Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Beat.
The Visual Culture of Album Covers
The importance of the visual image to the success of a boy band might be overlooked by the general population, but is certainly not underestimated by record labels and PR experts. It is easy to argue that the images produced are just as crucial (if not more) as the music to the overall success of the group. Boy bands like Backstreet Boys and N'Sync were successful in a time when the image of the group could be carefully controlled by marketing experts and PR representatives. Photo shoots and some paparazzi pictures were the main source of image proliferation. In 2010, the producers of X-Factor brought together five boys to create the group One Direction. The success of this group has been major, even during a time when the internet has made fans producers as much as they are consumers. Fan art and fan fiction has created a legacy for this group far out of the reach of their management's marketing experts. The visual images produced by the fans through things such as artwork and cell phone photos have been more influential among fans than any well-crafted photo shoot in a teen magazine. Four is One Direction's fourth studio album. Compared to the previous albums, the image appears less planned, or "constructed." Through affect, genre, and tension, the artists involved in the latest One Direction album cover attempted to recreate the fan created image in order to catch the attention, and cash, of the internet generation.
By Kendra Brea Cooper8 years ago in Beat
Top Music Festivals on the West Coast
The West Coast, if we're going to be honest, is the party coast. It has Napa Valley vineyards, Hollywood, LA club life and, of course, crazy indie festivals, like Burning Man, too. It's the place to be if you want to have fun in the sun and check out amazing sights across the country.
By Mackenzie Z. Kennedy8 years ago in Beat
Classic Albums to Add to Your Record Collection Right Now
It's 2017, and in a surprising turn of events, record players are now in once more. With more and more people realizing how awesome record collections can be, music labels are now starting to produce their top hits on vinyl once more.
By Cato Conroy8 years ago in Beat
Sustaining
Hi there! I'm Yannick. I am a singer who happens to be a survivor. In 2015, I released an EDM single titled "Sustaining" from my upcoming album The Chronicles of the Priestess. Look for this album by fall of 2018. I guarantee that it will bless your life.
By Merlin Mystique8 years ago in Beat
Big Krit- '4eva Is A Mighty Long Time'
Is his newest effort a classic? Big Krit is a rapper that doesn't get spoken enough about when we mention the upper-echelon of rap. After numerous albums, the tone of his newest album is clear: he will not be denied anymore. Is his newest effort a classic? Or just very good? Have a listen, read on, and determine that for yourself.
By Rap Disciple8 years ago in Beat
Nahko + Medicine for the People: Rock & Roll World Music for Your Heart
Nahko and Medicine for the People are a folk/world music collective that started in 2008. It has recently gone through a few changes in its line up but the head of the group and singer/songwriter Nahko Bear has been a vital part of the band.
By Ayisah Yusuf8 years ago in Beat
'The Stone Roses' vs 'Definitely Maybe'
Two of the greatest [debut] albums ever released within five years of each other. Both religiously Mancunian at heart and equally as seminal as one another; it really has been the question to divide all ardent indie music fans ever since '94.
By Danny Hatton8 years ago in Beat
Mic Check One Two - My Observations From Attending Local Showcases. Top Story - October 2017.
In one way or another I have been a part of the Tampa Bay music scene since 2001. Because of this involvement, I find myself at plenty of open mics and showcase. Often I am asked to judge or critique the participants, something I like to do. I feel that it is a way to help some up and coming performers grow in their craft. After attending a few of these I started to notice certain patterns...and not the good kind either. So with the hopes of helping a few more up and coming artist I present you seven tips to improve your stage performance:
By Angel Soto8 years ago in Beat
Awesome Versions Of Taylor Swift's 'Look What You Made Me Do'
Taylor Swift's single, "Look What You Made Me Do," became the most watched music video in 24 hours with the most plays in a single day on Spotify. It also topped a lot of music charts all around the world. The song shows a change in Taylor Swift as opposed to the sweet country girl she started off as.
By Chloe Gilholy8 years ago in Beat
Best Canadian Music Festivals
Internationally, music festivals span all over the globe, from Ibiza to Chicago, and it's not so different for Canadians. With such an open-wide territory, with a myriad of different venues, narrowing down the most essential summer festivals can be a hassle, what with pricing, headliners, and specified genre, it can become a mess in of itself.
By Salvador Lorenz8 years ago in Beat
Tedy Andreas — 'In2deep' Album Review
For many people reading this review, you may not know of Tedy Andreas. Well, let me first start by introducing a rapper who not only deserves more recognition but also, he's overall a good rapper whose flow is different from rappers today because he raps as though he came straight from the 80s and 90s.
By @GabbyMiernik8 years ago in Beat
