Listen along with MC! Our new monthly playlists will allow you to hear the featured artists as you read about them, and the 2024 Recording Studio Issue playlist, which sits alongside the May issue of the same name, is live now! Check out cover star French Montana, the DIY Spotlighted Dolly Dagger, and all of the artists included in our Signing Stories, Album Reviews, New Music Critiques, and Live Reviews (as long as they are on Spotify). PLUS, all of the artists included in our new online columns "Hit the Decks," "Video of the Week," "Can't Do Without," and "Vinyl Minded," and online live phot ..read more

Actors and writers reached their agreement with A.I. What about sound designers? After some long and painful fights, the issue of A.I.—at least for actors and writers—has been resolved. For the rest of us in Hollywood, however, the unpacking of A.I. has only just begun. Navigating the future of the sound design industry will depend on engineers and editors understanding how to maximize the capability and productivity of A.I. tools.  While filmmaking and production were shut down for most of the year by the long and painful strike, the industry of Hollywood has continued to churn. Though t ..read more

Huntington Beach metal band Leatherwolf formed way back in '81, and spent their early years on bills with a formative Metallica and Slayer, among others. Their first records, such as the self-titled debut EP which grew into an album, another confusing self-titled release, and Endangered Species, earned them a lot of praise back then, though time hasn't really been kind. Leatherwolf don't get the level of respect that they perhaps deserve. In 2024, only drummer Dean "Drum Machine" Roberts remains from the original band (and even he took a break during the '90s). The lineup has shifted massively ..read more

By Tracey and Vance Marino The following is excerpted from the book Hey! That’s My Song! with permission by the authors and Rowan & Littlefield. HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT: THE INSTRUMENTATION MUST BE SPOT ON What makes a genre a genre? The most obvious element is the instrumentation: Rock music has distorted guitars and powerful drums. Latin music has characteristic percussion instruments, like bongos, congas, and timbales. Hip-hop is all about the electronic drums. Is it possible to write and record a rock cue without distorted guitars? Yes, it is, but why would you want to work that ha ..read more

In order to succeed in the competitive world of rap music, more than just talent is required. It takes perseverance, dedication, and a bit of luck. French Montana is an artist who embodies all of these qualities perfectly. Through his unique blend of catchy beats and smooth rhymes, Montana has built a strong reputation for himself, starting from humble beginnings in Morocco and reaching the heights of hip-hop success. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks along the way, he has persisted and is now recognized as one of the genre’s most prominent and influential figures. But how exactl ..read more

Following a two-year from-the-ground-up build, in January 2024, Fidelity Record Pressing opened as the pressing plant for Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs and began accepting vinyl orders from outside clients. With a focus on exemplary quality, the new Oxnard, CA-based facility processes and presses state-of-the-art vinyl of both current and classic LP recordings for clients who want to ensure music lovers enjoy flat, quiet, balanced, perfectly centered LPs that honor both the artist and listener. On Friday, May 17, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., the team at Fidelity Record Pressing invites the i ..read more

(Pictured L to R; Andra Day, Rhiannon Giddens, Josh Groban) Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock), the largest non-profit music education program for schools in the United States, celebrated its transformative mission with a star-studded, 16th annual benefit last night at The Novo in Los Angeles This year’s event honored Josh Groban - the Tony®, EMMY®, and five-time GRAMMY Award-nominated singer, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist, along with the GRAMMY and Golden Globe Winner and Oscar-nominated singer, songwriter and actress Andra Day and GRAMMY and Pulitzer ..read more

Nashville’s Alli Walker, a rising country artist, has taken another significant step in her career as her manager, Brad Turcotte, signs with Vector Management.  "Signing with Vector Management is an incredible milestone for my career,” shares Alli. “I'm thrilled to join their esteemed roster and work alongside Brad and the entire team. This partnership marks an exciting new chapter, and I'm looking forward to what lies ahead.”  "We are excited to have Brad and Alli  join our Vector family,” says Jason Murray, President of Vector Management.  “We are looking forward to ..read more

Mackie’s new Showbox is an all-in-one portable PA or as Mackie calls it, Performance Rig.  Mackie has considerable experience designing portable battery powered PA’s going back to the Mackie Thump and they have taken all that experience into account in designing the Mackie Showbox. Let me say right up front that the Mackie Showbox is a veritable Swiss army knife of a portable PA. It’s packed with far more onboard features and as good or better specs than any other portable PA price in its price category.  The Mackie Showbox is designed to combine all the functionality of a portable P ..read more

Brace yourselves for a literary rollercoaster ride as Alan Dean Foster, celebrated author of the Star Wars universe, ventures into uncharted territory with his latest novel, "Stuart." Teaming up with screenwriter and record producer Sammy Oriti of NRG Studios and screenwriter Nina Navarro who is also SVP of marketing at Muso.Ai, Foster brings to life this high-concept romantic comedy that is as hilarious as it is heartwarming. "Stuart" is now available in both eBook and paperback formats online at Barnes & Noble, Amazon promising readers a wild ride filled with laughter, romance, and ..read more