The Passing of “Punk’s Godfather,” Lou Reed

A disbelieving silence seemed to fall over countless fans, musicians, and loved ones as news of Lou Reed’s death was shared on October 27^th. The iconic musician reportedly died from liver disease at his home in Southampton, New York.

It isn’t hard to understand why fans and fellow artists are deeply mourning the loss of Lou Reed, as he was undoubtedly one of music’s contemporary legends. His work spanned the genres of rock and roll, experimental art rock, avant-garde, and glam rock, and he is considered to be instrumental in sparking the entire punk movement.

As writer Andrew O’hehir explains, “Everything about him was deceptive and impossible to pin down, including the fact that this central figure of the 1960s avant-garde and godfather of the punk movement, this force of disorder, negation and subversion, was in many ways the product of an earlier era.” Reed influenced countless artists and musical movements, both as a member of the iconic band The Velvet Underground, and as a solo artist. His style and attitude continue to inspire innumerable emerging and established musicians.

One of Reed’s contemporaries, artist Patti Smith said, “Lou was a very special poet – a New York writer in the way that Walt Whitman was a New York poet…So many of us have benefited from the work he has done. We all owe him a debt. Most of us that owe a debt are not very happy to own up to it. Sometimes you like to imagine that you did everything on your own. But I think with Lou that everyone will stand in line to say thank you, in their own way,” of the way that he influenced her and other artists over time.

Acclaimed director and writer Mary Harron says of his death, “I’m devastated. I always thought he would live forever. Without Lou Reed and the Velvets, would there have been a CBGB’s, a New York punk, any kind of New York underground rock or art scene? Maybe but it would have had a completely different DNA…”

During his career, Lou Reed managed to make an incredible mark on the culture of music like few others have managed to do. His death will continue to be mourned all around the world. 

Image: rollingstone via Instagram

Independent Versus Major Record Labels

"I like to think that what we get from being on a record label is, number one, smart people. Everyone who works there is really cool and professional, and not druggy party people like so many people in the industry.” 

–Brian Oblivion of Cults  

What Oblivion was discussing is an issue that almost everyone in the music industry has an opinion about: major versus indie record labels. In a somewhat controversial move, indie rock band Cults signed on with major corporate label Columbia when the group’s star began to rise. At this point, Oblivion had seen both sides of the industry; knowing that corporate labels don’t always give their smaller bands the most attention, signing with Columbia still seemed to be a more professional move for the musician.

Here are some of the basic differences between independent and major record labels, broken down in pros and cons:

Some independent record label pros include:

Artists get the rights to their music.

Close relationships are forged between producers, musicians, and label representatives.

Bands feel really advocated for by the label that signed them.

Some cons to signing with an indie label include:

There can often be a sense of disorganization.

A smaller label means fewer opportunities for the artist.

Smaller labels often have limited funds in which to support their bands.

Some major label pros:

Unlike indie labels, major labels often have an excessive amount of funds.

Size and reputation can take emerging bands really far in a discerning industry.

The connections bands can make within a major label are invaluable to their career.

Major record label cons include:

Bands must fight for attention, and a hierarchy is easily established.

Just because the label has funds, that doesn’t mean they’ll use them for lesser-known bands.

Major labels are corporate; they are a business. This can mean less of a personalized approach to producing music.

What do you think some of the major pros and cons are of indie and corporate record labels?

Image: cultscultscults via Instagram

‘Gender Amplified’ Amplifies Women in Music Production

It’s no secret that the music industry has a gender problem – a notable imbalance in the way that men and women exist within that facet of popular entertainment. Women are often thrust into the spotlight and objectified by male creative directors and producers who dominate the industry. And this is when women make it into the spotlight at all. Many don’t get that far because of their refusal to succumb to industry pressures that include playing up their sexuality in order to sell records.

Men don’t have to submit themselves to sexual objectification to sell records, and they certainly don’t have to work as hard to prove themselves behind the scenes. Males greatly outnumber females in music production, an even harder part of the industry to break into, and one that many women don’t even know exists due to lack of female visibility. Ebonie Smith realized this during her undergraduate college days when she fell in love with making and mixing beats. After immersing herself fully into the world of music, she couldn’t help but wonder, Where are all of the female music producers?

Smith created Gender Amplified in 2007 as a platform to support and help advance women in music production. After recognizing a serious gender gap within the industry, she wanted to start a movement that not only showcased incredible, underrepresented female producers, but to show aspiring producers that they could make a mark of their own. “By organizing public events that foster healthy dialogue about the role gender plays in the music making process, Gender Amplified gives voice to a subculture of women who are using music technology to create their own music and perpetuate their unique identities,” according to the organization’s mission statement. Gender Amplified has become a space of refuge and empowerment for women in the music industry, a movement to inspire the next generation of female producers.

During the last weekend of September, the Gender Amplified Music Festival took place at Smith’s alma mater, Barnard College. The event was a celebration of female music producers, and a chance to educate those who are interested in the field, or didn’t even know that it existed. Uniting, teaching, and empowering women will hopefully help bridge the gender gap in music production.

Image: Shutterstock

Light In the Attic Records Hits the Road

In a time when music is most commonly transmitted through headphones or computer speakers, it can be easy to forget that vinyl records still have a place in many a music lover’s heart. Sure, you can easily purchase or download new tracks without even having to leave the house, but there is something so special about having a tangible collection of records to play.

The feeling you get when leafing through hundreds of vinyls at a record shop is one of nostalgia and excitement; when you purchase a record from a store, there is a delightful feeling of newness to be found in something old. This feeling is one of the reasons that Light In The Attic Records continues to produce albums on vinyl in the digital age, something they’ve been doing since they first opened shop in 2002. Light In The Attic is an independent record label that is known for reissuing classic musicians on vinyl as well as representing contemporary bands.

To pay homage to a culture of record-collectors and musicians, Light In The Attic takes takes an annual road trip, making stops at independent music labels and record shops across the country. Light In The Attic founders Matt Sullivan and Josh Wright explain,

“Sixty years ago, crafty salesmen hocked fresh pressed vinyl 45s from the trunks of their dinged Buicks, building hit records one hard-won sale at a time. Today, there is little left of the intensely personal and colorful record business of yesterday, however it still does indeed exist…This October, we will hit the road for our annual pilgrimage: The Light In The Attic Road Trip. Embarking from the Northeastern U.S., we will set out on a journey across America to sling records and meet the people, while each day documenting the trip live — as it unfolds,” of their annual trip.

This year, Light In The Attic will visit 80 record stores and labels along the east coast in just 14 days, documenting the adventure with Pitchfork TV. Their mission is to bring visibility to the spirit and vision of independent record shops, proving that vinyl still has a firm place in the music industry.

For more information about Light In The Attic Road Trip, visit the label's official website.  

Image 1: Light In The Attic Records
Image 2: Kendra K via Flickr CC

The 16-Year-Old Singer-Songwriter You Need to Know

 

Ella Yelich-O’Connor is the teenage music sensation that everyone is talking about. The teen, who performs under the stage name Lorde, is a 16-year-old singer-songwriter from New Zealand who has gained immense popularity since the debut of her first single “Royals.” Unlike the throngs of young, mass-produced, formula-developed pop stars the American music industry continues to crank out, Lorde appears uncompromising in wanting to do things her own way.

Her willful spirit, beautiful sound, and unique point of view are what have catapulted the young musician into the spotlight. Her appeal is far-reaching; Lorde has garnered a massive fan base with her New Zealand audience, as well as in the U.S. and around the world. She managed to hit the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Royals,” the same song that also topped Billboard’s Alternative Chart, where it’s been seventeen years since a female artist has climbed so high. Just to clarify, Lorde hasn’t even been alive for that many years. 

 

The singer-songwriter’s debut album, “Pure Heroine” is helping Lorde truly stand out as a unique talent in the industry. Pitchfork says, “In a moment when too many new artists seem afraid to offend or go off script, Lorde is an exciting contradiction: an aspiring pop star who's had a major-label development deal since age 12 (she was discovered at a local talent show) but has retained a seemingly genuine iconoclastic streak,” of the young singer. Pitchfork also describes Lorde as being “post-internet” in her style, and praises her for her ability to transcend the superficial social norms that the music and entertainment industries want to engulf their young stars in. 

 

With this, the singer, who dons a highly sophisticated vocal range that leaps from a soft, Feist-inspired sound to lower, ominous tones, is perhaps wise beyond her years. It seems as if Lorde is already somewhat guarded in terms of forming a relationship with the pop music industry, something that may prove to be the promising singer’s greatest asset. 

Image: lordemusic via Instagram 

Janelle Monáe’s ‘Electric Lady’ is One of September’s Most Anticipated New Releases

 

Janelle Monáe Robinson has gained an immense following over the last few years after releasing a series of EPs and a full-length, science fiction-inspired album that garnered her critical acclaim and bumped her up on the Billboard Charts. Her futuristic, unique take on American R&B has set her apart from other emerging musicians, and her fabulous, androgynous style, skillful dancing, and incredible voice have secured her a title as one of music’s genuine talents.

On September 10^th, her newest full-length record “The Electric Lady” will be released, and it’s one of the most highly anticipated albums of the season. The record was produced by her labels Bad Boy Records and Wondaland Arts Society, the latter of which she helped found. “The Electric Lady” will be a blend of pop, funk, soul, and Monáe’s unique take on R&B, and is sure to get fans dancing. 

According to Pitchfork’s Evan Minsker, “On ‘The Electric Lady,’ she’s still dealing in science fiction, like on her end-of-days pop song “Dance Apocalyptic”. But at the end of the Paisley Park-hued funk single “Q.U.E.E.N.” (with Erykah Badu), she seems to step away from allegory and rap about real world problems. Album concept aside, it’s guaranteed to be a soulful affair,” of Monáe’s newest record. The musician’s complex album concepts, combined with a pinch of important social commentary, lots of energy, and incredible musical talent are what make “The Electric Lady” such a greatly anticipated release. 

Alongside Janelle Monáe will be a whole set of music industry heavyweights featured on many of the album’s tracks. Of course Erykah Badu performs on “Q.U.E.E.N.” but you can also expect to hear from Miguel, Prince, Big Boi, Cee-Lo Green, Solange, and Esperanza Spalding, Pitchfork reports. Make sure to get your hands on “The Electric Lady” this month to experience one of the most influential, musically inventive and dance-worthy albums of the year. 
Images: Janelle Monáe via Instagram 

How Mary Lambert Continues to Steal the Show

As predicted, this year’s MTV Video Music Awards were everything we could have ever hoped for (and some things we didn’t hope for, courtesy of Miley Cyrus’ tongue). There were long-awaited reunions, such as the highly anticipated live performance from ‘NSync, over-the-top fashion choices, racy and jaw-dropping numbers performed by the likes of ahem, Ms. Cyrus, and a whole lot of love for the best music videos of the year.

Everyone predicted that Macklemore and Ryan Lewis would take home the Moon Man for “Best Video with a Social Message” for their song “Same Love,” but few imagined the impact that up-and-coming songbird Mary Lambert would have on the music industry. Lambert is the female cameo part who sings the profoundly touching chorus in “Same Love,” and her performance at the VMAs was truly one of the highlights of the evening. Through exposure from the now famous song, which many consider to be a sort of “LGBT anthem,” Lambert has also become an important gay rights activist and supporter within the music industry.

After “Same Love” was released, the singer produced an extended version of Macklemore’s political pro-gay song called “She Keeps Me Warm.” Lambert’s version is a more in-depth look at a lesbian love story, a sweet glimpse at a relationship beginning to unfold. Her beautiful vocals paired with an important message about love and equality is what will make Lambert’s music career endure and excel far beyond her famous cameo on “Same Love.” The singer has now breached multiple genres while unobtrusively singing about human relationships and the importance of justice for LGBT people whose love is, as everyone participating in and watching the VMAs can agree, the same.

About being gay, and an artist, Lambert says, “I think that when you’re gay and you’re in a gay relationship, it’s inherently political whether you want it to be or not. You’re creating music; you’re writing from your experience; and if your experience is being in the gay community, that’s going to affect the way you write. So whether or not you want to be a gay artist or not, you’re going to be a gay artist. It’s just, whether you want to be an activist or not.” Lambert has definitely become a prominent gay rights activist, and a role model to those her music reaches. The music industry, as well as the LGBT community, is lucky to have her. 

Images: marylambertsing via Instagram

Canadian Teen Produces a Track on Jay-Z’s Newest Album

Magna Carta Holy Grail is famed rapper Jay-Z’s newest record and one of the summer’s most highly anticipated albums. The rapper’s twelfth studio album features a seriously impressive roster of producers and artists who collaborated on many of the tracks. Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Frank Ocean, Timbaland, Kanye West and many others worked on the album’s production; the amount of talented industry heavyweights that had their hands in the making of Magna Carta Holy Grail is astonishing. Another artist that worked on the album whom you might not be so familiar with is Ebony Oshunrinde, aka WondaGurl.

WondaGurl is a 16-year-old Canadian high school student, who has been credited as a producer on “Crown,” one of the tracks on Jay-Z’s new album. She’s young, but don’t let her age allow you to underestimate her talent. The teen is a self-taught music producer and beatmaker who first started creating her own music when she was only 9 years old. In 2012 she took the prestigious Battle of the Beatmakers title in Toronto, which elevated her status as a powerful producer and artist in the music industry.

photo credit: WondaGurl

According to her bio, “As she completes the 11^th grade, WondaGurl continues to make waves as one of the game’s freshest and most exciting producers. Her age and the fact that she’s female have bent a lot of people’s ears, but her work is what truly impressed people.” The fact that her work is being utilized by one of the most famed rappers in the world is a testament to WondaGurl’s incredible skill set.

WondaGurl is doing big things in the music industry that many high school students would never dream of. Her passion and drive will ensure big things in the future for the teen, and her story is inspirational to other young producers who dream of working with artists like Jay-Z.

For more information about WondaGurl’s track on Magna Carta Holy Grail, visit her website.  

Study Claims Illegal Downloads Doesn’t Hurt Music Industry

A new study out of the European Commission Joint Research Centre has released findings that indicate that illegal music downloads do not have any significant effect on the number of legal music downloads.

Luis Aguiar and Bertin Martins conducted the study, which used clickstream data in its research. The researchers studied data based on country, which showed that attitides and prevalence of piracy differs depending on home country. But one consistent result was that while piracy does affect physical music sales, it doesn’t seem to change the number of legal digital music sales.

“Perhaps surprisingly, our results present no evidence of digital music sales displacement. While we find important cross country differences in the effects of downloading on music purchases, our findings suggest a rather small complementarity between these two music consumption channels. It seems that the majority of the music that is consumed illegally by the individuals in our sample would not have been purchased if illegal downloading websites were not available to them.”

The study continued, siting that “The complementarity effect of online streaming is found to be somewhat larger, suggesting a stimulating effect of this activity on the sales of digital music.”

In other words, digital sales would be negatively affected if illegal downloading sites weren’t also available. This lead the researchers to determine that most of the music that was downloaded illegally was done so for music that wouldn’t have been purchased anyway. Additionally, it appears that those users who were most actively downloading music illegally were also responsible for nearly twice as much legal streaming and downloads as those who didn’t participate in illegal downloads.

Illegal music downloads remain frustrating to those in the music industry, however, for a number of reasons. Many people do illegally download music they might have bough otherwise, and it’s hard to measure that. Outside the realm of music, too, there is are ethical and copyright complications that arise when music is downloaded illegally. The music industry as a whole might be doing alright, but there can be no question that illegal downloads hurt individual artists—especially independent artists who really do need the money—and that’s not okay.