After Andy Carroll was pictured soaking up the sun with his new girlfriend Lou Teasdale in Mallorca, Billi Mucklow shared a photo of her cuddling with the couple’s five children – two of which are from Andy’s previous relationship but she has always treated as her own
Liam Payne wanted to use his fame and fortune to change lives, and worked with charities including Unicef and anti-poverty charity Trussell, even spending time at food banks during the Covid pandemic
Martin Lewis has had a successful career in journalism and as a television presenter and is known for helping people save money – but he grew up in a rural village in Cheshire
One Direction singer Liam Payne was reported to have been acting ‘erratically’ by staff at the CasaSur Hotel in a 911 call made by staff before the tragic star fell to his death
King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in Australia for their first trip Down Under since their Coronation and while there’s been much focus on Charles, one expert believes it could be a testing trip for Camilla
For a limited time, you can save 50% on Molly-Mae Hague’s limited edition Beauty Works hair curling kit collaboration after it was slashed from £90 to £45 in a flash sale
Pretty Lights and a small team of determined creatives have orchestrated an online auction that resonates far beyond the confines of his dreamlike dancefloors.
As Western North Carolina grapples with the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the pioneering electronic artist has joined a feverish rally to offer a beacon of hope through a rare collection currently under the digital hammer. It’s a luminous lot comprising over 150 coveted items, each crackling with a pulse of his creativity and his band’s ineffable connection to fans.
“Our fans are really about lifting each other up and the sense of community that we’ve built is such a beautiful thing,” Meghan Zank, Pretty Lights’ partner, tells EDM.com backstage prior to his set at Austin City Limits. “So they all want to help. When we see any major devastation, we think, ‘What can we do?'”
Pretty Lights, whose real name is Derek Vincent Smith, echoed that sentiment. He and Zank worked with Erin Fritts, Jennifer Rodriguez and Emily Picart to execute the 72-hour online auction, “Creatives For WNC Relief,” which features contributions from all around Pretty Lights’ vast community. The band’s videographer Corey Ramos, a Charlotte native, has also played a pivotal role.
“We’re a few hours away, so it definitely hit home, seeing how many friends live out there. Their city was devastated and they can’t go back, and some friends are relocating,” Ramos laments. “It was just so unexpected and they’re just not prepared for that kind of stuff. They’re prepared for blizzards—not flash flooding.”
“It was tough to see. So after a week of kind of just figuring out how we could help, we figured this might be the best way. A lot of people have love for that area through the music scene.”
Among the treasures up for grabs are over 15 autographed official prints—rare relics no longer available to the public—alongside tickets to upcoming shows and high-quality photo prints captured by Pretty Lights’ photographer, Brittany Teuber. Other highlights include lessons from renowned drummer Adam Deitch and Lettuce guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff.
“Creatives For WNC Relief” even includes a guarantee for song or sample requests at Pretty Lights’ performances, letting fans take part in curating the very sound that defines their lives. But as bidders vie for these gems, they’re also contributing to a larger narrative of resilience and restoration.
To that end, the silent auction speaks volumes about the transformative power of art in times of crisis. Zank paints a picture of a deeply passionate grassroots effort to prove that electronic music can help rebuild, both spiritually and materially.
“The music that [Smith] makes really comes from the deepest part of his soul,” she says. “It speaks to the human experience and I think it’s super relatable. And he’s just a really true artist. So I think when something’s real, it just attracts power. Taking care of each other—it’s not about just him, it’s about our team and the community around us.”
“Connection is a big theme around here,” Ramos adds. “I feel like any way that PL gets a chance to connect or fuse the connection themselves, they’ll take advantage of it.”
“Creatives For WNC Relief” ends October 15th at 7pm EST (5pm MST, 4pm PST). You can place bids here.
Instagram: instagram.com/prettylights
X: x.com/prettylights
Facebook: facebook.com/prettylights
Spotify: spoti.fi/2GkoC5A
End Overdose is leading a hi-tech charge in the fight against drug overdoses, unveiling a cutting-edge e-training tool that promises to make a significant impact at EDM events.
The nonprofit, one of EDM.com‘s best industry leaders of 2022, says the initiative will “revolutionize overdose response training” at the concerts and festivals in which their teams are providing education. Dubbed “Narcats World,” the e-learning resource arrives in the midst of a growing need for medical preparedness at large-scale events, where limited onsite resources can leave attendees vulnerable.
Harm reduction remains one of today’s most timely flashpoints in the electronic dance music community and its festivals, which remain heavily scrutinized due to its inextricable link to drug use. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are the primary driver of overdose deaths in the United States, according to the US Drug Enforcement Administration, citing CDC data.
End Overdose believes “Narcats World” will democratize training by making it more accessible while improving retention and preparedness. Its deployment is designed to educate more ravers while boosting their confidence in managing real-time overdose situations.
The organization says “Narcats World” can increase retention by up to 75%. They’ve gamified the platform to offer rewards to participants, and incorporated narrative storytelling and “multi-sensory” specs like haptic feedback to keep them engaged.
It’s important to note that the e-learning tool is still in its development phase and End Overdose has not formally rolled it out to events at the time of this writing.
View the original article to see embedded media.
X: x.com/endoverdose
TikTok: tiktok.com/@end.overdose
Instagram: instagram.com/end.overdose
Facebook: facebook.com/end.overdose
Website: endoverdose.net
As the music industry continues to evolve, the road to success for independent artists seems to be getting even steeper.
A new report published by Right Chord Music and Musosoup, “The Musician’s Census 2024,” highlights a series of hurdles that make navigating the path of an independent musician more difficult than ever.
The Musician’s Census is one of the most in-depth surveys of grassroots musicians. The global study gathered responses from 300 independent artists across 64 countries, and the trends that emerge paint a stark picture of an industry where getting paid, being heard and building a fanbase are becoming monumental tasks for musicians trying to stay financially afloat.
One of the most alarming revelations of the data centers on payment. Nearly two-thirds of respondents admitted they aren’t fully aware if they are receiving the full extent of what they are owed, nor are they certain they aren’t. It’s a baffling reality that leaves musicians questioning how they can sustain their careers when financial transparency is often elusive.
Another overwhelming challenge, the report suggests, is the sheer difficulty of gaining exposure. A staggering 54% of musicians said getting their music heard is their biggest hurdle. Market over-saturation was cited as a one major factor, with the constant flood of new releases making it nearly impossible to stand out along with the proliferation of AI-generated music.
Ultimately, 68% of respondents agreed that the path of an independent musician is “tougher than ever,” underscoring the mounting obstacles in the bedrock of today’s music industry. You can read and download the full report here.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. If you have information regarding access to resources for members of the music community affected by Hurricane Helene, please reach out to editorial@edm.com.
As Hurricane Helene continues its pernicious path through the Southeastern United States, scores of beleaguered music venues and professionals are seeking a lifeline.
Helene has mutated into one of the largest and most harmful storms to develop in the Gulf of Mexico in the last century after making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane September 26th in Florida, according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The death toll today climbed over 215, making the storm the deadliest since 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, according to Axios. Emergency shelters are now opening en masse in the aftermath of the historic flooding, which left hundreds of thousands of people without water, power and cell service.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Helene hit North Carolina especially hard last weekend, causing widespread devastation across coastal and inland communities. Emergency services were reportedly overwhelmed by calls for help as heavy rains triggered flash floods across the region, sweeping away entire homes and venues.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has called the storm “catastrophic” and recently received approval from the federal government to declare a Major Disaster, per a press release issued by his office. The edict allowed the state to secure access to a “significant funding commitment.”
“The people in western North Carolina are hurting from this devastating storm and we are all working to get resources to people as fast as we can,” Cooper said. “We have deployed rescue teams, transportation crews, water, mobile kitchens and more. This is going to be a long-term recovery and this federal declaration will help us respond.”
Read on to find out how to support independent music venues and people during the ongoing crisis caused by Helene.
