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Source: Hasyim Hasyim / Getty / Floppy Disks
Do you remember floppy disks? It’s okay if you don’t because they are an ancient technological relic. Folks in Japan are still very familiar with computer accessories, but thankfully, they no longer have to be hamstrung by them.
Spotted on BBC, Japan is finally saying goodbye to floppy disks.
Until last month, people in the country were still required to submit documents to the government using severely outdated storage devices because there were over 1,000 regulations requiring they have been used.
Digital Minister Taro Kono said that would no longer be the case after those regulations were tossed into the recycle bin and permanently erased.
Hilariously, we also know that the fax machine is still in use, which Kono also wants to eliminate.
Per BBC:
Mr Kono has made it his goal to eliminate old technology since he was appointed to the job. He had earlier also said he would “get rid of the fax machine”.
Once seen as a tech powerhouse, Japan has in recent years lagged in the global wave of digital transformation because of a deep resistance to change.
For instance, workplaces have continued to favour fax machines over emails – earlier plans to remove these machines from government offices were scrapped because of pushback.
“Just realized that floppy disks still exist,” one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in response to the New York Times’ reporting.
Another person added, “Welcome to the 21st century, Japan!”
Floppy disks were first introduced in the 1960s but fell out of favor with computer users in the 1990s when more efficient data storage methods arrived.
Sony was the last company to manufacture floppy disks until 2011 they ended production.
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / Xbox Live
On Tuesday, gamers hoping to play games online via their Xbox Live accounts were greeted by a massive service outage.
Xbox Live, Microsoft’s service, which allows gamers to play multiplayer games online, suffered a major service outage, with thousands of users reporting issues logging in.
The monitoring site Downdetector noted that user-reported issues began to spike at 2:15 pm ET Tuesday, with more than 23,000 outage reports being reported to the website. Many users reported seeing the message that Xbox Live was undergoing “scheduled maintenance.”
The official Xbox Live account on X, formerly Twitter, addressed the outage at 2:55 pm ET.
Per Variety:
The official Xbox Support account on X posted at 2:55 pm. ET, “We are aware that some users have been disconnected from Xbox Live. We’re investigating!” The message directed users to the Xbox status page — which eventually was updated to say that a major outage of the “Account & profile” service was reported at 2:07 pm ET. “You may not be able to sign-in to your Xbox profile, may be disconnected while signed in, or have other related problems,” the message on the Xbox status page said. “Features that require sign-in like most games, apps and social activity won’t be available.”
At about 8:49 pm ET, Microsoft wrote on the Xbox Support account that the issues were resolved: “Users should no longer be encountering issues signing in to Xbox Live and services.”
PlayStation Is Also Having Issues With Its Rewards Program
Microsoft isn’t the only company suffering from problems. PlayStation also had its own problems with its reward program, PlayStation Stars, which has been down for about a month, eclipsing 2011’s infamous PSN outage.
On the PlayStation App, users are greeted with the message, “PlayStation Stars will be returning soon in phased regional rollouts. “Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to welcoming you back.”
We’re just glad to see the issues being resolved. We are curious to hear what caused the Xbox Live service outage and PlayStation Stars to be down.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
iPads have made it possible to do everything from surf the web to watch our favorite streaming platforms in a compact, travel-friendly size. However you use the device, though, a solid case is needed to protect your iPad from cracks and permanent damage. Some of the best types of iPad cases have multipurpose qualities that can switch from a simple case to a tablet stand.
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To get the most out of your iPad accessories, Amazon has a transforming tablet case that will not only protect your device, but can also turn into a separate screen or a computer monitor — and it’s only $45. The tablet case is compatible with the 2024 iPad Air and iPad Pro. You can choose from four sizes and colors, including blue, black, gray and white.
Trending on Billboard
Keep reading to shop the Amazon iPad case below.
MagEasy Tablet Case
This iPad Tablet Case will transform from a traditional protective case into a monitor or separate screen for working or scrolling using a magnetic material. You can adjust the screen angle to get your desired view and creators can also take advantage of the pen holder for easy access. In addition to being able to transform its shape, the case is scratch and discoloration resistant for added durability.
Looking for additional savings? Amazon has another similar iPad case that’s on sale for 21% off, dropping the price down to just $34. The design is compatible with the 2024 iPad Air with two sizes to choose from: 11 inches and 13 inches. More than 1,000 shoppers have purchased the tablet case this month, and have called it a “standout accessory” for its “strong attraction to the base and multiple viewing angles for any task.”
Shop the Amazon deal below.
ESR Adjustable Portrait/Landscape Stand
$33.99
$42.99
21% off
Reviewers have graded the ESR iPad case a 4.7 star rating and it’s easy to see why: Its versatility allows you to choose from up to nine different viewing angles, including six for viewing and three for gaming and creating. The tablet accessory comes with wide support brackets to help keep your iPad stable and locked in while in use. Plus, it’s detachable for hands-free gaming and the ability to magnetically attach onto your fridge.
You can even choose from five colors: black, red, blue, purple and brown. When you’re ready to travel, you can unfold the device and turn it back into a slim design that easily slips into your luggage or backpack.
For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best charging stations, commuter gadgets and laptop deals.
Warner Music Group (WMG) sent letters to tech companies this week instructing them not to use the label’s music to train artificial intelligence technology without permission. Sony Music sent out similar letters to over 700 companies in May.
“It is imperative that all uses and implementations of machine learning and AI technologies respect the rights of all those involved in the creation, marketing, promotion, and distribution of music,” Warner’s notice reads.
It continues, “all parties must obtain an express license from WMG to use… any creative works owned or controlled by WMG or to link to or ingest such creative works in connection with the creation of datasets, as inputs for any machine learning or AI technologies, or to train or develop any machine learning or AI technologies.”
Trending on Billboard
The notices from Sony and Warner come in the wake of the AI Act, legislation that was passed in the European Union in May. “Any use of copyright protected content requires the authorization of the rightsholder concerned unless relevant copyright exceptions and limitations apply,” the act notes. “Rightsholders may choose to reserve their rights over their works or other subject matter to prevent text and data mining, unless this is done for the purposes of scientific research.”
If companies take this action, then “providers of general-purpose AI models need to obtain an authorization from rightsholders if they want to carry out text and data mining over such works.”
The Cold War between the music industry and much of the AI world has been heating up in recent months. Labels are adamant that AI companies should license their music if they want to use those massive catalogs of recordings to develop song generation technology.
Most AI companies, however, aren’t interested in paying. They often argue that their activities fall under “fair use” — the U.S. legal doctrine that allows for the unlicensed use of copyrighted works in certain situations.
In June, the three major labels sued two AI music companies, Suno and Udio, accusing them both of “willful copyright infringement on an almost unimaginable scale.” “These lawsuits are necessary to reinforce the most basic rules of the road for the responsible, ethical, and lawful development of generative AI systems and to bring Suno’s and Udio’s blatant infringement to an end,” RIAA Chief Legal Officer Ken Doroshow said in a statement.
In a response to the suits, Suno CEO Mikey Shulman said his company’s tech is “designed to generate completely new outputs, not to memorize and regurgitate pre-existing content.” Udio said it “stand[s] behind our technology.”
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
July 2023 was considered to be the hottest month in the global temperature record, according to NASA findings, and this summer is proving to be similarly toasty. Staying cool during especially hot days is essential for your health and safety, whether it’s with a handheld fan or turning up the air conditioner. Increased use of your AC though, means you’ll likely have higher electric bills, but that’s where owning a personal air conditioner can come in handy.
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Amazon has discounted one of its most highly sought after personal air coolers by 40% off, bringing it down to a wallet-friendly $30. More than 2,000 shoppers have purchased the device this month claiming “it offers exceptional cooling with its powerful evaporative technology and quiet operation.” And, since it comes in a compact size, you can take it practically anywhere.
Trending on Billboard
Keep reading to shop the deal now.
editor’s pick
Wesapor Portable Air Conditioner
$29.98
$49.98
40% off
Wesapor’s Portable Air Conditioner isn’t a traditional air conditioner per se, but it offers similar cooling capabilities for a major steal, compared to the in-window units that typically run hundreds of dollars. While it won’t be powerful enough to turn your room into arctic-like temperatures, it does have the ability to decrease the heat by using a cooling fan system that relies on water. The device has a 1000 ml capacity and turns cold water into a cold breeze. Unlike a regular air conditioner, this portable version operates using low energy to help save you money. The touchscreen also allows you to change the settings, whether you want to add a time, change the fan speed, or have some light misting.
Shoppers can’t get enough of how “outstanding” the cooler works, claiming when you add ice to the reservoir, it can last a day, making it a “good replacement for an air conditioner.”
There are a variety of other air cooling solutions out there that will have you ditching an oscillating fan to keep your room at a more comfortable temperature. The main differences between a traditional air conditioner and air cooler is that an air conditioner must be vented in order to circulate cold air whereas an air cooler doesn’t need ventilation — just add water and the device will suck fresh air through a filter and produce colder air in turn.
In case you’re looking for more options, keep reading.
What Are the Best Personal Air Conditioners?
To help you find the best personal air conditioners and cooling fans, ShopBillboard rounded up a variety of top-rated models you can buy online now.
without hose pick
KLOUDIC Portable Air Conditioner
$42.99
$59.99
28% off
This portable air conditioner from Walmart eliminates the need for having to stick a hose out of your window thanks to its slim construction. All you need to do is add water to the reservoir (up to 800 ml) and turn it on. There are three fan settings to choose from and you can also switch the device from a portable AC to a humidifier or just a plane fan. The touchscreen also includes a built-in light for added ambiance.
Some reviewers have labeled the bestselling mini air cooler “better than an oscillating fan” claiming the light misting helps quickly cool them down — especially when you place it next to you at night.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
EvaCHILL
$84.90
$99
14% off
$99
EvaChill‘s evaporative cooler keeps things compact in a small size that you can easily place on a side table without leaving it feeling cluttered. It uses evaporative technology that utilizes water as a way to push cold air into your space. Attached to the design is a built-in handle that’ll allow you to transport the mini air cooler from one place to another more easily.
Verified Amazon reviewers have described how “shocked” they are over its cooling results, saying it “adds just the right amount of cool to keep me comfortable all night long without drying me out like a fan.”
evaporative cooler pick
Vebreda Evaporative Air Cooler
$79.98
$259.98
69% off
For 69% off, you can score Walmart’s bestselling evaporative cooler, which will help bring a chill vibe to your room. Unlike a personal air cooler, an evaporative design like this model will cool the air by using evaporated water. This design comes with a tank that holds up to five liters you can pre-fill with water. Its versatile build also allows it to switch to a fan, humidifier and purifier just through a push of a button on the included remote.
Reviewers claim it’s best for “drier” climates since the device adds cold moisture to the air using evaporated water.
For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best box fans, music coolers and portable ice baths.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Heat waves have become more frequent over the years, with hot seasons lasting 46 days longer now than they did in the 1960s, according to data collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Sizzling temperatures may be great for travel, but the sun also makes it easier for your smartphone to overheat, which can lead to damage down the road, like your phone automatically shutting down or, worse, ceasing to work entirely.
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Heat dissipation phone cases can help minimize the problem by regulating your smartphone’s temperature — and ShopBillboard has found a popular choice for just $10 on Amazon. More than 1,000 verified shoppers have left five-star reviews for the case, praising the “very slim profile” and ability to keep your phone “cool as a cucumber.”
Trending on Billboard
Keep reading to buy the heat dissipation case online now.
editor’s pick
Mixneer Heat Dissipation Phone Case
The unique holes and perforated texture on this cooling phone case provides a breathable environment for your iPhone to prevent overheating. Rather than using stuffy plastic or leather, this cooling phone case is made from a TPU material (known for its heat dissipating qualities) that’s also lightweight and slim to prevent added bulk to your pocket. The case is compatible with iPhone models 7-XR (we found an iPhone 15 heat dissipating case below).
Below, we also found a few more styles for other phone models and needs.
What Are the Best Heat Dissipation Phone Cases?
To help you discover some of the top-rated cooling cases on the market, we rounded up a list of heat dissipating designs you can shop now.
iphone 15 pick
GentsStride All-Inclusive Hollow Magnetic Phone Case
iPhone 15 users can pick up this heat dissipating phone case, which is compatible with wireless chargers and has a honeycomb design for maximum airflow. On the sides, you’ll find metal buttons to quickly adjust the volume, lock screen and power your device on and off.
samsung pick
Paradigm Pro Heat Regulating Case
$47.96
$59.95
20% off
For less than $50, the Paradigm Pro Heat Regulating Case uses a cooling gel interior to prevent your smartphone from overheating. The durable construction protects your phone from up to 18-foot drops while the built-in magnetic charging makes it compatible with most wireless chargers. The cooling phone case is compatible with iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
thermal pouch
PHOOZY Thermal Phone Case
For those who don’t want to part with their current phone case, this thermal pouch will provide cooling effects without have to snap off your statement-making cover. What’s notable about the design is its spacesuit-inspire material, which can reflect more than 90% of the heat from the sun away from your device, according to the official product description. There are two sizes to choose from: medium or large, and it’s compatible with both iPhones and Samsung devices for added versatility.
Does a Heat Dissipation Phone Case Work?
While the phone case won’t fully prevent your phone from overheating, the cooling materials (from silicone and Thermoplastic Polyurethane-made cases) will help regulate your device’s temperature and help prevent it from reaching concerning heat levels. The main purpose of a heat dissipation phone case is to regulate the heat by providing airflow and heat-wicking materials to decrease the temperature of your phone.
In addition to providing a layer of protection to your phone, you can also prevent overheating by not leaving your phone out in direct sunlight or in your car on a hot day. Apple warns that smart devices that go over 95 degrees can be at risk for damage.
For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best tablet stands, charging stations and cord organizers.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Offset and Busta Rhymes joined Ray-Ban Meta for a special “hands-free” experience at 99 Scott in Brooklyn on Friday (June 28). The event, held in celebration of the latest collection of smart glasses, offered concertgoers the chance to test out the new collection via immersive mirror and graffiti instillations and Meta AI.
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Hands Free Brooklyn,” inspired by Busta Rhymes 1997 track “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” also featured performances from Coi Leray and Busta Rhymes’ son, Trillian, and music from DJ Saige. The event was held collaboration with independent creative company, Translation, and coincided with the release of a social campaign featuring Offset and U.K. rapper/singer Little Simz.
Trending on Billboard
Offset teased the Ray-Ban collaboration on Instagram last week posting a clip from the campaign with the cryptic caption, “Got something on the way for y’all.” He followed-up with a video of the new campaign. “I got to get loose before every show, no matter what. This time I got a little help from @raybanmeta 🙌🏾😎#raybanmeta.”
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are now available in two new colors, shiny/chalky gray with cinnamon pink lenses ($299) and shiny black with clear/cerulean blue transitional lenses ($379).
Ray-Ban Meta
Ray-Ban Meta Skyler Smart Glasses
The smart glasses allow you to record, snap photos, make phone calls, ask Meta AI questions and more using voice control and touch control functions. As 9 to 5 Google reports, Meta recently extended the video recording limit from 60 seconds to three minutes.
The glasses feature a 12 MP camera, five-microphones, and are available in over 100 color combinations including personalized designs that you can create yourself.
Ray-Ban Meta has worked with other recording stars such as Maluma and Erkyah Badu.
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Source: SOPA Images / Getty / Redbox
Redbox and Crackle’s parent company, Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after failing to pay workers and vendors for the past four weeks.
Spotted on Variety, the company filed a petition for bankruptcy on June 28 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
In the filing, Chicken Soup For The Soul Entertainment listed total debts of $970 million and consolidated assets of $414 million as of March 31, 2024.
The entertainment company reported $4.9 million in cash and equivalents, including $4.6 million of restricted cash.
Per Variety:
Creditors listed on CSSE’s bankruptcy include Universal Studios Home Entertainment (which is owed $16.7 million) as well as Universal City Studios Productions ($16.7 million), Sony Pictures Home Entertainment ($9.1 million), BBC Studios Americas ($9 million), Walgreens ($5 million), Lionsgate ($4.6 million), Walmart ($4.1 million), Vizio ($2.75 million), Warner Bros. Home Entertainment ($2 million), and Paramount Pictures ($1.96 million) and Paramount Home Entertainment ($1.2 million).
As of the date of the bankruptcy filing, Chicken Soup for the Soul said it had about 836 full-time employees and 197 part-time employees (1,033 total). In a court filing, the company estimated that it owes employees approximately $3.52 million in unpaid wages and also is obligated to pay $2.24 million in health and welfare benefits and $594,204 toward workers’ 401(k) plans. Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment disclosed that it was “unable to make payroll for the two-week period ending on June 14, 2024.”
The website also reports that CEO Bill Rouhana Jr. (who owns 79% of the voting power represented in its outstanding common stock) said in a June 11, 2024, SEC filing that the company had dissolved its board of directors.
Rouhanan would step down on June 24, bankruptcy documents revealed.
Right now, Redbox is still operating; it will be interesting to see if the company shutters due to its parent company’s financial woes.
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Source: Xbox / Xbox Gaming x Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Fire TV devices got a significant boost thanks to Xbox Gaming.
Xbox is on a mission to get into homes everywhere, and you won’t need to purchase an Xbox Series X or Series S console to accomplish that goal.
Thursday, Xbox announced its new partnership with Amazon to bring its Xbox Gaming App to select Fire TV devices.
Beginning in July, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) will go live on Amazon’s Fire TV 4K Max ($59.99) and Fire TV Stick 4K ($49.99) through the Xbox Gaming app. This will give users access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($16.99) and instant access to a massive library of games and the latest games like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Starfield, and Forza Horizon 5.
To begin playing, you need only a Bluetooth wireless controller like the Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation DualSense, or DualShock 4.
Xbox Is Offering Gamers Options
“We’re committed to making it easy for customers to access their favorite entertainment experiences with Fire TV,” said Fire TV and Alexa vice president Daniel Rausch. “We’re excited to work with Microsoft to bring the Xbox app to select Fire TV devices so customers can enjoy a vast library of high-quality games, allowing them to play amazing titles without the need for a console. Now customers have even more ways to play the games they love, wherever they are, with just a compatible Fire TV Stick, Bluetooth controller, and Game Pass Ultimate membership.”
“The expansion of Xbox gaming to Fire TV devices offers players another option for enjoying their favorite games using devices they already own. For those who don’t own an Xbox console, this provides an affordable and convenient way to get started. With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, there’s something for every type of player. We look forward to having more people join the Xbox gaming community,” Xbox Experiences and Platforms Engineering corporate vice president Ashley McKissick adds.
It looks like Xbox is fully embracing a console-less future.
Last January, Olivia King sat at her dining room table and made a beat — in five minutes.
The Rhode Island-based pop/R&B artist doesn’t play instruments or use music-production software. Instead, she created her track with Overtune, a music-making app that allows users to combine beats and samples from a wide range of instruments and other sounds, write and record vocals, and otherwise use a simple smartphone interface to make music meant to soundtrack content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Overtune was developed in Iceland and launched in 2020.
Now, King’s use of the app is helping expand Overtune’s applications beyond social platforms and into more traditional releases. After using Overtune to add her own vocals to her five-minute beat, she made a video of herself performing the song snippet, then posted it to TikTok as part of a brand deal with the app. The video started racking up views; it now has more than 10 million of them.
Capitalizing on this interest, King created an entire song based on her original minute-long TikTok. A steamy ballad called “Unfinished Business,” the two-minute, 18-second song was made entirely with Overtune beat packs and released last Friday (June 21). It marks the first release through Overtune’s new label service, which is centered on a partnership with SoundOn, the music distribution model launched by TikTok in 2022 in the U.S. and U.K.
Trending on Billboard
Building SoundOn into Overtune “fits directly into the changing music industry,” says Overtune co-founder Jason Daði Guðjónsson. “Social media platforms like TikTok are at the forefront of that kind of transformation, and I think Overtune is perfectly positioned to help artists navigate the changing landscape by providing them with the tools to create and now also share and monetize their music.”
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SoundOn is designed to help independent, emerging artists navigate TikTok, upload music, get paid for its use, market and promote themselves on the platform, and distribute their music to outside DSPs. Through its integration into Overtune, paid users can release Overtune-produced songs via SoundOn directly in the app, which has a free tier along with a subscription service priced at $9.99 a month. (This paid option also offers other features like exclusive beat packs.)
“I’ve worked with probably every distributor under the sun, but never before with SoundOn,” says King. “I’m excited for it, because TikTok has changed the music industry.”
Overtune’s ability to produce music tailor-made for TikTok has attracted serious interest, with the company receiving $2 million in seed funding from Whynow media (founded by Mick Jagger’s son, Gabriel Jagger), along with investments from a group that includes Guitar Hero founder Charles Huang. Its advisory board includes former Sony Music UK head Nick Gatfield. And while the use of the app to make full-length songs is relatively new, along with King’s song, Overtune was used in the creation of “Framtíðin er hérna” (“The Future is Here”), a song made for the National Broadcasting Station of Iceland’s 2023 New Year’s Eve show.
Overtune’s founders want to make music creation ultra-simple by providing thousands of different sounds that are organized by tempo and pitch for easy matching. (Some commenters were suspicious about whether King had actually made her beat in five minutes, so she made another video in which she recreated the process to prove it.) The app currently offers assistive AI that answers user questions and is developing other AI functions that are being trained on Overtune’s proprietary beat packs. Later this year, the company will also launch a function that lets users generate loops using written prompts.
Overtune recently added an AI function with which users can apply vocals filters that mimic the voices of artists from Snoop Dogg to Elvis, along with celebs like Morgan Freeman and fictional characters like Marge Simpson. (This function will soon be replaced by AI voices developed in-house and designed to modify individual voices, rather than replicate those of celebrities.)
“The beautiful thing about it,” Guðjónsson says of the app as it currently stands, “is that you don’t have to know anything about tech or music to be able to create songs.”
Overtune sounds aren’t copyrighted, so users can earn royalties from the music made on the app when it’s uploaded to TikTok and DSPs like Spotify and Apple Music. But Guðjónsson says Overtune users “gravitate toward TikTok” especially, making SoundOn “a natural addition to our offerings.”
The app also allows users to make music at TikTok’s unique pace. Artists can experiment with song snippets, then use SoundOn to put them on TikTok and test them with audiences before completing the song and releasing it on more traditional DSPs.
Making distribution easier is also just an extension of the company’s broader mission. “Becoming a musician is not supposed to be that difficult,” Guðjónsson says. “As it is today, you have to own a lot of expensive equipment and have a big presence to be noticed by the labels, but anyone can go through our services.”
For King, this ease is a major part of the app’s appeal.
“As an independent artist you have to be consistent, and the best way to be consistent is to be efficient,” she says. “With Overtune I can do a full demo on the app, then distribute through SoundOn, which makes life easier as an independent artist.”