Some big news on the tech side of things this week, with SoundCloud announcing they’ve partnered with all the major digital DJ software companies with the intention of enabling DJs to stream tracks from SoundCloud through the software. Understandably, there’s been a fairly mixed reaction to this, SoundCloud currently doesn’t offer any reimbursement for artists who have their music uploaded on the platform, but charge for a premium membership if you want an ad-free experience (even if you’re an artist). Producers offering up their tracks for free streaming for personal listening is one thing, but many are drawing the line at their tracks being played in clubs without generating any revenue. On the flip side, many small producers just want their tracks to be played by someone, somewhere and have no issue as long as their track’s getting out there. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
The Sleep D boys have been busy touring Japan the last couple of weeks, but that hasn’t stopped them announcing a whopper of a party back in Melbourne on Sunday November 25 with DJ Fett Burger, themselves and Lori on the Evelyn Hotel Rooftop. DJ Fett Burger and his brother Sotofett are the Norwegian duo behind the mysterious and eclectic self-distributing labels Sex Tags Mania, Sex Tags UFO, Sex Tags Amfibia and Mongo Fett with a strictly enforced no digital release policy. Mostly though, they’re famed for throwing some of the wildest parties the world’s ever known, so get yourself a ticket asap.
Now for some, not unexpected, but still incredibly sad news. On Friday January 19, 2019, one of Melbourne’s most debauchery-filled and longest serving clubs (in one form or another) Hugs&Kisses will throw their final party. No line-up details have been released at this time, but really, they could just put on a Spotify playlist and people will come out in droves to say goodbye to the old haunt. The club operated on an old school members only liquor license that often baffled authorities, as the building has been owned by a UK fraternity called The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes for over 60 years. Unfortunately this year the few remaining aging members opted to sell the property and move into the suburbs as parking was getting too expensive. (Sigh).
