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Apple Music's Taylor Swift concert exclusive is one big bet
Oh, how far Apple has come from the days when it was effectively giving Taylor Swift the cold shoulder. The tech giant has announced that Apple Music will be the exclusive home of Swift's 1989 world tour concert video when it drops on December 20th. On top of that, Recode understands that Apple is going all-in on using Taytay as a marketing tool: she'll get an interview on Beats 1, big retail store displays and special iTunes gift cards. We're sure that even Apple favorites like Drake are feeling a tad jealous.
Spotify recommends concerts based on your listening habits
Spotify's Discover Weekly feature curates a new playlist based on your listening habits every seven days. Now, the streaming service is using those tracks you play to serve up nearby concert recommendations, too. Spotify says the concert picks are based on the artists it knows you'll want to see live with some other acts it thinks you'll enjoy thrown in for good measure. Just like Discover Weekly, the recommendations will change with your musical tastes. What's more, when you're heading out of town, you can change your location to see which concerts are happening at your destination. The whole thing is powered by Songkick, and the Concerts feature hits Spotify's Android and iOS apps today.
Virtual pop star Hatsune Miku will tour North America in 2016
Hatsune Miku may have started out as the humble Mascot for a music production software suite, but today she's a bonafide pop star -- and she's about to embark on her first multi-state US tour. Yes, it's a little weird if you think about it too much, but it's happening: starting in April, Miku Expo will be touring Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Toronto and New York, with other possible cities to be revealed later.
Pandora snatches up Ticketfly to become a one-stop shop for music
Pandora has been providing artists with tools to connect with fans and understand their audience for a while now, but the company is getting serious about event promotion, too. The internet radio service announced that it's purchasing Ticketfly, a company that offers ticketing and other marketing tools for live gigs. Ticketfly currently works with 1,200 venues and promoters to help folks like you and I find and purchase tickets to catch a live show. The acquisition means that Pandora will have a way for artists to sell tickets in addition to its AMP (Artist Marketing Platform) feature that provides audience info and Artist Audio Messages that help them directly connect with fans. It also recently purchased Next Big Sound to help with listener insights and trends. This deal for Ticketfly is worth around $450 million and it's said to be "a nearly equal mix" of cash and stock.
UK tour of 'Silent Hill Live' will put the concert in disconcerting
Nothing sets the tone of a horror game like a truly haunting score, and few can create as claustrophobic and creepy an atmosphere as Akira Yamaoka. The composer has been partly responsible for making the majority of the Silent Hill franchise practically unplayable for anyone lacking nerves of reinforced steel. "Silent Hill Live" invites fans of the horror series to revisit the eerie scores of games past -- this time in a more comfortable setting where monstrosities (hopefully) aren't lurking around every corner.
The Big Picture: U2's tour art takes a page from particle physics
Who said that science can't be pretty? Certainly not artist Jeff Frost. When U2 asked Frost for tour art that reflected a "neural net of humanity," he went to CERN's Large Hadron Collider to capture timelapse footage and otherwise treat the particle smasher as a creative tool. As you can see above, the result is dazzling -- it looks like the internet made manifest in a painting. And while you'd think that physicists would be annoyed by this kind of interruption, they actually went out of their way to give Frost access to areas that even they couldn't always see. This doesn't quite make up for U2 foisting an album on millions of people, but it does give Bono and crew some extra geek cred.
Police think even a holographic Chief Keef concert is too risky
Midwestern authorities really don't like Chief Keef -- there are warrants for his arrest in the region, while Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has gone so far as to say the young man "promotes violence" when he performs. And apparently, that public safety concern also covers virtual performances. Police in Hammond, Indiana shut down a surprise holographic Keef concert (technically, a Pepper's Ghost trick) this weekend despite the flesh-and-bone star being 2,000 miles away in Beverly Hills, California. Officials had warned that they would clamp down if they saw Keef play, but a festival promoter argues that they didn't have a "real reason" why a hologram wasn't allowed -- especially since the musician was fundraising for victims of violence.
Enrique Iglesias learns first-hand that drones and concerts don't mix
Does the notion of flying a drone around a crowded, hectic concert sound a tad too risky to you? We're sure Enrique Iglesias is having second thoughts. The singer sliced his hand at a Tijuana performance this weekend after he tried to grab a camera drone and give fans a "point of view" shot -- while that stunt worked in the past, the musician clearly caught the wrong end this time around. It's not certain how badly Iglesias was hurt, although it wasn't bad enough to prevent the bleeding artist from soldiering on for another half-hour (see above if you need proof). Here's hoping he recovers quickly. In the meantime, we suspect that regulators might want to spend more time looking at the indoor hazards from drones, not just what could happen outside. [Image credit: Francis Ramsden via AP]
Kraftwerk's 3D concerts return to North America in September
Good news if you missed out on Kraftwerk's 3D concerts the last time the band was in North America: you're about to get a second chance. The electronic music pioneers have announced a slew of American and Canadian dates that will let you see their immersive visual landscapes first-hand. This stint kicks off in Edmonton on September 16th, and reaches the US with a September 19th gig in Portland; you'll also get to see these 3D performances in cities like Austin, Boston and Miami. The tickets are likely to sell out quickly when they go on sale May 8th, so you'll want to act quickly if you just have to witness a spectacle like "The Robots" in person. [Image credit: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images]
Reserve wants you to order food at Coachella with your phone
Music festivals already dole out plenty of perks if you have a VIP pass, but Coachella is trying something new this year: ordering upscale food from your phone. Roll up to the event with a VIP wristband and you can use Reserve's restaurant app to order from pop-up locations at a flat $50 per person (not including the mandatory tip and Reserve's $5 fee). You can also use the app if you're a regular guest, but you'll be limited to the deluxe Rose Garden dinners at a hefty $225 a pop. You'd better like haute cuisine, folks. Still, you've already paid hundreds of dollars to see your favorite bands -- Reserve could be worth the added expense if it lets you enjoy concerts instead of waiting to get a seat or pay your bill.
LotRO players host Winterstock II music festival
Lord of the Rings Online is well-known for its player bands that take advantage of the in-game instruments, and this weekend you can hear a lot of musical acts with the return of the Winterstock player festival. Hosted by the Lonely Mountain Band kinship, Winterstock II will feature 31 bands playing over the course of four days from January 16th through the 19th. All shows will be set near Thorin's Gate on the Landroval server. There's a schedule posted on the forums, and if you really want to get into the swing of things, you can listen to the official Winterstock II theme song.
Google search starts linking directly to event tickets
Just can't wait to snag some tickets for a big concert, but don't want to wade through the band's site (or the ticket shop's page) to make sure you get a good seat? You won't have to after today. Google has forged deals with AXS, Ticketfly and Ticketmaster that link you directly to tickets when you search for a specific venue on the web or in Google Maps. If you search for a band, you'll also get tour schedules.
Watch Kanye West and U2 play a surprise charity concert live on YouTube
World AIDS Day has already done a lot to both raise awareness of AIDS and fund research for a cure, but it's about to end with a bang. Bank of America and the (RED) charity are hosting a surprise concert at 7:30PM Eastern tonight in Times Square -- and they're streaming the whole thing live on YouTube. The gig will see most of U2 play alongside Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin (Bono is recovering from an accident), with Kanye West and Carrie Underwood adding to the star power. It's short notice, we know, but it's definitely worth tuning in if you want to see some of the biggest names in music play for a good cause... and no, this won't show up in your iTunes library afterwards.
Hear the Glitch soundtrack in concert
How many of you like to talk about Glitch? Wow, that many? That's great, but please quiet down for right now; there's time to talk in the comments. It's not a question you need to answer out loud. Besides, if you're super enthusiastic about the memory of the game, you have an opportunity to experience a slice of it for yourself in concert. To celebrate the release of Glitch's soundtrack, a concert is being held on January 24th, 2015, in Toronto. Tickets are $20, and all proceeds go directly to the musicians taking part in the concert. As of this writing, the planned attendance isn't high, but we're pretty sure that will change as more people get wind of the concert. Can't make it to Canada in the middle of January? The Glitch website still offers free downloads for many of its music tracks.
The Foo Fighters are streaming a live concert on Facebook
Still a hardcore Foo Fighters fan? You'll want to swing by Facebook in a couple of days, then. The band is premiering both new music and a new documentary series by streaming a live Chicago concert through HBO's Facebook page on October 17th. You'll see the first episode of the Fighters' TV show (Sonic Highways) at 11PM Eastern, and the rock group will take to the stage about an hour later. Just don't expect to have unfettered access, especially if you're late to the party -- this is HBO, after all. Only American fans can watch live, and access to the replay will be limited to "certain HBO platforms." If you have the lyrics to "Everlong" permanently etched in your brain, however, you now have a good excuse to stay on your computer well past your bedtime. [Image credit: Kr3st0, Flickr]
The BBC can now tell you when your favourite artists are playing live
While Songkick's live event listings are already featured in some of the most popular music services on the planet, none are as illustrious as the BBC. To help the Beeb with the giant task of cataloging and listing every artist that appears on one of its TV or radio programmes, Songkick has been brought in to do what it does best: supply BBC Music's new performer pages with every upcoming concert across the UK. The good news is that the startup doesn't just catalog A-list events, meaning you'll be able to follow upcoming artists as they perform their first gigs. To access the BBC's new Songkick-powered concert listings, head on over to the new BBC Music and simply select the artist you want to see (or just download the official Songkick app).
Dice cuts the crap to change the way you buy concert tickets
While you might own every single release your favourite band has put out, nothing beats going to see them live. If that's something you do regularly, you know that you'll not only have to fight it out with any number of like-minded fans to get your ticket, but you'll also have to run the gauntlet of booking via one of the major ticketing providers, which often includes submitting captchas, paying any number of booking fees or printing fees and running the risk that you won't come away with what you actually wanted.
Like WildStar music? There's a concert for that
If you happen to be in Poland on September 26th, make sure to grab tickets for the GameOn multimedia show, the first part of which will feature selections from the scores of popular video games, including MMOs like WildStar. Composer Jeff Kurtenacker blogged that he is "absolutely honored to announce that the GameOn concert in Krakow, Poland, will be premiering a new arrangement of Our Perception of Beauty (Drusera's Theme), which [he] composed for the MMO WildStar by Carbine Studios." According to Kurtenacker, this concert will mark "first time WildStar music will be played in a concert setting"; he also notes that flutist Sara Andon, spotlighted throughout the WildStar score, will again perform at the concert. Music from World of Warcraft, League of Legends, and other games will also be featured. Kurtenacker spoke to Massively's resident Jukebox Hero last year about his work on WildStar. He has since released several exclusive and free music tracks for players.
Apple lines up Pharrell, Maroon 5, Blondie and more for 2014 iTunes Festival
Apple may have broken from tradition to bring an iTunes Festival to the US earlier in the year, but that didn't mean it wouldn't spoil us Brits with another month-long series of concerts. As in previous years, Apple has gone hard, bringing another healthy lineup of music stars, including Pharrell, Maroon 5, Kasabian, Sam Smith, David Guetta, Calvin Harris and over 50 other bands and singers to Camden's iconic Roundhouse venue in September. Those concerts will be streamed live online, with fans from over 100 countries able to view them from their computer, iPhone, iPad, iPod and also via their Apple TV boxes. If you live locally, you can, of course, also apply to watch your favourite act live, as Apple is handing out tickets as part of a traditional online lottery. To enter, fill in your details at the source link below or lookout for special promotions on Global Radio or in the Evening Standard paper.
Lord of the Rings Online's Weatherstock returns this weekend
Weatherstock, the annual player-run music festival in Lord of the Rings Online, will be returning for its sixth appearance this weekend. This year there will be two elements of the festival. The first is the Weatherstock Concert Series, which features longer sets leading up to the battle of the bands, i.e., Weatherstock itself. Ten player groups will perform for the crowd and compete against each other at the summit of Weathertop. Last year there were over 700 players in attendance. Weatherstock VI will take place on the Landroval server this Saturday afternoon, June 14th. The Weatherstock schedule is up, as is a FAQ and a Twitter feed for important updates.
