🎶 Music Industry Pulse – Week of July 18, 2025

This week’s headlines hit hard on AI ethics, legacy-artist legends, and new tools & tours—plus smart actions your audience can take today.

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1. Velvet Sundown Exposed as Viral AI Band

AI-created act “Velvet Sundown” racked up 1M+ Spotify streams before being revealed as entirely synthetic—touching off concerns about transparency and authenticity. Internally, Deezer already tags AI music; Spotify and others are facing calls to follow. Read The Guardian ↗︎

• Quick win: Spark a community poll—“AI band vs human soul: where do you draw the line?”
• Pro tip: Add an “AI‑cleared” badge to your next release to highlight authenticity.

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2. Sidhu Moosewala “Returns” as AI Tour

The late Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala is headlining a posthumous world tour via AI avatar—raising major ethical questions about legacy, ownership, and consent. See The Indian Eye ↗︎

• Quick win: Share a thoughtful caption on AI, agency, and the ethics of posthumous performances.
• Pro tip: Frame a narrative around legacy vs technology—invite respectful debate.

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3. Suno Now Lets You Remix With Your Vocals

AI tool Suno launched v4.5+, enabling creators to build new tracks around their own voice or instrument. It’s generative—but anchored in your artistry. Read the update ↗︎

• Quick win: Generate three AI‑backed versions of your latest hook—share a “which one wins?” poll.
• Pro tip: Use it for lyric/songwriting prompts, not finished products—stay in control.

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4. FiXT Labs Champions AI-as-Assist

FiXT Music’s James Rhodes argues against AI replacing artists—positioning it instead as a tool that should serve and springboard real creativity. Read Rhodes’ POV ↗︎

• Quick win: Quote Rhodes: “Tools, not replacements”—use it to frame your own AI philosophy.
• Pro tip: Share a behind-the-scenes snippet of your process telling how AI helped but didn’t drive creation.

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5. Kaytranada & Justice Announce 2025 Tour

Electro heads—Kaytranada and Justice are co-headlining a 13-date North American tour this Fall, hitting big venues including Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Tour details ↗︎

• Quick win: Share tour dates—especially ones relevant to your audience—for buzz and engagement.
• Pro tip: Analyze their touring strategy: co-headlining, timing, venue mix—suggest takeaways for your own bookings.

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That’s your pulse for July 18—spark honest conversations, use AI wisely, and keep leaning into authenticity. See you next Friday with more insight and edge.

🎶 Music Industry Pulse – Week of July 11, 2025

This week’s spotlight spans AI ethics, surprise drops, vinyl revival, and festival partnerships—plus fast, forward ideas you can share.

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1. Velvet Sundown Revealed as AI-Created Rock Band

The viral “band” Velvet Sundown, boasting 1M+ monthly Spotify listeners, has confirmed that it’s entirely AI-generated—music, image, and all. The move sparked major ethical debate, with artists like Billie Eilish and Céline Dion speaking out. Read the People report ↗︎

• Quick win: Start a social convo: “AI band or human artistry—which would you stream?”
• Pro tip: Emphasize human authenticity in your branding—your soul beats what’s simulated.

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2. Deerhoof Exits Spotify Over Ethical Concerns

Experimental band Deerhoof pulled its music from Spotify, citing concerns over investments in military AI and royalty structures—calling the platform a data-mining “scam.” Read the SF Chronicle coverage ↗︎

• Quick win: Spark a blog post or thread: “Is it time for ethical music consumption?”
• Pro tip: Share a behind-the-scenes statement about your distribution ethics and platform choices.

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3. SoundCloud + elasticStage Launch On-Demand Vinyl

SoundCloud artists can now offer on-demand vinyl through elasticStage—perfect for fans craving that analog shine. Explore the service ↗︎

• Quick win: Tease a limited-edition vinyl release in your newsletter—test demand before pressing.
• Pro tip: Combine vinyl pre-orders with exclusive items like signed art or digital bonus tracks.

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4. TikTok + Tomorrowland Team Up Again

TikTok and Tomorrowland extended their festival partnership, sharing 24/7 streams, behind‑the‑scenes clips, and an in-app #Tomorrowland hub. Official announcement ↗︎

• Quick win: Tag along during festival moments—“watching the livestream?”—to spark real-time engagement.
• Pro tip: Create coordinated TikToks or Insta Stories timed with key festival performances.

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5. Spotify & Youth Music Launch ‘Open Doors’ Fund in UK

Spotify joined forces with Youth Music to fund youth music centres across the UK—supporting spaces where future creators learn and grow. Read Spotify’s press release ↗︎

• Quick win: Highlight the initiative to show you're part of a larger creative ecosystem.
• Pro tip: Partner with local music centres or scholarships to strengthen your community impact story.

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That’s your pulse—spark convos, lean into human stories, and vinyl-up your brand. Stay bold, stay human, stay in the mix.

🎧 Music Industry Pulse – Week of July 4, 2025

This week’s roundup dives into AI’s ethics, artist empowerment, and new tools—packed with insights and actions.

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1. Deerhoof Ditches Spotify Over AI + Funding Concerns

Experimental band Deerhoof pulled its entire catalog from Spotify, citing moral qualms about how streaming royalties may fuel “war efforts” and the rise of AI “ghost artists.”
Read the full interview ↗︎

• Quick win: Share this on socials as an artist perspective on ethical streaming.
• Pro tip: Use it to spark your own audience polls—“Should creators be paid for AI streams?”

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2. Velvet Sundown: AI Band Wooing 500K+ Listeners

A mysterious act called Velvet Sundown is racking up 550,000+ monthly listeners—but no one’s sure they’re real humans. Spotify hasn’t flagged it; Deezer has.
Explore the mystery ↗︎

• Quick win: Use this as a case study on platform transparency and authenticity.
• Pro tip: Highlight your human authenticity as a brand differentiator.

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3. Deezer Flags AI‑Made Tracks, Protecting Artist Royalties

Deezer is now labeling fully AI-generated tracks and blocking their royalties—an industry-first move to combat flooding by fake uploads.
Read the LAT feature ↗︎

• Quick win: Share this to reassure your community you're staying human in the AI wave.
• Pro tip: Consider adding “AI-cleared” or “100% human” badge to your releases.

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4. Spotify Integrates with Instagram Stories

Spotify now lets users share 15-sec song clips (with sound) right in Instagram Stories, not just silent visuals—boosting direct discovery.
See the full rollout ↗︎

• Quick win: Encourage fans to share your latest song directly in their Stories.
• Pro tip: Post your own Stories using this feature as a prompt—“Hear it before anyone else.”

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5. Spotify Revamps Discover Weekly—Now with Genre Filters

Spotify’s 10-year-old Discover Weekly now includes controls to pick mood/genre filters and see what’s queued up next.
Learn the updates ↗︎

• Quick win: Share a tutorial or IG Reel showing how to tailor the algorithm.
• Pro tip: Encourage fans to use filters and share their discoveries—react to their picks.

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That’s your pulse—ethical transparency, AI drama, and discovery upgrades. Share the strategies and let authenticity shine.

🎵 Music Industry Pulse – Week of June 27, 2025

This week’s edition brings tour news, festival highlights, and deep AI industry shifts—plus strategies you can use now.

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1. Erykah Badu & The Alchemist Team Up on Tour

Neo-soul icon Erykah Badu and producer The Alchemist are co-headlining the “Luv Iz Tour” this August, hitting 10 North American cities and three in Japan to promote their upcoming album Abi & Alan. Tour details ↗︎

• Quick win: Share on socials & newsletters—highlight local dates to rally fans and boost engagement.
• Pro tip: Analyze their promotional build-up: pre-show content, teaser drops, storytelling angles you can adapt.

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2. Glastonbury 2025 Streams Live This Week

Glastonbury is in full swing June 25–29, headlined by The 1975, Neil Young & Olivia Rodrigo. The BBC is streaming 90+ hours live across TV, radio and iPlayer, with BSL support and on-demand content. How to watch ↗︎

• Quick win: Curate a playlist or live commentary on standout sets—drive streams and share-worthy convo.
• Pro tip: Tag festival artists with track suggestions or reaction clips to ride the algorithm wave.

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3. Music Biz Builds Tools to Track AI‑Generated Songs

In wake of viral AI-generated deepfakes like “Heart on My Sleeve,” the industry—via companies like Vermillio, Musical AI, Deezer—is deploying systems to tag, trace & license synthetic tracks, aiming for $10 b in authenticated revenues by 2025. Industry insight ↗︎

• Quick win: Emphasize your human-created artistry—position your brand against the synthetic surge.
• Pro tip: Watch evolving metadata standards—check that your releases carry origin transparency and clear credits.

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4. SymphonyOS Upgrades AI Marketing Assistant “Maestro”

SymphonyOS relaunched Maestro with smarter AI—now able to draft full release strategies, ad copy, promotional assets, and campaign simulations via integration with Groover. Marketing tools ↗︎

• Quick win: Use Maestro to test promo copy or visuals before investing ad dollars—simulated outcomes = smoother campaigns.
• Pro tip: Integrate AI planning into your launch workflows—save time and sharpen messaging consistency.

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5. Apple Music’s AI “Discovery Reels” Move Gets Closer

Apple teased short-form, AI-curated “Discovery Reels” at WWDC 2025—vertical music previews designed to rival TikTok's impact on listening behaviors. WWDC scoop ↗︎

• Quick win: Prep vertical video snippets now—capturing emotional or cinematic moments in 20–30‑second cuts.
• Pro tip: Frame them as teasers—using captions like “see full song” to drive listeners into streaming platforms.

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That’s your pulse this week—move fast, stay authentic, and let your strategy echo louder than the noise.

🎶 Music Industry Pulse – Week of June 20, 2025

This week’s pulse brings AI transparency, artist empowerment, tour news, festival milestones, and album drops. Digest fast—execute faster.

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1. Deezer Tags AI‑Created Music to Fight Fraud

Deezer now labels tracks suspected of being AI-generated and withholds royalties from suspicious streaming farms—aiming to protect real artists’ income. Read the AP News update ↗︎

• Quick win: Transparently share this update—fans appreciate platforms that back authenticity.
• Pro tip: Consider adding an “AI-cleared” badge on your own releases to highlight human artistry.

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2. James Blake Slams Industry’s Social‑First Obsession

James Blake criticized streaming platforms, TikTok, and ticketing giants for devaluing artistry. He’s gone independent, calling for transparency—and empowering peers. Read his bold FT interview ↗︎

• Quick win: Use Blake’s stance to spark a convo: “Is artistry worth more than algorithms?”
• Pro tip: Share your own transparency play—publishing royalty breakdowns, direct-to-fan metrics, etc.

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3. Sabrina Carpenter’s Controversial Cover Gets Carly Simon’s Support

Carly Simon defended Sabrina Carpenter’s provocative “Man’s Best Friend” album cover, calling it tame compared to 1970s classics. Read the full take ↗︎

• Quick win: Start a thread: “Is art crossing the line or just sparking conversation?”
• Pro tip: Encourage respectful debate to boost engagement—ask your audience where they stand.

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4. BLACKPINK’s Comeback Rumored for June—but Where’s the Promo?

A new BLACKPINK single may drop at month’s end—but fans are calling out YG for radio silence before their BIG world tour. Read fan reactions ↗︎

• Quick win: Use this as a case study: hype works—silence doesn’t.
• Pro tip: Tease early and often—don’t save promo until drop day.

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5. Twenty One Pilots Announce “Clancy Tour: Breach 2025”

Twenty One Pilots will tour North America this fall, starting Sept 18 in Cincinnati, tied to their upcoming album *Breach*. Pre-sale opened June 17. Tour & single details ↗︎

• Quick win: Highlight pre-sale opportunities in email blasts or fan groups.
• Pro tip: Frame your own live-streams as exclusive “tour-alike” events to build momentum.

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6. Primavera Sound Barcelona Smashes Records Again

With 293,000 attendees and €300 m in revenue, Primavera Sound set a new attendance high from June 5–7. Praise and stats ↗︎

• Quick win: Use this headline to justify investing in festivals.
• Pro tip: Share backstage clips or 1‑min recaps to catch the FOMO wave.

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7. Little Simz Drops *Lotus* to Critical Praise

Little Simz’s album *Lotus* (released June 6) blends hip‑hop, jazz, punk, funk—earning high praise for emotional depth. Album review & features ↗︎

• Quick win: Highlight her genre‑blending approach as inspiration for creative flexibility.
• Pro tip: Spin off content: "Why *Lotus* proves emotional honesty trumps formula."

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8. Turnstile’s *Never Enough* Hits Hard & Debuts Visual Album

Hardcore punk act Turnstile dropped *Never Enough* on June 6, their highest‑charting album yet—with a visual film premiered at Tribeca. Album & visual film details ↗︎

• Quick win: Talk about expanding your release—audio + visual film = stronger impact.
• Pro tip: Consider low‑budget visual companions—lyrics video, mini‑doc, or performance cut.

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There it is—your Friday ammo. Share the stories, tag the moves, and stay tuned—next week’s pulse drops fresh.

🎵 Music Industry Pulse – Week of June 13, 2025

This week brings artist empowerment, major tours, and festival milestones. Grab the headlines and the hacks for your audience.

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1. Universal Music & Hollywood Join Forces

Universal Music Group has launched a joint venture with Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell and Silver Lake to build artist-focused brands across film, TV, fashion, and experiential ventures—think *ABBA Voyage*-style crossovers.
Read the FT breakdown ↗︎

• Quick win: Think beyond tracks—craft concepts ripe for multimedia extension.
• Pro tip: Start sketching ideas that could translate into merchandise, mini-series, or immersive experiences.

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2. Live Nation to Build 18 New US Music Venues

Live Nation announced a massive $1 billion investment to build 18 new music venues across the U.S. in the next 18 months—ranging from intimate clubs to amphitheaters. This follows deeper scrutiny around their live-event dominance.
See Reuters coverage ↗︎

• Quick win: Secure bookings or affiliate deals at newly announced venues.
• Pro tip: Monitor smaller-market openings as potential launchpads for emerging talent.

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3. Primavera Sound Sets Attendance Record

Primavera Sound Barcelona shattered records with 293,000 attendees from 136 countries headlined by Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Troye Sivan, and more. The festival generated over €300 million in local revenue.
Check Wikipedia stats ↗︎

• Quick win: Pitch performance videos or sponsor partnerships tapped into this vast audience.
• Pro tip: Use festival data as proof-of-concept for future bookers and brand partners.

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4. Merge Records Sells 50% to Secretly Group

Iconic indie label Merge sold half its stake to Secretly Group for expanded distribution muscle—while continuing independent operations under Mac McCaughan’s leadership.
Read Axios summary ↗︎

• Quick win: Independent labels should benchmark partnership models for scale without losing identity.
• Pro tip: Consider strategic alliances that keep creative control intact.

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5. Taylor Swift Reclaims Her Catalog

Taylor Swift has officially repurchased the masters for her first six albums and related assets—giving her full artistic and financial control. She continues to weigh a *Reputation (Taylor’s Version)* release.
Explore Wikipedia breakdown ↗︎

• Quick win: Promote artist autonomy—share this as a case study on career longevity.
• Pro tip: Discuss catalog ownership as a pillar of revenue and legacy strategy.

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That’s your pulse for the week—strategies and signals to execute on. Check back next Friday for another hit of industry insight.

🎶 Music Industry Pulse – Week of June 6, 2025

From AI breakthroughs to major festival announcements, here's your concise roundup of the latest happenings in the music world, complete with actionable insights.

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1. Björn Ulvaeus Embraces AI in Musical Composition

ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus is leveraging artificial intelligence as a co-creative partner in developing a new musical. While he acknowledges AI's limitations in crafting complete songs, he finds it valuable for sparking ideas and overcoming creative blocks. Read more ↗︎

• Quick win: Explore AI tools to assist in your songwriting process, using them as a source of inspiration rather than a replacement.
• Pro tip: Combine AI-generated ideas with your unique creative touch to produce original compositions.

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2. 'Pop Girl Summer' Dominates Festival Lineups

Summer 2025 is being dubbed "Pop Girl Summer," with female pop artists like Charli XCX, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter headlining major UK festivals. This trend highlights a shift towards greater autonomy and creative control among female artists. Learn more ↗︎

• Quick win: Align your music releases with this trend by emphasizing themes of empowerment and authenticity.
• Pro tip: Collaborate with female artists or producers to tap into this movement and expand your audience reach.

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3. T-Pain Announces 'TP20 Tour' Celebrating 20 Years

T-Pain is set to embark on the 'TP20 Tour' from July through October 2025, marking two decades in the music industry. The tour includes performances across North America, with notable stops at Radio City Music Hall and the Back To Wiscansin Festival. Tour details ↗︎

• Quick win: Attend the tour to gain insights into successful career longevity and fan engagement strategies.
• Pro tip: Analyze T-Pain's setlists and performance styles to inspire your live shows and audience interactions.

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4. Lil Wayne Launches 'Tha Carter VI Tour'

Lil Wayne has announced the 'Tha Carter VI Tour' in support of his upcoming album, kicking off with a headline performance at Madison Square Garden on June 6, 2025. The tour spans 37 dates across the U.S., featuring artists like Tyga and NoCap. Get tickets ↗︎

• Quick win: Study Lil Wayne's promotional strategies for the tour to enhance your own marketing efforts.
• Pro tip: Observe collaborations and guest appearances to identify potential networking opportunities.

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5. Primavera Sound 2025 Livestream Available via Amazon Music

Primavera Sound Barcelona is being livestreamed from June 5 to June 7, 2025, through Amazon Music's Twitch and Prime Video channels. The lineup includes artists like Charli XCX, Haim, and Jamie xx. Livestream schedule ↗︎

• Quick win: Watch performances to stay updated on current music trends and stage production techniques.
• Pro tip: Take notes on audience engagement tactics used by performers to apply to your own shows.

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Stay tuned for next week's update to keep your finger on the pulse of the music industry.