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Month: May 2016

Soundcloud Go Launches in UK & Ireland

New subscription service offers expanded catalogue of established and emerging artists to the existing SoundCloud experience, plus new functionality.

Coincides with rollout of advertising on the free-service, with both monetisation streams giving creators the opportunity to be paid.

SoundCloud, the world’s largest music and audio platform with 175 million monthly listeners, announced today the launch of its new consumer subscription service, SoundCloud Go in the UK and Ireland. Following its successful launch in the US last month, the UK and Ireland are the first international markets to offer music fans the SoundCloud Go expanded catalogue of more than 125m tracks with intuitive supporting features, created to complement and enhance the existing SoundCloud experience. The free service listeners love today will remain, and will now be supported by a range of advertising options as part of SoundCloud’s commitment to creators to have the opportunity to be paid for the work that they share.

“We received an incredible response from our community of creators and listeners alike with the launch of SoundCloud Go in the US earlier this year, and we’re excited to expand our offering to our listeners in the UK & Ireland,” said Alexander Ljung, SoundCloud Founder and CEO. “Creators are, and always have been, at the core of everything we do at SoundCloud. And it’s through this monetisation of the platform, which also includes the introduction of ads to the free service, that we will eventually enable them all to be paid for the work they share with the world.”

The SoundCloud Go experience includes:

  • In addition to the breadth of content that listeners are already accustomed to, SoundCloud Go gives access to a significantly expanded catalogue of the greatest established and hottest emerging artists.
  • On the tube or off the grid, offline listening allows you to take your music with you wherever you go.
  • An ad-free, uninterrupted listening experience to more than 125 million tracks from the 12 million creators heard each month on SoundCloud
  • Available now in the UK and Ireland on web, iOS App Store and Google Play, and priced at £9.99 and €9.99 per month respectively, with a free 30-day trial

Additionally from today, SoundCloud’s free service will be supported by audio advertising, in-stream native ads, promoted profiles, creator partnerships, and more. All are designed to fit seamlessly into the SoundCloud experience and to provide brands with a variety of ways to reach a new, highly engaged audience. The introduction of advertising will ensure listeners can continue to experience SoundCloud for free, as well as offer creators the opportunity to be paid for the work that they share. SoundCloud Go subscribers will be able to opt out of these ads, enjoying uninterrupted listening as part of the service.

Jack O’Rourke Wins Prestigious International Songwriting Competition

Cork songwriter Jack O’Rourke has joined the likes of Gotya, The Band Perry, Amanda Palmer and Mick Flannery by becoming a winner in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition. Jack’s song ‘Silence’ received first place in the Lyrics Category, judged by industry legends such as Tom Waits and Bill Withers.

Two of Jack’s other tracks ‘Shining for You’ and ‘I’ll Forget You in the Morning’ also placed well in the Performance Category and Folk/Singer Songwriter Category.

Speaking about Jack’s entries, Founder of the International Songwriting Competition, Candace Avery said, “The judges were really impressed with all of Jack’s entries. The melodies, the craft, and particularly the narrative of the songs really impressed our judging panel.”

Held annually in Nashville, the International Songwriting Competition is considered to be the most prestigious songwriting competition in the world. Speaking about the win, Jack said, “It’s a massive achievement to win this prize. There were over 80,000 entries from around the world for this competition so to think that I came first in any category makes me feel really proud.”

Jack’s new single ‘Dreamcatcher’ is due for release on April 29th.

You can catch Jack live in –

Dublin – Academy 2 Friday May 6th
Limerick – Dolans (upstairs) Sunday May 8th
Cork – Connolly’s of Leap Thursday May 12th

You can follow Jack O’Rourke on Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp

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New Single ‘Octopussy’ by Midlands Band Cronin

“Octopussy” is the first release of 2016 by Midlands Irish band Cronin.

It is available now to stream and download on Live Transmission Records. It is their retake of Leeds guitar Gods The Wedding Present’s classic track.

It will be followed by Cronin’s debut album “The First Kiss of Love’ due out later this summer in Mid July.

Today, the band have released the video for the track. I’ll let them tell the story…

The Island, Dorinish, off the West Coast of Co Mayo near the town of Mullranney was previously owned by John Lennon, who purchased the it in 1967 for £1,700. Previously used by sailing ships for its stones, the island became a place of peace for Lennon and his family. After his divorce from wife Cynthia, the island went unused until Lennon invited “King of the Hippies” Sid Rawle to establish a commune on the island in 1970. For the next two years, a group of 25 hippies called Dorinish home. In 1972 a fire burned down the island’s supply tent and the commune disbanded. After Lennon’s death, Yoko Ono sold the island for nearly £30,000 and donated the proceeds to an Irish orphanage.

On April 21st we went out to Mayo on a sort of pilgrimage retracing some of the step we heard Lennon and wife Yoko Ono took on their visits there.

The main part of the Octopussy video is of the footage we shot out there.”

“The new single ‘Octopussy.” A cover of The Wedding Present Indie classic. Recorded by ourselves in Transmission Rooms Recording Studio, Ireland with a little help from Karl Odlum and Matt McManamon (The Dead 60s). Hope you enjoy, like and share away.

Final dates are being put into place for an Irish tour later in the year along with dates in the UK and Europe.

See Cronin Live –

Sat 16th July – Craggy Island Fest
Fri 29th July – Independence Festival, Cork
Sun 31st July – The Stables, Mullingar
Fri 19th Aug – Boyles, Slane
Sat 20th Aug – Viking Fest, Kells
Sun 21st Aug – The Marquee in Drumlish, Longford
Fri 2nd Sept – The Electric Picnic, Stradbally
Sun 4th Sept – The Electric Picnic, Stradbally

 

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/track/5lSSnHeDtBDYQaHLX19EmH

 

“Cooler than a refrigerated polar bear”.

Stuart Clarke, Hot Press

“Touches of A House, Neil Diamond, Nick Cave, Richard Ashcroft or mabye none of them.”

Steve Lamacq BBC Radio 6

“Johnny sings ‘A Pair of Brown Eyes’ better than me. His own songs ain’t bad either.”

Shane MacGowan, The Pogues

“Epic stuff, great singing, spine tingling magic from Cronin”

Steve Wickham, The Waterboys

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