NEWS!

December 9, 2009
Major record companies [|being sued] --to $6 billiion--by ARTISTS! And here's a commentary from Ron Sobel:  The U.S. labels just made a Settlement of their “P&U” (Pending & Undistributed) secret fund: $300 Million !!!!

And Harry Fox Agency (publishers) just admitted that they have an $80 Million P&U fund !!!!

Our job: fix that mess.

There is a better way.

R.

November 24, 2009
 **Erik Friedlander: Block Ice & Propane** Saturday, December 5, 2009 8pm McGuire Theater @ the Walker Art Center **$13 Advance Tickets for McNally Smith students (regularly $22)** Call the box office at 612-375-7600, ext. 4 and mention that you are a McNally student  “One of today’s most ingenious and forward-thinking musical practitioners.” — Billboard

This collection of cinematic cello compositions by jazz/new music phenom Erik Friedlander (John Zorn, Laurie Anderson) was inspired by years of family road trips with all the trimmings: campers, tourist traps, picnic tables, truck stops, lonely highways, stark panoramas. In Block Ice & Propane, these new compositions are paired with family and “road cycle” images created by his father, celebrated photographer Lee Friedlander, and mother Maria Friedlander, films by Bill Morrison, and engaging short tales about the kind of travels familiar to so many of us. Taking inspiration from American roots music, Friedlander executes extraordinary finger-picking technique and reverberant tunings, creating a fresh form of American cello music that is lyrical, plainspoken, and emotional.

November 21, 2009
A stunning Minnesota example of the power of the 'new' music industry--Adam Young aka Owl City from Owatonna, Minnesota.

Check out this N[|ew York Times] article. Here's his [|MySpace] page and [|official website]. Note the integration of social media and commercial partnerships!

November 20, 2009
//"Do Music Artists Fare Better in a World with Illegal Filesharing?"// A fascinating piece from the [|London Times] --the news may be better for performing musicians than some have said.

November 18, 2009
Bet you know [|these guys] !

November 5, 2009
Here's a sample [|invoice] for gigging or other uses that can be personalized

November 2, 2009
[|"United Breaks Guitars"] guy has his luggage lost by United Airlines, but builds his career in an unusual way!!

[|Navah Perlman] [|Zuill Bailey] [|Allison Brown] [|Gerd Leonard] [|Javon Jackson] [|Bang on a Can]
 * "The Ride of Your Life"** video was released in 2002, but all the artists interviewed continue to have big and growing careers. Where are they now?

October 27, 2009
For all you social networkers naysayers--[|ArtistData] will update everything at once for you! Who knows/uses other sites like this?

October 26, 2009
What's the difference between an 'average music student' and an 'entrepreneurial music student'? Read [|this] to find out (do you agree?)

Here's a [|sane article] on social networking for musicians

Unusual **marketing idea**, from Joe Ippolito at [|Good.is] "At the Feast, one of the most interesting bits of knowledge came from __Kenna__ (who’s first album, New Sacred Cow, you should own, and who Malcolm Gladwell writes about at some length in Blink). While opening for No Doubt, Kenna refused to have his name listed on any of the tickets or promotional material for the concerts. This flies in the face of traditional marketing, which is all about getting your name out there. But think about it: Most people show up late to concerts, skipping the opening act. By not listing his name on the bill, everyone showed up on time, not wanting to miss No Doubt’s set. Instead of playing for five or six hundred people, he was playing for 10,000 or 15,000. The lesson? Challenge traditional ideas."

October 23, 2009
A new potential music distribution option: **Rock Band Network**. Here's an [|article] about it. What do you think?media type="youtube" key="gT4SkIZK4ck" height="340" width="560"

Copyright is Confusing!
But there are many sources for information in sorting through your rights as a creative artist. Here are a few:


 * Public Knowledge** is a Washington DC based public interest group working to defend your rights in the emerging digital culture. Here's [|link] to a copyright tutorial for musicians (there's a slideshow link with a summary version).


 * Creative Commons** is a new approach to ownership of creative products that offers choices of 'some rights reserved' instead of the 'all rights reserved' of traditional copyright law. Here are a couple of videos on [|CC] and [|here] . Check out Creative Commons at [|www.creativecommons.org].

Music Business Plan
Here's a thorough approach to designing a [|music business plan], written by Peter Spellman of Music Business Solutions.

October 9, 2009
Bobby Stanton is giving guitar lessons via Skype video conferencing. Check it out [|here].

September 30, 2009
Here's an article from [|Mashable.com] with great sites for streaming music

September 25, 2009
Here's a cool [|video] on the evolution of technology (so far!)

An interview with [|"Dr. Sam"] a physician in NE Mpls who specializes in caring for artists.

Here are some [|links to blogs by] young professional musicians.

September 7, 2009
McNally Smith grad Alex Young 's new website

August 26, 2009
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Cool article on how musicians can build an [|online presence]

April 26, 2009
Check out this cool summary of [|DIY career-building for musicians]--lots of great links too! Straightforward [|tips on leading a band]

Are musicians recession-proof? Read [|this] and let's talk.

Music as prescription medicine? What do you think of [|this?]

April 16, 2009
1[|0 top social media sites] for college students

Interested in building your teaching studio? [|"Along Comes Music"] is an in-home music lesson company. It's new to me, but might be worth checking out.

Brian Casey sent this link on being a [|'jinglesmithy'] : "we can talk for two hours and not explain the process as concisely as this article does. I highly recommend you pass this along to anyone who is either interested in learning how to get into the commercial music world or how the process of dealing with ad agency clients works. really a great explanation of the biz."

April 13, 2009
An interesting [|resume re-do] from GOOD Magazine. Be sure to check out the comments below the article!

Here's a [|day brightener] for you! The power of music is a good thing in the world!

April 7, 2009
Here's a link to instrument insurance for professional musicians: [|Clarion Insurance]

April 5, 2009
Videos presented by experts in many fields--check out [|Big Think].

April 1, 2009
Up-to-date [|resume] tips!

March 30, 2009
From the film, "The Ride of Your Life," Gerd Leonard is the [|Media Futurist]. See what Gerd has been up to since 2002. And here's an article on [|Alison Brown], banjo virtuoso and record label owner.

Here's a short talk by the creator of [|Twitter], describing some of the uses for it he never imagined originally.

For the adventurous folks who are trying [|Twitter], here are a few of my favorite sites to follow: artistshousemusic; social media 411; musicianwages; McNally Smith; digital natives; Springboard for the Arts; smallbizbee; The Onion; Add your favorites here:

March 29, 2009
[|AudioLife] is a simple way to distribute your music and merch, and an [|example]of the system in action.

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Great little piece on MPR this morning--the [|Ada-Borup H.S. pep band](170+ kids in the h.s./70-some in the band). What struck me was the director's non-traditional approach--he arranges or composes all their music, runs it more like a rock band, includes guitars, etc.=====

March 26, 2009
Here's a link to [|Baby Loves Music], where you'll find books and recordings and short videos for Baby Loves Disco, Baby Loves Jazz, Baby Loves Blues, Baby Loves Hip Hop, Baby Loves Salsa, and Baby Love Reggae. It's like Comtemp Lit for kids! (And some pretty darn creative work for a bunch of fine musicians).

An interesting article about [|YouTube], Warner Bros. Records, and cover songs, from the New York Times.
[|Artist House Music and John Snyder] An amazing resource from our amazing guest.

March 20, 2009
Here's an article on musicians' business plans from [|Hypebot]

Another post-graduation option is [|national service]through established groups like [|Teach for America]or [|Americorps]. The "National Service" bill is working through Congress, expanding opportunities. Here's the story on [|NPR]

The House of Representatives on Wednesday [|passed legislation]that would more than triple the number of participants in the AmeriCorps national service program and create several new programs aimed at increasing the number of Americans engaged in community service, fulfilling a campaign pledge of President Obama's. The bill, a version of which the Senate's education committee also approved Wednesday, would increase the number of AmeriCorps participants to 250,000 from the current 75,000, increase the education reward they receive in exchange for their service to $5,350 for next year, and link increases in that payment to match future boosts in the Pell Grant maximum to keep up with rising college costs.

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[|Top 10 Gigs You Might Not Have Thought o]f --check 'em out! Cool article on [|Twitter for Musicians!]=====

March 14, 2009

 * Dessa** was featured on [|MPR Midmorning] program on Friday, March 13, 2009. She performs a bit (music and reads from her new book) and she's got some great things to say.

The Star Tribune posted a timely story on **2009 college grads** [|here].

March 9, 2009
Check out this cool article from the Chicago Tribune--[|"College Music Programs Booming Despite Economic Bust"]--great stuff! Work for musicians is growing in all sorts of ways.

**Summer Jobs for College Musicians!**
[|Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp]. Call 800-221-3796 for application materials! 180 staff positions available for college musicians with interest and aptitude in working with young people. Cabin Counselors, June 22-Aug.23; salary $1,400 to $2,300 (based on experience). In addition to being a cabin counselor, there are performance opportunities and the opportunity to meet and perform with professional faculty from all over the country.

March 8, 2009
Great pre-graduation thought for the day (spotted on a t-shirt!):

Growth is optional. Choose wisely." --unknown//**
 * //"Life is change.

**XKCD**
Here a witty cartoon-style website with an interesting perspective on the world--[|XKCD]: "A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language." I'm including it here because of the creator's approach to [|intellectual property] (Creative Commons, you can reprint the comics you like, pretty much where you like, just give him credit), and because there are a number of cartoons related to music, file sharing, and the like.

March 04, 2009
Watch for the "Pick 6" article in the Star Tribune as I am one of the contributors. Basically with this article I get to pick 3 recent musical events and write short reviews about them. Hope you dig! Daniel - peace.love.music //Congrats, Daniel! I dig! --JW//

February 28, 2009
Here's an [|inspiring musician story]--not just for what this man has overcome, which is inspirational in itself--but for some insights into how the brain and body process and respond to music. The power of music is amazing!

Welcome to the [|Twitterverse!]Check out a story from NPR on the Twitter explosion.

February 26, 2009
[|MacPhail Center for Music]is hosting a free session on **autism and music therapy on March 4**. If you have any potential interest in or curiosity about music therapy, stop by--it should be a fascinating discussion.

January 29, 2009
One of my favorite sites is [|Indexed]. The author posts a simple, hand-drawn diagram everyday that illustrates something of interest. She's amazingly clever and really to the point. [|This entry] addresses a key aspect of our Circle Building wor k. Scroll down through the comments until you find "Ed". His expansion of the original idea is even better:

What you know, Who you know, and WHAT YOU DO ABOUT IT! (has anyone called Dessa yet?)
Think about how you can develop your contacts in this way!

I love this little video, titled **"Music and Life**," from the creators of South Park with text by philosopher Alan Watts
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February 7, 2009
TED (Technology, Education, and Design) offers a tremendously rich series of short video talks by world renowned artists, speakers, scientists, designers, and others. They are seriously great, thought-provoking pieces. Here's one to get you thinking by Sir Ken Robinson who says schools kill creativity. Check it out [|here].

February 10, 2009
Check out this fascinating piece on our exponential age: media type="youtube" key="W14CInvw9Ao" height="344" width="425"

Here's a cool video about the drummer from The Clash, talking about [|'drum therapy'] Note the side bar articles on music therapy topics as well.

And one more for today: CBC Radio has a [|concerts-on-demand] service. Currently, 897 concerts of jazz, pop, rock, classical, and world music--full concerts, all free!

February 12, 2009
I came across a cool blog--**musicianwages.com**--lots of practical entries for musicians. Here's one on [|resumes]and another on [|business cards]. Note their Facebook and Twitter pages as well