While no cause of death has been released as of this writing, news of his death was shared on his official Facebook page. “With deep sorrow we have to inform you that Klaus suddenly and unexpectedly passed away yesterday on April 26th, 2022 at the age of 74 after a long illness,” reads the post. It is signed by Maximilian Schulze and “on behalf of the family and the Klaus Schulze team.”

Born on August 4th, 1947, Schulze began his musical career in 1969 as the drummer for German electronic music group Tangerine Dream. Since then, he has released dozes of albums containing live, solo, and previously unreleased work. He also worked under the pseudonym Richard Wahnfried.

Beginning in 1994, Schulze worked with frequent collaborator Pete Namlook on a series of releases called The Dark Side of the Moog. In it, Schulze and Namlook reimagine a number of Pink Floyd songs using a Moog synthesizer. The first synthesizer he used was an EMS Synthia A.

Schulze remained active his entire musical career, with an unreleased album titled Deus Arrakis still set for release sometime in 2022. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and four grandchildren.

Originally launched in October of 2020, the Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) provided aid to independent music and comedy venues, festivals, and promoters sidelined by COVID-19. It awarded $3,170,000 to groups in 40 states, $2,800,000 to 148 independent venues, and $370,000 to 18 independent promoters.

According to a press release, clubs in need of aid can now apply for coverage from unforeseeable situations such as “natural disasters, future pandemics, and the lasting effects from COVID-19.” They continue by pledging their support, saying, “The ERF is a crucial initiative for NIVF and uniquely aligns with its mission to preserve and nurture our national independent, live entertainment community.”

Anyone interested in applying would benefit to do so sooner rather than later as applications are received on a rolling basis. NIVF membership is not required in order to receive funds, though they stress that not everyone who applies will be approved.

The ERF comes as venues continue to struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic. IBISWorld, an industry research firm, reports that they expect an increase in venues permanently shutting down.

Speaking at Spain’s recent Tourism Fair, Ocio de Ibiza — A.K.A. “Leisure of Ibiza,” a trade association representing Ibiza’s tourism industry — manager José Luis Benítez said nightclubs will repoen “at the end of April, two weeks ahead of what is normally done.” He said that clubs will remain open until “October… November if all goes well.” Preparations are underway for Ibiza’s nightlife industry to operate safely in the winter.

A report by the tourism fair states that Ibiza and Formentera (another Balearic island) lost $2.6 million in tourism revenue. In 2021, they lost $1.3 million. It goes on to state that these losses were a direct result of COVID-19 restrictions that either closed clubs down or restricted their capacity. There hasn’t been a full, non-interrupted party season in Ibiza since 2019.

Ibiza sits off the coast of Spain and relies heavily on tourism. Its picturesque beaches and renowned nightlife attract partygoers from around the world, especially the U.K.

Local nightclubs have already proven they can safely run events. In June of 2021, they rant a test event with 1,200 attendees. No COVID-19 cases were reported.

Born in Berlin in 1980, Klemann got his start as part of the DJ collective 61 Rocker. While with this group he played hip-hop and curated a floor at ’90s drum & bass party Hard:Edged.

In 2002, the organizers of Hard:Edged opened an institution in Kreuzberg named Watergate Club. Klemann was signed on as a resident at the club, where he played an influential role in Berlin’s growing minimal house scene. He regularly played at Berlin clubs such as Cookies and Berghain.

Klemann also cofounded My My, a DJ and producer trio consisting of himself, Lee Jones, and Nick Hoeppner. Within the group, Klemann and Hoeppner mainly DJed while Hoeppner and Jones made the music. Through this collaboration, Klemann connected them to a label called Playhouse which eventually released their early EPs and only album. He also programmed their monthly residency at Watergate.

Taking to Instagram to share his condolences, Hoeppner wrote, “Getting to know you has been one of the most meaningful encounters of my life. You will be missed!”

Jones also expressed his sadness, writing on Facebook, “Goodbye friend, colleague, brother. I’ll never forget our time together. You were a giant of a man.”

The Breakdown aired on the station on January 1st and 2nd. The show features numerous influential Irish artists discussing their careers and most successful tracks. Each episode runs around 50 minutes and is produced by Irish radio producer Hugh Fowler. It begins with discussion of the Irish acid house scene in the early ’90s and goes on to chart the evolution of the scene from there.

Included in the series is producer and DJ duo Bicep. Formed in 2009 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Bicep has toured extensively around the globe. On the show, they talk about their 2017 breakout hit, Glue, and how they got their start. They’re currently set to headline the AVA Festival in Belfast.

Also included in the broadcast is artist Orlagh Dooley A.K.A. Or:la. Last month, Dooley won Best DJ at DJ Mag‘s Best of British Awards. She is the cover artist for the January 2022 edition of DJ Mag.

Founded in 1979, RTÉ 2fm is currently the second most popular radio station in Ireland. They specialize in chart hits and pop music. Anyone interested in listening to all four episodes of the series can head here.

Launched by DJ Stretch in 1995 with the help of record label Reinforced Records, A-Ko Recordings released numerous records by Stretch throughout the ’90s. A-Ko Recordings also inspired numerous offshoots, including AKO Beatz in 2014. AKO Beatz focused on promoting established artists and fostering new talent within the jungle and drum and bass music scene.

The London-based label also includes sub-labels AKO Reload, AKO10, AKO150 Arcade, and Warn Ah Bruddah. They are also responsible for running various underground shows throughout London.

Since its launch, AKO Beatz has released records by artists such as Ricky Force, Goldie, and Tom & Jerry across its main label and sub-labels.

In a statement about the 25-year milestone, DJ Stretch wrote, “I’m super proud to see a new generation getting to hear the sound we believed in back in the day, and bringing it into the future now. And it doesn’t stop there. Every year I’m raising the bar higher!”

AKO Beatz… 25 Years in the Jungle can be watched on YouTube.

The classes will take place in Brixton, south London beginning on January 10th. Beginners are welcome as no experience is required. According to Deaf Rave, they will be the U.K.’s very first series of DJ workshops for the Deaf and hard of hearing.

The workshops are receiving support and funding from Arts Council England, a U.K. government-backed organization dedicated to supporting all forms of art. Classes are also supported by Groove School, which is a charity aimed at helping young people engage with music.

Started by Troi ‘DJ Chinaman’ Lee, Deaf Rave was founded as a place for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing to display their love of music. The organization provides signing services for songs as well as visual performances of pieces. They work to engage Deaf and hard-of-hearing fans through techniques such as feeling the vibrations of stage monitors. The organization has thrown parties at Fabric, Latitude Festival, and Glastonbury.

Those interested in signing up for the class can contact Deaf Rave via their Instagram account here. More information about the organization can also be found on their Facebook page here.

The festival, funded by the Saudi Arabian government, is no stranger to criticism. Back in November, many of the artists announced in the first two phases faced significant backlash. The Saudi government has a long track record of human rights abuses, and many questioned why headliners would accept money from them.

On December 15th, HRW published an article written under the pseudonym Arwa Youssef. In it, the writer calls the festival a Saudi “reputation-launder scheme” and encourages artists to speak out about human rights abuses or not participate. “MDL Beast Soundstorm performers and promoters should use their microphones, stages, and screen time to speak out,” he writes.

Launched in 2019, the festival has attracted influencers, producers, and musical artists in an attempt to rehabilitate the country’s image. To draw these people, organizers offered them many times their usual rates, partially funded by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. In exchange, they are asked to write social media posts about their experiences. These posts were “guided” by state-sponsored PS firms and follow strict guidelines. Numerous celebrities, including Emily Ratajkowski, have turned down the offer due to human rights concerns.

This rise in non-attendance comes amidst concerns over the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd called on the U.K. government to help, saying “Decisive and immediate action is needed to address this situation. That action must include the immediate cancellation of the VAT rise and the suspension of business rates.”

VAT, or value added tax, is a tax paid on goods and services in the U.K., while business rates are taxes paid on non-domestic property. To help struggling venues, VAT rates on tickets were reduced to 5% back in July of 2020.

Professionals attribute the decline in attendance to the U.K. government enacting “plan B” measures for dealing with the pandemic. Among those measures are mask mandates for most indoor spaces, guidance to work from home, and a requirement of NHS-issues COVID-19 passes for entry into nightclubs.

The announcement of these new restrictions came Wednesday, December 8th. They will be reviewed again in early January according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

As of December 14th, there have been 59,077 new COVID-19 cases reported with a seven-day average of 53,172 cases. 76.3% of UK citizens have at least one vaccine shot while 69.9% are fully vaccinated.

The turntable will be a limited edition run with only 50 units available. It will glow various soft neon colors as a record plays. As of now, the only way of purchasing it is by enquiring with the gallery via their website. No price is listed, though many expect it will be high. Each turntable will have Eno’s signature and edition number engraved on the side.

Speaking about his invention, Eno said, “One of the great breakthroughs of evolution theory is that you can start with simple things and they will grow into complexity. This is very unintuitive – it’s one of these things that the human brain isn’t immediately capable of grasping. It doesn’t make sense until you see it.”

Born in the U.K., Brian Eno studied painting and experimental music at Ipswich Civic College. He has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of glam rock band Roxy Music. Throughout his career, he has worked as a producer with numerous influential groups such as Devo, Talking Heads, U2 and Coldplay. He also produces sound installations, including the sails of the Sydney Opera House.