Music Industry News

The Argentine Invasion, PT. 3: Juan Cruz de Urquiza

Source: Inverted Garden by Eric Benson
July 24, 2010

Joining Richard Nant in the trumpet section of Guillermo Klein's Base de Nave (at the Vanguard next month) will be Juan Cruz de Urquiza. JCU studied at Berklee with Klein and Nant in the early 90s, but unlike them, he returned to Buenos Aires soon after graduating. Much of the new Argentine jazz comes out of Klein's and Nant's work in mid- to late-90s New York (that's a large focus of my upcoming Checkout report), but JCU's contribution shouldn't be ...

Continue Reading

Seth Godin: Get It Right for 10 People

Source: HypeBot
July 24, 2010

Don't Go For The Masses,  Go Direct To Fan

Major labels are mass marketing power giants; it's what they do. Before the advent of the social web, they  were the only way to reach the masses. Due to their influence on commercial radio stations, at big-box retail outlets, and on television, much of this remains true. If an artist wants the general public to become familiar with their music and know all words to their songs at the next show, ...

Continue Reading

Youtube Launches New Music Landing Page

Source: HypeBot
July 24, 2010

If you don't know exactly what you are looking for, YouTube and its millions of videos can be a bit overwhelming.  To help guide visitors through the clutter YouTube has launched a new music landing page (here) Their revamped music page-- part of a redesign that started with shows and movies pages--showcases the most viewed music videos, special promotions, curated playlists, unsigned talent and add the ability to create on-the-fly mixes. For example if you are in the mood for ...

Continue Reading

Al Jarreau Hospitalized, Listed in Critical Condition

Source: Michael Ricci
July 23, 2010

Jarreau collapsed during a concert on Thursday night in Barcelonnette, France There are only two recording artists in the history of the music industry to have been awarded with Grammys in three separate musical categories. One is the late “King of Pop," Michael Jackson, and the other is Al Jarreau, who has been honored in the categories of jazz, pop and R&B. According to Reuters in the UK, Jarreau collapsed during a concert on Thursday night in Barcelonnette, France as ...

Continue Reading

The Complete Guide to Eating Healthily on the Road, Part One

Source: We All Make Music
July 23, 2010

Touring musicians have their nightly highs, in which the energy of the crowd, the power of the music, and the spine-tingling force of self-expression combine, creating sensations of vitality so visceral that some musicians only feel truly “alive" when they are performing.

But there are also the daily lows--long periods of driving, flat, empty stretches of highway, the endless parade of the sun across the sky and back again, and the haunting murmurs of family dinners behind golden lit windows ...

Continue Reading

The Complete Guide to Eating Healthily on the Road, Part Two

Source: We All Make Music
July 23, 2010

Earlier today, Amy Klein offered up part one of her tips for eating healthily when you're on tour. Below, you'll find part two.

Make It a Picnic Touring means nothing if not going stir crazy during long drives. Because of the sheer contrast it provides to the daily routine, the act of eating outside instantly transforms a mediocre meal into a memorable experience. Most rest stops have a bench overlooking the parking lot where you can sit and eat ...

Continue Reading

5 Reason Not to Sign a Record Deal

Source: HypeBot
July 23, 2010

This guest post comes from the folks at likeZEBRA, a new site offering artists a growing suite of direct to fan promotion and sales tools.

  1. Competition for Attention--Music artists are already forced to compete for the attention and interest of fans; they shouldn't have to compete for that attention within their own record label. Labels divvy up their focus between multiple signed artists.  Whereas an artist may be giving 100% to developing their music career, a ...

Continue Reading

5 Reasons That You Still Might Want to Sign to a Record Label

Source: HypeBot
July 23, 2010

Yesterday's guest post 5 Reasons Not To Sign A Record Deal drew some passionate comments both in support of and against the value that record labels bring to artists. In my classes at Berklee I find the same polarized sentiments: either “record labels are evil thieves" or “I want be be a big star and record labels will help me get there."  

With all of the d.i.y. and direct to fan tools available, why would an artist want to sign ...

Continue Reading