Songwriters - Music Connection

BUSINESS AFFAIRS
The new edition features two new
songs, along with a new lyric video.
In October the band joined label
mates and headliner Miss May I on
the AP Tour along with the Ghost
Inside, the Amity Affliction and
Glass Cloud. The trek runs through
Nov. 24th. Tickets and tour details
are available at http://theaptour.
ning.com.
• Iconic, hardcore punk band Bad
Brains will release Into the Future
on Nov. 20 via Megaforce. The new
album features the classic lineup of
H.R., Darryl Jenifer, Dr. Know and
Earl Hudson. “This record is the
purest Bad Brains recording since
the ROIR cassette,” says bassist
Jenifer. “It’s self-produced and
shines with a sense of freedom and
musical experimentation.” Brains
fans can go to http://badbrains.com
for further info.
• The Manchester band, the 1975,
have signed a deal with Vagrant,
and will release their Sex EP on
Nov. 20th. The title track is now
streaming on Soundcloud. They
are currently at work on their debut
album with producer Mike Crossey
(Arctic Monkeys, Foals) for release
in Spring 2013. To get additional
news go to their official website at
http://the1975.com.
PROPS
• A decade after his death, Waylon
Jennings continues to be one of
country music’s most beloved artists
while winning over a new generation
of fans who have embraced
his �nal recordings, Goin’ Down
Rockin’. Released via Saguaro
Road Records, the album was one
of Amazon.com’s best sellers. Jennings
was the founder of the Outlaw
Movement, received two Grammy
Awards, and multiple Country Music
Association and Academy of
Country Music awards. He was in-
HINDER WELCOMES THE FREAKSHOW
24 November 2012 www.musicconnection.com
ducted into the Country Music Hall
of Fame in 2001. For more on one
of country music’s most beloved outlaws,
visit http://waylonjennings.com.
Celebrated banjo player, Mark
Johnson, is the recipient of the third
annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence
in Banjo and Bluegrass.
Johnson differs from the �rst two
years’ winners in that he focuses on
a style called “clawhammer” rather
than Scruggs style or three-�nger.
He has blended the two styles of
playing into one approach he calls
“Clawgrass.” The Steve Martin
Prize for Excellence provides the
winner with a cash prize of $50,000,
as well as a bronze sculpture created
by noted artist Eric Fischl. To
learn more about this unique player,
go to http://clawgrass.com.
• What heavy metal band has lullaby
versions of its hit songs “War
Pigs” and “Heaven and Hell” on a
CD collection? The correct answer,
of course, is Black Sabbath whose
lullaby renditions recently came
out on Rockabye Baby. Through
more than four-dozen releases,
moms and dads nationwide have
grooved to Rockabye Baby’s blend
of practical parenting and rockin’
fun. Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and
Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott were so
enthusiastic about their respective
lullaby version CDs that they contributed
liner notes to them. All Rockabye
Baby releases are available at
iTunes and Amazon.com. For more
information, or to hear samples, visit
Rockabye Baby’s highly interactive
website and blog at http://rockabye
babymusic.com.
THE BIZ
• Warner Music Group (WMG) announced
the promotion of Mike
Caren to President, Worldwide
A&R. Working across Warner Music’s
legendary labels, such as At-
Multiplatinum Oklahoma City hard rockers Hinder will unleash their fourth fulllength
album for Republic Records, Welcome to The Freakshow, in stores and
online Dec. 4, 2012. The record is preceded by the anthemic first single, “Save
Me,” impacting airwaves and available at iTunes. The record was co-produced
by drummer Cody Hanson and Marshall Dutton in a hometown studio. Instead
of simply sticking to a tried-and-true formula, the group decided to smash
boundaries, experimenting with rock, pop, and even a little country. The
resulting 11 tracks are intoxicating in the best way possible. For additional
information, you can visit http://hindermusic.com.
DIY Spotlight:
—BERNARD BAUR
• Punk band Angels Heart turned to innovation for the release of their
latest album. They gave away free digital downloads of Tattoos & Cigarettes
using a unique fan-friendly application.
• Fans entered a “Daily Deal” contest via the band’s Facebook page.
When the entries totaled 10,000, all those who had signed up got free
access to high-quality downloads.
• Angels Heart did not pummel people with self-aggrandizing hype
and promotion or ask them to “Like” their page. Instead they rewarded
people for participating in the growth of the band with a gift of their art.
• To build up the Tattoos & Cigarettes giveaway, the band released
one song per week from their first album, Sixty-Eight Cutlass, and forged
a fan-friendly platform that reflected their progressive views regarding
technology and online relationships.
• Punk music has always been about rebellion. And, by creating an
original fan-driven format for music distribution, Angels Heart have
made their mark.
• They believe that those artists who understand the changing nature of
the industry, and proactively innovate rather than complain, will be the
ones who rise to the top.
• This unique approach proves their point.
• To find out more about Angels Heart, and download some free music,
go to http://angelsheart.com or follow them at http://twitter.com/
angelsheartrock.
Have a successful DIY strategy to share? Email bbatmc@aol.com.
lantic, Elektra and Warner Bros.
Records, as well as its international
affiliates, Caren will provide creative
leadership and support to the company’s
artist development activities.
His responsibilities will include discovering
new artists, nurturing existing
signings and working closely
with the company’s A&R executives
around the world.
• Clear Channel Media and Entertainment
and Glassnote Entertainment
Group have reached an
agreement that will align the companies’
business interests, accelerate
growth and innovation in digital radio
and enable Glassnote to share
in all Clear Channel radio revenue
streams. This market-based partnership,
will help establish a business
model that supports the development
of a vibrant and sustainable
digital music industry to the bene�t
of all constituencies—artists, music
companies, radio and consumers.
• SoundExchange has announced
the signing of a new reciprocal
agreement to collect performance
royalties on behalf of its recording
artist and record label members for
certain uses of their sound recordings
in Canada. A US-based music
industry non-pro�t, SoundExchange
now holds more than 20 international
agreements with other sound
recording performance collecting societies
from around the world.
MICRO-BIO: Voted one of the
“Top Music Business Journalists”
in the country, Bernard Baur is the
connection between the streets and
the suites. Credited with over 1,200
features in a variety of publications,
he’s a Contributing Editor at Music
Connection.