Author: India Thompson
Sample Clearance Case Studies: Legal Battles Over 1970s Tracks in Hip-Hop
Legal battles over 1970s music samples transformed hip-hop production. From Biz Markie’s lawsuit to AI replacements, this is how copyright law changed the sound of a generation.
How Women's Liberation Movement Shaped Music and Changed Society
The Women's Liberation Movement used music to build community, challenge oppression, and create space for women and lesbians when mainstream culture refused. From Olivia Records to the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, this was a grassroots revolution that changed how women made and shared music.
Arpeggiators in Late 1970s Music: How Synths Created the Pulse of Pop and Prog
Arpeggiators in the late 1970s turned simple chords into driving electronic rhythms, shaping the sound of pop, disco, and prog rock. The Roland Jupiter-4 and ARP Quadra made this possible - flaws and all - and their legacy still echoes in music today.
Reggae Instruments: Bass, Percussion, and Caribbean Sounds
Reggae music lives in its basslines, percussion, and Caribbean rhythms. Discover how the bass drives the groove, Nyabinghi drums carry the spirit, and the skank defines the sound that moved the world.
Mixing and Mastering in the 1970s: How Analog Techniques Shaped Classic Records
Discover how analog tape, Helios consoles, and restraint shaped the iconic sound of 1970s records. No plugins. No automation. Just pure, intentional engineering.
1980s R&B Divas: Whitney Houston, Sade, and Anita Baker Who Changed Soul Music
Whitney Houston, Sade, and Anita Baker defined 1980s R&B with unmatched voices and distinct styles. Whitney broke records, Sade whispered magic, and Anita turned soul into poetry. Their music still moves millions today.
Bootleg Recordings: The Rise of Live Albums and Collector Culture
Bootleg recordings turned unauthorized live concerts into cultural treasures. From Led Zeppelin’s 1977 bootlegs to the Grateful Dead’s 14,500+ fan-recorded shows, this is the story of how fans preserved music the labels refused to release.
Prog Rock's Return: How Modern Bands Reclaimed 1970s Complexity
Prog rock is making a powerful comeback, with modern bands reclaiming the genre’s 1970s complexity through intricate compositions, global influences, and emotional depth-proving that complex music still resonates in the streaming era.
Vinyl Mastering Today vs. the 1970s: Sound, Loudness, and Taste
Vinyl mastering today combines digital precision with analog warmth, but the 1970s had something modern pressings often lose: dynamic space. Discover how loudness, technique, and taste have changed-and what makes a great vinyl record today.
1990s Sampling Ethics: How Clearance, Creativity, and Legal Risks Changed Music Forever
In the 1990s, music sampling exploded as a creative force - until lawsuits over copyright changed everything. From Biz Markie to Bridgeport, the legal battles that followed reshaped hip-hop, killed creative freedom, and forced producers to choose between art and legality.
Donovan's Folk-Pop Artistry: How Mysticism and Acoustic Guitar Redefined 1960s Music
Donovan fused folk authenticity with psychedelic pop to create mystical, acoustic-driven hits that shaped 1960s music. His open tunings, studio innovations, and Zen-inspired lyrics made him a quiet revolutionary-still influencing listeners today.
Harmonic Language in Soft Rock: How Jazz Chords Created the Genre’s Signature Sound
Soft rock's signature sound comes not from melodies, but from jazz-influenced chords like maj7 and add9 - played on Rhodes pianos with careful voicing and slow changes. Discover how harmony, not volume, defined the genre.