The Daily Chord Weekly Recap – Friday, May 10

In music news this week, Logic brought up the issue of sample clearances, PledgeMusic filed for bankruptcy, and festivals and vinyl plants addressed plastic waste. SXSW's Daily Chord compiles a handful of stories each weekday to streamline your surfing. Send us your email address and we'll send the headlines directly to you.

Monday, May 6

• The record industry is booming again - but the digital services who rescued it deserve better
  Guest post from Music Business Worldwide
• Grime star Stormzy scores first UK no. 1 single with 'Vossi Bop'
  Item from Reuters
• Remember indie rock? Blogs? At Just Like Heaven festival, Gen X does, fondly.
  Review from LA Times
• Apple to be formally investigated over Spotify's antitrust complaint, says report
  Item from The Verge
• Joni Mitchell: Her life and art in 33 songs
  Feature from Pitchfork
• The blues trail is a soulful sojourn into Mississippi's past
  Post from Uproxx

Tuesday, May 7

• Rolling Stone takes aim at the competition with a Billboard charts killer
  Post from Vanity Fair
• PledgeMusic nearing bankruptcy, although sales talks continue
  Post from Variety
• Scott Hutchison's family launch Tiny Changes mental health charity in memory of Frightened Rabbit frontman
  Item from NME
• DIY artists will earn more than $1 billion this year. No wonder the major labels want their business
  Column from Rolling Stone
• The story of the DIY publication that kept bands on the road for decades
  Story from Vice
• Sly & The Family Stone's 'Stand' turns 50: The 8 best covers
  List from Stereogum

Wednesday, May 8

• Gaza artists call on Eurovision singers to boycott Israel
  Story from AP News
• Warner Music Group earnings: Total revenue tops $1 billion in Q2
  Story from Variety
• Logic is not happy with the business of sample clearances
  Post from The Fader
• The world (of pop music) comes to New York
  Review from NY Times
• 30 years of data shows the music industry peaked when Napster hit the scene
  Post from AV Club
• King Crimson studio albums finally on streaming services
  Post from Brooklyn Vegan

Thursday, May 9

• Google tops 15 million Music subscribers as it chases Spotify
  Story from Bloomberg
• Dozens of ravers at illegal French music festival treated for hypothermia
  Post from NME
• Ex-PledgeMusic CEO Benji Rogers pens letter of apology as crowdfunder files for bankruptcy
  Post from Hypebot
• Ultra cancels contract with Miami to look for another home. Is Homestead next?
  Story from Miami Herald
• Pink Sweat$ is putting love back in R&B
  Interview from Vice
• How Fanbytes harnesses the power of TikTok
  Post from Music Business Worldwide

Friday, May 10

• Is Woodstock 50 canceled? Warring festival partners go to court
  Story from NY Times
• Arena at Glastonbury to be made entirely from recycled plastic
  Post from NME
• How the record industry is trying to make vinyl more environmentally friendly
  Feature from Pitchfork
• Playlist malfeasance will create a streaming crisis
  Post from Music Industry Blog
• Dissecting 'Devil's Pie: D'Angelo' and celebrity distance
  Review from Okayplayer
• 'The majority of people don't want to party alongside police': Fusion Festival Germany takes a stand
  Post from Pollstar