ElliottWould you put Supernova in the hands of this man?
10
Yours truly, quoted on the new AUX.TV on the role of record labels
Posted on Dec 15/08 1 Comments / 173 Views
I can't believe every GTA band isn't doing this
Posted on Nov 25/08 13 Comments / 144 Views Ok bands, I've been running Supernova for 16 years now and I've heard the same thing day in and day out: "how can you help me breakout?" So we team up with the Canadian arm of the most credible artist management organization in the world, the Music Managers Forum to create Indie Music Pulse, a two day workshop covering topics such as "How do I get paid?" and demo critiques of Indie bands music, and access to panelists who happen to be some of the top music industry people in the country. There's promoters, publicists, A&R, managers, booking agents, all in an intimate setting just sitting there, waiting to accosted by you bands with info, demo tapes, tales of your passion and virtues, and so on... And yet, it's not sold out yet. I'm not seeing bands chomping at the bit to be there. It's only $20 for the whole two days, including a cocktail schmooze and TWO live showcases. Where are all you bands?!? This is your chance to participate in a very low key yet super credible event -- this isn't CMW or NXNE or any of those expensive, intimidating music conferences -- this is one for YOU, the humble and struggling Indie band, the one that NEEDS the help. And yet, many tickets still available. I... am... very... confused. Can someone please tell me what is going on? What am I missing? Is the word not getting out? What is it? Please comment!
How do you discover new music?
Posted on Aug 12/08 0 Comments / 49 Views  I want you to go to Supernova's panel submission for SXSW 2009 and vote for "Music 2.0 = music discovery chaos?" Why? Because we're passionate about Indie music, music discover, and artist development and all the crazy and wild things that go into it, that's why! Because this topic is a very current, relevant, and far-reaching one for the music industry, artists, and especially the fans! "The way we discover music has entirely changed in less than 10 years. Radio's aging demo is presented with safe mainstream offerings. Music discovery is at the ofrefront of technology and social networks, yet no new standard has successfully been adopted. Websites abound attempt at both data and user generated rating/filter systems. Human VS algorithm: what method can save us?" If this kind of discussion stimulates you then vote for us and leave a comment at the SXSW panel picker website here. What's your opinion? Are you in music discovery hell? How do you discover music in today's world of music 2.0?
5 Bands I like on Supernova Right Now -- Are these bands awesome or am I on crack?
Posted on Jul 14/08 6 Comments / 49 Views  Bands are adding music at the fastest rate ever since we launched this website, and there is no shortage of quality tunes! We are working hard on our filtering system for a site relaunch in September (please God!) along with a smattering of other goodies (more to come on that later). But in the meantime, if you are in the mood for some choice tracks by some hard working very talented musicians who need your support, check the following profiles out. Give these bands a listen and if you aren't humming them on the way home, let me know - I'd be really surprised. If you are humming them on your way home, do the bands a favor and let them know, any and all feedback is appreciated! If you are in the mood for some POP-PUNK: > Look no further than The Shammys. Remeniscent of Simple Plan, Blink-182, Eve 6, and Lit, these guys useharmonies without whining, and hook you with choruses without sounding repetitive. Familiar sounding yet original, The Shammys look and soundpoised to make a run in this genre.  If you are in the mood for HEADBANGING: > Try Double Eagle Standard. If the borderline X-rated picture is not your cup of tea, neither is the classically guitar driven heavy metal style of DES. Everything about this band is pure metal, you can feel the passion, and you can hear it in the throaty vocals (as well as the Metallica influences).  If you are in the mood for JAM: > Try either The Peach Band or The Woodrunners. Both make you want to spark up, lie back in a field in nothing but cut off jeans and birkenstocks, and spend some quality time before My Morning Jacket takes the stage.     If you are in the mood for R&B: > James King is for you. The sound is robust but groovy, not overwhelming, great use of horns, and Gyles' lead vocals are velvety smooth.  I'll blog again about my other faves soon, list is way too long for just one blog! Tell me what you think, are these killer tunes or am I on crack? Let me know your picks of top 5 tunes you like on Supernova right now.
Are you doing your Rock N' Roll duty?
Posted on Jun 26/08 3 Comments / 204 Views  Bands! Are you doing your Rock N' Roll Duty? The song by Canadian rock legend and now Q107 DJ Kim Mitchell resonates in my ears as I blog about it's essence: it's your DUTY TO DIY! "I'm just doing my Rock N' Roll duty, creating a buzz buzz buzz." Even in the Internet-less '80's where LP and cassette sales were the benchmark for success, Kim knew that bands STILL had to create their own buzz. It was hard to do then, and it's hard to do now, the objective is the same, but the methods are completely changed. WORK YOUR SOCIAL NETWORKS You still have the old faithfuls of gigging, flyers, posters and mailing lists, but the #1 addition for today's scene is to WORK YOUR SOCIAL NETWORKS! Naturally utilize supernova.com, but others as well. And working means, interaction, content, and constantly updating. Interact with your fans and make new ones. Post your content (thoughts, music, video, pictures). And constantly provide new content. Release an Internet only track. Blog about a gig. Take a picture of your drummer passed out at a party. Whatever, just keep engaging your fans so they RETURN to your site. It's challenging. It requires dedication. I requires tenacity. But good music isn't enough. Create your own buzz, buzz, buzz... it's your Rock N' Roll Duty. THE LYRICS For the whole song (it's an '80's beauty eh?) released on the "Rockland" album in 1989, I've pasted the lyrics below. I haven't asked Kim if I'm allowed to re-post his lyrics here, but what the hell, it's on a million lyric sites right now anyways: my Rock N Roll heartaches end up in song sometimes i get it right sometimes i'm wrong and my love of Rock N Roll makes me a one-night-stand sometimes i'm enriched sometimes i'm tanned i'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty i'm just doing my... i'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty creating a buzz buzz buzz some say i'm in it for the money man i'm in it for love love love the love of Rock N Roll is never right or wrong that's why you can identify as the day is long so this is for us the hard-driving beauty we can dance in our minds we can do the tutti-frutti i'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty i'm just doing my... i'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty creating a buzz buzz buzz some say i'm in it for the money man i'm in it for love love love i'm just doing my Rock N Roll duty creating a buzz buzz buzz
Top 20 Most Controversial Band Names ever to play for Supernova
Posted on Apr 25/08 3 Comments / 81 Views  "Holy Fuck," that's a controversial band name! (Toronto, Canada's Holy Fuck) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A rose by any other name would smell as sweet = a band by any other name would rock/suck as hard? I beg to differ. A band's name is like a film title, or book title, or even a title to a work of art. "The Thinker." "Pulp Fiction." "The Catcher in the Rye." These are memorable, and set up your expectations for the art form you are about to experience. Band names are no different, in fact, they mean even more. So why in the name of all that's holy do bands pick the names they pick? When you first hear of a band, it instantly conjures images of what that band is about. Often these expectations are subverted, i.e. "Barenaked Ladies" are neither barenaked nor ladies, discuss amongst yourselves as Lynda Richman used to say. Below is a list of what I consider to be the most controversial/least appropriate band names ever to grace a Supernova stage. In no particular order I give you the following. For maximum enjoyment, say each one after using an announcer's voice saying the following... "And now, put your hands together for..." * Skull Fuck * Blood of Christ * Sofa King Good * Without Consent * Sister’s Cherrie * Muffgoat * Naked for Jesus * Vagina Punch * S.T.A.B. (Soundtack To A Beating) * Nubian Erotic * Flippin’ Jiggers * Raped at the Alter * Something With Balls * The Little Jewish Hats (also a Simpsons reference!) * Bukkake Tsunami * Robin De Kradel * Balls out * Cunning Linguist * G-spot Tornado * Assloads of Raspberry If your band name is on this list, please leave a comment, and for the love of God please explain the logic behind why you chose this name, we're all dying to know! Disagree with the list? Got more names for the list?
Hey Indie Bands, would you sign to TAG Records? That's right, the BODY SPRAY.
Posted on Apr 14/08 2 Comments / 205 Views  The hip-hop label, called TAG Records, is a joint venture involving Island Def Jam, TAG Body Spray, and rap mogul Jermaine Durpri. "This label is going to provide new artists with achance of a lifetime," Dupri proclaimed. "New artists willr eceive ten times the typical marketing support – a first in theindustry." He couldn't be more right. This is the beginning of the equivalent of NFL and NBA teams putting European soccer type logos on their uniforms. I don't play for "ManU", I play for "Sharp". Similarily, my label isn't "Universal", it's "TAG body spray". Wow. It is a natural for corporations to jump into the label game. They have the most to win because they already utilize music, celebrity, and media to promote their product. Now you get to own/control all three and the brand association is never stronger. According tothe partners, signed artists will be layered into TAG deodorant marketing campaigns, already a strong vehicle. The first artist will be announced in May, and Dupri himself will also be incorporated into the branding action. That's not to say that U2 Madonna and Jay-Z will be playing for the Proctor and Gambles in the future, they don't need the support, they do multi-year, multi-level deals with LiveNation. But the emerging artist... now you've got something to offer. They see iPod commercials launching Feist. They know major (and Indie) labels don't have two nickels to rub together. Corporate Amercia is handing out the golden ticket. Sellin' out never was this E-Z! Indie bands tell me: WOULD YOU SIGN TO A BIG BRAND LABEL LIKE TAG? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Ground breaking development: EMI hires GOOGLE'S CIO
Posted on Apr 02/08 0 Comments / 25 Views    You may have missed it. Even if you saw it, you may have dismissed it. Or you plain just didn't care. Billion dollar company loses a main guy to another billion dollar company. Big deal. Well... If you care about the music industry, or even have a passing interest, this is a VERY big deal. According to Reuters today, EMI hired Google's CIO (Chief Information Officer) Douglas Merrill to be president of its digital music business. "Merrill will head a new global function including digital strategy, technology and business development." WOW. Let's quickly recap... * Labels in control for decades, running the music biz * Internet becomes a revolutionary force in the 90's and the mp3 is born * New power brokers enter the scene including Apple, FOX, LiveNation * Labels gradually and then quickly lose sales, control, value, significance * Music biz is in a state of flux, new technologies, social networking, increased players, and more access and selection is available than ever before The labels know they have the history, the knowledge, and the chops to make music. They just lost the means to monetize it. EMI made the first step towards this realization by becoming the first major label to offer DRM-free music. Now EMI is boldly attempting to get back into the winners circle. THERE'S MORE COMPUTER IN A CAR THAN CAR EMI, no doubt under the strategic guidance of it's owner Terra Firma (who just bought the fledgling label for $4.7B US last year) realizes the industry they are in. It's not the music biz. It's the digital media biz. Just as GM realized that they are more of a computer technology company than they are an automotive company. Doesn't it make sense that music making companies actually have leadership with digital based expertise, experience, networking contacts, and vision? The more I think about it, the more I see this move as the first signal that labels may not become as extinct as we all presumed. We presumed they would continue with their ostrich-head in the sand, stubborn ways, sticking to the old model until death. This hiring may be the first snowball of an avalanche of executive moves by the labels, and not just the big 4, in fact, the top down changing of the guard may transform all record labels into some sort of quasi-tech companies. Why not? Automotive makers are computer companies now, there's more computer technology in cars than there is automotive technology. Why not record labels? THE FIRST TO AWAKE AMONGST THE GIANTS Labels, like most companies in an industry, copy their competitors. That means just as FOX bought MySpace, CBS bought LAST.FM, AOL boughtBEBO, and Microsoft bought a ludicrously expensive piece of Facebook,the labels will now all scramble to lure Internet CIO executives. This will be the point in history whereby THE LABELS HAVE WOKEN UP. So ok, it took a venture capitalist owner to take over the smallest of them and lead the way, but who cares, it's happening, and I for one am extremely encouraged. AND THE WINNER IS... YOU? Assuming the other labels follow suit, the rightful power brokers of the old medium of music (plastic) will now be able to take back a significant stake in the music biz. And this won't happen overnight. Paradigm shifts and multi billion dollar companies do not mix well. But the labels have been forced, nay beaten, financially, strategically, into submission to undergo this change. In the end, the media companies who wisely sunk their hooks into online media and music, will now have a much more wise and informed party to deal with. The result should be a more structured music industry. And isn't that what we're all yearning for? Or maybe not...?
American Idol: ubiquitous, shameless, but it deserves your respect
Posted on Mar 27/08 6 Comments / 38 Views  Ok it's now 7 years running and showing no signs ofslowing down. What started as a curious, ambitious talent show is nowthe worldwide gold standard of its genre. Survivor? Comeon. Big Brother? Who cares. Bachelor/Bachelorette? Stay single. Fear Factor? Keep puking up bugs. AI is the shit.
Message to Indie Bands: official death of the CD leads to the death of the Superstar and birth of the Indie masses
Posted on Mar 18/08 0 Comments / 19 Views Ok, so this is my first ever blog and it's about the state of Indie music. Today, March 18, 2008, the day I turned 37, officially signals the mainstream acceptance of the death of the CD. The Office for National Statitstics in the UK drops CD sales and 35 mm camera sales from their basket of goods to measure inflation. That means those types of sales are NO LONGER RELEVANT to measure the state of the economy. We've known about the impending doom of the CD for years now, and it's death has long been forecasted and declared, but this certainly is the final nail in the coffin. Which leads me to this: if record labels, who rely on CD sales are not funding bands to become international super stars because they can't be renumerated in CD sales, how will there possibly be the next U2 or even Coldplay? The answer is there probably won't be. Which means there will be less super stars and more working bands just making a living. How will they do that? Not by selling their music. Those days are long gone. Indie bands will make their living by playing live shows and selling merch. Maybe there's another revenue stream in licensing, but primarily, that is it. the music is marketing for the band and the band is a BRAND. And how do you utilize your marketing? Through working your social networks. That is why they're popular, they're growing, and they're getting more sophisticated... social networks are the key to building your fan base. So it's not the Super star dream; today's industry will be fuelled by thousands and thousands of Indie bands simply making a living and making music... still sounds like a good dream to me. |
