Taylor Swift’s new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ is being sold on cassette. Who’s buying?
Featured In, Interviews Andrew Mall Featured In, Interviews Andrew Mall

Taylor Swift’s new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ is being sold on cassette. Who’s buying?

NGN (2025). After Taylor Swift announced her latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” fans began pre-ordering limited-release vinyls, CDs and even cassette tapes. While it may have been a while since the average person has bought a cassette tape, Andrew Mall, associate music professor at Northeastern University, says cassettes have percolated on the music scene and have become popular again over the last 10 to 15 years.

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A new doc sheds light on Jeff Buckley’s legacy. Musicians explain why he is still so influential almost 30 years after his early death
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A new doc sheds light on Jeff Buckley’s legacy. Musicians explain why he is still so influential almost 30 years after his early death

NGN (2025). Experts explain what makes the subject of “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” one of the most legendary artists of his generation, despite only releasing one studio album before his premature death. Despite only releasing one studio album, “Grace,” prior to tragically drowning at the age of 30 in 1997, Buckley remains one of the most legendary — and subtly influential — artists of his generation.

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Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks are reissuing an album that’s been out of circulation for 50 years. Why reissue ‘Buckingham Nicks’ now?
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Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks are reissuing an album that’s been out of circulation for 50 years. Why reissue ‘Buckingham Nicks’ now?

NGN (2025). “Buckingham Nicks” was released in 1973 to minimal fanfare; the couple’s label, Polydor Records, dropped it within months of their release. The following year, the couple joined Fleetwood Mac, making them the notable figures they are today. But while you can easily find copies of or stream all of the duo’s other work — both in Fleetwood Mac and as solo artists — “Buckingham Nicks” was never reissued. Why reissue “Buckingham Nicks” now, after decades that were filled with breakups, makeups, reunion tours, and lawsuits for the pair? Andrew Mall, an associate professor of music at Northeastern University, thinks it could be a sign that things are thawing between the two exes.

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Fyre Festival sells on eBay for $245K, a sum so low it wouldn’t have been able to afford disgraced founder Billy McFarland some tickets at his own event
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Fyre Festival sells on eBay for $245K, a sum so low it wouldn’t have been able to afford disgraced founder Billy McFarland some tickets at his own event

Fortune (2025). Billy McFarland’s Fyre Festival chapter has come to a close. The disgraced owner of the brand behind the disaster luxury music festival sold its intellectual property for $245,300 on eBay. The sum falls far short of some of the ticket options McFarland previously promised for a planned Fyre Festival event, including a $1.1 million package. The final bid falls further still than the $26 million in restitution following McFarland’s wire-fraud conviction.

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Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #06: Challenges (Season 1 Finale)
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Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #06: Challenges (Season 1 Finale)

Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #05: Mental Health. Hosts Dana Bollen and Andrew Mall are joined by ten of our Season 1 panel members to discuss some of the biggest changes that we've experienced within the DIY music scenes over the last few decades & the challenges that we face today. Several panelists also share advice that is valuable to anyone who is involved in these communities.

Click through for episode links and full transcript.

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Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #03: Exposure
Live Free Or D.I.Y. Andrew Mall Live Free Or D.I.Y. Andrew Mall

Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #03: Exposure

Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #03: Exposure. Hosts Dana Bollen and Andrew Mall are joined by nine of our Season 1 panel members to discuss the impact that exposure can have on D.I.Y. music scenes and what happens when these bands and this music reaches mainstream attention and success.

Click through for episode links and full transcript.

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Do phone-free concerts lead to better experiences? We asked Northeastern experts
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Do phone-free concerts lead to better experiences? We asked Northeastern experts

NGN (2025). “If you have 10,000 people at a concert and 8,000 of them are holding a phone, there’s something deeply disconnected,” said Tobias Forge, the frontman of Swedish rock group Ghost. Forge was explaining why the band’s world tour is mandating a no-phones policy. A music expert, philosopher and psychologist explain what is going on when artists restrict what their fans can do at their performances.

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All-In Ticket Pricing Rule Goes Live, Intended to Level Playing Field
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All-In Ticket Pricing Rule Goes Live, Intended to Level Playing Field

TicketNews (2025). A major shift in how ticket prices are displayed went into effect this week, as the Federal Trade Commission’s newly adopted “all-in pricing” rule requires businesses to include all known fees and charges before asking for payment. This move is largely seen as a win for consumers and a step toward fairness among ticket sellers—though it won’t necessarily bring costs down.

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The FTC’s new rule on ticket prices is a win for consumers, experts say — but don’t expect it to bring costs down
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The FTC’s new rule on ticket prices is a win for consumers, experts say — but don’t expect it to bring costs down

CNBC (2025). The Federal Trade Commission’s new rule requires ticket sellers to disclose total prices upfront, including fees, prohibiting them from concealing add-on charges until the last minute. “More transparency is always a win for consumers,” says Andrew Mall, an associate professor of music at Northeastern University. However, “if there are any consumers who have been expecting fewer fees as a result, they will be disappointed.”

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Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #02: Sustainability and Resilience
Live Free Or D.I.Y. Andrew Mall Live Free Or D.I.Y. Andrew Mall

Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #02: Sustainability and Resilience

Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #02: Sustainability and Resilience. hosts Dana Bollen and Andrew Mall are joined by eight of our Season 1 panel members to discuss factors that impact the sustainability and resilience in D.I.Y. music scenes, as well as the importance of adaptability in a society that is constantly changing and evolving.

Click through for episode links and full transcript.

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Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #01: Pilot
Live Free Or D.I.Y. Andrew Mall Live Free Or D.I.Y. Andrew Mall

Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #01: Pilot

Live Free Or D.I.Y. Episode #01: Pilot. Hosts Dana Bollen and Andrew Mall introduce themselves and the panel of twelve individuals that we will hear from throughout Season 1 of this podcast series. Each panel member also chimes in to describe their personal connection to the term “D.I.Y.” (do-it-yourself) and its connection to their experiences in the D.I.Y. music scenes and communities.

Click through for episode links and full transcript.

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Fyre Fest is up for sale. Could someone buy the brand and turn it around?
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Fyre Fest is up for sale. Could someone buy the brand and turn it around?

Northeastern Global News (2025). The doomed festival’s founder Billy McFarland said the brand can be purchased, but one Northeastern expert said it’s “poisonous.” Could someone purchase the Fyre Fest brand and revive it? It would be a difficult endeavor, said Andrew Mall, associate professor of music at Northeastern University.

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How to buy concert tickets — and avoid getting scammed
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How to buy concert tickets — and avoid getting scammed

Portland Press Herald (2025). Anyone who has bought a ticket to live entertainment in the past few years has likely racked up as many questions as they have credit card debt. We talked to industry experts, arts professionals and concert promoters to demystify what third-party ticket sellers are doing and to help you get the best seat for your buck.

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Songs are getting shorter, thanks in part to Spotify and TikTok algorithms
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Songs are getting shorter, thanks in part to Spotify and TikTok algorithms

The Washington Times (2025). Songs are becoming shorter as artists tailor their tracks to fit the algorithms of TikTok and Spotify, where quick hooks and replay-friendly formats drive plays and chart success. “Artists, especially new young artists, are simply just creating hooks and trying to circulate those on TikTok,” professor Andrew Mall, who studies music and media at Northeastern University, told The Washington Times.

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Return(s) on Investment: The Value of Local Music Scenes
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Return(s) on Investment: The Value of Local Music Scenes

BFE conference presentation (2025). In this paper, we demonstrate that local jurisdictions’ objectives for investing in and promoting music, grounded in differing forms of value, can result in distinct and competing goals. We argue that advancing cultural policy initiatives that recognize and prioritize noneconomic forms of value in local music scenes is an important step in preserving and improving their resilience and sustainability. This collaborative paper is based on ethnographic fieldwork in Dublin, Ireland, and Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

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