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GarageBand Hacks: Creating Professional-Sounding Tracks Without Expensive Plugins

October 1, 2024

GarageBand is often seen as an entry-level DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), but it has powerful tools that, when used effectively, can create professional-quality tracks. Many indie musicians and...

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Solving the General MIDI Program Change Dilemma in Ableton

October 1, 2024

When working with MIDI in Ableton, one might notice that although MIDI clips can send program changes, most of Ableton's native plugins don’t seem to respond to these changes effectively. This can...

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Escaping 'Tutorial Hell': Stay Motivated and Actually Progress in Music Production

September 21, 2024

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Should You Write Music or Lyrics First? Solutions from Famous Creators

September 20, 2024

One of the most common challenges for songwriters is deciding whether to write the music or lyrics first. This can feel like a "chicken-or-egg" situation, but there's no one-size-fits-all answer...

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How to Plan the Perfect Release Day for Your Single or Album

September 20, 2024

Releasing a new single or album is a huge milestone for any musician. However, without proper planning, your work may not get the attention it deserves. It’s not just about putting the song online...

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Mastering the Low End: Compression Tips for a Tight Mix

September 20, 2024

When it comes to music production, getting the low end right can be tricky. Many producers face a common issue: after the initial mix sounds perfect, a few days later, the low end starts to feel...

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How to Turn a Bedroom into a Professional Home Studio on a Budget

September 19, 2024

For many aspiring musicians, the dream of creating a professional-quality home studio seems out of reach due to costs and space constraints. However, with the right strategies and tools, it's...

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Remote Music Collaboration: Tools and Tips for Seamless Production

September 18, 2024

Collaborating on music remotely has become more common, but as you’ve experienced, it can be a challenge to get it right. Audio latency, control sensitivity, and lack of real-time feedback are...

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How to Build a Loyal Fanbase Using Social Media in 2024

September 18, 2024

In today’s digital age, building a loyal fanbase is essential for musicians to thrive. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for connecting directly with fans, sharing music, and...

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Best Apps and Websites for Creating Instrumentals When You Don’t Play Instruments

September 18, 2024

As a songwriter, it can be frustrating to have melodies or lyrics in your head but no way to bring them to life without instrumental skills. Thankfully, with modern technology, there are apps and...

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How to Match Chords to Your Singing – Overcoming the Struggle

September 18, 2024

Creating music often feels like an intricate puzzle. You might have a melody that you love, but when it comes to pairing it with chords, you feel stuck. If you're in this situation, you're not alone.

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The Top 10 Free Tools Every Indie Musician Needs to Succeed

September 18, 2024

As an indie musician, creating professional music while sticking to a budget can be challenging. You might not have the resources to afford high-end software or pay for expensive marketing...

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MTV VMAs 2023

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Photo Source: MTV

After nearly four hours of must-see performances, a surprise guest appearance, record-breaking award victories, and an epic celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary, MTV's greatest music event came to an end late on Tuesday night. 

Shakira had a big night as she became the first South American performer to receive the prestigious Video Vanguard Award, which honors an artist for their contributions to music videos and pop culture. In addition to winning big, Ice Spice was also voted Best New Artist. 

A record-breaking night for Taylor Swift saw her win nine awards, including Album of the Year and Artist of the Year for "Midnights." According to MTV, she is currently tied for second place in terms of the most victories in a single night.

Another huge surprise the event gave us was the surprise appearance of NSYNC, who hadn’t been on the same stage together since they last performed at the 2013 VMAs. The group is also now rumored to be working together and will be creating music sooner than we expect.

You can find the full list of the 2023 MTV VMAs winners below: 

  • Video of the year: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero”
  • Artist of the year: Taylor Swift 
  • Song of the year: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero” 
  • Best new artist: Ice Spice 
  • Push performance of the year: April 2023: Tomorrow X Together — “Sugar Rush Ride” 
  • Best collaboration:  Karol G, Shakira — “TQG”
  • Best pop: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero”
  • Best hip-hop: Nicki Minaj — “Super Freaky Girl” 
  • Best R&B: SZA — “Shirt”
  • Best alternative:  Lana Del Rey featuring Jon Batiste — “Candy Necklace” 
  • Best rock: Måneskin — “The Loneliset” 
  • Best latin: Anitta — “Funk Rave” 
  • Best K-Pop: Stray Kids — “S-Class”
  • Best Afrobeats: Rema & Selena Gomez — “Calm Down”
  • Video for good: Dove Cameron — “Breakfast” 
  • Best direction: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero." Directed by Taylor Swift.
  • Best cinematography: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero." Cinematography by Rina Yang.
  • Best visual effects: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero." Visual effects by Parliament.
  • Best choreography: Blackpink — “Pink Venom," Kiel Tutin, Sienna Lalau. 
  • Best art direction: Doja Cat — “Attention." Art direction by Spencer Graves. 
  • Best editing:  Olivia Rodrigo — “vampire." Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel.
  • Show of the summer: Taylor Swift 
  • Group of the year: BLACKPINK 
  • Song of the summer: Jung Kook featuring Latto — “Seven” 
  • Album of the year: Taylor Swift— "Midnights"