Chicago House Music Festival 2026

News

House Music news, new releases and blog posts from 5 Magazine

Ukraine flag

Techno Activism: Paula Temple raises money for embattled Ukraine animal shelter

Previously unreleased track "Resist" available to support Gostomel Animal Shelter in Ukraine.
Epic buys Bandcamp

Bandcamp acquired by Fortnite’s Epic Games

Shocking the industry, Epic Games - publisher of Fortnite and Unreal Engine - has purchased Bandcamp, the leading independent artist platform. What now?

Electric Zoo Festival VIP management group sued for minimum wage & labor violations

The proposed class action targets Notoriety Group and three of its owners that manage the "main stage VIP SkyDeck" at Electric Zoo.
Erica Synths music for peace logo

Erica Synths donates income to Ukraine humanitarian aid

The benefit involving several selected instruments from Erica Synths is "on-going until all stock is sold out."
5 Mag Issue 196 Cover

#JACKED – Inside the New 5 Mag

Demuir beats the beat thieves, a legendary Garage white label, the making of a Frankie Knuckles tribute and more inside the new issue of 5 Mag.
The Salt Shed website

Chicago’s Morton Salt Works is becoming a music venue

The Salt Shed on Elston will open at the site of the historic saltworks with a series of outdoor concerts this summer.
Spybar 25th anniversary

Spybar is celebrating their 25th anniversary

From a basement to a downtown destination, the Chicago nightclub Spybar is celebrating their anniversary with a year-long event series.
video

Moog launches GIANTS video series on pioneering electronic music

GIANTS is a new documentary series exploring the early days of electronic music and the untold stories of its pioneers.
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Alex Gibney to produce new documentary on Philadelphia International Records’ disco groove

The Sound of Philadelphia documentary will shine a spotlight on the disco soul outfit lead by the legendary Gamble & Huff & Bell.
Dubbyman Assemblage EP Sole Aspect album art

Amaré launches Sole Aspect, a new vinyl deep house label

Sole Aspect is launching with a new EP from Dubbyman with tracks from Trinidadian Deep and others to follow.
HitPiece logo

RIAA condemns “scam site” HitPiece in savage legal missive

The big boys are getting involved to keep "NFT scam site" HitPiece permanently offline and warn any copycats of trying the same thing.
The Secret DJ Tales From The Booth cover

The Secret DJ has a new book: Tales From The Booth

The mysterious author and veteran DJ's third title will be released this Friday from Velocity Press.
HitPiece logo

Frisking HitPiece, the NFT platform that wasn’t

What is HitPiece, who is behind it, and just what the holy hell did they think they were doing?
Michael K Williams photo

Police arrest 4 in the death of actor Michael K Williams

Surveillance video shows men selling the fatal dose of fentanyl-laced heroin that would lead to the actor's 2021 overdose.
prince

Prince Estate to reissue 12 classic albums in February

Controversy, Dirty Mind, 1999, Lovesexy are among the reissued on vinyl from Sony Legacy and the Prince Estate.
Ronnie Spector

Sixties icon Ronnie Spector has died

Vocalist and leader of The Ronettes, Ronnie Spector's life was an inspiration.
Frankie Knuckles

We have plans for Frankie Knuckles’ birthday

For Frankie, the annual Foundation benefit is this Sunday at Metro / Smartbar with Ralphi Rosario, Kai Alce, Terisa Griffin, Czboogie, Derrick Carter, Michael Serafini and Garrett David.
5 Mag Issue 195 with Rahsaan Patterson

House Music Is Church: Rahsaan Patterson in the new 5 Mag

New issue of 5 Mag with Rahsaan Patterson, Ka§par, Harold Heath's 2021 rewind, Jeff Mills & Kraftwerk on soundtracking Metropolis and more.
Music Lives Here Chicago music history markers

Have you seen these? Signs appear at Chicago house music landmarks

Music Lives Here is a new project that places markers at the condos, parking lots & empty fields that shaped Chicago music history.
What Happened to the Save Our Stages Act

The SBA rejected 30% of COVID venue relief applicants and has billions left over

Billions in aid are still parked in US government accounts as club operators sue for relief under the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) administered by the US Small Business Administration.

MUST READ!