Hurts unleash ‘Some Kind Of Heaven’ video

Hurts - Press Photo 2015

British pop duo HURTS released the official music video for Some Kind Of Heaven. It features singer Theo Hutchcraft exploring a slightly bizarre suburbian 60s setting. The track is the first single from the band’s third album Surrender. The follow-up to Exile from 2013 is set for a global release on October the 9th. Witness th new HURTS clip right here.

The Chemical Brothers and St. Vincent share collaboration ‘Under Neon Lights’

The Chemical Brothers - 2014 - press

British dance pioneers THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS have shared a new track of their forthcoming LP Born In The Echoes. Under Neon Lights features none other than the almighty ST. VINCENT on guest vocals. You can stream the collaboration of below. The duo’s first album in five years is set for a release on July 17th via Astralwerks.

Taylor Swift’s open letter – a game changer in Apple Music debate?

Taylor Swift - Photo by Sarah Barlow

Photo by Sarah Barlow

Well, that’s some quick success: Yesterday TAYLOR SWIFT opened up about not giving her music to Apple’s forthcoming streaming service Apple Music after pretty much every indie label already refrained from joining the project by criticising the fact that they won’t get paid by Apple within the ‘free trial’ period of the first three months. Now no one else but Apple’s Senior Vice President Eddy Cue gave in to the complaints via Twitter, stating that, of course, Apple Music will pay artists for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period. Read his three clarifying tweets right here.

The collective effort of indie represantatives might have been important in this but it’s Mrs. SWIFT’s voice that has clearly become a quite powerful, maybe even the crucial one. Turns out we weren’t wrong with showing our love for her in the first place. Read SWIFT’s full statement from her Tumblr again right here.

To Apple, Love Taylor

I write this to explain why I’ll be holding back my album, 1989, from the new streaming service, Apple Music. I feel this deserves an explanation because Apple has been and will continue to be one of my best partners in selling music and creating ways for me to connect with my fans. I respect the company and the truly ingenious minds that have created a legacy based on innovation and pushing the right boundaries.
I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.

This is not about me. Thankfully I am on my fifth album and can support myself, my band, crew, and entire management team by playing live shows. This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs.

These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child. These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call.

I realize that Apple is working towards a goal of paid streaming. I think that is beautiful progress. We know how astronomically successful Apple has been and we know that this incredible company has the money to pay artists, writers and producers for the 3 month trial period… even if it is free for the fans trying it out.
Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.

But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.

Taylor

Surprise. The new Four Tet LP ‘Morning/Evening’ is out now

Four Tet - MorningEvening - Album

British electronic producer Kieran Hebden aka FOUR TET surprise released his new studio album Morning/Evening earlier tonight. He announced the follow-up to Beautiful Rewind from 2013 only last month. It’s two songs with a length of forty minutes. Hebden recorded the album between August 2014 and February 2015. He states: ‘This music was created on a laptop computer using the Ableton Live software to control and mix VST synthesizers and manipulations of found audio recordings.’ The physical edition of the new FOUR TET record arrives on July 10 but you can already stream it today right here.