{"ok":true,"trend":{"id":134346,"platform":"mastodon","region":"global","key":"morris ballen, who helped spread indie artists' music, dies at 88 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/obituaries/morris-b","title":"Morris Ballen, Who Helped Spread Indie Artists' Music, Dies at 88 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/obituaries/morris-b","url":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/obituaries/morris-ballen-dead.html","first_seen":"2026-09-27T17:36:42.007989Z","last_seen":"2026-09-27T21:42:41.641555Z","last_rank":4,"peak_rank":3,"last_volume":3,"peak_volume":3,"seen_count":4,"score":75.53,"category_hint":"business","section":"business","category":"business","summary":"Morris Ballen, a music industry figure credited with helping independent artists reach wider audiences, has died at the age of 88. The obituary notes his role in spreading indie music beyond the major-label system, and tributes are expected from musicians and industry colleagues who benefited from his work.","why":"News of the death of a notable figure in the independent music world has just been published.","tone":"neutral","entities":["Morris Ballen"],"summarized_at":"2026-09-27T17:37:43.927297Z","meta":{"tag":"business","via":"scan","kind":"status","lang":"en","generic":0.05,"instance":"mastodon.social","tag_uses":265},"nw":0.57,"promo":0.02,"kind":"news_event","importance":1.34,"hidden":false,"hide_reason":null,"judged_at":"2026-09-27T17:36:42.340110Z","title_en":"Morris Ballen, Champion of Indie Artists' Music, Dies at 88","section_name":"Business","category_name":"Business","timeline":[{"captured_at":"2026-09-27T17:36:42.007989Z","rank":3,"volume":3},{"captured_at":"2026-09-27T18:58:41.606933Z","rank":3,"volume":3},{"captured_at":"2026-09-27T20:20:41.633170Z","rank":5,"volume":3},{"captured_at":"2026-09-27T21:42:41.641555Z","rank":4,"volume":3}],"posts":[{"platform":"mastodon","url":"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/obituaries/morris-ballen-dead.html","author":"nyt_business@robot.villas","title":null,"snippet":"Morris Ballen, Who Helped Spread Indie Artists' Music, Dies at 88 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/obituaries/morris-ballen-dead.html # Music # Obituaries # Business","posted_at":"2026-09-27T17:23:18Z","likes":3}],"elsewhere":[],"window":"7d"}}