Mi2N Launches Spring Promotion For PR Copywriting Services

Website: http://www.mi2n.com/services/mi2n_press.php3

Michele Wilson-Morris, Marketing & Communications Director for Mi2N-PRESS, announced the beginning of Mi2N-PRESS's Spring Sale. During the months of April and May 2010, all Mi2N-Press packages have been discounted by $30. Mi2N is the most comprehensive online music newswire service serving the industry since 1998.

"We wanted to do something to show our appreciation to our clients. Discounting the Mi2N-PRESS packages is a great way to give back to everyone who utilizes our service for two reasons. While it's a way of thanking our clients who already utilize the service, it also makes it more affordable and therefore more accessible to potential customers. And, we have several packages to choose from that make it possible to meet everyone's needs and budget."

Mi2N-PRESS includes:
* A professionally written, approximately 400 word press release within 2 business days of your paid submission (all press release details also must be provided)
* Automatic submission of your press release to the Mi2N website and it's over 35 syndicated newswires
* 15% discount on select Mi2N premium PR distribution packages
* A money back guarantee that your press release will be error free and delivered on time

"It doesn't matter how talented you are, the music business is first and foremost a business, and you have to treat it as such. Be creative with your music, but be professional on the business end. You should be putting just as much effort into your music and brand on the business side as you are on the creative end. People who are successful in the music industry know this. With Mi2N-PRESS and the other services that our company offers, you don't have to guess about whether you're putting your best foot forward. When we do the work for you, you'll know you are. Whether you're successful in the music business or not can be a toss of a coin, but your press releases don't have to be."

View Mi2N-PRESS discounted packages at http://www.mi2n.com/services/mi2n_press.php3

For more information about Mi2N-PRESS or any of the other marketing and promotional services that we offer, please call 718.619.8554.

International Superstar Blaq Fuego Releases His 2nd Hot Single IRON MAN 2 (MAGNETIZED) Ft. Ghostface Killah!

Website: http://www.myspace.com/bfuego
Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZBENvADgY0MP3

"Iron Man 2" (Magnetized)! Written/Produced by Blaq Fuego. Now available on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003F8CS5O/ref=dm_dp_trk1/275-4401812-0178459 & iTunes.

Direct listening link available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZBENvADgY0

Chicago, IL- "This month Blaq Fuego starts his Radio promotional tour with his new hit single "Iron Man 2" (Magnetized) said Geena Jinev Anac CEO of Lightening Entertainment Inc., a New Jersey based celebrity management company. His first stop is Sunday, April 18th on The Producer's Corner with Spud Too Tight, a high profile celebrity driven music tech talk show on iTunes Podcast which is also aired at: www.spudtootightmusic.ning.com."

An accomplished songwriter and producer, Blaq Fuego is the essence of pure rhythm, heart felt soul, art & charisma. As an artist, Blaq Fuego takes form of several genres, Reggae, Dancehall, Hip-Hop, Rap, RnB , and Reggaeton. The Ugandan born talent moved to Chicago after reaching international levels to further his career in music and has since been featured on several major projects with Chicago's Hip-Hop icons, such as Mikie Da Poet, (Violator Dj Squad) Cayex (C.I.M studios), Dj Shiney (U.K), Dj D'Mighty Hitman (U.K), S.B.L records, Artist Talent Spotting on the front line radio (U.K based).

In a perspective music is a universal language to Blaq Fuego, therefore bridging cultures across the globe is his mission.

Blaq Fuego, has collaborated with Mikie the Poet, for the soundtrack of the up coming movie "The Exploitation of Hip Hop!" starring Kanye West, MC Lyte, KRS One and a host of others. For videos and music on Blaq Fuego please visit these websites below.

businessasusualhiphop.com/home.html
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccNCZo0158g
www.myspace.com/bfuego

Jinev Geena Anac CEO Artist Manager
Lightening Entertainment Inc/LUXURIOUS LIFESTYLE SERVICES
Lightninginc1@aol.com
201-926-6084
lighteningentertainmentinc.tk/

UNArts: H-II - Human Trafficking Of Children/Adults - Global Law Enforcement/Relief Intervention

Website: http://www.unarts.org/H-II

Human Trafficking is the "'...recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons...' by improper means, such as force, abduction, fraud, or coercion, for an improper purpose, such as forced or coerced labour, servitude, slavery or sexual exploitation." -- UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. (1)

The H-II UN International Legal/Human Rights Focus is Human Trafficking of Children and Adults (2), the intervention encompasses an intensive coordinated global law enforcement incursion and relief initiative that includes:

* prosecution of criminals responsible for associated crimes.
* sheltering, medical care and rehabilitation for children and adult victims.

According to the "Training manual to fight trafficking in children for labour, sexual and other forms of exploitation" (ILO, UNICEF and the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking) (3):

* UNICEF estimates that 1,000 to 1,500 Guatemalan babies and children are trafficked each year for adoption by couples in North America and Europe.
* Girls as young as 13 (mainly from Asia and Eastern Europe) are trafficked as “mail-order brides.” In most cases these girls and women are powerless and isolated and at great risk of violence.
* Large numbers of children are being trafficked in West and Central Africa, mainly for domestic work but also for sexual exploitation and to work in shops or on farms. Nearly 90 per cent of these trafficked domestic workers are girls.
* Children from Togo, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana are trafficked to Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Gabon. Children are trafficked both in and out of Benin and Nigeria. Some children are sent as far away as the Middle East and Europe.
* Surveys indicate that 30 to 35 per cent of all sex workers in the Mekong sub-region of Southeast Asia are between 12 and 17 years of age.
* Mexico’s social service agency reports that there are more than 16,000 children engaged in prostitution, with tourist destinations being among those areas with the highest number.
* In Lithuania, 20 to 50 percent of prostitutes are believed to be minors. Children as young as age 11 are known to work as prostitutes. Children from children’s homes, some 10 to 12 years old, have been used to make pornographic movies.

Interpol estimates have placed human trafficking and illicit migration as a USD 28 billion enterprise, a crime that amounts to modern slavery, requiring a multitude of strategies at a range of levels to address the problem. Trafficking in human beings (THB) takes many forms, five of which are briefly covered below (4):

* Trafficking in women for sexual exploitation
* People smuggling
* Child sexual exploitation
* Trafficking for forced labour/servitude
* Trafficking in organs

Listen to the Victims

After the collapse of communism in 1989, millions of former Soviet bloc residents migrated abroad, breathing life into one of the oldest criminal enterprises—the trafficking of humans into sexual slavery. Since then, thousands of Eastern European women have been sold into prostitution. Photojournalist Mimi Chakarova investigates this rarely documented journey. -- The Price of Sex: Women Speak: Center for Investigative Journalism. (5)

Listen to the victims Jenea, Aurica, Corina, Olesea, an overview of Women at Risk and Sex Trafficking: How It Works:

www.priceofsex.org

UNArts: Humanitarian Intervention Initiative (H-II)

Protective Forces in Humanitarian Relief Operations, Non Lethal Fires, and Intervention Initiatives are the focus of the UNArts: Humanitarian Intervention Initiative (H-II) (6). The objectives are to increase exposure, strategic planning, development and implementation of relief efforts for the world's most complicated emergencies.

Country Music Association Artist Stephen Michael Apatow, (7) founder of Humanitarian Resource Institute and the United Nations Arts Initiative is currently expanding collaboration and collecting video footage of humanitarian interventions from DOD/NATO, United Nations, Relief Organizations and NGO's working in UN member countries.

References:

1. International Human Trafficking Research: U.S. Department of Justice: National Institute of Justice. Url: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/international/programs/inttraffick.html
2. International Bar Association Human Rights Institute: Url: http://www.ibanet.org/IBAHRI.aspx
3. Training manual to fight trafficking in children for labour, sexual and other forms of exploitation: ILO, UNICEF and the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking. Url: http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_exploitation.html
4. Trafficking in human beings: Interpol. Url: http://www.interpol.int/Public/THB/default.asp
5. The Price of Sex: Women Speak: Center for Investigative Journalism. Url: http://www.priceofsex.org
6. Humanitarian Intervention Initiative (H-II): Humanitarian Resource Institute, United Nations Arts Initiative. Url: http://www.unarts.org/H-II
7. Stephen Michael Apatow, Founder of Humanitarian Resource Institute and the United Nations Arts Initiative. Url: http://www.apatow.org

Atlanta Based Hip-Hop Artist Buck$ Releases New Single "It's Been A Long Time"

Website: http://www.myspace.com/buckBMA
Music: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-been-a-long-time-ep/id359269521

Krian Music Group announced the release of the single "It's Been A Long Time" from up and coming artist Buck$. The single is a collaboration with another noted Atlanta-based artist, Bobby V, and also contains the hard-hitting B-Side entitled "Neckwork." BUCK$ is presently recording and producing other songs for his upcoming debut album, which is slated for a summer release.

Addressing the issue of how the song came about, Buck$ stated, "It was initially about one woman in particular, but I expanded it to become a love letter to the streets. I originally recorded it in my Atlanta home studio, and after I had the beats, the lyrics just came to me. I actually wrote the lyrics to the song in about seven minutes." Buck$ recently built what he calls a $100,000 studio for $5,000 by piecing together a vocal booth and soundproofing it with suitable materials that were given to him by friends, colleagues, and even some things that he found on the streets.

Definitely hands on when it comes to his music, Buck$ handles most of the production and beats, as well as writing his lyrics. He does, however, occasionally collaborate with other artists to add that "something special" to the mix. While known as a rapper, though, it is difficult to categorize him as such because he incorporates sounds and rhythms from other genres into his music to produce a sound that is quite unique. Buck$ acknowledges that he is a student of the golden age of hip hop and R&B, and believes that "when you're on the stage, you should have something of importance to say to the world. I use my real life experiences, even tragedies that have befallen me, as motivation for my music."

Regarding his upcoming CD, Buck$ stated, "Preparation for the album is in its final stages, but as far as the process goes, I'm still working on new tracks. I never know when the next collaboration will come about. To me, the record isn't finalized until the due date."

Critiquing "It's Been A Long Time," Jon Peritz of MusicDish said, "It has a very genuine sound to it and is one that fans from many genres can appreciate. Distinctive R&B and hip hop melodies work together with funky rhythms to produce a very energetic, captivating feel good song that makes you want to dance. Bobby V's smooth voice is the perfect complement to Buck$'s rhymes and the two vocalists play off the energetic instrumental track with skill and precision, accompanied by flutes, chants, and percussion. The magnetic hook and backing track bring it all together perfectly."

Buck$ has worked with and produced artists such as Dem Franchise Boyz, the Trap Squad, D4L, Fabo, Lil Yola, Meathead, and Parlay.

"It's Been A Long Time can be purchased at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-been-a-long-time-ep/id359269521
http://www.myspace.com/buckBMA

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
P. O. Box 93157
Hollywood, CA 90093
T: 323.806.0400
E: chip@mileshighproductions.com
http://www.mileshighproductions.com

Country Music Artist Michael Desselle Releases 2 New Singles To The Public

Email: ranluron@aol.com
Website: http://www.michaeldesselle.com

Country Artist Michael Desselle, formerly known as Molten Mike has just released back to back singles through Ranluron Music.

"These 2 songs are the third and forth singles released for the "I'm All In" full length CD. The "A" side is "Low Tech Redneck". This song spoofs the modern day computer age and every line is a humerous look at how we cope with the meaning of words. For example: I sing in the first verse "I ain't much at Twitter but I'll fry you up some fritters just right. I thought Yahoo was somthin' that you yell on Saturday Night. I thought a gig was a show, if that ain't confusin' enough. I thought My Space is where, is where I kept my stuff." You get the idea? The second song or the "B" side is titled "Goin' Back to Tennessee" and is a perfect line dancing tempo.
The song's Chorus goes "I'm goin' back to Tennessee, I got a girl on top of that mountain, I know she's waitin for me. I'm goin' back to the one I love, She's got the body of a devil but the face,the face of an angel above, angel above." These two singles are extremely Country and feature the Bay Area's top pickers and players including Kenny K on Steel Guitar and Telecaster, Billy Sandlin on Banjo, John Richard on Fiddle, Glenn Stevenson on Bass, Ralph Famiglietti on Mandolin and Randall Ierna on Drums and percussion. Both songs were recorded and mastered at ESP, our favorite studio with the incomparable Glenn Laubaugh at the controls. These songs will be offered on the new full length CD along with "One Little Love" a Country Waltz love song, and "Thank a Soldier" a tribute to all of our troops who have served or are now serving our Country. Other songs slated for release soon are "Wouldn't Treat a Dog Like That" "That Old Time Music", "Some Cowgirls", "The Meaning of Lover" and "Gas on the Flames".said Michael.

"I am extremely excited about this fabulous project". said Randall Ierna, Publisher and Executive Producer of Ranluron Music, BMI. "Michael has really nailed the genre with these new songs. He has been writing and recording his music with us for 14 years and has put out 5 full length CD's, with 60 original songs and tunes.
His prior works have garnered many great reviews and he has received airplay all over the world.
Four of his Albums "Chameleon, "The Movie", "Genuine Bluesman", and "Blues Meltdown" were rated number 1 Albums in 5 catagories on MP3tunes. His fifth CD is a compilation of 20 Roots Blues and Country Blues and was produced for his first Australian tour and re-released for his second tour. After all those CD's, He switched genres and now is a full time Country Artist. Michael has received 18 music awards and nominations including "Best Songwriter", "Best Singer", "Best Guitarist" and "Best Entertainer" awards. He has played 7 years of Pre-Game entertainment with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,2 seasons of Pre-Game entertainment with the Tampa Bay Rays, and has appeared and performed at many Festivals and Events. He has toured Australia twice and has played at all the major Festivals there." concluded Randall.

Michael Desselle's songs can be listened to and hard copies or downloads can be purchased by going to CDBABY.com, Itunes, Allmusic and Digstation,and many other download sites.

DJ's can download Michaels music on www.airplaydirect.com as well as www.airplayaccess.com

For more information on Michael go to his website www.michaeldessele.com or just Google his name.

Michael is currently seeking representation for his upcoming US and International tours.

MusicDish*China Sounds Pod3 - The Chinese Indie Triangle

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This edition of the MusicDish*China Sounds podcast presented by Metal Postcard Records features bands from China's main music hubs - Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai - as well as our first artist interview with Poubelle International.

The podcast opens with Hong Kong's rock monsters DP, which recently took the stage at Austin's SXSW conference. We originally played DP's single "Supermegadon" in our inaugural podcast, and they have since been putting the finishing touches to their full-length, self-titled debut release. The track "Man Thresher" will be released on a double A-side 7' with their track "My Hyena" this spring. Also, keep an eye out for the band's collaboration with multi-talented Quan Yeomans to create a video for their track Velvet Tiger. The video is set for release in the coming weeks.

DP recently shared the stage with our featured band Poubelle International on March 27th during the "Music For Your Marrow," a benefit concert to support the Hong Kong Bone Marrow Service. We first mentioned Poubelle International when they played the closing music performances for the 2009 Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism - Architecture: 'Bring Your Own Biennale' (BYOB). We then promised to play my favorite track "The Sell Out," and we kept our word and more. Sean Hocking interviews band leader Ben McCarthy on the group's name, their recent shows in Manila, Philippines, their new EP "Avec La Boom" and track The Battle of Trafalgar Square.

Off to Shanghai for a pleasant surprise called The Curry Soap, a solo project by Muscle Snog's synth player and vocals Vivien Albarn. Their song "Little Northern Europe" reunites Vivien with Muscle Snog drummer Zheng Ke. The song reminds me of the sounds of Beijing-based White and would be perfect for more high-brow anime.

Staying with Shanghai, we discover the gentle post-rock self-titled single from 21g, named after the movie "21 grams" by Mexico director Alejandro González Iñárritu. Formed in 2004, the 4-piece band released their debut album "21 grams" two years later.

Another one of my personal favorite bands that laid the foundation for Beijing's indie scene is Hedgehog. The band was part of the Sing For China tour last year, joining Queen Sea Big Shark and Casino Demon for 22 days across 18 cities. I'm certainly looking forward to hearing more on "B-side Lovers," a brand new group formed by Hedgehog members Zijian and Atom. In the meantime, we're playing Apart from Hedgehog's 2007 album "Noise Hit World."

We wrap up the podcast with something one does not often find associated with chinese music: political speech. Songwriter Ah-P with Hong Kong band My Little Airport penned a song on the city's Chief Executive Donald Tsang called "Donald Tsang, Please Die," whose video on YouTube is about to break the 100,000 mark.

Russell Young - Take A Picture

Russell Young - Take A Picture

Russell Young is an up and coming artist from Virginia. Nominated the best "Underground Rap Artist" in the south at the "Underground Music Awards Show" in 2008, Russell Young is now releasing his video debut, showcasing his versatility and songwriting skills.

His music is a well balanced mix, influenced by 50 Cent's warm beats which add a southern flavor to them. Young's music has been praised by GarageBand.com, with his tracks receiving both Track Of The Day and Track Of The Week awards. He has been featured on various magazines and websites, which is quite a feat considering that he began his career as a professional just 2 years ago.

Please visit for more www.myspace.com/russellyoungmusic

Rachel McDonald Releases New Track "Funky"

Website: http://www.myspace.com/rachelmcdonaldsoul
Music: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/funky-mp3/id341315821?i=34131583[...]

Up-and-coming soul and R&B singer Rachel McDonald has released a new track from her debut record "The Return of Soul". In keeping with the album's theme, "Funky" is a dance tune featuring strong bass lines, catchy hooks and grooves that dare you not to shake it.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_3024254

"Funky" features McDonald's vocal range and power. Full of flourishes and register changes, she proves here that she can hang. She sings about her love of funk and soul music and how she craves the release she feels when listening to and dancing to the music she loves. When you get down to it, it's just gotta be funky.

Lona Records Keeps The Experimental Flame in Hong Kong Alive

By Eric de Fontenay

Lona Records is a Hong Kong boutique indie label set up by Alok Leung in 2003. The label has attracted a very international and growing roster of acts focused on alternative and experimental music. I first discovered the label through four-piece rock outfit UNiXX that plies its trade in dark, shoegazing garage rock, flecked with overtones of The Horrors and circa-1993 Suede and is about to tour the mainland.

Alok is a self-taught guitarist and bassist who formed several bands in the 90s, including Pillow and Slow Tech Riddim, which combined electronic music with live instruments. He decided to go solo in 2001 and set up his own record label Lona Records the following year. Working as a producer, he released 5 albums and 5 CD singles from 2002 to 2009. He has played and participated in more than 50 shows and experimental events / projects in Hong Kong and across China.

How did you come to launch Lona Records in 2003 and how have you grown since?

At the beginning, I only set up Lona Records to release my own works. I subsequently met a number of recording artists that shared the same vision as myself. So from around early 2005, I started to release works of other artists from countries like the UK, US, Italy, Germany, Poland, Japan, Netherlands, mainland China and Hong Kong. We are also planning on releasing some works by artists from Denmark and Argentina etc.

Lona Records has also organized several concerts and exhibitions in recent years. We've gotten some very good feedback, but still there is not much room for survival here in Hong Kong.

Let me get straight to the point: how has a label focused on alternative/experimental music survived over the last 7 years in a market like Hong Kong?... no offense of course.

Every record label has to have its own direction. Experimental / alternative is my favorite music genre. Lona Records though has never looked at the Hong Kong market as a viable one - experimental music can't really survive here.

Tell me a little about the 3" CDR series you launched in 2005 "to explore the aesthetic boundaries of experimental sound."

After launching this series, I found that many people were interested in it. Personally, this idea is almost like the 7" vinyl. One shortcoming though is that Mac users cannot play these CDRs.

China is notorious for piracy. How has it affected Lona Records' business?

The problem of piracy does not really affect us a lot, because the quantities for each releases is still relatively small. I believe that the people who like our works are be willing to buy the originals. We are also planning to enter the digital download market.

I've become a huge a fan of UNiXX, which I've called one of my Hong Kong band's to watch in 2010. How do you choose which bands to add to Lona's roster?

The main directions of Lona Records include:
1) experimental, i.e. Avant-garde, Ambient, Minimal, Noise,...
2) Alternative, i.e. Alternative rock, Neo-Classical,....

With the latter, apart from UNiXX, we also have a Hong Kong band called The Yours and Jeffrey Butzer from the US. We always have an open-minded attitude when considering the demos received.

How do you see the growing independent music scene in the mainland affecting Hong Kong?

There are many excellent recording artists in mainland China. You'll notice that while these artists have been influenced by foreign cultures, they are still able to retain elements of traditional Chinese culture in their works. On the contrary, we don't have such a 'local' culture in Hong Kong. I might also explore the possibility of doing something in Beijing in the future.

United Souls New Album Of Robert Lauri

Website: http://www.myspace.com/robertlauri

Think about it, taken from the album United Souls, is scheduled for airplay on several radio stations. It is difficult to hear this song with its catchy rhythm without wanting to dance.

Robert Lauri conceived the album United Souls as a melting pot where all musical cultures, a mixture of rap, soul, country and even gospel are brought together in a single album, even within a single track. The artiste has contributed his experience and his inexhaustible talent to the production of United Souls to create new worlds each time. The album is for dancing to and is aimed at both the young and the not so young.

Robert Lauri is certainly one of the most interesting artistes of the day. Offering a combination of hip hop, electronic music, pop and dance, Robert Lauri is a unique musician who does not represent any specific musical genre. The song "Bahia Dream" is an example of Robert Lauri's skill in composing a contemporary classic with multiple facets where traditional music meets hip hop.

In the album United Souls, Robert Lauri crosses various musical genres. It is unconventional music with innovative accents incorporating catchy rhythms, beautiful lyrics and superb melodies.

The maxi-single "United Souls" and the single "Last chance" are available from the major download stores and the audio-CD on Amazon.com. For discovering the songs :

http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/2492181