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INDIE NEWS BEAT
September 20, 2004 Edition
*
CatDesigners At Number 2 In The ILR Charts
* Brilliant Digital Entertainment And Altnet File Suit Against RIAA
* EFF: New Induce Act Proposal Is A Bad Idea
* John Kennedy To Succeed Jay Berman As Chairman & CEO Of IFPI
* Founder Of The Ernie Ball Company, Ernie Ball, Passes Away
* Raful Neal: June 6, 1936 -- September 1, 2004
* Noble "Thin Man" Watts: February 17, 1926 - August 24, 2004
* Ray Charles Live: In Concert With The Edmonton Symphony On DVD
* Joe Kelly Joins Infinity Records Nashville As VP National Promotion
* Jeremy Lascelles New Vice-Chairman Of AIM
* Inpop Records Names Rob Poznanski Director Of Marketing
* Americana Music Association Gears Up For Conference
* Developing Nations Copyright License Frees Creativity
* IAR Networks Opens Shared Media Content Program
* "Platinum Divas Live!" Competition Showcase
* Greendale The Book By Neil Young
CatDesigners
At Number 2 In The ILR Charts
 CatDesigners'
"Vain As I Am" is at Number 2 in the ILR (Is On Live Radio) World
Independent chart for the second week. London's CatDesigners have
been described as "one of the underground's best kept secrets" (Whisperin'
& Hollerin') and their lead singer, Nick Troop, has drawn comparisons
with David Bowie and Morrissey.
Their
second album, "Strange
Little Creature", has been receiving critical acclaim with reviewers
calling it "CatDesigners' second consistently fine album" and "a
better follow-up album than it has any right to be". Two songs from
the album, Strange Gods" and "Vain As I Am", are currently on the
ILR playlist but it is "Vain As I Am", in particular, that seems
to have caught listeners' attention.
"Vain
As I Am" entered the ILR chart three weeks ago at Number 6 and for
the last two weeks has been at Number 2. CatDesigners
are especially pleased with this chart position, based as it is
on votes cast by ILR listeners. "Although we make music to please
ourselves there is nothing more gratifying than other people enjoying
it too".
Source:
Brilliant
Digital Entertainment And Altnet File Suit Against Infringers Of
Its "TrueNames" Patent
Stating
its efforts at cooperation have proven fruitless, Brilliant Digital
Entertainment (BDE) subsidiary Altnet has filed a civil suit against
a number of companies and organizations, including the RIAA, alleging
the breach of the "TrueNames" patent it licensed in 2002.
The
suit names RIAA chief Mitch Bainwol, and the RIAA's Hillary Rosen,
Cary Sherman and Marc Morgenstern as defendants, in addition to
The RIAA, Overpeer, Inc., Loudeye, Inc., and Media Sentry Inc. Altnet
alleges some of the defendants infringe on its patents to "spoof"
peer-to-peer (P2P) users with bogus or corrupted media files. Altnet
alleges this has inhibited the growth of P2P for legitimate file
sharing that benefits copyright holders (which Altnet advocates)
and thereby has injured its business.
The
suit, while narrowly focused on a specific, patented algorithm that
permits the unique naming of files across peer-to-peer networks,
has far-ranging implications in the ongoing battle between artists,
copyright holders, labels and consumers over their respective rights
to share files over the Internet. Recently, the US 9th Circuit Court
of Appeals ruled that certain file sharing networks were not liable
for the actions of their users who share files.
Source:
EFF:
New Induce Act Proposal Is A Bad Idea
The
Copyright Office provided the Senate Judiciary Committee with recommended
language meant to replace Senator Orrin Hatch's "Induce Act," S.
2560.
The
proposed language targets companies who make "public dissemination"
technologies, where those companies make money from, or attract
users with, copyright infringement. The proposal is a break with
the doctrine established by the Supreme Court in its famous "Betamax"
ruling, which says that technology companies cannot be held liable
for copyright infringement by their customers, so long as the technology
in question is capable of substantial noninfringing uses. In its
ruling in MGM v. Grokster, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently
reaffirmed that the Betamax doctrine applies to peer-to-peer (P2P)
file-sharing software. EFF represents one of the prevailing defendants
in that case.
Source:
John
Kennedy To Succeed Jay Berman As Chairman & CEO Of IFPI
IFPI,
the organisation representing the recording industry worldwide,
announced that John Kennedy will succeed Jay Berman as its Chairman
and CEO from January 1 2005.
John
Kennedy has headed record companies internationally and in the UK
since the mid-1990s - latterly as President and COO of Universal
Music International, a position he held until February 2004.
Kennedy
has been actively involved in IFPI's work for several years, participating
on the Main Board and chairing the European Regional Board between
2002 and 2004. During this time he played a key role in representing
the industry's interests to governments internationally.
Earlier
in his 25-year music industry career, Kennedy was a successful entertainment
lawyer, working with major artists, managers and major and independent
record labels. In the 1980s he played a leading role in the Band
Aid and Live Aid projects, for which he was honoured with an OBE
from the British government in 1985.
Source:
Founder
Of The Ernie Ball Company, Ernie Ball, Passes Away On September
9
 Ernie
Ball, a legend in the musical instrument industry and founder of
the Ernie Ball Company in 1962, passed away on Thursday, September
9 after a lengthy illness. A resident of San Luis Obispo, CA, he
was 74 years old. One of the last great colorful entrepreneurs,
he created products that helped shape the sound of rock-n-roll -
endless hit songs have been played on Ernie Ball Strings since the
1960's.
A
graveside service will be held Monday, September 13 at 10 a.m. at
the San Luis Cemetery, 2890 S. Higuera in San Luis Obispo. Wheeler-Smith
Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
"An
artist and a business man in one, Ernie single-handedly revolutionized
the music industry with the creation of Slinky Strings, so much
so that everyone from the Beach Boys, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and
Jimi Hendrix to current artists like Blink 182 have Ernie Ball strings
in common," said Sterling Ball, president of the Ernie Ball Company
and one of Ernie's sons. "Super Slinkys are one of the top products
in the music business, and it all started in a small store in Tarzana
because my dad understood what players needed.
Source:
Raful
Neal: June 6, 1936 -- September 1, 2004
Famed
Bayou bluesman, singer/harmonica player Raful Neal, died Wednesday,
September 1, after a long bout with cancer. He was 68. With his
relaxed vocal style and behind-the-beat harmonica playing, he was
considered one of the best bluesmen to emerge from the south Louisiana
area, bringing the sounds of the region to a worldwide audience.
Neal was the patriarch of the famed Neal clan: nearly all of his
children are blues musicians, including recording artist Kenny Neal.
Neal's
first single, "Sunny Side Of Love" came in 1958 on Don Robey's Peacock
label. A series of singles followed on regional labels like Witt
and La Louisiane. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, Neal became
a local legend, performing around the south and teaching his children
the finer points of the blues. As his reputation grew, a 1987 single
for the Fantastic label, "Man, Watch Your Woman," was nominated
for a W.C. Handy Blues Award.
His
first full album, "Louisiana Legend," was released on King Snake
Records in 1988 and was later reissued by Alligator. A 1991 recording
for Ichiban, "I Been Mistreated," and a 1998 release, "Old Friends,"
for the Club Louisianne label, helped Neal stay in the public eye.
Neal appeared on a number of compilation CDs for the Telarc label,
including "The Hoodoo Kings," and "Superharps II." These recordings
kept Neal's tour schedule full, as he performed from Baton Rouge
to points all over the country.
Source:
Noble
"Thin Man" Watts: February 17, 1926 - August 24, 2004
Influential
R&B and jazz saxophonist Noble "Thin Man" Watts, whose recording
career began in 1954 and who shared stages with such musical luminaries
as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis, died on August
24 in his hometown of DeLand, Florida. He was 78.
Born
in 1926, Watts worked raking leaves to pay for violin lessons as
a boy before learning to play trumpet and saxophone in his teens.
In 1942 he enrolled at Florida A&M University and played in the
school's esteemed marching band with soon-to-be jazz legends Cannonball
Adderley and his brother, cornetist Nat Adderley.
The
Griffin Brothers, one of Dot Records' most popular touring R&B acts,
hired Watts right after he finished college, and he toured with
them for a time. In 1952, he joined famed baritone saxophonist Paul
"Hucklebuck" Williams as a member of the house band for the groundbreaking
TV show "Showtime At The Apollo." Later on, he had a stint playing
with Lionel Hampton's big band. He also played on late '50s tour
packages behind the likes of Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy
Holly and the Everly Brothers.
Source:
Ray
Charles Live: In Concert With The Edmonton Symphony On DVD
 This
September, Eagle Rock Entertainment presents Ray Charles, one of
the most well-known and respected pianists, singers and composers
of the twentieth century, in the DVD release of Ray Charles Live
- In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony. This monumental production,
which was shot in Edmonton, Canada in 1981 at the Jubilee Auditorium,
showcases Charles' unrivalled talent with performances of classic
songs including the ever-so-popular "Georgia On My Mind." In addition,
he is accompanied by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Ray Charles
Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony will be available September
21, 2004 for a suggested retail price of $19.98. Dealer order cut-off
date is August 10, 2004.
This
legendary performance, Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton
Symphony, shows Ray's lifelong commitment to defining a genre of
a whole new kind. Ray Charles gives a stellar performance of his
greatest hits such as "What'd I Say, "I Can't Stop Loving You,"
"I Can See Clearly Now" and "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning," to name
a few, and once again captivates and inspires his audience. His
gift of music fuses blues, rock, soul, jazz, country and pop, and
by mixing these together, he creates a highly one-of-a-kind and
original sound that nobody could resist. With over 50 years in the
business, Ray Charles shows at this concert why he has won numerous
awards, including 12 Grammy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Source:
Industry
Vet, Joe Kelly Joins Infinity Records Nashville As VP National Promotion
Infinity
Records Nashville announces the appointment of Joe Kelly as VP National
Promotion for the label. Kelly, formerly VP of Blue Diamond Records
and prior to that, regional promotion director for Platinum Entertainment,
will be responsible for directing all aspects of radio promotion,
including functioning as Label Contact for all Radio Groups. Kelly
will also head up the new Regional Promotion team currently being
assembled to work Infinity's projects to the R&R Indicator, Mediabase
& BDS radio stations.
Source:
Jeremy
Lascelles New Vice-Chairman Of AIM
Jeremy
Lascelles, CEO Chrysalis Music Division, has been elected AIM's
new Vice-Chairman. The decision was taken by AIM's Board at their
September meeting earlier this week.
Jeremy,
who was elected to the Board at AIM's 2003 AGM, takes over the post
from ex-Board member Peter Quicke (Ninja Tune MD), who retired by
rotation at June's AGM.
AIM
is the non-profit trade body established in 1998 by UK independent
record labels torepresent the independent record sector, 1/4 of
the UK market with sales worth £1/2 bn in 2003. This cutting edge
sector generated 30% of UK platinum selling artist albums in 2003
and more 2004 Brit Award nominees than Sony, Warners or EMI.
Source:
Inpop
Records Names Rob Poznanski Director Of Marketing
 Inpop
Records has named Rob Poznanski director of marketing for the label.
As a seven-year veteran of the Christian music industry, Poznanski
will oversee all aspects ofmarketing for the label and its artist
roster, which includes such groups as Superchick, Shane and Shane,
Tree63 and Plus One.
"We're
very excited about the addition of Rob Poznanski to the staff at
Inpop Records," said Steve Ford, Inpop's general manager. "Rob has
worked with many of the most successful artists in our industry,
and the experience he brings to this position will enhance the effectiveness
of our artist marketing and development."
Poznanski
began his career in 1997 with Sublime Records, and was shortly thereafter
named to the national promotion staff of Essential Records. During
that time, he worked with award-winning and best-selling artists
Jars of Clay, Caedmon's Call, Bebo Norman and others. In addition,
his work with platinum- selling rock group Third Day helped secure
the band's first #1 adult contemporary radio single.
Most
recently, Poznanski served as part of the national promotions team
for Sparrow Label Group, where he worked with such artists as Switchfoot,
ZOEgirl, Jump5 and Delirious. Poznanski's contributions to the record-breaking
rock group Newsboys helped the group achieve extraordinary success,
including the radio single "It Is You," which holds the record for
the longest consecutive #1 radio single in the Christian adult contemporary
format.
Source:
Americana
Music Association Gears Up For Conference
The
Americana Music Association (AMA) is gearing up for next week's
Americana Music Association Conference, scheduled for September
23 - 25 (next week) at the Nashville Convention Center during the
2004 Americana Conference. In terms of performers, panelists and
registration, this year's AMA event represents a quantum leap from
last year's conference.
Confirmed
to perform the Americana Honors & Awards, a keystone feature of
the AMA Conference to be held Friday, September 24 at 7 p.m., are
Steve Earle, Mindy Smith, Tony Joe White & Shelby Lynne, Jason Ringenberg,
the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Chris Hillman (with Herb Pedersen, Bernie
Leadon and Al Perkins), Mavis Staples. Pete Anderson & Michelle
Shocked and Slaid Cleaves with Ray Wylie Hubbard.
The
show will honor merit and achievement within the Americana music
genre with five annual awards in the categories of Artist, Album,
Song, Instrumentalist and the newly created New/Emerging artist
of the year. Five additional achievement awards will be presented
during the show to individuals who have been tremendously influential
to the Americana genre and industry. Jim Lauderdale will serve as
host for the event.
Source:
Developing
Nations Copyright License Frees Creativity Across The Digital Divide
The
law-and-technology nonprofit Creative Commons offers a tool for
authors and publishers to encourage innovation in developing nations
while protecting their rights in the developed world.
Creative
Commons, a nonprofit dedicated to building a body of creative and
educational materials free to share and re-use, unveiled today its
Developing Nations copyright license. Creative Commons chairman
Lawrence Lessig and Developing Nations license architect Jamie Love
announced the new license at the Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue's
workshop on "The Future of WIPO," in Geneva.
Like
all of Creative Commons' legal tools, the Developing Nations license
is free of charge and allows authors and artists to invite certain
uses of their work, upon certain conditions -- to declare "some
rights reserved" as opposed to the "all rights reserved" of traditional
copyright.
Specifically,
the Developing Nations license allows copyright holders to invite
a wide range of royalty-free uses of their work in developing nations
while retaining their full copyright in the developed world.
Source:
IAR
Networks Opens Shared Media Content Program
IAR
Networks and Indie Artist Radio announces their "Shared Media Content"
program. This new edition to IAR Networks allows Internet, FM and
AM radio broadcasters to browse new music content for their station's
playlist, saving the artists and broadcasters time. In addition
the "Shares Media Content" is available to venues, record labels
and other music related companies to discover new music.
Each
Shared Media Content Partner will have the chance to read biographies,
look at photos, visit website, contact and download participating
artist's music and information. Artists may be located based on
genre or geographical location, making the Shared Media Content
a useful database for venues and other demographically specific
partners.
The
launch of IAR Networks "Shared Media Content" has opened with great
success and currently shares content with Live-365 Broadcasters,
Audiorealm and Radio Programs such as "The Indie Limelight Show",
"Independent Nation", and "On the Horizon", all of which represent
over 100 FM/AM Broadcasters and 400 Internet Radio Broadcasters.
Source:
"Platinum
Divas Live!" Competition Showcase At Century Club!
The
first of the competition concert series showcase introducing exciting
new talent to the Music Industry Record Labels
The
Hottest new Artist Search Showcase in Los Angeles, MC'd by Star
Trek's Deep Space 9 celebrity actress Chase Masterson! In addition
to performing for booking agents, A&R, producers, managers, record
label executives and talent developers, the artists will get a professional
evaluation of their talent from honourable Industry judges panel.
The winner of the 3 rounds of Platinum Divas Live! Competition Showcase
will be awarded a recording and touring deal, compliments of LMD
Records and Y3K GM Entertainment.
The
thrilling, bedazzling and electrifying atmosphere of the fabulous
L.A. hot spot, also known as The Century Club, located in Century
City. Join us for an exciting evening of Mixing, Mingling and Platinum
XtraSpecial: The evening will be sealed with the guest appearance
of the newest and hottest LA's World Fusion phenomena band AVATAR.
Source:
Greendale
The Book By Neil Young
Neil
Young's latest project, Greendale, about the battle of the Green
family in a small town in northern California against the forces
of corporate greed and environmental destruction, has already produced
a successful and critically acclaimed album, film and world tour.
Now, Sanctuary is proud to publish the long-awaited companion book
to this landmark creation.
The
book is the perfect visual and literary complement to the Greendale
body of work and a must-have for all fans of Neil Young. It includes
fully illustrated chapters for each of the piece's ten songs. Each
song is introduced with an overview by Young and followed by the
complete song lyrics, which have been evocatively illustrated with
stunning woodcuts by long-time Young collaborator and illustrator
James Mazzeo. The book also contains a comprehensive Green family
tree accompanied by illustrated biographies of each of its members.
It closes with an exclusive 50-page look at the artwork of Greendale
character Earl Green (the 'Earl Green Collection'), abstract paintings
presented in stunning full colour.
Source:
 Provided
by the MusicDish
Network. Copyright © Tag
It 2004 - Republished with Permission
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