Music - Songs - Life

Thoughts from a Music Industry Veteran

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:13:28 -0400

Thoughts from a Music Industry Veteran: Regie Hamm has been working in the music industry for years....

FREE ART SHOW, LIVE ACOUSTIC MUSIC, POETRY READING SUNDAY!! ...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 16:57:32 -0400

FREE ART SHOW, LIVE ACOUSTIC MUSIC, POETRY READING

SUNDAY!! June 9th, 2013, 12-6:30pm

Augie’s Coffee House, Redlands, Ca.

Over 50 Artists, Musicians & Poets come together in the Inland Empire to support the arts!! Come out next Sunday!

Hosted by Augie’s Coffee Roasters and Aeron Brown

https://www.facebook.com/events/484360214952840/?fref=ts

Pics from Take 2 Production’s Recent Songwriter Round It...

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:20:19 -0400

Pics from Take 2 Production’s Recent Songwriter Round

It took place on Friday, May 17, 2013 @ The Daily Brew

Featuring:

Charles Lenida (of Summon The Yeti) - http://www.youtube.com/oyecharlie

Chris Ryan - http://www.youtube.com/user/ChrisRyanMusic

Joe Marchiano

A night of music; songwriter’s sharing songs, tips about the songwriting process, and what it’s like to work as a musician.

Sponsored by Take 2 Productions & The Daily Brew

NEXT SONGWRITER’S ROUND - JULY 19

Featuring:

Cameron Olson & Joey Amor (Horror In The Moonlight)

Digital Music News - The Best (and Worst) Times to Post on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest...

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:38:00 -0400

Digital Music News - The Best (and Worst) Times to Post on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest...:...

Eight New Things We've Learned About Music | Innovations

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:29:09 -0400

Eight New Things We've Learned About Music | Innovations: Check this out!! If you are a musician -...

RocketHub Gazette: Interview With an Attorney - Brian Mencher Talks Crowdfunding, Resources, and Beyond

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:08:00 -0400

RocketHub Gazette: Interview With an Attorney - Brian Mencher Talks Crowdfunding, Resources, and...

lifeofacopyright: Music Supervisor Spotlight: Mary Ramos In...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:06:28 -0500

lifeofacopyright:

Music Supervisor Spotlight:

Mary Ramos

In light of recent award ceremonies, a music supervisor deserving some spotlight this week is Mary Ramos. Though recently she served as music supervisor for Quentin Tarantino’s film Django Unchained, she has also worked with Tarantino as music supervisor for Inglourious Basterds, Pulp Fiction, and Kill Bill. Django Unchained picked up the Oscar for Original Screenplay, but Mary Ramos also won the Guild of Music Supervisor’s award for Best Music Supervision for Studio Films Over $25 Million for Django Unchained this past Wednesday as well.

This was actually the first time Tarantino has collaborated with artists to produce original songs for his films. Artists featured in the soundtrack include Rick Ross (who Jamie Foxx actually brought on set to write “100 Coffins”) and a James Brown/ Tupac mashup where Ramos worked with the James Brown Estate to produce. A Frank Ocean original did not make the finish line, however. Ramos claims Tarantino did not want to cheapen the song by cutting it down.

Not even being contacted previously to help with the soundtrack, John Legend felt so compelled to write a song for Tarantino and push the film’s screams of revenge and love. Featured is his song “What Did That To You”, played when Django is heading back on horse to finally get his girl. Find out more about why he sent a cassette tape to Tarantino!

Also, see all the other winners of the 2013 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards along side of Mary Ramos!

-Lindsey Znosko

herewecollide: “Private Moon,” by Leonid Tishkov and Boris...

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:21:30 -0500

herewecollide:

“Private Moon,” by Leonid Tishkov and Boris Bendikov, is an enchanting photographic story of a man who befriended the Moon.

LOVE THIS!!!

Warner Bros. vs James Taylor

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:28:00 -0500

Warner Bros. vs James Taylor: READ THIS! Unbelievable. James Taylor has lost over 1 million dollars...

"My BMI royalty check arrived recently, reporting songwriting earnings from the first quarter of..."

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:06:42 -0500

“My BMI royalty check arrived recently, reporting songwriting earnings from the first quarter...

torikellymusic: So stoked for #MusicSpeaks tonight! A lot of...

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:03:30 -0400

torikellymusic:

So stoked for #MusicSpeaks tonight! A lot of great artists coming together. Hosted by @angiegirlyo & @mirandasings! TIX: musicspeaks.org

Music for a good cause. Support!!! #musicspeaks

Another One Gone Too Soon Mitch Lucker died today. His name may...

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 01:52:00 -0400

Another One Gone Too Soon

Mitch Lucker died today. His name may not be as well known as others who have passed. Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, John Lennon - just to name a few. Those have all had a huge affect on the world - and their deaths affected us all in a big way too.

Mitch was the singer of Suicide Silence. I never knew him. But I do know many who did. His influence was huge as well. Yet his name is not as well known as some of those who have left us recently.

Today, I have thought a lot about death. A couple of hours before he crashed his motorcycle into a pole, Mitch posted a photo of himself on twitter with face makeup resembling death - with the caption, “the dead are living”. It almost seems that his soul knew something of the next few hours.

Musicians have a reputation. Most of the time, it’s not necessarily good. Their lives are hard. The creative spirit is erratic at best. It just goes with the territory. They are not always supported or championed for what they give to so many who love them and their music.

I was 16 when Terry Kath died in 1978. Chicago was my first favorite band as a young musician and teenager. Terry was their guitarist and one of the singers. I was living in Malaysia with my family and he passed away in January of that year. We were heading home to the U.S. that summer and one thing I was looking forward to was seeing the band. Terry died playing Russian roulette. Even thought I didn’t know him, my soul felt that it did. It was a very sad day for me when he passed. I felt like I would never see the band I loved - and even if they did play - it wouldn’t be right.

Several other musicians have died that I felt this connection to - since that day. Karen Carpenter. Jeff Porcaro (drummer for Toto). Kevin Gilbert (Toy Matinee).

Music speaks to the soul. It lives inside of you. You become closer to the ones who create it - without even knowing them. It’s magical, spiritual, amazing. When they die, a part of you dies too.

I’ve spent the last two months battling with an organization who has decided to de-value music. They single-handedly made a decision to change the way they paid songwriters and composers for their music. We’ve argued and tried to get them to understand how it feels, how it has affected us, and why it’s not right. It is clear that these people do not understand the true value of music. As I’ve battled with them, I’ve been through a short depression as realization has hit me that those who are supposedly taking care of our “business” - they don’t really care about the music at all.

As Mitch left us this morning, I’m sure he’s in a spot where “value” is quite different. Mitch affected the world. Whether it is thousands, or millions of fans, he affected our world.

We salute you Mitch - for doing what you were made to do. For pursuing a career that most would tell you is NOT a career at all. Some may have told you that someday you might have to stop. Thank you for your sacrifice - for giving yourself to many who needed a hero.

Dawn Wisner-Johnson

management@take2productions.net

A Songwriter's Saga - Regie Hamm

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:20:38 -0400

A Songwriter's Saga - Regie Hamm: Regie is a friend in the industry. He’s had enough...

ryanwebstermusic: Fellow #instagrammer #igers #sign this...

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:54:01 -0400

ryanwebstermusic:

Fellow #instagrammer #igers #sign this #petition and help support #musicians like myself who received a 75% royalty cut from #ascap visit www.change.org and search ASCAP (Taken with Instagram)

The direct link:

https://www.change.org/petitions/ascap-change-payment-system-for-tv-placements-compensate-for-loss-of-revenue?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_modal&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=29320942

ASCAP Changes The Way They Pay Songwriters ASCAP has recently...

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:25:52 -0400

ASCAP Changes The Way They Pay Songwriters

ASCAP has recently changed the way they pay for music broadcast on television shows. The result?? Some songwriters have lost 70-90% of their income from royalty payments each time their music is played on tv.

July 9, 2012, when the writers statements were distributed from ASCAP (for the domestic distribution for 4th Quarter/2011) - songwriters whose music was broadcast on television for that quarter saw a substantial drop in the amount of money they were paid for those placements.

SIGN THE PETITION: https://www.change.org/petitions/ascap-change-payment-system-for-tv-placements-compensate-for-loss-of-revenue

What are the specifics of the change?

Songs are now being paid the same rate as instrumental cues. Songs with lyrics have always been categorized as BV (Background Vocal) in scenes and have paid more for each placement than an instrumental cue. For the past few years, a debate has ensued as composers have argued that their music (categorized as BI - Background Instrumental) should be paid at a higher rate.

We agree that instrumental composers should be paid more for their music placements, yet the change that has been implemented has resulted in songs and instrumentals being paid exactly the same.

ASCAP did not tell their members that this change was coming. ASCAP also made this new payment system apply retroactively to television shows that had already aired in previous quarters before the decision was made.

Many songwriters rely on these quarterly payments as a substantial part of their income.

As a side note, BMI is still paying more for songs that are broadcast on television.

What does this mean?

Regardless of how music is used in a scene, it is now paid the same from ASCAP. In the past, instrumental cues have paid about 7 times less than a song of the same length of play in a television show. As a result of this recent change, instrumental composers ARE NOT being paid more for their plays - and songwriters are being paid less.

Where has this money gone?

We have presented this question to ASCAP, but we have not received an answer.

What do we think and know?

Music supervisors utilize songs with lyrics in scenes on a regular basis. Specific lyrical content is even sought after and requested so the music fits the mood and the dialog with characters. Music has become an integral part of production, editing and writing - making it more a part of the creative process than ever before.

Songs with lyrics are valuable, beyond the music. Ask any creator of music and they will tell you that writing a song with lyrics takes more time and effort. Most of the songwriters we work with can write 5 instrumental cues to 1 song. Lyrics simply take more time.

What can we do?

We at Take 2 Productions value all music and those who create it. We believe that all musicians should be paid fairly for their work. So yes, let’s make the system more fair.

We’ve worked with many songwriters/composers. We’ve spent lots of time helping our clients find business models, such as television music placements to help further their musical careers.

We take this seriously. We’ve done the research, had meetings with songwriters and composers and we’ve met with those who are responsible for this change.

We need your help to let ASCAP know that they need to do something about this.

What do we want ASCAP to do?

We want ASCAP to re-evaluate their decision to change the way they pay royalties for broadcast music. We also want ASCAP to compensate songwriters for the loss of income for the music that was played and created for television music supervisors before this decision was implemented.

How can you help?

Here is a link to our petition to the ASCAP Board of Directors and President, Paul Williams. Please join us and sign the petition.

https://www.change.org/petitions/ascap-change-payment-system-for-tv-placements-compensate-for-loss-of-revenue

Crime: Strict New Download Law Won't Kill YouTube in Japan(via @Kotaku)

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 01:10:46 -0400

Crime: Strict New Download Law Won't Kill YouTube in Japan(via @Kotaku): If you think the internet...

Prepared for Anything Pt. 1: 7 Things You Need to Keep With You at ALL Times

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:13:00 -0400

Part of the reason I get hired for events is that I always try to stay 10 steps ahead of...

"Internet-based crowd funding works sort of like a bake sale. You pay a little bit more than that..."

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:32:23 -0400

“Internet-based crowd funding works sort of like a bake sale. You pay a little bit more than...

election: TUMBLR TUESDAY: REGISTER TO VOTE EDITION Does it feel...

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:52:00 -0400

election:

TUMBLR TUESDAY: REGISTER TO VOTE EDITION

Does it feel like election day is still ages away? It’s not; in fact, early voting began for half of the country this week. And for half of the country, if you’re not yet registered in just two weeks, you’ll lose the chance to vote entirely. That’s what happened to 6 million Americans in 2008; this year, we’re participating in National Voter Registration Day to help make sure you’re not left out.

If you’re in the US, you should see the button above on your Dashboard; click it to register through our friends at Our Time.

No matter how you feel about politics, remember that your vote has the power to make a difference for at least one critical candidate or ballot measure on your ticket. If you don’t participate in the voting booth, you allow others to make important decisions for you.

Need some inspiration? Check out this gorgeous GIF campaign from MTV’s Power of 12, a new video from the cast of Workaholics, and a gallery of voting-inclined celebs at HyperVocal.

For more info, follow National Voter Registration Day on Tumblr, or track the tag #925NVRD. You can register in person at an NVRD meetup happening near you, or phone in any questions to the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

And even if you’re already registered, please reblog this post to ensure none of your followers miss it!

Our elected officials are just as important to your musical career as any musical instrument. Get out and register to vote so you can protect your rights as an artist.

-Devin

onerpm: Justin Timberlake just blew our minds… I for one am...

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 01:01:00 -0400

onerpm:

Justin Timberlake just blew our minds…

I for one am excited to see what the new Myspace can do for bands. Facebook is nice for profiles, but even with apps, band pages have never been quite as functional as they were with myspace (especially with the players).

As a side note… What are they going to do with all of those profiles that none of us can remember the password or the email for?

-Devin