More users can now create TikTok playlists from their videos! Read on to learn how to make playlists on TikTok.
TikTok has announced that more users will be able to pick from their videos and use the TikTok playlist feature on their profiles.
Who can make playlists on TikTok? Not everyone with a TikTok account can make a playlist of their videos. But if you can see the option on your profile under the video tab, you’re one of the chosen ones!
TikTok recently announced that creators with over 10,000 followers will be able to have access to the playlist feature on the social media app.
Making a playlist of your videos on TikTok keeps viewers locked onto your profile for longer. Artists could show off more of their music and spread out engagement beyond any TikToks that may have gone viral.
How to make playlists on TikTok
There are two ways to make a TikTok playlist out of your public content on TikTok.
To create a playlist from your profile on the TikTok app:
Head to Profile at the bottom right
To make your first playlist, Go to Videos > Sort videos into playlists – alternatively, tap the + by your existing playlists
Give your playlist a name, and add videos
To create a playlist directly from a video on TikTok:
Choose the video you want to create a playlist from. It has to be a public video.
To the right of the video, hit the three-dot icon. Alternatively, press and hold on the video
Tap Add to playlist > Create a playlist
Give your playlist a name, and add videos
How to put TikTok videos into playlist
Now you’ve made the playlist, its time to add new videos – or make a playlist from existing videos. Each video can only be in one playlist at a time.
To add to playlist from a TikTok video:
Bring up the chosen video, which must be a public TikTok
Press and hold on the video, or hit the three dots to the right of the video
Tap Add to playlist and choose which playlist
To add to a playlist when first making a video:
After creating a video, tap Add to playlist on the Post screen. You’ll need to have made a playlist first, or the option won’t appear
Choose a playlist
Tap Post
Along with longer running times for creating videos, playlists are another way TikTok is competing with YouTube, aiming to become the most popular video platform.
“Harry’s House” is so popular it broke a vinyl sales record in its first week.
In total the “Harry’s House” vinyl, Harry Styles’ latest album in retro form, sold 182,000 copies in the first week of release, breaking sales records in the process.
The first week sales soared over previous record holder Taylor Swift, whose album Red (Taylor’s Version) achieved first week sales of 114,000 when it was released on vinyl in 2021.
Albums released on vinyl by Styles have been consistently popular, with his 2017 debut record shifting 236,000 copies, and 2019’s “Fine Line” hitting the number one spot upon release.
Apple are just a few hours away from their annual Worldwide Developers Conference. What can we except and how can you stream it?
As usual, Apple aren’t giving away any hints of its upcoming WWDC, but we can make a few guesses based on past events. Every year, WWDC shows off a preview of the latest Apple software. This evening we’ll see demos of the following, before publicly dropping in the fall:
iOS 16
iPadOS 16
macOS 13
watchOS 9
tvOS 16
While the conference always primarily focuses on software, occasionally we also see a number of hardware products announced or released. For example, three years ago at WWDC we saw the 2019 Mac Pro announced, before the release later in the year. Two years ago, Apple began their predicted two-year transition away from Intel chips and towards their own silicon. Apple has now introduced the M-series chips in all of their computers, except the Mac Pro. Alongside a redesigned Mac Pro, we could also see updated Macs with the M2 chips, such as a redesigned MacBook Air, Mac mini, etc. Finally, maybe, just maybe Apple will show off their long-rumoured AR/VR headset, though don’t hold your breath on that one.
How to watch WWDC 2022 online
WWDC will be live streaming the event today (Monday 6th June) at 10am PT, 1pm ET and 6pm UK time. Watch it on apple.com, on the Apple TV app or on YouTube. Apple are holding various sessions, labs, lounges and more online throughout the week. Full details here.
Castion, under label Bass House Music (distributing through RouteNote), gets his songs and face on Soundtrack by Twitch’s HypePls playlist.
Twitch’s licensed music library for creators to use in their live streams, Soundtrack by Twitch, features the Spanish DJ and electronic music producer. Castion is the new cover of HypePls, the playlist to “Kick your stream into high gear with these exhilarating electronic bangers.” The 50 songs playlist also features three of Castion’s hits, “Prophecy”, “Take Me Higher” with Crusy, and “History (Castion Remix)” by Asketa & Natan Chaim, and Ni/Co.
Castion isn’t the first RouteNote artist/label who has landed the featured spot on one of Twitch’s playlists. Past additions include Ducka Shan, Arc North and ZOOTAH. Much like Spotify’s editorial playlists, getting your tracks on one of Twitch’s playlists can be a huge boost in streams, with potentially millions of viewers hearing your song in the next big stream.
We love to shout about brand new music distributed through RouteNote. Listen to “Not My Friends,” the new release from hip hop and R&B artist Jeffrey Oliver, released by Losertown.
Jeffrey Oliver is confident fans will be pleasantly surprised with his new sound heard in brand-new single “Not My Friends,” out today on Spotify and major platforms from Losertown, and distributed by RouteNote.
“Not My Friends” features vocals that draw on his own experiences, over an alternative R&B hip hop type beat.
Oliver gained loyal fans from releasing emo-rap songs, including the wildly popular “No Time,” which currently has 1 million streams on Spotify. The new song “Not My Friends” is the first time fans will have heard Oliver’s new sound.
A Swedish artist and producer, Oliver has over 32,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. “Not My Friends” marks a new direction for Oliver, moving away from emo-rap, but keeping the same sincere lyrical style as previous tracks.
Near field monitors present little details that we may not notice in our headphones. But professional speakers often have high prices, so affordable studio speakers allow beginners to dip their toes in.
Studio monitors, otherwise known as near field monitors or reference monitors, are the best friend of music producers and artists. Unlike consumer-grade speakers which are often passive like hi-fi, studio monitors are active. Active speakers have an internal amplifier whereas passive systems draw power from an external one. Another difference is that amplification comes after the crossover splits the frequencies into different bands for the drivers. As a result, the reproduction of the signal is far more accurate to an original signal than passive systems – where the amplification occurs before the frequency split – which makes them perfect for monitoring your music.
Bigger drivers may allow for more volume, but that doesn’t mean small studio monitors are redundant. On the contrary, cheap near field monitors will inevitably give you a taste for detailed sound reproduction. And it’s likely that your studio is only a small space – where smaller near field monitors are an optimal choice. However, unless the monitors you choose have RCA inputs then you will need to invest in an audio interface. Though headphones are useful, powered near field monitors allow you experience the full soundstage – from stereo width to immersive depth – of your music.
1. M-Audio BX5 D3 – the best affordable studio monitors for home recording
$276
Frequency response: 52 Hz to 35 kHz
High-frequency tuning options
Rear resonance port
One-inch silk-domed tweeter
Five-inch woven Kevlar woofer
Crossover: 2.5 kHz
Input sensitivity: -10 dBu
Image Credit: MusicRadar
Fans of the M-Audio BX series will notice the similarities between the D3’s and previous models. For example, the D3’s one-inch silk-domed tweeter and five-inch woven Kevlar woofer are both inherited from the previous BX5’s. We think the M-Audio BX5 D3 studio monitors are the best near field monitors for small budgets thanks to their build and tuning options.
Both the woofer and tweeter are magnetically shielded, and the rear bass port enhances the projection of low-end without straining the speaker driver. Also on the back of the speaker sits a variety of controls and inputs. These include a Volume control, both XLR and 1/4″ jack inputs, and settings for adjusting the output of low end (Flat, -2dB and -4dB) depending on the acoustic space and positioning of monitors. What’s special about the BX5 D3s is that you can connect both the XLR and 1/4″ jack inputs simultaneously.
Image Credit: Gear4Music
Like with previous models, the bass port does hype frequencies a little too much. Therefore you may find you’ll have to use the -2dB Acoustic Space setting.
M-Audio has upgraded the onboard Class AB bi-amplification. Now, the woofer receives 60 Watts and the tweeter 40 Watts – with the frequency crossover at 2.5kHz. Around the woofer and tweeter is a ring of rubber, just like previous models too. The tweeter, though, has seen a bit of an upgrade. It’s got a new and improved tweeter waveguide which allows for a broader dispersion of sound. As a result, the listening sweet spot is wider.
2. KRK Classic 5 – the best studio monitors for electronic music production
$269
Frequency response: 46 Hz- 34.5 kHz
High and low-frequency tuning options
Front-resonance port
1″ textile soft dome tweeter
5″ glass aramid composite woofer
0 dBu
Image Credit: Absolute Music
The Classic 5 monitors have a 5-inch woofer that does deliver some solid bass. A slight flaw is that the mids do lack ever so slightly, but the soft dome tweeter does give a crisp high end that sounds fantastic. The woofers and tweeters themselves are made with high-density foam pads that isolate the sound from the surface.The monitors are also bi-amplified with an automatic limiter to help prevent blowouts. They feature a low resonance enclosure, so you get a cleaner sound.
Though the mids do lack slightly, this won’t matter too much when you’re just starting out. It’s unlikely that you’ll be mixing complicated music with a lot of tracks. But if you find that the lack of mids is holding you back, you can get yourself some studio headphones for a reference. With these two tools, you’ll notice all the little details that matter. With that said, using both studio monitors and professional-grade headphones is always a good idea if you want a professional mix.
Image Credit: KRK Music
Furthermore, on the rear are both high and low-frequency controls for adjusting the sound depending on your acoustic space like the D3s. Inputs include 1/4″ jack, XLR, and RCA connections. So the Classic 5’s are great for musicians, producers, and DJs!
3. JBL 305P MKII – best studio monitors for a good listening sweet spot
$298
Frequency response: 43 Hz – 24 kHz
High-frequency tuning and boundary EQ
Rear resonance port
Patented Image Control Waveguide for detailed imaging and a broad, room-friendly sweet spot
Image Credit: JBL
In the 305P MKII, JBL’s own patented Image Control Waveguide allows for a wider listening spot than other studio monitors – especially at this price point.
Moreover, the low-frequency response offers more low-end than previous models so over-compensating in the mix stage is less likely. Like with the Mackie’s, using headphones as a reference will help you in this mission too. However, when it comes to sound quality JBL has included technology they have previously developed for their higher-end studio monitors. The double-flared port allows for more precise projection of low-end without straining the woofer as just one example. Despite this, you may notice a slight hiss while playing music at lower volumes. It isn’t uncommon for studio monitor drivers to give a slight hiss, but at higher volumes, you won’t notice it.
Image Credit: Thomann
The JBL 305P can reach a maximum output of 108dB. That’ll be plenty loud in a small studio, but it’ll suit medium-sized studios too. In a bigger sized room studio, a subwoofer will be a good idea – just be sure to turn it off when you’re mixing mids and highs. But a better option for bigger studios may be looking at 8-inch studio monitors rather than 5-inch ones.
4. Mackie CR4-X – most affordable studio monitor speakers
$149.99
Frequency response: 65Hz – 20kHz
Rear resonance port
Image Credit: Thomann
With the idea of using both studio monitors and studio headphones to record and make music in mind, let’s talk about the CR4-X. The bass response is a little pronounced in these entry-level speakers, so making use of headphones will be important if you don’t want to undercompensate on your bass channels. Unlike other monitors on our list, there is no tuning available.
With that said, the CR4-X speakers are really better suited to multimedia applications. But at this price point, they will certainly do the job while recording and producing music. In contrast to the bass response, the mid frequencies are transparent and present a defined difference between tones. As for the high frequencies, they’re sharp and don’t present any harshness.
One thing you can do to improve your experience is to invest in better cables. The provided tables are a little… underwhelming. But the sound quality will improve with better quality cables, as is the case with a lot of other stock studio monitor cables.
Image Credit: Mackie
The Mackie CR4-X studio monitors have a 4-inch polypropylene-coated woofer, and a 0.75” ferrofluid-cooled silk dome tweeter. Silk is a desirable material for tweeters as it tends to reproduce high frequencies with better quality. The woofer, though, also delivers a crisp and punchy sound. On the back is a bass port which projects the low-end frequencies well with enough depth too.
5. PreSonus Eris E5 – best near field monitors for small studios
$249
Frequency response: 53 Hz – 22 kHz
Front resonance port
High and mid tuning options
Image Credit: Thomann
Finally, we have the Presonus Eris E5. Their frequency response is fairly flat, and they have well-defined mids. However, despite their crisp highs, these could do with a little adjustment if you want them to be closer to flat – which of course you do. But the bass frequencies aren’t as well defined as the mids. Yet the Eris E5 studio monitors will display details that you may have previously missed. At just 10.2 lbs. (4.63kg), these monitors are pretty lightweight too.
At this price point, it’s nice to see Kevlar low-frequency inducers as in the M-Audio BX5s. This is a strong heat-resistant material, and you’ll find it in many – if not all – high-end speakers. You’ll find your speakers continue to perform with ease over long periods of time. With this material too. And despite extra shielding for minimizing interference, you may still notice a hiss at low volume as with other speakers we’ve mentioned.
Image Credit: Gear4Music
The Eris E5’s peak at 102dB, so they’re not overbearingly loud. Again, this makes them a good choice for smaller studios. The low/mid-woofer has a size of 5.25 inches. For its size, it produces a punchy low-end and kicks are also well defined!
You can make mid and high EQ adjustments at the rear of the speaker with knobs. If your studio has reflective surfaces and no sound treatment you’ll want to attenuate these knobs. Coupled with good monitor placement, changing the acoustic space with these controls enables you to take full control over the sound of your monitors. In addition, the speakers have a front bass port – so you don’t need to worry about the rear wall quite so much.
Can you switch music distributors now Spinnup is going invite-only? Yes. Transfer your music from Spinnup to RouteNote easily and for free. Here’s how.
Is Spinnup distribution kicking you out? Don’t lose your streams, artist page and all the hard work you’ve put into building your music brand! You need to move to an alternative distributor.
Switch from Spinnup to RouteNote distribution. Spinnup, owned by Universal Music Group, is moving to a curated invite-only model and has told its existing smaller artists their music will be taken down from platforms like Spotify.
This kind of favouritism is completely against our ethos here at RouteNote, where we offer free distribution for all indie artists who want to get their music heard, across every major platform from Apple Music to Amazon.
Why should you choose RouteNote vs another distributor? RouteNote distribution removes all the barriers for entry to artists who want to get their music heard.
How to transfer your music from Spinnup to RouteNote
There’s a couple of steps you have to take before you can switch to RouteNote from another distributor, but it’s a really simple process and you won’t lose any of your existing music:
Spinnup artists have until July 19th 2022 to transfer your music from Spinnup. You can’t upload duplicates to another distributor, so you’ll have to remove your music from Spinnup and have it taken down from streaming services and stores before you upload to RouteNote.
Spinnup has provided its own advice for switching music distributor here. Download your release files from Spinnup on My Releases tab. You can’t download your assets once your releases have been taken down by Spinnup.
Your music will stay on the same artist pages as when you distributed through Spinnup.
It’s vital to make note of your track metadata like ISRC and UPCs, so when you re-upload your music your tracks match, and you don’t lose your streams. Once you’ve released your tracks, check the plays to make sure they matched up correctly.
Is RouteNote free?
Any independent artist or label, big or small, can sign up to RouteNote Free or Premium distribution. Our Free music distribution is free forever – you keep 85% of revenues, and you never sign away the rights to your music.
Our Premium distribution makes RouteNote one of the cheapest music distributors. With Premium you keep 100% of your revenue for a small fee. You can switch between the two tiers or move distributors whenever you want. You’re never locked in.
There’s no surprise fees with RouteNote – you can upload unlimited tracks and artists and distribute to as many stores as you like, as well as protecting your music on YouTube with Content ID and monetising on social media like TikTok, without paying a penny more.
Whether on Free or Premium, our features are free – for example, you can select exactly when your release will go live for no extra charge, unlike DistroKid.
“Spinnup is changing from an open DIY music distribution service” and “reducing the number of artists on the platform”.
Universal Music Group owned digital music distribution service Spinnup, were open to all artists looking to share their music to stores and streaming services. In a move kicking many artists off the platform, Spinnup are shifting their business model in a major way.
“On July 19th 2022, Spinnup is changing from an open DIY music distribution service to a curated artist discovery and distribution platform. This means we will be reducing the number of artists on the platform as we move into this new chapter.
Artists who are leaving Spinnup are being asked to takedown their releases and transfer to a new distributor by July 19th 2022, after that date we will need to begin taking down any remaining live releases from departing artists.”
“Spinnup is evolving into a fully curated invite-only artist discovery and music distribution platform. This change means we can’t accommodate all current Spinnup users.”
Much like Stem, and AWAL – who partnered with Sony Music last year, an invite-only system, along with pricey upfront fees, make it near impossible for artists starting out to release their music online. According to Music Business Worldwide, AWAL are thought to reject roughly nine in every ten tracks submitted. It’s no surprise then, Spinnup’s move has received a significant amoung of backlash on social media.
A free and open Spinnup alternative
There is a solution for artists being forced off Spinnup. RouteNote provides free music distribution, for artists of all sizes and genres, without the barriers to entry. Artists always keep 100% of the rights! Watch the video below or click here to learn how to switch distributors, while keeping your hard earned statistics and artist pages.
How the iPod came to be in 2001, how it shaped Apple and how the iPhone would eventually (almost) kill off the iPod.
YouTuber Jon Rettinger explores the history of arguably the most iconic hardware tech products in the music industry.
The video poses an interesting question. With social media negatively affecting the mental health of many users, and causing people to re-evaluate the need for a smartphone, if Apple were to reintroduce a music player, with a streaming-first focus, alongside long battery life and plenty of storage, could it survive in today’s tech landscape?
A new feature involving creators getting paid for using Spotify Live will help artists make money on Spotify, and let top fans on Spotify interact with their favourite artists in live streams.
Artists may soon be able to make money on Spotify Live. Spotify has teased “future opportunities” for artists who use the live audio Spotify Live feature for connecting directly with fans.
What opportunities? Things like selling merch, receiving tips, or asking for donations.
If this sounds familiar, you may be thinking of Spotify’s Greenroom Creator Fund. The fund was designed to lure new creators to Spotify’s live audio app, promising payment for creators making great original content. When the Greenroom audio app was rebranded as Spotify Live and incorporated into the main Spotify app, Spotify also quietly closed down the scheme without paying out any of the fund to creators.
That’s all to be forgiven now however, as Spotify has announced a new plan to reward creators who make use of Spotify Live. Spotify is testing out allowing artists to host their own exclusive rooms, so top fans can hear from artists in real time and interact directly with their favourite artists – and support them financially, too.
In their Spotify Live room artists could host a release day party, for example, and sell tickets to live shows and merchandise right there in the virtual space.
So far, Spotify has been testing on a small selection of artists. Interested artists can sign up here.
Let’s hope the new idea sticks, unlike the Greenroom Creator Fund.
How else can artists make money on Spotify?
Aside from making money earning royalties when uploading their music through a distributor like RouteNote, Spotify lets artists earn directly through fans in another way. It is soon renaming the Artist Fundraising Pick to Fan Support.
Established to help artists at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, since then 200,000 artists have made use of the feature. The name change shows a shift to encouraging fans to support their favourite artists financially, not only as a charity case in times of crisis.
