Summertime and the marketing is easy... 🎶 June is here, and the sizzling summer vibes are in full swing. Next week, temperatures will reach the 90s in New England! This month is a marketer's dream, with beaches and lakes beckoning, music festivals buzzing, and outdoor adventures calling our name. It’s not easy, but marketing in the summertime is definitely more fun. How can we tap into the carefree spirit of the season and create digital campaigns that show a better return and a more precise measurement of our selected audiences? Later, I’ll dive into the sun-soaked world of marketing and explore how that might work with CAPI.
But first, it’s all about the sonic sanctuary of music’s rhythm and melodies. Whether you're a hardcore audiophile, a casual listener, or simply curious about what's happening in the world of sound and music, you've landed in the right place. So let’s begin. Grab your headphones, and let's dive headfirst into a symphony of sounds.
🎶 Sound + Music
Let’s review last month's live music highlights and listen to a few fresh playlists for your summer soundtrack. But first, here are the new releases for June 2024.
Upcoming Releases
June 7, 2024:
Bonnie Light Horseman - Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free (Jagjaguwar)
Strand of Oaks - Miracle Focus (Western Vinyl)
June 14, 2024:
The Decemberists - As it Ever Was, So it Will Be Again (Thirty Tigers)
John Cale - POPtical Illusion (Domino)
Moby - Always Centered at Night (Mute)
June 21, 2024:
Islands - What Occurs (ELF Records)
Kronos Quartet - Outer Spaceways Incorporated - Kronos Quartet & Friends Meet Sun Ra (Red Hot)
June 28, 2024:
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - South of Here (Stax)
Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Early Daze (NYA/Reprise)
Shackleton and Six Organs of Admittance - Jinxed by Being (Drag City)
Washed Out - Notes from a Quiet Life (Sub Pop)
Live Music
“When you hear music, after it’s over, it’s gone, in the air. You can never capture it again.” - Eric Dolphy
RIDE's sound blends hazy shoegaze with a touch of Brit-pop sensibility. Layers of distorted guitars create a swirling sonic tapestry, often punctuated by chiming melodies and ethereal-like vocals, mostly from bassist Andy Bell, with Mark Stephen Gardener singing on occasion. They performed at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, NH, only a few weeks ago. The show was great—good sound and a great crowd, but the cement floors were a bit rough on my posture and feet.
A week past seeing RIDE perform brought me to The Kittery Dance Hall in Kittery, Maine, to see Marc Ribot and Ceramic Dog (Shahzad Ismaily, Ches Smith). Led by the innovative guitarist Marc Ribot, Ceramic Dog defies categorization. They blend genres like funk, noise rock, and jazz into a thrilling and unpredictable sonic stew. Their music pulsates with raw energy and experimentation. It was well crafted and an enjoyable set of loud music. Next time, I’ll bring earplugs.

I’ve wanted to see James Brandon Lewis for a while, and luckily, he was touring with half of Fugazi (Brendan Canty, Joe Lally) and a legendary downtown NYC music scene guitarist named Anthony Pirog. Lewis is one of the top saxophone players in the world right now, and it showed. His style is unique, but there are echoes of Coltrane, Rollins, and Sanders. Instrumental Post-Punk Jazz at its finest in the heart of Somerville, Massachusetts, at the Crystal Ballroom in Davis Square.
Upcoming Shows . . .
Ravi Coltrane at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, June 23, 2024
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at Hampton Beach Club Casino Ballroom, June 19, 2024
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, June 27 through July 10, 2024
M. Ward at 3S Artspace, July 30, 2024
See you there!
Latest Mixes
My passion for crate-digging continues on Mixcloud with Nocturnal Radio. Here’s the mix I’ve created. It’s not part of Nocturnal Radio, which is currently released only once a month. Yes, I’ll have another episode available soon. Until then, this is intêrkozmik — listen, then return from this voyage full of melancholy and out-of-this-world soundscapes as an even better person. It's cosmic but not clandestine. Click the image or button below to listen.
💻 The Marketing Corner
Here are some handy links to the latest newsmakers…
Social Media News
Introducing DoubleVerify Brand Safety and Suitability reporting on Reddit
YouTube Launches Live Test of AI Background Generator
Instagram Broadcast Channels Gets Fresh New Features
TikTok preparing a US copy of the app’s core algorithm, sources say
Tech Trends
Apple Intelligence: every new AI feature coming to the iPhone and Mac
Can I Opt Out of Meta’s A.I. Scraping on Instagram and Facebook? Sort Of.
JavaScript Runs the World—Maybe Even Literally
57+ unique gift ideas for Dad that are way better than a tie
My Turn
Have you heard of Conversions API (CAPI)? It’s a big deal for businesses looking to track and optimize ad campaigns more accurately. Unlike traditional pixel-based tracking, CAPI allows for server-side tracking, providing a more reliable and privacy-conscious solution. Meta's CAPI enables businesses to track conversions across Facebook and Instagram, bridging the gap caused by ad blockers and privacy settings.
Google's enhanced conversions help leverage first-party data for improved measurement and attribution across Search, PMAX Display Ads, and YouTube campaigns. Programmatic audio ads, a rapidly growing format, also benefit from CAPI integration, allowing advertisers to track ad interactions and conversions on streaming platforms like Spotify and Pandora. By utilizing CAPI, businesses gain a comprehensive understanding of user journeys, leading to better targeting, optimization, and a higher return on ad spend.
🎙️ Random Thoughts
Did you happen to catch the Northern Lights On Friday evening, May 10th? You could see the beautiful colors as far away as southern Connecticut. Shortly after 11 p.m. I walked into the backyard and snapped a few gorgeous, vivid night sky photos. 💫
Before descending to Davis Square and the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville, MA, I made a not-so-quick stop at the Bow Market in nearby Union Square. I had heard many good things about this newish venture of a localized, international food court, brew pub, artist’s shops, a pinball arcade, and a groovy vinyl shop called vinyl index. I wish this existed in Portsmouth!
Good Vibes: A Playlist
Craving a sonic adventure? Dive into this curated playlist, a vibrant mix where the shimmering sounds of the vibraphone take center stage. From jazz grooves to retro rock surprises, prepare to have your ears captivated by the unexpected magic of the mallets. Click the image above or the button below to listen. Here’s the playlist:
Cal Tjader - Mindoro
Tortoise - The Taut and Tame
The Beatles - I’m Only Sleeping (Rehearsal)
Joel Ross - The Nurturer
American Analog Set - I Must Soon Quit the Scene
Modern Jazz Quartet - Vendome
Milt Jackson - Bags' Groove
Lionel Hampton - A Taste Of Honey
Violent Femmes - Gone Daddy Gone
Roy Ayers, Sylvia Cox - Liquid Love
Neil Young - Will to Love
Elton John - Out Of The Blue
Manfred Mann - Bare Hugg
Steely Dan - Razor Boy
Pink Floyd - Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Red Norvo - A Cigarette and a Silhouette
Thanks for reading. If you like what I'm sharing and think more people should subscribe, please spread the word. Until next month…
Talk soon,
Jay
👋 If you received this newsletter from a friend, subscribe here.