The September 30th, 2008 deadline for submissions to the New York Songwriters’ Circle’s (NYSC) annual Songwriting Contest is quickly approaching.

For over 18 years such notable artists as Vanessa Carlton, Norah Jones, Gavin DeGraw, Jesse Harris, Lisa Loeb, Charlotte Sometimes, Avril Lavigne, John Oates and Chris Barron (of the Spin Doctors) have all been a part of this legendary circle. This year’s grand prize winner will take home over $15,000 in cash and prizes, including a performance spot at the world renowned Madison Square Garden, The Live Nation - Jones Beach Concert Series, recording sessions with Grammy award winning producer Glenn Barett and so much more. The contest winner will also be featured on Jonathan Clarke’s highly rated “Out of the Box” radio show on New York’s most popular classic Rock station, Q104.3. For the first time ever, the NYSC will present two additional awards at the contest finale, an International award to an outstanding songwriter from anywhere outside the US, and a Young Writer award, for songwriters ages 8 to 18.

The New York Songwriters Circle contest annually gives performers the rare opportunity to perform their music live in front of top music industry professionals and excited music fans as part of the New York Songwriters Circle’s ongoing showcases series in Philadelphia (at World Café Live), Boston (at Johnny D’s in Somerville), and the legendary Bitter End in New York’s Greenwich Village. Past contest winners include Kate Voegele, (currently starring in the hit TV Show “One Tree Hill”) and “Company of Thieves,” (recently featured as a breaking artist on Billboard Magazine).

The Live Finale events on November 5th and 6th at the Bitter End in New York will spotlight the twelve contest finalists and include rare special guest appearances by Grammy Award winning Singer/Songwriter Marc Cohn and Indie music sensation Dave Barnes. Aside from his own impressive music catalog, Marc Cohn has worked with such notable artists as Tracy Chapman, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Shawn Colvin and many more. Currently, Dave Barnes is touring with “Los Lonely Boys” and has achieved both critical and commercial success as an indie recording artist.

The panel of judges includes Grammy-Award winning producer Russ Titelman, 785 Records/Publishing and Denise Rich Songs President Mark Eichner, Rolling Stone and New York Magazine contributor and author John Colapinto and many more. Sponsors include 785 Records, Denise Rich Songs, Ascap, Bmi, Sesac, MorningStar Studios, Broadjam.com, SongU.com, Dubway Studios and Sam Ash Music.

For more information and to submit your music please visit http://www.songwriters-circle.com

Sonoma Wire Works announces RiffRumble 12, an online song contest for RiffWorks recording software users. Entries will be accepted for two weeks: September 10 - 23, 2008. Contestants worldwide will record songs on their own or team up into virtual bands of two to four musicians, record songs together online, and compete for over $2500 in prizes from IK Multimedia and Drummerheads. RiffRumble 12 takes place on RiffWorld.com, a vibrant online music collaboration and song posting community for RiffWorks users. No purchase necessary (RiffWorks T4 free edition may be used). No entry fee.

How to Play
Use RiffWorks to create a song yourself and enter it by RiffCasting it to “RiffRumble 12”. Or use RiffWorks to create an “invite-only” collaboration, invite 1 - 3 people to collaborate with you, then RiffCast it to “RiffRumble 12”. Or join RiffRumble 12 song collaborations by being invited to a song in progress. Enter songs September 10 - 23. The public votes September 10 - 30. Contestants vote September 24 - 30. Contest & Prize Details: http://www.riffworld.com/riffrumble/rr12

First Prize (Contestants Choice Category): Up to 4 musicians who use RiffWorks to create or collaborate on the song that wins first prize will each receive an IK Multimedia Total Guitar & Bass Gear Bundle download (AmpliTube 2, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix, AmpliTube Metal, AmpliTube X-Gear, and Ampeg SVX). “Powered by AmpliTube” product information: http://www.amplitube.com

Second Prize (Public Vote Category): Up to 4 musicians who use RiffWorks to create or collaborate on the song that wins second prize will each receive 3 RiffWorks InstantDrummer Sessions by Drummerheads. Drummerheads product information: http://www.drummerheads.com

About RiffWorks
RiffRumble 12 celebrates the launch of RiffWorks T4, a free edition of RiffWorks guitar recording and online collaboration software. With RiffWorks T4 musicians can record ideas at the moment of inspiration, create complete songs with drums and effects, collaborate online with musicians worldwide, cast tunes to the RiffWorld.com online community, and compete in song contests for free. RiffWorks T4 includes an interactive “Quick Start” tutorial (translated into many languages) to help guitar players start recording ideas and complete songs immediately. Upgrade to RiffWorks Standard for 24 tracks plus drums, REX, ReWire, 9 InstantDrummer session loops, AmpliTube 2 Live and more. http://www.riffworks.com/T4

About RiffRumble
RiffRumble song contests are hosted by Sonoma Wire Works and sponsored by the hottest music industry companies. The first nine RiffRumbles were for solo songwriters, and now online collaboration song contests occur as well. Sponsors for past RiffRumbles have included Line 6, IK Multimedia, Taylor Guitars, Recording Magazine, and more. Recent prizes include a Taylor SolidBody Electric Guitar, an IK Multimedia StompIO and a Line 6 Variax Guitar.

About Sonoma Wire Works
Incorporated in 2003, Sonoma Wire Works develops high-quality, innovative products and services that help musicians enjoy playing, recording and sharing music. Headquartered in Los Altos, California, Sonoma Wire Works’ development group has more than 25 years of audio engineering experience. Sonoma Wire Works products have received multiple editorial awards for performance and innovation, including a NAMM 08 Best in Show Trendsetter Award.

London, UK — Kerchoonz, the UK-based social networking site that pays musicians for the use of their music and videos, announced today that they will be the first site to use age certification and rating system for videos content streamed on the site.

The announcement conforms with recommendations made last month by Parliament’s Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. The panel determined that videos posted on sharing sites like YouTube should carry age certificates and those containing adult content or violence should be subject to TV-style ratings commonly used today to safeguard children.

“We want to comply as much as possible with the recommendations of policy makers while not stifling the free speech of our registered content creators,” noted Christian Ulf Hansen, former Director of Writer / Publisher Relations BMI Europe. “Unlike sites like YouTube which simply use an adult block, we’ve developed a complex rating system that protects youngsters from unsuitable content while providing conditional access to our registered users.”

Although pornographic material will be barred from the Kerchoonz site, videos uploaded to the site will be subject to a rating system based on nudity, violence or explicit language. The system includes ‘universal’, over-15 or over-18 ratings.

In meeting the panels recommendations, Kerchoonz’ rating system will block adult content from public viewing on the site prior to 9:00 PM. In addition, content rated “15″ and “18″ will only be accessible to logged-in adult users. The rating system will operate using Geo IP address location technology that recognizes time differences world-wide by logging the IP location of the user.

Slated for launch this month and backed by a $490,000 investment from the Scottish Co-investment Fund, social media platform Kerchoonz lets registered artists and songwriters share their music and videos with fans while getting paid for every stream and download.

Fans, musicians and music industry professionals are invited to sign up in this pre-beta stage at http://www.kerchoonz.com

The JUNE edition of Bandit has just been published to my strictly limited number of subscribers world-wide.

Another brand new batch of world-wide labels, publishers, managers, producers, etc all eager to get involved with new music and artists. This month we have a top producer looking for a female singer for a major label project, a studio based label looking for a band that plays “real” music, more labels looking to sign acts in the PUNK, ROCK, SOUL, DANCE, POP and HIP HOP areas and some managers and publishers looking to discover brand new talent - and more, All kinds of stuff!!

Look through this latest issue by clicking through to
http://www.banditnewsletter.com
and see all those people in there who want to review your type of music. Send them your demo and who knows, they may be knocked out by it!

Get to the front of the queue by starting to proactively interact with people ready to invest in you!

Try Bandit’s great service for just $2 / 1 ukp and get the current JUNE issue, the JULY issue, the 3 latest back issues, PLUS 2 FREE REPORTS - “The Bandit Guide to sending demos” AND ” How to get noticed by the Music Business”, by signing up for the intro subscription deal at

http://www.banditnewsletter.com

If you agree that Bandit will bring you solid, useful, up to the minute information for you to use to get your music heard by the right people, do nothing more and enjoy your monthly issues,
If not just cancel in the next 30 days and pay nothing more!!

Regards
John Waterman Editor

MusicDish, Inside the Music Business (sm) and Serchlite Music have announced the Music Consulting & Marketing Collective (MCMC) - a full marketing and promotional service providing a new arsenal of cutting-edge offerings and avenues for indie artists looking to break into the music industry.

MCMC is designed to offer a new voice for emerging artists seeking access by developing a substantial suite of hands-on consulting and content-based marketing products and services. Each partnering company will bring their respective specializations under the joint venture, providing an unparalleled foundation of more than 40 years of music industry experience.

“While many labels and artists often lack the supporting marketing and on-hand expertise necessary to succeed in one of the most competitive music markets in the world,” noted MusicDish president Eric de Fontenay. “The combined assets being assembled through MCMC provide a comprehensive solution for international artists by tapping into a network of leading music industry professionals as well as offering a comprehensive marketing package.”

MCMC will integrate all its collective resources to provide access to leading industry professionals, including attorneys, producers, A&R reps, distributors as well as cutting edge marketing - exposing the artist to an international base of industry power players and music fans. On the marketing side of the equation, MCMC will combine promotional opportunities through mobile, online, video, television and radio to impact its clients’ careers in a tangible, measurable way.

“With our collective reach, relationships, experience and desire to help the next generation of musicians, I believe MCMC will quickly become the ‘go to’ place for artists who are committed to getting to that next level because our focus is about providing tangible, usable feedback along with result-driven marketing, says Eric Kline, producer/director and founder of the Inside the Music Business brand of products and services. “I’m really excited about joining forces with Serchlite Music and the Music Dish Network, two companies that I have tremendous respect for and who continually make things happen for artists - a tall order in today’s changing music business climate.”

“The Music Consulting and Marketing Collective is a new and exciting venture for Serchlite and I share a vision of representing and connecting with the independent artist, the hip-hop culture and the community in an honest and responsible way,” says CC Carnie. “This partnership with Inside the Music Business and Music Dish is a natural business pairing. I look forward to sharing ideas and breaking new ground once again in a new area. We are not looking to just have another marketing company, we are looking to perfect our relationship with indie artist and the music consumer.”

For more info please visit http://www.MusicDish.net and visit the artist services section.

About MusicDish
MusicDish Network is the artist development department of MusicDish LLC, a leading music magazine publisher and marketing firm. Launched in 2001 as a marketing service for independent artists, MusicDish Network has grown into a complete artist development program, leveraging brand development, saturated and relationship marketing, digital distribution, event planning and industry outreach to support emerging artists’ and bands’ careers. MusicDish has supported the careers of hundreds of independent artists as well as emerging music labels and companies.
http://www.musicdish.net

About Inside the Music Business
First created and used in 1999, Inside the Music Business is a multi-platform concept created by Producer - Director Eric Kline (who served as Sr. Producer at the Box Music Network through the 1990’s). The company and brand provides unique opportunity and ‘tools for success’ for aspiring unsigned artists and music industry “buffs” while also delivering the core music consumer directly to record retail, local radio and to major recording artists and labels. These include a book 2 CD set, music business consulting, a multi-disc DVD set and forthcoming syndicated radio programming.
http://www.insidethemusicbusiness.com

About Serchlite Music
Serchlite Music was founded in 1999 by Hip Hop mogul and visionary MC Serch to maximize the numerous business and creative opportunities he perceived within the entertainment industry. In 2003, CC Carnie, was brought in as partner and President and now runs its day to day operations.

From his roots in music - MC Serch helped to bring hip-hop into the cultural mainstream through his founding of the legendary Hip-Hop group 3rd Bass. From here he diversified his interests into publishing, executive producing, fashion, film, and most recently, television. Serchlite Music’s success rests on its unique ability to identify, interpret and develop provocative synergistic content. Among its flagship businesses is its marketing and promotion arm which has achieved great success over the past 10 years working with over 120 artists, both @ major labels as well as independents. Serchlite Music also pursues involvement with charitable organizations like VH1’s Save the Music, The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and The Hip Hop Summit Action Network, which all work to empower and enlighten urban youth across the country.
http://www.serchlitemusic.com

Disc Makers’ premier showcase, with over $250,000 in cash & prizes, gives independent artists the opportunity to play for top industry professionals in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta

PENNSAUKEN, NJ - Disc Makers, the nation’s leading independent CD manufacturer, is kicking off their 13th annual Independent Music World Series (IMWS), the biggest installment yet of the nation’s longest running and most successful indie music showcase series. Over 5,000 bands are expected to enter the 2008 IMWS, and Disc Makers has sweetened this year’s pot by elevating the total prize package to over $250,000 in cash and prizes.
http://www.discmakers.com/imws

The IMWS consists of four showcase events in four major U.S cities (2008 cities include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta). Each regional event features six acts selected as finalists by the editors of Billboard Magazine. The six finalists in each showcase compete for the grand prize in front of music industry professionals at some of the hottest live music venues in America, such as the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles and Crash Mansion in New York.

“The Independent Music World Series is all about helping artists make it on their own,” commented Tony van Veen, President of Disc Makers. “We’re looking for the best original artists in the U.S. Unlike other events that reward just a great voice or a good song, the IMWS is about the whole package: originality, great songwriting, and the artist’s on-stage performance. Between the opportunity to network and be noticed by industry insiders and win enough gear to outfit their own home studio, the showcase slots at the IMWS offer independent artists’ careers a shot in the arm like no other opportunity today.”

The four regional IMWS winners will claim a grand prize package worth over $50,000 that includes world-class gear from leading manufacturers, recording time in select studios, and cash. Furthermore, each act chosen to perform at the four showcases (24 acts total) will receive $1,000 in cash and gear from selected sponsors.

This year’s grand prize package features everything independent musicians need for a career boost including a complete CD manufacturing package, post-production sweetening, and promotional posters and T-shirts from Disc Makers, a Digital Studio Workstation from Zoom Audio, studio recording software from Cakewalk, professional Shure microphones, Ibanez guitars and basses, a drum kit from Tama, Electric Guitar and Electric Bass Strings from Dean Markley, Remo drumheads, a Sabian cymbal package, and a year-long membership to TAXI. Additional event partners include Samson Audio, Sonicbids, Billboard, Electronic Musician, Remix and Drum! magazine.

The IMWS is open to all musicians not currently signed to a major record label. All styles and genres of music are welcome. Past winning genres and their winners include: Singer Songwriter (Amber deLaurentis, Chinua Hawk), Hard Rock (Dirty Power), Punk/Pop (Bang Sugar Bang), Pop Rock (Plain Jane Automobile, Rich Creamy Paint), Hip Hop (The Urban Sophisticates, BurnDown All-Stars, Dura Hale), Electronic Pop Rock (Brice Woodall), Jazz (Orbert Davis), Bluegrass Rock (Rose’s Pawn Shop), Rock (Shipwreck Union), Salsa (Bio Ritmo), Country/American (Deadman), Jam (Gamble Brothers Band).

Registration is now open for this year’s showcase series at http://www.discmakers.com/imws

Submissions must be postmarked by May 14th, 2008. For more information, please contact Jessica Darrican at jessicadarrican@maxborgesagency.com or 305-576-1171 X16.

VmusicBook is an e-book that was compiled for those who wish to set up and successfully run their independent music company. It is designed for unsigned artists and musicians, label owners, music producers, songwriters, engineers and many more!

Those who want instant access to 100s of music industry contacts, a real business plan that they can just fill in, real music contracts, a list of funding contacts, secret radio promotion method and so much more!

If you write songs you could use this source to pitch your work to the urban A&R’s at publishers like Universal, EMI, SonyBMG, Warner Music Group or better still use our sample letter’s and mail out techniques to contact and pitch to Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, SugaBabes, Amy Winehouse, Mary J Blige, Lilly Allen, Mariah Carey, Usher plus hundreds more.

Visit http://www.vmusicbook.com today! To order your copy now!

Schmalenberger, herself a survivor of breast cancer who has struggled with chronic pain from multiple surgeries, has assembled an investigative team of researchers to conduct this study, which features a web-based survey that musicians who have had completed their breast cancer treatment can take online. Toward that end, she invites all musicians who have had breast cancer to enroll in the study at the web address, and she invites anyone who knows such a “survivor” to encourage them to enroll in the study. Anonymity will be guaranteed, and no names will be recorded.

Schmalenberger anticipates that the findings from this study will provide a solid basis for further examination of the impact of breast cancer not only on musicians, but also on those in other fields where physical fitness, strength, and stamina are vital to occupational and general well-being.

For more information, you may contact Schmalenberger at scschmalenbe@stthomas.edu

http://www.musiciansurvivor.org

Due to issues with distance and relocation, differences in agendas, and other conflicts. It was decided that it was in the best interest of the band that Juliana should pursue her own passions and music career in Brazil, while Dremora continues on with a new female soprano voice local to Los Angeles, California.

One of the goals of Dremora in 2008 is to start doing live shows, and to seek a contract with a label. It was felt that the aforementioned conflicts would not be resolved with any amount of effort, making these goals impossible to attain. All the best wishes goes to Juliana in her future pursuits and dreams.

The band is currently holding live auditions for a female soprano vocalist / singer that can perform equally well live and in the studio the material from our Martyrs CD, is outgoing, and can front the band with a good stage presence. We will make a separate announcement later about accepting live auditions to fill out the remaining positions within the band.

Please sign up for our Newsletter or MySpace blog to be informed immediately of any band announcements. Dremora Website

GetYourGrooveOn is an interactive music community that allows users to share lyrics and songs. Geared towards songwriters, the site includes tools to share songs, review songs, and organize a private vault of your collection. Writers will also be able to time stamp their songs to document their creation date and ensure the writer’s copyright.

Owner of StreetBee, Rainer Fraenkel, is excited for the new launch and says, “This acquisition is part of an ongoing strategy for StreetBee to create a full circle entertainment network. With the addition of GetYouGrooveOn.com/JamJunky.com, Kriselen.com and BandNation.com, we now have a global music/entertainment community.”

GetYourGrooveOn/JamJunky Developer James Thomas has told press, “I think this acquisition benefits StreetBee.com/BandNation.com tremendously, as it fills a niche in a demographic they’re already involved in. From my perspective, the timing and the price were right. I wish StreetBee/BandNation continued success with GetYourGrooveOn and the rest of their product line.”

“GetYourGrooveOn” beta is now live and for a limited time users are able use the service as much as they would like for free during the beta period. What are you waiting for? Get Groovin’!

GetYourGrooveOn.com