Rdio Blog

Label Spotlights News

Tap Your Toes To AUM Fidelity’s Jazz Catalog

New York’s 16-year-old independent label AUM Fidelity was inspired by the do-it-yourself spirit of punk record labels that nurtured and developed original acts through music released without major label assistance. That work ethic as well as the passion to encourage true individuality has been channeled into a different side of the music spectrum to highlight the jazz and avant-garde soul worlds.

Rdio is now home to AUM’s catalog online, and we encourage you to begin exploring it through the work of such label notables as improvisational rock band Shrimp Boat, alto saxophonist Darius Jones, pianist Matthew Shipp, the late saxophonist David S. Ware, and free jazz double bassist William Parker. The term “aum” represents the soundless sound of the harmonious universe, but we think you’ll find that AUM Fidelity represents a wide range of musical ideas.

Start your sonic journey with, Wisdom of Uncertainty, a six-song collaboration between David S. Ware, Matthew Shipp, William Parker, and Susie Ibarra below.

∞ May 1, 2013 — 10:00AM

Events Music

Celebrating Willie Nelson's 80th Birthday

The incomparable music star and activist Willie Nelson turns a glorious 80-years-old today. The occasion is marked by the recently released album, Let’s Face The Music And Dance recorded by Willie and the Family, his touring band (started with sister Bobbie in 1973) for the past 40 years.

Play this album of 20th century classics and standards of pop, rock, jazz, and country loud and light a birthday candle for the man who takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

∞ April 30, 2013 — 1:00PM

Exclusives

Lights Unplugs Siberia And Adds Exclusive Bonus Track

Canadian electro pop singer-songwriter Valerie Anne Poxleitner, more commonly known as Lights, released the skillfully chill sophomore album Siberia in 2011, and now unplugs for an even more laid-back version. Lights challenged herself to recreate these memorable tunes with acoustic guitar and piano, and we’re now psyched to share Siberia (Acoustic) with an exclusive bonus track called “Fourth Dimension” just for Rdio listeners.

∞ April 30, 2013 — 11:00AM

New Music Weekly

New Music Weekly - April 30, 2013

This week’s new music is all about celebrating the unconventional, whether it’s with the first full-length release in almost a decade from Long Island rapper R.A. the Rugged Man, the eighth album from Finnish love-metalheads HIM, the debut from L.A. indie pop darlings Youngblood Hawke, or the slump-beating sophomore effort from American doom metal band Howl.

We’ve curated the best of this week’s selections into this New Music Weekly playlist, which is supported by the playlist notes below. Don’t forget that if more, more, more is how you like it, the Rdio New Releases has even more for you to explore.

PLAYLIST NOTES

Iggy & The Stooges - Ready to Die
A self-destructive theme rocks through the fifth album — and first since 2007 — from Michigan’s finest.
The Airborne Toxic Event - Such Hot Blood
The SoCal indie rock band’s third album (and second for Island) was conceived mostly on the road.
Kenny Chesney - Life on a Rock
“Pirate Flag,” the single from the country crooner’s 16th album was such a hit that his tour started early.
!!! - Thr!!!er
The band pronounced chk chk chk exclaims a cheeky name for the fifth album.
Os Mutantes - Fool Metal Jack
The legendary Brazilian psychedelic rockers, reunited in 2006, celebrate a legacy of 47 years with an English language album.

∞ April 30, 2013 — 9:00AM

Music News

Red Hot Chili Peppers Unleashes Catalog on Rdio

From classics like Blood Sugar Sex Magik to more recent releases like Stadium Arcadium to forever favorites like Californication and One Hot Minute, there’s now plenty of Red Hot Chili Peppers action on Rdio to spice up your ears to whatever level of heat you desire. The L.A.-bred band is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this year with the verve and effervescence of musicians much younger and greener — evidence that RHCP shows no signs of slowing down. Whether you start at the beginning or work backwards from the newest releases, the catalog is sure to offer insights, surprises, and old favorites.

We’re giving you a quick taste of the Chili Peppers with our RHCP Retrospective playlist — rock on below.

∞ April 30, 2013 — 7:00AM

Developer App

Developer App: Wake Up

As if you need another excuse to hit the snooze button, this month’s Developer App, Wake Up, rouses you awake with your favorite Rdio playlist.

Download Wake Up, an alarm clock app that lulls you to sleep and gets you going with any Rdio playlist you create or subscribe to. Pick your morning mix, customize your snooze time, and set your alarm. There’s even an Airplay feature so that you can wirelessly stream to other devices without ever getting out of bed.

The app itself is visually dynamic and minimal to a fault — am/pm is “set automatically” which means that the app chooses the meridiem based on 12-hour intervals. So if you want a 7:00am alarm, you will need to wait until 7:00pm to set it. Follow developer David Brunow and designer Jenni Leder on Twitter for future updates.

Want to learn more about the Rdio API? Visit Rdio’s Developer page, register for an API key, and start building. Feel free to check out our sample code and libraries on Github and join our API Google Group. Need more incentive? You can even earn some cash via the Rdio Affiliate Program.

∞ April 25, 2013 — 10:00AM

Events Music

Saddle Up For Country Music At Stagecoach

This year’s two consecutive weekends of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival just came to a triumphant close last Sunday. That means it’s time for Stagecoach, California’s premiere country music festival taking place on April 26-28 at the same location, Empire Polo Club in Indio, near Palm Springs.

The same majestic desert views and air — and perhaps some of the same beer — will greet a whole different audience of music lovers with a lineup that features artists such as Lady Antebellum, Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band, Dierks Bentley, and Hank Williams, Jr. Our Stagecoach 2013 playlist features these artists and even more talent slated to perform at the festival. Whether you’re headed out to brave the heat in person or just appreciate an occasion to celebrate a shining moment for country music, these songs can be your faithful companion.

∞ April 24, 2013 — 1:00PM

Music New Music Weekly

New Music Weekly - April 23, 2013

Among the sonic highlights available this week are the anticipated debut albums from The X Factor winner/country crooner Tate Stevens and L.A. indie band The Neighbourhood, a set of duets between Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, and the latest from Rob Zombie, all strong evidence that there really is something out there for everyone.

We’ve lovingly crafted this New Music Weekly playlist to offer you the best of what’s out there right now. And if you want to launch a mission of discovery on your own, greet the entire batch of Rdio New Releases and get to listening!

PLAYLIST NOTES

Michael Bublé - To Be Loved
Yesterday the Canadian jazz crooner was hosting the Juno Awards but today he drops his eighth album, which was preceded by the single “It’s a Beautiful Day.”
Phoenix - Bankrupt!
Fresh from a star set at Coachella (with special guest R. Kelly), the heavenly French alt-rockers drop a fifth album of cheeky tunes like “Trying To Be Cool” and “Drakkar Noir.”
Junip - Junip
The Swedish indie rock trio featuring singer-songwriter José Gonzáles returns with a self-titled sophomore album.
Snoop Lion - Reincarnated
Ready for reggae from a legendary rap star? Snoop looks to the islands for inspiration on this album, which includes a great collaboration with his daughter Cori B. You can also follow Snoop on Rdio.
Wild Nothing - “A Dancing Shell”
One-man dream pop act Jack Tatum, who Pitchfork called “simply one of the best songwriters in this field,” is back to offer a taste of the forthcoming third album with this single.

∞ April 23, 2013 — 11:00AM

Label Spotlights News

Yeasayer, Minus the Bear, and More Secretly Canadian Artists Arrive to Rdio

During your audio explorations of Rdio you may have noticed new and recent offerings from the likes of Diplo’s party project Major Lazer, Brooklyn’s psychedelic pop stars Yeasayer, or stately Detroit singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens. These and many more albums new to Rdio hail from Secretly Canadian, a record label and distributor not-so-obviously based in Bloomington, Indiana. The label has been home to such diverse acts as experimentalists The Books, rock group Explosions In The Sky, indie darlings Dirty Projectors, Swedish pop act Jens Lekman, and the late Jason Molina’s alt-country project Songs: Ohia.

The Secretly Canadian catalog has grown to almost 800 titles since its inception in 1996. The company has even branched out to include sister labels Jagjaguwar, best known for the success of indie folk band Bon Iver, and Dead Oceans, the latter a recent addition boasting luminaries like John Vanderslice. Secretly Canadian includes its own distribution arm, SC Distribution, which was founded in 1997 and now distributes labels like Cloud Recordings, FatCat Records, K Records, The Social Registry, and Western Vinyl, to name just a few.

We suggest beginning what could be an epic journey of discovery with a couple cult classic albums from otherworldly singer slash modern goth princess Zola Jesus and Seattle’s hyper-catchy prog pop indie rock band Minus The Bear, two releases which instantly captivate open ears and also wonderfully hint at the wide spectrum of Secretly Canadian.

∞ April 22, 2013 — 9:00AM

New Features News

Rdio and Twitter Make #music Together

A little birdie might have told you that Twitter #music launched today. We’re thrilled to be part of the new Twitter #music experience — it’s built for music discovery, just like Rdio.

With the Twitter #music app for the web and iOS, you’ll be able to see what tunes are trending, discover emerging talent, get recommendations based on your taste, and follow what people are listening to. Everyone gets to hear a 30 second preview but when you connect with Rdio, you can play the full track.

Don’t have an Rdio account yet? Sign up for free now and try the Rdio Unlimited mobile app for 14 days without pulling out the plastic.

Tweet at @Rdio and tell us how well we play with Twitter.

∞ April 18, 2013 — 6:09AM