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10 Years – Wrapping up a national US tour with Korn. Scanning 10k-12k a week with 250k YTD. Strong video rotation on MTV2 and just recently hosted MTV’s T-Minus Rock Countdown that will air each day during the first week of April. New single Through The Iris was #1 most added to Active and #2 most added to Alternative.

Granian – Pop rock artist who has a strong underground cult following. Has been brought up in A&R meetings for the past several months. Will be entering the studio with producer Mike Shimshack to record more tracks.

AltSounds is an international alternative online music community. By ‘Alternative’ we don’t mean ‘Alt Rock,’ we mean it as its technical definition – Alternative to the mainstream. It’s about having a choice, both in music and where you go to hear it. At AltSounds, they have designed a community that gives listeners a place to find the best new music available in an environment that works for them and with them

Both Korn and All American Rejects are nearing platinum status record sales. Kid Rock’s live album “live Trucker” is stiffing. Cold Play is near the 3 million mark. Prince sold 183k right out of the box landing him the #1 position.

James Blunt wrote a million dollar valentines pop ballad scanning 100K+Â this week.

It’s not that hard ladies and gentlemen. A good hook can still sell records. As KOAR always claimed, it’s not the technology that is sucking, it’s the songs that are sucking. Why these major labels hire 18 year olds and call them A&R scouts only to sign their local highschool bands remains a mystery…as much as a mystery as the hype over Arctic Monkeys. Maybe its not a mystery but mere stupidity. Is America being victimized by UK hype mere stupidity? I think so. Basically, we are looking at a 2 fold problem boys. Not only is it harder to find a great band that can write great songs, but hiring people who cannot indentify a great band with a great song is disasterouse. Its called a negative trend and a financial loss.

Chicago veterans Escape From Earth recorded new tracks with producer Rae DiLeo (Filter, Veruca Salt, Army of Anyone). Sounds like Foo Fighters. Teen People Mag ran a full write up in January 2006 and recently packed out the Metro. For more information email Chris Sernel. Check out the tracks on their myspace page.

Autovein– St. Louis based rock band and one of the more recent casualties of the major label shuffles, Autovein are currently sitting on an impressive new album called Bullets and Bruises, produced by GGGarth Richardson and mixed by Adam Kasper (Pearl Jam, QOTSA, Nirvana). With early support from hometown rock station KPNT, playing their summer and winter festivals and awaiting an official add of their track ‘Bullet In An Angel,’ Autovein are ready to find a new home. Currently keeping busy on the road opening theatre shows for bands like Jimmy Eat World, Coheed & Cambria, Fallout Boy and LostProphets, arena shows for Tom Petty and Kiss, and small club gigs for indie bands Pedro The Lion and Open Hand, Autovein are proving their diversity and their ability to appeal to any crowd. Check out the tracks Bullet In An Angel and Hard As It Is

They will be showcasing on April 10th at SIR in NYC. For more information, contact Josh Karchmer at Louder Than Bombs 310.659.1003Â Legal is Jeff Worob of Serling Rooks and Ferrara

Upcoming Dates:
April 6- St. Louis- The Pageant
w/ 30 Seconds to Mars, Aiden, Emanuel

April 8- St. Louis- Mississippi Nights

Cartel (Militia Group) has signed a deal with Epic Records, Sire Records signed Armor for Sleep, and rumors claim that Interscope signed Interpol. Is Interpol a good signing? Hard to tell because the track record is sketchy. Sure they sold 400k+ records but the sales were mainly due to designer press. I can’t say the the songs speak for themselves. Jimmy Iovine (Interscope) is only interested in reaching the critical masses, which is the ultimate goal for any major record label president. As I said, the track record is volatile and I really don’t think Interpol can craft those type of songs that will convince 700,000+ music buyers. You never know, but based on the probabilities, I’m not placing any bets.

These indie-gone-major bands can go one of three ways.

1. the band changes their sound to hit mass appeal

2. the band doesn’t change their sound, flops and gets dropped

3. the band picks up a ton of steam but resents their new major for the way they’re portrayed and then jumps ship to go back to an indie, taking all their record buying fans with them

I only mention #3 because I recently spoke to one of these types of bands and they hinted that this was in their future. Given how well this band sells, it should be interesting. Can’t say I blame labels for trying to cash in on what is already selling (or being hyped)….but find your own bands.    source: coolfer

Every time a large group of industry get together, there always seems to emerge some hot topic item. Generally, it’s whatever the industry is lagging at or having a problem with. At this year’s SXSW, the topic of marketing was more discussed than any other. It seems the new recruits at the major labels are having some difficulty figuring out what it is that makes their artists great and noteworthy. Those who couldn’t admit they were having a problem with it confessed they use a ‘formula.’ And people wonder why there is cookie-cutter music? Maybe because it’s being marketed in a cookie-cutter fashion! I commend those who could admit they found themselves grasping at straws trying to find the story for a band they don’t particularly care for. My advice to these people was, and is, quite simply ‘Ask someone.’ Doing research is absolutely imperative for any successful marketing campaign. If it’s not a style of music you’re into, talk to people who are into it. Figure out what it is that is so appealing to them. What is it they are relating to, and how can you get others to relate to it as well? It’s not rocket surgery.

Unsigned Bands @ SXSW

This is just a quick look at a few of the unsigned bands who performed at SXSW that really shouldn’t stay unsigned for long.

Indorphine: Something like Syndrome of A Down? It’s like getting punched in the face and then licked. SOAD – Politics + Talent/Performance = Indorphine. Listen to: Spaghetti

Ludo: Absolutely brilliant. Great performance, even better songs, not to mention really charming guys. I know the offers are coming in, but whatever you’re offering isn’t enough.

Furthest From The Star: They rocked that parking lot like they had sold out the Erwin Center. Austin natives, FFTS showed off their tight set spanning a wide range of emotions. Really good stuff. Listen to: Cry For Help

Hotspur: These guys had a crowd just as big outside as it was inside. Infectious hooks and a really strong performance made everyone stop to dance, even the people who are too cool for that kind of thing. I only caught 4 songs, but was left completely exhausted. Listen to: Get Me Out Of Here