Wired earbuds are making a comeback, and Bose is the latest major audio brand to join the trend. The company has introduced its first wired earbuds since 2015, bringing active noise cancellation, USB-C connectivity and modern audio processing to a familiar format.

The Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds cost $99 and are designed to offer the simplicity of plugging in without giving up features that have become common on modern wireless earbuds.

A familiar design with a modern twist

The earbuds use a 4.2-foot (128cm) cable, giving users enough length to move around without being tied too closely to their phone, tablet or computer. The cable terminates in USB-C rather than the 3.5mm headphone connector that would traditionally be associated with wired earbuds.

The earbuds are available in Black, White Smoke and limited-edition Dewdrop Mint, with contrasting colour accents on the Black and White Smoke versions. Bose describes the mint finish as having a 90s-inspired aesthetic.

Fit is adjustable too. Each earbud comes with small, medium and large silicone eartips, alongside medium and large stability wings. This gives users a few combinations to try depending on whether they prioritise comfort or a more secure fit.

The earbuds are also rated IPX4, meaning they can handle sweat, rain and splashes, although they aren’t designed to be submerged. A zippered carrying case is included for storage.

Bose brings ANC to a wired connection

The standout feature is arguably the one that makes these more than a simple return to old-school wired listening: active noise cancellation.

Bose’s QuietControl technology uses four microphones, with two positioned on each earbud, to monitor surrounding sound and reduce unwanted noise. There are three listening modes to choose from: Quiet Mode, Aware Mode and ANC Off Mode.

Quiet Mode is intended for blocking out distractions, while Aware Mode allows more of the surrounding environment through. ANC can also be switched off completely when you simply want the earbuds to function as a conventional wired pair. That makes the earbuds useful across a variety of different environments. 

Bose says the direct USB-C connection also enables low-latency playback, which can help keep audio and video synchronised when creating content, gaming or watching video.

USB-C, lossless audio and physical controls

The move to USB-C makes the earbuds better suited to modern phones, tablets and computers than a traditional 3.5mm model would be.

Bose says the earbuds use its proprietary SoundDesign digital signal processing and support lossless audio listening. They use the USB Audio Class 2 protocol and can accept source input at any sample and bit rate, with playback output fixed at 24-bit/48kHz.

There is no companion app, so controls are built into the cable instead. The inline remote has physical buttons for volume, playback, calls and switching between the three noise cancellation modes. A separate microphone on the remote is designed to pick up the user’s voice while reducing unwanted noise from the cable rubbing against clothing.

That physical approach is a notable contrast to wireless earbuds, where many controls are handled through touch gestures or a smartphone app.

No battery means no battery life to worry about

It can be easy to overlook, but one of the biggest differences from wireless earbuds is that there is no battery inside the wired earbuds. 

There’s no Bluetooth pairing and no internal battery to charge. Instead, the earbuds draw their power from the connected USB-C device, including when ANC is being used. That means there’s no charging case, no battery percentage to monitor and no risk of arriving at a journey or work session only to find the earbuds are empty.

The trade-off is that the earbuds need to remain physically connected to the source. That’s less convenient than Bluetooth for some situations, but it also means the listening experience isn’t dependent on maintaining a wireless connection or keeping another battery charged.

Pricing and availability

The Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds are available to pre-order now on Bose.com for $99.

Bose has announced Black, White Smoke and limited-edition Dewdrop Mint finishes, with general shipping scheduled to begin on October 15.

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Apple’s new iPhone Duo hasn’t even reached customers yet, but developers are already finding creative ways to use its foldable design. One of the most fun examples so far is Duo-Man, a new app that turns the iPhone Duo into a virtual Walkman-style cassette player.

Created by indie developer Vidit Bhargava at the Bitrig hackathon, the app uses the Duo’s two screens and hinge to recreate the ritual of loading and playing a cassette. The project has already attracted more than 2 million views on X, prompting Bhargava to develop the idea beyond its original hackathon demo.

How Duo-Man works

The concept is deliberately simple.

Open the iPhone Duo and the larger 7.6-inch inner display becomes the place to browse your music and select a virtual cassette. Once you’ve “inserted” your chosen tape, close the phone and the 5.4-inch outer display becomes your Walkman-style player.

It’s a clever use of the hardware rather than simply putting a retro skin over a conventional music player. The physical act of opening and closing the phone becomes part of the listening experience.

Bhargava has also gone further with the details. As demonstrated in his original post, he recorded the button clicks and static from a real Walkman and incorporated those sounds into the app.

Duo-Man is currently a working project using local music files, with plans to connect Apple Music before its full release. Bhargava has also discussed adding Apple Pencil controls for “rolling” the cassette loop, more authentic fast-forward and rewind interactions, and potentially Spotify support in the future.

Why the virtual Walkman makes sense

At first, Duo-Man might seem like a fun novelty project. But it arrives at an interesting time for music listening.

Retro technology is having another moment. Recent reporting has highlighted renewed interest in CDs, cassette players, wired headphones and other physical formats, particularly among younger listeners who didn’t necessarily grow up with them.

Luminate’s 2026 Midyear Report revealed that CD sales were up 16% in the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, The Guardian recently reported on the broader trend of moving away from phone-based listening to the likes of CD and vinyl.

Duo-Man seems to find a middle ground between phone-based and these nostalgic listening habits. It doesn’t bring back cassette tapes themselves, but it does recreate the ritual around them: choosing a tape, opening the player, pressing physical-feeling controls and settling into a listening session.

What it means for independent artists

For independent musicians, the Duo-Man story is another reminder that how people experience music can be just as interesting as the music itself.

Retro-inspired artwork, physical merchandise, cassette editions, throwback visuals and short-form content can all give a release a stronger identity. But the most effective use of nostalgia is usually the one that connects naturally with the music rather than simply following a trend.

It can also be a useful way to bring older releases back into the conversation. Thanks to films, television, and social trends on platforms like TikTok, older songs continue to be found by new audiences years after release. Keeping your catalogue available means those opportunities remain open.

With RouteNote, you can distribute your music to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TikTok and other major platforms for free. And if Duo-Man is able to connect to streaming platforms ahead of release, your music could one day be played on a virtual cassette player too. Who would have thought?

Distribute your music to streaming platforms everywhere for free with RouteNote today.

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Latin music continues to grow in the US. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Latin music’s recorded music revenue reached $542.2 million during the first half of 2026.

It’s a figure that represents an 8.6% year-on-year increase, putting Latin music ahead of the wider US recorded music market, which grew 6.9% over the same period.

It also marks the 13th consecutive mid-year period of growth for Latin music. The genre now accounts for 9.1% of total US recorded music revenue, up from 8.8% at the same point in 2025.

So, where is that growth coming from?

Streaming remains the biggest driver

Streaming continues to dominate Latin music revenue in the US, accounting for 96% of the total in H1 2026. Paid subscriptions were the biggest individual contributor, generating $308.4 million, up 12.4% year on year. Free streaming revenue, meanwhile, reached $177.8 million but fell 1.1%. All-in-all, those figures meant that streaming revenue increased 6.5% to $522.2 million.

For independent artists and labels, the numbers underline just how important digital distribution remains. Getting music onto major streaming services through distributors like RouteNote gives artists access to the same digital ecosystem where the overwhelming majority of Latin music revenue is being generated.

The opportunity isn’t limited to the US either. Luminate’s mid-year data found that Latin music reached 363.2 billion global streams during the first half of 2026, up from 335.3 billion a year earlier. In the US, 9.5% of all music streams were in Spanish, while 54% of listeners reportedly engaged with Latin music.

Vinyl sees a huge percentage increase

Streaming might dominate, but physical music is growing too, particularly when you look at vinyl.

Latin vinyl revenue increased by 245.8% year on year, reaching $13.7 million. Vinyl units increased by an even larger 291.2%, with around 800,000 units sold during the first half of the year.

While physical revenue represents only a small part of Latin recorded music revenue, the increasing popularity of vinyl is hard to overlook. For artists, it shows that physical formats can still create additional revenue.

Sync revenue more than doubles

Another standout figure came from sync. Latin music’s sync revenue increased 104.2% to $3.3 million in H1 2026. Again, the category remains relatively small compared with streaming, but the growth shows how recorded music can generate value beyond streams and downloads.

Sync placements can introduce music to audiences through film, TV, advertising, games and other visual media. For independent artists and labels, keeping rights information organised and making music easy to discover can be useful when opportunities arise.

Downloads continue to shrink

Not every format grew. Total download revenue fell 11.8% to $2.8 million, with both single and album downloads declining year on year.

That continues the long-term shift away from ownership-based digital downloads towards access through streaming services.

For independent artists, it reinforces the importance of thinking beyond individual purchases. A release strategy today can be about building an audience across multiple platforms and giving fans plenty of ways to discover, save, share and return to your music.

The bigger picture for Latin music

The H1 figures aren’t happening in isolation. Latin music has been steadily increasing its share of the US recorded music market. RIAA data shows that it represented just 2.9% of the market at mid-year in 2017. It now represents 9.1%. Meanwhile, Latin music revenue is up for the 13th consecutive year.

Major cultural moments have helped bring Latin music to even wider audiences in 2026. Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance and Shakira and Burna Boy’s World Cup anthem are two recent examples of moments that helped connect Latin music with new listeners.

The wider World Cup music campaign also demonstrated the scale of that reach. FIFA reported that its official 2026 World Cup album had surpassed 336 million streams by May, with Shakira and Burna Boy’s Dai Dai reaching the top 10 of Spotify’s global Top 50 at the time.

What this means for independent artists

Latin music’s H1 2026 performance points to a market where digital reach remains central, while other formats and opportunities can add extra value around a successful release.

For independent artists, that means making sure your music is available across the platforms where your potential audience is listening is a strong starting point. From there, building a consistent release schedule, understanding where your listeners are coming from and creating opportunities for discovery can help turn individual streams into a longer-term audience.

With RouteNote, you can distribute your music to major streaming services and digital platforms from one place. Get started for free and put your next release in front of listeners worldwide.

Distribute your music to major streaming platforms everywhere for free with RouteNote today.

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Spotify has become the official music and video partner of the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, teaming up with Paramount to give fans a new way to watch and discover performances from one of music’s biggest events.

Announced on September 25, the partnership introduces a dedicated VMAs destination on Spotify, featuring legendary performances from previous ceremonies, content highlighting this year’s nominees and selected performances from the 2026 awards following the live broadcast. The move gives Spotify a bigger role in music video discovery while extending the VMAs beyond television and traditional broadcasts.

For independent artists, the announcement is another sign that music streaming is increasingly about more than audio. Video, visual storytelling and artist discovery are becoming a bigger part of how platforms connect musicians with listeners.

Spotify launches a dedicated MTV VMAs video hub

The new VMAs destination launched on Spotify on September 25, ahead of the awards ceremony on September 27.

The hub brings together decades of memorable performances, including Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” from 1984, Nirvana’s “Lithium” from 1992 and Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” from 2017. Selected performances from the 2026 ceremony are also set to become available on the platform after the broadcast.

The collection includes an official MTV VMAs video playlist, curated nominee highlights, a dedicated Nirvana Video Vanguard hub and selected podcast conversations with this year’s nominees.

The experience is available across mobile, desktop, web and TV. Mobile users will also have access to expanded editorial commentary, enhanced visuals and personalised discovery features, while desktop, web and TV users can explore a central destination for the video content.

The partnership also includes red-carpet social content, giving fans a closer look at artists attending the ceremony.

Why Spotify is investing in music video

Spotify has traditionally been associated with audio streaming, but the company has been steadily expanding the ways people can experience music on its platform.

The VMAs partnership is a particularly visible example of that strategy. Rather than directing fans elsewhere to watch performances, Spotify is bringing selected video content directly into the same environment where people listen to music, follow artists and discover new tracks.

Spotify’s Head of Music Studios, Sarah Patellos, said the collaboration was a natural extension of how fans already use the platform, noting that listeners are increasingly coming to Spotify to watch artists as well as hear them.

For Paramount and MTV, the deal offers another way to extend the reach of the awards beyond the live broadcast. The partnership is designed to help audiences engage with the VMAs before, during and after the show, with content accessible to fans around the world.

It’s a useful example of how music companies and platforms are looking to make major cultural moments last longer than a single night. A performance can become a playlist feature, a social clip, a discovery opportunity and a reason for listeners to revisit an artist’s catalogue.

What this means for independent artists

While the VMAs partnership centres on established artists and big-budget performances, the wider shift towards video on streaming platforms is relevant to independent musicians, too.

For artists releasing music independently, video can be another way to give a track a longer promotional life. A music video, live performance, studio session or even a short visualiser can provide listeners with a different way to connect with a song.

The Spotify announcement reinforces the value of thinking about the visual side of a release from the beginning, rather than waiting until after the music is out.

Give your music a visual identity

You don’t need a major-label budget to create something visually engaging. Independent artists can use performance footage, behind-the-scenes clips, lyric videos and simple visualisers to help communicate the mood and personality of their music.

The important thing is consistency. Artwork, video content and social media posts should feel connected to the music and the artist’s wider identity.

A recognisable visual style can help listeners remember a release, particularly when they’re discovering an artist for the first time.

Make more of every release

A single music video can provide material for weeks of promotion.

Artists can create short clips from a full video, share how it was made, post alternative edits or use snippets to introduce different parts of a track. These assets can be shared across platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, helping artists reach listeners in different places.

For independent musicians working with limited budgets, planning this content in advance can make a release campaign more manageable and help each piece of creative work go further.

Think beyond release day

One of the interesting aspects of Spotify’s VMAs partnership is the focus on archived performances. Videos from decades ago are being brought back into the spotlight alongside current artists and releases.

That offers a reminder that music content doesn’t necessarily have a short shelf life. An older music video, live performance or behind-the-scenes recording can still introduce new listeners to an artist’s work.

Independent artists can apply the same thinking to their own catalogues. Revisiting an older release with a new video, sharing a live version or highlighting a track that hasn’t received much attention can create fresh opportunities for discovery.

How Spotify’s video expansion could shape music discovery

The VMAs deal arrives as streaming platforms compete to offer fans more ways to engage with music and artists.

For Spotify, combining audio streaming with official music videos, live performances and editorial content could encourage listeners to spend more time exploring an artist’s work. It also creates more opportunities for music to be discovered through visual content, rather than through audio playlists alone.

For artists and labels, that raises an important question: how can you make your music stand out when discovery increasingly happens across different formats?

There isn’t a single answer, but having a release strategy that considers audio, video and social content together can help. Artists should also keep their music available across the platforms their audiences use.

With RouteNote, independent musicians can distribute their releases to Spotify and other major streaming services without needing a record label. You can sign up with RouteNote and choose Free or Premium distribution to suit your needs.

Spotify’s VMAs partnership doesn’t guarantee that independent artists will receive the same promotional opportunities as major performers. However, it does highlight the growing importance of visual content and the ways streaming platforms are evolving to help listeners connect with music.

The bigger picture for the music industry

The 2026 MTV VMAs partnership is about more than making award-show performances available online. It reflects a wider shift towards music experiences that combine streaming, video, editorial content and personalised discovery.

For MTV, it provides another way to keep the VMAs relevant beyond the live event. For Spotify, it strengthens its position as a destination for both listening to and watching music.

And for independent artists, the takeaway is straightforward: your music’s visual identity and the content surrounding a release can be just as important to your wider promotional strategy as the track itself.

As streaming platforms continue to develop, artists who think creatively about how their music is presented, shared and rediscovered will have more ways to connect with listeners.

Distribute your music for FREE with RouteNote!

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The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards have celebrated another year of music, visuals and pop culture, with Taylor Swift, Madonna and rising British artist Sienna Spiro among the night’s major talking points. From record-breaking wins to the return of iconic music video moments, this year’s VMAs offer plenty for independent artists to take inspiration from.

The ceremony took place on September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Snoop Dogg. Madonna led the night with seven awards, while Swift took home Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia” and made history with a new honour recognising her work as a music video director.

For artists building their own careers, the 2026 MTV VMAs are also a reminder that a music release can be much more than a track on streaming platforms. Strong visuals, a recognisable creative identity and a connection with fans all continue to play a major role in how music reaches an audience.

MTV VMAs 2026: The biggest winners

The 2026 MTV VMAs brought together established global stars, emerging talent and artists from across different genres. Here’s a look at some of the key winners and moments from the ceremony.

Source: Official 2026 MTV VMAs winners announcement from Paramount.

Madonna’s seven wins made her the night’s most-awarded artist, while Swift added another Video of the Year trophy to her collection. British singer Sienna Spiro also took home Best New Artist, a notable moment for a rising UK artist gaining recognition on an international stage.

Taylor Swift makes history with a new music video award

One of the biggest stories of the 2026 VMAs was Taylor Swift’s recognition for her work behind the camera.

Swift received the inaugural Artist Director Honors, a new award created to recognise musicians whose directorial work has advanced music video and visual storytelling. Her work includes videos such as “The Man”, “Anti-Hero” and “Fortnight”, alongside the short film “All Too Well”.

The honour reflects a wider change in how artists approach their creative careers. Music videos are no longer simply promotional extras released alongside a single. For many musicians, they are a central part of their artistic identity, giving fans another way to connect with a song and the person behind it.

Swift’s career is a high-profile example of an artist taking greater creative control over how their music is presented. Independent artists don’t need a major-label budget to explore that approach. A well-planned visual concept, consistent artwork and a recognisable style can help make even a small release feel like part of a bigger creative world.

The key is making the visuals work with the music, rather than treating them as an afterthought.

Madonna, Sabrina Carpenter and the power of collaboration

Madonna was another major talking point, returning to the VMAs stage for her first performance at the awards in 23 years.

She performed with Sabrina Carpenter, bringing together two generations of pop artists. Their collaboration “Bring Your Love” also won Best Collaboration, while Madonna’s “Confessions II – The Film” took home Best Dance.

For independent musicians, collaborations can be a useful way to introduce music to new audiences. Working with another artist, producer, vocalist or visual creative can bring fresh ideas to a project while exposing each person’s work to a different community.

That doesn’t mean every collaboration needs to be a major release or a high-profile feature. A remix, joint single, shared live performance or even a behind-the-scenes video can give both artists something new to promote.

The important part is finding collaborators whose audiences and creative styles genuinely connect with your own.

Nirvana receives the Video Vanguard Award

The 2026 ceremony also recognised Nirvana with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, celebrating the band’s lasting influence on music videos and popular culture.

The band’s videos, including “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “Come As You Are” and “Heart-Shaped Box”, helped establish a distinctive visual identity during the rise of alternative rock in the 1990s. Members Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear were present to accept the honour.

Nirvana’s recognition is a reminder that a strong visual identity can outlast individual releases. For independent artists, developing a consistent aesthetic across music videos, cover art, promotional photographs and social content can help listeners recognise a project before they even press play.

That doesn’t mean every artist needs an expensive video production. DIY visuals, creative editing, live footage and carefully planned artwork can all contribute to a recognisable identity.

What the MTV VMAs mean for independent artists

The VMAs might be dominated by major-label artists and big-budget productions, but there are some useful lessons for musicians working independently.

Music videos are still an important discovery tool

With streaming platforms making it easier than ever to release music worldwide, standing out is increasingly about giving listeners something memorable beyond the audio itself.

A music video can introduce a song’s mood, story and personality in a way that a streaming link alone can’t. It also creates material that can be adapted into short clips for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.

Independent artists can make the most of a video by planning its promotion alongside the release itself. Teasers, behind-the-scenes footage, short performance clips and alternative edits can keep a track visible long after release day.

Build a recognisable artist identity

The recognition of artists such as Taylor Swift and Nirvana highlights how music and visual identity can become closely connected.

For emerging musicians, this can start with relatively simple decisions. Consistent artwork, a distinctive colour palette, recurring imagery or a particular approach to music videos can help tie releases together.

Think about what you want listeners to associate with your music. Whether that’s a particular visual style, a lyrical theme or a certain atmosphere, consistency can help make your project more memorable.

Don’t overlook the value of releasing consistently

Awards like the VMAs celebrate individual songs and videos, but an artist’s career is built through the work that happens between those headline moments.

For independent artists, releasing music consistently, engaging with listeners and making use of digital distribution can help build momentum over time.

With RouteNote, artists can distribute their music to streaming platforms around the world, including Spotify, Apple Music and other major services, without needing a record label. That means you can focus on developing your sound, planning your releases and building your audience on your own terms.

The bigger picture, Visual storytelling is part of the music

The 2026 MTV VMAs showed that music videos remain a major part of the music industry’s creative landscape. From Swift’s recognition as a director to Nirvana’s enduring visual influence, this year’s awards highlighted how imagery, storytelling and music can work together to shape an artist’s legacy.

For independent musicians, the takeaway isn’t that every release needs a blockbuster video or a huge marketing budget. It’s that the way you present your music matters.

A strong song is the foundation, but thoughtful visuals, creative collaborations and consistent promotion can help it reach more people and leave a lasting impression.

And with digital distribution giving independent artists access to global streaming platforms, there are more ways than ever to put your music in front of listeners. The challenge is finding your own voice, creating work that connects with people and giving every release the attention it deserves.

Distribute your music for FREE with RouteNote!

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