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mrtrick.bsky.social
I run Motive Unknown. Music maker. Gardener. Failed meditator. I also write the Network Notes newsletter: https://networknotes.motiveunknown.com
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Let's make sure we never forget this moment.

Inspired by a JonWayne video I watched, I wrote a few words about how we in the music industry might be focusing on the wrong places to build audiences that might actually drive sales and revenue. Dive in below...

The turns of phrase in this AC/DC piece elevate it to high art. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. Someone give this piece ALL THE AWARDS. I shall share two examples....

A rare exclusive today, detailing how NTS has taken out a loan with Universal that, if defaulted on, will see the major taking ownership of the entire NTS business: properties, IP, the lot. Not a great development for the indie music landscape.

I wrote a few thoughts about how I feel Universal is, if anything, battling to remain relevant amid changing times and a fundamental shift in where the power sits in the music space - that is, solely with the artists. More below…👇🏻

Essential reading. Make time for it. open.substack.com/pub/littledo...

Here's a sentence I never saw myself typing today: that new Hawkwind album is magnificent. Absolutely loving it. album.link/gb/i/1799083...

I wrote a few words about the music industry and AI. And whilst I think some people would rather stick a fork in their eye than read another post about AI, I'd argue that this piece is recognising that, and calling for a bit of calm amid the constant doom-mongering. Read on below...

Think you don't need an official artist website in 2025? Think again...

These people sound like AWESOME fun to be around. Proper "tell me you fall for every TikTok trend going without actually saying so" vibes. Anyways, BRB: just off o 'biohack' myself into relaxation with 4 pints of Moretti. #OKthanks

Good uses of AI? OK - how about having it create an image of Brian Blessed as an 80s rapper? You're welcome.

I have long held a theory that the quality of Ministry's albums has risen and fallen in direct correlation to the shittiness of whoever the US president is. So it's not a shock at all to see that their new one is a belter, LOL

God I love this clip. The comments are great too.

Man this free acid/303 synth from Crow Hill is far too much fun. In no time at all you're laying off mad sqwonking acieeeed action and it's bloody marvellous thecrowhillcompany.com/vaults/

Goddamn - did the London date sell out already @bugpressure.bsky.social? Went to grab my tix and everywhere seems to have sold out! Congrats on that - not so good for me though LOL!

Today's Network Notes looks at the lack of subcultures, and how building local scenes - both online and off - could be the key to really creating groundswells of interest again at a time where paths to audiences feels weirder and harder than ever for emerging artists.

Christ that London date sounds ferocious. SEE YOU THERE!

I didn't realise there was a new Kutmah album out. Well worth a listen: album.link/s/5XOWrqMPiN...

Listen back to yesterday’s Soho Radio special in which @mrtrick.bsky.social and I shone a spotlight on the interconnected careers of 3 musical outlaws, Roberta Flack, Eugene McDaniels and Les McCann www.mixcloud.com/sohoradio/wr...

Tune in, on now!

Tune into Soho Radio tomorrow from 6 til 8pm GMT when I'll be chatting with my old radio compadre @mrtrick.bsky.social while we delve into the interconnecting catalogues of 3 musical outlaws, Roberta Flack, Eugene McDaniels and Les McCann sohoradiolondon.com

I fed over 900 comments on a BBC article about Spotify's payouts into ChatGPT, asking it to perform some sentiment analysis to get a snapshot of how people feel about the platform in 2025. The results are certainly telling....

It's a sign of changing times that I'm seeing about 99 negative comments for every positive one on this Spotify article - and there's over 800 comments.

The latest Network Notes just went up, this time looking at this rumoured Spotify AI remixing feature that will let users (apparently) remix songs on the platform and share to social media. Who benefits? Arguably not the artists...

Jesus christ can we just stop using Spotify already... If you're a user, switch to something else. If you're an artist, just pull your music. Fuck it all off. We can (and have to) do better than this FFS.

New @wrongtom.bsky.social ? Don't mind if I do! rongorongorongo.bandcamp.com/album/someth...

If like me you're "quite the fan" of this gentleman's work then do give @bugpressure.bsky.social a follow. Great to have you on here fella!

Wonderful half hour BBC documentary on DJ Derek from 1994. Great Bristol pub footage and wonderful records, too. Lovely little film. youtu.be/SkI38PHAv6M?...

Thanks to @mrtrick.bsky.social for some much-needed optimism about the online music industry. I'm releasing my first album in 20yrs. Things have changed! Exploring music sales & fan platforms, I'm struck by their variety & promise &, sure, immaturity. networknotes.motiveunknown.com/p/the-desper...