Send2Press Newswire

Lemonheads Co-Founder Comes Full Circle: Ben Deily's Varsity Drag Joins Evan Dando's The Lemonheads for NYC Show

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:18:14 GMT

NEW YORK, N.Y., June 23 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Nearly 20 years after leaving cult band The Lemonheads to return to college and "try to become a grown up," co-founder and certified grown up Ben Deily has come full circle: his new band Varsity Drag makes their New York City debut this Thursday at the Bowery Ballroom, sharing the bill with old friend Evan Dando and The Lemonheads.

"I'm really happy this is finally happening," said Deily. "Ever since stepping back a bit into music, I've been hoping that Evan and I would be able to get our paths to cross - or at least near-miss onstage. It's a great way to finally reach New York with Varsity Drag and even better that it's with Evan."

The Lemonheads are currently on tour in support of their new album "Varshons," an ambitious and eclectic album of covers selected by Dando and producer/indie music legend Gibby Haines (B*tthole Surfers) and featuring guest vocals from surprising luminaries as Dando friends Liv Tyler and Kate Moss.

"I'd have come down anyway to hear Evan do the stuff off Varshons, which is a fantastic record," adds Deily. "Getting to be a part of the onstage action, well, that's just gravy."

"More than anything else, I'm looking forward to playing my newest songs for Evan and finding out what he thinks. After 27 years, you can really get a sense of someone's musical taste and judgment...and Evan's is solidly in my top three." Deily laughs. "I mean, well, obviously." (And no, he's not revealing the other two.)

About Varsity Drag: Deily's new band performs music that has been described as "luscious, beautifully abrasive, powerful pop" and "pop-punk for grown-ups." The power-trio consists of Deily, long-time collaborator Joshua Pickering and self-taught bass player Lisa Marie (who just happens to be Deily's wife). They are promoting a live album recorded during their recent European tour, "Rock & Roll Is Such a Hassle: Varsity Drag Live in Europe" due for release on July 13th through the U.K.'s BossTuneage label. The album features, along with new songs, a generous smattering of Deily's old Lemonheads standbys.

"Most of those songs hadn't been heard or played in decades," explains Deily. "When we hit Europe, there was what you might call some real 'pent-up demand' for my old catalog...now they're an important part of our set."

"I'm looking forward to getting to play those tunes again for Evan, who helped bring them into existence in the first place."

Varsity Drag has an all-new studio album (a follow-up to their 2006 debut, "for crying out loud") scheduled for release in October, coinciding with a tour of the U.K. "All in all, this is a really exciting time for us," concludes Deily.

INFO:

Thursday June 25, 2009, 8 p.m.

VARSITY DRAG

with The LEMONHEADS

The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey St
New York, New York 10002.

For more information, images, interview or CD requests, please contact 8 Sparks Entertainment Marketing: Rachel Weingarten at 646.371.3054 or Rachel@8sparks.com.

Blurbs:

"File under no nonsense, luscious, beautifully abrasive, powerful pop with a capital P. 5 out of 5." -- Sean McGhee, Punk/Oi in the U.K.

"This is pop-punk for grown-ups, an album written and performed by one of the finest craftsmen of the genre...Ben Deily has been one of pop music's best-kept secrets for far too long. Start crying his name out loud." -- Hot Cuss.

"Ben Deily and his troupe have crafted...completely bulletproof tunes perfect for summertime driving, or summertime leaping around in your bedroom like a teenager." -- Hecklerspray.

*(PHOTO 72dpi: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/09-0623-BenDeily_72dpi.jpg)

*(Photo Caption: Taken by Varsity Drag drummer and photog-to-the-stars Josh Pickering, Ben Deily and Evan Dando striking their poses from 1987's original Lemonheads "breakthrough" album, "Hate Your Friends." (Recently made MOJO Magazine's "Top 77 Punk Albums Ever" list.))

All trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Ben Deily, Varsity Drag band

Trance Fury Releases Music CD to Promote Environmental Awareness

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:25:15 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C., June 16 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- In an effort to raise environmental awareness, Trance Fury, a TFR Records artist, recently released "Mother Earth and Father Time." The CD has gained national attention and the Weather Channel is currently featuring the track, "Carolina Shore," on its "Local on the 8s" from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.

In addition, dozens of colleges and universities around the country are playing this electronic and new age musical compilation with more planning to play in the future.

For the months of June and July, Fury will donate 20 percent of all sales of "Carolina Shore" to the North Carolina Coastal Federation (www.NCcoast.org), a group that works to safeguard the coastal rivers, creeks, sounds and beaches of North Carolina.

"Carolina Shore" reflects the sounds of the Carolina coast. They are lulling, contemplative and uplifting and encourage a renewed spirit and relaxed mind.

"I have been visiting North Carolina's beaches with my family for more than 25 years," Fury says. "And it's my hope that these beaches will be around for generations to come."

Other tracks on the CD include titles such as: Mother Earth; Sands of Time; Hurricane Florida; and New York City Winter.

All tracks evoke a sense of time and place. This new age-style music, often associated with environmentalism, is intended to create inspiration, encourage relaxation and to promote positive feelings.

About Trance Fury

Matt "Trance" Fury is a native of Hopewell Junction, NY and a SUNY New Paltz graduate; he currently lives in Raleigh, NC. He's been writing electronic music for 12 years and knows how to draw concepts from emotions. His first CD, "Around the World and Back" featured three top 10 songs on the mp3.com charts including "Armageddon" which reached number one on the Electronic/Techno charts. In 2000, he wrote and released "Another 1,000 Years," to honor the new millennium; it features songs for every month.

In 2006, he released "7 Steps to Resolution." This CD draws on the emotional steps it takes to resolve a problem or crisis and is rapidly becoming an underground favorite.

"Mother Earth and Father Time" is currently available on Amazon.com, iTunes and the Trance Fury Web site at: www.TranceFury.com.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, musician Trance Fury, electronic music

Mutiny Pictures 2nd Quarter Round-up: U2, Eminem, ABC, Selena Gomez, and Drew Seeley

Wed, 27 May 2009 08:59:42 GMT

Los Angeles-based Mutiny Pictures reports busy winter and spring with key accounts including Interscope Records, ABC, and Razor & Tie Records' Selena Gomez and Drew Seeley

LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 27 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Mutiny Pictures (www.MutinyPictures.net), a Los Angeles-based film company specializing in online branded entertainment and webisode production, made several company announcements through founder Michael Pierce on recent high-profile projects that showcase their branding capabilities and post-production expertise.

Mutiny Pictures director Kenny Stoff recently teamed up with U2 to document the launch of the band's first album in five years. "3 Nights Live" featured a three day, whirlwind tour from Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston where the band mingled with fans and the media in a Q&A session hosted by Shirley Manson. The Boston stop culminated with an intimate, live performance featuring songs from U2's new record "No Line On The Horizon."

In addition to U2, Kenny Stoff was reunited with Interscope Records' artist Eminem to create a 30 minute program of original content for the making of his new video. "We Made This" is the lead single from his latest LP, Relapse, and is currently appearing on MTV and M2. Stoff and Eminem previously collaborated on the MTV hit "Making the Ass" which featured the puppetry of Crank Yankers and performances by Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel.

"We know we can rely on Kenny Stoff and the Mutiny Pictures team for great creative with quick post production turnarounds," remarked Michelle An of Interscope Records. "We trust them with our most prominent artists and they continue to impress."

Stoff also directed the music video "New Classic" for Razor & Tie Records' Selena Gomez and Drew Seeley. The track is from the soundtrack of Disney's "Another Cinderella Story" and has, to date, attracted over 500,000 views on YouTube.

Company directors Stephen Brown and Erin Brown also teamed up to direct the music video for The Strange Familiar and their song "Courage Is." The music of The Strange Familiar is currently being featured on the ABC show "Secret Life of An American Teenager." The music video takes a subtle, heartfelt and credible approach to teen pregnancy and the adversity of life.

Added Pierce: "It's exciting to work with such a wonderful group of artists and I'm extremely proud of the work Kenny Stoff, Erin Brown and Stephen Brown have created. I am looking forward to the second half of 2009 and continuing to push the limits of traditional and new media."

About Mutiny Pictures

Mutiny Pictures (www.MutinyPictures.net) is a turnkey production through post-production solution for film, television, commercials and title sequence needs. The company offers a unique pairing of experienced directors and high-end visual effects and post production. Client accounts include J. Walter Thompson, McCann Erickson, ABC, Sony BMG and Universal Music Group, T-Mobile, GM, Lexus, BBDO, Team One, David and Goliath, and DDB.

Media Contact: Rebekah Iliff/SGC, +1-310-770-8338,
Rebekah @ SmartGirlsConsulting.com.

All trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, video production, Mutiny Pictures

Audiolife Tells Indie Music Artists to 'Wave Goodbye to The Post Office'

Tue, 12 May 2009 08:02:33 GMT

Audiolife announces fulfillment and warehousing capabilities to complement existing on-demand, no up-front cost model for selling physical and digital merchandise online directly to fans

LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 12 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com), an Artist Services platform designed for indie artists to sell music online and on-demand to fans, has announced a new feature via its virtual, portable storefront. Using their free account, artists will now have the option to use the Audiolife platform for all fulfillment and warehousing needs.

With the fulfillment model, artists can ship as little or as many of their existing products including CDs, merchandise, and posters to Audiolife's warehouse to be stored for a small monthly fee. The artists can then continually ship their items with no extra re-stocking fees.

"Since our beta launch in January, thousands of artists are using the platform to create and sell merchandise on-demand to fans via their websites, social networks, and blogs," remarked Brandon Hance, Founder and CEO of Audiolife.

"But a great majority of those artists have existing merchandise from previous tours, shows, events, that they don't want to waste because they have already spent thousands of dollars creating it. Fulfillment and warehousing was simply the next, natural step for us as we continue to build the most comprehensive direct to fan e-commerce platform on the market."

Using their online portable storefront, artists can upload their already existing items to their virtual store to be sold directly to fans. Each time an item is purchased, Audiolife ships the item to the fan on behalf of the artist, eliminating the process of one-off shipping and the space required to house inventory.

About Audiolife

Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com) is an Artist Services platform founded in 2005 by USC graduates Brandon Hance, Aaron Wiener, and Nishit Rathod. Based in Los Angeles, California, the company is currently in public beta and continues their dedication to building the most comprehensive direct to fan e-commerce platform on the market.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, sell music online, Audiolife

Musician Composes CD with One Finger

Tue, 12 May 2009 07:59:00 GMT

EAST LANSING, Mich., May 12 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Ace Noface, a 38 year old man with Lou Gehrig's disease, today announces the release of a piano rock CD, "Toxic Charm." His goal is to leave a musical legacy behind, and raise awareness of ALS. May is ALS awareness month.

Words like "inspiring" get used so casually that their meaning loses power. But in the case of Ace Noface, and his new album, Toxic Charm, one immediately becomes present to the true meaning of words like inspiration and courage. The musician, living with a terminal illness, is facing his fate with courage and conviction by creating rich and resonant piano-based rock that is in turn hypnotic, jarring and spellbinding. Ace's life and music is the ultimate example of living what is possible in the face of any circumstance.

Listening to Toxic Charm, you can hear the plaintive vocals, the resonance of the piano and the rolling presence of the rhythm section - it's a huge sound for such few instruments, but it makes sense, given that Ace makes the most of what he's got.

At one time the bassist for an indie-rock band, in 2005, Ace was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, an incurable and degenerative neurological disorder. The diagnosis, obviously, was devastating. Ace remembers, "I really shut down for six months. I spent most of my days playing on the Internet and listening to music - I couldn't deal."

But a musician friend took a stand for Ace, and informed him what might be possible. "He told me that even though I couldn't play an instrument anymore, I had to continue making music," Ace recalls. "He said that he knew that was what I had to do to make some sense of the diagnosis and give meaning to the rest of my life, as opposed to just suffering. So I developed a sense of purpose for my life - probably more than any other time."

To begin, Ace had to learn a whole new way of making music; using one finger, some computer software and email. It was a daunting task, but Ace quickly found a benefit. He explains, "When I'm writing music or lyrics I completely get lost in it - I forget that I have any kind of disability."

The example of his work, his defiance in the face of a grim fate, and the songs on Toxic Charm that will be his legacy. Ace concludes, "When faced with a difficult situation, everyone has a choice to make - to let it define you as a person, or make the most of the time you have left. What I'm committed to leaving behind as a legacy is the truth I've learned: Anyone can achieve their dream, no matter what the circumstances."

The entire CD can be heard here: www.acenoface.com.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, ALS awareness month, Ace Noface

Stuart Weber Celebrates Upcoming Release of The Fifth Row - A Salute to Vintage American Venues - with Concert

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:53:42 GMT

Concert at Bozeman, Montana's Ellen Theatre Saturday, May 2nd Featuring Special Guests - The Meritage Quartet

BOZEMAN, Mont., April 30 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The Instrumental virtuoso and social networking champion returns to One Prime Recording Location of his breathtaking new album - an acoustic marvel! On Saturday May 2nd, 2009, at 8 p.m., classical guitarist Stuart Weber will be bringing his fret board magic to Bozeman, Montana for an acoustic concert at the Ellen Theatre - one of eleven hallowed locations in which the musician recorded his stunning new album "The Fifth Row: An Acoustic Tour of Historic Theatres."

On this highly anticipated audiophile project - set for release on Weber's own Bridger Artists Inc. label on July 7, 2009 - Weber closes the CD with a quietly inspiring rendition of "America the Beautiful" that was recorded in the Ellen, which opened as a movie theatre in 1919 and is currently enjoying a revival of its own, having just reopened its doors to live performances for the first time in decades. This makes the concert Mr. Weber is bringing to the Ellen Theatre a poignant and purposeful occasion.

On "The Fifth Row," Mr. Weber recorded eleven pieces in eleven treasured yet often troubled theatres in the heartland American states of Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. That he would undertake such a painstaking process to preserve the very sound of these endangered venues reveals a mere glimpse of the pioneering spirit that drives him as an artist and advocate. That same spirit propels him as among the first classical music artists to proactively utilize social networking outlets such as Facebook and Twitter to promote his artistic undertakings and the importance behind them - an innovative twist as yet rarely exploited by his peers.

Mr. Weber will be joined by another prestigious group for this monumental Ellen Theatre show - Bozeman, Montana's own Meritage Quartet - a string group consisting of Carrie Krause, Stephen Cepeda, Mary Carson and Peter Landeen. Formed in 2005 and taking its name from the word in wine making circles defined as "a pleasing blend of flavors where no one ingredient is dominant," the Meritage Quartet was one of two groups from around the country invited to attend the Deer Valley Music Festival's 2007 "Emerging Quartets and Composers Program." The group premiered a work by composer Joan Panetti at the festival, will premier another new work this season by composer Eric Funk, and will be featured on the arts show 11th and Grant on public television.

Over the last two decades, classical guitarist Stuart Weber has emerged as one of today's most forward thinking virtuosos in both his interpretations of the classics and his richly melodic original compositions. A student of the master Christopher Parkening, Weber relied on one of his ground rule teachings for his latest offering. "He taught me that your entire thought process is on your right hand - which is producing the tone - but your ears have to be in the house. In that sense you play as if you're in the fifth row, and that's where the title of the CD came from."

Stuart Weber and local heroes The Meritage Quartet's acoustic concert at the Ellen Theatre promises to be an evening of soul-stirring musical Americana.

Stuart Weber's "The Fifth Row: An Acoustic Tour of Historic Theaters," will be available through Weber's own Bridger Artists Inc. July 7, 2009.

For more information, visit: www.stuartweber.com.

Bridger Artists Inc., 111 S. Grand, Suite 202B, Bozeman, MT 59715. All trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, music entertainment, guitarist stuart weber

Song Collaboration has Unique Twist at Golosio Publishing

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES, Calif., April 21 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Golosio Music Publishing (golosio.com) is just a few months old but it has discovered a new way to expand its catalog of songs. The rhythm tracks for a new groove song were created in the Los Angeles studio of John Scott G and then sent to Golosio songwriters, Doug Colosio in Redding, California, and James Sotelo in Portland, Oregon, where two different melodies were created.

"Presto, two songs from one," states G. "The beat is the same, but these two writer/performers invented themes and textures that take the tune in unusual directions."

Many of the songwriters in the Golosio company have expressed interest in this form of serial songwriting. "Now that we know this is an enjoyable project for everyone, we've decided to create an entire album of songs where there are at least two unique perspectives to each tune," G added.

Meanwhile, videos were created for each version of the song, entitled "Audio Lab Test One" and "Audio Lab Test Two." The videos, both of which were directed by the FookMovie artist's collective, are available on YouTube as well as the FookMovie Web site.

Both videos contain images and film clips from the 1940s and 1950s, intercut with modern images to create a kind of "surrealistic art in motion," states a spokesperson for FookMovie. There are also satirical titles and many sudden "shock cuts" and subliminal images scattered through the videos.

In addition to John Scott G, James Sotelo, and Doug Colosio, songwriters working with Golosio Publishing include Scott Joss (country, Texas swing), Mel J (hip hop), and DJ Insane (trance), as well as country writers Greg Colosio, Dave Churchill, Dennis Barney, Jim Dyer, and Wayne Dean. Doug Colosio has written with Merle Haggard while Scott Joss has collaborated with both Haggard and Dwight Yoakam.

You have heard Golosio music in commercials for Verizon Wireless, Goodyear, the Auto Club, Micron, General Dynamics, and numerous regional brands. Golosio is affiliated with the three major U.S. performing rights organizations, BMI (Golosio Publishing), ASCAP (Audio Masterworks), and SESAC (Golosio Audio Masterworks).

For more information about song licensing or to commission the creation of a new song, contact John Scott G at 818-223-8486. More information onlinen: www.golosio.com.

Video news release (Video: "Audio Lab Test Two"):
www.Send2Press.com/newswire/09-04-0421-001.shtml

*(PHOTO 72dpi: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/09-0421-Golosio_72dpi.jpg)
*(Photo Caption: L-R, John Scott G and Doug Colosio.)

All trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Golosio Music Publishing, FookMovie videos

Leon Ware - The Sensual Minister - Celebrates Motown's 50th Anniversary with Special Encore Concert at Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood on April 16

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:50:33 GMT

"Tax Relief For The Soul" Concert Will Also Usher in Podcasts, Chats and New Music!

LOS ANGELES, Calif., April 7 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- For a man who will be 70 next year, singer/songwriter extraordinaire Leon Ware is working up a storm! Still promoting his acclaimed Stax Records debut, Moon Ride, featuring the divine new single "Hold Tonight," Ware is also taking a moment to reflect long and deep on his hallowed history with legendary Motown Records - now celebrating its 50th Anniversary.

When Leon Ware performs in Los Angeles, the stars come out. And that's exactly what is expected on Thursday April 16 when he once again takes the stage of Hollywood's premier jazz club, Catalina Bar & Grill for shows at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. - intimate performances of timeless classics and sparkling new compositions. He will be performing with a stellar band consisting of Wayne Linsey on keyboards, Alex Al on bass, Donnell Spencer on drums, Dave Foreman on guitar, the lovely Estaire Godinez on percussion and the vivacious special guest vocalist Nikki Grier.

Motown will be a special emphasis for this show where Ware will revisit songs he composed for some of the company's icons. There's Michael Jackson who as a child recorded Leon's "I Wanna Be Where You Are." And then there is Marvin Gaye, who would have been 70 this year. To honor his memory, Ware will include selections from the sensual boudoir masterwork he composed for Mr. Gaye, the I Want You album, including the smash hit "After the Dance."

In March, Leon Ware performed for Berry Gordy during a gala Motown celebration held at the annual Urban Network Summit in Industry Hills, California. He also participated in a revealing interview for a very special podcast - make that a "Mocast" - all about Marvin Gaye and Motown that will be made available by iTunes on April 14.

Leon Ware is a world renowned songwriter and architect of sensual soul. He has collaborated with many fine artists since the 60s, including the Isley Brothers, Bobby Womack, Minnie Riperton, Quincy Jones, Teena Marie, Maxwell, Loose Ends, Norman Connors, Jazzanova, Amp Fiddler and Omar. An anthology of his work with others was released on the U.K.'s Expansion label titled Leon Ware and Friends. As an artist in his own right, Mr. Ware has also recorded 12 solo albums, his latest being "Moon Ride" on Stax, as part of the classic soul label's recent reinstatement as part of Concord Records.

Catalina Bar & Grill is located at 6725 Sunset Blvd. at McCadden - 1 block east of Highland - Hollywood. For reservations, call 323.466.2210.

For more information, visit: www.leonware.com and www.staxrecords.com.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, singer Leon Ware, Stax Records

New Innovative and Economical Drum Wrap Company Makes Refinishing Your Old Drum Set a Possibility Without Straining Your Finances

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:00:19 GMT

From bars to arenas to music videos, drummers can finally be noticed, stand apart from the rest, and look cool while doing it

EVERETT, Wash., April 3 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sic•Skinz Custom Drum Wraps (www.sicskinz.com) has announced availability of their innovative and easy to install Custom Drum Wraps. These drum wraps allow anyone to effectively re-finish their drum set in a fraction of the time and a fraction of the cost of conventional drum coverings.

With Sic•Skinz Custom Drum Wraps, drummers can express themselves not only musically, but graphically as well, by changing the appearance of the drums in virtually no time at all.

Sic•Skinz Drum Wraps are available in over two-hundred current designs as well as one-off totally custom designs submitted by the artist.

Custom Wraps for other instruments and accessories will be available soon. Prices for the drum wraps are conditional based on size of drum to be covered but average between $45.99 and $119.99 each. Manufacturer Discounts are available to Drum Builders who wish to feature Sic•Skinz on their drums.

Company CEO Brian Tomassetti says, "The added advantage of our product is that it can also be used as a protective covering over the drum's original finish, which so many of our customers tell us they are now doing. All of our customers have expressed a great interest in what we are doing, and feel safe installing our wraps on their drums, we have yet to receive a complaint."

Beyond protecting the original finish of drums, Sic•Skinz Custom Drum Wraps may also be used to finish a raw shell as the original finish, cutting production costs for drum builders dramatically.

Sic•Skinz Custom Drum Wraps do not discernibly alter the sound of the drum when applied and are resilient enough to last the user years. The wraps are easy to install and easy to change when the user wants to "change their look."

About Sic•Skinz Custom Drum Wraps

The company was pioneered by Brian J Tomassetti who has tested and successfully implemented his wraps on numerous drum sets throughout the U.S. over the past two years.

For more information on the product, or to order online, visit www.sicskinz.com or call 800-768-4518.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Sic Skinz, Custom Drum Wraps

Record Label Veteran David Kronemyer Joins Music Industry Newswire as Contributing Editor

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:00:10 GMT

LOS ANGELES, Calif., March 30 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Online-based recording industry publication adds noted music promoter and former record label VP, David Kronemyer to its editorial staff. Kronemyer will contribute expertise on issues related to the business of artist management, music and independent film, as well as a regular column on "Deconstructing Pop Culture." Music Industry Newswire(TM) is a unit of Neotrope(R) Entertainment, established in California in 1983.

"We're excited to have David join the team," said Christopher Simmons, CEO of Neotrope, and MIN editorial director. He adds, "David has a unique perspective on the business of music, the indie film scene, and the metrics of how the traditional business models are being supplanted by new and alternative media."

Music Industry Newswire (www.musicindustrynewswire.com) is an online magazine covering music entertainment, music instruments and technology, industry news, interviews, and how-to articles. It was founded in 1995.

David Kronemyer started his career in the music business playing 12-string electric guitar in a folk rock band. Lacking sufficient talent to continue as a performer he began to manage bands and promote shows. He formerly was Vice President of Capitol Records and Senior Vice President of Atlantic Records. Segueing to the movie business he became President of Gold Circle Films and then President of Cerberus Films. He currently is producing records and directing independent movies, none of which have much commercial potential.

Regular columnists include Loren Weisman, John Scott G (aka recording artist "The G-Man"), and Christopher Laird Simmons. Loren is an accomplished music producer with over 300 albums under his belt, and author of the forthcoming book, "The Artist's Guide for Success in the Music Business." Scott G is a voting member of NARAS, has nearly a dozen albums out, and his marketing firm in Los Angeles provides voiceover and music for radio/TV; and he manages both a music publishing company and music video production firm. Simmons has been writing about the music business since 1984, is an award-winning marketing guru, is frequently interviewed by tech and entertainment publications, has composed music for two cable TV series, and he is a member of ASCAP and PRSA. He is also the author of "fractopia," a book of digital artwork (ISBN 978-0-9710555-0-6 hardcover).

For more information, visit: musicindustrynewswire.com/staff.

Music Industry Newswire(TM) is part of the Neotrope(R) News Network (www.neotrope.net). Neotrope is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, David Kronemyer, Christopher Simmons

Critical Sun Recordings and Darrius Willrich are Proud to Present Darrius' New Album 'Can't Get Enough'

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:32:59 GMT

Release Party at the Triple Door in Seattle

SEATTLE, Wash., March 26 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Darrius Willrich and Critical Sun Recordings bring you the CD Release - and the release party - for Darrius' new album "Can't Get Enough," on the Main Stage at the Triple Door in Seattle Washington on April 29th, 2009. Twenty five percent of all profits from the album go to PATH, "an international, nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health."

Seattle's soul-singer-songwriter Darrius Willrich drips a sensuous interplay of soul, jazz, and inner city longings. His new album "Can't Get Enough" comprises a hard-hitting collection of Sweet Urban Soul productions. This full-length album features a visionary blend of live, electronic, programmed and sequenced instrumentation.

Donors have already pledged $1 per seat filled at the release event for "Can't Get Enough." With capacity at 300 this could mean a sizable donation to PATH in one event!

Initial donors include: Kevin Thomas of BDYD Entertainment, A Lil' Mo' Love Foundation, Royal 1 Productions and Tamara Rashid.

The Triple Door is located on 216 Union Street in downtown Seattle across from the Benaroya Hall featuring world-class entertainment and the award-winning food and wine of Wild Ginger. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29th, 2009. All ages are welcome. For more information visit their website at www.thetripledoor.net. For tickets dial 206.838.4333.

CD Summary:
Label: Critical Sun Recordings (indie)
Artist: Darrius
CD Title: Can't Get Enough
UPC: 884501070065 (Audio CD)
SRP: $10.00

More information on Darrius, the new album "Can't Get Enough" and the CD release party is available at www.darriuswillrich.com. Listen to samples of Darrius' new album, "Can't Get Enough" by visiting his new website (darriuswillrich.com) or his MySpace page, www.myspace.com/darriuswillrich.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Darrius Willrich, Critical Sun Recordings

70's Pop Icon's Music Has Come-Back to the Symphony in a Most Unusual Way

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:20:56 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 20 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The music of the late John Denver is like an old friend, outlasting trends and standing the test of time, but that's not the case with the original John Denver orchestrations, says Jim Curry Music. More than a decade has passed since the music of American composer John Denver has graced the stage of a symphony orchestra with the original orchestrations used by John himself.

The reason for this long absence was that the original orchestration parts had all been destroyed after John's death in 1997. The only remaining parts left were the original composer scores, written in pencil and safely kept in a vault in California by the composer and arranger, Lee Holdridge. What would posses someone to destroy hundreds of pages of American music history? Especially works that were hand written in the 1970's at a time when computer written music was not available. One can only guess that the people managing the John Denver estate did not know what they had or how valuable it was.

Not all is lost! When the acclaimed John Denver tribute artist Jim Curry learned that the scores had been destroyed he embarked on a project together with Lee Holdridge that would take nearly eight months. Curry, who's voice was heard in the CBS-TV movie "Take Me Home: The John Denver Story," has performed Denver's music in sold out shows throughout the country and has emerged as today's top performer of Denver's vast legacy of multi-platinum hits. To fulfill his desire for John's music to live again in a symphony performance, Jim had commissioned the orchestra parts to be meticulously extracted from the penciled originals and readied for performance this April 17th 2009 in a world premiere with the Kansas City Symphony.

This unique come-back of America's Troubadour goes beyond just another tribute. Lee Holdridge himself will be guest conducting the orchestra. The concert will include large screen projections of photos of John Denver's life and nature scenes to accompany popular songs like "Sunshine On My Shoulders," "Annie's Song" and "Country Roads." John's original music videos, provided by photographer Lowell Norman will accompany hits like "Calypso," "Eagle and the Hawk" and "Matthew."

Special songs like "Yellowstone: Coming Home," the last known song to have been written by John, will be performed with Lee's original arrangement. This incredible song had only been performed by John in live performances and to this day has never been recorded. In addition, as if that were not enough, Jim is bringing in John Denver's band members; world renowned percussionist Richie Gajate Garcia and world champion finger style guitarist Pete Huttlinger. Garcia and Huttlinger will join Jim as part of the six piece band that will perform with the Kansas City Symphony in what is sure to be an amazing moment in music history.

The popularity of this news has spread across the country and Jim will be performing this concert with the Santa Rosa symphony in California, the Phoenix Symphony in Arizona, and the Toledo Symphony in Ohio in 2010. Other symphonies are already lining up into year 2011 to bring in this show to their patrons. Interest has been shown by some prominent Canadian symphonies as well. "It is a testimony to the universal appeal of John's music all over the world," Curry said. "From China to England and from the Netherlands to Australia, John's music is loved by millions."

Kansas City Symphony: Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. www.kcsymphony.org.

More information about Jim Curry: www.jimcurrymusic.com.

IMAGES FOR MEDIA:
*(PHOTO 300dpi: www.Send2Press.com/photobay/09-0320-JimCurry_300dpi.jpg)
*(Photo Caption: Acclaimed John Denver tribute artist Jim Curry.)

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Jim Curry, John Denver tribute

Audiolife Sponsors the PureVolume.com House During Indie Music's Biggest Event of the Year

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:13:07 GMT

Audiolife will sponsor The PureVolume.com House in March 2009 to bring indie artists an opportunity to party, play, and profit from their music

LOS ANGELES, Calif., March 11 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com), an Artist Services platform designed for indie artists to sell music online and on-demand to fans, has announced that it will officially sponsor The PureVolume.com House in Austin, Texas. The sponsorship will provide Audiolife with the opportunity to offer its groundbreaking web-platform to PureVolume's extensive list of indie artists surrounding the most highly anticipated interactive music conference of the year.

From March 13th - 21st, Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com) will be one of the sponsors of the 4th Annual PureVolume.com House event (www.PureVolume.com/TheHouse) taking place at 2nd Street and Trinity in Austin, Texas. The event, which spans 9 days/nights and boasts 50+ performing bands, an open bar, and the latest after hours during the music festival, sets the perfect stage for unsigned artists to interact with Audiolife and learn about their innovative technology, tools, and resources specifically designed for musicians.

"We are extremely excited for this chance to team up with one of the most highly respected web-based promotion platforms in the music industry," remarked Brandon Hance, Founder and CEO of Audiolife. "PureVolume's reputation for being on the cutting edge of the industry precedes them, and we believe this sponsorship provides a unique opportunity for us to reach artists from all over the country."

"The PureVolume.com House is a great way for Audiolife to reach thousands of independent artists," added Josh Rowe of PureVolume. "The free tools and apps they offer definitely empower musicians to take control of their careers, and I'm excited to see how artists will respond and utilize their platform."

About Audiolife

Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com), a division of Inhance Media, is an Artist Services Company founded in 2005 by USC graduates Brandon Hance, Aaron Wiener, and Nishit Rathod. Based in Los Angeles, California, the company is currently in public beta and continues their dedication to empowering artists through new technology solutions.

All trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Audiolife PureVolume, artist services company

Audiolife Offers The Most Cost-Effective, Flexible, and Profitable Way to Sell CDs Online

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:02:34 GMT

Audiolife, an Artist Services Company headquartered in Los Angeles, has built a new technology platform that will change the way indie artists sell CDs online

LOS ANGELES, Calif., March 3 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com), the Los Angeles-based Artist Services Company responsible for the development of a new media web-platform specifically designed for indie artists to sell music online and on-demand to fans, has released an in-depth report of findings on the future of selling CDs online. The report, "The New Way to Sell CDs Online: More Cost-Effective, Flexible and Profitable," compares the Audiolife model to competitors like CD Baby and Nimbit, and provides clear quantitative data to support the advantages of using Audiolife.

The data proves that artists who sell up to 2,500 CDs online will make more money through Audiolife than they would through traditional CD distribution outlets. There are currently hundreds of thousands of artists selling their CDs online that don't sell more than 2,500 units. In fact, the average artist on CD Baby sells less than 5 CDs per year. This new model offers a cost-effective alternative that will allow artists to spend money on marketing themselves rather than upfront merchandise costs.

"Our goal with this report is to educate artists, record labels and the industry at large about the practical and economic advantages of using the Audiolife platform," stated Brandon Hance, Audiolife Founder and CEO. "We believe that artists should be focusing on creating and marketing great music rather than worrying about logistics, vendor management and up-front merchandise costs."

In addition to the financial advantages, the report explains the practical advantages of Audiolife such as speed to market, creative flexibility, and the removal of inventory management. This empowers artists to sell new products such as EPs, custom CDs for fans, and live concert albums that wouldn't have been available otherwise.

To download the Report visit: tinyurl.com/AudiolifeReport.

About Audiolife

Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com), a division of Inhance Media, is an Artist Services Company founded in 2005 by USC graduates Brandon Hance, Aaron Wiener, and Nishit Rathod. Based in Los Angeles, California, the company is currently in public beta and continues their dedication to empowering artists through new technology solutions.

Contact: Rebekah Iliff
Audiolife
Phone 310-770-8338
Rebekah@Audiolife.com

All trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Audiolife music sales, artist services company

Soundrangers Online Sound Library Launches New Web Site

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:33:07 GMT

SEATTLE, Wash., Feb. 24 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Soundrangers announces the launch of their new web site, www.soundrangers.com. Founded in 1998, Soundrangers.com was the first online sound library to specialize in creating royalty free sound effects and music specifically designed for the emerging world of interactive and online media. From the beginning their focus was to provide high quality sound effects and music for bandwidth sensitive applications such as video games, websites and software while utilizing a website delivery system focused on quick and easy sound auditioning, selection and download.

As more and more traditional media, such as film and television, are becoming available online, Soundrangers continues to grow to accommodate the evolving uses of sound content in modern media.

Soundrangers.com introduces several innovations with their latest web site update. Users can now create playlists or collections of sounds known as Soundboxes. These Soundboxes can help organize sounds per project, can be shared with others or sent to clients for approval. With refinements to navigation and audition systems, users can easily find and audition any sound from any page on the site in moments. An expanded user's account area has streamlined viewing order history, sending copies of invoices, downloading and re-downloading of purchased sound effects and music files. Adding prepaid funds to accounts allows multiple users access to the library without the hassle of tracking individual company credit cards or multiple POs. Users can also access prepaid funds across multiple accounts so individuals sharing funds don't need to all use the same account.

Everyone from web designers, game developers and software makers to podcast producers and film makers, know that high quality sound effects and music can help distinguish products in the competitive high-tech and entertainment industries. However, trying to find or create sound content that will work with the unique demands of interactive and online media can be a challenge. Soundrangers continues to lead the way, making finding and using sounds easier than ever.

Soundrangers is a Seattle-based company that creates all original royalty free music and sound effects optimized for both interactive and online media. They sell these sound files via their website.

Soundrangers also provides custom sound design and music for clients such as Eidos, Postopia, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Electronic Arts, Activision, Microsoft Game Studios, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and Nintendo.

More information: http://www.Soundrangers.com.

All trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Soundrangers audio, royalty free music

Concert to Raise Funds to Fight Chronic Disease in Hawaii

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:45:25 GMT

HONOLULU, Hawaii, Feb. 17 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- A concert to benefit health education and disease prevention in Hawaii will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 28 at the Honolulu Central Seventh-day Adventist church by Rosalina Vega, a gospel artist that promoters are calling the "New Sound in Christian Music." The concert, sponsored by Walk of Faith Productions, comes as part of Vega's Hawaiian tour to promote her new album, "He is Here" which, according to Arnie Suntag, the album's executive producer, is being used to help raise funds to educate the public about chronic disease and to further the gospel message.

"Chronic disease is rampant in Hawaii," says Suntag. "Many are dying needlessly from diseases such as diabetes, and this can be prevented or overcome by diet and lifestyle changes. We will only win the battle against chronic disease by educating the public about the link between diet and disease and by helping them to make informed choices about the foods they eat."

The concert, sponsored by Walk of Faith, a health and lifestyle education program and community outreach in Kohala on the Big Island, is the last in a series of concerts performed by Vega on her Hawaiian tour. Suntag, who is also the program director for Walk of Faith, calls the concert a "major event in Christian music." He says that many will be pleasantly surprised by Vega's style and message.

"This is not run-of-the-mill Christian music by any means," says Suntag. "The songs to be performed by Rosalina, a few of which are from the new album, are truly powerful and unique and will leave many with tears of joy in their eyes." The concert will be taped by Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) for later broadcast.

The concert will also feature Bob Silverman, former pianist and arranger for the Heritage Singers. Silverman has performed throughout the world. He has appeared on TBN, 3ABN, and other major television networks.

Vega expressed enthusiasm about her new album and the upcoming concert, stating that she has dedicated her life to helping others find a real faith in God. "We are going through very difficult times right now where we all need to take a closer look at ourselves and how we are living our lives," says Vega. "It is my earnest hope that, through the music, many will open up their hearts to God's presence and make changes that will help them to find peace, hope, and ultimately salvation."

The songs from Vega's album feature the piano and arranging of Michael Andrews, pianist and arranger for the television series "It is Written," with Shawn Boonstra. "The album was a joint effort by the entire team to produce something of real value that would make a difference in the lives of others," says Suntag. "It is our hope that proceeds from CD sales and concerts will help us reach many more throughout Hawaii and reverse the trend of disease that is devastating our loved ones."

"He is Here" is available on many of the Internet's major retailers and at select stores. For more information on the album and the upcoming concert, visit www.rosalinavega.com or call 888-468-6921.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, gospel artist Rosalina Vega, Walk of Faith Productions

Reckon Memoir Launches New EP

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:54:59 GMT

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Feb. 17 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Reckon Memoir, a pop/rock band originally from Orange County, Calif., established in the year 2007, announced today the release of their first self entitled EP which features four songs from their repertoire. This four song preview to their upcoming album includes songs Domino Effect, Just Leave, Shattered, and Blindfolded; songs that - after being played in front of audiences around L.A. and Orange County - people are very exited about.

During the last year Lead Singer Sasha, Guitarist Enrique, and Drummer Chris, have been creating fresh new pop/rock songs in different studios and rehearsal rooms trying to write great songs that will hit radio airwaves in the near future. Blindfolded, a song written by singer Sasha and Grammy-award winning producer Harvey Mason Jr., is the first track of this EP; giving you an idea of what kind of content to expect. The remaining songs were written by the band.

"We have been writing together for more than a year now, and it has been a great experience," says lead singer, Sasha. "I have learned so much from these guys and I think we have a great future ahead of us. We decided to record these 4 songs, from a repertoire of more than 15 tracks, to create a buzz between fans and friends while we continue to perfect those 15 songs; which we are planning to record and release in an album format pretty soon."

The band played at the club Good Hurt in West Los Angeles, this past Friday, February 13th to give away copies of their EP to fans and friends and to continue with the promotion of the band and the growth of their fan base. They are going to be playing on Saturday, February 21st in Huntington Beach, at the Gallaghers Club and also several dates in March around Southern California.

This new EP is a "great outlook for the pop/rock scene."

More info about Reckon Memoir on MySpace:
www.myspace.com/reckonmemoir

Contact: reckonmemoir@gmail.com.

EPK (Electronic Press Kit):
www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=162057

All trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Reckon Memoir band, producer Harvey Mason Jr

NARIP Announces 2009 Best in the Biz Winners

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:10:00 GMT

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb, 3 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The winners are in! Chop Shop's Alexandra Patsavas, Live Nation's Creighton Burke and Universal Music & Video Distribution's Jim Urie won by a landslide in the 2009 Best of the Biz List from NARIP (National Association of Record Industry Professionals), which recognizes excellence and high professional standards in our business. NARIP's list identifies top-level executive talent and know-how in major areas of the record and music industries.

This year NARIP's poll generated nearly five times as many votes as last year. Several individuals stand out because they won by such wide margins in their respective categories and deserve additional applause for this: Alexandra Patsavas, Best Music Supervisor; Creighton Burke, Best Concert Promoter Executive; Jim Urie, Best Traditional Record Distribution Executive; Josh Rabinowitz, Top Music-Ad Agency Executive; Rick Rubin, Best Music Producer.

NARIP congratulates all the nominees and winners. A toast to excellence!

About NARIP

The National Association of Record Industry Professionals (NARIP) promotes education, career advancement and good will among record executives. With an emphasis on becoming better informed and more effective executives, NARIP offers professional development opportunities, educational programs and seminars, the opportunity to meet and interact with peers, a job bank, a member resume database for employers, a mentor network, a newsletter and other services.

NARIP was created specifically for - and is restricted to - record industry professionals. To qualify for membership, you must work at a major or independent label, record distributor, record marketing or personal management firm. Lawyers, publicists and consultants whose main client base is the record business are also welcome.

A toast to excellence! And the awards go to:

Top Artist Manager (6 nominees)
Ian Montone (34.6-percent of the vote)
Irving Azoff
Jim Guerinot

Best Source for Music Business News (6 nominees)
Billboard (50.6-percent of the vote)
Digital Music News
Allaccess.com

Best Concert Promotion Company (6 nominees)
Live Nation (49-percent of the vote)
Goldenvoice
AEG

Best Concert Promoter Executive (7 nominees)
Creighton Burke of Live Nation (30.7-percent of the vote)
Bill Silva, Bill Silva Presents
Paul Tollett, Goldenvoice

Top Consultant / Strategist (5 nominees)
Ann Jones, Music Today (40.5-percent of the vote)
Eugene Foley, Foley Entertainment
Thomas A. White

Best Digital Distribution Company (6 nominees)
iTunes (51.2-percent of the vote)
IRIS Distribution
Independent Distribution Collective

Best Traditional Distribution Executive (6 nominees)
Jim Urie, Universal Music & Video Distribution (37.3-percent of the vote)
Bob Frank, KOCH Distribution
Steffen Franz, Independent Distribution Collective

Best Traditional Distribution Company (5 nominees)
Universal Music & Video Distribution (48.3-percent of the vote)
KOCH Distribution
Fontana Distribution

Top Marketing Professional, Online or Traditional (8 nominees)
Liz Heller, Buzztone (16.8-percent of the vote)
Jackie Wilgar, Live Nation
Allison McGregor, CAA

Top Music Business Attorney (6 nominees)
Don Passman (28.4-percent of the vote)
Dina LaPolt
Jeffrey T. Light

Top Music Business Writer / Journalist (7 nominees)
Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna, RollingStone.com / Suicide Girls (20.8-percent of the vote)
Jon Pareles, New York Times
Susan Butler, Billboard

Top Music Producer (6 nominees)
Rick Rubin (39.7-percent of the vote)
Mark Ronson
Timbaland

Top Music Publishing Company (6 nominees)
EMI Music Publishing (29.4-percent of the vote)
Cherry Lane Music Publishing
Bug Music

Top Music Publishing Executive (7 nominees)
Big John Platt, EMI Music Publishing 28-percent of the vote)
Martin Bandier, Sony/ATV
Richard Stumpf, Cherry Lane

Top Music Supervisor (9 nominees)
Alexandra Pastavas (30.4-percent of the vote)
P.J. Bloom, Neophonic
Gary Calamar

Top New Media Executive (5 nominees)
Tie between Bryn Boughton, IRIS Distribution/BlinkerActive and Heather Luttrell, IndieClick, both (28.8-percent of the vote)
Ethan Kaplan, Warner Bros. Records
Richard Conlon, BMI

Top Publicist (7 nominees)
Christopher Buttner, PRThatRocks.com (21.7-percent of the vote)
Alexandra Greenberg, Mitch Schneider Organization
Angelica Cob-Baehler, Virgin Records

Top Radio Promotion Executive (6 nominees)
Howard Rosen, Howard Rosen Promotion (33.2-percent of the vote)
Chris Lopes, Interscope Records
Bill Burrs, RCA Records

Top Record Company President or CEO (7 nominees)
Jimmy Iovine, Interscope Records (33.5-percent of the vote)
Doug Morris, Universal Music Group
Ken Cmar, Wonderdrug Records

Top Retailer (7 nominees)
ITunes (44-percent of the vote)
Amazon
Amoeba

Top Sales Executive (6 nominees)
Amy Zaret, Warner Bros. Records (25.9-percent of the vote)
Ron Spaulding, Fontana
Dave Stein

Top Auditor / CPA (6 nominees)
Fred Wolinsky (22.6-percent of the vote)
Matt Jones
Matt Hurewitz

Top Royalty Tracker / Collector (5 nominees)
Jon R. Hichborn, Records On The Wall (38.8-percent of the vote)
Eric Palmquist, Walt Disney Music Company
Julia Burzan, AMRA

Best music business conference or event (9 nominees)
SXSW (41.3-percent of the vote)
MIDEM
Tie between CMJ and Billboard Film & TV

Best music or record industry association(s) (3 nominees)
Association of Independent Music Publishers (49.6-percent of the vote)
California Copyright Conference
Recording Academy

Top Music-Brand Executive (7 nominees)
Steffan Franz & Greg Gordon, epiphyterecords.com (21.7-percent of the vote)
Del Bryant, BMI
Bryn Boughton, BlinkerActive

Top Brand-Music Executive (6 nominees)
Chad Vogelsong, JVC (24.7-percent of the vote)
Dante Piacenta, Elias Arts
Ember Harker, Creative Metaphor Design

Top Music-Ad Agency Executive (5 nominees)
Josh Rabinowitz, Grey (34.1-percent of the vote)
Ryan Fitch, Saatchi & Saatchi
Paul Greco, Young & Rubicam

Top Music-Friendly Brand (6 nominees)
Apple (66.8-percent of the vote - wow!)
Volkswagen
Target

Top Music-Brand Firm (8 nominees)
Cornerstone (30-percent of the vote)
Rock River Music
ACME

For more information, visit:
www.narip.com

*(LOGO 72dpi: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/09-0203-NARIP_72dpi.jpg)

All trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, NARIP Biz Awards, Record Industry Professionals

Karriem Riggins Plays with Herbie Hancock, Elton John, Diana Krall on Sundance Channel's Spectacle

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:59:49 GMT

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Feb. 2 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Luminary drummer and hip-hop producer Karriem Riggins will be in good company, performing with Herbie Hancock, Elton John, and Diana Krall on Sundance's new series "Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...." Riggins was called upon to play drums on two of the season's episodes, first with Herbie Hancock (airing February 4th 9:00 p.m. EST), and second with Diana Krall, with whom he tours, on an episode also featuring Elton John (airing February 18th 9:00 p.m. EST).

A virtuoso, Riggins has taken love and molded it into life through his talents and passion. He moved from Detroit to New York City at 19 where he played with, and was mentored by jazz great Betty Carter.

From there his career-to-date has been spent playing with legends of Jazz and the most influential voices of Hip-Hop. From recording with Oscar Peterson and Ray Brown to touring with Kanye West, Common, and more, he has spread across the gamut between genres. He has produced songs for Erykah Badu, The Roots, and Talib Kweli and played drums behind Bobby Hutchinson, Donald Byrd, and now Herbie Hancock.

Riggins currently lives in Los Angeles, and is working on his first self-titled album, showcasing his unique range as a producer, drummer, and emcee. His collaboration with Los Angeles native multi-instrumentalist Madlib entitled The Supreme Team is slated for a 2009 release on Stones Throw Records.

"Spectacle: Elvis Costello With..." showcases performances by legendary music acts of the past 40 years, as well as discourse on topics between music and life; from one-on-one interviews to themed panel discussions. Spectacle, about halfway through its first season, has thus-far featured President Bill Clinton, Tony Bennett, The Police, and Norah Jones among other sonic dignitaries.

A full biography is available at Karriem's official website: www.karriemriggins.com.

*(Photo Link 72dpi: http://www.karriemriggins.com/images/karriemclose.jpg)

*(Photo Caption: Karriem Riggins)

For additional information, or media queries, please contact:
Jason Barber
of THE JAE.B GROUP
for Karriem Riggins
jae@karriemriggins.com

All trademarks and service marks are the property of the respective parties.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, drummer Karriem Riggins, sundance elvis costello

Hitt Music Group Collaborates with American Airlines

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:37:16 GMT

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Jan. 29 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Hitt Music Group is happy to announce the continuing success of their collaboration with American Airlines and Beat Marketing. HMG artists are now appearing exclusively on two separate channels as part of AA's in-flight entertainment.

Music from Black Market Corp., Patrick Leonard, Nathan Morris, Kevin Lint, Avowed, Nothing Ever Stays, Not An Airplane, Jacqueline Rose and Astronauts of Antiquity have been available throughout the month of January on board all domestic and international flights.

The playlists will also be listed in various publications, such as AA's On, and will also be featured in locations such as Landmark Theaters, Diesel and Urban Outfitters retail stores. HMG artists will share airtime alongside groups such as Cold War Kids, Oasis, The Cure, Lucinda Williams and The Verve.

Hitt Music Group is a music placement and development service located in the heart of the entertainment industry in Hollywood, CA. For more information, please contact David Hitt at (323) 230-5647.

All trademarks acknowledged. No celebrity endorsement claimed or implied.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Hitt Music Group, Beat Marketing

Audiolife: Indie Artists and Music Industry Pros Hail New On-Demand Technology as the Future of Promoting and Selling Music and Merchandise Online

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:01:14 GMT

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Jan. 28 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- As the economy continues to spiral downward, and cost efficiency takes center stage with every industry from finance to fashion, the young entrepreneurs behind Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com) could not have chosen a better climate to launch their groundbreaking technology and web-platform specifically designed to empower artists to make money.

Not only does the solution fill a long-standing void in the music industry, but it also provides artists the opportunity to design, promote and sell their music and merchandise online with no up-front costs or physical inventory.

"A lot of companies come through my office trying to sell me on their latest distribution technology and websites," remarked Kevin Lyman, President of 4Fini Inc., Founder Vans Warped Tour. "But Audiolife clearly offers the best, most comprehensive solution for unsigned artists and bands that need a means to monetize and distribute their music and merchandise."

The Audiolife platform allows artists to:

* Create their own virtual store with an unlimited number of downloads, ringtones, CDs and merchandise items.

* Sell directly to fans on any website, blog or social network on the web.

* Have one central place to design custom products and manage all e-commerce.

* Easily buy high quality, affordable CDs and merchandise with no minimums for live shows and events.

* Focus on making music while Audiolife handles all on-demand manufacturing, distribution, customer service and accounting.

"Audiolife was built around the specific needs of artists," remarked Brandon Hance, Founder and CEO of Audiolife. "We have spent over three years identifying the challenges artists have when trying to build their careers, and we have created a solution that integrates all of their needs into a single website that completely eliminates the need for start-up capital. Our goal is to create a middle class in the music industry by empowering artists and record labels with the necessary tools to make money in the new music business."

After using Audiolife's platform during private beta, Indie Band The Harm noted: "I don't know why it took so long for music companies to leverage the internet. Before, it was such a hassle directing my fans to several different companies to purchase all our music and merchandise. Now we only go through Audiolife - and it's so easy to use and cost-efficient, for both our band and our fans! Glad to see there's finally a company catching on."

About Audiolife

Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com) a division of Inhance Media, is an Artist Services Company founded in 2005 by USC graduates Brandon Hance, Aaron Wiener, and Nishit Rathod. Based in Los Angeles, California, the company is currently in public beta and continues their dedication to empowering artists through new technology solutions.

All trademarks acknowledged.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, indie music marketing, Audiolife Inhance Media

Classical Guitar Wonder Stuart Weber Celebrates Great American Concert Houses with New Release 'The Fifth Row'

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:51:30 GMT

Eleven Recordings in Eleven Venues Through Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana

BOZEMAN, Mont., Jan. 27 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Over the last two decades, classical guitarist Stuart Weber has emerged as one of today's most forward thinking virtuosos in both his interpretations of the classics and his richly melodic original compositions. With his latest offering, "The Fifth Row" (Bridger Artists Inc.), he takes that ingenuity of spirit to a whole new arena...make that eleven new arenas! Subtitled An Acoustic Tour of Historic Theaters, The Fifth Row (in stores April 21st) finds Weber taking his guitar on the road for an intimate series of recordings within the walls of some of America's treasured - and oftentimes troubled - concert halls.

"While working outdoors on my Montana farm, I started thinking about how I wasn't excited about revisiting the same old process of making another album in the studio," Weber shares. "Then I recalled times when I would go on tour, and the theater managers would often tell me about how at some point in time that very hall had a date to meet the wrecking ball, often saved in the nick of time by concerned citizens not wanting to lose another historical landmark." That's when Weber got the idea to immortalize some of these endangered venues by recording his solo guitar in them, capturing their unique acoustical properties with tailor made performances.

Each place had its specific challenges, but each ultimately provided the locale for a unique performance from Weber - from the haunting original "Tango on Spanish Creek" recorded at the state of the art (for 1936) Art Deco Washoe Theatre in Anaconda, Montana to the stark beauty of Bartok's "Evening at The Village" recorded at the intimate western themed Sheridan Opera House in Telluride, Colorado.

After a costly false start that forced Weber to discard seven hard-won recordings, the determined guitarist and his engineering consultants settled upon the perfect audio equipment to capture both the intricacies of Stuart's playing and, as importantly, the audio thumbprint of the rooms. The other key decision was for all of the sessions to be done in the dead of night - between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.

The solitude set the stage for Weber to truly "bond" with each hall, rooting out its unique acoustic properties as he would do take after take until he mastered just the right dynamics to make the most of the room. A student of the master Christopher Parkening, Weber relied on one of his ground rule teachings. "You have to hear the way you're making the room respond to you and adjust your playing accordingly. In that sense you play as if you're in the fifth row, and that's where the title of the CD came from."

With each venue in mind - historically and architecturally - Weber picked one selection apiece to honor the venue. "For example, the Wilma Theatre in Montana has an Eastern European quality architecturally so I played 'Humoresque' by the Czechoslovakian composer Dvorak to match. It's a very famous piano piece that I transcribed on a dare - a major challenge for the guitar."

"This album is not about me, it's about these great old theatres," Weber concludes. "For that reason alone, I strongly feel this is the most refreshing CD I've ever made."

More information: www.stuartweber.com.

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TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, guitarist Stuart Weber, Bridger Artists Inc

Producer Loren Weisman Joins Music Industry Newswire as Contributing Editor

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:55:22 GMT

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Jan. 19 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Online-based recording industry publication adds noted music producer Loren Weisman to its editorial staff. Weisman will contribute expertise on issues related to the pro side of the industry, as well as a regular column on how to succeed in the music business for indie bands and artists. Music Industry Newswire(TM) (MIN) is a unit of Neotrope(R) Entertainment, established in California in 1983.

"We're excited to have Loren join the team," said Christopher Simmons, CEO of Neotrope, and MIN editorial director. He adds, "In addition to commentary on things that tickle his fancy, Loren will be providing practical wisdom from the viewpoint of somebody who continues to succeed in this tough business."

Music Industry Newswire (www.musicindustrynewswire.com) is an online magazine covering music entertainment, music instruments and technology, industry news, interviews, and how-to articles. MIN was founded in 1995.

Loren Weisman is an accomplished music producer based in Seattle, Washington. Having worked on over three hundred albums, Loren has also worked on numerous television, film, video game and radio productions, from New York to Los Angeles, Boston to Seattle. Loren is also the founder of Brain Grenade Entertainment LLC, and the author of the Freedom Solutions Recording Plan. Loren has also written a forthcoming book, "The Artists Guide for Success in the Music Business" (2009), to help independent musicians achieve self sufficient and sustainable success.

Regular MIN columnists include Scott G (aka recording artist "The G-Man"), and Christopher Laird Simmons. Scott G is a voting member of NARAS, has nearly a dozen albums out, and his marketing firm in Los Angeles provides voiceover and music for radio/TV; and he manages both a music publishing company and music video production firm. Scott's music can be found on iTunes and Delvian Records. Simmons has been writing about the music business since 1984, is frequently interviewed by tech and entertainment pubs, has composed music for two cable TV series, and he is a member of the PRSA and ASCAP. Simmons' music can be found on Amazon, CDbaby, Napster, and iTunes.

For more information, visit: www.musicindustrynewswire.com/staff.

Music Industry Newswire(TM) is part of the Neotrope(R) News Network, which includes Advertising Industry Newswire(TM), California Newswire(R), CitizenWire(TM), Publishers Newswire(TM), eMediaKit(TM), eNewsChannels(TM), Send2Press(R), and many other online and traditional print publishing ventures.

Neotrope is a registered trademark in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks acknowledged.

*(PHOTO 72dpi: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/09-0119-LrnWeisman_72dpi.jpg)

*(Photo Caption: Music producer Loren Weisman.)

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, Neotrope Entertainment, producer Loren Weisman

Award-Winning Music Production and Sound Design Company Offering Free Custom Demos for Limited Time

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:27:13 GMT

GameBeat Studios launches an unprecedented campaign to give advertising and marketing agencies a taste of their "unique versatility."

CHICAGO, Ill., Jan. 12 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- GameBeat Studios announced today that now through March 1, 2009 they will offer free, custom music demos to advertising and marketing agencies for their upcoming radio or television spots. The launch of this unprecedented promotional strategy comes just days before the debut of a new Toyota TV commercial featuring music composed and produced by GameBeat.

Darryl Duncan, GameBeat's president and CEO said taking advantage of the offer is easy: "Simply send us a QuickTime movie file of your spot along with any creative direction and we will compose, arrange, produce, mix and deliver a powerful, effective and on-target piece of music that will compliment your spot perfectly."

Why the offer? "Our goal is simple," says Duncan. "We want to make agencies everywhere aware of our studio's unique and award-winning approach to music production and sound design and ultimately earn a spot on their short list of music vendors." Duncan also revealed that he's on a mission to introduce creative executives around the world to GameBeat's "uncommon creativity."

Since 1998, GameBeat Studios has produced music and sound for the ads of globally recognized brands including Wal-Mart, Sears, McDonalds, Kraft, Miller Beer, Motorola and dozens more.

In just the past two years the Chicago-based company earned 13 top industry awards including 8 Tellys, 3 Addys and 2 Millennium awards.

"Our versatility is one of our biggest assets," said Duncan, whose team has produced spots featuring all musical genres. "We're not just urban music, we do it all," he added.

To take advantage of the custom demo offer, advertising and marketing agencies can contact GameBeat at 708-283-8860 or by email at info@gamebeatstudios.com.

More information: www.gamebeatstudios.com.

All trademarks acknowledged.

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, GameBeat Studios, music for advertising

Joe Sample and Randy Crawford Celebrate 33 Years of Magical Music Making with Their Soul-Slanted Second Duo CD, 'NO REGRETS'

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:01:30 GMT

New Contemporary Jazz CD Hits Stores March 24, 2009

NEW YORK, N.Y., Jan. 7 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Certain exceptional musical matches are unquestionably made in Heaven. The day that ubiquitous keyboard journeyman, and PRA Records recording artist, Joe Sample arrived at the studio to lend his distinctive piano touch to singer extraordinaire Randy Crawford's debut album "Everything Must Change" in 1976, one of the finest pairings in contemporary jazz was born.

Off and on through the years, these soul mates have made sweet music together - from the now classic "Street Life," which Randy sang with Joe's group The Crusaders, to Randy's own album "Now We May Begin," for which Joe was a co-producer. These stellar guest appearances eventually led to the inevitable: a duo project as co-headliners.

March 24, 2009 will see the release of Joe Sample and Randy Crawford's second album of collaborations titled "No Regrets." It's the much anticipated follow-up to their first such collection in 2006, Grammy(R) nominated "Feeling Good," which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and paved the way for a successful string of tours around the world.

"No Regrets" promises to lean in more of a soulful direction, featuring both remakes of R&B classics such as Aretha Franklin's "Today I Sing The Blues" and The Staple Singers' "Respect Yourself," plus other songs from across the eras done in a jazzy-soul style; such as the legendary Edith Piaf chestnut "No Regrets" to contemporary pop singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan's "Angel."

Sample states, "Randy and I wanted to keep this recording on more of the rhythm and blues side. And, as always, we wanted to pick songs that nobody else records."

The result is a collection of music that sets and sustains a laid back late night groove - a time and space where the listener can do just that - relax and really listen to Joe and Randy's custom made takes on everything from blues great Bobby Blue Bland's "Lead Me On" to Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Randy Newman's poignant "Just One Smile"; the latter of which significantly impressed Mr. Newman, who told his old friend Mr. LiPuma personally. Key to setting this mood is the returning rhythm section of world class veterans Steve Gadd on drums and Christian McBride on bass - ultra sensitive sidemen who provide the music with precisely what it requires and nothing more.

This fantastically laid foundation brings out the very best in Miss Randy Crawford for 11 soul-stirring performances. One London Times reviewer marveled at how after 30 plus years her voice still retains such "youth and power." Sample proudly describes her succinctly as "an American treasure."

Joe Sample and Randy Crawford's No Regrets is a top shelf sample of masters at play.

More information: www.prarecords.com.

All trademarks acknowledged.

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*(Photo Caption: Joe Sample and Randy Crawford celebrate their new second duo release - No Regrets - in stores March 24th.)

TAGS: Send2Press Newswire, PRA Records, Joe Sample and Randy Crawford