Open the Door And Enter The Village!

We met up with Village CEO Jeff Greenberg who gave studioexpresso the grand tour of this historical facility where Liz Phair, Chillie Peppers, Dido and numerous top recording artists have been making great music.

We're also excited to bring you the video interview with producers John Wooler, Andre Fischer and Lenise Bent from The Village courtesy of Record Production and Babblefish.

Take an express tour of Village studios, watch the video and and learn about the latest at the Village.

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Producer video interviews from world-class studios:
Get your FREE Real One Player download here!

Who would you like to see interviewed? Send us your your request!

Ken Allardyce - Sarm West, UK
Lenise Bent - Village Stuidos, Los Angeles, CA NEW!
Andre Fischer - Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA - NEW!
Chris Fogel - Fig, Glendale, CA
Greg Ladanyi - Tidal Wave Sound, Studio City, CA
Joseph Magee - O'Henry Studios, Burbank, CA
Michael C Ross - Royaltone Studios, North Hollywood, CA
Elliot Scheiner - Presense studios, CT
Al Schmitt - Capitol, Hollywood, CA
Tolbert & Sutton - Studio Atlantis, Hollywood, CA
Rafa Sardina - Abbey Road, UK
John Wooler - Village Studios, Los Angeles, CA - NEW!

studioexpresso in alliance with the following affiliates is pleased to bring you these interviews. Big thanks to: Record Production & Babblefish

Sold Out "Blue For Music" Jam Sessions
Small Venue, Big Stars, Huge Cause
Elvis Costello & The Imposters Dashboard COnfessional; The Strokes, Stevie Wonder; Counting Crows & Jewel Feb 4-7 House Of Blues

American Express recently announced a new commitment to help music education programs in public schools on behalf of its Blue products. Blue For Save The Music, a program in partnership with VH1 Save the Music Foundation, is designed to bring greater attention to the lifelong benefits of music education and to help restore music education programs in America’s public schools. Through a variety of programs, Blue For Save The Music will help raise awareness for this issue and has pledged to raise $1 million for music education in 2003.

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Starsailor
Silence Is Easy

An indie rock quartet heralded on the release of their debut single, "Fever," in February 2001 as "Britain's best new band," Starsailor has continued the rich lineage of Travis, Coldplay, and others Formed in Wigan by music students James Walsh (vocals/guitar), James Stelfox (bass), and Ben Byrne (drums), the band went through several guitar-heavy embryonic lineups before the arrival of Barry Westhead (keyboards) cemented their sound.

The highly unusual chorus to “Fidelity” is addictive; the excellent use of melodica that feeds “Shark Food” sees the song succeed through (or despite) the endless repetition of two lines of lyrics; and “Four To The Floor” is as sexy an indie dance hit as anything Pulp or Suede have ever done. Phil Spector produced two songs!

Ani Difranco
Educated Guess

Ani DiFranco has been "on her own" -to quote her company's phone number-for a long time. But not since the release of her second album back in 1991 has she been quite as much a solo act as she is on her latest CD, Educated Guess. On it, Ani not only plays all the instruments and provides the lead and backing vocals, but for the first time in her career she single-handedly did all the recording and mixing, and stuffed the discs into the jewel cases as well.

We're joking about that last part, but the rest is no exaggeration. If it weren't for Greg Calbi (who mastered the album, as he has done with almost all of Ani's recordings for the last decade), the folks who usually proofread liner notes at Righteous Babe would have to take the month off. Educated Guess is truly a singular sensation.

Release: Jan 20th

Sean Pander
Soundtrack To Life

25 year-old singer/songwriter/guitar player Pander's debut solo album features all-star musicians from his hometown of Texas to include: Lanier Greig, founding member of ZZ Top, and Marion Aquilina, guitar player for La Mafia. Pander former band Soular Slide on CDBaby.
The new sound is folk/rock reminiscent of Dave Matthews & John Mayer.

With numerous nominations (best pop/rock bands according to the Houston Press 2002 Music Awards; Best Band in Houston by radio station 94 The Buzz, Guitar Center) Sean was the regular house band for a nationally aired 2002 WB show, "Teen Talk." In 2003, Pander was invited to perform at Madison Square Garden for the New York Music Festival.

Currently he resides in Los Angeles where he writes songs and is active on the local live scene. Look for Pander at House of Blues, The Mint, Temple Bar, The Gig, Dragonfly, Genghis Cohen, Acoustic Playhouse, just to name a few. For more info contact Stephanie Granader Mgmnt.

Africa Straight Ahead

Scheduled to coincide with the historic ten year anniversary of the end of
apartheid, AFRICA STRAIGHT AHEAD spotlights some of South Africa's leading jazz musicians playing their own compositions.

Set for release on February 24, it combines the sounds of hard bop, swing and soul with the essence of Africa. This latest recording in the Heads Up Africa series includes Darius Brubeck & Afro Cool Concept, Hotep Idris Galeta, Paul Hanmer, Moses Khumalo, McCoy Mrubata,
Bheki Mseleku, Andy Narell, Zim Ngqawana, The Sheer All Stars, Voice and Marcus Wyatt. Cover art features an African illustration by Frank Morrison.

Golden Globe Winners
The Song and the Score to The Lords


Big Music Win for The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King
Best Original Song - Motion Picture
"Into The West"--- Music & Lyrics By: Howard Shore, Fran Walsh, Annie Lennox (her latest release, "Bare" is nominated for a Grammy)
Best Original Score - Motion Picture - Howard Shore
complete list of winners here!

With A Little Help From My Friends
The Guitar Center Supports New West Symphony's Young Artists

Guitar Center's Marty Albertson with New West Symphony's Maestro Borris Brott at a post-concert reception; GC storefront in Manhattan
The Guitar Center sponsorship of $100,000 per year is the largest corporate sponsorship in the Westlake based New West Symphony's history. The concerts, formerly known as the Discovery Artists Concerts (now in its 10th year), will become the Guitar Center Young Artists Concerts featuring the Discovery Artists 2004(5) and the Ventura County Honor Band. The 2004 concerts took place on January 17 and 18 at the Countrywide Performing Arts Center/Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, and at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. The four 2004 Discovery Artists, ranging in age from 11 to 25 and joined by a Discovery Artist alumnus, performed works by Beethoven, Barber, Rachmaninov, Mozart and Tchaikovsky. The dates for the 2005 concerts will be announced at a later time. The concerts annually showcase outstanding young musicians selected by audition from Ventura County, Malibu and the West San Fernando Valley in performances as soloists with the New West Symphony.

Marty Albertson, Co-CEO of the Guitar Center said of the generous commitment, "Being inspired is a gift we should all enjoy throughout our lives. Great music is the result of inspired people. The inspiration begins in our public school systems through the direction and motivation of the music teachers and it is perpetuated by communities building and supporting local symphonies and orchestras." He added, "The New West Symphony has created a program that will tie together all generations of musicians and at the same time bring recognition to the music teachers who are the catalysts and central figures for the development of music in our society. The New West Symphony's commitment to these programs was instrumental to Guitar Center's support." For more info contact the NWS - order the season tix, a great gift for the young person in your family!

Guitar Center had its origins in Hollywood, CA. in the 1960s, and following its vision of vast expansion while maintaining "good, old-fashioned customer service," now has over 100 retail music stores across the country. Begun by owner Wayne Mitchell, Guitar Center went public in 1997 and acquired the Musician's Friend catalogue company shortly thereafter. In 2003 it acquired American Music Group, and is now known as "the largest Musical Instrument retailer in the world." And for those of you in ProAudio, check out GcPRO.

Doing the Sundance!


Café Society Pictured at ASCAP's Music Café at the Sundance Film Festival (l-r) are Edie Brickell, ASCAP's Loretta Munoz, Shawn Colvin, ASCAP’s Sue Devine, Jason Mraz and ASCAP's Tom DeSavia.

The Sundance Film Festival in Park City Utah is universally regarded as the foremost showcase for American independent films. The Festival culminates in the live broadcast of the Sundance Film Festival Awards, where kudos for excellence are bestowed by a jury and by audience vote. Past Festivals have included films that have literally charted the history of independent cinema: sex lies and videotape, Reservoir Dogs, Hoop Dreams, Memento, The Full Monty, Shine, The Blair Witch Project, In the Bedroom, The Good Girl, Dogtown and Z-Boys, American Splendor, Capturing the Friedmans, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Thirteen, and The Station Agent. The music cafe featured this year's ASCAP event with cutting edge artists: Shawn Colvin, Edie Brickell , Jason Mraz, John Hiatt, Jon Brion, Sam Phillips, Sweet Pea Atkinson & Was (Not Was) Quintet featuring Don & David Was All-American Rejects, Clem Snide and more...

Solid State Logic XL 9000 K is Maserati's Choice

Tony Maserati, renowned for his cutting-edge mixing style, completed the production on Beyonce’s recent #1 album “Dangerously In Love” at the Hit Factory, Studio 3. Maserati was recently nominated for three Grammy awards and has also mixed tracks for some of today’s best-known recording artists, including Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera, Mary J.
Blige and Marc Anthony among others.

Minghella's "Cold Mountain" soundtrack captured by Neumann Mics

Piersante at Sunset Sound, during the "Cold Mountain" recording sessions

Michael Piersante, recording engineer for producer T-Bone Burnett, utilized a mix of vintage Neumann and RCA microphones to convincingly recreate the sounds for the hit Civil War movie "Cold Mountain".

Piersante revealed that the songs that have been recorded for "Cold Mountain" are more simply arranged to capture "the feeling the music is being played by real people sitting on their porch playing a song on a banjo or a fiddle," he elaborates. "It's less of a band and a singer and more like a couple of soldiers sitting in the woods, playing and singing. The music is their few release and their entertainment." "Cold Mountain," directed by Anthony Minghella ("The English Patient"), is based on the National Book Award-winning novel by Charles Frazier.

ATI Desks for Mixing Beyoncé Live

Rick Camp, who has been working with all three members of Destiny's Child - solo and together - for the last two years, has had a busy 2003, most recently taking Beyoncé Knowles' solo show on the road across the States, through Europe, to South Africa, and back to the U.S.A.

For Camp, a veteran studio engineer as well as live sound mixer, the ATI Paragon II Production mixing console has everything he could possibly want on a console. "I like having everything onboard," he comments. "It's like being in the studio. There are gates and compressors, like an SSL, but for live." Every Paragon II input features the patented ATI compressor, gate circuitry and four bands of parametric EQ as standard.

Camp, who owns and operates Reel Tyme Recording in Canoga Park, California, is a long time fan of the ATI console for live mixing, he adds. "I've been using them since the original Paragon. I used them when I was mixing Earth Wind & Fire."

Grammy Buzz!

Sting and Sean Paul, Charles Aznavour, Martina McBride, and The Black Eyed Peas are among the latest performers who will appear on the 46th Annual GRAMMY® Awards telecast, it was announced by the Recording Academy®. Recording artists Norah Jones, John Mayer and Pharrell Williams, and actors Sean Astin and Amber Tamblyn are the first presenters to be announced for the music industry's premier event, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 8 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on CBS from 8 - 11:30 p.m. (EST/PST). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at GRAMMY.com.

The Academy also announced that from Jan. 19 to Jan. 26, people across America can go to eBay and bid on the 46th Annual GRAMMY Ultimate VIP Experience. This once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience some of the most exclusive GRAMMY festivities will offer numerous opportunities to mingle with celebrities at star-studded, invitation-only events. Proceeds from the eBay auction will benefit music people in need through the MusiCares® Emergency Financial Assistance Program. The 46th Annual GRAMMY Ultimate VIP Experience package includes: a GRAMMY VIP weekend stay at the Sofitel Los Angeles, platinum-level tickets to the 46th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast, a behind-the-scenes VIP backstage tour and rehearsal passes, tickets to the official GRAMMY Nominees Reception and official GRAMMY Celebration, two VIP Tickets to the MusiCares 2004 Person Of The Year Tribute to Sting (including dinner and a tribute concert featuring performances by Tony Bennett, The Black Eyed Peas, Elvis Costello, Dido, Elton John, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, and Sting), and a GRAMMY Bag filled with official GRAMMY gear and two official GRAMMY Jackets. Further information about the package and bidding can be found at www.ebay.com/grammy.

Jimmy Jam, Brian McKnight, Dave Matthews, Daryl Friedman and Neil Portnow

On Jan. 15, a group of music industry leaders participated in the first GRAMMY Industry Roundtable, an off-the-record meeting hosted by the Recording Academy at its Santa Monica, Calif., headquarters designed to begin a direct dialogue between artists and music executives. Part of the Academy's GRAMMY Cultural Policy Initiative, the roundtable was the first in a series of private and public discussions encouraging creative solutions to the industry's challenges.

The discussion was facilitated by Bill Ivey, director of the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University, and hosted by Academy President Neil Portnow. Participants included recording artists Glen Ballard, Jimmy Jam, Brian McKnight and Dave Matthews, as well as Daniel Carlin (Recording Academy Chairman), Mitch Bainwol (RIAA chairman and CEO), Les Bider (chairman and CEO, Warner Chappell Music), Ron Fair (president, A&M Records), Bruce Flohr (Red Light Management), Michael Ostroff (senior vice president, Universal Music), entertainment attorneys Charles Ortner and Don Passman, Glen Ward (president and CEO, Virgin Entertainment Group and vice chairman of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers' board of directors) and Silas White (artist manager).

Academy Nominations for Soundelux!

L-R: Karen Baker, Per Hallberg, Mark Stoeckinger and Wylie Stateman.

Soundelux (an Ascent Media Company) welcomed the announcement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.) regarding its selection of the seven feature films which will be competing for an Academy Award nomination in the category for Best Sound Editing at the January 20 Sound Editing "Bake-off."

Soundelux provided sound editorial services for the following three of the seven selected feature films.KILL BILL, VOL. I (Wylie Stateman, Supervising Sound Editor); THE LAST SAMURAI (Mark Stoeckinger, Supervising Sound Editor) and SEABISCUIT (Per Hallberg and Karen Baker, Supervising Sound Editors). Congrats! Contact: Christian Hellum

Special CD Manufacturing/Packaging Offer to SE community from Benchmark Records

It's a deal! $999 to $1099
1000 CD's; 2-4 panel insert with 4 over 4; Traycard with 4 over 4; Up to 3 colors on the disc
Shrinkwrapped; Barcode

To get samples or receive a custom quote call Michael Kenney, Radio & Retail Promotion, Director of A&R office-317-255-3780x24 mobile- 317-459-8634 AOL IM- kenneymp.
" Does your band need distribution? Ask me about HipDisc," says Kenney.

Sights & Sounds of NAMM 2004

The Namm show ended with more crowds, more business and more entertainment. Centered around the theme “Believe in Music,” the 102nd NAMM Show brought together a record 1,340 exhibiting companies, close to 70,000 attendees (including a record number of international guests) and thousands of retail buyers for the music products industry’s largest annual event in the United States. “The NAMM Show gives our industry a great opportunity to come together as a community,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. “This gathering is what sets the tone for the year, and based on feedback from our Members, the feeling is that we’ve ‘turned the corner,’ creating a sense of optimism within the industry.”

Sennheiser's Karl Winkler brought Michelle Shocked to perform her acoustic set while demonstrating the Evolution wireless Generation 2 microphones. Shocked released a deluxe, re-mastered version of her classic 1988 debut studio album SHORT, SHARP, SHOCKED, last September on her own label, Mighty Sound.


In the eve Sennheiser hosted the 6th Annual Evolution Dealer Appreciation Party featuring performances by Vertical Horizon, John Jorgenson and Friends, and a Chicago favorite, DJ Puzzle.

Vintage-Alternatives introduced its Vinault Plexi-18... the amp that never existed... but should have. "We believe in the sound, the look, the feel and the soul of vintage tube guitar amplifiers – the tone that those amps produced has never been surpassed," says CEO Randy Troast.

Digidesign News!

Digidesign, who will receive an Oscar for Pro Tools System by Academy Award -- the second Oscar in Avid family - has acquired the assets of Bomb Factory Digital, Inc., (manufacturer of real-time audio DSP effects for the Digidesign Pro Tools® platform) and also annoucned arrival of DigiDelivery - exchange Files of Any Size as Easily as E-mail.

Renowned throughout the recording industry for realistically emulating the sound and look of vintage studio processors, Bomb Factory's plug-ins have amassed a loyal following among customers ranging from Grammy® award-winning musical artists to major broadcasters to top-tier video game developers. In the near future, Digidesign expects to announce its plans for deploying the Bomb Factory assets across the Pro Tools product line.

"Our acquisition of Bomb Factory underscores Digidesign's commitment to deliver the most powerful creative options available to Pro Tools customers," said David Lebolt, Avid vice president and Digidesign general manager. "

DigiDelivery enables users to securely exchange any kind of digital file of virtually any size with anyone in the world. With DigiDelivery installed on an Ethernet network, DSL or cable modem, users simply drag and drop files to send a delivery, or click a link in an email to receive a delivery — there’s no need for recipients to enter IP addresses, usernames, or passwords. DigiDelivery is available now at select dealer locations including GCPro.

The company also announced the upcoming launch of a free quarterly printed edition of DigiZine magazine. Digidesign’s popular e-zine, DigiZine has become known throughout the industry as a mecca of wealth for Pro Tools® tips, recommendations, training resources, user profiles, and more. Due to this popularity, Digidesign will kick off its first printed edition of DigiZine in April, 2004, and will distribute the magazine internationally at both popular industry tradeshows and Digidesign dealer locations.

JBL Announcements!

JBLProfessional announced shipment of the LSR6300 Series line of studio monitors at the NAMM show in Anaheim. The new line incorporates patented transducer technologies and revolutionary RMC™ Room Mode Correction system to minimize the effect of standing waves and acoustic problems in the production environment. The result is more accurate performance at the mix position in any size control room. JBL Professional Director of Recording and Broadcast, Peter Chaikin said, “Our objective is to go beyond “accurate” and solve the problems in the mix environment. By incorporating Room Mode Correction technology, even a small production space can have accurate performance at the mix position. The new LSR6300 speakers eliminate the guess-work and make mixing a pleasure.”

With the cost conscious user in mind, JBL announced the introduction of the JRX100 series for musicians, DJs and other users of live sound reinforcement speakers at the Winter NAMM Show. The JRX100 series offers a complete line of quality live sound reinforcement speakers at an affordable price.

Walt Disney Concert Hall, the new home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is getting the latest in loudspeaker technology from JBL Professional including VerTec® line array systems and AE Series™ loudspeakers.

"Our company, and Eric Clapton's production team, has decided to move forward with JBL VERTEC after carefully reviewing the various line array options available today," confirms Tim Boyle, Managing Director for Concert Sound, whose staff handles concert needs worldwide for a prestigious group of major artists including Clapton.

The RKS Guitar Revolution!

Dave Mason on-stage and at NAMM 2004 launching the RKS

Dave Mason is no stranger to music making or performing and now to guitar making!
With 19 solo albums (that's not including 3 Fleetwood Mac and 6 Traffic albums) he has appeared on numerous legendary albums including, Electric Ladyland with Jimi Hendrix, All Things Must Pass with George Harrison, History of Eric Clapton with Clapton, Venus And Mars with Paul Mccartney. This year Dave is Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame inductee and has a new album (recoreded at his home studio) due for immanent release.

Dave's new "open architecture" hand-built (made in the USA) instruments are designed and co-founded by world-renowned industrial designer Ravi Sawhney, CEO of RKS . "It was exciting to introduced our beautiful line at NAMM this year, " says Dave who was at the RKS booth giving demonstrations. "Guitars offer...A virtually unlimited number of permutations tailored to dirfferent players and their personal preferences to appeal to both the music enthusiast and professional musicians alike with highly desirable and unique aesthetic in addition to world-class playability and tonality," says Ravi. To check out the guitars visit the RKS website or Contact Ravi Sawhney or Gary Kevorkian at 805-370-5858 for more info.

Imagine Peace

L-R: Kevin Bacon, Neutrik USA President, Jim Cowan and Michael Bacon.

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, created six years ago and designed to bring its vast resources to venues throughout the United States, was parked at the Marriott Outdoor Plaza at this year's Winter NAMM in Anaheim, CA, where guests enjoyed a performance by The Bacon Brothers. The non-profit, newly re-built, state-of-the-art mobile recording studio is outfitted with a vast amount of connectors (including XLRs, ¼" jacks and plugs, BNCs and AES/EBU adapters) and four TT size patch panels (NPPA-TT-PT-PH) from Neutrik.

The 2004 NAMM Summer Session will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, July 23–25. www.namm.com or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

What's Up Doc?!

L-R: Charlie Watts with Ross and Abe Laboriel JR.

According to Ross Garfield, "the Drum Doctor," 2003 was a very good year both in the studio and in tour support. In addition to looking after long-time friends and luminary drummers Jim Keltner, Peter Erskin and Rickie Laawson, Ross supports Abe Laboriel Jr (Paul McCartney) , Joey Waronker (Beck, REM, I'm A Robot) and Josh Freese (Perfect Circle, Offspring, Everesence). Ross' friendly staff are approachable and give everyone the same tender loving care and star attention musicians deserve. So, next time you're in the studio and want that killer drum sound, look up the Drum Doctor on the net. The facility in Burbank offers choice of some of the best drums in the world, in-studio tuning, cartage and storage -- give Ross and his staff a jingle 818-506-8123. "we like to give back to the music community by supporting the local heroes and producers and labels who believe in them," says Ross.

Studio Business Chops Announces Spring West Coast Tour
Half-day Seminar Explores New Revenue Sources for Audio/Music Pros

The producers of Studio Business Chops announce regional workshops focusing on business tips and techniques for pro audio professionals. The West Coast tour to include San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco/Oakland, Sacramento, Portland and Seattle in mid-May with venues and specific dates TBA. "Top music business leaders share their practical and radical views of doing business in the evolving audio-music world," says event producer David Schwartz. One of the past presenters, John Stiernberg, author of "Succeeding In Music" was guest on the Samm Brown's For The Record on KPFK 90.7 FM this past Sunday.
For updates e-mail: [email protected]

Design FX Delivers!
Scoring"The Notebook" at Todd-AO with editor Philip Tallman and composer Aaron Zigman

Pictured L-R at the digital workstation on Stage S at Todd-AO Radford are re-recording mixer Jon Taylor, DFX systems manager Jeffrey Welch, music editor Philip Tallman, DFX systems technician Trini Alvarez, and re-recording mixer Brad Sherman.
Photo: David Goggin.

Independent music editor Philip Tallman chose LA's Design FX Systems to provide him with the complete Pro Tools system he is using on Todd-AO Radford's Stage S for post-production on "The Notebook." Directed by Nick Cassavetes, the film stars Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands, James Garner, and Joan Allen. Tallman worked closely with composer Aaron Zigman in preparation for post-production with re-recording mixers Jon Taylor and Brad Sherman. The film is slated for release in Spring 2004.

"I am actually running everything except for video off my Firewire drives," explained music editor Philip Tallman. "This is a first for me, because I have previously always put the material on removable drives, but Firewire is at the point now that I trust it completely." Design FX provided 24-tracks of Pro Tools, Mac G4, Cinema Display, and a Mackie mixer for the project. "I'm running the entire show off of a 200 gigabyte drive with an 8 megabyte buffer, including the mixdowns of all the cues, source material, and anything I might need from the temp material."

With most of the story taking place in the Forties, the score reflects the style and musicianship of the period. "It's a gorgeous score," comments Tallman, "reminiscent of Chopin without the ornamentation. Composer Aaron Zigman really got into the minds of the musicians of the 30s and 40s and the performances are impeccable."
Visit Design FX Audio or call 818.843.6555

The New Look of Sony BMG

L-R: Andrew Lack, chairman and chief executive officer of Sony Music Entertainment and Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, chairman and chief executive officer of BMG. (PRNewsFoto)

The international media and entertainment companies Bertelsmann AG and Sony Corporation announced in December of a binding agreement to combine their recorded music businesses in a joint venture. The newly formed company, which will be known as Sony BMG, will be 50% owned by Bertelsmann and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America. Sony BMG will be based in New York. More here...

Billboard Selects Fono

Congrats to Fono for being selected by the editors of Billboard from 1700 bands. The band lost everything during the SanDiego fires, but is poised to bounce back. They have had tracks featured on MTV's Road Rules, JVC's 'Full Tilt' Album, the Miller Genuine Draft Blind Tracks national radio campaign, and Clear Channel's newest music CD; Their mp3.com site has hit the 70,000 download mark; They had an 'Album of the Month' in the BMG US music catalogue; They have gained international recognition by headlining for acts like Robert Plant and Bon Jovi and touring with the Goo Goo Dolls and Tonic and Third Eye Blind. Played over 170 shows in the USA to over 500,000 people; Featured in Billboard's Heatseekers; Had songs used by MTV for the Road Rules series and Warren Millers Cold Fusion movie; Had Top 10 in the Hits Speciality Airplay Chart ; Had 2 No. 1 songs in Progressive Airplay Chart
Gone top 10 on Belgium's Radio21; Had a 30 minute special on BBC World service; Fono was selected as one of 6 finalists by the editors of Billboard from 1700 bands to appear at the Knitting factory on January 15th for an industry showcase final with the possibility of winning $35,000 worth of gear. Labels listening? This is an impressive band...the new demo, engineered by Al Sanderson is available through the band's cool website.
Band Members Del - guitar, lead vocals Andy - drums Soren - guitar, vocals Cindy - bass

Riding high on the tune of I-tunes!

Mac revolutionized the computer industry and Apple is once again changing the world, the music world, that is. Its diminutive iPod, which can store 10,000 songs in a device smaller than a deck of cards, is the most radical change in how people listen to music since Sony introduced the Walkman in '79. And selling songs online for 99 cents each, creates even more demand for iPods starting at $299. More than 2 million iPods have been sold since its introduction, solidifying Apple's position as the No. 1 digital music player in the world. Now with Apple's new PC tech partner, HP, iPods will reach even a wider market. Next, how we watch movies, look at photos and even read a book promises to change profoundly in the coming decade. Jobs became the first person to persuade all the major record labels to make their music available - legally - on one Web site. since late April, 30 million songs have been downloaded from Apple's store, and the trend may one day spell the end of the compact disk. "(Jobs) is a real visionary, the kind who can change industries," says Jimmy Iovine, CEO of Geffen A&M Records (UMG). Movies Next?!

What's Up Dawg?: How to Become a Superstar in the Music Business

To the general public, he's best known as a judge for the TV show American Idol. But for most of you who know him well, the book is just the latest in Randy Jackson’s impressive string of credits. From legendary session bassist to songwriter and record producer to artist manager and label vice president, Jackson boasts a seemingly endless list of accomplishments.

Farewell to Rex

Many of us were getting Rex Poindexter community callendar of Los Angeles events.
He passed away on 1/23 after his brave battle with cancer. We're told that as a songwriter he got lot of support from the folks at NSAI and it was his wish to give back. Make donations in lieu of flowers to: NSAI Nashville -- 1701 West End Ave. 3rd Floor Nashville, TN 37201.
He'll be missed.

A Tribute!
Live the Dream

"(Man) is distinguished from animals by his freedom to do evil or to do good."
-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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