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Pete Tong's Essential New Tune
Higher
Blond:ish & Black Circle
Insomniac Records
out now
Comment
"I played it on last week's show. It's taken from her new album 'Never Walk Alone', due for release on 14 February, Valentine's Day. She's been having a big start to 2025 in Tulum, amongst other places. It's an Ibiza anthem in the making and she's got a new residency in Ibiza. This week's ENT is 'Higher' by Blond:ish & Black Circle." 
This week's featured Essential New Tune was featured in last week’s Friday show on BBC Radio 1. Listen again and forward to 29.00 here. 
Contact
Label: Joe Wiseman, Insomniac Music Group 
Management: Jet Management
Radio: James Jackson & James Marsh, Listen Up
Club: Tia Cousins & Ned Dickinson, Listen Up
28 Jan 2025
News and Features
  • NTIA unveils programme for the Night Time Economy Summit 2025 in Birmingham. (RA) 
  • Music Venue Trust launched its 2024 Annual Report, once again raising concerns about the ongoing challenges facing the grassroots music venues sector. (RotD) 
  • Becky Hill, Charli xcx, Chase & Status, Fred again.. and Nia Archives have been nominated for the BRIT Award's Dance Act. Charli xcx has five nominations and Nia Archives has three. (Mixmag)  
  • The global electronic music market is projected to hit $24.5 billion by 2032, according to a forecast from Wise Guy Reports. (Mixmag) 
  • 84% of independent artists in the UK are unable to afford the costs of touring, according to a new survey published by UK-based online music distribution company Ditto Music. (DJMag) 
  • Spotify has agreed to a new deal with Universal Music Group, which both resolves a conflict involving songwriters and paves the way for new Spotify initiatives. (Variety) 
Digital
  • A new report suggests Napster is behind on royalty payments to major distributors and record labels. Some say Napster is a few months behind schedule; others say they’re behind more than a year. (DMN) 
  • Meta launched a new ‘Breakthrough bonus program’ this week, offering up to $5,000 for “creators who are new to Facebook or Instagram”. (Meta) 
  • Deezer has deployed an AI music detection tool, discovering that roughly 10,000 fully AI generated tracks are delivered to the platform every day, equating to around 10% of the daily content delivery. (Deezer) 
  • Spotify has slammed what it sees as “ridiculous and unfounded” claims in Duetti’s latest ‘Music Economics Report’, which analysed data on music streams and royalty payouts in 2024. (MusicAlly) 
  • Barry Can't Swim, Ela Minus & PAWSA feature in Spotify's Artists To Watch in 2025. (Spotify) 
Live
  • Tomorrowland has announced the full line-up for its 2025 edition. (DJMag) 
  • Tomorrowland Brazil announces LIFE theme coming in 2025. (EDMTunes) 
Comment, Opinion and Analysis
  • Hits reported US overall label group market-share figures for 2024. UMG led with 38.6% total activity, 34.7% on-demand audio, SME 26%, and 27.9%, and WMG 16.3%, and 17%. (Hits) 
  • Background music is a short-term win for DSPs – but it could be a long-term problem. (Midia) 
Tech
  • The very best of NAMM for electronic music producers. (Attack) 
  • SSL launches new audio interface, SSL 18. (DJMag) 
Beatport
  • The Beatportal Residency: Gorgon City & Realm Records (Beatportal)
  • Eight Emerging Artists On Our Radar: January 2025 (Beatportal)
  • Playlist of the Week: Caribou (Beatportal)
  • unfazed Hits Beatport #1 with “A Gira,” Showcasing Brazil’s Rising Power in Electronic Music (Beatportal)
  • Where Did That Kick Go? An Introduction to 3Step (Beatportal)
  • Meet the Beatport Next Class of 2025 (Beatportal)
  • Next level music digging with Beatport DJ (Beatport)
Clubs
  • Ibiza:
    Carl Cox announces Ibiza 2025 residency at [UNVRS]. (DJMag) 
    Hï Ibiza announces Joseph Capriati Friday residency for 2025. (DJMag)
    Ibiza's Pacha has shared details of its 2025 opening weekend. (Mixmag) 
  • New York club Paragon to close in April. (DJMag) 
Deals
  • ADA has extended its partnership with Sonny Fodera's label Solotoko. (RotD) 
Streams & Podcasts
  • RA.973 Kia (RA) 
  • Alignment | Boiler Room: Lyon (Boiler Room) 
  • Bambii | Boiler Room: Vancouver (Boiler Room) 
  • AFRODEUTSCHE | Boiler Room x Coach: Manchester (Boiler Room) 
  • Anz: 100% Production Set | Boiler Room x Coach: Manchester (Boiler Room) 
Artist and Music Features
  • The best 2025 festivals outside of the UK for sun, sightseeing and thumping bass. (Standard) 
  • Selections: NAINA (DJMag) 
  • Three dance music cruises embark from U.S. ports. Are the high seas big enough for all of them? (Billboard) 
  • The New Sonic Frontier: The power of techno music (TrillMag) 
  • The best dance albums don’t miss a beat. (British GQ) 
  • These were the 50 most played tracks at Hï Ibiza in 2024. (Billboard) 
    These were the 50 most played artists at Hï Ibiza in 2024. (Billboard)
  • These were the 50 most played tracks at Ushuaïa Ibiza in 2024. (Billboard) 
    These were the 50 most played artists at Ushuaïa Ibiza in 2024. (Billboard) 
  • Five ways David Lynch made his mark on electronic music. (Mixmag) 
  • Suzi Analogue explores Black women’s influence on electronic music in new audiovisual live score. (DJMag) 
  • Nooriyah: finding nowhere everywhere. (DJMag) 
  • Nimino is more than his viral success: ‘My favorite song of mine is always the one about to come out’ (Billboard) 
  • The centaur of attention: horsegiirL is captivating clubland (Mixmag) 
  • Kygo and his manager Myles Shear discuss the biggest tour of Kygo's 10-year career. See exclusive behind the scenes footage from the shows. (Billboard) 
  • ‘It will be different’: How Crazy P is carrying on after the death of its singer. (Billboard) 
  • AI’s impact on music in 2025: Licensing, creativity and industry survival. (Forbes) 
  • Spotify is known for its algorithmic recommendations, but Sulinna Ong brings a human touch to finding new hits. (WSJ) 
  • Music Ally Connect conference:
    Understanding music fans: ‘This is about emotion and connection… not stats’. (MusicAlly) 
    Music Ally SI:X 2024: Six winning finalist startups pitch to Connect, with Different Breed favoured in an audience vote on the best presentation. (MusicAlly) 
    The rise of regional music: ‘This is creating a crossover culture’. (MusicAlly) 
Artist News
  • Shygirl enlists Isabella Lovestory and PinkPantheress for new single, ‘True Religion’. (DJMag) 
  • Hardwell has unveiled his very own radio show, Euphoria, which will air monthly on Tomorrowland's "One World Radio". (EDM) 
  • Black Coffee will perform at London UNESCO World Heritage Site the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich this summer. (DJMag) 
  • RÜFÜS DU SOL are to DJ at benefit concert for Los Angeles wildfire recovery. (EDM) 
  • Deadmau5 has slammed fellow DJ 3lau for his decision to play at one of President Donald Trump’s inaugural balls. (Independent)  
  • Nia Archives made BRIT Awards history yesterday, becoming the first-ever jungle artist to receive three career nominations from the BPI. (RA) 
  • Anyma adds final four dates to Sphere residency. (Billboard) 
  • Switzerland-born DJ and producer Aldanya, real name Crystal Margaret, has passed away following a battle with cancer, her family has confirmed. (Mixmag) 
  • Olivier Portal, best known as the influential French house DJ and producer Playin' 4 The City, has died aged 65. (DJMag) 
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