations. Hopefully, this year, we will hear more of these musicians and see them develop in the spotlight.
Written By Chena Morrison
]]>Music is an international language and offers not only opportunities, but a way for the youth to express themselves through instruments. Studies show students who participate in music programs are actually proven to be beneficial to their education and cognitive factors. Schools who offer music programs see a higher graduation rate, because students more often want to attend and be present. The only dilemma is getting the music to the kids who live in under-resourced communities, or are unable to attend due to pandemic reasons. Here are some scholarships and programs made to empower the youth, to give them a chance to pursue their music dreams.
Harmony Project
The Harmony Project based out of LA is one of the nations well known and effective youth program in the arts. They target low income families in communities lacking resources and funds for music programs. Their mission is to break down “systemic barriers” through academic support, helping the youth reach their aspirations through music. Harmony Project has also teamed up with Levi’s music project to open doors for those who would possibly never have had the opportunity to touch a musical instrument without the help of the program. Harmony Project reaches out and serves 16 key communities in Los Angeles County, focusing on under resourced communities. Each student who joins Harmony Project receives an instrument to take home, professional lessons, performance opportunities, access to scholarships, and family support services.
La Jolla Music Society
La Jolla Music Society is making music attainable to students who were affected by the pandemic and unable to continue their music passions. They have transitioned their free after school program to online, which offers free instruments and lessons to students in grades 4-12. La Jolla Music Society offers music education to 40 different schools through their Community Music Center program. Offering classes through zoom three days a week, their mission is to “increase students’ self confidence and resilience while providing a safe environment to study and create music.”
Live Nation
Live Nation offers a scholarship program called the Music Forward Foundation, which has been around for over 25 years and has impacted 1 million students lives. Live Nation offers artist development, career development, and scholarships with a focus on underprivileged youth. Their mission is to provide leadership skills and career exploration to act as a bridge to success for students coming from under-resourced communities.
Written by Chena Morrison
The anticipation for this album is creating a lot of buzz, and leaving fans waiting for the album to drop. Although the release date was set for January 2021, the launch was pushed back at a later date that is still to be determined. He did however announce on his Instagram that we can still expect the albums arrival in 2021, but as of right now he is focused on healing between his knee surgery and rehab. DJ Akademiks also took to Instagram to announce the album will still be dropping, and that Drake is working overtime on getting it out to his fans. He also mentioned we can expect to listen in before summertime comes around, bringing hopes around April of 2021.
Drake announced on OVO sound radio that the album is being “cheffed” and fans are trying to determine if that means Certified Lover Boy is in its last stages of coming together. Drake did however drop three tracks on his new EP early this March to hold off the pressure of his new album. Scary Hours 2 features “What’s Next” where Drake raps alone and is actually the most popular track of the three according to charts. “Wants and Needs” features Lil Baby, and “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” features Rick Ross who both made their debut onto Drakes new EP. As Spring makes its way around the corner, fans are trying to wait patiently for Drake’s new music. Hopefully May is the month of the year where fans will finally get to listen in on Certified Lover Boy.
Written By: Chena Morrison
TikTok gives upcoming artists a platform, while making it easy to navigate and create a chance for your music to reach users. After uploading your music to TikTok, its even easier to find fans who create videos with your song attached to them in one place. To get your music on TikTok, you have to first find your 15-30 second moment of your song clip that you know will lock ears. Olivia Rodrigo’s melancholic song “Driver’s License” blows up while giving users 20 seconds to come up with a unique video incorporating her lyrics. You can download platforms to distribute your music on TikTok, such as TuneCore that helps upload your album while crediting you the artist. From here, creating a challenge that other users can jump on makes TikToks go viral that help artists gain recognition. Creating a marketing strategy for your song to go viral includes making up challenges, using catchy hashtags, and collaborating with influencers on a duet video.
Written by Victoria Nelson
]]>A queer black woman from Arkansas born into a family of religious singers, farm laborers, and traditional evangelists. Rosetta accompanied her mother and started performing at a young age with an evangelical road show. As they traveled across the American south, performing helped to display and refine Tharpe’s natural talent. As Tharpe grew up, she began fusing various musical genres into what would become her signature style, the biggest influence being gospel music.
Performances:
Sister Rosetta Tharpe- "Didn't It Rain?" Live 1964
Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Up Above My Head on Gospel Time TV show
She moved to Chicago and then New York City, cutting her first Gospel recordings in 1938. The records had significant commercial success, her genre bending sound appealing to crossover audiences even as the lyrics generated controversy among Gospel purists.
For the next 30 years she performed extensively to packed venues across the U.S. and Europe and recorded more than a dozen albums. She performed alongside the likes of Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman and Lucky Millinder.
Tharpe was an influence on other early rockers, too, including Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Elvi . Later ones took note as well. “Sister Rosetta Tharpe was anything but ordinary and plain,” said Bob Dylan on his Theme Time Radio Hour show. “She was a big, good-lookin woman, and divine, not to mention sublime and splendid. She was a powerful force of nature. A guitar-playin’, singin’ evangelist.”
On October 9, 1973, Sister Rosetta Tharpe died of a stroke at the age of 58. The headstone erected on her grave decades after her death bears these words: “She would sing until you cried, and then she would sing until you danced for joy. She kept the church alive and the saints rejoicing.”
While Tharpe and her influence has historically been overlooked but in recent years, she has been rightfully celebrated as a woman who broke every norm, and her legacy lives on in rock artists of today!
When you first start to write, you’re going to need to come up with some ideas. First and foremost, make sure you have somewhere to always capture your ideas and it doesn’t have to be fancy, many artists use their phone’s notes and journals. Recording on your phone is a good way to store a melody or phrases that piques your interest. Whenever these ideas do come to you, jot them down! Even if you think nothing will come of it, keep track of any lyric, hook, melody, etc. Who knows when they’ll come in handy.
What type of song are you looking to write? Music genres have certain slang, history, beats, etc. that they are commonly associated with, use that when you are starting your process. EDM is heavily focused on the instrumentals whereas country tends to emphasize the lyrics. When you are drafting your song, a good option is to draft quickly, don’t put too much thought into how you’re piecing together your art because you can revise it later. Think of the emotion you’re hoping to convey to your audience. Implement the sadness, sexiness, happiness etc. into your lyrics and melody. As you advance in songwriting, implement multiple emotions into your songs, such as sadness and nostalgia for a unique journey. Remember to use melodies and harmonies to switch up and build the energy around the song. And pulling from an authentic experience can help you progress your lyrics quicker. Maybe get creative and shake up the traditional song structure.
If you want to get more technical, think about studying music theory and revisiting the basics of songwriting when you have extra time. This can help you dive into lyrics, melodies, harmonies, rhyme, editing specifics, and solutions to songwriting.
Still stuck in a rut? Several musicians use unorthodox methods to get in the zone for writing music. Maybe try out a few of these:
Read over your song many times until you have it completely memorized and engrained in you, don’t become too attached to one version, revise frequently to see the different ways you can finalize your sound. If nothing is standing out to you anymore, take a break from working and have a trusted friend or fellow musician take a look at it. Like with any art, a fresh set of eyes and ears offers a new perspective.
When you are done revising, rewrite your song over again for a fresh outlook on a potential final contender. Be open to building on and editing your songs and don’t be afraid to have bad songs. Everyone can’t be expected to have the next #1 single their first time writing, it takes time to develop. And songwriting being a creative process in itself will sometimes lead to upsets and retrials. Having a realistic outlook on your journey will less likely result in feeling discouraged.
Written by MaKenzie Hall
New music has never been easier to come by. . Music streaming platforms make it easy for consumers to get access to their favourite songs conveniently. MU\usic sharing features on social media has opened up new opportunities for people to share what they are listening to with friends and followers. Over 90% of social media users share music-related content on social networks.
Over the last two decades, we’ve gone from MP3s and peer to peer music files from sites like LimeWire to paid subscriptions to online streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. Streaming platforms use algorithms to learn user preferences which has led to a whole new world of music discovery.
Independent artists are now putting their fate in their own hands. Independent artists have more opportunities to reach new fans globally and allow indie artists to build their own platforms bypassing labels, uploading their projects to online streaming platforms and speaking to their fans directly through their social media. Some artists have taken this interaction to a new level and involve fans in the creation process.
As a career musician, social media is your top priority. It's key to increasing your fanbase, networking for future gig opportunities, and marketing your latest work. And, building a presence on multiple platforms can work wonders for your visibility and grow your reach exponentially.
Music streaming and social media has impacted the way people interact with music and has proven to be a major influence in that during the last decade. The ease of access and convenience will become even easier and more immersive in the future. Connected devices, smart speakers, and VR will take users engaged beyond the screen with technology expanding the social functionalities beyond the streaming websites.Social media platforms will also continue to be the bridge where fans and artists connect.
Written By Victoria NelsonInterested in getting your child involved in music? Look no further, here’s a list of resources to help you get started both in person and online.
Music Teachers National Association
MTNA offers a resource hub of a researched sampling of the musical, youth-oriented programs on the Internet today for both parents and teachers to use. The hub features links for children of various ages, experiences, and dedication levels.
CMN is a network of artists, advocates, and educators who meet and stay in touch to share songs and ideas about children's music, to inspire each other about the empowering ways adults and young people can communicate through music, and to be a positive catalyst for education and community-building through music. Their chapters work to support the creation and dissemination of life-affirming, multicultural musical forms for, by, and with young people. CMN regional chapters all around the country organize both local and regional gatherings which are open to CMN members and non-members alike. Check out their future events here.
A music & movement program is a library program in which participants engage both in physical activity and the creation of music. Based on research Let’s Move in Libraries conducted in Spring 2017, over 600 public libraries in the U.S. and Canada have already offered some sort of music and movement program.
A2Z Homeschooling: Free Music Lessons for Kids
A2Z Homeschooling offers a comprehensive list of online resources. They offer a variety of free online music lessons for kids (including lesson plans for music history and music theory), but also ways to download music for free, learn an instrument, and play games with music.
Outschool: Music Classes For Kids
Music Classes For Kids explores fun, social, and safe learning experiences over live video chat. 100,000+ classes and courses of various lengths and price ranges are led by qualified teachers for ages 3-18.
This is a list of websites that offer exactly what the title suggests, music learning games for kids that parents are hoping to get into music.
Educational Music Apps, Games, and Websites (1,2)
There's a ton of apps, games, and websites for teaching the basics of music and music composition and recording. With these great music apps, games, and websites, students can listen to and better understand music, make it, or just experiment with rhythm, pitch, looping, and more. Watch them turn tunes from major to minor, hear songs arranged for a range of instruments, make themed playlists, and record and mix pro-level tracks! With these tools, your students from elementary to high school will see how easy and fun it is to make digital music.
Kindermusik has been bringing the unparalleled benefits of music education to children and families around the world for 40 years. Based on decades of research, Kindermusik's curricula were designed especially for “non-music teachers” to enrich, enhance, and complement existing curriculum and programming, ensuring every child, 0-6 years old, receives the developmental benefits of Kindermusik.
Each week in Music Together classrooms around the world, babies, toddlers, preschoolers, big kids and adults gather to make music as a community. Offered at more than 3,000 locations and 40 countries, their early childhood music classes give families with children from birth through age 8 the chance to get in touch with their inner musician and connect with other families.
For more serious kids wanting to be immersed in the world of music technology, they can receive a full day of classes and activities, both on their computer and away from their computer, from music production, music theory, and songwriting, to music history and appreciation, collaboration, and performance. This program is taught using certified instructors, personal mentoring, small classes, and a discord community.
Based in the Tampa Bay Area and online, School of Rock offers music camps and workshops perfect for musicians of all skill levels who play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals. They also have specific programs for various breakdowns of children ages 3-18.
Written By MaKenzie Hall]]>Going to school for K-pop is not uncommon in South Korea. Students are known to spend hours after their school studies, studying dance moves and singing lessons. Even with classes, aspiring K-pop performers must go through several auditions to be hand-picked by a record label. When chosen by a record label, they are then sent off to a demanding training school for years and willingly give up their freedom to get a shot at become a K-pop sensation. Once in an official training school, students are expected to study music, dance, and language on top of their other studies which some dreamers drop out of to mainly focus only on their music careers. On top of studying, they are trained on strict diets, proper etiquette, public image and overpacked schedules. The market is so saturated with competition, that there is so much pressure to be the most hardworking talented star to make their way to the top.
Going to a K-pop training school has its risks, as students must sign a contract beforehand. Exiting a contract could cost more than finishing out a term which could be anywhere from months to 10 years long. There is even a chance of never becoming famous with all the practice and schooling put into being a K-pop star. Yet knowing the risks, many K-pop enthusiasts still rush to the plate to take on the challenge. Popular training labels, like SM Entertainment or YG are known for managing the biggest K-pop artists such as Bigbang and Blackpink members. Even after debuting as a big artist, there is still struggle to stay at the top of the charts. With K-pop as one Korea’s major music genres, everyone is working towards the same goal and surviving to stay relevant.
Written By: Chena MorrisonBlack Is King being one of them, is a musical now available on Disney plus that was directed, written, and produced by the one and only Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. This musical is all about celebrating African culture and Black people while giving insight and praise on their roots and ancestors. It’s a beautiful film about a prince who goes on a guided journey by his ancestors to find self-identity to get back his throne. Through music and dance, the story unfolds and represents Black resilience. Beyonce produced an album for this film, where Brown Skin Girl was nominated for Best Music Video for the Grammys. Black Parade is also in key nominations for Record of the Year for the Grammys 2021.
Beyoncé is not shy from the screens, with her documentary Homecoming that made its debut back in 2019. Homecoming is a documentary about Beyoncé’s performance at Coachella 2018, and the building up to the event which was also directed by herself. The film shows a behind the scene footage of all the hard work and dedication leading up to her performance for the music festival. Homecoming has also won a Grammy for Best Music Film.
The Single Ladies singer also gives back. Beyoncé has curated a program for those in need of financial help during the Covid-19 pandemic called the BeyGood Impact fund for those impacted in housing crisis’. Those facing foreclosures and evictions can apply for a grant to help turn around their problems. Beyoncé has also helped over 250 small businesses with $10k in grants over the pandemic with the BeyGood Small Business Impact fund.
Written by Chena Morrison
]]>Enon Music Group is a vision from God for the restoration of church music and local artists back into the gospel music industry. Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller, Senior Pastor of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, established the label with the purpose of raising appreciation for Church music in the industry, and, with the leadership of Garland “Miche” Waller, facilitate artists who have a love for the church and a Christocentric lyric into the business of Gospel music.
Dr. Waller is a true visionary of church and community who serves humanity far beyond the restraints of traditionalism. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Business from Ohio University, a Master of Divinity Degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Ministry to Marriage and Family from Palmer Theological Seminary. In 2014, Dr. Waller received an honorary doctorate from Lincoln University.
He utilized his music and preaching gifts as Minister of Music at Canaan Missionary Baptist Church in Louisville, KY (1987), and as Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Donora in Pennsylvania (1990). In 1994, the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church called Dr. Waller to lead them as their Senior Pastor.
The heart of Dr. Waller’s ministry can be felt through his musical gift. The Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Mass Choir and Pastor Waller established the Enon Music Group (EMG) record label and released a 3X Stellar Award nominated album – DR. ALYN E. WALLER PRESENTS ENON TABERNACLE: THE EXPERIENCE. The Enon Tabernacle Fresh Anointing Choir released their debut album TOTALLY, and have garnered a 2019 Stellar Award nomination for Contemporary Choir of the Year.
Garland Waller, better known as “Miche,” is a well-known name throughout the gospel industry. Though he has widely been known as the talented musician and producer for Pastor John P. Kee for 25 years, Miche has played, written, and produced for many award-winning artists.
Prophetic preaching and intentional ministry outreach is supported by anointed music that “Prepares people to hear the word of God and inspires people to act upon the word of God”. Through the leadership of Dr. Waller and Garland Waller, Enon Music Group is a vehicle to help bring the industry back to church and the church to the world.