A weekly update on all things music, advertising, and technology coming straight to you from Anthony Vanger at MassiveMusic. #TWIM
ARTIST OF THE WEEK: MAMAS GUN
Sometimes music can be as sweet as honey. As we head into warmer and brighter days, this neo-soul track, This is the Day, from UK-based quintet Mamas Gun, perfectly captures the spirit of emerging from a crisis. The band crept onto the scene in 2019 and kept a fairly low profile since, but this track has staying power, popping up on influential LA radio station KCRW. Lead singer Andy Platts channels his inner Marvin Gaye and the band crafts the space and groove to let him work his magic. His falsetto is pure and speakeasy strong. The lyrics guide the listener through failure and despondency to that moment when we feel our luck is about to change. “It feels like a new beginning”, Platts sings. Indeed it does.
@mamasgun_UK #mamasgun #thisistheday
Official Website: http://mamasgun.co.uk
AD OF THE WEEK: SWISS TOURISM “NO DRAMA”
De Niro and Federer pair up for a hilarious ad.
Any ad that combines the greatest actor and the greatest tennis player in the world has got my vote. The sight of de Niro eyeballing a video of perfect bucolic Switzerland listening to yodeling made my day. Of course, anyone who grew up in Switzerland (I did) knows that the idyllic mountainous country has more to it than banks, watches, and chocolate. But DeNiro “doesn’t like it – Switzerland is just too perfect”. The ad plays out as Federer tries to cajole New York-based De Niro over to experience the adventurous side the country has to offer. But the legendary actor drops the F-bomb to emphatically end the argument. The punchline is cute. Nice work from Swiss agency Wirz BBDO. And who knew Federer could act?
#robertdeniro #rogerfederer #swisstourism #swiss #switzerland
MORE THAN A QUARTER OF UK MUSIC FESTIVALS CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF INSURANCE
A further 76% of remaining festivals are expected to cancel ‘imminently’
A new study shows that 26% of UK festivals with a capacity above 5,000 have been canceled this year due to a lack of government-backed insurance amid the pandemic.
The UK government has so far failed to provide insurance for large-scale events, meaning many are now uncertain over their future with the pandemic still ongoing and lockdown restrictions potentially remaining in place.
A further 76% of events that are still planned to go ahead now have fears of cancellation if a strategy for government-backed insurance is not reviewed. The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has been researching UK festivals during the past 12 months, finding that almost three-quarters of organizers will require financial support in 2022 if their events cannot take place this year.
KANYE WEST RAISES $1 MILLION FOR DMX’S FAMILY
The money was raised through a sold-out collaboration with Balenciaga
Kanye West’s collaboration with Balenciaga to commemorate the late rapper DMX has raised over $1 million for his family, according to TMZ.
Yeezy, Kanye West’s fashion label, enlisted Balenciaga to create a shirt paying tribute to the hip hop legend, real name Earl Simmons, with net proceeds benefiting his family. The $200 shirts sold out in 24 hours.
DEEZER MAKES STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN LIVESTREAMING COMPANY DREAMSTAGE
France-born audio streaming service Deezer has emerged as the latest company to enter the live-streaming space, becoming what it calls a “cornerstone investor” in DREAMSTAGE, US-based live music streaming startup.
Amongst DREAMSTAGE’s founders are CEO Thomas Hesse, a former President of Global Digital Business and US Sales/ Distribution at Sony Music.
The startup has delivered over 50 live shows since its launch in August 2020 and handles ticket sales and the delivery of the live audio/video signal to screens and devices.
The company says that the new funding from Deezer will enable it to “significantly speed up growth and expand its operations”, with the company also planning to offer live gig subscriptions in the future. In addition, the platform plans to offer simulcast streaming opportunities for in-person concerts when live concerts return. Artists can also sell merchandise, VIP experiences, and raise donations on the platform.
FENDER MUSTANG MICRO HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER OFFERS 12 EFFECTS COMBINATIONS
Get pocket-size power with the Fender Mustang Micro headphone amplifier. Offering 12 effects combinations, this gadget also has 12 built-in amp models. Super small, this music gadget lets you play anywhere so you can get practice in at any time. This personal guitar amplifier gives you at least 4 hours of continuous playtime. Moreover, you can plug the Fender Mustang Micro directly into your guitar, connecting with your wired headphones. Then, just choose the amp type you want—anything from classic to metal—and add your effects.
Using rechargeable batteries and intuitive controls, it offers Bluetooth play-along abilities so you can practice quietly. Finally, with a recording output to your Mac or PC, it’s easy to connect your USB and save your songs. Get one here
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