Every year, I’m lucky enough to celebrate Nowruz. It’s a Persian holiday that translates to “new day,” marking the first day of spring. The most prominent tradition associated with the holiday is Haftseen, a table set with seven things that each possess a symbolic meaning—all about growth and rebirth. We’re all worthy of that, and it’s a beautiful reminder to embrace and reset every year.
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BEATS PER MINUTE (BPM) — Major headlines in the music industry today.
Beyoncé is the most-awarded female artist in Grammys history.
Fearless (Taylor’s Version) obliterating the charts and Joe Jonas.
3LAU makes $11.6M from NFT sales.
Songclip raises $11M as it plans to become the music form of Giphy.
Vinyl sales rule over CD sales for the first time in 34 years.
Spotify launches 36 new languages on mobile.
If you miss concerts, there’s a new streaming platform for that.
The world’s second biggest music market finally embraces streaming.
Outside Lands is happening in 2021, and so is Bonnaroo.
Through the Clubhouse app, Chris and I are hosting a Sunlighter Sunday session this Sunday at 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET. If you’re one of the lucky ones on the invite and iPhone-only platform, click the button below to add it to your calendar.
WTF is an NFT?
Have you heard of Beeple?
Before March 2021, the most profit Mike Winkelmann (Beeple) had ever received from an art piece was $100. Last month, he sold a piece called Everydays: The First 5000 Days via NFT for $69.3 million.
NFT stands for non-fungible token. Clear as mud, isn’t it?
NFTs are part of the cryptocurrency world. Cryptocurrency first came into the spotlight in 2009. Twelve years later, the world is slowly starting to pay attention. Bitcoin this, blockchain that, and before you know it, artists and musicians are tapping into the market formerly dominated by tech bros.
I remember it clearly. It was 2017, I’d just moved to LA and started a new job. I walked into my office to find every guy on their phone raving about how Bitcoin prices had dropped. “Donya, can you believe it?!” I had no idea what they were talking about, but what I did know is they were chomping at the bit (pun absolutely intended) to buy in.
NFTs are hosted on a decentralized blockchain platform (or digital ledger) called Ethereum. They exist to prove ownership and authenticity of a digital item; once an NFT is sold, the buyer can forever carry it in their digital wallet. It can be an art piece like Beeple’s, new music from Kings of Leon, or a Top Shot by LeBron James. The common denominator? It provides something completely unique (like a rare baseball card or collectible) for the buyer.
Let’s tie this back to music. 2020 was largely concert-less except for my “yolo” excursion to Tame Impala two days before the world shut down. The rest of the year, neither tours or concerts happened, and while that didn’t stop artists from creating, it did bring revenue streams to a screeching halt.
As traditional artists and labels are trying to understand how to navigate the world of NFTs, independent artists are particularly excited. NFTs have the power to seriously reduce their financial burden by helping them build what they consider a sustainable career on their own. Independent artist or not, NFTs are a direct way for artists to build strong relationships with their fans, and for fans to truly invest in their favorite artists. Financially and creatively, everyone wins.
Artists can customize the collectibles they use to connect with their fans:
Have you ever experienced post-concert depression? You know, when you just want the artist to come on stage for another encore? Well, owning an NFT from your favorite musician is like owning a piece of that concert or moment forever.
By putting money back into the creator’s pockets, NFTs can disrupt the traditional and modern methods of artist royalties and compensation—including music streaming companies that compete on a pay-per-stream basis.
Albums | Listen to these front to back, the only way to do it.
One morning, Spotify thought I was in a folksy mood, so they recommended a “Fresh Folk” playlist to me. Instantly, I noticed Flyte. An incredible Beatles-vibe group of guys who sound incredible singing music together in a church. I’m not guessing, that’s a fact. At SXSW 2018, they took us to church (at said church) in Austin, somewhat of an opening act right before Billie Eilish graced the stage with her brother Finneas and a ukulele.
Their 2017 album had a couple of standout tracks like “Victoria Falls” and “Archie, Marry Me” which has harmonies that almost made me marry them right there in that church. Their new album is beautiful, chill, and easy listening. My favorites so far are “Trying To Break Your Heart” and “Everyone’s A Winner.”
Fall 2020 gave us bites of Bieber, and his team says that was intentional. From the first soul-baring “Lonely” to which everyone said, “I feel you,” to the incredibly catchy “Holy” with Chance the Rapper, to a feature on Shawn Mendes’ “Monster,” and finally the stadium-worthy anthem “Anyone.”
These songs were the introduction to the Justice album—what Justin describes as a perfect description of his heart in this season of life. Coming to peace with the loneliness and expectations of rising to fame too quickly, reconnecting with God and his faith, and a love story to his wife, Hailey. It’s packed with jams that are better than “Peaches,” I promise.
No, the Jonas Brothers are not breaking up (my heart couldn’t handle that again) and their new feature on this album proves it.
Nick has this perpetual “cooler than you” vibe to his solo music, and I don’t know if it’s his 2012 “I’m better than you” showing or an alter ego he’s putting out there. I love hearing trumpets on songs like “Delicious” and remembering his album with The Administration; it’s a matched yet matured (like, way mature) sound. The standout track for me on this one is “2Drunk.”
RN | Songs I’m loving…right now.
From Cautious Clay’s unbelievable velvet voice backed with jazz instrumentals, to other worldly dreamlike vibes from The Japanese House, to the Australian rapper that has nearly 500,000 TikTokers asking, “what’chu know about rollin’ down in the deep?”
Lyrics on Loop | Find the lyrics that speak to your soul and never let go.
Baby, you're my mission and all my glory days are yours
Talk to the wind, talk to the sky, talk to the man with the reasons why
Can you hear the raindrops dancing on the roof of your car?
You’ve probably noticed by now that although the music links above are embedded, they don’t always take you to Spotify. Don’t you fret, a playlist with every song I’ve highlighted exists. My plan is to add to it with every new edition this year! Follow along on all the fun here.
I always love hearing from you, so feel free to reach out. Just click reply!
Cheers,
Donya