Friday, August 7, 2009

IndieShows 2009 Battle of the Bands!

It's almost time for the 2009 Battle of the Bands FINALS!!

COMPETING BANDS
Wampatees
Just Five
Philly Moves
Chromosom
Gary Michael Turner
Burn The Mute
Kevin M Thomas
Dirk Baradel
Threshold
Brandon Robinson
Murkey
the SEEDhe

VOTING SCHEDULE
Round 1 - October 5th
Round 2 - October 19th
Round 3 - November 2nd
Round 4 - November 16th
Championship Round - December 14th
Winner Announced - December 28th

VOTE
http://battle.indieshows.net

SPONSORS
Mi2N
MusicDish Network
LPM Voice Magazine
Media Piks
FatCat Radio Network
Indiescreet
The Muse's Muse

TryXo Announces Indiegrrl Conference Showcase Lineup

Online music retailer TryXo announced the line-up for its sponsored stage at Nashville's upcoming IndieGrrl Conference at the Hotel Preston. Spanning two days/nights (August 21-22), the TryXo Entertainment Stage will feature some of today's top independent female performers as well as open mic sessions for yet undiscovered talent.

TryXo founder and president Natalie Vandersluis will also be heading a workshop called "European Indie Music Scene" with valuable strategies for American female-based artists wishing to enter the E.U. market.

EUROPEAN INDIE MUSIC SCENE
Hosted by TryXo's Natalie Vanderslulis
Friday, August 21st - 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Room 3 - Promo Productions Sponsored Room
Hotel Preston, Nashville

TryXo INDIEGRRL SHOWCASES
Main TryXo Entertainment Stage next to Exhibit Hall, Hotel Preston

Friday, August 21, 2009
1:00 - 1:45 - Open Mic
2:00 - 2:45 - Katie Pearlman
3:00 - 3:45 - Inky Glass
4:00 - 4: 45 - Sharon Abreu
5:00 - 5:45 - Erika Carey
6:00 - 6:45 - Lachi
7:00 - 7:45 - Jessica
8:00 - 8:45 - Amanda Abizaid
9:00 - 9:45 - Jen Woodhouse
10:00 - 10:45 - Rachel Lee Walsh
11:00 - 11:45 - Casey McKenzie

Saturday, August 22, 2009
1:00 - 1:45 - Open Mic
2:00 - 2:45 - Open Mic
3:00 - 3:45 - Open Mic
4:00 - 4: 45 - Open Mic
5:00 - 5:45 - Open Mic
6:00 - 6:45 - Brooke Trout
7:00 - 7:45 - Amy Clarke
8:00 - 8:45 - Broda
9:00 - 9:45 - STARK
10:00 - 10:45 - Alyson Greenfield
11:00 - 11:45 - Hannah Miller

TryXo is an online music store offering DRM-free digital downloads of the best independent music to music lovers worldwide. Focused on providing artists with the best retail solution in the industry, the company offers free account registration and 75% royalty on all digital music sales. Recognizing the importance of providing a compelling music shopping experience in a competitive market, TryXo offers uniform download price of $.59, high-quality music pre-approved by its staff as well as unlimited downloads/copies of purchased music for multiple computers and music players. TryXo will be launching online radio streams to better promote its artists to customers.
http://www.TryXo.com

Power Move Records Presents "She Fine" by Mr. Gin & C. Gutta (f. Crush)

"She Fine" by Mr. Gin and C. Gutta featuring Crush [Power Move Records / DFW Muzik] has a nice head bopping beat and a solid hook. It's a jam that "young G's" will enjoy blasting as they cruise the streets looking for, um, let me clean this up and just say "babes." Gyrating their bodies to the music, "She Fine" is guaranteed to get the ladies in the club "low to the 'flo." Because of the lyrics and guttural female moans interspersed throughout the song, this one is rated "Parental Advisory Warning," but the track is radio friendly. That said, the song definitely has an adult theme to it:

"What it is, what it do Lil' mama, you looking good I like the way you flossing your body You keep it up"

"Out to dance, she get messy She show it off just for me Got a gutter chick that want to I love it cause she be"

"Hard at G's with it, little mama's showing out She on the stage, doing tricks, got players turned out Hey, what you waiting on, c'mon just roll with me From the way's she smiling, she with it, let's gone get it Who's got her feeling right, her fingers everywhere Now her friend rubbing, touching on my girl there If she was your girl, now she's leaving with me Her and home girl, my ole' lady, oohwee"

The song stays on course from beginning to end. It's a fresh cut, and I think we'll be hearing more from this musical combo.

- Review By Michele Wilson-Morris

----- 'Father's Day' is the newest release from Power Move Records and DFW Muzik. Father's Day captures the essence of the hip-hop culture with new creative songs as well as throwback classics.

Buy 'Father's Day' mp3 album on iTunes

DFW Muzik on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/dfwmuziklive -----

John Hampson Of Nine Days #1 Hit Absolutely (Story Of A Girl) Releases His Shiny New Album On iTunes

Long Island, NY (August 17, 2009) On Tuesday August 11th, John Hampson of Nine Days (#1 hit "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)") officially releases his Shiny New Album to the masses on iTunes.

As the first track of the album suggests, the hit songwriter from Long Island NY, has spent the last few months "On The Road" performing a selection of tunes from his brand new solo album, "Shiny New Album" (New Line/Pop Core/Dirty Poet).

The shows consist of songs from his new release such as; "When We Were 22", "Good Time For A Mistake", "Stella", plus a true highlight, "How Much"; his current single, which has been garnering regular airplay at stations such as: UR CHR KFMI (Eureka, CA), UR HOT KLTZ (Glassgow, MT), UR HOT KLAN (Glassgow, MT), RR-I CHR (KZII Lubbock, TX) and more. While not denying the audience "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)" - the song that made him famous - and "If I Am", the second of his two top 40 hits as the lead singer of Nine Days (from their debut release "The Madding Crowd" (Epic/Sony) which has sold nearly a million copies worldwide), the focus of the shows is on the new music. The new songs reflect a maturity in lyrical themes and musical dynamics, but the clever wordplay and big melodies have not been left behind (John did, after all, just write the first single, "The In Crowd", off of Disney Records artist Mitchell Musso's new album).

You can preview tracks and buy the album here: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=321619380&s=143441

You can learn more about John at: http://www.myspace.com/johnhampson

ABOUT JOHN HAMPSON OF NINE DAYS John Hampson first burst on to the scene as lead singer and songwriter for Nine Days, a rock/power pop band who hit Gold with "Absoluely (Story of a Girl)" in the early 2000's and who still has popularity today. John has since pursued a solo career. His songs have been heard in many TV shows and Films and the hit song that made the band famous is still a modern rock radio staple. Recently, he had a hit with "The In Crowd" sung by Mitchell Musso for Hollywood/Disney Records (produced by Brian Malouf) as well.

http://www.johnhampson.com

Swagga Jonez Releases Debut Album, "Intro To Budha" Available August 18, 2009

Growing up in Gainesville and South Dallas, TX, Budha echoes the life he's experienced in his music. Budha says "I am a universal artist; I'm comfortable in many suits. I can go from down south crunk to conscious songs." This is apparent on the album, from the hard-beats and lyrics of "P*L*A*Y AH" to the smooth R&B realisms of life, in the hit single "Come Around".

After being introduced to Hip Hop fans on; "We Right Hea" of the album MVP'Z Most Valuable Playaz 2000, "Yee" featuring Too Short and Budha produced Lil Jon on E-40's album "Ghetto Report Card" and then Budha's song "Real Talk" (now known as "Party") on "Sick Wid It Umbrella", produced by Droop-E. The time has come for Budha to release the much anticipated "Intro to Budha". "Intro to Budha" features rap legend Bun B of UGK in "Put It Down" and the ever so popular Paul Wall featured in "Drop It".

Budha chose an indie label for the release of his debut album. He feels that an indie label would allow him to control the message that best portrays him. There are rumblings that Budha is the next sensation in the rap world as evident by his song writing ability and collaborations in the music industry.

You can also check-out Budha with Big Daddy Kane, Bonecrusher and E 40 in the indie film "Deadly Heist" as the character Mac Henry.

Available at Best Buy, FYE, Sam Goody, iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Shock Hound, emusic, LaLa and more.

http://www.IntroToBudha.com

Producer Pack Presents FatLoud Samples - Hip Hop Construction Kings For Music Producers & DJ's

Producer Pack announce the release of Hip Hop construction Kings created by FatLoud Samples, the Ultimate New Skool Hip Hop Producer Sample Pack

Become inspired and let your creative juices flow with this amazing new samplepack. Ever fancied yourself as the next Timbaland, Jay Z, Neptunes or Dr Dre? Maybe your inspiration has run dry or your latest project is missing that certain something to make it BANG?

Or perhaps you're simply looking for a solid library of dope drum loops and construction kits, that will take you to the next level.

Whatever your musical needs, 'Hip Hop construction Kings' is sure to meet them. Containing over 300MB of banging original royalty-free sounds and upfront loops, you will find a superb library of samples here certain to fuel your creativity and inspiration.

Created by 'FatLoud', an urban music production team and record label with a passion for Hip Hop R&B music and over 15 years of music-making experience, be assured that this pack has been patiently and carefully crafted over a long period of time by people who truly love Hip Hop / R&B music genre and knows what sounds are hot. No dull or uninspiring sounds here, only ones that will give your music a truly cutting edge sound and set your speakers alight!

A number of different methods have been used throughout for creating the many sounds and loops contained within this pack, ensuring great variety and diversity. With loops and beats ranging in tempo from 80-100BPM and ready to be dropped into any mix or project without any extra truncating or fiddling around, plus 8 completely original studio quality construction kits and 150 loops. Hip Hop R&B music producers will be able to find many things here that will enable them to create awesome tracks easily and consistently.

The pack comes as Acidized (WAV) and Rex2 formats for easy use within most music software programs for PC or MAC computers

Check out the 6 1/2 minute demo MP3 for a small taste of the sounds featured within this pack. If you really wanna make your speakers bang and make the floor shake and the dancefloors go crazy, 'Hip Hop construction Kings' has exactly what you are looking for!!

This product is available at an amazing low price of £19.95 as a digital download and available only from Producer Pack.

To preview this sample pack, please visit www.producerpack.com

http://www.producerpack.com/products/Slap_Demo_FatLoud.mp3

Mi2N Offers August Discount Special On It's Music PR Service

Leading music industry news portal Mi2N is running a special promotion for its Music PR service. For the month of August, Mi2N is offering a 10% discount on all its PR packages, ranging from the discounted prices of $8.95 for PR Express to $161.95 for PR Platinum Video - meeting the needs of various marketing budgets in today's economic climate.

Mi2N Music PR service provides guaranteed press release placements through a network of newswires, eGroups, blog communities, boards and forums, as well as MP3 and video distribution. In addition to guaranteed PR placement, the packages provide exposure through the Mi2N website and daily newsletters sent to over 24,000 music professionals across the globe.

For more information on Mi2N's Music PR service and to start submitting your news right away, simply visit http://www.mi2n.com/input.php3
As always, Mi2N also offers free submission of music press releases to its website.

Kerchoonz K-box Selected 'Runner-up' Music Therapy MVP By Therapy Times

The K-box, the first gel audio technology that turns any solid surface into a speaker system introduced by social media platform Kerchoonz.com, was selected as a 'Runner-up' for Music Therapy Most Valuable Product of 2009 in the Therapy Times' 2009 MVP Awards. Therapy Times found that the K-box provided therapists with the ability to create a portable music therapy environment.

"Something new to the field that I think has got a lot of potential to change the way we use music therapy is the K-Box. Using special 'gel audio technology', this handheld speaker can bring people out from the seclusion of their headphones and share what their music with me, just by using any flat surface. We're not shut out anymore, but sharing a musical experience, working primarily on the rhythm and vibrations of the music. Even better, I've found that clients enjoy changing between different flat surfaces I have in my office because it changes the frequencies of the vibrations - wood, metal, or plastic tables can all be very interesting amplifiers." - Ryan Thames, MT-BC http://www.therapytimes.com/content=0302J84C48769286406040441/#Music

By plugging the device into any laptop, portable gaming device, MP3 player, mobile phone, TV or any 3.5 mm audio jack and then placing K-box on a desktop, table top or wall, the product uses the Gel Audio Technology to convert the entire surface underneath it into a giant audio speaker. Unlike most mini-speakers, the K-box does not produce a 'tinny' sound. Instead, the denser the surface, the deeper the bass response. This hybrid speaker has both a standard speaker inside (delivering mid-to-high frequencies) and the Gel Audio Technology (delivering low-end bass frequencies through surfaces).

The size of a mobile phone, the rubber-based device has an average output performance of 95dB at 1m, with the bass performance varying, dependent on differing surface levels with output ranges between 40Hz-20Khz. Recharged through USB connection, the K-box offers up to 20 hours of playtime between charges. K-box is available at www.kerchoonz.com/kbox, selling at £49.99 or $74.50 USD, plus shipping & handling.

About Kerchoonz.com
Kerchoonz, founded by Indiana Gregg and Ian Morrow in 2008, is a forward thinking, multi-media company conceived to help level the playing field for artistic people through the democratising power of the internet and freedom of choice for the artists and the public. Kerchoonz.com is a social networking platform that allows free exchange of music, art, ideas and entertainment. It enables fans to search and discover new music, play games, meet people, watch and upload video, keep up with news, post blog, and a whole lot more. It is an ad-funded model that allows artists and musicians to be paid for their audio and video stream, as well as their free downloads.
http://www.kerchoonz.com

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Purchase Tickets Now For The 2009 Underground Music Awards Taking Place 08/23/09 @ BB Kings In NYC

Urban Threshold's 7th Annual Underground Music Awards will take place August 23rd, 2009 at the world Famous BB Kings Concert Hall in Times Square, NYC

Urban Threshold's Underground Music Awards is the biggest and brightest national award show for indie artists.
http://www.UndergroundMusicAwards.com

Music superstars such as Slick Rick, MOP, GrandMaster Flash, The Force MD's, Kid Capri, DJ Red Alert, Marley Marl, MC Shan, Kool G. Rap & More have all been honored at Urban Threshold's Underground Music Awards

Additionally, Saigon, Remy Ma, Sha Stimuli, Styles P, Mims, Papoose, Joell Ortiz, Maino, Serius Jones, Graph, Killah Priest, Cormega & more are all past winners of Urban Threshold's Underground Music Awards

Equally important, major press such as MTV, The Source, XXL Magazine, Don Diva Magazine, Showtime & more have all covered the UMA's.

The 2009 Underground Music Awards will feature a special tribute to Rap Pioneer DMC of the legendary rap group Run DMC.

Urban Threshold's Underground Music Awards is a national award show that breaks all of the rules of conventionalism. Unlike the Grammy Awards or the Billboard Music Awards, the Underground Music Awards were created to acknowledge and honor the achievements and contributions of unsigned and independent artists within the urban music scene.

After 6 very successful years, Urban Threshold Enterprises Inc. continues to make it their top priority to bring together music professionals, artists, DJ's, fans, media outlets and more to network, build relationships and celebrate the culture of independent urban music. The Underground Music Awards combines the elements of an award show, a music conference, an informational seminar, and an entertainment showcase into one lively event.

Moreover, It features and participants, from all over the world, representing the full spectrum of underground Hip Hop, R&B, Gospel, and Reggae music and fashion as a global phenomenon.

The 2008 Underground Music Awards was held at the world famous BB Kings Concert Hall in New York City's Times Square. Last year's award show marked one of the year's most celebrated events in NYC. Special Awards were presented to the legendary Slick Rick and DJ Pioneer GrandMaster Flash. The '08 UMA's received extensive coverage from Clear Channel's Power 105.1FM, the Source Magazine, and All Hip Hop.com. These media outlets have pledged to support the UMA's in 2009. The excitement and buzz of the 2008 awards show was only paralleled by its overall support and attendance. As the date of the 2009's show draws near, the same sense of anticipation is growing.

The 2009 Underground Music Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in NYC on August 23rd. The legendary BB Kings Concert Hall in the heart of NYC's Times Square will play host to the awards ceremony. The event will be a star-studded mega musical show with performances by the nominees, featured major label acts and appearances by film and fashion celebrities.

The 2009 Underground Music Awards will Feature Special Performances By Rap Pioneer DMC from the legendary Run DMC, Freeway, & more

EVENT: The 7th Annual Underground Music Awards

WHEN: Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

WHERE: BB Kings Concert Hall in Times Square, NYC (West 42nd Between 7th & 8th Ave's)

TIME: Doors Open @ 6PM Sharp

AGES: BB Kings is an All Ages Venue (All Ages Are Welcome)

SECURITY: There Will Be Very Tight Security with NYPD Stationed Outside (No Drugs, Gang Colors, No Violence, No Weapons)

Tickets are as follows:

General Admission: $40

VIP tickets: $80

Full Booth Tickets: $100 per person (Must purchase 4 for a booth)

You Can Purchase Tickets Online Via Ticketmaster.com Or in person at The BB Kings Box office In Times Square

To Purchase Tickets Log On To www.UndergroundMusicAwards.com or Www.Ticketmaster.Com

Purchase Tickets Now! For Sponsorship Opportunities call 917-355-3456 or Email Promoradio247@Gmail.com

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The New Music Seminar in Chicago at The Park West Theater on Tuesday, October 6th

THE NEXT NEW MUSIC SEMINAR WILL TAKE PLACE IN CHICAGO ON OCTOBER 6. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN.

What the New Music Seminar IS about:

* Seeing the music business and your opportunities a new way
* Learning to create the music and content you need to succeed
* Standing out from your competition
* Legal and business basics that you must know
* Keeping up with the latest technology to put you in front
* Managing and monetizing your relationship with your fans
* Networking with others to build your own music business foundation

What the New Music Seminar is NOT about:

* A debate about DRM
* How to get signed
* Getting your songs on the radio
* The politics of the music business
* Fitting In

The New Music Seminar gives you the vital information you need to start building your career TODAY.

This is a revolution! Album sales are down 50% since 2000, radio is breaking less new music than ever in history. Record companies are signing fewer and fewer new artists and artist development budgets continue to shrink.

As an artist, manager or label, how can you thrive and win in this challenging environment? Can you see where the business is going and prepare to profit from it?

Artists have never had so much power to control their own careers and build their achievements. There are 100’s of thousands of bands and unsigned artists out there. Learn how to leave them in the dust and create your own success. This may be the golden age for new artists if you know the secrets.

From the co-founder and director of the original legendary New Music Seminar comes a seminar for the new business of music.

This low-cost one day event will give you the knowledge and the tools to step into tomorrow’s music business today. The day will kick off with a keynote speech, followed by four seminars filled with vital information on how to see it and how to do it, accompanied by the New Music Seminar Handbook filled with important contact information and vital new music business basics. The Schmoozatorium will have important industry exhibitors and an opportunity for you to network with the other Seminar delegates.

No matter what type of music you are into, rock, hip hop, dance or polka, whether you play, sing, rap or spin, the New Music Seminar is where you’ll turn your music career into a success.

http://www.newmusicseminar.biz/

Fan Relationship Management: Quit Your Day Job

"What is hard is not to get the cash but to have that relationship with your fans."

This was a major theme stressed by Courtney Holt, President of MySpace Music, during his Q&A with Tom Silverman at the New Music Seminar 2009 that would reverberate throughout the day-long event. Communication between an artist and his or her fans is an essential element in a musician's survival, let alone ability to succeed. Informing fans of news and upcoming shows via direct communication is a great way to establish that bond and keep fans interested and turn passive listeners into diehard followers.

During the "Fan Relationship Management: Quit Your Day Job" panel, Tom Silverman laid out four distinct types of fans: first, there is the potential fan. He or she might stream a hit single or search for an artist on YouTube, but hasn't yet decided to buy the music. Second, there is the passive fan. He or she might come to a live performance or pay for a few downloads. Third, there is the active fan. He or she will buy new album releases and bring friends to concerts. Finally, there is the super fan. This type of fan buys every release, comes to every show with friends, and buys all the merchandise.

The trick is to turn as many people into super fans as possible and that is why establishing regular and meaningful communication between the artist and the fan is so important. Social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook can be very effective if used correctly. But, while adding friends is simple, turning them into fans and maintaining a relationship with them is a lot more difficult. What should the artist do?


Tom Silverman (Founder and Director NMS/Co-Conductor),Emily White (Partner, Whitesmith Entertainment), Ted Cohen (Managing Partner, TAG Strategic / Co-Conductor), Terry McBride (CEO, Nettwerk), Steve Greenberg (CEO and Founder, S-Curve Records) and Tim Westergren (Founder and CSO, Pandora)
"The goal of all these social networks tools is to get the email address of all artists' fans," said Steve Greenberg, the Founder/CEO of S-Curve Records. Email remains the most effective and reliable form of communication between the fans and the artists, in part because it is a direct link to the fan as opposed to through an intermediary.

Despite the importance of fostering a bond between the artist and the fan, musicians should be careful though not to spend too much time talking to fans and not enough time making music. Artists should consider hiring people who specialize in managing musicians' online lives. Also, musicians should take care not to spread themselves too thin. Instead, they should, "start local, start tribal," noted Terry McBride, CEO of Nettwerk. Having a small, loyal community of fans is better than a sprawling, loosely connected group of people who aren't so dedicated.

Professional musicians would be nothing without their fans. Artists become well-known and respected because people appreciate the art they create. Artists need to reach out to their fans and create a community in order to create new followers and turn the existing ones into super fans.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Artist Philip Vandermost Teams Up With Chart-Topping Record Producer For New Cd Release "The Long Path"

(Los Angeles, CA) - When musician Philip Vandermost launched his solo career last year, he was ready to establish himself as a songwriter and performer who connected with audiences everywhere. Today, Vandermost releases his second CD, "The Long Path," a record produced by Andrew Alekel who is credited for producing and engineering albums for No Doubt, Foo Fighters, Matt Costa, and Queens of the Stone Age. The album available on iTunes, Amazon.com and at select regional record stores across the country.

"I'm really proud of this new record because it's so much deeper than my previous work," says Vandermost. "Collaborating with Andrew was a great experience for me because he guided me in ways that were outside of my comfort zone, and that's what makes a great project come together." Vandermost was approached by Alekel after hearing the debut album "Automatic August" online, and then after one meeting, Vandermost knew his next project had to be conceived in a studio with a producer that could bring out his own signature sound which he desired for "The Long Path." The album was recorded at Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood, CA, taking only 11 days to record.

Songs like "Miles to Go" and "The Long Path" hold heavy classic rock influences and catchy verses, but most importantly, Vandermost's signature sound seamlessly mixes the past with the present, forming a sound that stands completely on its own. Each song is a thematic progression of experiences that trace the chapters of one's life and relationships. Particularly, the song entitled "The Long Path" which is the centerpiece of the album. It addresses the fears, dreams and challenges we all face down the "long path" of life.

Since releasing as a solo artist, Vandermost has been successfully establishing himself in the music community and has been featured in many publications such as Coast Magazine, The Orange County Register and Vintage Guitar Magazine. He continues to impress the critics for his for talented storytelling ability.

For complete artist info, photos or music, please visit www.philvandermost.com or www.myspace.com/philipvmusic.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Industry Spotlight: Christine Wang, Supervisor of International Marketing Department at Sony Music Entertainment China

During my recent trip to China for the Music Matters conference in Hong Kong, I met up with Christine Wang in Beijing. Ms. Wang started in the music business as a MusicDish intern in 2007 and went on to rise up the music ranks to Supervisor of International Marketing Department at Sony Music Entertainment China. Her insights and experiences gained working Sony's international roster in China should be of interest to anyone considering breaking into its music market. (see also Music Matters - A Window Into The Asian Music Market)

[EDF] So let's start with the basics. What are your department's [International Marketing Department] primary responsibilities?

[CW] Our department is responsible for everything related to international repertoire, including publishing, production, press releases, marketing, promotions, events, and strategic marketing. It is all focused on promoting international artists on Sony Music's roster in Chinese territory.

[EDF] And what are your specific functions as department supervisor?

[CW] My functions include everything above, with a focus on production, preparing all press releases, artist/album information and artist promotions across all media platforms. In addition, while we have a digital department, I am also responsible for online marketing as well as over ten artist global websites plus Sony Music official site updates. In short, we are a small version of a label, except for the A&R function.

[EDF] Right, your roster is given to you. But what a roster I must say! What are some of the artists/projects that you have worked on this year so far?

[CW] The releases I've worked on this year include Dido - Safe Trip Home, Pink - Funhouse, Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul, Beyonce - I Am.. Sasha Fierce (2CD), Celine Dion - My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection (2CD), Westlife - Karaoke DVD, John Legend - Evolver, Britney Spears - Circus, Christina Aguilera - Keeps Gettin' Better - A Decade Of Hits, Il Divo - The Promise, Sarah McLachlan - Closer: The Best Of Sarah McLachlan, The Fray - The Fray, David Archuleta - David Archuleta, David Cook - David Cook, Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted, and Michael Jackson 4 album re-releases (The Essential Michael Jackson, Thriller, Off The Wall, Invincible)

[EDF] The biggest star in that list is Michael Jackson, who passed away very recently. How did the Chinese media react to his death? And what was it like for you as the media's main intermediary for the story?

[CW] Yes, Michael Jackson's death had a huge impact on us. Do you know how I found out about his death? The news was announced around 3 AM Beijing time. I still clearly remember that morning. I was waken up by a phone call from a media outlet requesting his album information.

The Chinese media was so shocked by Michael Jackson's death. Early morning radio shows did features on him, print and internet all wrote positive reviews on his life and career. By noon, there were already programs dedicated to him on TV. So it was really widely covered and lasted for a couple of weeks. There are still TV programs rotating Michael Jackson's stories every day. Our department provided as much as information we could to the public, including sending out press release and audio/video content to support the media's coverage.

[EDF] The artists you work on are some of the biggest names in the music industry. So what works in reaching your chinese audience: radio, TV, print, web?

[CW] For international artists, the web naturally offers the most information, followed by radio and print. In the case of radio, despite the dominance of domestic repertoire, stations love to play the newest western music and they'll rotate a single quite often in the first two weeks, generally. Some radio stations even follow the US or UK charts.

But with respect to the artists that attracted the most media attention: Beyonce, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera and Kelly Clarkson. They all enjoyed good levels of print coverage, which also serves an important role in reaching our audience.

In regards to TV, there's very limited coverage for international content.

[EDF] What are some of the major Chinese media outlets that cover international artists; again in radio, TV, print, web?

[CW] Major radio stations that cover international artists include Hit FM, radio channels under Shanghai Media Group, and Guangdong Radio Station. For TV, CCTV digital channel, MTV China, and International Channel Shanghai. In the case of print, there's Hit Music, InMusic and China Daily. And while there are many outlets on the web, the two major ones are Sina and QQ.

[EDF] People are surprised when I say, "Chinese people don't like Western music." Of course, it's not that they don't like Western music, but we in the West tend to assume they do. So I use the phrase to drive a point: international repertoire represents a sliver of the overall chinese market.

[CW] Yes, the international repertoire represents a very small portion of the overall Chinese market. The domestic repertoire is very dominant. However, Chinese consumers do like big names and established pop/ R&B artists, such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Dido, Beyonce, Avril Lavigne, and Michael Jackson, of course. In more recent years, rock bands and hip-hop artists have been gaining popularity. In terms of sales, though, major Chinese pop stars seem to attract a broader audience.

[EDF] How difficult is it to create awareness around a new project?

[CW] It is relatively easy to create awareness on a new project for a globally established artists. However, the difficulty is in broadening the audience beyond their existing fanbase, or, even more challenging, breaking in new artists. Ten years ago, the domestic repertoire market was not very well developed. There weren't nearly as many pop stars as today. Most of the artists you'd hear of would be from Taiwan, Hong Kong or the West.

But over the past ten years, the Chinese domestic market has grown dramatically. More people are paying attention to the domestic repertoire now. This is particularly true for those with language barriers -- in other words, most Chinese -- who are being offered an ever-growing number of opportunities to enjoy Chinese music instead of being "forced," out of a lack of choices, to listen to western music.

Many assume that because the market is more open than before and young people have more foreign experience through higher education, there would be a larger amount of people enjoying western music. And while It's true that more people appreciate western music today, at the same time there are many new ways to access information and music. These people are innovative and creatively discovering unknown music. The chinese youth is more active than ever before and are finding their own cultural identity through music.

The Chinese media market is generalized and complicated; unlike the U.S. market which is fragmented along genres and lifestyles, such as, Disney Radio for pop music and The Source for hip hop. The lack of niche media markets in China makes it difficult to know which consumers you are reaching through a media outlet. This makes it particularly challenging to break new artists. For the people who like western music but cannot find a great music platform to know what is new, they tend to stick to the established names, which makes this small group of people very loyal to the artists, such as Celine Dion and Dido.

To add to the point about media, people working in the industry tend to have a preference for Chinese music. Therefore, DJs tend to play Chinese music more often and journalists are more likely to cover Chinese artists they know, rather than spending the time learning about what's new in western music market. In order to create greater awareness among media and the consumers, education still has a long way to go.

[EDF] The key point I retained is that China is a very challenging market, in large part because it is still on a path of development, from a copyright regime to supporting creativity. There is no question that the Chinese music industry and consumers will become increasingly sophisticated over the next decade. The question is how to position oneself to be able to play a role in that development.