Chris Antonik Releases "Trust In Me" From #1 Roots Music Report Canadian Chart Album 'Morningstar'

 

Chris Antonik, whose album, Morningstar, still sits at No. 1 on the Roots Music Report, has released a blues/hip hop hybrid single, “Trust in Me,” something a little different for the chart-topping blues-rock guitarist who has always pushed the boundaries of blues.

 "I wrote this song as a commentary on how toxic, childish, and mean politicians were becoming in the media in the years leading up to the pandemic,” says the Toronto-based musician. “As a single parent, I needed to work extra hard to drown it out and outweigh it with positive behaviour examples for my kids because there was no help from the top.  How we talk to people is important and it's incredible how crazy the world was getting in this respect."

“Trust in Me” features one of the fiercest guitar solos Chris has ever recorded. “Musically, I required this sort of modern, chaotic, industrial-type vehicle to tell my story and to deliver the song's ferocious and intense guitar solo,” he explains. 

The track also includes a beautifully chaotic and mind-bending soprano sax solo by 2022 Maple Blues Award-winner Alison Young. “Sonically, her contribution matches the frustration and confusion of the lyric’s theme, but also has a desert/mystical/Duran Duran ‘Union of the Snake’ vibe,” Chris says.

“Trust In Me” is the fourth single from Morningstar, following August’s release of “Back to the Good”, July’s “Pilgrim,” and June’s “Waves of Stone” (feat. Jarekus Singleton).

All the singles have done phenomenally well on the Roots Music Report, starting with “Waves of Stones,” which landed at No. 1.  Both “Back to Good” and “Pilgrim” also reached No. 1 in Canada on the Roots Music Report’s singles chart.

This kind of reception is nothing new for Chris. Since his nomination for Best New Artist at Canada’s Maple Blues Awards in 2011 based on his debut album, Chris has been delivering innovative and thoughtfully crafted songs that transcend expectations of the genre. His sophomore album, Better for You, was hailed by critics as “the best Canadian blues-rock album of 2013” and “a masterpiece” — with American Blues Scene calling it the “sound of someone taking the blues to a new place.”  His self-produced third studio album, 2017’s Monarch, further expanded the blues’ boundaries into blues-rock, soul and Americana; it was nominated for both Songwriter of the Year and Recording of the Year at the 2018 Maple Blues Awards.

Reviews for his latest album, Morningstar, have been stellar.  All Music Magazine gave it a 10/10, while influential US blues-rock outlet, Rock and Blues Muse, said “Antonik is clearly focused on making music that advances the state of blues/rock and guitar music in general.  He’s got bigger game on his mind and is creating music that will stretch your soul when you hear it. He’s a fully developed artist working on something big. We should all be listening.” 

A few days after its Aug. 5 release, Morningstar charted on the Roots Music Report at No. 4 for radio play in Canada (all genres) and No. 7 in the U.S. (for blues rock). The album also hit No. 1 in Canada on the Roots Music Report, the week of Aug. 13, and No. 20 in the U.S. for blues. 

 

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AudioValley Changes Name To Targetspot

 

 

AudioValley Group, the Belgian company that owns the audio ad tech provider Targetspot, is changing its name to take on the branding of its largest division. AudioValley’s board has approved switching its name to Targetspot. It also plans to sell off the Winamp audio player business as part of what the company says is a “refocusing” on the digital audio monetization business, where it sees strong momentum.

“Our name change reflects our decision to accelerate growth in digital audio monetization,” said chairman and founder Alexandre Saboundjian. “Podcasts, streaming, gaming: in all of these fast-growing markets we are ready to make a difference by capitalizing on our proprietary technologies, a portfolio of massive, international audiences and the trust of leading advertisers. By bearing the Targetspot flag, we are also clarifying our positioning to our customers and shareholders.”

Targetspot makes up nearly all of AudioValley’s business – last year 92% of its revenue came from the ad tech unit. Targetspot has also been growing at a rapid pace. During the first quarter of this year its revenue jumped 34.6% following full-year 2021 results that saw Targetspot revenue grow 50% for the full year. 

AudioValley says the gains have been driven by expansion of its business in both the U.S. and Europe. It says that momentum, as well as new opportunities offered by the digital audio market, are at the heart of its refocusing decision. The company says the changes should enable it to focus more resources on developing Targetspot’s capabilities. Launched in 2007 as one of the original online audio advertising platforms, Targetspot currently works with audio publishers to provide end-to-end integration between advertisers and publishers through both direct and programmatic buying.

“The next step in this refocusing process will be the sale of our Winamp platform, a project justified by the significant investments and recruitment required for its development, which are now incompatible with our new roadmap,” said Saboundjian.

AudioValley says Winamp currently has 80 million monthly active users worldwide with a mix of podcasts, radio streams, audiobooks and other audio content. Winamp was first developed for Microsoft Windows by Nullsoft, which later sold the technology to AOL in 1999 for $80 million. AudioValley – which was then called Radionomy – bought Winamp and Shoutcast from AOL in 2014 in a deal said to have been valued in the $5 to $10 million range. It announced in 2019 that it planned to release Winamp 6 in 2019 but three years later, no update has materialized.

AudioValley’s name change to Targetspot will mean that as of today (June 24) the company will adopt a new stock symbol in Paris and Brussel where its shares trade on the Euronext Growth exchanges. It will become “ALTGS.” The company also announced it plans to release its mid-year revenue report on July 26.

 

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