Joseph Kai

Music Industry

Tape Hiss and All: Why Cassettes Are the Most Surprising Music Format of Our Time

Vinyl gets all the press, but cassette tapes have been quietly staging a comeback for years — and the artists leading the charge might surprise you. From indie bedroom producers to cult fan communities, the humble tape is carving out a strange, beautiful niche in a world drowning in digital streams. Here's why the format that everyone thought was dead is suddenly the most interesting thing happening in music merch.

Jul 2, 2026

Culture

Grooves Are Back: How Vinyl Outsold CDs and Won Over a New Generation

For the first time since the late '80s, vinyl records are outselling CDs in the US — and the people buying them aren't who you'd expect. Gen Z is leading a quiet analog revolution, and small record stores across America are finally catching a break.

Jul 2, 2026

Music Industry

One Sound, One Million Views, Zero Guarantees: The Brutal Truth About Going Viral in Music

Getting a song to blow up online looks like winning the lottery — until you realize the ticket might expire in 72 hours. We break down how virality actually works in the US music industry, who it's helped, who it's burned, and what nobody tells you before the algorithm comes knocking.

Jul 2, 2026

Culture

Off the Beaten Track: 10 American Music Scenes That Deserve Way More of Your Attention

Forget the algorithmic playlists and the same ten cities dominating every music conversation. Across America, there are local scenes doing something genuinely exciting — raw, weird, and completely their own. Here's your cultural road map.

Jul 2, 2026

Music Industry

No Label, No Problem: How Independent Artists Are Owning Their Sound in 2024

The old gatekeepers are losing their grip. In 2024, independent musicians across the US are building real careers — on their own terms, with their own rules. Here's how they're doing it, and what you can learn from them.

Jul 2, 2026