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How Formats Shaped, Splintered And Remade Pop Music

Feb 10, 2015

From NPR:

Music critics these days love to argue about “rockism,” the unexamined prejudices we bring to our musical judgements, and “poptimism,” an effort to celebrate commercial stuff that some think goes way too far. My book, Top 40 Democracy: The Rival Mainstreams of American Music, aims to get us out of that endless back and forth by focusing on the key place songs become pop: radio, which, beginning on AM with Top 40 in the 1950s and then moving to FM in the 1970s, gave music its deepest connection to Americans. Radio made new tunes and styles familiar, perennial, memories. And unlike movies or TV, radio was structurally segmented: Different formats like country, R&B, rock, Top 40 and Adult Contemporary targeted different audiences.

That’s formats, not genres: Radio sold listeners to advertisers, not music to fans, and that meant being pragmatic about the tastes of groups highly defined by age, gender, race and class, not vaunting musical standards. True believers could fume all they wanted, and they have, from Elvis Costello attacking “Radio, Radio” in his punk days to Public Enemy‘s Chuck D questioning black radio’s blackness. But the cynicism of lowest common denominator formats was good, I argue in my book, because even idealistic gatekeepers like music snobs are inherently narrow minded. In catering to chunks of everybody, not everybody all at once, what I call Top 40 democracy produced a pop scene of striking diversity, armored by commercialism. Think of the Grammy Awards, which routinely dwarf the Oscars in the number of categories represented and in demographic range. Normal, in music, became a bunch of different, simultaneous, normals: parallel and jostling mainstreams, rather than everybody forced to fit into the same blockbuster formula or accept marginal status.

OMG! The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume Two

Feb 10, 2015

The first volume in The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records collection was called “spectacular” (New York Times), “unprecedented” (Rolling Stone), “breathtaking” (Boing Boing), and “a cabinet of wonder, indeed” (Pitchfork).

On November 18, Third Man and Revenant proudly released you The Rise & Fall of Paramount, Volume Two – already being hailed by Wired as “the ultimate box set of iconic American music.”

Volume One (1917-27) chronicled Paramount’s improbable rise from also-ran to jazz-blues juggernaut, launching the recording careers of giants like King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Alberta Hunter, Blind Blake, Ethel Waters, Ma Rainey, Papa Charlie Jackson, Big Bill Broonzy, and Fats Waller. Order Volume One here.

But just as it seemed Paramount might be losing steam, it began a second act that threatened to dwarf its first. This astonishing second act is the subject of The Rise & Fall of Paramount, Volume Two (1928-32), the final chapter in our commemoration of America’s greatest record label.

In its final 5 year push from 1928-32, Paramount embarked on a furious run for the ages, birthing the entire genre of Mississippi Delta blues recordings and issuing some of the most coveted records in the history of wax – a staggering playlist including Skip James, Charley Patton, Son House, Tommy Johnson, Willie Brown, King Solomon Hill, Tampa Red, Lottie Kimbrough, Rube Lacy, Meade Lux Lewis, Buddy Boy Hawkins, Jaydee Short, George “Bullet” Williams, Cow Cow Davenport, Clifford Gibson, Ishman Bracey, Louise Johnson, Geeshie Wiley & Elvie Thomas, The Mississippi Sheiks. and hundreds of other artists.

Paramount simply killed. But more than that, it changed how this country thought of itself. It was the first enterprise of any kind to capture what America really sounded like in the 1920s and ’30s – on its street corners, at its fish fries and country suppers, in its nightclubs and dance halls and showtents. In the process, it was profit-minded Paramount – not a preservationist body like the Library of Congress – that inadvertently created the most significant repository of this young nation’s greatest art form.

Six LPs, 800 digital tracks, two definitive large-format books. All housed in a polished aluminum case evoking the era’s high art deco stylings and America’s own Machine Age take on modernist design.

A joint release by Third Man and Revenant, co-produced by leading Paramount scholar Alex van der Tuuk, with all Paramount masters issued under license agreement with GHB Jazz Foundation.

Contents:
* 800 newly-remastered digital tracks, representing 175 artists. View digital track list.
* 90+ fully-restored original 1920s-30s Paramount ads from The Chicago Defender
* 6 x 180g LPs pressed on label-less alabaster-white vinyl, each side with its own hand-etched numeral and holographic image. View complete LP track list.
* 250 pg. large-format clothbound hardcover book featuring original Paramount art and the label’s curious tale
* 400 pg. encyclopedia-style softcover field guide containing artist bios & portraits and full Paramount discography
* First-of-its-kind music and image player app containing all tracks and ads, housed on custom metal USB drive
* Polished aluminum and stainless steel “Machine Age” cabinet, upholstered in sapphire blue velvet

9 minutes of Rosie Perez shakin’ on Soul Train

Feb 9, 2015

No wonder she was discovered. When Perez was 19 years old, she was noticed at dance club Funky Reggae by Spike Lee in 1988, who hired her for her first major acting role in Do the Right Thing. Perez started her career in the late 1980s as a dancer on Soul Train. As a college student in Los Angeles, majoring in bio-chemistry, to relieve stress she said she would go to these nightclubs for ladies night — a talent scout from Soul Train asked her to be on the show. She was not a professional dancer but loved it so much she dropped out of school.

Perez later choreographed music videos by Janet Jackson, Bobby Brown, Diana Ross, LL Cool J and The Boys. She was the choreographer for the dancing group the Fly Girls who were featured on the Fox television comedy program In Living Color and also worked as a segment producer.

The Biggest Danger Of Being A Ball Boy

Feb 9, 2015

Yup. You got it.

“Old/New” – Narrated by Patton Oswalt

Feb 9, 2015

Old/New is the story of Drew McHugh, a man whose penchant for the new — new devices, new fashion, new friends — is challenged when he discovers the rustic appeal of old-fashioned things. He quickly becomes obsessed with the reclaimed and well-worn – plummeting face-first down the rabbit hole of novelty and nostalgia.

Jack Nicholson Gave One of the Best Ever Acceptance Speeches, 1974

Feb 9, 2015

Greatest acceptance speech ever? Watch Jack Nicholson accept his Leading Actor award for his performance in The Last Detail and Chinatown on the set of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 1975.

Canadian Arts/Media Job Posts For February 9, 2015

Feb 9, 2015

North Strategic is looking for a Account Director, Social Media, based in Toronto.

Idea Workshop PR in Toronto has an opening for a Senior Account Manager, providing ongoing support to senior management while managing and mentoring junior staff. Reporting to the Vice President, you will effectively manage your accounts and ensure work is being completed in an efficient manner.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s Communications and Corporate Affairs Division requires a seasoned professional with a solid background in Media Relations and Corporate Communications to act as the primary spokesperson and manage the AGCO’s external communications function.

Metrolinx’s Strategic Communications Division is seeking a Senior Advisor to effectively collaborate and liaise with internal and external stakeholders provide advice and oversight for communications projects, media relations and issues management.

Canon is looking for a dynamic, results-oriented individual with a passion for social media and the creation of meaningful, relevant and engaging digital content!

Tangerine in Toronto has an opening for a Senior Manager of Social Media. This role will take ownership of all Tangerine social media activities and strategies and is driven to create value for Tangerine Clients and followers. You will be driven to simplify, differentiate and innovate in order to provide a superior social media and digital experience.

SOCAN has an opportunity for a Licensing Agent (New Media).

52 Pick-up in Toronto is looking for a Social Media Manager, responsible for developing and executing clearly defined and creative social media campaigns for 52 Pick-up and their clients.

MaxSys in Ottawa has a Federal Government client having an immediate need for a Social Media Consultant.

CreativeCircle in Toronto has an opening for a Director, Digital and Social Media Strategy to join their team for 10 months.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901, and they’re looking for a Social Media Coordinator.

Bell Media in Kitchener, ON has an opening for a Regional Operations Manager.

Rogers Publishing in Toronto is looking for a Senior Director, whose main accountability is to support the growth of Publishing’s digital media business through a variety of initiatives.

The Royal Conservatory of Music is one of the largest and most respected music education institutions in the world, providing the definitive standard of excellence in curriculum design, assessment, performance training, teacher certification, and arts-based social programs. They’re looking for a Marketing Manager is responsible for developing and executing marketing initiatives to drive sales of the more than 500 publications that support The Royal Conservatory Certificate Program.

Do you have a very good knowledge of Social Media, and have a particular talent for web copywriting? Solutions Medias 360 is looking for a Coordinator of Online Communities and Content.

AiMHi – Prince George Association for Community Living Association has an immediate need for Social Media expertise.

Smoking Gun Interactive is looking for an experienced Community Manager to join their growing team.

Improv Your Acting is seeking an enthusiastic,eager and dedicated individual to assist in a dynamic and creative environment. Improv Your Acting offers a multi-disciplinary set of acting courses for actors,businesses, and schools, through the IYA Studio.

Carlton Cards, Canada’s leading social expressions/paper products company is seeking a dedicated individual with excellent communication skills for an immediate opening of a Social Media Specialist within their marketing team.

Next Generation Fast Foods in Toronto is looking for smart and enthusiastic individuals to help with the social media and PR execution for all their brands.

Foursum is a golf app for iPhone and Android smartphones. Designed for golfers of all skill levels, Foursum blends tradition with technology, as a tool to help you track and understand your game, and as a social platform that fosters competition, community, and fun. They are looking for a Community Manager, responsible for managing and growing the company’s social media presence.

PaySavvy is currently looking for a Community Manager. The role will be managing and growing our community reach and raising their profile (social media, content, thought leadership pieces).

KPMG in Toronto is seeking a seasoned social media professional to take theirstrategy to the next level.

Relic Entertainment, a wholly owned studio of SEGA, is the award winning RTS developer of Homeworld, Dawn of War and Company of Heroes, among other games. They’re looking for a Community Manager, who will have a dedicated responsibility for the management of social channels relating to Relic IP.

The Fashion Hero in Montreal is looking for an SEM/SEO and Social Media expert to manage all search engine optimization and marketing activities.

Mavencare is looking for an intern to provide assistance to the Marketing and Communications/Customer Service team.

Lululemon is seeking a Social Media Specialist (Men’s SeaWheeze) to support and execute initiatives across their @lululemonmen’s and SeaWheeze specific social channels.

Vancouver Fashion Week is looking for individuals who will be able to provide relevant content for their online platforms and channels.

Ricky Martin announces North American dates for One World Tour

Feb 9, 2015

GRAMMY® Award-winner and music superstar, Ricky Martin, announced the North American dates for his ONE WORLD TOUR in support of his brand new album, A Quien Quiera Escuchar,set for release tomorrow, Feb 10. The 20-date tour, promoted exclusively by Live Nation, will take the acclaimed entertainer to cities throughout the U.S. and Canada starting on Sept. 15 in Las Vegas, Nev. with shows lined up in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, Miami and more. A full list of tour dates is below. Tickets go on sale starting Feb. 20 at www.livenation.com.

The multi-platinum award winning artist’s highly-anticipated 10th studio album, A Quien Quiera Escuchar, available in all distribution formats, and in two versions – original and deluxe – is possibly the most personal and intimate to have been released by the acclaimed singer, philanthropist, author, actor and businessman. The lead single, “Adios,” has already amassed over 14 million views on Vevo since its release in October. Produced by Colombian composer, arranger, and pianist Julio Reyes Copello and recorded between Australia, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles and Mexico City, A Quien Quiera Escuchar showcases his vocal maturity and depth of artistry.

In support of the album, Ricky Martin will be making several national television appearances including Univision’s Primer Impacto (Feb. 9) and Despierta América (Feb. 10), Telemundo’s Al Rojo Vivo (Feb. 10) and Un Nuevo Dia (Feb. 11 & Feb. 12), The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Feb. 11), The TODAY Show (Feb. 12) and the Wendy Williams Show (Feb. 13).

Ricky Martin has sold nearly 85 million albums worldwide including six Billboard No.1 albums, launched several world-spanning tours selling out shows in nearly 60 countries and has won numerous accolades including six GRAMMY Awards, 10 Billboard Music Awards and has earned worldwide recognition for his humanitarian work.

ONE WORLD TOUR

All dates, cities and venues below subject to change.

All dates below on sale Feb. 20 unless otherwise noted.

Tues, Sept. 15	Las Vegas, NV	Axis At Planet Hollywood
Thurs, Sept. 17	Oakland, CA	Oracle Arena (on sale Feb. 21)
Sat, Sept. 19	Los Angeles, CA	The Forum (on sale Feb. 21)
Sun, Sept. 20	San Diego, CA	Viejas Arena
Thurs, Sept. 24	Albuquerque, NM	Sandia Casino
Sat, Sept. 26	Phoenix, AZ	Comerica Theatre
Sun, Sept. 27	El Paso, TX	El Paso County Coliseum (on sale TBA)
Wed, Sept. 30	Houston, TX	Toyota Center
Thurs, Oct. 1	Laredo, TX	Laredo Energy Arena
Sat, Oct. 3	San Antonio, TX	Freeman Coliseum
Sun, Oct. 4	Dallas, TX	Gexa Energy Pavilion
Thurs, Oct. 8	New York, NY	Madison Square Garden
Fri, Oct. 9	Fairfax, Va.	Patriot Center
Sun, Oct. 11	Chicago, IL	Allstate Arena
Thurs, Oct. 15	Toronto, ON	Air Canada Centre
Sat, Oct. 17	Atlantic City, NJ	Boardwalk Hall (on sale Feb. 21)
Sun, Oct. 18	Uncasville, CT	Mohegan Sun Arena
Thurs, Oct. 22	Atlanta, GA	Philips Arena
Sat, Oct. 24	Miami, FL	American Airlines Arena
Sun, Oct. 25	Orlando, FL	Amway Center

ED SHEERAN ANNOUNCES 2015 TOUR INCLUDING 10 CANADIAN DATES

Feb 9, 2015

Atlantic recording artist Ed Sheeran has announced details for his 2015 North American headlining tour. The cross continent trek – produced and promoted by AEG Live & The Messina Group (TMG) – will kick off at Austin’s Frank Erwin Center on May 6^th and includes stops at New York City’s Forest Hills Stadium, the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and 10 Canadian cities (see attached itinerary). The dates are part of Sheeran’s highly successful worldwide tour which culminates with three sold out nights at London’s Wembley Stadium. Pre-sale tickets will be available for select dates starting on February 16, followed by general public on-sale tickets starting on Feb 20. For more ticket information and tour updates, please visit www.edsheeran.com.

The tour announcement comes on the heels of the acclaimed singer-songwriter’s triumphant night at the 57^th Annual GRAMMY Awards, where Sheeran was nominated for 3 awards, including the prestigious “Album of the Year” for his double-platinum-certified album “x” (pronounced multiply). Sheeran’s other nominations came in the categories for “Best Pop Vocal Album” and “Best Song Written For Visual Media” for his song “I See Fire” from the feature film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Sheeran also received one of the biggest ovations of the night for his performance of his latest single “Thinking Out Loud,” where he was joined by GRAMMY winners Herbie Hancock, John Mayer, and Questlove. Sheeran returned to the stage to perform with the legendary Jeff Lynne’s ELO. Both “x” and “Thinking Out Loud” shot to #1 on iTunes immediately following his appearance.

The album “x” – as well as the singles “Sing,” “Don’t” and now “Thinking Out Loud” – have all earned double-platinum status in CANADA. At Canadian radio, “x” has produced three multi-format hits, including the No. 1 smash hits “Sing” and “Thinking Out Loud.”

Already a global smash, “Thinking Out Loud” has gone to #1 in 9 countries around the world, including his native United Kingdom. Sheeran debuted the single in the U.S. with high profile performances of the song on CBS’ “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” and the season finale of NBC’s “The Voice” in December. The single’s beautifully-shot companion music video (http://youtu.be/lp-EO5I60KA) – directed by longtime collaborator Emil Nava – has already amassed over 215 million views and features Sheeran ballroom dancing, a skill he learned through intensive, five-hour training sessions over the course of ten days during the North American leg of his worldwide arena tour.

Next up, Sheeran is set to appear on the syndicated “Ellen DeGeneres Show” today for a post-GRAMMY performance of “Thinking Out Loud.” The acclaimed artist is also among the star-studded lineup performing on “Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life – An All-Star GRAMMY Salute” which airs on February 16. Sheeran will return to London to perform at this year’s BRIT Awards, where he’s nominated for 4 awards, including Male Solo Artist, Single, and Album Of The Year.

Blending soulful vocals with organic folk introspection and irresistible hip-hop hooks, Ed Sheeran is a genuine global phenomenon. The 23-year-old British singer-songwriter’s acclaimed second full length album “x” (pronounced multiply) finds the 6x-GRAMMY nominee collaborating with a stellar list of producers, including multiple GRAMMY Award®-winners Pharrell Williams, Rick Rubin and Jeff Bhasker, multiple GRAMMY Award®-nominee Benny Blanco, Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid, and BRIT-Award nominee and longtime collaborator Jake Gosling. The album has earned Sheeran a remarkable amount of rapturous press attention, including cover stories in Billboard and Parade, and the New York Times’ Sunday Arts & Leisure section as well as major feature profiles in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Time. Sheeran launched “x” with a breakout performance on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” followed by other high profile national television appearances including “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the famed outdoor stage on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, and NBC’s “The Voice” season finale, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and Toyota Summer Concert Series in Rockefeller Plaza on “Today.” Moreover, “x” has drawn critical applause from all corners, with USA Today hailing it in a four-and-a-half-starred rave as “the rare album that satisfies expectations while simultaneously raising them… As good as Sheeran was before, he’s even better now.” “Mr. Sheeran is a gifted singer with a tender tone and a naturalistic way with storytelling,” declared the New York Times, adding, “Though he may well be the most prominent folk-minded singer in contemporary pop, he’s an open-eared experimenter at core, and saddled with none of the modesty, false or otherwise, that typically go with the folkie role.” “(Sheeran) is a polyglot,” noted Time, “raised on folk, R&B, hip-hop and rock in equal measure and comfortable incorporating each of those genres into his compositions.”

Sheeran’s 2012 breakthrough debut album, “+,” entered the UK Albums Chart at #1 with the highest opening sales figures for a debut male solo artist ever and is now certified 6x-platinum. Fueled by international hit singles like “The A Team” and “Lego House,” “+” has enjoyed multi-platinum, platinum, and gold sales in nine countries around the world.

Here in Canada, “The A-Team,” proved to be a blockbuster, earning 3x platinum certification, while the album “+” is certified platinum. Sheeran also earned a platinum single with “Lego House,” and three other singles from the album have gone gold.

Long acclaimed as a captivating and creative live performer, Sheeran spent much of the past two years traversing North America on back-to-back sold-out headline tours, the latter of which including a stop at the renowned Radio City Music Hall that sold out in a matter of minutes. Following a main support role on Taylor Swift’s massively successful “RED Tour,” Sheeran returned to New York City for a trio of sold-out headline shows at the legendary Madison Square Garden to close out his incredible 2013.

Sheeran’s honest songwriting and incredible live show has also connected with millions through the small screen with countless high profile television appearances including the 55^thAnnual GRAMMY® Awards (performing “The A Team” accompanied by Sir Elton John), the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and as the youngest performer among the star-studded lineup on CBS’ special “The Beatles: The Night That Changed America – A GRAMMY® Salute.”

For additional news and information, please see www.edsheeran.com, www.twitter.com/EdSheeran (@EdSheeran), www.facebook.com/EdSheeranMusic andwww.atlanticrecords.com. Check out #EdOnTour2015 to see what fans are saying about the upcoming tour. For press materials, please see http://press.atlanticrecords.com/ed-sheeran.

(TOUR ITINERARY ATTACHED)

ED SHEERAN

Headlining Tour Dates- 2015

*denotes festival date

MAY

02 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival*

06 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center

07 Dallas, TX Verizon Theatre at Grande Prairie

09 Tulsa, OK BOK Center

10 St. Louis, MO Chaifetz Arena

12 Pittsburgh, PA CONSOL Energy Center

13 Albany, NY Times Union Center

15 Las Vegas, NV Rock in Rio USA*

19 Salt Lake City, UT EnergySolutions Arena

23 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena

24 Bangor, ME Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion

26 Philadelphia, PA The Mann

28 Forest Hills, NY Forest Hills Stadium

29 Forest Hills, NY Forest Hills Stadium

JUNE

02 Montreal, QC Bell Centre

03 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre

05 London, ON Budweiser Gardens

06 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre

07 Canandaigua, NY CMAC

09 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena

10 Sioux Falls, SD Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

12 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre

13 Regina, SK Brandt Centre

14 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place

16 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre

17 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome

19 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena

20 Portland, OR Moda Center

23 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center

24 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl

26 San Francisco, CA Greek Theater at Berkeley

JUNE

29 Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre

JULY

02 Indianapolis, IN Klipsch Amphitheater

03 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest

How to Make a Wi Fi and Broadband Booster using a beer can

Feb 9, 2015

Here’s a simple hack to boost your WiFi signal at no cost to you – except a beer can. Warning: Make sure you’re sober when you do this, as it involves an x acto knife.