INDIE NEWS BEAT August 30, 2005 Edition
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Orange Sky To Release Debut Album 'Upstairs' In North America On Granite Records
* Ms. Cherry Hits Over 100,000 Downloads With The MusicDish Network
* Asamov's National Debut 'And Now...' Is Officially A Wrap!
* Backstreet Records Goes Bullistic
* Mushroomhead To World-Premiere DIY Video
* Independent Label Signs £1m UK New Artist Deal For Indiana Gregg's Debut Album: "Something Like Me"
* Sophist Sets Sail In San Diego
* DBE's Jordan Tishler Speaks On Panel For IMC And NEMO
* Los Angeles Rockers, Dig Jelly, To Perform At The 2005 Pacific Media Expo
* Mindy McQ To Appear At "iNGENUiTY" A Festival Of Arts & Technology In Cleveland
* Rustie Blue Launches Official Fan Club!
Originality has returned to rock music thanks to the vibrant work of the Trinidad-based quintet Orange Sky. The band has a high-energy, soulful rock sound with exciting splashes of Caribbean music and reggae. You've never seen or heard anything like Orange Sky.
Orange Sky will release its official debut album, 'Upstairs,' in North America on Granite Records on September 13, 2005. Granite -- a hot new label dedicated to developing career artists -- was founded by its three managing directors, music industry veteran Dave Austin, his wife Cathy Austin and Kansas drummer/manager/producer Phil Ehart. Granite's releases are distributed by Fontana, a Universal Music Group company.
'Upstairs' was produced by the legendary Jeff Glixman, known for his distinctive work with the likes of Kansas, Kiss' Paul Stanley, Black Sabbath and countless other top musical artists. Glixman's other recent projects include 5.1 surround sound remixes of classic albums by Eric Clapton, the Allman Brothers Band and Ludacris.
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Ms. Cherry Hits Over 100,000 Downloads With The MusicDish Network
On July 15th, crunk artist Miss Cherry achieved 108,844 downloads of her music video "It's Whatever" on major peer-to-peer networks thanks to a P2P distribution campaign by web music platform The MusicDish Network and entertainment media distributor INTENT Media. The impressive numbers attracted the attention of major file sharing services Morpheus, BearShare and eDonkey that each added the video to their "Featured Content" sections.
"This isn't 100,000 people who just viewed her video, but actively downloaded it to their desktop to own, view and share with their friends. On Morpheus alone, between July 28 and August 12, Ms. Cherry's video was viewed over 150,000 times with 19,244 actual downloads. The results prove that a P2P distribution in conjunction with a web marketing campaign can deliver astounding results."
The distribution campaign, launched this summer, placed Miss Cherry's video high in the search results of file sharers seeking similar music through INTENT Media's proprietary technologies. The encoded file includes a description of the "It's Whatever" video and provides detailed tracking of the number of views, downloads, and geographic source.
The P2P distribution was supplemented by MusicDish Network's online marketing campaign combining syndicated marketing, online street teaming, and webradio promotion. As a result, Ms. Cherry was featured on over 140 music-related sites, forums, and webradio stations as well as magazines such as UNSIGNED Music Magazine.
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Asamov's National Debut 'And Now...' Is Officially A Wrap!
At roughly 3:30 am this morning Asamov finished mastering & mixing their highly anticipated debut album 'And Now...' at Vision Sounds studio in Orange Park, FL putting a wrap on a marathon 12 hour recording session. The full length album is scheduled for a mid-fall national release on 6 Hole Records and features 15 banging tracks of real Hip-Hop like only the 'A' can do it. To sweeten the debut, 6 Hole label mate 9th Wonder (Little Brother, Jay-Z) also makes a guest production appearance on Asamov's 'And Now...'....nuff said!
The completion of the album marks the end of the recording process and the beginning of the promotional push so stay tuned for more exciting breaking news from The 'A'-Team including tours, exclusives, and the lead single 'Supa Dynamite' feat. Mr. Lif of The Perceptionist (Def Jux) dropping on 12" in stores everywhere for DJs! Feel free to stop by and congratulate Asamov on the successful completion of 'And Now...' and hear for yourself why these cats have over 10,000 plays on Myspace!
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Backstreet Records Goes Bullistic
Backstreet Records announces it has signed Bullistic of Richmond, VA, to the label. Bullistic will release its new Backstreet album in August 2005 and promote it with a national tour.
While the actual signing took place in February of this year, Backstreet executives chose to hold the announcement until the band was able to complete the recording process.
"Bullistic already has a great fan base and plays a very busy schedule. We felt it best to not apply any more pressure the announcement of their signing during the creative process," says Backstreet Records President Linwood Toombs. "Already a number of radio stations are champing at the bit to get their hands on this release."
Bullistic's Backstreet debut was recorded with Jeff Covert's team of engineers at the Grammy-nominated Wally Cleaver's Recording Studio in Fredericksburg, VA. The recording was mastered by Roger Lian, a mastering engineer for Masterdisk Corp. in New York, NY.
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Mushroomhead To World-Premiere DIY Video
Cleveland-based art-metal octet Mushroomhead will premiere their self-lensed video for "Kill Tomorrow" on August 5 at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time via their website, www.mushroomhead.com. The clip will be available during a brief 30-minute to one-hour window, and henceforth on DVD.
The super-creative, visually driven band self-produced, shot, directed and edited the entire clip, which appears on their landmark DVD release, "Volume 1" (slated for August 9 release on the band's The Filthy Hands Company label). "Kill Tomorrow" marks the first time Mushroomhead shot its own video - an event that, considering the band's ultra hands-on approach on everything from their music to their stage design to their business, was imminent. The track is from their most recent full length release, "XIII" (Universal).
Drummer Skinny says the band learned the craft of music video direction from director/photographer Dean Karr (Godsmack, Coal Chamber, Cypress Hill), who shot their video for "Solitaire/Unraveling" (from 2000's XX album). "He rocks!" Skinny enthuses. "It was a great learning experience." He furthers that the clip's "dark, dirty, abandoned" feel reflects Mushroomhead's collective personality and "looks great back-to-back with the other videos."
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Independent Label Signs £1m UK New Artist Deal For Indiana Gregg's Debut Album: "Something Like Me"
Onestone Music Ltd. signed £1million pound license deal with Scottish Independent Gr8Pop Tuesday in London for Indiana Gregg's debut album "Something like me". Indiana Gregg is Onestone's first artist. The album is planned for release in January 2006.
"After a few months of negotiations with labels, Onestone Music Ltd. has managed
to sign a very significant deal with Gr8pop for the UK" said co-founder for Onestone Music, Andrew de Candole Tuesday. De Candole has a long track-record of investing in bringing start-up businesses to world-class companies.
Gr8Pop Ltd, a Scottish independent label, has put together an extensive marketing strategy around the release of "Something like me" and plans to have Indiana Gregg starting with an acoustic tour in September.
"Something like me" has at least 5 singles. We will begin with an acoustic tour throughout the UKSIndiana's stage presence and intimancy with her audiences is bound to reap success. Her personality and stage rapport is brilliant. This album is going to happen," remarks former Warner senior sales executive and director of Gr8Pop Graham Marr. The singer/songwriter has already done a tour with Wet Wet Wet this summer including Stirling and Exeter Castles.
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Sophist Sets Sail In San Diego
In a fitting arrangement and antidote to what he deems "the current cultural climate of ignorance found in modern urban music," Queens, NY hip-hop artist REED will entertain industry movers and shakers aboard NARM's aptly named Scholarship Foundation Sunset Yacht Cruise as part of this year's Insights & Sounds Convention. The event takes place on Friday, August 12 in San Diego, CA as part of the annual convention. While there, REED and the staff of his SOPHIST PRODUCTIONS will meet with music business executives regarding distribution for REED's upcoming debut CD ONEinSIX slated for release in November.
Part of the SOPHIST PRODUCTIONS (www.sophistproductions.com) roster, REED, DJ BIG RICH and reggae artist SENSATION actively promote the role and responsibility of higher education in urban society through their provocative lyrics and music. Attempting to combat the damage done by anti-education proselytizing releases such as Kanye West's The College Dropout and Late Registration, REED and company speak to urban audiences with a voice of authority, empathy and guidance, emphasizing the importance of institutionalized learning and earning a degree.
The SOPHIST artists met while attending Atlanta's esteemed Emory University, and noticed the void in the hip-hop community of vocal support regarding scholarship. Thus, REED established SOPHIST PRODUCTIONS so that he and his label cohorts can put their principles in motion. REED also serves as CEO of SOPHIST; the name means "one who teaches eloquence, philosophy, politics and the art of successful living." In another apt display of SOPHIST's commitment to learning, future lawyer DJ BIG RICH will race to the NARM yacht performance after completing his Multi-state Professional Responsibility Examination, a successor to the bar exam which he has already completed.
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DBE's Jordan Tishler Speaks On Panel For IMC And NEMO
Digital Bear Entertainment's Jordan Tishler will take part in this year's Independent Music Conference and the NEMO Music Festival as a panelist for the 2005 events. As a participant in both conferences over the last several years, Jordan has had the opportunity to meet many great artists and share with them his views and experience as a Music Producer, Mix Engineer, Artist Manager, and Music Publisher. "I love going to these events," says Tishler. "the artists I meet there are the real deal. I try to impart goodies that will really impact their careers and help them get ahead. Of course, I'm also always looking for the next big act or song!"
At IMC, Jordan will speak on panels including:
Studio to the Street - A look at the steps for success from the time the artist decides to record, tour, and possibly seek a label deal.
Publishing, Fact and Fiction - The complex business of publishing will be discussed including: role of the publisher, benefit of their expertise to the songwriter, rates, royalties, and licensing. The myths that you should never assign or "give up" your publishing interests, and that artists should co-publish their songs or "retain 25% for nothing" will also be discussed.
"NEMO is cutting back on the number of panels this year, favoring quality over quantity," says coordinator Steve Theo. However, Jordan will be featured on the "Creating a Buzz" panel. From their site: "These days, it's all about being a buzz band in the buzz bin. Learn how you can use press, PR, street teams, and grassroots marketing to get people talking about you. NEMO is slated for September 30 - October 1st.
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Los Angeles Rockers, Dig Jelly, To Perform At The 2005 Pacific Media Expo
Centerline Music and Entertainment recording artists, Dig Jelly, the LA-based, high-energy modern rock band has been selected to perform at the second annual 2005 Pacific Media Expo (PMX), the largest exhibition dedicated to Asian Media and Pop Culture in the United States. The Pacific Media Expo is proud to host its annual concert series highlighting the best Asian-American talent, as well as musicians and performers from the Pacific Rim. Over 4,000 music fans attended the 2004 PMX concert series and show organizers are anticipating even larger crowds for the two Dig Jelly performances, September 3 and 5, 2005, at the Long Beach Convention Center's Promenade Ballroom.
Fronted by the multi-talented, Japanese-born female lead singer/songwriter/guitarist, Rayko, Dig jelly's sex appeal and energetic hook-driven, mind-blowingly, in-your-face Metal with a dose of Hip-Hop music and performances have been enthralling fans in Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Japan since 2000. Dig Jelly recently signed a three album recording contract with the Santa Monica-based Centerline Music and Entertainment and their first full-length CD on the CM&E label, "FOR YOUR INNER ANGRY CHILD," is scheduled to be released October 25, 2005. International distribution will be handled by D1/Innovative Distribution Network, one of the leading distributors of independent labels in the U.S. Dig Jelly's new and existing music will also be distributed through iTunes and a multitude of other online music portals.
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Mindy McQ To Appear At "iNGENUiTY" A Festival Of Arts & Technology In Cleveland
Listening to Mindy McQ's warm, silky vocals and well-crafted songs puts a listener in mind of Harlem, Detroit, Chicago or Philadelphia, harking back to the classic soul tracks of1950s, 60s and 70s. One would never dream that these songs and that voice, so sultry and knowing, are the product of a shy, lanky 22-year-old from rural Ohio, who never thought of doing music until graduating from high school. But they are.
Born and raised in Berlin Center, Ohio, a town so small and isolated it still doesn't have cable TV, McQ's interests as a child were art and gymnastics. "My dream was to be in the Olympics," she says. "That was my life. And the things that I learned I think help in life. It's 90% mental in the sport. If you can believe you can do it, you can make your body do amazing things. I think that holds true for everything in life. If you think you can do it, then you can."
Things happened quickly for McQ upon moving to Cleveland, thanks to her determination, as well as her talent. Going out to hear local musicians, she met local duo called 2 Skinny Dorks who asked her to go into the studio to record with them. There, at Akron's Neon Cactus studio, she met producer/musicians Mike Farona and Jon Denney who, impressed by her voice, asked her to record with them. At first they gave her some of their songs, but soon she and Denney became a writing team.
"Jon and I gel really well," she says, "and that's hard to find. It takes me a long time to get comfortable around someone so I'm glad we found it. We write everything together and every time we sit down we say that it's like we're not really there. Somebody's coming through us. It's almost like a very spiritual thing. And then when it's done, you kind of go "Whoa! That came out of me?"
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Rustie Blue Launches Official Fan Club!
Rustie Blue now has her own fan club! Fans can register for a basic or platinum membership. Basic membership, which is free, includes quarterly newsletters, including special announcements, and an 8X10 autographed photo (for a limited time). Platinum membership includes an ID badge, a personal welcoming CD with song, an 8X10 autographed photo a Rustie Blue badge, a 10% discount on purchases on Rustie's music & merchandise, quarterly drawings for free gifts, and quarterly newsletter, including special announcements. Platinum membership fees are $10 in the US, $12 (US funds) in Canada, or $15 (US funds) for countries outside the US and Canada. The Rustie Blue Fan Club is also a member of IFCO.
To start off with a bang, Rustie Blue is having a membership contest, the True Blue Giveaway! From now until October 1, 2005, fans that join the basic fan club at http://www.rustieblue.com/contestpage.htm will be entered to win an upgrade to the Platinum Membership and an autographed 2-cd pack (of Rustie Blue's Chip Chip cd and Bill Anderson's The Way I Feel) to a grand prize winner, and an upgrade to a runner-up winner! Current and new Platinum fan club members will also be entered in to another contest.
Rustie Blue has released the third single off of her Chip Chip cd titled "Tomorrow Tonight". The song was written by Deborah Allen and Bill Anderson (who is also Rustie's duet partner on "Chip Chip"). This mid-tempo ballad is about a couple getting together for the very first time and not worrying about anything else but that moment.
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Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © Tag It 2005 - Republished with Permission
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