Stem Player
{{Short description|Audio remix and streaming device}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = Stem Player
| developer = {{hlist|Kano Computing|Kanye West}}
| type = Digital media player
| release date = 2021
| storage = 8 GB
| connectivity = {{Plainlist|
}}
| website = {{URL|stem.tech}}
| image = Stem Player.png
}}
The Stem Player is an audio remix device and music streaming platform developed by British technology company Kano Computing in collaboration with American artist Kanye West. The device was launched in August 2021 in conjunction with the release of his 10th studio album Donda.{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=2021-08-25 |title=Kanye West Launches Donda Stem Player |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-launches-donda-stem-player/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}
The Stem Player has four touch-sensitive haptic sliders that adjust individual stems for tracks, and six hardware buttons for volume and effects. The device's service uses artificial intelligence to split tracks into four stems (sometimes isolated vocals, bass, and drums) with each track being able to be manipulated using a front slider.{{Cite web |author1=Joe Svetlik |date=2022-02-24 |title=Stem Player: everything you need to know about Kanye West's portable music player |url=https://www.whathifi.com/advice/stem-player-everything-you-need-to-know-about-kanye-wests-portable-music-player |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=whathifi |language=en}} Users can add tracks to the device by uploading an audio file to the device through an official online web application.
In February 2022, West made an announcement that he would begin releasing music exclusively to the device, commencing with his album Donda 2 that month.{{Cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/kanye-wests-new-album-donda-2-will-be-only-be-available-exclusively-on-his-own-platform-the-stem-player-12545167|title=Kanye West's new album Donda 2 will be only be available exclusively on his own platform the Stem Player|via=www.news.sky.com}}
History
In January 2019, following an encounter within the company's booth at CES Technology Show in Las Vegas, Kanye West met company CEO Alex Klein and invited him over to his Calabasas home for breakfast.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/bff33be4-2b0b-11ea-84be-a548267b914b|title=Start-ups can benefit from moneyed tech enthusiasts as patrons|first=Jonathan|last=Margolis |newspaper=Financial Times |date=3 January 2020 |via=www.ft.com}} In a 2019 interview with journalist Zane Lowe for Apple Music, West confirmed he was working on developing a portable stem player.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuOCvKvrwI8 |title=Kanye West: 'Jesus Is King' and Iconic Sunday Service {{!}} Apple Music |date=2019-10-24 |last=Apple Music |access-date=2024-05-27 |via=YouTube}}
On 25 August 2021, the Stem Player launched for pre-sale with the initial name of "Donda Stem Player".{{Cite news|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kanye-west-launches-donda-stem-player/|title=Kanye West Launches Donda Stem Player|first=Matthew|last=Strauss|website=Pitchfork}} The device began shipping to purchasers in October that year, pre-loaded with three tracks that would later be released on Donda's deluxe release, the tracks being, "Life of the Party", "Never Abandon Your Family", and "Up From The Ashes".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-wests-donda-stem-player-has-finally-been-unveiled-and-comes-with-three-extra-songs-3080370|title=Kanye West's "DONDA" stem player has finally been unveiled and comes with three extra songs|first=Damian|last=Jones|website=Pitchfork}}
As of February 2022, sixteen tracks from Donda 2 are available for the player.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-25 |title=Kanye West adds 12 more 'Donda 2' songs to Stem Player |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-adds-12-more-donda-2-songs-to-stem-player-3169272 |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}
In January 2023, in light of West's antisemitic remarks, Kano ended their collaboration with West and announced and that the Donda Stem Player would be discontinued after they sold through the remaining stock of 5,000 units. At the same time, Kano announced a new variant of the Stem Player developed in collaboration with Ghostface Killah.{{Cite web |title=Ghostface Killah Is Releasing a Stem Player-Exclusive Album - Okayplayer |url=https://www.okayplayer.com/music/ghostface-killah-stem-player-album.html |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=www.okayplayer.com |language=en}}
In April 8, 2023, a J DILLA skin for the Stem Player became available to order on the website. It came with a 1-year subscription to all current and upcoming J DILLA-related content on the Stem Player website, including previously unreleased instrumentals from the producer.{{Cite web |date=April 8, 2023 |title=STEM (stemplayer.com) |url=https://stemplayer.com/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Stem Player |language=en}}
In June 2023, Kano Computing Ltd, the company that developed the Stem Player, went into administration, and the business was acquired in a prepackaged transaction by Alex Klein. In August 2023, the newly established Stem company launched a new variant of the Stem Player developed with Bhavi featuring exclusive music.
Service
The Stem Player mainly features a service that splits chosen songs into stems that can then be freely customized and manipulated using the device's touch-sensitive sliders and buttons;{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/25/22641263/kanye-west-donda-stem-player-customize-any-song|title=Kanye West's new Donda Stem Player will apparently let you 'customize any song'|website=The Verge|date=25 August 2021 }} emulated versions of the service were widely circulated online in early 2022, following criticism of the Stem Player's cost.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-27 |title=Kanye Fans Create Stem Player Emulator to Listen to 'DONDA 2' |url=https://hypebeast.com/2022/2/fans-pirate-kanye-west-donda-2-stem-player-emulator |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=HYPEBEAST}} It features controls for vocal isolation and volume control, real time loop and speed controls, tactile audio effects, audio track management, recording of mixes and recording playback.
The Stem Player is a beige, circular device, measuring 7 centimetres in diameter. 4 touch-sensitive LED sliders cover the front of the device. Physical specifications include 8GB of storage, USB-C connectivity, and support for Bluetooth.{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Jack |date=2022-03-02 |title=I Listened to Kanye's New Album on His $200 Music Player, and My God |url=https://slate.com/culture/2022/03/kanye-west-donda-2-album-review-stem-player.html |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=Slate Magazine |language=en}}
Reception
Upon initial release, the Stem Player was met with a generally mixed to positive reception. Critics praised the device for its unique design as well as its AI-based technology. Criticism of the device was mainly relayed on the lack of wireless file downloading, limited storage space, low transfer speeds, and the omission of a navigation screen. In a review for online publication The Verge, Jay Peters found that "for someone who likes to make their own music, the Stem Player could be a mind-blowingly awesome tool."{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/18/22841567/kanye-west-ye-stem-player-kano-computing-music-gadget|title=Ye's Stem Player Has Soft Skin and All of the Lights|first=Jay|last=Peters|website=The Verge}} Jordan Minor of PCMag said "while the Donda Stem Player is an imaginative and surprisingly flexible music creation tool…it’s more of a toy than a path to superstardom".{{Cite news|url=https://uk.pcmag.com/audio/136984/donda-stem-player|title=Donda Stem Player review|first=Jordan|last=Minor|work=PCMag}} Terence O' Brien of Engadget called the device "fascinating and unique" but saw its design as “slightly unnerving”, criticized the instructions as "pretty barebones and at times, slightly confusing", and was "disappointed by the Stem Player’s ability to handle non-Donda tracks".{{Cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/donda-stem-player-kanye-west-kano-hands-on-150038410.html|title=I wish anyone other than Kanye had made the Stem Player|first=Terence|last=O'Brien|website=Engadget}}
Ye received criticism following the announcement of his exclusive music releases on the platform, with many fans expressing concern and uncertainty that they would not be able to listen to the latest release as a result.{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniesoteriou/kanye-west-backlash-album-donda-pay-200-stem-player|title=If You Want To Listen To Kanye West's New Album "Donda 2," You Have To Buy A $200 Stem Player And Fans Are Just As Angry As You'd Imagine|first=Stephanie|last=Soteriou|website=Buzzfeed News}} Corey Taylor of Slipknot criticized West for the decision due to the price: "People can't afford their fucking apartments, for fuсk's sake."{{Cite web |date=2022-03-08 |title=Corey Taylor brands Kanye West a "fucking moron" for making 'DONDA 2' exclusive to Stem Player |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/kanye-west-slipknot-corey-taylor-fucking-moron-donda-2-stem-player-3178018 |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} This resulted in an emulator of the device being developed that people have used as an alternative to buying the device.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-27 |title=Kanye Fans Create Stem Player Emulator to Listen to 'DONDA 2' |url=https://hypebeast.com/2022/2/fans-pirate-kanye-west-donda-2-stem-player-emulator |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=HYPEBEAST}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Kanye West}}