▌ FRONT AND CENTER
Monday, July 20, 2026

ASCAP vs BMI vs SESAC: Which PRO Should You Actually Join?
Every songwriter eventually hits the same wall: pick a performing rights organization. Here's the honest, no-jargon breakdown of ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC — how they pay, what they cost, and who each one is really built for.
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BusinessHow to Build a Music Release Calendar That Actually Works
A practical, no-fluff guide to planning singles, EPs, and albums so your releases build momentum instead of burning you out.
UpskillFree Business Courses Every Creative Entrepreneur Should Take
A curated, evergreen list of genuinely free business courses for musicians, artists, designers, and independent creators — with direct links and no upsells.
// from the dispatch

Soulsfeng: How David Feng and Fahad Al Ali Built a Cult Outdoor Sportswear Brand
From OEM roots as Future Footwear Technology to running shoes, heated apparel, and art-house collabs — the wind-named label is quietly stacking athletes, artists, and Olympians.

Summer Smash 2026: Lyrical Lemonade turns Bridgeview into a three-day rap and rave
Lil Uzi Vert, Skrillex and Playboi Carti headline the Chicago festival's 2026 edition — 50+ artists, three stages, June 12–14 at SeatGeek Stadium.

World Cup 2026 Opens With a Global Soundtrack as Music Takes Center Stage
From Mexico City's opening ceremony to fan festivals across the U.S., music is playing a major role in welcoming the world to the tournament.

Nike's June 2026 SNKRS Calendar: Every Upcoming Launch
A signature debut, a Jordan retro family rollout, two A Ma Maniére collabs, a Collina Strada Chuck 70 capsule, and a women's-only Shox revival — Nike's next ten SNKRS days, ranked and read.

Nike SB Gives the Air Force 1 a Wheat Workboot-Inspired Streetwear Drop
The Nike SB Air Force 1 Low "Flax and Black" hit SNKRS today at 2 PM for $120 — a hairy flax suede AF1 with a gum sole, SB dubrae, and just enough skate-shop pedigree to feel earned.

The producer is now a studio, an AI operator, a vocal sculptor, and a business — four June 2026 releases that prove it
Mission_Watch puts 'AI-assisted' next to 'frontline trauma' in the lede. Fender ships Studio Pro 8.1 with a Studio Assistant and native Moises. ONHELL builds a single by sculpting Horsey's vocal. Ricki Erik turns a singer-songwriter career into a holding company. Read together, they're a job-description rewrite in real time.

Eight Festivals, One Month: The Official June–July 2026 Calendar
From Donington to Portimão, Bridgeview to Barcelona — the dates, locations, and official links for the eight festivals defining the next four weeks of live music.

U.S. Soccer Drafts 11 Streetwear Brands, One for Every World Cup Host City
A first-of-its-kind federation collab puts the crest in the hands of independent streetwear labels across all 11 American host cities — turning the road to 2026 into a coast-to-coast capsule drop.

Carré x Coca-Cola Drop a Streetwear Love Letter to '94
a.k.a. Brands' Culture Kings private label teams with Coca-Cola on mesh jerseys, souvenir tees and post-game track sets — a nostalgic nod to the Rose Bowl, timed to football's return to U.S. soil.