Urban Landscapes hits the airwaves and the Internet tonight and every
Friday evening from 8-11pm PST on KCPR 91.3 FM, and through our live
Internet stream at http://www.kcpr.org/.
Don't forget that if you miss the live show, you can hear it anytime via
the Urban Landscapes site at http://www.urbanlandscapesshow.com. The
last ten shows will always be posted for your listening pleasure
anytime, anyday. Be sure to tell your friends about the show.
NEWS
---- It's amazing how fast time flies! Today marks the first day of summer here stateside. It's also the summer quarter here at Cal Poly State University (home of KCPR, and that of Urban Landscapes), where young people (as well as the young-at-heart) are out in shorts, tanks, sundresses...life is eye-catching here!Tonight's show kicks off Part One of the two-part Halfway Rewind Show. So much great music has already dropped during the first five plus months of 2002 that it's going to be tough to narrow them down. Both 12" vinyl and tunes from albums will represent in a good way, I hope. You shouldn't sleep on these gems, even if you have slept through them early on!
No reviews this week due in part to a long "editorial" that took a bit of thought and reflection to compose. I will deluge you with tons of new reviews next week. There's just so much good stuff that has arrived recently that I want to give you the 411 in a more relaxed mindset.
Well okay, maybe a hint of a review. As I'm finishing up this circular (and as I was composing pieces of it earlier), I'm really getting into a new compilation put together by Dino & Terry. I am really....really....digging this well put-together compilation on e:Motion called "Deep Inside: Vol. 1." Unlike the batches of mix CDs I've been getting throughout the last few months, this collection has all of the tracks in unmixed form on CD...a blessing for DJs, indeed! I'll tell you more about it next week, but do seek!
Thanks/Shouts This Week...
Extreme gratitude to Andrew at Ubiquity for the new goods. (I am truly grateful, man...I owe you one!) Big thanks to some mysterious angel at D.C.'s Eighteenth Street Lounge Music for the box of tasty vinyls that came in last week (nudging so-ever-gently for the advanced Thievery biz)...will get some mileage out of them yet. Look forward to more new ones in the future. Also big-ups and congrats to Alex from L.A.-based band Subthunk...looking forward to seeing your gig here in SLO-town next month...you know I'll be there! (An interview with them is forthcoming.) Also shouts out to Didier at Versatile in France...glad to know you are alive and busy! Looking forward to the package from you soonest! I also need to say wassup to The Man from Bootsville Cukipapa himself! Very glad to hook up with ya, man....even if it's from afar! Tee-shirt on the way next week, so wear it out well during your European travels! Gotta give one out to Jeeeeeeeen, one of our musically astute DJs here. She'll be doing the Landscapes thingie on July 28. Catch her live cuz she might not get the archive treatment. Then again, she's tech-savvy sooooo maybeyoumight! I must also say howdie to two more locals that I can count on....Mr Joyce and Malik. (hey Malik...you'll need to tell me more about your London travels soon!). Lastly, thanks to all the labels, artists, and promo peeps for materials past, current and future...you know who you are (especially if you are being mailed this e-circular), and really appreciate the support you've given...may that support for one another continue downstream!
Rant: Urban Landscapes's Future
Right now, KCPR is at an important crossroad. Yesterday, the U.S. federal copyright regulators have issued new royalty rates for webcasters after rejecting proposed rates last month recommended in part by the RIAA (the powerful U.S. recording industry trade group the Recording Industry Association of America). The rate for radio stations, including non-commercial stations like ours, would be $0.07 cents per song per listener. This might not sound like much, but like all things it can add up.
For example: If I were to have 100 online listeners (live or archived), multiply that by 30 songs per show, and multiply that total by $0.07, the total fee per show would be $210 (100 * 30 * 0.07). Multiply that by four (the number of shows per month) and the fee would be a whopping $840 a month. Multiply *that* total by twelve (the number of months in a year), and we are talking about $10,008 a year!
Now I don't know about you, but maybe I've been living in a glass house. Or maybe, just maybe, this is truly outrageous and counterintuitive. At at time when record sales in the U.S. alone are down and listeners themselves are fed up with only one or two good tracks on a whole album, you'd think that the U.S. music industry needs all the help it can get. The RIAA claims that its trade organization exists to protect the artists and his/her creative work. But folks, I think that you--the enlightened listener--weren't born with air in your heads. At least from my observation (and, perhaps, your own), this is just another barrier of entry for independent music. No wonder things have gotten so bad, that artists and independent labels have decided to to things for themselves without "help" from the RIAA or other such entities. Even here in the states, important small labels are trying to find their voice, find their audiences, and put out quality music for like-minded listeners to discover.
It was both inspiration and my deep love of forward thinking music that has helped shaped this show in the four-and-a-half years that it's been on the air. And that deepness has manifested itself into sharing the music with others who would otherwise not have an outlet to hear such wonderful crafts of art. The recording industry seems to be in a creative slump, but you--the listener--know better.
And that's why in spite of what may or may not happen regarding the live webcast of Urban Landscapes, I will do my utmost to ensure that you will get a new show for online listening every week. This is an important time for all of independent music, as some bright indie labels are thriving, but many struggle, others have either closed shop (R.I.P, Nuphonic) or are in danger of doing so.
The live show will still be both on-air and online for the time being, as there's a 30-day window for appeals to the Fed's ruling. Assuming that the rules are upheld, however, KCPR may be forced to abandon its live Internet simulcast. As for Urban Landscapes, I am planning on continuing to archive the show online. The big difference, which won't be much of a difference, is that the archived edition will leave out material by RIAA-member labels. I deal with good independent labels and promo joints, anyhow (and always searching for more). The show may differ slightly, but much of the music played on-air that week will make it in the archived version (sans RIAA-member labels).
This is the show for the artists, labels, DJs, and like-minded music lovers. I make no money off airplay of such music. (Maybe I'll make money when I start spinning later in the year, but that's another beast.) I do my best to pick the best from the large selection of music that I receive, and give the music airplay once, twice, and maybe more. I try my best to play it enough for people to become interested, and then go out and buy both to support the music and the artists. I believe in the artists that are represented, and I think that on-air (and on-net) promotion should generally be payment enough. Promote the music, promote the artists, and everyone wins.
PLEASE NOTE: I will contact labels et.al. over the summer to make sure that I do get their blessings for the online versions. It might take time to do, so I will keep on keeping on (play first, ask later) in order to manage things in light of my busy schedule. IF ANY LABEL has problems with this before I'm able to get to you, PLEASE contact me.
Also be aware of several things:
1. The show is in RealMedia format, meaning that it cannot be saved onto one's computer. 2. The last ten shows are archived, meaning that the earliest archive gets replaced each week.
I know that I may have to revisit the subject again, but I want you all out there to be aware of what's at stake. You are my stakeholders, and I'm going to do my best to ensure that your musical voices get heard stateside. We have big plans coming soon, and so we are not about to go down if we can help it. We are a long ways from that point. We are thriving and shape-shifting into musical directions that will be mind-blowing. I look forward, as always, to sharing with you.
I welcome any comments and suggestions. You know where to reach me; otherwise, contact info is toward the end of this circular.
In the end, no worries...we're just gonna make more noooooise! And you can bet your sweet ass on that one, baby!
LAST WEEK'S PLAYLIST (Friday June 14, 2002) (Hear the broadcast at http://www.urbanlandscapesshow.com/shows/14Jun02.ram) ---- 1. Slowdeck--Little Stranger (Baby Shores) Slowdeck (Waveform)
2. Perpetual Sound Systems--Choengs Forward Selection (Open Source Music)
3. Chet Baker--Round About Midnight (Gotan Project Remix) Rewind! compilation (Ubiquity)
4. Peace Orchestra--The Man (Kosma Remix) Reset compilation (G-Stone)
5. Idema & Co.--Cascade Soul Searching II: Tribe Vol. 7 compilation (Infracom)
6. Dinah Washington--Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (Rae & Christian Remix) Verve Remixed compilation (Verve)
7. Grupo Batuque--Na Batida Do Agogo (Osunlade's Main Mix) Rhythmix: Reluque Batuque compilation (Far Out)
8. Hidden Agenda--Low Jazz Fidget (Fauna Flash Remix) One Step Ahead 2 compilation (Straight Ahead)
9. Q-Burns Abstract Message--Innocent (King Britt's Scuba Mix) Re-Routed: Invisible Airlines Remixes (Eighth Dimensions)
10. Bob Holroyd--Drumming Up A Storm (Bob Holroyd Remix) Motion 2 compilation (Six Degrees)
11. Peace Orchestra--Shining (Truby Trio Remix) Reset (G-Stone)
12. Zero dB--The Snare Fluid Ounce: Unmeasured compilation (Fluid Ounce/Ubiquity promo)
13. Capitol K--Capitol Beat Sticky (µ-ziq Remix) 12" (XL)
14. Neon Phusion--Kaleidoscope It's Another EP 12" (Laws Of Motion)
15. Freddie Mas--Detail Of A Detail (Cosmic Rocker Remix) 12" (Codek)
16. Joakim--Cotton Gun (Kirk DeGiorgio Remix) 12" (Versatile)
17. Recloose--Ain't Changin' (Carl Craig's Dark Soul Mix) 12" (Planet E)
18. Innate--I Don't Care Defining Tech compilation (Orbisonic)
19. High Contrast--Return To Forever (Landslide Remix) (Hospital CDR)
20. High Contrast--Make It Tonight True Colours (Hospital/Breakbeat Science)
21. Herbie Hancock--The Essence (LTJ Bukem Remix) LTJ Bukem: Producer 05 compilation (Good Looking)
22. Subthunk--Wobble (demo track) (CDR)
23. Organic Grooves--Seashore Organic Grooves 4 (Codek)
24. Brandy--The Ritual (Chateau Flight Remix) Chateau Flight: Remixent compilation (Versatile)
25. Herbert--Close To Me Around The Corner reissue (Soundslike/!K7)
26. R.E.M.--I've Been High (Matthew "Intended" Herbert Remix) R.E.M.ix 2x12" (white)
27. Papa Byrd--Soul Motion The Many Moods Of Papa Byrd (Transistor)
28. Thunderball--Vai Vai (Downtempo Low Rider Mix) 10" (Eighteenth Street Lounge Music)
----
Please feel free to send your musical submissions (CD, vinyl, and minidisc) for airplay and/or review consideration to the following location:
Velanche Stewart, Urban Landscapes c/o KCPR 91.3 FM Graphic Communications Bldg. Room 201 Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 PERSONAL
If you have an mp3 submission, please let me know and we'll make the appropriate arrangements.
If you're available for interviews, we welcome them as well. Just e-mail me at velanche@kcpr.org.
This newsletter is sent to DJs, record labels, promotion companies, and like-minded music lovers. If you wish to be removed from the list, please let me know.
To be added to the weekly mailing list, please let me know and I'll add you.
Have a great weekend!
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Jun 21 2002 - 10:17:35 CEST