Nacional Records is proud to announce that the new EA Sports FIFA Soccer 2009 videogame soundtrack features songs from four of its roster’s artists. Futbol fans across the globe will hear The Pinker Tones, Señor Flavio, Plastilina Mosh and DJ Bitman while playing this award-winning game out in stores on October 2nd.

These four Nacional artists are part of a handpicked roster of 41 Platinum acts and soon-to-break artists from 21 nations. They join the soundtrack with other global stars like CSS, The Kooks, MGMT, Hot Chip, Chromeo and Ladytron.

Other recent major Nacional Records syncs include songs in the trailer to the new Sony Pictures film, “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” several Target and Pacifico Beer commercials, the Madden NFL 2009 videogame and the soundtrack to the Showtime series “Californication.”

(Nashville, TN - August 22, 2008) Adam Gregory’s debut U.S. single, “Crazy Days,” will officially launch in digital format on Tuesday, August 26, the same day the rising star makes his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
The eSingle, video and mobile versions of “Crazy Days” will all be made available for purchase digitally at iTunes and other major digital outlets next week. The song has shown continual growth on the charts since its debut fifteen weeks ago, breaking into the Top 20 this week on Music Row and steadily climbing through the Thirties on the Country Aircheck and R&R charts.

Gregory’s yearlong, hectic schedule continues with a whirlwind trip back to his native Canada, where he will serve as a co-presenter at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards Sept. 8. He then returns to the road and his radio tour, which has been extended due to the overwhelming response he has received on his visits in the last several months.

(Nashville, TN - August 25, 2008) Big Machine/No Strings Attached/Midas Records recording artist Adam Gregory has signed an exclusive agreement with William Morris Agency to handle his booking duties.

“We are thrilled to have Adam finally join the WMA family after years of watching him grow and evolve as an artist,” said Gregory’s agent Rob Beckham. “He is an immensely talented singer, songwriter and performer, and we are excited to be a part of his team.”

Gregory recently realigned his previous deal with Midas/No Strings Attached to include a long-term promotion and distribution agreement with Big Machine Records, the label that houses artists Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood and Jack Ingram, among others.

LiveWire Mobile, a global provider of mobile managed personalization services and Virgin Mobile USA, a leading provider of wireless services with no annual contracts, announced an industry first: the Ringback Playlist. This groundbreaking feature enables customers to access pre-selected content channels instead of choosing individual tracks for their ringback tone.

Ringback Playlist allows Virgin Mobile USA customers to personalize their cell phones by choosing their favorite music genre, and setting their ringback tones to a collection of songs in that category. Each time a call comes into a Virgin Mobile USA customer’s handset, a different tune from the Ringback Playlist’s selected “station” is heard by the caller. Ringback Playlists will be available by music genre or trend with additional personalization options that can be set based on the caller, the day of the week or time of day.

“By adopting this groundbreaking content delivery feature, and backing it with expert support from our Achieve Marketing Service, Virgin Mobile USA is expanding the attraction of its ringback tone business, one of the mobile industry’s fastest growing service offerings,” said Joel Hughes, President of LiveWire Mobile. “Enabling subscribers to discover stations of pre-selected and highly contextualized ringbacks will drive exploration of additional content and enable Virgin Mobile to deliver a new level of personalization for their subscribers.”

“Like many we were troubled to hear Pandora refer to the current situation as a possible ‘Last Stand For Webcasting.’ As the primary advocacy group for the independent music community we feel a need to reiterate our strong support and commitment to a fair and equitable resolution to the CRB rate negotiations - a solution that fairly compensates artists and labels for their creativity and investment but still allows the pure play webcasting community to continue to grow. These webcasters need to be supported, as they give independently produced music the opportunity to be heard and discovered, which is all too often not the case at traditional AM/FM radio. We’ve been fighting on this issue for some time, and we’re optimistic all parties can get back on track towards a constructive solution.”

-Rich Bengloff, President of The American Association For Independent Music (A2IM)

Clear Channel Radio announced that it has signed several senior executives in its management team to long-term contracts, including Evan Harrison, Susan Karis, Mark Kopelman, Gene Romano, Tom Schurr, and George Toulas. Separately, the company promoted Harrison, Kopelman, Romano, and Toulas to newly created positions that will give each of these executives expanded roles with the company. The announcements come on the heels of the company signing president and CEO John Hogan to a five-year deal.

“The talent and commitment of our senior management team continues to drive Clear Channel Radio’s industry leadership and success,” said Hogan. “These individuals are key members of our executive management team, and have helped build our audiences while turning competing technologies into collaborators. They will continue to push our outstanding content deeper into our current digital platforms as well as new ones.”

Expanding the development leadership team is Gene Romano, who is upped to Executive VP of Programming from his previous role as Senior VP of Programming. In his new role, Romano will work with Susan Karis in the west major markets. Previously, Romano worked to develop various tools and resources to help teach and mentor local program directors, launched new format approaches such as FM News Talk WPGB/Pittsburgh and Alternative WRFF/Philadelphia, and recruited high performing programming and on-air talent.

Publicity is a key element holding back many worthy musics and entertainers in the industry. How do we learn to address the media in a manner to which the media will respond? Where do we go to select a good inexpensive and connected publicist ?

These questions are answered and much more information is provided in the “PublicityWorks 4 U Seminar & Workshop Conferences” put on by the Thiess Christian Company,LLC and MKM Entertainment. What stops most independent artist and record labels, small businesses and producers from publicity amount to two things. One restrainer is our lack of knowledge. We do not realize how much publicity can and will effect our annual bottom line, recognition and visibility! The second element blocking the use and the benefit of a good publicity campaign is the price most publicity providers charge. This time the CEO is an independent artist and performer. She has joined with MKM Entertainment of Atlanta to provide the services needed for pennies. Within months, the company Chief Executive Officer will travel around the US and teach at conferences open to music and entertainment clients teaching about the media, handling the press to the artist and music industry’s advantage. Promoters, producers and independent record labels are welcomed to attend and the benefits are spelled out for them at the conferences. They even give clients a book entitled “Public Relations For Dummies” and other informational text to insure we all learn and come to understand what a publicist can do for us and why we each need publicity.