When Music Videos Were a Rarity MTV Music Television had its official launch on August 1, 1981 (before many people reading this were even born!). The very first video they played was The Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” followed by Pat Benatar’s “You Better Run.” While Music Television wasn’t available everywhere right away, record […]
CHRIS MUCKLEY, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC PROGRAMMING AT SIRIUSXM, 10,000 HOURS Well the truth may need some re-arranging I have always loved music, even as a little kid. When I was in school, I was always making mix tapes for people. I would literally ditch class to go and look for out-of-print records I wanted to […]
The early bird gets the radio spin I’m not gonna lie – sometimes people ask me why I write for a blog when I am so busy with oodles of my own high-profile work. Well, first of all, I love to write. And I love to write about music. And I really (honestly) love what […]
Gen Z Rediscovers Old Media: Why Radio Airplay Still Matters Gen Z grew up with streaming, social media, and instant access to music. So it might seem unexpected that this generation is reconnecting with older forms of media. From vinyl and CDs to long-form interviews and radio, traditional platforms are finding new relevance. One of […]
Beyond 10,000 Hours featuring composer ANDREW SHAPIRO “It’s just another story caught up in another photograph I found” A music class was presented to my mother as an after-school activity, so she signed me up. I liked it and it came very easy to me. After the second year, the teacher told my mom that […]
Play MPE Is a Supporting Partner of Departure 2026 Play MPE is proud to be a Supporting Partner of Departure 2026, a premier destination for music, media, technology, and culture, uniting artists, industry leaders, and audiences from Canada and around the world. As a dynamic and innovative launchpad for new talent and groundbreaking work, Departure […]
The Algorithm Fatigue Crisis For the last decade, algorithms have defined how music is discovered. From simple data all the way to personalization and greater efficiency. But something is breaking. Listeners (especially from younger generations!) are increasingly vocal about feeling overwhelmed, uninspired, and fatigued by algorithm-driven discovery. When everything is optimized, everything starts to sound […]
“Perception is reality” Have you ever heard the saying “perception is reality”? For most individuals, seeing something makes it real or true to them. This idea marks social media a very powerful tool. People are able to project an image they want you to believe. For example, an “artist” you never heard of might seem […]
Why an Artist’s Back Catalog Is So Important… and Why It Deserves Ongoing Promotion When artists think about music promotion, the spotlight usually lands on what’s new. New releases feel urgent, exciting, and time-sensitive. But an artist’s back catalog plays an important role in telling your evolving story while providing more opportunities for discovery. Your […]
“Don’t underestimate the power of a lifetime ahead” I was born in a teensy town in England; my family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada when I was a baby and that’s where I grew up. I recall my parents having a lot of vinyl. Both my parents had worked in news radio, so there was cool […]