SONGWRITING SEMINAR HOSTED BY ASCAP

In celebration of this year’s 51st Grammy Awards, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) will present a special “Hitmakers” panel discussion on Saturday, February 7th, from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California.

The panel features Grammy Award-winning artists/producers and some of today’s top songwriters; Ne-Yo (nominated for six Grammy Awards this year), Johntá Austin (ASCAP’s Pop and Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, Songwriter of the Year in 2007), Manuel Seal and Tricky Stewart.

The featured panelists will discuss their experience with the hit records they have written:

Ne-Yo
Songwriter: “Because of You,” “Closer,” nominated at the 2009 Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, “Irreplaceable” (Beyonce), “Let Me Love You” (Mario), “Miss Independent,” nominated at the 2009 Grammy Awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B song, “Take a Bow” (Rihanna) and “Unfaithful” (Rihanna).

Johntá Austin
Songwriter: “Be Without You” (Mary J. Blige),  “Poppin’” (Chris Brown),“Don’t Forget About Us” (Mariah Carey) and “Shake It Off” (Mariah Carey).

Manuel Seal
Songwriter: “Always Be My Baby” (Mariah Carey); “My Boo” (Usher), “My Way” (Usher) and “We Belong Together” (Mariah Carey) where he won a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Tricky Stewart
Songwriter: “Umbrella” (Rihanna featuring Jay-Z), “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (Beyonce), “Touch My Body” (Mariah Carey) and “Me Against the Music” (Britney Spears featuring Madonna).

This special event will be moderated by Billboard Magazine’s Senior Editor/R&B Hip Hop, Gail Mitchell, the event is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required, but it is first come, first served.

REMEMBERING ROMAN STEWART

Year after year, every January 25, I have to sit around and shake my head in sorrow, shame and pity.  One cannot hear a radio personality purse their lips on their radio program to remember Roman Stewart.  I sometimes wonder if these radio personalities know their reggae music history or care to know.  Do they take time out to research or interview elders in the industry to learn?  I guess not.  All you hear most times is a bag of noise and/or chat.  When I do meet up with them - those with whom I can relate to, they can tell you that I always tell them like it is, as  I am not one to hold back.  This year one radio personality promised me that he would do a special on Roman Stewart and to his word he did.  

Thank you Fatforward of 93.5 FM radio in the Bronx, NY.

TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW, IF THERE WAS NO ROMAN STEWART THERE WOULD NOT BE A DENNIS BROWN.  Yes read my caps.  Roman taught Dennis to sing.  Listen to Dennis, Watch Dennis, See Dennis' performance - who do you see - YES ROMAN STEWART.

THE MAN, a/k/a ROMEY, MR. SPECIAL

Born in 1957, Roman Stewart at a tender age would sing on the streets and at the pier where cruise ships docked. His friend Freddie McGregor would collect the money that people gave them.  In 1968, he was just 11 years old when he did his first recording "Walking Down The Street".  In 1974 Roman got his first hit song "Hooray Festival", followed by "Hit Song" in 1976.

The early 1970's was good to Roman wherein he started recording more songs for well known producers (Glen Brown, Derrick Harriott, Everton Da Silva, Phil Pratt and Linval Thompson)  It is said that his best known tune is  "Rice and Peas" recorded  in 1979 for Linval Thompson.  In all Roman recorded more than 70 singles and two albums by himself and endured a career of more than 30 years.

Roman moved from Jamaica to New York in 1976, he recorded some songs, dubs and did shows.  The latter he was known to do especially when his friends arrived in town most of for free of charge. 

On January 25, 2004 Roman a/k/a Romey died of a heart attack at the age of 46. Prior to that night Roman attended a show to see his good friend Freddie McGregor.  Thereafter, he attended a birthday party where he sang two songs.  It is said that when Roman attempted to sing his third song, he placed the microphone down and complained of chest pains.  He later collapsed and was rushed to the hospital in a coma.

Roman had regain consciousness after an operation lasting several hours and it is said that Roman was heard saying "If I get through this, I'm going to change my life."  Later he went into a second coma, as we sat and waited in E2 Studios (Ed Robinson's Studio) praying and hoping for the best, we received that call from Yvonne Young the call we really did not want and she informed us that Roman had passed on.

I know that Roman is probably up there looking down at us with that kool aid smile about to make a call to all sound-men saying "hey I got D Brown and Alton here, how much dub you want".  Always the jovial hustler - our Romey.  Gone but not forgotten.

THE BRIT AWARDS

The BRIT Awards, the British equivalent of the Grammys will take place on February 18 at Earl's Court in London, this will be broadcast live on ITV1 from 8pm.

The following are the nominees for the International Female Solo Artist: Beyonce: I Am Sasha Fierce, Gabriella Cilmi: Lessons To Be Learned, Katy Perry: One Of The Boys,  Pink: Funhouse.

International Male Solo Artist: Beck: Modern Guilt, Neil Diamond: home Before Dark, Jay Z: American Gangster, Kanye West: 808's and Heartbreak, Seasick Steve: I Started Out With Nothin and I Still Got Most Of It Left.

International Album:  AC/DC: Black Ice, Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes, Killers: Day and Age, Kings of Leon: Only by the night, MGMT: Oracular Spectacular.

International Group: AC/DC: Black Ice, Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes, Killers: Day and Age, Kings of Leon: Only by the night, MGMT: Oracular Spectacular.

Winners, chosen from a vote by over 1,000 British music industry insiders. 

MY 2 CENTS:

Reggae & Dancehall lovers why not petition for a reggae category.  We can hear you loud and clear with respect to the Grammys.  And to the artists who claim that they sell numbers and that they are big in the UK kindly get yourselves on this list.  This is 2009 "DO YOU" show us what you got.

GAME SALES SLOWING DOWN

Music video games have been topping sales since the decrease in music industry sales, but recent figures are suggesting that this may be starting to decline.  On October 26, 2008 Activision's Guitar Hero World Tour had only sold 1.5 million domestic units to date, down 55 percent from sales figures for Activision's previous release Guitar Hero III.  In addition, MTV's Rock Band 2 sold less than a million units compared to the first "Rock Band," which has sold over 4 million units.

Having faces with these gloomy sales figures,  videogame industry analysts are looking to several possible factors responsible for the slump.  Guitar Hero World Tour is the fourth video game in the franchise in four years.  In addition, Disney, Konami and Nintendo have all released music video games recently.  Faced with a seemingly never ending barrage of music video games releases, analysts point out that supply may have finally surpassed demand.  In addition, each unit cost close to $200, consumers may be less willing to upgrade or purchase a new games, especially in these tough economic times.

Despite these gloomy sales, Activision will release Guitar Hero Metallica in March.  In addition, both Activision and MTV have plans for more games.  Activision plans to release at least one additional game next year and MTV is currently slated to release a Rock Band spinoff based on The Beatles by next Christmas.

My 2 Cents:

Reggae Artists let's get with the game, THE BUSINESS.  The other genres are doing it, let us do it too.

BLUE NOTE'S SYNCHRONIZATION DEAL

Blue Note signed a synchronization deal with Boosey and Hawkes publishers of classical and jazz music, that will give Boosey ownership over global synchronization of the celebrated EMI jazz imprint.

The agreement will provide greater publishing and master synch flexibility for Blue Note, with Boosey providing both master recording sourcing and clearance for already existing jazz copyrights.

Blue Note is famous for representing such legendary jazz artists as Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis and John Coltrane.  The imprint is currently in its 70th anniversary year and just released Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records to commemorate the milestone.

My 2 Cents:

Reggae/Dancehall artist we need to start thinking of the business PUBLISHING (Synchronization, Mechanical, Performance). Come on it is time, open a book and read, get with the program.

LAYOFFS IN ENTERTAINMENT

The largest self contained distributor, Alliance Entertainment LLC, is to lay off 462 workers and close it's warehouse in Coral Springs, Fl.  Of the 462 layoffs 333 will come from the warehouse staff as of March 16 and May 4.  Alliance Entertainment LLC  is a division of Source Interlink.  Alliance will remain until the transfer to Kentucky is finalized.

Alliance Entertainment LLC, is  to consolidate its distribution, sales and support centers.  A Source Interlink's group vice president of HR said that  workers who are affected by the layoff will be offered jobs at another Source Interlink plant in Kentucky.  Those who are unable to relocated the company will also work with them.

Source Interlink is a distributor of DVDs and CDs.

It is also said that another company in Miami, Florida will also layoff 100 in the coming months, Global market research company Synovate Inc.

MUSIC SALES GREW OVER 10 PERCENT IN 2008

GOOD AND BAD NEWS

2008 Nielsen SoundScan point of sale music purchases released indicate that overall music purchases increased more than 10 percent as individual sales jumped from 1.37 billion in 2007 to 1.5 billion in 2008. These sales include albums, singles, music video and digital tracks purchased.  In 2008 we saw big numbers from the top three selling artists -Lil' Wayne, AC/DC and Taylor Swift, the total number of digital and albums sold dropped 14 percent to approximately 428 million.  During the holiday period of November 17 to December 28 album sales dropped 19 percent from 99 million in 2007 to 80 million in 2008.

In looking at sales of digital singles and albums these looked good in 2008 as they increased by 27 percent and 32 percent.  Digital tracks sales exceeded 1 billion for the first time and digital albums hit 65 million to bring in its largest yearly total ever. Vinyl was the greatest gainer as LP sales almost doubled to jump 89 percent in 2008.  The highest selling vinyl albums of the year Radiohead's  "In Rainbows, the Beatles' "Abbey Road" and Guns 'N Roses' "Chinese Democracy"

 

iTUNES HAS MADE ONLINE MUSIC HARDER FOR RETAILERS TO COMPETE

On Tuesday Apple announced that they are immediately dropping Digital Rights Management from their 8 million tracks.  This will now make it harder for online music retailers to compete with them due to the fact that (a) Major Labels are continuing to relinquish more control over their product - which is  good. (b) iTunes market share will increase even more than their 70% plus of the legal online download market - this is not good for competition. (c) Other players will be able to play music from the Apple store after it is converted to MP3.

Industry folks will be happy that Apple has removed Digital Rights Management from their tracks and see it as a positive step.  In the IFPI(International Federation of the Phonographic Industry),  report they indicate that the ratio of unlicensed tracks downloaded to legal tracks sold is about 20 to 1.

THE WAR IS ON (Warner Music vs. YouTube)

Approximately two years ago, all four major labels signed licensing agreements with YouTube.  The agreement was centered on a streaming fee for each video viewed - may it be major labels videos or generated videos and it also included a share of YouTube's advertising revenue. Warner Music is now demanding that all of their videos featuring their music be removed from YouTube.

Of all the majors Universal seems to be satisfied.  Rio Caraeff, executive vice president of Universal Music Group's eLabs said that Universal has obtained tens of millions of dollars from the licensing deal with YouTube.  In his statement, he said that Warner is overlooking the fact that their music business is built on the backs of artists who need this connection with their fans to grow their base and further their career. He continued in saying that if fans cannot add the music of their favorite artists to their homemade videos or share it with their friends, it is not a good way to draw fans.  He also went on to say that You Tube is growing rapidly. He indicated that it is up almost 80% for them year over year in the U.S. in terms of their revenue from this category.

All in all, this war that Warner is fighting with YouTube is at the expense of the artists.  I wonder how many artists are having regrets in signing that contract instead of the D.I.Y.  Now is the time for artists and up and coming artists to take note of what is happening and answer this question - If YouTube decide to give Warner what they want, which is more money.  How much of that money their artists are going to see on their statements or in their bank accounts.  

ARTISTS ANOTHER WAY TO KEEP THAT FAN-BASE CONNECTION

I cannot stress it enough that artists should at all times forge a relationship with their fan-base. There is no better way to keep your fans than that one on one contact, as it gives fans a sense of connection an "emotional connection"

We see the many forms of social networking that allow artists to keep this connection with their fan-base. Now there is another free web-casting tool that does a great job of providing this platform www.ustream.com. It is user friendly and easy to set up. ustream allow you to embed their video player on your site, you can plug in a firewire camera to film your live performances, or use your web cam. This site also allow you to record and store past events. Another good thing about this site is that fans can watch and chat with you one on one.

Artists it is 2009, keep your career in high gear, have a plan, stay focus and make use of these tools. Fans keep your chats clean do not misuse nor abuse this network.