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INDIE NEWS BEAT Week
of February 20, 2004 Attorney General Jerry Pappert today announced that during the next two weeks refund checks will be mailed to more than 243,000 Pennsylvanians who filed claims as part of a national antitrust settlement agreement negotiated by his office and attorneys general from around the country. Pennsylvania was second only to California in the number of consumers who filed claims for refunds. Under the settlement, Pappert said, each consumer who filed a claim will receive $13.86 for a total of nearly $3.4 million. In addition, $2.6 million worth of music compact discs (CDs) will be available for distribution to Pennsylvania schools and libraries that expressed interest in participating. The CDs for the schools and libraries are expected to arrive this May. Restitution checks will be distributed to approximately 3.5 million consumers across the country who purchased prerecorded music products including CDs, cassettes and vinyl albums from retailers between January 1, 1995 and December 22, 2000. Independent Female Artists Come Together To Create "It's About Eve " (music for the cure)
An album to promote Breast Cancer Awareness to Young Women; 100% of net proceeds to benefit the TJ Martell Foundation, The Libby Ross Foundation and The Comedy Cures Foundation; Joan Jett contributes special rendition of The Beatles "The Word"; Billboard Magazine taps compilation as an "Album Spotlight Pick" "There is no immediate cure, all women are at risk, and early detection is vital to survival. This project honors all women who have lost the fight to breast cancer and all those who have survived it" Hernando Courtright, executive producer The independent spirit is very powerful. It motivates and it heals. And, in the music industry, the independent spirit is having a growing impact on how we do business. So it's no surprise that some of the best female indie artists have banded together to draw attention for young women to the deadly disease of breast cancer. "IT"S ABOUT EVE" (music for the cure), the compassionate, outspoken and charming collection of songs from indie faves LAVA BABY, EDIE CAREY, and INA MAY WOOL, also boasts an impressive collection of rising stars. And, indie rocker/actress JOAN JETT, the first female rock recording artists to own her own record label - Black Heart Records - leant an edgy turn to the Beatles song "The Word" as a bonus track on the CD. JETT recorded "The Word" with the backing of notable musicians, LENI STERN (guitar), SARA LEE (bass), VALERIE GHENT (keyboard), FELICIA COLLINS (lead guitar), CAMILLE GAINER (drums) and CECILIA ENGELHART (percussion). On backing vocals was a stellar indie female line up of 26 vocalists. Producer/mixer ROB STEVENS (Yoko Ono, John Lennon, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Toshi Reagon) handled the recording sessions at Quad Recording. Commented JOAN JETT, "As an owner of my own record label, I'm certainly someone who appreciates and admires independent minded women. HERNANDO COURTRIGHT was a wonderful friend of mine when I was in the Runaways, and I totally enjoyed being part of a project that is his passion, after all these years." "This project was inspired by the death from breast cancer of my youngest cousin," commented HERNANDO COURTRIGHT, executive producer and co-owner of Fore Reel Entertainment on the project. "In looking for a way to do something personally, I realized that music is what I know and what better way to promote a better understanding of this disease to young women. The thirteen songs on this album were chosen to both reflect the strongest material from these artists and to serve as an introduction to those who might be interested in their music." Nielsen SoundScan Record Breaking Sales Week! The week of Feb 9 - Feb 15, 2004 represents the biggest selling individual week excluding a "holiday season" week (November- December), since SoundScan began tracking point of purchase record sales in 1991, with album sales exceeding 17,000,000 units. Highly anticipated product releases, Valentine's Day, and the Grammy Awards contributed to the record breaking sales week. 2004 SALES FACTS: -
The week of Valentine's Day is traditionally one of the strongest
selling weeks for the music industry, excluding the holiday season
(November - December). 10 Bands Chosen By 4/15 For IMC2004
Get a six month membership to Sonicbids, get started at IndieGate.com, our online independent music store AND apply for a performance slot at IMC2004 all in one easy step. Now that's being productive! It's only $39.95 and it's EASY... just click here to sign up. Existing Sonicbids members pay only $30.00. PLUS, get a $30.00 deduction off your IMC2004 Registration when you purchase making your IndieGate start-up FREE! Sign up now because we'll announce 10 Sonicbids bands chosen early as IMC2004 performers. The announcement will be made on April 15th and that means more promotion for you! IMPORTANT NOTE: Only 3 discounted hotel rooms remain! Save $60 per night by reserving your special IMC hotel room for only $89 per night. Even though IMC2004 is still more than 6 months away, we've had 19 artists sign up in the first 2 weeks. You may also want to check out what your $30 Sonicbids fee will be getting you... The IndieGate is undergoing a massive database upgrade and you will be able to sell your digital singles through the site, along with all your CDs, merch and other items. You pay the regular $30 start-up fee when you sign up at Sonicbids BUT we'll deduct it from your IMC registration payment so you get started with our online independent music store for FREE! That's a massive deal... SAVE the regular $30 start-up fee at IndieGate.com, become eligible for a performance slot at IMC2004, and get a 6 month membership to Sonicbids all in one easy step. Independent promotion company, 97 Radio, announced Monday that they will no longer be accepting new clients. This proclamation comes in the wake of a ten-month investigation by indie advocate and journalist John Foxworthy. 97 Radio's official announcement from their web site states, "97 Radio will not be accepting new clients at this time. We will honor all contracts and continue with curret clients. We had to do this because of the false rumors Mr. John Foxworthy has written about in his articles. He has slandered our name and 97 Radio did file legal paper work against him and his company." Foxworthy began investigating 97 Radio and its parent company, Talent 2K, in May of 2003 after receiving a few tips that the company was not delivering services to clients. They had also been accused of using a dummy record company to offer deals in the hopes of voiding the refund clause in their contract. Foxworthy's investigation of the allegations resulted in a series of articles which 97 Radio attributes to their closing.
The band features Arif on vocals/lead guitar, DeHaven on drums/vocals, along with R&B/Gospel Diva Debbie Dee supplying background vocals. Front man Arif can also been seen playing guitar on Enrique Iglesias' music video "Enamorado Por Primera Vez". Their latest CD Colour of Music offers cleverly mastered guitar licks, deep pocket drumming and undeniable bass grooves along with the soul felt vocals of Arif, DeHaven and Debbie Dee who leave you wanting to play the CD over and over again. "We believe that as artists, when you are given the freedom to express yourself, without all the traditional boundaries, you create music where anything can happen" explains DeHaven. Artists Get Paid To Get Their Music Heard
So, back to the dream, imagine that all artists ( 15 on the first project ) will get a share of each CD sold. A bit different than is currently offered by many other companies/ websites today. Yes but that doesn't mean that it's not possible. Fifteen indie artists who all get paid a percentage of every single CD sold, sounds a bit radical, but Rikk says "It may be radical in some peoples eyes, but one thing kept going through my mind, it's the artists that make the music, so why shouldn't they get a cut of the album sales ? All I am doing is offering fifteen incredible original indie artists and bands on one CD, I didn't make the music."
WP is offering, on demand, excellent music in the form of single digital downloads (MP3), full album downloads, and retail CD distribution. We also offer fans, customers and clients the ability to create custom CD mixes, all real-time and produced to be delivered as fast as possible. You get exactly and only what you want. And it's all good! WP artists are unique in the world of music. They all are passionate about what they do, and it shines through in their melodies, lyrics and the powerful, relevant messages in their music. Plus it's infectiously catchy, well produced and professional. What more can you ask for? Well, if you want more, please let us know! The site is still, and will be constantly developing as new music arrives and as artists complete their material. The online Community is open for forum discussions about the music, our artists, or the music business. It is our goal to be a constructive part of the growing, powerful independent artist and music movement of our generation.
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L.A./Orange
County's own, Rock, R&B and Funk band Olio, rocked the Hard Rock
Cafe to a standing crowd in January giving fans the excitement audiences
rarely find in today's music. Olio's performance was so riveting
that the band has been invited back to perform on the world famous
stage Friday March 12, 2004 at 10 P.M. The night's entertainment
will include Olio with special guest, The Dre Allen Project featuring
Dawn Robinson of En Vogue and Lucy Pearl.
Rikks
Revues founder Rikk Matheson had a dream one night, it may sound
cliche, but it really did happen. While trying to figure a way to
get some of the best independent music of 2003 out to the public,
Rikk surfed the internet, all the compilations found in two days
of surfing were asking the artists to PAY to get included. I know,
many companies and organizations say it is advertising for the artists,
but Rikk just couldn't get this thought out of his head, "the artists
are the one making the music, shouldn't they get compensated?" 
Wandering
Productions is proud to announce it's official opening of business
to everyone who loves music - and always needs more! We're an independent
Canadian label, starting out with several strong artists and hoping
to grow in the months and years to come.
