INDIE NEWS BEAT May 9, 2005 Edition
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World Premiere Of Weezer's Newest Album "Make Believe" To Debut On MySpace.com
* Pixies, Misfits, Stephen Malkmus, Futureheads, Spoon Added To Line-Up For CMJ/Rock Hall Music Fest
* Jann Klose At The Bitter End May 12
* Go See Fixer Live Now Or Kick Yourself Later
* UNSIGNED Music Magazine Adds "The Dish"
* EricM Releases "Everytime This Song Plays"
* Scoring Big With Music For Video Games
* Storm Within Soars To Stratospheric Heights
* R Cat Communications Launches International Online Music Distributor Alliance
World Premiere Of Weezer's Newest Album "Make Believe" To Debut On MySpace.com May 5
Committed to providing music fans worldwide, exclusive access to the industry's most highly anticipated new music in advance of retail release dates, MySpace.com announced it will launch Weezer's first new album in three years, "Make Believe," in its entirety, streaming exclusively on the website from May 5 through May 10. The band's recently released single, "Beverly Hills," has climbed to #4 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart and the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album will hit retail May 10.
The multi-platinum recording artists' newest album "Make Believe" will debut on MySpace.com at 12:01 a.m. PDT on May 5 and follows the success of recent MySpace member listening parties and Weezer tour ticket giveaways. The integrated, joint promotional deal between Weezer and MySpace encompassed an 8-city record retail promotion where fans could listen to the new CD in-store in local markets. The promotion also included online ticket giveaways to each of the sold-out shows in the band's North American tour (which begins April 26 in Vancouver, BC).
"As the music industry continues to create challenges for artists to be heard, we want to create unique and innovative experiences for music fans," said Chris DeWolfe, chief executive officer, MySpace.com. "The tailored promotions we created for Weezer have resulted in a huge increase of activity among Weezer's online friends, exploding by more than 700 percent to 80,000 people. This personalized connection between the band and its fans is an experience they can get no where else."
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Pixies, Misfits, Stephen Malkmus, Futureheads, Spoon Added To Line-Up For CMJ/Rock Hall Music Fest
The CMJ/Rock Hall Music Fest is pleased to announce its newest lineup of performers and events for the three-day music festival scheduled for June 9-11, 2005 in Cleveland.
The first annual festival is where thousands of music fans and artists will converge on Cleveland to celebrate today's best new music. This Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and CMJ Network produced event will not only contribute to the economic vitality of the city, but also will promote Cleveland as a progressive, music-oriented city and give music fans across the Midwest unparalleled access to exciting new talent.
The Music Fest is three days and nights of music, networking, featured speakers, a daytime Festival Village and a presentation of the top modern rock poster artists. CMJ/Rock Hall Music Fest badge holders can enjoy more than 100 live performances in Cleveland's hottest live music venues including the Beachland Ballroom, Odeon, Agora, House of Blues, Grog Shop, Peabody's and the Festival Village on the West Bank of Cleveland's "Flats." The Pixies will kick-off the festival Wednesday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. with an opening night concert at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
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Jann Klose At The Bitter End May 12
Jann Klose is playing THE BITTER END on Thursday, May 12 at 10:30 PM. Jann's band includes bassist Chris Marolf, keyboardist Roberta Piket and drummer Patrick Carmichael. After Jann's gig at the BITTER END, he'll be going to KENNY'S CASTAWAYS to jam with Joe Deninzon.
Jann has also been collaborating with choreogrpaher Yo-el Cassell for a SOLD OUT theatrical and dance performance piece, Moonlight Interior at the Sandi Shurin Theater in New York City this past April, and the show will be returning to the New York stage.
His writing, performances, and love of creative experimentation has yielded his new EP, Black Box, released in 2003. Produced by Grammy award winner Marlon J. Graves (Herbie Hancock's Gershwin's World), mixed by Nic Hard at RPM Studios and mastered by Vlado Meller at Sony Music Studios in New York City, this four-song EP is according to Kid Kelly, director of Pop Programming at Sirius Satellite Radio "by far the best unsigned record I have heard in a long time."
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Go See Fixer Live Now Or Kick Yourself Later
How many times have you suffered utter disappointment after seeing a band perform for the first time because their live show didn't capture you the same way their album did? You fell for one of the music industry's secret weapons: overproducing a band to make them appear to have more talent then they actually do. It's the reason why every band on the radio sounds the same and the days of history making tours ala Phish and the Grateful Dead are gone. But if Fixer have their way, things are going to change.
The power of Fixer's live show has yet to be captured by any producer. The enthusiasm and ramshackle charm with which they bound around the stage never seems to impede their always tight-yet-supple, unpredictable performances. One show is all it will take to convert you. You'll see why Fixer are the next level of the touring rock act.
They bring back the glory days of Guns 'N Roses and Stone Temple Pilots, when blazing guitars, heavy drums, and thunderous bass combined with the powerful vocal chops of a seductive frontman drove crowds wild and sold out shows. The ability to pack hundreds of fans into CBGB, in their hometown of New York City, without the luxury of a labels' backing, is one reason why Fixer is a record label's answer to the current decline in sales.
FIXER ON TOUR:
05-19-05: Whiskey Bar, Hoboken, NJ
05-28-05: Valentine's, Albany, NY
05-29-05: Meta-Sin, Levittown, NY
06-04-05: CBGB, NYC *with the Pennyroyals and Billionaire Boys Club
06-09-04: Trash Bar, Brooklyn, NY
06-13-05: Cat Club, Hollywood, CA
06-14-05: Monroe's, West Hollywood, CA
06-15-05: Dragonfly, Los Angeles, CA
06-16-05: Bar Sinister , Hollywood, CA (Headlining LE FREAK FETISH FESTIVAL)
06-17-05: Lave Lounge, Hollywoowd, CA
06-20-05: Knitting Factory, NYC
06-21-05: Quarterdeck Inn, Long Beach Island, NJ
06-25-05: Bloomfield Ave. Café, Montclair, NJ
07-14-05: Tribecca Rock Club, NYC
07-26-05: Quarterdeck Inn, Long Beach Island, NJ
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UNSIGNED Music Magazine Adds "The Dish"
UNSIGNED Music Magazine, a music magazine that focuses on independent artists, and the MusicDish Network, an online community gathering music sites & webradio, announced a partnership to create a new section called "The Dish." The monthly magazine section will feature articles on MusicDish Network artists, starting with coverage of online remix competitions for Carbbean-based bajan MASON & Trip-hop artist Glideascope as well the release of female rapper Ms. Cherry's new single "It's Whatever" that has clubs jumping all over the south.
"UNSIGNED Music Magazine has demonstrated a real commitment to independent musicians as they've grown," commented MusicDish Network's Eric de Fontenay. "We know that our artists will benefit tremendously by this partnership."
"The MusicDish Network has proven itself as an industry leader in the gathering and dissemination of independent artists' information." added Ken Hamlett, Publisher of UNSIGNED. "We are excited about our partnership with the MusicDish because our combined reach now gives independent artists the broadest avenue for maximum exposure."
UNSIGNED Music Magazine adds to the MusicDish Network's extensive list of member websites and webradio supporting its artists by providing much-needed exposure and airplay necessary to build an online fan base. The MusicDish Network has worked directly with hundreds of artists, labels such as Eagle Rock Entertainment and Valley Entertainment, as well as companies ranging from ItsAboutMusic.com and HP's LightScribe.
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EricM Releases "Everytime This Song Plays"
There is a general rule of thumb when it comes to party locations and dance music with an edge  where there are surfers there is always a wicked party and rave scene. The nascent South African rave and party scene faced stiff competition from established Southern Hemisphere party locations. The South African scene attracts the party cognoscenti, those who are "in the know" and like to party off the beaten track. It's earthy, it's tribal and very much "non-commercial". Think about the vibe of late 80's Ibiza and Goa and you're just about there.
The same holds true for South Africa's top dance DJs and producers. They, too, have been overlooked. That's set to change. Eric McCallaghan is one of South Africa's most-released trance and progressive music producers. His tracks (under his own label, Beats Me Records) has releases on more than a million printed CDs through 85 compilations, 16 singles, 3 albums and 18 12" vinyl's, with more than 30 songs licensed to international companies.
Pre-release singles 'Narcoticide', 'Candy' and 'Passion of Now' have been hotting up the online dance radio airwaves. Major support has come from the likes of Denmark's No 1 underground dance radio station, Rise FM plus InternetDJ, Tempo and numerous other stations. It won't be too long before the cuts from the album will be hitting the dance floors of clubland.
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Scoring Big With Music For Video Games
On Saturday, May 21, 2005, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Los Angeles Music Productions (L*A*M*P), Indiespace, and the Film Music Network will present "Scoring Big with Music for Video Games," featuring top composers, audio directors of major manufacturers of video games, and more! The event will be held at Cinespace, a trendy venue located at 6356 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028.
The event will cover all major business, creative and technical aspects of this mysterious industry. Top composers, games execs, and authors will show participants how to:
* Identify the trends and opportunities in the video games market
* Score music to video games in Cinespace's exclusive screening room
* Explore potential revenue in the fastest growing segment of the music industry (over 3,000 new games a year!)
All participants will be given the opportunity to pitch their instrumental music to top audio directors and games agents for possible placement in the latest new games. Bring your best instrumental tracks (30 seconds  1.5 minutes) for review and critique! Preregistered attendees get priority for the pitch. We'll dedicate an hour to the pitch...bring two 30-second snippets or one 60 second snippet. I suggest upbeat, "video game" type stuff. Depending on how many people are there, we'll try to get through as much as possible.
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Storm Within, winner of various Battle of the Bands awards in the Valley and nominee for Best Metal Band in Arizona, have been selected out of hundreds of entries for a showcase performance at the ConneXion International Music Festival, to be held at the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. (June 9th - June 12th, 2005).
The Connexion International Music Festival (CIMF) will be held for 4 days in June, in Las Vegas, NV. 2005. The opening of the festival will be launched with a massive networking party for performing artists and industry personnel. CIMF will be nationally publicized through Newspapers, Magazines, the Internet, and through a Nationwide Street Team. Select members of the music and film industries have been invited to attend, and to cover all of the CIMF events and showcases.
"We are extremely proud to have been chosen for a showcase performance, and to be one of only two bands representing Arizona at the ConneXion International Music Festival in Las Vegas!" says frontwoman, Debra Darlene.
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R Cat Communications Launches International Online Music Distributor Alliance
R Cat Communications is in the business of raising public, industry, and media awareness of the value of international independent artists and their music. The Company's music promotion network is one of the most innovative and successful online platforms currently available, and, as many of the artists that they represent are truly 'the very best music innovators in the world', R Cat believes that artists should be more adequately represented in a more responsible and professional manner at their chosen Online Music Distributor(s).
According to R Cat Assistant Director, Elley Wilson, 'Our research has shown that there are currently around 500 OMDs online. By mid 2006, this figure will have increased dramatically and although this can be a good thing, it can also mean that, for artists, finding the right OMD can be like finding a needle in a haystack!'
Wilson highlights recent R Cat research which suggests that 'While many OMDs are managed in a very professional and effective manner, others are simply nothing more than mp3 libraries with a forum that can reduce the likelihood of music being heard beyond the confines of servers. Artists with limited resources may well be surrendering valuable time and money in trying to navigate their way through an occasionally confusing industry. So we want to make sure that artists can make a better and more informed decision as to which OMD might suit their individual or collective needs.'
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Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © Tag It 2005 - Republished with Permission
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