Comment / Opinion

Experience seems to suggest that as technology becomes more sophisticated, its rate of change also accelerates. For example, it took many thousands of years to get from the wheel to the steam engine...

If, at times, music for media feels impossible to break into, that’s because it is. And there’s a good reason for that.

Krojc * Toy Tin Soldier * Mike Henderson * Annie Dressner * Marvin B Naylor * Crazee Baldhead * Big Chief

Can musicians hope to get a fair deal from copyright law when the legislation itself is so out of date?

• Pixie Lott 'All About Tonight' • Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 'Death Of You And Me' • Laura Marling 'Sophia'

April is the time of year when we traditionally wind you up with fake stories, impossible products and non-existent bands. However, whenever we come up with an 'impossible' idea to use as a spoof, somebody usually goes out and builds it.

Marcus Ryle of Line 6 talks to SOS about a radical new approach to live sound.

When it comes to telling composers what to do, job titles are no barrier to meddling.

The Hillmen * Little Black Holes * Primary Slave * Mine * Charlie Birnie * The Tempus * Pearl Handled Revolver

When is an engineer not an engineer?

• Lana Del Rey 'Videogames' • Tinchy Stryder 'Off The Record' • Emeli Sandé 'Heaven' • One Direction 'What Makes You Beautiful'

Over the past few years, we have seen computer software achieve what had previously been considered to be impossible.

If you make music for a living, now’s the time to unite with others to protect your rights.

Breton * Ove Engen * RJ Thompson * Burning Wire

SOS Technical Editor Hugh Robjohns ponders whether 'boutique' actually means 'better'.

• Lady Antebellum 'We Owned The Night' • Cher Lloyd 'With Ur Love' • Snow Patrol 'Called Out In The Dark'

We've been running a small amount of live sound gear coverage in the mag for a few months now. On the whole, it has been very well received...

No matter how ridiculous a line may be, it’s the media composer’s role to toe it — even if the fate of the world is at stake.

Does it sound better... or different?

• Maroon 5 'Moves Like Jagger' • James Morrison 'I Won't Let You Go' • Coldplay 'Paradise'

District Myths * The Shed * The Destructors * Mick Nolan * Three Cane Whale * Henderson/Oken * Pepe Deluxé * Cyrion