Industry Talk

When is a studio not a studio? When it’s a venue, a nightclub, or a yogic meditation centre... We talk to some recording facility owners who’ve found more diverse ways of using their space.

The mass migration from physical music sales to digital downloads means it's now harder than ever to find out who worked on a release — or to be sure your own work is properly acknowledged.

This month, our US correspondent speaks to producers and engineers who have had to broaden their horizons in order to keep up with the ever-changing music industry.

Energy drinks makers Red Bull and sportswear company Converse have both recently opened their own recording studios. But what does this mean for artists and smaller recording facilities?

What would happen if composers were paid to pitch their ideas? It might just be the end of Western civilisation...

Two grassroots organisations show how their focus on the local music scene is helping studios survive in the new economic climate.

You might think that being a TV composer is a life of parties, beautiful women, fame, glory and dongles, but the reality is rather different. This unique chronological study plots the lifespan of a typical project.

The role of the producer is changing, and whether you're freelancing for record companies or developing new bands independently, it's vital to put your relationship with label and artist on a solid legal footing.

With album sales in free-fall, alternative revenue streams are becoming ever-more important. We explain where todays songwriters can look to earn money from their music.

The world of music retail is changing fast, with digital distribution bringing new opportunities for independent record labels. Our in-depth guide to starting, running and developing your own business will help you get up to speed.

Ray Kurzweil brought human feeling to digital synthesis, and his ultimate goal is to achieve immortality by fusing human and artificial intelligence. In the meantime, he's returned to Kurzweil Music Systems to oversee the next generation of music technology...

A recording contract might seem like the Holy Grail, but record labels are not charity concerns and their contracts are not set up with your interests in mind. Our guide to contract terms, written by an entertainment lawyer, explains what it all means and what the implications are for the artist.

Ken Freeman couldn't afford a Mellotron to play his string parts, so he invented a new kind of electronic instrument. But though the world would eventually embrace string synthesizers with a passion, he never got the credit he deserved.

As Native Instruments celebrate their 10th anniversary SOS goes behind the scenes at the company, remembers the highlights, and looks forward to the next decade in software instrument design.

The annual MIDEM conference is the music industry's biggest shop floor and networking opportunity — and whether you're an artist, a DJ or a producer, you can do business there. Read on...

We go behind the scenes at the home of the Pod and Variax to get the latest on developments in the world of guitar modelling technology.

We've seen some curious studios in SOS over the years, but not many have included a warehouse full of vintage hardware, Pro Tools HD rigs, and thermostatic ovens. But it's all part of the daily routine at FX Copyroom...

From simple beginnings as an offshoot of an electronics project, RME have established themselves as well-respected soundcard and recording interface manufacturers whose products usually offer that bit more than those of their competitors. We talk to their head of development about their recent innovations.

Having been one of the UK's most popular rock acts in the early '90s, Thunder found that record labels were no longer willing or able to promote their releases properly. Now they have taken matters into their own hands, using the Internet and new methods of distribution to get their records back in the charts.

As Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi celebrates his 75th birthday, we conclude our history of this innovative company by coming right up to the end of 2004...

The recession of the early '90s was difficult for many companies — but not Roland. Diversifying still further from their roots as a maker of synthesizers and organs, they emerged stronger, encompassing almost every area of hi-tech musical instrument manufacture.