Artist: Days of Season
Title: Life Goes On… EP
Website: http://www.daysofseason.com
Style: Hard Rock
Rating: 8.8 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

This three song EP will give listeners a taste of what’s ahead when the New York band Days of Season releases their 12 song debut album, of the same name, with a scheduled release date for it of February 1st, 2010.

Track-1, “Somber to Sublime,” opens with crowd noises, then I’m not sure exactly what’s being spoken, but it sounds like counting in a foreign language, suddenly a loud thunder-like crashing noise followed by hard driving rock beats filled with metal-edged guitar riffs gets the song rolling along. Lyrically what I took away from the song was the need to take any of your fears head on and the need to know all of the facts about what you’re dealing with in your life.

Track-2, “Will I Make It (to the Grave)?,” starts out with some amped up guitar squeals with big guitar and drum parts that starts the song out hard edged but grows a little more mellow in tempo as the song progresses along. The song talks about dealing with a rough time in your life when it seems like everything is falling apart, and having that feeling like you don’t know if you can make it or not. The song offers up hope though with lyrics like, ‘Follow you passion – It will guide you through your life.’

Track-3, “The Deceit,” starts with a lone flute like sound that for some reason as soon as it started playing made me picture in my mind a lone Native American Indian on the top of a mountain standing all alone blowing it as he looks around and sees nothing else. The song then turns aggressive with hard driving rock beats that are filled with wailing guitars and thundering drum beats. The song then ends the same way that it started with that lone soft flute sound. Reading the song’s lyrics I could easily see this song becoming an anthem for the environmental community with lyrics like, ‘You’ve raped our land of its dignity- Defile the land with your deceit’

To tide you over until the band releases their debut LP I would suggest you get their, Life Goes On… EP and enjoy all of the hard rocking goodness that’s found in its songs.

Artist: Inch Chua
Title: The Bedroom EP
Website: http://www.inchchua.com
Style: Acoustic/ Electronica/ Pop
Rating: 8 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

From Singapore Inch Chua is probably best known as the boisterous rock singer for the upbeat alternative rock band Allura. Inspired by singer-songwriters like Fiona Apple Inch Chua has stepped out on her own and released her solo debut, the 4-song EP, The Bedroom.

Don’t expect a rock style of music though because what you’ll find on the 4 songs that make up The Bedroom is a combination of acoustic music mixed with electronica. Those electronic sounds found on the songs are made by, Keys, Knobs, Pads, and Toys, and range from quirky to whimsical in sound. Added on top of that are guitar and Ukulele parts all performed by Inch Chua that are topped off with her high pitched vocals.

The songs found on this EP offer up catchy melodies with inward looking lyrics. The up-tempo, light pop track, “Rule the World,” kicks things off. The song deals with a young couples promise to grow old together.

Track-2, “Aqueous Oblivion,” is a melodic acoustic guitar song that has a spiritual element found in it dealing with an introspective type of soul searching.

Track-3, “Devotion in Reality,” offers up a lot of electronic type of sounds, most of which I have no idea what made them.

The last track, “Find Fix and Save,” also offers up a big electronic element on it right from the start with a mid-tempo melodic style found on it.

Inch Chua put this EP out as a free download (The Bedroom EP) as a way to get audiences prepared for her solo debut LP that should be released in the near future.

The Bedroom EP was recorded by Inch Chua in her bedroom, then mixed by Leonard Soosay at Snakeweed Studio and finally mastered by Matthew Gray at MatthewGrayMastering.

When she was asked about the album here’s what Inch Chua had to say, “I’d like to dedicate this album to all the hopeful hearts out there, regardless whatever field you’re doing – may it be music, the arts, education or humanitarian work – people who’ve been trying to make things work in very unlikely situations. I hope you’ll never lose sight of the things important and righteous.”

Teak is an experienced four piece guitar based original band, hailing from Melbourne, Australia…playing original songs with the emphasis on melody and rock grooves. The band has often been compared to the sounds of Hunters & Collectors, Something for Kate, and The Kooks.

Their combination of accessible tunes, and a strong rock feel, recently had teak voted in the top 10 unsigned find of 2009 on radio Triple M. Teak plays at various venues around Melbourne, Australia, but look to play anywhere where there is an audience that likes indie pop rock tunes. Having played with Evermore, Ross Wilson, Vanessa Amorosi, James Reyne, Diesel,

Screaming Jets , Rose Tattoo, Mental as anything, and others in the past year, teak have enjoyed great reactions to their shows. With their songs on iTunes, Amazon.com and 7Digital, everyone around the world can now get Teak songs easily.

Grab a CD or a TEAK T shirt from TEAK @ the shows. Go to amazon.com or iTunes to download Teak songs now!

The band is currently in the studio, recording their new album, due out in 2010.

Visit their Websites:

http://www.myspace.com/teakmusic

http://www.mymusicsite.com/teak

http://www.reverbnation.com/teak

Source- MyMusicSite.com

For Immediate Release

Mark Hall of Casting Crowns Releases Teen Version of His Book YOUR OWN JESUS: A God Insistent On Making It Personal Through Youth Specialties/ Zondervan

Mark Hall, Grammy-winning lead singer for Casting Crowns, has updated his acclaimed book and focused it toward teens with: YOUR OWN JESUS: A God Insistent On Making It Personal (Student Edition) (Youth Specialties/Zondervan)

YOUR OWN JESUS poses the question to teens: Whose Jesus do you believe in? Too many young adults inherit somebody else’s Jesus. Rather than discovering for themselves who Jesus really is, they depend on their family, friends, or pastor for their spiritual vitality and end up defeated by compromise. In YOUR OWN JESUS, Hall explores the meaning of personally knowing the living Lord.

Hall, a pastor, musician and storyteller, has spent his life helping lead people into a living relationship with Jesus. In his work on staff at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, GA, and in his travels with Casting Crowns, he has seen first hand thousands of teens leaving the church shortly after graduating from high school.

YOUR OWN JESUS looks at how teens often move away from true fellowship with God, and then offers a road to wholeness and health that comes when teenagers claim their very own Jesus, the Jesus who is waiting to have an honest, committed relationship.

The book includes fascinating stories, scriptural insights and discussion for a very practical interactive study. YOUR OWN JESUS – Student Edition will set readers free to begin a true relationship with the Jesus they can call their own.

Product description:

Your Own Jesus: A God Insistent on Making it Personal. Student Edition
By Mark Hall
Forward by Max Lucado
Publisher: Zondervan/Youth Specialties

Source- Biscuit Media Group

NASHVILLE, December 15, 2009 – BMI will honor gospel greats Donnie McClurkin and Andraé Crouch at the organization’s 11th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, slated for January 15, 2010. Held the day before the 25th Annual Stellar Awards, BMI’s invitation-only ceremony will take place at Rocketown (401 6th Avenue South) in Nashville, and will welcome gospel music’s premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry executives, as well as the genre’s legends.

A devoted pupil of gospel legends, Donnie McClurkin has done more than admire the giants: He has become one himself. The two-time Grammy winner is one of the genre’s finest producers, beloved vocalists, and most inspiring communicators. A discerning songwriter, he has composed a rich catalog of worship songs, including BMI Christian Award winners “I’m Walking” and “That’s What I Believe,” while he has also collected a trove of Dove, Stellar and other prestigious honors, including the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist. He released a critically acclaimed new collection entitled We Are All One (Live in Detroit) in March 2009, and in addition to garnering a 2010 Stellar Award nomination for Traditional Male of the Year, he will co-host the Stellar Awards ceremony with fellow BMI trendsetters Kirk Franklin and Vickie Winans. For McClurkin, being honored alongside the genre-shaping Andraé Crouch is a deeply personal accomplishment: He fondly refers to Crouch as his mentor.

Eight-time Grammy winner Andraé Crouch is a definitive pioneer. One of the most influential molders of contemporary gospel music, Crouch combines the power of the traditional with the immediacy of the contemporary. His work with The Disciples and later, as a solo artist, is legendary, and as a songwriter, he is behind classics, including “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power,” “Through It All,” “Bless His Holy Name,” and “My Tribute,” which has been performed by more than 600 artists all over the world. He has collected a host of Dove and Stellar Awards. In addition to working with pop icons including Madonna, Diana Ross, and Elton John, Crouch contributed songs to films including The Color Purple and The Lion King. The vocal arranger for Michael Jackson’s smash “Man in the Mirror” and the star’s Invincible album, Crouch also penned “You Will Be There,” featured in the film Free Willy. A member of the Gospel

Music Hall of Fame, he became the only living gospel artist to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004, and the following year, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural NARAS Salute to Gospel Music. Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI) is an American performing right organization that represents more than 400,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. BMI reported $905 million for its 2009 fiscal year in performing right collections. BMI has represented the most popular and beloved music from around the world for 70 years. The U.S. corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.

Source- BMI

Her latest single, “Mistletoe and You,” is currently climbing the AC and Country charts

Sandra Piller – The new queen of country

Genuine lovers of real, honest-to-goodness country music are in for a treat this month with the release of ‘Kindred Spirits’ – the second album from Californian songstress Sandra Piller.

Sandra announced herself to the world with the release of ‘A Long Time Coming.’ This collection of 11 raw, emotionally intense but also fun and uplifting numbers was everything a great country record should be: A document of the artist’s life.

And Sandra continues the theme with her second effort which, if anything, improves and expands upon her impressive debut.

It is a more thoughtful acoustic record, reflecting a different stage in its creator’s life and career. Retaining the mixture of originals and cover versions, ‘Kindred Spirits,’ as the name suggests, takes Sandra’s music to a new level of intimacy.

But as with all the great performers, Sandra’s intimate moments strike a chord that can be felt by all. That is why the first single from the new record – a lighthearted cover of ‘I Could Get Used To You’ – has already achieved “No.1 most added country single” status on the influential Spins Tracking System chart.

However, such success should not come as a surprise when you look at the roster of writers Sandra has collaborated with including 25- year Nashville veteran, Jane Bach. Sandra’s own mother-in-law, Ruth Roberts, is represented here by her daughter-in-law’s cover of Jimmy Dean’s hit ‘The First Thing Ev’ry Morning.’

Add in the talents of Billy Lee (“The One”) and longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd member Carol Chase and you can see this is a record with a full-fledged country pedigree to support it.

Lending his talents to ‘Kindred Spirits’ is producer Marty Rifkin – who has worked with luminaries such as LeAnn Rimes, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty.

‘Kindred Spirits’ was released on Shady Hill Records on July 14 with a special show at Molly Malone’s in Los Angeles to celebrate the launch.

Source- Beatwire.com

New Web platform allows artists and fans to share in monetization of independent music through network-marketing influenced model

Costa Mesa, CA-December 15, 2009- Industree Music Network, Inc., a new web-based company that centers around Social Music Sharing™, an innovative online music distribution and monetization platform, launches. Social Music Sharing™ combines social networking, music, and the ability for fans to share in the artists’ album sales that they directly and indirectly help generate.

Social Music Sharing™ takes the most powerful component from traditional network-marketing based business models, the ability for consumers to share in the sales generated by the people they directly and indirectly invite into the network, and leaves the sign-up fees, purchase requirements, and aggressive sales tactics behind Industree’s CVO, Brandon Beachum, says, “I strongly believe the businesses that will achieve the highest degree of success in the emerging global economy will be those that understand the powerful momentum and energy that can be generated by sharing your success with the people that help to generate it in the first place. By injecting a “share the wealth” philosophy into our unique business model at such a crucial point in time when the landscape of the music business is changing so rapidly, I believe the possibilities are absolutely endless as to where we can collectively take Industree.”

Industree stands firmly by the “share the wealth” philosophy; 40-50 per cent of every album sale is shared with the fans and five per cent of every sale is donated to charity.

Industree employs an “Honor System” pricing structure, which is based on the fans’ honest opinion of the music that they buy. Fans ultimately name their own price for the music that they buy, and then the person who initially invited them, as well as that person’s “Roots,” all share in the profits.

In addition to launching the new web-platform, Industree is releasing five artists’ albums exclusively on their own label, Industree Records, including the multi-platinum selling Grammy nominee, Ryan Toby.

Industree is free for both artists and fans to join, however you must be invited by a current member in order to do so. To learn more about Industree Music Network, go to

http://www.TheIndustree.com.

About Industree Music Network, Inc.

Industree Music Network, Inc., was co-founded by brothers, Brandon Beachum and Ryan Beachum, in 2008. Brandon formerly worked for the Los Angeles based indie label, Pinch Hit Records. Both brothers also spent many years in various musical projects in and around the LA area. Their first-hand experiences witnessing the fans willingness to work extremely hard to help the artists that they love ultimately helped seed the idea for Social Music Sharing™ and the launch of Industree Music Network.

Source- Beatwire.com

On 15th December 2009, the leading innovators in dance music, Pioneer, Beatport, DJ Magazine and Let’s Mix, come together to launch ‘Next Generation DJ’, (NGDJ) a talent competition designed to unearth the next superstar DJ and to give them the chance to win a life changing prize. To win, DJs with the X-Factor will have to demonstrate their skills by uploading and promoting a mix on the new mixing and social networking platform, http://www.letsmix.com as well as prove that they have the entrepreneurial aptitude required to make it big in the world of dance music.

NGDJ has some heavyweight backing. Pioneer revolutionized DJ technology with the introduction of the CD turntables and are about to do so again with the launch of their CDJ2000 & 900 digital DJ platform. Beatport is the world’s no.1 destination to purchase electronic music and home to the influential Beatportal blog. DJ Magazine is the world’s leading authority on dance music and is the brand behind the globally renowned ‘DJ Mag Top 100’ poll. And Let’s Mix was developed by the team from Tonium, who introduced the revolutionary Pacemaker, hand held, portable DJ system to the world. These brands know DJ’ing and dance music like no other, making NGDJ a competition with a genuine prospect of discovering the world’s next superstar DJ.

However, to be a superstar DJ these days takes more than just skills behind the decks. You need to be able to create your brand, manage your profile and promote yourself relentlessly.

Entrants to NGDJ will be required to create their www.letsmix.com profile and upload their DJ mix. From there they will need to show they can navigate the world of promo, pushing their DJ mix across all social networking / blogging platforms to generate a specific amount of votes to reach the next round. Amongst all those who have been able to promote themselves sufficiently 100 finalists will compete in a second round, creating a mix around a special theme with their DJ skills judged by a panel of industry heavyweights. All 100 finalists will also feel the heat of the media spotlight throughout the final round.

The eventual winner of NGDJ will soon feel what it’s like to be a superstar DJ, with a set of brand new Pioneer CDJ2000’s (and inclusion in the exclusive Pioneer test DJ group), a Pacemaker, huge media coverage across DJ Mag, Beatport, Let’s Mix and many more, their own compilation release on Beatport, flights to the huge WMC event in Miami, flash hotel and massive gigs at the Beatport Pool Party and the DJ Mag opening and closing party at the Shelborne. This is a competition designed by the biggest, most influential brands in dance music to find genuine, unrivalled DJ talent, and so the final and ultimate reward for winning the competition is a future career as a DJ. The winner will be offered an exclusive contract with a major DJ management agency, giving them the chance to show dancefloors around the world exactly what they can do. 2010 will the year when the NGDJ winner will become the next big DJ brand.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s Mix!

Fact Sheet

When 15th of December – 20th of February
Competition Stage 1: 15th of December ‘09 to 31st of January ‘10
Competition Stage 2: 1st of February ‘10 to 20th of February ‘10

Where Mixes are added and voted on at http://www.letsmix.com

How Join the contest:
Submit a Mix
Upload mix in MP3 format and add track listing
Download Let’s Mix free software, create a mix and upload
To advance in the contest:
Stage 1: 15th of December ‘09 to 31st of January ‘10
Task 1: Promote your mix as widely as possible (using websites, blogs, social networking, e-mail etc) to secure a minimum 200 voteso
Task 2: Secure the highest average score for your mix possible (1.0-5.0)

Stage2: 1st of February 2010 to 20th of February 2010
Compete amongst the NGDJ Top 100 finalists with a new theme mix (theme / rules released 1st of Feb)

To listen to the mixes and vote for contestants:
Visit the contestant’s specific mix page on http://www.letsmix.com
Vote by choosing 1-5 stars in the rating section

Prizes
1st Place will receive the “NGDJ Superstar DJ Launch Package”

Showcase at the 2010 Winter Music Conference in Miami
2 x flights and accommodation at a 5 star Hotel
DJ gig at the legendary Beatport Pool Party
DJ Gig at the DJ Mag Party @ The Shelborne
Get signed to a pro DJ Agency and Record Label
Release your own mix compilation album on Beatport
Media exposure via professional PR campaign
Next Generation DJ equipment (2 Pioneer CDJ 2000 + Pacemaker) Feature in DJ Mag
Inclusion in exclusive Pioneer Test DJ group

2nd and 3rd place will receive

Media exposure via professional PR campaign
Career launch opportunity
Next Generation DJ equipment (1 Pioneer CDJ 2000 + Pacemaker)Inclusion in exclusive Pioneer Test DJ group

NGDJ Top 100 will receive
Ongoing promotion
Next Generation DJ equipment (50 Top performers win a Pacemaker)

Source- Max Borges Agency

Noise Pop is San Francisco’s premiere celebration of independent music, film and art since 1993. Now in its 18th year the festival attracts over 20,000 independent music fans and scores of bands each year to San Francisco.

Over 150 alternative bands will play Noise Pop 2010. This year, there is at least one performance slot reserved for a Sonicbids artist – situations vary from opening up for headlining acts to playing other Noise Pop events, and pay varies depending on the situation.

Deadline to Submit is January 15, 2010. Visit the link below to enter or for more details.

Noise Pop Festival at Sonicbids

Noise Pop Festival- http://www.noisepop.com/festival

Soldier Sound Records recording artist, Pettidee has been well known to fans around the world for well over ten years. He is a Grammy and Stellar award nominated producer for acts like Grits and I-Rocc. Even his last album, “Resurrections” was nominated for a Stellar Award for Gospel Hip Hop Album of the Year.

You’ve heard his songs in television programs like “Pimp My Ride”and “America’s Next Top Model” as well as movies like “Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns” and the upcoming film starring Forrest Whittaker, “Hurricane Season.” This all adds up to a career as an emcee and minister of the gospel that demands your attention so prepare yourselves for a new journey with Pettidee as he takes you on a “Race 2 Nowhere.”

The new album from Pettidee “Race 2 Nowhere” has been an incredible ride for him not only personally but spiritually as well. Pettidee was at a point of throwing in the towel after dealings in the music business went south quickly but, that’s when God spoke to him and gave him a renewed vision and plan for the future to continue doing what God had called him to; which is making music and using it as a tool to spread the gospel to the nations.

Pettidee talks about the project in this way, “This is the album that is finally all me every bit of it. It’s the strongest, universally diverse album I’ve ever made and it features everything from the dirty south style to rock, a hint of jazz, and even bit of crazy digital thrown in it’s got something for everyone. The mixture of these musical styles and being raised in south Florida has given me a whole new sound of what I call “Quad-Rock” which will be the new sound for 2010. And lyrically the album is so transparent it’s actually what I call a “Newscast” it’s relevant to the times of what’s going on in the world.

Everything from relationships, the economy, to people looking around to everything for their fulfillment except for Christ.” The first single, “The Ghetto” is being added to radio stations across the country so be on the lookout for it as well as a music video to follow. The first music video off the album is called “Fly” which is featured in the upcoming film, “Light, Streets of Redemption” should be hitting television programs across the country very soon so start requesting it now.

Pettidee “Race 2 Nowhere” will be distributed by Infinity Music Distribution and hits retail stores January 26th 2010.

To keep up on the latest news or tour information check out Pettidee’s websites:

http://www.soldiersound.com

http://www.pettyville.com

http://www.myspace.com/pettidee

Source- Life-Line Worldwide