Music Industry Forum

Music Industry Forum Podcast #1

We're excited to announce our first podcast. Our guest this week is John Simson, Executive Director of SoundExchange the first performing rights organization formed to collect digital performance royalties for sound recording copyright owners and recording artists.

Enjoy the program! Download musicindustryforum1.mp3 

Music Industry Forum Podcast Episode #1 by musicindustryforum

Hot Topic Announces the Launch of ShockHound

Hot Topic, Inc.  today announced the launch of ShockHound , the one-stop, genre-spanning music site loaded with millions of MP3s, a vast selection of band merchandise, the latest music videos, and exclusive editorial content.

At launch, ShockHound will offer millions of MP3s and merchandise featuring artists from the major record labels Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI Music, as well as independent labels. In addition, artists will be able to upload and sell their music directly to users -- for emerging artists, ShockHound will provide a unique way of reaching out directly to listeners and fans that extends beyond social networking sites. "Our goal was to create an authentic, online experience of music discovery," says Betsy McLaughlin, CEO of Hot Topic, Inc. "A place where fellow music lovers can come together and explore, share their likes and dislikes, read the latest music news and enjoy exclusive content on their favorite artists." 

ShockHound boasts top editorial talent led by editor-in-chief Randy Bookasta, former editor-in-chief at Ray Gun, a groundbreaking alternative rock publication; managing editor Dan Epstein hails from Revolver, a leading hard rock and heavy metal magazine. Content at launch will include reviews, music news, interviews, original programming and music videos. ShockHound encourages its members to be an integral part of the experience, offering users the opportunity to join in the never-ending musical dialogue via user reviews, comment sections and personalized user pages. 

ABOUT SHOCKHOUND

ShockHound  is the one-stop, genre-spanning music site loaded with millions of MP3s, a vast selection of artist merchandise, the latest music videos, and exclusive and compelling editorial content. With a wide array of interviews, album reviews, original "webisode" videos, individual artist pages, and a strong community of music devotees, ShockHound not only has the goods on favorite bands, but also promotes discovery of new and emerging artists. ShockHound encourages its members to be an integral part of the editorial voice, offering users the opportunity to join in the never-ending musical dialogue via user reviews, comment sections and personalized user pages. ShockHound is a division of Hot Topic, Inc.

Merl Saunders dies at 74

Merl Saunders dies at 74; keyboardist collaborated with Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia Times Staff And Wire Reports 

October 27, 2008 Merl Saunders, a keyboardist best known for his collaborations with Grateful Dead front man Jerry Garcia, died Friday at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco of complications from a stroke he had several years ago. Saunders was 74. 

A musician who worked in a variety of genres in a long and varied career, Saunders played piano and keyboard but favored the Hammond B3 organ. He led his own bands and worked with an array of musicians, including the blues-oriented Bonnie Raitt and B.B. King, jazz legend Miles Davis and the jam band Phish.

Source: L.A. Times

Widespread Panic To Stream Halloween Show Using Digome

Widespread Panic is planning on streaming their Oct. 31st show from New Orleans, LA using Digome technology.  Digome is a Nashville, TN provider of custom web 2.0 and 3.0 solutions including DVD quality streaming capabilities for live events. Show starts at 8:15pm CST.

Week of Oct. 13 - 18 News Roundup

Billboard: Ween Raids Archives, Preps Coloring Book

CMT: Eagles, Trace Adkins, Kid Rock added to CMAs

Yahoo Music News: Grammys Turn Nominations Into One Hour Special

MTV: GNR's Chinese Democracy Means Free Dr. Pepper For All

Reuters: Disco Tune "Staying Alive" Could Save Your Life

James Taylor schedules 5 free concerts for Obama

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- James Taylor will play five free concerts in North Carolina as he tours the state to support Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Taylor has concerts scheduled in Charlotte, Asheville, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Wilmington beginning Sunday. Taylor, who was raised in Chapel Hill, has at times used his musical celebrity to highlight political candidates in the state.

The Grammy winner will encourage Obama supporters to get out and vote early. One-stop voting begins Thursday in North Carolina.

Obama has been heavily investing in North Carolina to try and swing a state that hasn't voted for a Democratic president since 1976. Republican rival John McCain has been increasing his presence to defend the state.

Local Folsom, CA Area Websites Have First Listen to Johnny Cash’s New Box Set, At Folsom Prison: Legacy Edition

Song BMG and Legacy Recordings released Johnny Cash’s 'At Folsom Prison, Legacy Edition', on October 13 and only local Folsom, California, websites have the first listen streams from the new box set.

It is only fitting, since the show took place in Folsom prison, that three local Folsom sites, My Folsom , The Folsom Telegraph and Folsom Life should have first listen streams to ‘25 Minutes To Go’, ‘I Got A Woman’ (with June Carter) and ‘Folsom Prison Blues.’

Johnny Cash’s At Folsom Prison, Legacy Edition, a 40th anniversary 2-CD and DVD box was recorded on January 13, 1968, when Johnny Cash and his crew – June Carter (two months before their wedding), Columbia staff producer Bob Johnston, Carl Perkins, the Statler Brothers, and the Tennessee Three (guitarist Luther Perkins, bassist Marshall Grant, drummer W.S. “Fluke” Holland), rolled into northern California’s notorious maximum security lockup and gave a performance that changed Cash’s career arc and the future of popular music.

Forty years later, the Cash archives in Tennessee continue to dazzle researchers with their riches. In fact, as rarely known by even the most ardent fans, and rarely mentioned in Cash writings until now – there were two Folsom shows performed and recorded that day: The first show, the bulk of which comprised the classic, familiar 16-song album; and a longer second show, the bulk of whose 26 tracks (except for two songs) were put on the shelf.

JOHNNY CASH AT FOLSOM PRISON: LEGACY EDITION has been a long time coming, indeed. The revealing three-disc (2 CD+DVD) close-up of that day now presents the entire unvarnished 65-minute first show on disc one – expletives intact for the first time, and with seven previously unissued tracks; and the entire 75-minute second show on disc two, with 24 previously unissued tracks (out of 26). It’s topped off with a new documentary DVD – featuring exclusive footage from inside Folsom, interviews with Merle Haggard, Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart, and former inmates who witnessed the concert, and unpublished photography by Jim Marshall.>

American Music Award Nominees Announced

2008 American Music Awards (AMAs) host Jimmy Kimmel and recording artists Julianne Hough and Jesse McCartney revealed the American Music Awards nominees this morning from the Beverly Hills Hotel (see full list of nominees below). Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Taylor Swift, the Pussycat Dolls and New Kids on The Block were also announced as performers for the 36th annual AMAs, joining previously named performers the Jonas Brothers and P!nk. Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

The live broadcast will take place at the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on ABC. Tickets are now on sale (please visit http://www.ticketmaster.com or call 1-877-AEG-TICKETS).

For the second year, winners will be determined by online voting at amavote.com, the official voting location (votes will be collected from October 14 to November 7). Artists will be honored in the categories of Pop/Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Alternative, Adult Contemporary, Latin and Contemporary Inspirational. Fans can go to the official homepage of the "2008 American Music Awards," ama.abc.com, to find performer and presenter announcements, artist information, etc ...

Music fans will also be able to vote for the T-Mobile "Breakthrough Artist" Award. The nominees for this special award are Colbie Caillat, Flo Rida, Jonas Brothers, Paramore and The-Dream. Fans can vote at amavote.com and/or via text-message for T-Mobile customers (Standard text-messaging rates apply). Voting for the T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist Award begins November 10th and concludes during the American Music Awards on November 23rd.

Alicia Keys leads the pack this year with five nominations, Favorite Female Artist in both the Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B categories, two Favorite Album nominations for her album, As I Am, in the Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B categories as well as an Artist of the Year nod. Coldplay garnered four nominations this year, Favorite Artist in the Alternative Rock category, Favorite Band Duo or Group and Favorite album, for Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, in the Pop/Rock category and Artist of the Year. Eagles also earned four nominations; Favorite Band Duo or Group and Favorite Album in the Pop/Rock category, Favorite Artist in the Adult Contemporary category and Artist of the Year. In addition to Alicia Keys, Coldplay and Eagles; Lil Wayne and Chris Brown round out the 2008 Artist of the Year nominees.

Larry Klein, AMA producer stated, "From our nominees to performances, to Jimmy Kimmel's humor, this year's AMA's is sure to be a great evening. The show is a true reflection of popular culture and what is current to consumers of live and recorded music."

Orly Adelson, dick clark productions president stated, "Our 2008 show's impressive roster of talent makes November 23 a must-see night for any music fan; this is what is special about the AMA's. No matter what type of music you enjoy, the American Music Awards always delivers the hottest acts across all music genres. It is a music lover's night to celebrate."

About the Voting --

Initial nominees were selected by using ballots containing names compiled from data supplied by the music industry trade publication, Radio & Records and Nielsen Soundscan, which tracks retail music sales. The ballots were then sent to a national sampling of more than 15,000 people based among other things on what type of music they listen to, what they buy and how many albums they purchase per year. The top three vote getters in each category were determined to be the nominees for this year's American Music Awards (except in the Artist of the Year and T-Mobile Breakthrough categories which each have five Nominees). Winners will be determined by online voting at ama.abc.com as well as at amavote.com (votes will be collected from October 14 to November 7).

FINAL NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2008 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS

POP/ ROCK MUSIC

1. FAVORITE MALE ARTIST

1. Chris Brown
2. Kid Rock
3. Usher

2. FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST

1. Mariah Carey
2. Alicia Keys
3. Rihanna

3. FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP

1. Coldplay
2. Eagles
3. Daughtry

4. FAVORITE ALBUM

1. Coldplay/ Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
2. Eagles/ Long Road Out of Eden
3. Alicia Keys/ As I Am

COUNTRY MUSIC

5. FAVORITE MALE ARTIST

1. Garth Brooks
2. Kenny Chesney
3. Brad Paisley

6. FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST

1. Reba McEntire
2. Taylor Swift
3. Carrie Underwood

7. FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP

1. Brooks & Dunn
2. Rascal Flatts
3. Sugarland

8. FAVORITE ALBUM

1. Garth Brooks/ The Ultimate Hits
2. Rascal Flatts/ Still Feels Good
3. Carrie Underwood/Carnival Ride

RAP/HIP-HOP MUSIC

9. FAVORITE MALE ARTIST

1. Flo Rida
2. Lil Wayne
2. Kanye West

10. FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP

1. G Unit
2. Three 6 Mafia
3. Wu-Tang Clan

11. FAVORITE ALBUM

1. Jay-Z/American Gangster
2. Lil Wayne/ Tha Carter III
3. Kayne West/ Graduation

SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES MUSIC

12. FAVORITE MALE ARTIST

1. Chris Brown
2. J. Holiday
3. Usher

13. FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST

1. Mary J. Blige
2. Alicia Keys
3. Rihanna

14. FAVORITE ALBUM

1. Mary J. Blige/ Growing Pains
2. Mariah Carey/ E=MC2
3. Alicia Keys/ As I Am

SOUNDTRACKS

15. FAVORITE ALBUM

1. Alvin And The Chipmunks
2. Juno
3. Mamma Mia!

ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC

16. FAVORITE ARTIST
1. Coldplay
2. Foo Fighters
3. Linkin Park

ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

17. FAVORITE ARTIST

1. Daughtry
2. Eagles
3. Jordin Sparks

LATIN MUSIC

18. FAVORITE ARTIST

1. Enrique Iglesias
2. Juanes
3. Wisin Y Yandel

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

19. FAVORITE ARTIST

1. Casting Crowns
2. MercyMe
3. Third Day

20. T-MOBILE BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST

Colbie Caillat
Flo Rida
Jonas Brothers
Paramore
The-Dream

21. ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Lil Wayne
Chris Brown
Alicia Keys
Eagles
Coldplay

Ben Folds Interview, Next Big Nashville 2008

Ben Folds Interview, Next Big Nashville 2008 - Country Music Hall of Fame

Beastie Boys to tour swing states

Beastie Boys have confirmed selected dates through the crucial swing states of the upcoming election. Joining the punk rock-meets-hip hop band in various markets will be Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Crosby & Nash, Santogold, Tenacious D, and special guests.

Stops include Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Va. (October 28), Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, Minn. (November 1), and U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, Wis. (November 2). For ticket information, check BeastieBoys.com

Representatives from the Rock The Vote will be on hand at each stop to distribute information on local polling sites, including early voting locations.