SNTV – Kylie calls out Gaga
Kylie Minogue claims she’s the inspiration behind Lady Gaga’s outrageous style
Music
Kanye Plays Villain, Kobe Bryant Stars in ‘Black Mamba’
Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop News, Movies, Sports
On Sunday, Kobe Bryant was the star of the 2011 NBA All-Star Game, taking home the MVP trophy and leading the West to a five-point win over the East, but the Los Angeles Laker also starred off the court. Bryant teamed with Nike and ‘Sin City’-director Robert Rodriguez to plug his Black Mamba basketball shoes in the short film ‘The Black Mamba.’ The six-minute action movie also starred Bruce Willis, Danny Trejo and Kanye West, who played “The Boss” and consequently met his doom. “This game ain’t over, Mamba! I’ll see you again …” West shouts at Bryant as the rapper is airlifted from the rooftop basketball court by a helicopter. But, as Bryant proved in the All-Star Game, he’s got one mean jump shot. We won’t give it all away. Watch Kobe Bryant in ‘The Black Mamba’ film below.
Watch ‘The Black Mamba’
Justin Bieber Got A Haircut
Justin Bieber got a haircut on Monday. This is either extremely upsetting to you or extremely boring. Either way, we have to give Justin kudos for giving locks of his hair to different organizations so they can auction them off for charity. That’s really cool… and a little creepy at the same time. He tweeted, “yeah so it’s true…i got a lil haircut…i like it…and we are giving all the hair cut to CHARITY to auction.” [BieberArmy]
Haircut aftermath: #riphairflip is already trending. [Twitter]
Like him or not, the kid can play ball. Justin played in the NBA All-star celebrity game on Friday and even hit a three. His team lost, but he still won MVP. Seriously, we are impressed. [Cambio]
Sorry, Kim Kardashian. It seems like Justin has moved on in the world of celebrity crushes on girls that are way more experienced (and taller) than him and is now all about Rhianna. Not only was he pumped to pose next to her in her semi-sheer Grammy dress, but check out this photo of them courtside at the NBA All-stars game. [4TNZ]
Is this for real? A guy actually took out a full page ad in the New York Times to express how upset he was that Bieber didn’t win a Grammy. [Business Insider]
Did you see ‘Never Say Never’ over the break? Check out the recent stats on the movie’s box office performance. [JB Source]
Justin Bieber Got A Haircut originally appeared on JSYK on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Ke$ha Is the Modern Shakespeare: Dramatic Readings of Pop Songs
Filed under: Music News, Videos, YouTube
What could be more romantic than William Shatner asking you to stand under his umbrella? What makes old ladies go through their oxygen tanks faster than James Earl Jones saying, “baby, baby, baby.” Or how about Jude Law talking about his “muffin?” … Read more
Blake Shelton, ‘Who Are You When I’m Not Looking’ — Story Behind the Lyrics
Filed under: Exclusive, Story Behind the Song
Joseph Llanes for AOL
The Boot sat down with songwriter John Wiggins to discuss how he and co-writer Earl Bud Lee came to write Blake Shelton‘s No. 1 hit, ‘Who Are You When I’m Not Looking,’ which was actually first cut by Joe Nichols. The two wrote the song one drizzly October day in 2003, after Bud shared with John a song title he’d been carrying around for awhile … which happened to be the exact same words John had scribbled on a cocktail napkin a year before!
Neither one of us knew the other had the same idea. I had written it down on a cocktail napkin at a restaurant about a year before Bud and I even talked about it. I’d thrown the idea out to a songwriting buddy of mine, but he said it wasn’t his kind of thing. So I just put it away for awhile, because he shot it down. I thought, well I guess this isn’t that good of an idea, anyway. [laughs]
Bud and I would always go to the same place for lunch, the Mojo Grill … and we kept talking about hooking up writing, because we kept running into each other during lunch. One day he called and said, ‘I have a song idea I want the two of us to get together and write.’ I asked him what it was, and he said, ‘who are you when I’m not looking’ … and I said, ‘I’ve got the same idea on a cocktail napkin, and I’d put it away!’ So it was meant to be!
Katy Perry covers Rihanna, Jay-Z, Willow Smith: watch the video here
Put her on a candy-cane stool and Katy Perry can actually bring it pretty well live, haters. Looking like a bridesmaid at Julia Goolia‘s wedding and singing like Sophie B. Hawkins with a Hova fetish, Perry tore into acoustic versions of friend (and birthday girl) Rihanna’s “Only Girl in the World,” Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin’,” and 
The Music Mix
Alice Cooper: The Original Shock Rocker
Lady Gaga has built a reputation for flamboyant stage shows, but she could probably learn a lesson or two from one of the pioneers of theatrical rock. Alice Cooper has left a trail of blood, severed heads and boa constrictors on his way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Free Trove of Music Scores on Web Hits Sensitive Copyright Note
The Internet Music Score Library Project allows free downloads and is raising copyright concerns among traditional music publishers.
Idol Trivia: No Love in an Elevator
Here’s a fun and frightening trivia question for you…
But first, congrats to KRANNY on correctly answering last week’s trivia:
Aaron Kelly won The American Idol Experience in Orlando and received a front-of-the-line pass to Season 9′s Orlando…
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The Keyboard in The Duffel Bag
One thing I’ve learned from my many musician acquaintances is that there always seems to be some excuse for not practicing. Although there are some valid excuses, there are still quite a few lame ones and I’ve probably heard most of them. I usually came across them when they were given to me by band members and it was usually in reference to a song they were supposed to have learned for the next practice but didn’t. However, for the most part, if a person really wants to practice, he will find the time. Back when I was in the Army, serving in Germany, I always managed to get some sort of practice in for my music. I was even able to do this when I went out into the field for training.
Prior to enlisting in the army, I had only played two instruments and they were guitar and harmonica but while in the army, I thought I’d give keyboards and mandolin a try. I bought my first Casio keyboard not long after I was stationed in Germany. It was a small one that only had about 2 ½ octaves and the keys were about the width of my fingers. It wasn’t anything all that impressive, but it was certainly good enough to learn and practice on. So I did just that. When I was in my room on base, I would run it through some guitar pedals and into my small guitar practice amp. It actually sounded pretty good run through my chorus, flanger and delay pedals, but In the field though, I would just use the headphone output.
The keyboard Used AA batteries and consumed less battery power when you used headphones instead of the built in speakers. The best thing about it, though, was the fact that it fit very easily into a duffel bag. When preparing for going out to the field, I would wrap some clothing around it to try to protect it from some of the abuse that might come its way. For the most part, that was quite effective in preventing damage to it. Unfortunately, at one point one of the black keys broke off of it. I was able to tape it back into place with black electrical tape and it actually worked okay. So no harm was done really.
After the day of training in the field, some guys would play cards, read magazines or just do whatever to pass the time. I would be there with my keyboard with the headphones plugged in, getting my practice. It’s funny how much more you value practice time when you have so little time available for practice and yet when you have a lot of time available to you, you sometimes slack off.
My point here is that if a person really wants to practice, he will find a way to make the time. I would also find ways of getting that extra practice later, after I finished my three years in the Army. Years later, I started to do more singing, instead of being just an instrumentalist. That meant that I had to learn lyrics. On my one factory job, I was a machine operator and had to suffer through the monotony of monitoring the production machinery as various parts would be spit out at the end of the line. The only thing that really required any thought was the startup procedures and knowing what to do when things went wrong.
So once the production machinery was running, I would sneak a peak at the lyrics for a song I had typed up, printed out on a piece of paper and kept in my pocket. I would pull it out real quick, read a line of it, put it back in my pocket and say the line over and over in my head. Then a little later, I would do that with the next line. By the end of the day, I would have the lyrics for the song completely memorized, and I did it all on company time. I was fully capable of thinking about the lyrics to a song while I watched parts come out of a machine. The job was far from rocket science.
In those eight hour stretches of monotony which I called my job, I was able to learn the lyrics to a number of songs. Then I would go home and practice singing them while playing my guitar. It was always easier for me to memorize the music for a song than to remember the lyrics anyway. I was fortunate to be able to do the more difficult task while getting paid. So, to sum it all up: do what you have to do to get that extra practice in. There are a lot of ways to do it. Martin makes the Backpacker acoustic guitar, which is great for taking on camping trips or trips anywhere for that matter. I used to bring a guitar to work on my one job and got an extra half hour of practice on my lunch. There are many ways you can get your practice time in. A keyboard in a duffel bag is just one of them.
Late Show: J. Beale, SoLo and Fortune Family
J. Beale
SoLo, Fortune Family
All Ages
$ 15 in Advance
$ 17 Day of Show
For local acts contact audiodebut@gmail.com
New version of Justin Bieber film to hit theaters
…Never Say Never” in a one-week exclusive run, beginning February 25. Director Jon M. Chu’s updated “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Director’s Fan Cut” will play only in 3D runs in…
In this article: Justin Bieber, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, Never Say Never, Insurge Pictures, Los Angeles, Twitter, Facebook
Whose house ? Mum’s house! – Friday February 25th
I’m sitting by myself at a friends house in Fitzroy listening to heaps of Hip Hop so I decided to be ultra lame and re-write RUN DMC’s ‘Run’s House’ for this week’s biz…
This Friday we’ve got ALBA VARDEN
tearing it up like a weed from a garden
Who’s house?
MUM’s house!
They’re from Melbourne
with a film clip featuring BABY BLUE BERGMAN
Who’s house?
MUM’s house!
Out the back catch HATTIE CARROLL, DISCO CLUB & NO ART
and you know you can party late cause the last band’s a 2am start
Who’s house?
MUM’s house!
Upstairs THE BENNISONS have a single release
overcrowding the room like kidneys of geese (that’s what patte is you cruel fuckers)
Who’s house?
MUM’s house!
With supports from ARTIFICIAL INTERNATIONAL and ATOM BOMBS
it’s going to be tight and slippery like condoms.
Who’s house?
MUM’s house!
Then we’ve got more DJ’s
than Ron Jeremy gets daily BJs
(Walkie Talkie, Cunninpants, Electro Rash DJs, Bennisons DJs, Jack Shit, Nude DJs, Cosmic Explorer, Animal Chin, Swim Team DJs)
Who’s house?
MUM’s house!
And for students you know it’s fucking cheap
so you’ve got no excuse not to be in this week
Who’s house?
MUM’s house!
And if you want to win tickets to MGMT
you need to get shot by our man doing photography
Who’s house?
MUM’s house!
Mum @ Worldbar every Friday Kings Cross
http://www.facebook.com/mumtheworldbar
R&B Love Songs Collection (2007-2010)
R&B Love Songs Collection (2007-2010)
R&B | 8 CD | MP3 | VBR ~ 224-320 kbps | 624:19 min | 1,16 GB
We’re Forever & Ever & Ever & Ever Yours (feat. Joe Terry) – Danny and the Juniors
We’re Forever & Ever & Ever & Ever Yours (feat. Joe Terry) – Danny and the Juniors
’50s Rock ‘n’ Roll Albums Just Added to Rhapsody Online
VaShawn Mitchell – Nobody Greater
Music video by VaShawn Mitchell performing Nobody Greater (Live).
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How To Get A and R’s To Notice You
Getting signed goes further than just having the hottest lyrics on top of the hottest rap beats. It goes further than just passing thousands of Demos out on the streets. What is the real secret to getting noticed by A&R agents? Their job is to find new talent so they’re waiting for you but how will you market yourself to them?
Arts-and-Entertainment:Music-Industry Articles from EzineArticles.com
How Do I Improve My Understanding of Flamenco?
Flamenco is an art form that charms audiences all over the world. It is a manifestation of every emotion from devotion to heartbreak. Because of this it is evident that many would want to learn about flamenco and flamenco dance.
Studying flamenco is ex…
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K&C’s R&B Nights in New York City powered by Singersroom
Brooklyn native Terrell Howard performed two songs at R&B Nights held at B.B. Kings in New York City. Listen to Terrell’s latest single “ Singersroom.com Photo Gallery
U.S. Department of State, Jazz at Lincoln Center Announce 2011-2012 Lineup of The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad
WASHINGTON, D.C. /Music Industry Newswire/ — The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), in partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center, announced today the 10 ensembles selected to tour with 2011-2012 season of The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad. Selected from 110 applicants for their artistic integrity, musical ability, and educational skills, the ensembles are:
U.S. Department of State, Jazz at Lincoln Center Announce 2011-2012 Lineup of The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad
Ari Roland Jazz Quartet (Jazz, New York)
Dennis Luxion/Michael Raynor Quartet (Jazz, Illinois)
The Earth String Band (Bluegrass, Massachusetts)
Jed Levy Quartet (Jazz, New York)
Kate McGarry Quartet (Jazz, New York)
Legacy (Urban/Hip-Hop, New Jersey)
The Melvin Williams Group (Gospel, Louisiana)
Mountain Quickstep (Bluegrass, New York)
Oscar Williams Jr. and the Band of Life (Gospel, Missouri)
Paul Beaudry & Pathways (Jazz, New York)
The Rhythm Road builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power” diplomacy, which embraces the use of a full range of diplomatic tools – in this case music. The selected bands will travel to more than 40 countries during a month-long tour and conduct public concerts, master classes, lecture demonstrations, workshops, jam sessions; and collaborate with local musicians. This season will feature a variety of American music, including jazz, urban/hip-hop, blues, bluegrass, country, and gospel.
The Rhythm Road is the 21st Century iteration of the Jazz Ambassador’s program that began in the 1950s and showcased the likes of jazz greats Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, and Dave Brubeck. To date, 150 musicians from 39 ensembles have toured with The Rhythm Road, visiting over 100 countries on five continents.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs promotes international mutual understanding through a wide range of academic, cultural, private-sector, professional, and sports exchange programs. ECA exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and emerging leaders in many fields in the United States and in more than 160 countries. Alumni of ECA exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 320 current or former heads of state and government.
Copyright © 2011 Music Industry Newswire(TM). A unit of Neotrope® – all rights reserved. For Licensing Information, contact legal@musicindustrynewswire.com
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Music Industry Newswire
Musicians, want to play a SXSW show?
Posted by Frank
To all you musicians who would like the chance to head down to Texas and play a show at SXSW, here’s your chance. The crew behind Gigmaven have a contest going on that will award two winners slots at their SXSW day party at Emo’s in Austin on Tuesday, March 15th. They’ll also throw in money toward travel expenses, professional photography of your set at the gig and more.
There are two ways to win and they both involve uploading pretty simple videos to YouTube, so if you like the idea of playing a SXSW show there’s really no reason not to enter. Winners will be announced on March 2nd at 2 p.m. The full rules and instructions are here.
To learn more about Gigmaven, check out our post on its recent expansion to Chicago.
This Day in Music Spotlight: Cliff Richard Fans are the Best
Special thanks to ThisDayinMusic.com.
Cliff Richard, Britain’s answer to Elvis Presley back in the ’50s (who is still packing ’em in today), has lasted, not just for his performing talents, but also for his uncanny ability to inspire devotion amongst his fans.
Bon Jovi guitarist ‘wants to settle down’
Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora says that he would like to settle down and have more children.
Pop/Rock Music News from SortMusic.com
A Battle with iGigBook? No thank you.
Really, no battle is intended or desired. After this post, I’m done. The developer for iGigBook has decided to comment on the last post in this thread. Please feel free to read his latest post here. I heard from a number of readers of this blog who found iGigBook’s original post offensive–it wasn’t just my own “attempt” at trying to find “insult where none was intended.” And nearly every one of those people is both a teacher of some sort and a performing musician, who agrees that annotation is critical, not optional. One of my colleagues wrote, “To think a working musician doesn’t need to annotate is frankly unprofessional. I wouldn’t want to work with any musician who thinks they are above the need to write notes in their music. We all need reminders, cuts, eyeglasses to watch the conductor, notes about whether we’re in 2 or 4, not to mention the instrument specifics like fingerings and bowings.”
To be fair, the developer of iGigBook says this: “The assertion by the author that these items weren’t going to be added to iGigBook is a product of his own imagination. We didn’t implement hot spots, we actually created a feature we think is superior to hot spots for jumping to different pages in a music score that unlike UnrealBook and Forscore, also works if you’re using a wireless page turner. I also reiterate that if and when we do annotation expect to see the same innovative approach we’ve taken to every other feature you see in iGigBook.”
The only problem I have with iGigBook’s response is the part that says, “If and when we do.” Perhaps it is a product of my own imagination, but in my own experience, hearing “it may be a part of a future release” means that feature isn’t available and that it isn’t a priority. My whole point is that annotation is a priority. I have no idea how many copies of iGigBook are out there, and I don’t want to know. But I do wonder–how many users of iGigBook would like to have the ability to annotate in a product they love? I have a hard time believing that iGigBook is hearing this from its users:“You’re absolutely right! That music teacher is off his ‘narrow confine’ rocker. I never have to write in my music. That’s something only children do! If you put annotation on this app, I’m deleting it.” I’m being silly here and trying to inject some humor into this kind-of-pointless debate.
You can reach a point in a disagreement where you realize that your point of view is not welcome or not being heard. So I will not comment about iGigBook further on this blog, even if iGigBook chooses to complain about this blog on their blog. This is the Internet, these are blogs, and people have the right to write what they will. I’m not out to “win” this argument, and I’ll always be the first person to say, “I’m wrong” or “I’m sorry” in an argument. But I don’t think I have been wrong on my stance for annotation, and I don’t think I’ve been disrespectful.
No, iGigBook “[doesn't] require [my] endorsement or validation of iGigBook as a legitimate product when hundreds of working musicians who the application is targeted to already have endorsed and validated it by purchasing and gigging with it.” Thank goodness. I don’t want the power to make or break any developer’s dream. Even with the worst apps I’ve reviewed, I’ve always left the choice of whether to buy or not lie in the hands of the purchaser.
The iGigBook blog makes a point in that I once offered to review the software. It’s hard to remember everything you’ve written in a blog. I did this in a blog response, not a main article, if you are looking for it in the referring part of the blog. My memory failed me: I did ask for a promo code. I think you’ll agree that my words, once again, are generally pretty positive about iGigBook. Please read my full response (not just an edited clip):
I haven’t tried iGigBook, but I have done a review of GigBook (http://techinmusiced.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/gigbook/), and that app may be of interest to you as well. GigBook does an amazing job of organizing PDFs (particularly the ability to pull a certain number of pages into a playlist, the use of collections, and the use of Binders), although it doesn’t offer any notation options at the moment. iGigBook’s iPod Touch & iPhone page turning app seem really interesting. The ability to import indexes for existing gigbooks sounds great–as well as the ability to upload indexes for other players. But it still looks like you need to create your own indexes of every custom gigbook you load on iGigBook, like every other iPad Music Reader.
I’ll be the first to admit that my needs for music access differ from those of a gigging Jazz musician. I rarely need to pull up a random chart for a performance from a larger book…usually I’m working with individual choral pieces. I need the ability to organize music for quick access, to be able to add notation to that music, to play mp3 recordings through the app, and if possible, to be able to project that music on an LCD screen (when necessary).
For my money ($ 4.99), UnrealBook remains the best way for me to achieve the results I’m looking for. But I’ll never tell you that iGigBook doesn’t work, or that it doesn’t work for you. As always…go with the program that works best for you! And if you know the developers of iGigBook, and they would be willing to share a promo code, I’d always be happy to review the app!
After the promo code was offered in a response from iGigBook, I checked out the app and realized that it didn’t have the full features I need–particularly for music education, and for my own performing. I decided not to review the app–or to use the promo code. Why burn a valuable code that can be given to someone who will use the software?
And I still maintain that the real issue here is that I can’t recommend iGigBook to others until it adds annotation as a feature, and I can’t apologize for that. Perhaps my unwillingness to write a review when I had solicited a promo code for the app in this blog angered the developer–for that I do apologize. Perhaps I’ll buy a copy of the app and then review it. We’ll see.
As a side note, I’ve turned comments off for some time on this post–not just for the iGigBook debate. Ultimately, I was getting far too many spam messages and sometimes just weird responses to posts. I took note that a number of other blogs have shut down comments for some time. I’m always open to posting someone’s question or comment as a separate blog post.
Now, on to the majors: It’s hard to get fired up about a debate on the Internet when the ups and downs of life bring you back to reality. This weekend, one of the students in our school passed away in her fight against leukemia. There’s a large part of our student body that is going to be hurting very badly today, along with the family. That frames this discussion with iGigBook very much where it needs to be–a minor thing. Please, if you want to try iGigBook–go for it. At $ 9.99, it won’t break the bank. If not, try one of the other apps, such as UnrealBook, ForScore, GigBook, or others. It’s up to you. You’re the consumer. Read the reviews on the AppStore. Visit the web pages of the companies. Do some basic Internet searching. And then buy the app that looks the best for you.
Fingerprints record store: Thriving despite music industry woes
The Long Beach record store just moved to a bigger space. Its secret? Hand-picked indie and collectible records and customer service.
The Long Beach record store just moved to a bigger space. Its secret? Hand-picked indie and collectible records and customer service.
Top 10 Car Deaths In The Movies
This is an article produced on behalf of Give a Car – a scrap car charity organization that donates its proceeds to a range of charities throughout the world. From high-speed crashes to explosions and heart-stopping plunges over the edge, ‘death by car’ has often proved one of the most popular vehicles for film makers [...]
Top 10 Lists
Let England Shake by PJ Harvey
01/01/2011
$ 12.99
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Insane Clown Posse’s Hatchet Attacks To Be Webcast Live
WireImage
Calling all juggalos and Insane Clown Posse fans. Hatchet Attacks is back this year at the historic Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee, and the event will be streamed live for the whole world to see. So if you are a juggalo but don’t live in the area, you can still watch as it unfolds in real time. It’s the next best thing to being there.
The webcast will begin at 6 PM ET on March 26th. What exactly is ‘Hatchet Attacks,’ if you’re not an informed juggalo? Well, it’s a live concert event that will feature performances by the entire Psychopathic Records family, which includes Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Anybody Killa, Boondox, DJ Clay, the Dayton Family, AMB and Mike E. Clark.
Life After The Opera: Read Wall Street Journal article on Dawn Upshaw
Read David Mermelstein's fabulous article on 2011 Music Director Dawn Upshaw and her constant exploration as an artist.
By DAVID MERMELSTEIN
St. Paul, Minn.
The beloved American soprano Dawn Upshaw has always followed her own star. When few singers of her stature championed new music, she made a cottage industry of the practice, a commitment that has only increased with the years. At the same time, her growing interest in more intimate forms of music making has led her to forge new associations away from the opera house, including one here with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
"My work has become much more interesting and feels more vital to me since I made this conscious decision to spend most of my time building on musical relationships that are meaningful to me," Ms. Upshaw said last month over lunch, several hours before performing songs by Béla Bartók and Luciano Berio with the Saint Paul musicians.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 … 62830.html
Ojai Music Festival Blog
Mao Live 2010 Awards: For those about underground rock, we salute you
So, earlier this year ( or late last year) we had the MIDI awards that follow the standard award formula to a T… Interesting winners but mostly established bands with a few surprises.
Not so hot on their heels come the Mao Live Awards fort 2010. Interesting thing about the Mao Live awards is that they’re closely related to bands that played at Mao over the past year so if you were not there, you are square. I remember the 2009 edition being a bit confusing because there was no clear winners and it took me a while to understand that. Mao picks about 7 bands for each category and they’re all recipients of the award. This year was not exception!
It was quite a cool atmosphere with good performances from me guan me, SUBS and The Ghost Spardac, a good turnout and some funny hosting. Spardac absolutely played their guts out sunday night, more so than i’ve ever ever seen them play. It wasn’t that long ago that i saw them for the first time and thought they suffered from “multiple musical personality disorder“.. not anymore folks!! their performance rivaled that of SUBS for intensity and quality. I look forward to their upcoming record!
Me Guan Me surprised me for the second night in row (saw them saturday opening for re-TROS) and I’m gonna go out of my way to catch them from now on! A comparison between them and Lazy Camel a good example of how a band can improve over time while another one stagnates…
In between performances, the winners for each category were announced and this is what it looked like:
Best Band Award | 最佳乐队奖：
扭曲的机器 (Twisted Machine)、反光镜 (reflector)、新裤子 (New Pants)、万能青年旅店 (Omnipotent Youth Society)
Best Performance Award | 最佳舞台表现奖：
SUBS、逃跑计划 (Perdel)、爽子与义和团 (Huang Shuang)，南无 (nanwu)、肆伍 (5-4)、Marduk
Loving Rock Award 爱摇滚乐奖：
SUBS、逃跑计划 (Perdel)、密三刀 (Misandao)、Shonen Knife
Power of Rock Award | 摇滚最给力奖：
迷笛校长张帆 (MIDI principal)
Most Interesting Band Award | 最受关注奖：
梁晓雪 (Liang XiaoXue)、Me灌Me ( Me Guan Me)、Lazy Camels、The Ghost Spardac、玉麟军 (Army of Jade Kirin)、Hell City、OOC、CNdY
Best Organization Award | 优秀主办奖：
摩登天空 , 重型音乐 ,荔芙唱片 , 飞行者唱片 , 火锅音乐 , BIGMIC唱片
Award for most tickets sold | 年度最佳票房奖：
万能青年旅店 Omnipotent Youth Society
One can’t argue much about what Mao is doing with this list really. It’s all about bands that play there and their shows! I also like the whole “multiple winners” concept. What was surprising to me was seeing Perdel’s name pop up so often.. it does seem like they have a nice following judging from their performance on sunday night… granted, neither Ruby nor I liked it much and used the opportunity to get a bit of fresh air. Other winners made sense, especially Omnipotent Youth Society for best box office… I remember the madness outside Mao the day they played there.
I like how Mao gave a big thank you to MIDI for helping them out and letting them setup a tent during the unfortunate closure last year… they got a lot of goodwill from this one. Once again, at an award show, no mention of any Maybe Mars artist… that might be worth investigating.
Another interesting fact is how much the mainstream media ignored the awards or had extremely selective coverage. A search for “MAO Livehouse 2010年度颁奖典礼” on Baidu barely turned out any results other than the award given to pop-folkster 梁晓雪 (Liang XiaoXue). Other bands barely got a mention… forget about MTV or even CCTV coverage at this point. so unless it’s pretty and soft, we’re still a very long way from seeing any of these bands make it mainstream…
Anyways, great evening with amazing performances by SUBS and The Ghost Spardac… yours truly went there right after a root canal and I did not regret braving the pain!!
Congrats to the winners and keep it up!!!
Last Chance to Vote for ACM New Artists!
Pictured l to r (front row): Sarah Trahern, GAC GM and ACM board president, Steel Magnolia’s Joshua Scott Jones and Meghan Linsey, The JaneDear girls’ Susie Brown and Danelle Leverett, The Band Perry’s Kimberly and Reid Perry, Butch Waugh, ACM vice president. Back row: Bill Mayne, ACM chairman, Easton Corbin, Luke Bryan, Randy Houser, Eric Church, Pete Fisher, VP and general manager, Grand Ole Opry and The Band Perry’s Neil Perry.
Have YOU voted yet for the 2011 ACM Top New Artists? Hurry, there are only a few days left to cast your vote!
For the third year, the newcomer categories for the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards — Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group — have been opened up to interactive fan voting through VoteACM.com and GACTV.com/ACM.
The nominees for the newcomer categories are:
TOP NEW SOLO VOCALIST
• Eric Church
• Easton Corbin
• Randy Houser
TOP NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP
• The Band Perry
• the JaneDear girls
• Steel Magnolia
Professional members of the Academy of Country Music select the final nominees in the Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Vocal or Group categories. Professional member votes will be combined with fan votes to obtain the winners of the newcomer categories of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. Fan voting for these categories will close on Thursday, February 24 at 9 a.m. PST. The winner in each category will be announced in March and will move on to compete for Top New Artist.
Voting for the Top New Artist category will begin at VoteACM.com and GACTV.com/ACM on Friday, March 11 at 12 noon PST and will close on April 3, with the winner being announced LIVE during the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast on CBS.
The first GAC special ACM Showcase, hosted by reigning ACM Top New Artist, Luke Bryan, features all six nominees and airs this Wednesday, February 23 and Thursday, February 24 at 10/9c. The winner of the new Top New Artist category will be awarded on the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS. The complete list of nominees for the Academy of Country Music Awards is HERE.
WATCH: The National Live in NYC
It’s a national holiday today, so what better band, name-wise, to enjoy than — the National? The Brooklyn-via-Cincinnati outfit recently played a super intimate gig at NYC’s Studio at Webster Hall, and MTV filmed it for their new “Live in NYC” web series. Watch the band performing “Terrible Love” below.
In the clip, the band’s twitchy, lyrically gifted singer Matt Berninger caps a stirring rendition of the slow-building epic off 2010′s High Violet — one of SPIN’s Best Albums of 2010 — by jumping offstage and roaming through the crowd, as he’s known to do on occasion.
The set also includes three other cuts from High Violet — “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” “Afraid of Everyone,” and “Conversation 16″ — plus “Fake Empire,” the gripping album opener off 2007′s Boxer.
Watch “Terrible Love” below, then click here to check out the whole session.
For another great live video from the National, watch them play “Afraid of Everyone” at SPIN’s 25th anniversary bash last summer.
The National, “Terrible Love (from MTV’s Live in NYC)”
Arctic Monkeys For T In The Park
Arctic Monkeys are amongst the new additions to the line up of this year’s T In The Park.
Scotland’s biggest music festival, T In The Park has a near unrivalled reputation for grabbing exclusive performances. Each year over 80,000 people descend on the Balado site in anticipation of something special.
This year organisers have managed to keep the line up carefully under wraps. In an announcement earlier today (February 22nd) the details of the bill were finally officially confirmed.
Sheffield indie kingpins Arctic Monkeys are set to headline the event, with a performance which will surely go down in T In The Park history. The band are folk heroes at the festival, following a seminal early performance.
With three albums to draw on, the set should be something quite special. Arctic Monkeys are also working on new material, and have previously hinted that they could drop fresh tracks into this summer’s shows.
Elsewhere, stadium hogging giants Coldplay are due to perform. One of the biggest groups on the planet, the band are preparing to put the finishing touches to their new album, the follow up to ‘Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends’.
Set to headline T In The Park, Coldplay will be joined by a varied bill. Reformed Britpop giants Pulp are set to perform, taking the Balado crowd on a much loved trip down memory lane.
Manic Street Preachers are due to perform, while Friendly Fires will preview their second album. The bill includes a varied cast, with Stornoway set to bring their nostalgic folk songwriting to Balado.
The line up also contains appearances from Crystal Castles, KT Tunstall, Plan B, Miles Kane and more.
Tickets are set to go on sale from 9am this Friday (February 25th).
T In The Park takes place between July 8th – 10th.
Kurt Cobain’s 44th Birthday Was Sunday – What Did You Really Know About Him?
Sunday was the birth date of Kurt Cobain, he would have been 44 years old. Take a look at an interesting list of things that is likely to include a few things that even the biggest Kurt Cobain fanatics didn’t know …
Spacelab – Independent Music and Media
Steven Wilson’s 2nd solo album (2/21 update)
More news to tack onto the original announcement (go here for that). This is also from Steven Wilson‘s facebook page:
Thanks for all the wonderful feedback regarding my new solo record! Sorry, but “Cut Ribbon” once again failed to make the cut – although the 12 tracks / 84 minutes of music I’ve selected for the main release is quite eclectic, it has in common a pretty organic feel, mostly inspired by the darker end of vintage progressive music and some… movie soundtrack stuff (Morricone especially). The sound palette is made up of things like strings, choir, woodwinds, mellotron, organ, piano, fender rhodes, jazz drums, and warmer guitar tones, so the shiny metal attack of Cut Ribbon just doesn’t fit. But the track is all mixed and finished and sounds good, so I’ll find somewhere to release it. Definitely the album will come out on double vinyl too. Love the new Radiohead album! Here’s another still from the work in progress films Lasse is working on to include on the blu-ray version of the album.
~Dan – np: Earth – Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1
Filed under: Music News Tagged: blackfield, Insurgentes, Lasse Hoile, metal, porcupine tree, prog rock, progressive rock, rock, solo album, steven wilson 
mainly music meanderings
The Art of Saying “No”
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For the most part, working in the design and development communities can often leave you feeling like somewhat of a ‘Yes’ person. That person who stands behind the client, nodding in agreement and understanding as the path to the project unfolds before you. For in this business, it pays to wear this agreeable hat. It helps the client begin to see us an ally in their mission, someone who they can work with to make their project see the proverbial light of day, not have to work around so to speak.
When they see us filling the role of the ‘Yes’ person, the client is often put at ease and they can feel less guarded around us. This tends to make it easier for them to communicate their ideas as they feel like we are less likely to challenge them on any of it. They can be free to explore their ideas in what feels like a safe atmosphere. However, there comes a time in our careers that we have to step outside of that role and tell the client ‘No’. Suddenly that client comfort zone is challenged, which means we have to proceed with care. It is not as simple as just saying ‘No’.
These situations can be a bit delicate, especially since we are usually in the more submissive role as the employed. Clients are not often used to being told ‘No’ about anything in this corporate culture of “the customer is always right” that has its hold in the business world today. Besides, just because we have had to switch gears over to the ‘No’ side does not mean that we are prepared for the working relationship to come to a close. Which if we are not tactful in the least, then that may be precisely where things go once we say ‘No’. Below is a look at some of the ways we can let a client down easy without risking current or future projects.
Just For Clarification…
We are not attempting to paint all or any clients with an unreasonable brush here. We are simply saying that there are times when hearing a ‘No’ can be a deal breaker, and if not handled correctly can leave a bad taste in the client’s mouth, which will return each time they speak your name. And that is just not good for business. We do not want to get a reputation for being disagreeable, but we also know that there are times when the client has to be told ‘No’ — whether they like it or not.
And let’s be honest, each of us can have a tendency to get defensive or somewhat hurt when we are told ‘No’, so why should we not expect for our clients to feel this same tinge of rejection and react to it occasionally. After all, we are all just people. And when we are paying for a service, we often do not expect those whom we are paying, to tell us ‘No’ when we ask for anything we deem within reason. Sometimes, our clients are in this same boat, and unless we tend to the situation cautiously, it can have a lingering effect.
There are many reasons for saying “No”. One of them is a job burnout. Image Credit
Considering the Client Type
Is this a new or existing client? Because the way you handle them will generally be different depending on which category of client they fall into. If this is a new client or potential client, then you are going to tend to maintain a more professional edge to your decline that might also tend towards the dishonest end of the spectrum. Whereas if you are dealing with an existing client where the relationship is much more established and comfortable, then you might have a more relaxed approach that tends towards the open and honest side of things.
For example, if you are taking time off to go to Comic Con and because of this you cannot take on any new work, you might avoid the full details of the situation as you decline taking the task from a potential or new client. Mainly out of fear of this effecting the way they view your dedication or professionalism, and in turn your company. However, if you are dealing with an existing client, being more personal, and in this case more honest, might feel like the more comfortable path to take. After all, they will already have an idea formed about you and your company that will likely not be impacted negatively by this decline.
So the client’s status, as it were, does come into play when you are determining the best way to tackle telling them ‘No’, it is often not just a black and white situation. Where they sit on the spectrum can steer the direction we need to go in when it comes to declining their wishes, and that consideration cannot be dismissed.
In Short:
- Whether the client is a new client or an existing one can impact how you handle these situations.
- New clients tend to require more of a professional approach, whereas with existing clients we can tend to be a little bit more laid back.
- The more personal the reasons we have to say no, the more likely the white lie is the better option over the truth to maintain that professional edge.
Consider the Project Stage
Where exactly are you in the project when the situation arises? Because this can also heavily weigh in on how you handle telling the client ‘No’. If it is in the initial stages, meaning the client is just contacting you to ask you to come on board, that is quite a different situation than being in the middle of a project and having an instance crop up where you have to tell the client ‘No’. If things have not gotten started, then you can feel free to skirt around the truth and be as blase as you feel you need to. However, if you are in the middle of the project, then it is usually of utmost importance that you be completely up front and honest with the client as to why you cannot comply with what they have asked.
The easiest way to see the distinction here is by using an example where you feel that complying with the client’s request, would cross either a personal or professional line that you have decided that you would never cross. For instance, if a client approached you to do a sexually explicit site, and you or your company were opposed to doing so, you could easily turn them down and be as up front with why you declined or not. However, if you have already been hired and contracts are in place, when the client asks you to add some sort of sexually explicit elements to the project, then you have an obligation to honestly address why you feel you must decline.
So how far along the project has progressed can also set the tone for how to approach this oft times delicate situation, and govern exactly how honest you should be with them. Generally, the further along you have gone down the path with the client, the more they deserve to know the full reasoning behind your decisions to decline their offers or wishes.
In Short:
- The stage that the project is in also plays a part on the how this situation gets handled.
- If the project is just getting underway, then skirting around the truth or avoiding some details is usually not as big a deal.
- If the project is already in progress and you have to tell the client no, then you should be as honest and up front as you comfortably can be.
Rules of the Refusal
Now beyond the considerations that we have to make in order to judge the situation correctly for determining our approach, we also have to remember that there are a few rules that we can adhere to so that our refusals to the client are perhaps more digestible, and overall easier to swallow. Below are a few of these proverbial pointers for making the rejection have less of a lasting negative impact on both you and the client.
Do Not Leave Them in the Lurch
The first tip, and one of the most important when it comes to telling a client ‘No’ without having to suffer any repercussions, is to always recommend another course of action for the client to take. Rather than simply giving them roadblocks, offer them solutions to help them find their way once more. If you are turning down work, then point them towards others in the field whom you trust to take care of their needs. Often this kindness will be remembered by the client in the future, not to mention by the other design/development team you directed them to as well.
If you are in the middle of a project and have to tell them that you won’t be able to comply with their demands, then provide them with alternatives that you can do to still get their project where they want and need it to go. Doing so might just be the sugar needed to help make this medicine go down, so to speak. To sell them on another direction you need to be able to make it look as attractive to them as the idea they proposed, so do not try to go at this blind. Take in what they have said, and let them know that you will get back to them on this once you have fully considered what it is they are asking for. This will give you the time you need to formulate workable alternatives to present to them.
Wherever you are in the project, try not to be just another problem that they have to get around by telling them ‘No’. Try to be the provider of solutions that they had not yet considered instead.
In Short:
- When telling a client ‘No’, try to offer some other routes that they might take.
- It is always better to offer detours rather than simply putting up roadblocks, this helpfulness will tend to be remembered.
- Take in their request and do not get back to them immediately, this gives you time to formulate an alternative to provide them with.
Always Be Aware of Tone
Now this next tip might seem like a bit of a given, but we thought that we ought to bring it up anyway just to air on the side of caution. That is to always be aware of your tone of voice, or just the overall tone of the discussion. And more than just the tone, you want to fully consider how all of your words will come across and be received by the client. This is not always an easy task, but it is by far, one of the more necessary ones to tackle. There are many ways that tone can interpreted and words can be taken that spell trouble for your company, so getting to know the client is a big part of understanding how your words will go over.
This comes even more into play if all of your communication with the client is done visually via e-mails and messaging, not audibly or in person where tone is easier to discern. It is harder to get a handle on the nuances that could be read into your messages that you in no way intended. Given the circumstances, that you are essentially rejecting the client or their ideas, knowing the tone that gets attached to your dialogs is even more critical. You do not want the client walking away from the situation with the idea that you were disrespecting them, so that is the lingering feeling they have when they are asked about their experience with your company.
Read through, or go over in your head, the way that you plan to let the client down, so that you can try to assess any negative tones or hints to a lack of respect that could be gotten from somewhere in your words!
In Short:
- The tone we use when telling the client ‘No’ might communicate more than we intend, so we need to be mindful of it.
- When communication with the client is done online or via e-mail, then the tone that can be read into it needs to be considered as well.
- Take the time to vet your comments or reread your messages to ensure that no negative connotations could be interpreted from them that could hurt your professionalism.
Rejection Reassurance
The next tip for tactfully telling the client ‘No’ might seem a bit placatory, and for all intents and purposes, it pretty much is, but that does not lessen its importance in this discussion in any way. This tip has to do with rejection reassurance. What we mean by that is that you want to be sure, especially if you wish to possibly work with this client in the future, that you reassure them that this bump in the road is not where you wish things to end. You want to impart to the client that this is simply a matter of bad timing or circumstances, and that perhaps in the future they should call on you again to see if things will be a better fit at that time.
Make sure they know that even if you have to reject them now, that you might be a good fit for a future project. Image Credit
Now granted, rejection is rejection, and most of us whether we like to admit it or not, do not take it that great. We should expect the same from our clients. And if you are in the middle of a project and your telling them ‘No’ spells the end of your part of said project, you can expect even more potential fallout from this rejection. But as long as we let the client know honestly why we cannot comply, and that we would like to perhaps try to work with them again in the future on something else, then we have done all that we can to perhaps mend any sores we may have opened in the process.
Under these circumstances it is hard to judge how the rejection is going to impact future relations with that client, but if we go ahead and take the proverbial first step towards repairing this breach through this subtle reassurance then hopefully the rejection will not have a lasting reach.
In Short:
- If you wish to work with the client again, then reassure them that you turning them down now is not the end of the road, or at least it is not where you wish things to end.
- This is about softening the blow that most of us tend to feel whenever we get rejected.
- We have to understand that no matter how we attempt to sugar coat things, telling the client no might have consequences that we will have to accept.
What Best Serves the Project
The next tip that we have is also one that seems placatory to the client, but it can prove useful for removing some of the edge that telling the client ‘No’ can come with. And that is to always convey to the client that your choices are reflective of what best serves their endgame. After all, that is what they are presumably seeking to begin with. So as long as you let them know that your decision to turn down their request or job is because it is in the best interest of the project, then they are less likely to negatively react to this rejection or non-compliance.
Now we said less likely because there are always wild cards, and some clients are not going to take too kindly to hearing ‘No’ regardless of how you dress it up. Especially if that ‘No’ interrupts their progress in any way. But when you are turning them down in the middle of a job, providing alternatives as we already suggested, and you are doing so because you feel that it would be better for the project to take a different approach, then the clients tend to be less resistant to hearing you out. Especially if you can provide them a better way to serve their project in the end, and not delay their deadline by causing them to have to bring in someone else and catch them up to speed, then they might be willing to trust in your expertise.
In Short:
- When we have to tell the client ‘No’, by making our decisions based on what serves the project best it tends to be easier for the client to take.
- This may not render the situation salvageable, but it tends to put the client in a more receptive mood for hearing you out.
Do Not Beat Around the Bush
Finally, the last bit of advice that we have to offer on telling a client ‘No’, is to do the professional thing and do not beat around the proverbial bush. If you are going to turn them down or reject an idea, do it directly and clearly. Do not waste their time or yours dancing around the topic trying to avoid the direct confrontation, assuming that they understood you to mean ‘No’. You are unnecessarily prolonging the situation to try and ease out of the discomfort, when really you are causing more distress all around by avoiding the issue.
In Short:
- Do not dance around the issue when telling a client ‘No’.
- Always be clear and make sure that everyone is on the same page, so there is no confusion.
Last Thought
That wraps up the discussion of the ideas on this side, but now, as always, we turn the dialogue over to you. Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas on ways to tell a client ‘No’ in the comment section below. What ways have you found that work the best? Which, if any, of the ways that we discussed have you used in the past, or do you plan to use in the future? What suggestions do you have for designers and developers who face this work issue?
Consider Some of Our Previous Posts
- How To Explain To Clients That They Are Wrong is a post from our vaults that covers close to this same topic and might be one you also wish to consider.
- How To Convince The Client That Your Design Is Perfect is another post from Smashing’s past that might hold a helpful hint or two in this respect.
- Do You Want Fries With That Logo? is a great article elaborating ways on how to learn to say ‘No’ instead of rushing through projects.
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America Ferrera & Rebecca Romijn: Global Action Awards!
America Ferrera steps out at the First Annual Global Action Awards on Friday (February 18) in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The 26-year-old actress was joined at the gala by her former Ugly Betty costar Rebecca Romijn!
During the ceremony, Miley Cyrus was presented with the Global Action Youth Leadership Award by Hilary Duff.
Also pictured inside: Katharine McPhee, who performed her song “Lifetime” at the gala. Watch her performance after the cut!
10+ pictures inside of America Ferrera and Rebecca Romijn at the awards…
Katharine McPhee Performs at Global Action Awards
LeAnn Rimes, Seal Upset About the Lack of Music Funding in Public Schools
LeAnn Rimes, Elvis Costello and Seal were among those who talked passionately about music education.
Ciara: ‘I Pray That My Label Will Release Me’
In a Facebook post addressed to her fans, she shoots down rumors that Jive has already released her from her contract but says she isn’t opposed to the idea.
Billboard.com The Feed
“White Flag”
Click to Listen to Ashlyne Huff’s “White Flag” A young-love melodrama in three-and-a-half minutes courtesy of Nashville-bred pop singer Ashlyne Huff Boy meets girl; Girl isn’t into boy; Boy stalks girl; Girl “throws her white flag in the air” and decides boy isn’t so bad after all The pounding synths sound…
“The Afterlife”
The narrative wit is sharp on the second track from Paul Simon’s forthcoming So Beautiful or So What (due in April) Some dude gets to heaven fills out forms waits in line and tries unsuccessfully to mack on some girl And when it comes time to explain his mortal life…
Matthew Knowles sharing music industry knowledge with TSU students
Mathew Knowles, founder, President and CEO of Music World Entertainment (MWE) has learned many lessons while building his company into one of the world’s leading music and entertainment conglomerates. He weaves those real-world experiences into lesson plans for the Music Industry course he teaches at Texas Southern University (TSU). Melinda Spaulding of FOX News Houston, caught up with Knowles during a session of the course he is teaching in his third semester at TSU. Check out the story on the teaching music mogul, which aired on Wednesday, February 16, 2011.
Kanye West Gets Dirty On Katy Perry’s ‘E.T.’ Remix
In brand-new remix of the single, West promises ‘alien sex.’
By James Montgomery
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Kanye West and Katy Perry
Photo: EMI
On her new single “E.T.,” Katy Perry coos about an extraterrestrial lover with cosmic kisses (and, apparently, lasers) who transports her to otherworldly levels of pleasure. So it’s somewhat fitting that, on a brand-new remix of the song, Kanye West contributes a pair of galactically suggestive verses.
The reworked version of the song — which began making the rounds Wednesday (February 16) — features West proclaiming, “I got a dirty mind/ I got filthy ways” and boasting “They callin’ me an alien/ A big-headed astronaut/ Maybe it’s because your boy Yeezy gets ass a lot.”
(To find out what fans think of Katy and Kanye’s “E.T.” remix, head to RapFix!)
Indeed. West also expresses his desire to “bathe … in your milky way,” and later in the remix, he claims to “know a bar out in Mars where they driving spaceships instead of cars.” Then, he drops the real piece-de-résistance: “Rockets on deck/ Tell me what’s next/ Alien sex!” he raps. “I’mma disrobe you then I’mma probe you/ See, I abducted you so I tell you what to do.”
Perry’s label, Capitol Records, confirmed to MTV News that Katy and Kanye’s collabo is an official remix, releasing a photo of both stars on what appeared to be the “E.T.” video set. The clip was shot by “The Runaways” director Floria Sigismondi, who has helmed eye-catching vids for the likes of Christina Aguilera, Marilyn Manson and the White Stripes.
What do you think of the “E.T.” remix? Let us know in the comments!
Related Artists
Due Date (2010) – Todd Phillips
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