Every single day, I hear about a new ridiculous issue with one of the most loathed companies in the world, the RIAA. The new conflict to arise just happened yesterday after the Copyright Royalty Board, the group overseeing statutory licensing for US-based internet radio stations, announced the new royalty rates for streaming radio performance rights. To break the situation down simply, the RIAA is demanding an unfair amount of money from webcasters. With the new implemented prices, a station with 1,000 listeners will be paying over $150,000 a year to stream 24/7. This price will keep going up dramatically over the next couple of years (will be around $249,000 in 2009.)

The rates go based off the amount of songs played, and the number of listeners who hear each of those songs played. Again, the price range above is only if a station has around 1,000 listeners. The more listeners, the higher the rates. (If the station has 2,000 listeners the rates will be doubled,etc.) The RIAA, is out of control, and needs to be stopped. Please, take the time to write to your representative to try to get this issue resolved. In my opinion it is absurd to charge webcasters money to play songs in the first place–they are exposing the artists and increasing CD sales. It is silly to believe that if a listener likes an artist, they are not going to go out to get their album, because they’ll be too busy listening to the radio. The RIAA is a manipulative company, that would benefit so much more, if they stopped being so stubborn and worked with the consumer. Fortunately for the consumers, the RIAA will bring it’s own downfall, once their greed has gone too far. It already has gone to far, but soon, someone with enough power will fight the RIAA for their injustices, and dishonoring the great gift of music.

For more information, please visit
www.save-internet-radio.com

Many of you will probably be buying The Shins new album, “Wincing The Night Away,” tomorrow or soon after, and I thought I would offer a suggestion. Starting this month, Sub Pop put into effect an awesome policy where if you buy the vinyl, they will include a coupon to download the MP3 files of that album. That means for a few more bucks, you can get the same music as you would from an iTunes download, but in addition, you’ll also get a great collectors album.

About a year ago, I started collecting a few vinyl’s, and while I rarely listen to them because MP3’s now make the whole listening process so much easier, I love having the vinyl’s for the enlarged cover artwork, and in some ways, it just really makes you feel closer to the music.

In my mind, with this great offer, there is no other way to go. The only drawback is the waiting period for the vinyl to come. If you want the music instantly after it goes on sale, you’ll have to buy it either via itunes or your local record stores.

Buy from Sub Pop

The Shins - Phantom Limb

My two favorite songs on the album are “Red Rabbits” (track 6) and “A Comet Appears” (track 11). Listen out for them.

Wilco fans have been anxiously awaiting an album release, or even news of a release, after the bands 2004 gem, “A Ghost Is Born.” Now we’ve got answers. On May 15, given that Nonesuch doesn’t mess up the release like Reprise did with “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” I am happy to inform those of you who don’t know, that Wilco, the best band on earth (possibly universe), will be releasing “Sky Blue Sky”.

Thanks to Wilco’s more than generous recording policy, many of the songs that will potentially be on the album have been recorded in live format. Knowing Tweedy, and seeing the recording process for YHF on the documentary, “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart,” any of the songs are open to change. “Impossible Germany” may become “Impossible Norway”–you just never know.

Jesse Jarnow grouped together a handful of new songs on his site, Jesse Jarnow’s Frank and Earthy Blog, that Wilco has played around the country, some of which will most likely make an appearance on the album in some form. From the press release, “Some of the 18+ plus tracks recorded and being considered for inclusion are “Impossible Germany”, “Shake it Off”, “Glad it’s Over”, “Side with the Seeds”, “Walken” and “Either Way.”

Wilco has creative ways of releasing their material, and working with the fans, so we can probably expect some sort of album streaming, possibly even before the release. Nonesuch, if you are reading this (ha), and want to leak the album once it’s done, that would be marvelous–I promise to still buy the album, maybe even several times. This is the first album produced with all six members of the current band, and most songs were written in the studio as opposed to previous albums were Tweedy composed more himself. I’ll keep you updated, when more news becomes available.

Prospective Songs on “Sky Blue Sky”:

Jeff Tweedy - Thanks I Get (Sunken Treasure DVD)

Wilco - Walken (7-16-06 Pines Theater)

I am sure that you will soon be hearing about how the once “to die for” teen soap opera “The O.C.” has been canceled by Fox. This news is not pertinent to the site in any way, and there is only one reason why I am bringing it up—the featured music. Alexandra Patsavas, music supervisor for shows such as The O.C. and Grey’s Anatomy, has brought to viewers attention hundreds of bands that the general public would have otherwise been left unaware of (It wasn’t until The O.C. aired that Death Cab became a household name for every 14-year-old girl on the face of the earth.)

I too have felt betrayed at times when an artist that I’ve listened to for years all of a sudden hits mainstream fame due to a show like The O.C., and then being asked if I know “fill in the blank.” However, I still support these bands getting the acknowledgment they deserve, and don’t think bands should be listened to because they are “indie”–they should be listened to for being talented, so the more people who listen, the merrier. The O.C. has been fundamental in displaying how much more successful a show can be when supported by good music.

Will The O.C. be missed? Not in my book, but hopefully future TV shows have learned a thing or two about the importance of taking the time to research music and giving viewers just one more incentive to tune in.

Hope everyone had a great holiday! Please check back, I’ll be posting again very soon.

If you live on the west coast this may just be your lucky day. The shins just announced a short tour:

12-07 Seattle, WA - Key Arena
12-08 San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
12-09 La Jolla, CA - RIMAC Arena (UCSD)
12-13 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom

The Shins new album, Wincing The Night Away, hits stores Jan 23. If you are resourceful, you should be able to find the album on the web–it leaked a month or so ago. I haven’t been able to get enough of the songs “Red Rabbit” and “A Comet Appears.” Unfortunately, I can’t put them up on the site yet, but Sub Pop has been kind enough to make their new single Phantom Limb available for free. If you do find the album online, please remember to support the band when the music is available for purchase.

Wincing The Night Away:

The Shins - Phantom Limb

Chutes Too Narrow:

The Shins - Gone For Good

The Shins - Young Pilgrims

Jeff Tweedy’s Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest, is one of the most therapeutic DVD’s I have ever seen. If you’re not yet a Wilco fan, expect that to change after you watch Tweedy’s masterful performances. In this DVD, Wilco’s best songs are acoustically stripped down to their core, providing an entirely different concert experience. The journey begins in Seattle, with Jeff playing Sunken Treasure in a darkened venue, which seems like an abyss. A dimmed spotlight rests on Tweedy as he performs on an Oriental rug with acoustic guitars behind him. There is a comforting ambiance emanating from the stage, that caresses the audience and home viewers. Overall, the recording of the performances gives off a vintage feel. Between songs, Tweedy speaks what is on his mind, and does so in such an eloquent manner, you would think it was a prepared speech. He is able to effortlessly spark a connection with his audience, and responds to comments shouted out in witty and affable ways.

As can be seen in this DVD and interviews Tweedy has done, Jeff is fascinated by the importance of the fan, and how the fan is an essential collaborator in the music-making process. He stated in an interview with Wired, music is “just data until the listener puts that music back together with their own ears, their mind, their subjective experience.” At his show in Portland, Tweedy politely confronts talking fans by expressing that when people come to a concert, including himself, they become part of a group. He feels that the unity of sharing an experience is a beautiful thing, and encourages people to share that experience, instead of separating themselves by talking.

If you’re still hesitant on whether to buy the DVD, maybe this will convince you: all audio tracks featured on the DVD will be available to download free of charge. By the way, if you are curious as to who the man is on the header image of my website, it’s Jeff Tweedy.

Audio from Sunken Treasure:

Jeff Tweedy - Sunken Treasure

Jeff Tweedy - In A Future Age

Ian Hultquist - Sunken Treasure Cover(not on DVD–click HERE for artist info)

I have been taking drum lessons now for about a year, and must say that I’m not that much better than when I started…but today, that has all changed. I just learned what the problem was! It is just as I suspected–my teacher. And, well, my drums. If you watch, be sure to stick around for the grand finale. A1-A2-A123 (HIT IT).

After online radio station Woxy pulled the plug on Sep 15, I’ve been going back onto woxy.com daily to see if by any chance there would be good news. And today there was! Woxy has been revived, and will soon be back up on air. Now the only question is if a paid membership will be needed for high-quality radio. Awesome.

Update: Out of excitement, I posted as quickly as possible, without researching the specifics. So here’s the scoop. Bill Nguyen, a 35 year old entreupeneur from Silicon Valley just discovered the station and wants to help get Woxy back on air.

Nguyen’s plan involves investing $5 million to $10 million in WOXY.com over the next 12 months to:
Maintain its Cincinnati headquarters and give its DJs full editorial control.

***Bring back its free online broadcast and improve its quality***

Open studios in San Francisco and other cities to broadcast live performances from bands.

Allow listeners to purchase music directly from independent artists they hear on WOXY.com through www.lala.com. (Nguyen’s used CD trading website)

Allow listeners to create their own radio shows that they can share with other listeners.

Make WOXY.com more portable.

Again, Awesome.

Hello again! Good to be back. I really appreciate the feedback I’m getting on the site–it means a great deal to me. When I first started indiemuse.com, I wrote up a “mission statement” explaining what I would like to accomplish with the site. I felt then, and still feel that the community is just as important as the music. Just like you are hopefully discovering some music from this site, I realize I would never be able to run indiemuse if it wasn’t for the community–radio stations, websites, magazines… Even You!

Therefore, I would like to discuss some music and hear your thoughts on it. To start out, I am going to post a song with lyrics that have had significant meaning to me. I feel that the lyrics represent most human beings, some more than others, at different times in our lives. To me, the song represents making the most of the present, because we never know what the future has in store.

Consider taking the time to listen to and read the lyrics (the link below will open the song in a new window so you can see lyrics at same time). You are a part of the community, and I think it would be fun to see what the song means to you and your life. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate…just drop a line if you like the song.

Also please, please let me know of songs with lyrics that have had an impact on you. I would love to hear them, and will definitely post some of the songs.

Colin Hay - Waiting For My Real Life To Begin

Any minute now, my ship is coming in
I’ll keep checking the horizon
I’ll stand on the bow, feel the waves come crashing
Come crashing down, down, down, on me

And you say, be still my love
Open up your heart
Let the light shine in
But don’t you understand
I already have a plan
I’m waiting for my real life to begin

When I awoke today, suddenly nothing happened
But in my dreams, I slew the dragon
And down this beaten path, and up this cobbled lane
I’m walking in my old footsteps, once again
And you say, just be here now
Forget about the past, your mask is wearing thin
Let me throw one more dice
I know that I can win
I’m waiting for my real life to begin

Any minute now, my ship is coming in
I’ll keep checking the horizon
And I’ll check my machine, there’s sure to be that call
It’s gonna happen soon, soon, soon
It’s just that times are lean

And you say, be still my love
Open up your heart, let the light shine in
Don’t you understand
I already have a plan
I’m waiting for my real life to begin

You know that energetic guy on the television who you always saw running into Crocodile infested waters like a madman? And how you wondered what would happen if he made a mistake and got eaten alive while the camera was rolling? You know, that guy who started all that controversy when he brought his newborn child feet away from a Croc? Well it has just been reported that a stingray beat the Crocodiles to the punch. It killed him! He was filming something in Austrialia and the stringray stung him in the heart. What has the world come to?

RIP Steve Irwin, RIP.