Artist Community Newsletter - September 2024
Welcome to the latest Artist Community Newsletter, our dedicated update for you - our talented artists! We hope you enjoy our round-up of the latest news, insights and tools to boost your creativity. Do let us know if there's anything you'd like to see in future newsletters!
Summary of Contents:
Get to know a prodigiously gifted American composer
We recently had a wonderful chat with the hugely talented Holly Jones. Holly talks with humility and insight about how she found success in streaming and shares her advice for building a talented “machine” of people around you; it’s a must-watch!
Follow Holly’s socials:
Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube
Discover what's trending across Music Vine & Uppbeat
We're rounding up some of the hottest music pages across Uppbeat and Music Vine, highlighting some of the amazing tracks our customers are loving right now.
The following stats are based on the past two months of data:
- Currently trending music pages:
- Highest performing new premium tracks:
- Highest performing new free tracks:
- Currently trending music pages:
- Most licensed new tracks:
Additionally, we are still looking for music in specific styles. Our Hit List is the go-to space to see all of our required styles.
Here are some recent favourites from our Hit List submissions:
Pushing your creative potential with AI
It’s no secret that AI has been making headlines recently. We’ve seen Chat GPT and Midjourney shake up the world of writing and design, and it’s clear music making is also on the brink of an AI revolution. New tools to write melodies and chord progressions, manipulate audio, and even generate full tracks from scratch have left many producers wondering how their own creativity fits into this and what their workflow will look like in the future.
Here at Music Vine, we believe that the best music - the music that truly inspires and stands out - will always be driven by human imagination and talent. While it's natural to feel uncertain about AI's role in music, we encourage you to consider your relationship with AI and how it can be used creatively; to accentuate your individuality and help you to create your best work.
As the AI revolution gets into full swing, start to ask yourself…
Does my process need shaking up?
Sometimes it can feel like you’re going through the motions creatively, falling back on the same tools and techniques every time you sit down to make music. But there’s some exciting AI-driven tech emerging which might just breathe new life into your process.
Powerful new tools can help spark fresh ideas and create exciting new sounds. Use them to stay inspired, explore new ground and importantly, have fun! After all, this is when we make our best music.
What are my creative pain points?
It’s certainly normal to wrestle with aspects of music production. Perhaps your basslines don’t hit quite like they should? Or maybe your mixes never feel as polished as you’d like?
AI plugins are starting to help producers overcome some of these challenges. Of course there’s no substitute for real talent, but when used strategically, AI will certainly help augment your skillset and drive the overall quality of your work.
How can I spend more time being truly creative?
Routine tasks like editing audio and organising files are becoming streamlined by AI. Keep an eye out for new time-saving tools in this space because some will prove to be quite transformative. With tedious manual tasks taken care of there will be more time to focus on meaningful, creative work.
Ultimately, AI represents an exciting revolution for music makers. Whilst it’s not completely clear how an artist’s role will evolve over the coming years, there is no doubt that it will become much easier to create large volumes of formulaic music. This is why we believe standing out has never been more important. AI should not be used merely to boost your output, but as a way to improve your process and make great music that still sounds like you. As we head into the future we should approach AI in the same way that we creatives approach anything else in life - with a sense of curiosity, playfulness, and imagination.
Our round-up of awesome tools for making music
Impressive VSTs & plugins
Here are a few toys that we’re loving at the moment:
- Cycles by Slate+Ash: Powerful granular synth and loop generator
- Soothe2 by Oeksound: Incredibly useful resonance suppressor!
- Concussion by The Crow Hill Company: A devilishly fun drum library
Intriguing Innovations
Check out a couple of really useful recent innovations from household names:
- Logic Pro X: June 2024 update now includes AI-powered stem splitting!
- Arcade by Output: 2024 update can now incorporate your own audio
Freebies!
Even the most masterful artists love a freebie, right? Here are a few we like the look of:
- Audience Choir by NI: Sampled from Jacob Collier’s live audiences
- Vital Synth: Powerful wavetable synth with a generous free plan
- Hyperpop Synths by Labs: Super-fun synth from our favourite laboratory!
Got an idea for a topic or want to contribute? Let us know here!