TheFutureParty
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The Future. Andrew Thompson, founder of research project “Components,” breaks down why Bandcamp (which is in the process of being sold) has a better music business model than Spotify. The key to Bandcamp’s success is vinyl sales, which has re-emerged as the top way for fans to listen to their favorite artists. Coupled with the […]
The Future. Ticketmaster doesn’t want another TSwift situation with Olivia Rodrigo’s upcoming Guts tour, so it’s implementing some changes that could cut off scalping. If the plan decreases scalping and makes it easier for actual fans to secure seats, scoring last-minute tickets at absurd prices may soon be a thing of the past. No more […]
Musicians find an AI loophole
The Future. Streaming has made music listenership skyrocket (1 trillion streams in the US alone last year), but it’s also totally changed how music gets made — shorter songs, longer albums, and a dash of global appeal. While mainstream artists are trying to adhere to the playbook, it’s only a matter of time before an […]
The Future. Classical music has historically been viewed as a rarified art form that’s the domain of elite society. Well, video games are saying “game over” to that notion, as the genre has become a staple in some of the biggest titles out there, including Starfield and Assassin’s Creed. Considering today’s teens are playing more […]
The Future. TikTok and Billboard’s new Top 50 list is the first to track music engagement on the app. While it only charts US listenership, a worldwide rollout is inevitable. But more importantly, the chart is another step in TikTok’s plan to become the home for discovering and monetizing music online. Short-form hitsTikTok and Billboard […]
The Future. While virtual musicians have been around for years, Warner Music Group recently signed its first AI-generated act: a CGI model and influencer named Noonoouri. The venture could set the stage for someone like Ghostwriter (the mysterious artist who faced the wrath of WMG after posting a song with deepfaked Drake and The Weeknd) […]
The Future. The Tiny Desk Concert has evolved from a launch pad for quiet singer-songwriters to a place where pop stars try to prove they’re the real deal — taking up the torch of MTV’s highly influential Unplugged series. While the Tiny Desk Concerts are still a great place to discover new artists, their role […]
The Future. To continue attracting the youths, music streaming services are rolling out their versions of TikTok’s “For You” page, hoping a mix of music discovery and social features can boost engagement. While it feels like a race to see whose copycat feature will reign supreme, it’s the race toward sociability that could be groundbreaking. […]
The Future. The enduring, popular, and tour-shy Swedish supergroup ABBA has one of the most successful live shows of the year — and they haven’t played a single night. ABBA Voyage is brought to life by holograms of the members in their 20s, giving fans an opportunity to see the band in their prime. And […]