THE HOGAN’s Post

Big discussions today at A-MNEMONIC Music. Tempo Music are suing Miley Cyrus for nicking bits of her global hit “Flowers” from Bruno Mars’ “When I was your man” written 11 years earlier. Presumably embarrassing for Bruno. He may well be a mate of Miley’s.  Oddly, he’s not named as a plaintiff. Only his co-writer, he’s little control over the situation. Awks. Fans have been posting mash-ups/ memes of the two songs since last year.  The similarities between them are clearly in the public consciousness.  But have the similarities actually been nicked by Miley? Tempo (backed by Warner Music)  is one of a growing number of ‘investment platforms’ who acquire the catalogues of song- writers.  Often for staggering amounts of money.  In this case, from Bruno’s co-writer, Philip Lawrence who had sold his portion of the performance rights to Tempo. Their suit claims: “Flowers” duplicates numerous melodic, harmonic, and lyrical elements, including: - the melodic pitch design and sequence of the verse  - the connecting bass line  - certain bars of the chorus  - certain theatrical music elements, lyric elements  - specific chord progressions. Think they might be pushing it. 🤔 What do you think? https://lnkd.in/eBKh-akF

Rick Rubin is a legend. He is one of the most renowned music producers of all time. Rick worked with Jay-Z, Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, Slayer, Metallica, Run-DMC, Red Hot Chili Peppers, AC/DC, Nine Inch Nails, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Macy Gray, Aerosmith, Kanye West, Ed Sheeran, U2, Black Sabbath, and Eminem. Well a lot of the greatest artists out there. →Rick has a secret skill. I will expand on it, and share how to master it. In an interview with the guys from 60 minutes, Rick Rubin explains what he does “Do you play instruments?” Cooper asks. “Barely,” Rubin replies. “Do you know how to work a sound board?” “No,” Rubin replies, “I have no technical ability. And I know nothing about music.” “Well, you must know something,” Cooper says.” “I know what I like and what I don’t like. I’m decisive about what I like and what I don’t like,” Rubin says. “So what are you being paid for?” “The confidence I have in my taste and my ability to express what I feel,” Rubin says. I've searched a bit more about what Rick thinks about taste and found out Polina Pompliano's essay: “You can’t make art with someone else in mind.” Engage in what interests you and you alone. If you have good taste, others will find value in it as well. But if you’re only creating something with the hopes that it pleases an “audience,” then that is likely to lead to a dead-end road. “You can’t second guess your own taste for what someone else is going to like. Another point, discovered by Trung Phan is the link with Steve Jobs, and how much he stressed on taste aspect: “The only problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste. They have absolutely no taste. And I don’t mean that in a small way, I mean that in a big way, in the sense that they don’t think of original ideas, and they don’t bring much culture into their products.” → How to level up your taste? Well you need to follow Ricks recipe: "If you make the choice of reading classic literature every day for a year, rather than reading the news, by the end of that time period you'll have a more honed sensitivity for recognizing greatness from the books than from the media. This applies to every choice we make. Not just with art, but with the friends we choose, the conversations we have, even the thoughts we reflect on. All of these aspects affect our ability to distinguish good from very good, very good from great. They help us determine what's worthy of our time and attention." → PS: Now think: Do you have taste, do you know how to create taste, or observe taste. Cultivate this skill, because in the era of AGI will be very valuable. __ I'm Bogdan Florin Ceobanu Click my name + follow + 🔔 For stories about entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity.

Tech has diminished the value people place on music. I agree. Trent Reznor recently spoke about his disillusionment with how tech has changed the music industry—streaming, background listening, and the devaluation of music as an art form. It’s tough to ignore how much things have shifted. Once a central part of our lives, music is now often treated as a disposable, secondary experience. As a composer, I get it. That’s why I’ve found so much joy in creating music that serves a story—whether for a promo, a film, explainer videos, long-forms, or even a 30-second commercial. Music can still be powerful and connective, even if it isn’t the “main thing.” But I can’t help but wonder: How can we bring that value back? How do we remind people to listen again? What are your thoughts? #Composer #MusicIndustry #TechAndArt #FilmScoring #ComposersJourney #StorytellingThroughSound https://lnkd.in/e-xmFYx2

The article "The Secret History of Drill Music" from VICE provides a detailed history of the drill music subgenre, focusing on its origins, evolution, and cultural impact. Here is a summary of the key points: 1. **Origins in Chicago**: - Drill music originated in the early 2010s on the South Side of Chicago, particularly in neighborhoods like Woodlawn, known as "Dro City" (Source: [2], [5]). 2. **Early Influences and Pioneers**: - The term "drill" was first used by Dro City hip-hop artist Pac Man in his 2010 track "It’s a Drill" (Source: [5]). - Early pioneers include King Louie, Lil Durk, and Lil Reese, who gained popularity with tracks like "What That Mouth Do," "Too Cool," and the collaborative effort "L’s Bitch" (Source: [5]). 3. **Chief Keef and Mainstream Breakthrough**: - Chief Keef became a prominent figure in the drill scene with his single "Bang" and further solidified his position with the hit track "I Don’t Like" (Source: [2], [5]). 4. **Cultural Significance and Critique**: - Drill music is characterized by its harsh, dark sound and lyrics that often depict street life, gang violence, and survival in crime-ridden neighborhoods (Source: [4], [5]). - The genre has been both celebrated for its raw representation of urban experiences and criticized for promoting violent lifestyles and maladaptive survival behaviors (Source: [4]). 5. **Global Influence and Regional Variations**: - Drill music influenced regional scenes globally, including the UK and Brooklyn, with artists like 67 and Pop Smoke gaining mainstream popularity (Source: [2]). 6. **Social Media and Virality**: - Drill artists leveraged social media platforms to gain large audiences and virality, which played a crucial role in their success (Source: [2], [4]). 7. **Mainstream Recognition and Resurgence**: - Despite initial mainstream success, drill music experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late 2010s and early 2020s with artists like King Von, Polo G, and Calboy (Source: [2]). The article provides a comprehensive overview of the history, cultural context, and impact of drill music, highlighting its complex and multifaceted nature.

Cher's 1998 hit song "Believe" was a significant moment in pop music history because it was the first major use of Auto-Tune, a technology that changes how voices sound in songs. Before "Believe," Auto-Tune was used to correct small mistakes in singing, but it was never meant to be noticeable. Cher's song changed that by using Auto-Tune to give her voice a unique and futuristic quality, marking a significant moment in the music industry. The technology behind Auto-Tune was created by Dr. Andy Hildebrand, who was originally a mathematician working with oil companies. He conceived the idea for Auto-Tune following a suggestion to develop a device that would enable people to sing in tune. The goal was to make music sound perfect by correcting off-key notes, but it ended up being used for much more than that. Auto-Tune quickly became popular in many types of music, from pop to hip-hop. Artists and producers used it to create new sounds that had never been heard before. Despite views of it as a passing trend by some, Auto-Tune has become a staple in music production. It is now a staple in music production, used to enhance voices by adding effects that make them sound smoother or radically different. Simon Reynolds reflects on Auto-Tune’s role in shaping the sound of the 21st century. He notes that at exactly 36 seconds into “Believe,” listeners were given a preview of pop’s future. The phrase “I can’t break through” in the song not only showcased a novel vocal effect but also symbolized the breaking of traditional boundaries in music production.

Ever thought about producing your own music at home? According to Sean Gill, our latest guest on 'Leaving the Front Line', it's not just possible, it's a game-changer. He shared how the DIY approach to music production can lead to great music and significant savings, which can be funneled into other aspects of a music career like touring. It's a fascinating perspective in an industry that's often seen as exclusive and hard to break into. But the music world is about more than just creating melodies. It's about being in tune with trends, understanding the market, and knowing what your audience wants. Sean dropped a nugget that might surprise you - apparently, cassettes have made a comeback! Who would have thought? In our fast-paced digital world, it's easy to overlook the value of diversifying one's skillset. Sean's pivot from being solely a musician to wearing multiple hats - including that of a producer - is a testament to the power of adaptability in any career. Curious about Sean's journey and how you can apply his insights to your own career pivot? Tune into the latest episode of 'Leaving the Front Line'.

One of my recent articles for Drayton Entertainment: More Than Words: Rock of Ages gets nostalgic for the era-defining image of 80s music Given the popularity of MTV’s 24-hour-a-day video rotation format, it’s no surprise that record companies decided to invest heavily in their artists’ small screen performances. Music videos could make or break a hit single and also affect subsequent album sales, so '80s' production budgets often reached well into seven figures. In the Top 40 list of the most expensive music videos of all time, L.A.’s Guns N' Roses has the highest entry by a rock band at number 5, spending US$5,000,000 in 1993 to promote their single “Estranged”. That’s the equivalent of over US$10,000,000 today. The biggest budget to date is the US$7,000,000 (US$13,443,547, adjusted) spent on Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson’s “Scream” video in 1995. Madonna fills the top five’s other three spaces. https://lnkd.in/gUHH9Skt

From Motown to Ibiza: The secret to creating timeless music. How does a song become iconic? It's not just the melody or lyrics. ↳ It's the people behind it. Think about Motown's golden era. Hitsville was a lively studio filled with talent. It was almost like an assembly line. Everybody played a role. And that collaborative spirit created magic. Staar Player studio sessions in Ibiza focus on capturing that same energy. Bringing artists together to collaborate and innovate to reach new creative heights. Producers, singers, rappers, and musicians all feed off each other's energy and ideas. It doesn't matter if we're sharing a pistachio ice cream or listening to a trumpet player play a melody. These moments spark chemistry and creativity. That's the power of collaboration. ↳ It turns good music into great music. P.s Tom Staar discusses collaboration in this clip from the new Bare Chat podcast. 🤔 What's your favourite musical collaboration? Share your thoughts below ↓ ♻️ Find this interesting? Share it with your network. Follow: Pete Madigan + Staar Player Music Group

Still hiding in your studio? Your music deserves to be heard. After working with countless producers in the industry, here's the truth: killer tracks alone won't cut it anymore. Your signature sound is just the beginning. Show people the producer behind the music. Share those late-night mixing sessions, those moments when you finally crack that perfect sound, your creative process that makes you different. Get out there and connect. Hit up industry events, join producer communities, collaborate with artists who inspire you. Every connection is a potential game-changer. Here's what most producers miss: You're not just selling music, you're selling expertise. Share your mixing techniques, your production wisdom, your industry insights. Build trust, build authority, build your brand. Remember: Consistency beats perfection. Keep showing up, keep sharing your journey, and watch your brand grow naturally.

"After over 150 episodes, why does the gift keep giving? It is simple, like the best and most enduring of formats - the focus on one work, a thread of music interwoven with humble but powerful human tales." Adam Gee has unpacked the wonderful Soul Music show for Formats Unpacked. It's such a Storythings favourite, we're amazed it's taken this long for it to be unpacked. Do you have a favourite Soul Music episode? Tell us about it in the comments. https://lnkd.in/dwNKHeMM