Dope who formed in 1997 has signed with V2 Records. The band will begin work on the yet untitled album later this year and it is expected to be released in early 2007. Former Marilyn Mansons guitarist John 5’s pet project Loser who was set to release “Just Like You”, on May 9 via Island Records was recently dropped.

Only a small percentage of the 12 million audience has followed the self-proclaimed King of All Media Howard Stern to satellite. According to industry analysts, Stern took 1 million and 2 million listeners, and his replacements spread across many of the country’s major radio markets, are drawing numbers in a similar range.

With that said, what happened to the 8 million to 10 million listeners?

The poll, which was based on responses from more than 25,000 listeners from 79 rock stations across the country, showed more than half of Stern’s former audience has not stuck with the affiliate replacements. Instead they seem to be gravitating toward similar, well-established morning programs.

In Los Angeles, this is no doubt good news for longtime shows like “Kevin & Bean” on KROQ-FM (106.7) and “Mark & Brian” on KLOS-FM (95.5).

Terrestrial radio is wasting no time in trying to capture the 8 to 10 million audience for instance:

“In most major market cities late last year, counter-marketing largely took the form of billboards touting a particular morning show’s free — as in, no subscription required — services”

“In Los Angeles, “Mancow” Muller, heard on XTRA Sports 570, adopted this strategy. And some rock stations, such as WAAF-FM in Boston, began promoting new online guides for “virgin” listeners to get them up to speed on the show’s colorful characters.”

The war will continue between Terrestrial radio and Satellite with no end in sight.

Ocala, FL based The New Tragic features former From First To Last (just signed to Capitol) singer Phil Reardon. The New Tragic has recorded a 3-song demo and recently released a video for the track “A Half Cocked Smile And Two Guns Blazin’� . The New Tragic recently added Don Arthur from Cute Is What We Aim For on bass. For more information contact Jess Redmon at Total Assault 310.280.3777. Legal is Daniel R Friedman or 314.497.1060.

Check out the track The New Tragic – Half Cocked (mp3)

Check out the video here.

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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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