Andrew Mall 4/6/26 Andrew Mall 4/6/26

Why is Angine de Poitrine, a masked math rock band, going viral?

NGN (2026). With a sound as bizarre as their appearance, Canadian math rock band Angine de Poitrine has broken out of their subgenre and found an audience hungry for something “deeply human,” a music expert said.

Andrew Mall 4/2/26 Andrew Mall 4/2/26

This math rock duo is taking the internet by storm. A music researcher explains why.

NGN (2026). Angine de Poitrine, a Canadian rock duo, is taking the internet by storm. Their funky beats, intricate costumes and pure talent — paired with their unknown identities — make them an act that AI can't replicate, Northeastern music professor Andrew Mall says.

Andrew Mall 3/19/26 Andrew Mall 3/19/26

Music Industries

Oxford Bibliographies in Music (2026). Two main ideas govern our approach to this article: (1) there is no single music industry, and (2) music industries are created, driven, and run by human beings. There are a multitude of industries, markets, intermediaries, and musicians. Here, we hope both to address these phenomena and provide a more expansive view of what music industries are and what they do.

Andrew Mall 3/5/26 Andrew Mall 3/5/26

Unboxing hidden music history: Lou Curtiss’ Whimsical Collection and vinyl’s survival.

The Finest (podcast, 2026). Lou Curtiss dedicated his life to preserving forgotten music — and now his extraordinary personal collection is being shared with the community he nurtured for decades. At Folk Arts Rare Records, thousands of vinyl records, CDs, tapes and rare recordings are being unboxed, cataloged and placed on shelves for music lovers to explore and purchase. In this episode, we meet Brendan Boyle, who began shopping at Folk Arts as a teenager and now owns and runs the store. Along the way, we explore how vinyl survived the '90s and 2000s and why physical media still matters in an age of streaming and digital fatigue.

Andrew Mall 1/27/26 Andrew Mall 1/27/26

First Las Vegas, now Maryland. What is driving the Sphere expansion?

NGN (2026). Northeastern University professor Andrew Mall said much of the Sphere’s success has to do with the novelty factor.

Andrew Mall 1/24/26 Andrew Mall 1/24/26

5 ’80s Gadgets We Wish Would Make a Comeback

Slashgear (2026). There are several creations from the '80s that people would love to see make a comeback today, modernized in varying degrees. Not simply because they're remembered so fondly, but because it would actually serve a need and be a sensible idea to do so. Modern technology has transformed society in so many ways, and there's really no comparison between the two eras.

Andrew Mall 1/9/26 Andrew Mall 1/9/26

Seminar in Music Industry

In this capstone course for music industry students, we explore contemporary analyses and issues with an eye toward critically assessing and engaging the music industries. Each student brings to the classroom a unique set of skills and experiences, including those grounded in coursework and experiential learning (such as co-ops, internships, research, service learning, study abroad, and other activities). During seminar, we learn together as a class from these individualized experiences and sets of expertise—the sum of our knowledge, in essence, is greater than its individual parts.

Andrew Mall 1/8/26 Andrew Mall 1/8/26

Folk Arts Rare Records brings Lou Curtiss' music collection to the people

KPBS (2026). Andrew Mall, a professor of music at Northeastern University in Boston, studies media, music consumption and collecting. He said record stores — and the people who work in them — are crucial to local music scenes. In many cities, including San Diego, record stores function as gathering places where people share influences and resources.

Andrew Mall 10/30/25 Andrew Mall 10/30/25

Ticketmaster Vows to Crackdown on Scalpers

Forum Daily News (2025). Forum Daily News is a weekly news program produced by The News Forum (TNF). TNF is a Canadian broadcaster with a mandate to provide viewers with politically balanced domestic and international perspectives, intended to be a counterbalance to the prevailing media landscape. In this interview, I discuss dynamic-pricing mechanisms, how demand-based pricing works in the concert/ticketing sector, how artists/management negotiate with platforms like Ticketmaster, and what the consumer-impact tends to be.

Andrew Mall 9/9/25 Andrew Mall 9/9/25

An international Christian rock star was accused of sexual assault. Will this affect the Christian music industry?

NGN (2025). Allegations of sexual misconduct have hit the Christian music community. At least five men accused internationally known Christian musician Michael Tait of sexual assault, in what Andrew Mall, associate music professor at Northeastern University, called “the highest-profile case” he’s seen in this section of the music industry.

Andrew Mall 8/22/25 Andrew Mall 8/22/25

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.

Andrew Mall 8/2/25 Andrew Mall 8/2/25

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.

Andrew Mall 8/1/25 Andrew Mall 8/1/25

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.

Andrew Mall 7/16/25 Andrew Mall 7/16/25

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.

Andrew Mall 5/16/25 Andrew Mall 5/16/25

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.

Andrew Mall 5/14/25 Andrew Mall 5/14/25

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.

Andrew Mall 5/13/25 Andrew Mall 5/13/25

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.”

Andrew Mall 5/1/25 Andrew Mall 5/1/25

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.

Andrew Mall 4/17/25 Andrew Mall 4/17/25

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.

Andrew Mall 4/14/25 Andrew Mall 4/14/25

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.