Welcome to your weekend with this complete performance of The Cure’s brilliant concert, where they performed the classic Disintegration album from start to finish.
How to Keep Your Digital Music Collection Safe
There was a time when protecting your music collection meant safeguarding your home against a robbery or avoiding the occasional scratched CD, tangled cassette tape, or warped record. Nowadays, most people store their music in the form of digital files that are kept on computers, tablets, smartphones, media players and other devices. Of course, the fact that the songs are being held in an intangible form doesn’t make it any easier to lose some or all of your precious music collection, which has probably taken you many hours of downloading and an untold number of online purchases to amass. With that said, here are several steps you can take to keep your digital music collection safe:
1. Use Data Recovery Services to Recover Lost Media Files
If you’ve already experienced some form of data loss due to hardware failure or damage to your operating system caused by malware, you should contact a data recovery firm like Secure Data Recovery Services before you chalk it up as a permanent loss. In many cases, they’ll be able to help you recover seemingly lost music files with remarkably high efficiency. Plus, many of these services will only charge you if they’re able to recover your data, so it’s a relatively risk-free way to try and recover lost music files before you discard an old computer or hard drive.
2. Backup Your Collection in the Cloud
If you haven’t yet suffered the loss of any music files, you can keep yourself from having to deal with such hassle in the future by backing up all of your files in the cloud. Any of the most popular cloud-based file storage services should work fine and most of them have integrated apps that you can use to sync files between your devices and your cloud storage account. Considering the peace of mind that you’ll have by knowing that your music is always backed up; it’s definitely worthwhile to pay a nominal fee for a comprehensive cloud storage plan.
3. Backup to a Physical Hard Drive
In addition to backing up your files to the cloud, you may want run scheduled backups to a physical hard drive as well. If you don’t already have an external hard drive, you can usually find one that will give you plenty of space to back up a typical music collection for about $20-$100. You could also use a hard drive enclosure to connect internal hard drives to your PC via USB, which would allow for faster file transfer speeds.
4. Use Antivirus Software to Protect Against Malware
If your computer is infected by certain forms of malware such as ransomware, you could experience widespread data loss or file concealment within your operating system. To minimize the chances of malware affecting your music collection, be sure to install and utilize a reputable antivirus software suite with real-time scanning capabilities.
True Redundancy is Worth the Time and Effort
If you combine all of the preventative measures mentioned above, you’re looking at a low one-time cost for an external hard drive, a nominal ongoing expense for cloud storage, and the time that it takes to install a free antivirus software. When you compare these efforts to the sadness and anger of losing your music files, it becomes obvious that every serious music collector should take such simple and affordable steps to protect their digital music collection.
Photo Gallery: Greta Van Fleet with Ida Mae at Toronto’s RBC Echo Beach
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
This Fender Pinball Telecaster & Wizard Amp Is Just $80,000 And Only One Has Been Made
Priced at $80,000, Yuriy Shishkov’s Pinball Telecaster guitar and matching “Wizard” amplifier built by Fender’s custom amp expert Jim Dolmage are true pop culture memorabilia–using parts and materials from a vintage pinball machine. A showpiece that will appeal to guitar, pinball machine, movie memorabilia and Americana collectors alike–the guitar features the game’s original colored plastic playfield inserts that actually light up in a random pattern with battery-powered LEDs. Movable flippers and a spring-loaded ball shooter add a fun factor to this otherwise operational instrument, and plastic painted game trim pieces on the body and headstock complete the instrument’s pinball theme. Rounding off the guitar is a vintage-style maple neck; a Fender Custom Shop Nocaster neck pickup; a chromed pinball volume knob; chrome wraparound bridge/tailpiece; as well as plywood from the 40-year old Bally pinball machine, which was used to hand-build the body–a challenge in itself.
The matching Wizard amplifier’s enclosure is constructed entirely from wood and metal recycled from the pinball machine’s cabinetry. The original vintage stenciled paintwork gives off an almost “carnival” atmosphere with a rattlesnake motif inside and out. The heavy plywood and metal trim lend a significant “attack” to the expressive sound of the ’57 Custom Pro-Amp circuitry, which is warmed up by the stout 15-inch Eminence speaker.
Canadian Federation of Musicians Announce Major Breakthrough Affecting Travelling Musicians
Air Passenger Protection Regulations Amendments Include Mandatory Acceptance Of Musical Instruments
The Canadian Federation of Musicians announce a successful outcome in its efforts to affect much needed changes to Canada’s Air Policy with regard to the transportation of musical instruments on Canadian air carriers. Effective July 15, 2019, Air Passenger Protection Regulations within the Canadian Transportation Act will include language that ensures that all air carriers must accept musical instruments unless security or safety is an issue. These amendments will include clear and predictable terms and conditions with regard to musical instruments as well as the obligation to carry and accept an instrument. Airlines will also be required to offer an alternative to musicians travelling with instruments should a change in aircraft cause an instrument not to fit.
“Over the years, we’ve seen far too many professional musicians have very expensive and often irreplaceable tools of their trade broken or destroyed during air travel,” explains Alan Willaert, Vice-President from Canada, American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. “We have worked closely with the Government of Canada and all Canadian air carriers on this issue since 2014 and are delighted to see these demands become regulation. We are grateful to The Honourable Minister Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport who has been supportive from the very beginning; the officials at Transport Canada, who have worked tirelessly with us; and the Canadian Transportation Agency”.
CFM will issue a Canadian Flying Guide over the coming weeks to further assist musicians flying with instruments. Each airline will also have clear guidelines published as part of their Tariff. Under the Obligation to Carry amendments, all commercial airline carriers must accept musical instruments as checked or carry-on baggage, unless it is contrary to general terms and conditions in the carrier’s tariff with respect to the weight or dimension of baggage or because of safety or security. The Canadian Federation of Musicians looks forward to working with Transport Canada and air carriers to help make these positive changes as seamless as possible.
The Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM) is the Canadian National Office of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM). We are made up of 200 local offices across North America, collectively representing 80,000 professional musicians, 17,000 of whom live and work in Canada. Proudly celebrating 40 remarkable years of service, CFM is uniquely positioned to address Canadian issues and provides vital resources for Canadian musicians, at any stage in their careers.
This Bucket Drummer Is The Best I’ve Ever Seen
A young guy by the name of Matthew “Bucket Boy” Pretty can hold an audience’s attention with a couple buckets and works the crowd like nobody else I’ve seen.
Inside the OG Brady Bunch House Renovations
ET takes viewers on a before and after tour of the OG ‘Brady Bunch’ home that was purchased by HGTV last July for $3.5 million, and was renovated for ‘A Very Brady Renovation,’ premiering in September.
Early 1990s commercial for a 2 CD compilation called “PUNK” featuring Huey Lewis & The News, Erasure, and more!
Last-night TV ads back then were great, and genre-bending, too.
7up Gold Commercial Featuring Kyle Gass From Tenacious D (1988)
Kyle Gass, best known for being a member of Tenacious D, winner of a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance, alongside longtime friend Jack Black, did a commercial for 7up Gold back in the day.
https://youtu.be/pQ4jp-0lNgs
CIMA Announces Honourees And Nominees For Fifth Annual Celebration & Awards Gala
The Canadian Independent Music Association is proud to announce the recipients and nominees for the fifth annual CIMA Celebration & Awards Gala. This year’s honourees will be recognized for their incredible contributions to independent music during the gala on June 10, 2019 at Lithuanian House Banquet Halls in Toronto, ON. The event will be hosted by CBC Music radio personality, Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe.
Established in 1975, CIMA is the not-for-profit national trade association representing the English-language, Canadian-owned sector of the music industry. CIMA represents a diverse membership consisting of Canadian-owned companies and their ambassadors, all of whom are involved in every aspect of the music, sound recording and music-related industries. CIMA’s mandate is to develop and advocate policies and services that serve to support a strong and economically stable Canadian independent music and sound recording industry, ensuring the long-term development of the sector and to raise the profile of Canadian independent music both in Canada and around the world.
Tickets are on sale now for $150 each, and include the reception, awards dinner, and after party where guests will be treated to an evening of music, celebration, gourmet food, and drinks aplenty! Tickets can be purchased at: https://2019cimagala.eventbrite.ca.
“We are thrilled to once again celebrate those who create, support and strengthen Canadian independent music,” said Stuart Johnston, President, CIMA. “We are so pleased to recognize this year’s honourees for their outstanding dedication to our Canadian music industry.”
The 2019 Award Honourees are:
- Builder Award:Kim Cooke, Pheromone Recordings & Revolution Recording Studio – Presented by Slaight Music
- Brian Chater Industry Award:Allison Outhit, Six Shooter Records
- Entrepreneur Award: Shauna de Cartier, Six Shooter Records – Presented by Gowling WLG
- Unsung Hero Award:Yvonne Matsell, Concert Booker & Co-Founder of NXNE
Our 2019 Marketing Award Nominees are: Presented by Select Distribution
- Last Gang Recordsfor Harrison’s Apricity
- Arts & Crafts for Dan Mangan’s More or Less
- Endemic Marketingfor Good Lovelies’ Shapeshifters
The Marketing Award winner will be announced at the 2019 CIMA Celebration & Awards Gala on June 10 with Special Guest Performances by Joel Plaskett, Kevin Drew & Brendan Canning (of Broken Social Scene), Moscow Apartment, The Sorority and Whitehorse.