Obviously, the biggest music news this week are the events of the SXSW Music Festival. Check out our comprehensive coverage, including thoughts on the tragedy on Wednesday night, at our OpenAir at SXSW page.
The Rapture break up
Seminal dance-punk revivalists The Rapture have broken up. The New York City band, best known for their successful 2003 song "House of Jealous Lovers" and 2012's "How Deep is Your Love?" never officially announced their split. Rather, frontman Luke Jenner is billed as "formerly of The Rapture" for an upcoming Red Bull Music Academy concert, implying the band is all but over. [via Consequence of Sound]
Neil Young launches Pono Music
Neil Young's Pono Music project works to expose the shortcomings of digital music formats like mp3 and CD-quality music. Years in development, Pono focuses on high-quality reproductions of digital music to match the experience of listening to vinyl on a portable electronic device. That device, the Pono Music Player, was revealed at SXSW this week, with a corresponding Kickstarter campaign in which the device can be reserved with a pledge. More information is available at www.ponomusic.com. [via NPR Music]
Jack White collaboration confirmed on Neil Young's "A Letter Home"
In other Neil Young news this week, the singer confirmed rumors that Jack White would appear on his upcoming album "A Letter Home." White, who runs the Third Man Records label in Nashville where the album was recorded, appears on two tracks. Young has described the album as "one of the lowest-tech experiences I've ever had." No word yet on a release date. Young also shared the title of his upcoming memoir: "Special Deluxe" is the follow-up to 2012's "Waging Heavy Peace."
