November 2010 Issue of the Direct Buzz by AirPlay Direct

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals Polishing the Brass Ring Mark Wills “Looking For America”

Musicians On Call Punmaster’s MusicWire It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Featured Artists & Reviews | ADP Global Radio Indicator Charts™ Americana Music Charts | European HotDisc Charts | Christian Music Weekly

November 2010

4 The Writers Round

Mark Wills’ new song “Looking For America” reminds us that we can be great…again.

5 NOW MEDIA: Should “Open” Content on the Web be the Way Forward?

6 Cover Story

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals have been together for seven years releasing albums and relentlessly touring the festival and jam-band circuit. With a new hit album, massive media exposure, and a lot of hard work, this rock ‘n’ roll band is on the verge of a national breakout. We join lead singer and force-of-nature dynamic front woman, Potter, to hear all about how they have done it - on their terms.

15 Behind the Desk

Brian Felsen is the President of CD Baby, the world’s largest online distributor of independent music. His company leads the charge of rising independent artists in the global music marketplace. An artist himself, Felsen is a champion of personal and artistic expression, and re-defines the term “executive” at a time when out-ofthe-box is the new business model.

25 THE INDIE WAY: Rock Your Online Press Kit 27 BEYOND THE SONG

Musicians On Call is a wonderful charity that brings live music to the bedsides of patients in hospitals. Learn how you can help.

34 APD GLOBAL RADIO INDICATOR CHARTS™ 46 AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION CHARTS 49 EUROPEAN HOTDISC CHARTS 53 CHRISTIAN MUSIC WEEKLY ---------------------------------------------------------------PUBLISHER & FOUNDER: Robert Weingartz EDITOR: Clif Doyal DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS: Scott Welch DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING: Shelly Korolewicz CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Clif Doyal, Mike Hagler, Jr, Paul Clifford, Susan Fischer, Spanky Brown, Jessica Stiles, Ariel Hyatt & David Gross ART DIRECTION: Aleven Creatives (aleven.com) COVER PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: Adrien Broom

FROM THE PUBLISHER Welcome to the November edition of the Direct Buzz! Our cover feature story this month is Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. If you haven’t heard of this band yet, you will soon. With massive exposure on VH1, songs in Disney films and a new duet with superstar, Kenny Chesney, Grace Potter is exploding everywhere. We shine a light on the new Mark Wills song, “Looking For America,” in our “Writers Round. With all the talk lately about “red” and “blue” states, songwriter Bernie Nelson reminds us that we should all unite as “red, white and blue” states and take personal responsibility for the destiny of our great country. We get “Behind the Desk” with Brian Felsen, the creative and innovative President of CD Baby, the world’s largest online distributor of independent music. As the old music business models fade into history and the Internet continues to democratize the landscape for DIY artists, Felson’s company leads the charge of rising independent artists in the global music marketplace. Music is the universal language. It triggers powerful emotions and its healing properties are well-documented. Music has been proven to lower blood pressure and reduce depression and anxiety in hospitalized patients. This concept has been embraced by a wonderful charity named Musicians On Call. Learn more about them in “Beyond The Song.” Punmaster’s MusicWire, “the hardest working newsletter in show business” debuts with all of the latest happenings in the world of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Publicity maven, Ariel Hyatt teaches artists how to build a winning online press kit in “The Indie Way.” And comedian Spanky Brown reminds us how weird and wild our pop culture stars really can be. Enjoy! And keep it creative.

Robert Weingartz Founder & CEO, AirPlay Direct Founder & Publisher, the Direct Buzz

THE WRITERS ROUND

A Songwriter Profile by Clif Doyal

“Looking For America” Bernie Nelson, Philip Douglas and Jeremy Bussey AirplayDirect.com/MarkWills

hen award-winning country singer Mark Wills casually agreed to listen to a new song at the Country Radio Seminar (CRS) last February in Nashville he probably had no idea of what he was getting himself into. It wasn’t long before Wills found himself in the studio cutting the song that some are calling a new song for our time, “Looking For America.” “After I heard the demo, I knew that this song reflected all the things I have been thinking about my country,” says Wills. “It is time for all of us to take responsibility for getting America back on track.” By the time publisher Mitzi Matlock got the demo of “Looking for America” to Mark Wills, the song had already tested positive with different demographics all around the nation. Eventually Matlock decided her company, Mitzi Matlock Music/MM Publishing, would release the song - she then went straight to producer Phil O’Donnell to produce the track. Written by Music Row veterans Bernie Nelson, Philip Douglas and newcomer Jeremy Bussey, “Looking for America” is a powerful musical statement which found a perfect home in Wills’ power house vocals. “Looking For America” harkens back to a simpler time when America was united as a country and takes an honest look at where we are today, and what we as U.S. citizens - not the politicians - need do to get the country back

on track. It reminds us that freedom is not free. With themes of unemployment, concerns for the safety of our children, and the need to return to a more spiritual way of living, “Looking For America” is sure to touch hearts of citizens everywhere. “Looking For America” is sponsored by Diamond Gusset Jeans (the country’s only American made jeans company) who have created “Looking For America” tee-shirts. A portion of the proceeds from all sales of “Looking for America” will go to fund Operation Troop Aid (OTA). Their mission is to provide care packages for our deployed U.S. military service members. OTA Founder and CEO Mark Woods states of his involvement with the project: ‘“It’s and absolute honor. The men and women who serve us are American heroes. If you are “Looking For America,” you need look no further than them. Their honor, courage and commitment are the backbone of our country.” The “Writers Round” had a chance recently to sit down with co-writer Bernie Nelson to talk about the song - and what he hopes it will accomplish. Writers Round: What inspired you to write “Looking For America” Bernie Nelson: I had an idea about this song long before the whole political race with Obama, McCain and Pal-

in and all of that happened. I was seeing things disappear - like our freedom that we have taken for granted. The freedom to say God’s name out loud; there is nothing in the constitution that says we can’t say the pledge of allegiance in school. But because a minority of people spoke louder, it can’t be said in some places. When we were kids me and my brother could ride our bikes all around town and my mom never worried about us. Now you can’t do that. I threw the idea to a couple of different people, but when we all sat down that day, we agreed to write this and

bring awareness about this. I don’t want to be a chest beater, but maybe that’s what I need to be. Most people don’t want to make waves. I am blessed to be born in the U.S. It’s not a Republican or a Democrat song. We have to have people in power that need to understand that we are close to the edge of losing what we have. [As a society] we are more concerned with selling newspapers and Budweiser. Media is bought and paid for by stirring things up. We don’t need anymore newspapers blowing up how divided we are. WR: The song harkens back to a simpler time in our country. Did you grow up in a rural area? Nelson: I grew up in the country - pickup trucks, sugar beet trucks, farmers. The farmers might not have had all of the coolest clothes, but when it came to Saturday night, they usually had the most money in their pockets. WR: What do you hope this song will accomplish? Nelson: I think it is going to be a special “event song.” We are so focused on “red” and “blue” states when we should all be “red, white and blue” states. Not to be grand here, but I hope it will stand out like “Okie From Muskogee,” or “This Land Is Your Land.” I hope it makes people talk and think. We are talking about a coffee table book called “Show Us Your America.” People are proud of where they live. I want people to come to us on Facebook and tell us that they still do cakewalks and Friday night bingo. We also want people to support our men and women in the military. They are the real heroes that make sure we get to drive a new car if we want to. Follow updates on “Looking For America” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lookingforamerica and www.lookingforamerica.us. For more information about OTA please visit www.operationtroopaid. com.

By: Mike Hagler, Jr.

Open Content on the Web

ou often hear about videos going “viral.” The web makes it very easy to access, share and distribute content and gain fans faster than ever before. So, who does it right and who does it wrong? Is there a “wrong” way to share content? Should content on the web be “open?” For many music and web lovers, one band sticks out at the forefront of great viral videos, OK Go. As a band that was signed to a major label for years, they had a loyal fan base, but music sales were not great. The band had a great idea to create these simple music videos and throw them on their YouTube channel. Soon, everyone on the web was talking about the “treadmill” video. This video was a huge hit! Fans added it to their websites. The popular site, CollegeHumor.com, added it to their videos, and OK Go found a new audience! Fast-forward a few years and then their label added a new video to their YouTube, but blocked the sharing and embedding ability. This kept fans from being able to show others the video except by directing them to the YouTube page. While the label thought this was the better way to go, the band realized that restricting access to the content hinders its ability to go viral. They parted ways with their label soon thereafter. Interestingly enough, Ticketmaster seems to be encouraging sharing videos on the web that labels, publishing companies or other representatives of an act may flag with takedown notices. I recently went to see Roger Waters on his “The Wall 2010” tour and everyone was taking pictures and video on their

phones. What usually happens to these videos? They end up on YouTube. Now, while this can be considered copyright infringement to upload this without permission to your channel, there is more leniency now than ever with this type of recording. Think back 35 years when it was unheard of for a band to allow any type of recording at a concert, except the Grateful Dead, of course. Ticketmaster asked me recently to review my show. Upon completing the process, I noticed a box that asked me to add a URL if I had video that I could add to the review! How awesome is that?! Though, if you really think about it, some who may have been on the fence about grabbing a ticket may see the footage and decide to go. That is, if someone doesn’t send a takedown notice. It is not just the music industry that has a hard time realizing that restricting YouTube is exactly the opposite purpose of adding that content. The television companies are also restricting certain devices. Google recently unveiled new software, Google TV that is currently available in a Sony TV, Bluray player and a Logitech box. While anyone with a PC can access shows on the websites of ABC, CBS and NBC, Google TV is blocked from viewing this content. If you want to put content up online, why restrict how you access that online content? Does it really matter whether they view the content on a Google TV versus an iPad or a web browser on a computer? For all those that want a chance to be noticed, unlock your content. And, after you have your successes, remember to keep it unlocked to continue to inspire others and gain new fans.

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals Polishing the Brass Ring

By: Clif Doyal

AirPlayDirect.com/GracePotter

f you think rock ‘n’ roll is dead – you haven’t seen or heard Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. They have been referred to as “a modern-day version of Tina Turner stroking the microphone and wearing a spangled mini-dress while fronting the Rolling Stones, circa Sticky Fingers.” That is a good description and Grace and the gang wear it well; with equal parts swagger, sexy attitude and raw talent. Although they initially made a name for themselves as a self-sufficient touring unit on the jam-band circuit, the group’s sound is deeply rooted in the golden age of rock ’n’ roll - they cite Little Feat and J.J. Cale as huge influences - and there is no denying the Southern blues, gospel and swamp rock that infuses their music.

Photo by: Adrien Broom

Born in the fire of years of countless live performances that would have worn most acts down, Grace and her band are on the verge of seeing all of their hard work pay off. Rolling Stone has declared them to be one of the “Best New Bands of 2010.” And with recent appearances on Good Morning America, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen, and Jimmy Kimmel Live, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals have - after seven years- finally arrived. Their persistence - and desire to make it against all odds - makes them an excellent case study for DIY success. During the month of November, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals will see the media frenzy around them amped up even further. VH1 will showcase the band in their You Oughta Know Artists on the Rise

series. They join an impressive list of artists that have recently been highlighted in the show, including Bruno Mars and Mumford & Sons. The highly acclaimed franchise has helped propel the careers of acts such as Amy Winehouse, Feist, and Duffy, to name a few. And, if that wasn’t enough to turn up the heat, Potter and the band have just been added to the star-studded lineup of The USO Presents VH1 Divas Salute The Troops scheduled to air on Sunday, December 5 At 9:00 PM ET/PT. Hosted by Grammy® nominated performer, Kathy Griffin, the show will include Sugarland, Katy Perry, Paramore and others. Film music supervisors and other artists have also taken notice. Disney snagged Potter’s “Something That I Want” for the end title song

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and soundtrack of their new film, Tangled. The band’s cover of the Jefferson Airplane psychedelic classic, “White Rabbit,” landed on the soundtrack for Tim Burton’s 3D film, Alice In Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp. And Potter herself – a true genre bending force-of-nature – duets with Country superstar Kenny Chesney on the song “You And Tequila” on his latest album, Hemingway’s Whiskey. At the heart of all of the hoopla, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals remain a band - in every true sense of the word. When it’s time to hit the stage, to stand and deliver, they rise to the task, big-time. Potter, a native of Vermont, developed a love for singing early in her life. She became interested in playing piano, and with no formal lessons she became proficient on the instrument. She also learned how to play Hammond B-3 organ, acoustic and electric guitars. She met drummer Matt Burr in 2002 when they were both students at St. Lawrence University. The soon-to-be bandmates and soulmates formed their bond while listening to music by The Band, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan. They began to make music together and Burr, along with lead guitarist Scott Tournet, joined Potter in the studio for her first solo effort, Original Soul, self-released in 2004. Shortly after that, the threesome decided to form a band together and the Nocturnals were born. They self-released the critically-acclaimed Nothing But The Water in 2005 which stirred a spate of major label interest in the band and they eventually signed with Hollywood

Photo by: Adrien Broom

Records, releasing This Is Somewhere in 2007. The fuse to the explosion of their current popularity was sparked earlier this year when Grace Potter & the Nocturnals hit new artistic heights with the release of their self-titled album. This event set the wheels in motion for the band to grab the brass ring that would take them to another level. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Rock Albums chart, and No. 6 on the Tastemakers chart. The album was produced by Mark Batson (Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay-Z, Dave Matthews Band), who also co-wrote six of the thirteen songs with Potter. It introduces the band’s new five-piece powerhouse configuration, in which Potter, Tournet and Burr are joined by new members, bassist Catherine Popper (Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Hem), and rhythm guitarist Benny Yurco. With the smoking, hard rocking sexuality of songs like

“Paris (Ooh La La)” and “Medicine” to the melancholy optimism of “Tiny Light” and the heart-tugging symbolism of the ballad, “Colors,” Grace Potter & the Nocturnals have reconfirmed that if you make great music, it will rise to the top. the Direct Buzz was lucky enough to catch up with Potter several times recently – while she was on tour in Philadelphia; at the closing night of her current tour in Nashville; and post-tour at her home in Vermont. We learned that she is a very selfassured and confident young woman who knows what she wants, and isn’t afraid to go after it. Not only is she very approachable, she is articulate, funny, and a great interview. the Direct Buzz (tDB): Tell us a little about your early life and your family. Grace Potter (GP): I grew up in Vermont and I still live where I was raised. I converted my father’s sign shop into my own private house.

“My dreams were always supported by my parents. They never said ‘no’ to me. ”

Vermont is such a part of who we are – and who I am. My dreams were always supported by my parents. A lot of parents want their children to have a fall back plan and for me that was always music. I wanted be a screen writer and set designer and I studied that in college, but music was my safety net, my “fall back.” We are all creative. My younger brother is a poet and my older sister got her Masters from Rhode Island School of Design. She creates beautiful designs in glass. tDB: It is great that your parents were there to encourage your talent. It is so important. GP: They never said “no” to me. They never made me take piano lessons and I never had vocal lessons. It was always very natural. There was no pressure. tDB: How did you first become interested in music? (GP): Listening to my parents’ record collection. tDB: Who were some of the artists that inspired you when you were younger? GP: Singer-songwriters like Neil Young, Bob Dylan Joni Mitchell and Donovan. And Blues stuff. Spooky Tooth, Jethro Tull and The Band. Later on, it was the Flaming Lips, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Alice In Chains and Alanis Morissette. tDB: Talk about your songwriting. GP: As a songwriter, I always wanted to do something different. Early on, I would write and write, and I would throw things away thinking they were not good enough. I was very shy about sharing my songs with anyone. I wouldn’t share them with my parents. I mean, when

Photo by: Adrien Broom

you’re 15 you don’t want to share a love song with your mom and dad! tDB: You released two albums independently prior to signing with Hollywood Records making your band a real DIY success story. Was that always your goal? GP: Absolutely! It is the Vermont way! I always knew what I wanted as a singer, writer and performer, and my career has taken a lot of unexpected twists and turns to get to where I am. But I wanted it with every bone in my body. In the beginning, the whole band was living together. Everything was overly democratic – to the point of even

divvying up the cost of pizza. Our first band record, Nothing But The Water, was an amazing record and we knew that we really had something special. It was recorded in a barn where we stayed for a week. We poured our whole life blood in it. We had no manager, or anything but suddenly labels started calling and coming to see us play. tDB: The band has a real “Southern” feel to it, with Soul, Rock and Blues influences. Since you are from Vermont, how did that happen? GP: I think we are an “undercover” country band! We naturally fall into that Country, Blues and Rocka-

“My career has taken a lot of unexpected twists and turns to get to where I am. But I wanted it with every bone in my body.”

“At our core, we are just a bunch of crazy rock ‘n’ rollers!”

Video courtesy of Hollywood Records

billy sound. We can’t slide out of it –it just comes naturally. I credit my label for not muscling out anyone in the band. It’s all about the band. I could break off and do a solo thing, but it would not have the depth and purpose of the band. tDB: Talk about the experience of making your new album with producer, Mark Batson. GP: Mark is like the fluid in the darkroom. He’s like Ansel Adams. He bound us together like we never had been. He is so great because he’s never critical. He gets to the core of what is good and then amplifies it. He had seen us perform live and he was hip to the whole scene. He knew that we perform better to an audience so he brought a harem of women into the studio who were all creative types: singers, songwriters, and performers. They would be getting into the music and dancing around, and that would inspire us. He even brought in a belly dancer with a python! tDB: That sounds like an interesting approach to producing. GP: It brought out the best in

everyone! It really is not all about Grace Potter. We are a family. At our core, we are just a bunch of crazy rock ‘n’ rollers! tDB: Talk about your latest single, “Paris (Ooh La La)” GP: I wrote the song 3 ½ years ago when I got a Flying V [guitar] for my birthday. On the way home that night, I heard the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” Even though the lyrics don’t say much – it is the simplicity of the chords and it has a really great vocal hook. I wanted “Paris” to have that same sort of simple driven sexuality. I remember sitting in our studio/bedroom and I was fucking around with it and I just knew it was a hit. But I think that everything I write is a hit! I turned it into the label, and I wanted to add it to our last album This Is Somewhere. The label didn’t want to put it on there because it was just too hard and thrashy. But I knew it needed to be heard by lots of people. I knew it was the one. I always knew this song would put us over the top and so I was persistent! We played it at Joe’s Pub one night

for our label and they told me: “If you can get it right in the studio – and play it like you just did – we will put it out.” We cut it 7 times, but we could never get it right. So, we just kept refining the song until [it became] the version that you hear now. We have been playing it for several years in our live show, so a lot of our fans already knew the words when it came out on this record. It’s British Invasion. It’s swamp Rock. At the core it’s about throbbing sexuality. It is so sexy, especially the sweetness of the vocals in the background. I am really proud of it. It’s about a woman with “blue balls.” You know, women want it, too! tDB: Your song “Medicine” is also a real crowd-pleaser. Tell us about it. GP: Basically, it’s got all of the different pieces of who we are as a band. It’s sexy – and it’s pure rock ‘n’ roll. It’s one of my favorite songs to perform live! tDB: You co-wrote it with Matt and Scott from your band, correct? GP: Yes, Matt and Scott wrote most of the music and the hook. Matt pummeled the drums in a real “tribal” fashion and Scott came up with this really cool guitar hook. That whole feel inspired the song, and I love the way it goes to the minor chord. Plus it’s kinda got a little bit of a Latin feel. It took me awhile to create the lyrics, because the hook was so good. They [the lyrics] came to me in the bathtub. So, here I am, it’s all steamy and wet, and the idea came to me all at once. I just grabbed my laptop and started typing right there – not very safe, huh?! I spent a lot of time on the verses and messed around with it for a couple months. I wanted it be like the movie, Edward Scissorhands, where he came into town and everyone really was impressed with him, but eventually they turned

on him. So in the song, this mysterious, seductive woman comes into town and casts a spell on everyone. I kept coming back to the idea of calling her “gypsy woman,” but that had been used so many times. “Policy woman” just came out of my not wanting to say “gypsy.” The policy wheel is basically Murphy’s Law of gambling. You only have a 50% chance of winning. This woman was a gambler, dark and evil with all of her toys and trinkets. She stole other women’s men until this married and settled down woman goes up against her and wins her man back. tDB: The last night of your tour at the Exit/ In, in Nashville on Halloween, everyone was caught off guard with the announcement that you were not going to perform due to getting some “bad food” for dinner. Then you surprised everyone by coming onstage as the “Nashville Country All-Stars,” dressed up as Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Billy Ray Cyrus and Patsy Cline! GP: That was a total riot. Everybody believed it! We had three different Halloween shows and we needed three different costumes. Since it was the last night of the tour, we wanted to give the crowd a special show. So, we focused in on what Nashville means to us, and we decided that we would portray different Country artists. We were nervous about coming to Nashville and playing Country stars. We didn’t want it to come off as disrespectful. We wanted it to be a tribute, and at the same time have fun with it! I always wanted to play Dolly Parton. Scotty decided to be Waylon and Benny wanted to be Willie. Catherine played a great Patsy Cline, and Matt nailed Billy Ray Cyrus. He always wanted to wear a mullet! I was happy to have an excuse to have the band sing and so everyone picked a song to perform

Photo by: Adrien Broom

by their artist. I have always wanted to sing “Jolene” and I had never sung it before. Mindy Smith sang it with Dolly a few years ago, and that kinda ruined it for me to have the chance to cut it with Dolly. It is such a monumental song. tDB: You really involved your fans in your show. On Halloween, under the guise of embarrassing a young couple for not wearing costumes you brought them onstage and the man got down on his knees and proposed to the shocked girl (she accepted). How did that happen? GP: I take song requests through the social networks, so we knew it was coming and we agreed to help him with his plan! We dedicated the song “Take My Breath Away” to them. It was really a cool thing. Being very active with Twitter and social networking has changed the way that I can interact with the fans. It’s made me care more. There is a real face to each fan. When you play live, and visit with them in the autograph line, you have to open yourselves up. If you don’t then you

are a real asshole. I really devote myself to meeting people, I am all there, but there is not always the time to really connect and listen to their story. I mean, there is nothing worse than hearing from a fan who met their favorite artist and came away feeling like the artist really didn’t seem to care about them, but Twitter allows the fans to say what they think to me. They can express themselves in a paraphrase and really get their point across. WR: What’s next for Grace Potter & the Nocturnals? GP: We are having a renaissance. With all the VH1 stuff and the premier of the new Disney film it’s a great time for us. I hope that we can get together with Kenny [Chesney] someday on a tour! We will have a series of shows in our home area around the Christmas holidays. After that, we will ramp up to do a major tour again in the spring. You know, we can’t stand still for too long! Keep up with the latest on Grace Potter & the Nocturnals at: http:// www.gracepotter.com/

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Brian Felsen President, CD Baby

By: Clif Doyal

s the President of CD Baby, Brian Felsen is responsible for all business development, operations, customer service, marketing, and technology at the world’s largest online distributor of independent music, boasting an artist membership of approximately 300,000 and a 3 1/2 million-track catalog. As the old music business models fade into history and the Internet continues to democratize the landscape for DIY artists, Felson’s company leads the charge of rising independent artists in the global music marketplace. In plain English, musicians whose success or failure was solely dependent on the gatekeepers at major labels in the past now are able to utilize CD Baby to distribute their music to their fans via iTunes, Amazon and all major digital retailers within 48 hours of uploading to the CD Baby database. Felsen, himself an artist, pursues many creative endeavors including documentary filmmaking, writing classical music works, poetry, plays, and creating art photography. A champion of personal and artistic expression, Felsen re-defines the term “executive” at a time when out-of-the-box is the new business model.

Felsen was born in L.A. and moved to Connecticut when he was 10. He showed an early interest in music. “When I was a child, I was a Beatles fanatic. I still am actually,” he says. After college, Felsen lived in Philadelphia, where he fell in love with the local music scene and began to think of ways to promote it to a wider audience. Eventually, Felsen founded the Philadelphia Music Conference with the idea of an affordable way for musicians and performers to be able to con-

nect. “I love music conferences because they can bring a real sense of community that you can’t get from the Internet and it’s a great place to showcase live and learn about the business,” he says. “The New Music Seminar and CMJ were both held in New York and were very expensive. Philly had amazing hiphop, rock and acoustic artists, but the music scene was very segregated. I wanted to help draw the styles closer together, and we were able to do that with the conference.” The

Philadelphia Music Conference would grow to become one of the largest and most successful music conferences in the world. Running the conference allowed Felsen to expand his musical interests in many different areas. “I became interested in world music, classical, jazz, and opera. I don’t write off any style of music as good or bad. There is amazing music in every genre.” But as he became exposed to more music, he began to see how difficult it was for artists to gain exposure if their music didn’t fit a certain mold. “In the old days, the major label system was monolithic. If you got signed, you were legitimized and immortalized. In the 60s and 70s, brave labels like Reprise Records (Frank Sinatra’s label) signed a multitude of outsider artists way beyond the mainstream – but by the 90s, that was no longer the case.” Eventually, Felsen wanted to pursue his own creative endeavors, and he sold the music conference. During this time, he traveled to Turkey, where upon his arrival; he learned that there was a military coup underway. “The people were marching in the streets for the military to ‘come and enforce the democracy.’ I found the idea of a military-imposed democracy so fascinating. So we flew back to NYC to buy cameras and equipment and returned to Turkey to capture what was taking place.” It was an amazing experience that led to Felsen producing the awardwinning documentary film Coup (Darbe) in 2000. Aside from his film work, Felsen

“What originally interested me about independent music was how to get the cream to rise and be able to be heard above all the noise.” also creates classical music works, art photography, poetry, and plays. “I am interested in the nature of thought and subjective experience,” he says. “Consciousness is more of a flood than a linear stream. Language is linear and slow, but art can enable you to convey experience in shorthand, with emotion. Art is an excellent vehicle to express concepts in philosophy of mind.” Felsen’s art photography and short films have been exhibited throughout the country at art galleries, film festivals and philosophy conferences, including presentations at the SciArt festival in London, the ASCI festival in New York, and a lecture on philosophy of mind at the Association for the Scientific Studies of Consciousness (ASSC) at CalTech. Currently, he is working on “a series of secular gospel music for people who don’t have a religious creed but want to form a moral foundation.” During his time at the Philly conference, Felsen developed a relationship with Disc Makers, who had been one of the conference sponsors. Felsen joined Disc Makers in 2003, launching and growing major new initiatives including the Merchandise and Film/DVD replication programs. Disc Makers would go on to acquire CD Baby when founder Derek Sivers sold

the company to Disc Makers in 2008 for $22 million, bequeathing the proceeds to a charitable trust for music education in an arrangement that provides him with 5% per year of the company’s sale price in income. The transaction united the country’s largest manufacturer of CDs for independent artists and the world’s largest online seller of independent music. That same year, Felsen took over the helm as President of CD Baby. In his role at CD Baby, Felsen oversees every aspect of the company, from customer service to the warehouse. “Every day is different,” he says. “There are over 100 people working here - mostly all musicians themselves. They are the most passionate artist advocates that I have ever met.” Under his guidance, CD Baby has also expanded to offer a variety of additional services, including major new developments at Host Baby, a custom website development tool, and the recently launched Book Baby, which will provide new solutions for the beleaguered publishing industry. “The digital delivery of music has impacted the industry in many ways both positively and negatively,” states Felsen. “On the plus side, it enables music to be easily disseminated. What originally interested me about independent

“You’ve heard the old saying ‘Don’t quit your day job?’ I tell people, ‘Don’t quit your night job’ - whether you’re successful at making money solely from music or not. If you are, that’s great. But if not, don’t quit making music or making art just because your income comes mostly from other sources.”

“The joy of sitting down and focusing for more than a couple of minutes is becoming lost. Music can be complex and beautiful, and I’m not convinced that with increased consumption we’re getting as much out of the experience.”

music was how to get the cream to rise and be able to be heard above all the noise. Now, for indie musicians, it isn’t about how to get ‘Big Daddy’ to notice you. It has become democratized. You can get distribution thru CD Baby, and you don’t need to pass thru the ‘gate’ to leave a document. It’s also wonderful for the consumer and explorer of new music. In the old days, if an album was out-of-print, I would have to search for it and pray to find it at used record shops. Now I can go online and have a much better chance of finding it.” “But there’s a downside too. Music is becoming commoditized, and people are not as willing to pay for it. Another issue with digital music, I worry that it is not being consumed with as much attention. The race to higher sonic fidelity has reversed, and MP3s often are played merely because it is a social thing to do.

The joy of sitting down and focusing for more than a couple of minutes is becoming lost. Music can be complex and beautiful, and I’m not convinced that with increased consumption we’re getting as much out of the experience. Would people today be able to focus on a whole symphony, or even on a “concept” rock album? I don’t know. But, at the same time, I find it delightful that live music still matters.” Felsen continues: “The most important thing I can tell artists is, don’t sweat the fame, money, or corporate approval of what you do. You’ve heard the old saying ‘Don’t quit your day job?’ I tell people, ‘Don’t quit your night job’ - whether you’re successful at making money solely from music or not. If you are, that’s great. But if not, don’t quit making music or making art just because your income comes mostly from other sources.”

hat’s up Pimps and Pimpettes? … It’s me and I got a ton of music gossip and news and jokes about all of it … so let’s begin, shall we? Where do I start? T.I. got sent back to jail, you know, but his new music video will have dropped by the time you read this. “Ya Hear Me Now” just proves my favorite rapper is still putting good music out …even though he ain’t – OUT! Speaking of getting out, Lil Wayne got out of Rikers after serving a pretty eventful year for someone who is supposed to be in time out. Let’s see, he got caught with an illegal mp3 player, then a female guard got fired ‘cause she spent time with Weezy, now a 20 year veteran guard is suspended for spending about 45 minutes with my dude while in isolation… some fans! They won’t get to work security for him that’s for sure. Mariah Carey is PREGNANT and she announced the news of the blessed event to the world, on the damn Today Show!!! ‘Cause we all wanted to know, hell I lost sleep over not knowing that. I’ll send some diapers, maybe some pampers with spinners on em’ or somethin’. Her Baby Daddy, America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon has been in a feud with comedian Chelsea Handler about whatever on Twitter, and now this, bless his heart … busy, busy, busy. Taylor Swift did an impromptu performance at JFK then did a cross country concert for folks on a chartered Jet

Blue flight. Ain’t that nice!?!? She performed songs from her new album Speak Now and even kept the flight attendants from acting up… now who don’t love that girl? That was rhetorical! Neyo’s new album Libra Scale was leaked in the U.S while he was in Japan for the album’s release. Very diplomatic was the Grammy award winner about the situation on Twitter … and then he told the hackers to have sex with themselves, if you know what I’m sayin’! Then Miley Cyrus’ parents have called it quits. Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus filed for divorce after 17 years of UnAchy Breaky-ness. How old is Miley? You do the math… seems like raising a bread winner ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. Finally what do Jaden Smith, David Beckham, Denzel Washington and the Laker Girls have in common? They all got to hang out with Justin Bieber at a Laker game in which he also got to shoot some baskets on the floor and even tried on Phil Jackson’s championship ring. All this after he kinda got bullied at a laser tag joint in Canada. I write this column and all I’m getting is a lousy T-Shirt! Did I mention Charlie Sheen has more issues than the New York Times? He does … I’m Jus’ Sayin’… SpankyBrown.net Twitter.com/SpankyBrown Facebook.com/SpankyBrown Ubettagonboutchabizness ....

By: Spanky Brown

FEATURED ARTISTS ARE PAID ADVERTISERS FROM THE AIRPLAY DIRECT COMMUNITY

Stephanie Quayle Montana-based independent Country recording artist, Stephanie Quayle boldly declares she’s “living the dream.” The road to her latest project, Ain’t No Housewife, is paved with a surprising amount of life experience worn into this bold singer-songwriter’s boots. From the slow burn of “Promise You Won’t Feel A Thing” to the bold, boogie-woogie declaration “Ain’t No Housewife,” Stephanie sounds as confident as she does earnest, paying respect to country elders while pushing the envelope of Americana music. --------------------------------------------------------------------------Listen here: AirPlayDirect.com/StephanieQuayle ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

TriBeCaStan

Halloway and Kirbo

Janine Wilson

TriBeCaStan combines the sounds of the Indian sarod and Surf Rock, while at the same time merging West African kora with Appalachian mountain tunes and adding a dose of intermingling Afghani melodies and avant-garde Jazz. This New York based band consists of over two dozen instruments between them. It orchestrates a delicate balance between chaos and peace. Their latest album, 5 Star Cave is filled with jams that span the globe and reach into deep space, creating a cosmopolitan sound of funky future folk with a sensitive and energetic explosion of color. -------------------------------------------Listen here: AirPlayDirect.com/Tribecastan --------------------------------------------

Singers and songwriters Holloway and Kirbo, who hail from Georgia, blend together their individual sounds of Folk, Country, Rock, Pop, Blues and Bluegrass.

Maryland based artist, Janine Wilson continues her musical evolution with her third album, Wakin’ Up. Wakin Up is her first album of all-original material, which makes it her most personal artistic statement to date. On this album Janine once again teamed up with guitarist extraordinaire Max Evans. With Janine’s big voice and stage presence to match it she creates award-winning songs full of love, heartache and mischief. Her command of vocal styles ranging from Blues to Americana Roots-Rock have never been in front of a more solid or sophisticated sound. -------------------------------------------Listen here: AirPlayDirect.com/JanineWilsonBand --------------------------------------------

“Ring the Bells,” their holiday tune, was first released on the Ring the Bells of Christmas CD by Nashville artist Karen Pendley. Their own acoustic version of “Ring the Bells” features Bluegrass guitarist Curtis Jones joining in on guitar and mandolin. -------------------------------------------Listen here: AirPlayDirect.com/HollowayKirbo --------------------------------------------

NOVEMBER 2010 FEATURED ARTISTS

Marcia Ball

Jessica Stiles

Nanci Griffith

Marcia Ball creates music that is equal parts simmering soul fervor and two-fisted piano pounding. Between her deeply emotive vocals and her incisive and poignant songwriting, Ball is in a class by herself. Her groove-laden New Orleans R&B and driving Gulf Coast blues have made her a one-of-a-kind favorite of music fans all over the world. Her latest album, Peace, Love & BBQ, is produced by Stephen Bruton and finds Marcia Ball at a creative peak. She wrote or co-wrote eight of the thirteen songs on the CD. -------------------------------------------Listen here: AirPlayDirect.com/MarciaBall --------------------------------------------

Although, Country-Americana artist Jessica Stiles was born in the cool sand under the Boardwalk in Coney Island she soon found her way west-bound. She traveled all the way to Portland Oregon and eventually landed in Tennessee. Jessica Stiles grew up singing Folk songs and a few old English and Celtic ballads, but she soon discovered classic Country music. Tracing back her musical roots, Jessica now makes her home in Nashville - not too far from the Appalachian mountains and even closer to the Grand Ole Opry and Ernest Tubb Record Shop. -------------------------------------------Listen here: AirPlayDirect.com/JessicaStiles --------------------------------------------

Te x a s - b a s e d Country-Folk artist Nanci Griffith got an early start on her path to performing and songwriting. At the age of six she began to write songs.

Her latest album, The Loving Kind, finds Nanci Griffith at the top of her game as a songwriter, interpreter and singer. -------------------------------------------Listen here: AirPlayDirect.com/NanciGriffith --------------------------------------------

Lucky Peterson

The Melloncollies

Darren Warren

Blues artist Lucky Peterson played his first gig at age three and by the time he was five he had already recorded his first single. Lucky was a child prodigy and is now a true Blues veteran. Over the last three decades Lucky has played to audiences all over the world. He has dazzled both fans and critics with his multi-instrumental talents (he plays keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and trumpet), his soulful vocal style and his youthful approach to the Blues. His music blends straight-ahead Blues, Memphis soul and funky grooves. -------------------------------------------Listen here: AirPlayDirect.com/LuckyPeterson --------------------------------------------

Don’t feel sorry for singer/songwriter Simon Erani, the force behind The Melloncollies and their debut album Goodbye Cruel World. He prefers to wear his real-life melancholy like a badge of honor on his sleeve. And as the band creates a unique blend of everything from 80’s synth pop to 90’s arena grunge rock, the lyrics draw creative inspiration from one of mankind’s oldest and most universal sources—a broken heart. Goodbye Cruel World was produced by Peter Claro and Simon Erani and mastered by Blake Morgan. -------------------------------------------Listen here: AirPlayDirect.com/TheMelloncollies --------------------------------------------

Darren Warren is a 26-year-old singer/songwriter from Mayfield, Kentucky. Being a cancer survivor, his songwriting and high-energy performance style reflect zeal and an appreciation for life found in only a handful of artists. Darren’s recently released album Heart and Soul includes several songs that are destined to climb the country charts. Even though Darren fits primarily into the ‘New Country’ category he has the potential to appeal to a wide variety of music lovers with his flawless covers of new and old Country, Classic Rock and Alternative Rock. -------------------------------------------Listen here: AirPlayDirect.com/DarrenWarren --------------------------------------------

She thought of songwriting as “part of the process of learning how to play guitar.” She has recorded 19 albums and has performed concerts all over the world.

he Direct Buzz offers reviews by a team of professional music critics. Any AirPlay Direct artist or label interested in being considered for a review, should contact us. Choose three songs from your DPK, and we’ll give you our opinion of them. We can’t guarantee a rave review, but we can assure you that it will be honest and constructive. We will try to honor all requests, but it might take a while. As such, your patience is appreciated.

The Pretenders

Paul Thorn

Joe Bonamassa

Pretenders: Live in London

Pimps and Preachers

The Ballad of John Henry

AirPlayDirect.com/PretendersLive...

AirPlayDirect.com/PaulThorn

AirPlayDirect.com/JoeBonamassa

Pretenders: Live in London captures the legendary band’s energy at its purest form. Recorded and filmed by Grammy and Emmy Award winning directors and producers Pierre & François Lamoureux at the London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on the band’s recent world tour, Chrissie Hynde, Martin Chambers, James Walbourne, Nick Wilkinson, and Eric Heywood rock a sold-out audience with their greatest and latest hits, including “Kid,” “Back On The Chain Gang,” “Middle Of The Road,” “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” and many more. Fans of Hynde will find her unique and immediately identifiable voice in prime form. The Pretenders provide solid backing with crying steel, jangly, twangy guitars and a solid rhythm section. With millions of albums sold and their place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame solidified, the Pretenders are a special band. They played brilliantly in London - and what can be heard on this release is an honest reproduction of that moment in time. According to the liner notes “no musical overdubs were made and no crowd noises were altered. This is exactly what the fans experienced that night.” Pretenders: Live In London is available as a CD/DVD, as well as a stand alone Blu-Ray disc. Recommended. Paul Clifford

Listening to Paul Thorn’s, Pimps and Preachers, I couldn’t help but wonder how he comes across with such feel-good messages, without sounding corny. Must be a Mississippi thing; That Southern grit to his voice. The years he spent boxing. Too many cigarettes…I don’t know. But these stories ring true. I feel like I know “Nona Lisa,” the gorgeous girl who works at the Dairy Queen. And who hasn’t felt annoyed and trapped at a family barbeque while getting our buttons pushed? It’s the friends who drive us crazy that he sings about in “I Don’t Like Half the Folks I Love.” Hammond organ rounds out the 70’s-Rock instrumentation of much of the album, which also gets stripped down to beautiful effect on “Ray Ann’s Shoes.” Pimps and Preachers alternates between easy Blues with a touch of swamp and anthemic Rock a la Springsteen. Americana is a word that gets bandied-about a good deal, but Paul Thorn is the real deal - a troubadour who observes what’s going on at street level. If you are looking for an authentic voice, with just a touch of redemption, put on this collection of songs, sit back and listen to the stories he tells you. Jessica Stiles

Although this album has been out for awhile, it is so strong that I felt like it needed revisiting. The ninth solo album and seventh studio release of his career – as well as his fourth consecutive with producer Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes, etc.) – the disc adds a heavy dose of “swamp” to Bonamassa’s virtuoso mix of ‘60s-era British Blues Rock (à la Beck and Clapton) and rootsinfluenced Delta sounds. It shows off Bonamassa’s vocal range as much as his instrumental voodoo. From the opening chords of the swampy “The Ballad of John Henry” Bonamossa lays claim to his growing reputation as one of the world’s greatest guitar players while Zeppelin-esque orchestration and Dobro interplay to drive this song deep into your soul. The hard-driving Blues of “Stop” combines Stax-style Memphis horns with a signature guitar style that sounds like B.B. and Albert King got together for a guitar duel and called it a draw. If there is a more powerful male Blues Rock singer around today, I haven’t heard him. Other highlights include the funky, nasty groove of “Jockey Full Of Bourbon,” the delicate acoustic picking, minor chord drone and soulful vocals of “Happier Times,” and the soaring “As The Crow Flies.” Susan Fischer

By Ariel Hyatt

How To Post A Perfect Press Kit On Your Website I’m often amazed when I go to an artist’s website, and I look around, and I’m trying to find basic press information and I can’t. It seems that in the age of Twitter, Facebook, and Facebook Fan pages, and constantly focusing on your twoway conversations, we’ve forgotten the important basics. How To Post A Perfect Press Kit On Your Website This is a revised excerpt from my book, Music Success in Nine Weeks, and it talks about an asset that no matter what we all face with new digital solutions, new platforms and apps that we’re going to be forced to learn, we should always remember: Your press kit. It’s up to you to post your press information clearly and succinctly, so that you’re easy to find and write about. Editors need access to your information quickly, because they are constantly under deadline. If you do not make it easy for them to get your information from your site, they may move onto another one of the 50 artists that are playing in their town that same week. 1. YOUR MUSIC – ALBUM OR LIVE TRACKS Make sure you have some music available at your website or a very obvious link to your MySpace page where people can hear the music instantly. Many newspapers are now including online listings where they include MP3s of artists coming to town,

so make it easy for them to grab the tracks to add to their own sites – this is additional excellent exposure for you. 2. YOUR BIOGRAPHY – MUST INCLUDE YOUR PITCH Make sure you have a short, succinct bio that can be easily located on your site, in addition to the long form one, the blogs and all of the opinions from each band member – which are fun for your fans but not for music writers who will be looking to get quick information. Make sure this bio can be easily cut-and-pasted so writers can drop it into a preview or a column. CREATE A SHORT VERSION FOR THE CALENDAR EDITOR Make sure you add your PITCH / USP (Unique Selling Point) as a standalone portion to your bio that sums up your sound for calendar editors. It should be no more than 10 words. TIP: Post 3 versions of your bios: 1. Long Form 2. In 50 Words 3. In 1 sentence (10 words or less) TIP: Make sure the bio can be easily cut-and-pasted! 3. YOUR PHOTOS – MAKE THEM EASY TO FIND AND DOWNLOAD Thumbnails are great for quick and easy loading but are detrimental for use in newspapers. You should always have a few downloadable photos on your site in at least 300 dpi / jpg format.

TIP: Create an easy-to-see link that says “click here for a hi res / low res jpg.” That way, photo editors can get to them easily. When the photos are downloaded; make sure they are properly named with your name or your band’s name, so that photo editors can find them in folders and on messy desktops! 4. INCLUDE YOUR ALBUM COVER & ADDITIONAL ARTWORK You also want to make sure you include your cover art in both hi res and lo res (jpg format). This way if your CD is being reviewed, the reviewer can download the artwork to add to the review. If you have additional assets like band logos or graphics add them here as well. 5. INCLUDE PRESS CLIPS OR FAN TESTIMONIALS IF YOU HAVE THEM What you say about you is one thing…. However: What others say about you is trusted in a different way. So, if you have articles that were written about you or great quotes to add from fans – do it! (if you don’t just ask your fans to contribute to your site – they will be happy to do so) Here’s to YOUR SUCCESS! Ariel Hyatt is the Founder of Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR a New York based digital firm that connects artists to blogs, podcasts, Internet radio stations and social media sites. http://musicsuccessinnineweeks.com/

Musicians On Call

Delivering Music and Inspiration Music is the universal language. It triggers powerful emotions and its healing properties are well-documented. Music has been proven to lower blood pressure and reduce depression and anxiety in hospitalized patients. This concept has been embraced by a wonderful charity named Musicians On Call. In 1999, with the help of music business executives Michael Solomon and Vivek Tiwary, the Kristen Ann Carr Fund sponsored a concert at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Nurses carefully transported patients to the hospital’s recreation area, arranging seats and wheelchairs around a temporary stage. IV poles were present throughout the audience. When singer Kenli Mattus began to perform, something wonderful happened. Feet began to tap and heads nodded to the beat. Smiles formed on patients’ faces and some closed their eyes in revelry. His music was like a melodious breeze moving throughout the room; joyful notes drifted through the air before settling comfortably on the souls of his audience. It was just what the patients needed, one of the nurses said, and such a shame that some were unable to attend because they were in treatment or too sick to leave their rooms. It was clear that some of the patients who needed music most were unable to go to the concert. So Mattus brought the concert to them. He went room to room, along with Michael and Vivek, and played at the bedsides of those who had missed the concert. Each person realized that the performances in the patient’s rooms took on an even

By: Clif Doyal

(left to right) Scott Welch, President, Scott Welch Management / AirPlay Direct; John Ingrassia, Vector Management; Katy Brown, Program Director, Nashville Musicians On Call; Trace Adkins; Dr. Leslie Faerstein, Executive Director, Musicians On Call; Jordan Pettit, Showdog-Universal Music; and Ken Levitan, President, Vector Management. Photo credit: Paul Levy

deeper and more intimate connection than what they had experienced in the rec room. Michael and Vivek knew they had to form an organization that could bring the same inspiration to the bedsides of patients in hospitals everywhere. Musicians On Call was born. Musicians On Call is a nonprofit organization that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities to promote and complement the healing process. All musicians are volunteers. Musicians On Call screens, trains and schedules the artists who participate in their programs at healthcare facilities. At each facility, the artist is escorted by a volunteer guide who is selected and trained by Musicians On Call. The guide is vital as a liaison between the

patient, the musician, and Musicians On Call. To date, Musicians On Call’s volunteer musicians have performed for over 250,000 patients, their family members and caregivers. Musicians On Call supports ongoing live music programs in New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville and Miami/South Florida. “We will also be in Washington DC in early 2011 and Los Angeles later in the year,” states Dr. Leslie Morrison Faerstein, Executive Director of Musicians on Call. “Our founder’s goal is to branch our program out internationally. We started with one hospital, and now we have 36 hospitals and soon we will be in six cites.” Faerstein, who has a long history in administration and healthcare, joined the staff of Musi-

cians On Call over 10 years ago. “I love music, and it was a perfect match for me to get involved with them,” she says. In addition to local artists, big-name entertainers who have supported the mission of Musicians On Call are numerous, and include Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, John Mayer, The Allman Brothers, Sting, Britney Spears, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Brooks and Dunn, Willie Nelson, Mark Wills, Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Jonas Brothers, Reba McEntire, Eric Clapton, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, John Mellencamp, and many others. Musicians On Call features a number of programs including: Bedside Performance Program: Artists give in-room performances for patients undergoing treatment or who are unable to leave their hospital beds. This personal one-on-one interaction between the musician and patient has a powerful effect and makes a significant impact on the healing process. Celebrity Visits: Artists who are on tour visit and entertain at hospitals around the country under Musicians On Call’s sponsorship. CD Pharmacies: At no cost to the facility, Musicians On Call provides hospitals with complete CD libraries and CD players for patient use. They

Chris Young

currently have 362 CD Pharmacies throughout all 50 states and Washington D.C., as well as Puerto Rico and Ireland. Project Playback: A program which gives patients the chance to create and record their own music with one of Musicians On Call’s volunteer musicians. Faerstein stresses that Musicians On Call depends on donations to keep the organization funded and growing. “In addition to our online auctions and fundraisers, we do receive some grants. For example the ACM ‘Lifting Lives’ has been an incredible supporter and Vanderbilt Medical Center here in Nashville has been wonderful to us. We do have some benefactors and donors who support particular hospitals, but it is always a challenge to raise money and keep things going.” “Every little bit helps,” adds Katy Brown, Program Director of the Nashville chapter of Musicians On Call. “Just $10. brings one song to the bedside of a patient, and even one song can make a difference in someone’s life. You can just see it on their faces and the faces of their family. It is an honor to work with Musicians on Call,” she says. Musicians On Call also hosts ben-

efit concerts in New York City and Nashville. John Mayer, Rob Thomas, Maroon 5, Seal and James Taylor have all performed. “We just had Lady Antebellum [in New York] and they were absolutely amazing!” gushes Faerstein. “And last night, we had Trace Adkins at the Hard Rock in Nashville to benefit the local chapter. The performers that we have the opportunity to work with are just amazing! We are so grateful for their time and talents.” Musicians wanting to participate in the program and persons interested in becoming volunteer guides may go to the Musicians On Call website and fill out an application for one of the cities that hosts a program. For more information, and to learn how you can help, please visit: www.musiciansoncall.org. Donations can be made here www. musiciansoncall.org.

Punmaster’s MusicWire THE HARDEST WORKING NEWSLETTER IN SHOW BUSINESS

OCTOBER 2010 HI-LITES GEORGE MARTIN TAKES US BACK TO RED AND BLUE Remastered versions of The Beatles’ Red and Blue compilation albums have hit shelves. The two sets, which feature the Fab Four’s music from 1962 to 1966 and from 1967 to 1970, were the first collections released after the group disbanded in 1970. Famed Beatles producer George Marin spoke about listening to the sets. “Nostalgia is a pretty powerful thing, particularly if you get older and, of course, listening to those records does bring back an enormous amount of memories. The nice thing about memories is that you tend to remember all the good things. The brain tends to automatically wipe out all the nasty bits. So I’ve got very, very fond memories of my times in the ‘60s and the early ‘70s when we were doing these recordings.” PINK FLOYD REUNION PERHAPS? Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason has revealed that he believes Pink Floyd would reunite for the right charity. According to Planetrock.com, the drummer revealed that he believes Roger Waters and David Gilmour would also be open to the idea of getting back together for the right cause. “I think it would be a very nice way for a band to gently move towards retirement, by doing shows absolutely for charity rather than for more income,” he told the BBC. Waters and Gilmour have already played together this year at a charity event for the Hoping Foundation. There the band played four songs together for the first time since 2005’s Live 8. Waters has also announced that Gilmour will likely join him onstage at one of his forthcoming Wall tour dates next year. Keyboardist and founding member Richard Wright died in 2008.

cert at New York’s Apollo Theater, the singer announced to a packed audience that he and his band, the New Power Generation, will perform at “a series of events,” dubbed “Welcome 2 America.” He said the tour is “best described as what we’ve all been waiting for.” He told concertgoers to “bring friends, bring your children and bring foot spray ‘cause it’s gonna be funky.” Prince says the shows will feature funk, R&B and jazz artists including Maceo Parker, Janelle Monae, Mint Condition, Esperanza Spalding, Lalah Hathaway, Sheila E., Cassandra Wilson and Graham Central Station.

THE DOORS: LIVE IN VANCOUVER 1970 The Doors: Live In Vancouver 1970 will be released on November 23. The show was recorded on June 6th, 1970 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia. This set features a guest performance from blues legend Albert King on guitar for three songs including “Little Red Rooster” and “Rock Me.” The show also features the band playing classics like “Roadhouse Blues,” “Five to One,” “When the Music’s Over” and “Love Me Two Times.”

SOLOMON BURKE R.I.P. Solomon Burke, the larger-than-life “King of Rock and Soul” who was revered as one of music’s greatest vocalists but never reached the level of fame of those he influenced, died at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. He was 70. Born to the sound of music in an upstairs room of a Philadelphia church, Burke was acknowledged as one of the greatest soul singers of the 1960s, but his popularity never matched that of contemporaries like James Brown or Marvin Gaye. Two of Burke’s best-known songs reached a wider audience when they were featured in hit movies. He wrote “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” in 1964 and it was later featured in the Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi movie The Blues Brothers. The Rolling Stones and Wilson Pickett also recorded it. A bare-chested Patrick Swayze danced seductively with Jennifer Grey to Burke’s “Cry To Me” in one of the most memorable scenes from the movie Dirty Dancing. Legendary Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler once called Burke “the best soul singer of all time.” Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and won a Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy a year later for Don’t Give Up On Me.

PRINCE ANNOUNCES TOUR Prince has announced that he’s planning a tour that will kick off “On a Purple Day” in December. At a recent con-

AL PACINO TO PLAY PHIL SPECTOR IN BIOPIC There’s a HBO new biopic in the works that’ll tell the life story of record producer Phil Spector and according to the

New York Times, Al Pacino will play him. David Mamet is writing the screenplay about Spector, who created the “wall of sound” in the 1960’s and who was convicted of seconddegree murder last year in the 2003 shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson. Spector is now serving a 19-years-tolife sentence. No release date on the movie at this time. ROD STEWART REUNITING WITH JEFF BECK? Could Rod Stewart be thinking of reuniting with his former Jeff Beck Group band mate Jeff Beck? Possibly! Rod told Billboard that after the success of his American Songbook covers album, he wants to do more diverse records, including one with Beck. Stewart revealed he’s meeting with Jeff in a couple weeks to see if they can work together and what they’d want to do. Rod explained, “We’re a little bit older now and we can tolerate each other.” Read more at Billboard.com. WHO TO RELEASE LIVE AT LEEDS: 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION It’s been 40 years since The Who played in Leeds, England then released a live album featuring that show. Now, the band plans to put out a Live at Leeds: 40th Anniversary Super-Deluxe Collector’s Edition set. Along with the original album, the package will also include the group’s gig in Hull, England, where they performed the night after they played Leeds. Both live albums will come as two-CD sets and the collection also boasts a heavyweight vinyl reproduction of the original Live at Leeds, a hardback book, a seven-inch single of “Summertime Blues”/”Heaven & Hell” and a poster of Pete Townshend. It all comes out on November 16th. Check out TheWho.com. HOT OFF THE PRESS: THE ROLLING STONES 19641969 & THE ROLLING STONES 1971-2005 REMASTERED VINYL BOX SETS For the very first time in history the “World’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band,” ABKCO Records and Universal Music Group have joined forces to offer two vinyl box set collections spanning over 40 years of the Rolling Stones’ career. The box sets include 23 original studio albums, two “Big Hits” collections as well as two rare EPs. They will be released on November 22 in the U.K. and November 23 in the U.S. and Canada. The Rolling Stones 1964-1969 and The Rolling Stones 1971-2005 Vinyl Box Sets offer the consumer a wealth of great Rolling Stones music, much of which hasn’t been available on vinyl for a considerable period of time. ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME NOMINEES ANNOUNCED Bon Jovi, the Beastie Boys, Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper,

Donovan, Tom Waits and LL Cool J are among the 15 artists nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Also on the list: Chic, Dr. John, J. Geils Band, Darlene Love, Laura Nyro, Donna Summer, Joe Tex and Chuck Willis. SEE NEIL YOUNG PLAY ALL OF LE NOISE ONLINE See Neil Young performing his new album, Le Noise, in its entirety. The singer has released a film of himself playing the whole record and it’s available online. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU5B53b9ntQ IN SESSION, ALBERT KING WITH STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN’S LEGENDARY BLUES SUMMIT, FINALLY AVAILABLE ON DVD On December 6, 1983, legendary blues guitarist Albert King joined his disciple Stevie Ray Vaughan on a Canadian sound stage for the live music television series, In Session. The highly sought after video footage from that one-time legendary summit becomes available for the first time ever on November 9 with the release of Stax Records’ deluxe twodisc CD/DVD In Session. They didn’t meet often, and their careers took different paths. But we can all be grateful for that one long day in a television studio when sparks flew and this timeless performance was forever captured. GEORGE HARRISON’S ALL THINGS MUST PASS TO BE RE-ISSUED ON VINYL Four decades have gone by since George Harrison’s iconic All Things Must Pass came out. To mark the anniversary, a remastered, limited-edition 3-LP vinyl set is coming out. The All Things Must Pass 40th Anniversary album also features a poster and a lift-top box. It’s due out on November 26th exclusively at Record Store Day-participating independent music retailers. Visit GeorgeHarrison.com. KEITH RICHARDS HAS CAMEO IN NEW PIRATES MOVIE The latest installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise is currently in production and once again, Keith Richards will have a cameo in it. According to ComingSoon.net, in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the Rolling Stones guitarist will reprise his role of “Captain Teague,” the father of Johnny Depp’s “Captain Jack Sparrow.” The movie will be out on May 20th. A PIECE OF HER HEART; REVIVING JANIS JOPLIN 40 YEARS AFTER HER DEATH http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/arts/music/03joplin. html?_r=2

PUNMASTER’S VIDEO HI-LITES John Lennon & Cheap Trick - the music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im3AUiCGqnk -----------------------------------------------Shindig, 1965!: The Byrds with David Crosby and more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k0PGq5Nbhc -----------------------------------------------Bob Dylan & Bruce Springsteen - Forever Young http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95qf0Oop8jI -----------------------------------------------Ozzy Osbourne sings John Lennon’s “How?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awOcbVoS4yE -----------------------------------------------Howlin’ Wolf - “How Many Years” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIcIsVKmmRY -----------------------------------------------********************************************* ********************************************* Punmaster’s MusicWire: A Trusted Source In Music News Since 1873 SIGN UP HERE:

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