http://metalabel.com Beyond Labels en-us Copyright &#169; Metalabel Development, LLC 2008 Mon, 8 Feb 2010 19:41:1 GMT Mon, 8 Feb 2010 19:41:1 GMT http://metalabel.com rss@metalabel.com (Amiri Barksdale) rss@metalabel.com (Amiri Barksdale) HTML::Mason / XML::RSS / Perl 5.8.8 http://metalabel.com/images/logo.jpg http://metalabel.com 50 50 Beyond Labels <p>Why is it when web 2.0 companies look for ways to generate revenue from music they always lean toward making indie artists pay user fees? </p> <p>The major labels get paid every time their music is played on the internet. Why is it that independent artists are asked for payola? </p><p>Wasn't the internet supposed to end all the exploitation and give everyone a leveled playing field? </P><p>Looks like the majors are still gaming the system with their lawsuits, exorbitant licensing fees, and partnership deals with websites. I guess some sites' only option is to make everyone else pay the majors' way.</P> <p> Here is just another example of this phenomenon. </P> <a href="http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2009/06/pandora-forces-2995-payments-from-indie-bands-.html">Pandora to force Indie Artists to be apart of Amazon's Advantage Program, pay $29 a year and 55% percent of CD price to Amazon to sell or stream music on Pandora</a> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Ryann.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/Ryann/Pandora_Now_Charging_Indie_Artists_to_Upload_Music.html Tue, 7 Jul 2009 17:43:01 GMT <p>Two weeks ago, Imeem announced to their users that they would no longer host videos and photos on the site, basic features of any social network. Why would they do such a thing?</p> <p> Well, Imeem finally got wise to the fact that a free music-streaming site supported by ad revenue is not a business model--it’s a nonprofit. They have decided at this late stage to try their hand at being an online music store. Good luck to them, they will need it! </p><p> I guess Imeem hasn’t learned that no one wants to buy the crap the major labels are trying to sell these days. </p> <p>So, poor cash-strapped Imeem is going to try to save itself by selling garbage to its user base and then take away the very few features on the site users even like. Excellent! I guess this type of bright innovative idea is what helps you burn through more than $25 million of venture capital. </P> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Ryann.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/Ryann/Imeem_is_Through.html Tue, 7 Jul 2009 17:10:38 GMT <p>Well, I am definitely busted back down to paper man now. But I have a real good reason. I was <a href="http://warpedreality.org/2009/06/the-power-of-jfdi.html">JFDI</a>. I was <a href="http://samcrawley.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/the-three-stages-of-learning-to-test/">learning to test</a> (I'd say I am level 1 for the moment). Boy, is testing a strange enterprise for the beginning tester. Like millions before me, I did "testing" the other way round: write, run, tweak, run, tweak, run, etc., etc., ad infinitum. Basically, you have to turn your mind inside out and think about your code in what feels like a pretty much inverted way. But I like the discipline it imposes.</p> <p>I was working on <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~amiri/Catalyst-Helper-Controller-DBIC-API-REST-0.03/lib/Catalyst/Helper/Controller/DBIC/API/REST.pm">Catalyst::Helper::Controller::DBIC::API::REST</a>, which I blogged about <a href="http://metalabel.com/derailleur/Automatic_CRUD_in_your_Controllers.html">once before</a>. It's my first CPAN module, and I'm very proud of that fact! I'm not so proud of the fact that I had to upload the thing about 5 times to get it right. In any case, it's a good feeling to be a contributing member of the thriving Perl 5 community. Thanks <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~ribasushi/">ribasushi</a>, <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~ilmari/">ilmari</a>, <a href="http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/blog/matt-s-trout/">mst</a>, <a href="http://blog.cachemiss.com/">Caelum</a>, <a href="http://warpedreality.org/">arcanez</a>, <a href="http://www.opensourcery.com/blog/hans-dieter-pearcey">confound</a>, <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~lsaunders/">lukes</a>, Fitz Elliott, and everyone else I bothered while putting that thing together.</p> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/A_Meager_Attempt_at_CatchUp.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:17:17 GMT <p>From time to time I do manage to pull myself away from building Metalabel 2.0 (we've been rewriting the site for a couple of months now, mostly to make it easier to add new features) in order to focus on the business aspect of the business we're in.</p> <p>This is one of those times. Today I was reading <a href="http://hypebot.com">Hypebot</a>, and I came across an article that I really appreciated. Bruce Houghton wants to compile a list of artists who have made successful careers without major label backing. This is what we're all about: carving out a space for independent artists to make real money off of their music. It's all about providing the tools to enable the "artistic middle class" to thrive, and to allow the music business to become something other than what it has been, something more focused on the substance, the stuff, the work, the music! As we continue to grow, we hope to put some Metalabel artists on that list! <a href="http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2009/06/dont-need-a-major-label.html">Check out the article</a>.</p> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/The_New_Musical_Middle_Class.html Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:10:58 GMT <p>The first version of the module to generate CRUDdy controllers automatically is up <a href="http://github.com/amiri/Catalyst-Helper-Controller-DBIC-API-REST-0.01/tree/master">on my github</a>. It's for <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~lsaunders/Catalyst-Controller-DBIC-API-1.003000/lib/Catalyst/Controller/DBIC/API/REST.pm">REST</a> first. <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~lsaunders/Catalyst-Controller-DBIC-API-1.003000/lib/Catalyst/Controller/DBIC/API/RPC.pm">RPC</a> comes next. It doesn't use the normal syntax of calls to <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~flora/Catalyst-Devel-1.18/lib/Catalyst/Helper.pm">Catalyst::Helper</a> (e.g., myapp_create.pl)--or, rather, it uses the normal syntax differently. When you type</p> <pre><code> $ catalyst.pl myapp $ cd myapp $ script/myapp_create.pl controller API::REST DBIC::API::REST myapp </code></pre> <p>Instead of you naming the specific controller you want to create, as usual, you just write <code>API::REST</code>. The module loads your schema from the name of your app, e.g., <code>myapp</code>, and makes all your controllers in lib/myapp/Controller/API/REST/.</p> <p>This module is incomplete. It remains to basically fill in the template to supply a whole<code>__PACKAGE__->config(...)</code>. I also need to write out the lib/myapp/Controller/API.pm and the lib/myapp/Controller/API/REST.pm, in order to supply the base of <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~lsaunders/Catalyst-Controller-DBIC-API-1.003000/lib/Catalyst/Controller/DBIC/API.pm#setup">the chain all the result-class controllers use</a>. I think I'll release this one to CPAN when I'm done, cause this one is independent, unlike the moosified branch of Loader.</p> <p>Any and all feedback welcome. Hit me up on IRC.</p> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Automatic_CRUD_in_your_Controllers.html Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:54:02 GMT <p>So, I've been working on this <a href="http://github.com/amiri/DBIx-Class-Schema-Loader-0.04999_07/tree/master">Loader</a> thing, trying to get it to write Moose attributes for all sorts of class data and stuff.</p> <p>One major problem was that Loader runs through its cycle twice, and it dumps the schema twice. The first time there's no relationship information, because it hasn't gotten it. The second time, after it gets the info and writes its relationship declarations... you still can't get it! There's a huge <code>{_dump_storage}</code> key in Loader's <code>$self</code>, but if I wanted to parse that language, I would have stayed getting it from the files on disk. I honestly still don't know what Loader does with all the relationship info after writing it out.</p> <p>Well, that was dispiriting. So I gave up and just decided to get the info again and build my own relationship hash while iterating through the classes. It works pretty well.</p> <p>One outstanding issue is how more subtly to handle relationships to other tables. Right now, if the relationship method is <code>might_have</code> Loader says</p> <pre><code> has 'posted_item' => ( isa => 'Test::Schema::PostedItem', is => 'rw', ); </code></pre> <p>If the relationship method is <code>has_many</code>, Loader says</p> <pre><code> has 'discussion_topics' => ( isa => ArrayRef['Test::Schema::DiscussionTopic'], is => 'rw', ); </code></pre> <p>It's sort of a one-trick pony.</p> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/I'm_In_Ur_Loader.html Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:34:22 GMT <p>I hope I'm not too late in my third week of posting for the iron man contest. My last post was on May 31, and so I should have posted something by June 7, but I was traveling cross-country to my original hometown of Los Angeles! <a href="http://metalabel.com/derailleur/An_Iron_Man_With_Stone_Age_Technology.html">Talk about a car city</a>. I think that's a good enough excuse. We'll see if I get busted back to paper man.</p> <p>I wanted to extend on my last post about a way to make sure your multiple-table-inheritance database can be updated properly across whatever views you are running your app off of. But I just got some new code to look at for that, and haven't quite grokked it yet. So that will have to wait till next time.</p> <p>Meanwhile, I'd like to present a couple of ideas I have been working on in my Metalabel rewrite, and perhaps solicit some feedback. I'd love to hear suggestions or strategies. The first is a module some people have seen around—it is called <a href="http://github.com/amiri/Moosifier">Moosifier</a>, and it takes <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~ilmari/DBIx-Class-Schema-Loader-0.04006/lib/DBIx/Class/Schema/Loader.pm">DBIx::Class Schema::Loader</a> result class files, reads them, and adds <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~drolsky/Moose-0.81/lib/Moose.pm">Moose</a> bits at the top and bottom to allow you to use your auto-generated classes with <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~mstrout/Reaction/">Reaction</a> or whatever.</p> <p>Before:</p> <p><pre><code> package Test::Schema::Amazon; use strict; use warnings; use base 'DBIx::Class'; __PACKAGE__->load_components("TimeStamp", "Core"); __PACKAGE__->table("amazon"); __PACKAGE__->add_columns( "asin", { data_type => "text", default_value => undef, is_nullable => 1, size => undef, }, ... 1; </code></pre> </p> <p>After:</p> <p><pre><code> package Test::Schema::Amazon; use Moose; extends 'DBIx::Class'; has 'asin' => ( isa => SimpleStr, is => 'rw', required => 0 ); has 'locale' => ( isa => SimpleStr, is => 'rw', required => 0 ); has 'filename' => ( isa => SimpleStr, is => 'rw', required => 0 ); has 'refetchdate' => ( isa => Int, is => 'rw', required => 0 ); use namespace::autoclean; __PACKAGE__->load_components("TimeStamp", "Core"); __PACKAGE__->table("amazon"); __PACKAGE__->add_columns( "asin", { data_type => "text", default_value => undef, is_nullable => 1, size => undef, }, ... __PACKAGE__->meta->make_immutable(inline_constructor => '0'); 1; </code></pre></p> <p>I wrote it because I thought I was going to be using Reaction in my rewrite, but <a href="http://www.catalyzed.org/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=34">phaylon</a> advised against it. <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~mstrout/Reaction-0.002000/lib/Reaction/Manual/Intro.pod">It adds a whole other layer to Catalyst's M, V and C</a>, and I agreed that it's wisest to make sure the basic rewrite is solid before adding a whole new layer, and, for instance, having to think about chopping my as-yet-unwritten templates into widgets or what have you.</p> <p>Thus <a href="http://github.com/amiri/Moosifier">Moosifier</a>. It's pretty darned simple: it works by reading the result class files and using a bunch of regexes to extract the <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~drolsky/Moose-0.81/lib/Moose/Manual/Attributes.pod">Moose attributes</a> from the <code>__PACKAGE__->add_columns(...)</code> lines. I was excited to put it up and finish it, but no sooner had I done so than I hit upon another problem. Now that I had my classes written, I had to make my controllers.</p> <p>Metalabel 2.0 needs at least 76 controllers. There's no way I'm going to write those by hand. I could use myapp/script/myapp_create.pl helper script to make skeleton controllers, of course. But that's just a skeleton. What about <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~hkclark/Catalyst-Manual-5.8000/lib/Catalyst/Manual/Tutorial/04_BasicCRUD.pod">basic CRUD</a>? There's no way I'm going to write CRUD for 76 controllers by hand.</p> <p>I asked on <a href="irc://irc.perl.org/catalyst">#catalyst</a> whether there are any tools to help generate CRUD automatically in your controllers, and glob recommended <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~lsaunders/Catalyst-Controller-DBIC-API-1.003000/lib/Catalyst/Controller/DBIC/API.pm">Catalyst::Controller::DBIC::API</a>, for which there are <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~lsaunders/Catalyst-Controller-DBIC-API-1.003000/lib/Catalyst/Controller/DBIC/API/RPC.pm">RPC</a> and <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~lsaunders/Catalyst-Controller-DBIC-API-1.003000/lib/Catalyst/Controller/DBIC/API/REST.pm">REST</a> implementations. Of course, these just provide a way to write your CRUD. They don't do it for you. So I had a new automation problem: "How can I automate the creation of basic but smart RPC or REST controllers for my Catalyst app, based on my DBIx::Class::Schema::Loader result classes?" </p> <p> Of course I asked on irc first. Knowing that I had done something similar with Moosifier, <a href="http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/blog/matt-s-trout/">mst</a> suggested that instead of reading the files from disk, I take the table info directly from the database using DBIx::Class::Schema::Loader. Why the hell not? It makes much more sense than stepping through a file with regexes and substitutions and such. </p> <p> The goal is to create 76+ controllers (in this case, of the RPC subclass) like this sample code from the <a href="http://search.cpan.org/~lsaunders/Catalyst-Controller-DBIC-API-1.003000/lib/Catalyst/Controller/DBIC/API.pm">Catalyst::Controller::DBIC::API documentation</a>: </p> <p> <pre> <code> package MyApp::Controller::API::RPC::Artist; use base qw/Catalyst::Controller::DBIC::API::RPC/; __PACKAGE__->config ( action => { setup => { PathPart => 'artist', Chained => '/api/rpc/rpc_base' } }, class => 'MyAppDB::Artist', # DBIC schema class create_requires => ['name', 'age'], # columns required to create create_allows => ['nickname'], # additional non-required columns that create allows update_allows => ['name', 'age', 'nickname'], # columns that update allows list_returns => [qw/name age/], # columns that list returns list_prefetch => ['cds'], # relationships that are prefetched when no prefetch param is passed list_prefetch_allows => [ # every possible prefetch param allowed 'cds', qw/ cds /, { cds => 'tracks' }, { cds => [qw/ tracks /] } ], list_ordered_by => [qw/age/], # order of generated list list_search_exposes => [qw/age nickname/, { cds => [qw/title year/] }], ); </code> </pre> </p> <p> I figure I can dump out such a controller for every table I need by pulling the whole database into a hash using DBIx::Class::Schema::Loader, and using this hash to populate the <code>__PACKAGE__->config(...)</code> for each table/controller. For instance, the class name is easy. So is <code>create_requires</code>: those are the non-nullable columns in the table, besides any auto-incrementing serials or sequences. <code>create_allows</code> is every column but those in <code>create_required</code>, also excluding serials and sequences. <code>update_allows</code> is the columns in both <code>create_allows</code> and <code>create_requires</code>. I can't escape some manual labor here: I am going to make <code>list_returns</code> return every column in the table. I'll go through the controllers by hand to customize those. The same with <code>list_prefetch_allows</code>: the object of every relationship identified by DBIx::Class::Schema::Loader is going into <code>list_prefetch_allows</code> (none are going into the default <code>list_prefetch</code>). I'll have to customize those manually, as well. <code>list_ordered_by</code> may need to be manually specified later as well, but using date column if it exists might be a good default. <code>list_search_exposes</code> will expose everything by default. </p> <p>So, I am in the process of writing 2 modules to do this: one for RPC and one for REST. They'll be on my <a href="http://github.com/amiri">github</a> soon.</p> <p>Meanwhile, using DBIx::Class::Schema::Loader to read table definitions directly from the database in these modules has made me realize I need to change Moosifier to do the same. In fact, D::C::S::Loader simply needs to be able to write the Moose declarations itself. Moosifier needs to move into Loader.</p> <p>That's my next project.</p> <p>EDIT:</p> <a href="http://github.com/amiri/DBIx-Class-Schema-Loader-0.04999_07/tree/master">There's a branch for it now</a>. I need some tests though. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Some_Module_Ideas.html Mon, 8 Jun 2009 13:20:39 GMT <p>This is about how I learned to make a real database schema. It was my first exposure to roles and the generally more robust practice of <a href="http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/archive/conference-video/nwepm/postgres/">"multiple inheritance" object-oriented database design</a>. This is one wheel I would never have reinvented on my own, either.</p> <p>So, I had no clue what I was doing, really.</p> <p>My data "model," or my "domain model," if it can even be called that, was nowhere near relational. It wasn't even a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_warehouse">data-warehouse model</a>. It was just a bunch of stuff in some tables. There were no foreign key constraints.</p> <p>I had to manually (in the application, which was no where near MVC) update everything to maintain the merest shred of "referential integrity." In virtually every Mason component there was a huge &lt;%init&gt; block that not only pulled in data, but did maps, sorts, extractions, validation, etc. I might as well have been grepping through spreadsheets. I remember the day in early May 2007, when someone I considered a hardcore Perl programmer told me, "Oh, you'll see. My ORM keeps it real simple. You do all that stuff application side." Ah, hubris.</p> <p>Here's how it used to look:</p> <p><img src="/images/MySQL.png" alt="old schema" width="500" /></p> <p>Here's how it looks now:</p> <p><img src="/images/Pg.png" alt="old schema" width="500" /></p> <p>Wow. You can't even really read the newer graph it's so dense and interrelated.</p> <p>The thing is, the current model grew organically, and I was just updating my MySQL tables and my class files manually for every additional column and accessor. After 18 months of that, adding new features, expanding this, modifying that, I had grown myself an unmanageably large helping of spaghetti. Everything was application side, remember? No constraints in the DB, no transactions.</p> <p>I knew I needed some help. I hired shadowcat, and they told me first to send them my current domain model. I did. They pretty much threw it out and we rewrote it from scratch.</p> <p>Let's take a couple of objects as an example.</p> <ul> <li> User </li> <li> Artist </li> <li> Album </li> <li> Metalabel </li> <li> Track </li> <li> Label </li> <li> Scout </li> <li> Blog </li> <li> Photo </li> <li> Friend </li> </ul> <p> I'm only going to talk about a couple of these in detail, but you'll get the idea. This first thing <a href="http://www.catalyzed.org/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&id=34&blog_id=1">phaylon</a> noticed was that a user can do a couple of different things. A user can be an artist or a label and a user can create a metalabel. A metalabel does a subset of the functions of a user: it can make friends and it can post blogs and some other stuff. <a href="http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/blog/matt-s-trout/">mst</a> said "Smells like a role." phaylon agreed, and came up with a couple of class declarations:</p> <pre><code> role Creator { has blog_entries_about isa ArrayRef[BlogEntry]; has blog_entries isa ArrayRef[BlogEntry]; has bulletins isa ArrayRef[Bulletin]; has comments_about isa ArrayRef[Comment]; has comments isa ArrayRef[Comments]; has discussions isa ArrayRef[DiscussionTopic]; has events isa ArrayRef[Event]; has friend_requests isa ArrayRef[Friend] where is_accepted is false; has friends isa ArrayRef[Friend] where is_accepted is true; has photos isa ArrayRef[Photo]; might have style isa CustomStyle; has creator isa ArtistIdentity | Band | Label | Metalabel | Scout | User; } </code></pre> <p>This Creator role will be consumed by all 5 classes that can “create” stuff. Those classes are ArtistIdentity, Band, Label, Metalabel, Scout, and User. Each of those classes have their own definitions. For instance:</p> <pre><code> class User does Addressable, Artworkable, Bloggable, Commentable, Creator, Discussable, Pollable { has artist_identities isa ArrayRef[ArtistIdentity]; has credit isa CurrencyValue; has messages_out isa ArrayRef[Message::Private] where sender is me; has messages_in isa ArrayRef[Message::Private] where recipient is me; has messages_out isa ArrayRef[Message::Bulletin] where sender is me; has messages_out isa ArrayRef[Message::Bulletin::Friend] where sender is me; has rsvps isa ArrayRef[Event::RSVP]; has metalabels isa ArrayRef[Metalabel]; has labels isa ArrayRef[Label]; has playlist isa Playlist; has address isa Address; has favorite isa Genre | Subgenre; might have open_id isa OpenID; has mail_preferences isa MailPreference; } </code></pre> <p>In the User class, we first define the roles it consumes. You can see it consumes multiple roles, among them, Creator. So far, this is fairly clear, I hope. It's just a sort of <a href="http://search.cpan.org/dist/MooseX-Declare/lib/MooseX/Declare.pm">MooseX::Declare</a>-like pseudocode now, but the basic idea is that every class does stuff. Some classes do the same stuff. That is a role. Some classes are really just instances of other superclasses. Like the Label, for instance:</p> <pre><code>class Label isa User, does Addressable, Bloggable, Creator, Commentable, Discussable, Genred, Pollable { has address isa Address; has artists isa ArrayRef[Label::Artist]; has billing isa Billing; might have paypal_id isa PayPalID has company_name isa Str; has is_incorporated isa Bool; has corp_state isa Str; has tax_id isa Str; } </code></pre> <p>The real mind-bending stuff for me came when we actually began implementing this stuff in SQL. The most important conceptual thing for me was how everything that consumes a role has to have a unique ID. Because a role is implemented in SQL as a primary-key only table!</p> <pre><code> create table creator ( id integer primary key not null ); </code></pre> <p>Obviously, if 5 classes are going to be consuming this role, you cannot just start each class's table with “id serial primary key not null,” because then you coulnd't look up a Creator by its ID. Ther would be multiple Creators with the same ID, and your database would be useless.</p> <p>So all role consuming classes share a sequence:</p> <pre><code>create sequence entity_seq start 1;<br />...<br /> create table artist_identity ( id integer primary key not null default nextval('entity_seq'), date timestamp not null default 'now', "user" integer not null, name text ); </code></pre> <p> This doesn't only go for things like Creators, which are “active” tables, but also for things like Albums, which can be acted upon. My Album in Moosey pseudocode is:</p> <pre><code> class Album does Artworkable, Bloggable, Commentable, Discussable, Genred, Pollable, Videoable { has tracks isa ArrayRef[Track]; has artist isa MusicProvider; has title isa NonEmptySimpleStr; has coverart; has notes isa Str; has is_deleted isa Bool; has date isa TimeStamp; has creation_date isa Date; has album_only isa Bool; has free isa Bool; } </code></pre> <p>So, the Album object does 7 roles. It can be acted upon in 7 ways. It obviously also needs to share in the database-wide unique sequence, so I can look up any particular, say, Bloggable item by its ID:</p> <pre><code> create table album ( id integer primary key not null default nextval('entity_seq'), date timestamp not null default 'now', provided_by integer not null, title text, creation_date date not null, notes text, album_only boolean, free boolean, deleted boolean ); </code></pre> <p> Finally, each object that consumes any role needs to have foreign keys to that role. So, the Album object needs a FK to each role it consumes. It needs 7 Fks:</p> <pre><code> alter table album add foreign key (id) references artworkable (id); alter table album add foreign key (id) references bloggable (id); alter table album add foreign key (id) references commentable (id); alter table album add foreign key (id) references discussable (id); alter table album add foreign key (id) references genred (id); alter table album add foreign key (id) references pollable (id); alter table album add foreign key (id) references videoable (id); </code></pre> <p>My User object needs 8:</p> <pre><code>alter table "user" add foreign key (id) references addressable (id); alter table "user" add foreign key (id) references artworkable (id); alter table "user" add foreign key (id) references bloggable (id); alter table "user" add foreign key (id) references commentable (id); alter table "user" add foreign key (id) references creator (id); alter table "user" add foreign key (id) references discussable (id); alter table "user" add foreign key (id) references pollable (id); alter table "user" add foreign key (id) references videoable (id); </code></pre> <p>This is to make updating your tables across views easier when records are created or deleted. </p> <p>I still don't fully understand that bit, so I'll try to write about it next time. Meanwhile, if you're not doing something like the above, and you find yourself doing lots of manual record updates in your code, you're not using your database effectively! </p> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/How_I_Learned_to_Write_A_Real_Database_Schema.html Sun, 31 May 2009 16:07:55 GMT <p>Well, yeah, a bike isn't stone-age technology, but it is wood. No, all bikes aren't wood, but they used to be. Some of them anyway.</p> <p>In any case, bikes are essentially primitive in a high-tech kind of a way. Or high-tech in a steampunk kind of way. Right?</p> <p>A bicycle is the essential hypostasis of the age of enlightenment, human progress under the banner of science and reason, Promethean humanity boostrapping Babel, all under their own power. But, God Almighty, that's a lot of work! Who can navigate a modern city on a bike?!?!? Modern cities are built around cars, which are so much easier.<p> <p>Cars are essentially high-tech in a primitive way. They're the ultimate hypostasis of the age of disillusionment, human stagnation under the sign of quick fixes and easy rationalizations.</p> <p>They're superconvenient. And superdeadly. It makes you start to wonder about all the work it takes to build and operate a bike. Maybe with car-age, twenty-first century techniques and a bit of <a href="http://www.enlightenedperl.org/">that good old enlightenment spirit</a> we can...? Nah. The Tesla'll be available soon. Forget it.<p> <p>When I began to build this site in April 2007, it was like building a bike at the turn of the twentieth century. Just a bit too late for my tools (and methods) to be viable into the future.</p> <p>But then, some of the super-fashionable, fully-automated, black-box, computerized conveniences of the Web 2.0 age aren't quite viable either. Have you cleaned any spark plugs recently? On a car made in the past couple of years? Can you even find the carburetor? I began to feel like one of the magnificent Ambersons.</p> <p>So I'm rebuilding the whole thing from scratch. I got my titanium-alloy tubing, ice-hardened tempered-steel gears and cams, diamond-polished ball bearings, expert advice from <a href="http://474.at/">phaylon</a> and <a href="http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/blog/matt-s-trout/">mst</a> at <a href="http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/">Shadowcat</a>, all the IRC channels, like #dbix-class, #catalyst, #moose, #reaction, mailing lists, etc.</p> <p>When you get right down to it, neither my bicycle metaphor nor my bike/car disjunction are perfectly appropriate. The simple truth is that I had a dream that metalabel was a bike.</p> <p>That's fine with me, though, cause I'm just introducing myself and my <a href="http://www.shadowcat.co.uk/archive/conference-video/nordic-workshop-2009/ironman/">Perl Iron Man</a> blog. My first substantial post will about how I learned to write a real database schema.</p> <p>Look for it very shortly.</p> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/An_Iron_Man_With_Stone_Age_Technology.html Wed, 27 May 2009 15:07:57 GMT But we did. MySpace Music has finally launched and it’s just as underwhelming and biased as <a href="http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/The_MySpace_Record_Label_Deal_Sucks.html">we predicted it would be</a>. <br /> <br /> It’s not because we're some great geniuses that we were able to foresee this, but because it’s been obvious for years to anyone watching that MySpace takes independent artists for granted. <br /> <br /> Listen up <a href="http://metalabel.com/registration/index.html?a=1">artists</a>, <a href="http://metalabel.com/registration/index.html?u=1">fans</a>, <a href="http://metalabel.com/registration/index.html?l=1">labels</a>—listen up <a href="http://www.theorchard.com/">Orchard</a>, <a href="http://www.a2im.org/">A2IM</a>, <a href="http://www.merlinnetwork.org/home/">Merlin</a>: It’s time to stop chasing the crumbs from the majors’ table. It’s time to stop chasing vague promises of ad revenue from MySpace. You need to get down with Metalabel. <br /> <br /> We are building a genuine, lasting alternative: a place where independent labels, artists and fans can come and share, discover, sell, and purchase the music we love. Independent music is not a second thought for us: it is why we exist. <br /> <br /> We are exclusively for the growing world of independent music, and at Metalabel, the indies are the stars. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/I_Hate_to_Say_We_Told_You_So….html Wed, 1 Oct 2008 11:08:21 GMT <p>I came across <a href="http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees.htm">this survey</a> today, and I thought it was pretty cool. I agree with it mostly. Any chart without KRS-One and Rakim in the top 2 spots is a joke, first of all, so this survey gets that right. </p> <p> I can bet a lot of people won’t like how Jay-Z isn’t closer to the top, but that’s just cause they don't know their history! And Nas doesn't really deserve to be so high up, considering his supreme lyricism was last on display…14 years ago. </p> <p> Oh well. <a href="http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees.htm">Check it out though</a>! </p> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Top_50_Rappers_Ever.html Fri, 1 Aug 2008 20:15:29 GMT <p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7459796.stm">Kid Rock has decided he would rather his fans “steal” his music on bittorrent than place it on iTunes and have Apple and his record label, Atlantic Records (a subsidiary of Warner Music Group), take the lion’s share of the revenue his music generates</a>.</p> <p> Kid Rock says, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7459796.stm">“The internet was an opportunity for everyone to be treated fairly, for the consumer to get a fair price, for the artist to be paid fairly, for the record companies to make some money. But they stuck to the old system.”</a> That system being the record companies taking most of the cash and not giving it to the artists. </p> <p> We here at Metalabel agree wholeheartedly with Kid’s sentiments and believe that Metalabel is the kind of Internet music distributor that artists and audiences want and need. </p> <p> Though he believes one day he will have to sell his music on iTunes, we think that’s only because he hasn’t heard of Metalabel yet!</p> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Ryann.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/Ryann/Kid_Rock_is_Boycotting_iTunes..html Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:33:52 GMT I watch MTV every so often, but I usually don't pay attention—I just have it on while I'm doing something else. But when the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfe3EJ3Laho">video for "Run"</a> came on, I was transfixed. Cee-Lo delivers a psycho preacher Sunday morning sermon on acid, and the choir sounds corresponding freaked out. I have never seen or heard anything like it. I don't know if I like it, but I had to pay attention. ‘Nuff said. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Gnarls_Barkley.html Tue, 13 May 2008 03:10:21 GMT <h3>Metalabel already has the highest artist payout rate on the planet at a full 80 percent. We're proud to announce that we're making it even better.</h3> <br /> <br /> <a href="/registration/index.html"><strong>Artists can now register to pay an annual fee of $200 for unlimited sales. No percentages—just pure upside</strong></a>. <br /> <br /> For current users, our new e-mail notification system is up. You will be notified of new messages, comments, replies, events, music recommendations, announcements, and blogs about you or your music. Of course, <a href="/users/editprofile.html">you can customize your notification settings</a>. <br /> <br /> Last but <em>definitely</em> not least, we are also very happy to announce our first advertising campaign through <a href="http://indieclick.com">IndieClick</a> and <a href="http://undergroundhiphop.com">Underground Hip Hop</a>, one of our most favoritest sites on the Internet. Keep a look out for our ads on your favorite music websites and blogs! <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Big_Changes.html Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:40:30 GMT Jeremy Steig is a lifelong jazz man, a real vet. (He’s also <a href="http://jeremysteig.info/download.html">a painter</a>, <a href="http://amiribarksdale.com">like me</a>. That’s his artwork on this blog. Wild palette, right?) I’m talking like 45 years in the music business. I reached out to him through a drummer friend of mine, and tried to talk to him about selling some of his music through <a href="http://metalabel.com">Metalabel</a>, but he has serious reservations about the digital music business, and the music business in general. I can’t say I blame him, after what he’s seen and experienced. <br /> <br /> But during that conversation, he was so personable and engaging that I couldn’t get off the phone with him! <a href="http://jeremysteig.info/bio.html">He plays jazz flute</a>, which is my favorite woodwind instrument (yes, even above the sax. I love the flute’s sound so much I sought to purchase one and take lessons, but <a href="http://wwbw.com/Pearl-Flutes-Flutes---Piccolos-c61+4294900173+4294940224.music">even the student flutes were so expensive</a> I had to try to learn <a href="http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/">clarinet instead</a>). I just think the instrument just has a beautiful voice, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Dolphy">Eric Dolphy</a> is my favorite classic jazz player. <br /> <br /> We ended up scheduling a dinner, and on Friday, April 4, <a href="http://metalabel.com/Ryann.html">Ryann</a> and I met him at <a href="http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/bar-6/">Bar 6</a>, <a href="http://metalabel.com/about.html#cafe">the same café where we first discussed Metalabel</a>. We all ordered crème brûlée, and Jeremy proceeded to drop knowledge for about 4 hours. <br /> <br /> We ended up walking back to his crib, cause I wanted to buy some CDs. So we got to meet his wife, and continue our discussion. <br /> <br /> I ended up buying four CDs, all full of good music. My favorite is <a href="http://www.jeremysteig.info/store.html?pid=2630"><em>Flute on the Edge</em></a>. He does a lovely rendition of “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” and <a href="http://www.jazzreview.com/guest/review-17546.html">I’m not the only one who thinks so</a>! <br /> <br /> It’s been almost two full weeks since that evening, and it took just about that long for me to wrap my mind around all we discussed. <br /> <br /> While I won’t go into specifics, I can tell you that meeting Jeremy reconfirmed us in our mission to supersede the record label system and construct another avenue for independent artistic success. <br /> <br /> I’m saying—when labels don’t even want to pay for studio time for their own artists, or when they have to <a href="http://metalabel.com/blogs/Ryann/Soap_Company_to_Make_Sucky_Sudsy_Music.html">partner with soap companies</a> to be able to “afford” marketing their own artists, we need something new. <br /> <br /> So, thanks, Jeremy, for the wisdom and knowledge. Keep playing! <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Wise_Words_From_a_Jazz_Vet.html Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:19:32 GMT <a href="http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,4662033,00.html">Jermaine Dupri just launched TAG records</a> with the help of <a href="http://www.pg.com/en_US/index.jhtml">Proctor and Gamble</a>. Yes, the people who make your soap and deodorant have partnered with Def Jam Records to promote artists and their <a href="http://www.consideryourselfwarned.com/">Tag body spray</a>. <br /> <br /> I can see the new <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=M27Us5PRB8Q&amp;feature=related">Tag body spray commercials </a>now. A rapper enters a club and all the girls run to his entourage members instead of him, because they got their Tag on. <br /> <br /> This is just wrong on so many levels. <br /> <br /> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Ryann.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/Ryann/Soap_Company_to_Make_Sucky_Sudsy_Music.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:40:20 GMT With this deal, MySpace shows once and for all that it doesn't give a damn about independent artists. <br /> <br /> MySpace has been around in its current incarnation since <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myspace">2003</a>. I don't know how many of you remember, but before that it was a part of eUniverse/InterMix Media, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermix_Media,_Inc.">gigantic adware/spyware shop</a> that <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/eliot_l_spitzer/index.html">Eliot Spitzer</a>, he of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ninavenetta">the whore</a>, sued for illegally installing spyware on users' machines. <br /> <br /> We can talk later about exactly how much has changed, what with the general spamminess and sloppiness that continues to define the MySpace experience. <br /> <br /> For now, keep in mind that MySpace has been around for 5 years, claiming to be a friend of the independent artist. There are about 4 million artists on MySpace now. (You can see this if you browse by top genres and add up the columns.) Less than 1 percent of them have major label deals. <br /> <br /> What exactly has MySpace done for these 4 million artists in the past 5 years? Allow them to put up a page, post songs for listening or free download only, and post some band info. Great. <br /> <br /> Oh, and a little more than a year ago, in September 2006—around the time they banned outgoing links in all other Flash applications—they finally introduced a way for independent artists to sell their music on MySpace! Yippee!!! <br /> <br /> But what was it? It was a monopoly deal with Snocap, whereby independent artists can use the SnoCap Flash widget to sell their music on MySpace. <br /> <br /> And SnoCap is utter bullshit. <br /> <br /> If you're a total indie artist, you pay a yearly fee and 39 cents per song <strong>and</strong> a retail fee of 10 or 15 percent—whichever is larger. If you're on an indie label, you can negotiate some of those terms. If you're on a major label, of course, you can negotiate everything! <br /> <br /> Starting to get the picture? <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/19/myspace_royalty_snub/">MySpace has tried in the past to defend its utter negligence of independent artists</a>, but I'm not buying it. There's no way crappy deals with SnoCap and T-shirt sales are gonna cut it for independent artists in the twenty-first century. <br /> <br /> So, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/technology/03cnd-myspace.html">when MySpace announced its deal to sell music for the major labels</a>, with the majors still setting <a href="http://metalabel.com/info.html#80years">the same terms as they have for the past 80 years</a>, I just had to laugh. <br /> <br /> It's a slap in the face to the independent artists who, for better or worse, have made MySpace their home up to this point, and have given MySpace whatever little credibility it has. (Remember, this is a company that got its start installing spyware.) <br /> <br /> Not only have the independent artists gotten no love for the past 5 years, but now, the majors—having trouble selling their crappy overpriced product, and looking to colonize the user bases of online networks, come a'knockin' at MySpace's door. And MySpace opens up and says, "Sure, come right on in! We're not really doing anything to sell our independent artists' music to our user base. Have at it! More Akon, T-Pain, and 50 Cent for everybody! Bring your auto-tuners!" <br /> <br /> Get the picture? <br /> <br /> All the independent artists on MySpace are now <em>officially</em> second-class citizens. They were before, with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySpace_Records">MySpace Records</a> label, their <a href="http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9768308-7.html">"tour"</a>, and the crappy SnoCap deal, but now it's official. <br /> <br /> When we were starting <a href="http://metalabel.com">Metalabel</a>, we wondered for months and months why MySpace didn't just sell music for the independent artists on its site. We fought about it, thought about it, and wrote about it. <br /> <br /> But now it's clear that MySpace wants a guaranteed income from the major labels' established artists—<a href="http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071231-ho-ho-horrible-music-sales-plunge-20-percent-this-christmas.html">even if that is a declining figure</a>, and even if they have to split up the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent-seeking">"rent"</a>—and not even 5 years worth of user-generated content, artist uploads, and fan activity on the site, amassing a group of 4 million artists—not even this is enough for them to even consider doing anything for the independent artist. <br /> <br /> We used to <em>wonder</em> why they never did anything for the independent artist. Now we <em>know</em>. And now we know that they never will. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/The_MySpace_Record_Label_Deal_Sucks.html Fri, 4 Apr 2008 16:24:32 GMT The Metalabel discussion forum is open! <a href="http://metalabel.com/static/">Start some static!</a> The <a href="/static/">STATIC forum</a> is open to the public—you do not have to be a registered user to join in the mayhem. <br /> <br /> <em>And</em> we are especially proud to announce that you can now <a href="http://metalabel.com/users/invite.html">invite your friends</a> from other networks or elsewhere to join you on Metalabel! <br /> <br /> If you're an artist, now's the time to break out the Rolodex and hit up your contacts, and tell your fans where to download your music! <br /> <br /> If you're a music lover, now's the time to invite your friends and start a discussion. <br /> <br /> We have something else up our sleeve for the very near future, too, so keep an eye out! By the way, what do you think of the new logo? <br /> <br /> <strong>Amiri and Ryann</strong> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/New_Stuff.html Wed, 2 Apr 2008 00:35:34 GMT It was a great show! Stephanie is one soul sister extraordinaire. <br /> <br /> Her whole set blew me away. She masterfully moved in and out of Soul, Funk, Folk, R&B, and a little bit of Rock. <br /> <br /> She even did a funky rendition of the Cold War Kids hit song, “Hang Me Up To Dry." <br /> <br /> Her very special guest,<a href="http://www.myspace.com/officialmeshellndegeocello"> Meshell NDegeocello </a>, played bass guitar towards the end of the show. <br /> <br /> I enjoyed every moment of the show at the <a href="http://www.bluenote.net">Blue Note</a> This was Stephanie's first performance at the iconic New York jazz venue. I am sure after this performance she will be asked back again and again. <br /> <br /> Check out what Stephanie McKay is doing next at: <a href="http://www.stephaniemckay.com/">www.stephaniemckay.com</a>. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://metalabel.com/photos/Ryann.html">Here is a picture of Stephanie and me after the show.</a> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Ryann.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/Ryann/Stephanie_McKay_at_the_Blue_Note.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:58:29 GMT I love Keith Sweat, cause I'm just that kind of cat. When <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Make-Last-Forever-Keith-Sweat/dp/B000002H5A"><em>Make It Last Forever</em></a> came out in 1987, I would play it all day long, all summer long, on my Fisher© dual-auto-reverse smart-dubbing boom box (8 double-Ds, baby) at the swimming pool in our apartment complex in Houston, Texas, and try to talk to girls. I thought I was real cool. <br /> <br /> Now I feel like a fool. Cause I didn't know "In the Rain" was a remake! I was listening to Madlib and them's <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/funky16/wooten.html">Funky 16 Corners</a>, and I heard the original "In the Rain" by Billy Wooten. <br /> <br /> Now that I think about it, of course it was a remake. Duh. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Billy_Wooten.html Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:17:39 GMT Just kidding about <em>demain le monde</em>. Not really. No, just kidding. <br /> <br /> Anyway, we did fix a problem last night with the user registration form, like Ryann said in her bulletin. But it's all good now. <br /> <br /> We wanna be as global in scope as music is universal in appeal, so we had to do it right! <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Demain,_le_Monde!!!.html Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:02:15 GMT <p> As I write this, it is February 4, 2008. We're just getting started! </p> <p> We started this business in an effort to change the landscape of our culture industry. Nothing less. </p> <p> We want you, <em>the artist</em>, to sell your music, connect with your fans, post your events, and become the artist that you always wanted to be, without compromise or being taken advantage of. </p> <p> We want you, <em>the user</em>, to discover artists, connect with other music lovers, and to take this social network outside the confines of cyberspace and into the world's live music venues, clubs, and parties. We want to make social networking <em>real</em>. We want you to be able to support the artists you like and have a more meaningful relationship to the artists and the music you love. </p> <p> Metalabel will not sell you out or sell your personal information. The only thing we want to sell is music at a fair price for music lovers and the artists that make the music. </p> <p> Metalabel was created by two people who want to end corporate domination of the world's culture. Join us today and help make a new world!</p> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Welcome_to_Metalabel!.html Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:58:11 GMT I posted some pictures from our April 2007 LA trip, when we were just beginning to build this business. Check 'em out on my photo page! <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> The Metalabel Blog http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/New_Pictures.html Tue, 5 Feb 2008 21:20:43 GMT <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/BididieBuggz.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Events http://metalabel.com/events/BididieBuggz/Bididie_Buggz_LIVE.html Mon, 18 May 2009 18:12:44 GMT Live Performances by CJ Skyy, Bididie Buggz, Tr3 Blacc, Young Hannibal, Dirty Birdy, Tooh Nice, and More. Enter the Booty Poppin Contest for a chance to win $50! Tickets on sale now: $20 presale, $25 at the door, $35 VIP (comes with 2 well drinks). <br /> <br /> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/CJSkyy.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Events http://metalabel.com/events/CJSkyy/Booty_Poppin_Madness.html Mon, 18 May 2009 17:28:59 GMT <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/glockproductions.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Events http://metalabel.com/events/glockproductions/Booty_Poppin_Maddness_an_and__Album_REelease_Party.html Mon, 18 May 2009 16:21:03 GMT Open optreden in de Kroeg van Klaas. Kom lekker mee-swingen, mee-zingen als voorgrond koortje, mee-dansen en mee-zweten ;). Entree uiteraard gratis. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/harigeharrie.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Events http://metalabel.com/events/harigeharrie/Open_Optreden.html Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:32:05 GMT Aparacios Presents: iMi Rocktober Fest 2008. Sponsored by Front Gate Tickets. Radio promotion by KEGL 97.1, The Eagle, who will also be on site live during the show. Ticket prices are $15.00 in advance or $20.00 on the day of the event. Alcohol will be sold, and feel free to wear your Halloween outfits. Message us for details. Band Lineup: iMi, The Salutation, Magic Astro Cult, Thursday Production and yours truly DJ Cool-C. Costume Contest... Bring People... good music.. good drinks... good people. <br /> <br /> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/DjCoolC.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Events http://metalabel.com/events/DjCoolC/Aparicios_Presents_iMi_Halloween_Fest_2008.html Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:21:39 GMT JEREMY STEIG TRIO Jeremy Steig, flute, bass flute; Ron McClure, bass; Jeff Hershfield, drums. <br /> <br /> Legendary jazz flutist Jeremy Steig has played with Bill Evans, Art Blakey, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter and many others. <br /> <br /> Two Sets, 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.corneliastreetcafe.com/list.asp?from_cal=0&amp;sdate=5/5/2008">Cornelia Street Cafe</a> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.jeremysteig.info/index.html">Jeremy Steig's website</a> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Ryann.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Events http://metalabel.com/events/Ryann/Jeremy_Steig_Trio_Performance.html Tue, 6 May 2008 03:12:11 GMT Stephanie McKay with very special guest Meshell N'Degeocello. <br /> <br /> Two sets, 8 pm and 10 pm. <br /> <br /> $10 at the bar, $20 for a table. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.bluenote.net/newyork/schedule/moreinfo.cgi?id=5901">www.bluenote.net/newyork/schedule/moreinfo.cgi?id=5901</a> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Ryann.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Events http://metalabel.com/events/Ryann/Stephanie_McKay_and_Meshell_NDegeocello.html Sun, 2 Mar 2008 11:27:48 GMT NINO BRINKS aka da BOMBAZIZI: Da One the stars been talkin' bout 4 months. Bonafide lyricist/ percussionist. Da One rappers love 2 hate. Why do Eminem, Lil'Wayne 'n LilFabo try 2 stop Nino from getting airplay? I guess they don't want true lyrical competition. Is this 'bout skills or a beauty contest? Mad Props 2 SnoopDogg, JayZ, IceCube, Drake, Kanye, TreySongz, & JimJones(4 saying my name against impersonator/ infiltrators). 2 My Amazons: Rihanna, Amerie, MJB, Alicia Keys, B'nSolange: NINO got ur back <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Nino.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/NinoBrinks.html?id=405 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:45:36 GMT New Music From Charli Madison Coming SOON!! PLUS FREE GIFTS & GIVEAWAYS STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES @ TWITTER.COM/CHARLIMADISON 4 MY FACEBOOK & MYSPACE PEOPLE ADD YA GURL @ FACEBOOK.COM/CHARLIMADISON & MYSPACE.COM/CHARLIMADISON LOVE IS LOVE ALWAYS C.M. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/CharliMadison.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/NewMusicFREEGIFTSGIVEAWAYSSTAYTUNEDFro.html?id=402 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:37:49 GMT Check out the Tunes from Prinze J "Tha Juggerknott... Swagga Music's C.E.O.. Present's Swagga Music Vol.7P.E. (coming soon!) Also Swagga Music "Above Celcius" Is dropping soon.. presented by Concrete Crackin' Productions/ Ultra Sounn Entertainment.. Also Catch Prinze J on Imeem.com/ PrinzeJ Where you can listen to mixtapes and other music... You can follow Prinze J on twitter as Well just Type In Pr1nZeJ.. Prinze J is also on Myspace.com/prinzej"thajuggerknott".. Come join the Swagga Music movement! <br /> <br /> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Pesc.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/SwaggaMusicsCEO.html?id=401 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:16:30 GMT <a href="http://www.garageband.com/song?|pe1|S8LTM0LdsaSgY1OwZWFzV8xuY1GSIsw_"></a> Ground Mower's "Down" Awarded TRACK OF THE WEEK by GarageBand Records and GB Reviewer's Picks!! In honor of getting the Track of the Week award, "Down" will be available to download for FREE, this week o <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/GroundMower.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/DownisTRACKOFTHEWEEK.html?id=291 Sat, 7 Mar 2009 23:21:43 GMT Repetitieweekend te Lochum: <br /> <br /> Veel sigaren, goede whiskey en een huis vol versterkers hebben ons weer 10 nieuwe nummers gebracht en twee optredens te Lochum gebracht. Allen covers met het typische Harige Harry sausje, oa: 1) I want to break free (rock&roll versie met strakke koortjes); 2) I would walk 500 miles, een Ierse traditional, maar uitstekend met ronkende gitaren; 3) No particular place to go: Chuck Berry Revival: GEWELDIG! 4) En Harige Harry met DUITSE hits, komt dat zien en bler vooral lekker <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/harigeharrie.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/Backtotherootsandforwards.html?id=289 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:32:09 GMT What up? Cool-C here. I just uploaded my EP "The Beginning of the End" so go check it out and let me know what you think! Thanks. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/DjCoolC.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/DjCoolCsDebutEPoutnow.html?id=262 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:37:37 GMT <a href="http://www.imeem.com/groups/ItPN65Kf/playlist/J-uSqZON/the_future_is_now_mixtape_music_playlist/">The Future Is Now Mixtape</a> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/freshboyspit.myopenid.com.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/FreshBoySpit.html?id=250 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:23:50 GMT I'm dissing myself, because this morning, April 8, I lost the past couple of days worth of comments in the database. It was totally my fault, mucking about with things I shouldn't have done while working on the backup system. Sorry folks. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/Oops.html?id=186 Tue, 8 Apr 2008 09:22:29 GMT I just want to let folks know that we changed an aspect of the user interface. The accordions&mdash;the fly-out folder-thingies that used to open when you hovered your mouse over them&mdash;now open when you click them. It was getting a little clumsy. It's much better now. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/Accordions.html?id=173 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:45:58 GMT We added a new feature to the site today! We added a counter to the number of times a song gets played. So whenever people listen to the samples, it goes up. Artists can see this play count in their private statistics pages. <br /> <br /> <em>There's a lot more coming</em>, so keep your grapes peeled and subscribe to the RSS feed! <br /> <br /> Amiri <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/PlayandListenCounts.html?id=155 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:38:09 GMT We have internationalized the user registration form. Now users from around the world can enter their correct geographical information. <br /> <br /> Sorry for any interruptions on the site, Wednesday, February 20th. The registration form was broken for part of the night, but everything is in working order now. <br /> <br /> Peace, Ryann <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Ryann.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/WereInternational.html?id=150 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:56:36 GMT Hey folks! We posted an addition to our info page. It is a little section on how to use various aspects of the site. If you ever wondered, have a look-see. E-mail us with any suggestions! <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/HowToUsetheSite.html?id=142 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:03:26 GMT We have an RSS feed at <a href="http://metalabel.com/feeds/metalabel.xml">metalabel.com/feeds/metalabel.xml</a>. It shows our recent posts, all music reviews, public bulletins, and public events. <br /> <br /> The really cool part is that you have your own feed too! Click the little icon on your homepage. Your music reviews, public bulletins, and public events are syndicated, and you can link to it anywhere on the web. Others can too. <br /> <br /> It is in the form of <a href="http://metalabel.com/feeds/akbeats.xml">metalabel.com/feeds/akbeats.xml</a>, (with your name instead of mine). <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/RSSFeeds.html?id=141 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:30:14 GMT We have some fresh new features to share with you. <br /> <br /> Have you noticed the new links to events, bulletins and music reviews on the nav bar? Or the new "Bulletin your Peeps" feature on your home page? <br /> <br /> You can write a blog about some music, click the "music review" button, and it will be publicized. It's the same with bulletins and events. <br /> <br /> Click the proper checkbox, and your post or event will be visible to the Internet, not just logged-in Metalabel users. <br /> <br /> Do it to it! <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Public Bulletins http://metalabel.com/bulletins/FreshNewFeatures.html?id=138 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:27:05 GMT <p>Why is it when web 2.0 companies look for ways to generate revenue from music they always lean toward making indie artists pay user fees? </p> <p>The major labels get paid every time their music is played on the internet. Why is it that independent artists are asked for payola? </p><p>Wasn't the internet supposed to end all the exploitation and give everyone a leveled playing field? </P><p>Looks like the majors are still gaming the system with their lawsuits, exorbitant licensing fees, and partnership deals with websites. I guess some sites' only option is to make everyone else pay the majors' way.</P> <p> Here is just another example of this phenomenon. </P> <a href="http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2009/06/pandora-forces-2995-payments-from-indie-bands-.html">Pandora to force Indie Artists to be apart of Amazon's Advantage Program, pay $29 a year and 55% percent of CD price to Amazon to sell or stream music on Pandora</a> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Ryann.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/Ryann/Pandora_Now_Charging_Indie_Artists_to_Upload_Music.html Tue, 7 Jul 2009 17:43:01 GMT Find out more about The Immaculate Mules. <a href="http://profile.to/immaculatemules">profile.to/immaculatemules</a> lets be friends! <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/TheImmaculateMules.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/TheImmaculateMules/Find_out_more_about_The_Immaculate_Mules.html Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:10:47 GMT <strong>Please check us out at these other fine sites:</strong> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/groundmower"><img src="http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/aeundomiel/revnationlogo.jpg"></a><br /> <br /> <a target="blank" href="http://www.myspace.com/groundmower"><img src="http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/aeundomiel/myspacemusicimg.jpg"></a> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.garageband.com/artist/groundmower" target="_blank"><img src="http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/aeundomiel/garagebandlogo.gif"></a> <br> <br> <a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Ground-Mower/51784756097?ref=ts"><img src="http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/aeundomiel/facebook.jpg"></a> <br> <br> <a href="http://www.ilike.com/artist/Ground+Mower"><img src="http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo101/aeundomiel/iLike.jpg"></a> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/GroundMower.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/GroundMower/Where_to_find_Ground_Mower_around_the_world.html Sun, 8 Mar 2009 12:11:03 GMT The band is coming around the corner as far as a song is concerned. The overall mix is just about there for the song. All the levels are right, all the instruments are balanced the way they are desired and the song is basically done. Is it time to save that mix and move on to the next song? Not if you want to get the most out of your work. Investing time in the songs now, while you're still in the studio has the potential to reap big rewards in the future. You will create both opportunities for yourself and avenues to maximize the song's potential success and profit. Artists and bands need to take and invest the time in to each song and every mix to create the most opportunities and avenues for success and profit for each song. These are things that have to be planned for in studio time and in preproduction. Analyze every conceivable scenario of promoting and soliciting a song for potential profits and then plan for it. These ideas and approaches will occur out of the studio and after the songs or album is completed. However, in order for these opportunities to emerge, you must plan for them before you even set foot in the studio. How many mixes should a group have for each song? I like to have at least 5 different cuts and a consolidated version of the track as a whole. While a song is being mixed down, the concentration and bulk of time should go to the song as a whole. Make sure all the levels are balanced, everything is equalized, all volumes are right and the tune sounds the right way as a whole. Once you get to that point though, take a few steps back and get the extra mixes too. Mix 1 – The full song The track that will go on the album. This is the full version of the song. This is the mix that everyone always gets. Mix 2 and 3 – Two 15 to 25 second samples of the song. While you are in the studio, find two segments of the song that you want to showcase. While you're in the studio, you'll be able to cut or fade in and fade out of the sample you want to have. These can easily go on demos that you will send out for the album or put up online. Having the samples straight from the mix will keep them at the highest quality. Many artists pull samples off of a CD or an MP3 which has already been compressed. Compressed tracks are not as high quality as getting them right out of the track in the studio. These uncompressed samples will be at a higher quality and you can very quickly set a place to fade in and fade out that sounds top notch and much more professional than most. Having a second disc of just the samples of your album can be a great marketing move. If you send out a disc to industry people that has twelve tracks that are each twenty seconds or so, there is a much greater chance someone will take the time to listen. Remember: time is expensive. An industry professional is more likely to invest four minutes in a sample demo disc than an hour or more in a full album. Tease with the samples. Make them want more. Fade in at a strong point and fade out right before a chorus or a hook. Leave them wanting more and maybe they will go to listen to the full song or album. Mix 4 – No Lead Vocal Track with Backing vocals still in. Have a mix with everything except the lead vocals. This track can be used for potential television or live radio shows. This can also be used when you perform, but do not have a back up band or have the ability to support a full group. Having this track ready can open other opportunities for performances that may not be able to occur otherwise. If you make the industry aware that you have these tracks available, it will in turn make you available for more performance opportunities than most other artists. Mix 5 – The No Vocal Track When you are mixing, lose all the vocals for one mix down of the song. Have a version of the song without vocals or backing vocals, but with all of the instrumentation. A no vocal track can be used in certain TV shows, movies, commercials and other media outlets. Having a version ready to go with no vocals will not only showcase your professionalism, but also prove that you are prepared to meet the needs of the industry. Many times, artists are asked if they have a version of a song with no vocals and they don't. They scurry around getting the files and someone to mix it down without the vocals, then getting the track sent to where it needs to go. Remove the stress and replace it with opportunity by having that no vocal mix ready to go for anyone requesting it. The no vocal track that is well recorded can also be used for another artist in another country to sing over the performance tracks. You also allow for the opportunity to sell or license the song to a label or an artist to perform or record their vocals over your music. There are many ways you can use a no vocal track to your benefit and profit, so make certain you have a mix of it done. These five mixes can only work in your favor; make the time in the studio to mix them. They will help you move forward in your marketing and solicitation of your music through all of the channels possible to make you profitable and sustainable. Other Mixes? If they don't have a band, some people will go a step further and do a few minus one mixes. These are mixes that are mixed down without a certain instrument, like the guitar or the drums. These can be given to potential touring players or new players you may have in the group. This is more for single artists who do not have a consistent band. For a second purpose, these minus one mixes can be sold to fans that might want to play along with your songs. You could even hold a contest and have people record themselves and send it in to your website. Call it the guest guitarist contest or something along those lines. Again, do something a little different that might drum up some media attention and excitement by doing something most aren’t. The Back ups So you have all of the mixes and you're ready to take these songs to the industry in as many ways possible. Take the final step to make sure you have your back-ups organized. Make copies and save them in different locations. Make hard copies and keep them in a different physical location, like your parents' house or your Aunt Laurie's guest room closet. That way, if anything were to happen to your hardware and your copies, you still have a back up somewhere else. I also recommend having downloads available on private pages or password protected pages of your website so that if something is requested, it can immediately be sent. Having DVD backups of the album as a whole and backups of each song can make things much faster if you receive requests for the studio tracks. That means having a separate back-up for each song so you can send the discs for just that song. If you really want to be prepared and have a good amount of web space on your website, have a compressed file of the song so that someone could download it after an agreement is made for licensing is a very professional approach. In the very least, have the tracks ready for FTP. When you show how professional you are, as well as how prepared you are with all these different mixes and then can top that off by delivering immediately, you are standing a few steps above most. Stand out with the music and your professionalism. Make sure you are inviting the most opportunities for your music. If you just mix down a song in one way, you are minimizing your chances for success. If you have a series of different mixes and have those mixes organized, backed up, prepared, uploaded and available, then you are allowing for a number of opportunities and ways to make the most out of every single song. © 2009 Loren Weisman <a href="http://www.braingrenademusic.com">www.braingrenademusic.com</a> Watch out for Loren Weisman’s book “The Artist's Guide to Success in the Music Business” coming in late fall 2009.  <br /> <br /> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/BGE.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/BGE/How_many_mixes_for_each_song.html Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:23:27 GMT The Art of the Email Contact The ignorance, the arrogance and the unprofessional nature of the solicitous emails I receive on a daily basis from artists or their management never ceases to amaze me. I'm told this goes for overall basic email etiquette in any and every profession. Still, the lack of effort is jaw dropping; professionalism, style, and basic consideration do not occur in the brunt of email. I am a music producer and run a small music production and consulting company. On any given day, I receive an average of twenty emails that are completely out of left field. We're talking the “wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead” kind of emails. That totals about one hundred of those a week. Again, I am a solo music producer running a small organization, so just imagine for a moment how many emails must be received by the big boys, the big wig companies and the people that sift through emails for many of these people day in and day out. If you are soliciting an individual, think about what you are sending out and to whom you are sending it. Your lack of preparation, consideration or professionalism can destroy that contact and get your email deleted. Worse yet, they'll never get to your music, which was the main point after all. I compiled a number of emails that I usually just trash and sent out an email to friends at all levels of the industry and asked them for their top five worst email, cover letter or first contact communications.  Without further adieu, let's dive into my top five favorites. 5. Yo, I have the hottest thing ever. You gotta check this out. This is gonna blow and I wil take you wit me. (a myspace address) (a name). When you address someone as “yo” it appears that you are mass emailing or spamming everyone and anyone who will listen to you. Second, when you state you are the hottest thing ever, you've set the bar pretty high for yourself.  You're also using certain keywords that will automatically turn off or turn down most people getting that communication. The spelling and style are atrocious.  The assumption that they are going to be larger than life and deign to carry me along with them is just flat out rude. Result: Trash the email. Skip the website.  Move on. That was what I did when I received a similar email and that is what everyone I spoke to did when they received that type of email. Action: Tone it down. Spell check. Pick up an English style guide.  Everyone needs one!  They're not just for grammar nerds! Use confidence but keep it the foundation for your communication, not the body.  An email saturated with confidence comes off as arrogant.  It's a fine line away from arrogance. Also, supply a little more information. 4. My name is John Smith, I am the manager for John Doe. (Myspace link) Thanks, John Smith. REALLY??? The first time I got an email like this, I was floored. I actually closed my email application and reloaded it thinking the message was truncated or cut off some how. When I asked my friends if they had ever received anything like this, they responded with, “All. The. Time.”  This is the um, less than bright individual who has given you very limited information and seems to have these wild expectations that you will immediately race to the website, listen to the music and make the magic happen overnight. Result: Trash the email. Skip the page. Wonder at just how foolish people can be. Action: Formulate a letter! Introduce an act if you are the management. Make it snappy, summarize in a strong, professional tone. Then, ask or request an action. Are you looking for guidance? Are you looking for a producer? Are you looking for a contact? What is it that you want? Then sign that email with your name, your company if you have one, an email address and a phone number. Maybe add a website or myspace link to your organization as well. 3. Hello, I am the President and CEO of blah blah blah Entertainment. (You know, that would actually be a pretty cool name for an entertainment company.) We represent x artist and are ready to sit down and discuss a plan to bring him over to your organization with us so we all can get rich. We have been waiting for the right moment and the time is now. Call us so we can begin to negotiate…. Okay, these are viewed as fun emails to many in the industry. They are very common. On the plus side, the writer does bring up the “we” element. This person is thinking a little more towards the reality that  profit has to be seen by the artist and the companies or people that take that artist to another level.  However, this is also a writer who all too often comes off as someone who knows nothing about business, yet tries to be the Donald Trump of the music industry. The arrogance of bringing an artist to the company or individual, instead of the confidence of submitting an artist for review or a signing inquiry is a bad idea. Result: Email is usually trashed. Sometimes there's a quick check to see if this CEO/President is real, but most of the time no one is going to ever hear that song. Action: Strongly present yourself, but don’t lie. Do not be overconfident because that will be read as weakness. Also remember that all anyone has to do to confirm your validity is search for your company's name in the Secretary of State online database. If you are looking to work with a producer, an agent, a label or whomever, you need to illustrate your business sense and your drive to learn instead of lying about your credentials. 2. Attachments in emails. These are the emails where people send a song or even six. I have had massive emails come in with zip files of songs from artists to whom I have never even spoken. They'll also attach many large picture files which is unprofessional and rude. Result: Not only trashing the email, but now you have really annoyed me and everyone else I talked to. You are flagged, if not blocked, at this point. Action: Do not send music files, pictures, posters or any kind of attachment unless the file has specifically been requested. While some of the other annoying aspects of artists emails may catch a person on a good day and they let other things fly, this is one that upsets people. You are slowing up an email download or a computer and taking up space and time that is not yours to take up!  Time's damn expensive! Placing direct links to song files that are streaming is a good idea. Don't just link to the page, but link right to the song. Let someone be able to click on a link and get right to the song, not having to look through a page or find a button. Links that are directly set to streaming songs are very professional and get strong, positive attention. The same goes with the pictures. Place a link to a picture or two. Lastly, title above the links! Tell the person what they are clicking to. For example: Blah blah’s 8 x 10 Promotional Picture <a href="http://www.blabblah.com/promophoto.htm">www.blabblah.com/promophoto.htm</a> That is sharp and professional. I know exactly what the link is and where it is taking me. Try to rename the link as well so people know what they are clicking on instead of <a href="http://www.blablah.com/heydheutritficvdihfd8899_9383xvd939393">www.blablah.com/heydheutritficvdihfd8899_9383xvd939393</a> You may also combine the two above so that the text “Blah Blah's 8 x 10 Promotional Picture” is the link to the picture. Remember that old rule of standing out stronger and more professional by your actions and appearance instead of your arrogant words and sale tactics.  1. Failure to follow instructions, of which there are too many email examples to even list. Many companies, producers and agents have specific rules on what information to email as well as what information not to email. Some people ask you to fill out a form or ask for specific information. Unfortunately, all too often artists mass email to the point of spamming, using static and template emails which do not follow instructions and, at the same time, display that they are not personalizing their emails. Result: Again, trashed email and another contact lost. Action: Individualize every email. Make sure if you are asked to supply a certain piece of information or present things in a certain way, you do it and do it right. Some of these producers, companies and agents are actually testing you. They want to see if you can follow instructions and directions. So follow them and have a better shot at producers or agents not only reading your email but actually listening to your music. In conclusion: Every contact you make, every solicitation you send, every review you pursue is important. Display your level of professionalism in that first email to get the best results and, hopefully, the reader will follow the link and hear your music to find out more about you. Remember that these people you want to contact are already being contacted by tens of thousands of others. Look at the examples above. Those get emailed in bulk, so when you do stand out and avoid the common mistakes, you will bring positive attention to your email. When people put effort into their communications with me, I want to return that effort and read the whole email, visit the links and listen to the music. They pay attention to the details, so I will return the favor. Many people inside the industry feel this same way. Take the time to craft an email. If you are sending out an email to find a producer, book a gig, solicit a label or find a manager, you can craft a basic template letter.  But take the time to individualize it and format it so that it complies with the requests of the particular person or company receiving it. Follow the instructions if there are instructions.  If there aren't any, do your best to construct a precise, brief and pointed email. I really recommend sending the basic email to friends of yours that are not in the music business and may be in other businesses. Let them help you edit and put together the best letters. They can also help you with editing too. Have a solid subject line. If you are looking for a review, then have that clear in the subject. RE: Review Inquiry for Blab Blah band from Seattle, Wa. This is nice and clear to the point. I know someone is looking for a review, the name of the band and where they are from. Tread very carefully on follow up emails. Many times if you do not get a response, they are flat-out not interested. Do not open up with, “Why didn’t you answer me?” My latest personal favorite is one I actually received a week ago: ”You will be so sorry you didn’t contact me, you are an idiot and I will show you.” On one hand, I hope you do “show me”. I genuinely want to see everyone succeed in the music business. On the other hand, when you tell me I am an idiot, I absolutely do not want to talk or work with you. Also, if our paths were to cross down the line, you have now left a bad impression.  Lastly, avoid all capital letters. Do not send headers or bodies of emails with all caps. It is annoying and makes you look stupid. Take the time to craft the emails as well as the delivery when you are emailing anyone or any business in the industry. Show your professionalism, show why your email should be read and why they should go on to listen to your music and consider you for whatever you are requesting. Stand out and stand strong in your communication and your email will be read and considered, unlike those thousands of others who make common and foolish mistakes and end up on a straight path to the trash. © 2009 Loren Weisman <a href="http://www.braingrenademusic.com">www.braingrenademusic.com</a> Watch out for Loren Weisman’s book “The Artist's Guide to Success in the Music Business” coming in late fall 2009.  <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/BGE.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/BGE/The_Art_of_the_Email_Contact.html Mon, 9 Feb 2009 18:43:31 GMT First Impressions, more important now than before. <br /> <br /> Everyone is tired of that same old phrase "you only get one chance to make a first impression". It is repeated ad nauseum from business schools to beauty pageants and everywhere in between. As much as I would rather say to throw away the stuffy old phrases, parables and sayings, this is one that seems to grow more and more true every day. Especially in the music industry. <br /> <br /> Of course it is important to make that strong initial impression, that is first and foremost. Second, having all the music, assisting materials, image, business elements and the presentation of these pieces in place is paramount and required. Third is knowing how to individually and specifically present to the person, company, or agency, and doing it the right way. <br /> <br /> This last paragraph represents the gold standard that has been a requirement of the industry for years. The musicians that move forward are those that have all the elements in place. If they don't, they might want to hold up on their forward motion and get those elements in order. <br /> <br /> The main reason the first impression is now more important than ever is because of the internet-based outlets like websites, social networks like MySpace, and online sales systems like CD Baby and iTunes, just to name a few. Because of all of these resources, a new level of saturation has been reached. Years before every band had a website, a MySpace and other online perks, it was a smaller consolidated market, in which musicians had to work a hundred times harder to find a wider audience. Back then, we had mailing lists that we actually had to mail out. Yes, we spent hours putting stamps on postcards. Now the mailing list is actually an emailing list that can reach tens of thousands, and doesn't really cost a dime. <br /> <br /> The main point is that with the growth of the internet and the growth of the number of bands with such increased presence, combined with the decline of labels and deflation of the conventional music industry, it is definitely more important than ever to give off an impeccable impression. Industry professionals are seeing and being contacted by more musicians and groups than ever before, both amazing musicians and total hacks. The industry is being overwhelmed by "up and coming" artists, and many of these artists are doing more damage for the artists that are more prepared. <br /> <br /> If it wasn't hard enough, add in all those directories, lists and books that you can buy to get the phone, email, website and address contacts to thousands of industry contacts. The amount of music and promotion being sent both physically and digitally to people is at an all time high. Gone are the stories of Johnny Cash staking out the back door of a studio, to tens of thousands of artists mass emailing everyone they can with their music files and information. The staking out still occurs too and has in fact increased, thanks to all the contact lists that print addresses. You can find that "up and coming" artist with 15 cd's on her waiting outside the building that she cant get in to, ready to hand off her disc In response, many companies now have altered their physical addresses to a post office or Mail Boxes Etc. box, just to avoid this onslaught of people. <br /> <br /> Back to that first impression again. Frankly, it has to be incredible. You as an artist have to present yourself in a top-notch way that makes you stand out, while presenting materials that are also top-notch. The market is over-saturated with truckloads of artists, labels, managers and agents, and the bulk of them are unprofessional, arrogant, and unaware of what is required, as they base their presentation off the MTV dream. The more unprofessional you appear, the faster you are going to be viewed as just another hack band. Even if the music is of the highest quality, and you have something that truly is marketable and industry-ready, you can easily blow your chances. If you are the artist walking around with a boombox, thrusting it into peoples' faces…stop. Whatever you do, you most likely are not going to be heard first. Your first impression is going to be basd on your ancillary materials. That strong first impression will be the critical step to get people to be motivated to listen to your music. <br /> <br /> As much as you think everyone is going to listen to your music, many industry professionals will toss promo packages and discs before they listen to them, because the first impression is terrible. It's not their job to listen, and with so many people sending so much music, there is no time to listen to it all. <br /> <br /> So, what can you do to stand out? What can you do to deliver the best package that will make some one want to open it and listen to you in the sea of promo packages, discs and emails they have received in just that day? When you think in the mindset that every person or company you are sending anything to is probably receiving a thousand other packages, emails or discs that look just like yours, then you can step back, organize the right way, and regroup. Think how you can stand out in the crowd and present in a way that is going to bring attention in the best possible light. Think about everything from the cover letter to the envelope you are addressing. Think about your bio, your tagline, the content and information written about the band and the music. Make it right. Make it professional. Make it stand out. Make that first impression so much stronger than the bulk of others, so you can get them to listen to your music and get the second impression you really want them to have. <br /> <br /> © 2009 Loren Weisman <br /> <br /> Watch out for Loren Weisman’s book “The Artist's Guide to Success in the Music Business” coming in late fall 2009. <br /> <br /> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/BGE.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/BGE/First_Impressions.html Mon, 2 Feb 2009 21:12:22 GMT Welcome to the official site of My Block Recordz, the other side of music. Home of Daraja Hakizimana, That Boy Cayse, Kamakazae, Tha Bossplayz, Black Tha Moses, SK-Mac, Geno, Club 803, and Lyricidal tha Genius. <br /> <br /> My Block originally rooted from an open-mic show done in the Cultural Center at The Shrine of The Black Madonna called Shades of Blackness. At the time, Shrine's own Cardinal Mbiyu was running the show and needed to pass it on to someone else in order to pursue other duties. Daraja Hakizimana, age 19, had recently joined the Shrine. In the process of change, he changed his name to Daraja Hakizimana, a bridge to salvation, for spiritual and artistic reasons. He became the host of Shades of Blackness and was quickly engulfed in the rapture of Houston's poetry scene. Countless poets, writers, musicians, bands, fans, and friends rolled through each month collectively, expressingly enjoying life. <br /> <br /> By 2000 Daraja partnered with another new Shrine member Dakar and began advancing on the open-mic scene. Later that year the two partnered with a 3rd-friend, Harol Johnson aka Black Lotus. The trio expanded the vibe by adding a second show called My Block Speaks. <br /> <br /> From that point, My Block Recordz was born. The scene, the shows, and the sessions produced a varied genre volume of music and an equally eclectically mixed group of fans. However, Daraja recalls, "I was in constant need of a label to release my music". <br /> <br /> By 2003 Daraja had 7 albums that were ready to go in the stores, but wasn't signed. So instead of waiting for a label to discover him, he started My Block Recordz, in conjunction with my My Block Speaks, and started pressing the music on his own. With the help of Dakar and Janna Hurd of Optimum Career Management, Daraja would now have to play the artist, musician, producer, manager, and owner of the label. Although he relates that wearing so many different hats has been a ride, a slow ride, there has been an unintentional benefit. "I've learned to kill the middle man. By me doing most of the leg work, when the money comes I can break bread better with my artist than most labels can. Its definitely a better business move doing it yourself if you have the time and patience." <br /> <br /> By 2005 Daraja took My Block Recordz to the forefront of the web when he teamed with CDBABY and has thrived living through the Internet. With shows still continuing every 1st Friday of the month, My Block Speaks is known as one of the longest open-mic venues in Houston, Texas. With my My Block Recordz along side, Daraja has been able to produce a multitude of albums in diversified genres including Poetry, Jazz, R&B, and Hip Hop. As we speak, the shows, the sessions, and the scene assures that there's more coming. Daraja Hakizimana and My Block Recordz will proved to be a force in the music industry to be reckoned with. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/myblockrecordz1.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/myblockrecordz1/My_Block_Recordz.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:50:18 GMT URLs: <a href="http://metalabel.com">my website</a>. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/CHI.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/CHI/Hustling_ft._Loww_Drama.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:45:56 GMT But we did. MySpace Music has finally launched and it’s just as underwhelming and biased as <a href="http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/The_MySpace_Record_Label_Deal_Sucks.html">we predicted it would be</a>. <br /> <br /> It’s not because we're some great geniuses that we were able to foresee this, but because it’s been obvious for years to anyone watching that MySpace takes independent artists for granted. <br /> <br /> Listen up <a href="http://metalabel.com/registration/index.html?a=1">artists</a>, <a href="http://metalabel.com/registration/index.html?u=1">fans</a>, <a href="http://metalabel.com/registration/index.html?l=1">labels</a>—listen up <a href="http://www.theorchard.com/">Orchard</a>, <a href="http://www.a2im.org/">A2IM</a>, <a href="http://www.merlinnetwork.org/home/">Merlin</a>: It’s time to stop chasing the crumbs from the majors’ table. It’s time to stop chasing vague promises of ad revenue from MySpace. You need to get down with Metalabel. <br /> <br /> We are building a genuine, lasting alternative: a place where independent labels, artists and fans can come and share, discover, sell, and purchase the music we love. Independent music is not a second thought for us: it is why we exist. <br /> <br /> We are exclusively for the growing world of independent music, and at Metalabel, the indies are the stars. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/I_Hate_to_Say_We_Told_You_So….html Wed, 1 Oct 2008 11:08:21 GMT <p>I came across <a href="http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees.htm">this survey</a> today, and I thought it was pretty cool. I agree with it mostly. Any chart without KRS-One and Rakim in the top 2 spots is a joke, first of all, so this survey gets that right. </p> <p> I can bet a lot of people won’t like how Jay-Z isn’t closer to the top, but that’s just cause they don't know their history! And Nas doesn't really deserve to be so high up, considering his supreme lyricism was last on display…14 years ago. </p> <p> Oh well. <a href="http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees.htm">Check it out though</a>! </p> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Top_50_Rappers_Ever.html Fri, 1 Aug 2008 20:15:29 GMT I watch MTV every so often, but I usually don't pay attention—I just have it on while I'm doing something else. But when the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfe3EJ3Laho">video for "Run"</a> came on, I was transfixed. Cee-Lo delivers a psycho preacher Sunday morning sermon on acid, and the choir sounds corresponding freaked out. I have never seen or heard anything like it. I don't know if I like it, but I had to pay attention. ‘Nuff said. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Gnarls_Barkley.html Tue, 13 May 2008 03:10:21 GMT <h3>Metalabel already has the highest artist payout rate on the planet at a full 80 percent. We're proud to announce that we're making it even better.</h3> <br /> <br /> <a href="/registration/index.html"><strong>Artists can now register to pay an annual fee of $200 for unlimited sales. No percentages—just pure upside</strong></a>. <br /> <br /> For current users, our new e-mail notification system is up. You will be notified of new messages, comments, replies, events, music recommendations, announcements, and blogs about you or your music. Of course, <a href="/users/editprofile.html">you can customize your notification settings</a>. <br /> <br /> Last but <em>definitely</em> not least, we are also very happy to announce our first advertising campaign through <a href="http://indieclick.com">IndieClick</a> and <a href="http://undergroundhiphop.com">Underground Hip Hop</a>, one of our most favoritest sites on the Internet. Keep a look out for our ads on your favorite music websites and blogs! <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Big_Changes.html Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:40:30 GMT Jeremy Steig is a lifelong jazz man, a real vet. (He’s also <a href="http://jeremysteig.info/download.html">a painter</a>, <a href="http://amiribarksdale.com">like me</a>. That’s his artwork on this blog. Wild palette, right?) I’m talking like 45 years in the music business. I reached out to him through a drummer friend of mine, and tried to talk to him about selling some of his music through <a href="http://metalabel.com">Metalabel</a>, but he has serious reservations about the digital music business, and the music business in general. I can’t say I blame him, after what he’s seen and experienced. <br /> <br /> But during that conversation, he was so personable and engaging that I couldn’t get off the phone with him! <a href="http://jeremysteig.info/bio.html">He plays jazz flute</a>, which is my favorite woodwind instrument (yes, even above the sax. I love the flute’s sound so much I sought to purchase one and take lessons, but <a href="http://wwbw.com/Pearl-Flutes-Flutes---Piccolos-c61+4294900173+4294940224.music">even the student flutes were so expensive</a> I had to try to learn <a href="http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/">clarinet instead</a>). I just think the instrument just has a beautiful voice, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Dolphy">Eric Dolphy</a> is my favorite classic jazz player. <br /> <br /> We ended up scheduling a dinner, and on Friday, April 4, <a href="http://metalabel.com/Ryann.html">Ryann</a> and I met him at <a href="http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/bar-6/">Bar 6</a>, <a href="http://metalabel.com/about.html#cafe">the same café where we first discussed Metalabel</a>. We all ordered crème brûlée, and Jeremy proceeded to drop knowledge for about 4 hours. <br /> <br /> We ended up walking back to his crib, cause I wanted to buy some CDs. So we got to meet his wife, and continue our discussion. <br /> <br /> I ended up buying four CDs, all full of good music. My favorite is <a href="http://www.jeremysteig.info/store.html?pid=2630"><em>Flute on the Edge</em></a>. He does a lovely rendition of “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” and <a href="http://www.jazzreview.com/guest/review-17546.html">I’m not the only one who thinks so</a>! <br /> <br /> It’s been almost two full weeks since that evening, and it took just about that long for me to wrap my mind around all we discussed. <br /> <br /> While I won’t go into specifics, I can tell you that meeting Jeremy reconfirmed us in our mission to supersede the record label system and construct another avenue for independent artistic success. <br /> <br /> I’m saying—when labels don’t even want to pay for studio time for their own artists, or when they have to <a href="http://metalabel.com/blogs/Ryann/Soap_Company_to_Make_Sucky_Sudsy_Music.html">partner with soap companies</a> to be able to “afford” marketing their own artists, we need something new. <br /> <br /> So, thanks, Jeremy, for the wisdom and knowledge. Keep playing! <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Wise_Words_From_a_Jazz_Vet.html Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:19:32 GMT <a href="http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,4662033,00.html">Jermaine Dupri just launched TAG records</a> with the help of <a href="http://www.pg.com/en_US/index.jhtml">Proctor and Gamble</a>. Yes, the people who make your soap and deodorant have partnered with Def Jam Records to promote artists and their <a href="http://www.consideryourselfwarned.com/">Tag body spray</a>. <br /> <br /> I can see the new <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=M27Us5PRB8Q&amp;feature=related">Tag body spray commercials </a>now. A rapper enters a club and all the girls run to his entourage members instead of him, because they got their Tag on. <br /> <br /> This is just wrong on so many levels. <br /> <br /> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Ryann.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/Ryann/Soap_Company_to_Make_Sucky_Sudsy_Music.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:40:20 GMT With this deal, MySpace shows once and for all that it doesn't give a damn about independent artists. <br /> <br /> MySpace has been around in its current incarnation since <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myspace">2003</a>. I don't know how many of you remember, but before that it was a part of eUniverse/InterMix Media, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermix_Media,_Inc.">gigantic adware/spyware shop</a> that <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/eliot_l_spitzer/index.html">Eliot Spitzer</a>, he of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ninavenetta">the whore</a>, sued for illegally installing spyware on users' machines. <br /> <br /> We can talk later about exactly how much has changed, what with the general spamminess and sloppiness that continues to define the MySpace experience. <br /> <br /> For now, keep in mind that MySpace has been around for 5 years, claiming to be a friend of the independent artist. There are about 4 million artists on MySpace now. (You can see this if you browse by top genres and add up the columns.) Less than 1 percent of them have major label deals. <br /> <br /> What exactly has MySpace done for these 4 million artists in the past 5 years? Allow them to put up a page, post songs for listening or free download only, and post some band info. Great. <br /> <br /> Oh, and a little more than a year ago, in September 2006—around the time they banned outgoing links in all other Flash applications—they finally introduced a way for independent artists to sell their music on MySpace! Yippee!!! <br /> <br /> But what was it? It was a monopoly deal with Snocap, whereby independent artists can use the SnoCap Flash widget to sell their music on MySpace. <br /> <br /> And SnoCap is utter bullshit. <br /> <br /> If you're a total indie artist, you pay a yearly fee and 39 cents per song <strong>and</strong> a retail fee of 10 or 15 percent—whichever is larger. If you're on an indie label, you can negotiate some of those terms. If you're on a major label, of course, you can negotiate everything! <br /> <br /> Starting to get the picture? <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/19/myspace_royalty_snub/">MySpace has tried in the past to defend its utter negligence of independent artists</a>, but I'm not buying it. There's no way crappy deals with SnoCap and T-shirt sales are gonna cut it for independent artists in the twenty-first century. <br /> <br /> So, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/technology/03cnd-myspace.html">when MySpace announced its deal to sell music for the major labels</a>, with the majors still setting <a href="http://metalabel.com/info.html#80years">the same terms as they have for the past 80 years</a>, I just had to laugh. <br /> <br /> It's a slap in the face to the independent artists who, for better or worse, have made MySpace their home up to this point, and have given MySpace whatever little credibility it has. (Remember, this is a company that got its start installing spyware.) <br /> <br /> Not only have the independent artists gotten no love for the past 5 years, but now, the majors—having trouble selling their crappy overpriced product, and looking to colonize the user bases of online networks, come a'knockin' at MySpace's door. And MySpace opens up and says, "Sure, come right on in! We're not really doing anything to sell our independent artists' music to our user base. Have at it! More Akon, T-Pain, and 50 Cent for everybody! Bring your auto-tuners!" <br /> <br /> Get the picture? <br /> <br /> All the independent artists on MySpace are now <em>officially</em> second-class citizens. They were before, with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySpace_Records">MySpace Records</a> label, their <a href="http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9768308-7.html">"tour"</a>, and the crappy SnoCap deal, but now it's official. <br /> <br /> When we were starting <a href="http://metalabel.com">Metalabel</a>, we wondered for months and months why MySpace didn't just sell music for the independent artists on its site. We fought about it, thought about it, and wrote about it. <br /> <br /> But now it's clear that MySpace wants a guaranteed income from the major labels' established artists—<a href="http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071231-ho-ho-horrible-music-sales-plunge-20-percent-this-christmas.html">even if that is a declining figure</a>, and even if they have to split up the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent-seeking">"rent"</a>—and not even 5 years worth of user-generated content, artist uploads, and fan activity on the site, amassing a group of 4 million artists—not even this is enough for them to even consider doing anything for the independent artist. <br /> <br /> We used to <em>wonder</em> why they never did anything for the independent artist. Now we <em>know</em>. And now we know that they never will. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/The_MySpace_Record_Label_Deal_Sucks.html Fri, 4 Apr 2008 16:24:32 GMT The Metalabel discussion forum is open! <a href="http://metalabel.com/static/">Start some static!</a> The <a href="/static/">STATIC forum</a> is open to the public—you do not have to be a registered user to join in the mayhem. <br /> <br /> <em>And</em> we are especially proud to announce that you can now <a href="http://metalabel.com/users/invite.html">invite your friends</a> from other networks or elsewhere to join you on Metalabel! <br /> <br /> If you're an artist, now's the time to break out the Rolodex and hit up your contacts, and tell your fans where to download your music! <br /> <br /> If you're a music lover, now's the time to invite your friends and start a discussion. <br /> <br /> We have something else up our sleeve for the very near future, too, so keep an eye out! By the way, what do you think of the new logo? <br /> <br /> <strong>Amiri and Ryann</strong> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/New_Stuff.html Wed, 2 Apr 2008 00:35:34 GMT It was a great show! Stephanie is one soul sister extraordinaire. <br /> <br /> Her whole set blew me away. She masterfully moved in and out of Soul, Funk, Folk, R&B, and a little bit of Rock. <br /> <br /> She even did a funky rendition of the Cold War Kids hit song, “Hang Me Up To Dry." <br /> <br /> Her very special guest,<a href="http://www.myspace.com/officialmeshellndegeocello"> Meshell NDegeocello </a>, played bass guitar towards the end of the show. <br /> <br /> I enjoyed every moment of the show at the <a href="http://www.bluenote.net">Blue Note</a> This was Stephanie's first performance at the iconic New York jazz venue. I am sure after this performance she will be asked back again and again. <br /> <br /> Check out what Stephanie McKay is doing next at: <a href="http://www.stephaniemckay.com/">www.stephaniemckay.com</a>. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://metalabel.com/photos/Ryann.html">Here is a picture of Stephanie and me after the show.</a> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/Ryann.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/Ryann/Stephanie_McKay_at_the_Blue_Note.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:58:29 GMT I love Keith Sweat, cause I'm just that kind of cat. When <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Make-Last-Forever-Keith-Sweat/dp/B000002H5A"><em>Make It Last Forever</em></a> came out in 1987, I would play it all day long, all summer long, on my Fisher© dual-auto-reverse smart-dubbing boom box (8 double-Ds, baby) at the swimming pool in our apartment complex in Houston, Texas, and try to talk to girls. I thought I was real cool. <br /> <br /> Now I feel like a fool. Cause I didn't know "In the Rain" was a remake! I was listening to Madlib and them's <a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/funky16/wooten.html">Funky 16 Corners</a>, and I heard the original "In the Rain" by Billy Wooten. <br /> <br /> Now that I think about it, of course it was a remake. Duh. <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Billy_Wooten.html Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:17:39 GMT Just kidding about <em>demain le monde</em>. Not really. No, just kidding. <br /> <br /> Anyway, we did fix a problem last night with the user registration form, like Ryann said in her bulletin. But it's all good now. <br /> <br /> We wanna be as global in scope as music is universal in appeal, so we had to do it right! <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Demain,_le_Monde!!!.html Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:02:15 GMT <p> As I write this, it is February 4, 2008. We're just getting started! </p> <p> We started this business in an effort to change the landscape of our culture industry. Nothing less. </p> <p> We want you, <em>the artist</em>, to sell your music, connect with your fans, post your events, and become the artist that you always wanted to be, without compromise or being taken advantage of. </p> <p> We want you, <em>the user</em>, to discover artists, connect with other music lovers, and to take this social network outside the confines of cyberspace and into the world's live music venues, clubs, and parties. We want to make social networking <em>real</em>. We want you to be able to support the artists you like and have a more meaningful relationship to the artists and the music you love. </p> <p> Metalabel will not sell you out or sell your personal information. The only thing we want to sell is music at a fair price for music lovers and the artists that make the music. </p> <p> Metalabel was created by two people who want to end corporate domination of the world's culture. Join us today and help make a new world!</p> <img src="http://metalabel.com/users/pictures/thumbnails/amiri.jpg" align="right" alt=""> Metalabel Music Reviews http://metalabel.com/blogs/amiri/Welcome_to_Metalabel!.html Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:58:11 GMT