Podcasters Pick Up MusicDish Artists Throughout January

MusicDish Network started the year with a new push focused on generating airplay for its artists through podcasters. Americana-rock artist Amy Speace led the charge with plays on four different podcast shows last month. Her upcoming album "The Killer In Me" has been described by John Platt, host of WFUV's "The Sunday Breakfast", as "a collection of alt-country gems, a little dark around the edges."

In addition to "The Indie Music Sampler" podcast, Gospel singer Desmond Pringle's song 'Let There Be Praise' has been picked up by radio stations in Australia [Highland FM (107.1 FM)], Italy [Radio Web Italia], Canada [EJNM.net].

"Based on the response and commitments thus far, February will be a big month for our artists in the webcast sector," noted MusicDish Founder Eric de Fontenay. "Podcasting, combined with online street teaming and brand marketing, is key to boosting digital music sales and fan awareness worldwide."

JANUARY PODCASTS:
Date: February 1, 2009
Podcast: Pirates Week
Artist - Track: Alexander Shulgin - Posmotri vokrug sebya

Date: January 30, 2009
Podcast: The Indie Music Sampler
Artist - Track: Desmond Pringle - Let There Be Praise

Date: January 29, 2009
Podcast: Jesses Country Corner
Artist - Track: Amy Speace - Row Row Row

Date: January 18, 2009
Podcast: WLSO.FM
Artist - Track: Amy Speace - Step Out Of The Shade

Date: January 15, 2009
Podcast: Suffolk and Cool
Artist - Track: Bethany & Rufus - Isn't That So

Date: January 13, 2009
Podcast: DALECAST
Artist - Track: Amy Speace - Home

Date: January 9, 2009
Podcast: Makin Noise
Artist - Track: Amy Speace - The Killer In Me

Date: January 9, 2009
Podcast: Radio Orphans Podcast
Artist - Track: Polarity/1 - Land O Debbies

Date: January 1, 2009
Podcast: The TVA Podcast
Artist - Track: Kobo Town - Abatina

About MusicDish, LLC
Since 1997, MusicDish LLC has served as the bridge between the music industry and the artist. Through its extensive online presence, MusicDish provides artists with an edge over the ever-prevalent competition the music industry entails. MusicDish gives the artist the opportunity to take advantage of several different services: a creative approach to artist development and representation; online press release distribution & marketing; publications disclosing all the latest information involving the music industry; and even a indie music video channel.
http://www.musicdish.net
http://www.mi2n.com

MusicDishTV: Festival - Valentine

The lead-off video from Festival's debut album on Language of Stone. www.funwithfestival.com

"'Valentine' is a song that is highly infectious with a video that is very entertaining. There is a lot going on here - a church service, a classroom lecture, suntanning, and general restlessness. While it's hard to say what the meaning behind this is, you can't help but be amused and strangely satisfied while viewing." - MusicDishTV

MusicDishTV is more than an online video channel; it is the place to find out what's happening in the music world and hear brilliant new talent before they hit the radio airwaves. Artists & bands can submit their videos at http://tv.musicdish.net.

Renowned Russian Composer Alexander Shulgin Pre-Releases "Triptych" Album To Radio

Familia Entertainment has announced the exclusive digital pre-release of "Triptych. Shulgin's Songbook. Part I," the first in the three-album compilation "Triptych" by leading Russian composer Alexander Shulgin. All the songs from the album will be available for download to over 2,800 radio station members through online music distributor Airplay Direct (http://www.airplaydirect.com/tryptych1). The full compilation will be distributed digitally by The Orchard and made available through all major online music retailers in March.

http://www.airplaydirect.com/tryptych1

Produced by the successful DWB stable of writers and producers, "Triptych" contains the music, melodies and instrumentals of the famous themes by the composer which have yet been played before. With inventive use of the Spanish nylon strung acoustic guitar as a main lead instrument, it conjures up sunsets in Spain and peaceful sunshine bathed fields swaying in the breeze. There is a blend of modern Chillout styles and some more Urban sounding Jazz tinged opuses on this album - music to have a warm bath in.

"Triptych. Shulgin's Songbook. Part I" is an instrumental album of the music of feelings and mind, romantic lounge, recorded together with the most famous English instrumentalists - Simon Rushby, Steve King, Jon Howell, lead guitars by Paul Drew. Recorded in spring 2008 at DWB Music record studio in the UK, the album was produced by young English producers Paul Drew, Greig Watts and Pete Barringer.

"Triptych. Shulgin's Songbook. Part II" - a piano album produced by Richard Niles and performed by Gary Husband, played in a "minimal" style. One of the album tracks - an instrumental duet - was recorded together with the great star of the music jazz, the best guitar player in England and one of the best ones in the world - Martin Taylor.

"Triptych. Shulgin's Songbook. Part III" - was made in a "smooth jazz" style, recorded together with the most famous worldwide jazz musicians: Billy Cobham, John Patitucci, Bob James, Bob Mintzer and others. The legendary Richard Niles, who before had worked with Luciano Pavarotti, Paul McCartney, Pat Matini, The Pet Shop Boys group, was a producer of the album.

"Recording the album was a very harmonious experience a definite sense of peace transcended into the studio and made everyone feel part of something beautiful. The soaring melodies and tranquil harmonies brought the studio to life. It was a experience to remember." - Pete Barringer, producer

When we recorded the vocals for the album I thought instantly that this was a project with real musical sentiment... A refreshing sound..." - Laura Whittle, vocals

"It was a pleasure to work with such great melody's as this, many of them expressing the emotions that words cannot express" - Paul Drew, producer

About Alexander Shulgin
Alexander Shulgin is a leading composer, performer and executive in the new Russian music industry, having worked with such iconic artists as Valeria, Mumiy Troll, Dima Malikov, Gruppa.fm and many others. Mr. Shulgin owns and operates Familia Entertainment, a record label, and Familia Publishing, a publishing company.

Shulgin began his career with the legendary Russian rock band The Cruise (1983-1986), which sold 20 million copies of their first album in 1985. He went on the work on a series of international projects, from "The Taiga Symphony," a combination of Russian classic music with western rock-music performed by The Moscow Symphony Orchestra, to "Merry Christmas to the World", another ambitious East-West collaboration between Shulgin and BBC Worldwide. Shulgin is also a composer of music for films and TV, his songs appearing in films by Lukas Moodysson and Ken Russell, the TV music serial "Primadonna" as well as all the music for the first public TV channel "Spas" for which he composed .

Websites:
http://www.myspace.com/shulginalexander
http://alexandershulgin.musicdish.net

Amy Speace Shares Valentine's Day With The Bacon Brothers

Grassy Hill Entertainment singer-songwriter Amy Speace will be spending her Valentine's Day opening for The Bacon Brothers during two sold out shows at Pennsylvania's Sellersville Theater.

WHAT: Amy Speace opens for The Bacon Brothers

WHEN: Saturday February 14, 2009
2 shows - 6pm and 9pm, Both sold out!

WHERE: Sellersville Theater 1894
24 West Temple Avenue
Sellersville, PA

Philly natives Kevin & Michael Bacon have written & played music together for over twenty years and have become one of the country's hottest live bands with successful, sold-out performances across the country. The Bacon Brothers perform an enticing mixture of folk, rock, soul and country. In addition to their band, Michael has won numerous awards for his musical scores for films & TV including numerous Emmys and two Academy Awards while Kevin is recognized around the world as one of Hollywood's most enduring and acclaimed actors.

Amy Speace has already won a loyal grass-roots fan base, thanks in large part to live performances that merge warmth, humor and emotional immediacy, and to a tireless touring schedule that's already taken her across the United States. She's also won considerable critical acclaim, with The Village Voice observing that Speace is "taking her Americana away from twangy contemplation toward tangy confrontation" and noting that she's "not another of those breathy would-be child poets, but a real singing writer of songs." Time Out New York stated, "Amy Speace plays sweet, twangy folk music with a clear voice and an innocent vulnerability," while The Nashville Scene noted that she "balances wry humor with open-hearted honesty." And renowned Nashville critic Robert K. Oermann, writing in Music Row, dubbed her a "new star."
http://www.amyspeace.com
http://www.myspace.com/amyspeace

Emerging Music Markets: Russia And Mobile Music

By Eric de Fontenay, MusicDish e-Journal

Music industry professionals may not think of Russia as a high-growth market for international expansion. That oversight though may representative loss opportunities for music companies looking to buck the present recession.

The Russian music industry made it's presence felt at this year's MIDEM as the spotlight country, and for good reason. Outside of Germany, Russia represents the largest internet population in Europe with 40 million surfers. Add to that fact that it is the 4th largest mobile market (after China, U.S. and India), with growing physical (10% increase in 2007) and digital sales, and the allure of the market for music companies worldwide is clear. "Russia is in a phase of rapid expansion and on its way to becoming a major player and an essential partner for the rest of the industry," noted MIDEM director Dominique Leguern.

Cornwall-based independent record label Aardvark Records is one of the companies taking full advantage of this emerging market's possibilities as it announced an agreement with Russian mobile content and service provider United Fun Traders (UFT). UFT, which supplies one of the biggest Russian mobile operators with music content, has licensed over 700 songs from the label's catalogue, including songs from dance acts Yahel and the gold-selling EricM, rock act Little Spitfire, singer-songwriter Everett Young and folk acts such as Steve O' Connor, Satya Graha and Moondragon.

"With a market of that size, everything is to play for," noted Aardvark Records director, Alex di Savoia on the label's practical expectations from the deal. "Conservative sales estimates from UFT will see a significant impact on our net sales revenue.

Russian dance music fans are already familiar with some of the artists on our label; namely Yahel, DJ Front and Zetan Spore. With the strength of sales, we're anticipating being in a position where more of our artists can begin touring Russia."

Read the complete article at MusicDish e-Journal

Audiolife Will Offer Artists Worldwide A Streamlined Solution For Selling Music Online

Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com), the Los Angeles-based Artist Services Company responsible for the development of a new media web-platform specifically designed for indie artists to sell music online and on-demand to fans, is set to "go worldwide" just one week after their public beta launch. The company announced today that beginning Monday, February 9th, 2009, artists across the globe will be able to sell music online directly to their fans anywhere in the world.

"The response from our public beta launch was overwhelming," remarked Audiolife Founder and CEO, Brandon Hance. "Within 24 hours we had over 300 new artists sign-up and begin using our tools for creating physical and digital merchandise. The majority of those have already started selling music and merchandise directly to fans."

Audiolife's international platform will allow artists to:

* Create their own virtual store with an unlimited number of downloads, ringtones, CDs and merchandise items.

* Sell directly to fans on any website, blog or social network on the web.

* Have one central place to design custom products and manage all e-commerce.

* Easily buy high quality, affordable CDs and merchandise with no minimums for live shows and events.

* Focus on making music while Audiolife handles all on-demand manufacturing, distribution, customer service and accounting.

"We will continue to push forward and implement new features that will serve the artist and their fans," added Hance. "Our team has been working day and night since the launch responding to the demands of artists from the U.S. to Canada and the U.K., and we are confident that adding international selling and distribution capabilities is the next logical step toward fulfilling our promise of keeping the artist top of mind: this new feature will give artists everywhere the opportunity to make money with no up-fronts or inventory required."

About Audiolife
Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com), a division of Inhance Media, is an Artist Services Company founded in 2005 by USC graduates Brandon Hance, Aaron Wiener, and Nishit Rathod. Based in Los Angeles, California, the company is currently in public beta and continues their dedication to empowering artists through new technology solutions.

MusicDishTV: 12 the Band - Twilight (live performance)

Live performance by 12 the Band of their song "Twilight" from their debut album 'Streets and Avenues'. Conscious fusion of the indigenous music of Trinidad and Tobago, primarily Calypso, with other popular forms of music such as Reggae, Rock, Soul, Jazz to create a sound affectionately called Neo Calypso. www.12theband.com

"In this live perfomance of 'Twilight', 12 The Band are on top of their game. The song is a wonderful blend of calypso/jazz/reggae music, which is affectionately called Neo Calypso. This version of 'Twilight' is both laidback, yet powerful at the same time. This is a fantastic performance and one can't help but see the musical talent that is prevalent here." - MusicDishTV

MusicDishTV is more than an online video channel; it is the place to find out what's happening in the music world and hear brilliant new talent before they hit the radio airwaves. Artists & bands can submit their videos at http://tv.musicdish.net.

Rustie Blue Has Landed Another #1

"One Hot Summer Ago" is one of the most beautiful ballads of the last years. A song to love and cry that works deep inside your heart, thanks to the wonderful and technically perfect voice of Rustie Blue. She is one of the most exciting female vocalists in today's country music scene," Rafel Corbi, Radio RPEM-FM

Nashville, TN (February 5, 2009) - Center Stage Productions recording artist Rustie Blue continues to gain International popularity with her unique style of country music. Blue has reached the top of the European Country Music Chart once again with her sultry ballad, "One Hot Summer Ago." This is Rustie's third #1 on the European CMA Chart. "One Hot Summer Ago" was the lead single from Blue's latest album, "Stronger Than Steel" One Hot Summer Ago" is a song that looks back to that first love when it was innocent and perfect, written by Gilles Godard and Willie Mack. Rustie is also climbing the Country HOTDISC Chart with her third single, "Shape Up Heart, " (Larry Wayne Clark, Sherry Garland) which is sitting at #4; It has been released via January's, Country HotDisc Compilation, and is on it's way to U.S. Radio via February's M-T-M. Compilation, Nashville.

"I believe in Rustie and her music and she deserves the best"., Promoter & Radio Personality, Nikos Garavelas, CMA award winning "Best International Broadcaster from Greece."

"Her vocal is stronger and more forceful, and her delivery excellent. The songs suit her raunchy style and with great guitars fiddles and steel its like listening to a female who is more like Gretchen than Dolly.," Gerry Ford, Country Music & Dance, Scotland.

Rustie- An Award-Winning Recording Artist, and a full-time Entertainer, has come a long way since her first album ,"That Oughta Do It." Blue has graced the pages of many high profile publications such as Country Weekly, Music Row Magazine. Music City News, Country Stars Online, Up Country Magazine, and has had 4 hits singles, Shape Up Heart, One Hot Summer Ago, Chip Chip, (duet with Bill Anderson), and Jones On The Jukebox (Becky Hobbs). She has performed at the Ryman, CMA Festival in Nashville, WSM Midnite Jamboree, won an award with Bill Anderson by the European Country Music Association for "Vocal Collaboration Of The Year", has been nominated for "Female Artist Of The Year" by Music Box France along side of Reba, Shania, Gretchen Wilson, Alison Kraus, Martina McBride, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. She has enjoyed tours in Europe, Australia and New Zealand and is looking forward to her return! Rustie is currently in the tour planning stage and planning her first music video. Fans from around the world will also have a chance to meet Rustie in June at the CMA Fest 2009.

Fans can also hear both "One Hot Summer Ago" and "Shape Up Heart" at www.rustieblue.com or www.myspace.com/rustieblue. Rustie's latest CD "Stronger Than Steel" is available via Rustie's website, which will be signed by Rustie if requested, ITunes, CDBABY, Amazon, several of Super D's partner companies and many other on-line digital retailers .

Tryxo.com - The Independent Artists' Answer To The Recession

Tryxo is the newest hot spot for independent artists that want to be heard on a global stage. Tryxo is an online store for digital downloads, offering strictly independent music. So why chose Tryxo? It is FREE to sign up, and artists will retain 75% of the sales on their music, well above industry rates. All that is required is to sign up for a free account at www.Tryxo.com

In these recessionary times, Tryxo offers several advantages to artists, and especially their fans, including:
- high-quality pre-approved music
- a low price ($0.59 per download)
- no limitations to how many times a song that was purchased can be downloaded or copied onto the mp3 players or CDs.

"This is a store, not a community, dating site or a combination of all," noted Founder Natalie Vandersluis. "The goal is to promote great independent music worldwide and to fully support the artist by giving him the major percentage of the sales."

In the future Tryxo is planning to provide online radio streams. Listeners will be able to find out more on the artists in rotation as well as request that the artist perform in their region.

Tryxo is an online store for digital downloads with strictly independent music. They strictly focus on providing talented independent artists with a high quality marketplace for their products. Tryxo will provide a viable sales record not just clicks on your MySpace page or free downloads.
www.tryxo.com