INDIE NEWS BEAT anuary 12, 2005 Edition
* A-B-A-C-A Entertainment Opens MIDEM To Indie Artists
* LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling Technology Ready For Market
* Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws And Angels All Star Concert
* CatDesigners Are Number 2 In Top 30 Adds On The M3radio Charts
* Statue In Memory Of Punk Legend Johnny Ramone To Be Unveiled
* Music Industry Pros Form New Alliance
* Lolly Pop Pledges "Music For Charity!"
* Paradox To Donate All CD Sales To Tsunami Victims
* Indie Recording Artist Donates 100% Of Sales To Tsunami Relief Effort
* Music Industry Must Respect Privacy Of Filesharers
* UniKeep Announces The Second Annual UniKeep Design Awards
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A-B-A-C-A Entertainment Opens MIDEM To Indie Artists
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A-B-A-C-A Entertainment Group is opening its roster to new artists and songwriters seeking representation at this year's MIDEM conference being held in Cannes France on January 23 - 27, as well as Popkomm being held later this year
Led by its founder Debora Nortman, ABACA has a long track record of securing foreign licensing, sub-publishing and record label deal placement through its 13 years of attending the foreign industry tradeshows, Midem (as an Exhibitor with Beat Records, Italy; Tandem Music Group, Canada and; for the last several years under the FIDOF and more recently with Songlink International/Songs Wanted stand and Popkomm (Berlin, Germany). For those attending Midem 2005, Debora can be reached at Stand # 11.30 Phone 8225.
"I have personally experienced offers to sign on the spot (Sattva Music, Germany with my artist Karen Therese and my female Fado artist Salome), although rare and I have seen licensing deals come through up to seven years later, where I gave an album under publishing with Dance Plant Records, Montreal, only to find that they gave it to a company in Korea and it ended up with Sun Records in Taiwan, who ended up becoming the licensor throughout SE Asia for the ABACA album "First Impressions".
Domestically, A-B-A-C-A Records is distributed by and works closely with, PHD Canada who has recently signed with Universal. ABACA's role with PHD, is to source out new (foreign and domestic) up and coming unsigned artists and bands, as well as smaller record label catalogues through its network of foreign record labels, licensors, distributors and music publishing A&R at Midem and Popkomm.
"Our band started working with Debora Nortman the first day we met her, and within six months she had a distribution deal for our CD with PHD, the second largest music distributor in Canada," noted Feona of the band LOTUS. "In another two weeks she got us an offer of distribution in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland."
As one of the Board of Directors of FIDOF (Federation of International Festivals Organization), Debora has been responsible for encouraging singer-songwriters to compete in various international music festivals around the world as well as have adjudicated several herself, including the INF (International Nile Song Festival) held in Cairo, Egypt.
Visit the ABACA site (http://www.abaca-music.com) for information on submitting your music or call Toll Free (877) 731-8689.
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LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling Technology Ready For Market
HP announced that LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling technology is available immediately in personal computers and optical media launched by several leading manufacturers at CES 2005.
The first LightScribe-enabled PCs are being offered by HP. As of today, customers can purchase LightScribe-enabled PCs through HP distribution channels worldwide. Aftermarket DVD writers with LightScribe capabilities are slated to be available in Q1, 2005 from BenQ, HP, LaCie and Philips. CD-R discs are provided by HP and Verbatim and are available through retail immediately. Imation, Memorex, Philips and TDK discs are planned to be available in early 2005.
The LightScribe technology is being incorporated by optical disc drive manufacturers, CD and DVD manufacturers and software makers, including: CMC Magnetics Corporation, CyberLink Corp., Hitachi-LG Data Storage, InterVideo, Inc., Lite-On IT, MicroVision Development Inc., Mitsubishi Chemical Company, Moser Baer India Limited, Nero Inc., Philips BenQ Digital Storage, Roxio, Sonic Solutions Software and Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology.
HP also announced today the development of LightScribe disc coating technology capable of a 50% labeling speed increase, anticipated to be available in Q2, 2005. This increase will be incorporated into the next generation of LightScribe CDs and DVDs. Consumers will be able to take advantage of faster speed media with their existing LightScribe-enabled drives.
"Consumers and businesses purchase billions of discs per year, and each one needs to be labeled," said Kent Henscheid, marketing manager for LightScribe. "None of the current alternatives  markers, adhesive labels and disc printing with inkjet printers  offers the combination of embedded convenience and creativity while also delivering a silkscreen-quality final label. With LightScribe, customers have the at-hand freedom to combine text and graphics in simple or complex designs that reflect their personality and attitude."
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Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws And Angels All Star Concert
Eagle Rock Entertainment presents the legendary Willie Nelson for the first time on DVD in the all-star concert Willie Nelson & Friends- Outlaws And Angels.
Recorded in May of 2004 at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles and hosted by famed actor James Caan, the star studded lineup of Outlaws And Angels includes performances by Kid Rock, Keith Richards, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Toby Keith, Shelby Lynne, Merle Haggard, Lee Ann Womack and many others.
In addition to the powerful guests joining Willie onstage, the evening's performance is backed by an equally impressive house band including Nils Lofgren, Ivan Neville and Jim Cox, under the musical direction of Jimmy Rip. Bonus footage on the DVD includes a behind the scenes featurette as well as reahearsal and performance outtakes.
Originally aired on the USA Network this summer, Willie Nelson & Friends- Outlaws And Angels is the 3rd all-star concert organized by Nelson and the first to be available on DVD in 5.1 Dolby Digital DTS Surround Sound.
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Indie Band, CatDesigners, Are Number 2 In Top 30 Adds On The M3radio Charts
CatDesigners are an indie band from Bethnal Green in London, UK. Based on radio play on m3radio.com during December 2004 they begin 2005 at Number 2 in the Top 30 of recently added artists.
Strange Little Creatures 
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UK users
Chemical Jazz
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This follows a good deal of radio play during 2004 including several weeks in the Top 10 on Ison Live Radio and Gojangle as well as live interviews on Indie Artists Radio and Radio Gets Wild.
CatDesigners have been described as "one of the underground's best kept secrets" and their lead singer, Nick Troop, has drawn comparisons from David Bowie to Morrissey and from Jim Morrison to David Byrne.
So far CatDesigners have released two albums on their own label, Googlie Mooglie Records. Their debut album, "Chemical Jazz" has been called "one hell of a calling card" and their second album, "Strange Little Creature", was even more positively received: "CatDesigners' second consistently fine album" and "a better follow-up album than it has any right to be".
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Statue In Memory Of Punk Legend Johnny Ramone To Be Unveiled
A statute in memory of legendary punk guitarist Johnny Ramone will be unveiled by his wife, Linda Ramone in a public ceremony on Jan. 14 at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. The monument will be located not far from where bandmate Dee Dee Ramone is buried. During the ceremony, which will take place from 3 - 5 p.m. there will be speeches by some of Johnny's closest friends, thus keeping with the spirit of Johnny's own words written in the stone: "If a man can judge success by how many great friends he has, then I have been very successful. - Johnny Ramone"
The bronze statue, created by artist Wayne Toth, will capture Johnny in his most memorable image - playing his Mosrite guitar. Johnny Ramone, co-founder and guitarist of seminal 70's punk rock band The Ramones, died on Sept. 15, 2004 at his home in Los Angeles.
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Music Industry Pros Form New Alliance T0 Drive Excellence And Integrity In Music Technology
The Music Engineering & Technology Alliance (META) announced the formation of this elite group whose mission is to ensure the implementation of optimum standards and practices for the highest-quality music recording and delivery achievable by uniting audio professionals, technology providers and consumer electronics manufacturers in a collaborative effort.
"Our group has been in close communication for several years working to reach the technical developers, and the consumer electronic groups. It was the right time to focus all of our efforts into a proactive mission to improve audio quality and the integrity in which it's delivered." stated Rory S. Kaplan, META President and former DTS executive and producer.
A powerful executive team is in place with the early appointment of META President, cofounder Rory S. Kaplan, who brought on his colleague, former DTS COO Bill Neighbors as Acting-CEO. In addition, META cofounder and Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer and audio technology pioneer George Massenburg, has taken on the responsibilities of Chief Technical Officer and Standards Committee Chair. Entertainment industry veteran Raphael Tisdale has been appointed General Counsel for the group.
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Lolly Pop Pledges "Music For Charity!"
TELEPHONE! front girl/solo artist LOLLY POP today announced the installment of her MUSIC FOR CHARITY program, which promises 366 days of giving to assorted organizations.
"Effective December 25th, 2004 through December 26th, 2005, 30% of door profits from all TELEPHONE! and LOLLY POP local live shows will be distributed to different designated charities!", POP exclaimed, then added: "I just read 'Life Is A Contact Sport' by Ken Kragen [the organizer of 'We Are The World'] and had an epiphany. I may not be a millionaire, but I've definitely got music!"
POP, who recently organized GIRLFEST 2004 (with 10% of door proceeds going to The Harriet Tubman Alliance), is a firm believer in extending a hand. On the list of programs to benefit from MUSIC FOR CHARITY: Second Harvest Homeland, The Bridge For Runaway Youth, Amnesty International, Planned Parenthood and The Harriet Tubman Center. POP concluded by saying: "Each of these organizations I owe something to in some way, shape or form. I was either helped by them or have known people who have been. Plain and simple, it's time to give something back to the community and organizations that have helped so many of us."
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Paradox To Donate All CD Sales To Tsunami Victims
Paradox have recently announced that for the month of January, they will donate all of their CD sales to the Tsunami & Earthquake disaster victims, from the December tragedy. Yes that's right, 100% of all CD sales in January will be donated to the Tsunami Victims. This will be done exclusively with Music For Relief & The Red Cross. The Music for Relief foundation was founded by Linkin Park to help and assist the families & victims of the Tsunami Disaster. Everyone was affected by this atrosity around the globe, and it's up to all of us to make a huge effort to help and donate whatever we can so that the survivors can start rebuilding their lives and communities.
All the CD sales can be made directly through CDBaby.com, where their 2002 debut, 'Circle of Growth', and their latest 2004 release 'Sacred', are both available for purchase. Paradox urge you to purchase their CD for this noble cause. If you already own a copy, buy one for a friend. Every single purchase counts.
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Indie Recording Artist Donates 100% Of Sales To Tsunami Relief Effort
Multi-talented singer/songwriter and independent recording artist Darci Monet has announced that for the month of January she will donate 100% of the proceeds of sales of her CD "My Own Road" to Music For Relief via the Red Cross International Response Fund. The critically acclaimed CD, which has been described as "if Heart and Melissa Etheridge had a baby that Aretha Franklin carried to term", can be purchased at www.cdbaby.com/darcimonet. Monies raised by Music For Relief, which was created by the members of rock band Linkin Park in conjunction with the Red Cross, are being used to assist the victims and families of the tsunami disaster of December 26, 2004.
"In the wake of September 11th, the United States was blessed with an outpouring of support from countries all over the world," Monet says. "Now it's our turn to give back in this time of unfathomable tragedy. To me there is no other option. I especially call upon all members of the artistic and entertainment communities to come together in this effort, no matter how large or small the contribution. I feel these are the real reasons we are bestowed with creative gifts in the first place -- to use them to benefit others in need."
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Music Industry Must Respect Privacy Of Filesharers
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision today that will stop entertainment corporations from gaining access to the names of people using peer-to-peer (P2P) networks unless the companies file lawsuits against them and furnish actual evidence of copyright infringement.
The case was sparked by a series of subpoenas sent by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to Missouri-based Internet service provider (ISP) Charter Communications, Inc. The record companies claimed that these subpoenas, which demanded that Charter identify customers accused of offering infringing music on P2P networks, were authorized by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), along with 21 other groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), and the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), filed a "friend of the court" brief in the Charter case, urging the Eighth Circuit to determine that the same strong protections applied to anonymous speech in other contexts also apply when copyright infringement is claimed but has not yet been proven. In a victory for privacy and anonymity, the Eighth Circuit determined that DMCA subpoenas could not be used to get this information.
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UniKeep Announces The Second Annual UniKeep Design Awards
UniKeep LLC, manufacturer of the award winning View Case Binder TM has recently announced the start of the "Second Annual UniKeep Design Awards" on January 1, 2005. UniKeep created the contest to be a fun and unique way for users to share their creative binder cover designs. Due to the success of the 2004 contest, the company wanted to again offer a fun and easy way to showcase and reward its' rapidly growing number of loyal users.
Darrin Hunter, Manager of Media Design at KZF Design in Cincinnati, OH was the Grand Prize winner for 2004. His integrated presentation design is still the most downloaded cover with over 200 downloads per month. Visit www.unikeep.com/awards/2004 to view all great entries and category winners from 2004.
2005 contestants can create and submit a custom cover design for one of the many sizes of UniKeep binders. Entries are to be submitted in one of five categories to be eligible to win monthly cash prizes, and the first 50 entries per month will receive a product prize too!
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Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © Tag It 2005 - Republished with Permission
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