Industry news
HighNotes: Touring - a reality check
Take your music on tour - get clued up on the know-how; SA's Connecting Stars shows us how it's done as they tour the US. Pandora signs a deal with Merlin; Nigeria's Fela Kuti is interviewed about his father's work, and Forbes has hot music streaming tech to watch.
Guide to taking your music on tour
Looking for a comprehensive guide for touring your music? Here it is "A guide for touring in the music industry". The guide covers what you can expect in most scenarios - from pay-to-play events to self-promoted events. It's probably not the glamourous lifestyle many a start-up musician dreams of - it is indeed a reality check.
SA country duo goes to States
SA country duo, Connecting Stars, are making major headway in the States. They've just been signed by US label Morada Music and will soon embark on a tour from New York to Nashville. Find out more about Connecting Stars break-through success in the American market; read "Durban country music duo to take the US by storm".
Pandora signs indie deal
Unlike the battle Youtube seems to be having with the indie industry, Pandora's made it through the process smooth as can be. The internet radio platform has signed a licensing agreement with Merlin, which manages the recording rights for independent music labels. The streaming wars continue... catch with how this latest deal went down: "Pandora’s new indie deal is a coup in the streaming music wars".
Nigerian activism through music
Fela Kuti used his music as tool to decry the military dictatorship in Nigeria. His son, Femi Kuti, who is now also a recording artist and activist, served as an advisor to director Alex Gibney on the documentary, Finding Fela. In this interview, "Femi Kuti, son of Nigerian star Fela, talks the impact of father's legacy", Femi speaks of his father's work, as well as his own.
Fela Kuti
Investing in music
You have to have sincere love for what you do if you're thinking of starting a career as a musician in today's evolving industry. Truth be told, you're going to be last in line to be handed a pay check. At the moment, it's all about streaming wars and tech platforms trying to get ahead. Read "Making money in the music industry" for the best income avenues right now if you're looking to invest.
