Buzz Track: Utopia

Toronto indie buzz act Nightbox will release a new album. Upon releasing their debut EP in 2011 on Canada’s Last Gang Entertainment, critical and commercial reaction was noteworthy on a world scale. The music video for single “Pyramid” earned heavy rotation on Canadian music television stations, and the track was selected to appear on the French label Kitsune’s Maison Compilation 11. It was also chosen by NME as a Top-10 download. Check out the new track Utopia from their upcoming release.
Contact: rgentles@wizkidmanagement.com

Country pop newcomer Courtney Rau recently released a track ‘After The Storm‘ which features Jessica Harp, formally of “The Wreckers.” She has been compared to Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. She will announce several shows in the upcoming months.
Contact: jarau@aol.com

Buzz Track: Common Gold

Not Tonight Josephine will release a new EP in July which was recorded and produced by James Paul Wisner (Underoath, Paramore, Go Radio, Further Seems Forever). The band will embark on tour in August & September.
Contact: nottonightrock@gmail.com

Track: Sunshine

Kink Ador is an indie rock group based in Nashville, TN. The duo first launched onto the national stage in 2012 with their Summerfest performance and selection as a Red Bull Soundstage Artist. Since then, they have performed the CMJ Festival in New York City, the SnowBall Music Festival in Winter Park, CO, and the Canadian Music Festival in Toronto in 2013.
Contact: Christian@bluewatermusic.com

My Song Got Played On Pandora 1 Million Times and All I Got Was $16.89, Less Than What I Make From a Single T-Shirt Sale!

Note: David Lowery is the lead singer and songwriter for the seminal rock bands Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker. This post originally appeared on his blog The Trichordist. We have reproduced it here with his permission. Hat-tip to reddit user terryhart for the link.

As a songwriter Pandora paid me $16.89* for 1,159,000 play of “Low” last quarter. Less than I make from a single T-shirt sale. Okay that’s a slight exaggeration. That’s only the premium multi-color long sleeve shirts and that’s only at venues that don’t take commission. But still.

Soon you will be hearing from Pandora how they need Congress to change the way royalties are calculated so that they can pay much much less to songwriters and performers. For you civilians webcasting rates are “compulsory” rates. They are set by the government (crazy, right?). Further since they are compulsory royalties, artists can not “opt out” of a service like Pandora even if they think Pandora doesn’t pay them enough. Read more