Month: July 2021

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Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music of July 2021

New Music

The hottest month of 2021 so far delivered some of the year’s biggest hits. Here are several can’t miss new music releases to keep you moving all weekend long. 

We love our clients. Over the last decade in business, Haulix has played a small part in helping thousands of records reach tastemakers worldwide. Watching artists reach and even surpass their dreams is immensely humbling. We take no credit for anyone’s success, but we do want to highlight a few clients whose recent new music releases are currently on repeat in our offices. Check it out:

Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! – Gone Are The Good Days (Fearless)

After half a decade away, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! are ready to restart again. The group the last several years to live their lives and figure out their individual paths in life, but the COVID-19 pandemic provided the perfect opportunity to revisit the ability to work together. Gone Are The Good Days recaptures the magic of early C!NCC! releases and adds a decade of experience to the mix. The songwriting is tighter, the breakdowns heavier, and the energy higher. C!NCC! perfectly balance unabashed self-reflection with the need to give people hope across twelve tracks that radiate an optimistic outlook for a world that constantly lets us down. If you spent your teens years thinking every other pop-punk anthem was written for you, Gone Are The Good Days will remind you that period of your life was never a phase. 

Dee Snider – Leave A Scar (Napalm)

Dee Snider is perhaps the hardest working living icon in metal today. While many of his peers rely on aging catalogs to sell tickets and bring in song streams, Snider remains hard at work on his craft. The 66-year-old rock God is still chasing the next hook that sets the world on fire, and Leave A Scar showcases just how far he’s come as a songwriter. The catchiness you expect from Snider is present as always, but there is a level of brutal honesty and reflection that only comes with age and experience. If you can make it through “Down But Not Out” or “Time To Choose” without feeling something, you should probably seek immediate medical attention because you may be dead.

Capstan – SEPARATE (Fearless Records)

Many alternative groups are written off for what people perceive to be childish or immature lyrics. Critics of the genre seem to feel that upbeat heavy music is best when marketed toward teenagers who know nothing of the world at large. Capstan argues that alternative music is for everyone. SEPARATE is an album born from feelings of isolation and loneliness. It came to life amid a pandemic, just a short period after the band’s guitarist and songwriter began divorce proceedings. All the pain, confusion, and frustrations of those two life-changing events are channeled into this record, and the result is a wonderfully cathartic ode to the resilience of the human spirit.

Sleep Waker – Alias (UNFD)

Rock music is angry again. After years of the genre’s biggest names churning out regurgitated versions of the same tired anthems about overcoming obstacles and persevering through hard times, a new crop of musicians is refusing to fall in line. Sleep Waker writes music for people trying to find meaning in the chaos of existence. Their songs rally against the dying of hope and community with ferocious vocals and thunderous production. Every track off Alias is just as likely to spark a revolution as they are to incite mosh pits. You need the release this album can provide. The last year has left us all feeling a little shaken, but Alias offers a chance to purge those emotions for good. Let go.

As Time Fades – Trust Fall (self-released)

The problem in alternative music isn’t a lack of musicians. There are plenty of groups vying for clicks and followers. The issue is their approach. Too many artists today are trying to duplicate the sound or style of someone who came before without realizing that it’s the individuality that sets that group apart.  As Time Fades is an exception. Though their sound is deeply rooted in traditional pop-punk values, the storytelling is theirs alone. Here we have a group of young men from the midwest capturing life in the digital age when you live somewhere that feels stuck in the last century. They’re young people caught between childhood and adulthood writing songs about figuring themselves out while also being painfully aware of the multiple looming threats that could wipe us off the planet. It’s realist pop-punk for the social media age, and it’s quite good.

Domination Campaign – Onward To Glory (Prosthetic)

There is an undercurrent of aggression running throughout Onward To Glory that may cause listeners to drive fast, act reckless, and completely stop caring about the opinions of others. Domination Campaign has crafted an album for the battles we face in life. Each song plays like a call to arms, commanding listeners to get off their butts and make something of themselves. It’s engaging and propulsive to such an extreme extent that you cannot help being impressed at the band’s ability to maintain such a high level of energy throughout the record. You won’t need coffee or Red Bull after Onward To Glory enters your life. All you need to do is figure out what you’re going to accomplish first. 

The Maine – XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time (Photo Finish / 8123)

The members of The Maine are outliers in the world of alternative music. After sneaking into the late-era neon phase of pop-rock with sugary sweet songs about young love and bad decisions, The Maine blossomed into touring professionals with a knack for infectious songwriting. They outlasted virtually every one of their peers by refusing to play by the established rules of the corporate music industry. The Maine owns their branding, their songs, and their legacy. They choose their destiny, and their fans help them make it a reality. XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time is another entry in an arguably flawless catalog, and to the surprise of absolutely no one, it’s incredibly good.

Empty Heaven – Getting The Blues (self-released)

There is no other artist like San Antonio’s Empty Heaven. An amalgamation of synthesizers and punk distilled with heavy literary influence, empty Heaven crafts genre-blurring songs about life and the concept of existence. You never know where the tracks will take you, but that’s part of the fun. Empty Heaven has the unique ability to make you think while also making you want to move your feet. It’s like listening to Aristotle ponder life’s biggest questions while simultaneously serving as the DJ for a party taking place in a middle-class American basement that is known online as a popular DIY venue. 

Born Of Osiris – Angel Or Alien (Sumerian Records)

There is a moment near the end of “Poster Child,” the opening track on Born of Osiris’ latest album, where the track is stripped down to reveal its jazz-friendly foundation. In those few fleeting seconds, Angel Or Alien shows its true colors. For as heavy and digitally engineered as the production may be, BOO continues following the footsteps of music legends from previous generations. Their sound may be more chaotic than their influences, but the technical skill of the group is never up for debate. There is a craftsman-level quality to every aspect of this record. Finding that kind of precision in metal today is increasingly rare, but BOO makes it look easy. Suffice to say, Getting The Blues is the sound of the underground. 

New Music Friday recommendations feature a collection of new releases from Haulix clients chosen by the company staff. Join Haulix today and gain immediate access to the industry’s leading digital promotional distribution platform: http://haulix.com/signup.

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Industry News News

New Study Reveals TikTok’s Massive Influence On Music Discovery

Do people really listen to the music that goes viral on TikTok? A new report finds the answer is an ecstatic “Yes!”

Ever since “Old Town Road” first went viral, music professionals and artists hoping to get attention have looked to TikTok to help break new talent. The popular video-sharing platform welcomes hundreds of millions of users every month. To date, more than 100 songs that initially rose to popularity on the app have found their way onto the Billboard charts. The working theory in music is that no other platform can make an artist or song known faster than TikTok, and the data from a pair of new industry reports seem to agree.

A music perceptions study was conducted in November 2020 by MRC Data, while a study about TikTok’s impact on culture was handled in March 2021 by London-based Flamingo Group. Both surveys were conducted online, polling nearly 1,500 TikTok users. Highlights from both studies were revealed Wednesday morning in a TikTok blog post.

With music discovery being one of the platform’s most talked-about attributes, it won’t surprise most music marketers to learn that 75% of TikTok visitors discover artists there, while 63% say it’s a source for music they’ve not heard before and 72% indicating they associate certain songs with TikTok.

A few examples of TikTok’s growing influence:

  • Lil Nas X first rose to popularity following TikTok’s embrace of “Old Town Road.” That song now holds the title for the most consecutive weeks at number one—ever.
  • Blanco Brown, rising country superstar, found a deal after his track “The Git Up” and its accompanying dance challenge spawned thousands of videos.
  • Fleetwood Mac’s hit “Dreams” experienced its biggest success in decades after a video of a man listening to the song while riding a skateboard drinking Ocean Spray cranberry juice went viral. Ocean Spray later bought the man a truck.
  • Claire Rosinkranz, Dixie D’Amelio, Powfu, Priscilla Block, Bella Porch, and Tai Verdes are some of the more than 70 musicians who have signed label deals following TikTok success.

In a study conducted in May by MusicWatch for trade group Digital Media Assn. (DiMA), in which respondents could choose more than one source, the leading driver cited for music discovery was audio streaming services at 47%, followed closely by video streaming services at 45% and AM/FM radio at 41%. In that study, posts from video or dance sites like TikTok, Instagram’s Reels, and Triller were cited by 29% of respondents, right behind “posts or alerts” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat at 30%. Other factors, like music placed in film, TV, or video games ranked higher, with music in movies polling at 35%, while recommendations from family or friends ranked even higher at 39%.

The one factor that is hard to study is how TikTok’s influence compares to that of other platforms.

“Since 100% of the music fan base doesn’t all stream, or play video games, or watch dance videos, etc., it’s good to see how these user segments react differently when it comes to discovery or anything else for that matter,” says MusicWatch managing partner Russ Crupnick.

Still, it’s clear TikTok is a platform where artists from all corners of life are finding success. If you have yet to open an account, or if you need help getting started, we’ve got the clip for you:

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

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News

Third Season of Music Recovery Podcast ‘High Notes’ Debuts Online

Our popular ‘High Notes’ podcast is back with five brand new conversations about addiction and recovery in the modern music business.

Haulix is proud to announce the release of High Notes season three — part one. The critically-acclaimed music recovery podcast continues its successful run with five new episodes featuring guests from across the musical spectrum. Included in this latest season is Phil Labonte of All That Remains, TikTok sensation turned major label success story ppcocaine, Columbia Records recording artist Jack Kays, Butcher Babies’ co-founder Heidi Shepherd, and Kevin Patrick Sullivan, AKA Field Medic. All episodes are available now everywhere you find podcasts.

Subscribe to High Notes on Spotify!

“We’re excited to be back,” says James Shotwell, host and Director of Customer Engagement at Haulix. “To cap off an incredible first year of High Notes with a new season is a dream come true. A year ago, nobody knew if this show would find an audience. We thought our friends would listen, but we never dreamed we’d hear from people all over the world who are connecting to the stories shared on our show. If we can make one person feel less alone, then I think we’ve done something special.”

Episode guide for High Notes season three — part one:

HN 3.1: Phil Labonte (All That Remains)

Phil Labonte is a modern metal legend. Hailing from New England, the All That Remains frontman is one of the most widely recognized voices in music today. His ability to turn personal experiences into easily accessible and relatable rock anthems has earned him a reputation for biting honesty that few can claim in music today. Phil uses his time on High Notes to discuss drinking, divorce, cigarettes, music, and more. It’s a fascinating exploration of a life lived to the fullest and the lessons learned along the way. There are also a few laughs.

HN 3.2: ppcocaine

Anyone obsessed with TikTok knows ppcocaine’s voice. For the majority of 2020, while the world was living in isolation, people around the globe heard her signature “Trap Bunny Bubbles” introduction on several of the video-sharing app’s most popular sounds. That viral notoriety got the attention of Columbia Records and the rest — as they say — is history.

…Or is it? In this episode, Ms. Cocaine tells us about the wild year that preceded her internet popularity and how her partner, NextYoungin, helped save her life. If you ever needed proof of love’s immense power to inspire positive change, look no further than this conversation. 

HN 3.3: Jack Kays

Before he found an audience on TikTok and caught the attention of major labels, Jack Kays was a lost kid in Southern Ohio addicted to Xanax and selling drugs to feed his addiction. Jack uses his time on High Notes to retrace his steps from rock bottom to today, and along the way, we gain a greater appreciation for how our passions often save us from ourselves. We also learn about the importance of family, relationships, and being there for the people who support you. 

HN 3.4: Heidi Shepherd (Butcher Babies)

Heidi Shepherd’s life before and after forming the band Butcher Babies could not be less alike. Her life before music revolved around cocaine and poor decisions, both support by a community of people that did not have her best interests at heart. But then, Heidi found music, and with the help of her bandmates, she has become one of the most recognizable people in metal today. Her time on High Notes celebrates the radical ways our lives can change when we free ourselves from the shackles of addiction.

HN 3.5: Field Medic (Kevin Patrick Sullivan)

Kevin Patrick Sullivans writes music to soothe his heart and soul when life gets tough. The fact it does anything for others is something of a miracle, but then again, that’s true for every artist. Kevin’s deeply personal lyricism recounts the highs and lows of figuring out life and who you are in it. His time on High Notes maintains similar energy by further pulling back the curtains on Kevin’s struggles to quit drinking and (in time) smoking as only he can.

High Notes is produced in partnership with heartsupport the Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation. The show is hosted by James Shotwell and produced by Landon Defever. Radio host Laura Haggard serves as a programming consultant for the series. 

Both previous seasons of High Notes and the podcast’s recent Season of Mist-themed miniseries are available now wherever you listen to Podcasts. You can search for the show on your favorite platform or click here to find direct links. Previous guests include Brian “Head” Welch of KoRn, Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October, Anthony Green of Circa Survive, and Haley Butters of Absinthe Father.

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Editorials Haulix News Recommendations

Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music of July 23, 2021

From the cathartic anthems of Capstan to the raw rock fury of Heavy Water, there is something for everyone among this week’s new music releases.

The world is changing. After a year of forced isolation, artists and fans are finally starting to reconnect. Dozens of great albums are hitting shelves every week, and we know that nobody has time for everything. We want to help you find the can’t miss albums and keep you up-to-date on the records everyone will be talking about next week. We realize that documenting every new release would be virtually impossible, but here you will find several new albums from Haulix clients that we feel deserve your time and support. This is the new music you need to hear:

Capstan – SEPARATE (Fearless Records)

Many alternative groups are written off for what people perceive to be childish or immature lyrics. Critics of the genre seem to feel that upbeat heavy music is best when marketed toward teenagers who know nothing of the world at large. Capstan argues that alternative music is for everyone. SEPARATE is an album born from feelings of isolation and loneliness. It came to life amid a pandemic, just a short period after the band’s guitarist and songwriter began divorce proceedings. All the pain, confusion, and frustrations of those two life-changing events are channeled into this record, and the result is a wonderfully cathartic ode to the resilience of the human spirit.

Sleep Waker – Alias (UNFD)

Rock music is angry again. After years of the genre’s biggest names churning out regurgitated versions of the same tired anthems about overcoming obstacles and persevering through hard times, a new crop of musicians is refusing to fall in line. Sleep Waker writes music for people trying to find meaning in the chaos of existence. Their songs rally against the dying of hope and community with ferocious vocals and thunderous production. Every track off Alias is just as likely to spark a revolution as they are to incite mosh pits. You need the release this album can provide. The last year has left us all feeling a little shaken, but Alias offers a chance to purge those emotions for good. Let go.

Heavy Water – Red Brick City (Silver Linings)

With a name like Heavy Water, you know the music must be good. Saxon’s Biff Byford and his son Seb Byford spent 2020 working together on the material that would become Red Brick City. The result is a ten-song collection of classic rock inspired music that marries gritty modern rock edge with the rough and tumble blues that helped birth the genre. It’s the kind of album you expect to find sitting on someone’s shelf between titles from Led Zeppelin and The Who, and the tracks have the same level of staying power. The pandemic will eventually end, but Red Brick City will be spinning on stereos for years to come.

Hookers & Blow – Hookers & Blow (Golden Robot)

Originally formed in 2003 as an excuse to drink for free in Hollywood by long-time Guns N’ Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed and Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossi, Hookers & Blow have reached icon status among fans of the Hollywood Strip music scene. The band’s debut covers album is full of staples and deep cuts from rock’s biggest names, including The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, and Led Zepplin. Each cut honors the legacy of the tracks while finding fresh energy in their presentation. It’s not hard to close your eyes while listening and picture yourself rubbing shoulders with your fellow rock fans at a dingy nightclub in the early hours of the morning while the band rips through yet another incredible set. In that sense, Hookers & Blow offer music fans a kind of time machine capable of reconnecting you with the moments when rock made you feel the most alive, and you would be foolish to miss out.

Necrogod – In Extremis (Transcending Obscurity)

The latest promising metal act to rise from Sweden has brought sonic devastation and engrossing storytelling to In Extremis, their fantastic new record. We’re pretty the amount of noise that Necrogod creates with only two members goes against the laws of nature. It’s a punishingly brutal affair from start to finish, and it’s elevated by brilliant structural decisions, including surprising tempo changes and fiery solos. In Extremis is the type of record that keeps you on your toes throughout. It’s a rich and propulsive exploration of darkness. So, if you love your music heavy, Necrogod may offer your favorite release of the year.

New Music Friday recommendations feature a collection of new releases from Haulix clients chosen by the company staff. Join Haulix today and gain immediate access to the industry’s leading digital promotional distribution platform: http://haulix.com/signup.

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Industry News News

How To Save Your Music Career [Video]

It’s incredibly easy to lose your way in entertainment, but we can save your music career in five questions or less.

There is no easy way to admit you made a mistake. We humans pride ourselves on knowing what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. We lead focused lives spent chasing goals that we believe will bring us some sense of purpose or satisfaction in life. We create not because it’s a choice but because we don’t know any other way to live. Our souls ache to be recognized by others, and we do whatever performative tasks we can to get their attention. It’s a mess of best intentions, countless trials, endless failures, and hard-fought victories. It’s…It’s a lot. But it’s the only way most of us know how to live.

The vast majority of people would rather suffer than admit they made a mistake. Many of us are one or two small changes away from leading the lives we dream about, but we struggle to get out of our way. We double-down when we need to step back. It’s human nature, and it sucks.

But you can do better. By answering the five questions asked by host James Shotwell in the latest Music Biz video, you can change the course of your career. In 10 minutes or less, we can help you reevaluate your goals, reset your expectations, and give you a renewed passion for the things that matter most. Check it out!

Questions to ask:

  • Are your goals your own?

Many of the goals we pursue are achievements that other people tell us to chase. We spend our entire lives being told that we need to make a certain amount of money, achieve a certain level of financial security, start a family, own a home, and a billion little things in between. Those things are good to have or achieve, but they won’t necessarily make you happy. What do YOU want?

  • Do you have specific goals?

Many musicians tell me they want a hit song, but what does that mean? Do you want to go viral online, or do you want to top the Billboard charts? Do you want a billion streams or a million album sales? When you say you want a hit song, what result are you seeking? What will this ‘hit song’ do for your career? Be specific.

  • Do you have a plan to achieve your goals?

The only way you can achieve your goals is by having a plan. You need specific, step-by-step instructions to get from where you are to where you see yourself in the future. Nothing is as simple as booking a tour or writing a hit song. You need to think harder about your goals and how to achieve them. What can you do today to ensure you are closer to your destination tomorrow? Make to-do lists, track your progress, and again—BE SPECIFIC.

  • What is your support system?

No one is an island. The individuals who find success in music do so because they have a support system that uplifts them. You may have friends or contacts that you associate with, but is their presence in your life positive? Are you surrounded by people working toward their goals and supporting one another, or are those near you lost in drugs and flights of fancy?

  • Why do you quit things?

When the going gets tough, you give up. Why is that? What is it about the hurdles you encounter that you feel are impossible to overcome? Do you lack knowledge? Confidence? Figure out what is holding you back and put in the effort to change. You are capable of growth in ways you cannot imagine, but it’s up to you to change. Nobody can do the work for you.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

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Industry News News

How Many Song Streams Does It Take To Earn Minimum Wage in 2021?

As the competition among streaming music platforms intensifies, many continue to wonder whether or not artists can support themselves on song streams alone. 

The current federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 per hour. The minimum wage may vary from state to state, but $7.25 per hour is the lowest an employer can pay unless the employee works in food service. Waiters and waitresses typically make far less, and the sooner you learn that the sooner you will begin to treat them better.

When you crunch the numbers, a person working full-time for minimum wage grosses roughly $1256.67 per month.

Most musicians hate to think about money. Artists like to believe that their pursuit of creative endeavors is pure. Many will tell you they are not in it for the money, but let’s be honest: it all comes back to money. You may be the greatest songwriter ever to live, but unless you can pay your rent and feed yourself, your career will only last a short time. 

Consumers don’t understand money as it relates to the music industry. They know that there are record labels and people in positions of power with millions of dollars to spend, but they also know that many artists are broke. The industry sells music as a lifestyle brand where everyone lives their best life, complete with jewelry and the latest tech. Still, most industry professionals live quiet lives that look nothing like what is sold in marketing campaigns. If you were to ask the average listener how much money their favorite act makes, they would tell you a figure rooted in their love of that talent. “Jack is so good,” they might say, “so I assume he’s doing well.”

In reality, Jack is living couch to couch whenever his band isn’t on the road. Jack doesn’t have health insurance, and he cannot remember the last time he saw a dentist. Jack is barely scraping by, but he doesn’t complain because he’s living his dream.

With more people than ever choosing to stream music instead of purchasing it, we recently began to wonder how many streams it would take to earn minimum wage. Finding the answer proved difficult because every service has its own royalty rate, and many streaming platforms use a sliding scale that fluctuates daily. After checking several sources for the most up-to-date rates, we ran the number and found the answers. Check it out:

A solo independent artist keeping 100% of their streaming revenue needs at least 100,534 streams per month (on Tidal) to earn minimum wage. On Spotify, the current most popular streaming service, that same artist would need 287,568 streams to see a similar return. 

Remember: The number in the chart above are for solo artists. A four-person band would need more than a million monthly streams on Spotify to earn minimum wage. Depending on their management and label cuts, that figure may be even larger!

Artists around the world continue to fight for higher per-stream royalties, but as of right now, no service seems likely to budge in their favor. Stay tuned. 

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News

Live Music Is In Danger (Again)

As the world races to stop the spread of yet another COVID variant, many in music are beginning to worry about what might happen to live music if the US enters another lockdown.

We have to talk about COVID-19. Regardless of your feelings or beliefs regarding the novel coronavirus, there is no denying that we are still living in a global pandemic. The recent return of live music seems to tease normalcy, but the latest headlines tell a much scarier story.

The most recent COVID variants are the most aggressive yet. Both the Delta variant and far more recent Delta+ are more transmissible and deadly than previous iterations of the virus. Worse yet, everyone is at risk, including the vaccinated and those with antibodies. The spread is out of control, and many believe a fresh round of cultural restrictions is on the horizon.

In this Music Biz update, host James Shotwell tells you everything you need to know about the Delta variant, the battle against COVID-19, and the growing concerns around the industry regarding the future of live music.

Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.

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Industry News News

Jakob Dylan Speaks Honestly About The Music Business

In a rare extended interview, Wallflowers’ frontman Jakob Dylan spoke at length about his feelings on the record business.

Jakob Dylan understands that people are not inherently stupid. Everyone who grows up wanting to work in music will spend their lives being told that the entertainment industry is full of snakes. As he told Joe Rogan in a recent interview, “If you got locked into a bad contract where someone screwed you over — that’s kind of on you.”

Dylan spoke about his relationship with the music business at length during an appearance on the wildly popular Joe Rogan Experience. He talked of contract woes and the nature of working in entertainment. As a lifelong musician and the son of one as well, Dylan seems to live his life with the belief that people are always looking for ways to make money on the talent of others. As much as artists may not believe they need strong business acumen to make it today, they at least need someone who understands money. We’ll let him explain:

A few key takeaways for those of you unable to watch the video:

  • Read every contract. Even if you hire someone to read your contracts, make sure you read them as well. Learn the language of the business to ensure it cannot be used against you.
  • Everyone gets offered bad deals. You have to trust yourself and your trajectory enough to say no when a deal isn’t what you want or need.
  • Surround yourself with people who understand things you don’t and learn from them.
  • If an artist is making money, everyone above them is making more.
  • The good news is everyone can make music now. The bad news is that everyone can make music now.
  • There are no clear paths to discovery and success today. Everyone is trying to find a way to get lucky, and as soon as someone does, that approach gone forever. You have to be original.
  • CDs are increasingly irrelevant. It’s an added cost that labels and artists don’t need.
  • Labels still have a purprose. Label knows the people you don’t know, and they have the money you need to get started.
  • Some people think of labels as banks who give artists loans on good faith that person will become a star.
  • Dylan believes the biggest snakes and most difficult people he’s met in music are other musicians.

The Wallflowers recently released new music.

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Editorials Haulix Industry News News Recommendations

Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music of July 9, 2021

From the return of The Maine to the debut of Domination Campaign, there are several can’t miss new music releases this week.

The world is changing. After a year of forced isolation, artists and fans are finally starting to reconnect. Dozens of great albums are hitting shelves every week, and we know that nobody has time for everything. We want to help you find the can’t miss albums and keep you up-to-date on the records everyone will be talking about next week. We realize that documenting every new release would be virtually impossible, but here you will find several new albums from Haulix clients that we feel deserve your time and support. Here is the new music you need to hear:

Domination Campaign – Onward To Glory (Prosthetic)

There is an undercurrent of aggression running throughout Onward To Glory that may cause listeners to drive fast, act reckless, and completely stop caring about the opinions of others. Domination Campaign has crafted an album for the battles we face in life. Each song plays like a call to arms, commanding listeners to get off their butts and make something of themselves. It’s engaging and propulsive to such an extreme extent that you cannot help being impressed at the band’s ability to maintain such a high level of energy throughout the record. You won’t need coffee or Red Bull after Onward To Glory enters your life. All you need to do is figure out what you’re going to accomplish first. 

The Maine – XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time (Photo Finish / 8123)

The members of The Maine are outliers in the world of alternative music. After sneaking into the late-era neon phase of pop-rock with sugary sweet songs about young love and bad decisions, The Maine blossomed into touring professionals with a knack for infectious songwriting. They outlasted virtually every one of their peers by refusing to play by the established rules of the corporate music industry. The Maine owns their branding, their songs, and their legacy. They choose their destiny, and their fans help them make it a reality. XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time is another entry in an arguably flawless catalog, and to the surprise of absolutely no one, it’s incredibly good.

Empty Heaven – Getting The Blues (self-released)

There is no other artist like San Antonio’s Empty Heaven. An amalgamation of synthesizers and punk distilled with heavy literary influence, empty Heaven crafts genre-blurring songs about life and the concept of existence. You never know where the tracks will take you, but that’s part of the fun. Empty Heaven has the unique ability to make you think while also making you want to move your feet. It’s like listening to Aristotle ponder life’s biggest questions while simultaneously serving as the DJ for a party taking place in a middle-class American basement that is known online as a popular DIY venue. Suffice to say, Getting The Blues is the sound of the underground. 

Lost Symphony – Chapter III (Self-released)

Lost Symphony exists at the crossroads of heavy metal and classical music. It’s a place where anything is possible, yet only a few groups dare explore. Every release is a big, bold, and expansive composition carefully constructed with the hope of sparking your imagination. It’s not hard to close your eyes during Chapter III and find yourself exploring a strange alternate reality filled with mythical beings and life-altering quests. It’s kind of like a choose your own adventure novel, only with a better soundtrack.

Trivium – In The Court Of The Dragon (Roadrunner)

New Music Friday is usually reserved for albums. There are far too many singles for us to highlight every song released every week by one of our clients, but every now and then, attract comes along that we must discuss. Trivium returns just a year after their last album with a brand new song that is sure to be played on a loop by metal fans worldwide. If anyone out there still doubts the talent or appeal of this band, “In The Court Of The Dragon” will convert them. It’s a sprawling tale of blood, death, and dragons that combines all the qualities that make Trivium’s music so great. The video is also a short film. Check it out!

New Music Friday recommendations feature a collection of new releases from Haulix clients chosen by the company staff. Join Haulix today and gain immediate access to the industry’s leading digital promotional distribution platform: http://haulix.com/signup.

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Instagram Tests Allowing Everyone To Add Links In Stories

Move over, users with 10,000 followers or more. Instagram may soon allow everyone to share links in their Stories updates.

Anyone on Instagram is familiar with the phrase, “swipe up.” That lingo informs the viewer of someone’s Instagram story that they can swipe up on an image or video to reach an external website. Such link-sharing is limited to users with over 10,000 followers and verified accounts, but those rules may soon change.

The Verge recently broke the news that Instagram is quietly testing a new Stories feature that will allow all users to share links. In this case, however, it isn’t a swipe up that people will offer, but instead a linking sticker. These stickers will operate the same way a swipe-up link does, except with a tap instead of a swipe. People can also respond to stories that include a sticker, which they can’t currently do with stories that have a swipe up.

But don’t get too excited. The test group for Instagram’s new feature is reportedly very small, and the company has yet to reveal a timeline for public launch.

Vishal Shah, Instagram’s head of product, tells The Verge it’s mostly to learn how people might take advantage of links. They’ll be watching for the types of links people post while keeping a careful eye on misinformation and spam. Plus, stickers, he says, fit more into the current way people use the platform, so he says this test “brings links into the same kind of overall system, which from a simplicity of system perspective, also makes a lot of sense.”

He adds that link stickers are the eventual goal for Instagram, whether for everyone or just people who already have linking privileges. “That is the sort of future system we would like to get to,” he says. “And that’s what we hope to roll out if we’re able to make this work.”

As for traditional Instagram posts, which appear in a user’s main feed, there are no plans to allow links with any photo or video captions.

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