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According to the LA Times, radio play lists are shrinking even more because the PD’s are suffering from paranoia of being investigated from the recent payola scandals that inflicted the music industry.

 “No programmer wants to draw attention by choosing songs too far outside the mainstream,” said Calococci, who says fear of regulatory scrutiny has made radio executives less willing to play emerging bands. Calococci still plays new music, he said, but “Spitzer has put a chill on everything.”

“Many programmers say that fear of regulatory scrutiny has scared them into airing fewer new songs. Instead, many stations are sticking to older, more tried-and-true tunes that seem less likely to prompt speculation that money changed hands.”

 “I don’t want anyone to look at my playlists six months from now and speculate about why I added a particular song when our competition didn’t add it,” one programmer said.â€? People have been fired for less.”

 What does this all mean? It means you need to be extremely critical in deciding what bands are signed. Artist’s that have zero commercial appeal will suffer the greatest. Nevertheless, this doesn’t help the indie labels, hence both the majors and the Indies are on an equal playing field; no advantage to either party. As far as new music? It just got harder, so get use to listening to Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days“. What is the learning lesson? Being dishonest and paying people off will come back and bite you in the ass. The good news is that playlists should open up in the near future once the situation sizzles.

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Los Angeles based The Spores have signed to Sidecho Records which is distributed by Koch, legal rep is Ben McLane. From First to Last has signed with Capitol Records. Braidy have signed to Maverick. Other artists that are being brought up in A&R meetings are KOAR mentioned artists and KOAR Higher Learning artists including Failsafe, Glass Intrepid and Virgin Millionaires. Still hearing chatter around legal Daniel Friedman’s act Ludo and Makeshifte. Another KOAR Higher Learning artist is close to landing a recording deal and will be mentioned within the next coming weeks.

Shows to check out:
Inept – April 15 @ Metro, Chicago – bring in 600+.
Autovein – April 10 S.I.R. (NYC) – email Josh Karchmer
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Rarely do albums come along that contain such matter-of-fact honesty and stark revelations that they have the ability to completely gut the listener. When these albums do come along, it is rare that they will be able to musically appeal to a large audience, having the prowess and diversity to call on an array of influences and be accessible to any that lend an ear. But it’s also rare for a band to be dropped by their major label and then picked back up, so I suppose Blue October are simply put, a very rare find. Their latest effort ‘Foiled’ does what any Blue October fan thought was impossible. It has completely surpassed all previous work and marked a new phase for the band, finally bringing some closure to the anguished frontman. Foiled ends the story we’ve been avidly following and starts a new one, while creatively reaching heights previously unthinkable. Musically intricate, intimate and interesting, Foiled will surely be landing on many ‘Best Of’ lists. (5/5)

Danko Jones’ new album ‘Sleep Is The Enemy’ made my stereo ooze so much testosterone it impregnated my television and started a fight club with my xbox. While it has the depth of a shot glass, Sleep Is The Enemy is filled to the brim with fist pumping, sing-along, balls out rock anthems of aggressive machismo. Recently having their song ‘Baby Hates Me’ featured on WWE’s Wrestlemania 22, Danko Jones are solidifying their place in the angst-ridden broken hearts of beer swilling men everywhere and no doubt winning over some ladies along the way. (3.6/5)

A British singer from London has signed to RCA after broadcasting live performances from her living room on the Internet. She built up a daily audience of more than 100,000 people around the world. RCA label director Craig Logan said: “Sandi is a very talented artist with an already unique story.” You can read the full story here.