Dada Drummer Almanach

Dada Drummer Almanach explores themes around the evolving landscape of music, technology's impact on art, and societal shifts affecting community spaces. It critiques streaming platforms' economic models, highlights the importance of artist rights, and delves into the challenges of digital and live music realms. Environmental and subjective perceptions of sound also feature prominently.

Music Industry Challenges Artist Rights and Royalties Digital Technology in Art Streaming Platforms' Impact Live Music and Community Spaces Environmental Changes on Soundscapes Artistic Creation vs. AI Music and Social Movements Copyright and Legal Issues in Music Personal and Social Reflections

The hottest Substack posts of Dada Drummer Almanach

And their main takeaways

The Living Wage for Musicians Act

178 implied HN points β€’ 12 Mar 24
🎢 Music Legislation Advocacy Community Streaming Support
  1. The Living Wage for Musicians Act was introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Rep. Jamaal Bowman to address fair pay in the music industry.
  2. The bill was a collaborative effort involving UMAW, the Cyberlaw Clinic at Harvard Law School, and various legal experts and industry stakeholders.
  3. Musicians and supporters can participate by learning about the bill's goals and advocating for it to their representatives.

Musicking

264 implied HN points β€’ 13 Feb 24
🎢 Music Performance Listening Community Relationships
  1. Musicians need to adapt to different performance spaces and adjust their habits accordingly, even if they were formed early in their careers.
  2. Performers should listen to the space they're in and consider how their music is being experienced by the audience, especially in various venue settings.
  3. Music is not just about playing notes; it's about creating relationships and connections with the audience and other musicians through listening and gestures.

To the Reader

163 implied HN points β€’ 27 Feb 24
πŸ“š Literature Library Research Books Reading
  1. Working with what's available can lead to innovative approaches, like practicing 'deconstruction' even in a small college far from big libraries.
  2. Access to resources can change drastically over time, as seen in the shift from paid alumni access to free borrowing privileges at Harvard Library.
  3. The shift to online resources has transformed research practices, offering a wealth of materials instantly but altering the traditional experience of library exploration.

A Pyramid of Inequality

327 implied HN points β€’ 16 Jan 24
🎢 Music Streaming Artists Income Spotify Platforms
  1. The majority of tracks on music streaming platforms receive little to no streams, affecting artist royalties.
  2. Even popular tracks earn very little from streaming platforms due to low royalty rates.
  3. A more equitable distribution of streaming revenue is needed to support working musicians.
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A Year of Necessary Music

312 implied HN points β€’ 05 Dec 23
🎢 Music Music genres Streaming platforms
  1. There are different types of music beyond just pop that deserve recognition and support.
  2. Streaming technology does not always reward all types of music equally, leading to challenges for musicians of niche genres.
  3. Sharing and supporting lesser known music can help sustain diverse musical talents and audiences.

1,000 Streams or Bust

336 implied HN points β€’ 07 Nov 23
🎢 Music Streaming Artists Market Industry
  1. Spotify plans to stop paying royalties for tracks with less than 1,000 streams a year.
  2. This change may widen the gap between successful and struggling artists.
  3. Musicians' voices are crucial in shaping the future of streaming platforms.

Spool! (pause.) Spooool!

178 implied HN points β€’ 19 Dec 23
🎢 Music Reflection Creativity Inspiration Sound Art
  1. Listening to old tapes can bring up feelings of unfulfilled potential and alternative paths not taken in music.
  2. Each decision in music, like chord choices and melodies, leads down different creative paths.
  3. Rejected tapes and imperfect recordings can add character and beauty to music, enhancing the listening experience.

Solidarity

182 implied HN points β€’ 03 Oct 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Labor Legislation Music Activism Solidarity
  1. Independent musicians legally cannot strike or form a union due to antitrust laws.
  2. There are ongoing efforts, like the Protect Working Musicians Act, to exempt musicians from antitrust laws and negotiate better with streaming platforms.
  3. Even though musicians can't strike like Hollywood workers, they can still build solidarity and advocate for better conditions.

Poetry is an Art of Sound

115 implied HN points β€’ 21 Nov 23
πŸ“š Literature Poetry Music Translation Art Influence
  1. Poetry is an art of sound and speech, an art performed by the reader.
  2. Keith Waldrop emphasized the importance of combining different elements in poetry, like verse and prose, to create a new language.
  3. Music was a significant influence for Keith Waldrop, who admired composers like Monteverdi, Mozart, and Indian Carnatic music.

Summer Soundscape

163 implied HN points β€’ 08 Aug 23
πŸ”¬ Science Environment Birds Climate change
  1. The soundscape in many neighborhoods has changed due to human activities like construction and climate change.
  2. Scientists have observed a significant decline in the number of insects and birds in certain environments over the years.
  3. The decline in insects has led to a decrease in bird populations as well, affecting ecosystems.

One Hundred and Twenty-four Speakers

158 implied HN points β€’ 25 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Music Technology
  1. Listening to sound in a Sonic Sphere with 124 speakers can be boring and lack immersion.
  2. The manifesto of Sonic Sphere aims to create an immersive experience through technology and architecture.
  3. Despite the technological advancements, like the Sonic Sphere, the experience may not offer significantly new audio experiences compared to everyday surroundings.

Planned Obsolescence

255 implied HN points β€’ 07 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Media Labor Technology Music Space
  1. Planned obsolescence in technology can lead to unintended consequences like a decline in quality and essential maintenance being neglected.
  2. Digital advancements like AI in music and movies can eliminate important human interactions and connections.
  3. Labor is crucial for maintaining shared spaces like movie theaters and music venues, and eliminating human jobs can ultimately eliminate the social experience these spaces provide.

The Power of the AM

187 implied HN points β€’ 20 Jun 23
🎢 Music Radio
  1. AM radio stations are equipped with emergency resources to reach populations during crises.
  2. AM radio can be sensitive to electronic interference from various household devices.
  3. Efforts are being made to ensure that electric cars include AM radio for emergency broadcasting.

Got to Give It Up

202 implied HN points β€’ 16 May 23
🎢 Music Copyright Songwriting Plagiarism Artists Popularity
  1. Copyright lawsuits in the music industry can have varying outcomes, like with the cases of Marvin Gaye's songs and recent hits.
  2. Ed Sheeran's legal victory in a copyright case highlighted the debate over common elements in music.
  3. Sheeran's argument about pop songs being similar, written quickly, and prone to plagiarism raised questions about the future of AI-generated music and copyright laws.

Strangers on a Train

216 implied HN points β€’ 22 Nov 22
  1. Chance encounters during travel can lead to meaningful conversations and connections.
  2. The increase in no-shows at music events is not just due to COVID, but also reflects changing habits and emotions like anxiety or exhaustion.
  3. People may still be interested in attending live shows, but face emotional barriers that prevent them from following through.

On Tour!

67 implied HN points β€’ 22 Aug 23
🎢 Music Live Music Concerts Music Events
  1. The Dada Drummer Almanach is taking a break for a tour featuring shows in the UK, Iceland, and France.
  2. The author is excited to perform in London and Glasgow with friend Richard Youngs.
  3. The newsletter's continued support is appreciated, with paid subscriptions helping sustain the author's analog life.

Be Your Own Algorithm

134 implied HN points β€’ 07 Feb 23
  1. Discover new music through album downloads in the current music landscape.
  2. Utilize platforms like Bandcamp to access a wide range of music choices and rarities.
  3. Create your own musical journey by exploring different genres and artists for a personalized listening experience.

On Tour!

81 implied HN points β€’ 02 May 23
🎢 Music Live Events Music recommendations
  1. The Dada Drummer Almanach is taking a break for a tour.
  2. Shows in Northeast US with Meg Baird collaboration.
  3. Importance of paid subscriptions for supporting the artist's analog life.

Self Storage

57 implied HN points β€’ 30 May 23
πŸ“š Literature Fiction
  1. The story focuses on a situation of cruelty and vulnerability.
  2. The protagonist, K., experiences confusion and pain amidst this display of cruelty.
  3. The presence of specific characters adds depth and mystery to the narrative.

Power to the People

105 implied HN points β€’ 23 Aug 22
  1. Organizing in music is like herding cats, but bands form for shared ideas and experiences.
  2. Solidarity in music scenes mirrors the solidarity in labor movements, showing the power of unity.
  3. Musicians uniting across scenes due to streaming platforms' actions can lead to organizing for accountability and big changes.

Tears in Rain

101 implied HN points β€’ 21 Sep 21
  1. Fraud in the music industry can be widespread and manipulative.
  2. Switching to user-centric accounting can drastically affect streaming income for artists.
  3. Spotify and major labels may benefit from the current pro-rata accounting system, despite potential fraud.

Ed Sheeran's Vinyls

77 implied HN points β€’ 16 Nov 21
  1. Market share in the music industry is a zero-sum game.
  2. Physical media income for artists is at risk due to supply chain delays.
  3. For some artists, releasing vinyl is more about chart position and market dominance than financial gain.

Sale Is Unlawful

62 implied HN points β€’ 26 Oct 21
  1. The original CDs by Les Rallizes Denudes had high prices mainly for their collectability.
  2. The music of Les Rallizes Denudes was circulated mainly through piracy.
  3. Piracy allows the power of music to transcend its physical form and thrive in copies.

The Problem with Live Music

43 implied HN points β€’ 30 Nov 21
  1. Live music faces challenges due to COVID restrictions and limitations on indoor gatherings.
  2. The live music industry is heavily dominated by a few corporations, leading to a lack of diversity in shows and events.
  3. The trend towards large festivals controlled by major players like Live Nation and AEG is changing the economics and dynamics of live music.

Welcome to Dada Drummer Almanach

43 implied HN points β€’ 10 Sep 21
  1. The newsletter will cover a variety of music topics like new music, old music, and unique sounds.
  2. Topics will also include sounds from art exhibitions, books, and the author's garden.
  3. The author will be sharing thoughts that may lead to their next books and will also be serializing a novel taking place in a self-storage facility with a radio station.

On Berger's Ways of Seeing

33 implied HN points β€’ 04 Jan 22
  1. Berger's Ways of Seeing challenged the idea of images and the trustworthiness of authority.
  2. The democratization of criticism through mass media was a key concept in Berger's work.
  3. Although the TV broadcast of Ways of Seeing disappeared, the book remains a lasting and influential work.

Self Storage

28 implied HN points β€’ 19 Oct 21
  1. A mysterious woman named Frieda visits a self-storage facility caretaker named K., leading to a surreal encounter and interaction.
  2. Music plays an intriguing role in K.'s experience, with unexpected songs and a hidden speaker adding to the surreal atmosphere.
  3. A puzzling situation unfolds as K. navigates strange occurrences and encounters at the self-storage facility, adding layers of mystery and intrigue.

The Difficult Sixth or Seventh Album

24 implied HN points β€’ 14 Dec 21
  1. Recognize and appreciate mid-career albums of artists, like the sixth or seventh release, for their ambition and evolution.
  2. Artists like Haley Fohr challenge themselves and listeners with each release, pushing boundaries and creating unique experiences.
  3. Album '-io' showcases a blend of rock and art song, experimenting with structures and instrumentation, creating a bold and captivating musical journey.

Traveling for a Living

28 implied HN points β€’ 14 Sep 21
  1. Musicians heavily rely on touring to promote their recorded work.
  2. Traveling has become crucial for musicians to make a living in the music industry.
  3. Musical instruments and music itself adapt to the space they are allotted.

Zeitgeist

24 implied HN points β€’ 28 Sep 21
  1. 1991 marked an important time in the music industry.
  2. The shift to CDs in 1991 led to changes in music consumption.
  3. Genres like classical, jazz, and world music saw a surge in popularity in 1991.