I have been busy with making plans for the Rock Garden, From Here To There has been keeping me busy – full update on each of the acts coming and maybe some news on others. I have another business in the works called the Hub that I have not mentioned on this blog at all to date – will introduce that and my partners in it next week or so as well.
Then there are two music projects I also have on the go I am very excited about. One will be a website and the other is a pilot for a music focused TV show to be called DIwhY. More on those two soon.
By next week I will have full updates on what is new or will be new with all the ventures on the go, introduce some new blogs, a couple new features on this blog and general better organization for more consistent posting, a series a developing a digital strategy for your band or label, a whole lotta interviews and more music!
Back in full next week!
Hope you have had a great summer!
* indicates Canadian artist.
** indicates local artist.
Chart ranking reflects airplay during the week ending 08-Jul-2008.
Top 30
08-Jul-2008
RANK ARTIST TITLE (LABEL)
1 SIGUR ROS
Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (XL)
2 EMMYLOU HARRIS
All I Intended To Be (Nonesuch)
3 VARIOUS**
Songs for the Gang: Thrush Hermit Tribute (Gooseberry)
4 HUNGRY HILL*
Ride (Independent)
5 MARDEEN**
Read Less Minds (Independent)
6 MISTEUR VALAIRE*
Friterday Night (Mr. Label)
7 WOLF PARADE*
At Mount Zoomer (Sub Pop)
8 SLOAN*
Parallel Play (Murder)
9 ANNABELLE CHVOSTEK*
Resilience (Mogv)
10 ISLANDS*
Arm’s Way (Anti)
11 THE GRUFF*
Trail Of Missing Thoughts (Goat Tea)
12 HENRY BRANT
The Henry Brant Collection, Volume 9 (Innova)
13 AIMEE MANN
@#%&*!Smilers (SuperEgo)
14 PORTISHEAD
Third (Island)
15 SHE AND HIM
Volume One (Merge)
16 VARIOUS
Droppin’ Science: Greatest Samples From The Blue Note Lab (Blue Note)
17 ADAM PUDDINGTON**
Back In Town (Hay Sale)
18 THE EXTREMITIES**
The New Tonic (Backburner)
19 TANYA DAVIS**
Gorgeous Morning (Wordy Music)
20 SONIC CINEMA**
Vice Versa (Independent)
21 DIE BRUCKE**
Who Gets The Kids (Independent)
22 JOURNALISTS, WOLF**
In Love (Radiator Collective)
23 DAVID MYLES**
On The Line (Little Tiny)
24 URBAN SURF KINGS**
Bang Howdy Partner (Independent)
25 ANDRU BRANCH**
The Only Constant (Independent)
26 CHELSEA NISBETT**
New Beginnings (Independent)
27 ELLIOTT BROOD*
Mountain Meadows (Six Shooter)
28 SINISTRO*
Sinistro (Chronograph)
29 FRED EAGLESMITH*
Tinderbox (Independent)
30 THE GRUESOMES*
Tyrants Of Teen Trash (Ricochet Sound) (more…)
* indicates Canadian artist.
** indicates local artist.
Chart ranking reflects airplay during the week ending 03-Jun-2008.
Top 30
03-Jun-2008
RANK ARTIST TITLE (LABEL)
1 SHEARING PINX*
Haruspex (Divorce)
2 DIE BRUCKE**
Who Gets the Kids (Independent)
3 HEY ROSETTA!*
Into Your Lungs (Sonic)
4 THE MICROPHONES
The Glow: Pt. 2 (K)
5 OLD MAN LUEDECKE**
Proof Of Love (Black Hen Music)
6 GHOST BEES**
Tasseomancy (Youth Club)
7 THE SUICIDE PILOTS*
War On Satire (Independent)
8 MOBY
Last Night (Mute)
9 NO AGE
Nouns (Sub Pop)
10 JOE JACKSON
Rain (Rykodisc)
11 JESSE DANGEROUSLY**
Verba Volant (Independent)
12 DAVID MYLES**
On The Line (Little Tiny)
13 URBAN SURF KINGS**
Bang Howdy Partner (Independent)
14 ELIZABETH SHEPHERD*
Parkdale (Do Right! Music)
15 FEUERMUSIK*
No Contest (Standard Form)
16 FUAD AND THE FEZTONES*
Beeramid (Ricochet Sound)
17 THE VIOLET ARCHERS*
Sunshine At Night (Zunior)
18 IRON GIANT*
Creator Of Scars (Diminished Fifth)
19 PENN POUTANEN AND LORRIE MATHESON*
Rebels United (Independent)
20 DUCHESS SAYS*
Anthologies Des 3 Perchoirs (Alien8)
21 CRYSTAL CASTLES*
Crystal Castles (Last Gang)
22 THEE SILVER MT ZION MEMORIAL ORCHESTRA AND TRA LA-LA BAND*
13 Blues For Thirteen Moons (Constellation)
23 THE TOM FUN ORCHESTRA*
You Will Land With A Thud (Company House)
24 RICHARD UNDERHILL*
Kensington Suite (Stubby) 25 PORTISHEAD
Third (Island)
26 CLINIC
Do It! (Domino)
27 RICHARD YOUNGS
Autumn Response (Jagjaguwar)
28 CAT POWER
Jukebox (Matador)
29 CHRISTINA MARTIN**
Two Hearts (Independent)
30 BRENT RANDALL AND HIS PINECONES**
Strange Love (Just Friends)
Loud
03-Jun-2008
RANK ARTIST TITLE (LABEL)
1 SHEARING PINX*
Haruspex (Divorce)
2 DIE BRUCKE**
Who Gets the Kids (Independent)
3 THE SUICIDE PILOTS*
War On Satire (Independent)
4 IRON GIANT*
Creator Of Scars (Diminished Fifth)
5 DUCHESS SAYS*
Anthologies Des 3 Perchoirs (Alien8)
6 SECRET FIRES*
I Only Want What I Can’t See (Independent)
7 BLACK SHIPS*
Low (New Romance For Kids)
8 CANCER BATS
Hail Destroyer (Distort)
9 THE NYMPHETS*
Feels Like Motherfuckers (Psychic Handshake)
10 PAROXYSM*
Scars Of The Art (Prodisk)
I was trying to decide which parts of each report would be best suited for this post but there are so many shocking points it was a difficult decision:
The federal government is secretly negotiating an agreement to revamp international copyright laws that could make the information on iPods, laptops and other devices illegal, according to a leaked government document.
The deal could also force Internet service providers to hand over customer information without a court order. From:Gov’t wants into your laptop – The Province (BC)
————————————————————————
The federal government is secretly negotiating a copyright agreement that could make some information on Canadian iPods, laptop computers or other personal electronic devices illegal.
Called the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), the new plan would see Canada join other countries, including the United States and members of the European Union, to form an international coalition against copyright infringement.
The agreement is being structured much like the North American Free Trade Agreement except it will create rules and regulations regarding private copying and copyright laws.
Federal trade agreements do not require parliamentary approval.
The deal would create an international regulator that could turn border guards and other public security personnel into copyright police. The security officials would be charged with checking laptops, iPods and even cellular phones for content that “infringes” on copyright laws, such as ripped CDs and movies.
The guards would also be responsible for determining what is infringing content and what is not.
The agreement also proposes that any content that may have been copied from a DVD or digital video recorder would be open for scrutiny by officials — even if the content was copied legally.
The leaked ACTA document states officials should be given the “authority to take action against infringers (i. e., authority to act without complaint by rights holders).”
Anyone found with infringing content in their possession would be open to a fine. They also may have their device confiscated or destroyed, according to the four-page document. From:Border officials may seize iPods under trade deal – National Post
————————————————————————
According to a leaked document (available at Wikileaks and also at IP Justice), Canada and a number of other countries are planning to create a NAFTA-style body that would police copyright, and would be empowered to seize and/or destroy property without a court order. This agency — whose creation wouldn’t have to be approved by the legislature, according to some reports, because it deals with international trade matters — would also have the power to force Internet service providers to divulge information about their customers without requiring a warrant.
Past attempts by the Canadian record industry to compel ISPs to produce such information failed when the courts ruled that the Canadian Recording Industry Association didn’t have the authority to request that kind of private personal data.
The proposed multi-country agreement (which reportedly involves the U.S., Canada, the European Union, Japan, Mexico and South Korea) is called the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, or ACTA. In addition to the ability to force ISPs to provide customer info, the agreement would also give border guards the right to inspect laptops, cameras, iPods and other devices for any illegal digital content, and would allow them to take action without requiring a complaint from a rights-holder. The agreement would permit guards and others to conduct “ex parte” searches of property or individuals, meaning a lawyer would not have to be present. From:Do we need copyright cops? – Ingram 2.0/Globe and Mail
————————————————————————
The way Canadians use the Internet and technology – from downloading music to buying new cellphones – could face unprecedented restrictions under new federal policies that critics say are being decided behind closed doors.
The Conservative government has been involved in international talks in recent months to develop an international anti-counterfeiting strategy to reduce Internet piracy and the flow of counterfeit goods. But critics say that instead of cracking down on rogue Internet users heavily involved in illegal file sharing, the agreement seems poised to dramatically increase the government’s ability to police the activities of Canadians, even when they legally purchase music files, DVDs and electronic equipment such as cellphones and personal video recorders.
“This is an attempt here to create a very broad umbrella that strikes at the very heart of every day activities for millions of Canadians,” said Michael Geist, law professor at the University of Ottawa and Canada Research Chair of Internet and e-commerce law. From:Anti-piracy strategy will help government to spy, critic says – Globe and Mail
I decided to take the CKDU charts off the sidebar and make them a regular post.
I will occasionally add some links to MP3s or other sites for albums in the charts.
All I am doing this week is highlighting one album I can not stop listening to….find it and the various charts below
CKDU 88.1 MHz – Halifax
* indicates Canadian artist.
** indicates local artist.
Chart ranking reflects airplay during the week ending 20-May-2008.
Top 30
20-May-2008
RANK ARTIST TITLE (LABEL)
1 DAVID MYLES**
On The Line (Little Tiny)
2 SHEARING PINX*
Haruspex 7″ (Divorce)
3 THE NYMPHETS*
Feels Like Motherfuckers 7″(Psychic Handshake)
4 BORIS
Smile (Southern Lord)
5 NO AGE
Nouns (Sub Pop)
6 OLD MAN LUEDECKE**
Proof Of Love (Black Hen Music)
7 BRENT RANDALL AND HIS PINECONES**
Strange Love Single (Just Friends)
8 TEENAGE HEAD WITH MARKY RAMONE*
Teenage Head With Marky Ramone (Sonic Unyon)
9 RYAN COOK AND SUNNY ACRES**
Hot Times (No Scene)
10 GHOST BEES**
Tasseomancy (Youth Club)
11 THE WET SECRETS*
Rock Fantasy (Rodeo Peanut)
12 SECRET FIRES*
I Only Want What I Can’t See (Independent)
13 JAPANDROIDS*
Lullabye Death Jams (Independent)
14 PENN POUTANEN AND LORRIE MATHESON*
Rebels United (Independent)
15 HOT TODDY*
Trio (Independent)
16 VARIOUS*
Do You Want To Talk All Night? A Tribute To Snailhouse (Sappy)
17 DUCHESS SAYS*
Anthologies Des 3 Perchoirs (Alien8)
18 CRYSTAL CASTLES*
Crystal Castles (Last Gang)
19 CADENCE WEAPON*
Afterparty Babies (Upper Class)
20 SHAD*
The Old Prince (Black Blox)
21 WILSON/LEE/BENTLEY*
Escondido Dreams (Drip Audio)
22 THE DEATH SET
Worldwide (Counter)
23 MEM3
Pennsylvania Grey (Independent)
24 HELOISE AND THE SAVOIR FAIRE
Trash, Rats And Microphones (Yep Roc) 25 NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (Anti-) 26 DIRTBOMBS
We Have You Surrounded (In The Red)
27 HOT CHIP
Made In The Dark (Astralwerks)
28 LUPE FIASCO
The Cool (Atlantic)
29 JESSE DANGEROUSLY**
Verba Volant (Independent)
30 JOURNALISTS, WOLF**
In Love (Radiator Collective)
Keep reading for the Hip Hop, Jazz and Loud charts. (more…)
I went to the QOTSA show last night and left with something I haven’t had in a while…a true excitement about a new band. I’m not entirely sure what more I can say other than this band were awesome and for me, the highlight of the entire evening (sorry Queens fans).
I now proclaim Iceland’s national export the band Mugison who totally kicked ass on stage last night at the Cunard Centre and then again the Seahorse.
Don’t take my word for it, go and discover Mugison for yourself:
Last year’s Obey Convention was excellent, but this one looks as if it’s going to overshadow it by far. Darcy Spidle, owner of Divorce Records, has been pulling some strings and has managed to pull in a variety of very excellent local and national acts. I’m going to profile a few artists, starting with the group I’m the most excited about.
NADJA (Toronto, Canada)
are musicmakers Aidan Baker and Leah Buckareff. They make heavy, soul-crushing and uplifting ambient metal (/shoegaze/doom/drone/). Seldom completely abandoning melody and never letting up a wall of sound; Nadja makes some of the most immersive music I’ve ever heard.
Nadja began in 2003 as a studio project for Aidan Baker. In 2005, after releasing three studio albums (Touched, Skin Turns To Glass, Corrasion) and an EP (I Have Tasted the Fire Inside Your Mouth), Aidan brought Leah Buckareff into the project in order to perform live. They have since released 10 more full length albums, an EP, and 7 collaborations. Not only do they have a massive amount of material, but the quality of it all is very impressive.
Of course, Aidan Baker is a prolific artist on his own. Classically trained on the flute, and self-taught on guitar. He has over 100 albums and EPs that he has composed, contributed to, or collaborated on, as well as several books of poetry. His writings mirror his musical style in their darkness, brooding, length, and heresy; his book ‘Wound Culture’ includes the eleven stanza poem ‘Angel Tales’ which muses on the sex life of Angels.
Nadja’s most recent album, Desire in Uneasiness, is a more human offering than their older albums. A drum kit, rather than a programmed drum machine beat, makes the swelling sounds more accessible. While still dominating your sense, they make the feeling less abstract and more like a natural disaster. Seeing this version of Nadja in person promises to be a very memorable experience.
Glory Glory Man United and From Here To There Records are proud to announce the release of GGMU’s new EP Friends of the Seen. The album was recorded and produced by Jon Epworth.
You will have the chance to pick the EP up this weekend when the guys perform in Hell with label mate Dreamsploitation and Pamela Underwater and Park Effects.
Seesmic offers a Wordpress plugin that allows for users to post video comments. [After signing up? .....] – I am firing this post up now regardless and will edit accordingly later.
If you are a regular visitor and have a webcam I would love to see how this works out – so anyone please feel free to find a post you have something to add to and do so with a video comment.
Derek Sivers is the founder and CEO of CD BABY which is a popular choice for indie artists to get their music out to the masses. I was skeptical, as I always am of anything new, when I first learned of CDBABY but I have always tried to experiment with how I got my music to people and figured what the hell. Since launching my album with CDBABY a year ago I have actually gotten paid, a few times so my skeptisism was quickly replaced with excitement.
I have since grown to become a fan of Derek’s blog and his insight into the music business. He gives away a tonne of great info on www.cdbaby.net and I recommend all artists take some time to read the advice portion of the website.
I recently stumbled upon Derek’s blog and found this awesome post so I thought I’d share it. The reason this all rings so true to me right now is partly due to the fact that I have recently taken part in the Cape Breton International Drum Festival. It was really inspiring to see world class drummers (seriously famous drummers if you know about drummers) coaching younger people and driving the point home that to “make it” they have to perfect their skills. If bands focused on getting good first instead of getting gigs/recording/money they would get further in the business of music.
I spoke at a conference last weekend, where a woman in the audience was SO mad about piracy that she was physically shaking, red in the face, tears in her eyes, fuming spitting livid, asking how we can stop this rampant piracy.
I didn’t answer her concern well, but I said “More people are killed by pigs than sharks each year, but because shark attacks are more newsworthy, they seem more prevalent. Piracy gets all the attention, but I don’t think most of you in this room have lost more than $30 to piracy.” (I got a big “Booo” from the audience for this.) “Obscurity is your real enemy. Fight obscurity until you’re a household name, then piracy will be more of a problem than obscurity. Until then, worry about pigs, not sharks.”
The woman got so furious about this that she screamed at me with tears in her eyes, “I HATE YOUR POINT OF VIEW, BUDDY!” (and some other angry things I forget.) From her point of view, piracy was Enemy #1 and anybody ignoring this massive threat was hurting us all.
Driving away from the event, of course I figured out what I wish I would have said in that moment:
The thing separating us from where we are and where we need to be is not piracy.
It’s always something more internal, whether writing, communicating, producing, networking, promoting, or taking a wildly different approach to marketing.
Putting so much attention and energy into fighting piracy (as if, when solved, you’ll suddenly start selling 10 times more) – is misguided effort, distracting you from what you really need to be improving.
That’s the real reason I often tell musicians not to worry about piracy. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist. But energy spent worrying about it is energy better spent working on what you know you really need to do.
