A weekly update on all things music, advertising, and technology coming straight to you from Anthony Vanger at MassiveMusic. #TWIM
ARTIST OF THE WEEK: HAIM
There is something magical about the power of three. Three is a family, a tribe, a force. Haim, an all-female American band from Los Angeles, is just that. Three sisters Este, Danielle and Alana Haim, all in their 30s, have been playing together since the 2000’s. The group’s first release in 2013, Days Are Gone, went top ten in several countries, including number one in the UK. Their second album, Something to Tell You, was released in 2017. Their third album, titled Women in Music Pt. III is scheduled for an April 2020 release. Critics generally like the band, but accusations of being derivative and too poppy are hard to shake, with some calling them a modern day version of Fleetwood Mac. Fair enough, but this new song, Hallelujah, is a leap forward. It takes courage to write a song with a title so famous it has practically been canonised, but the band immediately owns their version starting with the lyric “I met two angels, but they were in disguise…” Clocking in at just 3 mins, this folk ballad packs a day’s worth of emotion. Each sister takes her turn singing the lead, until they come together again for the spiritual cry of Hallelujah on the chorus. The power of three.
AD OF THE WEEK: IKEA #STAY AT HOME
For a world in quarantine, IKEA has produced a simple ad about reconnecting with your home.
What do advertisers do during a pandemic? How do they push their message through to consumers without seeming to profit from everyone’s misery? IKEA and its agency McCann Madrid has gone straight to the heart of the matter with an ad about being in lock down and that, for better our worse, we are reconnecting with the places we live. Housebound workaholics are rediscovering all the areas of their houses that allow us to do the things they love. My favourite areas are the studio and the kitchen. The studio is where I work and I love it. And the kitchen is where I come together with my family for meals around the uneven wooden table. Home is where the heart is.
PRS FOR MUSIC LAUNCHES MEMBERSHIP EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND
PRS for Music today announced an immediate PRS Emergency Relief Fund to support its members during the Coronavirus pandemic. In partnership with the PRS Members’ Fund and PRS Foundation, the money will be available to PRS members around the world who are facing significant financial pressure as we battle the virus.
The live industry has halted globally, television and film production is on hold and businesses are closing, causing a dramatic reduction in music used. Collectively the livelihoods of creators, many of whom are freelance or small businesses themselves, are at significant risk during this crisis.
While the government has offered assistance to businesses and has promised more targeted measures for freelancers, PRS members are experiencing great hardship right now.
The new fund is open to all PRS members around the world who have been a member for at least two years and earned over £500 in the last two years. Grants will be awarded based on assessment of individual need and applicants will receive support up to a value of £1000.
UPDATE: Spotify have launched there own £10m fund for artists.
MUSIC STREAMING REPORTEDLY DECLINING DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
Data from Spotify may suggest that widespread self-isolation is to blame.
The self-isolation caused by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus(COVID-19) may actually be causing a fall in music streaming, as reported by Quartz. While many would assume that staying inside during the pandemic would effectually boost streams, data compiled by the publication may say otherwise.
In the hard-hit country of Italy, the top 200 most streamed songs on Spotify within the nation averaged 18.3 million streams per day in February of 2019. The total streams for the 200 most popular songs in the country since beginning a national quarantine (March 9) are just 14.4 million. When comparing the top 200 streams from Tuesday, March 3 to Tuesday, March 17, numbers showcase a 23% drop in streams.
LIVE NATION SHARE PRICE RALLIES AGAIN, UP 15% TODAY
Live Nation Entertainment continues its stock market rebound following a hammering amid relentless Coronavirus-themed bad news.
This week, Live Nation’s stock price rose 15.03% on the New York Stock Exchange, up to $42.94 (with a $9.21bn market cap).
That $42.94 price was Live Nation’s highest at market close since March 10. The lowest point for the stock was on March 18, when it hit $29.50 at market close.
Today’s bounce was partly inspired by Citi upgrading Live Nation from a Sell rating to Neutral, in addition to a sunnier 24 hours generally for the markets – with the S&P 500 up 9.38%
LITTLEBITS – SYNTH KIT – ANALOGUE SYNTHESIZER YOU CAN BUILD AT HOME
For those interested in making their own synthesisers, but not entirely sure where to start, consider this as an entry point into the world of DIY. The littleBits – Synth Kit only requires a screwdriver for assembly you can build at home.
The littleBits Synth Kit is a great tool for newcomers looking to experiment with the possibilities of synthesizers. Developed in partnership with Korg, it comes with 12 interchangeable modules called “bits” that snap together using magnets, so your first sound is only seconds away. Each bit has a single function (for example, an oscillator, a micro sequencer, an envelope etc.) and includes a mounted circuit board and controls to tweak the signal to taste. Cool video below!
Written by Anthony Vanger
Additional reporting by Adam “Badger” Woolf
Artwork by Gustav Balderdash
To join This Week In Music please send me an email: anthonyvanger@gmail.com