This Week In Music - 25th June 2020

A weekly update on all things music, advertising, and technology coming straight to you from Anthony Vanger at MassiveMusic. #TWIM

ARTIST OF THE WEEK: KALEIDA

Dancing in the streets? Not the famous version starring Bowie and Jagger. This is self-expression in the empty streets of London during lockdown. Other Side, an earthy but icy electronic thumper from transatlantic duo Kaleida, caught my ears from the first bar. The band came out in 2013 and found success with their single Think in the Keanu Reeves thriller John Wick. I like how their sound has evolved since - more restrained, the beats are more subtle and the vocals so cool you could put them in your summer drink.

'Other Side' is the first single from our upcoming album Odyssey, out August 28th, 2020. Stream the track, Pre-order & Pre-save Odyssey here - https://kaleida.lnk.to/Odyssey

AD OF THE WEEK: DIESEL

Sometimes advertising can push the boundaries of social norms. This latest ad by Diesel does just that. Model-activist Harlow Monroe, herself a trans woman, stars as Francesca, who trades her Diesel denim for the traditional veil and habit of a Catholic nun.

Billed as a “successful living story,” the video, directed by Francois Rousselet, comes from Publicis Italy, in partnership with a group called Diversity that promotes social inclusion. Diesel founder Renzo Rosso said the new work embodies the brand’s values by showing that “individuality, pride and the power to live as one wants is the ultimate success in life...The character “fulfils both her own intentions and the pursuit of her faith.” 

SWITZERLAND OPENS CLUBS OF UP TO 1,000 CAPACITY AS LOCKDOWN EASES

Switzerland has opened its venues with a capacity of up to 1,000 as lockdown restrictions in the country are eased.In recent weeks, a number of nightclubs including Weetamix, Audio Club and Supermarket (pictured) reopened their doors, with a 6PM to 12PM curfew and a strict 300-capacity following the relaxation of the country's lockdown laws during the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, following a review by the Swiss government today (24th), venues with a capacity of up to 1,000 will be able to open their doors, although larger scale events, such as festivals and stadium concerts, are still banned until August 2020.

SPOTIFY, HEADING TOWARDS A $50BN MARKET CAP, IS WORTH DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS 3 MONTHS AGO

According to Music Business Weekly, podcasts on Spotify do not spell great news for artists and record labels. They do, however, spell great news for Spotify shareholders.

After a series of share price bumps on Wall Street related to Spotify’s podcasting efforts in recent months, the streaming audio company has closed today (June 23) on the New York Stock Exchange with an all-time high $44.96bn market cap valuation, thanks to a $241.76 share price.

MAJOR LABELS SHARE JOINT STATEMENT SUPPORTING JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT OF 2020

Some of the industry's key players have released a joint statement supporting the Justice in Policing Act of 2020.

Warner Music Group, Sony Music Group and Universal Music Group have all expressed their support for the Democrat-drafted bill, which calls for a number of changes in policing related to social justice and racial inequality. 

In the statement shared via Digital Music News, the major labels said: "Today’s vote is an encouraging first step toward overdue change in policing practices that have unfairly targeted and oppressed Black Americans, and we look forward to passage in the full House of Representatives next week." The bill would call for more investigations into police misconduct, the ban of excessive force, and officer's records to be made public.

The music industry and its fans are among the millions donating worldwide to support anti-racist charities and organisations supporting the black community. UMG, SMG, and WMG have all recently utilised millions of dollars to launch social justice funds and donate to organisations following the death of George Floyd and many others at the hands of police brutality.

LONDON’S V&A MUSEUM IS HOSTING A VIRTUAL GLASTONBURY EXHIBITION

The online celebration marks the festival's 50th anniversary

London’s V&A museum is marking Glastonbury’s 50th anniversary with a virtual exhibition of the festival. Glastonbury’s landmark edition was due to take place this week until it was forced into postponement by the coronavirus pandemic.

The V&A’s online celebration will be accessible all this week, featuring an extensive collection of the Glastonbury Festival Archive, which the museum became guardians of in 2014. It includes photos, posters, tickets, architectural drawings, playlists, soundscapes, fashion reporting, and more.

Members of the public are also invited to submit their own Glastonbury memories, which will be used by the V&A to “map personal experiences to the rich and extensive timeline of the Festival’s history”.

Head to the V&A’s website for further details and to view the collection.

FRED PERRY X SIZE? UNVEIL ACID HOUSE-INSPIRED TIE-DYE COLLECTION

size? is continuing its 20th anniversary celebrations with the launch of a new limited edition line in partnership with Fred Perry.

The ‘Kaleidoscope’ collection is inspired by acid house, Madchester and the UK’s Second Summer of Love in 1988, styled with the colourful tie-dye patterns associated with the scene.

It features a classic Fred Perry twin tipped polo shirt as well as a baggy long sleeved t-shirt and bucket hat. Each piece is individually dyed, meaning no two items of clothing are the same.

The collection launches on Friday June 26 and will be exclusively available in store from the size? Manchester & size? Carnaby Street shops with prices starting at ￡50

Written by Anthony Vanger

Additional reporting by Adam "Badger" Woolf

Artwork by Gustav Balderdash

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