INDIE NEWS BEAT Week of December 18, 2003
INDIE NEWS BEAT
Week of December 18, 2003
* Over 5,000 Requests For Kin Za Za's "The River" in Europe
* StreetWarrior Unchained Collector's Series Edition CD
* European Independents Slam Universal's Alleged Payola Deal With Viva
* Hank Williams Jr: No "Reason" To Worry About Ole Saddam
* MediaPal.com To Fill MP3.com Void
* Fox News Channel's "Fox Magazine" Weekly Profile Spotlights Nashville
* Amnesty International Launches The Music For Human Rights Initiative
* Matthew Zachary Launches MusicforCancer.com
Over 5,000 Requests For Kin Za Za's "The River" in Europe
Strongest demand from the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria & Russian Federation
Ambient-world pop duo Kin Za Za (www.kinzaza.com) hit European shores like a storm with the unveiling of their Independent Music Video Festival selection "The River" as part of MusicBrigade's World Music Video Channel weekend web event.
With 5,397 viewer requests for "The River" music video from over 25 countries in three continents, Germany led the pack in request with 1289, followed by the UK (972), Switzerland (311), Sweden (181), Austria (157) and the Russian Federation (140). The video was also viewed by music fans across the world on MusicBrigade's World Music Video Channel, from Saudi Arabia and Israel to China/Hong Kong and South Korea.
Held on the weekend of November 21, the exclusive web event pushed the duo to #4 position on MusicBrigade's Top 40 Videos, beating out major acts like Enrique Iglesias, Atomic Kitten and Kylie Minogue. The same weekend saw the "The River" webcast on CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) Radio3 website (www.cbcradio3.com), while Kin Za Za duo Jozy and Dimitri joined Inside The Music Business Radio Show host Eric Kline live from Miami on Radio One's 1080AM WVCG.
Other Kin Za Za News:
* Kin Za Za's music videos "The River" and "Spirit That Left" were featured on The Red Dirt Round Up, broadcast Fridays on KWEM, (UHF31 & cable channel 3 in Stillwater, Oklahoma)
* Kin Za Za has been in heavy rotation on WCH Radio for the last month where they were selected as Artist Of The Week and topped the station's Top 5 Indie Artist's list
* Ranked #5 on WOSP Osprey Radio's World Charts (broadcasts via the University of North Florida's cable closed circuit system, reaching 3,000 students)
* Kin Za Za was interviewed on the BBC "The World" Global Hits segment (10/23)
You can purchase Kin Za Za's Limited Edition CD - Bonus DVD "Number One in Shambala" online at Amazon.com
'Number One in Shambala' is an album-story/album-vision. It takes us into the minds of holy strangers trapped in grotesque events that depict the illusion of knowledge and the unreality of feelings. The path of this journey is marked by extreme romanticism, extreme nostalgia, extreme wonder, extreme death and extreme subtle humour.
StreetWarrior Unchained Collector's Series Edition CD
StreetWarrior, the New Jersey "UnderDog Street-Rock Band," has recently released their original debut CD, 'StreetWarrior Unchained'. The CD is backed up by a follow up CD, 'StreetWarrior Collector's Series Edition'. These two releases will soon be joined by a third CD in mid 2004, 'StreetWarrior lll Live From Da MeadowLands'; featuring the band's 3 latest Hits: "Your Heart," "Diablo Sin Riders," and "Kid RockLess."
StreetWarrior (www.streetwarriorband.com) is New Jersey's very own special blend of homegrown "UnderDog" of NJ bands, that is kickin' down all the barriers with their "unique" sound, and is quickly earning a lot of respect and support by the Tri-State area local fans.
'StreetWarrior Unchained' is "Raw" - it was recorded live in various underground places, but the sound, vibe and music is one-of-a-kind and "territorially different." In a track called "High Noon Mano E Mano - Live," StreetWarrior plays a cool eerie lead guitar for 15 minutes straight and takes you on an incredible real-life journey onto the streets of the hood.
Harry Chapin, Bob Dylan and StreetWarrior have one thing in common: they are great storytellers. With every StreetWarrior song, you'll hear a story behind it that will take you on an endless journey to some cool place in time, to wherever you wish you were at that particular moment.
Currently, StreetWarrior is in the studios and live on the streets, recording new songs for their third CD, 'StreetWarrior lll Live From da MeadowLands'. This is not a typical dime a dozen cover band - they never were. This is an all originals, "Street Band"... and they play straight from the streets and from any given street corner they choose.
One of StreetWarrior's notable tracks is "Kid RockLess." In it StreetWarrior punks and blasts Kid Rock for his "outright cockiness." Many Tri-State fans are strongly supporting the StreetWarrior, while the "Michigan-Soda-Boy" (as the song refers to him) is quickly losing some ground and respect in the area.
StreetWarrior's new hit "Diablo Sin Riders" was created for the movie "Once Upon A Time In Mexico" and was dedicated by the band to Robert Rodriguez, the film's creator.
European Independents Slam Universal's Alleged Payola Deal With Viva
European independent music companies have issued a statement through their trade body Impala slamming Universal's alleged agreement with Germany-based broadcaster Viva to guarantee video-time for Universals' artists in return for payment.
According to information published in the Spiegel on Sunday 8 December 2003, Viva and Universal agreed in October 2002 that Viva would include 50 videos from Universal on their "newcomer rotation" in the following 12 months. Universal apparently pays 18.000 per video plus 0,20 per album sold. The Spiegel also said that Viva and Universal meet in advance to agree which bands Universal should produce videos for. The alleged agreement came to light after a Universal manager apparently gave bands a guarantee of video time if they signed with Universal. The Spiegel also claimed that Viva had approached EMI with the same model but the deal didn't materialise.
Hank Williams Jr: No "Reason" To Worry About Ole Saddam
Country music's most vocal "country boys who can survive" HANK WILLIAMS JR. was among the American's proud that a score was settled yesterday with the capture of Saddam Hussein. Political outspokenness is second nature to the second generation country superstar who is often on record in support of the right of Americans to bears arms and settle debts.
Hank's 1998 album "America, The Way I See It," offered a bold creative stroke that was criticized by many for it's political content"particularly a song called "Don't Give Us A Reason""banned "politically incorrect" at the time"but today"in the wake of Saddam Hussein's capture is being heard surfacing on radio stations across America.
"Man, it's perfect that they found him by shining a light underground in a hole. Where better a spot to smoke out an animal or a coward," commented the rough hewn Hank from a deer stand in his home in rural Tennessee. "I think a major debt to our American troops"the best damn soldiers in the world, bar none. Not to mention our President who backed 'ol Saddam into that hole where they had to pull him out and check him for ticks and fleas."
MediaPal.com To Fill MP3.com Void
MediaPal comes to the market with different distribution and business models for members. Models that make sense for all size record labels and musicians. With clients ranging from small Indies and emerging artists to established and globally known artists and organizations, MediaPal has built an e-music distribution opportunity for all types entities.
The company's models focus on on-demand and automated digital distribution, ease of use, versatility for members, and very strong royalty earning model for musicians, record labels, and digital media providers. "From music and digital media to affiliated merchandise, we are committed to bring a seamless and turn-key distribution opportunity to the entertainment and digital media industry," says MediaPal founder Bryan Lenett.
MediaPal is an on-demand multi-tier distribution and payment processing solution. A musician or record label can sign up for MediaPal and in a few hours offer billable single title downloads, album downloads, custom CD's, retail CD sales, and affiliated merchandise on their website. MediaPal carries a zero dollar investment and as easy as copy and pasting their MediaPal distribution buttons on their web sites, or even sharing them among various web sites on the Internet.
Fox News Channel's "Fox Magazine" Weekly Profile Spotlights Nashville
In a bold step in the arena of celebrity reporting, the Fox News Channel's ighly rated "Fox Magazine," hosted by Laurie Dhue, has begun a 10 week series" "Nashville Soundtrack "featuring career driven profiles of some of Nashville's biggest names and legendary faces.
First launch on the new segment was Lee Greenwood who offered an interesting introspection of the twenty year anniversary of his signature song""God Bless The USA""which recently topped the National Anthem as the most recognized patriotic song in America. This past weekend (Part II of the series) featured Willie Nelson.
This weekend will profile three times "Female Vocalist Of The Year," Janie Fricke, whose career began when she lent her distinctive voice to national commercials (Coca Cola, United Airlines, Red Lobster) and from there went on to million plus sales and #1 records in the country music field.
Amnesty International Launches The Music For Human Rights Initiative
Music for Human Rights-Inspired Skateboard Decks Designed by Radiohead, Coldplay, Beth Orton, Ryan Adams, Badly Drawn Boy and others to be Auctioned Online at Ebay.com Starting December 5!
Amnesty International USA, the US chapter of one of the world-s largest grassroots organizations, is known for delivering the empowering message of human rights to a broad audience. Widely recognized for their all-star benefits and sold-out concerts and tours, Amnesty International is now making their message loud and clear with a new CD and more.
Not available in stores, Music for Human Rights, produced in conjunction with Asterisk Entertainment, is sent to new Amnesty International members upon joining. A new online hub (www.musicforhumanrights.com ) and the Music for Human Rights CD are the first offerings under the Amnesty International Music for Human Rights umbrella. Through concerts, exclusive online auctions, and special events, artists from across the spectrum of contemporary music are helping Amnesty International energize a new generation of conscious youth.
Matthew Zachary Launches MusicforCancer.com
New York, NY. Matthew Zachary, 29, is a popular recording artist and brain cancer survivor whose miraculous recovery and incredible musical gifts have encouraged and motivated thousands worldwide. His two successful albums of acoustic piano solos, inspired by his battle with cancer, offer listeners a beautiful mix of Jazz, Classical and New Age-inspired compositions. Now these albums will inspire others in a brand-new way, thanks to a new website celebrating music as the "gift of hope": MusicForCancer.com.
With lovely piano instrumentals reflecting the emotions of hope, courage and the journey to survival, Matthew's bestselling first solo release 'Scribblings' is a powerful and spiritually healing tribute to cancer patients and survivors alike. His second release 'Every Step of the Way' is an equally evocative musical journey back into life and health.
Now MusicforCancer.com highlights the two in one website which celebrates the power of music to provide inspiration and comfort. MusicforCancer.com integrates seamlessly with Zachary's official site at www.MatthewZachary.com, with links to additional resources in support of music and healing as well. A portion of all proceeds will go to such worthy cancer charities as The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, the Melissa's Living Legacy Foundation, and more.
Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright Tag It 2003 - Republished with Permission