Musicians issues: Show Me The Money! – The Nuts And Bolts of Digital Royalties

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi
Last week I attended the APAP (Association of Performing Arts Presenters) WORLD MUSIC PRE-CONFERENCE 2013, where many concert presenters and festivals book much of their upcoming year.  Rock Paper Scissors, INC.’s  founder Dmitri Vietze put together a two-day world music pre-conference from Thursday to Friday as part of the APAP conference.

I attended only the Thursday panels (State of the Recording Industry and Technology Tools for Artists, Labels, and Concert Presenters) because they were related to musician issues. I wanted to find out what’s working and and what’s next in the music business. Honestly there wasn’t anything new the panelists could tell me. They just confirmed me that all the things I have done in NY in the last 5 years were correct or “standard procedures”. At the end all panelists agreed that musicians have to take care of their own businesses: be their own managers, publicists, labels and distributors. They have to learn very fast how Internet technology works and how to use it properly. Why? Because the ultimate goal for any musician is to have a fan base. Without fans nothing can happen or work, whatever you try to do. It doesn’t matter how many fans you got. One fan is already enough for the start, but the number must grow gradually.

Speaking of myself, as you already know, I joined the NY City musicians’ union Local 802 last year to find out what they “know” about music business and musician rights. Also to find out how I can apply their knowledge into my musician life. For this reason I decided to use DooBeeDoo as a platform to share my “new” knowledge with all music lovers and musicians around me.

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DooBeeDoo recommendation to foreign musicians: APPLY FOR ONEBEAT September/October 2013 program!

OneBeat_LOGO_hannah1Applications deadline:  January 21, 2013!!

OneBeat is a music residency and tour program that brings together innovative young musicians (ages 19-35) from around the world to collaboratively create and perform new music, and develop ways music can make a positive impact on our communities. Their mission is to create a space for collaboration across cultural divides, so we invite musicians from all backgrounds: hip-hop, traditional, experimental, electronic, jazz, classical, sound and multimedia art, and more. Learn more at 1beat.org

Previvous post by DooBeeDooBeeDoo, 25.09.2012: OneBeat: A Mobile Cross-Cultural Exploration in Sonic Diplomacy bringing 32 musicians from 21 countries to US! Continue reading →

Recommended event: DRUMS FOR WARREN! A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR WARREN SMITH – helping Warren to rebuild the priceless percussion collection lost to Hurricane Sandy

Date: Sunday, January 20, 2013
Time: 2PM – 9PM
Venue: The Brecht Forum (451 West Street, New York)
Admission: $15. general/ $10. For seniors and students
Organizers: John Pietaro and Ras Moshe; presented by DISSIDENT ARTS & THE BRECHT FORUM

For more info see www.DissidentArts.com

Jazz, New Music and Free Improv musicians perform in a special fundraiser to help beloved percussionist, composer, teacher Warren Smith rebuild his priceless percussion collection lost to Hurricane Sandy’s flooding. Those instruments, obtained over decades of touring, include mallet instruments, numerous drums, timpani, a celeste and unique, hand-made percussives from around the world.

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Event Recommendation: SANGEET UTSAV – INDIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL @ Cornelia Street Cafe (NY)

In January 2011, South Indian Classical music landed at Cornelia Street Cafe with a new series called Carnatic Sundays. Now, its second mini-festival will explore the music’s tradition and its possibilities. At Sangeet Utsav, a mix of “kutcheri” style concert & innovative projects grounded in Carnatic music will take stage at the cafe. Featuring Kiran Ahluwalia, Roopa Mahadevan, and the Arun Ramamurthy Trio.

Venue: Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street (btwn Bleeker & W.4th), New York, NY 10014
Ticket: $10
Date: Tuesday, January 15th, 2013
(doors at 8:30pm)

The ART will be joined by very special guest Marc Cary. Hailed by Down Beat as one of the most, “multi- dimensional keyboard players on the scene today,” whose music reveals those multi-dimensions in sensual living color, Marc Cary’s continual search for his musical identity has brought him to all corners of the earth, quenching his thirst to bring forth indigenous musics in all of their forms. A rare musician, Cary uses his understanding of the Indian raga system to create profound soundscapes which are accessible to all. Special guest: Trina Basu (ex TARANA).

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Is Salif really retiring soon, although his new CD “Talé” just came out?!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

I just found out that my friend and music colleague Salif Keita released a new album Talé on Universal Rec.  Recently he was interviewed on Mali TV “Droit Libre”, in which he expressed his anger and disgust of the Malian government how they run the country. He also can’t accept the fact that musicians aren’t respected in Mali. They can’t live from their music and are exploited by the black market. Because of being mad at the political situation in his country and the miserable living conditions of musicians in Mali, he decided to retire from the music business! He wants to go back to his village and work their as a farmer. But before his retirement he still wants to play a couple of concerts.

If you ask me whether I can’t believe him. My answer is NO. I think he didn’t mean that. Becoming a farmer? That’s rediculous. I don’t want him to do something he can’t do. If he cares for his people and his country his job is to do his part as a musician to clean up the mess in his country. I’m very sure that his fans need him now more than ever. Now is the time that he shows what he stands for. He became a great musician and also rich because of their love and support. There was a time that he wanted to become a senator because he believed that he could become a positive force in the Malian political scene. I played my sax for him because I believed in him as a responsible man. A man who cares about his band, family and country. No, no and another no…I just hope that he has already changed his mind and talks about continuing playing. Because if he retires I wouldn’t try to see him again and play music in his village.

The interview (in French)

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