Recording Academy Launches Digital Liner Notes Campaign

NEW YORK (AP) -- As liner notes get scarce in the digital age, the Recording Academy wants fans to still be able to find out who the people are behind their favorite hit.

So the Academy announced Thursday that it will launch the "Give Fans the Credit" campaign, which plans to give music listeners more information on the people behind the creation of a song, aside from the song's main performer.

Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said in a statement that music fans are getting less information on songs today because of digital platforms, which tend to only offer a song's title and performer. But the Academy wants be sure fans are getting liner notes for albums, and that songwriters, non-featured performers, producers and engineers are highlighted for their work.

"We can watch movies online with the credits included, and the same should be true for digitally released recordings," Portnow's statement reads. "If music devices can access millions of tracks in the cloud, we're confident we can find a way to acknowledge those who created the tracks here on earth."

The initiative will feature "honorary ambassadors" who will help facilitate the discussion, including T Bone Burnett, music producer RedOne, Jimmy Jam, Sheila E, songwriter Lamont Dozier and producer Don Was. The Academy's news release said the ambassadors plan to meet with digital music outlets "to brainstorm ways to deliver more robust crediting information on digital music platforms." 

Germany Finally Embracing the Digital Era

BERLIN - The German music market, the world's third largest in 2011 according to the IFPI, is finally catching up to the digital era, according to a new study presented by the German music association BVMI (Bundesverband Musikindustrie) together with the German book trade association and the German Federation against Copyright Theft (GVU) that examined Germany digital media consumption last year.
 
In 2011, 22.1 million Germans consumed digital music (18.4 million), film (7.1 million) and TV (9.7 million) representing an 11-percent increase over the previous year (the study allowed for multiple answers).  Despite physical sales dominating 83.4 % of total music revenues of 1.67 billion euros (about $2.1 billion), there are now over 70 legal download and streaming services available in Germany.
 
The survey showed that 81% of Germans are satisfied with Germany's online-music offerings. According to the BVMI, 247 million euros was made from digital music in 2011 - an increase of 21.2 %. Every fifth euro from German music sales is now made from the digital market.

7.9 million, or 54% of those polled, indicated their preference for video streaming platforms such as YouTube, My Space or Tape TV. This was followed by 22% who use online radio sites, 10% who go to artist sites and 7% who use audio-streaming platforms such as Simfy and Spotify.
 
Frank Briegmann, President Universal Music Deutschland, and a member of the BVMI-board issued a statement on the survey: "The growth of the digital market is something we are very happy about," he said. "It just about compensates for the decline in the physical market. In order to achieve a long term reversal of this trend and to return to positive growth rigorous action against copyright violators. That is the only way artists will be paid fairly for the use of their work in the future."
 
According to the study, three of every four Germans believed it is appropriate to fine people who offer copyrighted content online without permission. And more than half the population (53 percent) endorsed the imposition of fines on people who illegally download.
   
The German market research institute Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung (GFK) in Nuremberg, which conducted the study, surveyed 10,000 people in Feb. and May 2012 representing 63.6 million Germans aged 10 and older.

Nelly Furtado

Canadian singer Nelly Furtado arrived at the turn of the millennium with a sound that incorporated folk, bossa nova and other Latin influences — an unlikely mix for a contemporary mainstream pop singer from the Great White North. Born Nelly Kim Furtado on December 2nd, 1978, to parents of Portuguese descent, she grew up in a bilingual household in Victoria, British Columbia. Furtado gravitated to music early on, playing a variety of instruments including ukulele and guitar, and singing at Portuguese cultural events. When she reached grade school, she listened to the mainstream pop of Mariah Carey and Salt-N-Pepa, but soon discovered the more adventurous sounds of alternative rock and trip-hop acts ranging from Radiohead to Portishead and eventually other cultural traditions including Brazilian bossa nova and Eastern religious music.

After high school, she moved to Toronto, where she fell in with the underground hip-hop scene and formed the short-lived trip-hop outfit Nelstar, along with musician Tallis Newkirk. In 1997, she performed at an all-female urban talent show, attracting the attention of Gerald Eaton of Toronto funk band the Philosopher Kings, who helped her produce a demo tape. The sessions led to her DreamWorks record deal and some of the material ended up on her critically acclaimed debut, Whoa, Nelly! (Number 24, 2001), which included the singles "I'm Like a Bird" (Number Nine, 2001) and "Turn Off the Light" (Number Five, 2001). Even the caustic "Shit on the Radio (Remember the Days)," a song chastising an old friend for accusing her of selling out, managed to reach Number 34 on Billboard's Top 40 Mainstream chart. 

Furtado's multi-culti dance pop earned her a 2001 Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy for "I'm Like a Bird." The more serious Folklore (Number 38, 2004) came a year after Furtado gave birth to her daughter, Nevis, and was less successful in terms of pop singles. But Furtado came back strong with a totally new sound in 2006. Teaming with hip-hop wunderkind Timbaland, Furtado shocked fans with Loose (Number One, 2006) and its three chart-topping singles "Maneater," "Promiscuous" and "Say it Right." The album also included a Spanish-language duet with Colombian pop-rock star Juanes on his song "Te Busque." It was a returned favor, as Furtado had appeared on his 2002 breakthrough album Un Día Normal, dueting with him on the ballad "Fotografía," which topped several Latin charts. Furtado toured in 2001, 2004 and 2007, and released the live DVD Loose the Concert in 2007. As of 2008 she was working on a new album scheduled for release that year.

Ne-Yo, Melanie Fiona, Swizz Beatz To Celebrate Michael Jackson's 'Bad' at Pepsi/Billboard Concert Next Week

Pepsi will continue its year-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's Bad Aug. 29 at New York City's Gotham Hall with performances from Ne-Yo and Melanie Fiona and a DJ set from Swizz Beatz, with additional tunes from DJ Cassidy. The event will mark the conclusion of Pepsi and Billboard's 2012 Summer Beats Concert Series, which also featured a performance by Katy Perry at the premiere of her movie Part of Me 3-D, a Nashville concert with country trio Gloriana and, just last week, a special performance by Pepsi spokeswoman Nicki Minaj at New York's Roseland Ballroom.

Backbeat: Katy Perry Premieres New Film, Performs For Neil Portnow, Randy Phillips, Epic and ASCAP Execs

 

In addition to celebrating the music of Bad, the Summer Beats Concert will also feature performances of the artists' current hits, including Ne-Yo's "Let's Go," a collaboration with Calvin Harris that was originally written as a European soccer anthem for Pepsi Max.

Earlier this year, Pepsi also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Bad with 1 billion limited-edition cans featuring Jackson's iconic silhouette, worldwide giveaways for special prizes like jackets inspired by the original BAD Tour and tickets to Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour and free downloads of custom remixes by dance producers like A-Trak.

Pepsi Teams With Nicki Minaj, Preps Michael Jackson Project With Diplo, A-Trak

 

"Pepsi has always been at the forefront of pop culture, helping to shape the music landscape," Brad Jakeman, president, Global Enjoyment Brands, and chief creative officer, PepsiCo Global Beverages Group, said in a statement in May. "This unique global partnership, around such a legendary music milestone, invites Pepsi fans from around the world to experience Michael Jackson's music in an engaging and very now kind of way -- it's a model example of how Pepsi's 'Live for Now' campaign can manifest itself in a way that resonates the world over."

Alanis Morissette Interested in Joining 'American Idol' as Judge

'I live to mentor, so my heart is much more open to the idea of that than even 10 years ago'

Alanis Morissette is a contender to join the judges' table on American Idol, CNN reports. Although she declined to discuss details at her Hollywood Rockwalk induction ceremony this week, Morissette said she's intrigued by the possibility of being a judge.

"I live to mentor, so my heart is much more open to the idea of that than even 10 years ago when I, perhaps, wasn't in a position to be able to offer much advice, solicited or otherwise," Morissette said. "[B]ut I love watching people and just getting really curious about what they want and what they need and what their goals are, and then I can support them. I would do it formally, for sure."

If she lands in a judge's chair, Morissette would sit alongside Mariah Carey and maybe Nicki Minaj, who is said to be "100 percent confirmed" with regard to joining the panel this year, following the departures of departures of Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler.

There's also been talk that original judge Randy Jackson will move to a "mentoring" role, leaving one more spot open. Rumors continue to swirl about who might take that spot, with name's like Nick Jonas and Kanye West getting thrown into the ring.

The Rise Of Social Media For Musicians

With the rise of the Internet, a lot of the marketing power has been put back into the hands of independent artists. Today, a lot of artists can promote themselves to fans for the cost of essentially nothing. Tons of online social platforms have started to pop up, and a lot of them have become hotspots for both music marketing efforts and fans seeking new talent. This makes self-promotion a lot easier, and almost entirely cuts out the need for a big promotion budget. The important part is the artist or band taking advantage of these many free opportunities, and utilizing all of them properly and consistently.

Facebook and Twitter are two of the most well known online platforms currently. Here, artists can interact directly with current and potential fans alike, and link to different media, whether that is their music, videos, blog, etc. They also have the biggest membership base, which gives the greatest potential of growth to artists. Presence on these social media platforms is almost mandatory for any aspiring artist. Artists must also stay on top of these because lack of use could mislead potential fans into thinking the artist is no longer actively making music. Plus, it keeps your fans engaged and excited.

Another great resource is MySpace. Probably the most overlooked due to its fall a few years ago, but it is very useful as an electronic press kit (EPK). It brings all different aspects of your music, band information, fans, and tour dates into one simple webpage. It serves less as a medium to interact with fans, and more of an outlet to feature new material.

Other online platforms every band should utilize are YouTube, Tumblr and MusicClout. All three of these serve different purposes, but they all can be used to further any artist’s career if used properly. YouTube allows artists to upload live shows and music videos, and then post them to your various pages. Tumblr allows artists to write stories while adding in other multi-media, which can allow fans see a more personal side of the artist. MusicClout allows your EPK to be seen by tons of different music industry related opportunities, and lets you make connections with a variety of different professionals.

Social media is essential to any artist. It allows you to effectively engage with fans and directly interact with them, as well as get noticed by big industry professionals.

Jay-Z Is a Model For Entrepreneurs

If you read this blog or follow me on Twitter you know I'm a big Jay-Z fan. His talent, music, swagger, outlook on life and art and most of all his story. Jay grew up in the Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, New York. A former drug dealer, he hustled his way to global stardom via hard work and genius level talent for lyrics and flow.

In 2008, Jay-Z was set to headline The Glastonbury Festival in the U.K. This is one of the biggest rock festivals the world has to offer each year. I say rock because no Hip Hop artist had ever headlined it. I'm not sure that any had even played it before.

Immediately, there was controversy. Ticket sales started off slow and they blamed Jay-Z. Noel Gallagher of Oasis was quoted as saying:

"I'm sorry, but Jay-Z? No chance. Glastonbury has a tradition of guitar music and even when they throw the odd curve ball in on a Sunday night you go 'Kylie Minogue?' I don't know about it. But I'm not having hip hop at Glastonbury. It's wrong."

The press rallied. Everyone weighed in. Should Jay-Z bow out? Should he play? Does Hip Hop belong at Glastonbury?

At the time Jay-Z was already a star in the United States and beginning to be global, but not yet. Glastonbury has audiences from all over the world. The crowd fly flags representing just about every country you can think of.

Was it too risky for him to try and fail?

Entrepreneurs and artists create and risk. That's what they do. And with creation comes success or failure. Sometimes they deliver and sometimes not.

There was no way Jay-Z was bowing out. In fact, I doubt he was worried about failing. There is no more confident artist out there. His skills are undeniable and he's grown into one of the best live performers around. Especially since he added a live band.

"I'm like 'F--- critics, you can kiss my whole asshole. If you don't like my lyrics, you can press fast forward.' " - Jay-Z, "99 Problems"

And then he took the stage. In pure clever and "giving it right back" Hip Hop tradition he opened with his rendition of OASIS' "Wonderwall" where the lyrics "I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now" took on a whole new "f--- you" sort of meaning.

"You not feelin' me? Fine, it cost you nothing. Pay me no mind." - Jay-Z, "Heart of the City"

The crowd went nuts. "Jay-Z. Jay-Z. Jay-Z". Nodding his head in agreement like a conquering emperor.

And just as quickly as the video ended Jay-Z demands into the mic: "I've got one thing to say" and blasts into "99 Problems." That song, ironically enough, was produced by Rick Rubin who has worked with some of the best rock bands around like The Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Cult, not to mention the Beastie Boys. To add insult to injury, half way through the song, his band includes the guitar riff from AC/DC's "Back in Black." As you'll see below before and after this song, Jay won over the crowd. An amazing moment for a musician facing that kind of public adversity. My friend DJ Neil Armstrong was the touring DJ at this show and he said it was a pretty incredible moment. He felt the crowd turn and the energy for the rest of the night was insane.

And that night, Jay-Z became a global superstar. The British press, notorious for takedowns, was also impressed. The Guardian wrote here: "Glastonbury headliner turns tables on Noel Gallagher after Oasis frontman had lambasted choice of US rapper as top act."

"I'm not looking at you dudes, I'm looking past you" - Jay-Z, "Heart of the City"

And he did.

Jay-Z's recent commercial with Budweiser also expresses how he looks at art. All art is more similar than not in where it comes from. To him "everything is a remix." "We're all trading off each other's culture" he narrates. This spot is exactly what he was saying at Glastonbury.