Gear Reviews
Short Scale Guitars and Short Money Upgrades – A Squier Mustang Story
This past Christmas my wife was kind enough to get me a guitar. She knows I’m passionate about guitars, guitar playing and music in general. She also knows guitars aren’t cheap. One night I saw a Fender Squier Bullet Mustang, with two humbucking pickups. Finished off...
Mackie Announces All-New Expanded FreePlay Series
Mackie today announces an all-new personal PA plus matching portable Bluetooth® speakers - FreePlay Series Personal PA and Portable Bluetooth Speakers. Available in three models, the FreePlay LIVE, FreePlay HOME, and FreePlay GO, the FreePlay Series delivers stunning...
Two Real-World Reviews of the Simmons SD2000 Electronic Drum Kit
[Editor’s note – this past fall we searched for two active drummers to test out and report back on the Simmons SD2000 Mesh-Head Electronic Drum Kit. Both testers put the kit through its paces, and produced a series of demo videos showing off the kit in action and...
How To
Are Streaming Services Killing Artists?
The technological innovations of the past fifteen-plus years have irrevocably changed the way we consume and experience recorded music. Arguably, the most drastic change is that music is no longer confined to the trappings of a physical format. Free from LP's,...
Show Review and Photo Gallery: Chromeo Live in Boston
Chromeo had no problem bringing the funk to a nearly sold out audience at Boston's House of Blues this past Wednesday. The Canadian duo are anticipating the release of their fourth studio album, White Women, which is due out May 12th. With cameos from Solange, Toro y...
Who’s Accountable When Bands Bail on Crowdfunding Promises?
Crowdfunding is a relatively new process, but it's simple; an artist puts out the request for fans to pre-pay for their next project in an effort to fund the aforementioned project. It's been done for not just music but movies and even inventions. To contributors it's...
Buying Guide
MY FAVORITE AXE: Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-45ME
Gary Blanchard has been performing and writing songs since 1966. He offers uplifting songs that explore themes of hope, love, peace, and nature. His latest CD, Be the Change, was released in April 2017. MAKE & MODEL Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-45ME WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU...
Taylor 810e DLX Review
Performer goes hands-on with the gorgeous Taylor 810e DLX acoustic guitar in its latest review. Taylor’s well known for their expertly-designed, top-shelf quality and amazingly fantastic sound. Their new 810e models certainly cement all that history. It’s of the...
Cerwin-Vega CVE-12 Powered PA Speakers Review
Performer Magazine goes hands-on with the Cerwin-Vega CVE-12 Powered PA Speakers and CVE-18S Subwoofer in its latest review. After a few ground-shaking bass tests, we can confirm that the new CVE line from Cerwin-Vega is the real deal. But would you expect...
Industry News
The Holiday Music Licensing Challenge
Your challenge: Write (or pick a public domain) Holiday/Christmas song, record it, and release it this weekend. That’s it. It’s November, pumpkin-spice-everything is inescapable, snow flurries are starting, and all of those damn commercials using tired, old, holiday...
ENTER TO WIN Audio-Technica ATM350a Microphones and Mounting Systems
Test out the amazing ATM350a Instrument Condenser Microphones from Audio-Technica! Here's a chance for your band test out some awesome instrument mics on-stage. We're looking for a horn-focused group to outfit with up to six Audio-Technica ATM350a microphones and...
Supercharge Fan Engagement With This Clever Release Strategy
How to Promote Music More Effectively, Increase Fan Engagement and Boost Your Creative Juices at the Same Time... Sometimes the hardest part of achieving interest in our music is simply being noticed amongst the deafening din … OK, always the hardest part. The missing...