“Apple Music had a record year as people around the world spent more time discovering and engaging with music.” 

You may be inclined to ask what exact milestone they reached to make it a record year but the company did not provide any supporting evidence. Apple did not provide an updated total subscriber count for the service either. In fact, the most recent subscriber count provided was back in June of 2019. At that time, the service was said to have 60 million subscribers. What about now?

Today, it’s pretty difficult to estimate how many subscribers Apple Music has. Apple has done several promotions to persuade users to subscribe to the service. During 2019s Christmas, Apple offered a big deal offering 6 months free to new users. Currently, new users can get 3 months free and then pay $9.99 a month for the individual plan.

Many sources claim Apple is approaching 100 million subscribers and is waiting for a special announcement. With the announcement, we may also see a substantial update with new features like animated album art! Until we get another update, you can read the full Apple year in review on their page here.

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This pandemic has put us in a time and place to value what is really important for us. It has made us face the dilemma of not having parties, events, concerts, things that made life more pleasant. At the same time, we are daily faced with our inner demons, who have increased, decreased, or remained stable, but we cannot completely ignore them because live music is not there.

Fortunately, there is a sector that never stopped even though everything else stopped and that is the music. Every year, regardless of the circumstances, there are new artists who begin to captivate us, the consolidated ones leave us great songs to continue enjoying, and new ways of enjoying what we like the most emerge.

2020 was no exception; Emerging artists gave us magical moments, established artists surprised us with experiments that sound great, and new ways of enjoying music became more noticeable and bigger. Some of them amazed us with albums and singles throughout the year.

This is starting to get boring, so let’s stop putting filler on and get started with this count of the songs that marked 2020. Featuring artists of various genres and styles, such as Tchami, Camelphat, Lane 8, Madeon, Ver:West, Deadmau5, and many more.

20.- For A Feeling- Camelphat & ARTBAT Feat RHODES

One of the first releases of the year which really caught my attention. CamelPhat has that sweet spot that nails mainstream house with a more underground vision for some perfect results. It is impossible not to get lost inside their mesmerizing patterns and worlds of sound. And ARTBAT? Well, no words can describe just how complex their work is. This fusion really took the complexity of designing enveloping dance music to another level, transporting your mind and senses into a new reality. Hopefully, 2021 will be filled with work from both these duos, and we’ll be there to enjoy it!

19.- Porter Robinson- Something Comforting

Porter Robinson is another beautiful side of EDM, and in 2020 he gave us so much to be grateful for. ‘Something Comforting‘ definitely enters this category. This track was probably my favorite Porter Robinson track of the year and definitely reminded me of the Porter Robinson of earlier. In 2021, we’ll be blessed with Porter Robinson’s new album, and hopefully, the year will be as good as this album.

18.- Illenium & Excision- Feel Something

Then again, 2020 had some really bad moments. Some really down moments. And for those moments, we had Illenium. However, people still wanted to cry while being able to rage. And so, Illenium & Excision‘s collab ‘Feel Something‘ came to light. Mixing those sad boi feels with the unique dubstep headbanging sound Excision delivers and adding some metal vocals really made this one an instant fan favorite. Hopefully, 2021 will be the year we get to experience these new tracks and more on a sweet new edition of Illenium B2B Excision.

17.- Above & Beyond Feat Zoe Johnston- Reverie

Is there a project as complex, and altogether beautiful as Above and Beyond inside the EDM industry? I highly doubt it. Their music perfectly defines the best side of trance, in my opinion at least. The recovery senses each one of their tracks gives is just breathtaking. In 2020, Above and Beyond saved us. Putting us in a state of ‘Reverie‘, which means happiness and relaxation, the group let us know that, no matter what we face, we will always be together, and sooner than later we’ll hold hands together, as we used to.

16.- Gorgon City & Sofi Tukker- House Arrest

One of my favorite tracks of the year. Sofi Tukker teamed up with British duo Gorgon City to bring one of the biggest, quarantine anthems to us. Nothing but exquisite house music royalty. The perfect fusion between the brass sounds that dominate today’s tech-house industry and the classical deep house melodies Gorgon City is known for. ‘House Arrest’ definitely nailed the year. To top it all up, Sofi Tukker reunited their “Freak Fam” and put together one of the most unique videos we’ve seen.

15.- Madeon- The Prince

After a huge release of his album ‘Good Faith’, French Producer and DJ Madeon surprised fans with the long-awaited track ‘The Prince’. Originally thought to be included on Good Faith, ‘The Prince’ stands alone with its darker vibes and mixed vocals. After first hearing the track at Porter Robinson’s Secret Sky Festival, we’re glad this track made a release in 2020.

14.- Kölsch- The Great Consumer

Our list wouldn’t be complete without including Kölsch. ‘The Great Consumer’ had Kölsch’s signature touch and was an instant hit this past summer. Despite not being able to hear this track live, Kölsch was able to play it during several live stream events, including this summer’s Tomorrowland Around The World Festival.

13.- Lane 8 & OTR- Shatter

Lane 8 and OTR’s ‘Shatter’ is just the track we needed this year as it’s calming vibe and airy vocals take you into another world. It stands out as one of the shorter length tracks on the list, but it’s definitely worth a listen or two.

12. Cubicolor- Wake Me Up (Tale Of Us Remix)

This Tale of Us remix brought a super interesting twist to Cubicolor’s ‘Wake Me Up’. The vocals in this song are elevated to a new level behind the signature Tale of Us sound. It’s the perfect balance that made an already amazing track so much better.

11. Tchami- Praise

French future house producer Tchami brought us something fresh and new with his track ‘Praise’. This time Tchami linked up with Georgia rapper, Gunna to create a fun and vibrant song that’s guaranteed to get your body moving.

10. Ver:West- 5 Seconds Before Sunrise

This year was the ideal moment for alternative projects or experiments with genres such as house or techno. In Tomorrowland Around The World Tiësto presented his alter ego VER: WEST focused on what he calls “melodic House” alongside his first single ‘5 seconds before sunrise‘. The song introduces us to a melodic house-techno world that makes a good allusion to the moment before sunrise, without a doubt one of the best tracks of the year.

9.- Last lings- No Time (RÜFÜS DU SOL Remix)

RÜFÜS DU SOL confirms their enormous ability to enhance the original essence of a track while giving a unique twist with their remix to ‘No Time‘ by Last Lings. The song makes a contrast between velvety synths and hard hits on the percussion, which makes for a unique experience when listening to this piece of music.

8.- Deadmau5 & Kiesza – Bridged By A Lightwave

If there is one artist in electronic music that everyone sets their eyes on when releasing something, it is certainly Deadmau5. Bringing to 2020 the characteristic vibes and melodies of his songs from the early 2010s, ‘Bridged By A Lightwave‘ deserved all the attention and more since it was a fantastic production that delights the ears of any fan and not so fan of his music.

7.- i_o & Lights- Annihilation

2020 was also the year in which many producers showing their softer and more melodic side. The American DJ and producer i_o wanted to close his 444 project with the release of a more sentimental EP. The result of this desire was ‘Annihilation‘ a deeply melancholic song with the incredible voice of Canadian singer Lights and apparently the vocals of i_o himself in some parts. One of the best for this strange year.

6.- Porter Robinson- Get Your Wish

Porter Robinson delights us at the beginning of this intense 2020 journey with his first solo single in six years called ‘Get Your Wish‘. At the same time it offers us the freshness and beats with which the DJ and producer always captivate us, it is a story of someone dealing with depression and the way in which he thankfully came out of it. Unbeknownst to us at the time, the track technically became the 2020 message.

5.- Rezz & Grabbitz- Someone Else

Love is hard, especially in 2020. Rezz & Grabbitz dropped a brilliant heartbreak track, ‘Someone Else‘, that highlights the very complex concepts of infidelity, and change over time. Grabbitz’s candid lyrics and Rezz’s brilliant sound make ‘Someone Else’ a track anyone who’s been heartbroken can resonate with.

4. Lane 8- Run

Lane 8 and Kasablanca brought their best this year with ‘Run‘. A dramatic, romantic, and uplifting track, ‘Run’ features warm synths that almost transport you into another dimension.

3.- Above & Beyond- Blue Monday

You can’t go wrong with Above and Beyond. And this year, they really pulled through with their version of the 1987 New Order classic ‘Blue Monday‘. It’s true to the original and maintains the iconic 80s vibe, but shifts into this final drop that can only be described as pure magic.

2.- Eric Prydz- Nopus

If there’s one good thing to come out of 2020, it’s the release of ‘Nopus‘ by Eric Prydz. It made its first appearance at EDC Las Vegas in 2016, and we’ve been waiting ever since. The 2020 release of the out-of-this-world track includes a three-minute version, a seven-minute extended version, and a music video.

1.- i_o – Castles In The Sky

And here is our number one, the demonstration that classics, good music, and 90s vibes are always alive. i_o released this classic trance track just days before his untimely death. Garrett’s rendition of the 90s version by Ian Van Dahl is infused with the classic techno style that’s attributed to i_o’s incredible artistry, making it truly memorable. Perhaps its the peak nostalgia, perhaps its a fitting memorial to a rising star lost too soon, but this track was the most loved by our team in 2020. Congratulations Garrett!

The post EDMTunes Top Tracks of 2020 appeared first on EDMTunes.

Festival organizer Emily Eavis and her father, Michael, are pleading for government assistance as events struggle to get insurance for next summer. Insurers were hit with claims of hundreds of millions of pounds when events were forced to close earlier this year. They are unable to afford another situation like that and therefore reluctant to provide cancellation coverage for events like Glastonbury.

However, event organizers cannot take on the risk of arranging festivals and other shows without insurance coverage. If forced to cancel, they could potentially lose millions.

Emily states, “The best solution would be for the government to offer direct financial support in the event of Glastonbury, and other events, being forced to cancel once they’re well into the preparations. If the government can share the risk by offering direct financial support, then it gives everyone the opportunity to move forward with the planning in the hope that things will be safe to run in the summer, and in the knowledge that backing is available if we’re simply not in a position to go ahead.”

The situation is dire as it not only impacts Glastonbury, but other events in the U.K. as well.

Keep up with the latest music news and releases through EDM Tunes!

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To be exact, the industry lost over $30 billion. This figure is from the year-end-report that Pollstar, a concert trade publication, had released recently. In 2020, the live events business was expected to hit a record of $12.2 billion in revenue, but instead incurred $9.7 billion in losses.

The projected loss of $30+ billion includes unreported events, ancillary revenues, including sponsorships, ticketing, concessions, merch, transportation, restaurants, hotels, and other related economic activities.

During these last couple months of 2020, socially distanced shows and drive-in concerts were put on to try to bring back live events. Drive-in shows accounted for 49% of all events that occurred after March 15 and grossed $18 million with 434,418 attendees. Although the efforts were somewhat successful in driving revenue, the figures were still drastically different from pre-COVID statistics.

As the year comes to an end, we can only wish for 2021 to be a better year. However, things are looking up so far. COVID-19 vaccinations are slowly becoming approved for rollout. Hopefully that means that live events can return to normal some time in the new year.

Keep up with the latest music news and releases through EDM Tunes!

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However, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) in a press briefing revealed that that four individuals slipped out of their rooms and met in a common area to eat and rehearse for the show. Although no names were given, Kayzo, Vini Vici, Slander, and Alesso were the only foreign DJs invited to perform.

Authorities became aware of the violation due to a video that was posted on social media. The video showed the DJs gathered together and wearing no masks. As a result, each of them was fined $10,000 NTD (roughly $350 USD) for violating the “one person per room rule.”

They need to each pay $10,000 NTD within seven days of receiving their penalty notice. Otherwise, the case will be handed over to the Administrative Enforcement Agency.

Keep up with the latest music news and releases through EDM Tunes!

Feature image taken by Farra Tai

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Ultra Taiwan is the only Ultra live stream in 2020 and the first real life music festival live stream we can think of since Okeechobee way back in March. You can catch all mainstage performances at UltraTaiwan.com starting from 3PM (GMT+8) on Saturday. Attend the event virtually from anywhere in the world and don’t miss out on these incredible sets!

Mainstage set times are below:

Road to Ultra Taiwan takes pride in curating an all-encompassing entertainment experience for music aficionados. As a result, you can find a variety of cuisine selections including both Taiwanese and American street food at the event. Additionally, attendees can capture the magic of the event by taking photos in front of the LED ULTRA sign decorations and graphic art walls created by Taiwanese designers and artists.

Keep up with the latest music news and releases through EDM Tunes!

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The company’s Q3 revenue in 2020 was $154 million, which contrasts sharply with the $3 billion they made in 2019. Despite their efforts to drastically cut spending, Live Nation lost roughly $319 million during this last quarter of operations.

However, it’s possible that things will turn around in Q4. Live Nation Entertainment is providing tickets to drive-in shows and other socially distanced events. Additionally, Ticketmaster announced new features to encourage both venues and fans to participate in socially distanced shows.

Luckily, the ticketing giant has $951 million in free cash and $1.9 billion in liquidity. Those assets should be enough to carry them at least until summer 2021, which is when they hope concerts can return at full scale again.

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Unfortunately, other long-term staff members have recently been let go as well. This includes Cities 97.1 host Hunter Quinn, 610 WTVN veteran Joey Riley, and additional personalities in the Wheeling, St. Louis, Toledo, Raleigh, Philadelphia, Nashville stations. Fans and loyal listeners have expressed their frustration with the company’s actions. It’ll be interesting to observe if there will be changes to listenership and ratings in the near future as a result.

The company’s second-quarter revenue was $488M, which is a 47% year-over-year decline. iHeartMedia’s Q3 financial report will be released on November 9th. These numbers will determine the efficiency and the impacts of the layoffs.

iHeartMedia has yet to issue a statement regarding these changes.

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The ticketing giant has repurposed technology to help enforce social distancing at events and ensuring safety for everyone. They recently unveiled SmartEvent, which minimizes person-to-person contact as it shifts things to be digital. This new technology will enforce contactless entry, contact tracing, and monitoring the rate of entry into the venue and more.

Mark Yovich, president of Ticketmaster states,

“We know that fans around the world are eager to return to live events and SmartEvent gives event organizers an array of solutions to help make that possible. SmartEvent brings together our advanced technology platform and industry-leading venue and seating insights, putting Ticketmaster in the unique position to facilitate paths back to live.”

Ticketmaster has designed this technology with both the venues and attendees in mind. It’s clear that they contemplated thoroughly about how they can help assist both sides. The only nuance is that registering an account with Ticketmaster will be a requirement. Fortunately, most people who have bought tickets from Ticketmaster most likely have an account made already. It’ll be interesting to watch the entire industry shift into a contactless and digital mode.

Keep up with the latest music news and releases through EDM Tunes!

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Geiger, who co-founded Lollapalooza and facilitated many of WME’s notable artist signings, wants to give a hand to all these struggling venues. This business venture stems out of his own personal enjoyment of going to a club and seeing an incredible band. Therefore, he’s creating a company called SaveLive to invest in dozens of clubs around the country. He will be buying at least 51% of equity to help them expand into regional forces once live music events return.

SaveLive has $75 million in available capital so far from initial investment round. Additionally, Geiger is already negotiating with a number of venues around the world. Geiger states that he hopes “to be a long-term backer, helper, grower of these businesses, and enjoy the wins.”

Some critics are skeptical of SaveLife and whether the funding undermines the independence of these venues. However Geiger insists that his venue deals would be partnerships and that he doesn’t seek to flip assets.

Keep up with the latest music news through EDM Tunes!

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