INDIE NEWS BEAT 
December 12, 2005 Edition
* Hip-Hop/Rap Artist Minus P To Sue New Line Cinema For Illegal Use Of Music
* American Assoc. Of Independent Music To Attend MIDEM En Masse
* INTENT MediaWorks Previews MyPeer
* Javelyn Wins Rockies Award For 2005 Best Outstanding Female Solo Artist
* Redshed Push Back The Boundaries With Debut E.P.
* Cordova Release New Video For "Atomic Lipstick"
* Singer/Songwriter Mara Receives Sam Ash Sponsorship And Fourth ASCAPLU$ Award
* Detroit Based Indie Record Label Hits #1 On The Charts
* Byron Zanos Finds Silver Medal In "Pandora's Box"
Hip-Hop/Rap Artist Minus P To Sue New Line Cinema For Illegal Use Of Music
Just as big music industry moguls look to unsigned talent in the streets to get ideas for their next big 'act'; it now seems that big movie CEOs are looking to steal the music of unsigned artists for their movie scores. This is the case of tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) hip-hop entrepreneur Manuel Pimentel (better known as hip-hop rap artist 'Minus P'.)
Minus P has collaborated with some of hip-hop's most influential rap artists, such as The Game and B Real. After several years of grinding and promoting his music, he is now found exchanging court papers alongside NJ-based music producer Armando Diaz (better known as Outthere of Kat Klaw Productions) with movie industry powerhouse New Line Cinema.
The reason behind the lawsuit is for the illegal use of a Minus P song on the newly released movie "HAVOC". Released in late 2005, the film was written by Stephen Gaghan (Academy Award winner for Traffic), directed by Barbara Kopple (two-time Academy Award winner), and starred Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries-2001) and Bijou Phillips (Venom-2005). The song can be found 28 minutes into the film (scene 6 on the film's menu entitled "East Side House Party"), and lasts over a minute's time.
This is great promotion for an artist, but the problem is that neither Minus P nor Outthere ever signed any papers giving the film company rights to use the song. Furthermore, no compensation was ever received by either Minus P nor Outthere, and no credit was given for their work.
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American Assoc. Of Independent Music To Attend MIDEM En Masse
The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) will present a high-profile American Independent Pavilion at MIDEM 2006 in Cannes, France from January 22-26. The Pavilion will allow US indies to make an impressive showing at the music industry's most important international conference. Participation at the American Independent Pavilion is free to A2IM members, who will also be afforded a discounted registration rate to the Convention. A2IM is able to offer its members this opportunity at minimal cost thanks, in part, to sponsorship by MSN Music.
The American Indie Pavilion will be prominently featured on the exhibition floor and allow American indies to showcase their products to labels, publishers, distributors, merchandisers, and others from around the world. Over 30 companies, including labels such as Tommy Boy, TVT, Robbins Entertainment, Ultra Records are already confirmed to attend.
"MIDEM is pleased to welcome A2IM as a new exhibitor in 2006," says Dominique Leguern, the Director of MIDEM "The American Independent Pavilion will further confirm the growing importance of the independent music industry around the world."
MIDEM will also be the site of the first 2006 A2IM meeting, where members will interact with the worldwide independent label coalition. Since its formation, A2IM has held informative meetings for prospective membership in New York, Los Angeles, and most recently in Nashville, where A2IM Acting President, Don Rose first announced the organization's opportunity at MIDEM.
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INTENT MediaWorks Previews MyPeer
INTENT MediaWorks unveiled myPeer, its new closed peer-to-peer (P2P) software application, at the 2005 Digital Entertainment & Media Expo (DEMXPO) last week.
"Our new myPeer offering brings fully licensed, advertising-supported music and entertainment content directly to P2P users everywhere," said INTENT MediaWorks Founder & CEO Les Ottolenghi, "fulfilling the promise that P2P has held out to consumers for the legal distribution of content."
With myPeer, INTENT is distributing licensed music, movies, videos, IPTV programming, games, software, e-books, and photos through closed P2P networks. To receive the digital content, consumers have the choice of viewing advertisements or paying directly.
For myPeer's commercial launch on December 15th, INTENT is targeting students at 200 universities across the country, and anticipates surpassing 250,000 users within weeks of its launch.
The company is distributing myPeer as both standalone P2P software and, when combined with INTENT's patent-pending digital media e-commerce platform, Palladium, as an application services provider (ASP) for content owners including major media companies, independents, online retailers, corporations, affinity groups, artists, and producers.
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Javelyn Wins Rockies Award For 2005 Best Outstanding Female Solo Artist
Javelyn wins Rockies Award for 2005 Best Outstanding Female Solo Artist from Rock City News! Her songs remain strong in the charts at soundclick.com, and it seems that people are starting to notice. Props to Rock City News Publisher, Ruben MacBlue for discovering this amazing performer, and for all of the support she has garned from fans and friends in the wake of this new award...
In other news, Javelyn just wrapped her latest music video, "Stay" which was directed by D.J. Williams, has a steller cast and is up at www.javelyn.net/movingpictures.shtml, and soon to be showing at www.hollywoodmusic.tv. Public screening of "Stay" to take place January 11th.
Javelyn's musical residency at Java With Javelyn Indie Music Nites where she performs and hosts an indie music nite in L.A. is an event to keep an eye out for as well, as the event is starting to incorporate touring acts, as well as local artists in an eclectic mix of independent music. The first official JWJ Indie Music compilation CD is due out in January.
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Redshed Push Back The Boundaries With Debut E.P.
Rotherham and Sheffield based indie new wave rockers Redshed sign off 2005 with the release of their debut e.p. 'Boundaries' on 12 December.
The 4 track cd features the tracks 'Boundaries', 'Broken Rule', 'No Need For Questions' and live favourite 'Testament'. Recorded this Autumn at BOK! Studios, Sheffield, it marks a significant step forward for the 5 piece band.
"At the start of the year we were beginning to get better support slots and more attention and things were looking encouraging. But looking back on 2005, we've been signed, played better venues such as the Leadmill (Sheffield) twice, the Liverpool Carling Academy and also had our first breaks in playing the University circuit. It's been a good year for us but 2006 looks set to eclipse it already." explained guitarist Will Pashley.
"The ep was initially recorded in a 4 day session but there was a fair amount of additional recording carried out once production work was underway", continued drummer, Richard Walker. "Redshed have gained a reputation for our live sound and that's what we tried to capture on our last self released ep. This time round we wanted to create something different that gave the listener a fair reflection of what we deliver live plus we wanted to make full use of the studio to deliver that something extra."
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Cordova Release New Video For "Atomic Lipstick"
Cordova have released the new video for their song "Atomic Lipstick" from Lie Until It Becomes the Truth, their debut on Limekiln Records. Now available online the video was the #1 most downloaded video last week on Punkrockvids.com at www.punkrockvids.com/cordova, and it's also available on MySpace at www.myspace.com/cordova, where the band has received over 41,000 song plays.
The video will also be available soon on the Havoc Television section of Comcast OnDemand. Filmed by up-and-coming Philadelphia director, Andrew David Watson(www.andrewdavidwatson.com), the video was shot over two days on the streets of South Philly and at Studio 5 South.
Since its release earlier this year, Cordova's Lie Until It Becomes The Truth, which was produced by Ian Love of Rival Schools fame, has garnered excellent reviews. Pastepunk.com said the release "might be Limekiln Records' finest release yet," and was "hard-pressed to think of another current band that's this tight, and refined on their debut outing." New York Waste called the release "power pop with an ear to the street & drivin' tunes that swallow you whole."
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Singer/Songwriter Mara Receives Sam Ash Sponsorship And Fourth ASCAPLU$ Award
Award winning singer/songwriter Mara can add two more honors to her growing list today. She has been selected by the 2005 ASCAP Popular Awards Panel to receive an ASCAPLU$ Award for a fourth consecutive year. This award recognizes Mara as an active and promising young songwriter based on frequent live performances and independently produced records.
In addition, Sam Ash Music Stores has offered Mara and her band a spot as one of the first West Coast artists to be "Powered By" the national music retail giant. Mara and the Big Rock Stars will receive thousands of dollars worth of free equipment, as well as the opportunity to have their likeness and music featured on SamAshMusic.com in the coming months.
Sexy, passionate, acoustic rock that takes you on a journey to everywhere you've been or hope to go is how one fan describes Mara's music. Her latest EP, Tease, was named one of the Top 25 CDs of 2004 by Music Connection magazine. Produced in Los Angeles by Chris Fudurich (Britney Spears, Sophie B. Hawkins, Susanna Hoffs, etc.), the disk features Andy Georges (Jewel, Sheryl Crow) on guitar and a guest vocal from Adam Kowalczyk (Live). Mara has earned accolades from much of the music industry including the prestigious Billboard and John Lennon Songwriting Contests, Guitar World: Acoustic magazine, and the Los Angeles Music Awards.
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Detroit Based Indie Record Label Hits #1 On The Charts
Grassroots based indie record label "Conquer The World Records" hit #1 on the national myspace music charts for two days straight last week. "Last Weds and Thursday I was getting anywhere from 500 to 1,000 messages a day on my myspace account" said Mike Warden the label's owner and operator. "I decided to look at the standings on the charts and I jumped out my seat and called everyone I could when I saw the label above Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, and Madonna." CTW has been working hard on DIY (do it yourself) and word of mouth promotions for the past couple months, spending nearly 12 hours a day straight on the label's myspace, getting the name out there, and attempting to compete with the big-budget campaigns major labels have. The results of the eye straining marathons and hard work manifested in CTW's rapid climb to the top of several online charts, including reaching #1 globally on Myspace, a feat unheard of for a solo independently run label or artist.
MySpace.com is a widely popular website where young girls and guys come to post topics about and download their favorite music. They talk and chat about music and lifestyle, and exchange comments amongst their "friends". The web based Fox Corp owned teen community has become the one of top sites on the entire net ranking at number 8 on the Alexa web traffic service this week.
Warden, now 33 years old has been running his record label for 15 years mostly out of very meager quarters in a suburb of Detroit. He might be upgrading his work space soon because of the vast increase in sales and interest this past week. Warden said "I've been talking to some executives at a major label for months now about getting some backing and distribution for the label and its artists, I called them and they agreed that what I had accomplished was to quote an executive "outstanding work'."
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Byron Zanos Finds Silver Medal In "Pandora's Box"
Singer/Songwriter Byron Zanos was recently awarded a Silver medal in the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for his Pop category entry "Pandora's Box," which can be heard on his debut CD Somewhere in the Middle.
The Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, sponsored by the Songwriters' Association of Washington, is one of the longest-running songwriting competitions in the United States. Winners are chosen by a panel of music industry professionals.
A featured performer at a recent BMI Showcase held at New York City's acclaimed Rockwood Music Hall, demand for Zanos outside the New York/New Jersey area is increasing, thanks to his growing popularity on MySpace.com. His next show is scheduled for the All Asia Bar in Cambridge, MA on December 12, 2005. After an enthusiastic response at NACA (National Association for Campus Activities), Zanos is now booking dates at colleges throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Zanos' wit permeates his music. With lyrics like "You bought 'Happiness for Dummies' and you/you think you're gonna teach me something" ("Pandora's Box"), "You want everything to come the easy way/money without all the working/weight loss on pasta and chips" ("Better Days"), "Pack your bags/looks like we're going on a guilt trip again" ("Sleeping Sally") and "Everyday life version 4.0/tech support is no help at all/answers in the next hot reality show or in the drug that keeps grandfather's love tall" (21st Century Boy), it's hard not to laugh (as well as sing) along. However, other songs on Somewhere In The Middle, such as "Blind Today", show a softer, more vulnerable side, and when Zanos sings "I never knew a foot so good to fit your shoes" in the aptly-named "Sweet Melancholy," listeners are bound to be touched.
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Provided by the MusicDish Network. Copyright © Tag It 2005 - Republished with Permission