Clubhouse will soon introduce a new way to form a live audio room with friends

Tom Newmanin
Technology

Image Credit: Jane Manchun Wong

Source code found in the app, along with a Tweet from Clubhouse all but confirms a new ‘Waves’ feature in the social audio app.

Twitter’s best source of uncovering upcoming features on platforms such as Spotify and Instagram, Jane Manchun Wong finds a new feature in the back end of Clubhouse. The feature called Waves seems to be a new way to form and invite friends to audio rooms. Simply wave at a friend and once they’re ready to join, a room is formed when they reply.

Wong says this feature takes the pressure off friends needing to join immediately. It seems this feature will be for Clubhouse’s ‘social rooms‘, intended for intimate conversations with just those you follow, rather than publicly available ‘open rooms’. Two days after this Tweet, Clubhouse Tweeted the following. Notice the wave emoji and small print “obviously I am referring to Jane.”

https://twitter.com/Clubhouse/status/1439638356334452741

How does TikTok make money?

Madeleine Amosin
Support / FAQs
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Technology

Image Credit: Solen Feyissa

TikTok is a free app – so how do TikTok make money without charging users?

How does TikTok make money? TikTok makes revenue via a combination of ad revenue and selling in-app currency.

The phenomenally successful social media app may be free, but users are paying through exposure to branded advertising and optional in-app purchases.

TikTok Ads

TikTok mainly makes its money from in-app advertisements. TikTok for Business charges companies to run ads such as Brand Takeover ads, In-Feed advertisments, and Branded Hashtag Challenges.

In-Feed ads slot in between TikToks on the For You Page. Brand Takeovers put an ad straight at the top of the app.

Brands can pay for their own TikTok challenges complete with hashtag to appear on Discover feeds with Branded Hashtag Challenges.

Branded effects

Companies can pay to introduce their own lenses, AR filters and stickers for TikTok users to add to their videos.

TikTok Coins

TikTok also makes money with their in-app currency. Virtual TikTok Coins can be purchased and spent on the app by users, giving gifts to their favourite TikToker like a virtual tip.

How to make money on TikTok

Let’s talk about how you can make money on TikTok. If you’re a musician or producer who wants to sell your music, you can get your music on TikTok and earn money every time someone uses your song in a video on the app.

At RouteNote we upload your music to the TikTok sound library for free. You keep 85% of revenue earned from TikTok as well as 85% of royalties from plays on streaming services and stores.

Fancy being the soundtrack to the text viral TikTok? Upload your music with RouteNote today.

The Control Centre Shazam feature has now been used over 1 billion times

Madeleine Amosin
Digital Music News
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Technology

Image Credit: Apple

More than a billion songs have been identified by Shazam as users enjoy the super-helpful iOS feature.

Apple have announced that the Shazam music discovery app has been used directly through the iOS Control Centre to identify songs over one billion times.

The nifty feature was launched in beta in September 2020. iPhone users can add the Shazam icon to the Control Centre, so if you hear a song you like you can quickly swipe, tap, then wait while the app scans to identify the track information.

In June Apple revealed that every month a billion songs are recognised on Shazam. Apple Music is also starting to use Shazam tech to ensure that artists who feature in DJ mixes get paid for the use of their music.

Want your own music to be findable on Shazam? Upload your music to RouteNote for today to add your tracks to Shazam – for free.

How to watch Apple announce the iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7 (probably)

Tom Newmanin
Technology

Apple’s “California streaming” live event is scheduled for tomorrow. While details from Apple are scarce, here’s what we’re expecting to see.

We’re about 24 hours from Apple’s next keynote. As usual, Apple are being tight lipped about what we’ll see on stage. Beyond rumours, leaks and predictions, all we have to go off from Apple are the title “California streaming”, the graphic above and Apple’s usual yearly cycle.

As is typical from Apple in September, most predictions online are pointed towards the launch of the iPhone 12S/13 and Apple Watch Series 7, however we may also see the AirPods 3. We should also hear the release date for iOS 15 and watchOS 8. Although not confirmed, Apple are thought to be holding one or two more events later this year, where we’re hoping to see a larger/more powerful iMac, 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros, redesigned iPad mini, redesigned Mac mini, and AirPods Pro 2. Find details for all Apple products expected this year and beyond here.

Kick off is tomorrow, September 14th, at 10am PDT, 1pm ET and 6pm in the UK. Find the stream or get reminded prior to the start on YouTube or apple.com.

Is Spotify Free really free?

Madeleine Amosin
Technology

If Spotify free music streaming makes you think there must be a catch, let’s clear things up.

Is Spotify Free really free? Yes, it’s true – Spotify’s free version won’t cost you a thing.

However… There are a few restrictions when compared to the paid version, Spotify Premium, so Spotify Free is free in terms of monetary cost to the user but perhaps not free in terms of convenience.

Is free Spotify good?

As is to be expected, you don’t get the full Spotify experience from the free app. With Spotify Free you’re restricted to six skips an hour. Users also don’t get the option to download tracks for offline listening, which might cost you in data usage.

There’s still the same discovery features offered in Premium, with personalised song recommendations, but not features like Enhanced playlists. You can search the app, and make use of the social media sharing options.

How is Spotify free?

Spotify is able to offer a free subscription because of the money it gets from audio advertisements which slot in between songs and appear as banners on the app. These ads are of course designed to make you want to sign up to Premium for undisturbed listening of your favourite songs.

How do I get Spotify Premium?

Spotify is much better if you’re able to pay for it. You can try out Spotify Premium for free for three months and explore everything the app has to offer – afterwards, Premium costs $9.99.

But, if you can’t afford access to Spotify Premium right now, Spotify Free is a perfectly usable basic version that lets you experience the power of Spotify and stream music for free.

Are you a musician or producer? You can get your music on Spotify and other streaming services for free with RouteNote distribution. Find out more here.

New music making app Mayk.it lets anyone create beats with just a phone

Madeleine Amosin
Digital Music News
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Software
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Technology

Image Credit: Mayk.it

Want to be a musician? All you need is an iPhone to make beats with the new Mayk.it music making app.

New music app alert! Mayk.it is a music making app aimed at non-musicians. A social music app where anyone can make a beat using just their phone, Mayk.it has a focus on easily producing music and sharing it with fellow users in the community.

The app is now launching on iOS – with $4 million in funding from eye-catching investors including T-Pain and Sophia Bendz, who was Spotify’s original CMO.

The iPhone app offers a virtual music studio, featuring free beats to inspire users and easy editing tools. Writing prompts get users started making music on their phones instantly. A discovery page lets users see what others have been creating on the app, and the community can rate the beats without unfair judgement using the Tinder-like swipe feature.

Mayk.it was founded by Stefan Heinrich Henriquez and Akiva Bamberger in 2020. Henriquez said he was inspired to make the app because he loved singing but hated his voice, and the app features voice filters for this very reason.

https://twitter.com/stefan_mayk/status/1435302090583150592

Interestingly, Henriquez is the ex-Head of Global Marketing at TikTok. TikTok has had music woven into its fabric since launch, and artists can get their songs to the TikTok library by using RouteNote’s free distribution, so their songs can be the soundtrack to dance challenges and snappy videos on the app.

Is mayk.it making music creation too easy? Not if it inspires people who don’t have the confidence to consider themselves a musician to get started making music.

Mayk.it is so new it’s currently invite-only. Join the waitlist here.

Amazon apparently getting into live audio, with a music focus

Madeleine Amosin
Digital Music News
·
Technology

Image Credit: Amazon Music

Just like Spotify, Amazon is reportedly looking to launch a live audio app similar to Clubhouse.

The live audio race continues. Axios reports that Amazon is the latest tech giant to be in the process of building a live audio service, joining the ranks of similar apps like Clubhouse.

Live audio platforms broadcast audio-only livestreams of conversations often in virtual “rooms” where nominated speakers broadcast to muted listeners. According to Axios, Amazon’s version would differ slightly. The feature would be be focused on music, based around the Amazon Music streaming service, and integrated with the Alexa voice assistant devices.  

Any plans are still in the rumour stage. Musicians could reportedly put out live concerts and events in collaboration with a major record label, and celebrities would host live conversations on the service. As well as music, radio programs and podcasts are also being considered, merging well with the Alexa system. Amazon-owned Twitch is also rumoured to be getting a live audio feature.

Amazon has yet to confirm the leak. If accurate, the company will square up to rivals Spotify Greenroom, Facebook’s Live Audio Rooms and Twitter Spaces, as well as facing off with the original platform that sparked the live audio craze, Clubhouse.

Amazon’s effort is likely to be more similar to Spotify Greenroom than the Clubhouse rivals launched by social media platforms. Axios speculate that the focus is more likely to be on a radio tool for livestreaming performances rather than sparking conversations between strangers on the internet.

Sounds like a good way to sell Alexa devices, huh? There could, however, be valuable opportunities for Amazon Music artists to perform live, and for musicians to gain extra exposure by riding the publicity wave that always comes with the launch of a new tool.

Twitter introduce Ticketed Spaces to more creators on iOS

Tom Newmanin
Technology

Twitter are opening up their monetization tool to more creators on their social audio feature and Clubhouse competitor, Spaces.

Launced in December, Spaces are Twitter’s answer to Clubhouse, allowing creators to host live audio rooms. As Spaces rolled out to more creators in May, Twitter announced plans for Ticketed Spaces, their monetization tool. Applications for Ticketed Spaces and Super Follows opened in June. Now Twitter are opening Ticketed Spaces up to more creators on iOS, with plans to expand it everywhere soon.

Ticketed Spaces allow hosts to monetize live rooms by charging a fee and gives fans a way to support their favourite creator in exchange for exclusive access to content. Hosts can charge between $1 and $999 for any set number of ticketed. The creator keeps 97% of the revenue, after Apple App Store/Google Play Store fees. Ticketed Spaces differ from Clubhouse’s Payments feature, that allows audiences to tip creators.

You must be 18 years or older, have at least 1,000 active followers and hosted three or more Spaces in the last 30 days. To see if you’re eligible, tap your profile picture in the top left of the iOS app, tap Monetization, then Ticketed Spaces. Scroll down and tap Check eligibility. Click here to see Twitter’s full eligibility requirements for Ticketed Spaces.

Unfortunately there’s currently no way to reschedule Ticketed Spaces. Creators must cancel a scheduled room, then schedule a new room. Ticket holders will be automatically refunded and must purchase a new ticket.

Best apps for recording music

Kieran Webberin
Equipment
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Software
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Technology

Image credit: Apple

In today’s world musicians and producers are spoilt for choice when it comes to recording apps. Here are our favourite apps for recording music.

Thanks to advancements in technology and the internet artists don’t necessarily need to hit the studio to record and create their music. Now, artists have plenty of power at the end of their fingertips thanks to apps such as Garageband, Logic Remote, and many more. These apps also are incredibly affordable for any musician, which is vital for those just starting their musical career. There are plenty of apps out there but here are our top 3 apps for recording your music.

Garageband

iOS, iPad

Garageband is often overlooked for other DAW’s but the truth is this software packs a punch and is extremely user-friendly for beginners. This app particularly shines on an iPad or iPhone as it looks sleek and is easy to install and use. You can use the app to create beats, record parts, and even mix on the go. You can go a step further and plug in an external mic and record your voice, giving you one of the most affordable and powerful recording studios in your back pocket.

BandLab

Web, iOS, Android

BandLab is a fantastic app that blends a variety of social media tools and community features with an amazing recording interface, truly a two for one. You can auto-pitch your vocals, add effects, and tune-up inside the app. There is also ht ability to note down lyrics and ideas in the app. You’ll also be able to upload any demo to the cloud for easy transfer between devices.

Logic Remote

iOS, iPad

Logic Remote is a great companion app for software such as Garageband and Logic Pro, giving you a lot of power from the comfort of your tablet or phone. With this app you can record music, mix, and perform instruments from the comfort of your seat. The use of the app is extensive and would require a whole article in itself but if you want to find out more, you can do so here.

Instagram are replacing the swipe up with link stickers

Tom Newmanin
Technology

Image Credit: Souvik Banerjee

“Swipe up for more” will become “tap the link for more” from August 30th, as Instagram retire the swipe up feature in Stories.

In Instagram Stories, some creators were able to assign a swipe up with a link to an external site. This is commonly used for sponsored content, or to send fans to music, merch stores and ticket sales for example. Instagram have always restricted the swipe up feature to verified users or those with at least 10k followers. During testing in June, Instagram briefly allowed all users to attach links to a Story via a sticker. Although Instagram have since pulled the feature from all users, it seems they are sticking with stickers. From August 30th, Instagram have confirmed they will switch from swiping up to a tappable sticker for links.

Instagram said to The Verge that they are retiring swipe ups to “streamline the stories creation experience” and offer more “creative control” as users can customize the look of stickers. The switch will also allow users to respond to Stories with links, whereas this was previously impossible. Instagram are currently only allowing users who previously had swipe up privileges to add link stickers. The company said they are still evaluating rolling out the feature to more users, depending on the reception of link stickers. As stickers display the URL, there is less room for malicious attachments.

Click here to find out how to add stickers to your Instagram Stories.