Music Industry

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Notable DJs Share Plans for Dealing With Coronavirus


Jazzy Jeff wears a Genre BNDR face mask. (Source: Genre BNDR)

Recently, the rapidly-spreading Coronavirus has begun to impact the global music community. The cancellation of Austin, TX’s SXSW festival, Miami’s Ultra Music Festival, Red Bull 3Style’s World Championships, and France’s Tomorrowland Winter are likely only the beginning. DJcity spoke with a few notable DJs to find out how they are handling these cancellations and contemplating their next steps.

Four Color Zack:

“I’m fully expecting [the rash of cancellations] to trickle down to other kinds of gatherings and venues. [It’s] probably just a matter of time,” says Four Color Zack, a former Red Bull 3Style World Champion who was expecting to head to Moscow for the Red Bull 3Style world championships. Zack also notes that he had a recent tour of China canceled because of the coronavirus, and adds, “it would have gotten canceled anyway since the sponsors and venues are all stopping in their tracks.”

Hedspin:

Fellow former 3Style World Champion Hedspin adds, “I’ve been touring Asia at least two-to-three times a year for almost a decade now. The only people I’ve noticed that are affected are my DJ/promoter friends in Mainland China and Hong Kong. A lot of them have taken a hit financially because a lot of the nightclubs have temporarily stopped operating, and the general public is just staying home.”

Regarding the spread of coronavirus into Europe, Hedspin is concerned about that marketplace too. “Switzerland just got a notice from the government that all events with more than 1000 people present will have to be canceled or delayed until further notice. This announcement will also affect the European tour dates I had lined up.”

Dani Deahl:

In a recent Twitter post, DJ/producer Dani Deahl summed up the thoughts of many artists:

DJ Spryte:

When asked about developing other revenue streams in coronavirus’ wake, DJ/producer Spryte says, “Luckily, I have multiple revenue streams outside of tour DJing. However, if this weren’t the case, I would probably look into more local gigs or work with local venues to provide their music in some manner. Everything going on right now is very similar to what happened with the swine flu back in 2009. I try to stay optimistic that my travel schedule won’t be affected much, but I do think everyone should be asking themselves this question just in case.”

DJ Scene:

Three months in, the concern about coronavirus’ impact are possibly overstated but not without merit. DJ Scene has his own tips for staying healthy while traveling. “I’ve been carrying disinfectant wipes in my backpack for many years. I always wipe down tray tables, armrests, seatbelts, headrests, and walls if I have a window seat. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve given wipes to other people when they comment, ‘that’s a good idea.'”

When asked about a solution for fans of live sets, he offered a simple solution. “I think it’s a great time to dive into DJ mixes. Whether it’s audio or video, people can enjoy them on-demand while working out, driving, cleaning their house, etc. There are tons of new and classic content to explore. Boiler Room sets are a killer example.”

Ultimately, when thinking about this, or any terrifying situation, the idea that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure becomes relevant. Four Color Zack instead opted to quote Neil McCauley, a career criminal portrayed by Robert DeNiro in the 1995 film, Heat. “Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner. Always have an exit strategy.”

Related Post: European DJs and Artists Will Require a Visa to Perform in the UK Starting 2021

| DJ Culture, Music Industry
Coronavirus, Dani Deahl, DJ Scene, Four Color Zack, Hedspin, Spryte,
Saturday, February 22, 2020

European DJs and Artists Will Require a Visa to Perform in the UK Starting 2021

Busy P

Busy P
Busy P performing at the XOYO Club in London. (Source: Facebook)

Earlier this week, Britain’s Home Office announced that EU artists and performers will need to apply for a Tier 5 visa to work in the UK once the Brexit transition comes to an end in December.

This controversial decision will halt freedom of movement for any live performers between the UK and the EU. A Tier 5 visa will cost performers up to £244 and requires a certificate of sponsorship. Once granted, the permit will last between 12 to 24 months.

There have been a lot of disagreements on this subject within the UK government, Culture Minister Nigel Adams stated last month that “it was absolutely essential” to protect free movement for artists post 2020 in an interview with Music Week.

Music industry groups in the UK have started petitions demanding a free or affordable two-year working visa for artists and performers.

Related Post: DJcity UK’s Most Downloaded Tracks of January 2020

| Music Industry
Brexit, Europe, United Kingdom,
Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Murda Beatz Breaks Down His Hitmaking Success On Pensado’s Place

Multi-platinum producer Murda Beatz recently sat down with the Pensado’s Place YouTube show for a glimpse into his career.

The 25-year-old Canadian beatmaker has produced ten top 10 singles in the past three years. He released back-to-back hits in 2017 and 2018 with Migos, Cardi B, and Nicki Minaj‘s “Motorsport” and Drake‘s “Nice For What”.

Murda Beatz discusses his production inspirations, working with Drake, how to make it as a “Youtube producer” in the social media age, and more. He also talks about how Toronto has been able to maintain creative domination over much of hip-hop music and culture.

Watch the interview above.

Related Post: Ricky Reed Explains How Lizzo’s ‘Truth Hurts’ Was Produced

| Music Industry, Videos
Interview, Murda Beatz, Music Production, Pensado's Place,
Monday, February 10, 2020

‘MikiDz Podcast’: The Charlie Sloth Interview

On this week’s episode of the MikiDz Podcast, UK radio personality Charlie Sloth pays the crew a visit. They discuss his come up on BBC Radio 1, his Fire In The Booth freestyle sessions, the London club scene, and more.

Watch the MikiDz Podcast above. It is also available on Apple Podcasts, Mixcloud, and Spotify.

The MikiDz Podcast is a talk-show that discusses news and topics in the DJ and nightlife industries. It is hosted by MikiWAR, DJ Dainjazone, and DJ Rell. The MikiDz Show, which is also hosted by Miki and Dainjazone, features live performances from the world’s most-skilled DJs.

Related Post: ‘MikiDz Podcast’ Special Edition: Memories of Kobe Bryant

| DJ Culture, DJcityTV, Music Industry, Videos
Charlie Sloth, DJ Dainjazone, DJ Rell, MikiDz Podcast, MikiWAR,
Wednesday, January 29, 2020

5 Things We Learned From Tainy’s Billboard Interview

From producing Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin‘s #1 hit collaboration ‘I Like It’ to reaching the pages of Billboard Magazine, the past 12 months have been a whirlwind for Puerto Rican producer Tainy. He recently sat down with the magazine to discuss his past and what he has coming up in the future.

He has an EP dropping in March:

Tainy signed a management deal with [his manager/business partner Lex] Borrero, a 34-year-old publisher who previously headed Roc Nation Latino, in 2018. Early last year, Tainy inked a label deal with Interscope for NEON16, and by December 2019, he finalized a deal with WME. Now, the 30-year-old producer is preparing to release his debut solo EP, The Kids That Grew Up on Reggaeton, out in March on NEON16.

Tainy briefly grew up in America:

Born Marco Masís in Puerto Rico, he moved with his family to Hartford, Connecticut when he was in kindergarten but moved back by the second grade. Those three years stateside, however, were crucial: Tainy learned English, devouring American TV and listening to artists like Eminem and Snoop Dogg.

There may be a Marshmello collaboration in the works:

The houses all look the same on a quiet, ­residential block near Miami’s design district: white picket fence, cute front yard, trimmed windows — and no way to know which one is NEON16, the studio launched in 2019 by Puerto Rican producer Tainy and his manager/business partner, Lex Borrero.Inside, Marshmello’s entourage is lounging on couches at the entrance, flanked by giant KAWS and Murakami dolls. Marshmello, sans helmet, is in a room listening to beats with Tainy, who only steps away from his laptop to say a brief hello.

Tainy was discovered by reggaeton duo Luny Tunes.

By 14, Tainy signed to the production team Luny Tunes — the duo behind hits from Wisin & Yandel, Daddy Yankee and Don Omar — and earned the nickname “Tainy Tunes.” Despite crafting hits with the pair in Puerto Rico, Tainy didn’t take off on his own until he moved back to the United States, landing work with Balvin and Bad Bunny, and pushing the boundaries of reggaetón.

Tainy explains the difference between making reggaeton for Latin and American audiences:

“You can’t go too drastic when you’re creating records for the Latin market; it’s about expanding what their ear is used to,” says Tainy. “The American market has more liberty. Hearing the essence of reggaetón from Luny Tunes, but listening to different chords from The Neptunes or how big and full Timbaland’s percussion sounds [are] and adding those pop and electronic elements [influences my work].”

Read the full interview here.

Related Post: How Bad Bunny and Tainy’s ‘Callaita’ Was Produced

| DJ Culture, Music Industry
Interview, Tainy,
Sunday, January 26, 2020

2020 Grammy Winners


Billie Eilish. (Source: Instagram)

The 62nd annual Grammy Awards went down at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday. Billie Eilish stole the show with wins in four major categories. Below are the winners of the categories most relevant to DJs. Check out the full list on the Grammys website.

GENERAL FIELD

Record Of The Year

Bon Iver – Hey, Ma
Billie Eilish – bad guy WINNER
Ariana Grande – 7 Rings
H.E.R. – Hard Place
Khalid ft. Disclosure – Talk
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road
Lizzo – Truth Hurts
Post Malone & Swae Lee – Sunflower

Song Of The Year (songwriter award)

Always Remember Us This Way – Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
bad guy – Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish) WINNER
Bring My Flowers Now – Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker)
Hard Place – Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, D. Arcelious Harris, H.E.R. & Rodney Jerkins, songwriters (H.E.R.)
Lover – Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
Norman F*cking Rockwell – Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey, songwriters (Lana Del Rey)
Someone You Loved – Tom Barnes, Lewis Capaldi, Pete Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn & Sam Roman, songwriters (Lewis Capaldi)
Truth Hurts – Steven Cheung, Eric Frederic, Melissa Jefferson & Jesse Saint John, songwriters (Lizzo)

Best New Artist

Black Pumas
Billie Eilish WINNER
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Maggie Rogers
Rosalia
Tank and the Bangas
Yola

POP

Best Pop Solo Performance

Spirit – Beyonce
bad guy – Billie Eilish
7 Rings – Ariana Grande
Truth Hurts – Lizzo WINNER
You Need To Calm Down – Taylor Swift

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Boyfriend – Ariana Grande & Social House
Sucker – Jonas Brothers
Old Town Road – Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus WINNER
Sunflower – Post Malone & Swae Lee
Senorita – Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello

RAP

Best Rap Performance
MIDDLE CHILD – J. Cole
Suge – DaBaby
Down Bad – Dreamville ft. J.I.D, Bas, J. Cole, EARTHGANG & Young Nudy
Racks In The Middle – Nipsey Hussle ft. Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy WINNER
Clout – Offset ft. Cardi B

Best Rap/Sung Performance

Higher – DJ Khaled ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend WINNER
Drip Too Hard – Lil Baby & Gunna
Panini – Lil Nas X
Ballin’ – Mustard ft. Roddy Ricch
The London – Young Thug ft. J. Cole & Travis Scott

Best Rap Song (songwriter award)

Bad Idea – Chancelor Bennett, Cordae Dunston, Uforo Ebong & Daniel Hackett, songwriters (YBN Cordae ft. Chance The Rapper)
Gold Roses – Noel Cadastre, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, William Leonard Roberts II, Joshua Quinton Scruggs, Leon Thomas III & Ozan Yildirim, songwriters (Rick Ross ft. Drake)
A Lot – Jermaine Cole, Dacoury Natche, 21 Savage & Anthony White, songwriters (21 Savage ft. J. Cole) WINNER
Racks In The Middle – Ermias Asghedom, Dustin James Corbett, Greg Allen Davis, Chauncey Hollis, Jr. & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Nipsey Hussle ft. Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy)
Suge – DaBaby, Jetsonmade & Pooh Beatz, songwriters (DaBaby)

Best R&B Performance

Love Again – Daniel Caesar & Brandy
Could’ve Been – H.E.R. ft. Bryson Tiller
Exactly How I Feel – Lizzo ft. Gucci Mane
Roll Some Mo – Lucky Daye
Come Home – Anderson .Paak ft. André 3000 WINNER

Best R&B Song (songwriter award)

Could’ve Been – Dernst Emile II, David “Swagg R’Celious” Harris, H.E.R. & Hue “Soundzfire” Strother, songwriters (H.E.R. ft. Bryson Tiller)
Look At Me Now – Emily King & Jeremy Most, songwriters (Emily King)
No Guidance – Chris Brown, Tyler James Bryant, Nija Charles, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Michee Patrick Lebrun, Joshua Huizar, Noah Shebib & Teddy Walton, songwriters (Chris Brown ft. Drake)
Roll Some Mo – David Brown, Dernst Emile II & Peter Lee Johnson, songwriters (Lucky Daye)
Say So – PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton ft. JoJo) WINNER

DANCE/ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Best Dance Recording

Linke – Bonobo
Got To Keep On – The Chemical Brothers WINNER
Piece Of Your Heart – Meduza ft. GOODBOYS
Underwater – RÜFÜS DU SOL
Midnight Hour – Skrillex, Boys Noize, & Ty Dolla $ign

PRODUCTION, NON-CLASSICAL

Producer Of The Year

Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
John Hill
Finneas WINNER
Ricky Reed

Best Remixed Recording

I Rise – Tracy Young’s Pride Intro Radio Remix (Madonna) WINNER
Mother’s Daughter – Wuki Remix (Miley Cyrus)
The One – High Contrast Remix (Jorja Smith)
Swim – Ford. Remix (Mild Minds)
Work It – Soulwax Remix (Marie Davidson)

Related Post: 2019 Grammy Winners

| Music Industry
Grammys,

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