5 Links to Consider | February 19, 2024
A round-up of this week's compelling and considered clicks, compiled from The Absolute Sound's veteran staff of experts and reviewers.
OPINION: The end of music as we know it – or a return to music as we once knew it?
Every day of 2023, an average of 103,500 tracks were uploaded to streaming services. If the average song is somewhere between 3 to 4 minutes in length, then I could listen to approximately 480 songs in a day – and only if I stream without interruptions. That’s not even 0.5% of the tracks uploaded that day. In the face of this unmanageable avalanche of music, I have observed three changes in myself: 1. I am more selective about the music that I dedicate my listening time to. 2. I am less interested in hearing new music. 3. I rarely listen to a new song more than once – and even listening to a song from start to finish often feels like a chore. Am I alone in these changes? There’s no way. Read the full opinion...
A small device is helping music artists get paid — and Elton John and Björn Ulvaeus are investors
Audoo, a tech company founded by musician-turned-entrepreneur Ryan Edwards, is tackling one of the music industry’s long-standing challenges — ensuring artists receive accurate royalties for their music played in commercial locations. Read the rest at CNBC…
“Audoo is a multi award-winning music technology company revolutionising public performance royalty reporting through improved music recognition data.” Korean music industry calls for law to prevent tampering amid NJZ controversy
Five major Korean music industry associations issued a statement on Wednesday urging the government to enact legislation to prevent tampering practices, an issue that has caused turmoil in the K-pop industry after the ongoing dispute between girl group NJZ, formerly NewJeans, and its agency, Ador. Tampering, a term originally used in professional sports but now also used in Korea's entertainment industry, refers to unauthorized contact with artists who are still under contract, with the intent to lure them away. Through an official press release, the Korea Management Federation, the Korea Entertainment Producer's Association, the Record Label Industry Association of Korea, the Recording Industry Association of Korea and the Korea Music Content Association called for regulatory measures "to ensure the healthy and sustainable development of the pop culture and arts industry." The organizations directly cited the ongoing NJZ controversy, which, according to them, began when former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin held a press conference in April last year. They said the issue has been dragging on for over 10 months, with the five members of NewJeans announcing their departure from the label and proclaiming a new group name, NJZ. Read the rest at Korea Times...
NewJeans member Hanni gazes over to Kim Ju-young, Ador's newly appointed CEO after the company ousted Min Hee-jin, ex-CEO and NewJeans producer, at a National Assembly audit session in Seoul, October 2024. Yonhap
4. How We Hear - 1924 - CharlieDeanArchives / Archival Footage
A 1924 educational film exploring how the ear works! Compares structure and function of the ears to the telephone with animations of soundwaves and their perception.
ALL TALK - Mack Keane (2025)
Mack Keane is an R&B musician known for his intricate chord progressions and soulful sound, captivating listeners with releases like "ALL TALK" and "Person I Knew." His work has earned consistent praise from his budding community, with fans and peers alike highlighting his contributions to modern R&B.
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