Nashville, TN, Sept. 1, 2010 – 615 Music, one of the world’s leading providers of production music to the entertainment, broadcast, advertising, and corporate industries, and the recent winner of a national Emmy Award for “Outstanding Original Song” for NBC’s “Today Show,” has acquired noted production music library Kingsize Music NYC. Randy Wachtler, CEO/Founder, 615 Music, made the announcement. Based in New York, the Kingsize Music Library is known for its real, organic music, written and produced by some of the most talented people in the industry. Tracks from Kingsize Music are in use by major media outlets worldwide. Said Mr. Wachtler, “We’ve represented the catalog for a number of years, and are excited to bring the Kingsize Music catalog into the 615 Music family. We are looking forward to the new opportunities that will soon arise as a result of the long-time success of their promo and in-show production music history.” “The production team is looking forward to putting an exciting release schedule in place and working more closely on Kingsize Music releases,” said Aaron Gant, 615 Music’s VP of Production. Peter Primamore, Principal, Kingsize Music, adds, “We're thrilled that the Kingsize Music Library is in such capable hands. Randy and his team at 615 Music are the epitome of hardworking and knowledgeable professionals. We're looking forward to continuing and expanding our long-standing relationship with 615 Music.” "The Kingsize Music Library now has it all. An amazing selection of unique, cutting edge production music, and the best administration and marketing team in the business, 615 Music. We are thrilled to see Kingsize become a part of the 615 family,” said Jay Stollman, Principal, Kingsize Music.
615 Music Retains Danielle Wade
August 25, 2010
615 MUSIC RETAINS DANIELLE WADE TO REP EXTENSIVE PRODUCTION MUSIC CATALOG IN UNITED KINGDOM
Nashville, TN, Aug. 25, 2010 – 615 Music, one of the world’s leading providers of production music to the entertainment, broadcast, advertising, and corporate industries, and the recent winner of a national Emmy Award for “Outstanding Original Song” for NBC’s “Today Show,” has retained UK-based representative Danielle Wade. Ms. Wade will represent 615 Music’s extensive catalog throughout the United Kingdom. Randy Wachtler, CEO/Founder, 615 Music, made the announcement.
Ms. Wade will represent 20,000 tracks of cutting-edge production music across 10 of the company’s 23 catalogs. UK-based producers, directors, editors and content owners who seek world-class music for film, television, commercials, videogames or New Media projects may visit http://www.615music.co.uk/.
“I’m thrilled to have Danielle as part of the 615 Music team in the U.K.,” said Wachtler. “She’s an enthusiastic music lover who will be fun to work in conjunction with, as her efforts will further our library's presence and exposure internationally. I’m excited to have our U.K. friends get the chance to have her expertise in finding the right music for their projects.”
Adds Wade, “Teaming up with 615 Music is a huge step for me in an industry I have grown to love. I can’t explain just how supportive the whole team has been, getting behind me on all the ideas I’ve got for building a really successful partnership. Watch.This.Space.”
Deadmau5 In DJ Hero 2
August 16, 2010
deadmau5 CONFIRMED AS “2010 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS”HOUSE ARTIST,ANNOUNCES OCTOBER TOUR DATESAND WILL APPEAR AS IN-GAME CHARACTERIN DJ HERO® 2 MTV has tapped deadmau5 to serve as the house artist for the “2010 Video Music Awards” set to air live from Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 9:00PM (Live ET/Tape delayed PT.) deadmau5—who has gone from near obscurity to becoming a superstar as an innovative live performer and master electronic music producer—will serve as the musical maestro for the duration of the show and will create original remixes from a variety of artists. The network will also feature the Canadian artist as the “PUSH” (Play It Until Someone Hears) artist all this week starting today. For this, MTV uses its massive on-air and online reach to bring fans unparalled access to the week’s artist ranging from live performances, music videos, interviews and exclusive footage. Previous “PUSH” artists have included Drake, Phoenix, Florence and The Machine and 2 AM Club, to name a few.As electronic music’s touring force majeure, deadmau5 will return to the States for more dates this October—including three shows at the historic Roseland Ballroom in NYC, October 28, 29 and 30—leading up to his appearance at the Voodoo Experience festival in New Orleans on Halloween night (Sunday, October 31). The routing for the tour includes both his full high-end production show which has been dazzling audiences from coast to coast this summer, as well as his “Unhooked” lighter production shows that feature extended sets.The month-length trek starts in Atlanta October 1 and continues through more than a dozen markets, including consecutive two-night plays in Denver and Chicago as well as appearances at Austin City Limits, the Treasure Island Music Festival and the Cypress Hill SmokeOut. For the NYC dates at Roseland, the Thursday, October 28 and Friday, October 29 shows will be full production shows, while Saturday, October 30 will be “Unhooked.” Expect various support acts to be announced at a later time. In other news for October, virtual producers, DJs and MCs will fire up two turntables and a microphone and mix it up with deadmau5, who will be starring as an in-game playable character, in Activision Publishing Inc.’s DJ Hero 2. His smash #1 Billboard single “Ghosts ‘n Stuff”—which appeared on his most recent album For Lack of a Better Name (Ultra Records)—is also included on the game’s soundtrack. Meanwhile, deadmau5’s current single “Some Chords” is available now through Ultra Records’ Electric Daisy Carnival, Vol. 1 compilation mixed by Kaskade. Look for information on a brand new deadmau5 album soon.
Article Alert! Who's Still Got Their Vinyl?
August 11, 2010
Take a look at this article by CNN's Carly Costello where she interviews several vinyl album lovers who discuss the differences between vinyl and MP3s.
Spike Jonze Announces Soundtrack to New Short Film
August 10, 2010
The soundtrack to Spike Jonze's new short film will drop on October 5th. It's eclectic and well chosen tracks support a film that has already generated buzz at various festivals. Click on the link below to read and listen to The Playlist's take on the album.http://theplaylist.blogspot.com/2010/08/soundtrack-for-spike-jonzes-im-here.html
Tiesto Debuts in DJ Hero 2
August 5, 2010
SUPERSTAR DJ, PRODUCER AND REMIXER, TIËSTO TO MAKE HIS VIDEOGAME DEBUT IN DJ HERO® 2
The World’s Biggest Touring Electronic Artist and Dance Music Icon to Provide Likeness and Two Exclusive Mixes to 2010’s Best Soundtrack in Entertainment
SANTA MONICA, CA – July 30, 2010 – When the party starts this October, virtual DJ’s and MC’s throughout the universe will fire up two turntable controllers and a microphone and mix it up with Tiësto – one of electronic music’s defining artists, DJ’s and producers – in DJ Hero® 2, Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today revealed. Having worked with the likes of Muse, Justin Timberlake, Jónsi from Sigur Rós, Flo Rida, Sean Kingston and Three 6 Mafia, performed for billions of fans at the opening ceremonies of the Athens Olympics and headlined the Coachella and Bonnaroo music festivals among others, Tiësto has earned his status as the world’s hottest DJ. The GRAMMY® Nominee will be spinning for a new audience as he takes to the virtual ones and twos, delivering a pair of pulse-pounding exclusive mixes and joining the ever-growing roster of playable characters, including Deadmau5, David Guetta, DJ Qbert and others.
“DJ Hero 2 is all about bringing people of different backgrounds, ages and music tastes together to have some fun DJ’ing their favorite music. The way the music comes together is fresh and unique and as a DJ, I couldn’t ask for more than that,”said Tiësto. “I am excited to be involved with this medium and to be contributing to a great game with an amazing soundtrack.”
“From touring the globe and working with some of the world’s most visionary artists across five hit albums, to performing at the biggest clubs and the hottest festivals, Tiësto is one of the biggest DJ’s in the world,” said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs, Activision.“We’ve assembled a cast of the biggest and best DJ’s and having Tiësto bring his unique style adds incredible flavor to the best soundtrack in entertainment.”
The ultimate mixer of music and friends, DJ Hero 2 will deliver the definitive way for players to come together and party with a host of new multiplayer modes – including DJ Battles that pit DJ against DJ in mixes produced specifically for battle gameplay – and invite vocalists into the spotlight with integrated on-screen singing and rapping of lyrics and rhymes while bringing the party to life with jump-in/jump-out Party Play gameplay. Featuring the biggest dance, pop and hip-hop hits by the hottest artists everyone knows and loves remixed by world-class DJ’s in an all-new way, the game’s soundtrack delivers over 80 unique creations only available in DJ Hero 2. Further immersing players into the music, the game offers a heightened level of creative input and allows everyone to add their own touch, directly impacting the beats they’re spinning with freestyle scratching, crossfading and sampling. The game will also feature an all-new career-based Empire Mode where players start out as an up-and-coming DJ on the road to becoming the head of a major entertainment empire, all of which is founded solely on their success as a DJ.
Dropping this fall, DJ Hero 2 will invite a wave of new digital disc jockeys to the turntables as the game will be available as a Party Bundle which will include a copy of the game, two turntable controllers and a microphone, offering the ultimate “party-in-a-box.” Gamers who experienced the #1 new videogame intellectual property of 2009 can pick up DJ Hero 2 as a Turntable Bundle featuring one turntable controller and a copy of the game or as standalone software. The gameis in development by FreeStyleGames for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 and the Wii™ system from Nintendo. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information about DJ Hero 2, please visit www.djhero.com, www.facebook.com/djhero and www.twitter.com/djhero.
Re-issued 'Get Carter' Released
August 4, 2010
SILVA SCREEN RECORDS PRESENTS
GET CARTER
*An international Silva Screen release
The first installment in a reissue series from Roy Budd’s extensive catalogue of work which will include Soldier Blue, Fear Is The Key and The Stone Killer.
A gritty Mike Hodges’ crime film set in the derelict urban scenery of Newcastle and starring Michael Caine, Get Carter was voted number 16 in the BFI 100 Favorite British Films of The 20th Century and number one in the Total Film Greatest British Films Of All Time.
The iconic soundtrack, recorded on a tiny budget, was written by the jazz prodigy Roy Budd. Performed by Budd and two other jazz musicians Jeff Clyne (double bass) and Chris Karan (percussion), both of which were part of the Dudley Moore Trio, the distinctive score continues to inspire musicians worldwide.
The Silva Screen re-issue is a new revised edition that includes extended liner notes in a 20-page booklet about the creation of the soundtrack with notes from the musicians and the film’s director Mike Hodges. The recording also features classic dialogue moments from the film.
TRACKLISTING
1. Get Carter Intro
2. Dialogue “Is there a Mr. Carter in the room?”
3. Main Theme – Carter Takes A Train
4. Dialogue “Do you know a man called Albert Swift?”
5. Looking For Someone
6. Dialogue – The Race Track
7. Something On My Mind
8. Dialogue “Who Killed Frank?”
9. Getting Nowhere In A Hurry
10. Dialogue “Tell me about the girl”
11. The Girl In The Car
12. Dialogue “I fancy you”
13. Love Is A Four Letter Word
14. Dialogue “You’re lucky. They kill as well”
15. Livin’ Should Be This Way
16. Dialogue “All it takes is one call to the police”
17. Manhunt
18. Dialogue “Drink up, Eric”
19. Goodbye Eric!
20. Dialogue “I want you to listen very carefully”
21. Hallucinations
22. Dialogue “You’re a big man but you’re in bad shape”
23. Plaything
24. Dialogue “Stay away from the car or I’ll blow you apart”
25. Goodbye Carter!
26. Dialogue “Talk or I’ll kill you
27. Hallucinations – Instrumental
28. Getting Nowhere In A Hurry – Instrumental
SILCD 1300
US release date August 10th, 2010
UK release date August 23rd, 2010
Book on Lord of the Rings Music Released
July 30, 2010
Carpentier and Alfred Music Publishing announce the release of The music of the Lord of the Rings Films by Doug AdamsIn-Depth Journey into Howard Shore’s Academy Award®-Winning Score (July, 28, 2010—New York, NY) Carpentier and Alfred Music Publishing are pleased to announce the release of The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films, a comprehensive account of Howard Shore’s score for the trilogy, by Doug Adams. The book will be available in the European Union on September 28 and in the U.S. and worldwide on October 5, 2010.The culmination of almost a decade of writing and research, The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films is an unprecedented look at Howard Shore’s Academy Award®-winning score, with extensive music examples, original manuscript scores, a rarities CD, and glimpses into the creative process from the composer, himself. The 416-page full-color volume features a Foreword by Howard Shore, an Introduction by The Lord of the Rings screenwriter/producer Fran Walsh, original sketches by John Howe and Alan Lee, and numerous images from the films. Also included in the book, courtesy of Howe Records, is “The Lord of the Rings: The Rarities Archive” a CD presenting 21 tracks of previously unreleased music created for the films, and an audio interview with Howard Shore. The score for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy has been hailed as some of the greatest film music ever written. Sweeping in scope, it is a musical interpretation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth—an operatic tapestry of cultures, histories, languages, and people. “Howard Shore’s [LOTR] music has touched millions of people the world over,” said Adams. “It’s been my great pleasure to assemble a piece that chronicles the creation of this music, and examines exactly how it tells this classic story.” “Doug was a detective uncovering clues, tracing how one theme or character related to another,” said Shore. “He not only shows the themes and motifs for characters, cultures, objects, and their connection to Tolkien’s work, but also the ideas that were sometimes buried deep inside the writing.” “Researching Shore’s music has been a true adventure,” described Adams. “His work is every bit as intricate and passionate as Tolkien’s Middle-earth.” Doug Adams, a Chicago-based author and musicologist, was invited in 2001 by Howard Shore to observe and document his work on Peter Jackson’s motion picture trilogy. Adams attended recording sessions, examined the original scores, and was given complete access to the composer’s archives. As an acknowledged authority on Howard Shore’s music, Adams has become a regular fixture at concerts and events across the globe. He runs the popular blog, www.musicoflotr.com, which documents his work on this project and brings fans together in ongoing discussions. UPCOMING EVENTSSeptember 27 Book signing and Q&A with Howard Shore and Doug Adams (Chappell of Bond Street, 152-160 Wardour St. London,UK)September 28-29 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King, concert (Royal Albert Hall, London, UK)October 7 Book signing and Q&A with Howard Shore and Doug Adams (Barnes and Noble, 1972 Broadway, New York, NY)October 8-9 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, concert (Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY)
Showcase in Hindi Cinema
July 14, 2010
TIMES SQUARE RECORDS PRESENTS THE HISTORY OF INDIAN FILM MUSIC – A SHOWCASE OF THE VERY BEST IN HINDI CINEMA
(New York, NY – July 6, 2010) On July 13th, Times Square Records will release THE HISTORY OF INDIAN FILM MUSIC – A SHOWCASE OF THE VERY BEST IN HINDI CINEMA, the first ever authentic historic collection of Bollywood music tracing its history from its beginnings in 1930 to the present.
Accompanied by a hard bound book tracing the history of the music with rare pictures, this set in stellar packaging features the greatest Bollywood hits of all times, and is produced as a joint collaboration by two of the oldest media companies in the subcontinent of India; Saregama (formerly The Gramophone Company of India) and The Times of India Group (the oldest News Media Corporation in India).
CD 1/1930s-40s CD 2&3/1950s CD 4&5/1960s CD 6&7/1970s CD 8/1980s CD 9/1990s CD 10/2000s onward
Original Music From The Television Series THE BIONIC WOMAN - Volume 4 Bionic Beauty, Deadly Ringer, Once A Thief Music Composed by Joe Harnell
joeharnell.com presents THE BIONIC WOMAN: ONCE A THIEF / DEADLY RINGER / BIONIC BEAUTY, featuring music composed and conducted by Joe Harnell for the 1970’s cult television show, THE BIONIC WOMAN, created and developed by Kenneth Johnson (THE BIONIC MAN, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, V The Original Mini-Series) and starring Lindsay Wagner, Richard Anderson, Martin E. Brooks, Ford Rainey, Martha Scott and Jennifer Darling. THE BIONIC WOMAN: ONCE A THIEF / DEADLY RINGER / BIONIC BEAUTY features music composed and conducted by Joe Harnell, continuing his successful creative collaboration with Writer/Director/Producer Kenneth Johnson, a relationship that includes fondly remembered television projects such as THE INCREDIBLE HULK, HOT PURSUIT, CLIFFHANGERS, V The Original Mini-Series and ALIEN NATION.
Harnell has been nominated for an Emmy Award on three occasions for Best Dramatic Score. During his career, Harnell composed over 400 hours of original music for motion pictures and television. His scores for THE BIONIC WOMAN and THE INCREDIBLE HULK heavily influenced the scoring of all Universal television programs in the late 1970’s. His scores used a traditional orchestral approach (influenced by his Jazz roots) using a 32 piece orchestra. He frequently conducted scores from the piano during recording sessions and he performed all the piano and keyboard solos in all of his scores.In addition to Joe’s wonderful score for these three episodes of THE BIONIC WOMAN, this release includes a new recording of Jerry Fielding’s title music for THE BIONIC WOMAN, produced and arranged by Dominik Hauser, with trumpet by the legendary Roy Wiegand and drums by the great Kurt Walther.
joeharnell.com presents the original television soundtrack recording to THE BIONIC WOMAN: ONCE A THIEF / DEADLY RINGER / BIONIC BEAUTY in loving memory of the great Joe Harnell. THE BIONIC WOMAN: ONCE A THIEF / DEADLY RINGER / BIONIC BEAUTY is an Exclusive joeharnell.com release, professionally mastered by Digital Outland, factory manufactured and limited to 1000 units..
Nickelback To Release New Music Game
June 28, 2010
Nickelback & Tapulous Help Players Find Their Inner Rockstar Makers of top music franchise on the iPhone partner with mega-band Nickelback to release new music game
Palo Alto, Calif. – June 28, 2010 – Tapulous, the leading developer of music games for the iPhone and iPod touch, is extending its wildly popular Tap Tap Revenge franchise with the launch of Nickelback Revenge. The new game features eleven of Nickelback’s most popular all-time songs, including “Rockstar,” “This Afternoon,” and “If Today Was Your Last Day.”
A premium version of Tapulous’ addictive music rhythm game, Nickelback Revenge sets gameplay to the band’s biggest hits and integrates engaging Nickelback graphics and content. The game also includes a popular Bluetooth-based “battle mode” which allows players to wirelessly challenge friends to point-by-point battles for bragging rights.
"The combination of our music and Tapulous’ gameplay is very cool. We're excited to give our fans a fun, interactive way to experience our music," said Chad Kroeger of Nickelback.
To kick off the launch, Tapulous and Roadrunner Records, Nickelback’s worldwide music label, are running a special promotion: The first 2,500 consumers to download the game will receive 25 in-game credits—good towards the purchase of more music—and a chance to win a Gibson Flying V signed by the band.
In addition, players will be challenged to “Outplay Nickelback,” or beat the band members’ highest in-game scores. Players who best Chad, lead guitarist Ryan Peake, bass guitarist Mike Kroeger and/or drummer Daniel Adair will be entered to win weekly prizes, including Dark Horse tour books and premium earphones.
"We’re thrilled to bring Nickelback to Tap Tap Revenge. Our players are always hungry for more great music, and Nickelback definitely fits the bill,” explained Tim O'Brien, VP of business development at Tapulous. "Whether measured by album sales, song downloads or concert attendance, Nickelback is huge.”
Nickelback Revenge features the following eleven hits: "Animals" "Animals" (Live) "Burn It to the Ground" "Gotta Be Somebody" "How You Remind Me" "Figured You Out" "If Today Was Your Last Day" "Photograph" "Rockstar" "Something In Your Mouth" "This Afternoon"
Prisoner Number Six Silva Screen Records presents the original television soundtrack for The Prisoner Starring Patrick McGoohan, available digitally on June 29, 2010. The Prisoner lasted for 17 episodes and its TV debut in 1967 caused a storm of protest amongst audiences who ‘didn’t get it’. Over the last 35 years The Prisoner has acquired a Cult status and is today celebrated for being innovative and ahead of its time.
Composed by Ron Grainer (Dr Who, Tales of the Unexpected), the distinctive theme tune appears on all three Prisoner discs with the music for the series presented in episode order for the first time.
Awash withthe eclectic sounds of the sixties the soundtrack for The Prisoner consists of cues written for the series plus a wide variety of styles of library tracks covering military band marches, experimental electronica, psychedelia and lounge. Featuring the original artwork, The Prisoner - File #1, #2 and #3 discs are available from Silva Screen in conjunction with Carlton.
Mastodon Writes Music for Jonah Hex
June 25, 2010
DC comics character Jonah Hex has been fused with the rock power of Mastodon and featured in the film as well as the Jonah Hex soundtrack. Read on as stereogum.com details the development of the collaboration.http://stereogum.com/419851/mastodon-indian-theme-stereogum-premiere/
Weezer Releases Song for U.S. Soccer Team
June 14, 2010
WEEZER RELEASES "REPRESENT" FOR U.S. SOCCER TEAM AHEAD OF FIFA WORLD CUP
UNOFFICAL THEME SONG FOR U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM TO DEBUT ON "RADIO WEEZER" BEFORE JUNE 12TH MATCH VERSUS ENGLAND
On Saturday, June 12, 2010, the U.S. will meet England in the World Cup for the first time since 1950. 60 years ago, the U.S. famously beat the British soccer powerhouse 1-0, in a game since dubbed "The Miracle on Grass." In honor of the historic 2010 rematch, Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo, a rabid soccer fan, has led the band to record an "unofficial" theme song for the U.S. team, titled "Represent." Weezer's A.P.E. Radio station, "Radio Weezer," will begin to spin "Represent" at 9 am PDT on Friday, June 11th - the day before the U.S./England kickoff. The song will repeat frequently on the station to rally support for the team, and will be a free download on iTunes in the U.S. for one week starting at midnight on Friday, June 11th.
Rivers Cuomo and Weezer will be cheering on the team at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, where Weezer will be headlining over the weekend. The Grammy-winning frontman was quoted on MLSsoccer.com as saying, "They are actually playing the game on a big screen at the festival. So if you can believe it, I'll be sitting in front of that big screen with all the other concert-goers, watching the game. As soon as we realized we were going to confirm that show, we asked the promoter if they were going to be showing the game. They're actually making a big deal out of it."
Weezer's latest album, Raditude, is the group's seventh studio effort. Released on November 3, 2009, the record debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart. Weezer also consistently attracts the largest digital audience of any alternative station across Clear Channel Radio's network with "Radio Weezer." When the public first tuned into "Radio Weezer" in August 2009, they heard selected playlists of some of the band's favorite songs, plus the members' personal contributions and band news. Since then, fans have heard the guys from Weezer speak on a multitude of topics, while enjoying a constantly evolving playlist. Also joining the station has been band friend Karl Koch-Webmaster, historian and "unofficial fifth member." All that content and music serves to make "Radio Weezer" an alternative station unlike any other.
"Radio Weezer" strengthens an already diverse A.P.E. station roster including "Christina Aguilera Radio" and "Eagles Radio Hosted by Joe Walsh." The channels are distributed across Clear Channel Radio's "iheartradio" network (www.iheartradio.com), which includes hundreds of local radio websites; the popular iheartradio mobile app, which has been downloaded by more than 7.2 million people; widgets; and the artists' own official websites. iheartradio now reaches 22 million unique users a month, with millions of downloads on iPhone, Blackberry, Android and other devices.
Metal Supergroup Teams Up With Stratus Racing For Daytona PackagesNew York, NY- (June 8, 2010) The Metal juggernaut known as HELLYEAH featuring Vinnie Paul (Pantera, Damageplan), Chad Gray and Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne), Tom Maxwell (Nothingface) and Bob Zilla (Damageplan) is bringing the party to NASCAR! HELLYEAH has partnered with Stratus Racing to premiere the new NASCAR NATIONWIDE COT (car of tomorrow), which will be wrapped with the HELLYEAH logo, at Daytona Raceway over the Fourth of July weekend. Fans are being offered a once in a lifetime experience to watch the HELLYEAH-wrapped #73 Car from the Pit for its Daytona race on July 2, 2010. Those who purchase the package will watch the race from that special vantage point with the members of HELLYEAH and the Stratus Racing crew. Only 20 packages will be sold in total and they’re currently available for purchase at www.stratusracinggroup.com.HELLYEAH is a Supergroup comprised of Grammy nominated and chart topping musicians. Drummer Vinnie Paul from Pantera (over 20 million selling, one of the only Metal bands to debut at #1 on the Billboard charts), Vocalist Chad Gray and Guitarist Greg Tribbett hail from Mudvayne (Grammy Nominated, 3.3 million selling, #1 most played single at Active Rock Radio in 2009) Guitarist Tom Maxwell and bassist Bob Zilla hail from highly credible rock acts Nothingface and Damageplan respectively. As HELLYEAH they also have an impressive history. Their debut album has sold nearly 400,000 copies in the US and produced 2 top 10 Active Rock singles "Alocohaulin Ass" and "You Wouldn't Know." Their upcoming sophomore album, STAMPEDE, already has a #1 Most Added single, “Hell Of A Time.”Stratus Racing Group provides sponsors and fans a full throttle motorsports experience while participating in the top three series of NASCAR. While racing, marketing and providing hospitality to sponsors nationwide the company calls Moorseville, NC home. Past Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope takes the track behind the wheel for SRG as its co-owner and primary driver. Through its driver development efforts SRG is introducing twin drivers Amber and Angela Cope into NASCAR this season and are excited to provide our sponsors with another valuable addition from our tool box for success. www.stratusracinggroup.com
Levi's Brand Launches Music Sessions
May 25, 2010
THE LEVI'S® BRAND LAUNCHES LEVI'S® PIONEER SESSIONS: THE REVIVAL RECORDINGS FEATURING EXCLUSIVE REMAKES OF ICONIC SONGS
Campaign Stars Cast of Diverse Musical Artists Including The Swell Season, She & Him, John Legend and The Roots, The Dirty Projectors, Colbie Caillat and NasMusic
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (May 24, 2010) - The Levi's® brand continues in its tradition of bringing great jeans and great music together with today's launch of "Levi's® Pioneer Sessions: The Revival Recordings" - a new and innovative campaign that champions musical artists who embody the pioneering spirit of the Levi's® brand. An original series of musical recordings by a diverse roster of talented musicians, "Levi's® Pioneer Sessions: The Revival Recordings" features remakes of hits from past decades inspired by renowned artists.
The first two songs in the series will be released this week - hip hop superstar, Nas, covering "Hey Young World" by hip hop trailblazer Slick Rick and folk rock duo, The Swell Season's rendition of the 70s disco hit, "Young Hearts Run Free" by Candi Staton. Both songs will be available for free download, May 24th and May 27th respectively, at www.levi.com
Beginning today through the first of July, The "Levi's® Pioneer Sessions: The Revival Recordings" series features the release of two singles each week by an exciting score of bands that includes:
ARTIST - SONG
Nas - "Hey Young World" by Slick Rick
The Swell Season - "Young Hearts Run Free" by Candi Staton
She & Him - "Fools Rush In" by Rick Nelson
The Dirty Projectors - "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" by Bob Dylan Colbie Caillat - "Maria" by Blondie
The Shins - "Goodbye Girl" by Squeeze
Raphael Saadiq - "It's A Shame" by The Spinners
Bomba Estereo - "Pump Up the Jam" by Technotronic
Jason Mraz - "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum
John Legend and the Roots - "Our Generation" by Ernie Hines
Details regarding the remaining artists who are going to complete the current roster of releases will be announced in the weeks to come.
"Slick Rick is my personal favorite MC," said Nas. "This record opened my eyes to how big hip-hop could become and Levi's® Pioneer Sessions gave me the freedom to re-connect with the record in a new way."
"When I was a kid, my mother used to play this record all the time so I was excited about the opportunity to recraft it as part of Levi's® Pioneer Sessions" said Swell Season's Glen Hansard on the group's remake of Young Hearts Run Free. "She taught us all the lyrics to this song. It feels great, and it reminds me of my mother."
In addition to the new original remakes, the Levi's® brand will also release exclusive photos, interviews with the artists, and behind-the-scenes footage from their studio recording session, all available for download at www.levi.com.
"This campaign brings together influential musical pioneers of today with some of the most iconic musicians of all time," commented Doug Sweeny, VP, Levi's® Brand Marketing. "We are excited to work with such an inspirational group of musicians while providing a platform for music fans to check out remakes of original iconic songs."
The "Levi's® Pioneer Sessions: The Revival Recordings" launches on the heels of Levi's® annual music festival the Levi's® FADER Fort. Widely acclaimed as one of the best showcases for new music, the Levi's®/FADER Fort has established its annual presence in Austin, Texas as the ultimate retreat for music lovers. Both programs reinforce Levi's® role as an original pioneer within the music and fashion industries.
As part of Levi's® Pioneer Sessions, the Levi's® brand is partnering with participating musicians to help spread the word about how simple green laundry habits can make a big difference for the environment.Levi's® recently launched Care Tag for Our Planet, introducing new product care tags in Levi's® jeans that include instructions about ways consumers can reduce the environmental impact of their clothes.
The Levi's® brand is encouraging musical artists and fans alike to sign a pledge promising to reduce the environmental impact of their clothes by: washing in cold water, washing less frequently, line drying and donating unwanted clothing to Goodwill®. Music lovers can join the cause and help care for our planet by signing the pledge at www.levi.com/care.
SESAC Selects TuneSat to Monitor TV Broadcasts
May 10, 2010
SESAC SELECTS TUNESAT TO MONITOR PERFORMANCES IN TELEVISION BROADCASTS TuneSat Quickly Becoming the Leading Audio-Recognition Technology Solution for Music Used in Broadcast TV TuneSat EVP Chris Woods to Address NARM Convention in Chicago on Monday, May 17, 2010, at panel “Digital Royalties Management Solutions” New York and Nashville (-May 10, 2010-) SESAC, the nation's fastest growing performing rights organization (PRO), today announced a partnership with TuneSat. The pact calls for TuneSat’s technology to detect performances of the SESAC repertory used in audio-visual programs monitored across TuneSat's network of 110 national broadcast and cable channels. "After a decade of industry attempts to streamline the process, tracking performances on TV is still a largely manual endeavor," said Hunter Williams, Senior Vice President, Strategic Development with SESAC. "Cue sheets are notorious for being filed incorrectly, late, and in some cases, not at all, which adversely affects payments to songwriters and composers. We are very excited about the impact we believe TuneSat will have on improving the process and thereby increasing the accuracy in royalty reporting to rights holders." TuneSat's proprietary audio-recognition technology, often referred to as audio fingerprinting, adeptly detects music in as little as 3 seconds and even in very noisy (“dirty audio”) environments. This means short pieces of music layered underneath sound effects and voiceovers, such as those used in broadcast TV, can be detected by the system. “Copyrighted music used in broadcast TV content is usually buried under a vast array of voiceovers and special effects,” said Chris Woods, EVP of TuneSat. “In many cases, rights holders are not properly compensated because their music is often unrecognizable and goes unreported. Our technology replaces antiquated cue sheet methodology and addresses inefficiency by offering the most compelling technology solution in the marketplace. We will provide SESAC with the ability to increase their accuracy in the royalty payments to its songwriters and publishers.” “This deal marks a first for the music industry and clearly establishes SESAC as the leader in transforming the music business into an efficiently run industry lead by technology,” said Scott Schreer, CEO of TuneSat. “TuneSat addresses two fundamental issues for all rights holders, accountability and transparency. With TuneSat, composers and publishers now have a real time solution to protect and monetize their content aired on broadcast TV.” TuneSat’s field-proven technology will benefit SESAC’s affiliated songwriters, composers, and music publishers by greatly enhancing the PRO’s ability to capture performances of its repertoire on television, especially background and promotional uses of popular songs and production library music. When integrated, the TuneSat detection data will help ensure the timeliness and accuracy of payments by supplementing and streamlining SESAC’s system for processing television performances.
Babies Soundtrack Released
May 8, 2010
LAKESHORE RECORDS TO RELEASE THE BABIES ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK Featuring The Perpetual Self, or “What Would Saul Alinsky Do?” by Sufjan StevensWith Original Music Composed by Bruno Coulais "If you were enraptured by ‘March of the Penguins’, wait until you see ‘Babies.’"-Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today (April 27, 2010- Los Angeles, CA) – Lakeshore Records will release the Babies -- Original Soundtrack available digitally (iTunes and Amazon Digital) and in stores on May 4, 2010. Bruno Coulais (Coraline, Les Choristes [The Chorus]) composed the original score. The album also features The Perpetual Self or “What Would Saul Alinsky Do?” by Sufjan Stevens, as heard in the trailers for the film. Coulais’s score to Les Choristes earned him an Academy Award™-nomination, A BAFTA Award-nomination and won a Cesar Award. Other credits include Lucky Luke, Villa Amalia, and the Academy Award-winning Winged Migration. Coualis’ scores are innovative and idiosyncratic with their combination of orchestral pieces, toys, ethnic instruments and children’s voices. Mixing orchestra and adding contrapuntal themes tease additional meanings and emotions from a scene according to Coulais. Coulais writes the original score and also acts as his own orchestrator. “For me it’s very important to make my own orchestrations because when I think of melody, I think of it with the instruments I’ll write with,” says Coulais. “Depending on the density of sequence, sometimes I will have just a few instruments -- strange instruments like the water phone. It’s a metallic percussion where you put water on a kind of basin with a tube and a bowl. You can play notes on it, and it’s a strange, beautiful, very deep sound.” The adventure of a lifetime begins… Directed by award-winning filmmaker Thomas Balmès, from an original idea by producer Alain Chabat, Babies simultaneously follows four babies around the world – from birth to first steps. The children are, respectively, in order of on-screen introduction: Ponijao, who lives with her family near Opuwo, Namibia; Bayarjargal, who resides with his family in Mongolia, near Bayanchandmani; Mari, who lives with her family in Tokyo, Japan; and Hattie, who resides with her family in the United States, in San Francisco. Re-defining the nonfiction art form, Babies joyfully captures on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all. “The music of Babies was written for a very special orchestra that included a lot of toys, a string quintet, wind orchestra, ethnic instruments, piano and percussion,” says Coulais. “The words of the lyrics have no meaning. The vocals sound like the beginning of human language.” Although the cast of Babies is international, “we didn’t want to adapt the music to the nationality of the babies, but to be universal.” Vocals were recorded by French artist Rosemary Standley. Focus Features present Babies in theaters Mother’s Day Weekend (May 7, 2010). Babies original score on Lakeshore Records will be available on May 4, 2010.
Green Day to Release new 'American Idiot' Album
April 27, 2010
Following the success of the Broadway musical spin-off, Green Day is re-releasing their 2004 album American Idiot with the cast of the Broadway production. Read more by following the link below:
http://www.nme.com/news/green-day/50849
Johnny Marr to Release "The Big Band" Soundtrack
April 27, 2010
Cribs guitarist Johnny Marr has composed the soundtrack for the upcoming film The Big Bang. The film, starring Antonio Banderas, is expected to release in autumn. Read more by following the link below:
http://www.nme.com/news/the-cribs/50852
Lamb of God Featured in Iron Man 2
April 21, 2010
LAMB OF GOD’S “HIT THE WALL” FEATURED IN IRON MAN 2 VIDEO GAME AND TRAILER BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO AVAILABLE NOW!
Grammy-nominated LAMB OF GOD is pleased to announce the inclusion of their unreleased track, “Hit the Wall”, in the brand new IRON MAN 2 video game and trailer! The track is exclusive to the game. View a special behind-the-scenes video chronicling the making of “Hit the Wall”, featuring interviews and recording bits, at Sega’s YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/SegaAmerica
The official trailer for the game goes live next week, and TV and in-theater ads will be viewable in two weeks in the United States. IRON MAN 2 hits stores on May 4th, 2010 (just days before the movie hits theaters), and will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS.
LAMB OF GOD will be appearing this summer on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, as well as at select off-dates with Hatebreed and 3 Inches of Blood. See all upcoming LAMB OF GOD dates below.
LAMB OF GOD tour dates:
ON ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL 7/10 San Bernadino, CA @ Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen 7/11 Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre 7/13 Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre Southeast 7/14 Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre 7/16 Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Pavilion 7/17 Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion 7/18 Englewood, CO @ Coors Amphitheatre 7/20 St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre 7/21 Cincinatti, OH @ Riverbend Music Center 7/23 Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center 7/24 Hartford, CT @ The Comcast Theater 7/25 Montreal, QC @ Parc Jean Drapeau 7/27 Boston, MA @ Comcast Center 7/28 Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center 7/30 Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Bank Theater 7/31 Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center 8/1 Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre 8/3 Raleigh, NC @ Time Warner Cable Pavilion @ Walnut Creek 8/4 Virginia Beach, VA @ Virginia Beach Amphitheatre 8/6 Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theater 8/7 Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion 8/8 Washington, DC @ Jiffy Lube Live 8/10 Tampa, FL @ Ford Amphitheatre 8/11 West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre 8/13 Dallas, TX @ Superpages.com Center 8/14 Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Amphitheatre
MAYHEM OFF HEADLINING DATES W/ HATEBREED, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD 7/7 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Great Salt Air 7/8 Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues 7/12 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater 7/19 Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont Club 7/29 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues 8/9 Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues 8/15 San Antonio, TX @ Sunken Garden
Cheech & Chong Premiere of “Hey Watch This!” Debut
The release makes movie history this weekend with a new release/distribution model: It will be available simultaneously on every platform including nationwide movie theaters, DVD/Blu-Ray, online, local retail outlets, VOD and PS3 / Xbox360 streaming networks.
The Clearview Chelsea Cinema (260 West 23rd Street) is holding a pre-release screening on Saturday, April 17th at 10 pm.
The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. and Ultimate Guitar Enter Licensing Arrangement for Lyrics and Tablature
HFA’s 44,000 Represented Publishers Have Option to Participate
New York, April 6, 2010 – The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA), a leading U.S. music rights licensing organization, announced today that it has entered into a licensing arrangement with Ultimate Guitar, the world’s leading online guitar community and guitar tablature website. The deal includes rights for lyrics display, title search and tablature display with download and print capabilities. HFA’s over 44,000 represented publishers will have the opportunity to opt-in to the licensing arrangement with Ultimate Guitar.
“This licensing arrangement with Ultimate Guitar shows HFA’s commitment to providing new revenue opportunities for our publishers in innovative areas such as lyrics and tablature,” said Michael Simon, Chief Strategic Officer for HFA. “HFA’s bulk licensing capabilities and sophisticated distribution systems support all types of new business models.”
With over 10 million visitors per month worldwide and more than two million messages posted, as well as the largest library of “guitar tabs” on the web, Ultimate Guitar (www.ultimate-guitar.com) is the Internet’s largest and fastest growing social media site for the guitar enthusiast community.
“Our community of loyal users is passionate about music – they use the website as a tool to learn about, play and discuss an unparalleled selection of compositions,” said Ultimate Guitar founder Eugeny Naidenov. “We feel that Ultimate Guitar provides a great vehicle for music publishers and composers to be fairly compensated while at the same time providing a unique platform through which the next generation of fans and musicians discover and engage with music.
“We are pleased to streamline our licensing initiatives through HFA,” continued Mr. Naidenov. “Their long-established relationships with an extensive network of music publishers, combined with their licensing knowledge and infrastructure, provide an efficient method for our company to reach out to the music publishing community.”
MTV and "Youth" Station ID Campaign
April 5, 2010
MTV Re-design and "Youth" Station Identification Campaign making waves, music supervision/sound design by David Hnatiuk.
John Debney is the center of this Variety.com article by Jon Burlingame. It details his successful career that includes more that 70 feature films and a childhood surrounded by Walt Disney. Click on the link to read more.
Fuse and Billboard.com are breaking big news including the interesting pairing of Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash and Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer. Read on and watch the video to see why!
With the recent Oscar win of Ryan Binnham's "The Weary Kind" for Best Original Song, Billboard.com has created a chart of Best Song winners and their corresponding places on the Hot 100. Click on the link below to see where your favorite Best Original Songs rank.
Set for a holiday season release, Harmonix is planning on revolutionizing the music game genre with 'Rock Band 3'. Read on as NME.com details the game's release.
Music from the films Crazy Heart and Up won Oscars on Sunday, March 7. Original Score went to Up while Crazy Heart was awarded Original Song for 'The Weary Kind'. Click on the link below to read more about these films and their music.
Wayne Coyne, frontman to the Flaming Lips, is said to be begging Justin Timberlake to appear in a new film by the rocker. Find out more about this possible pairing from NME.com below.
Rage Against the Machine's guitarist Tom Morello announces on Twitter plans to score the sequel to blockbuster 'Iron Man'. Follow the link to read the story from NME.com.
Recently, one of the authors of Music Supervision sat down for an interview with OurStage Blog. Follow the link below to read the interview given by Dave Hnatiuk of Music Supervision Central.
RemixGalaxy.com just launched an international remix contest. The song is "The Greatest Dancer" featuring Snoop Dogg - the theme to an upcoming pilot for an urban dance battle TV show. There is an amazing package of prizes with the Grand Prize including hardware and software from M-Audio, Roland, Alesis, Native Instruments and Universal Audio, as well as a digital release by DCat Music. Given the artist and prizes worth in excess of $5000, this is one of the biggest remix contests ever. Info and banners available at: http://p0.vresp.com/Qx3zJc and http://www.remixgalaxy.com/files/contests/TGD/TGDContestBanner.jpg
Jimi Hendrix To Be Next 'Rock Band' Artist?
February 17, 2010
First The Beatles, then Green Day, and now it's Jimi Hendrix? According to his stepsister, the work of Hendrix is being developed for the next installment of 'Rock Band'. Click on the link below to read Matt Helgeson's take on the news. Article courtesy of GameInformer.com.
'When You're Strange', the documentary about the legendary band The Doors, is in theaters April 9. The 13-song soundtrack will be released March 30. Click on the link below, provided by The Playlist, to read more interesting details about the film as well as see an exclusive trailer.
Living Things' Lillian Berlin Writes and Performs Original Score for The Runaways
** Rocker Makes Move into Film Scoring with First Soundtrack Work **
New York, NY, February 8 -- Best known for his main gig as frontman for political rockers Living Things, Lillian Berlin has expanded his horizons by taking on film scoring chores for the upcoming, highly-anticipated film The Runaways.
“I’ve done scores for short films in the past and this is my first feature,” said Berlin. “Floria Sigismondi (director of The Runaways) had me watch Christiane F, a 70's German cult film as a sonic reference point. Then I sat and watched a cut of The Runaways at my studio. I played along with my guitar to tape -- much of what I did was kept from that first time watching the film and playing. Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart’s performances were very inspiring and dictated where the score should go. The classic Runaways songs are all over the film and my contributions had to dance around that, so what came out of me was a minimalist yet complimentary guitar score.”
The experience scoring The Runaways has Berlin hungry for more work in this vain: “I have always written my music inspired from a visual place, and I see myself scoring more films in the future, along with releasing instrumental albums – I’m a major fan of Brian Eno's instrumental work.”
The Runaways had its world premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival on January 24th, and will open in wide release in America on March 19.
Lillian Berlin is now back in the studio with Living Things recording the follow up to their critically acclaimed 2009 release Habeas Corpus tentatively titled Bliss.
New Partnership in Support of Emerging Artists
February 2, 2010
The following was released by representatives of New Music Seminar and Mountain Dew:
NEW MUSIC SEMINAR AND MOUNTAIN DEW ANNOUNCE NEW PARTNERSHIP IN SUPPORT OF EMERGING ARTISTS
ARTIST ON THE VERGE TALENT SEARCH WINNER POWERED BY OURSTAGE.COM TO RECEIVE THIS YEAR'S NMS-MOUNTAIN DEW REFLECTION AWARD
AT THE NEW MUSIC SEMINAR LOS ANGELES FEBRUARY 2, 2010 AT THE HENRY FONDA THEATER
February 1, 2010, Los Angeles, CA - New Music Seminar (NMS, www.newmusicseminar.biz) and Mountain Dew (www.mountaindew.com) are proud to announce a new creative partnership in support of emerging musical artists. This year the NMS-Mountain Dew Reflection Award, which recognizes and supports some of today's most-promising new independent artists, will be given to the winner of the OurStage.com powered Artist on the Verge contest. The winner of this award will be announced at New Music Seminar on Tuesday, February 2nd at the Henry Fonda Theater.
The Reflection Award was created to inspire independent artists who successfully work to build their own careers and rise to the top. The Reflection Award looks like a platinum record award but is actually a mirror, symbolically representing the significance that the artists themselves are the key to success.
The new partnership is part of a larger, growing relationship between New Music Seminar and Mountain Dew, both of which are committed to developing new platforms and educational tools for independent artists to advance their careers in the music industry.
Mountain Dew will also sponsor the 2010 NMS New Music Business Guidebook, a literary toolbox of information and materials for aspiring artists.
The NMS-Mountain Dew Artist on the Verge winner will receive a package of prizes worth over $25,000 including musical equipment, consultation, mentoring sessions, promotional, legal and marketing services. For a full listing of prizes go to www.ourstage.com/go/reflectionawardprizes.
The three Ourstage.com finalists will be at the seminar to have their performances critiqued live during the 3rd Movement by KCRW Jason Bentley, super-producer Rodney Jerkins, Chamillionaire, Tom Jackson and Justin Tranter of Semi Precious Weapons. The audience will vote using Mozes SMS technology to select the winner from the three.
"It's one thing to talk about the need for more artists to breakthrough, but this is the first time that the New Music Seminar, with the support of Mountain Dew, will directly affect the careers of these artists on the verge," said Tom Silverman, Founder NMS.
"Mountain Dew is proud to partner with New Music Seminar to sponsor the Reflection Award, which celebrates talented, emerging artists and offers musicians much-needed assistance that brings them closer to recognizing their professional goals and personal dreams," said Frank Cooper, SVP, chief consumer engagement officer, PepsiCo Americas Beverages. "We're thrilled to be in on the ground level supporting new music and today's up-and-coming artists."
The three top finalists will be awarded travel funds and passes to Los Angeles to attend New Music Seminar on February 2, 2010 following the Grammy Awards. The three finalists will have their A&R package reviewed by the panel in a mock A&R meeting. The Artist on the Verge winner will be announced after the final Movement and will be set to perform live 15 minutes later on the New Music Seminar stage.
NMS Los Angeles brings together leaders from across the front edges of music, technology and beyond to speak and share ideas during this one-day music, networking and educational extravaganza. NMS is the must-attend conference for the industry (artists, managers, labels, etc.) who are seeking to learn and understand how to help artists rise above the noise in a shifting musical landscape.
AC/DC to Supply Soundtrack for 'Iron Man 2'
January 27, 2010
The powerhouse behind the film 'Iron Man 2' is teaming up with Aussie band AC/DC to supply a soundtrack for what is sure to be an upcoming blockbuster. Read on as The Playlist details the collaboration that will also produce a greatest hits album.
Teaming up on their second album, M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel preview a track from 'Volume Two'. Click the link below to hear the track to be released on April 5th.
AUTEUR, FILMMAKER AND ROCK MUSICIAN ROB ZOMBIE BEGINS DIRECTING AN EPISODE OF "CSI: MIAMI" TODAY,TO BE BROADCAST MONDAY, MARCH 1
This marks the Director's First Foray Into Television Filmmaker and musician Rob Zombie will bring his unique style of filmmaking to the streets of Miami on an episode of CSI: MIAMI, to be broadcast Monday, March 1 ( 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The episode begins production today and is Zombie's television directorial debut. In the episode, the CSI team discovers that a listening device has been covertly planted at a crime scene, capturing a terrifying soundtrack of the murder and, possibly, the voice of the killer. However, when it’s revealed the bug was planted by the team’s own Jesse Cardoza, the State’s Attorney tosses the taped evidence and uncovers accusations of evidence tampering by Jesse on a murder case in Los Angeles. With the integrity of his team at stake, Horatio Caine and Eric Delko travel to Los Angeles to dig into that murder and clear Jesse’s name. While in Los Angeles, Horatio find himself face to face with secrets from Jesse’s past and a dangerous element within the LAPD. "As writers, we were really pushing to create an interesting backdrop that could lend to Rob Zombie's visual style," says Marc Dube, co-executive producer. "We thought opening the episode at a macabre party, with Miami attendees all wearing stylized masks (a la "Eyes Wide Shut") would be a fun kick-off point for Rob do to what he does best -- conveying the cruel and creepy underbelly of humanity." "I am very excited to be working on a show that has such an intense and unique visual angle on the classic crime drama formula and look forward to putting my own bizarre stamp on the world of CSI: Miami," says Zombie.
A prolific musician, Zombie has multiple gold and platinum records, sales of over 15 million albums worldwide, and has directed over 25 music videos. His next album, “Hellbilly Deluxe 2,” will be released on Feb. 2nd. His re-imagining of “Halloween” claimed the highest-grossing Labor Day weekend opening ever, followed by the 2009 success “Halloween 2.” His film accomplishments also include the critically acclaimed "The Devil's Rejects" and the cult classic "House of 1000 Corpses." Zombie has made a distinct mark in the music and film worlds with his uniquely sinister point of view that has resulted in success in both arenas.
Family Force Five Song Chosen for Film
January 8, 2010
The following was released by representatives of Big Machine Media LLC:
After a wildly successful year, Family Force Five was asked to record for Disney’s “Alice In Wonderland” – directed by Tim Burton – which led to the production of “Topsy Turvy,” a mid-tempo track to be featured on the movie’s soundtrack, which is predicted to be one of the most popular soundtracks of the year. This is sure to pave the way for a good year in 2010 for the group.
Top Names Team Up for Tibet Documentary
January 4, 2010
Thom Yorke, composer Philip Glass and Damien Rice are joining talents for the upcoming documentary "When The Dragon Swallowed The Sun". Follow the link below to read more about this inspiring story about freeing Tibet.
ROADRUNNER RECORDS TO RELEASE DIGITAL EP FOR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) BLOCK BUSTER GOD OF WAR® III
Digital Soundtrack to Feature Exclusive Songs From Killswitch Engage, Dream Theater and Others
New York, NY: ROADRUNNER RECORDS today announced plans to release an exclusive digital extended play (EP) soundtrack for the highly anticipated PlayStation®3 (PS3™) exclusive videogame, God of War ®III. The EP, titled God of War®: Blood & Metal, will be released in March as a part of the God of War III® Ultimate Edition, and will feature five exclusive unreleased songs from Roadrunner artists, including KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, DREAM THEATER, TRIVIUM, OPETH and TAKING DAWN.
Consumers who purchase the God of War III Ultimate Edition will receive a voucher code to download the tracks, as well as downloadable music in the form of the God of War Trilogy soundtrack. Fans will also receive a special code to download a director’s cut of God of War: Unearthing the Legend, a full-length movie documentary depicting the history of the God of War franchise, access to an exclusive God of War Challenge Arena environment with up to seven unique challenges, an exclusive Kratos skin, and a limited edition art book. The God of War III Ultimate Edition will retail for $99.99 (MSRP).
“I have played the previous God of War releases,” said Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones. “To be a part of this game in any fashion is amazing! Let the rivers flow red with blood; there is vengeance to bestow! Bring me more new finishing blows to my enemies!"
“Music has always been an important part of videogames and can help bring titles to life,” said Stig Asmussen, God of War III Game Director. “Our goal is to make God of War IIIa special release in all areas and this just another way to offer fans and newcomers a worthwhile experience.”
“This is the first time in 24 years that we've written and recorded a song for anything other than one of our own albums, so we're up for the challenge and excited to have been asked,” said Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy about recording an exclusive instrumental track for the soundtrack.
“When we were initially asked to write an original song for the game, we were slightly perplexed since we’ve never actually written a track for something other than a Trivium record,” said Trivium, vocalist Matt Heafy. “But we answered the call as we are fans of the game. Writing the song was a fun experience. We started piecing riffs together on tour and then we really put time into the song when we got home and had the chance to go into the practice space to work on our ideas as a group. This new song captures a certain energy we've been trying to harness on record as well, as it will show all our fans worldwide where Trivium is heading musically in the future.”
Indie Holiday Benefit Compilation
December 15, 2009
"A Holiday Benefit" is an annual compilation album and concert featuring New York City singer/songwriters benefiting 826NYC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills. This year's "A Holiday Benefit, Vol. 3" features local and upcoming indie artist Bess Rogers, along with Casey Shea, Paula Valstein, Chris Cubeta, Emily Easterly, Andy Mac, Martin Rivas, Ruby Rivers, Amber Rubarth, Chris Abad, Bryan Dunn, Benjamin Wagner and Emily Zuzik, plus album art by Emily Raw. The album will be officially released on Wednesday, December 16th at Pianos (158 Ludlow Street).
Support the artists and their cause tonight, and check out the compilation at: http://www.myspace.com/aholidaybenefit
Green Day Launches Own Version of 'Rock Band'
December 15, 2009
Veteran Rockers Green Day are set to follow in the footsteps of The Beatles by backing the second version of a band specific Rock Band game. Follow the link below to see the details of the much anticipated game.
Indie-Rockers Grizzly Bear have been tapped to provide the music for the new Derek Cianfrance film 'Blue Valentine' starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. Follow the link below to find details on the band and the film which is set to premiere early in the year at the Sundance Film Festival.
Watch Distant Relatives Webcast Live On Nat Geo Music with Nas & Damian Marley For Distant Relatives Event
Will Feature Hip-Hop and Reggae Legends In Conversation
WHAT: National Geographic Live presents a one-of-a-kind evening from its Washington, DC headquarters with some of hip-hop's most legendary figures.
"Distant Relatives", sponsored by VTech, will feature hip-hop icon Nas and Grammy-winning artist Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, son of Bob Marley, in a discussion about the often under-appreciated evolution of and deep-rooted connections between reggae and hip-hop.
WHO: Joining Nas and Marley for this conversation, moderated by MTV VJ Sway, will be key players in the development of both musical genres, including Kool Herc, Rakim, Daddy U-Roy, King Jammy, Jeff Chang, Pat McKay, Waterflow and DJ Red Alert.
Hip-hop, now a multibillion-dollar industry, originated as a vital form of cultural expression in Africa that was translocated by the slave trade to the Caribbean and the American colonies. It blossomed a half century ago in the dance halls of Kingston, Jamaica, and soon migrated to the parks jams and recreational centers of New York City, where the culture became known as hip-hop.
This evolution forms the basis of the "Distant Relatives" music project, a collaborative effort by Marley and Nas, which will comprise an album set for release in early 2010, a documentary film, performances and a series of public discussions, the first of which is this event hosted by National Geographic.)
30 Seconds To Mars Sing About New Album
December 8, 2009
Jared Leto is interviewed about the band's latest album by Rolling Stone. Click the link below to read why he says this album is about survival.
Sex Pistols Director Julien Temple is set to direct a biopic about Brit band The Kinks. Follow the link below from nme.com to find out the possible title for the film.
The following was released by representitives of Earshot Media:
WENDY’S / MYSPACE RECORDS “FRESH FACES” CAMPAIGN
DEBUTS LATEST EPISODE FEATURING LA HIP HOP ARTIST IamOMNI
WEB SERIES TO FEATURE 9 EPISODES FROM 3 DIFFERENT ARTISTS SPOTLIGHTING A ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’ OF AN EMERGING ARTIST
NEW EPISODES RELEASED EVERY WEDNESDAY; 3-SONG EP FROM EACH ARTIST AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD AT WWW.MYSPACE.COM/WENDYS
November 19, 2009—Wendy’s and MySpace Records have teamed up to launch a new Internet series called “Fresh Faces.” Building on Wendy’s motto of ‘You Know When It’s Real,’ the ongoing Web program will include 9 episodes from three different emerging artists showing what a ‘day in the life’ of a budding new artist is like.
Each “Fresh Faces” artist will have its own 3 episodes than can be seen exclusively at www.myspace.com/wendys, in addition to a 3-song EP available for free download on the site. A new episode will debut every Wednesday throughout the series.
Stay tuned for new episodes on future “Fresh Faces” artists, including a Brooklyn based beat-pop band, all handpicked from MySpace Records’ Friends and Family, a group of developing artists MySpace Records helps market and promote.
Music Match: New Moon
November 16, 2009
With the release of New Moon just days away, Janet Mock from People has taken the opportunity to pair five songs from the already top selling soundtrack to five pivotal scenes included in the second film of the four-part series.
Omnibus Press has released three books that delve deep into the world of music disputes, the rise and fall of EMI and a Film Producer's Survival Guide. Read further as this press release describes each book briefly.
The following was released by representitives of Omnibus Press:
Omnibus Press Releases Books For Those in the Music and Film Business
New York/London (November, 2009) – Omnibus Press, the leading publisher of pop and rock books has announced the publication of three new titles geared for movie producers, entertainment lawyers, music industry executives, record producers and music fans.
Pop Goes To Court by Brian Southall (Order Number: OP52206, Price: $24.95, Pages: 256) digs deep into some of the most memorable music disputes ever to merit the sober deliberations of the law, and in doing so, reveals much about our changing views on fame and the value of publicity. Elvis, Ozzy, George Michael, Metallica, George Harrison, The Smiths... They’ve all been involved in legal action over the past fifty years. Pop Goes To Court recalls some of the most entertaining and bizarre court cases ever to take rock’n’rollers into a courtroom. Bono went all litigious over a disappearing hat, one Beatle filed suit against the other three, and forty years after it was a big hit, Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” was suddenly the focus of a bitter legal wrangling over who actually wrote it. Today, celebrity litigation is an established stable of the tabloids and Pop Goes to Court presents the pioneers – the musical celebrities who took their grievances to court and usually became even more entertaining as a result.
The Rise And Fall Of EMI Records by Brian Southall (Order Number: OP52349, Price: $29.95, Pages: 316) explores and investigates EMI’s extraordinary decline from the greatness over two decades of rejected takeovers, unsuccessful mergers, executive changes, profit warnings, artist and staff cuts, press criticism and never-ending speculation. For over half a century, EMI dominated the music industry with a roster that included The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, Queen, The Spice Girls and Coldplay. Author Brian Southall, a former director of EMI Music interviewed many key players at EMI and many managers, music journalists, financial analysts and rival record company executives. The result is the definitive account of a major international company’s travails. It is also an eye-opening expose of the speed at which the music industry has changed.
The Independent Film Producer’s Survival Guide: A Business And Legal Sourcebook 3rd Edition by Gunnar Erickson, Mark Halloran and Harris Tulchin (Order Number: SCH10172, Price: $24.95, Page: 416) tells you everything you need to know to produce and market an independent film—from the development process to deal making, financing, setting up the production, hiring directors and actors, securing location rights, acquiring music, calculating profits, digital movie making, distribution, and marketing your film. Written by a trio of entertainment lawyers with over 60 years combined experience, The Independent Film Producer’s Survival Guide offers clear, concise guidance for navigating the complex journey of making a movie and avoiding the legal pitfalls and business blunders.
New Victoria's Secret Ad Campaign
November 9, 2009
The following was released by representitives of Ultra Records:
NEW VICTORIA’S SECRET TV AD CAMPAIGN FEATURES SEXY SOUNDTRACK: “BABY BABY BABY” BY MAKE THE GIRL DANCE
Track Helps Launch Miraculous™ Push-Up in Michael Bay-Directed “Hello, Bombshell” Commercial
New York, NY – Victoria’s Secret, the leading specialty retailer of lingerie and beauty products, has launched the campaign for their newest Holiday 2009 product, Miraculous™, with a stunning television ad campaign directed by award-winning filmmaker Michael Bay (Transformers), and featuring music from Ultra Records recording artist Make the Girl Dance.
The new holiday campaign is titled “Hello, Bombshell,” and the commercial’s soundtrack is fittingly the Paris-based group’s first single, “Baby Baby Baby” – a sexy, pulsating French anthem for all bombshells out there. The Miraculous™ campaign launched on TV and online this week, and is scheduled to run through early December in the U.S. The commercial can be seen at the Miraculous™ website http://www.miraculouspushup.com/.
“Baby Baby Baby,” a track released by Ultra earlier this fall, has already received a lot of attention around the world for its titillating music video, featuring a series of models undressing on the streets of Paris while lipsynching the song. The video can be seen at Ultra Records’ popular YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/ultrarecords.
New remixes of “Baby Baby Baby” will be released in early December, and will be available on all digital music stores.
“Baby Baby Baby,” as heard in Victoria’s Secret’s “Hello, Bombshell” campaign, is available for download now at iTunes and wherever digital music is sold. http://www.itunes.com
The following was released by representitives of Lionsgate Music and Matriarch/Geffen Records:
LIONSGATE MUSIC, IN ASSOCIATION WITH MATRIARCH/GEFFEN RECORDS, ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF SOUNDTRACK TO LEE DANIELS' HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FILM PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE Soundtrack Features Music By Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah and More First Single Is Co-Producer Mary J. Blige's "I Can See In Color"
SANTA MONICA, CA and VANCOUVER, BC - Lionsgate Music, the music arm of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF,) the leading next generation studio,in association with Matriarch/Geffen Records, will release the official soundtrack for Lee Daniels' highly anticipated, prize-winning film PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL "PUSH" BY SAPPHIRE. The soundtrack was available online beginning November 3rd and will be in stores November 23rd. It was produced by Daniels along with Mary J. Blige, whose new song "I Can See In Color" will be the first single. The track has already garnered raves, with Rolling Stone extolling it as "...a knockout song...expressing the goal of Precious to see the world in color." Other artists featured on the star-studded soundtrack include Queen Latifah, Mahalia Jackson and Grace Hightower. According to Daniels, these artists were selected because they "resonate not only in Precious' world, but speak to your soul no matter who you are."
The songs on the soundtrackeffectively capture this groundbreaking film's powerful, universal message about the human capacity to grow and overcome. Set in 1987, PRECIOUS tells the story of Harlem teenager Claireece "Precious" Jones, who overcomes tremendous obstacles to discover her own worth, beauty and potential Precious' tale is perfectly complimented by this deeply moving collection of songs - songs that are the sound of Precious' resilient, questing spirit, which carries her through such intense struggle. Courage and determination, passionately expressed by Mary J. Blige, Jean Carn, Donna Allen and others, are touchstones of Precious' story and Daniels' film; ultimately the message will reverberate in listeners and audiences alike.
The film and its standout performances have already received myriad critical accolades and top prizes at major international film festivals. Breakout star Gabourey Sidibe was featured on the cover of a recent New York Times Magazine, and was touted as "beyond incredible" by Access Hollywood, who called the film "amazing...not to be missed." Time Magazine lauded it as "an unabashedly inspirational anthem." The Oscar® buzz is already in full swing, with predictions coming from the New York Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Time Magazine, Elle Magazine, The New York Post and more.
PRECIOUS premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize for Acting. It has since screened at such prestigious venues as the Cannes International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival, and has won audience prizes at the Toronto International Film Festival, the San Sebastian Film Festival and the recently concluded Chicago International Film Festival. It is the only film ever to receive the Audience awards at both Sundance and Toronto.
For a synopsis and other information regarding PRECIOUS, please visit the official website, http://www.weareallprecious.com.
About PRECIOUS: Lionsgate in association with Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry present A Lee Daniels Entertainment / Smokewood Entertainment Group Production of PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL "PUSH" BY SAPPHIRE, directed by Lee Daniels from a screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher based on the book Push, a novel by Sapphire. The film stars Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz and introduces Gabourey Sidibe. PRECIOUS was produced by Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness. Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Lisa Cortés and Tom Heller are Executive Producers; Simone Sheffield serves as Co-Executive Producer; Mark G. Mathis is Co-Producer; and Asger Hussain serves as Associate Producer.
PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL "PUSH" BY SAPPHIRE Soundtrack Track Listing:
01 I Can See In Color - Mary J. Blige 02 He Is The Joy - Donna Allen 03 Was That All It Was - Jean Carn 04 Did You Ever See A Dream Walking - Sunny Gale 05 Come Into My House - Queen Latifah 06 Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Mahalia Jackson 07 Love Is The Message - Mfsb (Featuring The Three Degrees) 08 Now That I Know Who I Am - Nona Hendryx 09 System - Labelle 10 Somethin's Comin' My Way - Grace Hightower 11 It Took A Long Time - Labelle 12 Letters (From The Original Score) - Mario Grigorov
Executive Producer: Lee Daniels & Mary J. Blige Soundtrack Producer: Lynn Fainchtein
EMI sues Santa Cruz-based website
November 4, 2009
Santa Cruz, California based website BlueBeat.com has apparently committed a music faux pas by marketing otherwise unavailable tracks by The Beatles. Follow the link as Christopher Morris from Variety details the lawsuit by EMI.
The following was released by representatives of Star Making Machinery:
Suzanna Choffel Wins 2nd Place in International Songwriting Competition and Gets Song Placement in Global Dell™/Windows® 7 Advertisement Hotly Anticipated New Album Currently In Production; Release Scheduled For Early 2010
AUSTIN, TX - 10/23/09 - Austin musician Suzanna Choffel has been awarded 2nd Place in the AAA category of the prestigious International Songwriting Competition (ISC)ISCwinners . The New York Times declared, "ISC has the most impressive group of judges from a variety of industry backgrounds in any songwriting competition. This makes ISC the songwriting competition to take note of." ISC Judges included music industry luminaries such as Tom Waits, Ray Davies, Neil Finn, KT Tunstall, Robert Smith, Black Francis, and Steve Lillywhite. Suzanna's award-winning song was "Hey Mister", from her first album "Shudders & Rings". A live performance of the song can be viewed at youtube - Hey Mister .
Suzanna Choffel's highly anticipated second album is currently in production, with release scheduled for early 2010. The song "Archer" from the upcoming album was recently licensed for use in a new global Dell™ advertisement highlighting the launch of the Windows® 7 operating system. The advertisement can be seen at dell.com Windows 7 site starting October 23, 2009.
Suzanna Choffel said, "I'm thrilled by the award from ISC, whose judges are some of my favorite artists - and am super excited that a new song from my upcoming album has already been licensed. Kudos to the team at Super!Alright! for their wildly creative media work."
These accomplishments follow Suzanna's success at SXSW 2009, where she won the "Best Indie Band" prize at the Austin Music Awards, and her official SXSW Showcase was praised by veteran music critic Jim DeRogatis (Chicago Sun-Times, NPR) who wrote, "Choffel impressed me more than any singer-songwriter I've heard here, with a unique sound equal parts Beat poetry, smoky soul grooves and indie-pop eccentricity. Think Feist meets Erykah Badu, with a hint of Tex-Mex seasoning."
Suzanna Choffel's next major performance will be at the Voodoo Experience 2009 Festival on Nov. 1 in New Orleans, LA.
Them Crooked Vultures Announce First Album
October 23, 2009
Supergroup Them Crooked Vultures have announced the release of their first album on November 17th. Also included is a track listing and tour details. Article by Rolling Stone.
Google is possibly launching a search engine that will offer free streams and MP3 downloads. Click on the link and find out what else the new project will offer. Article by Gil Kaufman.
Blur, along with a bevy of other rock artists, have signed on for the new 'Lego Rock Band'. Read on as Rolling Stone provides a track listing of all songs included on the new game.
The creator of 'The Simpsons' has been tapped to curate indie music festival All Tomorrow's Parties. Read on as Andrzej Lukowski describes how the ex-music journalist got the gig.
Two independent record labels that own the licensing rights to two songs by German musician Ulrich Schnauss, have brought suit against Guns N' Roses for using portions of the songs. Story by Christine Kearney of Billboard.com.
Paul McCartney's three-night stint that christened Citi Field this past summer will be released on a 2CD/1DVD combo on November 17th. Highlights include an encore cameo by Billy Joel. Article by Rolling Stone.
Based off the book 'I Slept With Joey Ramone' this biopic is headed from independent leadership to 20th Century Fox's Searchlight division. Article by Steven Zeitchik and Matthew Belloni of The Hollywood Reporter.
Is it possible that we could soon have a lower volume limit on our mp3 players? If the European Commission has its way; Yes. Read on as www.nme.com details the possible shift in the way we listen to music.
The 14-track collection from Karen O and the Kids is as clever and eclectic as the indie-rock supergroup that recorded it. Reviews and sneak peaks of tracks are supplied by theplaylist.blogspot.com.
Steven Spielberg and Showtime are in talks to develop a series about putting on a Broadway show. Expected to join in the musical-meets-scripted series is the team who brought "Hairspray" to the big screen.
Sibling duo Jack and Meg White take us on a journey under the Great Northern Lights in a documentary following their 2007 Canadian Tour. Article by Dennis Harvey of Variety.
20dot20 has a new location and will be hosting a Music and Media Mixer TONIGHT September 24th! Follow this link to find out details on this special networking event.
A refreshing spin on classic 80's song 'Don't Stop Believin' and Rhianna's hit 'Take a Bow' help the talented cast of singers from Fox's show 'Glee' earn a spot on Billboard's Hot 100. Read Aylala Ben-Yehuda and Silvio Pietroluongo's take on the success reported by HollywoodReporter.com.
Matt Bellamy of Muse confirms they will join the growing list of rock artists for the new Twilight film, 'New Moon'. Follow the link to see who else NME.com reports is on the soundtrack.
Ellen can't dance her way out of not paying licensing fees for well over one thousand song recordings. Read on as ProSound News details the lawsuit filed against the producers of the popular daytime talkshow.
Radiohead may never make another album again. But that doesn't mean their done making music -- quite the opposite.
Read Eric Pfanner's article in the NY Times to find out more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/business/media/24iht-cache24.html?ref=media
Crystal Method Scores X Games 3D
August 18, 2009
The following was released by representatives of The Crystal Method:THE CRYSTAL METHOD PROVIDE SCORE FOR ‘X GAMES 3D: THE MOVIE’ IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE AUGUST 21NEW VIDEO FOR “DROWN IN THE NOW” INTERCUT WITH MASSIVE ACTION SCENES FROM THE FILM AVAILABLE Hard-hitting electronic music comes to the big screen this summer! THE CRYSTAL METHOD’s music is being used to score the new ESPN film X Games 3D: The Movie, due in 3D theatres across the country August 21. The electronic music duo’s various works will be featured throughout the film including original tracks and reworked versions of material from their current album DIVIDED BY NIGHT, as well as from their earlier records. The full-length feature film X Games 3D: The Movie is the first sports-themed 3D film which captures the drama and spectacle that play out at the X Games and tells the stories of the iconic action sports personalities Shaun White, Travis Pastrana, Danny Way, Ricky Carmichael, Kyle Loza and Bob Burnquist. Available now is a new version of THE CRYSTAL METHOD’s “Drown In The Now” video in which scenes from the movie--that immerse sports fans into the world of action sports and its top stars--are interspersed with the original animation version featuring vocalist Matisyahu.The new version of the video for THE CRYSTAL METHOD’s “Drown In The Now” can be viewed at www.thecrystalmethod.comwww.myspace.com/thecrystalmethod
Music labels have reached a deal with online stations for new, lowered royalty rates for music streaming, giving the once struggling industry of internet radio a chance. Read the whole New York Times article by Claire Cain Miller here:
Gael MacGregor writes about the new sound recognition technology BlueArrow, describing how it works and how it applies to the music industry and music supervision.
NYC Composers Collaborate with Directors of 2009 Silverdocs ClosingNight Feature Film
New York, NY – G&E Music recently scored the feature-length HBODocumentary, The Nine Lives of Marion Barry, to premier closing nightat the 2009 Silverdocs festival in Washington D.C. on June 20 anddebut on HBO August 10. Composers Glenn Schloss and Erik Blicker (G&E)worked closely with the filmmakers, Dana Flor and Toby Oppenheimer, tocreate the musical heart and soul of this decades-spanning look at thelife and times of Barry, a polarizing political force. “Music is amajor component of this film,” says Oppenheimer, “And, G&E created theemotional core of the soundtrack.”
The Washington D.C native co-director/producers were grantedunprecedented access in the making of this documentary about Barry,who served as D.C. mayor from 1979 until 1991, when he was arrested ondrug charges and sentenced to six months in prison. The film follows Barry’s storied civil rights work and notorious politicalcareer from the 1960s up to present day, where he currently serves asa D.C. city councilman. Musically, the film score and soundtrack isan evolution from The Meters-style funk to 80s hip-hop to modernelectronica.
Oppenheimer describes, “Musically, G&E created the overall mood of thefilm. They were so giving and worked tirelessly until we found thatemotional center — the sounds that felt right and evoked those certainfeelings we were looking for. And, they really hit that 60s and 70sfunky soul sound, which was key.”With an experimental ambient record project in the wings, Schloss andBlicker were creatively primed to develop the Nine Lives score. “Inaddition to looking for composers who could cover the gamut ofdifferent musical genres and eras, the filmmakers were also lookingfor a core film sound that was minimalistic and ambient, yet organicand kind of twisted, says Blicker. “We’ve been exploring andexperimenting with ambient music recently, kicking around the idea ofdoing a record. So, this project was especially compelling to us.”
G&E kicked off the writing process with some live funk sessions,developing thematic elements that would course through the film score.“We took those themes and morphed them into all kinds of ambientmusical beds and did some heavy electronic exploration along the way,”says Schloss. Oppenheimer, who served as the film’s music supervisor,was totally on-board for the sonic exploration. “Toby would come inand we’d spend the day twisting sounds, just totally experimentingmusically and sonically,” says Schloss. “We provided Toby and Danawith a slew of tracks that they could take into the edit room. Wedeveloped a Marion Barry theme, and his wife and the establishmentalso had themes.”
On collaborating in the studio with G&E, Oppenheimer notes, “Theseguys are so patient and great — working together really helped us findour musical directions without wasting time going back and forthendlessly as I’ve experienced on other projects. A lot of composersaren’t open to that level of collaboration, but it ultimately saveseveryone a lot of time.”
G&E’s work on Nine Lives also inspired the composers to complete theirrecord of ambient music, which they’re releasing under the nameAmbient Gelly. “We’d created so many interesting anddifferent-sounding instruments by electronically manipulating andbending organic sounds,” says Blicker. “We ended up composing so muchmusic using these unique instruments — some of which we developed forNine Lives and others that went onto form this record.” Get into someAmbient Gelly at www.myspace.com/ambientgelly
Sound mixing for The Nine Lives of Marion Barry was done at FlavorLab,a division of G&E Music.
For more information about The Nine Lives ofMarion Barry and the filmmakers, visit www.florfilms.com andwww.hbo.com/events/ninelivesofmarionbarry.And, for more on G&E Music, visit www.gemusic.com.
Fader Records' indie/pop band "Matt and Kim" has been defined by some as the "soundtrack/definitive sound" of Brooklyn. Check out their fascinating interview with Baeble Music here:
Like all things Michael Jackson, the licensing value of his catalog is anticipated to rise in the next few years.
Read about this and more in Tim Arango's and Ben Sisario's article in the NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/business/media/27finances.html?pagewanted=1&ref=media
Antipiracy Download Deal Reached
June 16, 2009
According to Eric Pfanner of the New York Times, Universal Music Group, the largest recording company in the world, and Virgin Media, an UK-based entertainment business, reached a deal that will allow unlimited downloads for Virgin Media subscribers. The deal aims to take steps toward the battle against piracy.
Read more about the details of the deal at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/technology/internet/16music.html?ref=music
Billboard Music and Advertising Conference Recap
June 10, 2009
For those of you who couldn't attend, here are recaps and wrap-ups of Billboard's Music and Advertising conference on June 4-5th in New York.
Known for its award-winning original scores, NYC’s PROPELLER Music and Sound Design also offers a growing, premium music library of ready-to-license music tracks. Their latest release is Volume 3, which includes contributions from some of today’s top musicians and composers. The music in this library is “top-quality original music created for high-end advertising and broadcast production”, according to creative director/composer Doug Hall.
The PROPELLER music library is also available online (www.propellermusic.com), where music supervisors, editors and ad agency creatives can quickly parse the entire library with a new search engine. Those who prefer physical CDs can get a free copy of the new PROPELLER Music Library Volume 3 by contacting PROPELLER Music.
PROPELLER Music & Sound Design is a full-service music production resource in NYC creating innovative original music, rearrangements, sound design and mixing for commercials, films, television, radio, and the web. For more information, please visit www.propellermusic.com.
Licensing Goes Live
June 4, 2009
Licensing is part of an increasingly creative approach to music-related revenue streams worldwide.
"Music Supervision" co-author is also the brains behind NYC advanced electronic music project Impossible Objects. Check out his two newest songs, "Averted Gaze" and "Devoted" on iTunes today!
Brooklyn Vegan's "This Week in Music Licensing" is an obvious favorite at MusicSupervisionCentral.com. If you haven't already, check out Ryan Barkin's last entry at:
A British label is beginning a new brand of partnerships involving pre-paid credit cards, grocery stores, and their roster of artists. Read more about their venture here.
TWiN pays homage to influential album covers and great music and sound with the help of the Q Department. http://www.boardsmag.com/articles/online/20090427/directorseriestwin.html
The Perfect Musical Moment
April 22, 2009
Music supervisor Dawn Sutter Madell describes the elements that make a musical partnership with a concept or image stand out in utter perfection.
We Are Hunted attempts to act as a Billboard chart for the music people are listening to and talking about on the web. Find out who is topping the web charts right now.
The following was released today by Editor's Choice Music:
EDITOR’S CHOICE MUSIC DEBUTS NEW WEBSITE FOR FAST ACCESS TO POWERFUL PRODUCTION MUSIC LIBRARY
www.editorschoicemusic.com Provides Convenient Access to Diverse Collection Founded by Award-Winning Composer Gary Fitzgerald
RALEIGH, NC – April 13: Editor's Choice Music (ECM), a leading library of production music and sound design for film, television, advertising and multimedia, has launched a full-featured new website at www.EditorsChoiceMusic.com.
Registered users of the site can quickly preview, download and license over 2000 titles, from a roster of top artists selected by Emmy Award-winning composer Gary Fitzgerald. Twenty-five categories of music and sound design provide an extremely diverse range of styles, giving music supervisors, directors, and producers convenient access to top tracks.
Since being founded in 2001, ECM has been tapped by media producers worldwide for a wide variety of productions, including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX, HBO, MTV, The Travel Channel, The History Channel, America’s Most Wanted, and dozens more.
“Getting music now, ease of use, and downloading a wide range of music quickly -- in many desired categories and genres -- is what our new website is all about,”says Gary Fitzgerald, Owner of Editors Choice Music Library. “Our clients can use the Website to suggest a music category, live assistance is on call, and original music composition from our in-house staff or roster of composers is always available.”
About Editor’s Choice Music: Editors Choice Music (ECM) Library was founded in 2001 by Emmy Award-winning composer Gary Fitzgerald. What began as a collection of 10 CDs of Fitzgerald’s music quickly grew into a collection of music of many choice composers from around the world. ECM’s music has been used in productions for elite media producers including ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX, HBO, MTV, The Travel Channel, The History Channel, America’s Most Wanted, and many more. For more information, please visit www.editorschoicemusic.com.
Ring Tones Over $253 Million!
April 10th, 2009
BMI reports ring tone sales of over $235 Million in 2009!
ASCAP Collects and Warns about Digital Distributio
March 17, 2009
ASCAP reports earnings and a low operating expenses ratio of 11.3%. However, the PRO cautions artists to negotiate well in order to license music digitally.
The following was released by representatives of Blastwave
Blastwave FX Releases Sound Effects Libraries on USB Flash Drives
20 Libraries Now Available in Multiple Formats on USB Flash Drives
Detroit, Michigan, March 2, 2009 – Blastwave FX (www.blastwavefx.com), the HD sound effects label, today announced the release of 20 sound effects libraries on USB Flash Drive. The libraries currently available on USB Flash Drive include:
Ambience I, Animals I, Cartoon I, Emergency I, Fire I, Foley I, Horror I, Household I, Humans I, Impact I, Industry I, Musical I, Office I, Science Fiction I, Sports I, Technology I, Transportation I, Warfare I, Water I, and Weather I.
Each library is delivered on a 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB or16 GB USB Flash Drive depending on the format selected. Available formats include 16/44.1, 24/28, and 24/96 broadcast .wav files.
Blastwave FX libraries delivered on USB Flash Drives feature:
• USB 2.0 (56mm x 16mm x 9mm)
• MAC/PC compatibility
• 100% HD Sound Effects (24/96 native recorded)
• Multiple Formats: 16/44.1, 24/28, and 24/96 broadcast .wav files
• Embedded Metadata for Search
• Royalty-Free
"Blastwave FX is committed to pushing the envelope in sonic quality, selection, format, metadata and delivery,” said Ric Viers of Blastwave FX. “The release of 20 Blastwave FX libraries on USB Flash Drives is an industry first and underscores our commitment to innovation and excellence.”
About Blastwave FX Blastwave FX (www.blastwavefx.com) develops next-generation HD sound effects libraries for professional audio production. Blastwave FX libraries, including the flagship SONOPEDIA™, serve as royalty-free creative resources for audio professionals worldwide in post, broadcast, film, television, video games, animation, radio, new media and beyond.
Sony's campaign for its new line of music devices introduces us to innovative Japanese DJs, whose extraordinary uses of gadgets create ingenious sounds.
NYU is holding a Music and the Movies Concert March 2nd at 8:00 PM featuring the music of Leonard Rosenman. Click the link before for more information:
From musical montages to collaborative performances, Billboard describes the musical moments of this year's Academy Awards, along with Slumdog's sweep of music awards.
Google closes down it's radio advertising program after minimal success. Forty jobs are lost due to this recent change. One of the mean reasons Google is getting out of radio was the inability to track ROI. Check out the full article here:
Rising stars in the independent folk/rock music scene collaborate on the latest "Red Hot Compilation," which drops February 16th, for the fight against AIDS, bringing awareness through contributions of original music. Read about the cause and this year's amazing track list here.
Recording musicians sue over an AFM tax on special payments from Sound Recording Special Payments Fund and the Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund. http://www.filmmusicmag.com/?p=2578
Branded Tunes of Hope
February 10, 2009
Marketers create ads to associate their brands with hope and happiness through catchy "hope anthems." Watch, listen, and contemplate the effectiveness of music, a brand name, and images of hope. http://adage.com/songsforsoap/post?article_id=134384
Indian Films Embrace Euphonix
February 10, 2009
A film mix engineer explains his choice to use Euphonix to craft the soundtrack of Hindi blockbuster hit, Ghajini.
Chicago indie music examiner Jyn Radakovits chooses to not just write about some of the big stars and winners from last nights Grammys, but also about some of the more indie artists featured during the commercials.
The outbreak of Guitar Hero and Rock band have revolutionized the power of music supervision in video games. Billboard highlights the record sales of the "games that made music matter."
Author Hal Bringman talks about an air of change at this years MIDEM conference, due to economic woes and the unarguable presence of the digital revolution. Bringman even discusses some developments between music and brand marketing!
South By Southwest, a huge music and media conference that features bands, films, and emerging technology, has just come out with their March 2009 schedule. Check out their website here:http://sxsw.com
An Artist's Take on Band-Brand Deals
February 2, 2009
With the rising trend of corporate sponsorship of independent bands, both artists and fans are revising the definition of selling out. Charlie Moran comments in his Ad Age article on indie pop duo Matt & Kim's interview with Pitchfork on the topic.
Rolling Stone published a great article today featuring the best musical moments of last night's festivities, including YouTube videos.Check out the link below to see some music supervision in action!
The following was released by representatives of Immediate Music:
IMMEDIATE MUSIC LAUNCHES NEW “IM BANDS” DIVISION: COMPANY WILL NOW LICENSE MUSIC FROM POPULAR BANDS FOR FILM, TV, VIDEOGAME AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS— NITIAL BANDS SIGNED TO NEW DIVISION ARE EARLY STATES, DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS, THE UNDERWATER, CHEATER, AND GLOBUS
Santa Monica, CA, Dec. 3, 2008 – Immediate Music, Hollywood’s preeminent supplier of original music for high profile, major studio feature film trailers and television projects, has launched a new division. Entitled “IM Bands,” the division will license music from hot, contemporary bands, as well as from previously notable ones, for film, TV, videogame and TV commercial projects. Immediate Music co- founders/composers/producers Yoav Goren and Jeffrey Fayman made the announcement. Spearheaded by Immediate Music’s Director of Operations Emily Weber, the new IM Bands Division has initially signed the bands Early States, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, The Underwater, Cheater, and Globus. Said Weber,
“Immediate Music is renowned for having the best trailer music in the industry. Since we like to think that we have the ‘best ears’ in the business, we have decided that now would be a good time to add some talented bands to our roster. The initial bands we have signed are all exciting, popular and rockin’, and we will be making their songs available for licensing to our film, TV, videogame and advertising clients. We are also planning to sign a number of additional bands to our new division within the coming weeks and months.”
ABOUT EARLY STATES: Early States, fronted by 18-year old Zack Gray, is a Roseville, CA based band currently being featured on MTV.com. Pulling from influences as diverse as U2, Augustana, Radiohead and Copeland, Early States delivers a powerful, emotional seven-song EP called “Powerlines.” With singles such as “An Answer” and “Smoke in My Eyes,” the band taps into rock fans love for great guitar riffs and choruses; and with anthem “Back to the Start,” the band truly hits another level and showcases their song-writing abilities Filling out the band is Shaun O'Brien (piano, guitar), and Brandon Lee (drums), Tom Hatch (Bass) and Nick Silva (Guitar). Formed in December of 2007 by Zack and Shaun, the band began to pick up momentum after taking first place at a battle of the bands competition in San Francisco, and being invited to play the Maloof Money Cup in Orange County, CA, widely known as the biggest skateboard competition ever hosted.
ABOUT DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS: Raised in Memphis and based in Nashville, folk rock singer-guitarist Drew Holcomb is, on one level, the sum of those musically iconic cities. In the past four years, he has logged in more than 500 concert dates across the country from solo coffeehouse gigs to clubs, festivals, and colleges with his band, the Neighbors. He has also opened for Ryan Adams, Los Lobos, and a number of other well known acts. That Holcomb has sold almost 10,000 CDs in the process is equally impressive, given he has done it all without any major label or music industry support. Not bad for someone who laughingly calls himself a “recovering singer-songwriter.” Holcomb, 26, began playing the guitar and writing songs while a student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. His first two records were 2004’s “Lost & Found,” and the acclaimed follow-up, “Washed in Blue” (its track, “Long Gone Away,” was featured on the Lifetime TV series “Army Wives.”) A concert album, “Live in Memphis,” came next, marking the end of his musical tenure in the Bluff City. Holcomb’s backing band, the Neighbors, is comprised of guitarist Nathan Dugger, bassist Rich Brinsfield, and drummer Jon Radford, all of whom live in the same East Nashville area as Holcomb, hence the group’s name. The band’s most recent studio album, “Passenger Seat,” is a record of big songs, big gestures, and big heart.
ABOUT THE UNDERWATER: Hailing from York, Pennsylvania, the Underwater have been on a steady rise since their inception in late 2001. After a successful tour in 2002 with hardcore legends Zao, Unearth, Underoath and Dead Poetic, the band entered the studio to record their debut album entitled “Bleed Me Blue” (EP.) The album was released nationally on Tribunal Records in early 2003, and then was later released in Europe on Lifeforce/Impression Music in the late summer of 2003. In less than a year’s time, the release had sold in excess of 6,000 copies, giving the Underwater the opportunity to land supporting gigs with Nickelback, Supergrass, Seether, and The Fire Theft, to name a few. The band completed several European headlining tours, during which they received massive support from fans as well as the media. The single "To Find You" received heavy rotation on many European radio stations, and even charted top 25 on stations in Switzerland and Austria. In 2004 the band had a chance to work with famed producer David Bendeth (Hawthorne Heights, Imarobot, Breaking Benjamin.) During that session, they finished the tracks "Fallen One" and "Everyone." In 2005, the Underwater released their second EP in 2 years entitled "Lungs,” which became the 1 seller at FYE / Coconuts.com in the localeyez section which led to retail distribution through FYE and Coconuts in PA, NJ, DE & WV, in addition to the pre-xisting distribution through all Record and Tape Traders in MD. In April 2006, the Underwater was named XM Radio artist of the week, adding to their radio success. From 2006-2007, the band played numerous shows including shows with Live, Shinedown, Fuel, Trapt, Saliva, Quiet Drive, Dropping Daylight, Halestorm, City Sleeps and Lennon, among others. The LP "Forces," recorded with David Bendeth, Warren Riker and Marshall Deasy and mastered by Ted Jensen, was released in May 2008.
ABOUT CHEATER: During 1980, Cheater’s market grew steadily throughout all of Western New York State, and Cheater soon became a top drawing band in the North Eastern U.S., setting attendance records everywhere they went. Their combination of original music and their great, original rock songs made them an irresistible draw. The band’s “Ten Cent Love Affair” album in 1980 sold over 10,000 copies, having only been released in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. In 2005, the band released its 1983 recordings entitled “Cheater-1983” on CD for the first time. Internet sales of that CD made Cheater a well known band all over Europe, Australia, Japan, and Italy, as well as the rest of the U.S. No longer an actively performing band, Cheater was comprised of Jeff Cosco, vocals, Don Mancuso, guitar, Chris Mawdesley, guitar, Kevin McKee, bass, Blayne Pierce, keyboards, and Ron Rocco, drums (Black Sheep) started it all. The 1983 shows and recordings introduced Jimmy Fox, drums. In the early 1990's, Mike Gladstone, guitar, was brought aboard for Cheater reunion shows.
ABOUT GLOBUS: Globus’ recent CD, “Epicon,” is powerful Epic Rock, and features rock, pop, classical and world music songs—originally showcased on movie screens worldwide, but now with added lyrics-- fused with orchestra and choir. During its limited test launch, which took place only in the UK, “Epicon” sold over 10,000 CD units. Globus’ filmed live concert, held at the Wembley Center in London, has been seen across UK television, and the band’s three MTV-style music videos have enjoyed widespread UK TV popularity. (Note: Immediate Music co-founder Yoav Goren is a member of Globus.) Regarding “Epicon,” UK-based music critic Jim Bloomington, said, “The ‘Epicon’ album is very well done. Clearly alot of work went into filling out these tracks into music that stands on its own, and it shows. I can’t stress this point enough–this album must have been a labor of love. The approach the producers took allowed them to market their music to a broader audience than just hard core movie trailer fanatics. Some of the tracks, like ‘Preliator’ (a track derived from the “Spider-Man 2” movie trailer,) are truly enhanced by the added content -- I could simply listen to it over and over until the CD wears out. These tracks are so good that Globus will surely develop a core of fanatics who are eagerly awaiting their next project.”
ABOUT IMMEDIATE MUSIC: Co-founded in 1993 by composers/producers Yoav Goren and Jeffrey Fayman, and currently celebrating its 15th anniversary year, Immediate Music is widely acknowledged as Hollywood’s preeminent supplier of original music for high profile, major studio motion picture trailers. In the competitive market of motion picture advertising, the quality of Immediate Music’s compositions, as well as its high production levels, have consistently measured up against the finest motion picture scores in the entertainment industry. In addition to the critical acclaim they regularly receive from the motion picture industry, Goren and Fayman have also had success in the world of television. The composers are the winners of a 2007 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Music Composition in a Sports Program,” for their work on "The XX Olympic Winter Games: The Stories of Torino.” This Emmy was bestowed by the National Television Academy of Arts & Sciences during the 28th Annual Emmy Awards for Sports held in NYC in 2007. Yoav Goren is also the winner of a 2008 “BMI Award” for his work on The Olympics telecast cited above. Some of Immediate Music’s most recent campaigns include the creation of original music for trailers promoting “Hancock,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” “Pirates of the Caribbean 3,” “Horton Hears a Who,” “Hellboy 2,” “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,” and the custom score for “Dragonball,” as well as the upcoming “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.” Historically, the company has also provided music to the trailers behind such other renowned movies as “X-Men 1-3,” “Spiderman 2 & 3,” “Harry Potter 1-5,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “Pirates: Dean Man’s Chest,” “Superman Returns,” “Lord of the Rings,” “Gladiator” and “American Beauty,” among them. Immediate Music has also provided music for the promotional campaigns behind such TV programs as “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Six Feet Under,” “Weeds,” “Prison Break,” “24,” The Closer,” “Saving Grace,” HBO’s “John Adams,” The Olympics, NFL Super Bowl telecasts, NHL playoffs and more. Immediate Music recently produced the theme music provided the custom in-show score for NBC’s hit TV series “American Gladiators.” Ad campaigns to which the company has provided music include those promoting Toyota, Ford, DirecTV, Amstel, Hitachi and Blu-Ray. Immediate Music’s prestigious clients include such major entertainment and advertising companies as Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, DreamWorks, Universal Pictures, The Weinstein Company, Lions Gate, CBS, NBC, ABC, HBO, FOX, FOX Sports, Turner Network Television, IMAX and Saatchi & Saatchi to name some.
Immediate Music’s new headquarters is located in Santa Monica, CA. The website is www.immediatemusic.com
Nexstar Selects Stephen Arnold Music
November 13, 2008
The following was released by representatives of Stephen Arnold Music:
STEPHEN ARNOLD MUSIC NAMED NEWS MUSIC PROVIDER FOR NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP
Top 20 TV Broadcasting Company Selects SAM’s ‘Commanding Sonic Branding’ for Deal Covering Initial 20+ Stations
DALLAS – November 10, 2008: Stephen Arnold Music (www.stephenarnoldmusic.com) (SAM), the trendsetters in music composition and developers of Commanding Sonic Branding, have announced a deal to provide a wide range of music services to the Nexstar Broadcasting Group (NASDAQ: NXST). The agreement calls for SAM to provide each station with news music from SAM’s award-winning news music catalogue and to produce a series of custom image songs for the stations in the Nexstar group.
Nexstar’s selection of SAM is the latest in an ongoing collaboration between the companies. The arrangement will initially include approximately 20 Nexstar stations and will eventually grow to represent more than 40. With each SAM news music package comprised of 20-30 music themes, the deal with Nexstar will involve hundreds of music cuts.
“At Nexstar, we want to surround ourselves with the best in the business, and that’s what we feel Stephen Arnold Music to be,” says Blake Russell, VP Marketing and Operations for Nexstar. “They lead in-depth strategic planning with us to work with our stations on their identity, and give each one of them something original and specific to their needs. SAM’s expertise with sonic branding is important to Nexstar –they create the sounds eliciting the top-of-mind recall that we need on a daily basis.”
One of the industry’s foremost pioneers in sonic branding, SAM President Stephen Arnold’s proven methods of Commanding Sonic Branding are recognized worldwide. SAM has been central to the identity of such clients as Nexstar, Fox Business Channel, CNN Headline News, The Weather Channel, and a full 35% of all US local TV markets.
“SAM has been at the forefront of serving local stations for over 15 years,” Arnold says. “’Commanding Sonic Branding’ is at the core of our innovative approach in working with stations, developing a comprehensive brand strategy for the whole day and each show. Nexstar has an advanced approach to broadcasting, and they clearly recognize the meaningful benefits that sonic branding brings to marketing their stations.”
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About Stephen Arnold Music: As a multiple Emmy, Addy and Promax Gold award-winning music production company, Stephen Arnold Music has over 15 years of success in delivering the sounds that make a difference to networks, television stations, advertising agencies, film studios and video game companies the world over. The company's Commanding Sonic Branding approach to music production and commitment to industry-leading service is at the core of its promise. For more information, please visit http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com.
All referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners.
About Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.: Nexstar Broadcasting Group currently owns, operates, programs or provides sales and other services to 50 television stations in 29 markets in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and New York. Nexstar’s television station group includes affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW and reaches approximately 8.2% of all U.S. television households.
Universal Publishing Adds Immediate Music
November 5, 2008
The following was released today by represenatives of Immediate Music:
UNIVERSAL PUBLISHING PRODUCTION MUSIC
TO REPRESENT IMMEDIATE MUSIC CATALOG
Los Angeles, CA, November 4, 2008– Universal Publishing Production Music (UPPM,) a division of Universal Music Publishing Group, and Immediate Music, Hollywood’s preeminent supplier of original music for high profile, major studio feature film trailers, today announced they have entered into a worldwide deal by which UPPM will be representing music from the catalog of Immediate Music in all territories outside the U.S., Japan, Korea, and Benelux.
The announcement was jointly made today by Mr. Gary Gross, Worldwide President, UPPM, and by Yoav Goren and Jeffrey Fayman,
co-founders/composers/producers, Immediate Music.
Regarding the new agreement, Mr. Gross said, “Immediate Music is famous for their unique sound, high quality productions and reputation of supplying music for blockbuster film trailers. We are thrilled to be representing this important catalog of work, and to generate new revenue opportunities for Immediate Music composers in expanded territories.”
Mr. Fayman said, “Universal Publishing Production Music was the natural choice for our decision to market our music internationally, because we believe they are the preeminent supplier of high level production music throughout the world. Their sincere support of our music, combined with our trust in their global marketing vision and leadership under Gary Gross, made us want to be part of the Universal Publishing Production Music family.”
Adds Mr. Goren, "Immediate Music is thrilled to join with Universal Publishing Production Music in opening new avenues of creative and publishing opportunities for both entities. We are looking forward to very fruitful alliance with UPPM’s talented international team."
Universal Publishing Production Music (a unit of Universal Music Publishing Group,) is the leading production music group in the world, with a diverse and comprehensive portfolio of 5,000 CDs of UMPG-owned repertoire, encompassing over 100,000 titles from over twenty-five different labels. The company's catalogues include Atmosphere, Bruton, and Chappell from the U.K, Chronic Trax, EVO, FirstCom, Killer Tracks, MasterSource, Network Music, and OneMusic from the
U.S., Galerie and Koka Media from
France, Match Music from
Sweden, UBM from
Germany, RCAL from
Italy, and Vitamin A from
Australia. Universal Publishing Production Music has production music library operations in the
U.S.,
U.K.,
France,
Germany,
Benelux, Hungary,
Italy,
Scandinavia, South Africa,
Australia,
Spain,
Greece,
Turkey and throughout
Asia.
UPPM Libraries are consistently a top choice for all major television networks, film studios and corporate clients of all sizes. Recent major motion picture placements include “Sex In the City,” “Love Guru,” “The House Bunny,” “Bolt,” “
Beverly HillsChihuahua ,” “Hamlet 2,” “The Mummy 3,” “Tropic Thunder,” “American Teen,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Superhero Movie,” and more.
Television placements have included “Ugly Betty,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Army Wives,” “Burn Notice,” “Prison Break,” “Medium,” “Unhitched,” “America’s Next Top Model,” and “Law & Order,” to name a few. Recent advertising campaigns include Mercedes Benz, Philips, Miller Beer, Peroni, Quizno’s, and Dodge, among others.
UPPM serves the niche business that creates, produces, and licenses music for use primarily as “background” or “mood” music for use in film/TV, advertising, broadcast and corporate clients. Owning both the Master and the Copyright for the composition, UPPM allows clients to license both, in an easy and affordable one-stop shop.
Immediate Music was co-founded in 1993 by composers/producers Yoav Goren and Jeffrey Fayman, and is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary year. In the competitive market of motion picture advertising, the quality of Immediate Music’s compositions, as well as its high production levels, have consistently measured up against the finest motion picture scores in the entertainment industry. In addition to the critical acclaim they regularly receive from the motion picture industry, Goren and Fayman have also had success in the world of television. The composers are the winners of a 2007 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Music Composition in a Sports Program,” for their work on "The XX Olympic Winter Games: The Stories of Torino.” This Emmy was bestowed by the
Academy
Television
National of Arts & Sciences during the 28th Annual Emmy Awards for Sports in 2007. Yoav Goren is also the winner of a 2008 “BMI Award” for his work on The Olympics telecast cited above.
Some of Immediate Music’s most recent campaigns include the creation of original music for “Hancock,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” “Pirates of the Caribbean 3,” “Horton Hears a Who,” as well as the upcoming “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.” Immediate Music has also provided music for the promotional campaigns behind such TV programs as “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Six Feet Under,” “Weeds,” “Prison Break,” “24,” The Closer,” “Saving Grace,” “John Adams,” The Olympics, NFL Super Bowl telecasts, NHL playoffs and more. Ad campaigns to which the company has provided music include those promoting
Toyota
Hitachi, and Blu-Ray.
, Ford, DirecTV, Amstel,
About Universal Music Publishing Group
With 47 offices in 41 countries worldwide, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) is the industry's largest global music publishing operation and is part of Universal Music Group. UMPG's represents music in every genre from many of the world’s hottest songwriters and catalogs including U2, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, R. Kelly, Coldplay, Nelly, Ciara, Dave Grohl, Prince, Diana Krall, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Britney Spears, Godsmack, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, No Doubt, 3 Doors Down, Beastie Boys, Anastacia, Robbie Williams, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Paul Simon, Henry Mancini, Christina Aguilera and Linkin Park, among many others. UMPG is also a global leader in the areas of Production Music, Christian and Classical Music. For more information, visit: www.umusicpub.com.
One Click from YouTube to iTunes
October 9, 2008
Online Convergence Alert:
In a welcome development, YouTube music videos are now just one click from an iTunes purchase.
Music Supervisors who find a song they like on YouTube now have streamlined access to adding it to their iTunes library.
Learn about this latest online convergence in the NYTimes at:
Anarchy Reigns For PrimalScream Music in New FX Network Spots
Los Angeles, CA (August 28, 2008) – PrimalScream Music (www.primalscreammusic.com <http://www.primalscreammusic.com> ), an independent music company headed by Nicole Dionne who creates new music for advertising, is currently featured as part of a national advertising campaign for Sons of Anarchy, the new series about the unsavory and corrupt world of motorcycle clubs from FX Network. The show makes its debut on September 3rd.
FX Networks selected PrimalScream Music in June to create new music for the Internet and Television advertising campaign around their buzz-worthy new series. Dionne selected the musicians, produced and quickly delivered the track “The Dream We Left Behind” from the Los Angeles-based band Pedestrian (http://www.myspace.com/pedestrianmusic).
With a fabulous short treatment on the main character supplied by FX, Dionne quickly honed in on Pedestrian. As is her specialty, Dionne didn’t immediately go for an obvious ‘name’ band for the high profile spot.Instead, she envisioned the melodic rock band as the ideal musicians to convey the grit and the complex subtleties within the series by using an amped-up hard rock track featured in the trailer. FX Network loved the spots and gave a green light to the project only five days after contacting PrimalScream Music.
“We tend to be very picky when it comes to the music in our trailers,” said John Varvi, Senior Vice President of On-Air Promotions at FX Network. “It's one reason why we often gravitate to popular recordings. However, for Sons Of Anarchy we needed a special track, a tune that could bridge the gap between emotion and anarchy. PrimalScream Music really delivered a top notch piece. Even more impressive, Nicole Dionne turned it around for us in record time. It was a great experience.”
“Nicole Dionne is ambitious, hard working and creative. I have known Nicole for many years and have always appreciated her taste in music,” said Joel Shearer of the band Pedestrian. “She has always attached herself to talented, interesting artists. Nicole was around during the very beginning of Pedestrian and has always been supportive of our growth. I am happy she asked us to write the track, “The Dream We Left Behind” because it is outside of what we normally do and we were up for the challenge to write a song the way someone else wanted to hear it, removing our ego and just being the paint basically.”
In the past year, PrimalScream Music has been involved in many major advertising campaigns. Starz TV contacted PrimalScream Music for their “Shine” rebranding of the network for all 10 of its HD and SD channels. Instead of a single song, PrimalScream Music created an entire soundtrack for the brand that managed to unify all the channels. Additionally, the Florida Citrus “Miracle” spots created by PrimalScream Music were named to ShootMagazine's Top 10 Spot Tracks in the March 2008 issue and they created music for a Firestone commercial spot directed by noted Director Kinka Usher.
ABOUT PRIMALSCREAM MUSIC PrimalScream Music (http://www.primalscreammusic.com/) is an independent music company headed by Nicole Dionne, who creates original music for advertising. Unlike traditional music supervisors, PrimalScream Music creates soundtracks for brands that are iPod worthy. PrimalScream Music does not use canned music from a library of pre-existing music nor do they use in-house commercial composers. Original music is created, written, produced and delivered specifically to each client. Formed in 1995, PrimalScream Music has worked with a wide range of musicians and composers in all genres of music in a collaborative environment for a diverse set of clients including BMW, Starz TV Network, Visa, Sony PlayStation, Home Depot, UPS, Pepsi, Intel, Wachovia Securities and many more. They do not do Jingles.
New Series “Sons of Anarchy” Spots Are Anything But Pedestrian
Score Fest Is Coming!
July 21, 2008
Top NYC TV/film/video game composer Steve Horowitz and his group, The Code Ensemble, are putting on Score Fest. A two-night celebration with 14 players, live actors panels and film screenings, this event is the MSCentral Pick of the Week! Mark it in your calendar, and see full information at:
http://www.thecodeinternational.com/scorefest/
New Web Marketplace for Films
June 9, 2008
Convergence Alert: The Tribeca Film Institute and Amazon are teaming to create a new digital marketplace for a treasure trove of indie films and videos.
This is the latest development to assist music supervisors and artists in reaching a wider audience -- and requiring that their licensing be in order for digital distribution.
You know the soundtrack to Sex and the City should be good -- here's more info on it. The following was released by representatives of New Line Records:
NEW LINE RECORDS TO RELEASE “SEX AND THE CITY” MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK – MAY 27TH HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SOUNDTRACK FEATURING SONGS FROM FERGIE, JENNIFER HUDSON, AND JEM, AS WELL AS INDIE.ARIE, AL GREEN, JOSS STONE AND MORE
(NEW YORK, April 21) — New Line Records will release the original soundtrack to what promises to be the movie event of the year: the feature film version of the beloved HBO television series Sex And The City, which is due in theaters from New Line Cinema on May 30th, 2008.
Sex and the City: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, released on May 27th, was created by in-demand music producer Salaam Remi (Nas, Amy Winehouse, the Fugees), whose challenge, says the film’s writer and director
Michael Patrick King, was “to create a soundtrack for the ultimate movie about love.” Remi wrote a brand-new opening number for the film, “Labels or Love,” which, as sung by pop superstar Fergie, re-imagines the series’ iconic theme as a fabulous pop song.
“I grew up watching Sex and the City,” Fergie says, “and I know a lot of my girlfriends did as well. We felt like these characters were our friends, so to be a part of this project has been amazing. I’m such a fan of the show and am very flattered that they asked me to be involved.”
The soundtrack also features a brand-new song from Oscar-winning diva Jennifer Hudson, who plays a personal assistant to Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) in the film.
Hudson shows off her powerful pipes on “All Dressed in Love” (written by MC Jack Splash and Gnarls Barkley’s Cee-Lo Green), which plays over the end credits. “Jennifer makes it almost impossible not to dance out of the theater,” King says.
The remainder of Sex and the City: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is an eclectic mix of songs from such artists as Indie.Arie, Jem, Al Green and Joss Stone (with Stone’s vocal recorded especially for the soundtrack), and indie bands Morningwood, The Bird & the Bee, and The Weepies. The disc also includes classics from Nina Simone and Run-D.M.C. See below for the full track-listing.
“My hope for the soundtrack is that listening to the music will create a special memory for the fans,” King says, “something to help them remember the movie about the love lives of their favorite girls: Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha.”
Sex and the City: the Movie continues where the a
cclaimed, award-winning television series left off by following the adventures of the show’sfashion-forward foursome as they deal with sex, love, and relationships in the city that never sleeps. Stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon all reprise their roles, while Chris Noth, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, and
Jason Lewis return as the women's love interests. The film was written and directed by
Michael Patrick King, and produced by King, Sarah Jessica Parker, John Melfi, and Darren Star, who created the series based on the best-selling book by Candace Bushnell.
New Line Cinema will release Sex and the City in theaters nationwide on May 30th, 2008. Exclusive ringtones for the soundtrack will be available on April 25th by texting “SEXCITY” to 71777. The full track-listing for Sex and the City: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is as follows:
1. “Labels or Love” - Fergie 2. “All Dressed In Love” - Jennifer Hudson 3. “The Look Of Love” (Madison Park vs Lenny B Remix) - Nina Simone 4. “
New York Girls” - Morningwood 5. “All This Beauty” - The Weepies 6. “I Like The Way” - Kaskade 7. “It's Amazing” - Jem 8. “How Deep Is Your Love” - The Bird & The Bee 9. “The Heart Of The Matter” - India.Arie 10. “Auld Lang Syne” - Mairi Campbell & Dave Francis 11. “Kissing” - Bliss 12. “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” - Al Green featuring Joss Stone 13. “Walk This Way” - Run-D.M.C. featuring Steve Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith 14. “Sex and the City Movie Theme” - The Pfeifer Broz. Orchestra
About New Line Records: New Line Records, a division of New Line Productions, has been releasing recorded music since 2002. Distributed through Warner Music Group's independent arm
ADA, NLR has released over 50 titles including the soundtracks to Elf, Wedding Crashers, The Notebook, A Prairie Home Companion, The Departed, and Hairspray. It's 2008 release slate includes Sex and The City, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, He's Just Not That Into You and Four Christmases.
MySpace Teams with Majors
April 4, 2008
Convergence continues apace! UMG, Sony BMG, and Warner have teamed with MySpace to make their entire music catalogs available for listening and downloading on a new joint Website they'll be creating.
Eternal indie rock act Flat Duo Jets were selected by an intrepid Music Supervisor for the 2006 movie Two Headed Cow. Read more -- the following was released by representatives of Flat Duo Jets:
Flat Duo Jets unveil soundtrack to documentary film, groundbreaking garage-blues duo influenced Jack White, Chan Marshall, Neko Case and many more.
From the late ‘80s to mid-90s, the intrepid garage-blues duo -- that’s right, such a thing did exist before the White Stripes -- the Flat Duo Jets paved a rollicking path with its raw intensity and soulful charm. While the band is now long gone, the duo has announced release of Two Headed Cow, the soundtrack to the 2006 documentary of the same name. The disc contains seventeen unreleased tracks recorded in 1986, ranging from early FDJ favorites (“My Life, My Love”, “Mexicali Baby”) to jaw dropping cover tunes (The Collins Kids’ “Hoy Hoy”, Ray Charles’ “Mary Ann”).
Two Headed Cow is a movie about roots rocker Dexter Romweber and his music. His original band the Flat Duo Jets was one of the most influential bands of the last two decades and has been an inspiration for many other musicians from Jack White and Cat Power to the Rev. Horton Heat and Neko Case (White, Chan Marshall aka Cat Power and Case appear in the film along with Exene Cervenka and
Jason Edge of the Original Sinners.) Visually stunning and filmically poetic -- and featuring original black and white footage dating back to 1986 -- Two Headed Cow traces the formative years of the band through their signing to a major label through the break-up and Dexter’s life today. It tells the story of an artist who never compromised and never backed down. The film was directed by Tony Gayton (Athens, Ga. - Inside/Out, Murder By Numbers), produced by Emmy winning casting director Lisa Wells Fincannon and Bill Cody along with executive producers Craig Fincannon and Frank Capra, Jr. premiering at the Full Frame documentary film festival in Durham, NC April 8th, 2006.
With origins dating back to the mid-80s, Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s Flat Duo Jets finally made the leap to a major label in 1998. However, it was not coincidental that the label they moved to, Outpost Recordings, was overseen by highly esteemed alternative rock forefather and R.E.M. producer Scott Litt. He had seen the band develop over a 10-year period and considered the duo (vocalist/guitarist Dexter Romweber and drummer Crow) to be “phenomenal’. Their energetic revival of early rockabilly had first come to prominence after featuring in the 1986 music documentary, Athens, Ga. - Inside/Out. They subsequently released a series of independent albums for a variety of local labels, with highpoints including 1990’s self-titled long-playing debut and 1993’s White Trees.
For Flat Duo Jets’ Outpost debut, Lucky Eye, Litt contracted dB’s alumnus Chris Stamey, who worked alongside him as co-producer. Sessions were completed at the Muscle Shoals Sound studios in
Alabama, and over 18 tracks explored roots rock, traditional R&B and surf guitar with Romweber’s distinctive playing being influenced by old rockabilly records, and Charlie Feathers in particular. A 12-piece orchestra, arranged and conducted by Susie Katayama, contributed to songs such as “New York Studio 1959” and “Lonely Guy”. Other contributors included Tom Maxwell and Ken Mosher, the horn players for the Squirrel Nut Zippers. By 1999 the band had broken up. It was nevertheless stated that there was a “strong possibility” that the duo would work together again in the future. Romweber carried on the Flat Duo Jets mix of rockabilly, blues and surf music on a number of well-received solo releases.
Expansion Team for Martin Agency, ESPN
March 13, 2008
Sonic branding for sports continues to be a fertile field for music supervisors and the artists who work with them. The following was released by Expansion Team:
NEW YORK, NY: For The Martin Agencys, Richmond, VA, first campaign for ESPN an on-going campaign spotlighting the networks college basketball schedule entitled The Bracket Beyond The Bracket -- the company turned to award-winning music/sound design/licensing house Expansion Teamto create a signature track that would both capture the stadium energy of a typical college basketball game and also provide a recognizable audio signature for the long-term campaign.
Expansion Team responded with an original track from producer/composer The G:neus (aka Mike Genato) that deftly meshes a hip-hop groove with the kind of foot-stomping rhythm heard from the stands at most college sports events. Adding to the audio ambience was Expansion Team sound designer Jesse Peterson, who created a unique palette of basketball inspired sound design to heighten the energy and realism of the campaign.
The Martin Agency was looking for big stadium energy that didnt go anywhere near obvious clichs like college band drumlines or epic sports themes," said Alex Moulton, Expansion Teams creative director. We all agreed on a hip-hop direction. We offered several possible directions, but it all cycled back to a track by The G:neus called Dust that we initially gave to production/design house EyeballNYC, New York, who created the visual look of the campaign, for their pitch.
Visually the spot combines 3D animation of a college bracket system usually seen during March Madness hovering like a web of constellations in outer space. Various animated lines of the brackets branch out and point to exciting game footage promoting the particular nights match-ups.
Audio-wise the track sounds massive, with layer upon layer building on this simple foot-stomp pattern, notes Moulton. Moreover, this campaign is a great example of what makes Expansion Team unique in the world of music and sound design for advertising. The G:neus isnt a jingle writer, hes a recording artist with success on his own as a hip-hop/R&B producer and his drum n bass project Mathematics. Because of our unique structure, we provide agencies like The Martin Agency a means to tap into a whole other world of creative possibilities beyond what typical audio houses provide. Its what makes Expansion Team unique and why this campaign sounds like no other ESPN campaign before it.
Dragon Licks Licenses for GMC, Jeep, Izod
March 6, 2008
Dragon Licks, from Michigan's Yessian Music, has their own twist on music licensing, and has been having success with their model lately.
See below for more details -- the following was released by Dragon Licks:
March 5, 2008 New York, NY
Dragon Licks (www.dragonlicks.com) is Yessian Music’s (www.yessian.com) licensing and research division. It has collected some of the hottest indie and renowned talents in the music industry and made them available to the world of advertising, TV, film and video games. The company has sought out and continues to seek out artists and bands for exclusive licensing for their pre-recorded songs as well as for assignments to create original compositions for these media entities. Dragon Licks also handles licensing research for popular well-known artists signed to major record labels. It provides clients with a one-stop solution to enhance, edit, mix or rearrange these well-known songs for specific commercial, film or TV usage. Here are a few of our recent accomplishments:
GMC – Acadia Launch Agency: Lowe Worldwide/New York Song: “Melt with You” by Modern English Artist: Nouvelle Vauge – Paris, France
Dragon Licks provided research of both popular and idie artists, created covers and original songs. All tracks were edited to picture or cut down to a :60 track before picture was developed. Licensing was handled through Dragon Licks for use in the US, Canada, & Mexico for both national, regional, web and industrial use.
Alltel Wireless – LG Phones Agency: Campbell Ewald/Detroit Song/Artist: “Box of Sunshine” – Infidel Inc.
Dragon Licks provided the research and licensing for this commercial including use on TV, Web and In-store. Alltel was seeking out up and coming artists for this project with a limited budget for licensing. We provided edits and mix as well. http://dragonlicks.com/stream/alltelmolten.html
Jeep – Full Line Agency: BBDO/Detroit Song/Artist: “Time of our Lives” – Paul Van Dyk Dragon Licks provided all research, licensing, edits, enhancements, covers and original songs for this project. We negotiated the final licensing deal for use for the Jeep brand for one year. We completed all final mixing and editing for the spot. http://www.dragonlicks.com/stream/JeepTheGreatest.html
IZOD – Branding Agency: PhillipsVanHuesen/New York Song/Artist: “Fix” – Infidel Inc.
Dragon Licks worked with the artist and Yessian composers to retro-fit the song to work with the commercial. Both music and lyrics were modified to fit picture. We handled all research, licensing, mixing, editing, enhancements and rearrangements for this project. Use was for the Super Bowl, TV, In-Theater, and web use.
XM – Brand Spot Agency: Lowe Worldwide/New York Song: Various Artists Dragon Licks worked on researching songs and then editing, enhancing and mixing these songs for the final spots and versions. Dragon Licks worked on a portion of the license and negotiations with another company. Final use was for various mediums. http://www.dragonlicks.com/stream/xmhair.html
Chevy – Tahoe Campaign Agency: Campbell Ewald/Detroit Song/Artist: “Glorious” – Andreas Johnson Dragon Licks provided all of the creative research and edits, providing the agency with various options. We then went in and musically enhanced the song to lock it in with the picture. We did all final mixing, sweetening and arrangements with our composers. http://www.dragonlicks.com/stream/chevytahoe.html
Stephen Arnold Music Brands for Weather Bug
March 4, 2008
Music specifically for Internet branded content is a burgeoning field. Stephen Arnold Music has just completed such a package for WeatherBug -- see more details at:http://www.prosoundnews.com/publish/news/Stephen_Arnold_Brands_WeatherBug.shtml
Wal-Mart Picks Blu-ray -- HD-DVD Dead?
February 16, 2008
Wal-Mart has announced that it will sell only Blu-ray DVD's going forwards. This seriously damages the chances of Toshiba's HD-DVD format to survive in the high-definition DVD format wars. As always, emerging formats are of serious importance for music supervisors to stay on top of.
Music supervision extends to education with services like iVideosongs, which has added 23 Beatles songs to is offerings -- all 100% cleared, naturally.
The press release below was issued by representatives of iVideosongs:
iVideosongs Shows You How to Play Beatles Songs
Additions to Catalog Include 23 New Titles Featuring Beatles LOVE Co-producer Giles Martin
ALPHARETTA, Ga – February 13 – iVideosongs (www.ivideosongs.com) announced today the addition of 23 Beatles songs, including Day Tripper, Revolution and Get Back, to its catalog of high-def music instruction videos. Each of the Beatles titles feature background, insight and musical commentary from Giles Martin, the Grammy Award-winning producer of The Beatles LOVE CD and music soundscape for the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name.
iVideosongs is the new service that shows aspiring musicians how to play their favorite songs completely and accurately, with the instruction provided by the original artists who wrote, performed and produced them, and also from expert instructors.
“I had the great experience of completely immersing myself in The Beatles songbook while producing the LOVE soundscape, and gained deep insight into their creativity and musicianship in the process,” said Giles Martin. “Now with iVideosongs we have the opportunity to help Beatles fans connect with the magic of this music, by showing them exactly how to play some of their most popular songs.”
The iVideosongs titles, featuring Martin, were shot at Abbey Road Studios Room Two, the studio where The Beatles recorded their most famous hits and changed the face of popular music. Each of the iVideosongs titles show how to play the original Beatles tune as it was recorded at Abbey Road Studios.
“The Beatles have inspired people around the world to pick up a guitar and try to play,” said Tim Huffman, CEO of iVideosongs. “For the first time, we can actually show fans how to play these songs – completely and accurately – exactly the way they were originally written and performed by the band. For a lot of people, this is going to be a dream come true.”
iVideosongs has licensed full rights to its songs from BMG Music Publishing, EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music and also many secondary and tertiary publishers. This allows the company to provide complete and accurate instructional titles, presented exactly as they were originally written and performed. The iVideosongs titles are primarily for electric and acoustic guitarists, but titles for bass, keyboards and drums are also included in the catalog.
iVideosongs offers three kinds of music instruction content. Tutorials designed to improve basic to advanced skills are available free of charge. Complete and accurate songs, instructed by professional music teachers cost $4.99. Complete and accurate songs, taught by the original artists who wrote, performed and/or produced them, cost $9.99.
iVideosongs customers can choose a skill level and genre, and then download the high-def titles to their personal computer, iPod or other device. Each song title is presented in chapter format, so aspiring musicians learn the introduction, verse, chorus, bridge, outro and other elements in bite-size pieces and at their own pace. Each title also includes a master performance so customers can compare their progress against the song, and tablature notation to aid in learning. Titles featuring artists also include an interview segment, where they reveal the inspiration and influences that went into the creation of the song.
iVideosongs launched the beta of its service this past January 29, 2008. The iVideosongs Beatles collection featuring Giles Martin includes:
Blackbird
Hard Days Night
Can’t Buy Me Love
Day Tripper
Eight Days a Week
Help!
I Feel Fine
Michelle
Norwegian Wood
Revolution
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
Come Together
Yesterday
We Can Work it Out
Later in February, iVideosongs will debut more Beatles songs including:
Get Back
All You Need is Love
Penny Lane
Yellow Submarine
Help From My Friends
Hello Goodbye
Paperback Writer
A Day In the Life
Long And Winding Road
The Beatles on iVideosongs, featuring Giles Martin, can be found at:
About iVideosongs iVideosongs is the pioneering music instruction service that enables aspiring musicians of all skills levels to learn how to accurately play complete songs from the original artists who wrote and performed them, and also from legendary side-men and a staff of exceptional instructors. iVideosongs on-demand, high-def video titles live on customers' computers, iPods and other devices, and are accessible to them whenever and wherever they like. Visit www.ivideosongs.com to start learning today.
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iVideosongs and iVideosongs.com are trademarks of iVideotunes, Inc. All other registered or unregistered trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.
Writer's Strike Officially Over
February 13, 2008
Music supervisors, caterers, custome cleaners and the thousands of other people who relied on the WGA strike ending can breathe a sigh of relief, as the union voted 92.5% in favor of ending the strike yesterday.
The famed David J. of Bauhaus has made a turn to musical theater -- a notable music supervision move. The following was released by representatives of David J:
Bauhaus' David J Ventures into the Musical Theatre World with the Premiere of Silver For Gold
Based on the Life of Edie Sedgwick, the Stage Production BEGINS AN Exclusive Two-week Engagement in los angeles at the met theatre on march 6, 2008
Hollywood, CA - January 10, 2008 - Bauhaus' David J writes and directs the world premiere production of Silver For Gold ( The Odyssey Of Edie Sedgwick ) at The Met Theatre in Hollywood, CA, beginning an exclusive two-week engagement on March 6, 2008. Based on the life of Edie Sedgwick - Andy Warhol's brilliant muse - the stage production explores one of the most charismatic yet misunderstood figures in popular culture. Starring multifaceted performer Monique Jenkinson as Edie, Silver For Gold traces the heroine's dazzling rise and eventual downward spiral in a mythological theatrical experience that is part one-woman show, part rock concert replete with avant-garde minimalist staging and video imagery.
"Writing Silver For Gold, it felt as if I had entered into a subtle psychic relationship with this beautiful dead girl and she was actively encouraging me to write," says David J. "She became a bright light that glowed all the brighter whenever I started to create. It was as if she was feeding on the attention. This might sound highly fanciful but that is how it felt. Edie was enduring in her ultimate role, that of the muse. "
Best known as a founding member of the seminal British bands Bauhaus and Love and Rockets, David J leads the Silver For Gold band, providing vocals and guitar. Accompanying David J is Neel Hammond (performed with Sting, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Gnarls Barkley, Alicia Keyes, Diana Krall, Randy Newman, Macy Gray, Bette Midler, Marina Topley-Bird, Diana Krall) on viola and violin, David Raven (Keith Richards, Norah Jones, T-Bone Burnett, Steve Earle, John Doe, Carole King, Michelle Shocked, Hans Zimmer, Nancy Sinatra) on percussion and
Michael de Winter (Stranger Passing) on guitar & backing vocals.
Incidental music for the production is a collaboration with Azam Ali (of the bestselling world music duo Vas), Loga Ramin Torkian (also of Vas and the world music group Axiom of Choice) and Marcelo Radulovich (Merry Go Down). The production's video installation & sound is by Ego Plum (Ebola Music Orchestra).
The Met Theatre is located at 1089 N. Oxford Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90029).
The production runs March 6 - 16, 2007, with performances Thursday - Sunday only. Tickets are $20. Following Silver For Gold's
Los Angeles engagement, the production will be preparing for an off-Broadway run later in the fall.
2007 Movie Attendance Flat
January 2, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEAR! NOW GET BACK TO WORK.
Movie attendance figures are a factor that affect the budgets of music supervisors. In 2007 the numbers were basically flat -- see the full story below.
OK, so its not EXACTLY music supervision, but everyone in the field should know that Led Zeppelin is back on stage -- maybe they'll use a live cut for the next Cadillac commercial.
Record companies are still trying to solve the digital piracy issue. Universal Music Group and Nokia are experimenting with free dowloads through select cell phones.
Broadway remains a vital corner of the music supervision world. The stagehands strike has ended after 19 days, thanks to a settlement reached last night. Read more at:
Music supervisors are leading the resurgence of video games, doing the work that powers the two hottest titles out now: Guitar Hero III and Rock Band. Be sure to read to the end of this article for licensing details.
Warner Brothers' head of film production, Jeff Robinov, has been named president of the new Warner Brothers Picture Group. The company will manage filmmaking operations along with theatrical marketing and distribution. Read the full story at:
The ongoing strike between film and TV and writers will have a deepening impact on music supervisors and composers. Talks are resuming on Nov. 26th. See more info at:
We always find something useful in the Film Music Weekly, for music supervisors, artists and composers.
See the newest issue at:
http://www.filmmusicweekly.com/issues/FM_Weekly_110907.pdf
Expansion Team's Alex Moulton Scores for "Descent"
November 8, 2007
The following was released by Expansion Team:
NEW YORK, NY – When director Talia Lugacy and producer/star Rosario Dawson were searching for a soundtrack to their filmDescent, they knew it would have to be as visceral and discordant as the film is dark and disturbing. Fortunately, they quickly found that Alex Moulton, founder and composer/creative director at New York’s Expansion Team, was on the same creative page.
“We talked about the film, especially the final scene, and how it should feel,” said Lugacy. “It was never going to be a traditional film score, which is why Alex was so perfect for it. Alex had some great ideas about how he would go about it, and how it needed to needed to feel – the sound of crazed thinking and haunted minds. I give him so much credit because it’s not a scene you want to watch more than once and he went it into it with a great bravery.”
For Moulton, the key was to stay away from anything remotely traditional. “From the moment I talked to Talia, I knew the soundtrack would need to be unusual,” says Moulton. “That feeling was only stronger after I saw the film. In order to intensify the most disturbing scenes, we went for an intensely visceral, dissonant sound. We were going for feeling and not typical background movie music. This is a dark movie and this is definitely dark music.”
Make no mistake: Descent is a revenge film of the first order.
Dawson plays Maya, a beautiful and promising college student who seems to be enjoying an innocent flirtation with Jared (Chad Faust). Everything changes, however, when Maya visits Jared’s dingy apartment. Following a brutal sexual assault, Maya’s life unravels in a haze of drugs and the pulsations of the underground club scene. When she encounters Jared again, she is a decidedly different woman and is not about to show any mercy.
To achieve an appropriate level of primal intensity, Moulton combined an electric guitar, a cello bow and a wide variety of layered tracks and sound effects to create an ethereal yet jarring ambience.
“It kind of sounds like a string orchestra at points,” explains Moulton. “But it often sounds like metal scraping and undulating against itself. Talia and I began with several long conversations about what was going on inside this character’s head. In order to obtain the right headspace, I watched the movie’s most unsettling scenes over and over again. I loved every minute of it, but it also took me to some places I probably wouldn’t have chosen to go. For the film’s final scene I played about eight different guitar tracks and just rode the levels until they matched what was in my mind. It was very emotional.”
Despite the harrowing nature of the work, Moulton expresses nothing but praise and admiration for the film, as well as its director and star.
“The most challenging part of this project was repeatedly gearing myself up to think my way into this character,” he says. “I can only imagine what that process was like for Rosario and Talia. When it came to the final climactic scene, I felt a great deal of pressure to heighten the intensity of an already extreme film. I wish there were more projects like this one. It took risks at every turn, and Talia and Rosario had the creative courage to put everything they had into that risk. It was an amazing experience.”
Descent is currently playing in select cities including
New York, LA,
San Francisco,
Austin,
Portland and
Chicago. It will be release on DVD in early 2008.
About Expansion Team: Expansion Team redefines how music can be created for today's media by building a bridge between the recording, TV, film and advertising industries. They know the importance of a successful brand message and focus on creating impassioned brand aficionados. Led by founder and creative director Alex Moulton and executive producer April Jaffe, Expansion Team is supported by an exceptional roster of talent; an international collective of award-winning producers, songwriters, DJs and remixers. Because they work in studios around the world, an additional network of top session players and vocalists have become part of their growing family. For more information check out: http://www.expansionteam.org
NPR MUSIC Multimedia Site Grows
November 6, 2007
CONVERGENCE ALERT: The following was released by NPR MUSIC.
Premier Online Destination for Music Discovery To Offer Select Concert and Studio Performances, Interviews, News, Podcasts and More from Public Radio Producers Around the Country
(November 5, 2007, New York, NY) - Today, WBGO, WFUV and WNYC announced that they - along with 9 other public radio stations that produce distinguished music programming -- are joining with NPR to launch NPR Music, a new, free, comprehensive multimedia music discovery Web site at www.NPR.org/music.
NPR Music showcases on-air and online music content aggregated fromthe participating stations, bringing together stellar locally-produced content to a single platform, allowing users to explore, experience and enjoy all the music genres found on public radio - many of which have not found a home on commercial stations. In addition, the NPR Music Web site also features original NPR content, including interviews, reviews, blogs and live performances.
WNYC's content contributions will include select episodes of Soundcheck with John Schaefer, New York City's daily talk show about music; Spinning on Air with David Garland, a weekly program featuring in-studio performances by passionate, personal, adventurous songwriters such as Sufjan Stevens, Antony and the Johnsons, and Devendra Banhart; WNYC's annual series of concerts from the Frick Collection; and WNYC's 24-hour online music service, WNYC2. WNYC's collaborative presentations of live performances with NPR, including their most recent joint projects -- Bjork at United Palace, Sir Paul McCartney from Carnegie Hall, and Rufus Wainwright at Gramercy Theater, as well as the upcoming November 14 live broadcast of the Berliner Philharmoniker from Carnegie Hall -- will also be made available on NPR Music.
WFUV, which has already been supplying its Take Five music features as NPR podcasts, will provide several of its Words and Music from Studio A sessions per month. Initial artists are singer-songwriter Patti Scialfa (member of the E Street band and wife of Bruce Springsteen) and alt-country songwriter-producer Joe Henry. Future offerings will include powerful R&B singer Sharon Jones (whose band, the Dap Kings, backed Amy Winehouse) and poet, activist, and hip-hop forefather Gil Scott-Heron. Members of the WFUV air staff will also contribute five-song lists of their favorite music.
WBGO, which broadcasts jazz, blues, R&B and news from its studio in Newark, NJ, brings its robust content to the site, including stories and on-demand audio of live broadcasts of world class jazz artists direct from the jazz capital. The station's contributions will include monthly live Broadcasts from J&R Music World with Monifa Brown, and the American Museum of Natural History's Starry Nights series with Gary Walker, and radio documentaries by WBGO Special Projects Producer Josh Jackson on greats such as Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. In addition, as producer of the radio series JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater, WBGO shares the latest audio and information on this weekly program of live jazz sets from around the country and the world.
"WNYC is excited to have this chance to bring the programming we're investing in -- from smart talk about music, trends and industry news to live performances from
New York's concerts halls, clubs and our own studios-- to a larger audience." said Howard Parnell, WNYC Executive Director of Digital Media. "Public radio has always served as one of the few places to discover musical artists and genres that don't fit the commercial mold. NPR Music takes this tradition into the 21st century, bringing together some of the most unique, compelling public radio music content being produced around the country and making it easier for listeners to find us."
"There are really good reasons for us to team up with NPR Music," said WFUV New Media Director Laura Fedele. "WFUV and NPR each have great music resources, and together we can share that love with listeners. We've had some amazing music moments here in our studios, true personal conversations with artists, and now NPR Music can bring it all to music fans across the country who might not be FUV listeners... yet."
"It just makes sense that a trusted news source like NPR also become a trusted place to discover new music," said WBGO General Manager Cephas Bowles. "WBGO is proud to bring its jazz and blues insights and audio to this great new site. We continue to document the history of jazz in performance as we have for almost 30 years."
"These three public radio stations are respected as leading music-producing stations in the country, with stellar music content and loyal fan bases in their geographic and virtual communities," said Maria Thomas, Senior Vice President, NPR Digital Media. "We're delighted that our colleagues at WBGO, WFUV and WNYC are joining 9 other stations and NPR in this new public service. NPR Music evolves the high-quality music journalism, performance and presentation that has been the longtime trademark of these stations, NPR and public radio."
Joining WBGO, WFUV, WNYC and NPR on this new service are Member stations KEXP and KPLU Seattle; KUT Austin; WDUQ Pittsburgh; WGBH Boston; WGUC Cincinnati; WKSU/Folk Alley, Kent, Ohio; WXPN Philadelphia; and American Public Media/Minnesota Public Radio and its St. Paul station, The Current. All partners will provide content including live concerts, studio sessions, features and reviews. NPR Music also links to the live music streams of all participating stations. Additional stations and producers will join in the coming months.
Alan Ett Music Group Scores for Court TV
November 5, 2007
The following was released by Alan Ett Music Group:
Studio City, CA (November 2, 2007) - Alan Ett Music Group is currently in production to create new music for Court TV's prime-time series, "Murder By the Book."
AEMG's Senior Music Supervisor, Ryan Neill says "We're very excited to be working with Digital Ranch on these real-life mysteries and headline-making crimes."
Thirteen masters of the American crime novel, including best-selling authors Sandra Brown, Harlan Coben and Elizabeth George, present true crimes that have inspired them to write, or simply shocked them to their core. With music by AEMG, Court TV presents this illustrious group of top mystery fiction writers as they recount their memories, speculations and personal connections to the real-life mysteries and headline-making crimes that haunt their dreams at night.
Using documentary footage, first-person accounts and the author's own insights, each one-hour episode sheds new light on a particularly intriguing crime. With alarming new facts combined with suspenseful storytelling, riveting developments are the rule in each dramatic opening and every shocking conclusion.
The series begins November 5th at 10:00pm Eastern on Court TV.
More On AEMG: The Alan Ett Music Group is a full service music production company catering to the needs of the various aspects of the entertainment industry. The company’s personnel includes composers, producers, music supervisors, engineers, sound designers and an outstanding support staff.
AEMG currently has in-house, two fully digital multi-track recording studios and three ProTools editorial suites that will accommodate vocal groups and instrumental soloists, not to mention small instrumental ensembles. For larger productions, AEMG enjoys relationships with studios and orchestras in
Los Angeles and throughout the world. The company has successfully produced music for thousands of network, cable and syndicated television shows, national TV and radio commercials, feature films, CD-Roms, DVD’s video games, computer games and live stage productions.
MUSIC CHOICE INKS DEAL WITH EMI MUSIC TO ADD THEIR FULL MUSIC VIDEO CATALOG TO THE #1 ON DEMAND MUSIC NETWORK IN THE U.S. MILLIONS OF MUSIC FANS NOW HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO EMI'S MUSIC VIDEOS ON TV & ONLINE THROUGH MUSIC CHOICE
New York, NY-October 30, 2007-Music Choice, the multi-platform music network that reaches millions of consumers through their televisions, online and cell phones, and EMI Music, one of the world's leading music companies, today announced a deal that gives Music Choice the rights to stream EMI's entire music video library on television and online in the US. This agreement provides access to EMI's expansive roster of established and emerging artists, including Lily Allen, David Bowie, Coldplay, The Decemberists, Fat Boy Slim, Gorillaz, Norah Jones and KT Tunstall. The music videos compliment the content available for viewing by millions of music fans with access to Music Choice through its free On Demand network - the most popular in the country, and its free online music service for broadband subscribers. In addition, Music Choice has secured the rights to feature EMI's artists in Music Choice Original programs such as Artist of the Month, Fresh Crops, Rock U and Tha Corner. The Music Choice Originals accompany the hundreds of music videos available On Demand and online for viewing any time at no cost. Grammy® award-winning, metal band Korn are the featured Artist of the Month on Music Choice this month.
"Music Choice is a powerful way for us to reach our fans - through TV and online - and we are delighted to include them as one of the growing platforms that will expose our artists' works to consumers," said Lauren Berkowitz, Senior Vice President of Digital for EMI Music North America.
"Music Choice is thrilled to now have access to EMI's full roster of well-known and up-and-coming artists, adding to the depth of content available on our television network and online music site," said David Del Beccaro, President and CEO of Music Choice. "EMI's artists will be exposed to a nationwide audience that has helped us build the most popular On Demand music network in the country by placing over a billion orders for our free music-related content."
About Music Choice®
Music Choice is the leading multi-platform music network that reaches millions of consumers nationwide through their TVs, online, and cell phones. Music Choice programs dozens of music channels; produces Music Choice Original shows that feature today's hottest established & emerging artists; offers hundreds of music videos; and distributes daily entertainment news clips. Music Choice is a partnership among subsidiaries of Microsoft Corporation, Motorola, Inc., Sony Corporation of America, EMI Music and several leading
U.S. cable providers: Comcast Cable Communications, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable. MUSIC CHOICE® is a registered trademark of Music Choice. Visit the Music Choice website at http://www.musicchoice.com.
About EMI Music
EMI Music is the recorded music division of EMI Group, one of the world's leading music companies. Its EMI Music division represents artists spanning all musical tastes and genres. Its record labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Nashville, EMI Classics, EMI CMG, EMI Records, EMI Televisa Music,
Manhattan, Mute, Parlophone and Virgin. Artists on EMI labels include Lily Allen, The Beatles, Coldplay, Corinne Bailey Rae, The Good The Bad & The Queen, Gorillaz, Norah Jones, The Kooks, Korn, Kylie Minogue, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Joss Stone, 30 Seconds To Mars, KT Tunstall, Keith Urban and Robbie Williams, as well as international artists such as Amaral (Spain), Diam's (France), Utada Hikaru (Japan), LaFee (Germany), Radja (Indonesia), RBD (Mexico) and Vasco Rossi (Italy).
EMI has been at the cutting edge of the rapidly growing digital music marketplace sinc
