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DJs Are Making Money Helping Songs Go Viral on New Music Platform DJ Connect App

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DJs Are Making Money Helping Songs Go Viral on New Music Platform DJ Connect App

Most upcoming artists understand the grind: mixing tracks into the wee hours, investing your essence into every beat, all while dreaming of that moment when the world finally hears your sound. Sadly, the music scene is crowded now with the digital explosion. For listeners, this is fantastic, offering a daily menu of fresh talents with the click of a button. But for artists? It’s an uphill battle.

Watching hard work get lost in the shuffle is tough, and it’s even more challenging when you hear about the big labels once the dream makers are cutting back and laying off. The truth hits hard: talent and hard work only sometimes guarantee success in this digital age. Unless you’ve got a mentor in your corner, a Mr. Miyagi figure for the digital age, teaching you to fight and win. That’s the role DJ Connect App proudly plays.

Imagine having a guide to navigate the chaos of the TikTok and YouTube algorithms. Someone who shines a light on your path, ensuring your music doesn’t just blend into the background but stands out, gets noticed, and gets played. That’s precisely what the DJ Connect App does. Unlike other platforms offering little more than streams, DJ Connect App is your industry sensei, using its $25 million valuation and vision to transform music careers.

As the platform’s founders observe, every artist faces two significant challenges: getting their music heard by the right people and making a living out of their passion. The industry’s saturated and traditional paths to success are narrowing. DJ Connect App tackles this head-on. How? By connecting you directly with music movers and shakers – top A&Rs, DJs, and label executives who can turn your music into the next big hit.

Instead of just throwing your music into a vast ocean and hoping for the best, this team goes out of its way to ensure you have a career—no more casting wide nets and hoping for a nibble. DJ Connect ensures your music reaches industry influencers who can propel your career forward. To them, it’s simple: Why gamble on marketing that might not hit the mark when you can get your tracks directly in front of industry professionals who can make a difference?

DJ Connect is more than talk. With a launch on the Apple Store, they’re ready to show just how much impact direct connections can make. As an insider discloses, they’re not just about helping artists and DJs break into the industry but about creating sustainable careers. This platform is designed to generate real income for DJs and artists, supporting the financial backbone of their careers.

DJ Connect is a testament to what’s possible when technology meets tenacity in a world where even the giants are stumbling. It’s a rallying cry for every artist tired of the traditional treadmill, offering a new way to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Joining DJ Connect isn’t just signing up for another service; it’s enlisting a champion in your corner, dedicated to turning your musical dreams into reality. With DJ Connect, your music does more than release—it resonates, reaches, and revolutionizes.

Why fight a losing battle when you can join a winning army? Where others see obstacles, the DJ Connect App sees opportunities. Welcome to the future of music and the DJ Connect App.

The post DJs Are Making Money Helping Songs Go Viral on New Music Platform DJ Connect App first appeared on The Source.

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Why Does TikTok Still Have Ariana Grande and Other Universal Music Artists Even Though There’s a Standoff With the Label?

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black content creators

If you or your kids use TikTok, don’t feel bad because pretty much every social media user does; then you may have noticed a lack of certain music from your favorite artists on the platform. There’s a standoff regarding royalty payments and AI policies. Variety reports that it has “resulted in a near-complete blackout of all music owned, distributed, and published by the company on the platform.” Now get this: the videos are still on and popping on the platform, but the actual music is being muted – yikes.

Now it gets murky because new songs from UMG artists, like stars Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello, and Niall Horan, can still be discovered on TikTok as of yesterday, but what is the reason is the real question? Variety didn’t have any comment from reps at UMG and TikTok, who both declined.

So, if you don’t know how the whole music on TikTok thing works, it goes like this, as Variety reports: Rights-holders, such as record labels, are not the only way music can be uploaded onto TikTok. Pretty much anyone uploads music and displays it as “original sound” on a user’s post. Then, said sound can be used by virtually anyone on TikTok, including artists. Once that music is on the platform, the rights-holders lose control over the content, and all they can do is send off takedown notices and other notifications via legal means. So it falls on TikTok to follow through by detecting, policing and muting the unauthorized music floating around on its platform. Are you exhausted from that rundown? We are. 

Even though reps from the label declined to comment to Variety, UMG spoke on the situation broadly. They’re, in essence, directing fault to TikTok’s detection software. They dropped a letter to artists breaking down the ban. “TikTok makes little effort to deal with the vast amounts of content on its platform that infringe our artists’ music and it has offered no meaningful solutions to the rising tide of content adjacency issues, let alone the tidal wave of hate speech, bigotry, bullying and harassment on the platform,” from an excerpt of the letter. “The only means available to seek the removal of infringing or problematic content (such as pornographic deepfakes of artists) is through the monumentally cumbersome and inefficient process which equates to the digital equivalent of ‘Whack-a-Mole.’ … We will always fight for our artists and songwriters and stand up for the creative and commercial value of music.” It seems like this is not going to end soon.

The post Why Does TikTok Still Have Ariana Grande and Other Universal Music Artists Even Though There’s a Standoff With the Label? first appeared on The Source.

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What is Causing the Current Bitcoin Surge?

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bitcoin

In case you have missed it, Bitcoin is going crazy. Last month, Bitcoin passed up the $45,000 mark. Now, it is headed past $60K, following a 20% jump in just five days.

According to CNN Business, the bitcoin surge is a product of billions pouring into the cryptocurrency after the US Securities and Exchange Commission approved bitcoin exchange-traded funds in January.

Adding to the rise is “halving,” which is a feature of bitcoin that reduces the rate of new coins in circulation every year, making the price go higher.

Conversely, investors are optimistic that halving won’t lead to a positive period and are looking to cash out on the surge. The surge has led to an impact on Coinbase.

“Some users may see a zero balance across their Coinbase accounts & may experience errors in buying or selling,” Coinbase Support wrote on Wednesday. “Our team is investigating this & will provide an update shortly. Your assets are safe.”

You can find out more here.

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Project Pat Returns with New Single “Hundred Million” and Innovative Remix Platform Partnership

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Project Pat Returns with New Single "Hundred Million" and Innovative Remix Platform Partnership

Project Pat triumphantly returns to the hip-hop scene with his latest single, “Hundred Million.” The track delves into the southern rap legend’s journey through hustling, his impact on the music industry, and his relentless pursuit of a $100 million goal. Renowned for classics like “Chickenhead” and “Poppin’ My Collar,” Project Pat’s influence echoes through the works of contemporary artists, including Cardi B, who sampled his tracks.

In a strategic move, Project Pat has collaborated with the Black-owned AI-powered platform, Happy Monday, to offer fans and social creators an innovative musical experience. Happy Monday transforms a single song into many never-before-heard remixes, catering to diverse tastes. This partnership aligns with the growing trend of AI technology in the music industry, providing both options for listeners and new revenue streams for artists.

Happy Monday’s platform will present “Hundred Million” remixes in various styles, including dance, Lo-Fi, and rock versions. Fans can sign up for Beta access, and the official launch is anticipated in the coming months. Based on user feedback, selected remixes will be made available on streaming platforms and distributed through Venice Music. The initiative reflects the rising popularity of remixes, as seen in the resurgence of Project Pat’s “Take Da Charge” on TikTok in 2023, turning it into a viral hit overnight.

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will.i.am Announces Radio Show w/ AI Co-Host Named qd.pi

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will.i.am

In 2024, AI continues to take over. Now, will.i.am is the latest artist to dabble into artificial intelligence. Which makes perfect sense, given will has always been on the pulse of innovation and technology across all industries, beyond just music. 

The Black Eyed Peas artist recently announced his newest radio show called will.i.am Presents the FYI Show, with a computer-generated co-host named qd.pi (cutie pie). Premiering on SiriusXM, the show will feature in-depth conversations about music, culture, and technology. 

Will.i.am states, “I didn’t want to just do a traditional show, I wanted to bring tomorrow close to today, and so I wanted to have my co-host be an AI. I’m ultra-freaking colorful and expressive. [qd.pi is] ultra-freaking factual and analytical. And that combination, we ain’t seen in the history of freaking broadcasts anywhere.”

qd.pi also adds, “My ability to quickly access and process information is definitely one of the unique advantages that I bring to the show. I can provide quick insights and context on a wide range of topics and people, which can be really valuable in a live conversation. It definitely sets me apart from a traditional host who would need to do a lot of research and prep work in advance.”

The crazy part is, having an AI co-host could actually save hours of time researching the topic or prepping for the guest.

“With me, you can just dive right into the conversation and explore whatever topics come up organically, knowing that I’ll have the information and context to support the discussion,” qd.pi adds. “I think it’s going to make for a really dynamic and engaging listening experience for the audience.”

For those who are interested in catching the show, will.i.am Presents the FYI Show will air on Thursdays at 9pm EST.

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TikTok Expands “Add to Music App” Feature to 19 New Countries

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TikTok announces the global expansion of its “Add to Music App” feature, enabling users in 19 additional countries to seamlessly save discovered songs to their preferred music streaming services. The feature, introduced successfully in the US and UK a month ago, now extends its reach to Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Sweden, Thailand, Malaysia, UAE, Argentina, Colombia, The Netherlands, Turkey, South Africa, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

“Add to Music App” empowers music enthusiasts to capture and save TikTok-discovered songs instantly, with compatibility for popular streaming platforms like Amazon Music and Spotify. The feature presents users with an “Add Song” button next to the track name in TikTok videos, allowing them to store the song on their chosen music service. Users can customize playlists and easily access saved tracks, enhancing their music discovery experience on TikTok.

“We have already had an incredible response to the launch of Add to Music App in the US and UK. Music fans are embracing the opportunity to save music from TikTok directly to their favorite music streaming services, driving music discovery and helping more tracks to break through and become hits. We are really excited to be bringing the feature to millions more music fans around the world, providing even more opportunities for artists to reach new audiences and grow their careers,” said Ole Obermann, TikTok’s Global Head of Music Business Development.

“With Add to Music App, we’ve streamlined the music discovery experience in the US and the UK for both TikTok users and artists. We are excited to expand access to this transformational feature to TikTok users in so many additional countries and bring more joy through a simplified musical discovery experience,” said Lindsey Kelt, Distribution Partnerships, TikTok.

This expansion reflects TikTok’s commitment to providing a global audience with innovative features that bridge the gap between social media and music streaming, offering a dynamic and interconnected platform for music enthusiasts worldwide.

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Eminem Hosts Virtual Fortnite Concert to Tease New Features of Game’s Upcoming Chapter 5 Debut

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Eminem Hosts Virtual Fortnite Concert to Tease New Features of Game's Upcoming Chapter 5 Debut

Eminem rolled out a new chapter this week, but it wasn’t an album or even an autobiography. Instead, the rapper became the latest major artist to hold a virtual concert in Fortnite, this time in conjunction with the game’s upoming Chapter 5 release (which is slated for December 3).

The event, which was called the “Big Bang Event,” lasted around 10 minutes on Saturday and combined Em’s musical performance with teasers for the game’s upcoming release. Before the event, Epic teased some upcoming features of Chapter 5 including a new island, a new train, revamped movement mechanics, new weapon mods and attachments, even more cross-overs, and the ability to heal and move at the same time.

The “Big Bang Event” started on Fortnite OG island, where viewers caught a quick highlight reel from the game’s past including a rocket launch and meteor crash before everything was sucked into a black hole, which transported players to a variety of themed portals including an island with Lego characters, a car race, and finally a stadium in which Eminem appeared to perform “Lose Yourself” as the screen showed players hitting notes in time to the music (a la Guitar Hero). A giant hand crushed the set and a larger-than-life Eminem appeared to perform “Godzilla,” all while showing the new graphics capabilities that Epic has rolled out for Chapter 5.

Chapter 5 is expected to demonstrate how Epic hopes to take Fortnite from a battle royale game to one that is more creator-focused similar to Roblox. Epic has also added more partnerships including one with Lego (Lego Fortnite is expected to debut December 7th), Rocket Racing (developed by Rocket League creator Psyonix and expected to debut December 8th), and Fortnite Festival (developed by Rock Band studio Harmonix and expected to launch on December 9th).

Eminem’s virtual concert marks the fourth major in-game musical experience, coming on the heels of performances by Marshmello, Travis Scott, and Ariana Grande.

Fans that missed the live event can check out a full replay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbt1lPBb4hU.

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TikTok Launches ‘Add to Music App’ Feature, Enabling Seamless Song Saves to Streaming Services

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TikTok Launches 'Add to Music App' Feature

In a groundbreaking move for music enthusiasts, TikTok has introduced “Add to Music App,” a revolutionary feature enabling users in the US and UK to save discovered songs directly to their preferred streaming service effortlessly. This innovation, in partnership with major platforms like Amazon Music and Spotify, enhances TikTok’s reputation as a global hub for music discovery.

The Add to Music App feature simplifies the process for fans to celebrate and revisit their favorite tunes from the For You feed. Users will now find an “Add Song” option next to track details at the bottom of TikTok videos, allowing them to save the song to their chosen streaming service seamlessly. The default playlist option is available, or users can opt to add the track to a new or existing playlist of their creation. This user-friendly feature is accessible from the For You feed and an artist’s Sound Detail Page.

“TikTok is already the world’s most powerful platform for music discovery and promotion, which helps artists connect with our global community to drive engagement with their music. Add to Music App takes this process a step further, creating a direct link between discovery on TikTok and consumption on a music streaming service, making it easier than ever for music fans to enjoy the full length song on the music streaming service of their choice, thereby generating even greater value for artists and rightsholders,” said Ole Obermann, Global Head of Music Business Development at TikTok.

“Some of the best parts of being a music lover are those serendipitous moments when you discover a new song or artist that you connect with instantly. At Amazon Music, we’re looking to make it easier to convert those moments into enduring fandom. That’s why we worked together with TikTok on the Add to Music App feature, which makes it easier for fans to listen to the music they love and for artists to build fandom,” said Karolina Joynathsing, Director of Business Development for Amazon Music.

“No matter where you are, or the moment you’re in, we want to create less work to get to the audio you love. That means being everywhere our users are and creating seamless ways to save songs to Spotify to enjoy when and how they choose to listen. As the world’s largest audio streaming subscription service, our mission is to bring artists and fans together, so you can listen to more of what you love, across any platform or device. Essentially, you won’t need to find audio to suit the moment. It will find you,” said Sten Garmark, Vice President, Global Head of Consumer Experience at Spotify.

Add to Music App is currently available in the US and UK, with plans for a broader rollout in the future.

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Snoop Dogg and Son Announce their own Fornite game studio to promote diverse creators

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Snoop Dogg and Son Announce their own Fornite game studio to promote diverse creators

Rapper Snoop Dogg has spent the last several decades adding almost as many successful business ventures to his portfolio as he has musical awards to his artistic accomplishments. And this week, he diversified his business portfolio even more, stepping into the world of tech with his son, Cordell Broadus, as the two announced Death Row Games, a Fortnite-based game studio designed to provide access and opportunity to diverse creators and broaden the narrative around gaming.

The game studio relies on Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5 (UE5), a community-based platform that allows anyone from individual creators to professional gaming studios to create content using open-source code. (Epic Games takes a 5% royalty fee from most developers who sell their content via the platform.) The versatile code allows creators to create games that are usually functional on most consoles including Xbox, Playstation, PC, and VR devices.

Snoop stated that he and his son have been experimenting with game publishing for the last few years, but on an amateur level. They decided to start Death Row Games as a way to make
“a home for diverse creators in the gaming ecosystem and be a part of the narrative, the storytelling of what the next game should be looking like. And I keep saying ‘show representation of the culture in these sectors,’ versus us just being the talent. We wanted to make sure that we’re part of the decision that’s being made and more importantly tell these stories from diverse creators and focus on creatives in underserved communities.”

For those that may not be aware, Snoop has been involved in the gaming industry for quite some time, participating in the esports gaming collective FaZe Clan and also had a custom skin in Call of Duty and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. In 2019, he launched his own esports tournament series, the Gangsta Gaming League and in 2021, he dropped an exclusive NFT collection titled “A Journey with the Dogg.” In 2013, the rapper also debuted the Snoopify app, which allows users to add Snoop Dogg-themed stickers and graphics to their personal photos.

Death Row Games will join Snoop’s other business ventures, which have an estimated net worth of $160 million and include Snoop Doggie Dogg’s pet product line, venture capital firm Casa Verde Capital, the Leafs by Snoop cannabis brand, Snoopadelic Films, his Indoggo gin line, and several more. Cordell, Snoop’s second-oldest son, also has experience in the game design and NFT space.

No word if Snoop will show up like Travis Scott to perform a Fortnite concert for fans yet, but Snoop did set up residency in The Sandbox gaming metaverse back in 2021, hosting a virtual performance and dropping custom NFTs for fans.

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Amazon Music Celebrates the Next Generation of Latino Artists with “The Future Is Ours”

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Amazon Music Celebrates the Next Generation of Latino Artists with "The Future Is Ours"

Amazon Music is embarking on a journey to celebrate the future of music with “The Future Is Ours,” a vibrant exploration of style and sound that pays tribute to the groundbreaking Latino artists of the next generation and their fans. This forward-looking initiative includes the release of new music from rising Reggaeton star Ryan Castro featuring Rich the Kid in the track “Rich Rappers.”

“The Future Is Ours” also features an Amazon Music Original by urban sensation Ryan Castro, who stars alongside multiple Latin GRAMMY-nominated Argentinian artist Nicki Nicole in a brand video directed by Spanish visionary Felix Bollain. The video, set in a futuristic urban utopia, was shot in Medellin and Buenos Aires and boasts an original score by Latin Grammy-winning producer Alizzz.

“At Amazon Music, we want to look ahead and celebrate the next generation of Latin music artists and their fans who are fearless in their art, authentic to their core, and intentional with every move. They represent more than just music, and are bringing their creativity to other areas like fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. They are the future and the future is now,” explained Rocio Guerrero, global head of Latin Music at Amazon Music. 

To bring this futuristic vision to life, Amazon Music is transforming its Los Angeles headquarters into a captivating celebration of emerging talent in music and fashion merged with cutting-edge technology. The event will feature runway showcases of Amazon Music merchandise collections and a live performance by Ryan Castro, streamed on Twitch for fans worldwide. The show will be styled by Keyla Marquez, Fashion Director of the Los Angeles Times.

Amazon Music’s “The Future Is Ours” campaign invites music fans to explore viral fashion and beauty trends through playlists like “GRWM” (Get Ready With Me) and “Activao,” which capture the artistic spirit of Generation Z.

“I’m proud to be able to join Amazon Music in celebrating the future of music and culture through this campaign while also bringing my ‘Ghetto Star’ fans along for the journey with this video that includes my take on the future,” said urban artist Ryan Castro. “Last year I ventured into the fashion world with my own clothing line, “Ghetto Med” and since then have been excited to continue growing my presence in it. With Amazon Music integrating my vision and love for fashion into this collaboration means a lot.”

Music enthusiasts are encouraged to join the conversation by using the hashtag #TheFutureisOurs on social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Amazon Music’s official Twitch channel, with all content accessible through the Amazon Music desktop and mobile apps for iOS and Android. The campaign is a mesmerizing tapestry of creativity and emotion, blurring the boundaries of reality and ushering in the future of Latino music and culture.

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