Archive for January, 2008

28
Jan

360 WEB EDIT OFFERS ONLINE WEB SITE BUILDER AND EDITOR

   Posted by: mwatkins    in Publishing News

Helping You Create New Websites or Edit Existing Websites Online

360 Web Edit
Create and Edit Websites Online
Asheville, NC.
Release Date: 1-11-08

360 Web Edit offers members the chance to create new websites, choose from hundreds of templates, or maintain current HTML websites from an online interface so simple to use that it does not require any HTML knowledge to get started.

Now anyone can maintain, design and create a new or existing website anywhere with a computer and internet connection. 360 Web Edit is great for musicians, artists, hobbyists, small businesses and anyone else needing more control over their internet presence.

360 Asheville Web Design, www.360asheville.com, has teamed up with 360 Web Edit to offer low cost custom template design for our members wishing to have the look and feel of a custom built website at the fraction of the cost, or members can choose from hundreds of pre-made templates to have their website online within minutes.

360 Web Edit can be used to edit existing websites hosted anywhere on the internet allowing our members to update and edit their website through our online interface without the high cost of web design companies.

“360 Web Edit is a great tool for those people who have professionally designed websites but need to find a solution to add and edit content without paying hundreds of dollars for web design services, and they can update their own website within minutes. No more need to wait for a web designer to make crucial updates”

- Build a web site in 5 minutes. Because 360WebEdit.Com includes dozens of pre-designed web site templates, you can literally point-and-click to build your own web site in minutes.

- Manage your own website. 360WebEdit.Com allows you to build and manage your web site with ease. You can build professional looking web sites in under 5 minutes and manage them with the integrated file and image managers, as well as the intuitive WYSIWYG editor.

- Rollback content authoring. 360WebEdit.Com stores a backup copy of every page that is edited so that 1-click rollback can be performed if necessary.

- No HTML experience required.

- Includes integrated spell checking utilities, find/replace, direct source-code editing for advanced users, and wizards for more complicated tasks, such as table and form creation.

- Powerful file & image managers. You can easily build web sites based on pre-designed templates, create your own site or edit an existing site that just needs an easy way to edit online.

- Fully integrated stylesheet rendering.

Other enhancements to 360 Web Edit include simple one click contact form addition, quick PayPal “buy now” button additions, quick user polls, google AdSense simple one click addition, and an expanded workspace for full screen editing.

For more information about 360 Web Edit, visit www.360webedit.com.

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28
Jan

Former Record Label Owner And Artist Launches Media Company

   Posted by: mwatkins    in Publishing News

Jake Harsh, former owner of Tabula Rasa Records, Inc. and former frontman of Tabula Rasa/Sony recording artists HarshKrieger, announces the re-design and website launch of his company, Harsh Media. The company specializes in photography, design, video, and music production.

Jake Harsh describes his new venture as “a boutique media company that specializes in giving your project personalized attention and a unique flair”. When asked what separates his business from others, he adds, “Harsh Media brings an innovative style and method to the creative arts business. If you are looking for something fresh and effective, we’d love to work with you.”

Harsh uses his years of experience in the entertainment business, both onstage and off, to help businesses, models, actors, and recording artists achieve their goals and reach their target audiences. Harsh has been involved in the creative arts for over 12 years; six years ago he moved to Nashville, Tennessee and enrolled in the School of Audio Engineering to hone his skills. Before long, Jake found himself on a rollercoaster ride as the owner and creative director of a record label, the lead singer in a band on Sony Records, and seemingly living on top of the world.

During this time, he had a record released nationally through Sony/ Tabula Rasa Records, his music was being played on MTV, he won a nationwide songwriting contest, and he was honing his skills in photography, graphic design, personal style, and other creative arts. He used what he learned to start his current company, Harsh Media. He credits his unique approach to photography, style, and design as the force that helps him stand out in his creative abilities.

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24
Jan

Mobile Entertainment Service Market To Increase Threefold To $64bn By 2012

   Posted by: mwatkins    in Publishing News

Music, games and mobile TV will be the major contributors to the global mobile entertainment market which will rise from just over $20 billion in 2007 to more than $64 billion by 2012

Music, games and mobile TV will be the major contributors to the global mobile entertainment market which will rise from just over $20 billion in 2007 to more than $64 billion by 2012, according to a new report by Juniper Research. Other mobile entertainment sectors include User-generated Content, Gambling, Adult and Infotainment.

The report says that mobile music will remain the largest single sector of the mobile entertainment industry over the next five years. Revenues from music will rise from nearly $9 billion in 2007 to $17.5 billion in 2012, bolstered by the increasing availability of full-track download and streamed services, the former in both paid-for and rental formats.

Likewise, mobile games will retain its second-ranking in terms of end-user generated revenues: boosted by rapid growth in mass market “casual” gaming, revenues are expected to rise from just under $5 billion in 2007 to nearly $16 billion in 2012.

Meanwhile, strong growth is also expected from mobile TV, with many developed (and some emerging) markets launching dedicated mobile broadcast networks within the forecast period. This, plus increased adoption of streamed TV bouquets, should see the market rise from $1.4 billion in 2007 to $11.9 billion in 2012.

According to report author Dr Windsor Holden, “With revenues from voice services declining and messaging revenues flatlining, last year finally saw a number of more sophisticated entertainment services begin to fulfil their potential and redress the balance. With more widespread penetration of 3G handsets — or entertainment-focused 2.5G handsets like the iPhone — there is likely to be a much greater surge in both the adoption and overall usage in rich media services.”

Other findings from the Juniper report include:
* Regulations and prohibitions will limit opportunities in the adult and gambling sectors, although Juniper Research envisages that restrictions on gambling services in the key US market will ease in the medium term
* China and the Far East will remain the largest regional market for mobile entertainment throughout the period covered by the report, with revenues rising from $8.5bn in 2007 to nearly $21.3bn by 2012
* Entertainment service adoption remains constrained by difficulties with the user interface, network speed and coverage and the excessive cost of data services

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24
Jan

Guitar Hero Franchise Surpasses $1 Billion In North America In Record 26 Months

   Posted by: mwatkins    in Publishing News

Activision, Inc. announced that the Guitar Hero franchise has set an industry record, surpassing $1 billion in North American retail sales in just 26 months, according to The NPD Group.

Additionally, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock was the #1 title in units and dollars for calendar year 2007, making it the #1 best-selling video game of all time in a single calendar year.

Since its initial release in fall 2005, the Guitar Hero franchise has sold in excess of 14 million units in North America alone, according to The NPD Group. In 10 weeks since the game’s launch, consumers have already downloaded more than five million songs.

“Guitar Hero is one of the biggest brands and one of the most powerful distribution platforms in all of entertainment today,” said Michael Griffith, President and Chief Executive Officer, Activision Publishing, Inc. “Guitar Hero’s popularity with broad audiences is a confirmation that video games have become a true mass medium.”

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.

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22
Jan

GRAND OLE OPRY INDUCTS CHARLIE DANIELS AS NEWEST MEMBER

   Posted by: mwatkins    in Publishing News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (January 21, 2008) - Legendary country superstar Charlie Daniels was inducted into the world-famous Grand Ole Opry by Opry members Marty Stuart and Connie Smith.

Stuart welcomed Daniels into Opry membership, before a sold-out crowd, by saying, “The Opry is American and its reach is universal. A steady force in the midst of passing trends. The Opry is family. God Bless Charlie Daniels.”

Daniels responded, “My Bible tells me God gives us the desires of our hearts and tonight the promise has come true.” He then invited Stuart, Smith, Montgomery Gentry and Trace Adkins to join him on stage to perform “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”

During the induction which aired live on “Opry Live” on GAC: Great American Country, Daniels was also presented the Opry Member Award, a 14-inch bronze and oak wood replica of the Opry’s vintage microphone stand designed by renowned sculptor Bill Rains.

“What a great night for the Opry,” said Pete Fisher, Opry vice president and general manager. “For five decades, Charlie Daniels has been sharing the many musical styles he performs so well with the world. We are truly proud to welcome him to our Opry family, and we look forward to the years ahead filled with great Charlie Daniels Band music on the Opry stage.”

During Daniels’ 50-year career, he has scored hits on the rock, country, pop and Christian charts and counts awards from the Country Music Association (CMA), Academy of Country Music (ACM), TNN/Music City News Awards, and the Gospel Music Association (GMA) among his many accolades. Born in Wilmington, NC, he was raised on a musical diet that included Pentecostal gospel, local bluegrass bands, rhythm & blues, and country music from the radio, including Nashville’s 650 WSM. His signature song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” topped both country and pop charts, bringing him
international acclaim.

Daniels’ current Blue Hat/Koch Records CD release, DEUCES, is his first duet album and features guest artists Travis Tritt; Bonnie Bramlett; Gretchen Wilson; Vince Gill; Earl, Gary & Randy Scruggs; Dolly Parton; Darius Rucker; The Del McCoury Band; Brenda Lee; Brooks & Dunn; Marty Stuart; Montgomery Gentry; and Brad Paisley.

The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®. Opry performances are held every weekend of the year. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or log on to www.opry.com.

About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. A uniquely American experience for more than 80 years, the Opry can be heard on 650 WSM-AM, XM Satellite Radio, and opry.com. The syndicated weekly program, America’s Grand Ole Opry Weekend, airs on more than 200 country radio stations across the country and on the Armed Forces Radio Network, and Opry Live airs each weekend on GAC: Great American Country. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a Nashville-based hospitality and entertainment company that also owns and operates Gaylord Hotels. For more information, visit opry.com or www.gaylordentertainment.com

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21
Jan

RICHARD DREYFUSS SHOWS SUPPORT OF DIGITAL MEDIA EDUCATION AT MACWORLD AT THE JOHN LENNON EDUCATIONAL TOUR BUS

   Posted by: mwatkins    in Publishing News

The all new non-profit mobile recording and HD video recording studio exemplifies Dreyfuss’ passion for arts education

(San Francisco, January 15) – Apple and Smart Technologies hosted Richard Dreyfuss at the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus at Macworld. This Lennon Bus is brand new and will hit the road after Macworld to continue to fulfill its decade long mission to provide students with free hands-on opportunities to make music, produce video projects, and shoot digital photos in the mobile recording studios. The Lennon Bus also has an illustrious history as a hit maker, with chart topping singles from The Black Eyed Peas and Fergie recorded on board.

The Lennon Bus program will continue the tradition of providing free tours and workshops in which young people create an original composition, record their song and produce a broadcast quality music video — all in one day!

The new facility boasts two studio environments which are each powered by a high-end Apple Mac Pro loaded with Ableton Live, Logic Studio, Final Cut Studio and Sibelius music notation software, supplemented by an Apple XServe and XRAID system which facilitates high-bandwidth HD multimedia production and storage.

Plans for the second mobile recording and multimedia studio have been germinating since the first Lennon Bus hit the road a decade ago. Executive Director Brian Rothschild and music manager David Sonenberg created the outreach project with the focus originally on providing programs in songwriting and audio production. The program has expanded to include video production, and the new Bus goes even further with the addition of Sony HD video solutions, Mackie 5.1 surround sound monitor systems and Apogee’s high-definition digital audio converters. Also new for ’08 is an on-board Chromatte booth from Reflecmedia, as well as Bogen Imaging’s full line of grip equipment, tripods, filters, and accessories.

The 2008 tour will include stops at high schools, colleges and university campuses, retailers, and with headlining artists around the U.S. and Canada. The tour schedule and interactive map can be found at www.lennonbus.org, where visitors can also see all of the music, video and photography projects created on board.

Plans are underway to expand the project worldwide beginning in Western Europe and then Japan.

-30-

About the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus (www.lennonbus.org)
The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a non-profit state-of-the-art mobile Pro Audio and HD video recording facility that provides hands-on experiences for students of all ages. In its 11th year of touring, the venture is proud of its brand new bus and its studios, which boast the latest audio and video technology, gear and products. The concept began as an offshoot of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, which is dedicated to providing opportunities for both professional and amateur songwriters around the world. The Bus travels across the U.S. and Canada year-round, providing free tours and workshops at schools, retailers, festivals, on tours with headlining artists, and at major industry conferences. The Bus, a 501(c)(3) venture, is made possible through the generosity of sponsors including Maxell Corporation, Apple, NAMM, Roland, Godin Guitars, Edirol by Roland, Sibelius, Audio-Technica, Sonicbids, Digidesign, Aphex Systems, Sony, Musician’s Friend, Neutrik, Glyph Technologies, Ampeg, Ableton, Mackie, Crate, Apogee, Disc Makers, Smart Technologies, Antares, Bogen Imaging, IK Multimedia, McDSP, SKB, Ultimate Support, PureVolume.com, Planet Waves, Spectrasonics, Music Player Network, Native Instruments, and Boss. The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is made possible by an agreement with Yoko Ono Lennon.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jo-Ann Geffen / JAG Entertainment / 818.905.5511 jgeffen@jagpr.co

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21
Jan

[PIAS] Digital Seals Agreement With ITunes Plus

   Posted by: mwatkins    in Publishing News

[PIAS] Digital, a Division of [PIAS] Entertainment Group,  has reached an agreement with iTunes  that will see in excess of  44,000 tracks from it’s own repertoire and from the 200 or so  labels the company represents internationally  made available through the iTunes Plus service.

iTunes Plus is a free software update for iTunes that makes songs and music videos available in a high quality, DRM free digital format with no burn limit and compatible with most digital music players. A feature in the preferences section of the iTunes Music Store allows users to chose whether or not to enable iTunes Plus. If enabled, songs purchased will automatically be purchased in the high quality, DRM-free format, where available.

Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, [PIAS] Entertainment Group is a major repertoire owner in its own right and supplies a broad range of services internationally to hundreds of leading labels including marketing, sales, distribution and licensing solutions.

This new global agreement with iTunes Plus will also see [PIAS] Digital offering a range of new ‘added value’ digital services as part of the deal, including bundling  incentives with Ticketmaster and the ability to buy ringtone versions of the repertoire sold via iTunes.

Adrian Pope, Director of Digital & Business Development at [PIAS] Entertainment Group said, ” This new agreement with iTunes Plus is a real boost to our digital offering and means that we can now provide access to this high quality, DRM free service on behalf of the many repertoire owners we represent. The many thousands of tracks that we are now offering on iTunes Plus will give users access to the best music from independent labels with no usage restrictions, which can only be a positive thing.”

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17
Jan

BEATLES Re-lounged CD Available For Licensing At MIDEM 2008

   Posted by: mwatkins    in Publishing News

The music of the most influential pop group in the history of recorded music is given a fresh new sound thanks to the efforts of famed Italian producer / remixer Giacomo Bondi. To this date, Bondi has written and produced some of the most refined electrobossa, soul, lounge and chill out projects that have appeared on over 170 compilations for international labels licensed around the world. For this unique project he has collaborated with the famous Italian Beatles tribute band – The Apple Pies, to create Lounge inspired modern remixes of some of the Beatles most popular songs.

Thanks to the incredible vocals and to the quality of the musical performances, the final sound was almost the same as the original Beatles recordings. The remixing and re-lounging sessions were done by Bondi, by de-assembling and reworking each single track played by the Apple Pies. As everyone knows. Bondi had the opportunity to record and then work with each single instrument
and vocal track performed by the Apple Pies, available separately as an audio track, to be cut/ pasted / looped and filtered through a computer recording system – resulting in the first Lounge inspired Beatles remix project to date.

Contacts www.gbmusic.it GBMUSIC info@gbmusic.it

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17
Jan

NSTAR Sets Back-Catalog Free To Celebrate New Film And Record

   Posted by: mwatkins    in Publishing News

Noted West-coast post-rockers INSTAR celebrated the new year by releasing their 2005 full-length LP “Secret Services” as a free download under a Creative Commons license. The album is available as high-quality MP3s with no DRM (Digital Rights Management) directly from the band’s website http://www.instarmusic.com Called “…a noble musical adventure” by Pulse, the free release gives listeners around the world a chance to experience the album as a full-length composition instead of a collection of singles.

Instar’s debut EP “Rich Girls” was called ‘Excellent’ by London’s NME. The band is best-known for its multi-year colaboration with MTV animator and New York based independent film-maker Pat Smith. Instar’s principal, Karl von Kries, wrote the sound-tracks for Smith’s acclaimed short film “Drink”, and the subsequent short “Delivery”. Smith and von Kries are working on a new film “Masks”, with planned release in May of 2008.

In addition to the film, Instar plans to release a new full-length album in early 2008. “I’ve been writing and playing a lot of new material live”, says von Kries, “and trying to use technology to create a big sound that’s still organic and musical - drum loops and vocal processing, but tightly controlled by me as I play. It makes for a lot of work, but the result is a ‘band-feel’ instead of a canned performance. I can extend sections, have a dub / delayed part of a song, whatever. This is the first time I’ve played material live before recording it, and it feels really good. I can’t wait to get into the studio with it”.

Listeners can see previews of “Masks” and download their copy of “Secret Services” at http://www.instarmusic.com

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16
Jan

Pepsi Stuff And Amazon MP3 Bring DRM-Free MP3 Music Downloads To The Masses

   Posted by: mwatkins    in Publishing News

Pepsi and Amazon.com are teaming up on Pepsi Stuff, a massive collect-and-get program where consumers can download the most DRM-free MP3 music available anywhere. Four billion specially marked Pepsi packages will allow people to collect points and redeem them for music from Amazon MP3 that can be played on virtually any digital portable device (including iPod), organized in any music management application, or burned to a CD.

Beginning February 1, consumers purchasing Pepsi products can “bank” their points on PepsiStuff.com and redeem them for music on Amazon MP3. Amazon MP3 offers Earth’s Biggest Selection of a la carte, DRM-free MP3 music downloads, with over 3.25 million songs from more than 270,000 artists. Five points earn consumers one MP3 song download from the libraries of EMI Music, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, Warner Music Group and tens of thousands of other music labels. Pepsi’s biggest promotion ever makes its debut on the Super Bowl.

“MP3 music is the future of the industry and Pepsi Stuff is an accelerator,” said Danny Socolof, President of Las-Vegas based MEGA, Inc., which facilitated the Pepsi/Amazon alliance. “It will help more people discover legal DRM-free music downloading sooner than they might normally have. It’s also likely to draw in music fans who are not as familiar with digital downloading, which can help build a healthy future for the music business.”

“We are excited to team up with Pepsi and reward millions of Pepsi Stuff participants with high-quality DRM-free music downloads from major and independent labels, playable on virtually any device, and an easy downloading experience that doesn’t require special software,” said Bill Carr, Amazon.com Vice President for Digital Music and Movies.

“Pepsi Stuff gives consumers choices — many choices: from the prizes they select, to the music they want to hear, to the device they want to play it on,” said Cie Nicholson, SVP and chief marketing officer, Pepsi-Cola North America. “We’re also broadening the prize pool to include Amazon Unbox TV downloads, electronics, apparel, DVDs and CDs. We’re offering up to $1 billion in prizes, making this the largest promotion we’ve ever done.”

Participants can also enter a daily sweepstakes for the chance to win trips to events like the Super Bowl, the MLB All-Star game and the Daytona 500, as well as for cash and many other big prizes. Consumers may sign up now to be reminded when the promotion begins at www.pepsistuff.com.

Pepsi has a long history of marketing through music, beginning with the first advertising jingle ever broadcast nationwide in 1940 and spanning the ’60s and ’70s with the Pepsi Generation. In the 1980s Pepsi began developing relationships with some of the world’s biggest recording artists and featured chart-topping songs in marketing campaigns, concerts and commercials. It’s a strategy that continues today, including recent associations with superstars Kanye West, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani and Green Day.

Pepsi Stuff will be executed across the entire Pepsi trademark: Pepsi-Cola, Diet Pepsi, Diet Pepsi MAX, Pepsi ONE, Wild Cherry Pepsi, Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry, Diet Pepsi Jazz, Diet Pepsi Lime and Diet Pepsi Vanilla. It will be supported by an extensive marketing campaign that will include TV, radio and outdoor advertising created by BBDO NY. TracyLocke (Wilton, CT), Pepsi’s promotional agency of record, has been instrumental in the development and ongoing execution of the program.

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