Buzz Track: Golden
Nashville pop-rock quartet Farewell Fighter topped the Alternative Press Magazine’s list of the top unsigned bands in North America. The band self-funded a tour across America, spending the next 12 months on the road playing 150+ shows in more than 40 states and selling more than 5,500 copies of their self-released EP entitled The Way We Learn. In 2012 they took time off from the road to enter the studio with Motion City Soundtrack guitarist Josh Cain who has worked with Metro Station, You Me & Everyone We Know. The New album is slated for release March, 2013.
Contact: farewellfighter@gmail.com
Music Investment Tops $600 Million In 2012 according to Digital Music News.
“Anyone who thinks investment in music is ‘drying up’ clearly hasn’t looked at the numbers. Because with less than two weeks left in 2012, investment in music-related startups and companies has reached $619.3 million, a near-34 percent gain over 2011.
Spotify wasn’t the biggest catch, either. Deezer claimed a monstrous $130 million round, while Sonos received a handsome $135 million in financing. Those rounds, coupled with Spotify’s $100 million, accounted for roughly half the total pot.
Here’s the rundown of every financing round that we reported in 2012, typically confirmed by the participants (company, investors, or both), or filed publicly. Other times, figures were reaffirmed by publications like the Wall Street Journal. If we couldn’t solidly confirm the round, it wasn’t included.” Check out the chart here
Buzz Track: You Feel Amazing
Radical Something is an L.A.-based trio that formed in the Summer of 2011. The band’s sound embodies a feel-good California attitude through elements of hip-hop, reggae, R&B, Rock and Pop. The group’s first paid project No Sweat reached #6 on the iTunes overall album charts and #33 on the Billboard Independent Album charts. Songs have been produced by DJ Big Red, Goodwill & MGI (Akon, Pitbull). They have performed with SOJA, Sammy Adams, and Asher Roth. The band is planning a 2013 release.
Contact: amh@radicalsomething.com
The life of a celebrity can be quite alarming. In fact, cops have closed in on a real life ‘Justin Bieber’ kidnapping case.
“Investigators say two would-be hit men from Albuquerque may have had their sights set on the teen mega star; Justin Bieber. They had it planned down to the ties they were going to use to strangle to the pop star and three other people. A warning, the details are pretty graphic. Justin Bieber played for a sold out house just a few weeks at Madison Square Garden in New York City.That’s where investigators say Mark Staake and his nephew Tanner Ruane planned to take down the teen sensation.Turns out their Bieber fever started long ago, at the state prison near Las Cruces.” Read more here
Buzz Track: Lifeline
The Ells, a Seattle based alternative rock/ indie band, first came together in the spring of 2010. The quartet began solely as a studio project, not fully evolving into “band” form until early 2011 when they released their debut EP, “Kodak Summer”. The Ells’ combination of catchy hooks, swirling guitars, and a 4 on the floor “heartbeat” kick makes them a band to watch.
Contact: danielrfriedman@aol.com