As the Summer wind blew in this weekend, I got excited. Not just to pull out the white linens and seersucker suits, but because it’s festival season in New York again. We’re fortunate to kick things off with the standard-bearer, Governor’s Ball. “Gov Ball,” launched in 2011 by three ambitious young gentlemen from Founders Entertainment, is a multi-day music festival held on Randall's Island. It’s not bound by genre or style. If it’s hot, it’s there.The festival business has changed dramatically since 2011, but Gov Ball has remained influential throughout, making key upgrades along the way. Besides the music, the fest features popular New York restaurants and food trucks as well as local art, activities, and games. It’s the era of experiences and Gov Ball provides just that. Due to other obligations, I’m only going to make it on Sunday -- but catching Nas, The Strokes, and KAYTRANADA is nothing to scoff at. I hope to see the rest of Congress, the Senate and other industry diplomats (wouldn’t that be somethin’) out on the island...
BEATS
TikTok Owner to Challenge Spotify and Apple With Music Service ByteDance Ltd., owner of the popular video app TikTok, is developing a paid music service that will challenge industry leaders Spotify and Apple Music in emerging markets. (Bloomberg)
Justin Bieber is Launching a Plant-Based Deodorant Later This YearMega pop star Justin Bieber has teamed up with Unilever-owned Schmidt’s Naturals to introduce a new deodorant scent (Digital Music News)
Artists On Safeguarding Their Headspace During TourSelf-care, hard enough as is, can prove particularly difficult for the creators among us. Late-night sessions, competitive isolation, imposter syndrome, foggy paths forward, constant comparisons, pressure to do more than *just* music, it all takes a toll. (Awal)
William Morris Endeavor Is Filing Paperwork to Go PublicWilliam Morris Endeavor has signaled its intention to go public in a recent IPO filing, revealing details about the company’s financial position. (Digital Music News)
The Ins & Outs of Signing a Record DealThe almighty record deal — sought after, vilified, ever-evolving — boils down to words on a page, and those words hold weight. When signing a record deal, one clause can be the difference between picking your singles and losing your vision, amassing wealth and missing out, buying the dream car and leasing the minivan. (Awal)
Country Fans Calling For a Wrangler Boycott After Lil Nas X Sponsorship DealLil Nas X has turned his Old Town Road lyric, “Cowboy hat from Gucci, Wrangler on my booty” into a lucrative partnership. But some country fans are upset about it. (Digital Music News)
Supreme: A History – Ross Wilson on the Rise of the Cult BrandNew York brand Supreme is now regarded as one of the leading and most desired multicultural lifestyle brands on the planet. Over the past 25 years, the independent brand has carved out a distinctive and uncompromising aesthetic that transcends that of a traditional skateboard company. (Sotheby's)
Carly Rae Jepsen And The Rise Of The Micro Pop StarAs hip-hop and streaming change the power dynamics of musical celebrity, Jepsen and other artists making traditional pop have embraced a new kind of boutique stardom. (Buzzfeed)
The three types of scarcity tactics in music streaming—and why so few of them actually workOne of Spotify’s worst fears is becoming scarce.As a publicly-traded media subscription company with ever-growing ambitions for global expansion, Spotify can’t afford scarcity.
(Revue)
Apple's Musical Masterpiece Is Missing A New MacApple has rolled out another advertising campaign through YouTube over the weekend. ‘Behind The Music’ highlights the ability of its deskbound computers to create music through a mix of artist profiles and software highlights. (Forbes)
BYTES
Hip-hop has historically been inhospitable to female performers. A new class is finding fresh paths to break through.
Tyler, the Creator recently partnered with Apple Music to host a live performance of IGOR. The free concert was held at a warehouse in Los Angeles and livestreamed on the platform on May 22.
Relax your soul with beautiful sounds of piano while playing your favorite tunes on this original piano rhythm game.
The new record sees the New York-based Congolese artist and Roc Nation signee cycling through nine tracks that are made for summer nights and dance floors.
This week's newsletter was carefully curated by the Nue Agency staff and our editor Rachel Meisner If you think we missed something this week or have any suggestions/comments for next week's newsletter, let us know!