Los Angeles indie act The Daylights are on the road right now as direct support for Katy Perry. They will be peforming 3 nights at Irving Plaza (NYC) – April 6th, 7th, and the 8th. Check out the track Guess I Missed You. For more information contact jared.sheer@theempirenyc.com

MTV is adding more music videos to its schedule.

From 3 to 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday, it will show music videos, news, interviews and performances, harking back to the network’s origins as a 24-hour home for music videos. The network is bringing back “Unplugged,” its series of acoustic performances by artists. (NYT)

“Critics of MTV say that its music brand is all but irrelevant now, since countless music videos and songs are only a click away on YouTube and other Web sites. The network canceled “TRL,” its long-running video countdown, last fall after years of sagging ratings.”

Windsor Drive is an alternative rock/pop group currently based in Houston, Texas. The band was formed in a small town in central Wisconsin with members, Kipp, Owen, Jon, Dustin, and Dan. Taking influence from artists such as: Coldplay, Death Cab, and Keane. Windsor Drive combines melodic guitars and catchy melodies to bring about a new era in epic, alternative rock. In 2007 they released their first EP, “Meet the Tide”. Windsor Drive will release their upcoming album, titled “Bridges”, in April 2009.  The album was produced by Stephen Short (Augustana, Chaka Kahn, Echo & The Bunnymen). Check out the tracks Fall and In Dreams. For more information contact info@pingpongmusic.com

Apple’s iTunes will increase the price of hit singles and in-demand tracks to $1.29 on April 7th. The new variable pricing method will also reduce the price of other songs. Label executives contend the new pricing will allow them to offer packaged downloads of songs that might entice consumers to spend more on music. (Los Angeles Times)

Critics say:

“Some music industry veterans are criticizing the 30% hike price, saying the timing is tone deaf because it comes in the midst of a recession and at a time when spending for online music appears to have reached a plateau.”

“This will be a PR nightmare,” predicted former EMI Music executive Ted Cohen, who is managing partner of digital media consulting firm TAG Strategic. “It is for the music industry what the AIG bonuses are for the insurance industry.”

“Wouldn’t it make sense to try to price it cheaper instead of squeezing the handful of people who are still willing to pay for music?” he said.

Supporters say:

“If you’re not drawing new people and your spending isn’t growing, it’s a natural part of the product life cycle” to raise prices, said Russ Crupnick, a senior analyst for NPD Group. Crupnick said he doubted a 30-cent price increase would prevent iTunes customers from buying a hot new release from artists like Kelly Clarkson, Flo Rida or Lady Gaga. He noted that offering a discounted second track packaged with a premium priced song from the same artist could boost sales.

The Bottom Line: In the hey day, artists successfully delivered an entire package what we called an album. Today, the act thrives on a single and usually the single alone. With the help of technology and the lack of an album – consumers have trained themselves to listen and purchase singles only, hence, it’s natural progression to increase the worth of the single.

Chanel Cambell who was born in Australia now resides in Nashville.  Chanel, 15 yrs. old at the time began collecting vinyls and soon became influenced by many 60’s artists. ” they just seemed completely sold out to something whether it was good or bad. every time i listen to a dylan song i am touched in a new way.”

Inspired by timeless writers from C.S. Lewis to Dylan, from Hemingway to Joni Mtchell.

Chanel set out to find her own voice in the midst of thousands of young nashville hopefuls.

“C.S. Lewis once said ” even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.” All I want to do is write songs filled with honest emotion and then convey them through performance. If I can make one person in a room of 100 people feel something with in them, then I’ve done what I’ve set out to do.”

Check out the tracks Cry Cry Cry and and Run Away With Me. For more information contact kevin@teleprompt.com