Vanessa- Mae thanks Thai Government

Mae is hoping to gain public support for ending animal testing in Thailand. The Cruelty Free International Ambassador, is in the country to visit family and the Thai olympic Committee.

In April this year, Cruelty Free International received information that the Ministry of Public in Thailand was in the process of reviewing their process of non animal safety testing for cosmetics.

The star is hoping to use her profile to place a spotlight on the issue and to encourage decision makers to stop animal testing.

Vanessa-Mae says: “I am proud of my Thai heritage and the family roots I have in this country, so I am very encouraged to hear from Cruelty Free International that the Thai government has in principle accepted a phase-out of animal testing for cosmetics. I know that many people in Thailand are eager and impatient to hear of progress towards implementing this. It is now time for Thailand to demonstrate to the world that it is a modern, forward-thinking nation and to join the increasing number of compassionate countries around the globe showing their commitment to ending the horrific and unnecessary practice of animal testing for cosmetics.”

The EU banned animal testing for cosmetics in 2013. The Campaign to stop animal testing has been led by Cruelty Free International, including in Thailand. The organization has funded a project in Vietnam to teach scientist about alternative methods of testing. The organization has also released a report in 2014, which provided many alternatives to animal testing.

Kesha fans stage a sony protest

Kesha thanked her fans for protesting outside Sony Music New York. The star’s fans were protesting after she lost her bid to terminate her record contract.

The six album deal in her contract forces her to work with her producer Dr. Luke. Kesha stated that the producer sexually and emotionally abused her.

Her protesting fans held signs that read “Dr. Luke is really whack, Kesha needs her freedom back!”

One of her 19 year old fans stated “This is very emotional for us, To see Kesha go through this is heartbreaking. This will keep going on until Kesha is free.”

The singer legally requested to be released from the contract but the judge rejected the request.

Her Lawyer, Mark Geragos, thanked her supporters on twitter and shared a short video of the star.

The footage was captioned “A special thanks to everyone who has had her back,”

The star expressed her gratitude to fans on Facebook by saying “This case has never been about a renegotiation of my record contract – it was never about getting a bigger, or a better deal,” she wrote. “This is about being free from my abuser. All I ever wanted was to be able to make music without being afraid, scared, or abused.

“I think about young girls today – I don’t want my future daughter – or your daughter – or any person to be afraid that they will be punished if they speak out about being abused, especially if their abuser is in a position of power,” she added.

Improve Recorded Sound Quality with Acoustical Foam

Whether recording music, instruments or voice, it is common knowledge that any room being used to record audio should have some level of sound absorbing material installed so that it sounds as professional as possible.

When starting a project of this nature, a common mistake is to try to look for “sound proofing foam”, when what you really want is acoustic foam. Sound proofing a room will diminish noise pollution that is entering or leaving the room, and while it is definitely something worthwhile to look in to, it is another project entirely. Acoustic foam does not prevent sound from entering or leaving the room, it instead helps to nullify echoes and reverberation, allowing for recordings to be much cleaner sounding.

To accomplish this, you will need to cover some of your wall space with acoustic foam panels. The exact percentage of your wall that should be covered depends on what you’re doing. For example, if you’re recording a rock band you will need more coverage than if you’re just singing softly into a microphone. Typically, your coverage needed will fall between 25% and 75%.

The advantage should be clear as soon as you hear the recording for yourself. You’ll still need to perform some basic audio cleanup, and adjust levels to remove unwanted sounds, but the result should be a much clearer focus on whatever sound is being recorded. For best results, try recording each instrument in its own session. This allows you to have full masters of every track, combining them together for perfect results.

Bio: The Foam Factory, Inc. is the largest provider of foam and foam accessories in North America.

Miley: cast in a TV series

Miley Cyrus 23, announced that she will be working with Woody Allen and the comic performer/ writer Elaine May in a show based in the 60’s, which will air on Amazon Prime.

Miley who recently starred in the Bill Murray’s Netflix special – A Very Merry christmas said that she was “stoked” to be hired for the show.

Roy Price, Amazon Studios Head said in a press statement “Woody Allen is a visionary creator who has made some of the greatest films of all-time, and it’s an honour to be working with him on his first television series,”

“I don’t know how I got into this,” Allen said. “I have no ideas and I’m not sure where to begin. My guess is that Roy Price will regret this”

Miley who has previous acting experience, rose to fame in the Disney Channel’s TV show Hannah Montana, where she played a role of a pop star who led a secret double life.

The stars fans will be surprised by the news, since she admitted in 2013 in a MTV documentary; “The Movement” that “”I did one movie and I came back and said, ‘I’m never doing that again. I’m going to do music for the rest of my life.'” She also went on to say in German Vogue that “I’m just not passionate about acting, because I don’t like to pretend to be somebody I’m actually not,…Why should I put on strange characters? I prefer to show my true colours as the real Miley Cyrus”.

Five ways to make a low budget music video

A good music video can really help you get more gigs, engage with your target audiences and make your music a lot more popular. The tips below will assist you in creating a good music video without breaking the bank.

  1. Two cameras are a must – If you’re on a budget opt for two cheap cameras, but this does mean that you will have to shoot in lesser quality. This is not always a bad thing, since once your video is uploaded it would have to be compressed. The great thing about using multiple cameras, is the ability to shoot different angles and have a backup recording just in case you loose footage.
  1. Lighting – Good lighting is vital, since video generally records darker than real life. If the video is shot outside during the day, choose a clear sunny day. If you are shooting at night, include a few extra lights if lighting is dim.
  2. Audio quality – Audio quality is needed for a successful music video. If you can’t afford buying good quality mics, you can rent them for a fraction of the cost. Stay clear of built in camera mics, since the audio tends to be echo-y.
  1. Editing – Basic editing software is sufficient and available for Mac (iMovie) and PC (Movie Maker). If you are unsure on how to use such software, online video tutorials are freely available.
  1. Resize your video – Once you have created your video, you may find that the file size is rather large. Compress them to a image size and quality you think is acceptable. The software mentioned above, will guide you on the quality suitable for web or DVD.

 

 

5 road safety tips for musicians on tour

Making sure you arrive safely from one gig to the next is as important as giving your fans your best performance. In order to reach your destination on time and safely, follow the tips below;

colormusic2

  1. Check your vehicle- Gigs can be a fair distance from one another, to ensure that you make your gigs on time, check your vehicle’s fluids, tires (tire pressure and ball joints), lights and windscreen wipers.
  2. Pack your equipment safely- Make sure all your equipment is safely packed at the back of your vehicle. Place the heavier objects at the bottom with the lighter ones on top. Secure your equipment with cables, to ensure that they stay in place in the event of an impact.
  3. Be cautious- Make sure you tailor your driving according to your weather conditions. This means that if you are experiencing very bad weather, stop your vehicle in a safe well lit area, until the weather clears. At least 10 hours prior to driving, make sure your driver is clear of any alcohol or drugs. Designate one of your band members to sit next to the driver to assist him/ her with the GPS and to make sure the driver does not fall asleep.
  4. Take your time- Ensure that you have sufficient time to reach a gig. If possible make sure that on long drives your band can get a few hours rest at a motel. Always designate at least 2 drivers for long drives and alternate.
  5. Be prepared for emergencies – Carry a first aid box, battery cables, a flashlight, flares, warm clothing and a cell phone battery charger.

5 branding tips for musicians

The life of a musician can be a difficult one, with booking gigs, performing and making sure you’re making ends meet. Branding is one of the most important elements of a musician’s success, and one that is often missed or approached wrongly. Brand yourself better with the following tips;

colormusic1Create an image

Make sure you have a clear idea of what type of image you want the public to perceive you as. Understand your personality, your music and ensure you have room to expand and grow within your chosen image.

Do your research

Look for bands and musicians that you relate to as an artist. Research on how they communicate with their fan base.

Networking

Make sure the venues and people you associate with represent the image you want to create.

Social Media

When creating your brand and opening up to the public via social media, be cautious. Remember that once you post a picture or your views online, although you can delete it, it would have been viewed by your fan base and most often reposted. Therefore, make sure your posts represent you and your brand. If you are unsure of how your fan base would react to a post, don’t post it.

It’s important to make sure you understand that creating your own brand as a musician takes time, effort and many years of work. This is how all great artists have come to where they are today. So till then be patient, live modestly and work hard.

Surprise: Radio Formats Play a Crucial Role in Advertisement

Radio advertisements are becoming craftier and more statistic-based than ever before.

Radio continues to be relevant to advertisers all over the United States. What may seem surprising to many is that rather than decreasing, radio formats have been growing at a strikingly high rate, and have become more segmented throughout the years.

“Part of the love affair with the automobile is the enduring strength of their relationship with radio”, says Steve Doctrow, the Executive Vice President at Rogers & Cowan. “44% of all radio listening takes place in the car, where terrestrial radio has an 80% share.”

Because the only major medium available on the road is through digital music software or by radio, marketers have more choices than ever before when deciding how to specifically create their advertisement. Because of the wide range of radio formats and the huge variety of listeners, determining a focal point in regards to demographics is a key aspect to a successful radio advertisement.

Cater to the Public’s Interests

Some of the top radio formats that are on the airwaves today include: news/talk radio, talk radio, country, and adult contemporary. Just from a glance you probably notice that the demographics most likely range.

Advertisements tend to cater to a specified crowd, which is part of what builds on their public awareness. For example, a home health care center is less likely to advertise on a station that plays music fit for the younger generation. It’s a hit or miss that’s generally on the losing side. On the other hand, incorporating situational references that these younger generations can relate to makes the advertisement more relevant. An example would be a home health care center creating an ad that targets the youth to volunteer at their facilities.

3 Music Marketing Tips for the Indie Musician

Given the growing the digital landscape, musicians can learn more about various social media distribution channels and boost their career as a result.

Even if you can’t make it to workshops and panels that are available especially for indie musicians, the internet can be a resource to help you get started too.

Here are 3 music marketing tips for the indie musician:

1: Keep something ready to give

No matter how small or insignificant it is, make sure you have something to give. This could be a business card, T-shirts or even CDs for that matter. Also, ensure that it is something that someone remembers you for. It could even be something as weird as sunglasses which doesn’t matter because it tends to be a popular giveaway these days.

colorfastmusic2 2: Be nimble and flexible

It’s very important to be flexible. Something will go wrong. You have to be flexible and nimble in order to roll with the punches. For example, your album might be due to be released but there will be some issues that will cause a delay. Blowing your top over it will not help. Instead, try and put a positive spin to it as this will avoid any controversy or won’t put people off.

3: Don’t neglect the back catalog

In the old music industry, musicians only had a limited time to do what they could to market their songs, thanks to a limited self life. This is gone for good. There have been cases when old songs have received the attention they deserve long after they’ve been forgotten. So, your back catalog is more of an asset than you can imagine. It’s always going to be new to someone. Just don’t neglect it.

4 Tips to Consider When Flying With Your Instrument

The days when a musician could carry his instrument as cabin luggage are gone. You have to check it in at the gate. Unfortunately, airlines have policies that prevent musicians from traveling with their instrument.

Here are 4 tips when flying with your instrument:

1: Know your rights

As of March 2015, musicians are allowed to carry small instruments onboard if there is storage space available. These instruments include violins, guitars, saxophones etc. So, according to these new regulations, your instrument is now considered as normal carry-on luggage.

2: Think about booking an extra seat

You can book another seat as “seat baggage”. Most airlines will accept large instruments like cellos or double basses. In fact, doing so will prevent the payment of airport fees etc. This is truly worth considering if you are booking ahead of time.

colorfastmusic13: Pick the toughest case possible

One reason why airlines do not allow instrument as cabin luggage is because the cases might be bulky. You can consider purchasing compact cases that a number of companies have on offer. One recommendation is to not use a soft gig bag because if they do choose to check it in, your instrument will not survive the trip.

4: Avoid traveling with other musicians if you can help it

It’s not a good idea to travel with other musicians as this will draw attention to the group. Try and separate yourself from the group if you can. Also, remember that if you are traveling during the holidays, airline personnel will be stressed and so they can be less lenient than they will be otherwise.