#77 - The Pink Pony Club 🌞

Happy Sunlighter Sunday! Many of our favorite established and upcoming artists have new music being released this year, and we want to briefly acknowledge how BIG of a year this is about to be in music.

Rating Rationale: Ever heard of the Alabama Shakes? If you have, you may know the Grammy award-winning band (who has influenced artists like Beyoncé, Drake, and Childish Gambino) went on hiatus in 2018 when its frontwoman and lead vocalist, Brittany Howard, decided to pursue her solo career. Why Not marks Brittany’s second solo studio album, and it’s produced by her longtime collaborator, Shawn Everett (Hozier, SZA, Kacey Musgraves, Alvvays). Similar to her time with Alabama Shakes, Howard’s solo music has spanned across a range of genres–from alternative, to rock, jazz, and R&B. On this record, we hear all of it – everything from smooth, eclectic R&B sounds, to strong, syncopated instrumentals, all accompanied by Howard’s wide-range, distinctive vocals. We knocked a few suns off for “cohesion,” but overall, the record stands out due to its incredible production.

Swedish House Mafia returns to Ibiza, A.G. Cook & Charli XCX announce new albums, SG Lewis launches Forever Days

Swedish House Mafia is set to return to Ushuaïa, Ibiza for a six-week residency, promising an electrifying experience for electronic music fans as they take over Paradise Again. Meanwhile, Four Tet is curating a two-day party under a bridge in Brooklyn, offering attendees a unique and intimate setting to enjoy his eclectic soundscapes (meet you there?).

In post-Charli XCX Boiler Room news, A.G. Cook announces his new LP "Britpop" and shares his title track featuring Charli XCX, offering a glimpse into their continued sonic exploration of hyperpop. Meanwhile, Charli XCX revealed that her new album will be a dance record, hinting at an exciting evolution in her musical style.

Lastly, SG Lewis launched his new record label Forever Days, signaling a new chapter in his career as he seeks to champion emerging talent in the electronic music scene.

Twenty One Pilots share teaser video for 21P7, Wolf Alice sign with Columbia, Kings of Leon play BST Hyde Park

Twenty One Pilots shared a teaser video for their new era, describing their musical storyline through folklore and leaving fans to speculate on what's to come later this week as they (fingers crossed) announce their seventh studio album. Meanwhile, Wolf Alice is moving to the majors after departing from the 1975’s label, Dirty Hit, and signing with Columbia/Sony Music. Lastly, Kings of Leon announced their ninth studio album and a headline show at BST Hyde Park.

Lineups Galore: The Roots Picnic, Glastonbury, Osheaga, & Baja Beach 2024

The Roots Picnic 2024 boasts an impressive roster featuring headliners like Lil Wayne and Victoria Monét and promising an electrifying experience for hip-hop enthusiasts in Philly. Liam Gallagher gives us a peek into the Glastonbury lineup, confirming his appearance alongside John Squire at the 2024 festival. In Montreal, Canada, Osheaga 2024 will include Noah Kahan, Green Day, and SZA. In August, Baja Beach Fest begins in Rosarito, Mexico, with Rauw Alejandro, Peso Pluma, and Kali Uchis.

Chappell Roan

Primer: Kayleigh Rose Amstutz’s debut album as Chappell Roan (her as a drag queen), The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, is a true representation of her personal story: her rise, fall, and ongoing revival in the midst of overcoming bipolar disorder and reclaiming her identity. Raised in a rural town in Missouri and a self-proclaimed sheltered Christian, Kayleigh showed early promise, winning talent shows in middle school and being known as “the girl who sings.” After sharing covers on YouTube, she was discovered by Atlantic Records and subsequently signed with the record label, but her time was ultimately cut short after her single, “Pink Pony Club” (inspired by her experience at the famous L.A. gay club, The Abbey) failed to meet the demanding metrics of the label. She returned to Missouri and worked at a drive-through coffee shop while getting treatment for her recent bipolar diagnosis before returning to Los Angeles, this time embracing the drag version of herself as an indie artist.

Genre: Pop

Influences: Britney Spears, P!nk, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Stevie Nicks and Caren Carpenter

Current Label: Amusement Records (owned by Dan Nigro) and Island Records

Audience: ~1.53 million listeners on Spotify

What’s Next: After opening for Olivia Rodrigo last year and working with Olivia’s producer, Dan Nigro, to release her debut album, Chappell Roan will be rejoining Olivia on her GUTS Tour and embarking on the music festival circuit this year.

🍎 Playlist Shift: Apple is reportedly testing a new feature called SongShift that would allow users to transfer Spotify playlists directly to Apple Music, potentially simplifying the transition between streaming platforms for users. Additionally, Apple Music has introduced a monthly version of its "Replay" feature, enabling users to track and revisit their most-played songs and artists on a month-to-month basis–do you think Spotify Wrapped will level up?

🏠 Welcome to My Music House: If you didn’t sing that in the Flo Rida voice, you can leave. Spotify has launched a new music advisory agency aimed at assisting brands in leveraging music for their marketing campaigns, with former FIFA Global Marketing Director Jean-Francois Pathy leading the initiative. The agency, called "Music House," aims to provide brands with strategic guidance on how to incorporate music effectively into their advertising and marketing efforts, leveraging Spotify's extensive music data and expertise in the field.

🎮 Gaga & Music Gamer Updates: After not knowing what all the Fortnite fuss was about, Lady Gaga will experience it firsthand with an appearance in the popular video game, sparking excitement among fans and gamers alike. Meanwhile, JBL, an audio company, has launched a new music experience on the Roblox platform, further expanding the integration of music within virtual gaming environments.

🎧 Beats by DAACI: The AI music startup DAACI has launched an open beta to give users access to a community and a new plugin called “Natural Drums,” marking its latest development in the field of AI-driven music creation tools.

🌐 Web3 Updates: THE WHALES, Def Jam Records’ first animated music group, released their first track. Galantis launched a new fan club on Web3 platform, Medallion. RAC is teasing a new company called Oscillator that promises to “value music over metrics” and “community over competition.”

💸 Truly Universal: Perhaps the biggest industry update of the week, NTWRK and Complex have struck a deal with Universal Music and Jimmy Iovine to develop exclusive music content and merchandise. This partnership will combine its vast music catalog with NTWRK's innovative approach to shopping and Complex's youth culture expertise. Additionally, UMG acquired a $240 million stake in Chord Music Partners, signaling its ongoing efforts to diversify revenue streams beyond traditional music distribution and publishing.

🎥 Biopic Takeover: In 2027, Sony will release four biopics on John, Paul, Ringo, and George. That’s right, all four Beatles will be added to the string of biopics we’ve seen and are anticipating in the next few years: Amy Winehouse, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Leonard Bernstein, Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston. We attribute this biopic mania to the art of nostalgia and super-fandom, and we project this is only the beginning.

🎫 The Big Return of Concerts: In 2023, Live Nation hosted over 50,000 events, attracting more than 145 million fans, marking its most significant year to date. The company experienced a substantial YoY revenue increase of 36%, reaching $22.7 billion, reflecting the strong demand for live events despite challenges posed by the pandemic.

☂️ You Can Stand Under My Umbrella: Kobalt Music Group has partnered with Umbrella Songs, broadening its music catalog and solidifying its role in music publishing. This deal enables Kobalt to manage and distribute Umbrella Songs' catalog globally, reinforcing its status as a prominent music rights management firm. Moreover, Kobalt's recent asset-backed security ABS sale aims to enhance its financial security and resilience, demonstrating its dedication to long-term growth.

⏰ TikTok Not On The Clock: Following the failed renewal of the UMG partnership, TikTok's Global Head of Music Operations, Paul Hourican, has departed from the company. 

💰 Securing the Bag: EngineEars, a marketplace platform founded by Grammy-winning audio engineer MixedByAli, has secured $7.5 million in funding. The platform aims to revolutionize the way audio engineers connect with clients and collaborate on projects, offering a streamlined solution for the music production industry.

Beyoncé becomes first Black woman to top country charts, ¥$ debuts at #1 for top streaming albums

📈 Beyoncé is setting more records. She becomes the first Black woman to reach #1 on the US Country chart with her latest single, “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM,” and is only the second solo female act to debut at #1 since Taylor Swift’s release of “All Too Well.” ¥$ (Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign) tops the Billboard 200 and arrives at #1 for the “Top Streaming Albums” chart. With the success of Vultures 1, North West has also become one of the youngest artists to chart on Billboard’s Hot 100 with her feature in “TALKING.”

ScHoolboy Q and Faye Webster to release new albums this Friday

📅 For upcoming albums, tours, and festivals access our comprehensive music calendar here.

📣 Album Announcements: Normani announced she will be releasing her highly-anticipated debut album, DOPAMINE, later this year. Holly Humberstone shared her latest single, “Dive,” for her upcoming Work In Progress EP, expected on March 15th. Lizzy McAlpine shared the title track of her upcoming album, “Older,” set to drop on April 5th. Lil Durk dropped a new single called “Old Days,” from a speculated TBA album.

⏩ Here are album releases to look out for this week: 

1. ScHoolboy Q, Blue Lips

2. Faye Webster, Underdressed at the Symphony

3. STRFKR, Parallel Realm

4. Jacob Collier, Djesse (Vol. 4)

The Merch Table

• 🕯️ Burn in a Hurry: Kacey Musgraves’ Saturn has returned, which means it’s time for another Boy Smells collaboration. Check out the latest candle in honor of her upcoming album, Deeper Well. 

• 🎸 Wonderwall: Noel Gallagher has collaborated with Gibson to produce 78 custom Les Paul guitars, each signed by the artist and featuring distinctive design elements inspired by his music career.

• 👟 Jack’s 550s: If you want to pick up the Jack Harlow-inspired colorways for the new classics, head this way.

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See ya next Sunday 😎

Chris and Donya