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S.A. Weekly Music News and Updates - Page 3
San Antonio Music Business Expo -- P.O. Box 201090 -- San Antonio, Texas 78220
Ph: 210-227-4821 -- Fax: 210-226-5009 E-mail: Editor@sambe.org
© 2008
May 8, 2008
Volume 11, issue 9
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[ Live music and events ] [ Club and Venue Guide ] [ Touring Concerts and Events ] [ Gig of the Week ] [ E-mail Bag ]
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In 16 words or less
Give Peace A Chance!
From: Jane Mints E-mail: janemints@gmail.com
Love yourself...then Love thy Neighbor as thy self. – Lynne 09/13/07
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Bobby Capps Joins Rock Ridge Music Team
From: Krista Mettler – Skye Media & Design
Bobby Capps, who has been the keyboardist for .38 Special for the past 20 years (and will continue in that role), has joined Rock Ridge Music as A&R Consultant/Staff Producer. Says Capps about the new position: “Finally, a label got it right! As the ongoing struggle in the industry today deepens, Rock Ridge’s vision for the future is something I can’t wait to sink my teeth into. We share a lot of the same beliefs, especially in the digital aspects of modern production, marketing, and sales of music. I’m excited to be a part of Rock Ridge Music!”
Capps came to the attention of Rock Ridge via a music industry pal, Chris Henderson of 3 Doors Down (who is a principal at Rock Ridge Music). Says Henderson about the opportunity to work with Capps at the label: “Bobby is one of the nicest guys I’ve met in my entire life. And he’s one of the most driven. We also run a studio together, and I’m excited to share this new opportunity with him.”
In addition to .38 Special, Capps has also toured and played keyboards for The Johnny Van Zant Band and country’s duo Vanzant, while continuing to compose and front his own band, Down Time. Bobby was also involved in a side project with Ean Evans (bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd), EvansCapps. Bobby provides the lead vocals with Evans on guitar on the CD ‘Last Time’.
Rock Ridge Music offers artists a record label with national/international distribution through ADA (WMG), artist management, and a wide range of consulting services. The company attracts artists looking to develop within the growing indie music sector. Rock Ridge Music can be found online at Web-site: http://www.rockridgemusic.com. Recent releases in 2008 have included Echovalve and Ike Reilly, with records coming soon from Sister Hazel, Dare, Rob GEE, Miggs, and more!
For more information Contact: Krista Mettler – Skye Media & Design Ph: 908-889-5029
E-mail: skyemedia@comcast.net E-mail: publicity@rockridgemusic.com E-mail: krista.mettler@skyemediaonline.com
Web-site: http://www.skyemediaonline.com
Director–Publicity, Rock Ridge Music:
Ask me about Sister Hazel, Ike Reilly, Miggs, Psychostick, Travis Mitchell Band, Chris Volz, LEO
Six Ounce Gloves, Ernie Halter, Ugly, Echovalve, Rob GEE, Dare, The Marble Index, 54 Seconds, and more! 05/08/08
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Digital Music News
From: Digital Music News E-mail: news@digitalmusicnews.com
Daily Snapshot – Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Clear Channel’s erockster: The Real Skinny Emerges
Clear Channel Radio piloted a fresh broadcasting approach at Coachella last weekend, one that relies heavily on user-influenced content. The developing concept, called erockster, includes on-air stations inspired by an online network of music fans at erockster.com. That sounds like an interesting experiment, though initial information on the project has been misleading. Earlier this week, the New York Post described erockster as festival-inspired format, but that is inaccurate according to Clear Channel. “It’s not a music festival format,” a company representative flatly told Digital Music News, while outlining a much different sort of playlist. The confusion came from the initial broadcast from Coachella, which drew exclusively from event-featured artists, a mere starting point for the larger selection. Other aspects of the Post story were also incorrect, according to the representative, though the broader picture is one of user-generated, eclectic selections. And, a quick listen to the erockster station online reflects a totally diverse collection - including many artists that would probably be unwelcome at Coachella. An initial listen included Guns N’ Roses and the Cars, though the sampling also featured Snow Patrol, Jane’s Addiction, Air, and DJ Shadow.
All of that represents a step away from tightly-controlled, format-specific stations currently blanketing the United States. Clear Channel has been a major purveyor of those homogenized stations, a programming philosophy that is now at loggerheads with the massively diversified, user-picked collections found on iPods. An initial attempt to capture that diversity comes from Jack.FM, a format that plays hits from different styles and genres. But erockster is aiming for something different, and replacing smaller, closed playlists with much broader, user-influenced selections. In total, the erockster station will eventually include a collection of about 5,000 songs, up from 1,000 currently. Those tracks are being culled from the preferences of registered users, including uploaded content. “Our main focus will be on quality and we’re going to give a lot of bands that don’t have a chance to be heard on the radio that opportunity,” said Eric Szmanda, station host and star of “CSI”. Also instrumental in the effort is Evan Harrison, head of Clear Channel Radio’s Online Music & Radio unit. Currently, the station can be streamed at Web-site: http://www.erockster.com, alongside on-demand audio and video clips.
Starting May 2nd, erockster will be streamed on select major-market station websites. Additionally, the station will be broadcast digitally across various HD2 companion frequencies. Clear Channel will eventually slot two-hour syndicated segments across mainline, FM stations. Paul Resnikoff, Publisher. Permalink Web-site: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/042908erockster
Skip the Dive Bar: MySpace Karaoke Arrives
MySpace Karaoke has now been beta released, the first step towards a cacophonous mob online. The destination is powered by kSolo, also owned by Fox Interactive Media, and can be found at Web-site: http://www.ksolo.myspace.com. The service contains several thousand chart-topping songs, though MySpace did not indicate the specific catalog number or publishers involved. MySpace Karaoke pulls songs from a number of providers, including SongDog Network, Inc., Sunfly Karaoke, and Chartbuster Karaoke. The action resembles the neighborhood karaoke dive bar, without the stale beer odor. The karaoke format itself is now mostly standardized, and songs include lyrics, timing cues, and appropriate backing vocals. Once a microphone is obtained, users can easily sing along and record their own renditions of songs. The versions are then added into the pool for everyone to sample, and automatically embedded into the user’s profile page. The US-based launch will be followed by launches in other regions, according to MySpace. Story by news analyst Alexandra Osorio. Permalink Web-site: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/042908karaoke
About Digital Music News
Digital Music News is the leading source of industry news, information and analysis for thousands of executives worldwide. We strive to deliver a publication that carries the highest level of objectivity, accuracy, and timeliness. The Digital Music News publisher and founder is Paul Resnikoff. All articles are written by Resnikoff and news analyst Alexandra Osorio. Steve Hindle oversees backend systems, and Rochell Abonalla manages administrative aspects. Chethan Elvis and Sreekanth Rameshaiah manage the engineering of new services. The company is based in Los Angeles. 05/01/08
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Digital Music News
From: Digital Music News E-mail: news@digitalmusicnews.com
Daily Snapshot – Monday, April 28, 2008
Coachella 2008: Still Can’t Beat the Heat Online
The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival rocked the quiet deserts of Indio, California once again last weekend, though not everyone could make the trip. Blame geographical or budgetary restrictions, or a simple aversion to extreme heat and sun. And at temperatures blazing past 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) on both Saturday and Sunday, some undoubtedly examined their indoor alternatives. But the action online proved far less exciting than the real thing, heatwave and all.
Ever heard of the AT&T Blue Room? The name keeps coming up around major festivals, including Coachella. Billed as the “only place to see it” online by Coachella organizers, at Web-site: http://www.attblueroom.com, offered a considerable selection of streamed performances. Except, you couldn’t find Prince, M.I.A., Roger Waters, Portishead, or a large number of other performers on the AT&T slate. And the at-home streaming closed shortly after the festival itself. Perhaps a winning bootleg or two could be scored on YouTube, though the broader online selection was still limited.
What else? On a local level, Web-site: http://www.mydesert.com (the online destination of the Desert Sun) offered some good on-the-ground coverage, as did blogs like Idolator. And, the newfound owner of Idolator, Buzznet, also offered a considerable amount of Coachella coverage. The music-focused social network has been covering the event for three years, and its ownership of both Idolator and Stereogum only broadened the reach (posts from both blogs were integrated into the Buzznet coverage). The result was a nice collection of user-generated, festival-related content, including photos, videos, and Twitter posts, as well as news and interviews. Most of the action was at Web-site: http://www.buzznet.com/coachella and Web-site: http://www.community.coachella.com, also a collaboration with the festival organizers.
Buzznet video clips brought the action closer, though the ad-hoc snippets are just a sampling of the real experience. And for those hoping to lounge in the AC, mouse in one hand and lemonade in the other, the internet offered only a glimpse of the real thing. Because a wall-to-wall video and audio experience was simply not available. Of course, that is partly by design, and the Coachella organizers wisely authorized teasers instead of substitutes. And in the end, that approach was probably the smartest - at least from a profit-making perspective. Because those checking out the action from their desktops probably found themselves wishing they were there, instead of feeling satisfied with the next-best thing. …Paul Resnikoff, Publisher. Permalink Web-site: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/042708coachella
Boosey & Hawkes Plays Internet Radio Card
Who says you can’t teach an old publisher new tricks? Actually, publishers are among the most progressive in the music industry, and typically comfortable with new licensing platforms and opportunities. In that spirit, classical publisher Boosey & Hawkes has now launched an internet radio player, one that predictably uses its own material. The station, at booseyradio.com, allows listeners to create personalized stations based on mood, composer, or period. The site, created by Kodime, also includes podcasts, ringtones, and mobile-based downloads. The approach is designed to intermix classics and lesser-known gems, and increase both awareness and licensing in the process. “This is a new way of listening to classical music,” explained Boosey head of Consultancy Natasha Baldwin. “By producing ‘playlists to order,’ we hope that Boosey Radio will introduce people to works they’ve not heard before in amongst more familiar favorites.” Earlier this month, Boosey was purchased by Imagen Music for 126 million pounds ($250 million). Permalink: Web-site: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/042708boosey
Related article (registration required): “Imagen Plucks Publisher Boosey & Hawkes,” April 13, 2008 Web-site: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/041308image
American Idol Ratings Continue to Ease; Low Point Emerges
American Idol ratings slipped to a five-year low on Wednesday, at least within the 18-49 demographic. That is part of a broader and expected slide, one that invariably affects dominant shows like Idol. But despite the downward trend, the overall numbers remain sizable in absolute terms. Wednesday’s show scored 22.6 million viewers, down from a 23.3 million total last week, according to Nielsen Media Research. On average, the show is 7 percent below ratings last year, and stronger dips are appearing within the critical female 18-34 and child demographics. Story by news analyst Alexandra Osorio.
Permalink: Web-site: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/042708idol
Related article (registration required): “American Idol Rating Descent Causes Concern,” April 22, 2008 Web-site: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/042208american 05/01/08
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Digital Music News
From: Digital Music News E-mail: news@digitalmusicnews.com
Daily Snapshot: April 18, 2008
Inside the Beltway, RIAA Charges $2.8 Million...
The RIAA charged $2.8 million in Congressional lobbying fees last year, according to disclosures surfacing Thursday. The amounts, filed in compliance with federal lobbying laws, allowed the organization to push a variety of agenda points. That includes demands for recording royalties from terrestrial broadcasters, various anti-piracy initiatives, and issues tied to internet-based radio royalties. A total of $2.1 million was spend during the second half of the year. Story by news analyst Alexandra Osorio. Permalink Web-site: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/041708riaa 04/24/08
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Dark Sky Records
From: Beatwire.com
New Idependent Record Label Releases Groundbreaking Compilation!
Santa Maria – Dark Sky Records releases the first in a series of compilation CD’s titled ‘Underground Rising Vol.1’ comprised soley of 17 of the best unsigned bands in the underground. Everyday Punk, Metal, Hardcore, Thrash and Death Metal bands are perfecting their craft in the dark, dingy, and often unventilated rehearsal rooms they call home. Just waiting for the time to come that will catapult this underground style of music to the fore of the music scene. That time has come in the name of Dark Sky Records. Created for one reason and one reason only, “To bring the music to the fans that want to hear it”. This series of compilation CD’s beginning with Vol.1, is exactly what it says it is. A full, but very diverse recording with some of the best bands in the underground. 17 bands hailing from across the United States and Canada coming together in one location for the personal enjoyment of creating a PIT wherever this CD is played! It is in these bands that the most feeling, aggressiveness, energy and life changing experiences can be found. And it is here where you will find the TRUE meaning of music! Get your ears on these bands at Dark Sky Records Online and listen to you hearts content, or until your ears go into overload! It’s time to get out of the garage and into the UNDERGROUND!
Dark Sky Records is home to all unsigned bands in the underground that want to be a part of something new. Releasing a series of 3 compilation discs each year for these unsigned bands to increase their notoriety into the music scene. It is through these compilation CD’s that Dark Sky Records will ultimately find the band or bands to sign to the Dark Sky Label. For further information, Contact: Rich Macke Ph: 805-264-8189.
Dark Sky Records – Contact: Rich Macke
856 Zackery Ct. Santa Maria, Ca. 93455
Ph: 805-264-8189 E-mail: questions@darkskyrecordsonline.com
Web-site: http://www.darkskyrecordsonline.com
Beatwire.com 1120 Broadway, Suite 543 New York, NY 10010 04/24/08
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IMA CD Tops eMusic Power Chart
From: The Independent Music Awards
IMA ‘Now Hear This’ Compilation Tops The Chart And Receives Rave Reviews from eMusic Listeners
The IMA Winners ‘Now Hear This’ CD debuted at the end of March on the eMusic site and immediately landed on the site’s “Power Chart” of the top 10 downloaded albums in its vast album catalogue. Several week’s later, ‘Now Hear This’ is in the #1 position and still placing higher and beating out competition from the Rolling Stones early London/Decca catalogue, Aphex Twin, Spoon and the M. Ward/Zooey Deschanel collaboration She & Him. In addition to the great talent included on the ‘Now Hear This’ 2-disc set, credit for the album’s success on eMusic goes to the site’s members who obviously enjoy discovering new artists and getting reacquainted with indie marquee artists. As several note in the comments below, the IMA program connects with consumers in ways few other programs do. Many listeners go on to become long term fans of IMA Winning artists and follow the careers down new paths.
Below are just a few of their comments:
“Emusic and Music Resource Group...you’ve done it again! This new IMA compilation rocks. I’ve gotten almost all of this program CDs at various trade shows and now on eMusic and it never fails to introduce me to new music that I likely never would have found. It’s great to see artists I know alongside artists I might never have discovered. Keep the good work coming! This is the best compilation I get every year.” …A killer assortment of music! mifelvis from New York, NY
“I love the free samplers from SXSW & the Indy Music Awards, I look forward to hearing new artists. I know I’m not going to love every track, but I have discovered some great new artists here, & gone on to follow their careers, even buying albums when they join labels that aren’t available here. And I am happy when my faves here hit the big time… Thank you, eMusic.” …Christmas in March elizabeth from Middle of Nowhere, North Dakota
“Where else can you get over two and a half hours of free music that includes some of the best indie artists out there today? It’s a generally excellent collection - there are a few familiar names mixed in here, like Koko Taylor, Joan as Police Woman, and Apples in Stereo (and for me, Hoots and Hellmouth, a popular Philly band), but discovering great tracks by artists you haven’t heard of before is part of the joy of samplers like this one. I particularly enjoyed the tracks by Kenny White, Ari Gold, Girl in a Coma, and Jennifer Kreisberg. Do yourself a favor: download the whole darn thing - I guarantee you’ll like at least half of what you hear.” …You Can’t Go Wrong! jackbugs from Cherry Hill, NJ
“This would be an excellent album to buy, let alone download for free. A wide variety of styles - these winners were winners for a reason.” …You Can’t Go Wrong! jackbugs from Cherry Hill, NJ
“If you appreciate the broad spectrum of independent music that this site offers, on principle, you should dowload at least a handful of these tracks. The names may not be familiar but then that’s the point of emusic... decent music that’s unavailable in the mediocre mainstream.” …worth a listen... from La Feria, TX
News and Happenings From IMA Winners:
Jose Conde – Latin Album Winner, 7th Annual IMAs
Jose Conde and his New York-based band, Ola Fresca, will make their Canadian debut at Toronto’s Lula Lounge on Friday June 27 with a performance stop en route to their June 29 appearance in the Montreal Jazz Festival. Off stage, things are just as exciting. Four songs from the IMA Winning album, (R)Evolucion, have been licensed for compilations on Rough Guide Records and another for the Café Cuba compilation CD upcoming on Putumayo records. Jose Conde also recorded a children’s album (Baby Loves Salsa) due out with accompanying book on Rope a Dope Records/Sony in September 2008. New Yorkers can also catch Conde doing sound design for a contemporary original play, “The Set Up,” by James Lindbergh. The music will include unreleased music in addition to never before publicly heard remixes of favorite Jose Conde y Ola Fresca tracks. More: Web-site: http://www.olafresca.com
Ari Gold – (R&B Song Winner, 7th Annual IMAs
People Magazine favorite, Ari Gold, will be presenting at The Pill Awards in New York City this month, for which he’s also a nominee. Gold’s video for “Where The Music Takes You” is up for the “Best Music Video - Pop” & “Best Animation/FX” categories. Fans can vote here: Web-site: http://www.addtvnyc.com/vote. On the touring front, he’ll take the stage for the 2008 Equality Ride TOUCH Nightclub benefit last this month, and then jet off to Zurich, Switzerland, where he’ll be performing at the Christopher Street Day Festival on May 31. More: Web-site: http://www.myspace.com/arigoldtheartist
Animate Objects – Rap/Hip-Hop Song Winner, 7th Annual IMAs
Animate Objects are pleased to announce the world premiere of the band’s first music video. It also happens to be for the IMA award winning song, “El Dorado,” off the debut album, Riding In Fast Cars With Your Momma. Directed by Mathias Sorum and produced by Byung Kag Lee for Phunk Motion, this playful motion graphic video was shot in Chicago and is loosely inspired by children’s drawings. Be on the lookout for Wes Restless and Soulstice, who make special appearances. More: Web-site: http://www.myspace.com/animateobjects
The Independent Music Awards is now accepting submissions for its 8th annual program. Winners receive a year-long marketing and promotion campaign gaining exposure to more than 15 million consumers and industry insiders. Campaign components and built upon relationships the IMAs have cultivated with top-ranked industry partners including, eMusic, PureVolume.com, The Planetary Group, Mediaguide and others that will be announced shortly. The program is the most comprehensive in the indie scene, recognizing achievements in more than 50 album, song and design categories. Artists and independent record labels credit the program for increased exposure and sales.
The deadline for submissions is: Friday, August 1, 2008. For more details, visit Web-site: http://independentmusicawards.com/ima/eligibility.asp
Entries for the upcoming Independent Music Awards must be postmarked by August 1, 2008. Web-site: http://www.IndependentMusicAwards.com for details, judges, and entry forms.
Support Independent music, become an IMA Sponsor
Contact: Joelle E-mail: Joelle@IndependentMusicAwards.com 05/01/08
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Motivation Speaker
Hi there, Motivational Speaker/Recording artist: Jason Smoke Nichols is an entrepreneur in every since of the word, an inspiration through his dedication and a success story through his perseverance! Born and raised in Southern California, this former gang member/drug addict has over come obstacles that in most situations would have lead to detrimental circumstances! At age 21 Jason walked away from his turbulent past never to return and for the last 10 years has dedicated him self to his true calling in lifemusic! With so many accomplishments under his belt it is hard to know where to start Last year Jason was the first Native American Hip-Hop artist to reach the Radio 1 top 20 charts securing a #9 spot in May 2007! Proving that dedication and perseverance pays off! Below is a list of Jasons professional highlights:
• Owner and creator of Web-site: http://www.hitmusiclink.com this website was created to help the upcoming artist attain the vital resources needed to succeed in todays tough music industry!
• Jason also sits on the board of directors for the Web-site: http://www.native-e-awards.com this is a very prestigious event that supports Native American Music. The 2008 ceremony is in Sioux City Iowa.
• Last year Jason and the staff at Hit Music Link.com gave away a 2007 Ford Fusion to raise awareness for the Tipitinas Foundation. This is the foundation that has been helping the schools systems, as well as musicians of the flood affected gulf coast region with instruments and necessary resources.
• Jason is the sole owner and Chief Publicist of Web-site: http://www.wiretappublicity.com This Company represents Recording artists, Record and Mgmt labels as well as Music Industry based businesses & Websites.
Needless to say Mr. Nichols has achieved so much in his 31 years and continues to progress with every passing day!
“It is my mission to inspire our youth and provide a message of hope! Dedication is trait that many of our youth cant readily identify with, society, as a whole no longer provides them with the truth. The message Television, Movies and Music relinquish is not necessarily one of validity, it is entertainment. So it is my goal to bring them facts and still keep it entertaining!” J. Nichols
To learn more and speak to a representative about how Jason “Smoke” Nichols can benefit your organization please call us directly Ph: 254-978-1460/
Jason Nichols
310 North Ave R Clifton, Texas 36643
E-mail: jnichols.motivation@gmail.com Ph: 254-978-1460 05/01/08
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alma music Newsletter
E-mail: almamusicnewsletter@almamusic.it
alma music Newsletter every month introduces to you artists, bands, records and publishing issues, related to the activity of the record label alma music and its connected labels. The newsletter will also inform of happenings, shows and events related to the activity carried out by Luciano Fricchetti Trevisan (CEO of alma music), by connected companies or in collaboration with other institutions, artists and producers. Records releases of Sir Oliver Skardy & Fahrenheit 451 “Destra Sinistra” and Musamelica “Nova” are available on iTunes. Web-site: http://www.almamusic.it E-mail: info@almamusic.it
Sir Oliver Skardy & Fahrenheit 451 “Destra Sinistra”
“Destra Sinistra” is the first official work that enacts the collaboration between Sir Oliver Skardy and Fahrenheit 451. Since some time, in fact, the front-man of Pitura Freska has decided to join the historical Venetian ska-band getting grat consents in live concerts. The project is now being developed in a commune record work of which this single is the anticipation. “Destra Sinistra” is a song that faces an unfortunately always actual theme, further to be a homage to a great artist of the Italian music: Giorgio Gaber. The famous song, almost like in a mantra, lists those that should be the differences between what “is rightist” and what “is leftist” today, but let’s understand that after all the differences between the two parts are now very few. Among “castes”, “cheats” and bad politics, the parties seem different only in words, and perhaps not even in those. And naturally Sir Oliver Skardy, since ever critical and ironic toward the hypocrisy of our governors, founds really easy saying his view, also updating a strophe of the song with further examples of the desolating levelling between “things of right and things of left.”
The artistic production of the project is taken care of by Giovanni Boscariol (musician and arranger of several first level names of the Italian music: among the many Mannoia, Elisa, Baglioni, Zero. Since long time he belongs to the Italian Television (RAI) orchestra in occasions like the Festival di Sanremo, and he has played keyboards and collaborated into the first Pituras Freska’s records). The song has been pre-produced at the Studio 451 and completed at the Mosaico Recording Studio in Mestre, where it has also benn mixed and mastered by the same Giovanni Boscariol. In the track Sir Oliver Skardy sings and plays guitar, at the drums there is Christianz, Tonibassi at bass, Andyman at the guitar, Sciubert at the keyboards. The wind section is composed by DaveRave at the trombone, Frankie Bancarea at the trumpet and the sax tenore is Bab-it, who has also performed the sitar parts for the occasion.
It as been realized also a videoclip directed by Giovanni Milanese that discovers and personalizes another “classical”, precursor of actual videoclips: the “Subterranean Homesick Blues” of Bob Dylan. The track is available for download on iTunes and in the most important digital shops and can be listened on the site Web-site: http://www.myspace.com/skardyfahrenheit where also the videoclip is visible. More details and downloads on alma music E-mail: info@almamusic.it
Musamelica “Nova”
After a year spent as supporters to Deep Purple, Prodigy, Skin, Soulwax and Evanescence, comes out the new single by Musamelica, the band chosen by the Republic of San Marino as representative of its rock. “Nova” talks about an accidental meeting between two people who find each other interesting and seem to have known each other all their life. The doubt insinuate the day after, when on waking up, they ask themselves if their agreement has been dictated by a succession of favourable conditions for both, if they’ve found themselves in the right place at the right moment or if they’ve really met the right person. “Nova” tells the moment where they have to decide what to do...The CD-single contains as bonus track four songs recorded live and a live video at the “MTV Sunset”.
Each song in the CD has as main theme the time, where it’s possible to change: the thrill in foreseeing new possibilities, the change which shakes our deep feelings “Tentazioni”, the right moment where to take important decisions “Nova”, the preclusion of taking up ways due to a fleeting moment “AM”, the challenge against the time which passes inexorably “Ritratto and the realization of having to face a crossroads that life sooner or later puts in front of us “Capita”. In the texts of the songs by Musamelica it isn’t usually told directly an experience lived personally, but an “analysis” of the human behaviours in order to compare them with personal experiences afterwards, trying to reach a general conclusion. The texts are direct, the words aren’t hermetic, the contents want the audience to think. More details and downloads on alma music. Web-site: http://www.o2pub.com/odd E-mail: ossigeno@o2pub.com
Alma Music Radio
A music only radio broadcasting tracks taken from the more than 50 CDs of the alma music catalogue. You can “turn it on” connecting to the American site of Rule Radio.
Web-site: http://www.ruleradio.com/alma.asp E-mail: theruler@ruleradio.com Web-site: http://www.almamusic.it E-mail: info@almamusic.it 04/24/08
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Damo Suzuki’s E-Report
Is this spring? April is colder than February.....I am not so much interesting to talk about weather...it’s the conversation of old people, I thought. Before everywhere I went I was one of youngest one Now, just oposite by the way. This time during my journey I found that weather is completly changing and I understand some German winery buy place in Scandinavia...also nowadays you can have fine wine from UK. Italy will be like North Africa, Germany will be like Italy. Went to Switzerland in middle of winter, found no snow..one said I have to go more than 1,500 meter from sea level. To send anybody read this with crush problems is not main thing....that I feel/felt many things are changing around... Computer is nice thing if it’s not completly broken down and loose many documents.....This thing happened to me last year, so my dairy is getting so late (I will try to get in normal tempo) ...even laptop accident plus naturaly I`m lazy person or living in ever-friendship-with-jetlag. So, many times I don’t have feeling about daytime and night time. My friend Thurit sent me about a year ago following her video, I found it now (What a shame....), share with you. Web-site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bms1RkCtn90
Upcoming Performances/Damo Suzuki’s Network
May 8 (Thursday), Bardens Boudoir, London, UK Web-site: http://www.bardensbar.co.uk
Damo Suzuki with Agaskodo : Miki Kemecsi (Guitar), Pharaoah S. Russell (Drums), Tomi Szabo (Guitar) and Hiroe Takei (Vocals and Keytar)
May 9 (Friday), Cellarium, Knittingen, Germany Web-site: http://www.cellarium.de
Damo Suzuki with The Whole: Member (Bass, Electronics), Stolle (Guitar, Electronics) and Christian Wolf (Drums, Electronics)
May 23 (Friday), The Inn on the Green, London, UK Web-site: http://www.iotg.co.uk
Damo Suzuki with The Lunar Dunes :Ian Blackaby (Bass), Adam Blake (Guitar), Hami (Drums) and Larry Whelan (Keyboardsm Saxophone)
At Web-site: http://www.damosuzuki.com ...there’s link to my sound carrier friend...Be informed
See you next time at same space, keep your good vibes!!!!!
Love Damo//Cologne 04/24/08
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International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Winners Announced
From: Cie Hoover
The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has announced its 2007 winners, awarding this year’s Grand Prize to the song “I’m Not Your Friend,” a collaboration between Eduard Glumov from Kazakhstan and Z. Mulls from the USA. In addition, many other deserving songwriters also share in the kudos of winning their respective categories in ISC 2007. The winners were chosen by this year’s prestigious panel of celebrity and industry judges including Tom Waits; Loretta Lynn; Nelly Furtado; Robert Smith (The Cure); Ray Davies (The Kinks); Ornette Coleman; John Mayall; Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); and many others. More than $150,000 in cash and prizes will be shared among the 59 winners, including an overall Grand Prize of $25,000 (US) cash -- the largest cash grand prize of any songwriting competition in the world - and over $30,000 in merchandise and services. You can download a low res photo of many ISC winners at Web-site: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm If you need additional information about the ISC winners and the competition, please Contact: Candace Avery, Founder/Director E-mail: cavery@songwritingcompetition.com Ph: 615-251-4441 or Contact: Cie Hoover E-mail: cie@songwritingcompetion.com
All the best, Cie Hoover – International Songwriting Competition
Contact: Candace Avery – International Songwriting Competition E-mail: cavery@songwritingcompetition.com Web-site: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com
International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Announces 2007 Winners
Grand Prize Awarded to Kazakhstan and USA Songwriters for Their Song “I’m Not Your Friend”
The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is pleased to announce its 2007 winners. Renowned for its prestigious celebrity judges, ISC received over 15,000 songs from amateur and professional songwriters from 100 countries worldwide, confirming ISC’s status as the leading global songwriting event. More than $150,000 in cash and prizes is shared among the 59 winners, including an overall Grand Prize of $25,000 (US) cash, the largest cash Grand Prize of any songwriting competition in the world, and $30,000 in merchandise and services.
For a complete list of 2007 ISC winners and to hear the winning songs, go to Web-site: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm
It is with great pleasure that ISC bestows its highest honor, this year’s Grand Prize, to Eduard Glumov (Aktobe, Kazakhstan) and Z. Mulls (Swarthmore, PA, USA) for their song “I’m Not Your Friend.” The song, entered in the Rock category, was lauded by the ISC judges for its originality, arrangement, and compelling melody.
The collaboration between Eduard Glumov and Z. Mulls - from Kazakhstan to the USA - from one side of the globe to the other - perfectly reflects ISC’s mission of creating a competition that is inclusive of songwriters worldwide. Glumov, a singer/songwriter, and Z. Mulls, a lyricist, met each other on MusesMuse.com, a songwriting resource website, and their musical collaboration produced the winning song. Candace Avery, the founder and director of ISC, states, “It is amazing the way technology and the Internet allow songwriters from different parts of the world and cultures to collaborate, culminating in international partnerships such as this. I’m very proud that “I’m Not Your Friend” is the ISC Grand Prize winner because it epitomizes the core intention of ISC, to foster songwriting around the world.” Eduard Glumov, born in a small province town in the Soviet Union, started writing songs very early but became serious about songwriting at the age of 13 when his father was arrested and imprisoned for anti-Soviet activity. Later in the ‘80s, the era of political turmoil and unrest gave way to Perestroika, enabling Eduard to tour with his rock band. In the ‘90s, he began a studio career, writing, recording and producing songs and instrumental music for different artists, for theaters, and TV. He plans to release an indie CD in the USA in the near future.
Z. Mulls professes that writing lyrics is not a profession, but an avocation, stemming from a lifelong love of musical theatre and songwriting in general. He posts his lyrics on various websites, looking for collaborations with artists. He calls himself “a wordsmith in search of a melody.”
In addition to the Grand Prize winner, many other deserving songwriters also share in the prestige and kudos of winning their respective categories in ISC 2007. With a total of 19 categories and First, Second, and Third Place in each, (along with a list of Honorable Mentions), ISC covers all genres of contemporary music, including rock, jazz, r&b/hip-hop, blues, and much more. For the first time in the competition’s history, the majority of winners (59%) come from outside the USA. The winners represent diverse cultures and come from all corners of the globe, from Brazil to Senegal, Scotland to Iceland, New Zealand to Brazil, Canada to the USA, and beyond. Receiving more international entries than any other songwriting competition, ISC is recognized as the pinnacle of excellence in rewarding achievements in songwriting throughout the world.
The big news for ISC this year is the dominance of Australian songwriters as winners in many different categories, including a clean sweep of the Rock category. This is the first time that songwriters from a country outside the USA have won First, Second, and Third Place in a specific category. It is especially remarkable that Australia, a country of only 20 million residents, has produced ten winners in this year’s ISC, attesting to its dynamic music scene. Aussie winners range from up-and-coming, unsigned songwriters to established award-winning artists such as Gotye, Eskimo Joe, Clare Bowditch, Abby Dobson, and more.
As a result of a long standing partnership between ISC and Berklee College of Music, a full scholarship to Berklee’s 5-week Summer Performance Program will again be awarded to the First Place winner of the Teen category. This year the winner hails from Reykjavik, Iceland and are the members of the band Soundspell: Alexander Briem, Askell Hardarson, Bernhard Thorsson, Jon Gunnar Olafsson, and Sigurdur Asgeir Arnason. Located in Boston, MA, Berklee College of Music was founded in 1945 and is the world’s largest independent music college and the premier institution for the study of contemporary music. Applauded for its high caliber of judges, ISC compiled a stellar panel of judges for the 2007 competition, including: Tom Waits; Loretta Lynn; Julian Casablancas (The Strokes); Nelly Furtado; Ray Davies (The Kinks); Kenny Wayne Shepherd; Ornette Coleman; Youssou N’Dour; Sean Paul; Jerry Lee Lewis; “Weird Al” Yankovic; Black Francis (Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure); Cassandra Wilson; David Cross; Craig Morgan; John Mayall; Joe Satriani; Toby Mac; Michael W. Smith; Chris Hillman (The Byrds); John Scofield; Hinder; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Cheech Marin (Cheech & Chong); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Macy Gray; Peter Hook (New Order); Paulina Rubio; Tiesto; Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Mona Scott-Young (President, Violator Records); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Steve Lillywhite (Producer - credits include U2, The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Peter Gabriel, and more); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami, pioneer of Latin radio); Angel Carrasco (President, 605 Discos and Sr. VP A&R, Sony BMG Latin America); Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Nancy Wolpert (VP Home Entertainment and Nick Records, Nickelodeon/BMG); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People); and Paul Majors (CEO/Founder Majors Music).
2007 Sponsors include: Electro-Voice, ASCAP, Berklee College Of Music, Cakewalk, Shure, D’Addario, Thayers, Sam Ash, Hear Technologies, Disc Makers, Sonicbids, Musician’s Atlas, Sibelius, Karian Studios, OnlineGigs, The Music Business Registry, Mediaguide, ArtistMonitor, Platinum Blue Music Intelligence, Alphabet Arm Design, George Stein, Esq., SongU, Shari’s Berries, The Indie Venue Bible, and Taxi.
ISC is now accepting entries for 2008. Go to Web-site: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com for more information and an entry form.
For a complete list of 2007 ISC winners and to hear the winning songs, go to Web-site: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm
A partial list of the 2007 ISC Winners are:
Grand Prize
“I’m Not Your Friend” - Eduard Glumov / Z. Mulls - Aktobe, Kazakhstan and Swarthmore, PA, USA
AAA
First Place “Closer To Nowhere” - Jen Foster - Nashville, TN, USA
Second Place “Horses” - Abby Dobson / Ian Houston Shadwell - Sydney, NSW, Australia
Third Place “Goodnight” - Eli Miller / John Zox / Dan Edinberg / Spencer Swain (ZOX) - Providence, RI, USA
Americana
First Place “The National Side” - Ben Kyle (Romantica) - Belfast, Northern Ireland
Second Place “Bad Liver And A Broken Heart” - Scott Nolan - Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Third Place “Louisiana Hurricane” - Mike Garner - Rotorua, New Zealand
Honorable Mention “Chicago” - James Hyland / Dennis Ludiker - Austin, Texas, USA
Blues
First Place “That’s The Only Time” - Jack de Keyzer - Toronto, ON, Canada
Second Place “Color-Blind Angel” - Robin Rogers / Tony Rogers - Charlotte, NC, USA
Third Place “Just What You’re Looking For” - Peter David Harper (Harper) - Perth, WA, Australia
Children’s Music
First Place “If I Had A Giraffe” - Fran Snyder / John Paul Williams - Lawrence, KS, USA
Second Place “Stinky Feet” - Lanny Sherwin - Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Third Place “Peanut Butter Jambalaya” - Dana Cohenour - Blaine, WA, USA
Comedy/Novelty
First Place “Dear Santa” - Sean Morey - Los Angeles, CA, USA
Second Place “A Better Version Of You” - Greg DiCostanzo / Paul Sabourin (Paul And Storm) - Yardley, PA, USA
Third Place “The A.D.D. Song” - Sean Morey - Los Angeles, CA, USA
Country
First Place “Just Past The Milky Way” - Blu Sanders - El Paso, Texas, USA
Second Place “Diamonds” - Cliff Cody / Kaci Bolls - New Albany, OH, USA
Third Place “Paint Me Blue” - Natalie Howard / James Dean Hicks - Nerang, QLD, Australia
Honorable Mention “Little Dream” - Russell Grimmer (Stevens Lane) - Brenham, Texas, USA
Dance/Electronica
First Place “Ghost” - Jes Brieden (JES) / Jason Blum (Deepsky) / J. Scott G - New York, NY, USA
Second Place “Wings Of Love” - Balázs Zságer / Andor Kovács / Tibor Lázár / Vilmos Solymosi / Zsofia Hutvágner - Budapest, Hungary
Third Place “Beauty Hides in The Deep” - Raz Nitzan / Adrian Broekhuyse / Peter Kriek / Ariaan Olieroock (The Doppler Effect) - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Folk/Singer-Songwriter
First Place “Hearts A Mess” - Wally De Backer (Gotye) - Merricks Beach, VIC, Australia
Second Place “Peccadilloes” - Clare Bowditch (Clare Bowditch & the Feeding Set) - Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Third Place “If I Came Back As a Song” - Barnaby Bright - New York, NY, USA
Gospel/Christian
First Place “To Really Love” - Anthony Skinner / Scott Macleod / Ross Huskinson - Franklin, TN, USA
Second Place “Wildflower” - Wade Iedema (Lifetone) - Lismore Heights, NSW, Australia
Third Place “Homeland” - Greg Sczebel - Salmon Arm, BC, Canada
Instrumental
First Place “Matador’s Guitar” - Yiannis Kapoulas - Hamilton, ON, Canada
Second Place “Fantastique Voyage” - Thomas Schobel - Los Angeles, CA, USA
Third Place “Space Hole” - Robin Alan Jackson (March Fourth Marching Band) - Portland, OR, USA
Jazz
First Place “The Ice Hotel” - Jim Tomlinson / Kazuo Ishiguro - London, England
Second Place “Surfing” - Richard Underhill - Toronto, ON, Canada
Third Place “Stay With You” - Luluk Purwanto / Rene van Helsdingen - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Latin
First Place “Layla” - Arturo Varak - Laredo, Texas, USA
Second Place “Imune A Ti” - Sonia Molina - Los Angeles, CA, USA
Third Place “La Luna” - Kathleen Elin Melgarejo (Elin) - New York, NY, USA
Honorable Mention “Mujeres Desaparecidas” - Patricia Vonne / Israel Rodriguez - San Antonio, Texas, USA
Lyrics Only
First Place “Before I Fade Away” - Bryan Tess - Kerry, Ireland
Second Place “I Am A Book” - Kori Withers - Los Angeles, CA, USA
Third Place “Miss You” - Peter Farrell - Glasgow, Scotland
Performance
First Place “London Bombs” - Kav Temperley / Stuart MacLeod / Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe) - Perth, WA, Australia
Second Place “If It Comes Around” - Ryan Montbleau - Boston, MA, USA
Third Place “Brighter Lights” - Paul Liddell - Sunderland, England
Pop/Top 40
First Place “In The Gully” - Mahara Tocker - Te Aroha, New Zealand
Second Place “Blame” - Rob Diament / Martin Glover “Youth” (Temposhark) - London, England
Third Place “Try” - Belle Humble / Tim Gordine (Belle Humble) - London, England
Honorable Mention “The Better Part” - Charlie Lang (Parkers Break) - Austin, Texas, USA
R&B/Hip-Hop
First Place “Welcome To The Cold” - Kallen Saczkowski (Katchphraze) - Oakville, ON, Canada
Second Place “Try” - Robin Hooper / Golmorad Moshiri / Bryan Trevitt / Steve Messinger / David Coles / Kevin Coles (Sweatshop Union) - Vancouver, BC, Canada
Third Place “Choose One” - Grover Zinn / Diaro Foster / Mandolyn Ludlum (Zinndeadly featuring Big Dro & Mystic) - Los Angeles, CA, USA
Rock
First Place “Somebody Will Miss You” - Alex Qasabian / Kevin Fouche / Mark Fouche / Greg Byrne (Stone Parade) - Sydney, NSW, Australia
Second Place “Black Fingernails Red Wine” - Kav Temperley / Stuart MacLeod / Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe) - Perth, WA, Australia
Third Place “Unborn” - Clint Crighton / Dale Allison / James Sarzotti - Sydney, NSW, Australia
Teen
First Place “Pound” - Alexander Briem / Askell Hardarson / Bernhard Thorsson / Jon Gunnar Olafsson / Sigurdur Asgeir Arnason (Soundspell) - Reykjavik, Iceland
Second Place “Groove For Mr. Z” - Ken Grant Kaneko - Cos Cob, CT, USA
Third Place “101” - Grace Kelly - Brookline, MA, USA
World Music
First Place “Adouna” - Mouhamed Diouf (De Diouf) / Francois Rivollet / Guyom Eyango - Annecy, Senegal
Second Place “Ya Waadi” - Akim El Sikameya - Oran, Algeria and Paris, France
Third Place “Ha Dias” - Luca Mundaca - Valinhos, São Paulo, Brazil
People’s Voice 2007 Winner “Find Me Waiting” - Antonio Pontarelli - Temecula, CA, USA
Information on ISC and Winners:
For more information and photos of winners, please Contact: Candace Avery E-mail: cavery@songwritingcompetition.com
Information for Grand Prize winners Contact: Eduard Glumov E-mail: eduard_glumov@yahoo.com Web-site: http://www.eduard-glumov.narod.ru
Contact: Z. Mulls E-mail: z@zmulls.com Web-site: http://www.zmulls.com 04/17/08
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Spring Mixer Dates & Location
From: Austin Music Foundation
Austin Music Mixer Meets at Union Park
Please join AMF for the new spring quarter of Austin Music Mixers:
Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Union Park, (rooftop bar) 612 West 6th Street
May 6 & 20 <> June 3 & 17
Join AMF on Union Park’s cool rooftop bar, with its Zen-like luscious foliage, bamboo partitions and pillow-strewn benches. It’s the perfect place to enjoy Austin’s spring weather overlooking the sights and sounds on West 6th Street. (If it rains, we’ll meet downstairs in the street-level bar.) Union Park offers happy hour specials until 8:00pm with $1 off all beers and well drinks, and their famous Mojitos are only $3 (featuring mango, limon, passionfruit, pineapple, pear and frozen varieties). Union Park also offers an extensive list of tasty appetizers and food selections. Everyone knows relationship-building is important--especially in the music industry. Austin Music Mixer provides a friendly place for musicians and industry professionals to meet others who make their living from music, share experiences, and learn from each other. It’s a great place to get plugged into the Austin music community, so come out and join us!
It Feels Good to Become an AMF Member – Support Austin’s Independent Musicians
The next best thing to making music is supporting someone who does! If you’d like to support the career development of Austin’s independent working musicians, please consider becoming a member of Austin Music Foundation. Your membership donation directly supports AMF’s educational programs that help musicians become successful making a living doing what they love. As part of your donation, you’ll receive a membership card good for special discounts at a bunch of cool, music-friendly businesses like these:
Affordable Sound, 10% off {•} Austin Lyric Opera, 15% off {•} Burgentone all-tube guitar amps, 10% off {•} CD Baby, $5 off set-up fee
CD Fuse.com, 10% off music, 15% off set-up fee {•} El Sol y La Luna, 15% off {•} Fast Frame, $40 off custom framing, 10% off other services
Fifth Column music promotion, free 2-hour consultation {•} Guitar Center, 10% off {•} The Hills Dental Spa, 25% off select services
The Home Retreat, 10% off {•} Indie Band Manager, 30% off PRO version {•} Indie 911, 20% off one-year membership
In the RA Studios, 20% off photography {•} Love, 15% off {•} Mercury Men’s Fashion House, 15% off {•} Motorblade postering, 1 week free
Music Lane Recording, pay for 2 days of recording, 3rd day free {•} Music Makers, guitar and bass strings 1/2 price {•} Online Gigs, free six-month membership
Paciugo Italian gelato, 10% off {•} Sonicbids, free six-month membership {•} The School of Feedback Guitar, free lesson with 4 lesson purchase
Strait Music, 10% off {•} Therapy, 10% off {•} Wet Salon, 15% off
Please visit AMF’s membership partners page for more info about specific offers. Some restrictions may apply. Offers subject to change without notice.
About AMF
The Austin Music Foundation (AMF) is a nonprofit organization that operates on a singular mission: to unite, ignite, and revolutionize Austin's music community. Since February 2002, we have been fueling the local music scene by educating our local artists and professionals, building a world-renowned community with roots in local music, and incubating the next wave of talent.
Ph: 512-323-0787 E-mail: members@austinmusicfoundation.org Web-site: http://www.austinmusicfoundation.org
© 2006, Austin Music Foundation P.O. Box 4309 Austin , Texas 78765 04/ 03/08
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Compilation CD Bonus Deadline, Article by Molly-Ann Leikin
From: USA Songwriting Competition E-mail: info@songwriting.net
Web-site: http://www.songwriting.net
2008 USA Songwriting Competition Begins
2008 USA Songwriting Competition is now accepting entries! Winning songs will receive radio airplay in United States and Canada along with great prizes such as a Top Prize of over $50,000. Sponsors of the 2008 Competition are: New Music Weekly, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Sony, Audio-Technica, Ibanez Guitars, D’Addario Strings, Sam Ash Music Stores, ARC (Advanced Room Correction System), IK Multimedia, Mi7.com, Intellitouch Tuners, Shari’s Berries, Indie Bible, LivewireMusician.com, AirplayAccess.com, Loggins Promotion, Superdups.com, Acoustic Café Radio Program, Sonicbids.com, and XM Radio. FREE Early entry bonus: first 1,000 entries postmarked by March 31 or earlier will each receive a copy of the USA Songwriting Competition Winners Compilation CD just by entering! Please obtain the entry form at Web-site: http://www.songwriting.net/entryform.html or enter online with your MP3 or WMA file Web-site: http://online.songwriting.net
You may also enter using Sonicbids here (mp3 only) Web-site: http://www.sonicbids.com/usasong
Entry Forms In 10 Different Languages Online
USA Songwriting Competition has added entry forms in more foreign languages due to the requests from songwriters and composers all over the world. We now have entry forms in languages of Japanese, Korean, Chinese (both simplified and complicated characters for China & Taiwan), Italian, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese and of course in English. Entrants can click through any of the languages from our homepage near top left hand side.
How To Write Hit Melodies, Part 1
by Molly-Ann Leikin
After the title, the tune is the most important part of the song. The way our brains are wired, the melody is the first thing we hear. If we like it, we’ll stay tuned and listen for the words. If the tune doesn’t get to us, it’s over. Melodies need hooks. Without them, nobody will ever hear your work, no matter how brilliant the lyric. I know lyricists won’t be happy to hear this, but it’s true and knowledge is power.
In constructing a melody, there are several guidelines to follow. I recommend to all my clients, no matter where in the world they are writing, getting to the hook/chorus, within twenty-five or thirty seconds. I advise them, and you, to keep their introductions short. The intro is usually instrumental, and the song doesn’t officially start until the verse begins. So keep the intro to eight bars or less. Often writers who are in love with their software wail on and on for sixteen or thirty-two bars before beginning the actual song. Don’t. Eight bars are plenty. The audience will only give you a few seconds of ear time and then move on to something more accessible. You worked hard to get ‘em. Don’t let ‘em get away.
If we like a melody, it usually isn’t until we’ve heard it several times that we finally hear the words. You can write a brilliant lyric, but if it has a weak melody, nobody will ever hear any of it because the tune hasn’t done its job. The function of the melody is to grab us in an unguarded, primitive, totally emotional state and hold our attention long enough for the more civilized and intellectual lyric to take hold and give us some words to sing. Leikin’s Law is giving them what they want. Express yourself as only you can, absolutely. You have a fingerprint as a writer that nobody else has. But don’t expect a lyric to do the melody’s job.
Parts 2 and 3 of Molly’s “How to Write Hit Melodies” will appear in the April and May 2008 USA Songwriting Competition newsletters.
Molly-Ann Leikin (rhymes with bacon) is a song marketing consultant in California, who, for a modest professional fee, works one-on-one to help you find the right writing partner and then helps you market your finished work to all the right people. A Eurovision finalist (American Idol in Europe), Molly is the author of “How to Write A Hit Song, Fifth edition”;, (June, 2008) from which this article is excerpted, and “How to Be a Hit Songwriter”, both published by Hal Leonard. She has a house full of gold and platinum records plus an Emmy nomination, has written themes and songs for over four dozen TV shows and movies, including “Eight is Enough” and “Violet” that won an Oscar. From the USA and Canada, you can reach Molly, toll-free, Ph: 800-851-6588, or from anywhere in the world, at Web-site: http://www.songmd.com. Please note: Molly does not accept unsolicited material. © 2008 Songwriting Consultants, Ltd.
Many thanks to those that attended our Borders/SXSW Showcase, ASACP, BMI, SOCAN, Music Connection magazine, all performers of our Austin showcase including Pepper MaShay and Eric Blakely. ....Jessica Brandon, Artist Relations
Jessica Brandon – Artists Relations, USA Songwriting Competition
*World’s Leading International Songwriting Competition*
E-mail: info@songwriting.net Web-site: http://www.songwriting.net 04/ 03/08
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NXNE Music & Film Festival
NXNE – June 12-15, 2008
Screw “Canadian Idol”--real careers in music get made at NXNE!
From: NXNE | nxne.com
14th North By Northeast Music & Film Festival and Conference – June 12-15, 2008
Musicians & Filmmakers: Applying to NXNE is cheap and easy. Just visit Web-site: http://www.nxne.com and follow the links to submit. Don’t wait—get on it now!
Artists accepted to NXNE receive full delegate passes, with access to all the music and all the films—plus the NXNE Conference, featuring celebrity interviews and fresh ideas about the biz.
Do It NOW! Web-site: http://www.nxne.com to submit your band or film!
The North by Northeast (NXNE) Music & Film Festival and Conference (Web-site: http://www.nxne.com): a myth-busting, adrenaline-fuelled indie music and film festival that takes over Toronto for four days every June. The Music Festival is recognized worldwide as the place for fans to see breakout performances from great bands at intimate venues and for musicians to get vital international exposure. The Film Festival features the planet’s most eclectic schedule of music-related films--concert classics to indie docs, from Rio to Rwanda. And the Conference puts music insiders and veterans alongside next-generation thought leaders and cyber-punk upstarts who are defining the industry for the digital age. Catch the 14th annual North by Northeast Music & Film Festival and Conference June 12-15, 2008 at over 50 venues in downtown Toronto. Visit Web-site: http://www.nxne.com for more details.
Media Contacts:
Mavis Harris, FLIP Publicity & Promotions Inc E-mail: mavis@flip-publicity.com Ph: 416-533-7710 x252
Liz Armstrong, FLIP Publicity & Promotions Inc. E-mail: liz@flip-publicity.com Ph: 416-533-7710 X237
North by Northeast 189 Church ST, Lower Level Toronto ON M5B 1Y7 01/24/08
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CMJ08
October 21 – 25
CMJ Marathon & Film Festival 2008
New York City
Register by January 8th to save up to 50% on your badge! Purchase your CMJ 08 badge for only $250 - our EXTREME EARLY BIRD discount. Don’t miss your chance to save on the most affordable badge we offer - and college students can grab one today for under $100.
Bands! Apply Now.
Do you want to bask in the same fame as 2007 artists Black Kids, Datarock, St. Vincent, and M.I.A.? Apply now for your chance to storm the stages of CMJ Music Marathon 2008!
Submit by December 31 for only $25 - our largest discount to date. Artists submissions exclusively by Sonicbids. For more artist information E-mail: showcase08@cmj.com.
We know you are holding on to CMJ 2007 as if it were yesterday. Whenever you want to reminisce, check out the photo gallery from CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival 2007!
CMJ Marathon & Film Festival 2008 will once again take over New York so make sure you’re in on the action. For marketing opportunities E-mail: marketing@cmj.com. 12/27/07
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Dewberry Jam Internet Radio
Low Powered FM in San Antonio
From: William R. Dewberry Jr.
Hello Everyone: As many of you know, I am currently working on an FCC compliant AM radio station and it is near completion. I am currently streaming on the Internet at Web-site: http://dew.servemp3.com and Web-site: http://AM1610.net. My ultimate goal is to establish a Low Power FM station through the FCC with a non-profit organization. I have copied the text of a letter I submitted below explaining the details of this notice. Please consider going to the link at Web-site: http://action.freepress.net/campaign/lpfm and filling out this simple form to send this letter to Congress if you agree with the contents. Please pass on this message to others if possible. Contents of letter and background information as follows.. Thanks… Dew & Celina
I strongly urge you to support the Local Community Radio Act of 2007 (HR 2802/S. 1675) sponsored by Reps. Mike Doyle and Lee Terry and Sens. John McCain and Maria Cantwell. This important new legislation will expand low power FM radio and allow locally produced, community radio to flourish. Expanding low power FM radio will help restore needed diversity to our airwaves, bringing forth new voices and viewpoints that are often overlooked by large commercial broadcasters. Please support the Local Community Radio Act of 2007. Thank you.
Background:
In 2000, the Federal Communications Commission established the Low Power FM (LPFM) radio service -- noncommercial, local, low-powered radio that schools, community groups, churches, and any nonprofit could use to broadcast local information to their local community. There are about 800 LPFM stations on air all across the country - but groups in many communities, and most big cities, who applied for these great new stations all lost out. Why?
Because the big broadcasters -- represented by the National Association of Broadcasters -- convinced Congress to limit low power FM to the most rural areas, claiming that little LPFM stations would interfere with big radio stations in big cities -- making the radio dial unlistenable.
In the law that Congress passed (the Radio Broadcast Preservation Act of 2000), they also asked the FCC to study whether or not LPFM stations would really cause interference. The FCC hired a big, independent engineering firm -- the MITRE corporation -- to study this potential interference -- and $2.2 million later, they proved that LPFM was a great idea in big cities as well as small communities.
Listen to Dewberry Jam Internet Radio Web-site: http://AM1610.net
(Note: Allow blocked content to access the player). 11/01/07 11/22/07
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LaLa.com
Click On Discover
“Help us make the Web a place to grow music.”
The founders at lala.com, Bill Nguyen, Billy Alvarado, Anselm Baird-Smith, and John Cogan III 12/03/07
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Web-Site: Third Coast Music Network
From: Paul Daly E-mail: pkdaly@yahoo.com
Third Coast Music Network, San Antonio’s best source for roots music on KSYM 90.1 has moved to a new a URL, Web-site: http://www.tcmnradio.com
TCMN still has streaming audio, a load of artist links, and the Freeform American Roots chart.
cheers, PK Daly 10/04/07
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NEMO Newsletter
From: NEMO Music Festival
Installment #5: Always Be At Your Best Onstage
Eye on the Inside is a monthly column featuring segments from Festival Consultant Matthew Walt’s forthcoming industry resource, “Reality Check: A Common Sense Guide to Breaking into the Music Business.” Each installment will introduce simple concepts and suggestions intended to help aspiring artists and neophyte professionals increase their opportunity to find success doing what they love.
There is no acceptable excuse for a second rate performance. Not to the fan or the casual observer, nor the members of your band or the other acts on the bill, nor the promoter or anyone else who is invested in what you do. Of course there will be nights that are better than others, by virtue of one circumstance or another. But the simple fact is that to be the best one must perform their best, consistently. And in order to do that one must aspire to putting on the absolute best performance of their life, every time one takes to the stage, never once accepting anything less than everything they’ve got.
Opines Chris Ross, bass player of the heatseeking Australia band Wolfmother, in a recent Boston Globe article, echoing the sentiments of innumerable greats that precede him, “We put everything into our shows... You only get to do this once, so why not put everything into it and see what happens?”
Neither sickness nor sadness nor whateverthehell is going on in your life – nothing should keep a performer from delivering the goods. I don’t care if there are 10 people or 10,000 people in the audience. When an artist takes to the stage: that is their moment to shine. And for a young artist that aspires to greatness (or even just to make a living), the time spent onstage should never be wasted under any circumstances.
Consider the stage an oasis – an astonishingly beautiful place where others only dream they could be. Performing is what musicians get paid to do- even when it isn’t very much. It is what their fans (or prospective fans) have come to see- no matter how few of them there are. And simply put: failure to pour ones heart and soul into every single note – however many excuses for why that cannot possibly be – is a determinant to ones craft and disrespect to ones audience.
Remember this, all you musicians that grow tired of playing to small crowds: fans love to be among the first to discover a great new band. True music lovers and show goers covet the opportunity to be there in the early days. They buy merchandise and talk about the band, start their own grassroots campaign boasting to friends and fellow music lovers online about their incredible find. The buzz that evolves simply through word of mouth about a band that puts their all into every single date is not to be undermined or overlooked. Thus, consistency is critical, as two of those ten people standing in the back of the room may very well have the capacity to jump start your career and you never know who those people may be or what could happen as a result of their enthusiastic response. In other words, half assed efforts produce half assed results, and an audience won’t grow if their not buying what you’re selling. But the bands that put everything into their performance are the ones that get the most out of it, and give themselves a chance.
To sweep one’s fans off of their feet and transport them to another place – to a place where the artist rules supreme (see: Bono’s messianic complex), if only for a short time – that is what every performer should aspire to. If it isn’t, you probably don’t belong there in the first place. The minds eye of the artist is where the audience wants to be – it’s a peek into an artist’s heart and soul, and a fundamental reason why fans come to the show. Give them what they want. That is your job. Don’t ever forget it, and please don’t take it lightly. Anyone, in any vocation, who is given a platform on which to express themselves, should recognize the opportunity they’ve been given and seize it with all their might. One hundred percent effort one hundred percent of the time, never forgetting how fortunate you are to get paid to do what millions of others do recreationally, simply for the love of music. 07/20/06
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Spectrum Talent & Booking Agency
P.O. Box 34239 San Antonio, Texas 78265
Ph: 210-545-2828
Providing quality entertainers and musicians since 1987. Bookings for most styles of music to entertain your guests at weddings, parties or corporate events, local or regional. Contact: Debbie Murphy Ph: 210-545-2828 12/22/05
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SXSW 2007 ‘Almost Nightly’ Updates
SXSW 2006 ‘Almost Nightly’ Updates <> SXSW 2005 ‘Almost Nightly’ Updates <> SXSW 2004 (3/17-20)Updates
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The Best of Sam Kindrick
The secret life and hard times of a cedar chopper
Now on Sale at Casbeers
Call 210-732-3511
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What I know
- by Rod C. Stryker
(Excerpts from "What I Know")
"The only path to REAL peace is not war, but dialogue..."
"It starts with one person, it starts with me, this human…being.
...remember, if you can, that we are one. We Are One."
Rod C. Stryker, poet
San Antonio, Texas, United States, North America, Planet Earth.
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As a policy S.A.M.B.E. provides an open forum for ALL musicians, fans, promoters etc. Have a safe week.
John Q. Pardini
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KRTU 91.7 FM Jazz for San Antonio
Henry Brun every Sunday - 11:00am-2:00pm
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KSYM 90.1 – You’ll hear music other DJ’s are afraid to play!
Ph: 210-733-2800 for more info or click on KSYM 90.1
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