-
Herbie Hancock And All That Jazz
February 15, 2008
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
"I'd like to thank the Academy for courageously breaking the mold this time, in doing so, honoring the giants upon whose shoulders I stand, some of whom like Miles Davis, John Coltrane ... unquestionably deserved the award in the past. But this is a new day, that proves that the impossible can be made possible."
-- Herbie Hancock, accepting his Grammy for Album Of The Year for "River: The Joni Letters"According to Nielsen Media Research, the 50th Annual Grammy Awards show on Sunday was the third least-watched Grammy Awards ever. Viewership was down from the 20 million people who watched last year, to 17.5 million. The 2006 awards, with 17 million viewers, is the Grammy low point. The show had 17.3 million viewers in 1995. (And if comparative analysis with Nielsen numbers goes further, the actual number of viewers, not households, was only 17.1 million this year)
As I mentioned in the newsletter previously, the Grammy Awards lost relevance to the TV audience at large years ago for a lot of different reasons. While there was a host of great talent on the show this year, from the likes of Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, Tina Turner, John Fogerty, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, the Beatles tribute, Foo Fighters, Amy Winehouse, Feist, Beyonce, Kanye West and others, the show once again failed to connect with viewers.
Of course the biggest upset of the entire night was Herbie Hancock's win for Album Of The Year for his album "River: The Joni Letters." It was, in my opinion, a well-deserved award for an album filled with extraordinary and exceptional quality. Herbie had won 10 Grammys going into the night's ceremony, but never Album Of The Year.
"It's been 43 years since the first and only time that a jazz artist got an Album Of The Year award," Hancock said, referring to 1964's "Getz/Gilberto," an album released by the American saxophonist Stan Getz and Brazilian guitarist Joao Gilberto -- an album that, to this date, is known by millions all over the world, because of its top-10 single "The Girl From Impanema."
Herbie thanked Joni Mitchell several times for the songs she's written that inspired him to record the album with guest vocalists on several tracks, such as Norah Jones, Tina Turner, Corrine Bailey Rae, Leonard Cohen ... and Joni Mitchell herself.
It was a good night for many other artists as well. Kanye West couldn't be too upset he lost to Hancock; he took home four Grammys. Bruce Springsteen won three, The Foo Fighters' "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" won Best Rock Album; the White Stripes, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige, Vine Gill and even the Beatles also took home Grammys.
Famed jazz musician from the 1920s, Bix Beiderbecke, said "One thing I like about jazz, kid, is that I don't know what's going to happen next. Do you?"
A lot of people didn't expect what happened last Sunday night to happen.
Whether or not you're a jazz fan, in my opinion it's good to know that the NARAS members chose a unique and distinguished recording in a time when too much focus in music is given to style over substance in the media.
And Now This...
Those magnificent men in their flying machines, those daredevils of evil digital-doers, the RIAA, are now riding, like George Armstrong Custer, into their own "little Big Horns."
This week, Cary Sherman, head honcho at the Recording Industry Association of America, said that copyright protection filters should be pre-installed on Web users' PCs. Sherman said this is the only way to circumvent a data encryption war between peer-to-peer file-sharing services and network operators like AT&T.
See the story below -- "RIAA Bows New Content Filtering Strategies" -- to find out why this strategy will have the same fate as Custer's men.
And while the RIAA continues to employ inane strategies as the industry's sales figures continue to decrease, across the pond, things are no better.
See the story below -- "U.K. Mulls Internet Ban for Illegal Downloading" -- to find out why.
GETTING THE MUSIC OUT THERE... A PORTRAIT OF THE DEVELOPING INDEPENDENT ARTIST
This section features talks with managers, independent label people, artists, marketing professionals, hi-tech people, retailers and others in the industry who have a worthwhile story to tell that might be of interest to you, the readers.
New artists are, and always have been, the lifeblood of the industry.
This week, I talk with soulful keyboard songstress Amy Clarke, who continues to receive positive industry attention, media coverage, musical accolades, and domestic and international exposure as an indie artist, as she gains new fans.
It's always been a rough road for developing artists, and with all the changes in the industry, it's more challenging than ever, so I thought it might be interesting to chat with Amy.
Some background: Since independently producing and releasing her "After The Fall" EP in NYC in 2006, Amy's music has been featured on national, cable and Internet TV, FM Radio, Internet radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. She made waves on the NYC indie music scene, was interviewed on both TV and radio, and booked numerous high-profile showcases. She was also a 1st round winner and finalist in Radio Crystal Blue's Airplay Vote 2007, she received her second ASCAP Plus award in January 2008, and she is currently on the standby list for showcasing at SXSW.
Amy has performed her original music solo at notable rooms throughout New York City, including The Cutting Room, The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, Pianos, CBGB's 313 Gallery, Marion's, Rose Live Music, Mo Pitkins House of Satisfaction, Caffe Vivaldi, The Triad, The Duplex, P.S. 122, M Shanghai Den (Williamsburg residency), BAP (Bushwick Art Project), Hope Lounge, outdoor concerts, and in benefits for Theatres Against War, Planned Parenthood and Habitat for Humanity International.
In Washington, DC, she has performed at the Studio Theatre, Catholic University, Georgetown University, The National Theatre, The Black Cat, The Red & The Black, & The White House. In Hollywood, she has performed at Karma Coffeehouse, The Derby and The Viper Room. Amy has also starred Off-Broadway and been featured and interviewed on television (NBC, NY Channel 32), Sirius Satellite Radio, and performed original music on The Lifetime Network and NY Cable TV.
She has also organized top-tier songwriter showcases in Williamsburg, Brooklyn & Manhattan and is developing an artistic networking initiative called Gaia Grove to benefit local communities and the environment. Amy currently lives in Los Angeles, where she continues to compose, create, perform, produce, grow her fan base, and tour.
--------
SM: First of all, thanks for taking the time out to give my readers some insights into the world that independent artists are currently living in amidst the sea of changes in the music business that are occurring daily. I think I'd like to start by asking you how long have you been an artist, and how and when did you decide that this was the road you wanted to take?
AC: I think I have always been an artist ... or was meant to be. Earliest family stories recount how I boldly walked into a room full of adults at a Christmas party when I was barely a toddler and described to them the way I viewed the room. To me, this is the role of the artist in the world ... to interpret reality through a uniquely individual perspective and share these insights with others. Plus, my father was both a math teacher and a life-long self-taught classical pianist. My mother was quite a wordsmith and storyteller as well as an English and History teacher. So it is no wonder I was already playing and singing songs at the piano at the age of 3.
SM: What was the first thing you did when you decided this was the road you wanted to travel? Who and what did you have for support when you first started?
AC: Well, I begged for my own piano lessons, and was finally "allowed" to begin private study at age five, ... and let me tell you that seemed like quite a long wait! I loved my early years with the piano, and since I had a gift for music, I trained to be a concert pianist, favoring Chopin, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Debussy and Lizst, until my love of pop, rock and theater grew even stronger, and I abandoned classical study early in high school, deciding I would rather act, sing and compose my own music. However, even with Maryland State Scholarships for talent in the vocal and musical arts, I ultimately chose an academic scholarship to Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service because I wanted to broaden my knowledge of world affairs, religions, cultures and politics. Plus, it was deemed a "safer" career choice! Honestly, my family gave me all of the support in the world, but I think there was just no precedent for an artistic career from either side of my family, and with my initial ideas of an artistic life, I was exploring uncharted waters. I ended up graduating with both a Lifetime Membership in the Mask & Bauble Dramatic Society and a degree in Culture & Politics in International Affairs. This unique background now sparks my creative process, infuses my live shows and further defines exactly who I am as an artist.
SM: I would assume that your initial hope, like that of so many other artists who first start out, was to be recognized by some A&R person from a major label. Can you tell us how that played out for you?
AC: Well, like any new artist I am still open to that kind of recognition at a major label with the right kind of deal! However, times have changed and I think we are all learning what we need to do in order to keep up with changing technology and sustain our craft. I certainly have learned a lot about the industry in the past few years and I continue to meet many online writers, film, television and music supervisors, in addition to A&R people. All recognition is helpful and every single person matters.
SM: Did you initially start out performing your own songs? Or did you interpret other songwriters' material in hopes of attracting audiences when you performed?
AC: My first solo public show was down at the infamous M Shanghai Den in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where I had my initial residency upon moving to NYC in 2003. It was all original material (I had been writing songs since my early teens) and two or three of my all-time favorite covers. I interpreted those songs, though, because they spoke my truth, not because I was hoping to attract anybody in particular. I always sing with honesty, emotion and truth, and those songs spoke to me the most at the time.
SM: How difficult is it to find time for the songwriting process while you're trying to manage the rest of your career? Do you have a manager?
AC: It can be a challenge! So many hats to wear ... however, songwriting is still the reason I do it, and it always has been what I loved and went to on my own, so I make the time -- and make sure to set goals for myself. Plus, I have stacks of pages, poems, sheets and song ideas, which are great for going through for inspiration, if not just writing fresh. Also, I get a lot of quality lyric writing done in the shower, the bath or by the ocean -- I love the sound of water! I am independent, believe in the value of self-motivation, and I try to balance both business and spiritual fulfillment. I have always been my own manager.
SM: What was the first recognition you received? How did it happen and what did it mean for you in developing your career?
AC: I would say that receiving my first ASCAP award was my first official recognition, and since it was a reflection of my accomplishments and work as a performing and recording songwriter, it strengthened my belief that success was possible as a direct result of self-initiative. Success is relative, anyway! You have to be incredibly motivated and love what you are doing ... and look at it one step at a time. I know there is more to come. I got my second ASCAP Plus award this year, and expect more recognition in relation to the work I do. Plus, being on the short-list for SXSW this year (2008) is pretty awesome, and I am incredibly honored that they are continuing to consider me for an official showcase. I am excited and hopeful! Keep your fingers crossed!
SM: Are there other independent artists who have helped you along the way? Do you find the community of independent artists helpful for the most part?
AC: Oh, yes! The indie community, and even other professionals and organizations in the the music industry have always been very helpful to me, and I am extremely grateful.
Just to get started, I would thank my DJ/producer friend Holmes Ives of Perceptual and Ova Records, who heard me singing piano at a house party I threw in DC and encouraged me to play out more and eventually start producing on my own; my friend Drew Brody who started taking me to open mics on the lovely grand piano at Caffe Vivaldi in the West Village and helped show me the ropes when I first moved to New York City; my DJ friends Doug Singer and Todd Makinen (Brothers' Brothers), who helped me book my first show (with the owner May) at M Shanghai Den in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; indie musician friends Kerry Politzer, Athena Reich, Markeisha Ensley, Genevieve, Denise Vasquez, songwriting mentor Lorraine Ferro, the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, GoGirlsMusic, FCW Society, Indiegrrl!, Gilli Moon, Songsalive!, Songnet, Music Connection, online artist organizations ... there is so much to be grateful for! There are so many independent artists I could thank, I could go on and on. Overall, the music world is a tremendously open, sharing and vibrant community. I am happy to be a part of it.
SM: Jeff Tweedy of Wilco (a band that has had incredible success using the Internet) has said that the Internet helps artists collaborate with their audience and that success online drives people to see the band live.Have you found that to be true?
AC: Yes! While I prefer interacting live and learning about music through word of mouth, I find the Internet an incredibly valuable resource. It is highly efficient and vital. I have international fans who have only found me because they found me online, and I also have had many people come to shows for the first time as a direct result of online promotions. With increased blurring of television, media and online content, there will be so much more entertainment available online. I wish to complement all of this with live shows, of course!
SM: Do you sell your music on iTunes or other online stores? Do you find it difficult working with online stores?
AC: Yes, I definitely sell my music online, and find no difficulty there. My self-produced "After The Fall" EP is available on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and many, many more online sites. I prefer selling directly to fans at live shows, but you must provide online options for everybody. Plus, I am moving towards more environmentally-conscious options. Digital Rights Management becomes increasingly interesting to follow, and I plan to take the new songs in a slightly different direction than the first EP, but they will be available digitally!
SM: You're working on your first complete album ... how is it going? What are you learning in the studio?
AC: PATIENCE. A really good album should not be rushed; it takes time. Studio hardware and software upgrades are vital, necessary and helpful! Listen to your mix in as many different ways as possible. Back up to multiple sources. And when it comes down to it, even though you may be able to do it all on your own, it can be really beneficial to have another set of ears (and another perspective!). Remember to keep a sense of humor and stay relaxed and open ... sometimes creative accidents in the studio can lead to the happiest musical discoveries.
You can find out more about Amy at: www.amyclarke.com and www.myspace.com/amyclarke
To contact Amy you can e-mail her at: music@amyclarke.com
RIAA Bows New Content Filtering Strategies
From Ars TechicaForget ISP filtering. Cary Sherman, head of the Recording Industry Association of America, says that copyright protection filters should be pre-installed on Web users' PCs. Sherman said this is the only way to circumvent a data encryption war between peer-to-peer file-sharing services and network operators like AT&T.
But Ars Technica's Nate Anderson makes a good counterpoint: "Who would voluntarily install software that would continually scan incoming P2P streams for copyrighted material ... or software that would watch every song you played and tried to figure out if it was legit?" Well, Sherman doesn't have an answer for that, yet. But he does have another idea: installing a filter in a customer's cable modem, which could then act in a similar manner to a network filter.
Anderson says the ideas have "about as much chance of success as my 2008 bid for the White House," unless it somehow becomes federal mandate that consumers or ISPs implement such filtering technologies. Of course, "the consumer backlash from such a plan would be like the force of a thousand supernovas."
Read more about it by clicking here.
Google To Enter China Online Music Sector
From cnet.comGoogle plans to enter the online music market in China for the first time, as it steps up its battle with local incumbent Baidu.com, media reported on Thursday. Google is expected to announce a joint venture with Top100.cn that would allow users to listen to and download licensed music files for free, major portal Sina.com said, citing local newspaper reports based on sources close to the U.S. firm.
The joint venture expects to generate revenue through online advertisements on the music search pages, Sina added.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Artists Can Now Earn 100% From Their Own Websites With earBuzz.com Player/Widget
From earbuzz.comEarbuzz.com, the home to over 3,000 artists, announced this week that it has released the earBuzz Player, a widget that empowers artists to earn 100% on all CD and download sales from their own websites. It is automatically created for earBuzz artists when their earBuzz page goes live.
The player will allow music fans to purchase physical CDs, digital downloadable songs, and digital downloadable albums from all the artists' listed CD titles. The earBuzz Player also allows music fans to sample 30 seconds of any song from any of the artists' albums. It's all an artist needs to get music in the hands of the music buying public from their own site and, unlike any competitor, while earning 100%.
Read more about it by clicking here.
MTV Ready To Take Risks On Web
From cnet.comIn some tech circles, Viacom is the symbol of botched digital strategies and old-media thinking. There's little doubt that operating under Viacom's umbrella has hurt MTV's hipster cred with some tech-savvy music fans. MTV managers, however, are trying to dispel the notion that the company is technology backward, fearful of sharing its content online, and has missed out on the Internet age.
On Tuesday, Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music and Logo Group, and some of his top managers met with CNET News.com at San Francisco's Hotel Vitale to outline the company's digital strategy for the future. Indeed, this unit of Viacom appears more willing than any other part of the conglomerate to strike out into areas it has historically failed at or avoided, such as content syndication, social networking, and digital downloads.
Read more about it by clicking here.
U.K. Mulls Internet Ban for Illegal Downloading
BBC NewsIn a move that could spark a widespread consumer backlash, the British government has suggested that users in the U.K. who illegally download music and films should have their Internet access cut off. The proposal states that Internet service providers should be responsible for policing the initiative, although the government stresses that plans are at a very early stage. Under the proposal, ISPs that fail to enforce the rules would be prosecuted; details of those who engage in illegal downloading would also be made available to the courts.
Media companies have long complained they lose billions of dollars to illegal downloading every year. An estimated six million people a year download files illegally in the U.K., but the practice is much more widespread in countries like the U.S., China and Sweden. Meanwhile, in both the U.S. and U.K., large ISPs have been in talks with the entertainment industry over voluntarily policing file-sharing activity. The Internet Service Providers Association also claims that data protection laws prevent ISPs from looking at the content of information sent over their networks.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Play.com To Launch UK MP3 Digital Download Store
From cnet.comOnline retailer Play.com is to launch a new U.K. download store called PlayDigital, offering music from EMI and independent labels as mp3 tracks which could be played on all digital devices including iPods. The music industry had relied on digital rights management (DRM) as the cornerstone in its fight against illegal downloading, but the labels are now offering tracks without the restrictive protection in an effort to increase digital sales.
PlayDigital will sell tracks and albums in the DRM-free mp3 format. Apple's iTunes also sells EMI music at a higher price without DRM, but this is in the unprotected AAC format, which plays on many digital devices -- but not all.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Dr. Kevorkian, Meet Radio and Records
From INSIDE MUSIC MEDIAAt the Grammy's the other night, Recording Academy President Neil Portnow stepped up on his nationwide soapbox and promised to "fight to pass legislation to once and for all ensure that, just like in every other developed country in the world, all music creators are compensated for their performances when played on traditional radio".
Fortunately, no one heard him. The Grammy's pulled in the third-worst TV audience ratings of all time.
Apparently, Alicia Keys was not listening either when she thanked "every radio guy" in her acceptance speech -- a real-time acknowledgment that she couldn't have won without the free airplay she got from radio.
Read more about it by clicking here.
Review: The First Full-Fledged iPhone Dock
From PCMagazine.comAltec Lansing T612's selling point is clear: It lets you dock your iPhone, play music and take calls without having to put it into "airplane mode" -- something no dock has accomplished before. But does it live up to its innovative features in PC Mag Labs testing?
Read more about it by clicking here.
NEIL WOKE UP AND DISCOVERED HE WASN'T LIVING IN THE '60s ANYMORE
Last week Neil Young presented a documentary about his 2006 anti-war concert tour at the Berlin film festival and said, "I know that the time when music could change the world is past. I really doubt that a single song can make a difference. It is a reality." How profound.
MIMI IS BACK
Mariah Carey has announced she will release her latest album, the intellectually titled "E=MC2," on Apr. 15. The first single, "Touch My Body," was released to radio stations this past Tuesday.
CONGRATS TO
Emmylou Harris, Tom T. Hall, the Statler Brothers and the late Ernest "Pop" Stoneman who will all be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year.
MORE "IDOL"
Fox announced that "American Idol's" weekly results show will be expanded to an hour, beginning Wednesday, Mar. 12.
PERSONAL LIFE A TRAINWRECK OR NOT
Amy Winehouse racked up five wins, including Record of the Year and Best New Artist, at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.
MAYBE THIS IS WHY THEY CALL IT "GANGSTA' RAP"
Lil Wayne was indicted in Yuma, Az., on felony charges of possessing a narcotic for sale, possession of a dangerous drug, misconduct involving weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia stemming from his arrest Jan. 23 after his tour bus was searched at a Border Patrol checkpoint. Agents allegedly turned up marijuana, cocaine, Ecstasy and miscellaneous paraphernalia, as well as a gun registered to Wayne in Florida. He has pleaded not guilty on all counts.
NOT A HOTTIE AT THE BOX OFFICE
Paris Hilton might still be a big Internet (porn) star, but any hopes she might have had for ever becoming a success at the box office are all but gone. After spending a few weeks promoting her new film, "The Hottie and The Nottie," opened last weekend to a whopping gross of $25,000 on 111 screens, or an $225 per screen average.
SHAKIRA DOES GOOD
An auction of wardrobe items and other memorabilia from Shakira's 2007 Oral Fixation Tour has netted more than $76,000 so far to benefit impoverished children in the singer's native Colombia. One lucky fan shelled out $14,000 for a pair of front-row seats to a future Toronto concert and a face-to-face meeting with Shakira. Still up for grabs until Sunday is a pair of autographed guitars.
SPARKS FLIES WITH KEYS
Jordin Sparks has signed on to be the opening act for the duration of Alicia Keys' upcoming 30-date As I Am tour. The reigning "American Idol" champ, fresh off her win Thursday for Outstanding New Artist at the 39th NAACP Image Awards, helps kick off the road trip Apr. 19 in Hampton, Va.BOWIE GUESTS ON SCARLETT'S ALBUM
Scarlett Johansson announced this week during a preview of her upcoming album, "Anywhere I Lay My Head." that none other than David Bowie will lend his vocal cords to two of the album's tracks, "Falling Down" and "Fannin' Street." The album, a cover of Tom Waits' songs, is due out May 20.
Quotes of the week
"I just got an award presented to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?"
-- Vince Gill, accepting his Grammy on Sunday night for Country Album Of The Year from Ringo Starr, and asking Kanye West the question."I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyoncé. However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy."
-- Aretha Franklin, aka the longtime "Queen of Soul," reacting to Beyoncé's reference to Tina Turner as "the queen" during Sunday's Grammy Awards."Something this ridiculous -- it's childish, it's unprofessional. And it's a sad day when egos get bruised because somebody used the word king, queen, prince or princess."
-- Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles, lashing out against Aretha Franklin's condemnation of his daughter's Grammy introduction of Tina Turner."She should get her act together. Apart from that, I've got nothing to say to the bitch."
-- Keith Richards at the Berlin Film Festival, promoting Martin Scorcese's Rolling Stones documentary "Shine a Light," when asked what advice he had for troubled songbird Amy Winehouse."She's a gay man trapped in a woman's body, like me."
-- Courtney Love to Harper's Bazaar, on her 15-year-old daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. But in the end, let's hope she turns out a whole lot better than you, mom."Do you know how much effort it really takes to sit down and write a comment? ... You really have to have a lot of passion and thought to write any comment, so thank you."
-- "The Hills'" Heidi Montag, thanking people for posting scathing comments about her new music video, and proving that she is the latest living "blonde joke." Jessica Simpson must be relieved."I'm going on record as an artist who is able to critique [Amy Winehouse]. I think she has a great talent, but I don't agree with the Grammys giving her those nods. I think it sends the wrong message, that even in the midst of her stupor of drugs she can get nominated for all these awards. It's a slap in the face to musicians and artists who work very hard that they turn around and give it to someone who really obviously doesn't have a grasp of what she has. I've been in this business over 25 years and I sacrificed five years of my own life on drugs and almost lost my life because of it. So I take great offense to almost see someone getting glory out of being in the position that they're in - she needs to get her life together and embrace her craft, she will lose it if she doesn't get it together."
-- Natalie Cole
The B-Side - 'Blips'
THE ONION (www.theonion.com) STORY OF THE WEEK:
Shaq Terrified Of Phoenix Suns After Reading About Supernovas
TEMPE, AZ-Claiming he was initially excited at the prospect of playing for a legitimate championship contender, new Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal admitted Monday that, upon reading about the phenomenon of massive stellar explosions popularly known as supernovas, he is now terrified of the entire organization.
"I have emerged from my astronomical studies a much more educated man, a learned man, and yes-a frightened man. I am now a sage of the supernova," O'Neal said during a combination press conference and PowerPoint presentation at an Arizona State University lecture hall. "If I would have known being a Sun meant being a part of a system where gravity could collapse, causing my radiant celestial body to explode in an event 10 times brighter than an ordinary Phoenix Sun-or worse, dematerialize into a neutron star or possibly a black hole-I would have never agreed to the trade."
Read the rest here and laugh: http://tinyurl.com/yqlyzo
The Blogs
Check out a great blog by Jerry Del Colliano, the Director Executive Programs, Clinical Professor Music Industry & Recording Arts, at the Thornton School of Music,University of Southern California, by clicking here: http://www.insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com.
Box Office
Check The Daily & Weekly Box Office (and more film info) at: www.boxofficemojo.com
TinyURL
Check out www.tinyurl.com where you can make a smaller URL that will work for any webpage you wish to link to or reference. (As you can see, I'm using it in my news stories above!)
-
-