Songwriting goes International?
Youtube is taking major steps towards making their database of millions of videos accessible to the deaf, hearing-impaired and those individuals that don't speak english. There technology can insert captions in 51 languages, meaning that listeners world wide will soon be able to enjoy the cleverness of your songwriting.
You hear about your friends, family and friends-of-friends enlisting in the military everyday, you see the recruiting commercials and can even witness them on CNN in the background from time to time, but one opportunity that is never widely publicized is the military path for the working musician. the savvymusician.com solid rundown on the opportunities available to the working musician such as premier bands and regional bands complete with the pros and cons of undertaking such opportunities.
"This is a good four year job for just about anyone. It can be a GREAT 20+ year job for many"
Michael Mench - Commander of the US Air Force Band of Flight
I've been hearing some chatter recently about underground music going the way of the "black guy mohawk"-out the door. one definition of Underground music is music that refers to a variety of post-1960s rock, pop, or dance subgenres that developed a cult following despite their lack of mainstream. Even though music can't hide from the internet I still believe that because of the pressures put on todays bloggers and DJs to "play for pay" or "go where the money is" that underground music can still live and thrive and evolve on the internet. Hopefully we can help increase the underground network by strengthening long distance ties between musicians and their fans. Everyone is now the underground musician. Music will go back to its purest form where the main inspiration for doing it is the love and the respect.
Street Music
How indie are you? Thats a good question to ask, because i believe that there are certain level of indie. I actually really enjoy the street performer, simply because sometimes walking down hollywood blvd. needs a soundtrack. What about the street merchant? At the same time you do have those artists that feel that they can sell you or even worse trick you into buying their product with a few nifty words, i think we're all in agreement on this, but there's nothing that inspires me to reach into my pocket and slip a few dollars like hearing them working for it.
When trying to market your music on the street words just don't cut it.
Grammy winning music producer Lillywhite is providing music professionals the opportunity to gain insight and hear about his career path, and ongoing journey through his long career. The evenings' interview is followed by a question-and-answer period. If your a producer or engineer in NY then this might be worth checking out. It all goes down this evening from 630pm to 830pm and is free to Recording Academy members and $30.00 for everyone else.
Get Famous enough and Fans could actually be on tour to see you.
Matin Contempree is driving this innovative concept with the Rock and Pop tours. The very first tour, 'Good Vibrations Tour of Los Angeles' is kicking off in April (2010). Offered is "the chance to delve behind the music industry: to hear the music live, taste the excitement and experience the iconic locations and famous venues where rock and pop history was created and still lives on". READ MORE
Demands have changed in the last decade, too. Volume levels have increased in concerts, although the key to good sound is not volume, according to Wyland. What is important is the dynamic range, or being able to hear the softer and detailed sounds just as clearly as the louder riffs. - A good piece for our is music getting too loud segment.
American Idolizes The Money, Not Your Music
Eleetmusic's Kevin English had a chance to hear out some of the past american idol finalists at one of the panels held at the recently passed CMJ 2009. The topic, an interesting one mind you, was a look at entertainers who have been to the top of the mountain only to look down at how far they had to fall. Artists such as Kimberley Locke (remember her?) talk about their idol experiences as well as life after the season has wrapped and the cameras have powered down. The gist? Sometimes being an independent artist carries with it the invigorating feeling of carving out ones own musical destiny. At the end of the day you have a pretty good realization of who you are, who your fans are, and you can proudly boast that you aren't just a number in a label of numbers.