🎶 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.