Filtering what is happening in music to save you time, money and effort.

I have a computer bag I tote with me everywhere. One pouch is completely cramped with chargers, cables, adaptors, and various dongles. Standard USB connectors. A couple of micro USB-B connectors for my wife’s Kindles. Various Lightning cables (USB to Lightning, Lightning to Lightning, Lightning to USB-C) for one group of Apple devices and various permutations involving USB-C connectors for others. And no matter how carefully I put them away, they always end up in a giant Gordian knot that takes hours to untangle.

I hate it. But what are you gonna do? Enter the European Union.

After hearing complaints from consumers across the continent, the EU says there must be One Cable to Rule Them All. And as of 2024, every device sold in Europe music use USB-C for chargers and connections.

Apple has been very vocal against this saying that (a) they’ve invested a LOT in Lightning, and (b) the changes will cause a mountain of electronic waste. Samsung, LG, and Huawei aren’t crazy about the idea, either. But the EU has spoken. This could force manufacturers to change their devices for all territories.

Given the number of legacy devices and cables in the wild right now, it’ll take more than a decade to weed out the old tech. And yes, there will be a lot of old gear that will need proper recycling. But in the end, it’ll be much more convenient for consumers.

Until a new, faster technology comes along, of course. In which case we’ll be hooped again.

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

I fully support this legislation. Hopefully it makes its way over here.

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Each week, the podcast looks at something from the alt-rock universe, from artist profiles to various thematic explorations. Whatever the episode, you’re definitely going to learn something that you might not find anywhere else. Trust us on this.

The Backstage Project Podcast with Mark Silver focuses on the stories behind the biggest and best entertainment products, events, and companies. We go behind the scenes with amazing people who have done or are doing extraordinary things to entertain you, the audience. From sporting events to concerts, from cable tv to music apps; if it’s made an impact on the entertainment world, we cover it.