Random Music News for Wednesday, August 2, 2017

A thought: a revolving door leading into the West Wing of the White House. It would make staff changes easier for the Commander in Tweet. And now, the music news for August 2.

1. Here’s another lament for the death of the iPod.
2. If SoundCloud goes, we could lose all the music genres that were born there. This article explains what I mean.
3. But maybe SoundCloud will be saved by this rumoured deal.
4. Want a table at a dance club in Ibiza? Prices are now running up to $300. They call this the “VIP boom.”
5. This Friday, Bandcamp has a special campaign to support trans rights.
6. Gavin Rossdale is off the market.
7. A side effect of the podcasting boom? It’s making radio more diverse.
8. A sign of the times: Music downloads account for just 13% of Sony’s sales. Meanwhile, physical sales (CD, vinyl) took up 33.6%. Streaming revenues? Up to 38.5% from 24.8% in just two years.
9. Netflix is apparently $20 billion in debt. Investors don’t seem to mind, though. Have you seen the price of Netflix stock? (Via Tom)
10. The Beatles’ organization was still fighting a court case over the tapes of their 1965 show at Shea Stadium. They finally won a dismissal.
11. Here are some new photographs of a very young David Bowie.
12. Macklemore was involved in a head-on crash with a pickup in Washington DC.
13. This is a blow to the Canadian music industry: UTA (United Talent Agency) is closing its Toronto office. This office served as agents for Billy Talent, Nickelback, City and Colour, 54-40, Barenaked Ladies, Alexisonfire, Sam Roberts Band and others. Instead of having their agents in Canada, these acts will have their accounts transferred to New York, LA and London. Could this mean some artists on the roster will be shed? Here’s what else it could mean.
14. Meanwhile, UTA’s Jack Ross might end up opening his own agency.
15. How do you steal more than half a million dollars’ worth of iPhones from a moving truck?
16. Ford had added a mute button on this Mustang.
17. Kanye is suing a tour insurance company for $10 million. Why? It’s Kanye.
18. This newborn calf looks just like Gene Simmons. In a related story, Gene Simmons is suing a cow for copyright infringement. Udderly ridiculous, I know, but maybe Paul will try to steer Gene away from milking this thing. (Blame Tom).