Blog: Sonical.ly - Educating Music Creators

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Keri Howard |

5.27.22

Olivia Rodrigo's Journey: One Year Since her First Album Release

It’s been one year since the young pop-star, Olivia Rodrigo, released her first music album “Sour”. Since her debut, Olivia Rodrigo has won 3 Grammy Awards and named Women of the Year in 2022.

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Keri Howard |

6.17.22

BTS: The First K-Pop Band to be Invited to the White House

BTS is the most famous K-Pop band in the world now, and recently, they were invited to the white house to speak about anti-Asian hate crimes and inclusivity. Being the first K-Pop band to be...

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Julianna Soriano |

3.7.22

STAYC’S YOUNG-LUV.COM -- defying genres and taking over the world

It’s been two weeks since STAYC’s third mini album release YOUNG-LUV.COM, and we took this time to soak it all in and live our daydreams vicariously through this album. YOUNG-LUV.COM gives us that...

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Rachel Yin |

10.17.22

Phoebe Bridgers: A Deep Dive into Songwriting

Phoebe Bridgers is an American songwriter, singer, and producer who has, in recent years, gained mainstream recognition with the release of her sophomore album “Punisher” in 2020...

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Patricia Mapeso |

10.18.22

How Steve Lacy Makes the Most with Less

Steve Lacy is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and living proof that you don’t need the most advanced or high-tech studio equipment to create music that listeners will love...

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Julianna Soriano |

4.7.22

Bobby Shmurda Is Finally Out Of His Epic Deal

Bobby Shmurda has finally been released from his deal with Epic Records following his own plea for his release on social media stating, “I did six years in jail trying to get off this label before...

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Srushti Patel |

8.15.22

TikTok Plans to Introduce a New Music Streaming App

Over the past few years, TikTok’s popularity has significantly increased resulting in 1 billion global daily users by early 2022. The app has also become extremely influential in the current music....

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Julianna Soriano |

4.6.22

Ed Sheeran Slams “Damaging” Lawsuits Against Songwriters Amidst Copyright Case Victory

Over the past month, singer Ed Sheeran has been battling a copyright trial, accusing him of plagiarizing his 2017 hit song, “Shape of You” the song’s resemblance to their song, “Oh Why” Sami Chokri...

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Duomi Ding |

8.2.22

Success Through Self-Exploration: Lexie Liu's Rise to Stardom

Whether you know Lexie Liu from her performance as Seraphine in K/DA’s “MORE” or her fourth-place finish on The Rap of China 2018, there’s no denying that the Chinese hip hop star is a global ...

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Julia Reyes |

3.29.22

Shawn Mendez opens up about break up with new song

Newly heartbroken singer Shawn Mendez performs his new song “When you’re gone” at South by Southwest. This is the debut song that came out after his break up with fellow singer Camila Cabello after...

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Srushti Patel |

8.19.22

Snapchat Announces a $100,000 Monthly Grant for Artists

Snapchat has recently announced Snapchat Sounds Creator Fund, a monthly grant program of up to $100,000 awarded to independent artists distributing music on the platform...

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Julianna Soriano |

4.1.22

Here’s What You Need To Know About Queendom 2

Queendom returned for its long awaited second season (hosted by Girls Generation’s Tayeon) and here’s all you need to know: Queendom is a South Korean reality-survival show in which six girl groups...

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Srushti Patel |

8.4.22

Are Charlie Puth’s Music Classes Worth $300?

Charlie Puth has paired with Studio to create a 30-day online course that outlines the entire songwriting and production process for $279 USD. This hands-on learning experience has been marketed....

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Julie Reyes |

4.11.22

With T.O.P.'s Departure from YG due to mental health struggles, is this the End of Big Bang?

After a long 4 year’s K-pop group Big Bang makes a comeback to the music scene with the song “Still Life.” This song has become another banger from the group reminding fans of the music they once...

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Julie Reyes |

3.31.22

Doja Cat Overwhelmed With Fame Took To Twitter To Quit Music Career

After a cancelled performance at the Asuncionico festival in Paraguay Doja cat received backlash from fans claiming the singer neglected them outside of her hotel. After the many complaints from...

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Julianna Soriano |

4.2.22

5 Upcoming K-Pop Debuts To Watch For 2022

Debut: April 2022 After having competed on the reality survival show, “My Teenage Girl”, the seven-member group CLASS:y was formed, signing a seven-year contract with label, M25. The group was...

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Julianna Soriano |

4.6.22

Broadway’s KPOP To Premiere Late 2022

The first theatre production highlighting the global takeover of the K-Pop industry will be making its Broadway debut later this year, with its opening night scheduled for November 20, while...

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Rachel Yin |

10.4.22

YouTube Announces New “Creator Music” Platform

In the wake of Tiktok’s rapid expansion and growing dominance in the short-form video market, YouTube has felt the pressure to adapt to keep up with the shifting demands of its audience...

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Julianna Soriano |

4.5.22

Jack Harlow Samples Fergie’s “Glamorous” in Viral TikTok Snippet

Last week, Louisville heartthrob Jack Harlow dropped a 13 second snippet of a new song he’d been working on that samples Fergie’s hit, “Glamorous” and it immediately went viral on TikTok within...

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Patricia Mapeso |

10.5.22

Deep Dive: How Conan Gray Writes His Songs

Conan Gray is an American YouTuber turned singer-songwriter, most well-known for his songs about heartbreak and unrequited love. Throughout his career, Conan has written songs like “Crush Culture”...

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Keri Howard |

6.3.22

What Makes a Harry Styles Hook So Infectious

On May 20, Harry Styles released his new album Harry’s House, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. This is his third studio album in which all thirteen songs are in the top 30...

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Duomi Ding |

8.19.22

Like the Early Days of Hip-Hop: The Future of Blockchain in the Music Industry

One of the biggest questions many spaces face today is how blockchain technology may overhaul industry norms, and the music industry is no exception. In particular...

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Keri Howard |

5.26.22

TikTok is "Hooked" on The Song House

The Song House is a songwriter house in Nashville, Tennessee where all levels of writers and artists come together to develop music. Every week, 12-15 songwriters are challenged to write a hook in...

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Julianna Soriano |

4.5.22

Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open” Wins Record of The Year at the 2022 Grammys

If you’ve been on social media for the past few months, odds are you’ve probably heard of the iconic viral hit, “Leave The Door Open” by Silk Sonic on just about every corner of the internet.

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Keri Howard |

6.6.22

SEVENTEEN is Going "HOT" This Summer

SEVENTEEN (세븐틴) is a 13 member Korean boy band under Pledis Entertainment. They are split into 3 teams, the Hip Hop unit (S.coups, Wonwoo, Mingyu, Vernon), the Vocal unit (Jeonghan, Joshua, Woozi...

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Julie Reyes |

3.18.22

J-Pop group XGalX debut’s breaking social norms with song “Tippy Toes”

After month’s of anticipation Japanese Girl group XGalX debute with new single “Tippy Toes”. The group consists of 7 young empowered women named Jurin, Harvey, Hinata, Chisa, Maya, Juria and Co...

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Duomi Ding |

8.31.22

Has the Pandemic Changed the World of Live Music?

For the last two years, there has been something missing in the lives of music lovers around the world—live music. The advent of a global pandemic meant the absence of concerts, festivals........

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Julianna Soriano |

4.5.22

BIGBANG Make History With “Still Life” Comeback After 4-Year Hiatus

Alas, BIGBANG have finally made their long-awaited return to the spotlight with their new single, “Still Life” – a heartfelt ballad about the perils of growing up and learning from your past. As...

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Julianna Soriano |

3.10.22

Stray Kids Make 2022 Comeback With Mini Album – ODDINARY

Dare I say its, EXTRAODDINARY?‍Stray Kids have returned with the release of their new mini-album, ODDINARY – a collection of seven songs that proclaim the message of embracing all of the things...

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Juilianna Soriana |

3.10.22

Weeekly Makes 2022 Return With “Play Game: Awake”

Weeekly pivots away from their bubbly and upbeat sound and makes a major transformation in their edgy and ambitious first mini album, “Play Game: Awake”.‍“Play Game: Awake” marks Weeekly’s fourth...

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Julianna Soriano |

3.16.22

Chaka Khan on Kanye West’s Through the Wire – “I hated it; it was an insult!”

Whether you’ve been a fan of Kanye West from the start, or you’ve recently watched his Netflix trilogy “Jeen-Yuhs”, you’ve probably heard his of first breakout single into the rap industry “Through...

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Stevan Oostenbrug |

12.7.22

Rina Sawyama -- The Voice of a Genre-Spanning Pop Star

Rina Sawayama has burst into the consciousness of queer music listeners in recent years. My first time listening to her work was Cherry, a track that is bubbly ...

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Stevan Oostenbrug |

12.28.22

Timbaland’s Beatmaking Masterclass Review: A Class on Feeling the Flow

Many artists are using their personal brand and influence to educate artists, from beginners to fellow professionals. Timbaland has partnered with Masterclass to teach musicians how to make unique...

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Nate Moore |

1.6.22

Quentin Miller only got paid $30,000 for writing 6 Drake songs.

Drake's ghostwriter controversy has been a topic of conversation since the rapper's feud with Meek Mill in 2015. Quentin Miller, a lesser-known rapper from Atlanta, was named as the ghostwriter....

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Stevan Oostenbrug |

1.16.23

Ryan Tedder’s Studio Review: Writing Three Songs From Scratch

Ryan Tedder is a highly accomplished and sought-after music producer and songwriter. He is known for his work with a wide range of artists including: Adele, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and OneRepublic...

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Nate Moore |

1.19.23

Hania Rani: A Virtuoso in the World of Classical and Electronic Music

Hania Rani is a Polish pianist and composer whose music has been described as "hauntingly beautiful" and "evocative." She is known for her unique blend of classical and electronic music, which she...

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Nate Moore |

1.19.23

Writer's Block is Real, Even for J.Cole: Here are 8 Tips to Overcome

Rapper J. Cole has recently announced that he had been struggling with writer's block, but found a way to break free from it by using a type beat from Youtube music producer BVTMAN's YouTube...

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Mark Singleton |

1.23.23

How Black Pink Should Negotiate Their New Contract with YG Entertainment

As the contract between Blackpink and YG Entertainment nears its end, fans of the popular South Korean girl group are wondering if the group will renew their contract with the agency...

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Kaitlyn Meyers |

1.26.23

Arcane: How A Video Game Adaptation Ended Up With A Banger Soundtrack

What does a TV show based on a video game and the music industry have in common? Near the end of 2021, Arcane took the world by storm after debuting on Netflix. Not only did it dazzle us with its...

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Julia Zhu |

1.26.23

Songwriter's Block: Inspiration Tuning in From Around the World (Billie Eilish, Lay Zhang, and Edgar Barrera)

Writer’s block is real, and it’s not just authors, but also songwriters and composers. Thinking of top hit songs can be difficult, so how do the pros do it? Where do they get their inspiration from?

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Julia Zhu

1.28.23

The Road to Success: What qualities can we learn from Kpop Idols?

What does it take to be a professional singer in South Korea? On stage, these Kpop idols capture our attention with catchy songs and amazing choreographies, but what about off-stage? Behind the ...

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Nate Moore |

2.1.23

Will Google End Work for Music Creators with their New Music AI?

Google has done it. They have created an AI that can generate music from text descriptions. The announcement of this is timely because recently Chat GPT, (a language learning model created by OpenAI

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Kaitlyn Meyers |

1.31.23

Against The Current’s Rise To Fame: Why This Pop-Rock Band Got Hate For Starting On YouTube

Before the invention of TikTok, many music artists gained popularity through YouTube. However, similar to the TikTok stars of today, people in the music industry saw ‘YouTube bands’ as lesser because

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Ethan Stafford |

1.31.23

Miley Cyrus is Going to Take Over Pop in 2023, Thanks To Her Genre-Bending Versatility and Social Media Popularity

Miley Cyrus was born into the music industry, and has spent her career channelling her Nashville and Hollywood roots into a diverse discography stacked with hits. Add to that countless covers that are

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Ethan Stafford |

1.31.23

How Zach Bryan’s Authenticity Makes His Music So Appealing, Even to Non-Country Fans

Zach Bryan released his first album in 2019, and in the short time since he has become one of the biggest names in country. His biggest album, “American Heartbreak”, broke single-day album streaming

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Kaitlyn Meyers |

2.5.23

Grammy Awards Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical: The Category Songwriters Deserve

The 65th annual GRAMMY Awards are here, and there's a long-awaited addition to the awards. This year marks the introduction of a new category: the Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical Award. For all

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Julia Zhu |

2.5.23

Are Virtual Idols the Future of Music?

Virtual reality and the metaverse have become popular topics in the music industry where more and more technology and music have been combined, creating something that could revolutionize the entire

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Ethan Stafford |

2.4.23

Lessons to Learn From the Launch Of Sam Smith’s “Unholy”

Sam Smith just released their new album “Gloria” on the 27th of January. As described by Pitchfork, “Gloria flips between hyperpop, country, dancehall, disco, 2-step, and intimate, Kehlani-esque R&B”.

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Ethan Stafford |

2.6.23

SG Lewis: Who Is He - and What’s Next For This Rising Star?

SG Lewis (Samuel George Lewis) is a rising star in the dance/electronic music realm. He is a DJ/producer turned singer-songwriter, and is known for his disco-inspired, transcendent sound. He routinely

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Ethan Stafford |

2.8.23

What’s the Ideal Length for a Single— Are Songs Getting Shorter?

“Is it just me, or are songs getting shorter these days?” This is a question I have often pondered, especially in the last few years. It appears that in the era of social media, attention spans are

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Kaitlyn Meyers |

2.8.23

Taylor Swift on Industry Sexism and Music Rights

Being a successful woman in the music industry is no easy feat. Not only do they deal with the typical trials and tribulations of being a musician, but there are also gender-specific challenges.

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Julia Zhu |

2.14.23

Koji Kondo: Nintendo’s Melody Maestro

What do popular video games franchises Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox all have in common? They were all produced and published by Nintendo, and the iconic music themes that you hear in...

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Julia Zhu |

2.14.23

Behind the Music: The Audio Engineer

The music industry is a place full of musicians, producers, and creators who have the magical ability to make those perfect sounds we hear everyday through our digital devices. We want to listen close

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Kaitlyn Meyers |

2.17.23

The Creative Act: Rick Rubin’s Knowledge Turned Into A Book

What happens when a famous music producer takes an interest in self-help books? The Creative Act is your answer. But who is Rick Rubin? Without a doubt, Rubin has an impressive track record in the

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Ethan Stafford |

2.18.23

Behind Kaytranada’s Unique Sound

Kaytranada (Louis Celestin) is a Haitian-Canadian record producer and DJ. He is a highly acclaimed electronic artist, having earned two Grammys and countless other awards for his work. Kaytranada has

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Kaitlyn Meyers |

2.23.23

Why Jay-Z Was Named The #1 Rapper Of All Time

Who is the greatest rapper of all time? Is it even possible to crown just one person? Well, Billboard and Vibe did exactly that. And, according to them, that person is Jay-Z. In honor of Hip-Hop’s

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Ethan Stafford |

2.20.23

How do Streaming Platforms Pay Artists - Is It Fair?

Streaming is now the driving force of the music industry, making up 84% of the industry revenue in the U.S. While streaming is much more convenient for listeners, many artists argue that it is near im

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Ethan Stafford |

2.21.23

Rihanna’s Super Bowl Performance - What Does This Mean for Her Next Album?

Rihanna is an illustrious artist. She is among the best selling female artists of all time, and was one of the greatest hitmakers of the 2000s and 2010s. She has since grown to become the richest...

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Kaitlyn Meyers |

2.21.23

Ginalina: Bringing Her Taiwan Roots Into Her Latest Album

Folk singer. Songwriter. Canadian. Polyglot. All of these titles belong to Gina Lam, also known by her stage name Ginalina. In November 2022, she released her latest album titled Going Back: Remembe

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Ethan Stafford |

2.23.23

How Popular TV Shows and Movies Resurrect Classic Songs

HBO’s The Last of Us is arguably the hottest show out right now, receiving near universal acclaim from viewers and critics alike. This holds especially true for episode three: “Long, Long Time”.

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Kaitlyn Meyers |

2.23.23

Tobias Jesso Jr.: GRAMMY-Winning Canadian Sells His Song Rights

Tobias Jesso Jr. You may know his name from his 2015 solo album Goon. Or maybe from his work on various popular songs, such as “When We Were Young” by Adele and “Alive” by Sia. Or even from his rece

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Ethan Stafford |

2.25.23

Facing the Music: Legal Challenges With AI and Copyright Laws

People draw inspiration from others when forming their ideas, it’s a fact of life. Sampling in music is no exception - and artists do it for a variety of reasons. Traditionally, copyright laws and

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Ethan Stafford |

3.3.23

Basics For Building an At-Home Recording Studio

Artists like Kaytranada have proved that you don’t need access to a professional recording studio to create well-produced music. As technology and social media have advanced, it is now easier than eve

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Ethan Stafford |

3.4.23

Men I Trust: Canada’s DIY Indie Band That Could Be Your New Favourite

Men I Trust is a Canadian indie pop band known for their dreamy and mellow sound. Their music is laid back, incorporating elements of funk, disco, and R&B to create a smooth and groovy vibe that is

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Muellysa Timmangen

3.17.23

How did Miley Cyrus’ Heartbreak Song “Flowers” Break the Spotify Record?

The singer, songwriter, and actress Miley Cyrus has recently released a record-breaking song called “Flowers” in January 2023. This song recites her 10-year long relationship with her ex-husband....

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Muellysa Timmangen

3.18.23

MANILA GREY: Vancouver's Rising R&B Duo

The Filipino-Canadian duo from Vancouver has been releasing new tracks left and right, and they are known for their most streamed songs on Spotify, “Timezones,” and “Silver Skies.” Previously .......

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Kaitlyn Meyers

3.31.23

Max Martin: Why a Pop-Hit Songwriter and Producer Created a Musical

Even if you don’t know who Max Martin is, you’ve definitely heard his songs. Hit-pop songs are kind of his thing after all. Martin first stepped into the music world in 1985 as a frontman for....

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Michael Chen

3.22.23

Meet NewJeans: The K-Pop Group Taking the World by Storm

Even if you haven't heard of NewJeans yet, there's a good chance you'll soon be humming along to their infectious tunes. The Korean pop group is quickly gaining international attention and breaking..

SONICAL.LY BLOG

Olivia Rodrigo's Journey: One Year Since her First Album Release

BTS: The First K-Pop Band to be Invited to the White House

STAYC’S YOUNG-LUV.COM -- defying genres and taking over the world

Phoebe Bridgers: A Deep Dive into Songwriting

How Steve Lacy Makes the Most with Less

Bobby Shmurda Is Finally Out Of His Epic Deal

TikTok Plans to Introduce a New Music Streaming App

Ed Sheeran Slams “Damaging” Lawsuits Against Songwriters Amidst Copyright Case Victory

Success Through Self-Exploration: Lexie Liu's Rise to Stardom

Shawn Mendez opens up about break up with new song

Snapchat Announces a $100,000 Monthly Grant for Artists

Here’s What You Need To Know About Queendom 2

Are Charlie Puth’s Music Classes Worth $300?

With T.O.P.'s Departure from YG due to mental health struggles, is this the End of Big Bang?

Doja Cat Overwhelmed With Fame Took To Twitter To Quit Music Career

5 Upcoming K-Pop Debuts To Watch For 2022

Broadway’s KPOP To Premiere Late 2022

YouTube Announces New “Creator Music” Platform

Jack Harlow Samples Fergie’s “Glamorous” in Viral TikTok Snippet

Deep Dive: How Conan Gray Writes His Songs

What Makes a Harry Styles Hook So Infectious

Like the Early Days of Hip-Hop: The Future of Blockchain in the Music Industry

TikTok is "Hooked" on The Song House

Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open” Wins Record of The Year at the 2022 Grammys

SEVENTEEN is Going "HOT" This Summer

J-Pop group XGalX debut’s breaking social norms with song “Tippy Toes”

Has the Pandemic Changed the World of Live Music?

BIGBANG Make History With “Still Life” Comeback After 4-Year Hiatus

Stray Kids Make 2022 Comeback With Mini Album – ODDINARY

Weeekly Makes 2022 Return With “Play Game: Awake”

Chaka Khan on Kanye West’s Through the Wire – “I hated it; it was an insult!”

Rina Sawyama -- The Voice of a Genre-Spanning Pop Star

Timbaland’s Beatmaking Masterclass Review: A Class on Feeling the Flow

Quentin Miller only got paid $30,000 for writing 6 Drake songs.

Ryan Tedder’s Studio Review: Writing Three Songs From Scratch

Hania Rani: A Virtuoso in the World of Classical and Electronic Music

Writer's Block is Real, Even for J.Cole: Here are 8 Tips to Overcome

How Black Pink Should Negotiate Their New Contract with YG Entertainment

Arcane: How A Video Game Adaptation Ended Up With A Banger Soundtrack

Songwriter's Block: Inspiration Tuning in From Around the World (Billie Eilish, Lay Zhang, and Edgar Barrera)

The Road to Success: What qualities can we learn from Kpop Idols?

Will Google End Work for Music Creators with their New Music AI?

Against The Current’s Rise To Fame: Why This Pop-Rock Band Got Hate For Starting On YouTube

Miley Cyrus is Going to Take Over Pop in 2023, Thanks To Her Genre-Bending Versatility and Social Media Popularity

How Zach Bryan’s Authenticity Makes His Music So Appealing, Even to Non-Country Fans

Grammy Awards Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical: The Category Songwriters Deserve

Are Virtual Idols the Future of Music?

Lessons to Learn From the Launch Of Sam Smith’s “Unholy”

SG Lewis: Who Is He - and What’s Next For This Rising Star?

What’s the Ideal Length for a Single— Are Songs Getting Shorter?

Taylor Swift on Industry Sexism and Music Rights

Koji Kondo: Nintendo’s Melody Maestro

Behind the Music: The Audio Engineer

The Creative Act: Rick Rubin’s Knowledge Turned Into A Book

Behind Kaytranada’s Unique Sound

Why Jay-Z Was Named The #1 Rapper Of All Time

How do Streaming Platforms Pay Artists - Is It Fair?

Rihanna’s Super Bowl Performance - What Does This Mean for Her Next Album?

Ginalina: Bringing Her Taiwan Roots Into Her Latest Album

How Popular TV Shows and Movies Resurrect Classic Songs

Tobias Jesso Jr.: GRAMMY-Winning Canadian Sells His Song Rights

Facing the Music: Legal Challenges With AI and Copyright Laws

Basics For Building an At-Home Recording Studio

Men I Trust: Canada’s DIY Indie Band That Could Be Your New Favourite

How did Miley Cyrus’ Heartbreak Song “Flowers” Break the Spotify Record?

MANILA GREY: Vancouver's Rising R&B Duo

Max Martin: Why a Pop-Hit Songwriter and Producer Created a Musical

Meet NewJeans: The K-Pop Group Taking the World by Storm