Click on over and vist my hometown of Montreal virtually. Just make sure you use the virtual trash cans and don’t make a virtual mess. Merci. Have a great weekend everybody!
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INDIE NEWS BEAT
April 26, 2005 Edition
* Teen People Names Planet Verge The Future Of The Music Industry
* 10th Annual USA Songwriting Competition
* Karli Bonne Keeps Faith Alive In Angel Without Wings
* Lou Black Releases "City of No Winters"
* GoGirlsMusic.com Partners With VersusMedia
* 3 Kisses Lead Signer Receives Endorsement Deal From Daisy Rock Girl Guitars
* 2nd Annual Tampa Music Conference
* John Strohm To Cover Jackson Browne For Tribute
* Prince Releases New Songs, Classic Recordings & Live Performance Clips
* Wine Country Songwriter EXPO 2005

Teen People Names Planet Verge The Future Of The Music Industry

Teen People magazine has chosen Planet Verge magazine’s Editor in Chief, Joelle Caputa, as one of 25 future music industry moguls under the age of 25. The feature will run in Teen People’s special music issue, which hits newsstands June 3.

Planet Verge is a New Jersey-based music media company that publishes a quarterly publication in addition to handing publicity for several up-and-coming unsigned bands. The magazine introduces the hottest indie rock bands, and up-and-coming fashion designers and photographers to readers, while spotlighting national acts and people with successful careers in the entertainment industry. Correspondents report from all over the world, including New York, California, Scotland, and New Zealand.

On the PR side, Planet Verge represents Fixer, The Pennyroyals, Jeremiah Freed, and Indifference. Members of Fixer and The Pennyroyals joined Caputa at the Teen People photo shoot. Afterwards, she sat down with Teen People’s Associate Entertainment Editor, Doreen Arriaga, to discuss being a role model for women and starting her own company at 20 years-old.

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10th Annual USA Songwriting Competition

Entries for the 10th Annual USA Songwriting Competition are currently being accepted. Winning songs of the 2005 USA Songwriting Competition will receive airplay on a nationally syndicated radio program "Acoustic Café" as well as XM Satellite Radio. This is the first Songwriting Competition that gives airplay to the winning songs, giving deserving bands, songwriters the recognition and exposure they deserve.

Entrants stand to win a grand prize of over US$50,000 in cash, merchandise and exposure, making this the largest prize package for any annual songwriting competition. Many USA Songwriting Competition winners in the past have received recording and publishing contracts, as well as having their songs placed on film and television. Judges include record labels such as Warner and SONY Music.

Songs may be entered in 15 different categories including Pop, Rock/Alternative, R&B and Country. The competition is aimed at promoting excellence in the art of songwriting among writers, composers, bands, singer/songwriters and solo artists in an international forum. Entries are accepted from now through May 31, 2005.

The USA Songwriting Competition is sponsored by Sony, Rolling Stone magazine, New Music Weekly, Steinberg, Audio-Technica, Ibanez Guitars, D’Addario Strings, Sam Ash Music Stores, IK Multimedia, Terratec, East West Sounds, MixDownMedia.com, Indie Bible, Garritan Music Software, Acoustic Cafe, Livewire Contacts, Loggins Promotion, Singer magazine, Electronic Musician magazine, Superdups.com, Sonicbids.com and XM Radio.

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Singer Karli Bonne Keeps Faith Alive In Angel Without Wings

Christian singer/songwriter Karli Bonne dedicates her music and her passion to the forces that drive her to perform and to live, carfting melodies and lyrics around her spirituality and her love for God. Now Karli has released a new CD, Angel Without Wings, giving listeners her honest messages and her beautiful songwriting in an album dedicated to her faith and her passion for music. The record, written entirely by Bonne (with the exception of Psalm 93), is her second full-length recording and holds not only her beliefs, but excellent songwriting technique and her powerfully moving voice, as well.

The title track of Angel Without Wings opens with a mysterious Middle-Eastern groove, transforming into a techno feel accompanied by layers of Karli Bonne’s clear vocals and a driving style that hooks a listener from the downbeat. Contrasting the feel from the first track is the fifth, My Serenade of Love, a traditional Christian song with a light drumbeat and a uplifting feel that perfectly compliments the echoing sounds of Bonne’s melodious voice.

While most Christian albums create the kind of elevating emotion found in Angel Without Wings, Bonne’s record is remarkable in the number of styles that she uses to deliver her messages and and her music. Ranging from techno beats to classic religious forms and even a hard-edged, driving rock groove, Angel Without Wings doesn’t stick to one musical medium in offering to listeners. Simply Serene, an inspiring techno piece with a choir-like chorus and an energetic underlying pulse, showcases Bonne’s silky voice and powerful mwssages of faith.

Angel Without Wings is a dynamically entertaining CD, with an honest and positive aim. With so many styles, from the passionate techno drive of Prison of Fear to the Latin salsa style of I Want To Love Like You, Karli Bonne’s new album is a hit, and perfect for listeners from Christian fans to fans of music, in general. Angel Without Wings crosses genres, not remaining tied to the normal Christian format in style, and appealing to a massive range of audiences. The new record from Karli Bonne makes a great addition to any music lover’s collection.

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Lou Black Releases "City of No Winters"

"City of No Winters" CD release party saw yet another well attended social function hosted at Paul & Enid Holden’s home in Washington, DC’s NorthWest neighbourhood; except this time it was a celebration for Enid’s poem City of No Winters - about her beloved hometown of Durban which had now become a treasured song on an CD of the title song.

Each song of the 13 from his album has a special story, derived from personal experience, revealing and hiding at the same time a life that has its incredible variety of richness. The words are modulated and sound like far galaxies, like colored bubbles sent in the waters of the warm Gulf Stream. Lou Black belongs to those singers who can touch with smoothness many styles. The multitudes of the very pleasurable and enduring music arrangements show a deep collaboration with like-minded poets and musicians sharing their drift for "new pop".

The title song "City Of No Winters" more of a blues style talks about Durban and the mysterious locations of this city with such history is brought to our ears with huge nostalgia and hope at the same time, as if its author, the south African poet and painter Enid Holden, who hosted this wonderful launching of the CD in her DC house, was giving Durban the epitome for the whole South African struggle and renaissance. We hear in the words how much this city resonates in our hearts for all the fights for freedom and justice it has gone through. Durban, Durban, Durban, a whisper. With a great longing presence in his voice, Lou Black says that words still matter. And Lou’s warm voice gives thus a soothing glimpse of glee. –Brigitte Kehrer, independent journalist author of "Rwanda: Work of God, Work of Evil"

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GoGirlsMusic.com Partners With VersusMedia, Providing Even More Opportunities For Its Members

GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest and largest community of indie women musicians, is pleased to announce its partnership with VersusMedia, an L.A. based company that provides services for emerging musicians who wish to place their music in film and TV.

"This is not some fly-by-night company providing bogus leads. It’s the real deal!" says Madalyn Sklar, Founder of GoGirlsMusic.com. GoGirls members are encouraged to join VersusMedia in hopes of being discovered by filmmakers looking for great indie rock for their projects. There is no cost to join VersusMedia, however for a dollar or less you can view an open project looking for music. "In this business, it’s about making connections and looking at the big picture," says Sklar. "Success does not happen overnight so when a company like VersusMedia can provide a stepping stone for your career why not take advantage of it?"

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3 Kisses Lead Signer Receives Endorsement Deal From Daisy Rock Girl Guitars

Just days before 3 Kisses was scheduled to play two showcase events at SXSW in Austin, TX, Tish Meeks, lead singer and guitar player, received an endorsement deal from Daisy Rock Girl Guitars. Created and designed by Tish Ciravolo to fit the female form, Tish Meeks was drawn to Daisy Rock Guitars because she herself is so petite and she loved the unique designs. "The small body makes it easier for me to maneuver on stage. My Heartbreaker Artist gives me freedom I don’t have with a full-sized guitar." Other Daisy Rock Artists include Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Lila McCann, Lisa Loeb, Robert Smith of The Cure, Paul Leary of the Butthole Surfers and Donna R. of The Donnas.

"The people at Daisy Rock are fabulous. Karissa Read went above and beyond to get my Heartbreaker Artist to me in time to play it at SXSW. It was a perfect time to debut the guitar and I got tons of compliments on it," Meeks says. "Now, the boys want their own Daisy Rock Guitars." Meeks speaks of her husband, Tony Meeks, who also plays rhythm and lead guitar in 3 Kisses and bassist, Eric McCoy.

Meeks chose the Heartbreaker Artist because the heart-shaped body falls right in with the theme of 3 Kisses. Sweet, yet fiery, the heartfelt vocals and edgy, melancholy flavor of 3 Kisses’ earnest, tuneful and vibrant alternative pop vastly appeal to fans of the genre. Their tumultuous lyrics are delivered in a contradictory, bubbly, upbeat fashion. "3 Kisses music is about having fun and making a difference. Daisy Rock Guitars are serious instruments, but they are fun guitars ­ fun to play, fun to look at. They fit what 3 Kisses is all about."

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2nd Annual Tampa Music Conference

As one of the nation largest markets, the Tampa / St Pete area is a critical one to break for any artist. However, it is also one of the most difficult one to break. For a second time we will offer you an opportunity to network with all of the influential members of our music community including radio, DJ’s, artist, producers, retail, promoters and more. For the Bay area music community, this will provide you the opportunity to network with your peers, develop key relationships and promote your work.

When: Saturday June 4th 1-9 pm.
Where: Tampa Convention Center 333 S. Franklin St. Tampa, Fl 33602
The After Party will be held at Club Sutra located on 7th Ave. in Ybor City.
Schedule: Network Hour, Showcases Workshops & panel Discussions.

Workshops:

€ Industry Basics, what you need to know to be in the game.
€ Radio in the new millennium, how do I get on?
€ Panel Discussion

Panelist:

€ Sonny Crack ­ Artist / Producer
€ Paradox ­ Artist
€ Bloodraw - Artist
€ Beata ­ MD WLLD Wild 98.7
€ Julia Beverly ­ Ozone Magazine
€ Taz ­ Dirty Down Records
€ Diane Almodovar ­ BMI
€ D/R Period ­ Producer
€ Baby Paul ­ Producer
€ Dawgman ­ Dawgman Ent.
€ KT ­ WJFP (W. Palm Beach)
€ More TBA

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John Strohm (Blake Babies, Lemonheads) To Cover Jackson Browne For Tribute

American Laundromat Records and Face Down Records are proud to announce Indie Rock Legend - John Strohm (Blake Babies, Antenna, and part-time Lemonhead) will cover Jackson Browne’s Somebody’s Baby for their upcoming tribute CD, High School Reunion (a tribute to those great 80’s films!). The tribute will also feature Kristin Hersh, The Caulfield Sisters, Lori McKenna, Vic Chesnutt, The Modifiers, The Bennies, Dipsomaniacs, and many more. Release date has been pushed back to October 15, 2005 to accommodate two surprise artists.

Somebody’s Baby appeared in the quintessential high school film Fast Times At Ridgemont High which was written by Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Singles, Say Anything), and directed by Amy Heckerling (Clueless). Strohm recorded the track the weekend of April 9th & 10th with Silos rhythm section; Drew Glackin and Konrad Meissner at Don Piper’s studio (Between The Trains) in Brooklyn, New York.

"Somebody’s Baby is such a great song and takes place in a key scene where Jenifer Jason Leigh’s character sneaks out of the safety of her childhood bedroom, and loses her virginity in the dugout of a local baseball field. I wanted someone who could bring out all the great elements of the song but also give it a slight edge. John nailed it. His trademark guitar is all over it, and the vocals are exceptional. I couldn’t be happier with the cover. I’m confident it’s one of the many tracks radio will embrace this October when we release the tribute." Joe Spadaro, ALR founder & president.

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Prince Releases More New Songs, Classic Recordings And Live Performance Clips

Prince’s NPG Music Club has released an exclusive 12-minute clip culled from Prince’s March 25th NAACP Image Awards performance. Titled the "Vanguard Jam," the electrifying video features Prince, Sheila E., Morris Day & Jerome Benton of The Time performing the songs "D.M.S.R.," "Housequake," and the debut of a new Prince song "Satisfied." In addition, the site has also made available the new single recorded at Prince’s Paisley Park recording studio, "GlassCutter," as well as the Kamasutra CD that features a beautiful 11 movement instrumental love poem recorded with the NPG Orchestra. Fans worldwide can now purchase these future Prince classics exclusively through Prince’s own download music service at www.NPGMusicClub.com.

Digging deep into his vast archive of music, the NPG Music Club recently released a live version of Prince’s hit "Strange Relationship," recorded in 1987 with his Sign O’ The Times band at the legendary First Avenue nightclub, made famous by the feature film Purple Rain. The NPG Music Club has also made available a live, three-track EP recorded in 1995 at Paisley Park, proving once again Prince is the ultimate performer in any decade.

Four classic NPG Records albums from the NPG catalogue have also been added to the download service, bringing the number of downloadable Prince tracks to well over 200 songs. All are exclusively available direct from the source in the NPG Music Club.

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Wine Country Songwriter EXPO 2005

The 2nd Annual Durango Songwriter’s Expo/Santa Barbara Wine Country will take place again this year at the beautiful Rancho Santa Ynez Marriott, June 2-4. Bringing the same vibe and quality experience that we’ve enjoyed in Colorado over the past 10 years, the Santa Barbara Expo was a tremendous success last year and will be even better this year. Featuring hit songwriters Lisa Loeb, Colin Hay (from Men At Work), Jeffrey Steele, Al Anderson, Hillary Lindsey ("This One’s For The Girls", "Blessed"), Marcus Hummon ("Cowboy Take Me Away", "Ready To Run"), local favorite Marv Green ("Amazed"), Walt Aldridge, Kim Williams, and Gary Baker, plus our usual tremendous array of music publishers, A execs, managers, producers, film and TV music execs, and radio promo people.

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Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © Tag It 2005 - Republished with Permission

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Check out this article discussing the "supergroup" concept and looking at 3 current supergroups and their impact. Unfortunately, often times these so called supergroups are quite less than the sum of their parts as Asia amply demonstrated.
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Rock-a-billy one-man band Hasil Adkins has died. Full details can be found on the WFMU blog. He was an original that’s for sure.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MORE BANDS ANNOUNCED FOR CMJ ROCK HALL MUSIC FEST; PIXIES AND MUSHROOMHEAD TICKETS GO ON SALE

Brazilian Girls, Lucero, Heartless Bastards, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Rogue Wave, Helio Sequence, the Clarks and more bands added to schedule

CLEVELAND (April 29, 2005) – The CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest is pleased to announce its newest lineup of performers for the three-day music festival scheduled for June 8-11, 2005 in Cleveland, as well as ticket on sale dates for the Pixies and Mushroomhead shows. Tickets for most of the other shows are already on sale. See individual venues or Ticketmaster for more information.

The following shows go on sale Saturday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m. through Ticketmaster:

· Pixies at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum – June 8, 7:30 p.m. – Tickets: $35
· Pixies at Scene Pavilion – June 8, 9:30 p.m. – Tickets: $35
· Mushroomhead, Mindless Self Indulgence and Dope at Scene Pavilion – June 11, 7 p.m. – Tickets: $25

The following acts have been added to the CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest schedule:

· Brazilian Girls – June 9 at the House of Blues
· Lucero, Heartless Bastards, Honorary Title and Cory Branan – June 9, 7:30PM at the Odeon. Tickets: $10, $12 day of show
· Agent Orange – June 11, 7PM at Pirate’s Cove. Tickets: $10
· The Clarks and Kate Voegle – June 11, 8PM at the Odeon. Tickets: $15, $16 day of show
· Rogue Wave, Helio Sequence and the Six Parts Seven – June 11, 9PM at the Beachland Ballroom. Tickets: $8
· Kenny Wayne Shepherd – June 11 at the House of Blues

The first annual festival is where thousands of music fans and artists will converge on Cleveland to celebrate today’s best new music. This Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and CMJ Network produced event will not only contribute to the economic vitality of the city, but also will promote Cleveland as a progressive, music-oriented city and give music fans across the Midwest unparalleled access to exciting new talent.

The Music Fest is three days and nights of music, networking, featured speakers, a daytime Festival Village and a presentation of the top modern rock poster artists. CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest badge holders can enjoy more than 100 live performances in Cleveland’s hottest live music venues including the Beachland Ballroom, Odeon, Agora, House of Blues, Grog Shop, Peabody’s and the Festival Village on the West Bank of Cleveland’s "Flats."

The CMJ brand is synonymous with not only providing a showcase for the best up-and-coming artists but also working with record labels to recruit the hottest new bands. The Music Fest will feature as many as 100 artists performing for tens of thousands of music fans in Cleveland. 2005 marks the first time that a new CMJ Festival will join its New York City counterpart among the world’s great music events; Cleveland, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, multiple club and concert venues and a rich musical culture, is the perfect place to host such an event.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2005, CMJ has produced one of the world’s legendary music festivals, CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, since 1981. The Marathon was the first to showcase once up-and-coming bands such as REM, U2, Eminem, the Beastie Boys, Green Day, the Foo Fighters, the Strokes, Ryan Adams, My Morning Jacket, Jill Scott, Franz Ferdinand, Jet and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

For more details on CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest please visit www.cmj.com/rockfest.

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I saw this on AntiMusic’s Day in Rock and thought it was interesting. According to Throwing Horns in Iran, Iranian metal band Koht Mian is making quite the stir in the Islamic republic as their instrumental album "Eksir" is being snapped up by Iranian kids who are obviously desperate for rock and roll. It’s interesting to note that CD’s that feature music without lyrics often do not require authorization to be pubished by the Iranian governent so obviously Koht Mian are taking advantage of this loophole. I wonder if they are able to actually tour? Once again rock and roll is making a statement in an area of the world you wouldn’t expect possible.
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I first came across the work of Jeremy Morris when I heard "What God Wants" from the excelent compilation "This is Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio- Volume 1" and I was hooked on his great power pop, well… hooks plus I’m a sucker for electric sitar. Listening to the album that it was taken from called "find the way to be happy" (and trust me there is a lot to listen to since the CD contains 22 tracks) was a real treat as not only does Jeremy and his band manage to peel off some incredibly tight power pop riffs mixed in with great vocals and impeccable production but he manages to do so while reflecting some of power pop’s big hitters (Badfinger and Big Star come immediately to mind) without sounding clichéd. On top of that Jeremy can let rip on some amazing guitar breaks that sound just right for each song. If I was to start a band he would be tops on my list as lead guitarist because he has "the touch." Great stuff.
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Blender has a good story on the Coachella Festival that is worth reading. Probably the best festival in the US right now, at least for eclectic rock and roll. Later.

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I am always fascinated with the rock and roll that is made in "non-traditional" markets and Vietnam certainly fits the bill so I found it interesting to read two articles from the Vietnamese News Agency on the Rock Viet Festival II that was held last October 2004 in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). The articles in question are Get wet: Ha Noi’s water park concert will rock and Rock’n’roll is here to stay I definitely have to get more info on the bands featured (Da Vang , Atomega, Thuy Trieu Do, Anh Sang , Buratinox and Lovely Stupid Men) and especially the Vietnamese rock magazine Rock Vision Magazine. Of course I will also have to find someone who speaks and reads Vietnamese but this is too cool to pass up. If anybody reading knows Vietnamese and especially if they know the Vietnamese rock scene please get in touch with me! Thanks.
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Do you podcast? If so you will be very interested in Infinity Broadcasting’s newest experiment: an all podcast radio station that accepts and broadcasts submissions by the general public. They like to call it "Open Source Radio" (a true skewing of the term "open source" IMHO) but their plans for KYOU Radio are certainly interesting. Take a washed up AM radio station in San Francisco and turn the programming over to podcasters who will decide on the station’s content (within ever restrictive FCC guidlines of course). And you can even include music in your podcast as the station will pay the licensing fees for you. I think it is pretty clear that this experiment will not last that long (prove me wrong podcasters!) but still, jump on the bandwagon while it’s at the station and take advantage of this opportunity while it still exists. Who knows what could be become of this? You could be the next Les Nessman!
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The Cowboy Junkies have always been a personal favourite of mine. An amazingly soulful band. Check this concert out for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.
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I think I might be a bit late on this but PBS stations around the US have been playing the Ramones documentary "End of the Century - The Story of the Ramones" on their documentary series Independent Lens. Even if you missed the broadcast you can rent the DVD but before you do check out the Independent Lens website and their focus on this great Ramones flick.
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Nick Mason is currently making the rounds promoting his new book Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd and he is featured on a new podcast over at Fake Science where he talks about his new book, his musical inspirations and how the industry is changing. One interesting thing to note is that Mason has essentially buried the hatchet with Roger Waters but no, that doesn’t mean the Floyd will get back together. And if you are reading this and saying to yourself "Argh! A classic rock dinosaur. How could he be writing about this?" I say go to your rock and roll history books and read about the band in their Syd Barrett days. They were alternative before there was an "alternative!"The Piper at the Gates of Dawn still amazes me.
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With all the political shenanigans going on in Canada at the moment, it’s nice to hear that Pearl Jam are embarking on a nice extended tour of Canada this fall. I have been a long time fan of the band (and often frustrated by it especially with some of their recent output) but seeing a band of their stature playing in Newfoundland is very cool. Now if only more bands would look beyond the Toronto-Montreal-Vancouver tour stops in the future we would be all the happier. Make sure the boys get some Screech when they arrive in St. Johns on September 24th!
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Since people are having so much fun insulting each other on my post about the 10 Greatest Modern Bands According to MTV2 that I figure you will just love this one! According to a poll conducted of 400,000 people by Britain’s Channel 4, OK Computer by Radiohead was voted # 1 in the "Top 100 Albums of All Time." The top 10 consists of, in no particular order:

"OK Computer" - Radiohead
"Joshua Tree" - U2
"Nevermind" - Nirvana
"Dark Side of the Moon" - Pink Floyd
"Definitely Maybe" - Oasis
"Thriller" - Michael Jackson
"Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" - Beatles
"Like a Prayer" - Madonna
"Apetite for Destruction" - Guns and Roses
"Revolver" - The Beatles

Please be kind to other commenters. Thank you. Now let ‘er rip!
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Check out these fascinating video clips from the American PBS network’s Frontline documentary series called Punk Rock in the Holy Land put together by filmmaker Liz Nord. See, television can be good sometimes! An interesting perspective on a part of the world where music is not necessarily the first thing the news networks cover on a nightly basis. And for something completely different, the word on the Kibbutz is that both the Rolling Stones and the Scorpions will be coming to Israel this year so Israelis will be getting a chance to savour all kinds of cool stuff which will hopefully influence more local rock and roll. By the way, If you are looking for a taste of Israeli rock and roll check out the excellent RockFour.
UPDATE! And now it has been announced that Megadeth are coming to Israel as well. I am not naive to think that rock and roll can solve all the regions problems but it couldn’t hurt!
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If you are looking for a great source for cool used rock and roll vinyl you should definitely check out Whizz Records. And don’t forget to pose your rock and roll questions to Dr. Filth, rock and roll’s answer to Dr. Phil! A great resource and a lot of fun.
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I am just going through the tons of e-mail that has been accumulating over the last week while I have been busy with other things and I came across this great article on the 2005 edition of SXSW courtesy of Blender magazine which makes for a pretty good read.
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I have been mulling the idea of doing an audio companion to The Rock and Roll Report for some time now. My first inclination was to do a podcast but complicated music licensing issues have put the kibosh on that idea for the time being. The next idea was to start a streaming radio station via something like Live 365. I like that idea but the costs involved make it problematic at this time so I have put that on the backburner. Since I love non-commercial community radio I suddenly realized that the solution to my need for a radio fix was right there on my FM dial: I have become a member of my local community radio station CKUT and my first orientation session (mmmm, music library!) starts this week. I have no idea when or even if I will ever get on the air but really, that is not my primary motivation. My motivation is to get involved in a great community resource while helping out the best I can. Do I hope to get on the air someday? Sure I do but right now I think it best that I learn the ropes, pay my dues (both literally and figuratively) and leave the rest up to the radio Gods. As things progress I’ll keep ypu up to date on what I’m up to but at the very least I hope that this journey will inspire some of you to sign up as a volunteer at your local community radio station, something that will hopefully enrich both your life and those that listen. Should be fun.
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Tony MacDononald has penned an excelent article titled "Juke Box Zeros" on a hitherto unmentioned danger inherent in P2P downloads: the lack of legitimate information on who actually sang the downloaded song in question. A very funny read.
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THE LEN PRICE 3 “chinese burn” (Laughing Outlaw Records)

Quand la formule magique du trio fonctionne (Cream, Jam, Jimi Hendrix Experience) les effets sont à la hauteur du projet. C’est ici le cas avec le premier album de ces trois anglais de Medway Delta. ILs ont beaucoup écouté les Jam et les Who et leur sens mélodique est indéniable. 15 titres accrocheurs, rageurs et entêtants. Que l’Angleterre redevient belle avec ce genre d’ albums!!

When the magic formula of a trio works well (Cream, Jam, Jimi Hendrix) the summ is greater than its parts. This is the case with the first album from three Englishmen from Medway Delta. They have listened to a lot of Who and Jam and thus their sense of melody is undeniable. 15 songs that are catchy, furious and persistant. The English return to their classic form with this genre of album!!

GRAHAM COUSENS “living room sessions” (Spade Kitty Records)

La pochette de cet album donne le ton : un charmant jeune homme dans son salon entouré de sa très belle collection de guitares. Graham Cousens vit à Chicago et a dans sa collection de disques des albums de Dylan et George Harrison. Ce type aime la musique c’est indéniable et la musique le lui rend bien : compos chaleureuses, “laid back”, apaisantes. De la pop acoustique artisanale par un maitre d’oeuvre!

The liner notes of this album sets the tone: a charming young man in his living room surrounded by an amazing collection of guitars. Graham Cousins is from Chicago and in his record collection are albums from Dylan and George Harrison. You can tell that he likes this type of music as he reflects the influences wonderfully: warm sounds, laid back, relaxing. Acoustic pop hand-crafted by a master crafstman!

PYSCHO LEMON “a mouse and John” (ELP Records)

Je suis bien sur très heureux d’écrire sur un artiste français et un label indé qui “spread the word” depuis si longtemps. Rem Austin est un multi instrumentiste rare, à l’ image de son premier album, pop atmosphérique, pop orchestrale, jamais mièvre, chansons gracieuses et aériennes. Conseil d’ami : profitez en pour écouter les autres productions d’ELP, autres petits bijoux pop ciselés (The Leeds, Cub…)

I am very excited to write about this French indie artist and spread the word, something that I have enjoyed doing for a long time. Rem Austin is a rare multi-instrumentalist and on his first album creates wonderful atmospheric, orchestral pop that is ethereal and airy. A friendly tip: go listen to the other ELP albums which are all wonderful little pop jewels of their own (The Leeds, Cub…).

STEVEN ALVARADO “the howl sessions” (Mott Street Records)

Ce songwriter n’en est pas à son coup d’essai et celui ci est transformé aisémment. Intimiste et habité, aidé par s’il vous plait Richard Barone (Bongos) un album attachant et personnel comme l’est Steven Alvarado. 10 titres d’égale facture, sans fioritures, simplement des chansons que l’on a envie de réecouter souvent.

This songwriter performs songs that are intimate and lived in, assisted thank you very much by Richard Barone (Bongos) on an album that connects on a personal level like all songs by Steven Alvarado. 10 songs of equal quality, with no frills, simple songs that you will want to listen to over and over.

THE UGLY BEATS “bring on the beats” (Get Hip Records)

Austin, Tx, une des capitales musicale de notre vieille planète. Pour nous européens, cette ville représente encore la musique basique américaine, la country music. les Ugly Beats en sont bien loin, leurs racines sont plutot garage 60s. Energique, mélodique, dansante, des ingrédients qui donnent in fine un album superbe qui est tout sauf revival. Et quand on reprend les Easybeats, on ne peut pas être mauvais…

Austin, Texas, one of the musical capitals of our planet. For us Europeans, this city represents the true classic “American” music, country music. The Ugly Beats exist far apart from that style, their music is definitely more ’60s garage. Energetic, melodic, danceable, these ingredients make this a suberb album. And when we are influenced by the Easybeats, we can’t be all bad….

THE LOST & FOUND (self produced PO Box 1900 Thousand Oaks, CA 91358 USA)

Encore une fois une trio!!! cette fois deux filles et un garçon, formule plus qu’originale. La voix d’Aimée Lay me fait penser de temps à autres à Patti Smith/PJ Harvey, et le rock urbain de son groupe n’est pas si éloigné de l’agité Polly Jean. Plus léger, plus Pop mais pas moins inspiré. Pas de fioritures ici : une guitare, une basse et une batterie et cette voix sensuelle qui s’imprègne dans vos pores. A must.

Another trio! This time two girls and a guy, quite an original formula. The voice of Aimee Lay makes me sometimes think of Patti Smith/PJ Harvey, and the urban rock of the group not far from the style of Polly Jean. A bit lighter, more Pop yet no less inspired. No unneccessary frills here: a guitar, a bass and a drummer with a sensual voice that will soak into the pores of your skin. A must.

By Girard Gérard

Editors note: Please consider the French text to be the definitive Girard Gérard record review and my English translation a valiant attempt to spread the word to those of us who are still struggling to master the French language! If Girard likes it then all is cool, regardless of language. Merci!

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THE LEN PRICE 3 "chinese burn" (Laughing Outlaw Records)

Quand la formule magique du trio fonctionne (Cream, Jam, Jimi Hendrix Experience) les effets sont à la hauteur du projet. C’est ici le cas avec le premier album de ces trois anglais de Medway Delta. ILs ont beaucoup écouté les Jam et les Who et leur sens mélodique est indéniable. 15 titres accrocheurs, rageurs et entêtants. Que l’Angleterre redevient belle avec ce genre d’ albums!!

When the magic formula of a trio works well (Cream, Jam, Jimi Hendrix) the summ is greater than its parts. This is the case with the first album from three Englishmen from Medway Delta. They have listened to a lot of Who and Jam and thus their sense of melody is undeniable. 15 songs that are catchy, furious and persistant. The English return to their classic form with this genre of album!!

GRAHAM COUSENS "living room sessions" (Spade Kitty Records)

La pochette de cet album donne le ton : un charmant jeune homme dans son salon entouré de sa très belle collection de guitares. Graham Cousens vit à Chicago et a dans sa collection de disques des albums de Dylan et George Harrison. Ce type aime la musique c’est indéniable et la musique le lui rend bien : compos chaleureuses, "laid back", apaisantes. De la pop acoustique artisanale par un maitre d’oeuvre!

The liner notes of this album sets the tone: a charming young man in his living room surrounded by an amazing collection of guitars. Graham Cousins is from Chicago and in his record collection are albums from Dylan and George Harrison. You can tell that he likes this type of music as he reflects the influences wonderfully: warm sounds, laid back, relaxing. Acoustic pop hand-crafted by a master crafstman!

PYSCHO LEMON "a mouse and John" (ELP Records)

Je suis bien sur très heureux d’écrire sur un artiste français et un label indé qui "spread the word" depuis si longtemps. Rem Austin est un multi instrumentiste rare, à l’ image de son premier album, pop atmosphérique, pop orchestrale, jamais mièvre, chansons gracieuses et aériennes. Conseil d’ami : profitez en pour écouter les autres productions d’ELP, autres petits bijoux pop ciselés (The Leeds, Cub…)

I am very excited to write about this French indie rock artist and spread the word, something that I have enjoyed doing for a long time. Rem Austin is a rare multi-instrumentalist and on his first album creates wonderful atmospheric, orchestral pop that is ethereal and airy. A friendly tip: go listen to the other ELP albums which are all wonderful little pop jewels of their own (The Leeds, Cub…).

STEVEN ALVARADO "the howl sessions" (Mott Street Records)

Ce songwriter n’en est pas à son coup d’essai et celui ci est transformé aisémment. Intimiste et habité, aidé par s’il vous plait Richard Barone (Bongos) un album attachant et personnel comme l’est Steven Alvarado. 10 titres d’égale facture, sans fioritures, simplement des chansons que l’on a envie de réecouter souvent.

This songwriter performs songs that are intimate and lived in, assisted thank you very much by Richard Barone (Bongos) on an album that connects on a personal level like all songs by Steven Alvarado. 10 songs of equal quality, with no frills, simple songs that you will want to listen to over and over.

THE UGLY BEATS "bring on the beats" (Get Hip Records)

Austin, Tx, une des capitales musicale de notre vieille planète. Pour nous européens, cette ville représente encore la musique basique américaine, la country music. les Ugly Beats en sont bien loin, leurs racines sont plutot garage 60s. Energique, mélodique, dansante, des ingrédients qui donnent in fine un album superbe qui est tout sauf revival. Et quand on reprend les Easybeats, on ne peut pas être mauvais…

Austin, Texas, one of the musical capitals of our planet. For us Europeans, this city represents the  true classic “American” music, country music. The Ugly Beats exist far apart from that style, their music is definitely more ’60s garage. Energetic, melodic, danceable, these ingredients make this a suberb album. And when we  are influenced by the Easybeats, we can’t be all bad….

THE LOST & FOUND  (self produced  PO Box 1900 Thousand Oaks, CA 91358 USA)

Encore une fois une trio!!! cette fois deux filles et un garçon, formule plus qu’originale. La voix d’Aimée Lay me fait penser de temps à autres à Patti Smith/PJ Harvey, et le rock urbain de son groupe n’est pas si éloigné de l’agité Polly Jean. Plus léger, plus Pop mais pas moins inspiré. Pas de fioritures ici : une guitare, une basse et une batterie et cette voix sensuelle qui s’imprègne dans vos pores. A must.

Another trio! This time two girls and a guy, quite an original formula. The voice of Aimee Lay makes me sometimes think of Patti Smith/PJ Harvey, and the urban rock of the group not far from the style of Polly Jean. A bit lighter, more Pop yet no less inspired. No unneccessary frills here: a guitar, a bass and a drummer with a sensual voice that will soak into the pores of your skin. A must.

By Girard Gérard

Editors note: Please consider the French text to be the definitive Girard Gérard record review and my English translation a valiant attempt to spread the word to those of us who are still struggling to master the French language! If Girard likes it then all is cool, regardless of language. Merci!

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Without question, internet radio has proven to be a
godsend for independent musicians who had virtually no
chance of ever being played on commercial radio
stations.  While countless indie rock artists have taken
full advantage of this opportunity, many of them don’t
realize that there is another, inexpensive way for
them to be heard on a worldwide basis–digital
jukeboxes.

With the advent of digital jukebox technology,
independent musicians have a wonderful opportunity to
reach audiences on a scale that, until a few years
ago, was virtually impossible for anyone not signed to
a major label.  The barriers to entry were formidable,
mainly because space on jukeboxes was limited to a
couple of hundred selections at best.  Since it was in
the best economic interests of jukebox providers to
stock their machines with the most popular music
available, very few were willing to devote their
limited space to independent artists unless those
artists had a large local fan base that could be
relied on to play their music.

Even if an indie rock artist achieved enough regional
popularity to merit placement on multiple jukeboxes,
the expense and time required to provide a CD or
record for each machine usually made such distribution
impractical.  And if an artist was able to surmount
those obstacles to distribution, there was still no
reliable way to track plays and collect royalties.
However, thanks to digital jukeboxes all that has
changed, and independents now have the potential to
reach a worldwide audience for no more than the cost
of one CD and a couple of bucks for postage.

Right now, the digital jukebox market leaders are
TouchTunes and Ecast.  Both companies offer
machines with space for approximately 2,000 songs that
can be chosen by individual jukebox providers, and
searchable libraries with over 150,000 songs that
customers can download for the cost of an extra play
credit.  Best of all, both offer independent artists
the opportunity to have their music included in their
digital libraries.  Since I’m familiar with both
companies from an artist’s perspective, I’d like to
share some insights based on my personal experience.

To get your music considered for placement with
TouchTunes and Ecast, the first step is to contact the
companies and request a licensing agreement.  The
licenses are non-exclusive, there are no sign-up fees,
and you retain all rights to your original material.
However, if your CD contains any covers, you will have
to obtain permission from the owners of the rights to
those songs before either company will allow you to
include them.  Once you’ve completed the licensing
agreement, just send it back along with a copy of your
CD.  Of course, there’s no guarantee they will accept
your music, but if you have a professional sounding
recording your chances are probably pretty good.

Both companies pay royalties for each jukebox play,
but don’t count on getting rich from them.  TouchTunes
pays about one-third of a cent per play to the artist
and a half cent per play to the holder of the
publishing rights.  They also pay an eight cent per
song mechanical royalty for copying your music into
their system.  Ecast pays a penny per play, but to my
knowledge does not pay a mechanical royalty for
processing your songs.

Of the two companies, I found TouchTunes to be far
superior to Ecast in terms of prompt, courteous,
professional service.  All e-mail inquiries were
answered in a timely manner, and the licensing
agreement was signed and returned within a couple of
weeks.  TouchTunes also sends quarterly statements
that include the number of times your songs were
played and how much you have accrued in royalty
income.

Ecast on the other hand, seemed to be somewhat
disorganized and the staff did a terrible job of
returning e-mails and phone calls.  After awhile, I
got the distinct impression that nobody is really
minding the store.  While my music was available on
TouchTunes in a matter of weeks, it took several
months for Ecast to process it and get it into their
system.  They also have never returned a signed copy
of the licensing agreement, which is decidedly
unprofessional, but I can live with that.  More
troubling to me is the fact that Ecast’s licensing
agreement stipulates that the company will provide
quarterly reports on how much your music has been
played, but in the more than two years since I signed
up with them, I have yet to receive one.  However, I
haven’t made a big stink about it because the time and
hassle that probably would be necessary to get a
response from them wouldn’t be worth the small amount
of money they owe me.  If hundreds or thousands of
dollars were at stake, I wouldn’t hesitate to hire a
lawyer, but my feeling is that the promotional value
of having my music available for play on their
machines far outweighs the few bucks in royalties I
may or may not ever see.

The bottom line is that if you’re an independent
musician, getting your songs onto a digital jukebox is
a very inexpensive way to potentially have your music
heard by millions of people.  While I recommend
starting with TouchTunes, it never hurts to cover all
your bases.  Ecast is currently preparing to launch
what it calls the Ecast Emerging Music Program
specifically for unsigned artists, although they have
yet to offer any details.  Whether this means they
will get their act together and improve their artist
services is anybody’s guess, but if your main
objective is to promote your music and you’re willing
to take a few chances, it can’t hurt to try.

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As a big Simpsons fan I have always enjoyed the music on the show. In fact, I have both volumes of the CD of music from the show and they are brilliant. If you love your Simpsons music like me then you will absolutely salivate when you check out the Simpsons Music page (part of Simpson Crazy). Arranged by season, here is what looks like every song featured on the Simpsons in MP3 form. Simply amazing. Thank you WFMU’s Beware of the Blog. Have a great weekend everybody! Next week things get back to "normal."
Later.

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INDIE NEWS BEAT
April 19, 2005 Edition
* UNSIGNED Music Magazine Unveils New Format
* Booking & Promotion Technology Seminar
* New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
* The Secret Of Your Heart… Hitting Worldwide Rock Stations
* WAV’s Third Issue Gets National Distribution
* Mr. Rupert Neve Returns To Manufacturing With Portico Series
* Making Your IPod Do More Than You Thought Possible
* Full Playlist Automation For Web Radio Streaming
* U.S. Indie Band & Film Expo To Be Held In Beaumont, Texas
* Modern Drummer Sets 17th Annual Festival May 28-29
* Garage Radio Adds New Show To Program Schedule

UNSIGNED Music Magazine Unveils New Format And Stronger Focus On Indie Rock Artists

UNSIGNED Music Magazine, a music magazine that focuses on independent artists, will launch its’ new website May 1st. The new launch accompanies the magazine’s renewed focus on independent artists and the announcement of its’ new tagline.

"We felt our previous tagline, The Best NEW Music You’ve Never Heard, no longer fit us as a magazine", said Kenneth Hamlett, COO of Urban Playground Media, parent company of UNSIGNED. The new site will feature videos from independent artists, more feature stories, contests, and coming later in the year documentaries and a radio station.

"There are too many other websites that have similar taglines and we wanted to differentiate ourselves from the masses. Plus we needed a tagline that immediately identified who we are and what we do to our readers. We feel that our new tagline, The Largest Magazine Dedicated to Indie Music, speaks volumes about our committment to our readers."

Founded in 2003 UNSIGNED has gained recognition as the premier magazine to be featured in for independent artists. It is the only magazine of its’ kind that allows readers to download an entire issue in Adobe PDF format, absolutely free. UNSIGNED features interviews, articles and reviews of independent artists.

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Booking & Promotion Technology Seminar: April 27th 2005

OnlineGigs.com will present a seminar at the Tippitina’s Music Office Co-op regarding ways to effectively use technology to book and promote your band, performer or event. The seminar is free to the public and will be held on Thursday, April 27th at 6pm. The Music Office Co-Op is located at 4040 Tulan Ave., New Orleans LA 70119, (504) 483-2880.

Onlineigs is a powerful tool for musicians, agents, record companies and managers. It will automate the administration of booking and promoting your band or multiple bands. The site features a huge directory of industry contacts and the ability to track correspondences with each contact. Subscribers can easily issue a performance contract, remotely update any website with the new gig information, automatically generate a tour itinerary with driving directions and issue press releases to the local media in any market in the country. All with the click of a button.

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The Black Crowes, Widespread Panic, The Neville Brothers, The Original Meters, And Dozens Of Other Artists To Offer Live Recordings At This Year’s New Orleans Jazz Fest

MunckMix, Inc., of Chicago, IL, the official recording licensee of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s "Jazz Fest Live" recording series is proud to announce the roster of artists participating in the 2005 "Jazz Fest Live" offering. Among the artists who will offer live recordings of their performances are The Black Crowes, The Original Meters Reunion, Widespread Panic, and New Orleans music icons The Neville Brothers. The extensive list of "Jazz Fest Live" recordings available can be seen, and purchased on CDs and downloads, at www.jazzfestlive.com.

New this year is the ability for fans to purchase the recordings anytime during the festival directly from the "Jazz Fest Live" booth on the fairgrounds. The recordings will be mixed and mastered by MunckMix engineers within hours of each performance, and CDs are then manufactured on site and available for pickup the following day. In addition to on-site delivery, every recording, including dozens of recordings from last year’s festival, is also available for shipment at www.jazzfestlive.com.

"This year we’re very excited to offer festival goers the opportunity to buy CDs from a show they attended - or missed - directly at the festival in our Jazz Fest Live booth," said MunckMix founder Peer Munck "While you can still order everything on CDs and downloads over the web at www.jazzfestlive.com, we think many music fans will want to get their hands on the recordings at the fairgrounds so they can re-experience the outstanding Jazz Fest performances as soon as possible. Along with the great music we’ll be capturing from this year’s festival we’ll also be fully stocked with CDs from the 2004 festival."

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The Secret Of Your Heart… Hitting Worldwide Rock Stations

It’s no secret Miss Kristin’s recent offering "The Secret Of Your Heart" from the Big Fuss/2 High 2 Die Record Label is impacting rock radio and adult contemporary stations worldwide. It’s also no secret rock radio across the nation has been undergoing a transformation with a much needed resuscitation….

Reminiscent of the great artists from the 80’s heyday… such as The Police and Genesis who naturally crossed over the major markets and appealed to listeners of every age and demographic, this is the return to greatness.

The Secret of Your Heart comprises a commentary on passion and relationships. With this theme as her palette, Miss Kristin delivers deft compositions that range from the in-your-face "Love You Later", in which she takes control of a relationship on her own terms, to "Let Me Show You My Love", a song of reconciliation and support. Blessed with a vocal versatility that matches the emotional spectrum of her songwriting, Miss Kristin’s voice can be likened to a cross between Pat Benatar and Grace Slick, while remaining wholly her own.

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Triple Threat­ WAV’s Third Issue Gets National Distribution

The third installment of WAV, a nearly one-year old music and culture magazine out of Los Angeles, has hit newsstands as the publication’s first nationally distributed issue. WAV’s Spring 2005 cover is graced by an increasingly ubiquitous The Mars Volta and the magazine’s pages feature intimate perspectives on DJ/producer Mark Farina, avant hip hop producer Prefuse 73, Sage Francis’ government scorn, President Bush vs. The Environment, and the political grassroots initiative that is Ralph Nader.

Always celebrating expression, WAV continually provides a spectrum of content that includes music, art, politics, and subversive culture. This can be seen in the Spring issue through an exposé of potentially damaging legislative policies and federal repeals concerning the environment, a conversation about what motivated Tom Morello of Audioslave and System Of a Down frontman Serj Tankian to found their nonprofit social organization, Axis of Justice, and a unique look at popping and lockin’ in the heartbreaking story of Don "Campbellock" Campbell, inventor of the lock.

To fully complement the current issue, WAV’s website is streaming audio media showcased in the third issue. This includes the raw-soul stylings of Bintu, some punk-noise from The Blood Brothers, hip hop dance from Josh One, as well as music by 22-20’s, Prefuse 73, Sage Francis, and Sound Tribe Sector Nine. WAV is on newsstands now and is also available online.

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Mr. Rupert Neve Returns To Manufacturing With Portico Series

Mr. Rupert Neve has returned to manufacturing with a series of all-analogue products that will be released during 2005 under his own brand, Rupert Neve Designs, following over 15 years of design consultation for others.

The first Rupert Neve Designs Portico unit to be launched will be the 5012 Duo Mic Pre, a dual-channel microphone preamplifier that incorporates a number of unique features. The classic warmth and presence of Mr. Neve’s renowned audio circuit designs may be added to both outputs through the front panel "Silk" switch. A "To Buss" switch allows the 5012 to access bussing in a custom-configured, multi-module setup or to assign a signal to a solo or cue buss embodied in other Portico modules.

Two Rupert Neve Designs 5012 Duo, half-rack, 1RU, Mic Pres may be combined in an optional rack mount kit to provide four of these high quality, Mr.Neve-designed channels in a single rack space.

The first of an integrated series of Portico products, the 5012 Duo Mic Pre will be joined by equalization, filtering, dynamics control, assignment, mixing and monitoring modules, and even a tape emulation channel.

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Making Your IPod Do More Than You Thought Possible

"You know how Macintosh computers inspire such emotional attachment from their fans?" asks author and "New York Times" tech columnist J. D. Biersdorfer. "The iPod inspires similar devotion: iPod web sites, iPod shareware add-ons, an iPod accessory industry–in short, the invasion of the iPod People." But conspicuously absent from this profusion of iPod gear is an iPod manual. Thankfully, for Podlings everywhere–or anyone about to become one—there’s "iPod & iTunes: The Missing Manual, Third Edition," (O’Reilly, US $24.95), written by Biersdorfer and edited by Missing Manual series creator David Pogue.

For getting much more out of an iPod, as well as putting much more into it, this newly updated edition blows open the secret doors of the chrome-and-white beauty and its many siblings, including the iPod Mini, iPod Photo, and the tiny iPod Shuffle. "This book is one-stop shopping for iPod reference and information," promises Biersdorfer. "It takes you on a joyride through the iPod subculture. And it guides you through all the cool musical and nonmusical things you can do with your iPod, from looking up phone numbers to checking the weather report. You’ll also find heaping helpings of the Three T’s: tips, tricks, and troubleshooting."

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Full Playlist Automation For Web Radio Streaming

PWsoft, developers of music automation and automated sequence technology for digital content announce a new webservice to produce a fully automated internet radio broadcast.

This new webservice is based on their unique software component "UniversalMixMachine (UMM) which can calculate a non-stop sequence of digital items from any given property or criterium by using three different kinds of algorithms to control.

Target for the new webservice are companies that intend to have a web stream running for their customers for image or advertising purposes but don’t want to do any editorial work like producing playlists of music and possibly adverts, jingles or other inserts. The webservice, once set, can run for weeks without maintenance and without any sequence being repeated.

Once the music for the broadcast has been selected and perhaps profiled, the webservice can be configured and will constantly select items for the broadcast according to its settings. Any kind of property or criterium can be used: Metadata such as tempo, release date or voice type, but also music style, personal rating values or user rating, or even economical data such as sales figures or the amount someone pays to get featured, can be used to control the automation.

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U.S. Indie Band & Film Expo To Be Held In Beaumont, Texas

The 2005 US Indie Band & Film Expo will take place in Beaumont, Texas from August 19-23, 2005 (setup and load-in is on August 18). More than 500 bands, filmmakers, and artists are expected to participate in what is expected to become the premier showcase for unsigned acts of all genres. Nearly 18,000 people are projected to attend the birth of one of the industry’s most explosive annual events. The five-day event will take place at the Fairpark Coliseum and Fairground, and nearby facilities and venues.

There will be four outdoor music stages running continuously from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., and indoors, there will be a large screen to show projects in film, video, and animation. Additionally, each participant will have a booth promoting their goods or services, selling merchandise, meet-and-greets, etc. The US Indie Expo will also feature workshops, conferences, Q&A panel sessions, and seminars.

Individuals and companies from all parts of the globe are expected to participate in The US Indie Expo. The event will bring together key industry people, performers, and filmmakers, as well as a demographically desired fan and consumer base. Among those in attendance will be distributors, publishers, agents, managers, publicists, promoters, and record labels. These service oriented companies will seek to sign new acts.

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Modern Drummer Sets 17th Annual Festival May 28-29 In New Jersey

Modern Drummer, the world’s first and most popular magazine for drummers and percussionists, has scheduled the Modern Drummer Festival Weekend 2005 for May 28-29 at Prudential Hall at NJPAC (New Jersey Performing Arts Center) in Newark, New Jersey. Shows begin at 1:00 p.m. each day.

Special guest artists from the rock, jazz and R&B worlds confirmed to take part in the event at this time include Deep Purple’s Ian Paice, Prince/Ringo Starr percussionist Sheila E., jazz living legend Roy Haynes, Tool’s Danny Carey, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Shadows Fall’s Jason Bittner and many others.

"We are very excited about our festival this year," says Bill Miller, Modern Drummer’s Editor In Chief. "It’s by far the most impressive lineup of drumming greats ever assembled. And having our festival at a world-class facility like NJPAC will make it an even better experience for attendees."

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Garage Radio Adds New Show To Program Schedule

Since Garage Radio first announced the search for new radio shows, many interesting ideas have been presented to the programming staff. Be it a Celtic Folk show or Latino talk radio; every potential program concept was entertained.

The first new show to become a reality is "Collective Perspective," hosted by Cole Coleman. The 2-hour program underscores a wide variety of music, from Electronic to Acoustic to Alternative Rock, and combines educated insights with great entertainment.

According to Cole the show will "showcase music of artistic quality that highlights true musicianship and talent … and provide a program of music that appeals to people of nearly any age with a high level of artistic taste."

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Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © Tag It 2005 - Republished with Permission

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