More bands embrace web technology, reward fans, and entice new ones

SOURCE: Mashable.com

New Pennywise Album is Free for Two Weeks on MySpace
To get the album, all you need to do is visit Pennywise’s MySpace page and add Textango as a friend, which will then send you a message alerting you to the album’s release on the 25th and provide you with instructions on how to download it.

Continue reading via Mashable.com

"Social Network Popularity"

A Look at Social Network Popularity Around the Globe

SOURCE: Mashable.com

With international expansion as a top priority for the likes of Facebook and MySpace, the entrenched, highly localized competition they will be going up against will be an interesting battle to watch.

See the map via Mashable.com

Fashion Indie looking for up and coming designers!

Fashion Indie, one of the top online resources for all things in the independent fashion market, is looking for original designs to see in the organizations New York City flagship store.

For more information e-mail Fashion Indie at: saynt@fashionindie.com

Or visit Fashion Indie Online:

http://fashionindie.com/

http://www.myspace.com/fashionindie

Be a Hot Toic Model!!!

Great way to get publicity for an entertainment product or service!!!!

^_^

Model Info

Hot Topic uses a combination of professional agency models and non-professional models for product images on the Hottopic.com website.

Requirements

You must live in Southern California and have reliable transportation to the Hot Topic Headquarters in City of Industry, CA.

* You must be 16 and over, with a valid work permit.
* You must be available for weekday appointments (we do not schedule weekend appointments).

To apply visit HotTopic.com

Create a customized Screen Saver for your "fans"

Just specify the name, upload your favorite pictures or get photos from Flickr, and the screensaver with over 150 animation effects and transitions is ready! You will get a fully standalone distribution package that enables you to easily install and/or distribute your screensaver.

DO IT: http://www.instasaver.com/

Volunteers WANTED! 1st Annual Native-E Music Awards

Support fellow indie artists!

The 1st Annual Native-E Music Awards, a non-profit 501(c)(3) event, is currently seeking the aid of mainstream music professionals to volunteer a few hours of their time to be a judge for our first ever event of it's kind for our Native American and Canadian Aboriginal musical talent who create mainstream music like all of today's big name artist, aside from the more known traditional Native American and Aboriginal music more commonly thought of whenever the term Native American is referred to.

All judging will take place on-line through e-mail correspondence. Each judge will be sent 5 songs per category that they choose to participate in. They will then pick a winner and give a brief review on each and send their results to our accounting firm for final tally to revealed the night of the event.

The judging process will take place on July 16 - July 31, 2008. Categories will range from Rock to Rap and many in between.

We seek the help of well-qualified industry professionals to lend us their hand in support and in friendship to give our talent the professional review that our talent deserves and has been lacking.

If you, or anyone you might be associated with, have an involvement in the mainstream music industry on a prominent scale, either as a record company executive, A&R personnel, talent scout, artist, producer, engineer, songwriter, composer, music instructor, film/TV industry personnel, radio broadcast personnel, music critic, DJ, music publication or music resource, please consider offering us your assistance in order to help us realize our vision and make this event a tremendous success. If you have the qualifications we seek, please consider becoming a part of our family.

If you are interested please let us know as soon as you can. What we will need from you is an e-mail sent to: info@native-e-musicawards.com pledging your offer to participate, a brief bio detailing your qualifications as a judge, a 300dpi .jpeg photo of yourself, a list of credits (if applicable), and contact information and any links you would like to include on your page on our site.

If you are a radio station, magazine, photographer, or
journalist and would like a photo/media pass this event
e-mail us with your request via www.native-e-musicawards.com


We are also in need of sponsors and well-known artist/performers that are willing to attend and or perform at our event. Please inquire for more
information at:
sponsor@native-e-musicawards.com

If you would like to make a donation to our event, please contact us at: info@native-e-musicawards.com

"Hip-Hop 2.0: Chuck D and DMC Launch Beyond.fm"

Another site for the independent artist crops up in a partnership between Chuck D and DMC of Run-DMC. Though I’ll probably write a more thorough post about the site at a later date, and perhaps even hook up with Chuck D for a podcast, I wanted to let you in on the news as it was offered in a press release (early).

Continue reading this article via BlackWeb2.0

Morph-Clothing Looking for singers/musicians to sponsor

Morph is currently looking for a talented Artist/band to sponsor. The genre of your music should fall under these categories but not limited to: Industrial, Trip hop, Electronica, Electro, Experimental, Rock or D & B.

Please submit us your band bio and discography for consideration. A meeting will be booked via teleconference (or in person) with our PR department and come up with an agreement.

We have a few business partnerships pending with other media companies and promotional shoots are being booked so now is a good time to introduce yourself.

Please forward your info to: Jordana@morph-clothing.com

Visit morph-clothing.com

Daft Punk uses widgets to promote new albums

Daft Punk, the Parisian electro-house duo, have launched a widget to promote their new album, which links to pages on Facebook as well as other sites.

Read article on BrandRepublic.com

Brand identity using your MySpace or Facebook pic

Promote your entertainment product or service by handing out cards with your MySpace or Facebook profile address. Define Profile Cards allows you to create a cool little card you can pass out at your next event!

http://www.defineprofilecards.com/

Your Space on MySpace #3: Managing Links

Maximize the number of people that visit from your MySpace bulletins and group posts by making links live or clickable. People are lazy and do not like to cut and paste links so give them what they want!

To make a link live or clickable place it in the following HTML code:

<a href="http://www.your-text-here.com">text that will be clicked</a>

Critical Region Consulting collaborates with independent entertainment companies and artist in developing targeted action-based strategies that enhance media coverage and product visibility. To schedule an appointment in person or by phone submit an e-mail to bandwidth (at) ybfree.com.

Use a Reality TV appearance to boost your Indie Product, Service, or Event

With the advent of reality TV it has become easier for people seeking a career in entertainment to be seen. The key is to leverage an appearance or even an audition on these programs for free publicity.

A press release announcing an indie entertainment product or service without a story angle will most likely NOT be used for an article. Simply because what is it worth to the readers of a newspaper or magazine to print such a story? Press Releases must offer something that publishers know their publics will want to read. In order to do this indie entertainment producers must go that extra step to make editors take notice by wrapping an announcement of a product or service in an intriguing story.

What an interesting tale if the lead singer of a band tries out for American Idol, or becomes a participant on Blind Date? Creating a press release around such an event will increase the chances an inundated editor who skims 50 plus press releases a day takes notice of your 15 minutes of fame (or shame).

So which reality TV series is for you? For a mere $5.00 you can purchase Critical Region Consulting’s Reality TV Casting pamphlet. The pamphlet features web addresses for network and cable TV casting calls. You will not find a more comprehensive and affordable listing online. BUY THE CASTING GUIDE NOW

And for those interested in trying out for American Idol and similar singing related reality shows read Critical Region Consulting’s “So you want to be an American Idol contestant?”

Critical Region Consulting collaborates with independent entertainment companies and artist in developing targeted action-based strategies that enhance media coverage and product visibility. To schedule an appointment in person or by phone submit an e-mail to bandwidth (at) ybfree.com.

Indie Entertainers Make the Perfect Media Pitch

Indie entertainers today are a lucky bunch! Thanks to the plethora of cheap technology a Press Kit can be put together for next to nothing and nicely mailed off to every ilk of media.

However too often indie entertainers think a slick Press Kit is all that is needed to get the attention of an inundated reporter. Unlike the major companies who have the power of brand to get into just about any publication, the indie entertainer MUST cater to the needs of the media. Remember they do not need you, unless your story will add to the quality of their publication. This in the publisher’s mind equals higher circulation and/or ad revenue.

Indie entertainers need to save the cost of mailing the kit and focus on the pitch letter. The pitch letter outlines why a publication SHOULD write about your product. A pitch letter introduces the product and why the publications readers would be interested. Then if the publication is interested a press kit and other subsequent materials can be submitted.

Your Space on MySpace #2: Managing Comments

Comments are an often-overlooked promotional tool on MySpace. A well-thought comment about your product or service is an endorsement that can be used for example in a Press Release or as a product testimonial.

Comments that do not directly relate to your product or service should be deleted. Say good bye to the uncreative “Thanks for the add” and all the annoyingly large graphic comments that distort your profile.

A good example of soliciting product specific comments is the teen scene magazine Seventeen. Seventeen features its best comments in its print edition, encouraging other readers with a MySpace account to be creative and thoughtful when posting, in hopes that they too will be featured.

Soliciting inspired comments does not have to be difficult. Providing incentives like Seventeen, or offering treats like a free t-shirt or MP3 download, can inspire the masses to poetic heights.

Critical Region Consulting collaborates with independent entertainment companies and artist in developing targeted action-based strategies that enhance media coverage and product visibility. To schedule an appointment in person or by phone submit an e-mail to bandwidth (at) ybfree.com.

Your Space on MySpace #1: Taking control of your Network

Do you have a strategy for your MySpace friend network, or do you just sign em’ up and hope when a blog, bulletin or event invitation is posted someone will read it?

Your network should contain individuals who will help achieve your career goals. This means that when you post a blog, bulletin, or event invitation individuals in your network will respond accordingly. Whether that is to gain media attention, sell more CDs; get a larger turnout at your next concert or film screening.

In addition to having individuals in the network respond to your posts, their post can also help you. Bulletins, blogs, and event invitations may contain invaluable promotion resources. For instance a musician in your network posts a bulletin about a cool site that offers free ringtones. You can now sign up for that same service and share it with your fans.

Having a MySpace profile is not important if you do not take the time to understand the power of social networking. Cultivating this tool will only enhance your chances of fulfilling your aspirations.

Critical Region Consulting collaborates with independent entertainment companies and artist in developing targeted action-based strategies that enhance media coverage and product visibility. To schedule an appointment in person or by phone submit an e-mail to bandwidth (at) ybfree.com.