17th Annual USA Songwriting Competition Kicks Off

Entries are currently being accepted for the 17th Annual USA Songwriting Competition. Winning songs of the 17th Annual USA Songwriting Competition will receive airplay on a nationally syndicated radio program “Acoustic Café” as well as Sirius XM Satellite Radio. This is the first Songwriting Competition that gives airplay to the winning songs, giving deserving bands, songwriters the recognition and exposure they deserve. Entrants stand to win a grand prize of over US$50,000 in cash and music gear from sponsors such as Sony, D’Addario Strings, Audio-Technica, Presonus, IK Multimedia, and more, making this the largest prize package for any annual songwriting competition. Other sponsors include: New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, AirplayAccess.com, Onboard Research, Acoustica, Livewire Musician, Sonoma Wireworks, Livewire Musician, etc. Los Angeles based songwriters Nenna Yvonne and Alexander Cardinale swept the top two positions of the 16th Annual USA Songwriting Competition (2011). Nigerian born Nenna Yvonne won Overall Grand Prize as well as the first prize of the Pop category with her song “Go Around”. This marks the first time in 6 years that the top song was written by a solo songwriter. Alexander Cardinale and co-writer Morgan Taylor Reid of Los Angeles, CA won first prize in the Pop category as well as Overall Second Prize with their song “Traffic Lights”. Alexander Cardinale is professional Hollywood actor as well as a singe songwriter. Molly Hunt became the youngest winner in the history of the USA Songwriting Competition at just 15 years old along with co-writers Troy Johnson & Jack Williams from Nashville, TN won first prize in the country category as well as Overall Third Prize with their song “Go There”. For the first time all 10 finalists in the Country category are all collaborations, marking the importance and significance of collaboration in recent years of songwriting. Helle Hansen, from Denmark is a 10-time consecutive year honorable mention winner, making her the most consecutive year winner so far. Other winners came from Peru, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and Austria USA Songwriting Competition has a long history of having winners getting recording and publishing contracts, have their songs placed on the charts as well as having their songs placed on film and television. 2009 First Prize winner (country) was signed to Universal Records. 2005 First Prize winner (Pop) Kate Voegele was signed to Interscope Records the year after she won and had her winning song hit top 40 on the Billboard Charts, her latest album hit Top 10 on the Billboard 200 Album charts this summer. 2007 Overall Grand Prize Winner Ari Gold had his winning song “Where The Music Takes You” hit #10 on the Billboard Dance Charts. Darrell Scott, winner of the country category of the 2005 USA Song writing Competition had his winning song cut by award winning country singer Faith Hill. Last year's winner in the instrumental category, Christopher Tinn won two Grammy awards in 2011. Judges include A&R managers from record labels such as Warner, Capitol Records, Universal, BMG/SONY Music. Songs may be entered in 15 different categories including Pop, Rock/Alternative, R&B and Country. Entries are accepted from now through May 31, 2012. First 1,000 entries will each receive a USA Songwriting Competition Compilation CD. Entries may be entered with MP3 files, Youtube videos or Soundcloud files. For more information, visit www.songwriting.net or email info@songwriting.net.

Ruhan, A Chinese Singing Star In The Making, At Midem 2012

Shanghai Synergy Culture & Entertainment Group, together with China General Administration of Press & Publication (GAPP) and the China Audio Video Association (CAVA), proudly presents a rising new star, Ruhan, at MIDEM 2012 in Cannes. A press conference and cocktail reception followed by Ruhan's performing three tracks from her debut album "Time to Grow" at China Pavilion R02.01 on Sunday Jan 29th at 2pm. "Time to Grow" superbly showcases Ruhan's rich and melodious voice and wide vocal range. Consisting of ten tracks sung in Chinese with two featuring English translations, the album represents a truly international project. The writers for this album include the Swedish pianist Robert Wells, whilst the production mixing team is led by the Swedish mixing engineer, Bernard Lohr whose credits include working with Celine Dion, Westlife and Il Divo to name a few. "Time to Grow" is licensed and released by The Silva Screen Record Group, an international London-based independent record company, which is also home to one of the world's leading film and television specialist soundtrack labels. Through Silva Screen's worldwide distribution network the album is available in the US and Canada, via eOne Entertainment, and digitally throughout Europe via IODA. "Time To Grow" is the first album to be released in the "Earth's Music" project, which is part of China's 12th Five-Year National Economic Development Plan. This project is administrated by Shanghai Synergy as part of the China Music Industry Park–Shanghai, a national initiative by Chinese government intended to build China into the world's largest entertainment market. Phase I of the Music Industry Park was completed in 2011. The Shanghai Government recently announced that the Riverside area in the Xui Hui District will be designated for development of Phase II of the Music Industry Park. Phase II will be administrated by Shanghai Synergy. Ruhan's credits include her acclaimed performance in the double Grammy Award winning album, "Calling All Dawns" by Christopher Tin. This album is significant because it features the first Chinese-born singer to be released internationally via independent distribution before it had been released in China. In 2009, Ruhan won the First Prize at the 18th Discovery International Festival and Second Prize for bel-canto at the prestigious Llangollen International Music Festival, held in Wales. Ruhan is one of the first artists actively promoted by the national Chinese government. Other artists include the world renown pianist Lang Lang. These activities are part of China's 12th Five-Year Economic Development initiative to promote Chinese culture and artists internationally, and help popularize Chinese artistry on the World Stage. Shanghai Synergy is a major record label in China. a-Peer Synergy is an artist management company. For any additional information, please contact: Jean Hsiao Wernheim, email: jean@a-peer.com www.ruhan-timetogrow.com

Barix Audio over IP Solution to Support Live Streams from 2012 International Piano Festival

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, January 16, 2012 — Audio over IP pioneer Barix AG will bring the 2012 International Piano Festival to a global audience this year through the power of streaming media. The International Piano Festival is a series of weekly piano concerts taking place from March 3 through April 7, 2012 at the historic 400-seat Teatro Miela in Trieste, Italy. The Association 'Il Concerto, founded in 2007 to spread knowledge and love for music, hosts the annual event. Featured performers this year include internationally-known musicians Anna Fedorova, Natalia Morozova, Marcos Madrigal, Roberto Prosseda, Trio Maurice and the duo Chiara Soave-Cecilia Baccolo. Barix will provide a complete Audio over IP solution to support the live audio streams originating from the theater. Listeners can access the streams at home or on the go at http://www.ilconcerto.eu/Il_Concerto/Live.html using desktop computers, smart phones, tablets and other web-accessible devices with audio reception. The Association 'Il Concerto cites broadcast-quality sound, flexibility and ease of use as key reasons for choosing Barix. “Barix makes broadcasting applications dramatically simple," said Riccardo Radivo, artistic director of the International Piano Festival. “In addition to supporting live streams in the theater, the Barix Audio over IP solution will enable listeners everywhere to hear the concerts on desktop computers, smart phones and other audio devices, expanding the vistas of the Association's knowledge and love of music.” The International Piano Festival audio feeds will originate from a front of house mixer in the theater. A Barix Exstreamer 1000 professional Audio over IP device will receive a balanced stereo signal from a mixer output, and encode the audio for distribution over a high-speed broadband connection. (A second stereo output from each mixer will connect to a digital recorder for live recording.) Barix Instreamer firmware will encode the analog audio signals in the MPEG1 Layer III 48Khz format — the highest bit rate allowed for maximum audio quality. The broadband connection will transport the digital encoded signals to a remote Icecast server, which enables the live stream over fixed and mobile devices. About Barix AG (www.barix.com) Barix AG, headquartered in Zurich Switzerland, specializes in research and development of state of the art IP based communication and control technology. Barix products are stand-alone and able to remotely connect worldwide over standard networks / Internet offering new and improved solutions to the professional audio distribution, communication and automation industry. Barix products provide solutions in audio over IP (audio distribution and monitoring, communication, security) and automation (remote controlling, monitoring and maintenance). # # # Barix AG, Seefeldstrasse 303, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland Phone: +41 43 43322 11, Fax: +41 44 2742849 Barix Technology Inc, St. Paul, MN – (866) 815-0866 http://www.barix.com http://www.ip-audio.info

Jarrell Guitars Debuts "Monte Pittman Signature" Guitar at NAMM 2012

As part of NAMM Show 2012 being held on January 19-22 in Anaheim California, guitar manufacturing mogul Phillip Jarrell will showcase the latest and greatest creations in the Jarrell Guitar collection. Featuring the debut of the revolutionary Monte Pittman Signature Series of 3 guitars: MPS.1, MPS.f, and the MPS*Classic, attendees will have the opportunity to get 'hands on,' up close and personal with the new line, experiencing the unique vibe for themselves at the Jarrell Booth (4198). A press conference will be held on Saturday, January 21st at 11 a.m. with Jarrell Guitars, Seymour Duncan, Orange Amps, and Monte Pittman. After a year of prototypes and tests, the first live performance on the new final design, Monte Pittman Signature Jarrell MPS will be at Super Bowl 2012, played by Monte Pittman himself during pop superstar Madonna's half-time show. Pittman has been Madonna's guitarist for the last decade. The Monte Pittman Signature Jarrell MPS is the result of the collaboration between the award winning visionary designer Phillip Jarrell and world renowned artist, writer, and guitarist Monte Pittman. Pittman plays so many different styles of music during any given performance that, until now, he required many different types of guitars to accommodate his needs. Utilizing Pittman's feedback, Jarrell Guitars worked with MJ at the Seymour Duncan Shop to transform the finest MPS guitar at the time into something completely new - the most versatile instrument ever made. The Monte Pittman Signature Jarrell MPS boasts a mega set of Seymour Duncan pick ups with a P-Rail neck, STk-S7 Vintage Hot Stack middle and a custom design SH-13 Dime Bucker Bridge. Both neck and bridge have 3 position mini switches, with custom wiring using a Super 5 way switch, and a kill switch. All together it seems Monte Pittman and Jarrell Guitars are hell bent on rocking the world - the sound of which is none other than simply amazing. Jarrell Guitars was named "2010 Manufacturer of the Year" at the Music Industries Association of Canada (MIAC) Show in Canada, and has received accolades from PremierGuitar.com. http://jarrellguitars.com http://jarrellguitars.com/news29/ http://www.jarrell-mps.com/ http://www.jarrellguitars.com/artistpage_home.html Contact info: Eric de Fontenay ecfont@musicdish.net +1-718-278-0662

LITTLE FREDDIE KING new 2012 CD "Chasing tha Blues"

New Orleans, LA. - Former Fat Possum Records artist and The Last "Gut-Bucket" Bluesman Standing is at it again! King is releasing his third cd on indie label MadeWright Records - 17 January 2012 and distributed by Portland, OR based, "BDC Distribution". To order contact Frank Brandon, frank@bdcdistribution.com. The album was recorded at the "funky" Piety Street Studio in N.O. and mastered by the Grammy winning audio engineer, John Fischbach (Stevie Wonder, "Songs in the Key of Life") and produced by "Wacko" Wade Production, LLC. Little Freddie King's life has always been hard, Hell, not long ago he was blown out of New Orleans by Katrina and went missing for a time. When he finally settled back into town, Freddie was forced to move out of his new apartment by toxic Chinese drywall that was wrecking the place. It's always been this tough, and it always will be. "CHASING THA BLUES" takes you on a rough ride through Freddie's life. You get to meet "Crackho Flo" and hang out at the "Bucket of Blood". It's all in the songs. No matter whether it's at home at BJ's Lounge, on the road in New York, or overseas, the vocals are made of grit and tears, and the guitar licks can't be written down. The power is in the spaces between the notes. www.littlefreddieking.com