12.8.11

Indie Dispatches: Will the Grammys see an indie upset repeat? + more…

Bon Iver gets multiple Grammy nominations including Best New Artist

Grammy schmammy.  In reality, the indie world doesn’t care as much as most of the music business about the yearly Great Grammy Circus, viewing them more as a self-serving and back-slapping exercise by the major labels.  Though that doesn’t stop a wry, mocking grin appearing when a number of independent acts end up being nominated in some of the major categories.  And even more so, like the 2011 awards, when a certain set of Canadians stole away with the Album of the Year prize, prompting more than one ‘Who is Arcade Fire?’ comment.  And while it may be a long shot, with the Adele juggernaut holding pole position, who knows if next year we might be hearing a chorus of ‘Who is Bon Iver?’  In fact, those rumblings have already begun, with Justin Vernon et al smashing the party with four nominations, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year (no, we don’t really know what the difference is either…) and Best New Artist. Mind you, considering the album almost topped the charts the week of release, proving that independent doesn’t necessarily imply marginal any more, there could be seen an element of logic to the nominations.  So kudos to Jagjaguwar, who likely stumbled into their gate-crashing, and also a tip of the cap to Glassnote, a label so ubiquitous with their success and sales levels that you almost forget they’re an independent, for clutching a couple of nominations for Mumford and Sons.  Further afield in those infinitely less sexy categories, Best Folk Album was littered with indies, including Sub Pop’s Fleet Foxes, for their sophomore album Helplessness Blues, along with The Civil Wars, Gillian Welch (Acony) and Steve Earle (New West). Wilco’s latest through dBpm/Anti popped up in the Best Rock Album finalists, and of course there were the Best Alternative Album ratings, that garnered a nominations for My Morning Jacket’s Circuital, along with the latest from Radiohead and the omnipresent Bon Iver… In other news, it seems a few weeks back we somehow we missed the fact ATO Records won the derby to sign hotly-tipped southerners Alabama Shakes.  For a label that was rumored to be winding down not all that long ago, they seem to have been busier of late, also signing the highly rated singer songwriter Caitlin Rose over the summer.  Both artists look to have their debut releases for the label due in the first half of 2012.  And another album due in the early part of next year that had the internet all abuzz this week, is the new solo record from former Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan.  After what has seemed like years in limbo, involved with various collaborations (Isobel Campbell, Soulsavers, etc) and appearing as a guest vocalist on a slew of other records (Queens of the Stone Age, etc), the info about Blues Funeral, due through 4AD on February 6, was news for rejoicing.  In typical Lanegan fashion, the first track released as a free download from the album is entitled “The Gravediggers Song”.
- Cool Hand Luke

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02.10.11

Industry Execs Host Annual Friends ‘N’ Family Party

For those gearing up for the Grammys this weekend, lots of industry folks will be attending the 14th annual Friends ‘N’ Family pre-Grammy event founded by AAM, which takes place at the Parmount Studios lot this Friday and salutes the nominees and the folks who make it possible (i.e. the guy behind the guy behind the guy). Tomorrow night’s FNF festivities will include performances from Tinie Tempah, Oh Land, Kid Sister, Priscilla Renea along with a host of DJ sets. The John Lennon Tour Bus will also be on the lot, and the night benefits Rock The Vote, as the charity sponsor for the 2nd year in a row. We’ll see you there…

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02.5.10

In Case You Missed It: Reading Recap

Interactive Grammy Show Sees Big Ratings

The 52nd annual Grammy Awards show on Sunday night reached its highest ratings since 2004, surely do in part to the show being more interactive than ever before thanks to staff and attendees use of Twitter, Facebook and other crowdsourcing features setup for fans… Terra Firma is back in the news and reportedly looking for its investors to pump additional millions into troubled EMI… In a recent LA Times Q&A with Tim Leiweke, the AEG chief executive  discusses how he sees a place for AEG to compete in the concert business even with the newly approved Ticketmaster – Live Nation merger…  And a new Billboard analysis looks at the potential benefits for ISP companies if they were to offer a music service to customers.

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12.8.09

Take Notice: Oren Lavie

Oren Lavie's "Her Morning Elegance" Nominated for Best Short Form Video

The nominees for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards were announced last week.  Typically this occasion holds about as much significance to us as the seasonal return of McDonald’s McRib (and yes, it’s back), however buried amongst the many Gaga’s and Swift’s this year was a nomination that caught our attention.  The video for Oren Lavie’s song “Her Morning Elegance,” is nominated in the Best Short Form Music Video category.  The video has already received over 9 million views on YouTube, no SuBo numbers but damn impressive, and the song was used in a Chevy truck ad-campaign earlier this year.  Lavie also won this year’s ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award. Labels and pubcos are sure to take note, particularly as we hear that he is getting back the masters for his full-length The Opposite Side of the Sea. The album was originally self-released earlier this year in conjunction with Chris Douridas via A Quarter Past Wonderful, before being licensed by a now moribund ADA-distributed virtual label. Checkout the video for “Her Morning Elegance” HERE

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