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Moog turns Apple Vision Pro into a futuristic instrument for music creation

As someone who dabbles in music creation for fun, nothing excites me like a Moog synthesizer. So when I learned that Moog has turned Apple Vision Pro into a first-class instrument for music production, my brain went into galaxy mode.

The aptly named Animoog Galaxy is a “multi-sensory creative tool” that delivers an “immersive experience unlike any other, bringing a revolutionary instrument to musicians and technophiles.” In other words, we have our first killer app for music creators.

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All of the songs used in today’s Apple’s special event and product introductions

Apple events and product introduction videos are well known for using excellent music. They fill up many of our music libraries. The company does an incredible job curating the perfect tunes. Instead of having to Shazam each song from today’s special event or going over to Apple’s YouTube channel, you can find all of the music that Apple used today directly below!

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Bad metadata means billions in unpaid royalties from streaming music services

Billions in unpaid royalties from streaming music

Inaccurate and missing metadata isn’t just a pain for music lovers – it can also cost artists, songwriters, and others billions in unpaid royalties from streaming music services, suggests a new report.

One example given was a musician who missed out on $40,000 in royalties because a clash between two different metadata databases removed many of his credits …


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Feature Request: Here’s my wish-list for a standalone Music app on the Mac

Music app on the Mac – my wish-list

We’ve today been able to confirm that Apple is bringing new standalone media apps to macOS, including a Music app on the Mac.

That’s something I’ve been calling for since 2015.

Let’s have a new OS X Music app just like we got a new iOS one. Have it be a music player, and a means of transferring music to iOS devices, and nothing else. Strip away absolutely everything that isn’t about music.

I gave an exec summary of what I wanted from it back then, but now we know it’s finally happening, I thought I’d put together a more detailed wish-list for the upcoming app …


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Digital music not necessarily better for the environment

Digital music not necessarily better for the environment than physical media sales

With no physical media to manufacture and transport, you might expect digital music – whether downloads or streaming – to be better for the environment than old-school vinyl or CDs. But a new study suggests this isn’t necessarily the case.

It also gives an interesting insight into how much we have paid for music between phonograph cylinders in 1907 and streaming services like Apple Music today …


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Streaming music is increasing our total spend on music, says official industry body

streaming music boosts recording industry revenues again

When streaming music started to take off, there were many pundits suggesting that it would be the death of the music industry, with total revenues plunging. In fact, says the industry’s worldwide trade body, the opposite has been true.

Streaming music has seen total recording industry revenue rise for the fourth year running


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Steinway Spirio | r piano uses an iPad to correct and play your live piano performances [Video]

Steinway Spirio R lets you record, edit and playback your performances

The latest grand piano from the legendary Steinway company uses an iPad which allows you to record your performances, correct any mistakes and then play back the perfect version on the piano itself. Pricing hasn’t yet been announced, but we have some idea – and if your home doesn’t look like the one pictured, it’s probably not for you.

The Steinway Spirio | r follows an earlier model that allowed owners to listen to performances by famous concert pianists as if it were a live performance in their own home …


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Feature Request: Sort out Apple Music’s lyrics database, starting with singer-songwriter tracks

Apple Music lyrics matter

I wrote back in 2015 on the bloated mess that was iTunes, and suggested that Apple needed to take the same approach on Mac as it has on iOS: separate apps for each content category.

The company took a big step in this direction with the release of iTunes 12.7 in 2017, removing apps and ringtones from iTunes, turning iTunes U into a subsection of podcasts, and tidying up Internet Radio …


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Feature Request: Handoff for music between iOS devices, Macs and HomePods

I’ve written many times that the integrated ecosystem offered by Apple is one of the company’s greatest strengths. The Handoff feature is a great example of that integration. It’s really handy to be able to do start reading something in Safari on my Mac, and then continue reading it on my iPhone, for example.

Handoff works with most Apple apps: Mail, Maps, Safari, Reminders, Calendar, Contacts, Pages, Numbers and Keynote – but not Music. That’s what I’d like to fix …


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What do you think of the growing trend of gigs banning phones? [Poll]

Former White Stripes frontman Jack White has become the latest artist to announce a ban on the use of phones at his gigs, saying that he wants fans to focus on enjoying the experience.

No photos, video or audio recording devices allowed.

We think you’ll enjoy looking up from your gadgets for a little while and experience music and our shared love of it IN PERSON.

The ban will be enforced by requiring audience members to lock their phones into a case …


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Amazon Music Unlimited matches Apple Music deal for students, plus $1/mo promo

Apple has long recognized the importance of the student market, using education discounts to try to pull them into the company’s ecosystem with hardware purchases, and adding a student discount for Apple Music last year.

Apple knows that if you bring people on board as students, they have huge potential lifetime value once they leave college. Amazon Music Unlimited seems now to be realizing the same thing, with a student deal that matches the Apple one – and going even further for Prime Student members …


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Report: Amazon planning standalone subscription music service to compete w/ Apple Music & others

iPhone-Amazon-Music

Reuters reports that Amazon is preparing to take on Apple Music, Spotify and the other music streaming services with a similar, full-fledged competitive subscription music service. That would be a step up from the limited catalog of music it currently offers to subscribers of its Prime shipping service that bundles perks for various Amazon services for a monthly or yearly fee.


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Comment: It would be more surprising if Apple had not discussed a post-iTunes world

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MacBook Pro 13-inch Retina front open

While Apple has denied a report that it was planning to stop selling music downloads in either two years or 3-4 years, the denial to Re/code was somewhat vague.

Apple rep Tom Neumayr wouldn’t expand on [the ‘not true’] comment, except to make it clear that he was responding to both timelines proposed in today’s story from Digital Music News.

And really, nobody should be surprised if the broader report is true: that Apple has discussed how and when it might exit the music download business …


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Taylor Swift dances to The Darkness in latest Apple Music ad

swift

Taylor Swift is continuing her partnership with Apple Music, with yet another ad featuring the singer and the streaming service. The new minute-long commercial features Taylor Swift dancing around to ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ by The Darkness.

Swift demonstrates using the Apple Music discovery features (via the ‘Friday Night Rocks!’ playlist) to find the track. The ad ends with the slogan ‘Dance like no one’s watching’.  Watch the ad after the jump …


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