indie artist

Artist News

Inspirational singer, Noreen Crayton, releases Make Me Over with Musik Radio Promotions

Rhonda

October 29, 2014

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Noreen Crayton’s, Make Me Over, was released to worldwide radio promotion just a few days ago and the response has been enormous. Noreen spoke of the response, “It’s only been a few days, but wow”!

Noreen provided some thoughtful answers about her life and music:

How would you describe your music?

Melodic, soulful, spiritual and filled with lots and lots harmonies lol

What has been your greatest opportunity in your career so far?

I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of opportunities throughout my career
but I think I am most proud of the fact that Ronnie Milsap recorded a song
I co-wrote (with Greg Tornquist) and that it was the lead single on his
gospel cd and then right after that I was fortunate to win the Independent
Music Award for best gospel song for the song (I wrote all by myself),
“Walking In The Faith.” Those two opportunities provided me with exposure
and showcased me as a writer. It really helped me personally in that it
allowed me to realize that what I was doing wasn’t crazy lol.

What do you think distinguishes a true music artist from an entertainer?

That’s a good question, the differences are far more subtle then one
realizes.

True artistry is organic and comes from a very real and honest place. It
exists whether there is an audience watching or not. Some of my best work
is done at 1 AM in the morning while I’m composing a song or laying a
vocal attempting to keep my heart bared (open) so that the person who will
be listening can feel the message I’m trying to convey. Ultimately, it’s
not about entertaining but about relating and identifying with the
audience and vice versa.

Also, an entertainer has the capacity to turn what they do onstage during
a performance into an art form. Think about Michael Jackson and what he
did and how his work touched millions of people, it was amazing.

So there are no differences really, it depends on the person and how
deeply they’d like to delve into the gift they’ve been given.

What do you want to always be remembered for?
I’d like to be remembered as an artist that stayed to true to the vision
given to her and that her music reached the very heart of someone and
helped them heal even a little bit.

What advice would you give a music artist who is just starting out?

Just keep writing and working in public. If you hear a word or phrase
that strikes you in a very unique way, you’ll know it has meaning because
it impact you….write it down. Carry a notebook or record the phrase on
your phone. If you hear a melody in your head that just won’t leave you
alone, do the same thing……you’ll eventually have to deal with it and
hammer it out. If you are given the opportunity to execute in front of
people, try not to turn it down. Just do it even if you suffer from stage
fright like me (smile). The thing is don’t stop the flow inside you, give
in to it even if you have to do it late at night when the kids are sleep
or when you come in from work exhausted, rest a little bit then hammer it
out even for an hour. You’ll be really happy you did.

Where do you see your artistry going in the next 5 years?
I’d like the music I do reach more people, my prayer is to write or
co-write something that will help transform a generation. Some of the
things I see and read about in the news is just heartbreaking. I’m
beginning to feel that human beings don’t even like one another let alone
feel for each other and themselves. I’d like to be part of something far
bigger than me. Write or co-write or work on something artistic that will
change people’s hearts and minds so that we all realize we are here for
one another and that we all work for the greater good and from the heart.

Anything else you really want to say?

Thanks for listening to what I’ve
released so far, there’s more to come, I hope you enjoy it and I hope it’s
something helps you get through the day.

Thanks for sharing, Noreen!

Artist News

Does Sony or Apple give their products away free?

Rhonda

October 20, 2014

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It was a cold dark rainy night when a fleet of tractor trailers backed up to Sony’s and Apple’s warehouse and loaded up every computer. Then they put up a big ad everywhere that read – free computers – Sony and Apple were enraged. They demanded justice. Their warehouses had been robbed of it’s entire inventory.

Once upon a time, Sony and Apple and every other company on earth that offer digital streaming thought it would be a wonderful idea to break into every musician’s warehouse, load up all their music that had costs the musicians thousands of dollars to create, then put up a big sign and gave all the musicians inventory away.

Now ask yourself – what is the difference – giving away free computers or free music? It is still an end product that has cost money to create that was stolen.

I have been in this business for over 3 decades and thought I have seen it all but I guess not. I have been in the music business most of my life. I was with a major label in the 80’s. I still am a writing and performing musician.

I got into digital distribution at its inception well over a decade ago. At first, no one paid any attention to digital music. Everyone wanted a cd. But after a few years into digital, it became a viable source of income for Indie artists.

For years I had a good digital income along with many other artists. I know many who made a good living off their digital sales. People hear an artists music on radio or it was promoted and bought a download. No one ever asked my permission to allow my music to be streamed and given away. Or if I wanted to be paid $.000023 cents a listen. So what gave any of the services the right to stream my or anyone else’s music? I agreed to be digitally distributed and for my music to be sold – not to be streamed for free. Harvard Law calls streaming, “piracy”, and it is just that.

How would Apple or Sony like it if someone other than them decided to give away free computers? They would scream like Banshees. It cost them money to manufacture those computers. Well it costs musician’s money to record their music. Then they try to sell us this misconception, “Look at the exposure for your music”. The same applies to them give a few thousand computers away and “Look at the product exposure”.

I had heard rumors that the majors said that they welcomed streaming because it leveled the playing field for them. That indie artists were becoming a threat. Who gets the minute airplay royalties? Not the artists. Who’s making money? Not the artists.

What’s going to happen is no one will pay to record their music because it is just stolen from them anyhow. Then there will be no more new music. All because of greed and control. Once again the Indie artist is squashed making the poor musician poorer.

We must all band together as indie artists -together – we can make a difference.

Stephen Wrench

Artist News

Support Local Radio? Guest posts by Indie Artist, Earl Parker

Rhonda

September 19, 2014

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America used to be known for a lotta pretty cool things. Streamlined cars with super fins, a cheeseburger with everything on it, and rock & roll to name just a few. But those innovations have gone the way of the Dodo bird, they’ve fallen afoul of a corporate need to re-dress everything that was, in order to make it cheaper,and to give it mass appeal; which also happens to make most things produced here today (which are very few by the way) suck! I don’t care about cheeseburgers, and you can’t buy a 1965 Thunderbird convertible anymore unless you go for an original, which’ll probably set you back a couple of hundred thousand bucks. No my beef is with Rock & Roll.

In the 1950’s rock & roll was born from Blues, R & B, gospel, and country music, Elvis thought he was a country singer until some girls saw him swinging his hips and began screaming uncontrollably, and from that moment on the cat was out of the bag so to speak, and it would never be put back. Rock & roll began to evolve.

It used to be that you would record a song, press it to a 45 disc, and take it yourself to your local radio station and literally give it to the DJ. If he liked it he would play it, and his audience would respond, and if they responded en-masse you had a hit on your hands, and you could record more because people liked your stuff, it said something to them, resonated with them, meant something.

Sadly today this is no longer the case, most of those independent radio stations that were run by people who cared about music, have been swallowed up by corporations who need to sell advertising on the strength of their listenership. These companies in turn rely on record labels to supply them with product, and that product is rapidly becoming a mystifyingly over produced hodge podge of insanity that leaves everybody wondering what the hell happened to good songs you can tap your feet to, or get involved with. Well, luckily for us singer/songwriters our local radio stations have now gone global.

I make music because I love making music; I write songs that I want people to relate to; and I am happiest when I have an audience. I’ve tried promoting my music to American radio, and I have good success with independent stations that care about music, but I am shutout of the syndicated stations because their Nashville pop playlists don’t play well with really innovative country rock music.

But it’s okay cats and kittens, we have a friend over at www.musikandfilm.com, his name is Stephen Wrench, he’s a musician himself, and God help him, he cares. He cares enough to have made your local radio station one in Paris, or Budapest, or London, or for that matter in any town or village worldwide. And get this, every time you release a song the last one, or two, or three are still there. So if a DJ suddenly cottons onto your sound, he has other songs he can draw on, and you’ll be getting played. Of course convincing the audience is still your job, and now you’ll get to sweat over the song, the vocals, the arrangement, and the mix. But at least you’ll have an audience, and believe me, that is worth its weight in gold!

Artist News

Mirvas ‘I Am The Sun’ Crossing All Genres With World Radio Campaign

Rhonda

April 30, 2014

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Swedish artist Mirvas song “I Am The Sun” is crossing all genres since it’s release with Musik Radio Promotions. The Musik and Film’s production team re-mixed the song with the goal of producing a track to crossover multiple genres. Radio is proving this has been a success!
Give a listen and see if you agree!

Press Release

Morris Music and Musik Radio Promotions release ‘Sweet Silence’ in support of Greenpeace

Rhonda

April 8, 2014

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Independent artist gets the attention of Greenpeace and Spotify and joins world famous

artists, declaring the Arctic a global sanctuary. Watch video in support!

Ronny Morris joins Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Richard Branson and

Chris Martin in line up for Greenpeace

NEW YORK, NY – April 7, 2014 – Greenpeace and Morris Music are proud to announce that Award Winning recording artist Ronny Morris will release his first track in support of Greenpeace, taken from his debut album entitled Sweet Silence.

Musik Radio Promotions will release the track in a worldwide radio campaign in support of the project.

The song, titled “Built to Last” which includes the release of three music videos and twelve remixes by artist like Rich Morel (Pink, Depeche Mode, The Killers), DJ Ganga and Leon El Ray, is scheduled to be available via Spotify and all digital retailers from April 7, 2014. Ronny Morris is teaming up with Greenpeace and Spotify on the release of this charity single where all revenue will go to the support of the Save The Arctic movement, which includes prominent names such as Radiohead, Sir Paul McCartney, and Chris Martin from Coldplay, supporting over 5 million people worldwide who has already signed the petition .

Birgitte Lesanner, Head of Communications in Greenpeace Nordic, is pleased to have Morris join their prestigious lineup of musicians who have joined over 5 million people worldwide who have petitioned for saving the Artic. ”We’re grateful for Ronny Morris and Spotify’s support to the Arctic campaign. The livelihood of the unique wildlife in the Arctic is changing rapidly. However, the very same oil companies that caused the ice to melt in the first place do not see it as a warning sign. Unfortunately they see the melting ice as a business opportunity. Only a strong global movement can stop the Arctic oil rush,” says Ms. Lesanner.

Ronny Morris, who is an avid proponent of Greenpeace, is thrilled that he can do his part in addressing this global issue. ”The Arctic is melting faster than anyone could help open people’s eyes to the great danger we are in. Hopefully, some will even join the movement to protect the Arctic,” says Ronny Morris. “Being that the U.N. Secretary-

General is currently traveling to Greenland to inspect the consequences of global warming should definitely raise concern for everyone.” The Save the Arctic campaign works for a ban on offshore oil drilling in the Arctic region, a stop on unregulated and destructive fisheries in the Arctic and a global sanctuary on the uninhabited area around the North Pole.

Morris’s music has been featured in award winning films and major American TV shows such as One Tree Hill, Brothers Sisters and Ghost Whisperer and was recently honored with two HMMA awards. Remixes of his songs are available on more than sixteen compilation CDs sold in 52 countries worldwide, including the world renowned Buddha Bar Compilation.

Indie Artist Help Radio Promotion

How To Know You Are Getting Radio Airplay

Rhonda

March 21, 2014

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We are asked all the time “How do I know my song is getting played” and how many times did they spin it”, with a campaign through Musik Radio Promotions. We have been promoting artists globally and know that if the station downloads your music you are being played. We have years of data to back this up. We have literally had artists show up on playlists and charts 2 years after we have sent out a radio campaign.

BluesCorp, rocking on BBC networks and stations worldwide

Rhonda

February 15, 2014

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BluesCorp, a rock’n blues-funk dance band from Australia’s Gold Coast, is rock’n on several BBC networks and stations worldwide with release of their new single, ‘Rattle Me’. This is BluesCorp’s second release with Musik Radio Promotions as ‘Who Do You Think Your Foolin’ was released several months ago.

The band was formed in 2010 by guitarist/singer/songwriter Andrew Clark, as a project for developing his own original music. Andrew’s trademark warm, earthy guitar tones, combined with his intimate and emotive vocal deliveries are the heart and soul of the BluesCorp sound. He creates a real rush of energy in his music and has been a “white boy lost in the blues” since his first working band – a 1977 project with blues guitarist Andrew Silver (Dynamic Hepnotics).

In April 2012, Andrew decided to completely rebuild the BluesCorp live band as a 4-piece line-up ahead of returning to the studio for the second album. The new line-up, featuring Jason Klaffer (bass), JJ Otene (drums) and Ben Ferguson (guitar/keys/sax) brought with it a fresher and decidedly funkier sound. Additionally, Andrew also recruited some additional players to rotate in the line-up as circumstances dictated.

Regular live appearances from guests Matt “Harp Dog” Dunn (harmonica), Steve Sinclair (guitar), Brian Elliott (sax), Gil Rasmussen (drums) and Paul Sumner (harmonica/percussion) resulted in contributions from each of them in the studio for the 2013 BluesCorp album release “Don’t Wanna Be Famous”.

“Don’t Wanna Be Famous” has been released to rave reviews:

“The Blues Association of South East Queensland (BASEQ) has selected BluesCorp’s 2013 album “Dont Wanna Be Famous” as it’s nomination in the “Best Self-Produced CD” category for the upcoming International Blues Challenge awards to be held in Memphis early next year.”- Blues Association of South East Queensland (Oct 16, 2013)

“From the start to the end of the album ‘Don’t Wanna Be Famous‘, my foot was a tapping. BluesCorp has delivered a cracking CD. This CD will be in the charts for many weeks and on high rotation on the Fatman Blues show on Southern FM”.- Mick Todd, Fatman Blues, Radio 88.3 Southern FM (Mar 15, 2013)

“Just got hold of the latest release from Bluescorp. This is one that makes you want to play it again and again. A great sound mix with quality production laced with sax and harmonica full of soul ,and a killer guitar tone.”- Barry Maxwell, Blues On The Hill, Radio 3NRG 99.3 FM (Mar 07, 2013)

“Smooth, low down contemporary blues at it’s best.” – Dave Barker, Dave’s Blues Mix, StarFM Radio 98.5 (Mar 04, 2013)

Musik Radio Promotions is proud to present such a seasoned, well-polished band to world-wide radio.

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Artist News

Jamaican artist, Akua Kamua, released by Musik Radio Promotions

Rhonda

February 14, 2014

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Akua Kamua is living the Jamaican dream of making music for the world to hear and enjoy. Kamua has been released to the world by Musik Radio Promotions and is enjoying a welcoming audience to three of the seven tracks on his new EP, ‘My Island Darling‘.

Clocking in at 7 songs of high quality, the new EP from Akau Kamau is a release that is formed around the themes of Jamaican and African traditions and, in the artist’s words, ‘Ancestral Reverence’.

Kamua states, “The inspiration for the theme came about as a way to respect our heritage. My music is both aural and cerebral. I attempt to create songs which speak for themselves, however as is the case with instrumental music, the tempo, instrumentation is used to convey this message”.

Formed on the belief that generally our ancestors exist around us in the spiritual realm, these songs are designed as a tribute to the sacrifices that they made, in order for us all to have the opportunities that we now enjoy.

Operating on several levels, the seven songs on the EP are each written with a message in mind, allowing each listener to develop their own appreciation and interpretation for each song even more so if the sleeve notes have been read and understood. It makes for a different experience for each listener, especially if they are aware of the undercurrent for each song.

It’s an innovative approach, and impressive from an artist who wrote, recorded and produced the tracks all under his own steam. With a search now running to expand the band and take the project forward, this is a promising time for Akua Kamau.

Musik Radio Promotions is happy to be a part of this “promising time”.

Artist News

5 Industry Moguls talk about their experiences

Rhonda

February 13, 2014

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Joe Smith, past president of Warner Bros. Elektra/Asylum, and Capitol Records, says, “with today’s rules, I couldn’t sign the Grateful Dead”.

Musik & Film Records changed the rules to create a new model for indie artists.

Five industry mogels provide a powerful insight into the music industry in the article below, courtesy of Hollywood Reporter. Great to know Musik and Film is on the same page!

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!

It hasn’t been a pretty picture for the record companies the past 15 years. In that time, the U.S. music business has shrunk in half, from revenue of $14.6 billion in 1999 to $7.1 billion in 2012, and that’s been reflected in job losses, consolidation of seven music giants into three and a general feeling of malaise that says the industry’s glory days are an irretrievable thing of the past. Indeed, the landscape is littered with former executives bemoaning the loss of expense accounts and cocaine- and hooker-fueled days, but not these spry veterans, who have survived this brave new digital world to tell their tales.

Jerry Greenberg, Atlantic Records president (1974-80), MJJ Music president/COO (1993-2000)
THEN: Signed ABBA; connected producer Mutt Lange with AC/DC (the result: Highway to Hell); broke Led Zeppelin on U.S. radio with “Whole Lotta Love”; signed Chic, Sister Sledge and The Trammps.
NOW: Founder of Ibiza-based label Pacific Electronic Music; spearheading documentary about his career.
NEXT: Involved with the Polyphony Foundation, a music school in Nazareth where kids from both Israel and Palestine learn together. “I love music and working with artists. I can still tell a hit when I hear it. I want to find the next Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake.”
WHAT HE MISSES: “Labels signing artists, developing them and waiting for the money to come later. Record companies don’t stick with artists as much as they did back then.”
WORDS OF WISDOM: “This is as great a time to be a small, independent label as it was in the ’60s.”

Mike Bone, Island Records president (1990-91), Mercury co-president (1991), Def American Minster of Truth (1992-94)
THEN: While a promotion exec, broke Thin Lizzy in the U.S. with the single, “Wild One.”
NOW: Graduated Loyola Marymount with an MBA in marketing and a 3.93 GPA; owns homes in Santa Monica and Encino, a condo in Atlanta and a 215-acre Georgia tree farm.
NEXT: “In five years, my daughter will be a senior in college and my son will be a freshman, so I will start divesting my real estate, and prepare to move to Hawaii with my wife.”
WHAT HE MISSES: Being part of a team and moving the ball down the field, the snap, crackle and pop of the business, the camaraderie of orchestrating the whole ensemble. “My best years were atBob Krasnow’s Elektra in the ’80s, a magical time.”
WORDS OF WISDOM: “I saved my money. I didn’t put it up my nose or get divorced three times. My vices are now my kids.”
STORY: Afrojack Signs With Island Records and Universal Music Group

Joe Smith, Warner Bros. Records president (1970-75), Elektra/Asylum (1975-82), Capitol (1987-93)
THEN: Built Warner Bros. with Mo Ostin; signed the Grateful Dead and “changed the industry perception of the record company as the home of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin”; helped breakGarth Brooks; wrote Off the Record, a collection of more than 200 artist interviews now archived in the Library of Congress.
NOW: Lakers season ticket-holder, avid wine and art collector.
NEXT: “I hope to continue standing above ground.”
WHAT HE MISSES: That collegial feeling which disappeared when the business got corporate. “You rooted for your competition to have a hit because it meant increased retail traffic for everyone. We were never really competing with each other, we were all trying to make our own way. I also miss going to the NARM [National Association of Recording Merchandisers, since renamed the Music Business Association] convention, where I got to see everybody from around the country, where I emceed several of the award dinners and panels. I really felt at home.”
WORDS OF WISDOM: “There was room for everybody then. With today’s rules, I couldn’t sign the Grateful Dead.”

Phil Quartararo, Virgin Records president/CEO (1992-97), Warner Bros. president (1997-2002), EMI North America executive vp (2005-06)
THEN: Part of the Island Records team that broke U2; One of the founding executives of Virgin U.S.; signed Linkin Park and Josh Groban while at Warner Bros.
NOW: Managing Arturo Sandoval and Yoshiki at The Collective (the latter with veteran publishing and A&R exec Kaz Utsunomiya); consulting for artist estates and businesses that look to “use music for currency, and are willing to pay for it,” including Australian brand-sponsored e-commerce platform Guvera and sync recognition app Shazam. “I have been very fortunate to be able to take my 30-year record company experience and convert it.”
NEXT: “I’m not one to sit around moping and being resentful, waiting for the phone to ring. I’m looking at the first part of my career as the launching pad for the best part, which is right now, because I get to work with artists, brands and music. That experience we had in the major label system is valuable for companies today. There are not a lot of guys around who have run multimillion-dollar companies and are still young enough to have the energy to do something else.”
WHAT HE MISSES: Being able to activate a team of people working every day toward a common goal: to break an artist or a song, to build a career. “That was art; that was beautiful. Today’s market is not conducive to record companies as we knew them. They’re overwhelmed and under-resourced, which is a bad combination. The major labels of the past had the revenue to support the effort. [Now] there’s no money to do anything. And the thing that suffers the most is artist development. If you’re a new band, and can’t get any traction on your own, the record company won’t be able to do it for you.”
WORDS OF WISDOM: “The time for new opportunity in the music industry has never been better.”

Jeff Gold, A&M vp marketing/creative services (1981-90), Warner Bros. Records executive vp/GM (1990-98)
THEN: Helped break Bryan Adams; won a Grammy for art direction for Suzanne Vega’s third album.
NOW: Founder of Recordmecca, collecting and selling rare memorabilia; author of 101 Essential Rock Records: The Golden Age of Vinyl; consulting for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Experience Music Project.
NEXT: “I am going to do this for as long as I enjoy doing it. I wake up every morning and can’t wait to see who’s emailed me and from where, what I’ve sold. I engage in this fantastic treasure hunt where I get to meet super-interesting people, buy stuff from them they’ve had for a long time, research and contextualize it.”
WHAT HE MISSES: The expense account.
WORDS OF WISDOM: “The record business missed the boat on the Internet. It’s a real lack of vision. People aren’t doing the Steve Jobs leading thing in the record business.”.

For a consultation regarding how Musik and Film Records can help you, free of obligation, contact us today.

Artist News

Rhett May, Spotlight Artist for 3000 Records

Rhonda

February 4, 2014

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Rhett May has been chosen as Spotlight Artist through February for 3000 Records. Terrance Schemansky at 3000 Records says, “We are happy to have Rhett as our Spotlight Artist this month!”

Rhett will also be featured on myspace, facebook and twitter, with an email blast to 12,000+ artists and musicians.

Rhett May, a multi-cultural singer/songwriter/musician from Down Under has been receiving acclomades from all over the world with his new EP titled ‘Insatiable’. Promoted to radio by Musik Radio Promotions, Rhett May has continued to make a huge splash with receiving play by thousands of stations and networks including the BBC.

Apparently, all the work on the production end has paid off. Rhett says of working with the MAF production team, “I feel I built a rapport with Stephen Wrench from day one….very easy going and likeable guy…and nothing was too hard…we shared some stories that are insane and I guess we come from a similar background in music…a similar era…the classic rock ’When the van is rockin’ don’t come knockin’ era…and the influences very much gel. Their interpretations and ideas did surprise me at times…but I listened and absorbed and came away with a sense of excitement that Stephen and Terry Nails….. that someone like Musik and Film were actually interested enough to take the time in listening to my songs, tearing them apart…positively…and then helping me put them back together in ways that I hadn’t considered. I think that they’ve taught me a number of things…and I’m grateful …I’m always learning and will certainly incorporate some of their fundamentals moving forward. ”

The whole idea was to have five songs that were entirely different from each other: ”Cocktails and Cannabis” (rock groove), ”Insatiable” (Acoustic and melancholy), ”Hey Peter” (Reggae/Upbeat) and ”Jenny” (Sixties/Beatleish).

This combination has certainly struck a chord as it has continued to generate excitement with every release.

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