MusicDish Review: Rhea Francani Debut Single "Dizzy"

http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=180703

"I'm following my heart's highway from NY to Nashville. My fans know me as a city girl with a country heart. I'm thriving in two completely different worlds!" This is how Country artist Rhea Francani describes herself. She will be releasing her first single "Dizzy" on January 20, 2015 and it perfectly represents the dichotomy Rhea feels deep down for all to listen. A New York attitude with with the soul of Nashville.

The song is about a girls night out drinking together, and that all too familiar feeling of having drunk a little too much is the result leading Rhea to be feeling 'Dizzy'. The fact that the lyrics are so relatable… at least to a fellow millennials, adds to the experience. It is one thing to listen to a song, it is another to understand it.

The song starts off very intensely, with gospel organs building up to Rhea's eloquently sweet voice, and soon the chorus is cheerfully blasting. The melodic song melds seamlessly between chorus and verse, leading the listener to yearn to sing along. Listening to Dizzy before knowing more about Rhea, one would assume she was part of the Nashville Country scene since childhood. But she is actually a New Yorker (Buffalo, NY native) who left to record with the talents of Nashville, the home of her heart. The result is a fresh wake up call to an otherwise stale NYC country scene.

Rhea Francani readily admits she's not your typical country music artist and we quite agree. Dizzy has overtones of Michael Jackson-like Pop and Light Rock. "I am drawn to the southern charm of country music's heartfelt lyrics - songs about love, life and good times," Rhea explains. "I wanted to create an authentic country album drawing on the talents of the Nashville music industry, and those seasoned professionals that could bring my music to life." After listening to the song one would have to agree that she has succeeded in this.

Her debut EP "I Want You To Know" will be due out in February 2015.

MusicDish*China Top 10 Songs Gives Insight Into Chinese Online Fans

http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=179758

In 2014, MusicDish*China (独立小炒) featured over 150 songs from Western indie musicians to Chinese music platform Ximalaya since July as part of its Song Blast promotional service. Covering genres from pop, R&B, jazz, electronic and rock, many songs have generated thousands of plays on the Chinese platform, with the most listened surpassing 30,000. So what appeals to Chinese online listeners?
 
Pop and EDM Find Favor With Chinese Online Fans
We listed our top ten most played songs on Ximalaya below. Without a doubt, one thing they share in common is that all ten of them are enjoyable to the ears --- Chinese ears to be precise. One of the trends we have discovered is that Chinese indie listeners on Ximalaya buy more into pop and electronic music, with pop being most popular. Another pattern that drew our attention is that all of our top fours have frighteningly beautiful, melodic, yet powerful female vocals. We hope our top ten songs can give a glimpse into the style of Western acts appealing to online Chinese fans this year. So here we go:
 
1. "Close Your Eyes" by Roxanna
Plays: 31,427
Genre: pop, jazz
Canadian music sensation Roxanna was born in wartime Iran. Her music always has an amazing power to heal broken hearts and inspire lost souls. Resounding melody, emotional lyrics, powerful voice, and a strong accompaniment of string orchestration all together make it the most touching song. This is why Close Your Eyes managed to touch our hearts and became our top one in the list of most played songs in 2014.

2. "Run" by Marina V
Plays: 19,175
Genre: pop
Marina V has this "hauntingly beautiful voice" (LA Times) that could intoxicate us. Run is a melodic and emotional pop song that would catch your ears very easily, and probably would linger in your head for days to come. As the songwriter and producer for her own music, Marina V always integrates her childhood experiences in Russia and teenage life in America into her songs. This song won her LA Music Critic Award in 2013.

3. "Falling 4 U" by Devyn Rose
Plays: 12,673
Genre: R&B, electronic
Talented musician Devyn Rose has been producing R&B, hip-pop and remixing tapes with her unique style that combines different music genres together. This Falling 4 U is sexy, edgy, yet hits you with an attitude. Beautiful and clean melody with a strong beat-driven rhythm all together make this song a number three on our most played songs list in 2014.

4. "Tomorrow" by We Are Catalyst
Plays: 10,716
Genre: rock, electronic
Heavy metal, alternative rock and electronic, "Tomorrow" is like a standard millennial type of thing. Leading vocal has a pure and simple female voice, which adds a sense of innocence to this dark, hopeless world that was created in the song.

5. "Stuck in My Head" by Sam Ebako
Plays: 10,080
Genre: EDM
After four stunning, female voices taking over the top four spots in our chart, finally we are here with some strong, male vocal expression. Sam Ebako is a Cameroon-born singer and songwriter. Stuck in My Head actually came out after his horrible breakup with his ex-girlfriend. The sad and grieved lyrics make a sharp contrast with the strong beats and hasty rhythm; and the electronic effects added to the vocal make this song very trendy and clubby.

6. "Boom" by Lina Fouro(L4O) 
Plays: 9,215
Genre: pop, electronic
L4o has always been popular among teenage girls. Her music is popping, chic and very straightforward. Catchy melodies with candid lyrics, Boom allows us to hear this simple, and maybe a little bit shy teenage girl expressing her love for her high school crush. The electronic effects and sexy vocal voice save this song from being plain, boring and too sweet.

7. "Somewhere" by Hashback Harnish
Plays: 7,343
Genre: electronic, experimental
Smoky, mysterious, and edgy. Hashback Harnish makes us enter this post-midnight world that only exists in our deep imaginations…

8. "Toxic Kisses" by SweetTooth
Plays: 6,603
Genre: rock/heavy metal
Heavy metal and electronic usually do not go along, yet Sweet Tooth surprises us by making these two comfortably compatible with each other. Toxic Kisses creates this dashingly frantic sense that would give you goose bumps from the first note.

9. "Sing Along, Sing Along" by Cookie Robinowitz
Plays: 5,803
Genre: pop
Cookie Robinowitz has successfully made this song pop-y and captivating that this song is simply enjoyable. The melody is so catchy that you would probably be singing along together right after verse one, just as the title has suggested.

10. "With You" by FM Pilots
Plays: 5,453
Genre: pop-alternative
FM Pilots is a pop-alternative band from Oklahoma. This song With You is frank, simple and clean-cut. The lead vocal has a very attractive voice, and the melody is well written and catchy. All of these make this song enjoyable and fun to listen.

MusicDish*China Song Blast
Since July 2014, MusicDish*China Song Blast service has been promoting Western acts on its branded channels on Chinese streaming platforms such as Ximalaya, Lizhi.fm and YuYin.fm as well as Chinese social sites such as Weibo, Douban, Huaban and Diandian
http://www.musicdish.com/china/music/singlepromo.php3

What Is Ximalaya?
As one of the major music platform in China, Ximalaya (ximalaya.com) is an online podcast platform and music player with mostly user-generated content. According to BaiduApp (a Chinese digital distribution platform for mobile apps, like GooglePlay and Android Market), more than 14 million people have downloaded Ximalaya app to their mobile devices since its launch in 2012.

Make Some Noise, Hong Kong... The Monacle Can't Hear You!

Website: http://china.musicdish.com
Newsletter: http://musicdishchina.fanbridge.com

By Eric de Fontenay (Founder & Publisher)

I picked up my issue of the Monacle to find a survey on Hong Kong, "the bustling world city of Asia." Considering I'm flying there next month for the Music Matters conference (aren't you?), I tore straight for the section, hoping to find some cool underground clubs or read about someone redefining the rules of Hong Kong's music scene. Perhaps they would mention the "Make Some Noise, Hong Kong" campaign to petition the government to change its Noise Control Ordinance in recognition to the value that outdoor events offer the city. Or Chris B., co-founder of the Underground HK, which has been supporting the live music scene and developing independent bands for the past 6 years.

No... actually, there was nothing. I mean NOTHING, not one word, let alone a blurb about music in the entire survey! There was something about the film industry, art market, even performing arts, but not a peep on music.

Was this a grave omission on the part of the Monacle? Or is there something amiss with Hong Kong? Macau right next door has significantly raised its entertainment profile thanks to glitzy new casinos and money pouring in from the mainland. Since the liberalization of the gaming industry in 2002, it's earned the nickname "Las Vegas of the East" and become one of the world's richest cities. The boom in tourism and entertainment has led to an exponential increase in performances and uses of creative works in hotels, clubs and casinos. And all that money brought CISAC to the Chinese territory to help establish Macau's own authors' society MACA (Macau Association of Composers, Authors & Publishers) last year to manage licensing and royalty revenues.

As a consequence, Macau is also starting to displace Hong Kong as the destination for international big-name artist to perform. It also helps that the bureaucratic process and costs to secure permits and licenses for an event in Macau is a fraction of what one would face in Hong Kong - remember the little dig I made earlier about burdensome noise control regulations. Add to this the growing cultural importance of cities like Beijing and Shanghai as well as the brain/talent-drain they are causing - can you hear that sucking sound? - and Hong Kong is in danger of being left in the dust, a position it is not very accustomed too.

But it doesn't stop at China. Hans Ebert, Chairman and CEO of music-based entertainment company We-Enhance, warns in a bruising article called 'The Problem With HKTVB And The Hong Kong Music Industry' that "Singapore has a more creative and thriving entertainment industry, which would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Also, venues like the Power Station, the efforts of the Singapore Government to turn the city into a global media hub, the powerhouse that is Mediacorp, the creativity of its bars and restaurants and clubs are all contributing to the well-being of its music industry."

Hans Ebert thinks the Hong Kong entertainment world needs a facelift... and a miracle. Maybe the Monacle was just being a little too bourgeois. Stay tune for my report from Asia's capital in late May...

Do you have an opinion on the subject? Leave a comment on our of our profiles... or just say hi!

MusicDish*China Sounds Pod5 - One-on-One With Music Matters Asia's Jasper Donat

Listen To MusicDish*China Sounds Pod5:
http://fairtilizer.com/track/JasperDonatQ&A
Subscribe to the podcast:
iTunes * FeedBurner * PodOmatic * fairtilizer

By Eric de Fontenay (Founder & Publisher)

Website: http://china.musicdish.com

This edition of the MusicDish*China Sounds podcast, presented by Metal Postcard Records, features an interview with Japser Donat, founder of Music Matters being held in central Hong Kong's Grand Hyatt on May 26 - 28. I attended my first Music Matters in 2009 and it would have a lasting effect, being one of the factors that inspired MusicDish*China - you can read about that trip here.

Since then, Jasper has broadened Music Matters reach to the shores of Mumbai with Nokia Music Connects as well as Singapore where they hold the Advertising Forum. Jasper can also be found trekking around the world promoting the Asian music industry - whether leading an indian delegation at Toronto's Canadian Music Week or presenting the results from the Synovate survey on music consumers buying habits at Cannes' MIDEM conference.

In this podcast, Jasper covers some of the highlights of Music Matters 2010, including:
- booking Jason Mraz to this year's "Audience With..." session featuring an exclusive, intimate performance and interview with his legendary manager, Bill Silva.
- the participation of major brands in the conference, including Coca Cola, HP, Tiger Beer and South Gobi Energy Resources
- the inaugural launch of "Music Matters Live" - Hong Kong's first ever streetside, urban music festival
- the state of Hong Kong's live music scene in the face of city-rivals such as Macau and Singapore, not to mention Beijing and Shanghai
- the leading trends shaping Asia's music industry

Jasper also introduces three bands that will be performing at this year's conference, including:
- Mongolian-based Altan Urag - Ikh Mongol / Great Mongolia
- Singapore-based Electrico (Coldplay meets Muse) - We Satellites
- Vancouver-based (and CMW discovery) Deli to Dublin - Celtic Dub

See you in Hong Kong!

MusicDish*China Joins Beijing's INTRO 2010 As An Official Media Sponsor

Website: http://www.acupuncture-records.com
Music: http://china.musicdish.com

MusicDish*China announced its role as an official media sponsor of INTRO 2010 - Beijing Electronic Music Festival being held on May 22th. Organized by Acupuncture Records, the festival, in its second year, will once again welcome and delight over ten thousand of China's electronic music fans by presenting world-renowned DJs, producers, and visual artists along with China's favorite local talent.

China has seen a thriving electronic music culture in the past decade and is gradually developing a strong local scene, especially in first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. INTRO 2010 is set as a showcase for this growth, with a mixed line-up reflecting "who's who" in the industry.

"As the name suggests, INTRO festival is an introduction, a two-way introduction," said Acupuncture Records Managing Director Miao Wong. "It's an introduction to the Chinese audience as to what an electronic dance music festival is, as well as the spirit and culture behind it. Also, by bringing over international artists, overseas media and our industry counterparts, it's an introduction to the rest of the world of China's thriving scene and dedicated people making it happen... and eventually, will put China on the world's map of electronic dance music."

MusicDish LLC will be leveraging all its online properties - MusicDish, MusicDish*China and Mi2N - to raise international awareness about the festival and China's electronic music scene, including on-site coverage of the stages, performers and audiovisual shows. Mr. de Fontenay will then be flying to Hong Kong for the annual Music Matters conference, which MusicDish also sponsors.

"We are proud to be supporting the work being done by Acupuncture Records to promote and nurture China's independent electronic music scene through INTRO 2010," said MusicDish*China Founder Eric de Fontenay. "The festival provides us with a unique opportunity to connect with music professionals, performers and fans in what is arguably the fastest growing market in the world."

ABOUT INTRO 2010 (http://www.acupuncture-records.com)
On May 22nd, 2010 Acupuncture Records will once again welcome and delight over ten thousand of China’s electronic music fans by presenting INTRO 2010 – Beijing Electronic Music Festival. As the motto says -- "Ideas Need To Reach Out" -- INTRO is designed as a platform to express the belief in music as a vital element of connecting people; to showcase and support innovation in electronic music and digital art. It is run by people who love life, music, freedom, art and alternative culture for people who share that same love.

ABOUT MUSICDISH*CHINA (http://china.musicdish.com)
Launched at MIDEM 2010 in Cannes, France, MusicDish*China is the latest online brand from MusicDish LLC, a digital music company, focused on the transforming music market in China. Leveraging its various online properties and growing network of Asian partners, MusicDish*China capitalizes on the growing interest in the Chinese market to educate and influence music executives and professionals worldwide. MusicDish*China also co-produces a monthly podcast in association with Hong Kong based Metal Postcard Records that covers the music and artists shaping the independent scene in China and Mandarin-speaking Asia.

Contacts:
Eric de Fontenay
MusicDish*China
chinasounds [at] musicdish [dot] com
+1-718-278-0662
skype: musicdish

Miao Wong
Managing Director
Acupuncture Records
miao [at] acupuncture-records [dot] com

Digital Music NY To Host Q&A With RightsFlow's President & CEO Patrick Sullivan

Website: http://dmnymay2010.eventbrite.com
Music: http://www.rightsflow.com

April 29, 2010 New York, NY - As the digital music marketplace has grown in importance, digital rights administration is central to music creators monetizing their works. In an upcoming Q&A on May 11 with MusicDish founder Eric de Fontenay, RightsFlow President and CEO Patrick Sullivan will discuss the process by which publishers and songwriters are getting paid in the era of online music services such as iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody and Napster.

"While digital rights administration is at the core of today's music business, it is still an area largely misunderstood and neglected," noted Eric de Fontenay. "If you don't have a handle on your rights administration, all the marketing and social networking won't mean much to your bottom line. RightsFlow has been a leader in this field and we are honored to have Patrick share with our audience his extensive experience in industry negotiations, licensing and royalty payments."

Added Sullivan, "We are excited to be connected to the growing community of passionate music makers and shakers that Eric and the Digital Music NY team engage and represent. I’m looking forward to sharing a bit about our story as a company as well as our perspective on connecting the dots between licensees and licensors."

RightsFlow is a leading provider of mechanical licensing services and royalty payment technology for online music services, record companies, distributors and artists. Its Limelight service provides artists, labels, church choirs and college bands with a simple, easy method to licensing cover songs and third-party compositions for $15 or less. The portal allows users to obtain licenses for physical releases, digital downloads, and ringtones, reducing the complexity of licensing with publishers directly. Limelight offers several key features, including copyright compliance, licenses that don’t expire, minimal fees, and coverage of the broader publishing market not represented by mechanical rights societies.

Digital Music NY Q&A With Patrick Sullivan
Sponsored by Many Moods Productions & Limelight
Presented by MusicDish and Fortex Group
Drink Specials courtesy of Riazul Premium Tequila
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Time: 6 - 9 PM
Q&A With Patrick Sullivan: 7:00 PM
location: Gonzalez y Gonzalez
625 Broadway, between Houston & Bleecker
RSVP: http://dmnymay2010.eventbrite.com

About Digital Music NY
Digital Music NY is collaboration between Fortex Group and MusicDish Founders, Ephraim Cohen and Eric de Fontenay to build a community of New York area based professionals in the digital music sector, from singer/songwriter to app developer. Focused around a monthly event held at Gonzalez y Gonzalez, Digital Music NY features company announcements, presentations of the latest tech, and discussions on new business models, guest speakers and plenty of networking.
RSVP: http://dmnymay2010.eventbrite.com

Contact
Eric de Fontenay
Digital Music NY
+1-718-278-0662
ecfont@musicdish.net

About RightsFlow
www.rightsflow.com

RightsFlow is a leading provider of mechanical licensing services and royalty payment technology for online music services, record companies, distributors and artists. The RightsFlow technology powers rapid song identification and provides an unprecedented level of transparency for both licensees and licensors. RightsFlow specializes in obtaining bulk physical, DPD, and ringtone licenses including streaming, tethered, and limited download rights. Our proprietary "FLOW" licensing technology and 10.5 million song database allow us to license content, render accounting, and pay royalties on behalf of clients quickly and accurately, ensuring that rights-holders are paid for the use of their work.

RightsFlow currently serves over 9,500 clients obtaining licenses from publishers and songwriters all over the world – including major, independent and artist controlled works. Clients include Muzak, Guvera, Amie Street, [PIAS], Kontor New Media, The Orchard, INgrooves, Zynga, Hoodiny, CAM, Zebralution, E1 Canada Distribution, IODA, Cooking Vinyl, CD Baby, Disc Makers, & X5 Music Group.

RightsFlow is a Member of DDEX, DiMA and A2IM.

CONTACT:
Michael Kauffman
212-937-6955 x311
michael.kauffman@rightsflow.com

facebook.com/RightsFlow
facebook.com/coversong
@RightsFlow
@coversong

Many Moods Joins Digital Music NY As Gift Bag Sponsor

Website: http://www.manymoods.com
Music: http://dmnymay2010.eventbrite.com

Digital Music NY organizers MusicDish and Fortex Group are proud to announce that Brooklyn-based Many Moods Productions (www.manymoods.com) has joined as a sponsor of the upcoming May 11th networking event. Many Moods will be distributing an exclusive gift bag filled with many goodies available to all attendees. The May 11th event will also feature a Q&A on digital rights administration with RightsFlow President Patrick Sullivan.

Digital Music NY
Sponsored by Many Moods Productions & RightsFlow
Presented by MusicDish and Fortex Group
Drink Specials courtesy of Riazul Premium Tequila
Date: Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Time: 6 - 9 PM
Tequila tasting: 7:00 PM
location: Gonzalez y Gonzalez
625 Broadway, between Houston & Bleecker
RSVP: http://dmnymay2010.eventbrite.com

Many Moods founder Linda Felder will be on-hand to discuss with attendees and introduce TweetOn.net social media site, a new resource for the entertainment industries, and the release of their 5th edition of 'The ABC's of Starting A Music Production Company', a web interactive and mobile ready publication. "We're excited to work with Eric and Ephraim on this venture, this is what networking and building synergistic relationships is all about," states Linda Felder. They will also be giving away specially designed shirts and hats and other prizes.

"Linda Felder has been very active supporting aspiring around the world make an easy transition from fledging to accomplished industry successes," said MusicDish Founder Eric de Fontenay. "We're proud to have their support in building our community."

Digital Music NY is collaboration between Fortex Group and MusicDish Founders, Ephraim Cohen and Eric de Fontenay to build a community of New York area based professionals in the digital music sector, from singer/songwriter to app developer. Focused around a monthly event held at Gonzalez y Gonzalez, Digital Music NY features company announcements, presentations of the latest tech, and discussions on new business models, guest speakers and plenty of networking.
RSVP: http://dmnymay2010.eventbrite.com

MusicDish & Music Matters Launch Newsletter Focused On China's Music Market

Website: http://musicdishchina.fanbridge.com
Music: http://china.musicdish.com

Music Matters and MusicDish are pleased to announce a joint venture to produce "MusicDish*China Monitor in association with Music Matters", a monthly newsletter focusing on the Chinese music market. 2010 has seen major changes to the Chinese music industry. Whether it's Nokia's launch of "Comes With Music," success of chinese indie bands at SXSW 2010 or fate of Google China Music, the largest music market is showing signs of coming into its own. Offering a mix of articles, interviews and news, MusicDish*China Monitor will examine the Chinese music market both from a business and technology perspective as well as its growing independent music scene.

The inaugural issue MusicDish*China Monitor in association with Music Matters will include:
- interview with Thomas Reemer, founder and chairman of 88tc88.com, about their partnership with Shanghai Synergy Culture & Entertainment Group
- article on brands and music artists by Adam Gerard, Tiger brand champion at Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd
- findings from Synovate survey on the buying habits and preferences of music consumers
- interview with Kenny Bloom, a 30 year veteran of the Chinese music industry and Founder of VisiTek Holdings
- feature on Chinese bands Poubelle International, Vivien Albarn's (Muscle Snog) The Curry Soap, 21g named after the movie "21 grams," Beijing indie veterans Hedghog and My Little Airport's songwriter Ah-P

Readers can subscribe to the monthly newsletter for free at http://musicdishchina.fanbridge.com/

MusicDish President Eric de Fontenay said: "Our attendance and sponsorship of Music Matters 2009 opened our eyes to the opportunities and challenges in China, and was instrumental in MusicDish*China's development. We could not imagine a better partner in helping us communicate with a broader worldwide music industry the increasingly rapid changes shaping China and Asia."

Jasper Donat, Music Matters' President said: "With an exploding live music scene, over half a billion internet and mobile phone connections and a music hungry public, the Chinese music industry is experiencing a quantum shift in change. We are, therefore, delighted to be able to provide such a unique monthly newsletter and couldn't think of better partners than MusicDish with whom to give it a global voice."

The MusicDish*China site and podcast, co-produced with Hong Kong based Metal Postcard Records, were launched at .

About MusicDish*China (http://china.musicdish.com)
Launched at MIDEM 2010 in Cannes, France, MusicDish*China is the latest online brand from MusicDish LLC, a digital music company, focused on the transforming music market in China. Leveraging its various online properties and growing network of Asian partners, MusicDish*China capitalizes on the growing interest in the Chinese market to educate and influence music executives and professionals worldwide. MusicDish*China also co-produces a monthly podcast in association with Hong Kong based Metal Postcard Records that covers the music and artists shaping the independent scene in China and Mandarin-speaking Asia.

About Music Matters (http://www.musicmatters.asia)
Held annually in Hong Kong, Music Matters is Asia's first and only regional music business conference and was created to encourage positivity, innovation, collaboration and transparency within the music industry. In five years, it has evolved into an indispensable platform for accelerating the success and profitability of music in this region. Previous attendees include some of the world's most respected artists and industry leaders such as U2 manager Paul McGuinness, Harvey Goldsmith, Seymour Stein, Edgar Bronfman jnr, Nile Rogers, Nettwerk's Terry McBride, Jamie Cullum, Rock Record's Sam Duann, UMG Japan's Kei Ishizaka, Linkin Park's Rob McDermott, UMG's Max Hole and some major league stars from the Asian world of musicians, promoters, managers, agents, telco and tech. All have used it as a platform to promote and push artists, shows, business models and new ideas. All give it rave reviews and most return each year.

In 2009 Music Matters expanded it's horizons, producing a localised version in Mumbai, India (Nokia Music Connects) and the Music Matters Advertising Forum in Singapore.

Contact:

Eric de Fontenay
MusicDish*China
chinasounds@musicdish.com
+1-718-278-0662
skype: musicdish

Konstancija Stan Ruza
Commercial Director
Music Matters
stan@brandedasia.com
+852 2167 8040

Nashville: Paying It Forward With MusicStartsHere.org and 3rd Sundays at 3:00

By Michele Wilson-Morris
"It's really a celebration of the human spirit." These words, spoken by Will Carter of MusicStartsHere.org in Nashville, might never have been more sincerely stated or supported by technology, good will, and a city that is truly progressive. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing and meeting Will and his colleague, Doak Turner, about their website MusicStartsHere.org, and several other innovative things that are being done in Nashville, the music publishing capital of the world.

Will Carter is the owner of a financial services company with branches in Michigan, Florida, and now Tennessee. He has also been a musician and songwriter at heart for the past 20 years with 3 recorded albums. He moved to Nashville to run his newest business venture, but also wanted to indulge his creative side there as well. Being a business man, of course, he looked to the city for direction as to what he should do to begin his career there.

"It was like going to Vegas and finding that someone had hidden the slot machines or roulette tables when you'd come there to gamble. Everything I've read and seen about Nashville is part of what makes Music City (Nashville's nickname) such a great place. People come here because they want to see their dreams come true; they want to make it in music. Their dream is the slot machine and they want to pull the lever and see it happen." Soon after arriving in Nashville, Carter met Doak Turner, who gave him several contacts, but Carter found the process to be a bit more cumbersome than he thought it should have been. He was convinced that things could be easier, and began a journey to make that happen.

Read full article at http://www.musicdish.com/mag/?id=12639

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.

MusicDish*China Sounds Pod3 - The Chinese Indie Triangle

Subscribe to the podcast

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.

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.

MusicGorilla Partners With MusicDish For Live Showcase Series Opportunity

Website: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick_button[...]
Music: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=331986219875

MusicGorilla.com is taking submissions for their upcoming Showcase Series at Treasure Island (413 E. 6th street) in Austin, TX March 17th - 20th during the most important week in Music!

MusicGorilla is guaranteeing 2 slots for artists submitting to perform at their upcoming Showcase Series through MusicDish/Mi2N. There is a $25.00 non-refundable submission fee for all non MusicGorilla members to helps cover costs associated with putting on the showcase.

Submit to perform at the Showcase Series clicking on this 'PayNow' link.
Name of band/artist.
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If you are selected to play at this showcase by MusicGorilla.com, you will be notified with the date and time that MusicGorilla.com has selected for you to play. The showcase is open to the public and will take place at Treasure Island 413 E. 6th street in Austin, TX. A Backline will be provided in the form of 2 Guitar amps, 1 Bass amp and a drum kit.

Artists will not receive compensation or travel expenses to play at the showcase, and are responsible for procuring their own travel arrangements and hotel.

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Music Gorilla works with unsigned artists with original material to get you heard by record labels, music supervisors, publishers and other Industry reps. Our artist members receive free film/tv and songwriting submissions, they are eligible for Live Label Showcases and MTV's catalog and much more! Some successes include signings to Labels, Songwriting and Publishing deals, and placement on various films and television shows.
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MusicDish presents: "Lenny Dee: Hard Electronic" Demo, by ProducerLoops.com

Listen and download the track:
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The demo track for "Lenny Dee: Hard Electronic" does an excellent job of showcasing all the possibilities available with this product. From aggressive techno dance rhythms to an eclectic selection of vocal samples, there are endless combinations of production possibilities. In addition, this track highlights the various studio effects that are available to create a more dynamic sound.

The demo is broken into several different sections, each displaying a different style of techno/dance that can be created. Each section uses the numerous different types of loops that range from steady driving percussion to synth, vocal, and FX phrases and riffs. Whether you are a first time user, aspiring producer, or established artist, the loops and samples in "Lenny Dee: Hard Electronic" will give you the tools you need to create professional quality music.

Lenny Dee: Hard Electronic is an incredible new collection of downloadable loops and samples produced by Lenny Dee. It features NINE relentless, hard and downright dirty Construction Kits, packed with hundreds of twisted samples and loops plus a huge bonus Sample Pack that includes even more loops and one shot hits/fx. Overall, this collection has approaching 3GB of total content including ACIDized WAV, Apple Loops, REX and Reason ReFill formats.

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MusicDish*China Sounds Pod2 - Opening The Year Of The Tiger

Website: http://www.musicdish.com/mag/?id=12598

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This second edition of MusicDish China Sounds presented by Metal Postcard Records opens the Year of the Tiger going well beyond Hong Kong to spotlight great acts from Greater China, including Taiwan-based Crowd Lu and Mavis Fan & 100% who both performed at MIDEM 2010, MaybeMars folk rock band Low Wormwood, Chinese Thrashcore Beijing band Fanzui Xiangfa, Guangzhou-based and Haifeng-bred duo Wu Tiao Ren, Ubiquity Records' Bei Bei He and Shawn Lee collaboration and canto-indie-pop duo at17.

We want to hear from you - the good, the bad and even the ugly on this podcast. Don't be shy. You can email us at chinasounds [at] musicdish.com - and make sure to follow us on twitter @MusicDish_China

	Crowd Lu: Oh yeah Taiwanese singer-composer Crowd Lu, also known as the "Musical Wizard, Who Survived Rolling Over by a Bus," wowed the crowds in Cannes during the Created in Taiwan MIDEM 2010 showcase. Crowd Lu won Best Composer and Best New Artist at the 20th Golden Melody Award for his single "100 Ways of Living" in 2008.
	Low Wormwood: Who We say take a little Lee Hazlewood, sprinkle with Nick Cave, Tindersticks and some rice wine and you have the wonderfully maudlin and distinctly Chinese Low Wormwood. As usual with mainland bands, a great name as well.
	Mavis Fan & 100%: Master Nicknamed the "Little Wizard of Music" for her smash hit album, The Little Demon Girl's Magic Book in 1996, Taiwan singer Fan Xiaoxuan, aka Mavis Fan, joined her rock band 100% to perform songs from their second album "Innocent" at the Created in Taiwan MIDEM 2010 showcase... Theater and glam, with a dash of rock.
	Fanzui Xiangfa: Kill Your Television The sound of angry youth emanating from Beijing 2009. With songs such as "Talk is Poison" ,"Go No Slow" and our choice for the pod "Kill Your Television". The sound might not be 100% (they call it Chinese Thrashcore) original but it certainly sounds heartfelt to us and that's the important thing.
	Wu Tiao Ren: Green and Grey The Guangzhou-based Haifeng-bred duo just brought their their raw, Guangdong-folk wailings to the Fringe Club in Hong Kong as part of City Festival's Guangzhou Live series. This track, Green & Grey is from their debut album County Stories.
	Bei Bei He and Shawn Lee: Into the Wind Into the Wind by Guzheng performer/composer Bei Bei He and Ubiquity Records producer Shawn Lee marries a unique blend of ancient tradition with studio trickery. With Lee adding equal doses of hip hop, electric jazz, and soul sensibility to the backing tracks, the captivating sound of Bei Bei's Guzheng comes alive on peaceful mellow joints as much as it does on Kung-Fu flavored funk tunes.
	at17: When The Last Apple Falls From The Tree The ever popular canto-indie-pop duo of Eman Lam and Ellen Joyce Loo just held a series of concerts at the HK Arts Centre. This slow-growing acoustic-cum-electronic track in Putonghua, is from the Blue EP, part of the series of four EPs in their Over the Rainbow series released last year.