The Wholesome Music Podcast
The DIY podcast for DIY musicians. Hosts Cameron Ljungkull and Augustus Watkins meet weekly to talk shop about indie music, the creative process, and the music industry.
The Wholesome Music Podcast
Why is Rock Music's Hottest Genre Again?
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We close out our History of Music Production series on a high note with a fascinating discussion on the weird history of delay: from hijacking telephone wires to oil cans, it just keeps getting more bizarre. Next, pundits have been saying for a long time that rock music is dead and the future of music is country. But not so fast! Rock music seems to be having a cultural resurgence and we get into why.
Then...whew. We have a music news extravaganza for you. First a few stories that serve to illustrate how the music industry is still alive and thriving—from Taylor Swift to boutique hotels. Next, surprising news about the Live Nation antitrust case (file also in the "It's not dead!" department); YouTube takes another crown as the world's largest media company; but it's the subject of an important AI lawsuit; Tidal may be gunning for Bandcamp's business; and Fender wins a lawsuit against Stratocaster copycats in Europe.
Finally, we close out with Take It Or Leave It advice about how to be a better live performer.
Links
- The Taylor Swift effect: US vinyl sales top $1bn for the first time since 1983 by Owen Myers for The Guardian
- US wholesale recorded music revenue reached $11.5B in 2025, as paid streaming subscriptions hit 106.5M — adding 6.5M accounts YoY by Murray Stassen for Music Business Worldwide
- UMG’s hospitality arm strikes JV with lifestyle investment group IMI to develop ‘music-led beach club concept’ by Mandy Dalugdug for Music Business Worldwide
- Rock Music Fastest Growing Genre by Substream Magazine
- Live Nation antitrust trial resumes as 30+ states push on despite DOJ settlement by James Hanley for Music Business Worldwide
- YouTube Lays Claim to Another Crown: The World’s Largest Media Company by Alex Werpin for Hollywood Reporter
- Tidal Introduces New Feature Allowing Artists to Selel Music Directly to Fans
- Indie artists sue Google, claiming it mined music from YouTube to train Lyria 3 AI music tool by Mandy Dalugdug for Music Business Worldwide
- Fender secures legal ruling to protect the Stratocaster body design by Matt Owen for Guitar World
Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com
Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com
Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com
Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/
