International Country Music Association Newsletter March 2001
Mexican Radio Needs Christian Music
P.O.Box 271238, Nashville, TN 37227 Email: intlcma@aol.com
Editor: Bobbie Patterson, Publisher: S. Gremard,
Music Reviews: Rhett Powell
Victor Prieto plays both English and Spanish music on his radio programs. He plays both country gospel and southern gospel. He's a great guy and has a very popular radio program in the Monterey area. Send your music to; Victor Prieto, Amado Nervo 819 Nte Centro, CP 6400 Monterey NL, Mexico. Tell him we sent you and be sure to include your email address, so he can get back to you.
African Radio Needs Christian Music
Job Gathemia hosts a gospel radio program, in Kenya. According to our
sources, his radio program is heard by more English speaking people, than any other gospel program on earth. It reaches a very large portion of English speaking Africa. Job plays all sorts of gospel music, but is especially fond of country gospel and Christian country. If your music fits his gospel format, please mail your CDs to; Job Gathemia, Box 49256, Nairobi, Kenya.
Several Country Music Associations Giving Free Memberships
The International Country Music Association, the Lone Star State Country Music Association (Texas) and the Wisconsin Country Music Association will be giving free memberships away, at Ambassador Charlie Ray's Nashville Music Festival. Membership cards for the International Country Music Association will be mailed with advance purchased tickets.
Danish Radio Needs Country Music
Otto Waldoft has been broadcasting independent country music, for many years. His shows have a large audience of dedicated country music fans, in both Denmark and Sweden. Send your music to; Otto Waldoft, SCAWC Box 1278, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark.
Johnny Nielsen has a very popular country music program, in Denmark. His wife, Brigit helps him with the selection of music and organization, of his program. Johnny plays some gospel and a lot of bluegrass. If your CD fits within these broad definitions of country music, send your CDs to; Johnny Nielsen, Marievej 24, DK 5700 Svenborg, Denmark.
Lithuania Needs Your Music
We have received a very touching email, from The Lithuanian Country Music Lovers Club. During the days of the Soviet Union, Lithuania was an occupied nation, under communist rule. Country, gospel, and bluegrass were outlawed because they were, "anti-Soviet, American music." In spite of this or because of it, there grew in Lithuania a large and very devoted group of fans for these three types of music. The old Soviet Union is history. Ronald Reagan's dedicated campaign against what he saw as, "the evil empire," brought about the collapse of the Berlin wall and the authoritarian system which supported it. The folks in Lithuania are free, but still lack many of the things we take for granted. They would love to have those CDs, that you were thinking
about throwing away. If you like the idea of people treasuring your music, mail it to; Arunes Bagdonas, Lithuanian Country Music Lovers Club, Ramybes 5-37, LT 4930 Anyksciai, Lithuania.
Use Your Time Wisely
If you are a singer or member of a country, gospel, or bluegrass band and would like to have the attention of Nashville's music industry, you can hope they'll come to you. Or; you can come to them. They'll be at Ambassador Charlie Ray's Nashville Music Festival. Will you? You can waste your time, by going to events where they are but you can't get on stage, such as "Fanfair." You can waste your time going to events where you can get on stage, but there is nobody important to see you. Or; you can attend Ambassador Charlie Ray's Nashville Music Festival. You can take advantage of several stages with open microphones less than 10 miles, from "Nashville's Music Row." Are you serious
about your career? If you are, you can't afford to miss Ambassador Charlie Ray's Nashville Music Festival?
International C. M. A. Announces Online Hall Of Fame
The first inductees will be announced at Ambassador Charlie Ray's Nashville Music Festival. Shortly after the festival, you be able to visit the I. C. M. A. Hall of Fame, at our website. Each inductee will have their own page complete with their photo and the story of their professional career.
Belgium Radio Needs Country & Gospel Music
Mia Heylen is a real country sweetheart. She plays independent country, gospel, and bluegrass music. She loves doing telephone interview with unknown artists and is always involved in helping some worthy cause. Send your music to; Mia Heylen, Hooggand 3, B 2235 Hulshout, Belgium.
Songwriters Spend Your Time & Money Wisely
If you are a songwriter, you can waste your time and money mailing out your songs and hoping somebody will review them. Or; you can attend Ambassador Charlie Ray's Nashville Music Festival. You can watch singers and bands. You can decide who you would like to record your song, you can walk up to them, and put it, in their hands. You can ask them when they will be recording, what type of songs they are looking for, get their address and mail the right song, to the right person, at the right time. Are you serious about writing songs? If you are, you can't afford to miss this event?
A Word About Our Sponsor
This month's newsletter is sponsored, by PeelGrass Radio of Venray, Holland. The program host is Rein Wortelboer. Rein has won numerous awards, for the excellence of his country, bluegrass, and gospel programs. If you have an album you are proud of, or have a song on a compilation CD. PeelGrass Radio plays independent artists. Send your music to; Rein Wortelboer, Akelei 10, 5803 CA Venray, The Netherlands. Rein will be conducting a seminar, at our Nashville Music Festival. The seminar will explain the many differences in American & European radio. Most of European radio is government supported and noncommercial. His seminar will explain some of the differences this creates.
Knowledge Is Power
Do you know what an EPK is? Do you know why you should have one? Do you know where to get one? Do you understand the differences in a publishing company, a record company, a demo company, a promotion company, and a production company? Are you a member of a performance rights organization, such as B. M. I., A. S. C. A. P., or S. E. A. S. A. C.? Do you know what a performance rights organization does for you? Do you know what the Harry Fox agency is? Do you know what a promo kit is? Do you know how to present your promo kit to record labels? Do you know why they open some and throw others, in the trash? Do you know how to write a press release? Do you know what a record promoter does and how he does it? Do you know the name, address, and person in charge of your nearest country music association and songwriters' association? Do you know why you should be a member of your nearest
association? Do you know studio musicians use an entirely different way of writing music? Do you know what the Nashville Number System is? Do you know how to get a booking? If you answered, "No" to any of these questions, you can't afford to miss Ambassador Charlie Ray's Nashville Music Festival. For details, visit http://www.nashvillemusicfestival.com
Music Reviews
Idaho, Bob Davis, "Since She Left". Bob, if you would have kept your wife for a background singer, she might have stuck around. 1/2 Star Texas, Katzi Carver, "Drawn To Danger". This lady can sing! 4 Stars
Florida, Vernon Larsen, "Elvis From The Heart", One of the best Elvis
impersonators I heard. If you have a chance to see his act, grab it. 3
1/2 Stars.
Missouri, Roy Penn, "Swing At Its Best". Roy, somebody needs to
show you how to follow a tune. Your production doesn't "swing." 1/2
Star
Texas, John Ashford Miles, "Time Stands Still". In a fair world, John
would be a star and with the right promotion he just might make it. 4
Stars
Florida, Michael Mann, "Mann Alive", The production is a little too
simple. You want to avoid a busy production, but it should sound full.
Very good tenor voice and good song selection. 3 Stars
Colorado, Judy Rogers, "Country To The Core". Judy, you're a very
pretty lady and your letter is every bit as sweet as candy. Try singing
sweetly, instead of loudly. 1/2 Star
Indiana, Dave Caley, "One Empty Swing". Solid album. The singer is
damn good. The songs fit the singer, like a glove. The production
highlights both the quality of the singer's voice and the quality of the
songs. 4 1/2 Stars
Texas, Billy Rawlett, "What's A Poor Boy to Do" Billy, most of us lack
objectivity, when we are evaluating our own performances. Sometimes
we are not critical enough, but just as often we are too critical. There
is an saying in the music production field, "the more you fool with it,
the more it has been fooled with." I wasn't in the studio, when you
recorded your album. However; my guess is you threw away better
lines than you kept. There are moments of near greatness, but there
are many moments that lack sparkle. The orchestrations and over
dubs make this sound "overproduced." 3 Stars
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