Tessera

A new Guide just went live on Soundtrack The Page: Martin James's incredible "State of Bass" book, covering the history of jungle and drum n' bass, tracing right back to the hardcore days and more. Too many deep cuts in there. Dive in! soundtrackthepage.com/statebass/in...

State of Bass — Martin James — Soundtrack The Page

A listening guide to Martin James's State of Bass: every record the book names, chapter by chapter, in the order it names them.

soundtrackthepage.com

With both Miro & Airtable being the latest SaaS businesses to sell for far less than they were once valued at, I wrote a few thoughts about how this might have a knock-on effect with the music industry & the tech platforms and startups that live within it: open.substack.com/pub/networkn...

🔵 The great tech selloff has begun. What does this mean for music?

A.I.’s impact is starting to be felt across SaaS businesses...

open.substack.com

JR Moores@spinal-bap.bsky.social · 2w ago

Truly one of my favourite books about music. It would be too easy to view this as a book about metal or something. It isn't. It's about what's heavy, and as the book goes on to illustrate, that takes on many forms, in many genres. I re-read it annually and STILL find new discoveries in there. 🤗

‘ELECTRIC WIZARDS: A Tapestry of Heavy Music, 1968 to the Present’ is five years old already. Have you read it? Did you recommend it to anybody? What’s your favourite section? Why is there a whole chapter on FUNK? Any musical discoveries from its pages? ⚡️🧙‍♂️🤘🎸 📕 🎂 @reaktionbooks.bsky.social #booksky

Darren Hemmings @mrtrick.bsky.social · 3w ago

Another new guide up on Soundtrack The Page - this time, @questlove.bsky.social's amazing “Music Is History”. 797 works are detailed, chapter by chapter. Dive in! Oh and remember: there’s now a mailing list so you can be notified as soon as new guides go up. soundtrackthepage.com/musicishisto...

Music Is History — Questlove — Soundtrack The Page

A listening guide to Questlove's Music Is History: every record the book names, chapter by chapter, in the order it names them.

soundtrackthepage.com

And here's to the next 18 years. Without The Quietus we would be sooooo much worse off. tQ is like the ravens in the Tower: if that bugger vanishes, we're all doomed, heheh...

John Doran@jahduran.bsky.social · 3w ago

Happy birthday to our 18-yr-old-site theQuietus. Allowing myself 18 mins of proud reflection on everything Luke, I & crew past & present have achieved, before getting back on with it. There's a wicked more eaze give away; thanks to her & Bettina Thrill Jockey. Link in bio! @luketurner.bsky.social

Darren Hemmings @mrtrick.bsky.social · 3w ago

Afternoon everyone - a new guide has gone up on Soundtrack The Page: Lloyd Bradley’s amazing “Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King”. This one is a monster: 786 works detailed across 23 chapters in four parts. soundtrackthepage.com/bassculture/...

Bass Culture — Lloyd Bradley — Soundtrack The Page

A listening guide to Lloyd Bradley's Bass Culture: every record and song the book names, chapter by chapter, in the order it names them.

soundtrackthepage.com

Stephan Kunze @www.zensounds.de · 2mo ago

Great non-profit site created by @mrtrick.bsky.social – provides companion guides to music books, listing every song/album mentioned, in the order of appearance in the book. The page on David Toop's Ocean of Sound is my favourite so far. www.soundtrackthepage.com/ocean/index....

Ocean of Sound — David Toop — Soundtrack The Page

Every record David Toop names in Ocean of Sound, chapter by chapter, in the order he names them, plus his full discography.

soundtrackthepage.com

As rumours continue that a well-known indie is potentially heading for a sale to a major, I wrote a few thoughts on indie sales in general, and how we're going to see more and more of it. Read on below...

🔵 Is a legendary, globally-known indie about to sell up to a major?

Rumours abound... but there's a point here most are missing

networknotes.motiveunknown.com

I wrote a few thoughts about how we now need action more than just words if we are to prevent the majors swallowing the music industry whole. But there are companies out there bringing options, and so there are options. It's not all bad, I promise!! Read on below...

🔵 Want to take on the majors? Stop talking, start acting.

The only way to take on the majors is by out-manoeuvering them - and some companies are starting that fight.

networknotes.motiveunknown.com

I wrote a few words about how the Universal/Downtown situation is getting personal, but that it really misses one pretty fundamental point. Read on below!

🔵 Universal/Downtown gets personal, but it all misses the point

Irrespective of who wins, nobody is working to raise the value of music itself

networknotes.motiveunknown.com

This didn't come as a shock; more of an "I knew it!" kind of sentiment, but hats off to London Centric for confirming what I think Londoners sensed was the case.

The real 5G conspiracy: How Londoners are being lied to about their phone signal

Plus: We reveal how much the capital's councils actually make from festivals in their parks.

open.substack.com

Let's make sure we never forget this moment.

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

theverge.com

Inspired by a JonWayne video I watched, I wrote a few words about how we in the music industry might be focusing on the wrong places to build audiences that might actually drive sales and revenue. Dive in below...

🔵 Reviewing the "time spent to money earned" ratio for artists

Is time being spent in all the wrong places?

networknotes.motiveunknown.com

The turns of phrase in this AC/DC piece elevate it to high art. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. Someone give this piece ALL THE AWARDS. I shall share two examples....

Three Album Run: How Rock Music Never Bettered AC/DC's Powerage, Highway To Hell & Back In Black | The Quietus

The Beatles? The Stones? Led Zeppelin? Please... when it comes to rock, no one comes close to these three consecutive AC/DC albums

thequietus.com

A rare exclusive today, detailing how NTS has taken out a loan with Universal that, if defaulted on, will see the major taking ownership of the entire NTS business: properties, IP, the lot. Not a great development for the indie music landscape.

🔵 Exclusive: Universal tightens its grip around NTS Radio

Another grim development in the indie landscape

networknotes.motiveunknown.com

I wrote a few thoughts about how I feel Universal is, if anything, battling to remain relevant amid changing times and a fundamental shift in where the power sits in the music space - that is, solely with the artists. More below…👇🏻

🔵 Universal isn't winning. It's panicking.

Don't believe the hype: the biggest major is far from sitting pretty

networknotes.motiveunknown.com

Essential reading. Make time for it. open.substack.com/pub/littledo...

Ghosting Spotify: A How-To Guide

The Joyful Sabotage Guide to Supporting Real Music and Reigniting Pleasure in the Age of Tech Oligarchy

open.substack.com

Here's a sentence I never saw myself typing today: that new Hawkwind album is magnificent. Absolutely loving it. album.link/gb/i/1799083...

album.link

I wrote a few words about the music industry and AI. And whilst I think some people would rather stick a fork in their eye than read another post about AI, I'd argue that this piece is recognising that, and calling for a bit of calm amid the constant doom-mongering. Read on below...

🔵 Finding calm amid the AI insanity

Why this might not prove as bad as people think...

networknotes.motiveunknown.com

Think you don't need an official artist website in 2025? Think again...

🔵 AI is reinforcing the need for artist websites

Why managing your artists' narrative is more important than ever

networknotes.motiveunknown.com

These people sound like AWESOME fun to be around. Proper "tell me you fall for every TikTok trend going without actually saying so" vibes. Anyways, BRB: just off o 'biohack' myself into relaxation with 4 pints of Moretti. #OKthanks

Post nicht verfügbar.

Good uses of AI? OK - how about having it create an image of Brian Blessed as an 80s rapper? You're welcome.

I have long held a theory that the quality of Ministry's albums has risen and fallen in direct correlation to the shittiness of whoever the US president is. So it's not a shock at all to see that their new one is a belter, LOL

Driving Him Nuts: Squirrely Years Revisited Is Ministry's Best Album In Decades – | The Quietus

Al Jourgensen has finally gotten over hatred for his early music and subtly reworked it... into Ministry's best LP in years

thequietus.com