Welcoming New IMNZ Member Owlet Nightjar With The Announcement Of Their Debut Album
Owlet Nightjar is a new project from Newtown Rocksteady guitarist Tim Key. The Wellington-based band features Thomas Friggens on drums (Brockaflower, Bazurka etc…), Blain Fitzpatrick on bass (Raw Collective, etc…) and Tim’s Dad Ted on keys, with various friends and special guests dropping in. They play a unique blend of soul, dub and blues incorporating elements of pop, reggae, psychedelic rock and hip-hop. They’ve just released their debut album The Regenerative Principle, which is a concept album about trees and the Hindu god Shiva.
“Only when the flower dies do we get the fruit. Only when the fruit is destroyed do its seeds come out. Only when the seed breaks open can the new plant emerge to give us more flowers and fruits once again.” – ‘Understanding Shiva’ by D.K. Hari and D.K. Hema Hari
The Regenerative Principle is a concept album based on this quote and the principle, or tattva, embodied by the Hindu god Shiva that it summarises.
On one level, taking the quote quite literally, each track relates to a stage in the life cycle of a tree. But on other levels, the fractal nature of reality comes into play. Synchronicity abounds. As above, so below. The album becomes a microcosm to any macrocosm you choose. A self-contained monad reflecting reality back to itself through the medium of consciousness.
Or maybe it’s just a bunch of music.
Genre-wise it’s a blend of soul, dub and blues, with elements of reggae, pop and psychedelic rock. The resulting fusion is more-or-less what we think trees would sound like if they could jam.
Plug In, Tune Out: How much is too much time on social media?
The average Facebook user spends almost an hour on the site each day. It’s the dominant platform in Australia, according to a study published earlier this year by Sensis, which also found almost eight in 10 Aussies are connected to online networks. And it’s pretty addictive.
According to a Deloitte survey, many smartphone users check their socials in the morning before their feet hit the bedroom floor. Whether that’s all time well spent or flushed away is up for conjecture (and, of course, boils down to the individual user). But the mounting research suggests social media can be a slippery slope.
A must-read study conducted for Harvard Business Review concluded that overdoing it will actually bring you down. “Overall, our results showed that, while real-world social networks were positively associated with overall well-being, the use of Facebook was negatively associated with overall well-being,” researchers note.
And in a stunning conclusion, the results were particularly strong for mental health. Most measures of Facebook use in one year predicted a decrease in mental health at a later time. “We found consistently that both liking others’ content and clicking links significantly predicted a subsequent reduction in self-reported physical health, mental health, and life satisfaction,” the report finds.
For musicians, however, social media is work. An artist in 2017 who ignores their fans on social media is missing out on the greatest free marketing tool at their fingertips, a direct channel to a hungry fanbase to keep bring them along for the ride and, just maybe, sell stuff to them. Six of the top 10 Twitter channels belong to musicians, led by Katy Perry, who can alert more than 100 million fans (or however many aren’t bots) to here next clip/collab/cosmetics line. It can also be a pipeline to harassment and abuse, a time-waste machine.
As a primer of sorts, TIO spoke with four experts for their takes on how to best engage and when to disengage.
U.S.-based author and social media guru Ariel Hyatt (owner of Cyber PR); U.K.-based entertainment and PR professional Mel Brown (owner of Impressive PR); Australia-based artist manager Dave Batty (owner of Melbourne-based Custom-Made Artist Representation); and clinical and consultant psychologist Dr Peta Lilley (owner of Brisbane-based Lilley Place) joined the panel.
Can social media be an unhealthy obsession for artists?
Ariel Hyatt: Oh hell yes, it can. The new Harvard study proves this. Artists are already more sensitive in some cases and can already feel more vulnerable than us mere mortals who don’t put or hearts and souls out in the form of music on the regular, so this is important information to understand.
When you are struggling to keep your career going and you have to be aware of the brand, the tone, the frequency and the metrics of every post and now you add the fact that tracking all of this is actually bad for your mental health and life satisfaction – this is a problem.
Mel Brown: Yes, it can. However it’s absolutely crucial for emerging artists and new talent to bring in fans. I do think some musicians do too much, especially some American stars, and it can be overkill. Also the current climate for taking photos of everything and posting is out of control. I would also say Twitter can be dangerous and acts should check themselves before posting. And first rule of social media is, don’t post when pissed!
Dave Batty: It’s the necessary evil, isn’t it? My experiences have been from dragging artists kicking and screaming to engage in the platforms –with varying degrees of success — and, yes, have had occasion where an imposed exile has been implemented for the wellbeing of the artist. Each day throws up different aspects of what and how this medium can support the goals and ambitions of the artist… but not everyone on the other end is there with good intention and it’s important to be wary when they start making their way into messages and comments. I’ve not worked with anyone at the point of it being an obsession yet, thankfully, but the importance of it as a tool of today’s trade is well acknowledged.
Peta Lilley: Having a social media presence in the music industry is almost certainly seen as essential for established and emerging artists. Yet, there are costs associated with maintaining and monitoring one’s social media profile, mostly owing to the 24/7 nature of social media use and the huge reach, impact and endurance that posted material can have, positively, but also negatively, for an artist personally and professionally.
Research has reported high correlations between the hours of social media use and higher stress, anxiety, insomnia and depression. Furthermore, data now clearly demonstrates that social media can have an impact on the brain and functioning consistent with addictions and addictive behaviours. Social media can most definitely lead to an unhealthy obsession for artists.
Metal Streaming Service Gimmie Radio Launches iOs App
Even though hip-hop and R&B are the most-consumed genres in the U.S. this year, they might not have the loyalest listeners.
A 2015 analysis of Spotify data revealed that the genre with the highest global loyalty — measured by number of streams divided by number of listeners per artist — was actually metal, eclipsing that of hip-hop by nearly 50 percent. In the U.S. specifically, metal, emo and punk had far more loyal listener bases than hip-hop, pop, country, and EDM.
Yet, even as metal imagery and history gain increasing visibility in visual music culture, influencing merchandise design and live concert production for the likes of Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Lady Gaga and Travis Scott, the genre is often left out of conversations about the future of music streaming — allegedly because its listeners still cling to vinyl, CDs and other album-based formats.
Some label execs argue that aligning this old-school mentality with the streaming paradigm is a matter of educating artists and fans. But the founding team at Gimme Radio, a young online music radio service and collectible marketplace devoted exclusively to metal, has a different idea: rethink our consumption platforms from the ground up.
“We don’t even think of ourselves as a streaming service,” Tyler Lenane, co-founder and CEO of Gimme and former business development exec at Apple Music, tells Billboard. “We’re not chasing dozens of millions of subscribers or aiming to feed music down a pipe to as many people as possible. We see ourselves more as a platform for enthusiastic fans who want much more engagement than just a digital stream.”
Since its launch in June 2017, the site has functioned primarily as a 24/7 radio station with an impressive slate of celebrity curators, including but not limited to Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine (whose new show “The Dave Mustaine Show” was announced yesterday, Nov. 1), Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe, Eagles of Death Metal touring member Dave Catching, Decibel Magazine editor-in-chief Albert Mudrian and record labels like Nuclear Blast and Metal Blade.
Continue reading via Billboard.com
Warner/Chappell Just Leapfrogged Sony/ATV To Become No.1 Music Publisher The Music Network reports: For over five years (or 20 consecutive quarters) Sony/ATV has been the top-ranked music publisher but is now replaced by Warner/ Chappell in the latest quarter, Billboard reports.
Every quarter, Billboard puts together a market share based on the top 100 radio songs.
In the third quarter, Warner/ Chappell was involved in 55 songs from 49 in the quarter below. This gave it a 22.99% share (previously 19%)
Remaining at the second spot was Universal Music Publishing with involvement in 53 songs in the Top 100 and a 20.37% share.
Sony/ATV dropped from 49 songs in the Top 100 to 42, and had an 18.67% share.
Warner/Chappell Music was #1 country music publisher with a 25.72% of country radio songs, far outpacing runner-up Sony/ATV with 12.49%.
Warner/Chappell’s CEO/Chairman Jon Platt issued a memo to his staff: “Alongside our success in the U.S., we are home to a thriving and growing global community of songwriters.
“We’re reaching new heights all over the world, including a creative resurgence in the UK, Germany and France.
“This latest accomplishment reinforces what we already know: that our focus on putting songwriters first is putting Warner/Chappell first—and that our songwriters are creating the biggest hits around the world.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the knowledge, dedication and passion that each of you brings to our company day in and day out.”
In another change in the Billboard report, BMG (8.34%) overtook Kobalt Music Group (7.76%) for the first time, aided by its involvement in Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee’s ‘Despacito’ featuring Justin Bieber.
Others in the Top 10 included Pulse Music Group (1.26%), Spirit Music Group (1.15%), Downtown Music Publishing (1.15%) and SONGS (1.01%).
Apple Reports 4th Quarter Results “The Business is Growing Again”
Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2017 fourth quarter ended September 30, 2017. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $52.6 billion, an increase of 12 percent from the year-ago quarter, and quarterly earnings per diluted share of $2.07, up 24 percent. International sales accounted for 62 percent of the quarter’s revenue.
“We’re happy to report a very strong finish to a great fiscal 2017, with record fourth quarter revenue, year-over-year growth for all our product categories, and our best quarter ever for Services,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “With fantastic new products including iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, Apple Watch Series 3, and Apple TV 4K joining our product lineup, we’re looking forward to a great holiday season, and with the launch of iPhone X getting underway right now, we couldn’t be more excited as we begin to deliver our vision for the future with this stunning device.”
“Apple’s year-over-year revenue growth rate accelerated for the fourth consecutive quarter and drove EPS growth of 24 percent in the September quarter,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO. “We also generated strong operating cash flow of $15.7 billion and returned $11 billion to investors through our capital return program.”
Apple is providing the following guidance for its fiscal 2018 first quarter:
revenue between $84 billion and $87 billion
gross margin between 38 percent and 38.5 percent
operating expenses between $7.65 billion and $7.75 billion
other income/(expense) of $600 million
tax rate of 25.5 percent
Apple’s board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.63 per share of the Company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on November 16, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 13, 2017. Sourced via Apple.com
Tidal Adds Liner Notes For Tracks Musically reports: Why don’t music-streaming services provide credits of the depth you used to get on vinyl and CD albums?
It’s a question regularly asked on conference stages, with the simple answer that – accepting the fact that it would be a positive step for musicians, songwriters and producers – there hasn’t been an obvious business incentive to push it to the top of these services’ development to-do lists.
Is that changing? Tidal is taking a step forward with the introduction of ‘artist credits’ for individual tracks and albums. This isn’t just about artists though: Tidal will now show credits for “composers, lyricists, engineers, musicians, vocals, instrumentals, mastering, production, mixing details, record label information, album cover photographer and more”.
This information has already been added for “millions” of albums and tracks, with more to follow. Accessing it involves clicking or tapping on a ‘Show Options’ icon then choosing ‘Album Info’ or ‘Track Info’ though, so we’re unsure how many listeners will actually take advantage.
Google Assistant Adds Music ID Feature The Verge reports: Google Assistant can now identify what songs are playing around you, in an update that came today to all devices that have Google Assistant.
After summoning Google Assistant, you can ask “what song is this?” or “what song is playing?,” and the Assistant will pull up a card for you with the name of the song, the artist, lyrics, and YouTube, Google Play Music (of course), and Spotify streaming links.
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have the ability to passively listen in to music around you and identify the song on the screen, but that song identification only kicks in after about a minute of listening and only works on popular songs. Though that feature remains Pixel-only, today’s update adds the ability to identify songs on-demand for everyone with access to the Google Assistant.
Spotify, Deezer & SoundCloud Team Up To Form Digital Lobbying Group Billboard reports: Some of the biggest players in the digital music space have joined forces to launch a lobbying group that will showcase and promote the success of European streaming and music services to policy makers.
Spotify, Deezer and SoundCloud are among the companies that have put their rivalries aside to form the Digital Music Europe (DME) alliance. Other backers include 7digital, France’s Qobuz and market intelligence platform Soundcharts.
“For a decade, European digital music companies have led the transformation of the music industry globally,” said Hans-Holger Albrecht, president of digital music Europe and CEO of Deezer, announcing the launch.
Albrecht said that the formation of Digital Music Europe would “highlight European leadership in this sector, inspire other European entrepreneurs and create a unique voice with policy-makers.”
Spotify’s director of EU regulatory affairs Olivia Regnier said that a key mission for the alliance would be to “share the experience and vision of its members to contribute to policy debates shaping Europe’s Digital Single Market.”
“We believe that policy-makers have a key role to play to support the growth of the entire music sector and enable more innovation in Europe,” stated Regnier, who takes up the role of DME chair.
The launch of the Brussels-based lobbying group comes at a pivotal time for digital music companies in Europe, with the European Commission currently exploring a number of proposals relating to modernizing copyright legislation and cross border access as part of its plans to create a Digital Single Market (DSM).
Earlier this year, policy makers agreed new rules that will enable Europeans to access the same streaming and online entertainment services that they do at home when travelling within the EU. Once formally adopted, the regulations will come into force early next year.
Last September also saw the EC unveil new draft proposals around its revised copyright framework that will require user-generated services like YouTube to pay more to rights holders and take tougher measures to prevent the illegal distribution of music and video content on their platforms. “Services will also need to be more transparent towards right holders on the measures used and their efficiency,” stated the EC at the time.
Those draft proposals are currently being debated by the European Parliament and Council.
The last time that the European Union radically overhauled its copyright laws was in 2001, long before Spotify, SoundCloud and — at the heart of the matter for many copyright stakeholders — YouTube existed.
A press release for Digital Music Europe states that the alliance will work with European policy-makers “to create a legislative and regulatory framework that supports the growth of digital music, and brings benefits to both artists and consumers.”
AROUND THE WORLD
NZ Music Commission International Newsletter – November
This edition marks one year since the NZ Music Commission started collecting all the great news stories that we hear about NZ musicians overseas and sharing them with our friends. The newsletters feature some of the fantastic achievements of musicians that are supported through the NZ Music Commission Outward Sound and offshore trade show programmes and also includes all artists from Aotearoa – and with 200 shows listed in the NZ Artist Tour Dates, there is certainly, no shortage of exceptional talent who are taking New Zealand music to the world.
If you’d like to be on the NZ Music Commission International Newsletter Mailing list please email info@nzmusic.org.nz.
Estere Pays Tribute To Her Grandmother In New Music Video
Written on the eve of her paternal grandmother’s passing, today Estère shares possibly the most personal song of them all off her newly released body of work, My Design Part 1. Watch the official music video, filmed by Zenn Van Zyl, produced by the empress herself and directed by Paascalino Schaller here.
‘Grandmother’ was crafted as a tribute to her grandmother and namesake Estère (meaning ‘morning star’) and recorded in the homely surrounds of Estère’s 1940s Wellington villa. It unravels with syncopated rhythms and warm hazes of synthesizer as the words twist around a soaring, unconfined melody.
The production of the video is a story of being in the right place at the right time. Estère’s family are from the West African nation of Cameroon, and touring Africa meant she could make a visual connection with her ancestral continent. Estère reflects, “I was in the middle of my 2016 Southern Africa tour when I found out that we had received funding from NZ On Air. I decided right then and there that I wanted to make a video for this song in Africa.”
Filmed along the beautiful Cape Town peninsula at Betty’s Bay, Estère worked with legendary Author, Woman’s Rights Ambassador & UN Representative Sindiwe Magona, who plays her grandmother in the video.
“She had written a book called My Children’s Children and it was the sentiment of this song that compelled her to work with us on our video. It was a once in a lifetime experience,” she says on collaborating with Magona.
Watch the video in the header of the newsletter!
ALAE Release New Single ‘Too Strung Up’
Auckland three-piece band Alae deliver their most anthemic song yet with the release of their brand-new track, Too Strung Up which premiered yesterday with Rolling Stone Australia and debuts today on Spotify’s prestigious New Music Friday playlist.
Showcasing the progression of the band’s sound with the recent addition of drummer Jayden Lee, the Jol Mulholland produced single delivers a rousing chorus which frames the troubles with complacent love. Vocalist Alex Farrell-Davey explains; “Too Strung Up is a song that looks at relationships that are hard to move on from, and the realization that love isn’t a feeling you share with any one special individual. The relationship provides a sense of comfortability and acceptance which can be found in many other things.”
Providing the visuals to the track is director, Mikee Carpinter. “The concept of this video was to create a beautifully captured performance of the band while giving the camera a unique feeling of rolling over and over throughout each shot.” Tapping straight into the kiwi number 8 wire mentality, the use of rollerskating cameramen to achieve the concept provided an unconventional solution to the shoot, eliminating many of the budget and time constraints normally associated with this type of camera effect.
The release of Too Strung Up follows on from the release of previous single From 1 to 3 and a successful New Zealand tour with sold out shows in Christchurch, Nelson and Auckland plus a trip across the ditch where they wooed Australian audiences and industry alike with a showcase at Brisbane’s prestigious Big Sound Festival and Conference. Spot plays on radio stations Triple J, Double J and 4ZZZ have further bolstered Alae’s infiltration into Australian ears. Sharing their sound both at home and abroad is a priority for the three piece who consist of Alex Farrell-Davey, Allister Meffan and Jayden Lee.
“As a kiwi band, getting to play gigs outside of New Zealand is not only a goal, but a real privilege”, states Alex. “To be able to share out music with those who otherwise wouldn’t hear it, and to experience playing in front of a crowd of completely unfamiliar faces who love what we have to offer feels pretty amazing.”
Alae will be playing shows over Summer, joining Fly My Pretties and Julia Deans at the North West Wine, Food & Beer Festival on Saturday 10th February. The band will also be heading into the studio in the new year to complete their debut album which is set to release in March 2018.
‘Too Strung Up’ is supported by NZ On Air and is available now through Spotify, iTunes and wherever good music is sold.
Tickets for the North West Wine, Beer and Food Festival 2018 are available through Eventfinda now.
Clicks Release New Single ‘We’ll Be Fine’
‘We’ll Be Fine’ is the latest single from CLICKS – the musical amalgamation of house music DJ/producer Dick Johnson and vocalist Anna Coddington. The single arrives with an extended mix and a Magik Jremix, and follows on from previous single ‘Resolution’, which was named Track of the Week on Beatport.
The single is built around the title’s vocal hook from Coddington and Mulholland, a high-hat heavy beat from Johnson, and a smooth bassline from LIPS. The track again showcasing the strengths of CLICKS – driving electronic beats with carefully-crafted lyrics and melodies.
A UK native, Johnson started out as a resident DJ at Manchester’s legendary nightclub The Hacienda, before turning his hand to studio production, creating tracks and remixes for a number of UK independent labels including Cream’s Olympic label, New Order’s Pleasure Recordings and Paper Recordings as well as releasing his own albums through Underwater and NRK. Combining with vocalist Coddington, CLICKS is his latest musical incarnation. ‘We’ll Be Fine’ drops as the Southern Hemisphere cranks into summer, and as CLICKS prepare for a busy festival season, including appearances at Rhythm & Vines, Splore and Wanderlust New Zealand.
Miller Celebrates The Release Of New Single ‘Diamonds’ With A Live Performance
Solo artist, Miller Yule has been hard at work on new material. He is releasing “Diamonds”, his first new single since his acclaimed debut EP “Shoot Me in the Heart” in 2016.
“Diamonds” sees Miller stepping it up from the successful “Shoot Me in the Heart”. He has ramped up the passion and turned up the volume.
Speaking about his new single Miller commented, ‘You know that amazingly horrible feeling when you start falling for someone and it feels so good that it hurts? That’s “Diamonds”’.
Produced by Stellar* guitarist and engineer/producer, Chris van de Geer (Garageland, Tim Finn, Bic Runga, The Feelers, Strawpeople, This Pale Fire, Black River Drive, Greg Johnson), “Diamonds” will be available on all platforms Friday 3 November 2017.
Celebrating the release, Miller will perform at Auckland’s Wine Cellar with his band on Thursday 30 November 2017.
Two Bluesy Blondes, Hotel Bristol, Wellington – 7th December
Erna Ferry and Julie Lamb in a mash up of blonde hair and bluesy lungs. From trad to not so much… The song list is varied and the band is grand!
Tami Neilson To Open For Robbie Williams In Dunedin
One of New Zealand’s most beloved and dynamic songstresses, Tami Neilson, will join global pop phenomenon Robbie Williams for the Dunedin concert of his Heavy Entertainment Show World Tour.
SATURDAY 17TH FEBRUARY – FORSYTH BARR STADIUM – DUNEDIN
The critically acclaimed artist who is as prolific at writing award-winning songs as she is at collecting them (including the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll), Tami Neilson is also renowned for her impressive and commanding live shows.
Neilson’s dynamo performances can really pack a punch and combined with consummate entertainer Robbie Williams’ glittering hit-laden set-list, this will undoubtedly be an evening full of showmanship and rollicking good times.
Singing her heart out along endless roads and stages, from her days as a young girl in Canada touring with the Neilson Family band, opening for the likes of Johnny Cash, to her full blossoming in New Zealand as a formidable talent in her own right, Tami Neilson has won the Tui Award for each of her past four albums.
The release of her explosive album “Dynamite!” received rave reviews in MOJO, The Guardian (named “Top 10 Best Country Music Album”), climbed to #1 on the NZ Music Charts and won the title of 2015’s “Best Country Music Album.”
Her follow-up album “Don’t Be Afraid” was also released to critical acclaim, and debuted on the NZ Album Charts and the Independent Music Charts at #1, proving that the powerhouse that is Tami Neilson is a force to be reckoned with.
Shayne P. Carter Announces Show Dates
Shayne P. Carter is doing another run of Aotearoa ahead of the new year.
He will perform solo in Oamaru on December 1st and Lyttleton on December 2nd.
Then he will tee up with his band to perform two nights in Auckland at the Wine Cellar on the 8th & 9thand then head down country to Tauranga on the 14th and Napier on the 15th.
November 15 || Golden Dawn – Auckland, NZ
November 16 || Some Velvet Morning – Clifton Hill, AU
November 17 || Some Velvet Morning – Clifton Hill, AU
November 21 || The Vic Theatre – Auckland, NZ
November 22 || Nivara Lounge – Hamilton, NZ
November 23 || The Rogue Stage – Rotorua, NZ
