#like if you're not streaming then you're not supporting your artists how dare

[etlu-yume]

Hearing similar stories to socialjusticeissue's problems with Google Play right from the get-go when Apple Music was released. People losing the music they'd downloaded from Apple Music, or itunes, or even in some cases their own original music that they'd made themselves.

After hearing that I never wanted apple music to even remotely TOUCH my music collection, as difficult as they are trying to make that with the way the "music" app works now (sigh. I need to review music library app options again)

Buy the music where you can; some groups are making special versions of tracks or even hidden tracks you can ONLY get on physical media (... okay or probably through other less-legal means. But that's another story).

What bothers me the most is where some albums, like for example Halsey's Manic album has 16 songs on spotify. The standard phsyical version I can get from a local retailer, only has 13 songs.

Same thing with Yungblood's Weird! album. Spotify has 14 songs, physical release only has 12 songs (aaand is no longer listed on the local retailer. There's a Vinyl, but it's out of stock and $85. Owch.)

It gets even more frustrating because - at least in terms of 'online retailers that count towards local charting systems' - the ONLY one that ARIA will support for Australian sales is iTunes. (A few others - bandcamp, etc. But last I looked, places like Amazon don't, and well Google Play... we know what happened to Google Play, right?)

So basically tl;dr

• Support the bands you like and buy physical media where you can • Buy physical where possible but if digital is all you can do, do that. (Listing for stuff that has gone out of print or for songs or bonus tracks that were missing)

(Also iirc the profits from CDs/physical media is also a loooot more than a stream. Most charting systems will determine x-many "free" streams to be equal to a sale unit of an album, and x-many "paid" streams to be equal to a sale unit. Remembering that they only get paid like. $0.004 per stream* depending on the platform, if for example Australia's charting system declares 170 paid streams are equal to 1 sale unit, even at $0.004 x 170 that's 68 cents??? For a "Sale unit"??? And thats *IF* all your streams are counted.)

*Google says between $0.003 - $0.005 per stream for Spotify ** my math may be a little off alkshdjf and I don't know how that compares with royalties from CD sales or digital sales. *** My ARIA stats may be out of date they're from like 2021 but it was what I had on hand

HOLD THE LINE!! KEEP PUSHING!!!!!

[taking-your-hand]

I really wanna start streaming on twitch and making Minecraft roleplays on YouTube (my main inspirations are Nihachu and Aphmau) but I’m really scared of people seeing that I’m a comshipper and trying to cancel me for it. I know how bad it can get, I’ve seen people leak faceless’ streamers address’ over petty drama and I’ve seen others snooping through youtuber’s Facebook just because they like them, I can’t imagine how much worse it would be if they disliked the person. I’m super scared of that happening to me because I’m openly comship. Not to mention the amount of people who’ll go around and call me horrible names, I once saw a Vtuber refer to Venti as a shota and they were called the dirtiest most gut-wrenching names. I’m already really sensitive so I don’t think I’d be able to handle it :(

Oh goodness, I have very similar fears myself. >< I am working on some projects that I intend to publish as original works that I do hope people will enjoy and be inspired by, but I'm always fearful of the people who will try to drag my name through the mud because I'm very openly defensive of The Bad Kinks™ and much more aggressively on my main than on here too, heheh!

I've seen... horrible things happen to artists, especially when they already have little power in society and the people with more power find it much easier to just kick them instead of standing up for them.

It's bizarre to me that I have yet to be so viciously targeted, and I really wonder if it comes down to popularity. Anti-kink people don't particularly care about me because I'm just a small Tumblr user, but on the other hand, god help me if I explode in a fandom one day or make a beloved game/show/etc. THEN, I'll face their wrath for daring to seek out success and happiness for myself, because I'm "tricking" or "manipulating" fans who don't realize how "problematic" I am. -_-

And certainly, some of it comes down to luck as well, because lots of small artists also get targeted. 😔

I don't think I have THE answers, but... I can tell you what I try so hard to internalize myself.

First of all, you have every right to the space you occupy as everyone else, regardless of your kinks or views on such. Contrary to what some people will claim, you are not intruding and you are not falsely advertising yourself. It's important to always keep that in mind. The idea that comshippers hurt people by being in their spaces is like saying they hurt people by standing in the same line at McDonald's pff. It's unrelated and ridiculous.

Secondly, as sad and perhaps pessimistic as this is, there will NEVER be a person or property that these extreme, one-note, closed-minded bullies won't target. No matter how much care you put into a story or presentation, there will be someone ready to twist it into something negative, or try to gatekeep your own fans if they do think you're on "their side" and "would never support these bad ships", etc. And here is the silver lining to that: Because this attitude is inevitable, you need not try to sand down your work to please such people. Anyone who would put so much energy into hating and tearing down someone for their art: their opinion of you is absolutely worthless. It's best to skip the needless pain and doubt they'll cause, and worry about the opinions of people with something of merit to say. People who criticize you in good faith, not the brainless screechers who just can't stand their own existences.

I feel like there is certainly more, and perhaps even better, advice out there for you, but I hope this was at least a start. As I said, I struggle with this fear too, and I think I have yet to fully embrace my own solution, especially since I haven't yet put out my projects heheh.

But either way, hope it helps. <3

And of course, I welcome any further advice from others on this! Lord knows I need it too haha.

Real quick, note that my rather vitriolic language is directed specifically at harassers and abusers, not at all self-identified antis.

[ladyorlandodream]

Agentha Fältskog interview - English translation

In September, Agnetha Fältskog of ABBA agreed to grant Swedish radio presenter Carolina Norén an interview for the classic Swedish chart show ”Svensktoppen” on Swedish Public Service radio. The interview was broadcast September 19.

Carolina Norén: ”Don't Shut Me Down” by ABBA – and with me on the phone I have Agnetha Fältskog. Hello, Agnetha!

Agnetha Fältskog: Hello, Carolina!

C: And, of course, congratulations to entering the top of the chart, Agnetha!

A: Wow, what a surprise! That was amazing, really fun.

C: Let's just say that I wasn't that surprised, and neither was the rest of the world. However, ABBA.s last number one here on Svensktoppen was actually ”Waterloo”, back in 1974!

A: Was it that long ago? Well, there you go. It was about time, then.

C: It was about time! Exactly.

A: I'd like to take the opportunity to tell you how happy, grateful and moved everyone in the group is by the enormous reception. It feels very nice and warm inside.

C: I'm thinking, the first time you received a call like this from ”Svensktoppen”, and I don't know if you remember this, Ulf Elfving was calling. It was in 1968, you were 17 years old and ”Jag var så kär” (I Was So in Love), had reached number three.

A: Yeah, it's been quite a few years, ha ha.

C: What has Svensktoppen meant to you over the years?

A: It means a great deal. We're so used to charts, and have enormous success in several countries, but ”Svensktoppen” – it's our native country and the audience we have back here, and it obviously means a lot. We're very moved by the reception everywhere. I remember that first interview with Ulf, I was very nervous, and almost couldn't believe that I'd entered Svensktoppen, it's something you don't forget. This was also an enormous surprise, because you can never really know how it will turn out. One is never sure that something is going to be successful, and one is glad when it happens.

C: I was actually thinking about that a bit: I know that you love spending time in the studio working, and so on, but was there any point while working on this new material where you started to feel doubt or fear: what if it doesn't work?

A: Yes, we said that in the beginning: a long time had passed since we recorded, and you can never be sure that the voice is going to hold up – was it going to sound old? However, we heard pretty immediately – from both Frida's voice and mine – that it sounded more or less as it did back then. However, you may have to make another kind of effort, and give more, or how to put it, of your ability to tell a story, to empathise with the song. I always used to do that, but it's a lot more now that one has lived an entire life. You put more emotion into it.

C: I was thinking, whose idea was it to do this – who was the driving force behind the comeback?.I mean out of you? From the fans' point of view, it's always been a given.

A: Yes ... Well, one thing lead to another, somehow. We felt that we wanted to do a few new songs for the avatar project that will open in May next year, in London. So we said ”let's do a few songs and see how they turn out, how it sounds. One thing led to another with a few more songs, and then Benny kind of said ”why not make an entire album?”. Yes, and that's how it happened, and since we enjoy working in the studio, it's fantastically fun to be able to create and such.

C: Yes, and you have said that it's sometimes easy to ”tempt” you into doing things if they sound like fun.

A: Yes, that's true.

C: So you weren't hard to convince, when it came to doing this?

A: No, I don't think any of us were. Not doing this. The avatar project, I had to give it a think, since it meant a lot of work, as it were, on stage. Because I'm not a stage personality in that respect, but I can convey more feelings in the songs.

CN: Indeed. The rumours around this comeback started back in 2018. We got to know the song titles, and it feels like these two songs that we have heard, have been underway for a while. Have you polished the songs over the years? What has happened since we first heard of them in 2018?

A: Well, we have been at it. At first we worked on the avatars throughout February...let's see, was it the year before last? No, it was last year. We had just finished working with that, when the Corona situation appeared. Then, after a while, we started recording these songs and it's continued like that.

C: When the songs were released a little over two weeks ago, fans gathered around the world simultaneously. Björn and Benny participated in the live stream and you and Frida were part of the edited program. Björn and Benny said that you were following the broadcast from a distance. How did it feel watching it?

A: It was actually enormous. I've been watching our fans a little, when they're listening to the songs, and they're actually crying. It's quite enormous what a reach it had all around across countries. It's almost hard to take it in, actually.

C: I was present at Gröna Lund (in Stockholm), where fans had been invited, and there were many fans from other countries. I can really attest that emotions were enormously strong. It was, you know, almost sacred. Just like you said, they cried and were deeply moved. One thing many of them said, at least the ones I talked to, was that they missed you – ”the girls”, they said: Agnetha and Annifrid.

A: Yes.

C: Do you know when you will get together next time?

A: I don't really dare to say. We're a bit older now, and have our minor ailments, ha ha. But we struggle on. But I don't dare to say, because it's a bit uncertain. At the moment we feel happy that we got this together, and let's hope everything goes well in London, at the premiere over there.

C: Right, in May next year. The avatars. Incredibly cool, actually.

A: Right.

C: You touched upon the thing about the voice, whether it would hold up. When you released your solo album in 2013, you mentioned in an interview that you'd had the same worry, and had taken singing lessons – which turned out to be one lesson. How was it this time, Agnetha? Did it end up being any singing lessons?

A: Haha. No, it didn't. One knows this, that it has to do with support from the stomach, that you shouldn't ruin...so it doesn't become too much for the throat. Instead, you find support in the belly, and it just fits so well, once you're in the studio. You just, ”wow, it holds up!”. One has different … I like to sit down when I sing. Frida usually stands up. It varies a lot, how you feel that you get the power.

C: You are the one doing the main vocals – at least most of them – on the single ”Don't Shut Me Down”. I should add that ”I Still Have Faith in You” is also in the chart, at number four.

A: Yes, how fun!

C: How does it work when you divide it between the two of you? Do you choose your favourites, or is it directed by the respecive voice registers? Do tell.

A: Yes. It's probably the guys who are in charge of that. We get some lyrics, get to listen a bit, and try a little. It's also happened that one has felt ”this one I'd like to do”. There are no fights about anything. We try it out, but it's usually the guys, I think, who already know who is supposed to sing what. We're also part of each others'... Even if one of us sings the solo verses, we're always join together for the choruses, for the most part.

A: You have also a background as a songwriter, and ran your solo career in the beginning. These days, Björn and Benny usually end up talking about the project. How much are you able to go in a change things, or feel ”that doesn't work, let's try this”.

A: Back in the day it happen pretty regularly, but these days it doesn't. I can come up with a lot of ideas: ”could we add some finesse at this point in the song?” I'm also pretty good at harmonies, but the guys handle most of it. We do as they say, and it turns out well.

C: Another thing when one talks about ABBA and ABBA's music, your songs have been quite associated with you as people over the years. The most obvious example may be ”The Winner Takes it All”, which is about divorce. How about today – what do the songs say about you as people, and artists today?

A: It's probably mostly in the lyrics, and you should probably let Björn answer. One can read one thing or another into composers', songwriters' or lyricists' work, and of course you add a bit of ”it's about him, or me”. But it's general, how to say, relationships. Because it's often about love.

C: The two most recent songs, maybe a little more general. Now that we are talking about love, I've go to ask you: you have said that you're are a romantic person, Agnetha.

A: Yes, I am.

C: And you like romantic music.Will there be more romance on the album? More love?

A: Haha! Well, it's very varied. I can't say much about it now, but it's very varied. I can tell you this much: if you like these two songs, you will probably like the entire album. I do think so.

C: Right. That's good. I feel I need to scratch the surface a little more. What we have heard is a timeless ABBA sound. Can one imagine that it will continue with that sound as well?

A: What do you mean, on the CD?

C: Yes, on the album.

A: Ah, yes. It's very much the ABBA sound. We're not trying to sound different or letting ourselves be affected by other, current things, so to speak. We're trying to keep ... It becomes what it becomes – and it becomes very ABBA when Frida and I get together in the studio. It's almost like a marriage between our voices, and almost hard to tell them apart at times.

C: Now, I know that a lot of people are looking forward to the concert in London in May next year. First, there's the album, in November. The one we were talking about. We mentioned the avatars. What went through your head the first time you heard of the idea?

A: Haha. Well, yes, none of us probably really knew what to expect, but we've worked with it a lot, so you grew into it, eventually. We stand there, doing these songs, with– I don't know how many cameras and people. And then, somehow, it was technologically transferred, in some way that we don't even understand, to other people that are going to be on stage as us – but it's still us, haha! I can't really explain it, it's so hard, but there's a lot of technology and lights involved. But it felt great to do in the end. Because it was so different. Also, there was a vibe, one felt that ”maybe it's the last thing we do”. Same thing with this album.

C: Ooh, you can't say that, ha ha! We want more!

A: You can cut that out.

C: Jonas and I will cut that out! Solo album in 2013. I can reveal to you, here and now, that in the summer of 213, ”Dance Your Pain Away” was the only thing I listened to.

A: I see! That's nice.

C: I know it inside out, but I won't sing it!

A: Yeah, that was cool, actually.

C: Is there anything in the pipeline solo – another solo album from you, Agnetha?

A: Not at the moment, no. I think, and I feel, that I've done a lot now. So I can't promise you that. We have got to find joy in what we have, and all that awaits.

CN: Indeed. May I also add that I was very happy when I heard that you would be with us and share. Because I've learned that you are somewhat restrictive when it comes to doing interviews. What do you think, are there further public appearance from you ahead?

A: Not really. But, as you say, I've never really retired that way, but I am restrictive, and I feel that a lot of things are being written, and have been written, about us. We agreed to do, and have done, so many interviews. There's a risk that you ruin it by talking too much. You want keep a little something to yourself. Something private.

C: Agnetha, we respect that, and we are very happy here at Svensktoppen, and, I would imagine, that the listeners who haven't perhaps fainted from the surprise, and have stayed with us, are happy that you could join us. Once again, huge, huge congratulations to topping the chart.

A: Thank you. I also want to send greetings from the rest of the group. I know that they are all very happy about this. It means a lot to us.

C: Wonderful. I hope we can talk again. I almost get shivers suddenly doing the presentation here. So I say: new number one: ABBA and ”Don't Shut Me Down”. Thank you very much, Agnetha.

A: Thanks so much to you, too!

English translation by Anders Lundquist

[grimaldiapologist]

I would honestly love nothing more than to figure out what started this spiral. What could possibly have triggered us into this state. Like this is so bad. This is by far the worst it has been in years.

Is it just the overwhelm of everything going from shit to shitter and everything feeling so goddamn hopeless since a decade ago now? Slowly, and then very fast, watching modern world turn into such an inhospitable place, where there just isn't any hope at the horizon?

Is it actually because people are so fucking mean and there's nowhere to go from it? It starts from the above - society itself feels hostile to the point of it seeming like it's just a matter of time until they start hunting you down. But it continues down to the most basic level. Like I wrote in the post I'm reblogging from, I can't - I'm not allowed to - even express joy about the most mundane things anymore without someone coming in like fuck you and the horse you rode in go fucking die you piece of shit.

Me, talking about how much I love Subira, a fucking fictional character in the cosy game Palia, who is a mature woman struggling with her sense of self after being sold into the local magical Inquisition as a child and being forbidden her identity and any and all pursuits of the self in favour of serving the Order? ACSHULLY Subira ACAB fuck you you cop-loving bootlicker. Okay! Cool! You have no imagination and are incapable of separating your politics from a fantasy world where some "for the greater good" nations-suppressing entity modeling heavily from religious organisations is just "the cops", and now this is my fault and I'm actually the bad guy because I love a character who has identity issues and feels like her only purpose is to serve? Literally actually fucking go reflect on your stupid brain somewhere. Oh my fucking god are you literally 12 years old grow the fuck up.

Then like, the other day? This American guy on a TMA subreddit asks for places to visit when they're coming down to London for a trip. One of my sole remaining joys this year, including the main way I've coped with the loss of my dog who's been with me as long as I can literally remember (I got him at 20 and I remember nothing past my adulthood essentially, thank you severe dissociative disorder) by binging the stream services of the Royal Opera House and reading about Joseph Grimaldi, because I just happened to be on these subjects when everything went so far down to hell that I didn't have anythin else left to focus on that would have kept me sane.

So I'm like, yeah you could go see a ballet or an opera at ROH, they're kind of cool, it's made me happy to see them supporting the LGBT community the past few too given the overall climate -

some other dude, immediately: ACTUALLY CORPORATIONS AREN'T YOUR FRIENDS YOU SHOULD LITERALLY GO SEE A PLAY IN ANY OTHER PLACE BECAUSE FUCK CAPITALISM NOBODY ACTUALLY SUPPORTS YOU AND IF YOU PAY TO GO SEE SOMETHING THAT ISN'T A TRAVELLING TROUPEE OF GAY AMATEURS LIVING IN SEWERS IN HENFORD-BY-BAGLEY YOU'RE LITERALLY KILLING POOR ARTISTS

and I'm like okay, but theatre is known to attract LGBT people and also this is about places that are referred to in TMA -

and got downvoted to hell until I just fucking deleted the entire comments.

Like what do you fucking want me to do. Do you really want me to just not derive ANY joy from ANYTHING because NOTHING is uwuweuwuwu morally pure enough for you? What the fuck do you want from me? I'm covered from head to toe in cuts and I haven't been cutting in years. I've never cut this much in my whole life and I'm a lifelong cutter. I've gone through all of my limbs with blunt objects to make as many swollen bruises as possible. Are you happy now? Am I punished enough for daring to like the wrong things? Do you need to me to slit my throat as well? Will that satisfy you? Is that going to be enough, or should I go get raped and tortured first? Does that make you happy? How about I go ask my dad if he'll beat me some more? Would it make you feel better if I sought out and said yes please do rape me to the man who assaulted me in the city when I was 18? Do you need me to take more than double my allowed dose of sedatives? Would you like me to overdose on my beta blockers, since coming back from that even with hospitalisation is unlikely? Is that too kind of a death for someone who dares to suck cop dick and support rainbow capitalism? What is it you want from me? Should I cut up the soles of my feet next so I can't walk, or is it enough it's hard for me to move my legs right now with the amount of damage I've done to my thighs?

What will be a sufficient price for someone as worthless as myself enjoying anything whatsoever? How do you want me to kill myself? I'll be here waiting for your answer, I only wish to make you happy after all :)

"this thing that makes you happy is problematic actually"

cool I don't care as I have vastly bigger problems and I'm glad that you don't but stfu

[siyeon]

Since you're a fan of Pledis Ent groups and artists, I strongly recommend Nu'est, After School, and Han Dong Geun. They need some more love!

i love you, anon. you gave me the platform i needed to go off on why i love Pledis Ent artists and why Pledis Ent stresses me out. if you guys are a Pristin stan or Seventeen stan and haven’t listen to After School, Nu’est, or Han Dong Geun, please do!

also, Han Dong Geun has the voice of an angel he could sing me a phone book and i’d be like “wow this is the soundtrack of my life.”

i’m going to put words under readmore so i can rant a bit about other Pledis Ent artists since I realize i don’t talk about them enough. just a forewarning - i am a Salty stan. like Dead Sea salty.

also, i hope i don’t! come off as rude! or anything! (i read through this multiple times to make sure i didn’t come off as rude ^^’) i’m just rambling and being a disgruntled fan. nothing new. it comes with liking Pledis artists… everyone, please support Pledis Ent artists and actors/actresses/everyone well. they need it. trust me. 

After School’s Flashback and First Love will always be bops. also First Love is incredible because i don’t think people understand? how hard? pole dancing is?like if you know me, you know how disgruntled i am with Pledis Ent in general (i’m a Salty Pledis Ent stan, let me be clear). and especially for giving zero updates in regards to After School and Orange Caramel (even my friends who don’t like k-pop know about Orange Caramel; like that’s some sort of global power right there). i’m not sure what’s going on with them, and i’ve become increasingly worried seeing as time still passes and we get… no news. none. zip. nada. you hear me Pledis. i’m calling out to you. give us an update. any update. just tell me what’s happening with them.

also! Raina! and Lizzy! do solo stuff! support their solo stuff! support Uee and Nana’s acting and modeling! support all Pledis Ent employees! like tbh we see what Seungcheol says about them. i’m all shifty eyes at them. we gotta support all things by Pledis artists. stream music! watch MVs! everything! *shia lebeouf voice* JUST DO IT! anyways –

Nu’est releases bop after bop and people sleep on them day and night. i’ve gone gray waiting for people to recognize talent. :/ i kid. but not really. honestly Nu’est are a really talented group that gets slept on a lot. Love Paint was such a good song and Nu’est are kings of Aesthetic at Pledis Ent let’s get this straight???? i dare you to name a group more aesthetic than them. (hint: i say this jokingly i don’t like pitting groups against one another please be kind to all idol groups and artists they’re all doing Their Best and deserve your kindness.) but, please please please support Nu’est if you can! their MVs are so pretty to look at and their songs are no joke. Overcome. also a bop. all songs. Bops.

Han Dong Geun is actually a singer that i listen to when falling asleep, along with other artists like Ailee, Ryeowook, Huh Gak and ballads from idol groups. again, Pledis Ent has this ability to find these incredibly talented vocalists (see: everyone at Pledis Ent), but people have trouble finding them :/ (me: hm maybe it’s because Pledis doesn’t promote them properly, but i’m not salty…) anyways, i HIGHLY recommend his music if you need someone with a really soothing voice to listen to! :) ALSO. HE SANG. THE DANG OST. FOR HWARANG. BY THE WAY. JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE. FOR ALL OF Y’ALL THAT WATCH THAT DRAMA. (me: i’m not salty. :) but also i love Ailee and her ost for Goblin so i’m torn they’re both on my soothing playlist ^^’ also also i didn’t watch Hwarang i just listened to his ost oops)

anyways that’s me being a Salty Pledis Stan. i like to make my blog a happy and positive place ^^’ but whenever i talk about AS, Nu’est, or Han Donggeun i get really salty and sarcastic so i put it under a readmore.