Mixcloud

Mixcloud team up with Skype to launch new Podcast series “Connecting…”

Over the past couple of months we’ve been teaming up with Skype, a product of Microsoft, to bring you “Connecting…”, a new Podcast series that connects the music world’s brightest sparks and explores the power of collaboration.

The first episode of “Connecting…” hooks up LA-based musician, activist and music industry thinker Madame Gandhi with London-based singer-songwriter and record-producer NAO to discuss creative collaboration, from creating beats over email to performing live with artists they’ve only met on Skype. Episode two connects LA-based producer, performer and pioneer Machinedrum with Irish electronica star Iglooghost to explore the use of aliases in electronic music and how a solo producer gets by in a collaborative world.

The latest episode of “Connecting…” is a fascinating discussion between LA-based multi-instrumentalist, singer, performer, and The Late Late Show With James Corden drummer Pegasus Warning and eclectic U.K. artist Nabihah Iqbal, covering the former’s experience as a professor, the latter’s background in ethnomusicology, and how music can be a creative force that connects people of various backgrounds.

You can listen to “Connecting…” now on Mixcloud.

“Whether they’re big-name tastemakers or aspiring talent looking to get their art out there, Mixcloud was built on creators,” said Ben Lawrence, Head of Brand Partnerships here at Mixcloud. “Skype is crucial to collaboration in today’s fast-paced digital age, so having them launch the ‘Connecting…’ podcast series with Mixcloud to explore themes of creation and collaboration in music is a natural fit. ”

“From the start, Skype has been a home for people who feel that teaming up works better than going it alone, and that’s exactly what the ‘Connecting…’ series is all about,” said Steven Abrahams, Product Leader at Skype. “Collaborating and sharing are essential parts of everyday life for artists and creators, and this series takes a look at that process. As Mixcloud is another home for creators of all kinds, we couldn’t have asked for a more appropriate partner for this series”.

An interview with last year’s Mixcloud Online Radio Awards winner The Cookout

Did you know that submissions for the 2018 Mixcloud Online Radio Awards close at 23:59 tonight? Well in case you still need some convincing, we put together seven reasons why you should enter the awards.

Don’t forget entry is free and you can submit your nominations at mora.fm.

thecookout2 — 2018 Mixcloud Online Radio Awards winner The Cookout

In the final part of our series shining a light on last year’s awards winners, we turn to The Cookout, a weekly radio hosting some of the biggest names in electronic music. Over the past two years, The Cookout has been steadily making a name for itself as a go-to source for everything from EDM and trap to tropical house and nu-disco.

We spoke to the team behind the show to find out more:

Tell us a bit about the The Cookout radio show.

Launched in June 2016, The Cookout is Paradigm’s weekly radio show that showcases the tastes and talents of some of the world’s hottest electronic producers. The show is hosted on Diplo’s Revolution Radio on Sirius XM’s Channel 52, and features both established and up-and-coming acts as guest DJs. Each artist on the show becomes the ‘guest chef’ of the week, offering a menu of sounds to the audience, some familiar, some more obscure. The menu changes each week, adapting to people’s tastes, while encouraging listeners to try something new.

Previous artists include RL Grime, Gorgon City, Rudimental, JAUZ, Boys Noize, Mat Zo, Louis The Child, mija, GTA, Zeds Dead, Flosstradamus, Tchami, Malaa, Seven Lions, MK, Dada Life, Destructo, Sweater Beats, Dombresky, Tiesto, What So Not and many more.

What do you love most about online radio?

Being able to hyperspecialize and serve a niche audience is rare on traditional terrestrial radio. Online radio allows us the freedom to switch things up and keep our show exciting for the fans.

What most excites you about the future of online radio?

Our show on Sirius XM only reaches the countries where Sirius XM is available. We love the ability to connect with our fans from all over the globe, as well as fans who may not have access to an SXM subscription. Continuing to showcase and introduce Paradigm talent to all corners of the world is important to us.

Why does something like the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards matter?

It’s important to recognize and appreciate the Mixcloud community. It inspires artists, fans and radio hosts alike to push online radio forward.

What’s next for the The Cookout?

Taking the radio show to the stage. Paradigm has transformed The Cookout from a standard radio show into a successful touring entity, hosting exclusive music events around some of North America’s biggest music festivals, including Miami Music Week and Coachella. We are in the middle of our first tour with buzzing electronic acts Devault, GG Magree, Noizu and Parker, and you can check out the dates here. Continuing to build this live project is a big goal of ours.

You can follow The Cookout on Mixcloud:

Interested in entering this year’s awards? You can also find out more about the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards with our seven reasons you should enter.

An interview with last year’s Mixcloud Online Radio Awards winner DJ MoCity

In case you missed it, the 2018 Mixcloud Online Radio Awards are now officially open for submissions. But be quick: there are now only two days left to enter so head over to our new-look website and nominate yourself, or nominate the shows, stations and personalities you love before entries close at midnight on Thursday. Find out more at mora.fm.

The shortlists will be announced on Thursday 10 May.

As part of our series looking back at last year’s winners, we turn to one of the hardest working and most passionate personalities in the entire online radio business, DJ MoCity. Not only is he the host of an award-winning radio show with ‘Motellacast’, DJ MoCity – otherwise known simply as ‘Mo’ – is the proud co-founder of an online radio station based in New Delhi called ‘Boxout.fm‘.

2017 Mixcloud Online Radio Awards winner DJ MoCity

Entering the scene in April 2017, it’s hard not to be impressed by what Mo and his counterparts at Boxout.fm have achieved in the little time they’ve been on air. From the ‘Boxout Weekender’, which celebrated the city’s first birthday, to hosting a takeover with Boiler Room, the station has become the most forward-thinking radio station in India and is now a gateway to the country’s alternative music and culture scene.

Last year, Mo’s Motellacast show deservedly picked up the gong for ‘Best Online Music Show: Hip Hop / RnB / Afrobeats’. We caught up with him to find out more about the show and his thoughts on the world of online radio:

Tell us a bit about Motellacast.

Having started off as a weekly series, Motellacast is a homage to the sounds that shape my world – music that has defined my life as a DJ, promoter, label-owner and entrepreneur in India and abroad. The show draws inspiration from the likes of Andrew Jervis, Joe Kay and LeFtO.

What do you love most about online radio?

I love how remotely operational the whole idea is. I have pretty much recorded, uploaded and streamed my show from a moving bus, on a plane and inside a club all thanks to the magic of the internet. I never really had access to traditional radio growing up, so for me it all started with online radio. Subnav.com was my first channel of discovery. They even sent me sticker pack once.

What most excites you about the future of online radio?

Being able to collaborate, connect and reach people from all over the world. It’s so amazing when people you have never met or knew about hit you up and say that this show has had some positive impact on their life. With online radio we have a virtual dance space and a virtual listenership that is loyal and up for all kinds of new sounds and vibes. This is great for anyone who might not be able to connect with a fanbase on the dance floor or in their city.

Why does something like the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards matter?

It does for sure. I was able to reach some new folks, discover some other folks, friend up a bunch of people who vibe the same music I do.

What’s next for Motellacast and DJ MoCity?

The show will be moving back to being a weekly show from it’s current monthly frequency.

You can follow DJ MoCity’s Motellacast show on Mixcloud:

Interested in entering this year’s awards? You can also find out more about the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards with our seven reasons you should enter.

An interview with last year’s Mixcloud Online Radio Awards winner GonesTheDJ

Don’t panic, but there are now only two days left to enter this year’s Mixcloud Online Radio Awards. Not only are the awards the biggest celebration of online radio in the world, it’s free to enter and it’ll only take you a minute or two to submit your nomination.

You can nominate yourself or nominate the shows, stations and radio personalities you love. Submissions for this year’s awards close on Thursday 26 April and you can submit your nominations at mora.fm.

Next up in our series shining a light on 2017’s winners, we caught up with GonesTheDJ, whose chart-topping radios show ‘GhettoBlasterShow’ won Best Online Music Show in the ‘Funk / Soul’ category.

2017 Mixcloud Online Radio Awards winner GonesTheDJ

GonesTheDJ will be no stranger to funk and soul fans on Mixcloud. Now on its 330th episode, the show has built quite the following and makes regular appearances in our charts. We caught up with the French funk and soul aficionado to find out more about his show and what the thinks about the world of online radio.

Tell us a bit about the GhettoBlasterShow.

The GhettoBlasterShow is a weekly funk and soul radio show. It’s a trip from jazz to house, hip hop to broken beat and worldwide sounds. No boundaries, just good music.

What do you love most about online radio?

As a DJ and Podcaster, online radio is the best way to connect and share with people all around the globe. And I as a listener, I like to be surprised and discover new DJs, artists and songs in just one click.

What most excites you about the future of online radio?

What excites me the most is the idea of having even more diversity and quality, along with more and more powerful broadcasting tools. And the hope of having a real professional recognition for content producers.

Why does something like the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards matter?

Beyond the likes and comments posted on my shows, it highlights and rewards all the work that’s required to make this a reality. And once again it helps me connect with my listeners worldwide.

What’s next for the GhettoBlasterShow and GonesTheDJ?

Next September, I’ll be launching the 10th season for the GhettoBlasterShow and this year I celebrate my 30th year behind the turntables. So I’ll be preparing myself for the next 30 years!

You can follow GonesTheDJ on Mixcloud:

Interested in entering this year’s awards? You can also find out more about the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards with our seven reasons you should enter.

An interview with last year’s Mixcloud Online Radio Awards winner Ear Hustle

In case you didn’t know, there are now only four days left to submit nominations for the 2018 Mixcloud Online Radio awards. The deadline is fast approaching! If you love online radio, from cutting-edge music shows to the hottest new Podcast, you can nominate yourself or nominate the shows, stations and radio personalities you love.

Submissions for this year’s awards close on Thursday 26 April. Entry is free and you can submit your nominations at mora.fm.

As part of our new series shinning a light on 2017’s winners, we caught up with Maggie Taylor from Radiotopia, the network behind the critically-acclaimed Podcast, Ear Hustle, which last year took home the Rising Star award for Best Online Talk Show.

An illustration by Antwan William, one of the co-creators behind Ear Hustle.

Ear Hustle has everything you need from a Podcast: it’s gripping, it’s sincere and it reveals tales from a world we all too often forget about: prison life. It was a very worthy winner in last year’s Mixcloud Online Radio Awards, and we were excited to find out more from Maggie about what the Podcast has been up to.

Tell us a bit about the Ear Hustle Podcast.

Ear Hustle brings you stories of life inside prison, shared and produced by those living it. The Podcast is a partnership between Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams, currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, and Nigel Poor, a Bay Area artist. The team works in San Quentin’s media lab to produce stories that are sometimes difficult, often funny, and always honest, offering a nuanced view of people living within the American prison system.

What do you love most about Podcasts and online radio?

What I love most about Podcasts is their accessibility – anyone can listen to Podcasts anywhere, and for free.

What most excites you about the future of Podcasts and online radio?

I’m excited to see more Podcasts by up-and-coming producers. Inclusivity and diversity are also important and I want to see more underrepresented voices, like the men of San Quentin.

What’s next for Ear Hustle?

This season, Ear Hustle will have new additions to the production team. Nigel and Earlonne are bringing on Pat Mesiti-Miller, a producer for Snap Judgment, to help them produce Ear Hustle’s second season. Pat is also working with a group of incarcerated men at San Quentin, teaching them about sound engineering and design.

Stories will cover sex trafficking, death row, creativity in prison and father/son relationships, among other topics. The team has also brought on David Jassy, the incarcerated Swedish musician who contributed to sound design during season one when Antwan Williams’ privileges were limited.

The show is also adding a new segment called Count Time, this will be bonus content at the end of the episode that will allow us to share what I like to think of as tidbits of sound, curious pieces of audio that we want you to hear: jokes, recipes, music, very short stories — just a little extra to make you think.

We’re also are trying to go to different parts of San Quentin.

You can follow Ear Hustle on Mixcloud:

Interested in entering this year’s awards? You can also find out more about the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards with our seven reasons you should enter.

An interview with last year’s Mixcloud Online Radio Awards winner DR MYSTERY

Now in its fifth year, the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards is the biggest celebration of online radio in the world. Each year, thousands of you enter the awards – either nominating yourself, or nominating the shows, stations and personalities you love.

Submissions for this year’s awards close on Thursday 26 April. Submit your nominations at mora.fm.

But what does it take to win a Mixcloud Online Radio Award?

To help answer this question, we thought we’d shine a light on some of last year’s winners, showcasing the finest shows and personalities online radio has to offer.

First up in the series is the fascinating DR MYSTERY, aka Natasha Maximova, who last year won our Rising Star award for Best Online Music Show. The UK-based DJ and radio presenter can be found presenting her show ‘Into Continental’ on Reform Radio, a brilliant community-led station in Manchester.

DR MYSTERY is quickly building a reputation as a selector with a keen ear for cutting-edge sounds from all over the world. Tune into an episode of Into Continental and you might hear ambient sounds from Japan, Gqom club tracks from South Africa and more fascinating examples of music you’ll struggle to find on conventional radio shows.

2017 Mixcloud Online Radio Awards winner DR MYSTERY

We caught up with the mysterious radio star to ask a few questions about her show and to hear her thoughts on the world of online radio:

Tell us a bit about the Into Continental radio show.

‘Into Continental’ is a bi-weekly show exploring unexpected sounds coming from different countries across the world. Every show I choose a particular country and play music only by artists from that country; digging deep into the underground and beyond.

What do you love most about online radio?

With online radio there is more freedom of expression. There are fewer rules. I find these aspects very attractive and I think the content produced by online radio stations is more versatile and caters to all sorts of listeners.

What most excites you about the future of online radio?

Nothing specific. I’m just excited to see what will be the next step in online broadcasting!

Why does something like the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards matter?

The Mixcloud Online Radio Awards are a great way to connect with the world. You find out about so many new DJs and radio shows, and I think it’s a great tool to get your name out there and attract some attention to the art you create.

What’s next for the Into Continental and DR MYSTERY?

Take over the world, ha.

You can follow Dr Mystery on Mixcloud:

Interested in entering this year’s awards? You can also find out more about the Mixcloud Online Radio Awards with our seven reasons you should enter.

5 Essential Tips For Entering The Mixcloud Online Radio Awards

Give yourself every chance of reaching the shortlists for the 2018 Mixcloud Online Radio Awards with these trusty tips. And don’t forget: the deadline to submit nominations is Thursday 26th April. Good luck!

1. Ask your friends and fans to nominate you.

Did you know…not only can you nominate yourself, but you can also ask your friends and fans to nominate you for a Mixcloud Online Radio Award? The amount of nominations you receive will be taken into consideration when producing the shortlists, so we encourage you to reach out to friends and fans and ask them to nominate you!

2. Tell us exactly what makes you, your station or your show different.

You’ll be given 150 words to sell yourself so think carefully and choose these words wisely! Submissions that demonstrate originality, flair and an innovative approach to online radio awards will all have a strong chance of reaching the shortlists.

2018 Mixcloud Online Radio Awards winner Gonesthedj — It’s free to enter the awards and you can nominate yourself, as well as nominate the shows and stations you love.

3. Pick a genre that you think most accurately describes your show.

Sure, this might sound obvious, but you’ll be surprised by how many submissions are entered into inappropriate genres. If you’re entering a show, take a minute to scan all the available genres and pick whichever one best describes your show. Then tell us why your show is among the best there is in this genre.

4. Submit an example show that will help you stand out from the crowd.

Your latest show might not be the finest example of your work. Look back over the past 12 months and consider what shows will help you stand out. From guest interviews to special themes, make sure you submit the example show you’re most proud of.

5. Don’t forget the deadline.

Add it to your calendar, write it down on a post-it note, tattoo it on your forearm…do whatever is necessary to make sure you don’t forget the deadline to submit your nominations, Thursday 26 April! And remember: every nomination counts, so encourage your friends and fans to nominate you up until the last minute.

Submit your nominations at mora.fm