NEWS

Apple has removed the Collaborative playlists feature from the iOS 17.2 update due to concerns about abuse and spam. The feature has been delayed for 2024 and there’s no official information when it will become available. The Apple Music Favorite Songs Playlist provides swift access to marked favorite songs. You can now disable Listening History during a Focus session to avoid impacting recommendations. The update also fixes a bug with recently searched content not appearing in the Music app’s search tab for certain devices.

Collaborative playlists in Apple Music was one of the headline features at the iOS 17 announcement. The feature was slated to arrive with the future version of iOS 17 update — iOS 17.2 more specifically. However, that’s not happening and users may have to wait a little longer to be able to use this feature in Apple Music.

9to5Mac has reported that Apple has removed the Collaborative playlists feature from the iOS 17.2 beta 4 update that was rolled out last week and it is still absent from the iOS 17.2 RC update that Apple has recently rolled out to users.

This clearly indicates that Apple Music’s Collaborative playlists feature won’t be a part of iOS 17.2 update. Apple has already dropped the complete changelog for the
The report also mentions that the feature has been delayed for 2024 and there’s no official information when it will become available to users.

Why Apple is not rolling out Collaborative playlists with iOS 17.2 update
According to the report, the code of Apple Music suggests that the feature has been removed due to concerns about abuse and spam. That said, the feature is still in development and may get rolled out with future updates.
New features and changes in Apple Music as a aprt of iOS 17.2 update
The Apple Music Favorite Songs Playlist enables swift access to your marked favorite songs. Additionally, within Apple Music, you have the option to disable Listening History during a Focus session. This ensures that the music you enjoy during that time won’t be reflected in the Recently Played section or impact your personalised recommendations.
The update also fixes the bug where Apple Music recently searched content might not appear in the recently searched section of the Search tab in the Music app, on devices that had iOS 17.2 Beta 1, Beta 2 or Beta 3 installed. Library recently searched items are unaffected.

By Caroline Brew, Valerie Wu

Dick Clark Productions is expanding its talent division with two new appointments. Sara Kantathavorn is joining the company as senior vice president, talent strategy and Jeremy Lowe has been promoted to vice president, talent and partnerships. Lowe and Kantathavorn will work closely together in their new roles.

“Sara’s experience leading talent teams and strategy coupled with Jeremy’s enthusiasm and passion for artist discovery make for a winning combination,” said Jay Penske, CEO, chairman and founder, Penske Media and CEO, Dick Clark Productions. “Talent will always be at the core of everything we do at DCP.”

Kantathavorn was previously head of global talent development at Apple Music. Lowe most recently served as executive director, marketing and talent partnerships at Dick Clark.

Some of Dick Clark Productions’ shows include “Golden Globe Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” “Streamy Awards,” “American Music Awards” and “So You Think You Can Dance,” among other titles.

DATES
The CW Network’s new original series “Wild Cards” will premiere on Jan. 17, followed by the Season 3 premieres of “Family Law.”

Starring Vanessa Morgan, Giacomo Gianniotti and Jason Priestly, “Wild Cards” is a “crime-solving procedural with a comedic twist that follows the unlikely duo of a by-the-book, sardonic cop and a spirited, clever con woman,” according to the release. Creator Michael Konyves executive produces the show, along with pilot director James Genn, Shawn Piller, Lloyd Segan and writers Alexandra Zarowny, James Thorpe, Noelle Carbone and Morwyn Brebner. From Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures and Piller/Segan in association with The CW for commissioning broadcaster CBC in Canada, the series is produced by Charles Cooper and Virginia Rankin. Fifth Season handles international distribution.

“Family Law” Season 3 chronicles Jewel Staite’s Abby and her dysfunctional family while they help other dysfunctional families, on top of navigating their own personal dramas. Produced by SEVEN24 Films and Lark Productions for Corus Entertainment’s Global, creator Susin Nielsen executive produces the series, along with Lark’s Erin Haskett and Seven24’s Jordy Randall and Tom Cox. David Valleau produces, with Andy Mikita serving as executive producer. Entertainment One holds international distribution rights to the series.

LAUNCHES
Fuse Media has partnered with India-based OTT app aggregator Tata Play Binge to launch its streaming service Fuse+ in India.

This will make the Latino-owned media company’s Fuse content available to Indian audiences. The company previously announced new endeavors in diversity and inclusion with the launch of its Latino Vibes FAST Channel and LGBTQ+ FAST channel OUTtv.

“With a programming slate that serves as an entertainment destination for so many viewers, partnering with Tata Play Binge was a natural fit for Fuse Media as we continue our global expansion,” said Miguel Roggero, Fuse Media chairman and CEO. “Fuse+’s library is made up of vibrant, culturally diverse stories, and we’re thrilled to introduce our empowering original programming to Indian viewers.”

Apple Music Replay 2023 is an annual feature that provides subscribers with a personalised review of their music preferences and habits throughout the year. The Replay offers an animated highlight reel showcasing your top artists, total listening minutes, various statistics, and a curated playlist of your most-listened-to tracks.

How many charts are included in Apple Music Replay?
There are seven charts in total, offering an all-inclusive overview of your listening habits. These charts include total listening minutes, the number of artists explored, and your favourite artist of the year.

What additional insights are provided in Apple Music Replay?
Users can discover if they made it into an artist’s top 100 listeners, the total number of songs and albums listened to, and identification of the top song and album of the year.

What musical preferences are revealed?
Apple Music Replay highlights the most-listened-to genre, along with a summary of your total minutes, top artist, top album, and top song.
How can users share their Apple Music Replay highlights?
Users can easily share their Apple Music Replay highlights on social media platforms or save them to their Photos app. Simply tap the share button during the highlight reel.

Is there a milestone tracker in Apple Music Replay?
Yes, Apple Music Replay includes a milestone tracker, indicating achievements such as listening for 10,000 hours or 1,000 songs.
Where can users find Apple Music Replay 2023?
To access your Apple Music Replay 2023, visit https://music.apple.com/us/replay. Moreover, the Apple Music app itself does not host the Replay feature.
How can users access the Apple Music Replay playlist?
To find your Apple Music Replay playlist for 2023, head to the “Listen Now” tab within the Apple Music app. Previous Replay playlists can also be found under the same tab.

Apple Music Replay 2023 provides a comprehensive and visually engaging way for users to reflect on their musical journey throughout the year. Explore your charts, share your highlights, and enjoy the curated playlist of your favourite tunes.

By Evan Minsker

Earlier this year, the 1990s hip-hop duo Black Sheep filed a class-action lawsuit against Universal Music Group over the label’s business dealings with Spotify. The breach of contract lawsuit claimed that the label owed more than $750 million in royalties to various artists. That lawsuit was dismissed on Monday, court documents viewed by Pitchfork confirm.

The rappers’ lawsuit argued that UMG’s “undisclosed, sweetheart deal with Spotify” violated the duo’s 1990 contract with Universal imprint Polygram. They claimed that the contract required for UMG to pay 50 percent of all net receipts connected to the “use or exploration” of their music. They claimed the class impacted in the lawsuit could include “at least thousands of artists.”

United States District Judge Jennifer Rochon decided that Black Sheep had exceeded the statute of limitations, therefore deeming their lawsuit time-barred. Judge Rochon also rejected the rappers’ argument that UMG was in breach of contract. Their request for leave to amend was denied, and the case was closed. UMG declined to comment. Pitchfork has reached out to Black Sheep’s representatives.

New Delhi, Oct 30 (IANSlife): Music has become a massive phenomenon especially when it comes to the heart and soul of Indian culture. It has always been a part of the Indian heritage but now it’s becoming a buzzword that our country is effectively promoting music festivals that not only prioritises ecotourism but are massively sustainable too.

Music fests like Bacardi NH7 Weekender, Magnetic Fields, Sula Fest, Echoes of Earth, Sunburn Festival, Jodhpur RIFF, Ragasthan, VH1 Supersonic, Ziro Festival of Music are effectively taking initiatives to promote ecotourism while organising cultural music and practices that revitalise our respect for Indian symphonies and maestros.

Varun Koorichh, VP Marketing andPortfolio Head, Diageo India, said “India, known for its rich diversity and profound love for music, channels this through music festivals which are now increasingly embracing eco-consciousness. The festival incorporates activities such as plogging, crafting sustainable camps, and partaking in green masterclasses all while enjoying the locally inspired cuisine, and grooving to the scintillating music performances. The festival takes a strong stand in favour of sustainability by creatively repurposing bamboo for the stage setup and employing bamboo light fixtures for decor.We firmly believe in encouraging green seekers to embrace an eco-conscious lifestyle and, in turn, fostering eco-tourism. As our country takes significant strides towards ecotourism through music festivals, the Ziro music festival stands as a shining example of this endeavour and we are resolute in extending our commitment with Green Vibes, a festival that harmonises with nature to further propagate eco-consciousness.”
The Emergence of Music Festival in India

Over the years, music festivals in India have surged of gained popularity wherein, music lovers from all across the globe gravitate to music hotspots to let the music rhythms and nature’s sounds take control! This is why, ‘n’ a number of music fests have started incorporating eco-friendly practices and promoting sustainability. Such initiatives give people exposure to nature’s hidden gems and what it has in store to amaze them. This enables them to broaden their perception beyond the ragas of Indian cultural music, understanding the significance of music festivals.

Prashansa Kapoor recently attended the Ziro Festival of Music, one of the largest open-air festivals set amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh. She said that, “Indian culture, especially music festivals, bring fans in throngs and this becomes more exciting when artists, bands, and DJs grace its charm with their music sensations. The thrill and environment become so enthusiastic that as a tourist, nobody would want to go back to their homes. This is how music festivals witness massive footfall as they weave and ignite people’s emotions to new realms due to which, sustainable and musical fests are no longer an unfamiliar thing in India.

Such exposures of sustainability and ecotourism have created more demand for musical fests as the genre and beats of different music seem like a healing medicine to souls and cater to different music tastes. This has also created a vast platform for numerous artists, leading bands, and performers, enabling them to showcase their talent with great recall and recognition.

Marko Veisson from the Estonian nu-folk duo band Puuluup, who performed at Ziro said, “Performing at musical fests often gives us an opportunity to encourage and embrace eco-consciousness because it’s heartening to see that music festivals are stepping up their game by recognizing their environmental impact and taking proactive measures to mitigate it. Though it involves a lot of travel and resource consumption specifically for festival organisers, nevertheless, it’s great to see people making an effort to address environmental concerns. These events not only advocate eco-consciousness but inspire people to be more inclined to integrate eco-conscious practices into their daily lives”.

In fact, with recent evolutions, innovation, and developments in technology, digitalization in India is also growing at a rapid pace via which, organisers of music festivals can better tap into the music lovers and audiences interested in attending such festivals, leveraging social media. Social media platforms are better at bridging the gap between festivals and potential attendees as the power of such platforms better drive awareness and lineup announcement that generates more excitement and leads to effective engagement among people.

People often find a reason to go on trips or often wait for long weekends or some occasions that give them a chance to plan a trip. Most of the time, they prefer to go to lush greeneries or hills to dive deeper into the serene sound of nature where music festivals, edge their travel schedules. Since music festivals take place at scenic locations, the fusion of music, nature, and tourism contributes to the growth and popularity of sustainable development too. “Ziro is located in a lush and picturesque location of Arunachal Pradesh surrounded by the Eastern Himalayas. The natural beauty of the location adds to the festival andcharm, with rolling hills, forests, and paddy fields providing a breathtaking backdrop. The festival also creatively repurposes bamboo for the stage setup, employing bamboo light fixtures for décor which is truly commendable”, said Marko.

He also added, “The plastic usage policy is quite strict here which is a stark contrast to metro cities like Delhi, Bombay, and Pune where I have performed. As an artist, I am truly captivated by the sheer brilliance of the setup. The way it is in perfect harmony with nature contributes to the overall ambiance and experience, making it all the more distinctive and memorable for all of us”.

The blend of music with nature and cultural tradition equipped attendees with unique experiences since these festivals incorporate multiple elements like food vendors, art installations, tribal dances, themed zones, flea markets, and a lot more.Bobby Hano, Co-Founder and Festival Director, of Ziro Festival, said “This is a boost for responsible tourism in the northeast and will hopefully pave the way for a generation of eco-responsible artists and music lovers.”Owing to the multi-dimensional approach, the festival organisers are also enabled to cut down on plastic or other hazardous products that can harm the environment. They opt for traditional building materials like wood, bamboo, banana leaves, floral decorations, etc that contribute to the growth of music festivals and render immersive cultural experiences.