Why Isn't There A Grammy For Best PR Team?

Fri Aug 09 2019
Peter Åstedt

You always get that the artist is the genius around the whole song.  Still, in most cases, they would have been nothing if it wasn't for that perfect PR team. It’s like saying that the success in Formula 1 is the driver. Actually, in Formula 1 they enter as a team.

I hear it all the time; artists coming up to me saying they have done the best song ever and it's produced by some dude you have never heard of in your life. Okay, it could be a really good song. But I know so many good songs, even brilliant songs that never reach a big audience. Many of the best albums I know never get anywhere. To build that perfect storm that a good song needs to become a classical song, that is up to your PR team and a bit of luck. What I can definitely say is that a perfect song cannot be a hit just by being perfect. As little as the driver in Formula 1 being the whole team - it’s impossible.

Bruce Cockburn New Instrumental Album Crowing Ignites

Fri Aug 09 2019
Bruce Cockburn Crowing Ignites

True North Records announces a September 20 world-wide release date for Crowing Ignites, the new all-instrumental CD from legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn. Cockburn also announced his North American tour (dates below) with more shows to be confirmed.

Crowing Ignites was produced, recorded and mixed by Colin Linden, and recorded at the Firehouse in San Francisco. It showcases 11 all-original compositions by Cockburn, who plays acoustic guitar throughout, backed by a stellar cast of sympathetic musicians. Cockburn will support the new disc’s release with a summer/fall tour schedule throughout the United States and Canada.  

In 2005, Bruce Cockburn released Speechless, a collection of instrumental tracks that shone the spotlight on the singer-songwriter’s exceptional acoustic guitar playing. The album earned Cockburn a Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Instrumentalist and underscored his stature as one of the world’s premier pickers. 

BTW Amadou & Mariam and Blind Boys Of Alabama, Matthew Chaim, The Dollyrots, Jacques Gaines, Long Beach Dub Allstars, Habari Africa Festival, Grace Bakker, Melina Melle, Nefe, Jong SL, Shari Ulrich, Fergus Hambleton, Shake The Bellows

Fri Aug 02 2019
Amadou & Mariam

Malian musical duo and Grammy Award nominees Amadou & Mariam are teaming up with five-time Grammy Award-winning gospel group Blind Boys of Alabama for the new singles, “Bamako To Birmingham” and “Two Cultures, One Beat,” out today via Because Music. Listen to/share both tracks at https://tinyurl.com/yxs3aho7.

The cross-genre collaboration came about after conversations between the groups on opposite sides of the Atlantic. The Blind Boys kicked off the recording process by laying down two tracks in the U.S. featuring their distinctive vocals, with Amadou & Mariam adding their contributions from the studio in Mali.

The two groups are currently on a joint tour together in Europe, with upcoming performances set for Cork, Ireland; Cambridge, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Västra Götalands län, Sweden. See below for a list of tour dates.

Katherine Penfold Sweetest Thing

Fri Aug 02 2019
Katherine Penfold Photo Credit Lindyn Williams Photography

West Coast Soul/R&B artist Katherine Penfold is set to release her Justin Time/Nettwerk Records album debut with the Neo-Soul tinged "Sweetest Thing" featuring her take on Roberta Flack's timeless "Feel Like Makin' Love", a blissed-out collaboration with Moonchild's Amber Navran ("Far & Away"), and "Better" co-written and mixed by Grammy award-winning producer Chin Injeti (Drake, Eminem).

Soul resides just beneath the exterior. Upon meeting Katherine Penfold, you might initially notice the prominent tattoos along her shoulder and arms before the conversation veers to her lifelong affinity for motorcycles, skateboarding, or woodworking - let alone music. Listening to her sound elicits a different impression altogether - as a  sultry, smooth, and sweet delivery belies the rustic badassery she exudes with ease. This gorgeous contrast illuminates the artist’s 2019 full-length debut, Sweetest Thing, available October 4th (via Justin Time/Nettwerk).

Dropped Because of Laziness

Fri Aug 02 2019
Peter Åstedt

Recently I attended a festival where I met a friend who is doing management in the same style as me. I have helped him in some cases with a specific artist so of course, I asked how it was going around that?

“I dropped that artist he explained. I was busting my ass off to get them opportunities and get things going. Still, it felt like they very just in for the ride, and when we got eight on the chart and they didn't even post something around it on social media I just dropped them.”

This is very common. In most cases when I start talking to managers I have known for a while I ask if they are still working with that specific artist.  In many cases, they just grew tired of all the work they did for them and then they are treated like shit.

Kate Gillespie - From Toronto to Nashville to New York

Fri Aug 02, 2019

A thirteen-year-old Kate Gillespie would have had no idea that when a mutual love of country music led her Dad to take her on a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, that she was glimpsing at her future.

As a young girl, Kate attended an arts school in her native town of Toronto, Ontario and began collaborating with other young singers and songwriters. Her journalist father and lawyer mother were very supportive of Kate and encouraged her to follow her dreams. So it was with their blessing that when young Kate decided she wanted to attend the well respected Belmont University in Nashville to study songwriting and learn about the music business her family was behind her 100%.

Several Nails In The Coffin For Spotify

Fri Jul 26 2019
Peter Åstedt

A few weeks ago, Spotify announced that they are deleting the program where artists could upload themselves straight to Spotify. No explanation was given or how they would deal with their partnership with Distrokid.

This was just the most stupid thing from the beginning, so no surprise that it was closed before it even survived a year. I guess they wanted to be able to pick out some good artist straight from a new artist that would upload. The reality is that most artists who have something going is already going through a label, most labels wouldn't use a distribution that is open for everyone since they always have the worst percentage and the worst service.

Grammy-Nominated Hayes Carll Announces New Tour Dates

Fri Jul 26 2019
Hayes Carll Photo Credit David McClister

Grammy-nominated country, rock and roll singer/songwriter, Hayes Carll, will be strumming his way onto Canadian soil this August and September, playing seven shows across our Western provinces. The tour kicks off at Vancouver’s Biltmore Cabaret, on August 31 with following shows in Nelson, Calgary, Lethbridge, Edmonton and Winnipeg. Full tour details are listed below and tickets can be purchased here.

Hailing from Houston, TX Carll’s year started off with a bang when he released his sixth highly anticipated album, What It Is, mid-February. Featuring the hit single, Times Like These, What It Is, has received praise from many media outlets including Rolling Stone, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, NPR Music, MOJO, American Songwriter and No Depression. Carll has recently performed on multiple television programs like The Tonight Show, Austin City Limits and Later with Jools Holland and has had his songs recorded by artists including Lee Ann Womack, Kenny Chesney, Kelly Willis and Hard Working Americans.

Swedish Group The Magnettes Got the ‘Shakes’ (Falling in Love)

Fri Jul 26, 2019

Falling in love is universal, and no matter how many decades of love songs there are out there, the feeling and angst is the same. With social media, ‘instant’ ways of communicating, and disposable relationships in this fast-paced world, the heart and emotions remain the same.

The latest offering from Sweden’s supergroup, The Magnettes ‘Shakes' (Falling in Love) combines the throwback feeling that we all recognize with a current twist that is well-crafted, capturing the timeless feeling we all so easily recognize. 

 Rebecka Digervall, Sanna Kalla and producer Tomas Bäcklund Tuneström make up the musical backdrop of The Magnettes, and have been steadily gaining momentum on a global level, sharing their unique style of music and videos, which quite frankly is refreshing with what is currently being played on radio, YouTube and all other sharing platforms.

This Is What You Need As An Artist!

Fri Jul 19 2019
Peter Åstedt

It's incredible how many artists don't have their act together. I was compiling media on artists for our festival and we use a site that you can upload your pictures, bio, and links. Okay, I can understand that you feel that it is too much to upload every other site now and then, but you really need a homepage that has specific elements.

The Musicians Hall of Fame Class of 2019

Fri Jul 19, 2019

The sign at the entrance of the Musician’s Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee says it all, “Come see what you’ve heard”. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is the only museum in the world to honour the lesser known folks who provide the music for the superstars and the recording artists we know and love. The Hall is housed in the historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium where some of the biggest acts on the planet have graced the stage. Elvis, George Jones, The Rolling Stones, Beach Boys and Michael Jackson. The Hall pays homage o some of the greatest recording musicians to ever play a note a gives you a llok at behind the scenes activity.

The members of the Hall is an impressive list of some of the finest musicians to ever live and this year 2019, the elite membership will be increased by thirty. And what a fine a varied group they are.They will be honored with a concert slated for Oct. 22 at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

You’re the Boss!

Fri Jul 12 2019
Peter Åstedt

We have all had the boss that no one really likes, that comes into your room and scream at you. Whatever you do it's not good enough. Yes, we all have had that boss.

Revealing, many artists are that boss. If you are an artist you are the boss, sure it doesn't feel that way when you sit in the record label room or in other situations. Still, it's your music that is being promoted and the people that work on the promotion team are in fact, your employees.

Sure, you can look at it like you are a customer. Same here, we all have worked in a job when they had customers that are just ugly, ignorant and you just want to tell them to shut up, but since this is a business you can't just do that. We all had that job!

And yes, many artists are that boss or that customer. In my daily life as a manager, my job is to get the artist away from the decision makers to keep them from looking like the bad person. Most of the time, because they are acting just like the person we all hate. The risk is that they accidentally do that to someone really important.

BTW-Kete Bowers, Heather Bambrick, Waingro, Altameda, Tome, Go North Music Festival, Tribe Royal

Fri Jul 12 2019
Kete Bowers

It’s a blue-skied and sunny day and pouring out of the speakers is the most melancholic UK voice since Bert Jansch. It belongs to Kete Bowers, a Liverpudlian singer-songwriter and it’s rolling out the tunes of the current album, Paper Ships. It has a Canuck connection, produced by and featuring Michael Timmins alongside his Cowboy Junkies drummer brother Peter and released on the Current Records. The material is very much about loss, depression, fear and despair on both a community and individual level, delivered in tones reminiscent of Leonard Cohen and Townes Van Zandt.

The Best Slots Devoted To Music

Fri Jul 12 2019
SAMBA BRAZIL

If you are not only a fan of gambling but cannot live without music, you should simply try all these online slots at www.baocasino.com/en-CA/games/slots. They are devoted to various singers, musical groups, melodies.

They can let you feel being at a live concert and take pleasure of the sound. Here is the top-5 of slot machines that will let you dive into the musical life.

 

5. SAMBA BRAZIL
Rio de Janeiro, the capital of passion and carnivals, the city where the hottest dancers live and the most beautiful girls show their perfect bodies, attracts millions of tourists. This slot attracts gambles as well: its Latin music, Brazilian professional dancers and charming girls are amazing!

The symbol of a jolly Latin dancer is also surprising. This guy can be “separated” – it brings a gambler an award. This is called Mix Pay and lets the player win more.

Phantom's Curse

Andy Kim Celebrates 50 Years Of The Archies Sugar, Sugar

Fri Jul 12 2019
Andy Kim

Let’s talk about 1969 – 50 years ago - for a moment – The Beatles' last public performance, on the roof of Apple Records, First Concorde test flight is conducted In France, Boeing 747 jumbo jet makes its debut, Pontiac Firebird Trans Am the epitome of the American muscle car is introduced, Woodstock attracts more than 500,00 and a singer-songwriter named Andy Kim co-writes The Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar,” a song that debuts on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1969, a full 2 months after released as radio doesn’t want to play a cartoon band.

In September, it hits #1 on the way to becoming Billboard’s Record of the Year and the biggest-selling single of the year. Wilson Pickett, Tom Jones, Ike & Tina Turner, Bob Marley, The Germs, Mary Lou Lord, and even Homer Simpson goes on to cover the song.

Tommy James is ALIVE!

Fri Jul 12, 2019

Not only is Tommy James still alive, but he's also making vital, important and absolutely catchy music. His new album ALIVE is filled with the kind of ear candy that sticks to the soul like a tattoo on the brain. Being released June 7th and available where all good music is sold and streaming worldwide.

"ALIVE started out as an acoustic album," he explains, "but little by little I realized that there was no way i could interpret the songs acoustically..so i gave into electricity!"

Apollo X1 CelebrationComplete with three of his beloved songs totally reconfigured, stretched inside-out and pumped up with the kind of esoteric action that only the greats could pull off, plus new songs that are bound to be instant classics, and well-chosen covers that are bound to not only surprise but captivate. ALIVE boasts 15 tracks in a wild, circuitous meandering adventure that criss-crosses genres with ease and flair.

BTW Scattered Clouds, Kardinal Offishall, Bruce Cockburn, Honey Harper, Clover The Girl, Jean-Paul De Roover, Alain Caron/Pasquale Grasso, Ada Lea, Drive-By Truckers

Fri Jun 28 2019
Scattered Clouds

Quebecoids Scattered Clouds gets all official languages with us on this most recent release.“Lapolitique, concours pseudo-érotique, “is the new single off fresh album, the scarily titled Take AwayYour Summer out on Boiled Records. Inspired by the dichotomous terrain of their hometown of Hull, Québec, the experimental outfit of Philippe Charbonneau and Jamie Kronick’s second album is a futuristic broken romance set amidst a burning dystopian landscape. Shot and edited by Patrick Lozinsky during amateur wrestling event Lutte 07 in Gatineau, the restrained, hypno-funk plod of “La politique” is belied by the reckless battle at play in the bright lights of the ring.

“‘La politique, concours pseudo-érotique’ is about the current political climate, how there’s a growing sense of powerlessness in democracy and how world politics seem to play out like a theatre show,” says the band. “The video is a metaphorical exploration of amateur wrestling entertainment and how it is analogous to the satirical and barbaric presentation of the modern day political stage.”

Marshall Potts That’s How it Starts

Fri Jun 28, 2019

British Columbia singer/songwriter Marshall Potts has a new album, That How It Starts, and it’s a winner. The ten-track offering is an intimate invitation into the heart and soul of the man.

We got to spend some time with Marshall is Cannes, France and saw his showcase at the festival and had some insightful one on one chats. The first thing you notice about Marshall Potts is that when he’s talking to you he looks you in the eye and you know you have his full attention. He does that same thing from the stage, the audience is his only focus, that and the message is conveying through his songs.

Do Your Research And Plan Ahead

Fri Jun 28 2019
Peter Åstedt

Never fails, in June you get all the artists asking you how to get a festival gig this Summer. It seems they only think when things appear in front of their eyes. You know the festival is probably almost booked when they start to get ads in your Facebook feed.

A lot of the failure by the artists is that they more or less do things on the spot, there is no planning for the future. This summer’s gig was probably booked between October to April or sometimes the lineup is almost ready by January. Right now, you can't really do anything. Sure, there might be a gig coming up because an artist is cancelling but there is really no point of sending stuff to festivals who are already in turmoil to get their things going next week.

I just saw my own festival last week when we stopped the intake. The last 48 hours got more applications than the whole of March and April. In reality, we already booked most of the acts earlier this Spring, so you got a very slim chance to get on if you sent in the last 48 hours. Now a week later, I get emails from people missing the deadline and still want in.

The Strange Phenomenon of Heavy Rock-Themed Slot Machines

Fri Jun 28 2019
Guns N' Roses

If you scratch the surface of most heavy rock bands, you’ll probably find that they aren’t just as anti-establishment as some of the tales suggest. Certainly, the big ‘hairspray rock’ bands of the 1980s were perhaps overselling their credentials as “the most dangerous band(s) in the world”. Yes drug-taking was copious, but so too were the appearances at corporate events, inproduct commercials and Christmas ballads.

 "Ain't singin' for Pepsi/ Ain't singin' for Coke/ I don't sing for nobody/ Makes me look like a joke."So Neil Young warned us, but everyone from Led Zeppelin to Iggy Pop has taken the marketing dollar at some point. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but the sight of Iggy Pop selling car insurance is still something that feels a bit strange.