|
INDIE
NEWS BEAT *
WXPN Launches Major Music Awards Program WXPN Launches Major Music Awards Program Long recognized as an incubator for nurturing talented emerging musicians, 88.5 WXPN, the member-supported radio station of the University of Pennsylvania, is launching its own brand of music honors called the "XPN AWARD." WXPN will present Irish singer songwriter Damien Rice with the first XPN AWARD for an Emerging Artist on July 20 during the WXPN Singer Songwriter Weekend. The goal of the XPN AWARD for an Emerging Artist is to recognize up-and- coming performers who have produced an album or body of work that demonstrates outstanding vision, creativity and songwriting ability. It also underscores the station's commitment to serving and showcasing the best new artists, and exposing members to XPN's special blend of musical diversity. "Over the years, we've given talented singer songwriters much needed airplay for their music," said Bruce Warren, program director of WXPN. "We've also worked very hard to give our listeners something they really value - a first look at artists who we believe may have a huge influence on the music scene," he said. Online Radio Station Launches Campaign To Right Internet Fraud Among the independent music scene there is a new question. What happened to the US Music Tradeshow (USMT)? The USMT promoted a contest introduced on MP3.com and sponsored by them and several other companies. The contest, named "3000 Screaming Fans", required a $20 entry fee and was supposed to award 250 winners an opportunity to perform at the tradeshow. The sponsors appear to have pulled out of the promotion and the promoters (USMT) have not contacted any of the artists who entered the contest regarding the status of the event or any refunding of entry fees. Garage Radio, a voice for the independent music community, is investigating the possibility that this was a scheme to con artists by preying on their hopes and dreams. "It's just sickening that our community has to deal with these types of situations. Everybody here works too hard for their music and their money just to have some front for a scam steal it from them," stated John Foxworthy, Chief Editor for Garage Radio, "We need to make an example of these guys to send the message that we're not going to tolerate it!" MusicDish
Network Advertisement Haldern Pop Festival - Bands Wanted For "TerraTecTalent-Truck" Music portal BeSonic.com offers Newcomer bands the chance to perform in front of up to 5,000 people a day, within the next two months. TerraTec goes Haldern again! Also this year the multimedia manufacturer is joining in to support the popular and familial Open-Air Event at the lower part of River Rhine in Germany. Just two months after integrating the popular music portal BeSonic.com into the family, Terra Tec have issued the first big opportunity for all registered Newcomer bands. Bands who apply with three original songs, must be wav- or mp3-format, might get the chance to play in front of up to 5,000 expected visitors at this year's 20th annual Haldern Open Air Festival. The mobile stage of the "TerraTecTalent-Truck" is equipped with a full-blown PA, all set to offer four bands the next step on the career ladder. Haldern Festival, which has attracted a great line-up of artists for this year, including Bright Eyes, The Cardigans, Patti Smith or Kashmir is collaborating for the fourth time with Terra Tec and its BeSonic-pool of some 20.000 artists. Upstart Latin Cool Records' Scores Two Latin Grammy Nominations Larry Harlow's "Live At Birdland" CD and Cintron's "Hit Men" CD have been selected as Latin Grammy nominees in the Latin Jazz current voting category! Harlow's first Latin Jazz recording with his "Latin Jazz Encounter" band is being received enthusiastically throughout the Jazz and Latin music communities. Also, Rocco DePersia and Edgardo Cintron, co-leaders of the hot group, Cintron are to be commended for their inclusion in the Latin Grammy Latin Jazz section. Their CD is selling at a brisk pace and has received rave reviews. Introducing: World Music Central Durham, North Carolina, USA - World Music Central is pleased to announce the soft launch of its Web site. Online since April of 2003, World Music Central is the reincarnation of World Music Portal. The new version of the Web site offers daily news, CD reviews and articles. World Music Central is now interactive and has many new and exciting features. The New Sections include: * User registration. Registering allows users to author articles and news, participate in forums and customize their own personal calendar. * The Submissions section allows registered users and anonymous users to submit news stories: tour information, CD releases, new book information, conferences, events, trade shows, obituaries, etc. * Calendar. This exciting section lists events that will be taking place in the coming weeks or months. Users can submit information about their events. Registered users can also customize their own calendar and add personal information such as birthdays and anniversaries. * Forum allows users to participate in discussions and to create new threads. * Links allows registered and anonymous users to submit links automatically. * Comments. Users can comment on every news piece and other stories featured on the site. * E-mail forwarding and printing of news. Morrissey And Sanctuary Records Group Resurrect The Attack Label Sanctuary Records Group and Morrissey have announced that they have resurrected the Attack label to release the forthcoming new album by Morrissey. The label will be distributed via BMG in the US, Pinnacle in the UK and Sanctuary Records Group's various distribution partners in the rest of the world. The deal was signed on the 20th of May and Morrissey will begin recording his first album since 1997's Maladjusted immediately. The Attack label - part of the legendary Trojan Records family - released records by The Pioneers, Gregory Isaacs, The Upsetters, Big Youth and I Roy amongst many others between 1969 and 1980. The Sanctuary Group Inc Chief Executive Officer Merck Mercuriadis commented, "Morrissey is one of the most important artists of the last 20 years and we are delighted that he has given us the opportunity to lead the charge on this significant next phase of his career with a deal that is as innovative as his music. Early on in our discussions Morrissey proved himself to be a connoisseur of our Trojan Records catalogue and expressed an interest in using the Attack label for the release of his records much as he did the HMV label when he was with EMI. We are very pleased to accommodate and hope that he will also find new artists to release on Attack. Attack Records will be a reflection of his creative vision and his exclusive domain." NARM, Blues Music Association To Release Second Sampler The National Association of Recording Merchandisers Classical/Jazz Issue Forum and the Blues Music Association will be releasing their second blues CD sampler, Get The Blues 2, on July 8. The preceding joint sampler production by the two organizations, Get The Blues! has sold 87,000 copies in the U.S.A. It remained on the Billboard Blues Album Chart until all manufactured copies were sold out, and was the #4 blues record of 2002 on the SoundScan year-end sales chart for 2002. Priced at $1.98, the current 18-track, 77-minute sampler will include tracks from some of the biggest names on today's blues scene (The Blind Boys of Alabama, Shemekia Copeland, Kim Wilson, Ronnie Earl), as well as great names of the blues tradition (Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Koko Taylor). The tracks were selected by a panel of judges from the retail sector from submissions by NARM and BMA member companies.
Read Last Weeks News Beat (6th June) | Return to Hybrid Studios MAIN NEWS page |
