Artist: The Spiders
Title: Election Day
Label: Tunecore Rec
Genre: Alternative/Old School Rock
DooBeeDoo recommends an extremely timely new single entitled “Election Day” from New Jersey ‘alt rock everymen’ power trio The Spiders. They hope that the release of this socially conscious and demanding single, can strike a nerve in all Americans, voters, musicians, and fans alike.
Text by Dawoud Kringle
Musicians in the USA have often been the victim of political candidates appropriating their music for the purpose of campaigning and propaganda. This is always done without the artist’s permission.
Text by Dawoud Kringle
Photos and video by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi
One would think that freelance work is lucrative. On paper, in theory, this is true. The reality, however, is very different. The sad fact is that 1.3 million freelancers in New York city lost an average of $6,000 a year to nonpayment. The reason for this is simple. There is no legal protection for freelancers. If a freelance worker is hired for a job, often he / she is not paid. They may be underpaid, paid late, or never paid at all. If they sue the company, there is no legal framework clearly defining freelancers’ rights in the way a regular W2 employee’s rights are protected. Even if they do win the case, freelancers have no way to actually collect what they’re owed. To add insult to injury, freelancers who dare to challenge having their rightfully earned wages stolen are often blacklisted. The situation is, quite simply, intolerable.
NYC Council’s Committee on Consumer Affairs Holds Hearing on Freelance Isn’t Free Act; Graphic Artists, Writers, Domestic Workers and more Rally at City Hall in Support of Bill
1.3 Million Freelancers in NYC; Average Lost to Nonpayment Epidemic: $5,968 / year
WHAT: At press conference before NYC Council’s Consumer Affairs Committee hearing, gig workers rally behind bill to stop NYC’s nonpayment epidemic, pass “Freelance Isn’t Free” Act.
Text by Dawoud Kringle
On Monday, 1/25/16, I attended the second public meeting of Musicians for Musicians (MFM). The regular DBDBD reader will recall my article about the first meeting wherein I mentioned that, as a milestone in the fledgling organization’s humble beginning, it was a successful first step. Now, MFM takes its second step.
MFM founder and president Sohrab Saadat Ladjavardi held court once again for the second meeting. The tradition of a musical interlude, started by Saadat at the first meeting, was led by Zikrayat leader Sami Abu Shumays. He led the participants in a vocal call and response that allowed the participants to experience firsthand the nuances of maqam based melodies.
