Page 2748 – That Eric Alper

Cord Project acquired by Spotify to explore new ways to discover and listen to music

Music

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Jan 21, 2016

Cord Project acquired by Spotify to explore new ways to discover and listen to music

Cord Project, founded in 2014 by former Googlers Jeff Baxter and Thomas Gayno, designs and builds products exploring audio on today’s and tomorrow’s connected devices. Their flagship product, Cord, is an incredibly simple, one tap voice messaging platform built for phones, tablets, and watches on iOS and Android. Cord counts over a million users around the world and has grown along with the popularity of voice messaging and wearables.

“We founded Cord Project because we saw a huge opportunity for innovation in the audio space,” said Thomas Gayno, Cord Project’s CEO & Co-Founder. “At Spotify, we’re looking forward to continuing that exploration to build even better ways to discover and listen to music across connected devices.”

Cord Project will be joining Spotify in New York where they will build a product group focused on creating compelling content experiences. “The team at Cord has built brilliant products which both demonstrate their passion for audio and also their talent for product design, innovation and delivering great user experiences,” said Shiva Rajaraman, Spotify’s VP of Product. “We’re excited to welcome them to the team at Spotify, and looking forward to their contributions in shaping the future of music engagement.”

Cord Project is a small team of designers and engineers exploring audio communication on today’s and tomorrow’s connected devices. The company was founded in 2014 in New York City by former Googlers Thomas Gayno and Jeff Baxter and acquired by Spotify inJanuary 2016 (terms are undisclosed). Prior to the acquisition, Cord had raised $1.8 million in seed funding from Metamorphic Ventures, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, Google Ventures, Greycroft, Slow Ventures, and a handful of angel investors.

Cord Project’s founders, Thomas Gayno & Jeff Baxter, previously worked together for five years at Google Creative Lab in New Yorkwhere they invented new products, features, brands, and experiences for Google, Android, Chrome and Google X. They left in April 2014 to found Cord Project Inc.

Deezer Raises €100 Million And Expands Catalogue To 40 Million Songs

Music

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Jan 21, 2016

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Deezer Raises €100 Million And Expands Catalogue To 40 Million Songs

Deezer, the leading global on-demand music streaming service in more than 180 countries, today announced that it has secured €100 million led by Access Industries, with participation from Orange. In addition to new funding to drive growth, Deezer has expanded its catalogue to over 40 million songs, now the largest music catalogue available globally.

The financing will be used to increase customer acquisition efforts around the world, accelerate the introduction of new products, features and growth initiatives to serve the company’s mission to create a more valuable product offering and build more programmed experiences for music fans and audio enthusiasts.

“We’re in the early stages of the music streaming market and it’s quickly becoming the primary distribution channel for music,” saidHans-Holger Albrecht, Chief Executive Officer, Deezer. “The additional funding will allow Deezer to consolidate our position as a leading global, independent audio streaming service and expand our offering to music lovers around the world.”

Over the past several months, Deezer has doubled its talk offering to more than 40,000 radio shows, audiobooks and podcasts across several markets, introduced premium sports and live football content, re-designed its iOS and Android apps and expanded its automotive offerings. Deezer has also established and expanded partnerships with BMW, BandPage, Sonos, Three and others.

“The explosion of music streaming creates a unique opportunity to build a truly personalized service for listeners. Deezer is at the leading edge of this change with a differentiated offering that emphasizes unique localized experiences,” said Guillaume d’Hauteville, Vice Chairman of Access Industries. “We are proud to continue to support the innovative Deezer team.”

“Consumers everywhere are listening to music on their mobile phones, and this represents a massive opportunity for engagement and increased usage. Capitalizing on this shift, Deezer has built a high-quality service, constantly improving its user experience with new services: personalized radio, high-definition audio, lyrics and now the largest music catalogue in the world,” said Pierre Louette, Chief Executive Officer Delegate, Orange. “We’re thrilled to be investing in the music streaming market as we have always been convinced it was a tremendous opportunity to drive innovation on a global basis.”

Deezer is the first truly worldwide digital music streaming service in over 180 countries, with over 6 million subscribers worldwide. Deezer is at the forefront of a music revolution, allowing fans instant access to the largest streaming music catalogue in the world, with more than 40 million songs and 40,000 podcasts on any device. Combining the best of man and machine, Deezer’s global editorial team searches for the best music around the world and its algorithmic recommendations help fans discover music they will truly love. Deezer is available on your favorite device, including smartphone, tablet, PC, laptop, home sound system, connected car or smart TV.

Launched in 2007, Deezer is a privately held company, headquartered in Paris with offices in London, San Francisco and around the world. Deezer is currently available as a free download for iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows devices or on the web at deezer.com globally outside the US.

Iron Maiden Announce Mobile RPG ‘Legacy of the Beast’

Music

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Jan 21, 2016

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Iron Maiden Announce Mobile RPG ‘Legacy of the Beast’

Roadhouse Interactive, 50cc Games and Metal legends Iron Maiden are pleased to announce that Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast, an action-packed, free-to-play RPG steeped in Iron Maiden mythology, will launch worldwide this summer on iOS and Android platforms.

Following a series of hit action sports titles for Red Bull Media House, Warhammer 40,000: Carnage, a Games Workshop ARPG, andFood Battle: The Game for YouTube sensations SMOSH, Roadhouse Interactive’s development and publishing divisions have been working hand in hand with Iron Maiden and their Phantom Music Management team, who have granted unparalleled access to the vaults in order to create a truly authentic Iron Maiden game.

Developed in close collaboration with Iron Maiden’s management, players take on the role of the band’s iconic mascot, Eddie, in his many forms – each with unique abilities. Players explore new worlds, travel through time, and battle a cast of dramatic and engaging characters drawn from the expansive catalogue of Maiden’s albums and art. Gameplay is enhanced with a soundtrack using songs spanning the band’s entire career, including previously unheard live recordings of Iron Maiden classics adapted for the game by engineer Tony Newton under the close scrutiny of bassist and founding member Steve Harris.

“We always thought Maiden’s music and imagery with Eddie could be perfect for gaming and it’s something we have been looking at doing again since Ed Hunter in 1999. Now in 2016 it can all be done on a smartphone which makes it even more accessible for all our fans and also all the gamers out there,” comments Harris.

Iron Maiden’s latest album, The Book of Souls, was released in September 2015 to popular and critical acclaim, hitting the #1 spot in over 40 countries and reinforcing their position as one of the most relevant and influential bands in music today. This year they will embark on the The Book of Souls World tour and with fan excitement at fever pitch it’s the perfect time to expand Iron Maiden’s legend into gaming.

Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast will be available later this year on iOS and Android platforms.

Why Bookstores and Libraries Are The Most Wonderful Places on Earth

Music

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Jan 21, 2016

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Why Bookstores and Libraries Are The Most Wonderful Places on Earth

With appropriate love and respect, Luís Azevedo of Beyond the Frame has compiled together an beautiful film montage that pays tribute to the many bookstores and libraries found in film, each one showing what an adventure these places can be.

Ontario man helps Harlem Globetrotters with Acapella remake of famous theme song

Music

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Jan 21, 2016

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Ontario man helps Harlem Globetrotters with Acapella remake of famous theme song

Using only basketballs, sneakers, a ladder, and their mouths, the Harlem Globetrotters teamed up with singer/producer Mike Tompkins of London, Ontario, to create an Acapella version of their famous theme song “Sweet Georgia Brown.”

The Globetrotters are in the midst of their 90th year celebration, which includes playing seven Canadian provinces through April. The full schedule of games in Canada can be found at www.harlemglobetrotters.com/Canada.

The Globetrotters continue to grow their musical profile. The team also collaborated with STOMP for a 1-take video that went viral in October.

https://youtu.be/-YhQwsw03yk.

Ray LaMontagne to release his sixth studio album, Ouroboros, on March 4th

Music

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Jan 21, 2016

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Ray LaMontagne to release his sixth studio album, Ouroboros, on March 4th

Grammy Award winner, Ray LaMontagne, is set to release his sixth studio album, Ouroboros, on March 4th via RCA Records. Ouroboros was produced by Ray and Jim James of My Morning Jacket. The album was written by Ray and will feature first single, Hey, No Pressure.

Yesterday the single premiered on NPR’s All Songs Considered in the U.S. where they called the track an “inspired new song,” stamped the album “incredible,” and that Ray “has continued to push himself in different directions.” The Canadian premiere was hosted on CBC Music.

Earlier this week, Ray sent a postcard to a small group of fans with a preview of the album:

Ladies and Gentleman,
I would like to extend to you this humble invitation: to be among a select few of my listening audience to hear a passage from my latest composition titled ‘Ouroboros’.
‘Ouroboros’ is an album musically unlike any I have recorded previously. It did not make itself known to me in sections, sessions, or moments carved out of the clutter of every day life. It presented itself as the simple question: “Will you follow me?”
Of course I couldn’t say no. I had to follow. What else could I do?
I had nothing with which to record the journey that was taken. The album is merely an attempt to recreate, from memory, the landscapes, the colors, the sights and sounds that were experienced. I only thank God for the vividness of those experiences, and for the ease of their recollection.
I realize that in my invitation for you to listen, I am in fact asking something of you as well; for listening is not a purely passive act. Listening takes effort. To listen is to participate.
There can be no conversation without one who is first willing to listen.
And so I both invite you to, and ask if you might, sit, quiet your surroundings, quiet your mind, and listen as I present to you the question that was first presented to me: Will you follow me?
Yrs,
Ray LaMontagne

Ray LaMontagne has released 5 studio albums (Trouble, Till The Sun Turns Black, Gossip in the Grain, God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise and Supernova) and sold out numerous tours across the US. Ray’s 2010 album, God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise, won the Grammy for Best Folk Album and was nominated in the coveted Song of The Year category for Beg Steal or Borrow. Ray’s last single, Supernova, off the album of the same name, became one of Ray’s fastest growing singles at AAA radio, with the song rocketing into the top 5 within two weeks of impact.

“The Man Who Fell to Earth” And Other David Bowie Movie Posters

Music

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Jan 21, 2016

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Rest.

David Bowie, the constellation.

Music

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Jan 21, 2016

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Via

Marc Johns gets it right. Again.

Music

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Jan 21, 2016

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Listen To David Bowie Impersonate Springsteen, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Neil Young, And More

Music

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Jan 21, 2016

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Listen To David Bowie Impersonate Springsteen, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Neil Young, And More

Producer Mark Saunders has shared audio from a 1985 session where David Bowie sings an outtake in voices imitating Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Neil Young, Tom Waits, and more.

Mark writes:

I was lucky enough to work with Bowie in 1985 at Westside Studios in London. My bosses, Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (Madness, Dexys Midnight Runners, Elvis Costello, Bush) were producing the soundtrack for the movie Absolute Beginners, for which Bowie was acting and writing songs (it was a better soundtrack than it was a movie!) and I was graduating from assistant engineer to engineer at that time.

The day Bowie was first due to show up at Westside, we were all a bit nervous — Bowie was the biggest star client for Clive and Alan at that point in time. We kept looking out the windows, waiting for a stretch limo to show up and an entire entourage to walk in, but then a black cab showed up and out popped the unaccompanied Bowie. He walked in, announced in what seemed a more cockney voice than I remembered, “Hi, I’m David Bowie,” and shook our hands. He seemed smaller than I imagined he would be in person. A bit later I noticed that the cockney had dissipated somewhat and he also seemed to have grown more upright and taller, too. I thought, “Wow, he really is a chameleon,” and wondered if the earlier exaggerated cockney was his way of reducing his superstar status temporarily to put people at ease on first meeting him.

The impersonations on this YouTube posting were recorded in August ’85, when Bowie came in to do the lead vocal. At the end of the session, he broke into the impersonations and I realized that these might get erased at some point, so I quickly put a cassette in and hit “record.” I wish we could hear the other side of the dialogue between Bowie and Clive and Alan, but unfortunately that wasn’t being recorded.