The Internet Village - and Music

I've been spending a bit of my internet time visiting the Public Radio Talent Quest site.

It's been a fun adventure. My entry has been nicely received, and I've gotten lots of uplifting comments and thoughts on the site. (BTW, you can visit the site here and listen to my entry here.)

OK, enough rambling, what's my point?

My point is that one of the fabulous things about the PRTQ site is the camaraderie, the community, and the supportive attitude among most participants in the site (and participants in the contest). Lots of interesting inter-networking relationships are cropping up. Lots of people are stretching their radio-voice-and-mind wings.

We need something like this where real, dedicated, excited artists are networking deeply with listeners. (Bear in mind that I DON'T mean MySpace or similar sites.) With the excellent site MOG.com you get a rabid and wonderful fan base - interacting in a very community-based mindset.

What about a site that has people like members of U2, Carlos Santana, Dickie Betts, Gnarls Barkley, and other greats from all different genres... what if there were also independent artists there too... what if there were fans that were there to listen... but NOT a popularity contest site or "voting" site... just community, just music listening and sharing, just fans interacting with big and small names...

Public Radio Talent Quest - Picking the Correct winner

Independent musicians sometimes make decent radio voices, too!

I was reading Izzy Smith's explanation of the contest process for the Public Radio talent quest here http://www.publicradioquest.com/comment/reply/1936.

But, I thought it would be VERY important to bring up a slight error in his post. The proper steps are:

First, the screen team all write "Bear Pearson" as their number one choice with lots of smileys next to his name. This is forwarded to the contest judges, who then place "Bear Pearson" as their number one choice.

THEN the screen team listens to the other 1389 (new total) entries and comes up with their favorite eight other choices...

Oh well. Once can dream, can't one?

A site for sore ears

I think it Bears repeating...

I enjoy the company of a thriving, rich, and excellent community of music lovers and musicians - a community that knows few boundaries. There are people from all over the world, from many age groups, from many musical tastes at MOG.

One of the things that strikes me the most (other than the passion that MOGgers FEEL for their music), is the diversity of genre. Every member tends to levitate towards a particular style of music - but: they also listen to other music, give it a chance, discuss and review music outside their comfort zones.

MOG.com - an extraordinary community. YOU should join and add your voice.

Why independent music matters, another part in a series...

First, I'd like to say something about labeled music. Labels, large and small, are a good thing. They contain thousands of great people who are working their fingers to the bone for listeners and artists. Labels do indispensable tons of work in promotion, distribution, funding, and industry behind-the-scenes stuff. As an indie-indie artist (who must also make a living doing something besides music), I can hardly find 5 minutes to promote myself, much less get out there and beat the bushes, work with suppliers, pay up-front costs, etc. The work a label does is extremely important and has a great deal of value.

But music, the music industry, listeners, artists, and the world around us are all changing and evolving far faster than in the visible past.

I think it is crucial for us all to focus on being be pro-music, pro-listener. That's all that matters in the end. The business stuff will work itself out.

P.S. Terry Gross Rocks

I just had to drop in one more note:

I've really enjoyed so many standouts in Public Radio. Here's one who's special:

Public Radio Talent Quest round 1 drawing to a close

Well folks. If you've had aspirations of being a radio host, or if you would love to be a part of Public Radio, now is the time to get your feet in the water. The first round of the Public Radio Talent Quest is coming to an end. The submission deadline for first-round entries is May 14, 2007. Only those selected in the first round move on to the second round - so don't put your toe in the pool, jump in with BOTH feet and make your own splash!!!

Remember: Public Radio without U is only Pblic Radio! (Or, was that: "You can't have Public Radio without "u.")

John Dee Holeman, Once And Future Past

I thought I'd share one of pictures I took of Mr. Holeman at the concert. I did a little sepia toning... I always wondered what it would be like sitting in a "drink joint", with smoke hanging in the air - and John Dee and his fellows playing roots blues all night long...

Set your mind into the picture, capture the sound in your head, listen with your heart. Caring for roots music is good. Caring for those who have given us so much (and asked so little) is even better. http://musicmaker.org