Why Do Bands Not Get Paid On A Showcase Festival?

Fri May 28 2021
Peter Åstedt

If you read my last posting (cashboxcanada.ca/features-music/showcase-festivals-dummies/4854) it was about the difference between a Festival and a Showcase Festival, check back and read that if you don’t know the difference. Don’t be shy that you don’t know I just explained the concept to one of the biggest bosses in one of the biggest booking agencies in the world last week. Here is my next part into my Showcase Festivals For Dummies.

You can think of a Showcase Festival as a fair. You know the trade shows where they gather under one theme. Like a trade show based around boats. You have exhibitors showing off their latest boats, engines, lights, life vests. A Showcase Festival and its conference is the same just that you show off music and artists for the global music industry.

Who Is Bonnie Dobson?

Fri May 28 2021
Bonnie Dobson Photo Credit Laurie Lewis

With a hand cupped to an ear the echoing whisper can almost be heard: '……Who?.... Bonnie who?…..Bonnie Dobson….who?,' as it filters through the hall. A strange state of affairs indeed, because Bonnie Dobson is one of music's true survivors, a lady with a gorgeous, glorious voice that over half a century since her emergence in New York's nascent roots-music scene, still glints like gold.

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Dobson worked the incipient US folk scene alongside Judy Collins and Joan Baez, and was ranked by Time Magazine as one of the top three female musicians and singers in 1960s USA alongside those two musical giants.

She played all the famed haunts, now steeped in legend and musical myth and folklore, hanging out in Gerde's Folk City, The Gaslight, The Bitter End. The lady toured extensively with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Mississippi John Hurt, and worked with Pete Seeger, Reverend Gary Davis, Lightnin' Hopkins, Artie and Happy Traum, Big Joe Williams, John Lee Hooker - always working her way and looking astutely around the world surrounding her as she wrote songs of love and loss and prescient, at times disturbing, thought.

Merck Mercuriadis - Catalyst for Change

Fri May 28, 2021

Merck and I first met by phone, while I was at CHOM-FM Montreal, later face to face backstage at the UB40 gig at Theatre St. Denis.

We became fast long-distance friends.  It was always about music, the music business, and our massive record collections. Merck was Head of Marketing at Virgin Records in Toronto, where he excelled in the music business, born in Schefferville, Quebec.

Much Music launched August 31st 1984. I went. I‘m sure Merck was there, everyone in Canada was there, including Rush, the best party ever! I knew this was my next move to do television in Toronto.  I got the job a week later and couch surfed in Toronto returning to Montreal weekly for a few years. Then I heard Merck needed a roommate.  It was worth it just for the guest list (Leroy Sibbles, Jackie Mittoo, Willi Williams, China Crisis, Simple Minds, Quincy Jones, MoJah, Colin Linden upstairs, and Big Sugar across the hall.)

The music coming out of our apartment was amazing in Arcadia the Artist Co-Op on Bishop Tutu Street and Queens Quay; it was one of the most creative and fun times of my life.

Showcase Festivals for Dummies

Fri May 21 2021
Peter Åstedt

I am still amazed about the fact that so many people in important positions really don’t understand how a showcase festival works? By now people that work in the industry should be aware of how it works. I even lecture on Universities for new students about this subject. I guess the problem will be solved with the new milleliums. Still, for me, it is an annoying issue.

So here it is - Showcase Festivals for Dummies.

Let’s start with a simple explanation of the difference between a festival and a showcase festival. A festival contains artists that will sell tickets to an audience. For the festival, the mandate is to book major acts as cheaply as possible to sell as many tickets as possible to an audience. Of course, this is not easy as it sounds. Choosing an artist is depending on if they are on tour, what price range, and what the rest of the tour and it is no easy task. Just calling up the Rolling Stones and try to book them is not going to happen. Here it’s important which contact name you have on your roster and a network to get to the right artists.

Here Comes the Sun!

Fri May 21, 2021

In Canada, we have the tradition of the May 24 long weekend, in honour of Queen Victoria. Being the Commonwealth country, we still uphold this holiday, but not so much as a Birthday recognition of a long ago Monarch, but as the tradition of cottages opening up for the season, gardens getting prepared for the summer flowers, holidays being planned and always the music. Music is the thread we all have in common.

Summer brings the radio stations back to playing hits from the past that we all identify with the season approaching. ‘Summer in the City’ by The Lovin’ Spoonful, ‘Summer Breeze’ by Seals and Croft and of course the Canadian summer anthem ‘Sunny Days’ by our very own Lighthouse.

Of course, this year will be different, there won’t be large gatherings, festivals, and big BBQ’s but the music can help make you feel a little more optimistic right now.

So try to grab on to some ‘normal’ while the weather warms up, work on your tan, go to the cottage with people in your ‘bubble’, go for walks and as The Doobie Brothers say: Listen To The Music!

BTW-Martha Wainwright, Death From Above 1979, Rodney Crowell, Allison Russell, Jordana Talsky, Jean-Paul De Roover

Fri May 21 2021
Martha & Rufus Wainwright  Robert Lundberg

This week we spotlight Parkdale Community Food Bank, 1499 Queen St. W. 416-532-2375.

Parkdale Community Food Bank continues to service clients during this challenging time for our community. We are following Public Health Ontario guidelines and taking additional precautions to keep our employees, volunteers and clients safe.

Open Wednesday 11a.m.–3p.m.
Thursday 11a.m.–3p.m.
Friday 10:30a.m.–1:30p.m.
Saturday 10:30a.m.–1:30p.m.

BTW - Flying Lotus, The Spare Parts, The Damn Truth, Toosii, Alyson McNamara, Tula Wiles, Len Mizzoni

Fri May 14 2021
Flying Lotus

This week highlighting The Sharing Place, 624 Annette Street. This non-profit compassion organization provides warm meals on a weekly basis as well as a food and clothing bank for all people regardless of faith, income, or culture. Donations of non-perishable food items or funds are always needed.

The Fake Entrepreneur

Fri May 14 2021
Peter Åstedt

One thing I have learned during the pandemic that I’m not a guy wearing many hats. I’m a serial entrepreneur in the music industry.

Being an entrepreneur is maybe a harder thing during the pandemic, you really want to get things done, and done now. Of course, the restrictions have been bad, but as an entrepreneur you just get around it and make it work anyway. During the pandemic, I have worked hard with the whole team to make Cashbox radio sound better. Still, the station became a priority focus and since it was online it was a perfect project that has developed and grown.  I also the European Consultant for an online music offering with a special one hour presentation called “Heal the Earth” in celebration of Earth Day 2021. Check out the Heal the Earth video here:

Melleefresh Invincible

Fri May 14 2021
Melleefresh

Melleefresh is definitely that - Fresh. She is like a cool breeze on a sultry day or a patch of blue in a dark sky. Her energy is palpable. Talking to Melleefresh is like talking to a 25 year old artist with 30 years of music business experience. And that’s exactly what her career has been, three decades of going through the ups and downs, the highs and lows of the entertainment industry and she continues to thrive without a jaded bone in her body.  Melleefresh has been an avant-garde artist, vocalist, and music producer in the Canadian arts and music scene and has been seducing audiences with husky, dominatrix-style vocals or singing about murder behind a cartoonish Betty Boop-like delivery, there’s always a wink in Melleefresh’s eye.

The Iconic Band Release “The Crickets And Their Buddies” with Legendary Artist Performances

Fri May 14, 2021

Time Life has released Time Life “The Crickets and Their Buddies” to all major digital platforms, a collection of hits recorded by the band’s original members (with the exception of Buddy Holly) and a lineup of all-star guest vocalists and musicians.   Eric Clapton, Rodney Crowell, Phil & Jason Everly, Nanci Griffith, Waylon Jennings (one of his last studio recordings), Tonio K., Peter Case, Albert Lee, Graham Nash, Vince Neil, John Prine, Johnny Rivers, J.D. Souther and Bobby Vee step in to perform iconic songs including “That’ll Be the Day,” “Rave On,” “Not Fade Away,” “I Fought the Law,” “Someone, Someone” and “The Real Buddy Holly Story.” Originally released in 2004 (and produced by Grammy®-award-winner Greg Ladanyi), this marks the first time the tracks have ever been available for streaming.

Chris Birkett’s Mission to “Save Our Beautiful World,” One Stunning Song at a Time

Fri May 14 2021
Chris Birkett

Canadian singer/songwriter, composer, and producer powerhouse Chris Birkett is back and, this time, he’s not alone: the multi-JUNO Award winner and Platinum-selling producer is out to save the world with his new collective, The Happy Campers — and an arsenal of songs that take the musician in a brand-new direction creatively.

Birkett is one of the great music producers of our era, working with Buffy Sainte-Marie, Mel Brooks, Steve Earle, Bob Geldof, Alison Moyet, Dexys Midnight Runners, Talking Heads, The Pogues, and The Proclaimers — not to mention, just celebrated the 30th anniversary of producing Sinead O’Connor’s seismic release I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got — seamlessly weaves his prowess as a leader in the industry among the variety of projects he designs and oversees — The Happy Campers and “Save Our Beautiful World” among them.

During a production session with Berber musician Madjid Chaoui in Paris, the pair collaborated on a powerful climate awareness track combining Chaoui’s already written melodies with new lyrics written by Birkett. The result was “Save Our Beautiful World”, a tale timelessly told as an urgent reminder to protect Mother Nature.

BTW - Art Bergmann, Julia Stone, Jenn Grant, St. Vincent, River Town Saints, BLK

Fri May 07 2021
Art Bergmann Photo Credit David Kotsibie

This week we salute ICNA Relief Food Bank 6120 Montevideo Rd. Unit #4
Mississauga, Tel: 905-858-1067
Email: mississaugafb@icnareliefcanada.ca  
Because of CoVid, please contact before going.

Support your local food bank. The need is real.

Stepping in with the remarkable Art Bergmann’s latest single "La Mort de L'Ancien Regime," available for purchase at Bandcamp.

With the May 21 release date for Art Bergmann's latest album Late Stage Empire Dementia approaching on (weewerk), fans can now pre-order the record on their favourite digital platform.

Art Bergmann - Late Stage Empire Dementia Pre-Save: orcd.co/empiredementia

Canadian Funk Legends Crack of Dawn Release New Hit Single with “Gotta Find A Way”

Fri May 07, 2021

There are names in the mosaic of the legendary list of bands that have stood the test of time - and Crack of Dawn is way up there on that list. Once again releasing a new, well-produced, catchy tune with and the song will have you dancing and groovin' from the first note on "Gotta Find a Way".

Featuring the same signature velvet-funk tones that have made them Canada’s most celebrated soul act for 40 years and running, this latest delivery from Crack of Dawn teems with that craft so finely tuned, it still has audiences moving in the seat of their pants.

In a tribute to history’s trademark funk-pop hallmarks, the lyrics of the 4:03 piece are about connecting with the heart of a desired woman. Soulfully delivered by Michael Dunston, the track’s engineering (Dennis Nieves, who also co-wrote the song), makes a brilliant stand for a composition method that’s now a rarity, where all of the musicians of the ensemble, collaboratively, are actually involved as arrangers to the track.

Watch and listen the new hit single “Gotta Find a Way” on YouTube here:

What is Famous?

Fri May 07 2021
Peter Åstedt

When you work in the music industry and you are at a party or a gathering with people that don’t work in the industry and you say that you work in the industry there is always someone who will ask, "so do you work with some famous music, or is it artists that we know?"

The question though is what is famous for this person. You don’t know what rock they have lived under or what small town they just escaped from? Or that they have a lot of knowledge? Also, especially when you work in the industry, you might work with artists that are on the way up that you think they should know about but that is never the case.

I have worked with all ranges of artists so you can’t really play that game with me. I can just drop some big names like Kiss or Dolly Parton and that would be the end of the discussion. Everybody knows them you think. Nope, if you are with an older lady in 70's she might never have heard about Kiss, Dolly Parton she had heard of but really doesn't know any songs. That happened last weekend. It also depends on where you are from. Every country has its own superstars that it seems like people just should know who they are.

Women In Song Reflect on Losing Loved Ones to Alzheimer’s in Ethereal New Single, “But I Knew Her When”

Fri May 07 2021
Women In Song

All-female Blind River, ON-based singer/songwriter trio Women in Song reflect on the hopes and dreams of their parents who have suffered from, and eventually and sadly succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease in this, their new single,  ”But I Knew Her When”.

The touching and ethereal song is the latest to land from the Ontario-based all-female group’s debut LP, Life of a Woman.

“But I Knew Her When” is a prime example of what to expect from Women in Song…

Watch and listen to“But I Knew Her When” here:

It takes chunks of inspiration from the likes of folk, pop and country music and fuses them all together into something beautiful, and features an astonishing progression of chorus-heavy chords on the acoustic guitar, the soothing melody of an airy violin, and the beautiful, yet haunting vocal harmonies of singers Lois O'Hanley-Jones, Debbie Rivard and Patty Dunlop.

Trust and Loyalty are Very Important In the Music Industry

Fri Apr 30 2021
Peter Åstedt

Trust and loyalty is a very important lesson to learn in the music industry. Many don’t really understand this theory. Even the worst of  the mob were less hard in this area.

My guess is that over 70% of all careers are probably gone because of someone breaching these rules.

There is a test of younger children that is very cute, but interestingly you can find these homemade videos on YouTube search after “don’t eat the candy challenge”. In short, what they do is put a four-year-old in front of some candy. They tell the kid to not eat the candy and they will get more candy in return. The scientist though said to the kid that you can have the candy but if you wait until later you will get a whole bag of the same candy. Then they measure how far you are as a child in consequences. Some kids weren’t so far so they eat the candy and were not rewarded, some have matured more and waited and got a bigger reward.

My guess is that the kids that had not matured actually became artists. All of them. I have no proof but I have a  good hunch.

BTW - Jesse Maxwell, Alex Cuba, Marie-Véronique Bourque, Jupiter Hollow, Mighloe, John Borra, Suzie Ungerleider

Fri Apr 30 2021
Jesse Maxwell

This week we spotlight Second Harvest Central Food Bank 1450 Lodestar Road Unit 18 Toronto, Ontario
Tel: 416-408-2594
email@secondharvest.ca

Member agencies have been coping with the new realities of providing emergency food relief during COVID. Many agencies have closed their doors, which has put further strain on the food resources of agencies that have remained open.

Support your local food bank.

Eric Andersen The Songpoet

Fri Apr 30, 2021

The life and times, the highs and lows of legendary singer/songwriter Eric Andersen has finally been captured and available to watch in sequence in the epic documentary: The Songpoet.

This labor of love was created by director/ producer Paul Lamont; "This is an intensely personal film for me because it came out of my deep appreciation of Eric’s music. But more than that, I think it came from a place in my soul that wanted to give something back to someone who had given so much to me through his words and music. Eric Andersen told me that he believes every artist has a spiritual or symbolic father; someone who enlightens and informs them and helps to define their path in life. For Eric, that person was the poet Arthur Rimbaud. That symbolic father for me, as a teenager with a guitar, was Eric. It took nearly eight years to make this film and my hope is more people will become aware of Eric and his music, through this film.”

Award Winning & JUNO Nominated Toronto Tabla Ensemble’s Release New Video “Maryem’s Here”

Fri Apr 23 2021
Toronto Tabla Ensemble

Toronto Tabla Ensemble continue to entice ears and eyes with this, their new video for “Maryem’s Here”.

Fresh from their most recent release, Unexpected Guests, the track and video bring diverse musical traditions together — from Indian classical dance, to Japanese drumming, to Arabic singing, and Western classical instrumentation. The goal is simple: create compelling music and showcase it with visual flair.

Check out “Maryem’s Here” on YouTube here:

You Need The Right Message!

Fri Apr 23 2021
Peter Åstedt

Right now is the best place to be in the music industry. At the same time the worst to be in the music industry. No, I am not talking about the COVID, sure it disrupts things and puts people out of business, still, I see that as good cleansing of holy alliances that we really don’t need anymore in the industry.

I am actually talking about the state the media is in right now. To be honest, media is the place where you can get many eyes and ears to listen to your music. Right now everything is so shattered. Social media is mainly just bubbles where very few people see what you are doing or in this case listening.

Doesn't matter if you have a  half-million followers, most people won’t know who you are. Yesterday I read in the normal media (also called old media) about a Swedish influencer that had died. I never have heard about him until I read in normal media, I guess sadly his fame came with his death.