Name: Sarah
Bio: I was born and raised in Rancho Cucamonga, a little town east of Los Angeles. In my mid-twenties I moved to Houston, Texas with my family and have lived here for a little over 6 years now. I married my husband in March of this year and we have since started our family. If someone were to ask me what my dream job is, I would tell them that I would loved to someday be involved with the music supervision/music coordinator field. Life is a journey and I can't wait to see where my path will lead me!.
Posts by :
- Handle incoming music searches as well as custom music pulls for FTV clientele
- Actively work with Film/TV department to better service and grow the client database
- Stay up to date on music trends
- Create custom music for clients when applicable
- Work with Executive Producer to provide feedback and analysis as to what musical genre or style would be most useful for FTV clients and strengthen the library in future releases
- Identify and work to facilitate alternative methods of reaching out to the Film/TV clients i.e. mobile media, suggested playlists, etc…
- Attend local industry functions as necessary to represent FirstCom to the Film / TV and music industries
- Work with Film/TV department organizing and planning special events such as client mixers, FirstCom parties, and other social gatherings
It’s All About The Single Man….
March 13th, 2013
Prior to the digital age we had the age of cassette tapes and compact discs where the record labels reigned supreme. During this time the labels were in a position of power dictating the artist’s career and controlling how music sales were carried out. The only way a person could own a song they heard on the radio was purchase the album. I was a victim of the “single curse”, the simplest explanation of this curse is spending your hard-earned money to pay for an album because you liked a single but the rest of the album failed to impress you. You can see why the recording industry was making more money during this time.
It use to be that artists and labels worked together to make platinum or diamond status. Instead artists are keeping a closer eye on how each single performs and not how their album is doing. Some methods they use to track this information are: Billboard’s Top 100 Singles, SoundScan and iTunes top 10 singles. We as consumers have evolved a well. We went from paying too much for music, not paying anything at all, to paying less than dollar per song and now we have a choice to subscribe or not subscribe, either we have the ability to listen to an abundance of singles. This change in sales has shifted the balance of power from the music industry to the consumer.
One of the major influences for the shift of power and change of focus from albums to singles is technology and the way people use it. Most of us can be found at a computer or on our smart phone a good part of the day. This attachment to our technology has caused us to want to have our information and media delivered to us right away. Luckily we don’t have to wait technology knows what we want before we want it and has made it not only available but accessible from all sorts of avenues.
Technology and the music industry did not mix for a while. The industry fought hard and said no to the change because they knew it would have an everlasting effect on their revenue streams. Had they found ways to blend themselves into the changes they may not be taking such a hit. Unfortunately they have arrived at that revelation too late and continue to lose money in several aspects of their business.
First, the music industry has seen a huge decline in profits that have to do with recording music. If you have a computer and decent recording software you can record your next single out of your home rather than having a big production at the studio and spending tons of money in the process. Secondly, music has gone primarily digital and single driven which means less money for the labels in terms of distribution. Last but not least the industry has lost control over the way we access our music. Most of us use some sort of streaming music program or buy our music on iTunes and if we are in the mood to watch a music video we visit YouTube.
References:
http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/unbundling-the-album-a-business-case-for-releasing-single-so.html
http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2010/05/singles/
http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/59765
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8422710@N06/2164279407/
Interview With Dominique Preyer of Hear It Clear It Music Supervision
March 12th, 2013
The best way to learn is to do, but if that option isn’t available the next best thing is to learn from someone who is doing it. For the past several years my career goals have been focused on a particular position, music supervisor. Thanks to Kelland and the SoSoActive internship I had the perfect platform to be able to interview individuals who are working as music supervisors. Determined, I took full advantage of this opportunity and began contacting local and not so local music supervisors. They say there is strength in numbers so I sent out several emails knowing there was a possibility I might not hear back from any of them. To my surprise I received a response from Dominique Preyer, who runs Hear It Clear It music supervision out of Round Rock, TX. He was willing to take the time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions and I cannot thank him enough for his valuable insight. I personally will take his advice into consideration and will use it to advance in my career as a music supervisor. I hope those who are reading are just as inspired!
Interview:
Sarah: Is Hear It Clear It a one man operation?
Dominique: Yes. It’s just me.
Sarah: What is the hardest part about being a music supervisor?
Dominique: The hardest part is working with very small budgets when the filmmakers want expensive songs. The first thing is to help the filmmakers understand that their budget is too small for the songs they want. When they still want me to get a quote, I have to send a request form in that I know will get denied or I’ll receive a quote that is many times the amount of the entire music budget. The second hardest part is dealing with people who do not communicate well. Having to follow up many times over several months with no reply or call back is frustrating.
Sarah: What is your favorite part about being a music supervisor?
Dominique: Many times the director or producers already have songs in mind so I just have to clear the songs, negotiate the fees and deal with the licenses. That is a great part of the job but its best when I can pick the songs and then do all the admin too. When the film is finished and I get to watch the final cut, it makes all the hard work well worth it.
Sarah: What personality traits must you posses to be successful as a music supervisor?
Dominique: You must have a business mind and a creative mind. You must be able to multi-task, be organized, communicate well, constantly leaning more about the business (music & film), have a broad music taste, work well with others, have a tolerance for contract law (so you can draft and read license agreements, composer agreements, etc.)
Sarah: Do you have any advice for those looking to become a music supervisor? What level of education do you recommend? Do you recommend industry experience only? Or are there workshops you consider to be beneficial?
Dominique: Read as much as you can about music supervision. There are a lot of books about music supervision. Each book will give you a lot of information and fill in the gaps that other books leave out. There are a lot of recorded music supervisor panels that you can listen to have a chance to learn from the pros. There are workshops that are sponsored by NARIP, at film and music festivals, and some independent music supervisors have their own workshops. There’s a lot of information on the Internet but you’ll have to make sure you’re reading information that is accurate. There are some college courses available for the aspiring music supervisor as well but mostly in Los Angeles and New York. While doing all of this, you need to work on building up your music and film business relationships. They will become invaluable as your career progresses.
Sarah: Sifting through music submissions can be an overwhelming task, is there something that personally look for and or listen for in order to advance them to the next level?
Dominique: The song has to first be the right genre then tempo. I can tell as soon as the song starts if the genre and tempo is right. Next would be the lyrical content. If the song needs to be about a young girl in love with a young boy and the lyrics talk about a mom getting a divorce, it’s not going to work. If the scene is about a boy and the song is about a girl, it’s not going to work. Songs that are dead on the point don’t work most of the time. If the scene is about someone who just died, lyrics about death might not be appropriate. Lyrics that speak about how wonderful someone was might be more appropriate.
Sarah: How has the digital age changed your job?
Dominique: Yes it has. I work from home and I can music supervise a film anywhere in the world. With mobile devices, I do my work while on the road and if I need to, I can access my office computer from anywhere. This allows me to access my 2 TB and 160 MB hard drives where all of my files are.
Sarah: Do you still play music and write songs?
Dominique: I do not but I still have the urge. I do write down lyrics that come to mind. I have a huge box with lyrics going back to the mid 80′s. One day I would like to get a small home studio again and do more writing and recording.
Sarah: You have an impressive amount of projects you have worked on, do you have a favorite?
Dominique: I do have some that I really like. Right now I’m working on a film called “Good Night” which we are almost finished with. I’m also working on a musical short that I think is fantastic. I can’t wait for its release. “Angle Camouflaged” was another great movie because I have the opportunity to work with major artists such as The Marshall Tucker Band, Dilana, Patty Smithy and Kurtis Blow. Documentary “Trash Dance” was a great film too.
Sarah: I am also from Texas (Houston), I am curious to know if there is a “music supervision scene” here or does technology make your job possible so that living in LA or NY is not a requirement?
Dominique: I know there’s a film scene and music scene in Houston but I don’t know anyone that does music supervision. It doesn’t really matter though. You can work on a film anywhere. You just need to work on building your network of relationships.
Popped A Molly I’m Sweating: Music’s Strange Relationship With Drugs
March 8th, 2013
As an admirer of music I often ponder what the music industry would be like had we not lost some of its most promising musicians to drug or alcohol addictions. Some musicians have survived and are doing their best to hang on, among them are Toni Bennett and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day who both had highly publicized issues with substance abuse and have done one or several stents in rehab. Other musicians have not been so lucky and have died due to their addiction. This is not a new revelation by any means. In fact history continues to be on a repeat pattern.
Past figures:
Elvis Presley (1935-1977)-Drug of choice: anything and everything-ethinamate, methaqualone, codeine and various barbiturates
Billie Holiday (1915-1959)-Addicted to alcohol
Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970)-Drug of choice: barbiturates and addicted to alcohol
Janis Joplin (1943-1970)-Drug of choice: heroin
More recent tragedies:
Amy Winehouse (1983-2011)-Addicted to alcohol
Whitney Houston (1963-2012)-Drug of choice: cocaine, marijuana and a mixture of over the counter and prescription pills
Pimp C (1973-2007) -Drug of choice: promethazine and codeine
Dj Screw (1971-2000) -Drug of choice: promethazine and codeine
Old Dirty Bastard (1968-2004) -Drug of choice: cocaine
Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)-Drug of choice: heroin
Michael Jackson (1958-2009)-Drug of choice: anything and everything-propfol, lorazepam, diazepam and midazolam
Some may argue that drugs it was drugs that led them to create some of their biggest hits. I believe that in some cases in might have heightened the creativity level but at what price?
Songs inspired by drugs:
Hotel California- The Eagles
Under The Bridge- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Semi-Charmed Life- Third Eye Blind
Fire and Rain-James Taylor
Is it possible for Rock n Roll to be the same without the outlandish drug use and promiscuity?
These 3 sober musicians would argue that it’s not only the same but better!
Gene Simmons-KISS
Bruce Springsteen
Lupe Fiasco
Hayley Williams-Paramore
50 Cent
The question we must ask ourselves is what is causing these individuals to use? Could it be the environment, our celebrity obsessed society or the stressors we all face? The answer is all of the above, musicians are on the road constantly and are often socializing at parties and bars (environment), social media, reality TV and tabloids are giving us our celebrity fix (society) and when you are in the limelight mistakes will be highlighted (stressors).
Being famous gives you a pass to the underground world of drugs although you may not need this pass you can simply visit your local LA doctor’s office and pay them to keep your name and “prescriptions” on the DL. The “doc dealer” claimed the life of the King of the Pop, not to say he didn’t play a part in his own demise but the drugs were prescribed in excessive amounts because of who he was. Addiction is a hard habit to kick, once you are down that windy road you begin lying to the ones you love to save yourself from embarrassment or to keep those you love in the dark so they will not be disappointed in you. Lying will work for a while but eventually mistakes will be revealed, by that time a slip-up may have caused you your life and if you’re famous this is guaranteed to make the nightly news.
References:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/story/2012-03-24/Celebs-and-drugs/53740090/1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59937401@N07/6127240700/
http://voices.yahoo.com/15-most-popular-rock-songs-inspired-drugs-9118669.html
http://www.thefix.com/content/rockers-who-just-say-no-10071
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_drug-related_deaths
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain
Top 10 Music Merchandising Companies
February 28th, 2013Today’s music industry is all about branding. An artists music sales are taking a back burner and merchandising and endorsement deals are becoming more and more important. There is no shortage of merchandising companies, in fact there are several out there and they are eager to help you expand your brand. Why not try one of these merchandising companies listed below?
Creative Allies/Band Art- Don’t let your artistic talent and your admiration for a certain band go unnoticed. You can have your artwork featured on official band merchandise, all you have to do is enter the contests and let the judges decide on a winner.
Merch Direct- Looking for merch? Look no further than Merch Direct!
Music City Merchandise- All your merchandising needs in one convenient location.
Brothers Merchandising- Not your average merchandising company. This company takes pride in the fact that they are well versed in the world of marketing and licensing as well as merchandising.
BandMerch- There is a lot to be said about this merchandising company: founded by family, run by fans, serves the music community both on and off line, dedicated to giving quality over quantity and takes pride in the fact that they are socially responsible.
Bravado- Ranked one of the top merchandising companies in the industry.
TinMan- Will give you their undivided attention.
MerchNow- Up-to-date in terms of style, equipment and methods used to produce the merch. You can count on them because they are not only fast but they are dependable.
Zambooie- Focused on one particular genre of merchandise.
PRN Graphics- If you are looking for concert apparel this is the place.
Reference:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pahudson/6775961382/sizes/z/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cahuenga/4348387374/sizes/z/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/afunkydamsel/5613932919/sizes/z/in/photostream/
10 Women In The Music Industry That Command Your Attention
February 26th, 2013It may be to cliché or to reminiscent of the Spice Girls phrase to utter the words “girl power” in a sentence, so I will try and refrain from doing so. There is no denying the “power” that these 10 women posses. We are lucky as women to have had past generations fight for our right to be on an even playing field with men. Little did we know that future generations would surpass being even and instead strive for the top!
1. Lady Gaga- Forbes Magazine highlights this woman as one of the top earning females of 2012, bringing in just over 52 million dollars. Her brand is as much about music as it is about fashion.
2. Beyonce- The primary sponsor for this year’s Super Bowl Halftime show was Pepsi, Beyonce scored a pretty sweet endorsement deal with them since she was the performer. She considers herself to be one of the most powerful women in the industry.
3. Cathy Hughes-This woman is a role model for not only women in general but for young mothers and African American women. She became a mother at 16 and instead of letting that deter her from her dreams it made her follow them. She worked hard to achieve her goals which led her to run a top grossing company, Radio One.
4. Julie Greenwald- One of the most coveted roles in a record company is being the person who runs it. This woman does just that, she is the COO/chairman of Atlantic Records, one of the most recognized labels in the business.
5. Ethiopia Habtemariam- Holds two VP spots for two highly regarded music companies, Universal Music Publishing and Motown Records.
6. Madonna-According to Forbes Magazine after 30 years in the business the “material girl” still has something to sing about, including but not limited to her current side projects, endorsement deals and the royalties she continues to rake in from her many years working in this industry.
7. Britney Spears-If you thought you had seen the last of Britney Spears when she shaved her head and went slightly off the reservation for a while, think again! She is back and “Stronger” than ever.
8. Taylor Swift- Hard to believe that this girl began writing songs at such a young age. A lot has happened since country music debut her as an artist, the number one thing being that she no longer confined to one particular genre which enables her to sell quite a few records.
9. Tena Clark- This woman is one of the most sought after writers/producers in the industry. Not only has she worked with some pretty cool people she is also top dog at her company, DMI Music and Media Solutions.
10. Frances Preston- Frances may no longer be with us but she was definitely one powerful force in the music industry. Her credits include: being the first female executive in country music, president/CEO of BMI and she founded the Nashville sector of BMI.
Reference:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2012/12/12/the-top-earning-women-in-music-2012/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/catherine-hughes-radio-one_n_1798129.html
http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1082927/julie-greenwald
http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1082877/ethiopia-habtemariam
http://www.flickr.com/photos/frank_gallery_photos/6252716880/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buildabearworkshop/3312520554/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phlp/4801218067/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/be-ond/4535805909/
Q & A Session with Tim Bickford, Music Supervisor for Firstcom Music
February 25th, 2013
During the course of my music journalism internship with SoSoActive, Kelland asked that I conduct one or more interviews with someone who happens to work in my desired career field of music supervision. I reached out to a handful of companies and received a few responses back from people wanting to share their story with me. Among them was Tim Bickford, a music supervisor who works for Firstcom Music. I was inspired by his responses and hope to someday be able to fill shoes like his one day!
Tell us about yourself?
“I grew up in Hampton Bays on Long Island, started playing piano in the 1st grade, picked up the saxophone in 3rd grade, and began playing the guitar in high school. I attended Berklee College of Music in Boston majoring in Music Business and Management while continuing to study guitar. In my Senior Year, I landed a Film/TV internship with BMG Music Publishing in Los Angeles. Upon graduation, I was hired full-time by BMG to do copyright administration. After getting my fill of the copyright world, I transitioned over to FirstCom Music’s Film/TV department where I am currently the Los Angeles Music Supervisor.”
What brought you to FirstCom Music?
“Being able to make the move from copyright administration to Film/TV was a major draw. The chance to work with a catalog as deep as FirstCom’s and for a company as established in the industry as FirstCom was an opportunity I could not pass up.”
How long have you been working as a music supervisor?
“I’ve been working professionally in the music industry for over 7 years. I’ve been with FirstCom for over 5 years and have officially had the title of Music Supervisor for over 1 year.”
Have you had other jobs within the industry?
“I was Copyright Administrator for BMG Music Publishing for a year and a half. From there I served as the Film/TV Coordinator for FirstCom Music before being promoted to Music Supervisor.”
As a music supervisor, what do your day to day responsibilities consist of?
Here is a basic overview of my daily responsibilities:
What is the hardest part about being a music supervisor?
“Finding the right song for the scene. It’s like putting together a puzzle – it doesn’t feel right until you find the one piece that fits.”
FirstCom Music has a huge library, is there specific criteria that a band and or artist must possess in order to be added to this catalog? In other words, what are you looking for?
“Quality – It has to sound like it could be played on the radio today. Our clients expect top quality music from us and that is all we will consider putting our name on.”
What is your favorite part about being a music supervisor?
“Placing the perfect piece of music with the perfect piece of film. When you find that right track and everything clicks, it’s just such a satisfying feeling. I also love thinking outside of the box musically. If there isn’t a track in our library that exactly fits the bill, which elements can I resource and combine to get the job done?”
Do you have any advice for those looking to become a music supervisor? What level of education do you recommend? Industry experience and or workshops to be most beneficial?
“A college degree that is music intensive would be most beneficial in my opinion. I’ve found being a musician gives me much greater depth and understanding in my work. A lot of times clients are not musicians and are not musically inclined… having that knowledge allows me to interpret and make sense out of what they are trying to express. I try to listen to what the client is asking for in a big picture sense. It’s not only about determining what their requests are on the surface, it’s about digging deeper, recognizing how they need to go from point A to point B, and how I can help them get there. Aside from understanding the musical requirements, it is equally important to have knowledge of music licensing. As far as industry workshops or experience – get an internship in a field you would like to work in, that will serve you better than any workshop or seminar you could attend. The music industry is all about relationships. Establishing and building those connections is the most important thing you can do. An internship is the best way to jump start that process.”
How has the digital age changed your job?
“I can’t speak in too much depth about this question since I’ve primarily worked in the digital age. That being said, the farther we have gotten away from physical discs, the easier life has become to find and access music. Having our entire catalog available in a searchable database allows for faster and more accurate searching by clients and myself.”
30 Must See Must Play Music Festivals in North America
February 13th, 2013
Why see just one artist when a festival allows you to see multiple artists in the same genre or gives you a mix of all types of music? If you are an artist looking for a way to expand your fan base a festival is the way to go seeing as people of all ages, races and sexes will be in attendance.
Whether you are looking to go see or looking to go play a festival this list ought to have one or more choices that suit you!
| Name | Where | Genre | Month |
| Americana Music Festival | Nashville, TN | Americana | September |
| Austin City Limits Festival | Austin, TX | All Types | October |
| Austin Psych Fest | Austin, TX | Psychedelic | April |
| Bonnaroo | Manchester, TN | All Types | June |
| Bumbershoot | Seattle, WA | All Types | August-September |
| Buzzfest | Houston, TX | Alternative | October |
| Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival | Indio, CA | All Types | April |
| Edgefest | Dallas, TX | Alternative | April |
| Electric Daisy Carnival | Las, Vegas, NV | Dance/Electronic/House, Drum & Bass/Techno/Dubstep | June |
| Fun Fun Fun Fest | Austin, TX | Punk/Hardcore/Indie Rock/Hip-Hop/DJ | November |
| Governers Ball Music Festival | Randall’s Island, NYC | Indie Rock/Alternative/Hip-Hop/Electronica | June |
| KROQ Wennieroast | Irvine, CA | Alternative/Heavy Metal/Punk/Reggae/Ska | May |
| Lighting In A Bottle Music Festival | Temecula, CA | Dance/Folk/Devotional | July |
| Lollapalooza | Chicago, IL | All Types | August |
| Moogfest | Asheville, NC | Electronic Music | October |
| Musikfest | Bethlehem, PA | All Types | August |
| Nocturnal Wonderland | Rockdale, TX | Dance/Electronic/House, Drum & Bass/Techno/Dubstep | April |
| NoisePop Music Festival | San Fransisco, CA | Hip-Hop/Rap/Pop/Punk/Singer-Songwriter/Rock | February-March |
| Outside Lands | San Fransisco, CA | All Types | August |
| Sasquatch Music Festival | The Gorge, WA | Indie Rock/Singer-Songwriter/Electornica/Alternative | May |
| Snowball Music Festival | Vail, CO | All Types | March |
| Stagecoach | Indio, CA | Country | April |
| Summerfest | Milwaukee, WI | All Types | June-July |
| SXSW | Austin, TX | All Types | March |
| The Bamboozle | Asbury Park, NJ | All Types | May |
| Ultra Music Festival | Miami, FL | Electronic Music | March |
| Virgin Mobile Free Fest | Columbia, MD | Rock/Pop | October |
| Voodoo Music Experience | New Orleans, LA | All Types | November |
| Warped Tour | Various Locations | Punk/Hardcore/Alternative/Reggae/Hip-Hop/Pop/Metal | Various Dates |
Resources:
http://hempfestival.org/pages/music-festival-list-2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_festivals_in_the_United_States#Music_festivals
http://www.thespacelab.tv/spaceLAB/theSHOW/Spacelab-Music-Festivals-USA.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevehopson/5055536207/
25 Social Media Resources For Musicians
February 13th, 2013
Social Media Resources For Musicians - At this point in time our society at large must have the “news” the instant it happens. With the evolution of social media this instant gratification is not only possible but prevalent. There are several forums available to the consumer at large the choice is all based on your wants, needs and who you are trying to reach.
You may be looking to use a particular type of medium to get your story across or perhaps you’d rather not be limited to 140 characters to say what you have to say. The social media phenomenon has had a profound effect on how businesses run. This change is most noticeable in the music industry where the record label role has drastically changed. They are no longer the middle man between the artists and their fans because the creation of music related social media sites enabled them to communicate directly.
Sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace bring people together, where sites like Spotify, LastFM and 8 tracks allow you to listen to your favorite band or artist free of charge.
Blog sites are considered to be another form of social media because they offer perspective on what others might be thinking about the topics you are interested in. Technology and social media have also altered they way in which music is created. You can now connect with others online and upload your tracks to a website where other artists can pair them with theirs and “tada” a song is made. Marketing is another area of focus in music social media which is why sites like Reverbnation, Fanbridge and Ourwave are popular.
If you think you have seen it all when it comes to social media, think again there are new and better forums on the horizon!
Connect With People
MySpace- Artists and or bands can link up with people in the industry or with people who love their music. This particular format allows the artist/band to post photos, upload their songs and keep all who are interested informed about upcoming shows.
Facebook- Whether you are a business, band or person Facebook has the formula to get you noticed. Fans can “like” their favorite band or artist which facilitates communication between the two whether it’s through messages or wall posts.
Twitter- You have 140 characters to tell the world what you’re about, what is on your mind or where your next show is going to be
Tumblr- Express yourself using your words, a picture, a video or your favorite quote
Twitmusic- An extension of Twitter specifically geared towards musical acts
MP3.com- discovering new music and bring people together who share an appreciation for this music
Connect To Music
Spotify- Personalize your page, create playlists, and decide whether you want to listen to the playlist you have created or choose from the playlists your friends have created
Last.fm- Expand your listening horizons when it comes to music, Last.fm will introduce you to an artist and recommend another 5+ artists in the same group that you might enjoy, review the artist or band via post or chat
MOG- Listen to music, organize your music and discuss how you feel about this music with other fans
8tracks- 8 tracks dares you to tell us what kind of mood you’re in using only 8 tracks.
Connect Using Other Mediums
YouTube- Share videos
SoundCloud- Share sounds
Instagram- Share pictures
Find Your Market
Reverbnation- A place where artists can communicate with other artists, talk with people in the industry and further their career using the tools provided.
OurStage- Share and promote music while networking with fans, other bands and people in the industry
OurWave- Each band and or artist gets their 15 minutes of fame with OurWave, they are able to use this site as a promotion tool by posting their music and announce upcoming shows
Fanbridge- Mailing list that connects bands with their fans and even offers them deals for being members
Artists.MTV- Want to know more about a specific artist? MTV has a database full of information, videos and pictures just waiting for you to view
Eventful- If you have an event, post it here and people will find you
Create Music
Kompoz- Team up with other musicians both on and offline
Dopetracks- Hip-Hop/Rap based forum where atrists can join forces musically
Write About It
Hypebot- Instant music “news” at your fingertips
SoSoActive- What’s hot in the digital age is what SoSo is all about
Hypem.com- All your music blogs in one convenient location
A New Band A Day- The title says it all
Resources:
http://mic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/100-Social-Media-Resources-for-Musicians.pdf
http://mashable.com/2010/01/04/social-media-tools-bands/
http://www.techhive.com/article/2010615/music-social-networks-that-work.html
http://social-networking.findthebest.com/d/b/Music
http://top10listblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/top-ten-places-for-musicians-to-promote.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/84372766@N05/7877083634/
10 Must Know Facts About Destiny’s Child
February 5th, 2013
Facts About Destiny’s Child – The R&B genre of the 90’s was all about the girl groups. Destiny’s Child is among the select few that have maintained their fame well into this decade. Their journey has not been without struggles but somehow they have managed to rise above. They performed together as a trio for several years. After much success, they took a hiatus to pursue solo projects and personal endeavors. The time apart made them realize they would love to work on music together once again, their reunion happens early in 2013.
1. Back In The Day
The original lineup was put together back in 1990.
2. Lone Star State
Beyoncé and the original members called Houston home.
3. The Old Testament
Matthew Knowles, Beyoncé father is responsible for naming the band Destiny’s Child, this term comes from a passage in the Book of Isaiah.
4. To Be Named Later
The original 4 members of Destiny’s Child went by the name, Girl’s Tyme when they started.
5. Sell, Sell, Sell
The girls have performed together off and on for the last 13 years. During this time they have sold more than 50 million records.
6. Now
The “surviving” members of Destiny’s Child are: Michelle, Beyoncé and Kelly
7. Asked To Leave
Before there was Kelly and Michelle there was Farrah, Letoya and LaTavia. These three girls were in the band at different stages but were fired due to in differences with Matthew Knowles who was the band’s manager.
8. Among The Stars
In 2006 the band was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
9. Before Idol
In 1992, the girls were still going by the name Girl’s Tyme. After practicing day in and day out they decided they were ready to show the world what kind of talent they possessed. They performed on the talent competition Star Search, but went on to lose in their category.
10. Where Do We Belong?
The girls started as a rap group but soon realized that the R&B genre better suited them.
A Crowdsourced Interview With Justin Timberlake
February 4th, 2013
I lit up when I was asked to write an article about Justin Timberlake. He has been in the public eye for a few decades now and I took notice early on. I was in awe of his musical talent and naturally I was and still this day am crushing on his good looks. If you thought he was a passing fad you’d be sorely mistaken. His star is shining brighter than ever.
He has long since erased the stigma attached with being a member of a boy band. Even guys can say they have a new found respect for the talent this guy has, my husband is among his admirers, he states “he can sing, dance, act and damn is he funny”. Justin Timberlake was meant to be on stage, he began performing as a young child and spent his preteens and early teenage years acting, singing and dancing in those infamous mouse ears. The next few years were spent in NSYNC where he perfected his craft and eventually decided to break out on his own. Embarking on a solo career was a smart decision on his part he has been extremely successful.
Justin Timberlake is now a young man, he recently married Jessica Beil, has become a budding entrepreneur while pursuing acting roles all while still doing his thing musically. If I seem to be out of breath in that last sentence it’s because Justin Timberlake is a busy man these days.
What other people have to say about Justin:
People’s Chuck Arnold reviews Justin’s new single, Suit and Tie:
“Although the track once again finds Timberlake collaborating with producer Timbaland, it represents a sonic departure from previous hits like “Cry Me a River,” “My Love” and “What Goes Around … Comes Around””
Chris Michaud of Reuters reports that the new Justin Timberlake album is on its way:
“The 20/20 Experience, the former N’Sync boy band member’s follow-up to 2006′s “FutureSex/LoveSounds” and only his third album ever, would be released on March 19.”
Before the kickoff happens at this years’ Super Bowl Justin would like to show you how he intends to celebrate, Alex Rawls of Rolling Stone describes the scene at the Justin Timberlake’s Pre Super Bowl party:
“The show itself – presented Timberlake as somebody so comfortable with his art that he doesn’t have to take himself too seriously…On Super Bowl weekend, he danced with a bouncy grace that was all his own, but he could also play it old school and be assured the audience was with him.”
Justin has become the king of side projects these days. One of his many business ventures includes the recent purchase of the flailing website MySpace. Over the past year he has made some tweaks an implemented some changes in attempt to target a different audience and keep those who have remained loyal. Jason Notte of MSN tells us what the Justin Timberlake MySpace is all about:
“Visitors can now find new music in the Discover section, which right now features a lot of JT but also includes trending items like artists, users, videos and a music-specific section with new albums, artists, and recommended musicians. There’s also streaming radio with artist and genre stations similar to Spotify or Pandora — without the commercials. They key addition, however, is the mixes section that revives mixed tapes and cribs yet another Spotify feature by letting users swap playlists.”
Justin, in his own words:
Was the wedding everything you and your now wife, Jessica Beil envisioned?
“To hear all of our family and friends cheering at extremely loud, inappropriate decibel levels, that became the pinnacle of the ceremony,” Timberlake gushed. “It felt perfect. It felt like everything came together.”
Huffington Post-Justin Timberlake’s Wedding Song: Singer Says “Grown Men Cried” As He Sang Beil Down The Aisle
Tell us about your days with ‘Nsync?
“Everything that we did was based around a cappella harmonies. That’s what we wanted to be in the beginning — an a cappella group. So that is why we put five guys in the group. When we were forming the group, there wasn’t a boy-band phenomenon….I don’t think we thought it was going to be as big as it became.”
-NPR, Timberlake On ‘Nsync, Acting And Bringing Sexy Back
Some would say you’re a natural at making people laugh, were did the funny bone come from?
“I’ve always thought that there was humor everywhere. As a kid, I grew up an only child, and nothing made me happier than to make my parents laugh. … I had a Jackson 5 wig that I would wear around, and I would do the dances from the Jackson 5, and my mother thought that was hysterical. Of course, that seed got planted very early, the physicality of comedy. When I was a kid, I would impersonate anything that I would hear.”
-NPR, Timberlake On ‘Nsync, Acting And Bringing Sexy Back
What made you decide to pursue acting? Now that you are an established actor is there a process involved with choosing your roles?
“I’ve always admired the art of acting, and it’s no secret that I was trained as a very young kid on a television show with other extremely talented actors and singers. On top of that, I’m also extremely aware of the perception of me as an artist. I think that’s why I made the choices that I made for myself. That’s why I chose the smaller films that I’ve done. I thought that I’d rather have the experience of the process from people who are really respected and admired, and characters that I can really dive into, rather than cash in, so to speak. I’m not really interested in that. Having an experience like this, working with actors that I admire and respect, and obviously one of my favorite directors of all time, it’s a very humbling experience. It’s been something that I’ve always dreamed of.”
-Jeanne Wolf, Justin Timberlake on Acting and Music: “I’m Equally Insecure About All of It”-Interview
References:
http://www.parade.com/celebrity/celebrity-parade/2010/0928-justin-timberlake-the-social-network.html
http://www.npr.org/2010/10/06/130356030/timberlake-on-n-sync-acting-and-bringing-sexy-back
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/justin-timberlakes-wedding-song-grown-men-cried-jessica-biel_n_2039411.html
http://money.msn.com/now/post.aspx?post=f41625c6-1ae7-43d6-8892-5f799ce96234
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/justin-timberlake-pulls-off-an-easy-comeback-in-new-orleans-20130203
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/29/entertainment-us-justintimberlake-idUSBRE90S0ZN20130129
