INDIE NEWS BEAT September 27, 2004 Edition
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* New Album Released To Raise Money For Sudan Crisis
* Waxploitation Set To Release CD To Fight Genocide In Sudan
* Governor Schwarzenegger Prohibits Use Of State Resources For Illegal Downloading Of Copyrighted Material
* Rocktoberfest 2004 - The Offical Florida Hurricane Relief Concert Benefit
* Michael Moore's Songs And Artists That Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11
* Award Winning Guitarists Team On Hot New CD Release
* FCC Proposes Statutory Maximum Fine Of $550,000 Against Viacom-Owned CBS Affiliates For Nipplegate
* MustVote.com Gives Away Music In A Ground-Breaking Voter Registration Campaign
* Booming Market For MP3 Players
* 300 Million US Ringtone Market For 2004
* Sting Bares All For Rainforest Foundation-US In Atlanta
* Music Row Democrats Target Tennesseans With TV Ad
* Ash Street Music Makes Sharp Decision
* ASCAP Announces Strategic Tech Relationship With TransMedia
* Garage Radio Brings In Big Guns To Cover Live Press
* Consumers' Association Refers ITunes To The OFT
* TakeHomeMusic.com Launches With Fare For Fans And Artists
New Album Released To Raise Money For Sudan Crisis
Music industry stars including David Gray, R.E.M., Badly Drawn Boy, Ash and Faithless are today releasing a new album, 'Songs for Sudan' to raise money to help the people of Darfur, Western Sudan.
As the crisis in Darfur continues and as the international community seems unable to take firm action to stop it, 'Songs for Sudan' has been released to raise money for the work Oxfam is doing to help the victims of the conflict.
Releasing 'Songs for Sudan' Badly Drawn Boy (Damon Gough), who has contributed a track for the album said, "Men, Women and Children are still dying everyday in Sudan. People like us might not have the power to stop the violence but at least we can try and help the people who are affected by it. Oxfam is already saving lives, the least we can do is help them to save more."
The new album contains 14 tracks and features exclusive tracks from David Gray, Jet, Ash, and R.E.M. Other artists on the album include Badly Drawn Boy, Futureheads, Faithless and many more.
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Waxploitation Set To Release CD To Fight Genocide In Sudan
Waxploitation Records, a leading record label for hip hop and electronic music, announced today that it will release a charity CD in an attempt to assist in the fight against the Genocide taking place right now in Sudan.
The CD, titled Genocide in Sudan, is slated for a late November release and includes System of a Down, Gorillaz, Jill Scott, Jurassic 5, Thievery Corporation, Kinky, X-ecutioners, Bad Religion, Tortoise, Yoko Ono, Danger Mouse & Murs, Tweaker, The Pretenders, Mark Farina, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, DJ Spooky featuring Lee Scratch' Perry, Toots and The Maytals featuring Bunny Wailer, Teargas & Plateglass, The Nightwatchmen and Rise Against amongst others. More than half the album includes exclusive songs and rarities.
"We're trying to address two things with this CD," says Waxploitation CEO Jeff Antebi, the album's executive producer. "The first is to get the United Nations to declare the ongoing atrocities a genocide, so that real action can take effect to stop what is obviously an ethnic cleansing' taking place, in violation of the 1948 Geneva Convention. The second is to raise money for the dire relief situation effecting over 1 million innocent civilians who might die from starvation and disease if aid does not reach them right now."
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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed Executive Order S-16-04 prohibiting the use of state resources to illegally download copyrighted material.
"So many of the entertainment industry's talented musicians, actors, writers and programmers devote their careers to creating products that enrich our society. We need to do our part to protect the creative and intellectual property they work so hard to create for the rest of us." said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Today California is taking a stand against use of state resources for illegal downloading of this material and standing in support of the work of these talented Californians."
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Rocktoberfest 2004 - The Offical Florida Hurricane Relief Concert Benefit
Rocktoberfest 2004 is being held on Saturday, October 16th at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds in Ft. Pierce, Florida.
Located 50 miles north of West Palm Beach and 50 Miles south of Melbourne, Ft. Pierce is one of the many cities in Florida devastated by Hurricane Frances. Hurricane Frances took its' time hitting land in Stuart, Florida causing widespread destruction along its path as it traveled across the entire state of Florida last week. Frances, the storm that wouldn't quit, came only three weeks after Hurricane Charley, which cause major damage from the gulf coast of Florida and headed north through central florida through Lake Wales and the Orlando area. President Bush had declared the entire state of Florida a "disaster area."
As Florida residents brace themselves for another Hurricane warning from "IVAN", people are trying to bring normality back to their lives. Many have donated food, water, ice, clothing, etc. Thousands of residents are left homeless, no electricity, no food and feeling powerless. The National Guard has been brought in and has helped hundred of individuals and families throughout these areas on a daily basis. Local businesses have opened their doors and offered their services free of charge. Communities are coming together and helping each other.
National Musician's Rocktoberfest 2004, organized prior to Hurricane Frances and Charley's arrival as a festival event with attractions for people of all ages, have decided to help those in need of relief from these terrible storms and bring aide to those who have been effected financially, physcially, and mentally by these devastating times.
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Michael Moore's Songs And Artists That Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11
When I make a film, I take my portable CD case and place in it a series of albums which contain music that reflects the mood I am in and the reasons that are motivating me to make this film. I play these CDs for myself and for my crew. Sometimes we have them playing in the van while we are driving around and filming. Sometimes I listen to them at night, thinking about what I want to accomplish the next day on the shoot. It is not easy to crash Capitol Hill to ask Congressmen if they would like to send THEIR sons to Iraq. Music helps get us there.
The songs contained on this CD are either the actual songs that made up our "on-the-scene" soundtrack, or they are by artists whom I have listened to over the years and have given me much inspiration...
And I hope you enjoy this CD. Though the songs aren't "mine," I feel them in me, and they urge me on to do the work we all need to do. I hope it has the same effect on you. We're all in the same boat, we're all in this together.
Michael Moore
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Award Winning Guitarists Team On Hot New CD Release
Award winning guitarist Vernon Neilly, and award winning guitarist Mark Whitfield have joined forces for the much anticipated "G-Fire II" CD release from Boosweet Records, Los Angeles, Ca. Both guitarists have journeymen status in the music industry having worked with some of the most notable artist in modern times such as Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Joe Williams, Charles "Merry Christmas Baby" Brown, Teena Marie, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, The Coasters, The Drifters, Paul Humphrey, Tony Williams, Jimmy Smith, D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Fred Wesley, Charles Wright, Howard Hewitt and a myriad of others.
Mark Whitfield has been many times touted, as one of the premier jazz guitarists in the world by Down Beat Magazine, as well he has received several Radio and Records, and Gavin awards for his radio charting success. Vernon Neilly is a recipient of last years "Smoothie Award" for being one of the most played new artists at commercial smooth jazz radio, and currently appears on the Smooth Jazz.com "1st Annual Smoothie Award Winners" CD release along with the genres top artists, Norman Brown, Mindi Abair, Peter White, Bob James, Chieli Minnuci, The Rippingtons, Daryl Hall, and others.
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FCC Proposes Statutory Maximum Fine Of $550,000 Against Viacom-Owned CBS Affiliates For Nipplegate
The Federal Communications Commission today issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture of $550,000 against various subsidiaries of Viacom Inc. for apparently willfully broadcasting indecent material during the February 1, 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. The show contained a musical performance that concluded with Justin Timberlake pulling off part of Janet Jackson's clothing, exposing her breast.
The Commission found that this partial nudity was, in the context of the broadcast, in apparent violation of the broadcast indecency standard. It proposed the statutory maximum amount against each of the Viacom-owned CBS licensees of the 20 television stations that aired the show due to the involvement of Viacom/CBS in the planning and approval of the telecast and the history of indecency violations committed by Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting Corporation subsidiaries. Although the Commission found that other, non-Viacom owned CBS affiliates also aired the material, it did not propose forfeitures against them because of the unexpected nature of the halftime show and the apparent lack of involvement in the selection, planning, and approval of the telecast by these non-Viacom owned affiliates.
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MustVote.com Gives Away Music In A Ground-Breaking Voter Registration Campaign
MustVote.com is a revolutionary project that will secure 100,000 new voters under 35 through a voter registration incentive program that offers free music downloads to MustVote members who register friends, family and neighbors to vote. In turn, MustVote is giving away songs from the world's biggest bands. To date Pearl Jam, Radiohead, The Von Bondies, The Sun, Bright Eyes, Meat Beat Manifesto, Talib Kweli and Lisa Loeb have signed onto the growing list of artists who have contributed tracks to MustVote.com to help change declining voter turnout among young people.
MustVote's innovative voter incentive program works to engage artists and fans from several angles. Artists are involved by contributing unique, often unavailable elsewhere, tracks for download and encouraging their fans to get involved in the political process through the site. Mustvote's members, including those under 18, recruit unregistered voters to register. Members become eligible for downloads for every successfully non-registered voter who registers through the website. Unregistered voters can then register on the site and become members themselves, creating a viral loop that will register thousands of voters.
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Booming Market For MP3 Players
Compressed audio players - also known as MP3 players - are available in portable, home and automotive form factors and from major and minor consumer electronics manufacturers and PC vendors. Broad consumer acceptance of MP3 players is being driven by a variety of factors, including falling price points, the availability of music from legitimate online music services, and the integration of compressed audio support in a wide variety of digital devices, including DVD players and gaming devices. The worldwide compressed audio player market is booming, and is expected to reach nearly $58 billion in revenues by 2008, representing a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20%.
"Compressed audio players - also known as MP3 players - are coming into the mainstream as portable flash player prices fall and capacities rise, the iPod mini and other small form factor portable jukeboxes come to market, and more and more devices, including DVD players and gaming devices, support compressed audio as a secondary feature," says Susan Kevorkian, senior analyst, Consumer Markets. "New opportunities abound for chip vendors, device manufacturers and paid music service providers to guide mainstream music consumers into this rapidly evolving market."
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$300 Million US Ringtone Market For 2004
Consect, the leading provider of US mobile market analysis, including ringtone and other mobile entertainment metrics, charts and reports, announced the release of its 2004 Mobile Music Report. The report indicates global mobile phone ringtone sales will total $4 billion in 2004. In the US market, total sales have doubled from $150MM in 2003 to more than $300MM for 2004, making the US one of the fastest growing - and largely untapped - markets for mobile music.
"With ringtone revenue in 2004 more than double that of 2003, the US mobile music market has finally come of age," said Mark Frieser, CEO, Consect. "Surpassing $300MM this year, ringtone sales are becoming a significant component of the music industry's business, exceeding that of digital music downloads even at this early stage of the market."
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Sting Bares All For Rainforest Foundation-US In Atlanta
Sting gave the shirt off his back in front of 300 avid fans for The Rainforest Foundation-US during a Live Auction to raise funds for the organization, which he and Trudie Styler co-founded in 1989. Rainforest Foundation-US Celebration Atlanta, the first annual benefit in Atlanta was held at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on September 1.
The musician, who is kicking off the second leg of his sold out Sacred Love Tour at Philips Arena in Atlanta tonight, spontaneously took to the stage to auction a Fender Sting Signature edition bass guitar, which auctioned off for $33,000. Approximately $150,000 was raised in the Live Auction alone.
The benefit featured performances by some of today's top musical artists including India.Arie; 17-Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss and Union Station; and national country newcomer Colt Prather.
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Music Row Democrats Target Tennesseans With TV Ad
As the Democratic and Republican national parties allot their monetary resources to states with "battleground" status and have yet to air any Tennessee-targeted television ads, Music Row Democrats has produced a 30-second spot to air on cable television stations throughout Tennessee.
Titled "I Believe," the spot features real Tennesseans stating their basic beliefs that make them Democrats. One version also promotes early voting.
Music Row Democrats' co-founder Bob Titley states, "For years now, the Republican media machine has branded the Democratic Party. Some people, including many of our fellow Tennesseans, have forgotten what the Democratic Party really stands for. This spot will remind people that our party is made up of everyday hard-working people." He adds, "We're trying to help educate Tennessee voters about the true values of being a Democrat and the importance of early voting in the upcoming election."
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Ash Street Music Makes Sharp Decision
Greg Dorschel, President, Ash Street Music, Nashville, TN, has announced its innovative alignment with one of the most successful independent song plugging companies in town, SharpObjects.
Ash Street Music originated and opened its doors on Music Row in Spring 2002. Since then, the company has signed a number of select songwriters and artists, acquired several catalogs and recently enjoyed its thirty-first cut of the year. "SharpObjects staff members, Steven Sharp, Sheryl Loftis, and Rick Souza have their own list of successes that compliment and strengthen our initiative," says Dorschel.
"Ash Street's partnership with SharpObjects will accelerate our ability to achieve one of our primary objectives to be recognized as one of the most respected and successful independent publishing companies in all genres of music. Ash Street's association with SharpObjects will expand the opportunities for our music to be heard."
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ASCAP Announces Strategic Tech Relationship With TransMedia
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with TransMedia for the use of TransMedia's Colaborata 2.5 digital media management and collaboration platform. Colaborata 2.5 provides an integrated, online media environment to securely manage and preview music, videos, pictures, documents and related information.
"Technological innovation and member service are top priorities for ASCAP, said Chris Amenita, Senior Vice President, ASCAP Enterprises Group. "We're looking forward to working with TransMedia and using their Colaborata 2.5 platform to help simplify our internal digital media management and collaboration needs, and provide state-of-the-art service to our members."
"We are very excited about the opportunity to work with the world's leading performing rights organization," said Donald Leka, Chairman and CEO of TransMedia. "The Colaborata 2.5 platform will provide ASCAP with an integrated and compatible solution that will allow them to cost-effectively manage and share digital media on a secure basis."
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Garage Radio Brings In Big Guns To Cover Live Press
Starting their third year as the source for new music on the Internet, Garage Radio is expanding with a new department dedicated to live press and review. To head up the latest project will be Mary Ellen Gustafson, formerly of AMZmusiczine.com.
Mary Ellen began her career in Music Journalism in 1995 as a contributor to "Bay City Nights," a street Å’zine in PA and OH. She has covered such acts as Aerosmith, Metallica and Iron Maiden. Gustafson went on to become Media Editor for Stark Publications where she learned the ins and outs of the music biz, ultimately starting her own revolutionary e-zine and coordinating a staff of writers and photographers to cover many shows, both major and indie. Her impressive contact list spans every facet of the music industry including Roadrunner, Interscope, Warner Bros. & Sony
"We've been doing this for two years now and we felt that bringing Mary Ellen onboard would help us to bring more attention to indie music and feature more exclusive articles on the site," stated John Foxworthy, Chief Editor of Garage Radio, "She's already exhibited an incredible talent and was instrumental in the reformat of our site."
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Consumers' Association Refers ITunes To The OFT
Consumers' Association has written to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to highlight the possible anti-competitive practice of the music download service, iTunes.
In the UK iTunes charges consumers 79 pence (approximately 120 euro cents) to download one track. In both France and Germany the cost is just 99 euro cents, leaving UK consumers to pay a price differential of around 20 per cent more for an identical service.
Under European law UK consumers are supposed to enjoy the same benefits of the single market as other citizens of member states. However, the iTunes service is set up in a way that prevents UK consumers from taking advantage of the cheaper download service offered to the French and Germans - UK consumers need to have a registered address and payment mechanisms in France or Germany to access the service or pay the higher price charged in the UK.
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TakeHomeMusic.com Launches With Fare For Fans And Artists
If you've ever wondered what all the hype is about web radio, then this is the site for you. Take Home Music has launched its music site with something for fans and musicians alike. Plenty of music reviews, web music tutorials, free downloads, music industry news, artist profiles and interviews saturate the web site. Take Home Music even has their own web radio station; All Indie Radio.
Musicians can post their band web page, get air play and post their press releases and concerts. Fans have access to up to date reviews and profiles of the some of the best artists on the Web.
One feature you can expect to see soon, the company says, is a tutorial section for web radio first timers. "There's a lot of press about Napster, Apple's Itunes and other music download and web radio services, but there is also a lot of people that would like to connect to it, but just feel too intimidated." TakeHomeMusic.com hopes to change that.
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Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © Tag It 2004 - Republished with Permission