Music Ally

For this special podcast campaign edition, Music Ally's training & campaigns manager Nikoo Sadr teamed up with her old colleague Rob MacAllister from Giant Men Management to talk all things campaigns and trends included in our End Of The Year Campaigns before properly stepping into 2016. Topic include; Madeon, Avicii, some #BieberChat and Beach House’s setlist generator. You can read all our campaigns in our End Of The Year Sandbox PDF issue issue as well as on our website (as individual pieces). Bonus content: absolute no Eamonn Forde or Stuart Dredge ruining the whole thing. Thanks to Sonos who lent us the space and the room. Please note this episode was recorded before Spotify’s Genius link-up was announced.

Incredibly, the Music Ally Podcast has limped its way to 100 editions. Joining us for this monumental centenary (and to review the year) are Ben Drury of 7digital and Cliff Fluet of Lewis-Silkin. Among the topics they kick around the park with regular “hosts” Eamonn Forde and Stuart Dredge are: the arrival of Apple Music and if it went off like a Catherine Wheel or a damp squib; what Tidal is or isn’t doing right under new ownership; what the PRS lawsuit against SoundCloud will mean for licensing; the “war” on freemium; and what the bally hell blockchain is. Once again, thanks to Sonos Studios for giving us a room to record it in that means it doesn’t sound like a skeleton brushing its teeth with a hammer in a well.

Like Lazarus (or ET), the Music Ally podcast is back from the dead. We have a new studio (courtesy of Sonos) so that it sounds like it’s not recorded inside a tin bath in a lift shaft. Plus old handers Stuart Dredge and Eamonn Forde are joined by two splendid quests – Jen Long of Dice.fm and Lucy Blair of Motive Unknown. Between them, they discuss some of the biggest stories of the year (as well as pick their favourite marketing campaigns of 2015). These include: New Music Friday and why it might have made people more excited about record releases; Beats 1 and how the Americans are taking to a style of broadcasting that the UK has been spoiled with for decades; and if the idea of “full-stack music” has legs. Bonus content: Eamonn briefly revives his incredible (trans: not incredible) impression of singing man Bob Dylan while Jen and Lucy explain why they represent all women ever in music – past, present and future. WARNING: there is some fruity language from the off.

“OMG!” It’s the last Music Ally podcast… for a while (due to holidays). To see you off, Eamonn Forde and Stuart Dredge quack on about the following: Baboom and the wider issue of artists getting paid only when someone streams their music; if Deezer is really going for a $1bn valuation; why Lucian Grainge’s clarification on his points about freemium is actually just a reiteration of what he said ages ago (minus all the media hysteria making claims on his behalf); if SoundCloud is close to a Universal deal and pontification on how much of SoundCloud’s music comes from people not on labels (major or indie); what Dr Dre’s new album tells us about user engagement; and why age restrictions on videos is “the nanny state” “gone mad”. Bonus content: Eamonn’s beer + spanakopita recovery plan for Greece; the etymology of onomatopoeia (educational!); our rubbish Dragons’ Den ideas; how Stu corrupted his children with Seaford Mods; and Kim Dotcom’s “red button”.

What’s that? It’s Stuart Dredge and Eamonn Forde lumbering out of their caskets to draw a mummified finger across the week’s news. Among the stuff they croak on about are: what Apple Music’s number of 11m users really means; why only hardcore Prince fans will follow him to Tidal; why This Is My Jam closed down carefully and why it should stand as a reminder that 500-track playlists are really boring; what expansion plans at Micxcloud could mean for the company; and why Spotify needs to try and get acts (e.g. Taylor Swift) back on side. Bonus content: why Squarepusher is not the way to capture a mainstream audience and a terrible impression of Philomela Cunk.

With Stuart Dredge currently away “flaunting his curves” on the beaches of northern Scotland, we have a special guest in the Music Ally podcast. David Manders, who manages Public Service Broadcasting and runs their record company (Test Card Recordings), joins us to chat about running a small label as a cottage industry, the minefield of sample clearance, why the band are a great showcase for the BFI’s archive, being financially nimble, why streaming is opening up new audiences and actually helping sell physical product and, finally, the powerful draw of live.

Bucket and spade at the ready, the Music Ally podcast is audibly demob happy as we (or rather Stu) is off on holidays next week. Before we go, we discuss all the issues that matter, including: Spotify’s new Discovery Weekly offering and if this is a great way to discover amazing new music or if we are finally gasping for air as we reach Peak Curation; what happens to SoundCloud remix competitions when label partners cool on the service; what is going on with YouTube Music Key and if it will just be rolled into a broader service; why Flipagram is dissolving Stu’s cynicism around apps that let you put some music in a picture; and why the copying laws in the UK are closing the door of a different stable long after the horse bolted. Bonus content: an "incredible” Taylor Swift/Menswe@r joke and conclusive proof that Cliff Richard singlehandedly caused the Greek financial crisis.

Coming on like a confused cowboy and builder, Eamonn Forde and Stuart Dredge power-thrust their way through the week’s news. Among the topics are: their #HotTake on Apple Music; a fumbling demo of the new artist profile feature on Shazam; US and UK streaming data “analysed”; if New Music Friday will make anyone care; why Minecraft is such a huge deal and what music can learn here; and what the NME going free could mean for music journalism. Bonus content: the biological phenomenon of “earballs”, why Pitbull is like “bald nitrogen”, how time will tell has been chronologically defined as “three months” and the early stirrings of an amazing new pop group – The Village Idiots.

Crawling out of a long drop in Somerset, Stuart Dredge makes to back to London to join Eamonn Forde in the Music Ally podcast. They discuss: how AC/DC, Dr Dre and Taylor Swift embracing this new thing called streaming; why Shazam making its numbers public is A Big Deal; Google Play and why mobile is more than a plank to use to step over a snake (listen and it will make sense); what the pre-1972 ruling in the US means; and Stu’s #HotTake from Glastonbury. Bonus content: merde du singe; a conundrum involving getting Pitbull, a million chickens and Wolf Alice across a river; and how Dire Straits invented Minecraft.

After a standoff, a flurry of blog postings and a last-minute renegotiation, Eamonn Forde and Stuart Dredge are back to present this week’s podcast. Among the topics under consideration are: Apple, Taylor Swift and how mainstream media reduces a rich tapestry to crude primary colours; breaking news as the head of Tidal resigns; why Anthony Bay from Rdio gives good interview and how the company has played a deft game of late; why SoundCloud is reducing playback on third-party apps and if it’s really getting sued. Bonus content: we try and work out the Norwegian for “onion” and accidentally offend the entire nation; an attempt to build a ladder out of snakes; and Stu’s survival plans for Glastonbury.

Back like a renegade master – Stuart Dredge and Eamonn Forde roar back into life after (yet another) week off the podcast. On their news gurney this week: Apple Music launches and immediately runs into controversy with the deals it is offering and the free trials it is looking to kick it off with; how Freeform and Disciple are trying to make artist apps A Thing again; Vessel and the gating of content before everyone else gets it; Spotify’s new user numbers and the potential data minefield of family plans; and the futility of global release date when no one pays any attention to release dates – least of all labels. Bonus content: a Strong Yellow, a Pine’s apple and the best night fruits; tips on how to “crack the apps nut”; and the new retail phenomenon of Beyoncérsday.

Returning like a letter with insufficient postage, Stuart Dredge and Eamonn Forde are back to discuss this week’s music business news. And sail off at infuriating tangents (as usual). Among the topics dissected this week are: what Appple will announce next week and what the best current rumours are; the companies Stu thinks Apple should buy; SoundCloud, contract leaks and the race to monetisation; the ongoing delay around YouTube Music Key and what the video service can do next. Bonus content: we are calling it now and believe that Apple will not surprise-release a new album by Adele but instead unleash the new musical project by Darth Vader and C3-PO. Plus a guest appearance by Tim Cook – Periscoping on Stu’s watch.

The votes have been counted and... the Music Ally Podcast Coalition remains in power for another term. Taking their seats again are Eamonn Forde and Stuart Dredge and the bills they debate this week include: Spotify growing and falling at the same time; Rhapsody and why premium streaming still has a profitability problem; Warner’s new numbers and why it is both backing and not backing freemium; and Psonar and the psychology (and journalistic ethics) of investing in services. Bonus content: the move from The Iron Lady to The Wooly Man, the “reverse rich” business model explained, a love-in for Super Furry Animals and plenty of windy rhetoric.

In the red corner it’s Stuart “Slugger” Dredge. In the blue corner it’s Eamonn “Ferocious” Forde. Ding ding – round one. BAM! What Grooveshark’s takedown means! GLURPP! Making sense of the rumours about Spotify’s funding and what Apple might be planning! THWACK! Meerkat, Periscope and the legal pitfalls of streaming live events! KLONK! Beyoncé signs up YouTube stars! KAPOW! De La Soul and how to do a Kickstarter right! THWAPP! Bonus content: Stu and Eamonn failing to remember any details about a legal case around football and TV as well as an “incredible” passive smoking joke.

It’s been threatened for ages but today the wheels finally come off the Music Ally podcast as Eamonn Forde and Stuart Dredge accept they have lost control and just let it swerve into the ditch. Before that happens, they manage to cover some topics, including: Tidal’s fightback and if it really can help new acts; a live review of Stu’s new Apple Watch (including a sonic comparison of it and a mug); Paul McCartney launching audio stickers on Line; why download service Bozza in Africa is going the crowdfunding route; and why Madonna’s Thatcher faux pas on Instagram tells us a lot about where social media is in its development. Bonus content: the invention of “the glitchstep Cliff Richard”, Stu pleading with a famous pop singer to stop stalking him and the unveiling of an exciting new social media platform called NIPL.

After a week off, Stuart Dredge and Eamonn Forde are reunited for the Music Ally podcast. Among the topics under analysis are: Spotify’s new funding, its new lobbyists and its new plans for advertising around playlists; why the revived Guitar Hero could actually be quite exciting; why Tidal is laying people off but getting pop stars to call up subscribers; and what Stu learned at MIP TV about how “millennials” are being sold to traditional media as their saviours but also why, in going online, they can never go offline. Bonus content: a tasteless joke about Viagra, terrible attempts at French and the highly xenophobic appearance of The Swedish Chef – all wrapped up in a “news burrito”.

The Music Ally podcast continues to lurch and judder forward. At the wheel are Stuart Dredge and Eamonn Forde. Among the topics under discussion are: if Apple is going to be subject to serious EU scrutiny before it even relaunches Beats; Universal Music brings its new streaming service to Brazil; Stu explains why music on messaging apps sort of gets his goat; why we feel like the only people that see Tidal as much more than the punchline to a bitter internet mob joke; and why April Fool “jokes” should pack it in. Bonus content: why our ”sweet ass” is not in the dating game (thankfully), why a can of worms should be replaced with one fat worm and tentative plans to launch our new band – Helmet Clash.

Our regular hosts, Eamonn Forde and Stuart Dredge, are joined this week by some of the biggest stars in the galaxy. You’ll have to listen to the amazing intro to find out who they are. Among the topics under discussion are: Tidal and why the artist is finally at the centre of things in streaming, especially in regard to the potential to use collective force to break apart old monopolies and give new acts a leg up; why Meerkat and Periscope could be lawsuits waiting to happen; what Facebook’s move deeper into messaging should mean for music; why Rihanna is very much “on point” by promoting her new single on Dubsmash; and why no one will mourn the banning of selfie sticks at festivals. Bonus content: Stu’s wistful recollections of Daphne & Celeste at Reading Festival including an amazing crowdsurfing story.

Knock, knock. Who’s there? It’s Eamonn Forde and Stuart Dredge with the Music Ally podcast. “Hurrah!” Stuff under dissection this week includes: why the division in streaming revenue between free and premium is unhelpful; what the now-globally-rebranded Tidal could mean for artists looking to do something a bit different with streaming; why Amazon Prime Music might be a sleeper hit; why Twitch and EDM is a pretty smart marriage; Vince Neil fighting for control of his social media accounts; and Taylor Swift preemptively combating smut-barons. Bonus content: how the streaming wars can be decided by an egg and spoon race; a doomed campaign to #BringBackPing; and an amazing 50 Cent “joke”.

In this week’s podcast, Eamonn Forde and Stuart Dredge get upstaged by Kanye West. After they do, they continue with the news, including: Patreon buying Subbable and what this means for the “hidden” music economy; what’s going on with Twitter and Meerkat; why Twickets is a niche, but necessary, thing in live music; if Jay Z can get his mates roped in to create a more artist-friendly streaming service now he’s bought WiMP; and what the ‘Blurred Lines’ case could mean for copyright protection (including the incredible IP tied up in this very podcast). Bonus content: we “live Meerkat” part of the podcast and attract viewers in their sevens; we explain just why we are known as “the Lennon & McCartney of apologetic podcasting”/“the digital Chuckle Brothers”; and confuse Dolly Parton with Su Pollard.