This Week In Music: 26th March 2021

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

ARTIST OF THE WEEK: BOMBA ESTEREO 

When cultures collide, magic occurs. Bomba Estereo, a Colombian band that mixes electronic sounds with traditional music, is a classic example of bringing two different cultures together. Their sound has been described as “electro tropical” and “psychedelic cumbia,” combining folk dance traditions of Latin America with modern production. “We are a hybrid culture,” said the band’s founder, Simón Mejía. Anchoring this sound is lead singer, Li Suamet, with her shaman-like singing and nasal spoken-word. The result is something of a quasi-religious experience. The first few seconds of the song Agua drop you straight into a lush world full of mysterious sounds and kaleidoscopic images. Agua. Tierra. Aire. Fuego. Close your eyes and drift down the river.

https://www.facebook.com/BombaEstereo/

https://www.instagram.com/bombaestereo/

https://twitter.com/bombaestereo

AD OF THE WEEK: YOU VS. THE TRAIN

The best ads tell stories. This latest PSA (Public Service Announcement) from the UK's Network Rail stays true to this formula. The story is told from the POV of a young man, probably 17 years old. He begins innocently, if somewhat feverishly, about some mischief he and a friend got up to down by the train tracks. They wanted to jump the tracks in order to make a shortcut to town. The emotion builds to a crescendo until the climatic event. Where this TV ad scores highly is the depiction of the third act where the price of this innocent jaunter is paid. Since the ad explains that every hour, one person in the UK trespasses on railways, hopefully, enough people like the young narrator will see it.

US MUSIC VENUES CAN APPLY FOR $16 BILLION PANDEMIC RELIEF GRANT IN APRIL

US music venues can apply for long-awaited financial aid next month.

$16 billion in funding is available from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), which is set up to support institutions such as live music venues and clubs, as well as museums, cinemas, theatres and other venues suffering financial hits due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman said: “Help is here for venue operators hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The SBA has worked diligently to build the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program from the ground up to assist and address the diverse eligibility requirements of each type of applicant and we will open for applications on April 8.

VINYL SALES CONTRIBUTED ￡86.5 MILLION TO UK RECORDED MUSIC REVENUE IN 2020

Vinyl sales contributed ￡86.5 million to the UK’s recorded music revenue in 2020, a new report from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has revealed. 

4.8 million vinyl records were sold in the UK in 2020, a 10% increase from the previous year, and the highest number in 30 years. The Recording Industry Association of America reported $232 million in sales of vinyl between January and June of 2020, compared with just $144 million in CD sales.

MASTER & DYNAMIC'S NEW MW08 FEATURES ALUMINIUM NANO-BONDED EXTERNAL ANTENNAS

Building on the success and critical acclaim of its MW07 series, premium audio company Master & Dynamic is now releasing its latest wireless, Active Noise Cancelling earbuds: the MW08.

With an updated design built off of its predecessor, the new earbuds receive enhanced features that push both its audio quality and connectivity performance even further. 11mm Beryllium drivers provide the brand’s signature sound, while a new hybrid Active Noise Cancelling technology offers users an even more immersive experience. Ambient mode has also been retained, so you can stay attuned to your surroundings when the need arises. Master & Dynamic’s MW08 will drop March 30 over on the audio company’s website, retailing for $300 USD.

Written by Anthony Vanger

Additional reporting by Adam "Badger" Woolf

Artwork by Gustav Balderdash

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