Spotify adds artist-blocking feature, despite its denials
Though it continues to claim you can't do it, there's lots of evidence that Spotify has added an artist-blocking feature to its platform, making it easy for users to never hear a specific musician or band on any of the company's playlists, collections, or radio stations. But what does this mean for artists?
Fender’s Acoustasonic guitar uses advanced tech to become a tonal chameleon
From shredding distortion to a soft and supple fingerstyle, Fender's latest guitar innovation is an acoustic/electric hybrid that allows guitar players to dial in the widest possible range of tones, making it a compelling new option for those with a wide range of musical inspirations.
Jam out in hi-fi style with the 25 best playlists on Spotify
Music is the world's most potent drug, and the best playlists on Spotify will make you catch feelings. Whether you're looking for classic rock or modern hip-hop, we have you covered.
Yamaha’s MusicCast Vinyl 500 turntable spreads analog joy throughout your home
One of the biggest pitfalls of vinyl ownership is that it can be tough to listen to your favorite analog tunes anywhere besides the room where your turntable is located. With its MusicCast Vinyl 500 turntable, Yamaha allows you to stream your tunes throughout your home -- no speaker cables required.
Tidal faces legal jeopardy over fake stream numbers accusation
In another challenging chapter for music subscription service Tidal, Norwegian authorities have begun a formal investigation into charges that the company faked millions of streams for artists such as Kanye West and Beyoncé. Several former employees are being questioned over the matter.
Mobile audio gets an upgrade thanks to new Sonarworks apps
Sonarworks is used by audio engineers around the world to get more accurate sound from their headphones. That same tech has been available for a year to consumers under the True-Fi brand, but only on desktops. Today, the company added Android and iOS apps for the same abilities on mobile devices.
Mobile masters: Tidal’s better-than-CD MQA tracks come to Android
Audiophile-grade music tracks and streaming music services don't come together very often, and when they do, it's not always easy to find a device that will play these files. Today that changes, with Tidal's announcement that its Android app will now decode its master-quality MQA tracks without any additional hardware.
Fluance’s four beautiful new turntables arrive with easy-to-stomach prices
Audio brand Fluance launched four turntables as part of its new "Reference" series, aiming to offer elegant looks and pristine sound to those who are just getting into the world of high-end analog audio. With affordable price tags and great features, these could be a great option for listeners everywhere.
Grit and gear: How Chris Hershman went from retail clerk to music video director
Filmmaker and music video director Chris Hersman recently sat down with Digital Trends to talk video, tech and Nikon's new mirrorless. Here's how he went from working a music retail job to working with bands like NEEDTOBREATHE and Switchfoot -- and how the latest technology impacts his work.
Radiohead, The Cure, and more to join Rock Hall of Fame. Listen to their hits
Radiohead, The Cure, Janet Jackson, and Stevie Nicks, and more have been selected to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. Here are our favorite songs from the four artists' hit-filled careers, from iconic classic rock anthems to iconic experimental rock masterpieces.
The best albums of 2018
From blockbuster releases to hidden gems, we've spent the year listening to new music from near and far, culling that massive list into our 50 favorites. Whether you like jazz, hip-hop, rock, pop, or anything in between, these are the 50 best records of the year.
Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ becomes the most-streamed 20th-century song
Queen's iconic Bohemian Rhapsody has become the most-streamed 20th-century song. Knocking Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit off the top spot, the British band's 1975 classic has now been streamed more than 1.6 billion times globally. Its popularity was given a boost by the recently released Queen biopic.
Apple Music may sign up more exclusive artists with purchase of Platoon
Apple purchased London-based Platoon, a startup that provides funding to help independent musicians get discovered by major labels. The acquisition may help Apple Music sign up more exclusive artists to the service, which will give it an advantage over rivals like Spotify and Pandora.
From Paul McCartney to Mariah Carey, this is the best holiday music
Whether you're a fan of classic jazz standards or modern R&B masterpieces, there's something for everyone on our playlist of the best holiday music. So pour some eggnog and curl up by the fire, this one is sure to get you in the holiday spirit, with countless classics and some modern hits to boot.
What do yodeling and Kylie Jenner have in common? YouTube’s top 2018 videos
In a true nod to the variety found on YouTube, the platform's top 10 list of videos from 2018 range from celebrities to sports, from perfectly tossing a picture frame on the wall to a kid yodeling in aisle 12 at Walmart. Here are YouTube's most trending videos from 2018, along with trends in live video.
Spotify Wrapped reveals rad facts about your musical tastes and habits
The website may be a bit tough to find at first, but Spotify's new Spotify Wrapped tells you awesome facts about your year in listening. From how many minutes you spent jamming out to your top artists, and beyond, there's a lot to dig into on the company's annual year-in-review website.
Block out the sun and drown out the haters with Bose’s new AR sunglasses
Bose has announced its quirkiest listening device yet, a pair of headphone-integrated sunglasses that allow you to meander the brightest places with your favorite tunes in tow. Called the Frames, the headphones support what the company claims is the first audio augmented reality platform
You may soon be able to listen to your own songs on Spotify’s Android app
If you love Spotify's streaming, but also have a large collection of niche music, then it can be hard to marry your two passions. Switching back and forth between apps may soon become history for Android users though, as Spotify is apparently testing the ability to import local songs to its Android app.
Enthusiast alert: Get up to 67% off Polk Audio speakers at Adorama
Any time of year is a good time to upgrade your home theater sound system, which makes Adorama's Polk LSI Blowout Weekend Sale particularly tempting. Adorama has discounts up to 67 percent on Polk Audio's top-of-the-line LSiM Series which is designed and built for the most discerning home theater sound enthusiasts.
Apple Music hits the Amazon Echo. Is the cold war over?
It looks like someone has called a truce in the smart speaker wars. In a surprise move, Amazon announced that it will bringing Apple Music to its popular Echo smart speakers starting in December, complete with voice-enabled controls and Apple's popular three-month free trial.
Brian Eno sets out to change music (again) with Bloom: 10 World
We always saw Bloom as musical system that could be developed further, Brian Eno says. We’d built a CD player and only released one CD. For Bloom: 10 Worlds, we’ve created ten new worlds, reimagined the app, added new shapes, colors and sounds, while quietly tinkering away with the rules behind the scenes.
Air Force to upgrade A-10s with 3-D audio (but not for the reason you’d think)
Piloting a warplane gets busy and loud, so the U.S. Air Force asked for proposals to add 3-D audio to A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. The upgrade contract was awarded to Terma North America. Terma's 3D-Audio and Radio Separation system is already used in Danish F-16s in its Missile Warner System.
Students can now snag YouTube Premium and YouTube Music for cheap
YouTube is now offering budget-conscious students steep discounts on its popular paid tier of ad-free music and video. Those currently in school can get access to YouTube Premium and YouTube Music for half their usual price, providing an extra incentive for young subscribers to sign up for the services.
Soon, any wireless headphone maker can put Alexa in your ears
Amazon's popular Alexa voice assistant will be coming to many more Bluetooth headphones as the Internet retailer has opened up its Alexa Mobile Accessory Tool Kit to all headphone developers. This means that changing songs, picking playlists, and other listening tasks will be easier than ever.
Pandora Premium joins Alexa’s Amazon dance party today
Amazon has just upped its music game for its popular Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show smart speakers by adding a new integration that allows users to play music from Pandora Premium, the ad-free music streaming service that can now be controlled by using voice commands.
DT Daily: Waymo’s driverless cars, ‘Fallout 76’ tips, and Racella
In today's installment of 'DT Daily,' we tackle reader comments and the latest headlines, including Waymo's forthcoming ridesharing service. We also present some tips for surviving the nuclear wasteland that is Fallout 76, and chat with singer Racella regarding her new EP, Dr. Dre, and more.
Looking for a podcast? Pandora’s Podcast Genome Project is just the ticket
Pandora has created a brand new service for avid podcast listeners. Powered by what the company calls the Podcast Genome Project, the new podcast offering uses an advanced combination of algorithms and human curation to deliver the perfect podcasts for you, in much the same way it does for music discovery.
It’s about damn time: Spotify is now on Apple Watch
Spotify subscribers will are now able to jam out to their favorite tunes on their favorite workout accessory, as the Swedish streaming service has offically released the first version of its official Apple Watch app. Users can play and pause music, and use popular Spotify Connect features.
Hip-hop artist Rakeem Miles talks musical upbringing, ‘Dante’s Toys’
For some artists, one medium is simply not enough. To prove our point, DT Daily host Greg Nibler caught up with California-based rapper Rakeem Miles to discuss his beginnings in the music industry, his forthcoming mixtape, and his gateway into the whimsical world of cartoons.
New Tidal app will bring a wave of music to your Samsung smartwatch
Tidal fans now have another way to enjoy their music collection. the Tidal app is coming to Samsung wearables, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch, Gear Sport, and more. Tidal also announced that it will be bringing its wearable app to other devices, which will likely include the Apple Watch.
How’s your Spanish, Alexa? Some Amazon Echo devices pick up a new language
Amazon's Alexa voice assistant and Echo devices are now available for customers in Mexico. Alexa has been customized for the Mexican market with local knowledge, a new voice, and support for the Mexican version of Spanish. Third-party developers also launched devices with Alexa built in for Mexican customers.
No subscription, no problem. Free Spotify users can soon use Spotify Connect
Spotify Connect, which allows users to stream their favorite tunes to any Connect-enabled speaker, has long been one of the best premium-only features on the Swedish streaming service. Soon, free users will get it too, providing yet another reason to embrace Spotify before other services.
Rapper Mac Miller died of accidental overdose, autopsy report finds
According to an autopsy report, rapper Mac Miller died September 7 of an accidental drug overdose involving the combination of cocaine and fentanyl -- the super-strength opiate that previously claimed the lives of Prince, Tom Petty, and others. Miller was slated to begin a tour in support of the album in October.
It’s gonna be a long, cold winter: AT&T yanks HBO from Dish and Sling TV
The blackout of HBO on AT&T rival Dish Network and its Sling TV streaming service has raised big questions about the future of television access in a rapidly consolidating media landscape. As AT&T and Dish battle it out, the real losers could be regular consumers.