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AMF Music | June '24
Monopolies, Mochakk, & More Playlists
Khalil Flemming
June 23, 2024
Happy Summer, Friends! It’s hot right now and this year has been wild, but l know that as usual you could probably use some more music. Go ahead and check it all out - after some tinkering I can say I’m very happy with this month’s w33kly, and I’m excited to share a couple mixes that kept me feeling inspired the past few weeks. But first…
In the spring, I wondered how long it would take before I felt compelled to share more than just music - industry news, commentary, events. Well that time has already come. If you’ve had your eye on any industry trades lately, you will have noticed a lot of headlines addressing just how nutty the music world is these days. I’ve had friends ask me to weigh in on what’s going on with tours, and I’ve done my fair share of asking and digging to stay informed too. Before we get into this month’s playlists, I want to note a couple of these developments below, as I expect us to be revisiting all of them through the summer and beyond:
Arena Tour Cancellations
From J-Lo to the Black Keys, big tours are coming down, fans are speaking out, and artists are trying to figure out next steps. It seems like the live music scene is going through another rebalancing, one that unsurprisingly comes down to money.
Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s Monopoly Problem
Working in music, I’ve watched a number of independent venues and promoters become Live Nation venues and promoters. It was a matter of time before that felt like a problem for competition, and now the conglomerate is facing lawsuits and pressure to break it all up.
Spotify Sued by Music Publishers
Raise your hand if you like audiobooks ✋🏾✋🏻✋🏿 ok, now raise your hand if you ever asked Spotify to give you audiobooks bundled with your music. They’re currently in the middle of their latest Trojan Horse stunt, this time forcing audiobooks into existing music subscriptions (check your email). They’re already facing suits for underpaying musicians, and are now dealing with these and other new complaints.
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w33kly #18
Click image to listen to w33kly on Spotify
Featured Playlist:
In the spirit of All My Friends, this playlist comes from a new DJ friend of another DJ friend who we expect to see around the city this summer! Maddylane’s Aura Sol playlist was my top listen this past month - just after the one I use to prep w33kly. Between my personal tastes and the city’s appetite right now for hip-hop and R&B on a night out, I have to say this one hits the spot. She’s since dropped the third installation, which you can listen to as a mix on Soundcloud, but I’m going to keep the OG here so I can feel like a hipster about it.
You may agree with me here, that an ideal playlist often features a couple recognizable bops paired with some new discoveries. A listening experience that feels familiar but still fresh. For me, Aura Sol did that. Flowing from Tems to J Dilla, ScHoolboy Q to Aaliyah, and then making it to Sonder by the end. A beautiful curation for ringing in these hot summer nights, and one I felt should be shared with all my friends for sure.
Featured Mix:
Mochakk’s Cercle Set in Seville, Spain
You guys like videos? I know many of you are already hip to Cercle, the Youtube channel featuring DJ sets shot in picturesque locations. I’ve had friends from all parts of my life recommend these sets to me, and you’ll understand why if it’s your first time watching. Each one is beautifully produced, but that’s just decoration for the incredible performers and sets they’re able to bring to the platform. One such act is Mochakk, a Brazilian DJ who I FAILED to see live at Brooklyn Navy yard a few weeks ago. The next day, a friend told me it one of the best sets he’d been to in years, then proceeded to queue up this video. Fool me once, I guess, but I’ll be there next time.
French Kiwi Juice, Black Coffee, and The Blaze are some other personal highlights from the Cercle catalog if you dig this.
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Going forward, I plan to drop in some links and bytes about industry happenings, pop culture, and things worth talking about. Feel free to feed back and let me know what you’d like to hear about, what you could do without, and of course what kind of music you’d most like to hear! Until next time ✌🏾
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