From the category archives:

Events & Reviews

Digital Mixtapes: Case Study – Lil Wayne

by Dexter Bryant Jr. March 4, 2010

lil wayneLil Wayne (aka Weezy F. Baby) is a name that most people who know music are familiar with.
Whether or not you like his work is a different matter entirely. Lil Wayne’s pop superstardom in recent years can largely be attributed to his stranglehold on the rap mixtape market.

Since 2006 Lil Wayne has released a seemingly endless flurry of mixtapes. With each one the bond between Weezy and his audience grows stronger. Read more…

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Digital Mixtapes: Case Study – A Hustler’s Spirit Mixtape by Ludacris

by Dexter Bryant Jr. March 2, 2010

A Hustler's SpiritSavvy businesspeople recognize and envision the revenue that mixtapes can generate when marketed wisely. Ludacris, an astute businessman (and my favorite MC), released his A Hustler’s Spirit mixtape in January 2010.

So what’s so special about this particular mixtape?

A Hustler’s Spirit is sponsored by Conjure Cognac–a joint venture between Ludacris and Norwegian cognac house Birkedal Hartmann. Read more…

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CD Baby Introduces the Classical Music Podcast

by Disc Makers February 11, 2010

Explore the best in independently-released Concert Hall music from the Baroque era through modern Avant Garde. CD Baby is home to thousands of fine Classical recordings and each month we’ll share some highlights from our collection in this podcast. We’d love for you to check it out on itunes and give it a good rating. The debut episode features the work of Brahms, as performed by cellist David Requiro with the highly respected pianist Elizabeth DeMio. The San Francisco Chronicle has said of David’s playing “Young lion tames old masters.” The duo’s elegant and charming sound is winning fans worldwide. You can check out their album at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/requirodemio. Read more…

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A Few More Thoughts On Jazz Tribute Shows

by Jason Parker February 9, 2010

There’s been some negative talk about jazz musicians playing tribute shows to other jazz musicians recently. Journalist Phil Freeman discussed the idea in this Twitter conversation, jazz blogger Peter Hum took a little shot in this post, and trombonist Vincent Gardner wrote the most extensive piece on the subject in an article for All About Jazz titled “Let’s Tribute Ourselves”. Read more…

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Grammys: That’s Not MY Music Industry

by Jason Parker February 2, 2010

Watching the Grammy Awards tonight I was struck with one thought: they might call that the Music Industry, but that has nothing to do with what I do as a working musician. I have been a professional musician for 15 years, and it’s been my sole job for 9 of those years. But whatever that was on the TV tonight, that’s not even close to my world.

And you know what? Rather than that thought being depressing it is actually quite liberating. Just when I started to get upset about the things I was seeing I realized that the only reason for it to upset me is if it affects me, which it doesn’t. Read more…

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Disc Makers Palooza X: The Highlights

by Disc Makers January 28, 2010

April MonetDisc Makers hosted its 10th Disc Makers Palooza musical extravaganza on January 15th, 2010 at the legendary World Café Live in Philadelphia. The show featured various musical configurations – each of which included at least one Disc Makers employee. This year’s show raised over $1,600 for the Red Cross’ Haiti relief efforts and Philabundance (a Philadelphia non-profit that provides food for the homeless and needy). Total donations from all 10 Disc Makers Paloozas come to more than $10,000! See photos…

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Frankie Negron: The Next Definitive Voice

by Disc Makers January 13, 2010

Frankie NegronReclining on his couch in a beautifully appointed living area at his New Jersey home, Frankie Negron strikes you as a pretty relaxed guy. As he recounts his accomplishments, it would be understandable for Negron to now finally sit back on this sunny afternoon and coast a little: child performer and student at the school of performing arts, Broadway showman by age 20 and, most famously, salsa superstar, earning him Grammy Award nominations, Billboard Award nods and two Premio Lo Nuestro awards for song of the year, not to mention several number one singles and four gold and platinum album awards to his credit. Read more…

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John Two-Hawks Receives GRAMMY Nomination!

by Disc Makers January 7, 2010

Wind SongsDisc Makers client John Two-Hawks has received a GRAMMY nomination for his Wind Songs CD for “Best Native American Album of the Year.” Wind Songs, which is comprised entirely of remarkable first-take flute solo improvisations, is Two-Hawks’ 17th musical release to date. This GRAMMY nomination marks yet another milestone for a phenomenal artist whose list of accomplishments already include a Platinum Album award, an EMMY nomination and 6 Nammy (Native American Music Award) nominations. Read more…

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David Pastorius: It’s not what you think

by Disc Makers December 15, 2009

David PastoriusWhen your last name is Pastorius and you play the bass, it only stands to reason that people will draw some immediate conclusions.

In the case of David Pastorius, they’d probably be wrong.

David, the nephew of the late, great bassist Jaco Pastorius, may share the same last name and instrument of choice as his uncle, but that’s where the similarities end. Read more…

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The Sky Drops Visit Disc Makers

by Disc Makers November 4, 2009

The Sky DropsRob and Monika of The Sky Drops stopped by our Disc Makers office and plant for a tour last month and were nice enough to spend some time talking to us about their music and success. They have taken their moody sonic maelstrom throughout the USA and UK to rapt audiences. Self-managed and self-booked, they have played with Cold War Kids, Chairlift, Lights, The Dirty Projectors, A Place to Bury Strangers, and Spindrift, amongst many. Their DIY ethic has taken them to tour the UK in 2006 and twice to California in 2007 (including a performance at the Clean Air, Clear Stars Festival). Watch video…

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Spinning Lucy: On Their Own Terms

by Disc Makers October 27, 2009

Spinning LucyIt’s pretty obvious that if you throw 30 bands onstage that you’ll get 30 completely different sounds. But its also true that each of those bands will tell you a different story why they dedicate themselves to making music, what they are trying to get out of it, and how they spread the word about their band. Read more…

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Update: The Jason Parker Quartet

by Disc Makers October 27, 2009

Disc Makers client The Jason Parker Quartet was featured two weeks ago in one of our Artist Showcases. At their CD release party for No More, No Less, they tried the “pay what you can” model for their CD sales. I asked Jason to report back to me after the show and let me know how the test worked out. This is what he had to say:

Throughout the CD Release Party on Saturday I announced that I wanted everyone there to leave with a CD, no matter what it took. I had a “suggested donation” price of $15, but told the crowd they could pay $10, $5, $2…or just take one for free.

Read more…

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Start Your Own Scene

by Scott James October 26, 2009

I hear a lot of people complain that their band can’t really get anywhere because there’s not much of a scene where they live. However I don’t see a lot of people doing anything about it. If there’s going to be a scene, someone needs to have the vision and initiative to start it. So if you don’t have a booming scene where you live – start your own! Here’s how:

The first thing that you need to do is to scout out at least one good venue. What you want to look for are venues that are: Read more…

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What We’re Listening To – October 22, 2009

by Disc Makers October 22, 2009

This week's albumsEvery week five Disc Makers employees talk about an album they’ve been listening to. We’d also love to hear what you’re listening to, so leave a comment with your album pick for the week! Read more…

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Artist Showcase: double-breasted

by Disc Makers October 19, 2009

double-breastedDisc Makers client double-breasted is a harp, cello, and drum ensemble based out of New Jersey. They wrote, produced, and packaged their first album, Who Will Love You?, completely independently. With the help of some talented friends, they were able to put out a great sounding and great looking record! Read more…

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