Social Media Twitter Saves Music at SMW

February 15, 2011 - 9:52 am

Social Media Week Savior Panel

If Day 1 was all about singing Facebook’s praises, Day 2 was all about how Twitter kicks Facebook’s ass; at least as far as the music industry is concerned…

Is Social Media Music’s Savior?

BUZZMEDIA hosted an event with the Kanye-inspired title, The Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy of Social Media as Music’s Savior, which featured a panel of respected music curators and promoters: Angel Laws (ConcreteLoop.com), Jessica Suarez (Stereogum), Tamar Anitai (MTV.com/MTV Buzzworthy), Rob Bonstein (Epic Records) and moderated by Jeff Leeds, Editor in Chief for Music at BUZZMEDIA.

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Featured Gallery Music Mystery, Motherhood and Music with Sierra Swan

February 15, 2011 - 9:48 am

Sierra Swan definitely doesn’t fit the mold of the typical cookie cutter singer/songwriter. She’s dark, mysterious, and has an attitude about her. Sierra is no stranger to the recording industry. In 1997, she was signed to MCA as a member of Dollshead. In 2000, she launched a solo career, which led to a stint on Atlantic Records. After catching the ear of Linda Perry, Sierra found herself landing a deal at Interscope Records. Since her debut album and time with Interscope, Sierra has gone on to release an EP titled “Coward,” as well as “Queen of the Valley” and “Girl Who Cried Wolf.” She’s done some amazing things such as collaborate with Billy Corgan and travel to Liverpool with Ringo Starr to sing and play keys on an album.

Sierra took the stage at Hotel Café on Monday January 31st and showed Los Angeles that she is back and ready to reemerge behind the spotlight. She may have recently had a baby but is that hasn’t seemed to slow her down one bit. Also on the evening’s bill was a set of cover songs by Linda Perry as well as Heather Porcaro. Sierra has been working hard on some very exciting projects. A recent endeavor was collaboration on a project with her musician father, Billy Swan, which they recorded at the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis.

There was typical preshow chaos backstage with musicians busting in left and right but Sierra and I managed to squeeze in a conversation about motherhood, songwriting, and the exciting new EP she just recorded with her father.

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Social Media Social Media Week Day 1: Real-life vs Facebook, Africa and More

February 14, 2011 - 10:42 am

Social Media Week 2011

Social media will never replace real-life, human interaction. This was the surprising, but reassuring theme of Social Media Week 2011 in NYC (there were also events in nine other cities). Both big events I attended at Red Bull Space on the first day kept coming back to that idea; that social media is a wonderful tool, but at the end of the day, success is determined by the quality of your relationships with other human beings. Shocking, right?

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Music The Ting Tings – In Color

February 14, 2011 - 10:37 am

Ting Tings

If you don’t think you know who The Ting Tings are, I bet you do. If you’ve turned on the radio within the last year, chances are you’ve heard “That’s Not My Name” or “Shut Up and Let Me Go.” The Manchester indie pop duo composed of Jules De Martino and Katie White have released four major singles on Columbia Records UK and their debut album “We Started Nothing” has sold well over 2 million copies.

A highly anticipated sequel to their first album, rumored to have a working title of Kunst (which means ‘art ‘in German), is scheduled to release sometime in early 2011.

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Music Top Bay Area Party DJs to Face Off At Red Bull Thre3Style

February 14, 2011 - 10:23 am

Thre3style

Red Bull Thre3Style is an innovative concept that gives highly skilled DJs a platform to battle, perform, gain notoriety and express themselves in a party atmosphere.  Unlike other DJ battles that are based on more technical aspects, this is a creative and unique format that seeks to find the DJ that has best perfected the true art of “party rockin’.”  Eight of the Bay Area’s top DJs will fight for the crowd’s favor, each with a 15 minute set that MUST contain at least three different musical genres.   A panel of music industry judges will select the winners based on track selection, creativity, mixing skills, stage presence and crowd reaction.

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Film Fridays Film Fridays: 1980s Cinema’s 5 Darkest Moments

February 11, 2011 - 6:01 pm

I Want a Shot at Your Title Daniel!

5. KARATE KID III (1989) – You think you can rely on that crane crap?!
Everyone knows that Daniel-San got through Karate Kid 1 by pulling off a mean last-minute ‘Crane’ — that rather effeminate move that Mr. Miyagi probably just made up while drinking sake to make Daniel look like an ass. But it’s part 3 when Daniel, forced to learn under his newer, uber-yuppie master, is given the devastating news that his crane is no longer any good. “You don’t get it, do you?!” yells the new guy. Then he goes off to pout around the corner, secretly listening while a determined Daniel goes at it. Yeah, make his knuckles bleed!

Read on for the top 4…

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Music Mandy’s Music Mail 2/11/11

February 11, 2011 - 9:56 am

Gaga "Born this Way"

Lady Gaga released her song “Born This Way” today and HOMEGIRL TOTES STOLE MY LINE: “…put your paws up.” I’ve been saying paws instead of hands for ages now (because “paws” is such an adorable word)! Feeling kind of “eh” about the song but I reckon it’ll grow on me; reminds me of something I would have loved when I was 16 – you know, the kind of song you blast in the car with your friends when you first get your license and you drive around listening to music as loud as you want just for the sake of driving around and listening to music? Good times…

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Gallery Los Angeles Celebrating the Year of the Rabbit in Chinatown

February 11, 2011 - 9:46 am

This past weekend, LA’s historic Chinatown held a two-day celebration in honor of the Chinese New Year. To pay tribute to the most momentous of traditional Chinese holidays, the neighborhood hung fresh red paper lanterns, and pulled out all the stops with a slew of performances, vendors, the Golden Dragon parade that spanned both Broadway and Hill streets, and tons of confetti.

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Music It Ain’t Easy Being Green: The Darker Side of Cee Lo

February 10, 2011 - 4:49 pm

Horns Up

We all know that it was “F*ck You” that transformed CeeLo from That Guy in Gnarls Barkley to a household name — one synonymous with the brazen lyrics and infectious melodies which are now burned into our cerebellums for at least a few weeks (right now they’re duking it out with that Black Eyed Peas Superbowl debacle).

But how did this seemingly overnight sensation become a media contagion, earning himself guest spots on an otherwise forgettable SNL, and cameos on some of the biggest R&B albums of the year? Almost as importantly, how did he get to be the voice of Prime Cut Miggity-Mo’ Macdaddy Gizzabang Doggy Dog Dog on The Brak Show? Sources reveal a troubled life, as well as a man who’s managed to smile through the sh*tstorm, wear his heart on his sleeve, and never look back at his many missteps.

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Film Gallery “Life’s a Pitch”- Voxhaul Video Contest

February 10, 2011 - 10:13 am

At this year’s inaugural Los Angels Music Video Festival (LAMVF), a very interesting experiment took place. An event titled “Life’s a Pitch” provided aspiring music video directors with the opportunity to pitch their ideas for a video to accompany the new single of Los Angeles rockers Voxhaul Broadcast. The band, named one of LA’s best new indie bands of 2010 by LA Times, plopped on a couch and sipped beer while four participants took turns standing before them and presenting their video concepts for the song, “Leaving On The 5th.” The prize for the winning pitch was the opportunity to produce Voxhaul Broadcast’s new video with the use of a Sony HDW F900 camera, provided courtesy of Alternative Records.

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