In the past, independent musicians would have to buy huge quantities of bubble envelopes, stuff them with CDs that took hours to burn, look up contact information, print out labels, weigh the packages, then head to the post office where they would pay a hefty bill for mailing. Now there’s a cheaper, secure, web-based delivery alternative.

Broadjam.com has launched a revolutionary new service - Broadjam Radio Deliveries. Powered by Musicrypt’s patented Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS), Broadjam Radio Deliveries allows independent artists to deliver their music and promotional materials directly to radio stations across North America. The deal with Musicrypt Inc., the industry’s leading and most secure digital music distribution company, gives independent musicians the opportunity to reach radio stations in the same manner as major label artists.

Broadjam Radio Deliveries allows Broadjam.com members to send broadcast quality music, bios, pictures and other promotional materials directly to the desktops of radio professionals and track when their material was delivered. The service provides a far more effective, secure and cost-effective means of distributing music and related promotional material than traditional mailing.

Most important to the independent musician, Broadjam Radio Deliveries provides security and accountability thanks to DMDS’s encryption, biometrics, and watermarking, ensuring that only the intended recipient can access their work. The addition of Radio Deliveries to Broadjam’s existing suite of tools places further control into the hands of independent artists.

For more information, visit their web site at www.broadjam.com.

Posted in Industry, Promotion

Nextcat, Inc. announces the launch of Nextcat.com, the world’s first entertainment industry-focused social networking web site. The site is freely accessible to the public in beta release.

The Nextcat.com website caters to working entertainment professionals as an extension of the way their industry already functions—making it a natural application for a social networking site. Jeff Pucci, co-founder and CEO of Nextcat, Inc., said, “Connecting talent with services when bolstered by peer-approved referrals makes all the difference.”

To date, the alternatives for entertainment professionals to network with colleagues or to seek and offer work has consisted primarily of using the telephone or posting on (classified ad mega-site) Craigslist. While acknowledging that MySpace has become a useful tool for one-way promotion and broadcasting information to a large fan base, Nextcat observed that entertainment professionals do not typically utilize MySpace for networking with industry colleagues or to find work.

For more information, visit their web site at www.nextcat.com.

Posted in Education, Industry, News

Top-tier bassists Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, and many others will appear at Bass Player LIVE!, Bass Player magazine’s two-day conference and concert, which will be held October 28 and 29, 2006 at midtown Manhattan’s Millennium Broadway Hotel.

Bass Player LIVE! is designed to be a live version of Bass Player, the world’s most widely read bass magazine. This stellar event brings together players, bass builders and manufacturers, and instructors for two days of clinics, live performances, onstage interviews, and gear exhibits.

Headlining Saturday night’s Bass Player LIVE! concert at the China Club is Bx3, the super trio of Billy Sheehan, Jeff Berlin, and Stuart Hamm. Also at the concert, Victor Wooten and Marcus Miller will present the 2006 Bass Player Lifetime Achievement Awards to Stanley Clarke. Clarke will join a pantheon of recent recipients, including jazz legend Ron Carter, Cream bassist Jack Bruce, session superstars Anthony Jackson and Will Lee, and Atlantic session veteran Jerry Jemmott.

“We’re thrilled to have so many top-name players joining Bass Player and our co-sponsors in presenting this event,” says Bill Leigh, Editor in Chief of Bass Player. “For years we’ve been putting on bass events to promote the craft of bass playing while providing a live forum for the bass community to come together, learn from one another, and honor each other’s accomplishments. With this year’s heavy lineup, we’re looking forward to our best event ever.”

In addition to Wooten, Miller, Sheehan, Berlin, Hamm, and Clarke, the all-star roster of clinicians includes former Weather Report bassist and super sideman Victor Bailey, Late Show bassist Will Lee, fretless session whiz Steve Bailey, Latin jazz sideman Ruben Rodriguez, jazz artist Chris Minh Doky, Late Night bassist Mike Merritt, former Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson, Mike Keneally bassist Bryan Beller, Broadway mainstay John Miller, Bon Jovi bassist Hugh McDonald, Steven Curtis Chapman sideman and solo artist/educator Adam Nitti, Bakithi Kumalo of Paul Simon’s Graceland album, Gospel great Andrew Gouche, and many others.

Bass Player Live! provides a fantastic opportunity for musicians interested in improving their skills and knowledge to get hands-on experience with the most up-to-date equipment as well as vintage gear, while listening to the advice and techniques of top professional musicians.

Exhibitors and co-sponsors include Aguilar, Alleva-Coppolo Basses, D’Addario, David Gage String Instruments, DR Music, Dunlop, Epifani Custom Sound, Euphonic Audio, Genz Benz Enclosures, Groove Shoppe, Hartke, M Basses, Mark Bass, Mesa Engineering, MTD, Peavey, Pedulla, Pensa Guitars, Roland, Rudy’s Music, Sage Guitars, Sadowsky Guitars, Sam Ash, Samson Technologies, Simmons Guitars, Spector Basses, Tech 21, Trace Elliott, and Warrior Instruments.

The latest information about artists, sponsors, and sponsors is at www.bassplayerlive.com, where you can also get Bass Player LIVE! advance tickets. Hotel reservations are available by calling the Millennium Broadway Hotel at (212) 768-4400 or visiting www.milleniumhotels.com.

For more information, visit their web site at www.bassplayer.com.

Posted in Bass, Events, Industry, News

Music Rising, a campaign launched to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed in the Gulf Region hurricanes, announced today that it has provided instruments and/or gear to over 2,000 professional musicians to date. Launched in November 2005 the campaign has provided aid to Gulf Coast musicians not only in the region but also in over 34 States from California to New York. To mark the one year anniversary of the Katrina disasters, Music Rising has announced that it will launch the sale of the Music Rising Epiphone guitar with all proceeds going to the charity.

Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2’s The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, and facilitated by MusiCares. Since its inception Music Rising has been recognized throughout the world through media coverage and has received accolades from various other organizations. Former President Bill Clinton has even participated in press coverage for the campaign. It also became the recipient of the 2006 Gold Halo Award for Cause Marketing on June 13, 2006 and in November, 2006 the campaign will be the recipient of the prestigious Billboard Humanitarian Award at a special event held in New York. Many people from the ravaged region are still living in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers or are without a permanent residence. Those musicians who have depended on the local music industry for their livelihood, have been supported by Music Rising through the replacement of lost instruments and equipment. The Gibson Foundation will continue to manage all phases of Music Rising.

The limited edition Music Rising Epiphone guitar will be sold exclusively through Musician’s Friend with all proceeds going directly to the Music Rising campaign. The Music Rising Epiphone Les Paul guitar features exclusive artwork and the campaign’s slogan “Rebuilding the Gulf Region Note By Note.” The artwork which was emblazoned on The Edge’s t-shirt at the 2006 Grammy Awards broadcast has become a symbol of the campaign and is also available on limited edition t-shirts sold exclusively through U2.com.

The Limited Edition Epiphone guitar specs include all the features that have made the legendary Les Paul guitar synonymous with great rock tone including a solid mahogany body with carved top, glued-in mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, Alnico Classic Humbucking pickups and stopbar/tunomatic bridge and tailpiece combination. Backed by a Limited lifetime warranty, the Music Rising Epiphone guitar will sell for $599 USD and be produced in limited quantity. It will also include a custom “Music Rising” gig bag as well as a signed certificate of authenticity.

“Even though it has been a year since the hurricanes struck the Gulf Region we still see so much need and we want to continue to help. The limited edition Epiphone Music Rising guitar will put money straight into the fund so we can continue to assist the region,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. For more information or to make a donation to Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibson.com. Questions or inquiries can be emailed to info@musicrising.org. Checks may also be sent to the Gibson Foundation/Music Rising, 309 Plus Park Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee 37217.

For more information, visit their web site at www.epiphone.com.

Posted in Events, Guitar, Industry

Broadjam Inc., a leading online music firm, is hosting its second annual 6-Pack Songwriting Competition to put songwriters’ skills to the test - six in fact. Contestants can submit songs to any of the six challenges, which range from an original birthday tune to an emotional ballad. The competition launched in mid-June and is accepting submissions until October.

Over $50,000 in prizes will be awarded to 38 contestants in all, with prizes going to the top three places for each challenge as well as the top 20 overall winners. The first place grand prize includes a $14,000 recording and live performance package. With a live PA system and studio technology among the prizes, any musician would love to win.

“This year’s prize bundle is truly outstanding,” said Broadjam CEO Roy Elkins. “The generosity of our sponsors allows us to offer a competition worthy of the talent on our site.”

Participants earn points based on their overall placement in each challenge, determined by peer review. The standings for each challenge, as well as the top 20 overall, are then posted on the 6-Pack Leaderboard. Updated once every hour, the Leaderboard makes it possible for contestants to track not only their progress but their competition. Last year’s 6-Pack winner, Liz Miller, says, “It’s amazing what you can do when you push yourself hard. Now I know that I am not limited by form or genre. When a challenge presents itself, I say, ‘Bring it on!’”

Sponsors that have contributed toward the over $50,000 in prizes include IK Multimedia, Genelec, Sony, Digidesign, Electro-Voice, E Labs Multimedia, Mackie, Spectrasonics, ILIO, Hercules, Kaysound, MasterWriter, PowerFX, DigitalMusician.net, DigiTech, Ableton, and PG Music.

For more information, visit their web site at www.broadjam.com.

Posted in Industry, Music, News

Low Middle High specializes in music production, consulting, Music Report Cards, mixing, and recording bands/artists. Focusing on music, not image or pretension, Low Middle High sets a high standard for recording the sound the band/artist is truly after. Before stepping foot in the studio, Low Middle High works with the artist to identify the goal for the recording, fine tune the music, edit songs and arrangements, and coach the artist in singing and musicianship.

With over 10 years of professional coaching and recording experience, Low Middle High combines a unique skill-set geared to create high quality recordings, not engineering tricks or a manufactured sound.

The Music Report Card is a perfect opportunity for artists or labels to get constructive feedback on recordings from an objective and qualified source. A detailed report covering musicianship, mix, and arrangement will be included. This is also a great way to get quotes for press packets from a reputable source.

Low Middle High is offering a $50 special on Music Report Cards during the month of August for EPs or LPs. Because Low Middle High is connected with Blue Scout Music, some artists will have the opportunity to place their music in film/tv/ad projects and receive paychecks for their work.

For more information, visit their web site at www.blue-scout.com.

Posted in Industry, News, Recording

Peter Frampton and C.F. Martin & Co. have announced they will donate a portion of the proceeds from each D-42 Peter Frampton “Frampton’s Camel” Signature Edition guitar to benefit the Musicares MAP Fund.

Chosen by Peter, the Musicares MAP Fund provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial situation. To date, Martin Guitar has contributed $2 million to artist designated charities through their Limited Edition Signature Model program.

Martin Guitar and Peter Frampton recently introduced the D-42 Peter Frampton “Frampton’s Camel” Signature Edition guitar. In 1973, Frampton wrote and recorded his legendary “Frampton’s Camel” album with his Martin D-45. Subsequently, the instrument was stolen. Over 30 years later, Martin has created a new guitar for Peter, paying tribute to his talent and influence.

For more information, visit their web site at www.martinguitar.com.

Posted in Guitar, Industry, News

Music-Hardware (MH) is a modular and fully customizable web portal completely dedicated to audio and musicians. On the default homepage, everyone can share photos of home studios, YouTube videos, listen to creative commons license albums, compare gear prices, read digg music articles, read news around the web, and much more to come.

The page can be customized any way you like.. Add or remove modules, edit the parameters of each module, move these modules on the page, etc.

All the parameters of this page are stored in a cookie on your computer, and you will then find your MH page just as you left it at the time of your last visit.

Music-Hardware will be soon available in more languages, with the bests music websites resources of each country.

For more information, visit their web site at www.music-hardware.com.

Posted in Computer, Industry, Web Sites

Starting on August 12th, Native Instruments will take KORE, the world’s first Universal Sound Platform, on the road for a three-city tour of daily workshops and nighttime performances. The Native Lab: Kore tour is sponsored by Remix magazine and will stop over in San Francisco, New York and Chicago. The events will be free to the public, and will provide deep insights into KORE’s capabilities and applications both in the studio and onstage. In addition to afternoon classes and evening parties, each event will feature product giveaways and special guest appearances.

For three consecutive Saturdays, the Native Lab: Kore events will offer beginning, intermediate and advanced KORE workshops, as well as in-depth Q&As with top artists using KORE in real-world situations. Featured artists include producer Dan the Automator (Handsome Boy Modeling School, Gorillaz, Dr. Octagon) in San Francisco, hip-hop legend Hank Shocklee (Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Slick Rick) in New York and electronic duo Telefon Tel Aviv (Hefty Records) in Chicago. Leftfield electronic producer Richard Devine (Warp, Schematic, Sublight) will provide hands-on workshop instruction and hosting duties at each event.

Turning from the classroom to the stage, the Native Lab nighttime parties will showcase KORE in a live environment with performances and DJ sets from top NI sponsored artists, including Dan the Automator, Richard Devine, Telefon Tel Aviv, 1200 Warriors, Keith Hillebrandt, Halou, edIT, The Flashbulb and others. Full lineup details for each city are available on the NI website.

To be eligible for the KORE product giveaways, visitors must preregister online and be present during the afternoon training sessions; preregistered attendees will also receive three free issues of Remix magazine and a special subscription offer. Participants attending the afternoon workshops will receive VIP admission to the evening events.

For more information about Native Lab: Kore, including dates, preregistration instructions and venue details, please see www.native-instruments.com/koreevent.info.

For more information, visit their web site at www.native-instruments.com/afharmony01.info.

Posted in Industry, News, Recording, Software, Technology

Presenting the latest in a number of informative podcast videos, Florida Music are happy to announce their latest: A podcast-format video of product demonstrations straight from the floor. People can get a direct look at many of the exciting products IN ACTION, long before they are available in stores.

In the Florida Music NAMM Texas Roundup Podcast Video, viewers will have the opportunity to see the new BOSS Micro BR along with Samson’s new Podcasting Package and M-Audio’s Conectiv and Torq DJ system.

Florida Music’s Extreme Podcasts are available for immediate download from the company’s website.

For more information, visit their web site at www.floridamusicco.com.

Posted in Industry, News