U.S. AIR FORCE BAND WOWS CROWD WITH MOST CIVILIZED FLASH MOB EVER

December 16, 2013| Interesting Bits| Webmaster

By Jennifer Carofano, Shine Staff | The Good News

Military bands aren’t often considered cutting-edge. But the United States Air Force Band has officially gone viral with its first-ever flash mob. Last week, 120 Air Force musicians came together at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., surprising more than 400 museum guests with an impromptu performance. The resulting video — which was shot and edited by band members — has received more than 1 million views on YouTube as of Tuesday.

“We were hoping for 100,000 hits,” Col. Larry Lang, commander and conductor of The United States Air Force Band tells Yahoo Shine, noting that he is surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response from around the world.

The challenge with the mob format was building the music from a single instrument to 120, says Lang. The score — which included original treatments of two pieces, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Johann Sebastian Bach and “Joy to the World”— took two months to write and the musicians received the final pieces to memorize just over a week before the flash mob gathered. “We wanted mature and beautiful quality music,” says Lang. The band members practiced the score only three times as a group before the live performance, and, according to Lang, they really had no idea if it would work until the final dress rehearsal the night before. “We were concerned that the massive nature of the museum would make it impossible to play together,” says Lang, who has been a bandleader in the Air Force for 24 years and the conductor of the U.S. Air Force Band for nearly two. Another hurdle was figuring out where to hide 120 musicians. To help blend in, the musicians wore coats over their uniforms prior to the performance, to look like museum visitors, and just before they started playing, members of the United States Air Force Honor Guard exchanged coats for instruments for each musician.
The performance went off without a hitch and, Lang says, he was thrilled to see that the music made an impact on the audience. “There were people in tears who came up to us to tell us they were moved by the performance,” Lang tells Yahoo Shine, adding that the musicians spent nearly an hour after the performance talking to audience members who had gathered on the museum floor. “The flash mob is a microcosm of what we do every day,” he says. “It’s a medley of two pieces of music that represent excellence and quality and the kind of men and women who serve in our Air Force every day all over the world.” The band came up with the idea of doing a flash mob in June, says Lang, in part because budget cuts have limited the amount of advertising the band can have for its public performances.

The U.S. Air Force Band is hoping to keep the momentum going with the release of 15 new music videos for the holiday season. The videos feature the band playing classic Christmas carols, including “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” One song will be released daily on the band’s Facebook page every day until December 25.

Watch the video here:
http://shine.yahoo.com/ellen-good-news/u-s-air-force-band-wows-crowd-in-the-most-civilized-flash-mob-ever-215149053.html

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NEW THIS WEEK:

CALENDAR

CALENDAR
December 2013
Th, 12th – Sounds on 29th’s Heather Dalton at the 3 Kings Tavern
Fr, 13th – Buck25’s “Donation Celebration” at the Hard Rock Café
Su, 15th – Last day: Musicians In Action(.org ) is collecting “frostbite prevention gear”
We, 18th – NSAI meeting – Colorado Springs (7:00 p.m.)
Fr, 20th – Bands 4 Bands’ benefit at Casselman’s

January 2014
Happy New Year, Everyone!
Fr, 24th – Colorado Performing Arts Jamboree at the JeffCo Fairgrounds
Su, 26th – COMBO’s Annual Grammy Watching Party
.
COMBO’S NEXT MEETING: PLAN ON ATTENDING OUR GRAMMY WATCHING PARTY ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 26th. MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!

* * * * *

SOUNDS ON 29th’s HEATHER DALTON TALKS TELETUNES AND DENVER MUSIC TV HISTORY – TONIGHT, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12th
By Bree Davies | Westword

What: Sounds on 29th’s Live Gong Show
Why: Benefit for Sounds on 29th Television Show
When: Tonight (Thursday), December 12th
Where: 3 Kings Tavern, South Broadway
Time: Starting at 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $7.00 at the door
Who: 21 and up only

Heather Dalton has been part of the Denver music scene for decades, as a musician and TV show host and producer. Her latest project, Sounds on 29th, is a live performance and comedy show gearing up for its third season on local TV station CPT12 this spring.

A collaboration with director Amy Larson and the crew of Denver’s DIY-driven Brass Tree Sessions, Sounds on 29th is hosted by Sid Pink and gives local musicians, artists and comedians a platform to reach a wider audience.

This Thursday, December 12, at 3 Kings Tavern, the show invites one and all to be a part of the Sounds on 29th Live Gong Show and fundraiser, kicking off at 7 p.m. In advance of the benefit for the local music and comedy show, Dalton spoke with Westword about Sounds on 29th and how she got into television in the first place.

Westword: Can you talk a little bit about the Sounds on 29th show and how it originated?

Heather Dalton: Sounds on 29th was a collective project between myself and our director Amy Larson and some of the gentlemen from Brass Tree Sessions. Channel 12 has a history of being very involved with the local music scene with a show called Teletunes — which, at the time, was the longest running music video program. It even predated MTV.

We kind of wanted to return to our roots — but instead of looking at a national level, which Teletunes had done, we had so much incredible local talent that we decided to focus our efforts on the local scene. That’s kind of how it came together. We were honestly only going to do a couple of episodes — but it is a passion-driven project. We’ve had a really great amount of feedback from the local community and we just want to keep it going as long as we possibly can.

We have a very shoestring budget — we’ve been very fortunate that the station has signed on, but outside of production costs, we don’t have an operating budget. I’m the Executive Producer. We have a committee that chooses the acts, but I oversee aspects of production and booking.

Why did you decide to do a live music show versus, say, another video-driven show like Teletunes?

There’s definitely a well of great videos being produced locally, but we felt that it was more intimate to go with a live show. Honestly, someone like myself — an old scenester who doesn’t make it out that much anymore (laughs) — it was kind of selfish too, because you can see some of the greatest local acts in Denver without having to pay a cover charge and deal with a bunch of bumbling drunks.

How did you get into working with this kind of media?

Strangely enough, being a local musician many years ago, I actually hosted Teletunes, and started in television that way. I was a VJ who hosted interviews with national bands, as well as introducing the video line-ups.I really had no career path this direction, with production and editing, but I started with Channel 12 in 1992 and I’ve been there in many capacities ever since. But Teletunes was my introduction.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
What is the Sounds on 29th Gong Show happening tomorrow night at 3 Kings?

This is fundraiser in support of independent public media — Sounds On 29th the music show, in particular. We decided that we wanted to do something a little bit more unconventional than in year’s past where we would just have bands play. We wanted to also involve the comedians who had been a large part of our success this last season. We started throwing around the idea of a Gong Show and everybody loved it. It took off from there. Growing up in the 70s and being huge fans of the original Gong Show, we thought it would be a fun way to celebrate the close of the season and to allow people to make gigantic asses of themselves. (Laughs.)
. . . . . . . . . . . .
We’ll have a revolving panel of four comedic judges, and Sid Pink (Sounds on 29th’s host) will emcee the event. What happens is, anyone is allowed to get up and perform any time of rare acts that they have — a song, a dance, anything that they would like to showcase. Then, the four judges will score their performance on a scale of one to ten. If the performance has derailed and gone so horribly wrong, any judges have the right to “gong” and eliminate the person during the performance.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
So you’ve got some performances lined-up for the Gong Show already, but people can sign up the night of to compete as well?

Yes! We are encouraging people to come on down and perform. The more the merrier. We really want to show off all that Denver has to offer.

Sounds on 29th’s Live Gong Show fundraiser begins tomorrow night, December 12 at 7 p.m. at 3 Kings Tavern; tickets are $7 at the door for the 21-and-up evening. Live music will be provided by local three-piece Rubedo and the show will be hosted by Sid Pink. For more information, or to sign up and take a chance at getting gonged, go to the event’s Facebook page. (Participants may sign up the night of the event at 3 Kings directly, too.)

Read the whole article here. VERY informative!
http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2013/12/sounds_on_29ths_executive_prod.php

[Many thanks to Alex Teitz for calling our attention to this event!]

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BUCK25 PRESENTS A DONATION CELEBRATION AT THE HARD ROCK CAFÉ

When: Friday, December 13 from 9:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Where: Hard Rock Cafe Denver 500 16th Street Mall Denver, CO 80202
Time:
Cost: A “Non-Monetary Donation” (see below)
Who: All Ages! The Hard Rock Café is a restaurant that your whole family can enjoy!

It’s the Holiday season and what better way to give than to give to others in need.

Please join Buck25 at the Hard Rock Cafe December 13th, 2013, and please make a non monetary donation such as stuffing mix, canned soup, peanut butter, canned tuna, instant potato mix, canned green beans, canned corn, dry pinto beans, rice, canned beef stew, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned tomatoes, pasta, cereal, macaroni and cheese mix benefiting the Denver Rescue Mission. Items can be brought on the day of the show or if you want to make a donation and cannot attend please send us an email at dar@buck25.com.

Everyone attending will receive a new Buck25 Christmas Gift and Buck25 will match the weight of food donated.

Blankets, clothing and gloves will keep those in need warm this cold winter.. Bring new, old, used . . . but please bring WASHED items.

See our Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/550276925042125/

Host: Buck25 | 303 623-3191 | http://www.buck25.com

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THE BANDS THAT FEED: BENEFIT FOR ‘TOYS FOR TOTS’ & ‘HOLIDAY DINNERS’ | (Toy drive and Christmas Dinner fundraiser for Families in Need.

Where: Casselman’s on Walnut
What: Variety Show with Live Music
When: Friday, December 20th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $8 advance tickets; $10 at the door*
Who: 18+

With Live Performances by Slight Return (a tribute to Led Zeppelin); Dreamboat Annie (a tribute to Heart and other rock legends); Frank; Fallen and Forgotten; and Torsion.

Special Guest D.j T.B.A. Plus additional Performances by: Aerial Performance by Leigh Ann; Group Burlesque Perormance by the lovely Voltage Vixens; Bass Kittens Dance Team, plus a sexy Bad Santa contest, live art, live Glass Blowing, and live Tattooing!

* Or bring a Toy or Gift card to help give back to families in need and receive 50 % OFF of the door.

Sexy Bad Santa Contest winner receives $100.

Brought to you By Bands 4 Bands Entertainment, B4B Movement; Red Leather Booking, Asylum Metal Radio, and Go Fast Energy Drink.

www.B4BEntertainment.com
http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/434057

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**NEWS * NEWS * NEWS * NEWS**

MARTY JONES’ BAND HELPING OUT DAN SCHOEN’S FAMILY

This month my band, Marty Jones & The Great Unknowns, is donating 100% of all of our online music sales to the family of the late Dan Schoen here in Denver. Dan was my first music fan when I moved here in 1995. He died unexpectedly a few weeks ago from a brain aneurysm. He was just 45.

He left behind his wife Debora and their 6-year-old daughter. This will be a very tough and sad Christmas for them.

People can chip in and buy some songs at our newly revamped site, www.martyjones.net.

Read about my first encounter with Dan at http://martyjones.net/blog/

Read a great tribute to Dan at http://yellowscene.com/2013/10/31/danny-stood-up/ .

Thank you for the big help.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you,

Marty Jones
303-860-7448

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THE DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY IS SEEKING LOCAL MUSIC …
for its brand new Volume Denver program | By Bree Davies

This spring, the Denver Public Library is seeking local music for a flagship program it’s preparing to launch called Volume Denver. “We were talking about how we really wanted to do something to get some content that you can’t find at Walmart or the other big box stores,” says Joan Hansen of the library’s Collection Development team. “There’s a great music scene in Denver, and we thought we could probably find a lot of bands who were interested in having the exposure and supporting the library, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”

After analyzing its budget recently, the library’s Collection Development team saw an opportunity to bring the library and the local scene together, and so, inspired in part by an article in the Library Journal detailing how the Iowa City Public Library had embarked on a similar endeavor, the Volume Denver program was set into motion.

Before rolling out the program to card holders, though, the library is working on building its database. To that end, Hansen has been reaching out to local artists through a collection of email addresses, and she’s hoping word-of-mouth will bring more music into the fold. With a handful of DPL staff members directly involved with the local scene, such as Park Hill Branch staff member Dave Wilkinson from Wax Trax, Hansen says the momentum is building.

As for how the music will be handled, Hansen says the program currently has multiple options it is working with. “We sort of have two models,” she explains, “one is that we would ask a group or artist to provide a full album and sign a two-year licensing agreement — non-exclusive, of course — that we would allow our users to download. The other model would sort of be if [an artist] wanted to donate a sampler of tracks that we could make available on the website.”

As far as compensation goes, the plans are also tentative. “We’re kind of waiting to see what works for people,” she says, “but we’re going to start with $100 for a full album, and then, we weren’t sure, but if it’s an EP, we’re hoping to do it for $50. We’re hoping that some groups will be interested in exposure and be willing to donate a sampler of a few tracks.”

Ideally, the library would like to launch the site next spring with a healthy selection of local music for cardholders to have access to. The site will be browsable by artist or album, with detailed information about each act and links to the individual websites. With 647,078 CDs checked out from the Denver Public Library system last year, an estimated 400,000 cardholders and over nine million visits to the library’s website alone in 2012, the potential for exposure for the scene to new listeners is obviously immense.

Bands, emcees, musicians and other artists interested in being a part of the library’s Denver Volume project, or for those just looking for more information, can email Hansen and the Collection Development team directly via colldev@denverlibrary.org.

http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/2013/12/denver_public_library_local_music_volume_denver_program.php

[Thanks to Alex Teitz for contributing this information.] * * * * *

MEGAN BURTT PUTS OUT ALBUM TO BENEFIT LOVE HOPE STRENGTH

Denver-based musician and troubadour, Megan Burtt has gathered some of Colorado’s best musical talent to write and record a unique benefit album for charity. The project, entitled “In Good Company, Megan Burtt and Friends, vol.1: The Colorado Sessions”, will raise much- needed funds for Love Hope Strength, a non-profit whose mission is to help match bone marrow donors with recipients through bone marrow drives at music events around the country. With Love Hope Strength’s efforts, over 50,000 people have been added to the bone marrow registry, and over 700 matches have been made.

Recorded at the world-class Immersive Studios in Boulder, Colorado, the album features songs co-written by Megan and eleven different artists. A testament to the diverse group of musicians involved, the album spans multiple genres and styles, with the unique twist of Megan’s songwriting and artistry weaving together a group of acts seldom seen together. All told, nearly 50 people—musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, artists, photographers and managers—have been involved in the production of the record, exemplifying the importance of the cause and the enthusiasm for Megan’s artistic vision.

The album was recorded and mixed by Colorado-based engineer and producer Justin Peacock, and mastered by world-renowned mastering engineer Brian Gardner. The collective result of thousands of man-hours of work by all involved, the sound and songs have the hallmarks of a major-label release and are sure to be well-received. Please click links for more information on Megan Burtt and the “In Good Company” album.

Thanks to Eyedea Worx for passing this info along!

Eyedea Worx | 1401 Wewatta St. #103 | Denver, CO 80202 | 800-973-9383
info@eyedeaworx.com | www.eyedeaworx.com

* * * * *

LARIMER LOUNGE OWNER SCOTT CAMPBELL BUYS LOST LAKE LOUNGE
By Jon Solomon | Westword

Nearly four years after Matt LaBarge took over the former Bulldog Bar at 3602 East Colfax and transformed it into the Lost Lake Lounge, he has sold it to Larimer Lounge owner and AEG talent buyer Scott Campbell. Campbell, who officially took over the space yesterday, says one of the reasons for buying Lost Lake was to book the overflow from the Larimer Lounge during busy months, such as March and April (during South by Southwest and Coachella) and October and November (during the CMJ Music Marathon) when there are a number of bands touring.

“You have a situation like the last weekend in March where we have a ton of bands that want to come through that weekend and all my clubs are all booked,” Campbell says. “So it would be nice to have yet another club to offer to bands that are coming through in those very busy time frames.”

Given Lost Lake’s proximity to the Bluebird Theater, one of the venues Campbell books for AEG, he’s already used the bar as a meet-and-greet spot for some bands that have played at the Bluebird, and he plans to still use the space for that purpose, as well as for acts who might want to have after-parties. Campbell said the last time the Sword played the Bluebird, they had an after-party at Lost Lake, and BoomBox hosted a meet and greet there. When Built to Spill last played the Bluebird, frontman Doug Martsch did a DJ set at the Lost Lake after the band’s gig.

Campbell has recruited Tony Mason, who worked at Larimer Lounge prior to booking shows at Herman’s Hideaway, to be Lost Lake’s general manager, as well as handling the booking, production and marketing. Campbell says they’ll bringing in local and touring acts and host DJ sets as well.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Read the whole article here:
http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/2013/12/lost_lake_sold_to_scott_campbell_larimer_lounge.php?page=2

[Thanks to Alex Teitz for contributing this information.]

* * * * *

STARBUCKS SURPRISES YOUNG WOMEN WITH A VERY “MARY CHRISTMAS’
By Ellen’s Good News | The Good News

A Starbucks in Seattle offered a holiday special on Monday that beats any Groupon, free refill or 2-for-1 frappuccino deal out there: Mary J. Blige.

The Queen of Hip Hop Soul flew to Washington to surprise a group of 60 local women with a free performance of holiday tunes alongside producer David Foster. Starbucks closed the store for the occasion, and donated a portion of profits to the local YWCA, a national women’s organization aiming to empower women and end racism.

“It was everything for me to surprise them, for them to not know I was coming or for them to not know what they were in for,” the Grammy winner told King 5 News. “I’m filled so full with love because I got a chance to give back.”

Foster added, “Mary saw herself in them, and they saw themselves in Mary.”

The ladies in attendance were from the YWCA’s GirlsFirst program, and totally overjoyed by the event.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
When Mary stepped out in her signature bangles, the phones went flying, the camera’s flashing, the smiles ablaze. Everyone was ecstatic.

Some of the women (who happened to be really talented!) performed with Mary.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
But most importantly, Mary sang… And sang….

Read the whole article here:
http://shine.yahoo.com/ellen-good-news/starbucks-surprises-young-women-very-8216-mary-christmas-235800022.html

* * * * *

CONGRATULATIONS, KUDOS, PATS-ON-THE-BACKS TO . . .

. . . Musicians In Action(.org ) who is collecting “frostbite prevention gear” for the homeless now through 12/15/13. New and used gloves, hats, scarves, wool socks and even coats are desired. M.I.A. volunteers will be distributing items downtown and bringing gear to Senior Support Services, Denver’s only day shelter for homeless seniors. The Fillmore Auditorium also has collection boxes for M.I.A., or send an email to Marc @ MusiciansInAction.org to arrange a pickup. Thanks for your support!

. . . Adrienne O! Supercool! AdrienneO’s song “Someone Like Me,” as well as Tad Wheeler’s DeltaCloud remix of it, got placed in full-length feature film “A Remarkable Life” from Gymnopedie Films and Panoramic Productions, to be released on Dec 17! As we understand it, it’s going to be released in 1000 theatres in Europe first.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172402/?ref_=ttco_co_tt

(A Remarkable Life (2013) | imdb.com
Directed by Vohn Regensburger. With Chris Bruno, Marie Avgeropoulos, Daphne Zuniga, Mark Margolis. There are many things in life that could do a number on a man’s masculinity. Lenny Babbitt has his identity and manhood challenged when his wife Tracy leaves him for a female doctor named Iris who has been treating their autistic son Isaac. After losing his job, and wife to a woman no less — Lenny’s dad Jack offers him a job at his pawn shop where he must re-examine his identity, manhood and sense of self after meeting Chelsea, a young, free-spirited pistol that lives life on two wheels. In the end, Lenny realizes that there are no absolutes… only one’s faith, sense of self and family — no matter how it’s constituted or defined by society.
– Written by Anonymous)

. . . The Sing Off for giving a shout out to the writers of the songs that the a capella groups perform in this vocals-only contest! ‘Bout time the songwriters got some instant and nation-wide recognition!

. . . Megan Burtt for her benefit album for charity. The project, entitled “In Good Company, Megan Burtt and Friends, vol.1: The Colorado Sessions”, will raise much-needed funds for Love Hope Strength (see above article).

. . . Kelly Aspen on her new baby boy – Connor Michael, born 12/01/13, 7:57 a.m., 8 pounds 12 ounces, 20.5 inches, absolutely beautiful… Congratulations to Kelly and her husband and best wishes to all of them. Kelly now has a new subject to write songs about!

. . . Amanda Williams Gets a Shout Out from Garth Brooks on CBS.com! When asked “Who should we keep an ear out for? What up-and-comers are you following inside and outside of country music?”, Garth had this to say: “Kim Williams’ daughter, Amanda, is an unbelievable talent… I would put her as a blend between something very new and current that my youngest girls would listen to… and the Dixie Chicks kind of sound… very cutting edge… she’s fantastic!”

How cool is that? You can watch the entire Q&A with Garth Brooks here: http://www.cbs.com/connect/events/archive/35/

[Editor’s note: Amanda presented two very informative, interesting and entertaining workshops for COMBO at the Colorado Sound Studios on September 30th and October 1st. Just think – you had YOUR chance to meet her then before she gets “big”!]
* * * * *

TALENT NEEDED

“A JOURNEY TO THE PERFORMANCE OF A LIFETIME”

Announcing the 2014 International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival, U.S.A., taking place at the foothills of the majestic and colorful Rocky Mountains of Colorado, featuring an international competition and festival for pianists of all ages, from beginning to advanced young artists. The 2014 Odyssiad competition is open to four age levels: A (13 and under), B (14-19), C (20-23), and D (24-35). An international team of judges will evaluate performances for both technical and artistic merit using a prefabricated IKOF scoring sheet. Scores will then be displayed and read aloud to the audience.

Unique in its vision, format and global outreach, Preliminary Rounds of the 2014 Odyssiad Competition will take place live in Miami, Florida from February 6-9 (Deadline: Wednesday, January 15) at the Steinway Showroom (Coral Gables) and in three cities in Mainland China, Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shenzhen (March 29, 2014). The U.S. Preliminary Round of the competition may also be entered by submitting DVD recordings to the Fort Collins, CO headquarters by the deadline of Sunday, June 15, 2014. The Semifinal and Final Rounds of the International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival U.S.A. (IKOF) will take place live in Fort Collins, Colorado, July 20 – 24, 2014. Fort Collins is located approximately one hour North of Denver and within a one-hour’s drive to the colorful Rocky Mountain National Park.

The 2014 International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival, U.S.A. is presented in conjunction with the Summer Keyboard Institute (SKI/Colorado). The institute features a series of recitals, special topic presentations on repertoire, performance, and pedagogy, master classes by guest artists and SKI/Colorado faculty, and a live audience for the Odyssiad competition.

Founded and directed by Dr. Janet Landreth, Professor of Piano at Colorado State University, IKOF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting new generations of keyboard artists through an internationally linked competition and festival. The IKOF is hosted annually in the U.S.A. and exported to music schools in different countries around the world through a network of participating member associates.

To compete in the 2014 International Keyboard Odyssiad competition and/or to register for the 2014 SKI/Colorado Institute, visit the event website at www.InternationalKeyboardOdyssiad.com .

Our mailing address is:
International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival, Inc.
701 Duke Square, Fort Collins, CO
or
Box 1964, Denver, CO 80205

* * * * *

DREAM TEAM LOOKING FOR YOUTH MUSICIANS FOR ITS NEXT SHOWCASE

The Mile High Scenesters are pleased to bring you our NEXT exciting event March 1 – People’s Choice Youth Musician Showcase! If you would like to be considered for the showcase, please email a short video to milehighscenesters@gmail.com with some information about your band or artist. Must be between the ages of 10 and 19! Win money for your school’s music program and so much more! These events are family-friendly, fun, cool, and a GREAT way to get some real stage and music business experience, not to mention doing something good!

* * * * *

REPORTS

SINGER-SONGWRITER JEWEL MAKES HER JUDGING DEBUT ON “THE SING OFF”

After a two year hiatus, ‘The Sing-Off’ [made] it’s television debut on Monday night on NBC with a few major changes to its repertoire. Adding her name to the judges table is singer- songwriter Jewel, who’s known for her sultry ballots [sic] [ballads ?] and poetic voice. After appearing as a guest mentor on ‘The Voice’ and ‘American Idol,’ Jewel is ready for the next big step towards helping young singers find their voice. She stopped by our offices to discuss the show, her new album, and how singing competitions have raised the singing bar.

AOL: What has this experience been like for you?
Jewel: I’m excited to be a part of ‘The Sing-Off’ because I really believe in music. I believe in talent and mentoring talent. I was really lucky to have been mentored by Bob Dylan and Merle Haggard when I was young, and they were a sounding board for me to express myself and my music. If artists aren’t looking out for other artists, then what do we have? I’d like to be able to pay that back with this show.

Jewel: The network lets us being very technical. It’s really neat that the network hasn’t shied away from that. We are the kind of judges I’d want as a contestant. We’re really listening to what they are actually doing. Not just looking for soundbites.

AOL: Why did you decide to be a judge on ‘The Sing-Off”?
Jewel: I enjoy reality singing competitions. I think they’ve up’d the game in terms of alerting record labels to the fact that America can discern between singers and non-singers. I think it’s been a great outlet to let talent get discovered.

AOL: Each judge takes on a different role (or character), what type of judge were you?
Jewel: I’ll have to see what people think. I think people tend to think i’m poetic and soft spoken, which is a part of my personality, but I moved out when I was 15-years-old and homeless at 18-years-old. You don’t get through that without being a little scrappy. I’m not into whiners and victims, if you really want something, look at yourself and take responsibility. I take the contestants very seriously and I assume they want serious feedback.

AOL: What was the most challenging part of being a judge?
Jewel: Getting comfortable with eliminations and giving bad news. I’m kinda like band mom, I want everyone to win.

AOL: The show is very different this year, what should the audience expect?
Jewel: It is formatted differently, seven episodes in two weeks. We did have some structural differences, the bottom two get to battle. There are a lot of surprises in store!

AOL: Your new album, ‘Let It Snow: A Holiday Collection’, is out in stores, what should we expect to hear?
Jewel: I have an eclectic approach. It might sound a bit schizophrenic when I say it out loud but I have jazz, country, classic, choral pieces, middle eastern flare all in the same record. It’s an elegant record, all the songs sound great back to back.

http://www.aol.com/article/2013/12/09/jewel-makes-her-debut-on-the-sing-off-tonight-on-nbc/

* * * * *

‘EVERYTHING CHANGES’ FOR JULIAN LENNON IN U.S. RELEASE OF HIS FIRST INDIE WORK | Posted by Matt Skoufalos (Editor)

On the 33rd anniversary of his father’s death, our interview with the artist about self-criticism, Steven Tyler, and the work that helped him step out on his own.

At 50, Julian Lennon feels as though his creative career is finally within his control.

The artist, who described himself as label-averse, in so many words, said he’s never been interested in “striving for the limelight” or exhaustive promotional touring to support his work.

That’s why he took his time with Everything Changes, his first solo effort since 1998’s Photograph Smile.

“I just felt that I’d rather pull myself out of the situation and rethink the situation and look at all my options,” Lennon said.

He describes the album as a mix of social commentary and personal expression. If it’s a bit open-ended—and it does have “a dreamy, floaty quality,” he said—it’s communicating “my version of a way to think about things without shoving it down people’s throats.”

“I never learned to read or write music in any shape or form,” Lennon said. “I literally only sit down to play an instrument when I have an idea and I want to record it.

“For me, the music of a song has to portray a given emotion, and that has to be the same emotion that the lyrics give, and the same thing with the melody.

“Once those three elements come together and say exactly the same thing, that’s when I get goosebumps, and that’s when I feel inside that I’ve nailed it.”

‘Everything that happens to you is your fault’

The title track, “Everything Changes,” reflects Lennon’s hope that despite the darkness of life “there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”

“I got to the point where, turning 50, I just thought, ‘I’ve got to start considering what I feel is correct and not be listening to what the media told me I should be,’” he said.

“A friend of mine many, many years ago said to me, ‘Everything that happens to you is your fault. I kept saying, ‘Bugger off, how dare you say that!’ Well you do; everything you do; even our breath affects everything else in this world, in this universe.”

In many ways, that epiphany helped Lennon to let himself off the hook for a life lived forever in the shadow of one of the most famous people in history.

Being able to shake off the weight of public opinion enabled him to connect with the things he really wanted to communicate in art, music and photography.

“If you’re a real artist, get on with the work and move forward,” he said. “When you allow yourself that freedom to be you, you can achieve so many things in life.

In a nod to that freedom, or the feeling that he’s earned the ability to acknowledge his legacy with a bit more equanimity, the album even includes a musical moment that reflects Lennon’s confidence creating a work he feels is fit to stand beside that of his famous father.

On the song “Someday,” Lennon samples The Beatles’ “Baby You’re a Rich Man,” as co-performed by rocker Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.

The product of a fair bit of kismet—Lennon says he and Tyler heard the same refrain in their heads independently—it remained on the album “regardless of what Sony Publishing wanted from my hienie and everyone else’s, which was beyond steep,” he said.

“Whether that was divine intervention, our spirits or our minds were aligned at that point in time, something happened just then and it freaked both of us out,” Lennon said.

It’s a move Lennon said he couldn’t have made earlier in his career; one he believes reflects his desire not to put aside his past, but to make his own future.

“I think I’m at the beginning of what my life’s really about,” Lennon said. “The last 50 years has been a good schooling.”

Everything Changes is Julian Lennon’s sixth studio album. Produced in 2011, it came to the United States this summer.

http://westdeptford.patch.com/groups/arts-and-entertainment/p/everything-changes-for-julian-lennon-in-us-release-of-his-first-indie-work

* * * * *

BYE, BYE, BYE, ‘N SYNC! ONE DIRECTION MAKES BOY BAND HISTORY
America’s teens and tweens have spoken. | By Paul Grein | Yahoo Music

One Direction’s Midnight Memories enters The Billboard 200 at No. 1, enabling the English/Irish quintet to become the first boy band in chart history to land three No. 1 albums. Four earlier boy bands — New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, ‘N Sync, and Jonas Brothers — each had only two No. 1 albums.

Now for the numbers: Midnight Memories, which was among several albums that surely received a boost from Black Friday promotions and shopping frenzy, sold 546K copies in its first week; that’s a tad more than the group’s last album, Take Me Home, which sold 540K in its first week in November 2012. 1D is the first boy band to top 500K in first-week sales with back-to-back studio albums since Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync accomplished the feat more than a decade ago.

Midnight Memories posted the fourth biggest one-week sales tally of the year, behind albums by boy band alum Justin Timberlake (968K), Eminem (792K), and Drake (658K). It’s the year’s biggest one-week sales tally for an album by a group or duo. That title had been held by Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories (339K).

Midnight Memories is the sixth album to sell 500K copies in its first week so far this year. This is the first year in which six albums have sold 500K in their first weeks since 2008, when seven albums achieved the feat.

Billboard’s Keith Caulfield notes that One Direction is the first group to reach No. 1 with its first three albums since The Monkees scored in 1966-1967 with their first four albums. Coincidentally, both groups are TV creations: One Direction was formed during the 2010 edition of U.K. talent show “The X Factor” while the Monkees were assembled to star in the NBC sitcom that debuted in September 1966.

One Direction this week becomes the third act (and the first group) to sell 500K copies each of two different albums in 2013. (Take Me Home also tops the 500K mark in 2013 sales.) The first two were Luke Bryan and Justin Timberlake.

Midnight Memories is 1D’s first album to spawn two top 10 (or even top 30) hits on the Hot 100. “Best Song Ever” reached No. 2. The mom-friendly “Story of My Life” has climbed as high as No. 6.

The album sold 275K digital copies, which puts it at No. 1 on Top Digital Albums. Take Me Home sold 242K digital copies in its first week.

Midnight Memories also enters The Official U.K. album chart at No. 1. It’s the group’s second album to top the charts in both the U.S. and the U.K., Take Me Home being their first to do so. (The group’s first album, Up All Night, reached No. 1 in the U.S. but peaked at No. 2 in the U.K.) One Direction is also the first boy band to land two transatlantic No. 1 albums.

Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP 2 dips from No. 1 to No. 2. It has sold 1,323,000 copies, which enables it to jump from No. 6 to No. 3 on Nielsen SoundScan’s running list of the year’s best-selling albums. It pulls ahead of Drake’s Nothing Was The Same to become the year’s best-selling hip-hop album. In the coming week, it will pull ahead of Bruno Mars’ second-ranking Unorthodox Jukebox (1,329,000). With four chart weeks to go in 2013, can it possibly topple Justin Timberlake’s top-ranked The 20/20 Experience (2,373,000)? Stay tuned.

Garth Brooks’s Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences debuts at No. 3. The massive, eight-disk set, a Walmart exclusive, consists of six CDs and two DVDs. It’s the most sprawling album ever to crack the top 10, surpassing Brooks’s 1998 album The Limited Series (a repackage which consisted of his first six CDs) and Bruce Springsteen’s 1986 album Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live/1975-85 (a live album which consisted of five disks). Brooks’s collection contains 77 songs, 33 music videos, and a 68-page photo booklet. It weighs two pounds. After all, Brooks likes to do things big.
. . . . . . . . . .
The eponymous debut album of “The Voice” Season 4 winner Danielle Bradbery opens at No. 19. Cassadee Pope’s Frame By Frame, which debuted and peaked at No. 9 in October, remains the highest-charting album by a contestant on “The Voice.” We have to ask: “The Voice” has surpassed American Idol in TV ratings, Emmy recognition, and overall buzzworthiness, so why haven’t its winners yet emerged as really big record sellers?
. . . . . . . . . .
Pentatonix’s PTXmas re-enters the chart at No. 29. That’s a new peak for the EP, which debuted and initially peaked at No. 45 in November 2012. You may remember that the vocal ensemble’s second album, PTX: Vol. II, debuted in the top 10 a few weeks ago.
. . . . . . . . . .
Billie Joe + Norah’s foreverly debuts at a disappointing No. 40. (That’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones, if you’re not on a first-name basis with them — and judging from this debut, not everyone is.) The album consists of the 12 songs that appeared on the Everly Brothers’s 1958 album Songs Our Daddy Taught Us. That album didn’t crack The Billboard 200, which was dominated at that time by movie soundtracks and Broadway cast albums. Foreverly is one of the most intriguing cross-genre collabos since Robert Plant/Alison Krauss’s Raising Sand, which debuted and peaked at No. 2 in 2007. That album went on to win a Grammy for Album of the Year.
. . . . . . . . . .
Coming Attractions: Look for Britney Spears’s Britney Jean to vie for No. 1 next week. Also due: Jake Owen’s Days of Gold, “The Sound of Music” TV soundtrack with Carrie Underwood, Boston’s Live Love & Hope, August Burns Red’s Rescue and Restore, Leona Lewis’s Christmas, With Love, and an iTunes-exclusive EP by The Civil Wars.

Very long but informative article. Read the whole thing here:
http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/chart-watch-one-direction-makes-boy-band-history-153633462.html

* * * * *

‘BING’ ANNOUNCES ITS TOP SEARCHES FOR 2013

Most Searched Person: Beyoncé continues her reign as the queen of pop— she’s the most- searched person on Bing in 2013! Beyoncé bumped Kim Kardashian off of the top spot this year, who came in as the second most searched person of the year.

Top Three: Beyoncé Knowles, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna

Most Searched Musician: When it comes to music, most searched person of the year, Beyoncé is queen as the most searched musician of 2013. Runner up for most searched musician of 2013, is power vocalist Rihanna coming in as #2, followed by America’s country sweetheart Taylor Swift at #3.

Top Three: Beyoncé Knowles, Rihanna, Taylor Swift

Most Searched Song: The money saving ways of rapper Macklemore stormed America, making Thrift Shop the most searched song of 2013.

Top Three: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Thrift Shop, Robin Thicke- Blurred Lines, Rihanna – Stay

Each year, Bing takes a look back at all the people, events, news, memes and more that made this year memorable. Bing analyzed the billions of searches that took place on Bing.com throughout the year, to share the top searches across a variety of categories, which can be viewed in a full report at www.BingTrends.com.

Samantha Berzon
Sunshine Sachs
Berzon@SunshineSachs.com
P: 212-691-2800

* * * * *

RESEARCH AND BUSINESS NEWS

MARKETING MUSICIAN TALKS ABOUT “STANDING OUT”

In this week’s podcast, we talk about a cool (inexpensive) way to stand out above other bands (but don’t try to make money with it). We also talk about what its like to be a booking agent (so be patient) and we also have a great way to get traffic to your website, and grow your email list at the same time.

Take Pictures At Your Gig
•    If you’re using mail chimp they have an app for your smart phone so people can sign up for your list at the show
•    People love to see pictures of themselves
•    They tell their friends to check out the picture on your site
•    Be sure to have a sign up form so new visitors can join the list

Follow Up With Club Owners
•    Try to do it face to face, then phone, last by email
•    Be sure to have your band name in the email if that’s your only option and be sure to have contact information
•    Be patient
•    Do what you say and stay reliable.

Send Out Cards is a Scam, but Cheap

I used this service (www.sendoutcards.com) to send a card to my wife. The card was nice, and I was able to personalize it. It had the desired effect on my wife and could work for booking agents.

HOWEVER, this website is not really about selling cards (its a MLM scam). for that we don’t care (we just want the cards). DO NOT – I SAY DO NOT – get sucked into the “You can make money selling cards” scam, just use their cheap service to send cards and that’s it.

http://marketingmusician.com/podcast/following-up-with-booking-agents/

* * * * *

A BRITNEY SPEARS BUMMER: NEW ALBUM FIZZLES | By Paul Grein

Oops … Britney Spears didn’t do it again. She wasn’t even close.

“Britney Jean” enters the Billboard 200 at No. 4, with first-week sales of 107K. That’s the lowest entry position and first-week sales tally ever for a Spears studio album. Her only previous studio album to fail to debut at No. 1 was 2007’s “Blackout,” which opened at No. 2. Her previous low first-week sales tally for a studio album was her very first, “…Baby One More Time,” which sold 121K in its first week in January 1999.

Spears’s slide has been sudden. “Circus” started with sales of 505K in December 2008. “Femme Fatale opened with 276K in April 2011.

Spears had a No. 3 hit on the Hot 100 earlier this year, “Scream & Shout,” a collabo with will.i.am. Alas, that song peaked 10 long months ago. And, in any event, it’s not on Spears’ album. It was on will.i.am’s album, “No. willpower.” The first single from Spears’ album, “Work B–ch!,” peaked at No. 12. The second, the striking ballad “Perfume,” is just getting started. It has climbed as high as No. 76.

Spears begins a Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood on Dec. 27. That’s what artists usually do when their hit-making years have run down; it’s unusual for artists who have had recent hits. And Spears most definitely has: “Femme Fatale” was the first album of her now 15-year career to spawn three Top 10 singles. The Las Vegas play, and the fact that Spears is now a 32-year old mother of two, may be making it harder for young fans to relate to her.

Garth Brooks’s “Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences moves up from No. 3 to No. 1 in its second week. The massive, eight-disc set, a Walmart exclusive, consists of six CDs and two DVDs. It’s the third box set (of four disks or more) to reach No. 1. It follows Bruce Springsteen’s 1986 album, “Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live/1975-85” (a live album which consisted of five disks), and Brooks’ 1998 album, “The Limited Series (a repackage which consisted of his first six CDs).

It’s Brooks’ ninth No. 1 album; his first since 2001. That extends his lead as the country artist with the most No. 1 albums. Among all artists, only four have had more: The Beatles (19), Jay Z (13), Elvis Presley (10) and Springsteen (10). The Rolling Stones and Barbra Streisand are tied with Brooks with nine.

Read the whole article at:
http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/chart-watch-britney-slow-start-164249866.html

* * * * *

GOLDIEBLOX PICKS AN UNFAIR FIGHT WITH THE BEASTIE BOYS
A dismal press performance on a clear case of aggressive copyright infringement
By Ryan Chittum

What kind of company takes a copyrighted hit song, rewrites the lyrics, and uses it in a commercial — without bothering to even ask the artist if that was okay? As Felix Salmon points out, the kind that comes from Silicon Valley’s “cult of disruption.”

I’ve followed GoldieBlox since its Kickstarter because the founder is a friend of a friend. My interest heightened after a misbegotten trip to see family last summer, whereupon my 3 year old twin girls picked up a highly regrettable princess and pink obsession. Long story short, I’m against all the stuff Goldieblox says it’s against.

I saw the “Girls” parody last week and thought it was an awfully clever bit of marketing. It sure made its way around my Facebook feed this weekend. And perhaps marketing is what it takes to fight Barbie/princess culture with its ungodly ad budgets. If girls are going to be marketed to (and frankly, I’d be a-okay with a full ban on advertising to children), let it be this kind. But let’s be clear: the GoldieBlox ad is marketing whose intention is to sell a product.

And so all the freehadist protests of fair use don’t cut it. You can’t take an entire song that’s not yours, change the words, use it to sell your stuff, and not pay the artist royalties. This is not a close call.

But the Beasties are in a no-win situation: Sue and they look like assholes. Don’t sue, and watch their work stolen to hawk somebody else’s merch (and open the floodgates to other parodies that are really just commercials).

Compounding the matter is the fact the Beasties are one of the few remaining bands that have refused to sell out to advertisers. The late Adam Yauch believed in this principle so fervently he put a clause in his will prohibiting his songs from being used in ads.

You’d think the press would have taken two seconds to be skeptical about this story — and to question whether they’re allowing themselves to become part of a sophisticated marketing campaign — but, so far, coverage has been just miserable.

For days, GoldieBlox had the PR upper hand, despite clearly being the predatory party.

The Hollywood Reporter kicked things off on the 22nd, writing “Beastie Boys Threaten Creator of Viral Video With Copyright Infringement,” a headline that’s been disappeared, rather than corrected.

Because, it turns out, the Beastie Boys never threatened GoldieBlox with anything. This is from an open letter the band released:

As creative as it is, make no mistake, your video is an advertisement that is designed to sell a product, and long ago, we made a conscious decision not to permit our music and/or name to be used in product ads. When we tried to simply ask how and why our song “Girls” had been used in your ad without our permission, YOU sued US.

And a band rep says, “There was no complaint filed, no demand letter (no demand, for that matter) when they sued Beastie Boys.”

So when the Los Angeles Times wrote this, it was wrong:

The Beastie Boys are reportedly pursuing legal action against the makers of a video that went viral this week by putting a pink-empowerment spin on the artists’ “Girls.”

Journalism!
. . . . . . . . . .
Read the whole article here:
http://www.cjr.org/the_audit/goldieblox_picks_a_fight_with.php?page=all

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

GoldieBlox, the Beastie Boys, and fair use
The toymaker backs down amid a murky legal case | By Ryan Chittum | Nov. 29th 2013

I wrote on Monday that GoldieBlox’s parody of the Beastie Boys song “Girls” was a a “clear case” of copyright infringement.

As Felix Salmon pointed out (ADDING: and Shane Ferro, I should say), that overstated the legal argument quite a bit—it’s rarely clear on much involving copyright and fair use claims.

I do still think GoldieBlox’s actions were egregious enough and in such bad faith that it would lose if this case ever went to trial. It won’t: The toy company has re-made the offending ad without the Beastie Boys music and the band is not stupid enough to risk another round of the kind of awful PR it already, unfairly, received. But that would depend on a judge’s interpretation of the inherently murky fair-use law.

Rachel Sklar argues that GoldieBlox’s ad was indeed fair use and breaks down her case under the four factors judges must use to resolve fair use disputes. “Is GoldieBlox’s song a transformative piece of social commentary or a cheap toy ploy? I come down for GoldieBlox here, as the Court did for 2 Live Crew in ‘94,” she writes, saying the decision “held that their commercial parody was fair use despite being commercial.”

Sklar’s a lawyer and I’m not, so watch as I step out on this limb.
. . . . . . . . . .
http://www.cjr.org/the_audit/goldieblox_and_fair_use.php

* ** * *

INTERESTING BITS

U.S. AIR FORCE BAND WOWS CROWD WITH MOST CIVILIZED FLASH MOB EVER | By Jennifer Carofano, Shine Staff | The Good News

Watch the video here:
http://shine.yahoo.com/ellen-good-news/u-s-air-force-band-wows-crowd-in-the-most-civilized-flash-mob-ever-215149053.html

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New This Week Calendar Events News*News*News Reports Congratulations Talent Needed New Members Website Songs Research Songwriter’s Corner InterestingBits Scam Alert Thoughts and Prayers In Memoriam Movies, Books & Quotes Quote of the Week Contact COMBO

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© Colorado Music Association. All Rights Reserved.

New This Week
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NewsNewsNews
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**NEWS * NEWS * NEWS * NEWS**