Canadian Music Week First Major Music Festival LICENSED TO PLAY with SOCAN

Apr 21, 2015

With festival season fast approaching, Canadian Music Week (CMW) and SOCAN have partnered to achieve a first for Canada by awarding the major music conference and festival with a special LICENSED TO PLAY designation.

After confirming that more than 60 CMW music venues are licensed with SOCAN, CMW was presented with a special LICENSED TO PLAY designation from SOCAN – a version of the emblem that nearly 30,000 SOCAN-licensed businesses have so far received to show their support through fair licensing of music created by Canada’s songwriters and composers.

“Partnering with our friends at CMW was something that made perfect sense to us, and it’s our way of continuing to do what is right for music creators and their publishers,” said CEO Eric Baptiste. “CMW being the first festival to be LICENSED TO PLAY is a great accomplishment for Canadian music culture, our members, and the more than 125,000 licensed businesses that are part of music industry ecosystem in Canada.”

Now in its 33rd year, Canadian Music Week is one of the premier entertainment events in North America focusing on the business of music. From May 1st to 10th, Toronto will be buzzing with international and local music-makers and industry representatives from around the world.

“CMW believes in and upholds the rights of music creators to be compensated fairly for their work, so we enthusiastically got together with SOCAN on this industry first,” said CMW President Neill Dixon. “CMW is a significant platform for Canada’s musicians to gain exposure, and we are helping their careers by encouraging our showcase venues to play their part. We encourage other festivals and conferences to follow our lead. It’s the right thing to do for Canada’s music ecosystem.”

This year CMW is showcasing nearly 1,000 acts at more than 60 live venues across Toronto. Ninety-two percent of the Canadian acts performing at this year’s CMW include a SOCAN member.

While organizations that use music as part of their business are expected to abide by the law, constantly monitoring every one of Canada’s music-using businesses is not feasible. SOCAN works with businesses and their trade associations to encourage them to stay up-to-date with their music licenses that collectively are a major part of a songwriter, composer and music publisher’s livelihood through royalties, and a vital aspect of Canada’s music ecosystem.

Noel Gallagher tells a GREAT story about a night out with Russell Brand and Morrissey

Apr 21, 2015

I was in LA on holiday with Sara and the boys, and Russell [Brand] came to see us. And he goes, “What you doing tonight? I was with Morrissey last night, and he reckons we should go out for a drink.” So Russell’s texting him from my hotel room, saying, “It’s on,” and Morrissey’s texting back, going [does pitch-perfect, drawling Morrissey impression] “Wonderful. Tell him to bring his credit card.”

And we get to this gaff – this is like at seven in the evening – and I’m saying to Russell, “I’m up for it tonight, but I don’t want to keep Sara up all night, we’ll kick things in the head about two.” And Russell snorts. “2 o’clock? We’ll be out of here in 40 minutes! I can’t handle Morrissey for more than 40 minutes: he’s fucking mental!” So, we go in, and there he’s sat, and I could write a book on that night.

Russell doesn’t drink so me and Morrissey were roaring drunk. First thing, he got up and sort of shook my hand. I said, “Alright mate, how’re you doing?” because I’ve met him at awards ceremonies, I’ve been on planes with him going to festivals. He’d just cancelled all the gigs in South America because he had whatever it was. So I go, “I thought you just cancelled a load of gigs, I thought you were at death’s door.” And he said [raises eyebrows, does the voice again] “Yet here I am”.

So it just descended, and he was fucking hilarious. He doesn’t have a good word to say about anyone, anyone, anything. At one point he was asking [the voice again] “Who do we find funny?” and I was like, “I don’t know? Micky Flanagan?” and he’d just go [rolls eyes back in head, puts fingertips of stretched-out on table, shouts exasperatedly] “Micky Flanagan!!!!”. And I’d say, “What about Jack Dee?” and he’d just go [leans forward and shout] “He! Is! Not! FUNN-Y!” Russell was just so nervous, and Morrissey was going, “Come on, come on, can’t we drink champagne and get pissed.” It just went on for quite a while, and he was brilliant.

And I have to tell you this story. I was saying to him, “So, when you were with The Smiths, the melodies that you wrote… well, you had all these words, but your way with melody is quite unique, it’s not the blues and it’s not pop, so did you have all these songs before you met Johnny?”

And he says [preens] “I did”. And I was like, “Did you?” He said, “I had them on cassette”. And I said, “But you can’t play the guitar” He said, “No, no, but I had a little drum kit”. And I said, “What, a drum kit?” and he said, “Yes, yes, yes”. And I said, “What did you have a drum kit for?” and he said, “Well, not many people know this, but Rice Crispies once asked me to do a jingle for them”. So I said, “Really? Did you do it?” and he said, “No, no, no, I wouldn’t play it.” The he paused and leaned over, and said, “I wouldn’t wear the leather.” [erupts in laughter]

And you know what: he never asked me a single fucking question about why I was in LA, what I was doing, Oasis splitting up, nothing. When you’re with Morrissey, you’re in the court of Morrissey. But he’s a fucking uber-legend. What a top man.

Via The Quietus

Full lineup announced for 2015 TD Halifax Jazz Festival

Apr 21, 2015

The city of Halifax is the stage for the 29th edition of the TD Halifax Jazz Festival this summer, July 8 through 12. This year’s festival is bigger and more exciting than ever, with 14 stages throughout Halifax, from Dartmouth to Clayton Park, including the popular Main Stage on the Halifax Waterfront!

Jazz Festival Artistic Director Laura ‘Lulu’ Healy promises a thrilling lineup as the festival continues to present exciting and intriguing acts from the jazz world. Representing Canada are some of the country’s leading jazz musicians including Michael Kaeshammer, Ranee Lee, Kirk MacDonald, Roddy Ellias, and Robi Botos. The Main Stage lineup also includes Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, tUnE-yArDs, and Juan de Marcos & The Afro Cuban All-Stars. In addition, Healy adds, “We are excited to announce The Budos Band and Vox Sambou have been added to the Main Stage lineup.”

Artists from across the globe will be on hand to liven up the festival and bring the sounds of jazz to the streets of Halifax — the Bus Stop Theatre will present an eclectic series of acts includingMdou Moctar (Niger), Tin Men & The Telephone (The Netherlands), Nils Berg Cinemascope(Sweden) and Another Time, Another Place: Jerry Granelli, Jane Ira Bloom & Julian Priester (Halifax/New York/Seattle/Berlin).

Everyone is invited to get in on the fun, with free concerts on the Main Stage every day throughout the festival including local and touring musicians. “If you work downtown, you’ll be able to stop by when you leave your office to take in summer and the music,” says Healy. “We’ve also expanded our free programming to include a big band series at the Bandstand in the Halifax Public Gardens and a variety of music at the Hydrostone Park… This year we are showcasing the jazz elite from south of the border, including Joey DeFrancesco, Brian Blade, and Kenny Werner — in indoor venues such as Alderney Landing Theatre and the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.

Free concerts and artist talks are also in store, showcasing venues throughout the city including the Halifax Central Library, Keshen Goodman Public Library, Alderney Gate Public Library, and Alliance Française. Beloved Halifax landmark Theodore the Tugboat will showcase children’s programming, including “Splash! Bang! Boom!,” a workshop that takes place while the boat sails Halifax Harbour. Educational programming also includes the ten-day Creative Music Workshop led by Jerry Granelli featuring special guest faculty members Jane Ira Bloom and Julian Priester.

Also featured are Pram Trio, Anteater, Alana Yorke, The New Bridge, and Party Boots, competing for the Stingray Rising Star Award. Based both on the results of an online fan vote and the decisions of a jury, one act will receive $3000 to help jumpstart their career.

Capping off the festivities is a free swing concert at the Main Stage Sunday evening, July 12 with the Gordon Webster Sextet featuring Brianna Thomas and festival fan favourite Alex Pangman.

Support for the TD Halifax Jazz Festival is provided by numerous corporate and community partners including TD, Waterfront Development Corporation and Westin Halifax. All ticketswill be on sale by the festival’s official provider etixnow.com through halifaxjazzfestival.ca starting Tuesday, April 21.

In addition to participating in all the great music and events,people can take an active role in the excitement by volunteering their time. Volunteer applications open May 5th. For more information about the TD Halifax Jazz Festival visit www.halifaxjazzfestival.ca.

Since 1987 the Halifax Jazz Festival, presented by the non-profit organization JazzEast, has organized a diverse range of musical and educational activities including the 2015 TD Halifax Jazz Festival. Follow ‘Halifax Jazz Festival’ on Facebook and Twitter @HFXJazzFest

Record Store Day 2015 Stats: Vinyl Up 1500% Over Previous Week, Top 50 Vinyl Sales Chart

Apr 21, 2015

Working with support from the Independent Music Store Coalitions (CIMS, DRS, AIMS) and the Music Business Association, BuzzAngle Music’s worked with Record Store Day to take a look at the day’s sales and most popular titles.

Vinyl sales were up over 1,500% from the previous Saturday. The White Stripes “Get Behind Me Satan” topped the chart as the best-selling title for the day. Metallica’s cassette demo, “No Life Til Leather”, was second and the only non-vinyl title in the Top 50. See the entire list below.

Happy 10th Birthday YouTube! Here was the very first video uploaded to the site

Apr 21, 2015

The first YouTube video was entitled Me At The Zoo, and shows co-founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo. The video was uploaded on April 23, 2005, so Happy 10th Birthday to YouTube!

Former Hip-Hop Journalist Named White House Social Secretary

Apr 20, 2015

deesha-dyer-new-white-house-social-secretary-2015-billboard-650 — Social Secretary Deesha Dyer sits in Green Room of the White House, Feb. 11, 2014.

From Billboard:

A former hip-hop journalist who became a White House intern in her 30s was named on Thursday as the new White House social secretary. Deesha Dyer, a Philadelphia native, will oversee planning for everything from the annual Easter Egg Roll attended by tens of thousands of people to opulent state dinners for hundreds, along with numerous receptions, ceremonies and other events that take place daily at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Before starting her career in government, Dyer was an assistant at Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust and a freelance journalist covering East Coast hip-hop culture, often for the Philadelphia CityPaper.

Dyer returned to college at age 29 and earned a degree from the Community College of Philadelphia. She joined the White House in 2009 as a 31-year-old intern in the office of scheduling and advance. She was brought on full-time a year later, beginning as associate director for scheduling correspondence and working her way up to deputy social secretary in 2013.

Stream Dave Grohl’s Early Foo Fighters Demos

Apr 20, 2015

From Rolling Stone:

Dave Grohl rose to the occasion of being this year’s official Record Store Day Ambassador by putting out a special vinyl release: Songs From the Laundry Room, which collects four solo recordings he made while still a member of Nirvana. The tracks are raw-sounding, early versions of the Foo Fighters songs “Alone + Easy Target” and “Big Me” (recorded in 1992 and 1994 respectively), as well as a cover of Kim Wilde’s “Kids in America” from 1991 and the previously unreleased (and notably Nirvana-esque) “Empty Handed,” recorded the same day as “Alone.” Prior to its release, he told Rolling Stone that these recordings – which are streaming below – were the seeds for what would become Foo Fighters.

Side A: 1) Alone + Easy Target 2) Big Me
Side B: 1) Kids In America 2) Empty Handed

Canadian Arts/Media Job Posts For April 20, 2015

Apr 20, 2015

Coveo is seeking a passionate and experienced content marketer to lead their company’s content marketing strategy and marketing communications team.

Lightspeed is looking for a savvy Social Media Strategist to help build an effective social strategy, actively engage customers and influencers within the social media channel, and execute marketing projects (such as email campaigns) as required. The ideal candidate will demonstrate significant knowledge of social media including strategy, ad buying, social platforms, and proven experience developing and executing social/marketing projects as required.

Noise Digital is actively seeking a community manager to join their Toronto Office.

Rocky View County’s international-award-winning communications department is seeking a permanent, full-time Communications Advisor.

pt Health is seeking a creative, energetic and motivating Digital Marketing Specialist to join their Corporate Team in Hamilton, Ontario.

Are you a strong and confident leader who is passionate about enriching the lives of customers and delivering world-class service? Indigo Books is looking for an Events Specialist, Central Canada, responsible for supporting the day to day administrative and operational activities of the Indigo Events team, as well as participating in field and event marketing initiatives.

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation is looking for a Digital Coordinator with technical and creative skills to apply to existing and new digital strategies to propel fundraising revenues for Holland Bloorview.

Founded in 1998 in beautiful Vancouver, BC lululemon athletica creates components to live longer, healthier more fun lives.
They are seeking a community brand specialist, the interface and liason between what their get up to in tje communities and how they will bring these stories alive for their guests across the globe.

Hudson’s Bay Company is currently seeking a Social Media Director.

The City of Thunder Bay is seeking a Communications Coordinator to work on their online presence, and collaborating with web editors across the Corporation on the website, online tools, and internet to promote City of Thunder Bay services, programs, and initiatives.

For more than 100 years, Havergal College has provided girls and young women with opportunities to learn, to grow, to reach their potential and to make a difference in the world. They are seeking a Director of Communications and Marketing, a newly created position, to provide leadership in the creation, oversight and execution of all of Havergal’s strategic marketing and communications programs and activities.

Colliers is the leader in global real estate services, defined by our spirit of enterprise, and they have an opening for a Client Project Coordinator to join their Calgary office for a 12 month contract position.

As part of the L’Oreal Group, The Body shop is a major international beauty retail business. To bring our stores and products to life, they are looking to hire a Social Media Coordinator for a six month contract at the Customer Support Center in Toronto, Ontario.

Sun Life Financial has a need for a Visual Content Specialist to help take their digital strategy in an exciting new direction.

VIRGIN RADIO 96, CHOM 97.7, CJAD &TSN 690 in Montreal is seeking a Street Team Coordinator.

Corus Entertainment has an exciting 1 year contract opportunity for a Producer/Editor in their Toronto location.

Surrey Heritage Services has an opening for a Communications Co-ordinator.

Yellow Pages is the country’s leading digital and print media company, offering businesses comprehensive media solutions to meet their key marketing objectives and providing consumers with platforms to access reliable local business information. They have an opening for a Senior Advisor – Social Media & Communications.

TAXI in Toronto has an opening for a content strategist.

Are you a content champion? Do you know how to make the distinction between print and digital disappear? Spafax Canada, a leading global content marketing agency, is looking for a digital editor to join their team.

Hill+Knowlton Strategies is searching for a bilingual senior-level HR director in Ottawa with extensive experience in talent acquisition, onboarding programs, employee relations and experience with health and safety programs.

CBC Windsor is looking for a dynamic and experienced Host for their local television news programs.

Nextopia has an opening for a Marketing Manager responsible for the execution and management of all things marketing.

Aritzia in Vancouver has an opening for a Copy Director responsible for the development and delivery of all copy, ensuring all written assets published reflect the brand personality.

Mogo is bringing social responsibility, accessibility and even a little fun to financial services, and they are seeking a Communications Manager based in Vancouver.

If you’re working in a boring job that doesn’t interest you, then you should definitely consider working for a company like Canadian Outback Adventures & Events and becoming their next Marketing Assistant.

Tug requires an SEO Account Specialist to join their growing team. They practice White Hat SEO with an emphasis on results driven through relevant link building.

The University Of Waterloo has an opening for a Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator.

How does the idea of leading a team that creates B2B marketing content so helpful, clients would consider paying for it? That’s how good Softchoice wants to be. As their next Supervisor, Content Marketing, you’ll help them realize this vision.

Blast Radius in Toronto is looking for their next Digital Strategist.

The University of Guelph is looking for a Library Associate, Archival and Special Collections, McLaughlin Library.

IntelliResponse, a [24]7 Company, is a young, web-savvy, successful and award-winning software company located in downtown Toronto. They are looking for a talented up and coming digital marketer to join their team.

Music Doc Trailer: Ticket To Write – The Golden Age of Rock Music Journalism

Apr 20, 2015

Ticket To Write: The Golden Age of Rock Music Journalism explores the period 1966-81, from the founding of Crawdaddy magazine to the paradigm shift known as MTV. During this time, music magazines such as Rolling Stone, Creem, Hit Parader, Who Put The Bomp, Trouser Press, and others provided a compass to the counter-culture of the 60s and 70s. This 2-hour rock doc features period journalists Billy Altman, Ken Barnes, Robbie Cruger, Jim DeRogatis, Dave DiMartino, Robert Duncan, Ben Fong-Torres, Bill Holdship, Esther Korinsky-Woodward, Robert Matheu, Richard Meltzer, John Morthland, Sandy Pearlman, Richard Riegel, Ira Robbins, Gene Sculatti, Andy Shernoff, Mike Stax, Tim Stegall, Jaan Uhelszki, Ed Ward, Susan Whitall amongst many others. Ticket to Write is directed by Raul Sandelin (A Box Full of Rocks: The El Cajon Years of Lester Bangs) and produced by Edward Turner of Road Ahead Productions.