Music & Tech
Khun Narin's Thai folk rock innovation
The story of how a community band from rural Thailand reclaimed the relics of conflict to reinvent traditional folk music for a global audience
Alabama Shakes announce new album ‘I Must Be Dreaming’ and tease single ‘I Feel Hope Coming’
Their third studio LP is set to drop later this summer
Alibaba entertainment arm Damai launches artist development label ORCA and a worldwide audition to build global music group
The audition, run by ORCA in partnership with All My Anecdotes, will act as a talent pipeline for the label's future projects, and runs from July 3 to August 3. Source
Thai Sound System Rock Pioneers
The story of how a community band from rural Thailand reclaimed the relics of conflict to reinvent traditional folk music for a global audience
AI-powered live-music firm Gotobeat expands to arena shows
Startup Gotobeat launched in 2024 with its AI-powered ticketing platform and promotion for live music, using the technology to predict the demand for emerging artists and help them sell out venues. Having sold more than 150k tickets in 2025 to small and medium-sized venues, the company’s horizons ar
Playlist Alert service shuts down five years after launching
Playlist Alert was an app launched in 2021 by Humble Angel Records, giving artists, managers and labels push notifications when their tracks were added to Spotify-curated playlists. Although it won plenty of friends in that target market, the app is now shutting down, with founder Kieron Donoghue co
Italian (human) artist Ciauru wins Reply AI Music Contest
Earlier this year we reported on plans by Italian tech group Reply to hold its second ‘AI Music Contest’ – with the twist being that finalists would perform their songs live at the Kappa FuturFestival in July. Well, July is here, the festival took place at the weekend, and the winner of the contest
LadBible struggles show impact of Meta and Google algorithms
News and lifestyle publishers are very much the canaries in the coal mines of social media – specifically platforms pivoting their algorithms to whatever their CEO is currently excited about, be that video, creators or mountains of AI slop. It’s a sector worth following for music marketers wondering
"Klang.io promises to turn audio into notated transcriptions, lead sheets and guitar tabs – but does it actually work?": Klang.io Transcription Studio review
AI-powered transcription tools like Klang.io are rapidly advancing in sophistication, but they won't be replacing humans anytime soon
AI ‘actress’ Tilly Norwood will make her debut in “coming-of-age story” ‘Misaligned’
The controversial creation was unveiled at a film festival last year
AFEM joins industry call for artist consent and fair compensation in AI music deals
AFEM has signed the EMMA-led joint industry statement calling for artists and songwriters to retain meaningful consent, control, transparency and fair compensation in AI music deals.
Shakira & Burna Boy's "Dai Dai" Holds Global Chart Top Spot
Plus, Ariana Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me” returns to the top of the Global 200.
After a judge denied Sony’s move to expand its Udio case, Suno asks court to reject UMG and Sony’s bid to add 61K recordings
Suno put that decision in front of Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Massachusetts, in a filing submitted by Britt Lovejoy, Suno counsel at Latham & Watkins. Source
Shakira & Burna Boy’s World Cup Song ‘Dai Dai’ Scores Second Week at No. 1 on Global Excl. U.S. Chart
Plus, Ariana Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me” returns to the top of the Global 200.
Judge should block major label attempts to expand track lists in AI litigation, says Suno
The majors have been trying to massively expand the list of named tracks in their lawsuits against Udio and Suno, in doing so increasing potential damages if they win. But the judge in the Udio case has said it’s too late to add more tracks. Suno says the judge in its case should now rule the same
Khun Narin: Thai Sound System Rock Pioneer
The story of how a community band from rural Thailand reclaimed the relics of conflict to reinvent traditional folk music for a global audience
“It’s a transcendental collision between American prog rock and Thai folk charm, straight from rural Phetchabun”: How Khun Narin pioneered Thai sound system rock using former US military loudspeakers
The story of how a community band from rural Thailand reclaimed the relics of conflict to reinvent traditional folk music for a global audience
How Shakira’s FIFA World Cup Looks Came to Life: Wardrobe Stylist Renee Old Explains
Old designed the viral Colombian jersey top that Shakira wore in her and Burna Boy's "Dai Dai" music video. Meet July's "Star Behind the Stars," below.
Danny Elfman Announces 2026 Fall North American Tour
The tour coincides with the release of a new, as-yet-unannounced studio album. Danny Elfman Announces 2026 Fall North American Tour Alex Young
Danny Elfman Announces 2026 Fall North American Tour
The tour coincides with the release of a new, as-yet-unannounced studio album. Danny Elfman Announces 2026 Fall North American Tour Alex Young