THE MUSIC SCENE

We want to share our passion for music with you. We hope to provide some illuminating info about what’s happening in music today, and maybe even provide some useful tips about songs and artists involved in upcoming and current contests.
If you’ve got questions or requests of our staff, don’t hesitate to send in your email to feedback@fanlabel.com or just select CONTACT at the bottom of our website.
Enjoy!
thanksgiving playlist Music
11/25/2019

FanLabel’s Thanksgiving Dinner Playlist

  As you’re getting your stomach ready for some Thanksgiving turkey (or tofurkey for our vegan followers…), spin these tunes and snuggle up to a loved one. Happy Thanksgiving from…

FanLabel Staff
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fanlabel Music
11/22/2019

FanLabel Staff Picks – November

Fresh from the team that puts together the contests in the FanLabel app, writes our marvelous blog posts, and produces our “Play the Music” podcast – here is a handful…

FanLabel Staff
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music videos MusicMusic Videos
11/07/2019

Top Music Videos of the Decade Gone By

  It’s almost 2020. Don’t worry – we’re just as shocked as you are. In the blink of an eye, we’ve enjoyed (or is it “survived?”) the decade of Silly…

FanLabel Staff
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25 artists under 25 Blog
11/07/2019

25 Artists Under 25 Who Climbed the Charts in 2019

  As the music industry continues to accelerate at an incredible rate, it has never been a better time to be a young artist on the rise. FanLabel’s 25 under…

FanLabel Staff
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streaming BlogStreaming
11/01/2019

Hooked on Streaming, For Good Reasons

  Do you ever stop to think about how frequently you stream music on a daily basis? Between the time spent studying for a test, crafting a setlist for this…

FanLabel Staff
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kanye west BlogHip-hopPlaylist
10/25/2019

The College Dropout Turns to Jesus (is King)

  Kanye West has been teasing fans about his new album release for months, leaving super fans shaking in their Yeezys. Finally, the day has arrived. The rapper-singer-songwriter-fashion-designer dropped his…

FanLabel Staff
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song BlogSongwriting
10/24/2019

Song School: What Makes a Commercial Hit?

  At FanLabel, we’re fascinated by the ins-and-outs of the music industry. Among the many aspects that get us all riled up is the art itself: the songs. Long before…

FanLabel Staff
2
BlogHalloweenMusicPlaylist
10/15/2019

Killer Tracks and Spooky Songs: Halloween Party Playlist

Halloween is just over two weeks away, which means it’s time to rock out to seasonal hits, such as “The Monster Mash” and “This Is Halloween,” to get you into…

FanLabel Staff
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workout BlogPlaylist
10/14/2019

Our Sweaty (and Stretchy) Playlists

There comes a point in the day when we finally unchain ourselves from our desks here at FanLabel. Like the post-work routines of millions of others, it’s time to head…

FanLabel Staff
1
fall music Blog
10/01/2019

What We Can’t Wait to Stream: FanLabel’s Fall Album Preview

  There’s certainly no shortage of new albums dropping this fall, but a few rank higher on our radar than others.  Here’s what our staff can’t wait to stream… Dermot…

FanLabel Staff
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Send-Off BlogFriday Send-OffMusic
09/27/2019

FanLabel Friday Send-Off Playlist 9.27.19

Welcome to FanLabel’s Friday Send-Off playlist, where we share our favorite FanLabel tracks from the week each Friday for your weekend listening pleasure! Our Friday Send-Off playlist is derived from…

FanLabel Staff
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funk BlogHip-hop
09/16/2019

Funk is Surprisingly Not in a Funk (in Ways You Might Not Expect)

  Funk. Not exactly the most popular genre in the music scene today. And you don’t see it as a highlighted genre in FanLabel’s weekly contests.  Or do you?  If…

FanLabel Staff
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fan label sign BlogMusic
08/23/2019

FanLabel + iHeart Radio: Cruisin’ Woodward Avenue with Mac Watts (Video)

FanLabel had the best seat in the house for the 2019 Woodward Dream Cruise! In partnership with iHeart Radio, we had the pleasure of hosting country star, Mac Watts, for…

FanLabel Staff
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streaming music BlogMusic
08/23/2019

How Streaming Has Changed the Way We Consume Music

Picture this blast from the past: It’s 2008 and you just purchased Lady Gaga’s brand new single, “Just Dance,” from the iTunes Store for $0.99.  Now that it’s on your…

FanLabel Staff
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streaming BlogMusicStreaming
08/22/2019

How Do Yesterday’s Hits Translate into 2019?

Music has evolved over the past several decades. Even the current streaming landscape has seen many changes over the past 10 years. The way that artists are paid and the…

FanLabel Staff
2
women of country BlogCountryGenresMusicPlaylistWomen in Music
07/24/2019

Women – The Prime Rib of Country Music

A few years back, you may have heard the slanderous statement made by a radio consultant that, when it comes to country music, women are “the tomatoes of our salad.”…

FanLabel Staff
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streaming BlogMusicStreaming
07/19/2019

Giants of the Streaming Era

The streaming age in music has provided the option for anybody who has access to an internet connection to listen to their favorite artists and songs on-demand. This has, in…

FanLabel Staff
2
write BlogMusicSongwriting
07/12/2019

Artists Who Don’t Write – Are They Legit?

You’re eating lunch on a Saturday afternoon and your friend just trash-talked an artist because they found out he/she doesn’t really song-write. On the contrary, maybe they had just finished…

FanLabel Staff
2
music festival BlogConcertsFestivalsMusic
06/18/2019

Our Fantasy Music Festival Lineup

Summer is upon us, which means a few things: warmer weather, longer days and, best of all, music festivals across the land! Think Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Firefly. So, this got…

FanLabel Staff
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CMA Fest BlogCMA FestMusic
06/14/2019

FanLabel Launch Party at CMA Fest 2019 (Video)

FanLabel had an excellent time in Nashville during CMA Fest 2019! We had the tremendous opportunity to host a launch party on June 7 in Music City, which included live…

FanLabel Staff
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royalties BlogGamingMusicTips
05/17/2019

Start Racking Up Your FanLabel Royalties

It’s easy to create your own fantasy record label in the FanLabel™ app. The idea is to earn as many virtual Royalties during gameplay as you can. Not only do…

FanLabel Staff
1
SoundCloud BlogMusicStreaming
05/10/2019

That Other Streaming Service (Why We Love SoundCloud)

The data used to measure the success of songs in FanLabel contests comes from a variety of sources. Sometimes it’s album sales and other times it’s “spins” on radio. But…

FanLabel Staff
2
BlogCoversMusic
04/12/2019

The Original Songs Behind Famous Covers

A cover allows an artist to reinvent another artist’s song. Sometimes these recordings are celebrated in smaller followings, and other times, they have the potential to grow into bigger hits…

FanLabel Staff
1
BlogMusicSpring
04/09/2019

Rolled Windows Springtime Playlist

The birds are chirping, trees are blooming again, and daylight is getting just a bit longer. Whether you’re on your way to work, school, or a weekend outing, jam out…

FanLabel Staff
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BlogMarch MadnessMusic
03/29/2019

FanLabel March Madness Bracket Challenge Week 4: Champion

After 4 weeks of battling it out for most weekly streams, we have our FanLabel March Madness champion. “Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers won by a landslide, beating out underdog…

FanLabel Staff
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finalists BlogMarch MadnessMusic
03/22/2019

FanLabel March Madness Bracket Challenge Week 3: Finalists

After our Final Four battled it out for the most streams this week, two finalists have emerged victorious. One is an upset, and the other is a landslide victory, but…

FanLabel Staff
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winners BlogMarch MadnessMusic
03/15/2019

FanLabel March Madness Bracket Challenge Week 2: Which Songs Moved On?

It’s been an eventful first week for our competitors, with both upsets and landslide victories. We are pleased to announce our four finalist songs, who advance to the next round…

FanLabel Staff
1
song BlogMusicStreaming
03/14/2019

FanLabel: Tips for Finding that Right Song

So, you’ve downloaded the FanLabel app but need to strategize to create a winning fantasy label. You’ve heard some fire songs, but maybe they’re not always earning you those virtual…

FanLabel Staff
1
March Madness BlogMarch MadnessMusic
03/07/2019

FanLabel March Madness Bracket Challenge

It’s time to introduce FanLabel’s March Madness bracket! We selected eight songs that were released on Friday, March 1. In the weekly brackets, we will pit competing songs against each…

FanLabel Staff
1
social media BlogMusic
03/01/2019

Artists Connect with Fans via Social Media

Social media has evolved into one of the most powerful marketing tools available today, especially as a platform for up-and-coming musicians. At FanLabel, we have our finger on the pulse…

FanLabel Staff
1
collabs BlogCollaborationsHip-hopMusic
02/21/2019

The Age of Collabs and Collectives

As music itself changes over the years, so does the way artists and their management organize themselves. While music collabs are nothing new, they have taken bold new forms in…

FanLabel Staff
2
genres BlogGenresMusic
02/06/2019

Put Your Genres in the Blender…

With the constant spreading of new music through the Internet, you don’t have to go on a multi-week culture quest to discover amazing new genres and sub-genres of music. They’re…

FanLabel Staff
2
super bowl BlogMusicSuper Bowl
02/01/2019

10 Best Super Bowl Performances of All Time

All eyes are on Super Bowl LIII, which is set to kick-off in Atlanta on Sunday evening between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots. There’s a great relationship…

FanLabel Staff
2
albums 00sAlbumsBlogMusic
01/29/2019

10 Albums Turning 10 This Year

In what seemed like just the blink of an eye, it’s hard to believe 2009 was already a decade ago! Step into a time machine with the FanLabel staff, and…

FanLabel Staff
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feature BlogFeatured Artists of the WeekMusic
01/25/2019

Featured Titans of Music – Week of Jan. 21-Jan. 25

If you play FanLabel regularly, you may have noticed a slight change in gameplay this week. Or, if you just joined FanLabel this week, you may have noticed some of…

FanLabel Staff
2
Motown BlogMotownMusicPlaylist
01/11/2019

Happy Birthday, Hitsville! Celebrating Motown’s 60th Year

Detroit is one of America’s best music cities, and is known for producing greats like Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin and The Temptations, and it’s also the birthplace of Motown music….

FanLabel Staff
4
2018 2018BlogEnd of Year Wrap-upMusic
12/28/2018

2018 – A Heckuva Year in Music

2018 – what a year in music! So much has happened over the past 12 months, including with FanLabel, as we continued to update the platform and change game-play to…

FanLabel Staff
2
album switch-ups AlbumsBlogMusicMusic Switch-Ups
12/20/2018

Album Switch-Ups: Changes in Style, Genre or Attitudes

As a fan, it’s always a shock when an artist completely changes their style. Over the years, many big names have risked their brand and fan loyalty by releasing albums…

FanLabel Staff
1
passed away BlogIn MemoriamMusicPosthumous
12/18/2018

Artists Who Left Us in 2018, But Shall Live On

As 2018 comes to an end, we are reflecting and remembering those incredible contributors to the music industry who passed away this year. While these artists are no longer with…

FanLabel Staff
2
rap music BlogHip-hopMusic
12/14/2018

Rap Music Branches Out

Looking at the Billboard Hot 100, it’s evident that rap is today’s dominant genre. The top 10 is almost exclusively rap music, with only one song from another genre featured…

FanLabel Staff
2
streams AlbumsBlogMusicStreaming
12/07/2018

Top 5 Albums Streamed + Trends from November 2018

The month of November provided plenty of opportunities to stream music. At FanLabel, we are always paying attention to trends, so now that we have rolled into December, we decided…

FanLabel Staff
1
holiday BlogHolidaysMusic
12/03/2018

Your 2018 Holiday Release Guide

Ah, the Holidays: a time for friends gathering, hot chocolate, family bonding, gift-giving, and plenty of over-the-top meals. Of course, what stirs the holiday spirit most is the heart-warming holiday…

FanLabel Staff
1
Technology BlogMusicTechnology
11/18/2018

The Tech Behind Those Hot Tracks You’re Streaming Today

We’re in a music explosion – in both breaking genre barriers and the amount of music being released. Today’s music technology is allowing for a new generation of music makers…

FanLabel Staff
3
stress BlogChristmasMusic
11/16/2018

Deck the Halls with Boughs of… Prozac?

‘Tis the season to pull your hair out, fa la la la la, la la la la! By the time you sit down to carve your Turducken for the family…

FanLabel Staff
3
BlogCountryMusic
11/09/2018

Country Music Grows Up

We are big fans of country music here at FanLabel. We realize that country music has come a long way, and today’s popular sound doesn’t often resemble the twangy, honky-tonk…

FanLabel Staff
2
albums AlbumsBlogMusic
11/02/2018

November Album Releases

November has begun, and there are several highly-anticipated albums dropping this month!   Here, we break down some of the albums we are most looking forward to here at FanLabel…

FanLabel Staff
1
alternative BlogMusicNew Alternative
10/19/2018

The New Alternative

We love to feature alternative music in the FanLabel app, and we have realized the alternative sound has shifted recently. Ten years ago, it was very easy to identify alternative…

FanLabel Staff
1
posthumous BlogMusicPosthumous
10/17/2018

Life After Death: Posthumous Album Releases

The unfortunate reality is that many of our favorite artists leave us too soon. As fans, we develop visceral connections to musicians because of the way their words impact our…

FanLabel Staff
1
productivity BlogMusicProductivity
10/11/2018

The Best Music Genres to Boost Your Productivity

Here at FanLabel, we’re obviously music obsessed. We’re always jamming, no matter where we are—in the car, walking the dog, at the gym, and especially at work. If you’re like…

FanLabel Staff
1
album AlbumsBlogMusic
10/02/2018

Upcoming Album Releases: What’s New in October?

Fall is officially here, and the album releases just keep on coming. There are several notable albums dropping this month, so allow FanLabel to be your guide as we prepare…

FanLabel Staff
2
BlogMusicOne Hit Wonders
09/19/2018

One Hit Wonders – Where Are They Now?

One hit wonders--musicians or groups that have one hit song with no sequential songs that measure up to the prior’s success. Often we don’t even remember the name of that...
FanLabel Staff
1
'80sBlogMusic
09/12/2018

Our Best of the ’80s

The 1980s was an extraordinary decade for music. Music from the ’80s includes a wide array of incredible artists and songs and evolved fast, sounding significantly different at the end…

FanLabel Staff
1
Producers BlogMusicProducers
09/06/2018

Music Producers…Who Also Sing?

Since the dawn of dance music in the late ‘70s, electronic production has grown in popularity. Many singers and rappers, including Beyonce and Kanye West, have doubled as producers for…

FanLabel Staff
1
Adventures With Vultures BlogInterviewsMusic
08/31/2018

Artist Q&A Session: Adventures With Vultures

One of our main goals here at FanLabel is to help our users discover new music by introducing you to artists or sounds that you may not be familiar with….

FanLabel Staff
2
BlogMusicPlaylist
08/28/2018

The Ultimate End of Summer Road Trip Playlist

Picture this: it’s a perfectly warm summer afternoon. There’s nary a cloud in the sky, you’ve got a full tank of gas and a three-day weekend ahead of you. Pack…

FanLabel Staff
2
staff picks BlogMusicStaff Picks
08/21/2018

FanLabel Staff Picks: What We’re Listening To

FanLabel’s editorial team is busy, but not so busy that we couldn’t rally among us to share what we’re listening to (and why) this week. And then, that of course…

FanLabel Staff
3
BlogMusic
08/20/2018

Artists on the Rise: Who Should You Know?

Yes, the artists who dominate the radio airwaves and streaming platforms are extraordinary talents – they don’t get there by coincidence. Before they were famous musicians or even rising artists,…

FanLabel Staff
3
BlogInstrumentsMusic
08/15/2018

Artists Using Real Instruments in Their Beats? What?

Hear the term “beat,” and immediately the image of a hipster pressing buttons in a DJ booth comes to mind. The rise of EDM along with unbridled new technology has…

FanLabel Staff
2
AlbumsBlogMusic
08/01/2018

Upcoming Album Releases: What’s New In August?

If you missed our recap of album releases from late June and July, have no worries! We’re back to let you know about all of the hottest upcoming album releases…

FanLabel Staff
3
BlogClassic RockMusic
07/27/2018

Dear ’70s Music, We Love You

Dear ‘70s, As music decades go, you were one of the all-time best. You put the “classic” in “classic rock.”  You capped off an incredible run for Motown sounds. Your…

FanLabel Staff
3
AlbumsBlogMusic
07/25/2018

U.S. Vinyl Sales Soar, Jack White at the Top

Are digital downloads so yesterday? According to Nielsen’s U.S. Music Mid-Year Report 2018, vinyl LP sales have increased 19.2 percent this year over last year’s sales (7.6 million vs. 6.4…

FanLabel Staff
3
BlogMusicMusic Hubs
07/23/2018

5 “Other” Hubs for Music

One of FanLabel’s many goals is to introduce you to music you haven’t heard before and to get you listening “outside of your box.” One way to experience music in…

FanLabel Staff
4
BlogConcertsMusicTechnology
07/19/2018

The Future of Concerts: Tech & Music Mashup

Gone are the days where you need a printed, paper ticket to gain access to your favorite musician’s concerts. These days, technology is making admission for concert-goers easier than ever….

FanLabel Staff
4
hip-hop dances BlogDanceHip-hopMusic
07/13/2018

That Hip-Hop Dance Fad Thing

About once a year a new hip-hop song will come out accompanied by a dance…and it goes viral. These dances, often silly and easily mastered, will take over middle school…

FanLabel Staff
5
Artists BlogMusic
07/11/2018

25 Artists Under 25

Young music artists have always brought excitement to the music biz, and today as much as ever, they’re “all that.” With so many artists on the rise, it’s not so…

FanLabel Staff
5
BlogMusicTips
07/09/2018

3 Tips for Aspiring Musicians To Get Their Music Noticed

There is a lot of competition in the music industry — thousands of aspiring musicians are vying to become the next breakout artist, while the superstars of the industry dominate…

FanLabel Staff
0
BlogMusic
07/02/2018

Predicting Songs of the Summer 2018

Music pairs perfectly with the sunshine and great times that summer brings. Those unforgettable songs become the playlist summer memories are set to – becoming part of each year’s “Songs…

FanLabel Staff
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AlbumsBlogMusic
06/27/2018

Upcoming Album Releases: What’s New In June and July?

In this era of music streaming services, it’s easier than ever to listen to full albums the moment they’re released. There are a lot of highly-anticipated albums dropping this summer,…

FanLabel Staff
4
Movie Bands BlogMoviesMusic
06/22/2018

10 Best Fictional Movie Bands of All Time

Music and movies go hand-in-hand. Not only does music play key roles for films in the form of scores, soundtracks and sound effects, but Hollywood has given us some pretty…

FanLabel Staff
5
BlogConcertsFestivalsMusic
06/18/2018

Get Ready for Summer with this 2018 Music Festivals Guide

Summertime. There’s no better season for taking in amazing music at live venues around the country. What a time to be able to experience the sounds we all love in…

FanLabel Staff
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