🗓 2025-06-09 – Weekly Music News & Trends: What You Missed!

What's News in Music
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:musical_note: Music Weekly Brief: June 3–9, 2025

The past week has seen significant shifts and notable developments across the music industry, reflecting its dynamic and ever-evolving landscape. From strategic business acquisitions and artists expanding their creative ventures into new entertainment sectors, to ongoing legislative debates surrounding artificial intelligence and the continuous evolution of live music experiences, the industry continues to adapt and innovate. This summary highlights key events and emerging trends that are shaping the future for music professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Key Music News & Trends

  1. :trophy: Exceleration Music Acquires UK Indie Label Cooking Vinyl
    U.S.-based independent music company Exceleration Music has acquired the prominent UK-headquartered indie label Cooking Vinyl. This strategic move is set to bolster Exceleration’s global operations and enhance its artist and label services capabilities worldwide. Cooking Vinyl will maintain independent operation under its current management, gaining access to Exceleration’s global infrastructure and Redeye distribution platform. This expansion offers significant growth opportunities for its diverse artist roster, including The Cranberries, The Prodigy, and Billy Bragg.
    :date: Published: June 9, 2025
    :link: Cooking Vinyl, a prominent UK-headquartered music company, to be acquired by Exceleration Music - Music Business Worldwide

  2. :game_die: Imagine Dragons Members Launch New Game Studio, Announce ‘Last Flag’
    Dan and Mac Reynolds of Imagine Dragons have co-founded Night Street Games, a new game studio, and announced their debut title, “Last Flag.” This 5v5 team shooter, unveiled at Summer Game Fest in Los Angeles, is set in a 1970s-inspired universe and offers a unique take on capture-the-flag. Mac Reynolds, CEO, stated the venture fulfills a childhood dream, aiming for a fun and connective game experience. “Last Flag” is scheduled for Windows PC release in 2026, with console versions also planned.
    :date: Published: June 8, 2025
    :link: Imagine Dragons brothers announce Night Street Games’ first title “Last Flag” | Adventures

  3. :sparkles: High-Tech Residencies and Experiential Partnerships Redefine Music Events
    Music events in 2025 are transforming into highly immersive, technologically advanced experiences. Anyma’s “The End of Genesys” residency at Sphere in Las Vegas exemplifies this, utilizing cutting-edge LED displays and immersive sound for a multi-sensory spectacle. Simultaneously, new experiential marketing partnerships are redefining fan engagement, such as Ultra Music Festival’s collaboration with Red Bull and Brightline, which converted train cars into mobile nightclubs. These trends underscore the industry’s focus on delivering unique, unforgettable, and technologically enhanced experiences beyond traditional concert formats.
    :date: Published: June 3, 2025
    :link: https://www.bizbash.com/production-strategy/event-production-fabrication/article/22942440/5-music-event-trends-making-noise-in-2025

  4. :cd: NPR’s New Music Friday Highlights Key Album Releases
    NPR’s “New Music Friday” on June 6, 2025, highlighted several notable album releases, offering a curated guide for listeners navigating new music. Featured albums included Turnstile’s “NEVER ENOUGH,” Pulp’s “More,” Little Simz’s “Lotus,” McKinley Dixon’s “Magic, Alive!,” and Lifeguard’s “Ripped and Torn”. This weekly segment remains a valuable resource for music professionals and enthusiasts, providing editorial insights and a central platform for discovering diverse new works. It underscores the enduring relevance of human curation in an era of algorithmic discovery.
    :date: Published: June 6, 2025
    :link: New Music Friday: The best albums out June 6 : All Songs Considered : NPR

:hammer_and_wrench: Tools & Tips

  • :speaker: iZotope Vocal Doubler v1.4.0 Update Enhances Vocal Production
    iZotope has released version 1.4.0 of its popular free Vocal Doubler plugin, designed to add richness and depth to vocal tracks by creating a natural doubling effect. This tool is widely utilized by music producers and audio engineers across various genres to enhance lead vocals, create lush harmonies, or thicken background vocals, making it an indispensable utility for achieving polished and professional vocal mixes. The continuous updates to such accessible tools empower creators at all levels to refine their sound. This ongoing development and free distribution of high-quality audio plugins contribute to the democratization of music production, lowering the barrier to entry for aspiring producers and artists. It enables them to achieve professional-sounding results with minimal financial investment, directly contributing to the decentralization of music creation. This trend fosters greater creativity and innovation within the music community by making advanced production techniques accessible to a broader audience, leading to a more competitive landscape where independent releases can increasingly rival those from larger studios.
    :link: https://www.izotope.com/en/products/downloads.html

  • :chart_with_upwards_trend: Harnessing AI and Short-Form Video for Effective Music Marketing In 2025, successful music marketing strategies are increasingly defined by the synergistic integration of AI-driven insights and compelling short-form video content. AI tools such as Chartmetric and Spotify for Artists are proving invaluable for analyzing audience data, optimizing release schedules, and precisely targeting demographics for promotional campaigns. Simultaneously, platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts remain essential for engaging fans through dynamic visuals, including behind-the-scenes glimpses, viral challenges, and tantalizing snippets of new tracks. This combined approach enables artists to significantly amplify their reach and cultivate deeper anticipation for their music.
    :link: How To Up Your Music Marketing Game in 2025 - ArtistRack | #1 Music Promotion & Playlisting Service for Artists

:bulb: Fun Fact

Did you know? The shortest recorded song ever is “You Suffer” by the British grindcore band Napalm Death, clocking in at just 1.316 seconds. This extreme example of musical brevity is officially recognized by the Guinness World Records, demonstrating the vast and often surprising boundaries of musical expression. This fact, while lighthearted, subtly points to the incredible diversity and experimental spirit within the music world. It demonstrates that artists continuously push boundaries, redefine genres, and even challenge fundamental elements like duration, proving that creativity knows no conventional limits and encouraging a broader, more inclusive perspective on what is considered valuable or interesting within the vast landscape of musical art.

:link: 10 Fascinating Facts You Didn't Know About the Music Industry

:ear: We’d love to hear from you!

Have you participated in any Music events or utilized new Music tools recently? Share your experiences or insights with us—we’re featuring selected community voices in next week’s edition.