SRG
begins adding staff people to Sunset Urban,
eSunset Records / Sunset's Digital Division
and in the Sunset Holding Corporate Division
this month......
Blackbird,
the power pop rock styled otherwise known as “emo” has
released their 4th studio album
Songs For The
Broken Heartedwith eSunset
Records / Sunset Records Group (SRG). While this
CD is has a very specific fan base, the broad appeal
throughout the ten song debut is for anyone that loves
powerful pop driven rock n roll music.
Songs
For The Broken Hearted
bursts open with its first track “Brightside
Of Things,” which blends perfect with
“Crashing Dow”
and then throughout this ten song CD. The vocals are
pushed to its maximum potential volume and the beat
throughout the CD is where it should be to produce a
great album. Each song are so entertaining they keep you
singing along and stomping your feet. Songs For The
Broken Hearted also packs in the solid ballad “So
Lost Without You,” the potential sleeper song on
this full length CD which is now set to hit retail on
January 29.
Blackbird
originally began playing the Sunset Strip in Hollywood,
California, before expanding its music ventures by
participating in unique projects like
the Tribute to
the New York Dolls release in 2004.
Vocalist/guitarist Arlee Patton along with brother Gabe
Patton, the drummer joined forces with guitarist and
vocalist Gary Jones and Michael Nightingale, the bass
player for the band. They have clearly come a long way
from the tribute album.
The ‘power pop band is loaded with originality and has
offered fans of this genre great music for quite some
time. “Blackbird is one of the final signings of the
year after a brief signing freeze we had at the
company,” says Don Lichterman, the head of eSunset
Records and SRG’s Distributed Group of Labels.
Lichterman goes on to say that “this is a great time to
be a part of Sunset,” as the label group has just
surpassed scanning over 115,000 downloads, streams and
ringtones sold for the first three quarters in 2007.
The band is very optimistic and
excited about being distributed at SRG. Arlie Patton,
the bands main vocalist and guitar player states, “this
is the perfect match for Blackbird” about eSunset / SRG
with “their advanced technology and online distribution
is above and beyond what we expected as a band.” “We are
very excited to be part of the Sunset family” ends
Patton with great excitement when asked about being
distributed at SRG.
SRG, a privately owned Don
Lichterman company, SRG is a fast growing Independent
Record Label and Independent Distribution Company. The
company has four major divisions, the Sunset Records
Group of Distributed labels, the Sunset Strategic
Marketing & Licensing Division, the Sunset-Digital
Distribution Division and the Sunset-Filmed
Entertainment Division. All corporate information and
all information about the Sunset Group of Entertainment
and media Companies are available online at
www.SunsetHolding.com.
The songs flow refreshingly
throughout the entire CD making up an energizing record
from beginning to end. SRG is
a fully serviceable record company and the band will now
utilize these distribution tools to reach a global
audience.
Embracing
an effortless eloquence and smooth persona of a top Hip
Hop artist, the music of
L. Myers has defined the true meaning of American soul.
Like his hometown godfathers, this Philadelphia native
has a deep voice and unique style that captures the
vibe of vintage Hip Hop music without sounding old
fashion. On his latest disc Infinity, that blend can be
clearly heard throughout the entire CD.
"It's always been a goal of
mine to continue the great tradition of Hip Hop music,"
Myers says. "When I was growing-up it was all about the
Philadelphia International soul men and about the Motown
artists. From the first time I ever stepped into a
recording studio, I knew that I wanted to emulate the
likes of The Roots and Cypress Hill". While Myers may
have some legendary shoes to fill, the longevity in his
career is what he is looking for as a music artist.
Don Lichterman, the head of
Sunset Records and Sunset Urban states that “today, the
music industry has a fast turnaround of acts vying to be
the next best thing or trying to be that next popular
hip hop artist. It's rare to find an artist with
longevity. L. Myers and producer/mixer Rod Millwood have
created strong music on this debut CD". Lichterman
continues that “we had this released originally as an EP
this year and Rod went back in the studio last month to
finish up the final mixes on the full length CD.”
This recording will mark the first release at the newly
created Sunset Urban music division at Sunset’s Records
Group (SRG).
Like
the late Luther Vandross before him, the secret of L.
Myers rhythmic endurance comes down to his ability to
create eternal music. With the release of Infinity, Myers first
disc for his new label Sunset Urban / Blue Mountain
Records, the wonderful hip hop artist could not be more
pleased with the outcome of this CD. “When I heard that
Sunset had been starting an Urban music division, my
first reaction was to get back into the studio to retool
this Infinity CD,” says producer and head of Blue
Mountain Records, Rod Millwood. He approached Lichterman
last month during the implementation of Sunset Urban
this year. “I really wanted something out in 2007 from
this division,” says Lichterman. "I wasn't very happy
with how the division had been started last month,"
Lichterman confesses, “and then it hit me to bring in a
production company with a great track record.”
Lichterman and Millwood have
been working together for about year. The Laff House
Comedy Club and Blue Mountain Records have distribution
deals with eSunset, the digital distribution division at
Sunset Records. Millwood’s production credits include
The Laff House Comedy Club CDs, CDs and DVDs by Mark
Simmons and Kevin Hart. Millwood also has credits for
his production work on Flames by Patti Labelle (1997)
along with his production work on the Butter soundtrack
for HBO and with Peaches Herb. This month, two of
Millwood’s artists are performing at the HBO Comedy
Festival (see news story).
Having penned and completed
about thirty-three new songs before completing this
final CD, Myers was more than ready to release a full
length CD. "Right now, I am excited and enthusiastic to
do what I can do in my new situation with the new
resources created at Blue Mountain and more notably at
Sunset Urban." Without a doubt, the landscape of Hip Hop
music has reached every demographic in today’s
marketplace, but that fact has not hindered Myers
creative process. "It would be a mistake for us to
compete with say Chris Brown and Kanye West this year,"
Lichterman laughs and "Myers material will very much
appeal to everyone from teenagers to older folks like
myself."
It
would have been too easy for Myers to follow the Hip Hop
template of writing about romance. But on Infinity,
the artist in him felt the need to be more revealing
about that part of his life. "As a person that writes my
own music and songs, my goal has to always been to find
new ways to say old things in my songwriting," Myers
says. "It is all about being honest and exploring who I
am as a person before putting those words onto paper.
Like everyone else, I am a much different today than I
was growing up as a kid." The Infinity CD boasts not
only Millwood as the Executive Producers, Mona Wilkerson
and Shawn “The Big Kid” Andrews who is the current
lineman for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles are the
Executive Producers on this CD. Also on the CD
performing is Kevin Hart (Soul Plane, The Big House, I’m
A Grown Little Man), the world famous comedian that is
now the host of MTV’s, Celebrity Rapper Show.
After Hart does his comedic introduction, Infinity's
stellar first single entitled, "All Things Change,"
detours from the usual Hip Hop style while serenading
his vocals in a profound way. Producer Rod Millwood has
constructed the perfect Hip Hop sounding anthem.
The one song with lyrical vigor
and vinegar is "Trouble" which could be the most real
Hip Hop track released on an Indie level. "This might be
the first song dealing with the issue of a man
confronting his experiences in life," Myers states.
"I've never really heard that in a song." Refusing to
sugarcoat his feelings, the title track "Infinity"
manages to say it all about the possibilities in life.
Though Myers has been friends with
comedian, Kevin Hart, he has also known producers and
executive producers Millwood, Andrews and Wilkerson for
many years, this is the first collaboration with all
four of them on one project. "We just worked so well
together," Myers says of Millwood who produced and went
back into remix the entire Infinity full length CD.
Millwood has also done tracks for Kevin Hart, Mark
Simmons, Patti Labelle and Peaches and Herb. "I prefer
working with a producer who know their way around a
console in the studio, and Rod is one of those guys that
can anything in the studio," he says. In addition, the
producer added both an introduction and a CD ending bit
with comedian, Kevin Hart. The CD in between is a
danceable soundscape for the lyrically versed listener.
Using simple words to express complex
feelings is the best way to describe the entire Infinity
CD. Myers proves that not only is he an exceptional
music artist, but his skills as a songwriter is
impeccable in this industry today. "Whenever I start to
write lyrics, I think it's important to be true to your
words," Myers says. "When I started working on the
‘Infinity’ CD, I realized that in my life, I am by far
my own worst enemy. Writing that songs that way on this
album is my way of dealing with life." Myers ends by
saying that “it was just a pleasure having Rod in the
studio. I think the outcome was an amazing CD from
beginning to the end."
Using simple words to express complex feelings is the
best way to describe the entire Infinity CD. Myers
proves that not only is he a wonderful singer, but his
skills as a songwriter is impeccable in this industry.
"Whenever I start to write lyrics, I think it's
important to be true to your words," Myers says. "When I
started working on the ‘Infinity’ CD, I realized that in
my life, I am by far my own worst enemy. Writing that
songs that way on this album is my way of dealing with
life." Myers ends by saying that “it was just a pleasure
having Rod in the studio. I think the outcome was an
amazing CD from beginning to the end."
New York - (Billboard Media Wire) -
- Sunset's Digital Division is pleased to announce that
Mark Simmons and Richie Redding will perform next month
at the HBO Comedy Festival in Las Vegas. The two are
veterans of The Laff House Comedy club which is located
on the world famous South Street in Philadelphia. The
two comedian artists will perform at the four day HBO
Comedy Festival on the Caesars Palace main stage. The
festival will begin on November 14.
Simmons and Redding, along with Jerry Seinfeld, Wanda
Sykes, Chelsea Handler, Chris Rock, Eddie Izzard, Joy
Behar, Kevin Nealand, the Russell Simmons' Def Comedy
Jam and many more of today's top comedians are scheduled
to perform at the festival this year. The brand new Mark
Simmons, It's Funny To Me First is the latest Laff House
release to hit stores this month through the Sunset-Live
digital distribution system. "The Laff House Comedy Club
is one of my favorite projects to work every day at
Sunset. Rod Millwood who runs the Laff House has found
such great talent that they are the top selling artists
and most downloaded artists at Sunset” says Don
Lichterman, the head of the Sunset Records Group of
Entertainment Companies. Lichterman goes on to say that
"Simmons and Redding being selected to the festival this
year does not surprise any of us at the label, at the
same time, we were ecstatic to get this great news from
Rod this week.”
Rod Millwood is the owner and head of the Laff House
Comedy Club along with its stand-alone record label,
Blue Mountain Records. Both the Laff House Live Comedy
series and the Blue Mountain titles are all digitally
distributed through SRG. Along with the new Its' Funny
To Be First release this month, Mark Simmons also has
two other live downloads from the Laff House Comedy Club
that are available at Sunset-Live.com. Simmons is also
now being featured at Amazon with his From The Mind Of A
Rebel as one of the top Video Downloads at their newly
launched download service, Unbox.
"This is a dream come true. HBO's Comedy Festival is one
of the highest peaks in the world for a stand-up
comedian to attain," said Rod Millwood. "Throughout my
career in building the Laff House Comedy Club, I've
trusted my instincts to lead me down the right path, and
we are extremely honored to have two comedians selected
from our comedy club which will now contribute to the
legacy built at HBO." Millwood is the producer and
executive producer on all Laff House Live titles and
Blue Mountain Records projects. "Mark Simmons and Richie
Redding are two of the most exciting comedy stars to
emerge on the scene in many years, and their great
ability to connect with audiences is amazing to see at
the Laff House," noted Millwood. "The HBO Comedy
Festival will allow these two gifted performers the
broadest, most unrestricted showcase, for our Laff House
talent." Both Lichterman and Millwood unequivocally ask,
"what more can we ask for as label heads?”
NEW YORK, June 12, 2006 – SRG, one ofthe world’s largest independent music company has
created Sunset Urban set up to offer a full slate of
distribution, promotion, marketing and digital services
for the independent urban music marketplace.
In this new venture and division at SRG, Sunset’s Urban
indie music group will offer music artists these
services through SRG’s independent distribution arm.
The new label group will provide additional resources to
developing urban artists within SRG’s major indie label
system, including its distributed labels like Alamo and
Tropical.
The label will be based in New York,
and there will be satellite offices in New Jersey. All new
staff appointees at Sunset Urban will report to the head
of the Sunset Records Group of Distributed Labels and
Chairman of Sunset Holding Co., Don Lichterman. The
staff will also work very closely with the head of
Sunset Music Publishing, Rejean Germain. The two
new staffers at Sunset will also advise Germain and the
Sunset Chairman, Don Lichterman on strategies related to
Sunset’s urban initiatives.
The label group has now reassigned many
licensed products over to the Sunset Urban catalog.
Those branded titles include the most popular Music
Videos on DVD Series that now boasts more than 25 DVD
titles by urban music artists such as Jay Z., P. Diddy,
Notorious B.I.G., Cam’Ron, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey,
2 Pac along with more DVD titles of live concerts by
popular urban music acts, Ray Charles, Kevin Hart, 50
Cent, The Temptations, Deon Cole, The Dells and Mark
Simmons.
NEW YORK, August 31, 2007
– Sunset Records Group (SRG) announced today that it
has formed a record label with Jerome Chambers running
the US operations and music industry veteran Clovis
McFalling, best known for working on the island of
Jamaica on worldwide reggae and dance hall acts. The new
label, called Tropical Records, will take a full-service
approach to supporting and promoting the careers of
musical artists found on the island of Jamaica. The
label will focus on all aspects of the artist’s
development in the same way the distributed labels get
worked at Sunset. SRG will work closely with the
Tropical staff on promoting and distributing Tropical
artists all over the world. And, conversely, the current
Sunset catalog of recorded music and DVD titles will now
be distributed all over the Caribbean region.
Sunset Strategic Marketing (SSM) Division has reassigned
every reggae, latin and world music related title to the
Tropical label. The first artist signed to the label is
the reggae act Cryout who has just concluded a brand new
CD released worldwide this summer. Cryout’s debut album
“Medication
For The Soul”
was released this year too through the eSunset Records
label, the world’s only digital only record company in
the Active Rock radio format. Another group of artists
signed to the Tropical records label is the all star
ensemble of dancehall artists called, Sturgay. This
exclusive live session recording is being released on
October 2 at Sunset-Live and at retail stores that sell
downloads, ringtones and streams through Tropical
Records.
Tropical's goal is to bring wider U.S. exposure to
deserving international artists. "Cryout is a perfect
example of a new artist that will now be heard by a
wider audience," said Don Lichterman, Head of Sunset
Records Group. "He is a perfect new artist to develop
along side the branded licensed material distributed at
SSM by popular music artists like Bob Marley, Beenie
Man, Shaggy, Buju Banton and Ziggy Marley." “It is no
different than the way we work all of the labels in the
Sunset system, with the uniqueness of Tropical being
based in Montego Bay.” Lichterman continues to say “it
is another great niche and another great region to work
our current catalog and will prove to be an amazing A&R
source to find new music.”
In addition to licensing international releases for
domestic distribution, Tropical expects to record new
material as well. Based in the small area of Montego
Bay, Jamaica, Lichterman hired Clovis McFalling as the
main A&R contact. Clovis will report to the Head of
Operations, Jerome Chambers, who is based in the
corporate offices with Lichterman. Chambers and
Lichterman have known each other for over three decades
dating back to grade school.
“As SRG expands its portfolio of repertoire sources
throughout the world, this new venture will provide us
with the perfect resources to find new music all over
this region,” said Jerome Chambers, General Manager,
Tropical Records / Sunset Records. “We will provide an
amazing amount of expertise in working with artists from
this region on all aspects of their careers, and most of
all that includes SRG’s Distribution’s global reach, the
digital distribution reach and our marketing reach.”
As part of the deal, Clovis McFalling will handle all
A&R for the label based in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He will
also head up the majority of the sales, distribution,
marketing and promotional services for artists signed to
the Tropical label. SRG’s Tropical Records is also
providing promotion services for worldwide releases and
will release albums from the venture under license all
over the world.
Tropical’s releases will be distributed by SRG US
independent music umbrella organization. SRG will also
have the opportunity to distribute releases from the
joint venture under license on a worldwide basis.
“It was immediately clear that SRG was excited about
creating a label on the island of Jamaica” says
McFalling from his Montego Bay office. He goes on to say
that “this will extend every consideration to
distributing, developing and breaking artists from this
region in what is a rapidly evolving industry.” “The
artists on Jamaica need a conduit for their music and
SRG has given us the most fair and viable way to get
music heard by people all over the world.”
“We are proud to be a part of the Sunset vision and the
Sunset system.”
The deal is an exciting and powerful combination that
compliments Sunset Records’ mission to develop every
genre of music while embracing the digital distribution
medium,” said Clovis McFalling, the head of Repertoire,
Tropical Records.
The long awaited and anticipated worldwide
release of the debut CD from Grayscale, is
on August 21 and has revealed an upbeat
sound featuring a new delicate touch; a
mixture of captivating melodies and
heartfelt lyrics. With their transition to
Sunset Records, the band's major indie
record label debut, there will be five
singles available to Top forty and Adult
contemporary radio formats.
Grayscale's intangible style is shared with
no other band, having created a colorful,
distinctive and unparalleled sound with
their album, That Flawless Flashing Day.
Through a myriad of songs, the band has
transcended an unequivocal presence in pop
music.
Grayscale front man Douglas Dunbar composed
the debut CD with William Weaver. That
Flawless Flashing Day includes a track
listing of 13 songs that flow coherently
from melodic songs to ballads to resilient
yet solemn love songs.
The album opens with the salient and
superlative track "TMI." Other songs such
as “One More Day” and “Stuck On Me” are
lyrically intimate and melodically driven
tracks, Doug pleads with heart-wrenching
sincerity at every hook and verse. “So
Credulous I’m Blind” is the wonderful ballad
that has some of the most accessible lyrics
on the CD.
"Any Girl Will Do," Grayscale's first single
off the new record, is another vivid track,
infectious and enticing followed by “Deep
White,“ which show off the beautifully
strong vocals. Many of the tracks on this CD
proclaim the feelings of an unwavering love
between two people.
Other spectacular and enlightening tracks
from That Flawless Flashing Day
include "Out In Cold," "A Summer Washed
Away," and "A Matter Of Time."
Grayscale seems to be delving into great
musical territory with this debut CD.
Timeless, catchy yet versatile, this band
has reached an amazing plateau, leaving only
ever-rising greatness in their wake.
Sunset Records, Grayscales record label, is
getting ready for a big push beginning this
summer. Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset
Records says that he “cannot be more proud
of our A&R system. “Sunset opened its doors
two years ago on its anniversary date of
August 6th and in that time, we
have two artists on the Grammy Awards
nomination ballot for Best New Artist.”
Grayscale is on the nomination ballot for
the 50th Grammy Award show for
Best New Artist as well as for Best Duo or
Pop Group with Vocals, Best Alternative
Music Album and Best Traditional Pop Album.
For fans of The Killers and of Blink 182,
this is the perfect CD.
Sunset-Live.com
adds to its catalog by selling the Concert Vault of Live
Recordings.
(Billboard
Publicity Wire) June 15, 2007 -- Sunset-Live begins
its' affiliate partnership with Wolfgang’s Vault to host
its Concert Vault Liver Downloads. The Concert Vault and
Vault Radio provides listeners access to over 300 live
concert recordings from the Bill Graham archive, King
Biscuit Flower Hour, and the Silver Eagle Cross Country
collections. The Sunset Records Group’s Licensing
Division, Sunset Strategic Marketing distributes the
King Biscuit Flower Hours physical cds.
Russia's soulful trip-hip power pop trio releases debut
CD.
(Billboard
Publicity Wire) June 15, 2007 -- Featuring the
sweet-sounding vocals of Evgenya Strochinskaya as well
as the stylings of keyboardist and producer Max K. and
guitarist Serge Tarakhteyev, the resulting CD is an
alluring and electronically charged album, entitled Turn
To You. The sound lightly treads on a jam band styled
approach and the album is a perfect journey from the
beginning until the final song. The tracks that stand
out are Flyin Away (trip hop melody and gorgeous
vocals), Teddy Bear (catchy and poppy melody, chorus and
a Top 40 Hit Song), Use Your Chance (Electronic and
futuristic with a driving overall sound) and Foxy Lady
(written by Jimi Hendrix and shreds like Trey Anastasio
and Phish).
"The band never seems to repeat themselves which is
evident from their live shows. The production is fresh,
new and very accessible in so many ways. And the fact
that they write a lot will keep this band growing for
many years," Zamza's record label head Don Lichterman
told an egnaged group of Russian journalists when asked
to explain the band.
"Great songwriting. Fantastic guitar playing. Amazing
melodies. Mixed with this futuristic electronic sound"
added Lichterman. The band, most likely due to the
English language barrier, smiles enigmatically
preferring to let their enthusiastic record label head
do the talking on behalf of the CD. The key tracks that
are being worked to Pop/Rock and the electronic formats
are Flyin' Away, Teddy Bear and Foxy Lady starting early
June.
How do you sum up Zamza, a band who seems to defy
categorization and whose main objective over the last
few years is to keep things always fresh and new as a
band? You could invent an entire new genre for their
style of music. "Trip Hop Power Pop", is what Lichterman
calls the overall sound. But even that is probably only
the half the story. There are plans to get the band to
the United States this year. Lichterman goes on to say.
"Zamza's live show is what listeners in the United
States will take to this year."
Club goers love Zamza for the trip-hop dreamscapes of
tracks such as Broken Hearted, and the track that is the
name of the CD, Turn To You, to soothe the nerves after
a night of clubbing.
The younger market has been captivated by the cool down
tempo grooves.
Others have come on board for the more upbeat disco-pop
of Teddy Bear and yet others for the intense jamming
that will liven up the nerves during a night of frenzy
such as Use Your Chance, Something Bout Love and of
course their version of the Hendrix song, Foxy Lady.
Movie directors are drawn to their atmospheric
moodscapes, with Flyin Away appearing in TV Ads
throughout 2007, as well as in online ads, on
soundtracks and in Warren Miller Entertainment Film and
Television Programs coming out in the fall of 2007.
But perhaps above all, Zamza appeal most to those who
simply love good music in whatever appearance it comes
and who admire a band that dares to be different.
The first result of their collaboration is this debut
CD Turn To You. The newly released single, Flyin Away
had been released in late April. The trip-hop beats
found Zamza bracketed with the likes of Fatboy Slim and
Moorcheeba. The track also established a reputation for
the band as purveyors of classy, post-club, comedown
vibes that was reinforced by listening to the entire
album.
As a counter to the brash triumphalism of Britpop
like you hear in the song Teddy Bear, the album reflects
the darker underbelly of the times with that soulful and
coffee house vibe. Turn To You has led to both critical
acclaim and should now reach commercial success, as well
gain fans through a tour of the US which will start
later this year. In addition to the Teddy Bear single
being worked to Top 40 radio, Sunset Records will also
work Flyin Away in the same manner. At the same time,
all the songs on Turn To You will be worked to the
Electronic and Club Formats all over the world.
The band will have the chance to showcase the entire CD
at the City of Ponds area in their hometown, Khabarovsk,
Russia. That event is sponsored by the premier cellular
giant, Beeline, and is taking place in the center area
of town. Thousands of people are expected at the show.
The band truly got its start in 2001 back in
Khabarovsk, Russia Zamza. What was initially a very
dance-oriented project evolved and gained Zamza the
reputation for being one of the most interesting and
original dance-music projects in The Russian Far East.
It was a kind of break-beat, big beat mixed with the
original Russian Far East's native people voices, Max K.
one of the bands members. In April, 2003 Zamza presented
a live show at the 18th Far Eastern Festival of rock and
alternative music. The show was a true break-through as
the band gained their first bit of press in that region.
In 2003 Zamza worked with the Brighton, UK based Raw42
Music Co Ltd. All twelve (12) tracks had been included
in Raw42's production catalogue while several tracks
were used in advertisements, commercials and TV-shows.
In May, 2003 Zamza's cover of CJ Bolland song Sugar Is
Sweeter was then named the "Track of the Month" at
Raw42. In 2004 and 2005 Zamza took part in electronic
music festival called the "Ledocool" in
Komsomolsk-on-Amur" along with the Russian electronic
music super-star "Net Slov". Their track "Octopus SPP"
had been included into Ledocool electronic music
compilation. Zamza then went onto win the All-Russian
music contest Muse On 2005 in Moscow.
Two years later, Turn To You finds Zamza with fresh
musical pastures yet again on this debut album, embraces
the trip hop sounding vocals of Evgenya Strochinskaya,
the shredding American jam band style of guitar playing
of Serge Tarakhteyev. While collaborating with the
incredible keyboard and production work of Max K. This
"trip Hop, "power Pop" band is well on their way to
worldwide success.
The debut album being released all over the world on
Sunset Records on July 10th with advance copies being
sold as MP3's at Sunset's Music Store (www.SunsetMusicStore.com).
Everybody is expecting another moody mélange of
after-midnight beats. "One of the main singles is very
much a Top 40 song," says Lichterman, "you can hear that
they decided to embark on their own fresh overall sound
instead of staying on that same quest for the perfect
pop song." Lichterman continues, "I am working a few
songs simultaneously in a few different formats all this
year."
Where the band will venture next musically remains to
be seen because even today, they are preparing for a new
CD to be released next year. Expect them to play live in
the United States this year for the first time ever
beginning in the fall, 2007.
(Khabarovsk,
Russia) - - (BILLBOARD PUBLICITY WIRE) - Beeline, the
premier mobility solutions provider in the Russian
region, is co-sponsoring, along with Pacific Media, the
'Zamza live in Concert' show. The show will take
place at the City Of Ponds outdoor area in the center of
Khabarovsk, Russia on Tuesday, June 12th,
2007.
Beeline has
also launched a promotion whereby 1,500 to 3,000 Zamza
fans will get to see Zamza in person free, for this
anniversary event.
During
this very special show located in Eastern Russia,
Zamza's lucky die-hard fans will hear them perform all
of their songs hitting radio this month. They include
Flyin’ Away', 'Teddy Bear', Somethin’ Bout Love', and
'Use Your Chance' - are all singles from their latest
album, 'Turn To You'.
Zamza
is now becoming one of the most successful music
performers in the world. Their two singles are being
worked to Top Forty and Electronics formats at
Radio. They have digital sales and digital
promotions being set up in more than 30 countries.
The
concert in Russia is expected to attract a sizeable
audience from around the
Eastern Russian area
as well as various other parts of Russia.
Beeline is the fastest growing retail brand in
Russia, with its strategy of continuously expanding
its operations across the region. Beeline has
adopted a two-folded approach for its plans in that
region by focusing on both its retail outlets and
product portfolio expansion. The company is
broadening its product line and expanding its brand
name by placing greater emphasis on its concept of
'Mobility' to customers. Promoting events like the
Zamza show on June 12th gives the company
the opportunity to showcase a range of devices to
work with to mobile phones.
Announcing Beeline's event, the Managing Director of
Beeline had the idea to produce the Zamza concert
which perfectly compliments Beeline's brand image.
Zamza is considered one of the top new pop
alternative acts in the world, and Beeline has built
a reputation over the years as a brand that
symbolizes youth and vibrancy. Further, the company
believes that music is one of the best ways to
connect with youngsters to create top of the mind
recall. Being associated with an up and coming act
like the band Zamza assures tremendous brand mileage
for Beeline. Considering the bands international
appeal, huge fan following across Russia, and the
United States shows and music conferences, this is
the perfect time for a promotion of this nature.
Zamza’s new CD hits retail stores all over the world
on July 10th through Sunset Records.
‘This is the perfect record release party for the
‘Turn To You’ CD,” says Don Lichterman, the head of
Sunset Records. ‘We are working two songs to Top 40
and we are also working two other songs to the
electronic format, Lichterman says about his work
ahead of the Sunset label this month. Zamza’s ‘Turn
To You’ marks the first worldwide release at Sunset
Records in its less than two years since starting
the label. ‘I have the SSM Licensing division and
the eSunset digital division working like machines,”
Lichterman continues, “It is now time to get the
main label working like a machine by introducing
Zamza to the rest of the world.”
Hailing from the
eastern part of Russia, ZAMZA is a well-respected, major
indie label signed, three-piece "Trip Hip Power Pop" band.
(Billboard
Publicity Wire) May 26, 2007
-- Their debut CD, which will be in stores on July 10th, is
entitled, "Turn To You," and should serve to further
skyrocket the band's trajectory in the music industry. They
are currently hard at work performing live in Russia
throughout May and June - gearing up for the new release on
Sunset Records in July 2007.
ZAMZA is unquestionably one of the most unique emerging
artists today and is currently considered one of the most
innovative bands around. Their music is intense,
breathtaking, ranging from psychedelic driving club style
sounds, to a progressive alternative pop style of music,
blended with a wonderful compendium of other sounds in
between.
The album was recorded at the Novikov Studio in Vladivostok,
Russia, just 40 minutes from the bands home town of
Khabarovsk. The band is fronted by keyboardist, producer Max
K., who combined his talent with musicians Serge Tarakhteyev
(guitar), and singer Evgenya Strochinskaya (Vocalist)
completes the trio. "We have an entire CD of quality music
to work, "says Don Lichterman, the founder and head of
Sunset Records."They are some of the most intense musicians
I have heard in a long time," Lichterman continues, "I
cannot wait to get them all over America this year."
ZAMZA "is extremely happy about our new
recording deal with Sunset Records for our debut album,"
comments Max K.. "Sunset has established itself as one of
the world's top independent record labels. We couldn't be
more enthusiastic about working with them to expand our
audience to the United States and elevate the band to the
next level." The band was found by the label through its
online A&R submittal tool and Lichterman "could not more
thrilled" how the band came to the label.
Lichterman goes on to say that he "was getting ready to
encode the music for eSunset and was blown away the second I
heard the first song." The first single is "Flyin' Away"
which showcases the wonderful vocals and melodic songs on
this CD. Lichterman expects two United States tours this
year. The fall plans for the band are to work strategic
bookings where the band can play their own style of music
for many hours. "We expect some great things from this band
this year," Lichterman said from his New York office. This
is the first signing at the main label at Sunset.
Coincidentally, Lichterman booked the band Gorky Park at the
studio he managed in 1989. They were the first Russian band
to ever record in the United States.
CHUCK DARROW/Courier-Post
Angel Alamo (left) and Don
Lichterman are the principals of
Alamo Records, which is releasing
five CDs this month, including
Grayscale's 'That Flawless Flashing
Day.'
By CHUCK DARROW
Courier-Post Staff
If Alamo Records had a motto, it would be,
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."
By the end of this month, the Camden-based
label will have released nationally the first five of its
CDs. That an independent label from Camden has accomplished
this is noteworthy enough. Given the history behind Alamo,
it's almost miraculous.
Alamo was founded in 2004 by Camden native
Angel Alamo. In early 2005, just as the label was preparing
to release a batch of CDs, its distribution deal went south,
leaving Alamo, 28, with little more than his dreams of being
a music-industry mogul.
As one who was, and remains, passionate
about Camden and its future, Alamo -- who regularly blogs
about the city on this paper's Web site -- channeled his
energies into politics, becoming a member of the board of
commissioners of the Camden Parking Authority. He also kept
a foot in show business by booking entertainment for
Riversharks games.
But the urge to discover and promote new
musical artists couldn't be denied.
"At the end of the day," he says, "I
couldn't keep myself away from music. Even if I won the
lottery, I would still be doing music because it's a passion
and a labor of love.
"It made me more determined, and made me
stay focused on what I needed to do (to succeed). You can
either quit, or not give up. I didn't want to give up.
"In life," he continues, "it's important
to do what you love to do. Ever since I was a kid I always
loved music."
So, Alamo, who still keeps his day job at
a Philadelphia-based insurance company, set out to find a
music-industry gig. "I sent out resumes to just about every
major (independent) label -- four or five times," he says.
Last year, he came across an online
solicitation by the New York-based Sunset Records Group. The
company, which is headed by founder-CEO Don Lichterman, was
seeking someone for an A&R (Artists & Repertoire) -- or
talent scout -- position. As fate would have it, Lichterman
is a Cherry Hill native.
Alamo's reply grabbed his attention.
"I was impressed with his resume," recalls
Lichterman, veteran music business executive who has
worked with such superstars as the Grateful Dead, Tom Petty
and Hootie & The Blowfish.
"We had about 300 submissions, but right
off the bat I was impressed that he'd had a record label.
That's value to me."
Lichterman adds that Alamo's early failure
mattered not at all. "If you didn't get knocked around in
this industry," he reasons, "you're not in this industry."
Instead, Lichterman, who recently moved
back to Cherry Hill, suggested something much bigger than
what he originally had in mind for Alamo.
"I said, "Let's create a little more value
than a measly A&R job,' " he recalls.
Lichterman's offer was fueled by Alamo's
apparent knowledge of, and involvement in, this region's
various musical scenes.
For Alamo, Lichterman's offer to fund the
label was half of his dream come true. The other part of the
equation is Sunset's affiliation with the national
distribution arm of the giant Sony/BMG organization. After
all, the lack of distribution is what torpedoed Alamo's
initial effort at having a label.
One holdover from Alamo's first go-round
is his insistence that the label not be genre-specific.
"I want to be a full-service music label,"
he explains. "When rap dies out, what are you going to do?
It's better to focus on musicians than on one type of music
or an image."
Among those on the label's roster is
Toronto-based rocker K.Page, who says she signed with Alamo
Records because of the artist-centric philosophy shared by
the imprint's two principals.
"They're very dedicated to the artists
they've worked with," says the performer whose CD, "Green
City," was issued May 5. "They've been very generous, and
help out any way they can.
"They want to be fair and have everybody
benefit. You can have a conversation with them if you need
to.
"They do things a small label doesn't
necessarily have to do. They're really behind the music."
Sunset Records Group (SRG), one of
the world's leading indie music companies, today announced
that SNOCAP will include the label's digital music content
from the entire Sunset Records Group catalog at MySpace.
CAP
MyStores will make SRG artists' music available for sale
through the MySpace MusicService. New material released at
Sunset Records and all material signed to Sunset Music
Publishing will be made available through the SNOCAP MyStore
Digital Player. Also now available through SNOCAP are the
eSunset Records catalog and the Sunset Live catalog. eSunset
is SRG's digital only record label and Sunset Live is SRG's
site for live downloads.
Don Lichterman, the head of SRG says, "For years, I had been
trying to better understand their business model and today,
I see their vision in a clear and impressive way." SRG now
has four (4) fully operable MySpace pages with SNOCAP's
Digital Player. "Our staff worked hard to get the music up
at all of the My Space sites while clearing that music with
SNOCAP." The first two My Space pages have generated
thousands of friends and visits in just a month. "We expect
the response for the digital sites like Sunset Live and
eSunset to be even greater due to the fact they are both
community driven mediums within the record industry."
MySpace.com/SunsetRecords and the
MySpace.com/SunsetMusicPublishing pages are geared towards
the labels artists and the Publishing entity's artists at
Sunset have been opened for the last month.
MySpace.com/eSunsetRecords and
MySpace.com/SunsetLiveRecordings were opened this week.
Digital tracks from artists Whitfield, Jono Manson, Boy
George, Sneaker Pimps, Fatboy Slim, Pepper, Gavin Friday,
Charlie Gracie, Tommy Conwell, Reach Around Rodeo Clowns,
and more will now be available for sale through SNOCAP
MyStores on Sunset's MySpace pages. The SRG catalog will not
only be made available at the Sunset MySpace pages and
digital stores, but they will also be available through its
artists' own web pages, community web sites, fan blogs, and
email.
The availability of the digital tracks from these and
other SRG artists through the MySpace SNOCAP branded
MyStores gives consumers access to a variety of music
content that range from pop to classical to avante garde to
urban to religious/christian. All of Sunset MyStore's are a
digital storefront, backed by SNOCAP's landmark proprietary
online content registry of over 3.3 million tracks. The
MySpace Music Service, launched in December 2006, is also
powered by SNOCAP. SNOCAP's one-stop registration allows
labels to clear and manage their licensing rights across
multiple online destinations in real-time. Using
sophisticated music fingerprinting technology to identify
and catalog the music, SNOCAP ensures that the proper
rights-holder is paid when with every sale.
"The planet's largest gathering of
Rockabilly, Doo Wop, and Rhythm & Blues Stars" features the
Philadelphia legend, Charlie Gracie.
Philadelphia, PA (Billboard
Publicity Wire) May 4, 2007 -- Lanark Records / Sunset
Records legendary rock' n' roller Charlie Gracie, known for
his hits "Fabulous," "Ninety-Nine Ways," "Wanderin Eyes" and
"A Little Too Soon To Tell," (the duet w/ Graham Nash of
CSN&Y), will play the third Annual 2007 Rockin 50s Fest III
taking place May 16-20 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The four (4)
day musical event is the largest and self proclaimed "best
festival in the Midwest."
Gracie will perform on Saturday, May 19. The
headliner on Sunday, May 20, will be legend blues artist Bo
Diddley and the headliner on Wednesday, May 16, is Little
Richard.
The festival will also feature music greats
such as Sonny Burgess, Billy Lee Riley, Buddy Holly's
Original Crickets, Robert Gordon, The Stray Cats, Wanda
Jackson, The Cadillacs and a special solo live performance
by Lee Rocker.
Festival representatives said fans should
expect changes this year, including a carnival and a better
stage configuration. Among all this great Rockabilly, Doo
Wop and Rhythm & Blues will also be clothing vendors and,
back by popular demand, a huge car show featuring vintage
hot rods.
"The festival is expanding this year," said
an Oneida Casino spokesperson. "We're kicking it up a
notch". There are more bands playing this year spread out
day and night over four days, than ever before at the
festival.
Fans gather each year to this festival event
marking the beginning of summer. A very special Gracie fan
says in the ticket line that "He's immortal. There's no age
to him", as she bought her first level seats for all four
days.
Gracie is working in the Lanark recording
Studio in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on a new CD due out this
summer.
There was no better place
to spend Easter than at the Rip Curl Pro Surf & Music
Festival at Bells Beach this year featuring eSunset
Recording artist Ten Penny Joke!
(BILLBOARD
MEDIA WIRE) April 22, 2007 -- Every year, tens of thousands of
Aussies and visitors from all over the world anticipate this
jam packed, four-day Easter. This year, the Australian rock
band, Tenpenny Joke played live on the beautiful music stage
at Bells Beach. The entire weekend was
filled with musical good times, headlined by local and
inter-state musicians playing the Bells Beach live music stage. The stage
where the band played had been set up to overlook the
Southern Ocean and world tour surfing action. The opening
acts played from midday, with Tenpenny Joke playing
in the late afternoon.
Jason Bayne, the head of A&R at Sunset Records Group of
Distributed Labels says, “Don (Lichterman) and I were
thrilled when we saw what was happening at that show.” Bayne
goes on to say that they “are a great signing and we have a
great CD to work.”
The band played its set in the
middle of the day raging through its’ popular hit songs,
“Sirens,” “She,” “Popcorn,” ”Black Satellite” and many more.
Several songs were played from the brand new, “Ambush On All
Sides” CD. Releasing worldwide on eSunset on May 22, eSunset
has very a very special promotion allowing the download of
the CD before the official street date. You can also
download Ambush On All Sides along with the best festival
songs from this year’s Rip Curl Pro Music Festival at
iTunes.
Throughout their decade-long history,
Tenpenny Joke has focused primarily on delivering intense,
memorable songwriting and stellar live shows. They play
major venues, selling out at every show, while building a
huge underground following over the years. Currently,
Tenpenny Joke is preparing for their Spring tour.
Check out Tenpenny Joke's latest interview with Fusion
Magazine,
http://www.fusionmusicmag.com/tenpenny%20interview.html.
NEW YORK, NY (BILLBOARD
MEDIA WIRE) – April 19, 2001 --
On
Sunday, April 29tth, IChannel will bring music fans
worldwide the thrill of Grayscales’ “iCoustic Set" through
the group's first-ever live Internet Webcast, presented by
IChannel Music. Fans can access the broadcast on a special
IChannel Music page (www.ichannelmusic.com).
"IChannel is thrilled to
be hosting and producing the Grayscale' first-ever
full-length concert Webcast," said Angle Alamo, President,
Alamo Records. "Through the Webcast and associated features,
IChannel is providing Grayscale' fans a free online
entertainment destination that brings them closer to the
band."
"Our first live concert
Webcast is a real tribute to our great fans, and thanks to
IChannel Music, we can bring this very special four song
show to them," said Grayscale' leader, William Weaver. "We
are always looking for new ways to connect with fans, and
this Webcast provides a tremendous connection to all of them
around the world."
The Webcast will begin at
1pm.
(EST) and was recorded in the bands hometown of Clevlenad,
Ohio. The show airs again that same day at 3Pm and 7PM, and
will be available to fans around the world. The concert will
be produced on the Web by IChannel Broadcast, an industry
leader in providing live audio and video streaming media
services for a wide range of artists, including Wainright,
Head First, Infidels, Slow Riot, Redding, Extra Blue Kind,
Red Edmund and Greenstreet. Bonus footage of the concert
will be available for members of the Grayscale Online
Fanclub at
www.alamo-records.com.
The Webcast is being made possible by iChannel, which is
providing the bandwidth that will allow fans around the
world to enjoy this event.
Grayscale -- Douglas
Dunbar (Vocals and Guitar) and William Weaver (Guitar,
Various Instruments) -- presently recognized as one of the
up and coming pop groups in the world – are on Alamo Records
/ Sunset Records. The group's new album, "That
Flawless Flashing Day"
-- their latest release – is now available at all stores and
available online at all retail outlets and at
www.SunsetMusicStore.com. Globally, "That
Flawless Flashing Day,"
whose 13-song selection features five songs co-written by
members of the group and produced by the band. In the U.S.,
Grayscale – have set a new precedent by becoming the first
artists in Alamo history to ever release the entire
digitally at eSunset Records, Sunset Records digital only
record company.
The live Webcast is part
of IChannel Music's "iCoustic" feature. Throughout the month
of April, fans have stayed connected to Grayscale by
downloading music, watching videos, signing up to win
autographed merchandise, and shopping for CDs. Through
Sunset and Alamo Records fans can also sample and download
every Grayscale song. Stay tuned for news about Grayscale
live downloads at Sunset-Live.com with brand new concerts.
(Billboard Publicity Wire / PRWeb) NEW YORK, New York, February 25, 2007 -
One of the top rockabilly bands of all time, The Reach
Around Rodeo Clowns, releases The Clowns Remain The Same as
a video download. This DVD turned video download is a
hilarious satirical look at the music industry. The video
also features some of the best Reach Around Rodeo Clowns
live concert footage ever to be documented by the band.
Quentin Jones, the founder of Lanark Records loves being a
part of today's technology and plans to release more
archived music from the label this way.
"This new release is the first in many this year for the
label" says Quentin Jones, the founder of Lanark Records.
"We are excited to release brand new music by Charlie Gracie
and Tommy Conwell along with a brand new CD plus DVD by the
Reach Around Rodeo Clowns." All three artists have already
started recording at the world famous Lanark Studios in
Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Records, the label that
distributes Lanark says that "you can never go wrong with
great rock n roll music." He goes onto say "adding the value
of great live concert video to the Clowns upcoming CD
release is perfect for the band." The Reach Around Rodeo
Clowns are the top downloaded artist at Sunset. That was
part reason that prompted the band to go back to work into
the studio this year. "It was Don who came to me in our A&R
meetings about adding a DVD," says Jones about the release
slated to hit stores in June.
The Reach Around Rodeo Clowns announced a live tour in
March to work out the new songs. The band will head back to
the famed Lancaster studio to finish the recording and
complete the final mixes. For now, The Clowns Remains The
Same will be featured at the Sunset web sites and also at
Amazon Unbox starting next month. Additionally, the band
will also start selling its live concert downloads at the
Sunset-Live.com web site in March. There is no plan for live
video downloads though Lichterman and Jones say that will
happen by the summer as they start to release the archives
from the Lanark studio vaults.
(Billboard Publicity Wire / PRWeb) NEW YORK, New York, February 13, 2007 -
Rejean comes to Sunset from the
Full Sail Company as both a student and as the artist
relations staff person. More recently, he worked doing A&R
and Producer work for the Envision Music Group and WG3
Entertainment. He is the winner of the Song of The Year
Contest Supporting VH-1's Save The Music Foundation in July
2005's Pop Category Winner for his original song “Sing To
You” and has been named the Southeast Regional A&R Person
for Sunset Records.
Don Lichterman, the head of
Sunset says, "this will prove to be one of the best
additions at the company" and he goes on to say "it also
marks the first in what will be many A&R staff people added
around the United States to do our day to day A&R."
Sunset has made great strides in developing music by
continuing to be one the most efficient A&R driven labels in
the world. Their automatic A&R submission tool has already
garnered 5 signings in the last week with artists from all
over the world. "What is happening now at Sunset is our A&R
resources are starting to come full circle and we are seeing
those success stories every week" says Lichterman.
Lichterman continues by saying, "the best part of this last
week's signings is that we
