Not every music fan reads Billboard Magazine, but every music fan has music on their phone, so we created a magazine dispenser that gives away a free magazine if you prove you are a fan of the artist on the cover of Billboard Magazine. How? Using your phone. If you’re a fan of the artist on our cover, plug your iPhone into the Fan Check Machine and let it analyze your music library (no app needed). If the machine finds more than 20 songs by the artist on the cover of Billboard, you get the magazine for free.

Agency: Ogilvy & Mather - Brazil

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Guest Post: Ryan Keeton

Guest Post: Ryan Keeton

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Music paints a canvass like no words or pictures can possibly capture. It's the music, coupled with that memorable movie scene, that gives us chills. The music draws us in, and dares us to imagine the possibility. Simply put... we are living vicariously and more importantly we know we deserve our own frozen moment in time.


Music has a way of digging into your core, latching on and cementing itself to the very essence of every moment in our life.  Music locks in that 1st kiss, makes the long car rides bearable, soothes us when we are sad, and make us dance like idiots in front of a mirror. 

Guest Post: Brendan Dimitri

Guest Post: Brendan Dimitri // @bdim14

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​​I respect anybody that says music changed their life. Whether it’s putting the volume on high for a drive home, or getting lost in your headphones on the subway, music acts as a sort of psychological release for those who had a day.

I’ve played guitar and saxophone for as long as I care to remember, and in my opinion, the maturation process for a musician isn’t being able to play all the chords, or flash out a solo in front of a crowd; it’s being able to distinguish the relationships between the endless amount of chord progressions and the
different moods they can portray.

A song is rarely planned; sometimes the lyrics come first, sometimes the chords come first, sometimes they come together as the process moves along.

The key of D minor, in my opinion, portrays this claim the best. The darkness and despair that lies in between the notes of D minor – and I should say, its partner in crime, the key of F -- is something that has developed my sense of music in a way the 10-year-old me would have never imagined.

Here’s a little poem/whatever-the-hell on how this specific key has influenced those who came before us. Can you spot any of the songs? Do you have a favorite song written in D minor? Leave a comment and let me know.

Deep Minute

The key of D minor is an old man, a lot like you. It’s love lost, at such a cost; a coin that won’t get tossed.

It’s joo joo eyeballs; a joker, who just do what he please.

It’s the devil who went down to Georgia, looking for a soul to steal.

It’s a Requiem that interrupts your deepest thought.

It’s a shiver in the dark, when it’s raining in the park.

It’s another brick in the wall, an intangible barrier of good, bad.

Fear, courage

It’s a tear; no, it’s that first thought of a tear.

It’s a lowercase letter, in the Sea of Capitals.

It’s an abandoned bridge, stuck in an eroding battle.

It’s a tree; broken, left to question the Gods.

Break or rebuild me.

It’s a saxophone on the sidewalk; a penny, heads down.

A harmonica echoing in an empty room.

It’s the key of F, only faintly different.

Fuck, fame, phony, pony, money, funny, dope, mop.

It could go on forever, but chooses not to.

For your sake.

It’s the temptation of insanity, the results of which known.

Vanity, parity, discontent.

It’s cheap mascara running down your face.

It’s the key of D minor; that first thought of a tear.

Guest Post: Nicole Sorice

Guest Post: Nicole Sorice // @NicoleSorice

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The easy answer for me would be to say music.  Music is, and always has been, an enormous part of my life.  But then I started to think a bit harder.  What about music inspires me? It's the way I can create something that's brand new.  It's the way it can unite a group of complete strangers.  But most of all, it's the way I’ve met my closest friends.

I hardly perform alone; I’m almost always singing with them.  Then I realized my friends are one of the biggest reasons music inspires me – because they are creating with me. These are not people who are becoming professional musicians or who are getting into the “business;” they are just people who love to write, sing, and perform.  They are motivated by the same pure passion that motivates me – they do it because they love to.  Music is and always will be the unbreakable thread in our lives and relationships.  Without it I would never have met such incredible people, who in their unique ways inspire me every day.

Guest Post: Jake Nyberg

Guest Post: Jake Nyberg // @JakeNyberg

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I've always admired Dave Grohl. As a budding drummer in the early nineties, it was Nirvana Unplugged that inspired me to get serious about playing in bands. When Grohl stepped out from behind the kit and formed Foo Fighters (playing every instrument on the first recordings) it became clear he was a special breed — a musician who transcended said title.

With almost two decades of success under their belts, Grohl's Foo Fighters don't need a lot of marketing help. Theirs is a tale that tells itself. So how do you improve upon an established, well-loved brand? By bringing rock back to its roots. Last Spring the Foo Fighters began promoting a new album and tour with secret performances in the garages of fans. A band that packs arenas and festivals around the world lining up a series of garage dates? Believe it.

As a writer / director, I love how this tour does story so beautifully well. It's contagious. Are the foos celebrities? Of course. But they're using their celebrity in a way that spreads joy to their fans. The Foos weren't overly protective of their brand. The shows were super secret, but everyone who came could bring cameras and share the experience (see: unforgettable night and a massive brag) with their friends. Genius.

A buddy of mine worked the garage show they did in Minneapolis, helping to shoot one of the well-produced videos the band's official youtube page releases from each city. The professional vids are worth watching but I chose to link some phone video from a fan who went to a garage show in New York. The raw emotion of the event comes through loud and clear. The clip contains a few words that might not be safe for work but hey, so does rock and roll.

Enjoy!

Guest Post: Amir Al-Qadaffi

Guest Post: Amir Al-Qadaffi // @iamamirhasan

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Being a better Tour Manager inspires me. After my initial round of touring in 2009 where I was thrown to the wolves and generally had a rough go of things (which I am shockingly grateful for), touring for me has been pretty easy. I did the biggest tours of my life in that year, arena tours with some of the biggest rock acts today, Korn, Mudvayne, Black Label Society. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but these acts are all undeniably huge. 

 After that first year, things got easy. I think too easy almost. I went out with a couple of bands that really appreciated and embraced me. The tours were generally pretty easy, and working them was a cinch. Recently I had a not so great experience. I wasn't treated badly, I made great money, I was on a tour bus but there is more to having a positive experience than that. I learned that I value feeling like part of a team, clear communication, and assertive leadership are more important than making more than the next guys will pay, or traveling in the cushy tour bus.

I was offered and accepted a new gig recently. I am happy that I will be Tour Managing Me Talk Pretty from NYC, on their next tour, their first national headlining run. This band is great. I met them earlier this year. They opened a tour I was on with another of my clients, Framing Hanley. I don't usually care about the opening bands on the tour, generally they are unorganized, inexperienced, and waste my time. The minute I heard Me Talk Pretty I knew they were different. I am inspired by this band, I am inspired by my last tour. I am inspired to step my game up so much more. I am a little embarrassed at how complacent I had become. I want the old feeling of my first few tours, where everyday I worked my tail off with the fear of if I messed up I'd be fired and sent home on the spot. I am inspired to not let the monotony of tour life grind me down. I am inspired to keep working hard, to work harder than ever actually, and re-dedicate myself to being the best.

Guest Post: Alan David

Guest Post: Alan David

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My life, day by day, is forever enhanced by music. Not a specific genre or artist each time, but the music hat fits that days moods as they ebb and flow. Today it may be Wes Montgomery playing a silky soulful guitar, Susan Tedeshi or Etta James rockin' the house, Cold Play, or so many others, with more yet to be discovered.. Whatever the sounds are they will wrap around the mood and make it all good.

Guest Post: Michael Cobra

Guest Post: Michael Cobra // @cobra_mike

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I've spent a week trying to come up with the one thing that inspires me. First, I was going to write about the work ethic of Black Flag; then it was the photography of Joel-Peter Witkin; then the graphic design of Art Chantry; the playful creativity of Michel Gondry; the list went on and on. I was looking for some divine inspiration. However, nothing felt so powerful that I could put into words how greatly it had inspired me or why it should inspire you.

That week my 3 year old son came home from a preschool class. He told my wife and I how he had pretended a piece of paper was a robot that day and some kids made fun of him for it. We nurture creativity in our kids and this was the first time he had seen a negative side to it. He was really sad. I told him how his Mom and I make a living coming up with ideas that all start as pretending. I told him that when we were young, other people made fun of us for being creative too. So, we found friends that did understand us.

That's when it dawned on me. My inspiration in life has come from an innumerable amount of sources. People you don't know, that haven't had books written about them and haven't had documentaries made praising them. Like my brother for having that KISS 8 track I couldn't stop listening to when I was four. Ivan, for giving me that Black Flag/Misfits mix tape. That recruiter that came to my high school and told us about a college that taught graphic design. Chris, for teaching me my first song on the guitar. Laura, for dying my hair pink. Dee, for teaching me about photography. The teachers who ignored the curriculum and made me learn more than I thought I could. Employers who have taken chances on me. The people I've worked with, employed and collaborated with. The people and bands I play music with. Clients I work with who have stuck their necks out to fight for concepts. This list could get really long.

We are mirrors of the people, places, things and ideas we choose to surround ourselves with. We are the editors of our own personal culture. A friend posted a quote on Facebook as I was writing this that summed up exactly how I was feeling about my source of inspiration…

"Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I've ever known."

- Chuck Palahniuk

How many other things are we missing?

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule. 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. 10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children.. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.. 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32. 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: *In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? *Do we stop to appreciate it? *Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context? One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made. How many other things are we missing?

Full story

A Set of Real-Life Air Drums

With a MIDI device, Maayan Migdal has built a set of real-life air drums. Migdal cut the rake part off of a few garden rakes for the drum sticks, and added accelerometers and USB ports to each. The left stick takes care of the hi-hat, while the right stick has two separate modules that cover the snare and crash cymbals. From there, he went on to fix up some sandal-esque foot pedals, sticking a pair of sensors into his flip-flops — the left, an accelerometer to pick up the bass drum, and the right, a light sensor to pull in the hi-hat pedal.

 

Guest Post: Kristin Maverick

Guest Post: Kristin Maverick // @kmaverick

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Music.

Ever listen to a song and instantly play it on repeat? From the melody to the lyrics, songs can get into my head and into my soul more so than anything else.

Whether it’s a pumped up jam to go out running to (currently: Pitbull: Give Me Everything) to a song to kick you in the motivation butt to work hard and do something meaningful (Beyonce: I Was Here) or even a song to keep you remember to stay calm and relax through stressful times (pretty much all of Bon Iver’s new album) music can change my mood and kick it off and inspire me to move on the feeling I get from it.


Guest Post: John F. SchneiderGuest Post: John F. SchneiderGuest Post: John F. Schneider

Guest Post: John F. Schneider

Guest Post: John F. Schneider // @johnfschneider

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Tycho: The music project of Scott Hansen/ISO50

For all of us, musical taste can tend toward the fickle. Many are locked in the pursuit of the new, myself included. Over the last six years though there has been one incredibly consistent thread to what gets airplay in and around my environments. I was introduced to Tycho by a friend at work back in 2005 and have listened to it consistently ever since. There are precious few tracks with only a couple EPs and one full-length album, so I’ve gotten to know those that are released incredibly well. iTunes tracks the number of plays tracks receive, and several Tycho songs are in excess of 1000 plays – which over six years equates to about a play every 2.19 days. That’s about right. This music is mellow, downbeat, electronic and melodic sonic grooviness that I can listen to over dinner or while going for a run. I listen to it in the car during my commute and while I’m immersed and concentrating. I often refer to it as the score to my life.

 

24 Hours of Le Mans: A million moving parts

I’m a passionate racing enthusiast. I also race myself, but at the most amateur of levels. When I was very young I caught footage of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and was mesmerized. Shortly after that I saw John Frankenheimer’s movie “Le Mans” with Steve McQueen and decided that at that point I had to grow up and race cars. I did. There are many opportunities to enjoy motorsports, but it’s the specific race at Le Mans that lives deep in my brain. It’s once a year in June, and true to the name the race lasts 24 hours. Each car has not only a team of drivers who do “stints” of up to four hours, but there are pit crews trained at a surgical level of precision ready for both minor mechanical mishap and major catastrophe. Cars that appeared to be totaled have limped back to the pits and been fully restored and back in the race in less than 20 minutes. The duration of the race means the teams will encounter a diversity of weather conditions, drive through a sunset and sunrise and have to stay frosty all night. I have literally watched all 24 hours of the race several times, much to my wife’s dismay – but she tolerates my obsessions. Many speak of Formula 1 as a pinnacle in motorsports. I disagree. It must be stated that drivers in Le Mans will race farther in 24 hours than an entire Formula 1 season. I chose the photo above because Audi is a favorite team and, though they have won 8 of the last 12 races, seem to always enjoy perpetual underdog status.

 

Robert Motherwell: Philosopher artist

I’ve been a painter for over 20 years and have many inspirations in my own art. Perhaps the strongest is the work of Robert Motherwell. He was a pillar in the Abstract Expressionist movement of the 20th century, a time in painting I very strongly identify with and pillage mercilessly. He was from a generation of artists who lived through the tumult and change of the mid-20th century and brought these experiences to their art, breaking with convention and tradition in search of unique expression (Rothko, De Kooning, Pollack and others being of this same mindset).
Motherwell’s catalog of work is prolific and diverse. His outsized Elegy series (pictured above) is a favorite, and I seek these paintings out whenever on display. Motherwell was also a writer/philosopher, having previously studied philosophy at Harvard and Stanford, and there is an incredibly strong connection between his writing and his visual expression, as if his writing is the verbal expression of what he thought about while he was painting, which I am convinced it was.

Guest Post: Amir Al-QadaffiGuest Post: Amir Al-QadaffiGuest Post: Amir Al-QadaffiGuest Post: Amir Al-QadaffiGuest Post: Amir Al-QadaffiGuest Post: Amir Al-QadaffiGuest Post: Amir Al-Qadaffi

Guest Post: Amir Al-Qadaffi

Guest Post: Amir Al-Qadaffi // @aalqadaffi

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A few things that inspire me. 

1.) Travel. I love being able to travel. A few year ago I'd never been off the east coast before. Today I've been to or thru every state in the contiguous US. I took this picture in early May somewhere in Washington. The Northewest is beautiful and one of my favorite parts of the country. I like being there because it let's me get out of my city boy mentality and just enjoy nature. 

2.) Style. A couple of friends of mine got me a copy of The Sartorialist for my birthday. I love this guys outfit. It looks great and is deceptively simple. I used to took a lot more risks with my personal style. Nowadays I like to keep it simple and make sure I look great. 

3.) Nature. I walked by this butterfly, and something about it struck me. I looked at the area around it and found it's cocoon nearby. It had just hatched and was slowly flapping it's wings to dry them. 

4.) Color. A cup of frozen yogurt I got from Sweetfrog in the Carytown area of Richmond, VA. I like to make my cup as colorful as possible. Not too much candy, but with a bit of fruit. I love colors. Especially bright vibrant ones. 

5.) Touring. I started tour managing bands 3 years ago. I've been blessed that work has been pretty steady for the past year. There were times when I doubted myself and wanted to quit and go back into a sales job. I'm grateful that I get to meet so many awesome people, see great sights, and have fun, all while challenging myself and working hard. It's extremely gratifying. I'm currently on tour with Anchored. 

6.) Cars. I am car crazy. I spend more time than I'd like to admit thinking about them. This is a 1993 Porsche RSA I saw a few weeks back. Porsche's designs are just flawless. There is something about them that is just sexy. Give me two doors, two seats, three pedals, six speeds, and rear wheel drive and I will be in heaven!

7.) Women. If a woman doesn't inspire you to live better, eat healthier, work harder, own nicer things, then you're doing something wrong. There's no greater inspiration. I love being around beautiful women, and I'm lucky to have so many that I call friends like Mia here.
Europe's First Music HotelEurope's First Music HotelEurope's First Music HotelEurope's First Music HotelEurope's First Music HotelEurope's First Music HotelEurope's First Music HotelEurope's First Music Hotel

Europe's First Music Hotel

Nhow Berlin -- billed as Europe's first music hotel, has a state-of-the-art recording studio and includes guitars on the room service menu.

The interior's surreal setting combined with the seemingly physics-defying architecture serve as a catalyst for late-night jam sessions and impromptu DJ sets.

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Beer that also plays music

Southern Bells: Musical Beer Packaging

By: Sam Gensburg

Hidden within every 6-pack are two mallets attached to the corks (inside the beer). After drinking your beer to the level indicated on the back (or filling it with water) you can place the bottles into the holder and begin playing. The package can close to become a traditional 6-pack or open, and lay flat, to become a musical instrument.