October 2007

Those of you who felt that the book airs "our dirty laundry", well as the saying goes...THE TRUTH HURTS!!!! You don't have to like the messenger..but PLEASE DON'T IGNORE THE MESSAGE!!!!!!!!! I could write a "special edition" of Peepin' on the subject matter. WE ARE LOSING GROUND with our children. Being in the music business brings me ever so close to how serious the situation. Now mind you, I am not only speaking on my Black community, but the American community as well.

Such as Mr. Cosby, my concern is MY COMMUNITY!!!! So let me bring you up to speed. I received an email a couple of weeks ago from an organization affiliated with Cosby, called the Ground Forces Network. I followed the instruction and enrolled. I knew I was going to get a personal complimentary copy. So when UPS came to my door, I had received TEN copies of "Come On People" with one autographed by the author. In my excitement, I had just about given them all away in mind, but decided to use my personal approach.

I forwarded ten emails to a selected few..the Educators, Community oriented and the possibly concerned that I felt could participate in this program..DON'T ENROLL IF YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS. To date, approximately seven out of the ten enrolled. I have just sent out a few more emails...I am awaiting a reply from two people and I had one person decline not only to not enroll, was not interested in the book and misinterpreted the subject matter and the passion of this subject and did not like Bill Cosby. "Come On People", get your head out of the toilet (visit SW Philadelphia #1 in murder crimes or Los Angeles (the "Jungle") and face the situation...IT IS SERIOUS!!!!

I make my living promoting recording artists with the end results being sales...I am asking that you DON'T BUY THAT CD/DVD YOU WANT (I am taking a real chance with this one)...DON'T BUY THAT WEEKLY "CHILL-OUT" BOTTLE OF HENNESSEY...DON'T BUY THOSE SHOES, DRESSES, DESIGNER FASHIONS...BUY THE BOOK!!!!! The $15.59 (on line) is well worth it! It is easy reading, informative, rewarding, passionate and ever so close to home..Our home...We cannot count on Russell Simons, he still is wearing a baseball cap and T-shirt to FORMAL gatherings at the age of 56!...Don't try and count on P-Diddy, he is still fathering children without marriage (they are part of the problem)..Don't count on those who come as missionaries of God that have "beat-downs"...sex scandals and stealing in the name of the Lord...Don't count on our so-called Black leaders...COUNT ON YOURSELF!!!! If you don't like Cosby, it is on you...but don't kill the message. It is real...it is true and it is time!!!

The following will be printed as a two part article...WHY...because it is packed with so much information that I would like for you to really digest it!! - Peepin'
I was told at a recent music conference by an executive from an independent distributor that he wishes the Internet would be destroyed because it hurts record sales so bad.
I have in recent times heard from a major market radio consultant that the Internet was responsible for the demise in listener ship at radio formats around the United States and it should be banned.
To both of these statements I say "It's about time", the one sided business practices and limited opportunities within the radio / record / store system should have ceased years ago.
Michael Harrison, publisher of the talk-radio magazine Talkers, told a group at the National Association of Broadcasters Radio Show that competing technologies -- like Internet, Wi-Fi, podcasts and cell phones -- would all but fill the niche they now occupy.
"These are dark times for terrestrial radio," Harrison said. "And most people in terrestrial radio are in denial of it."
The old record industry depended on radio airplay to sell records for record retailers, then they added MTV / BET to their record selling mix. This vicious cycle has finally started to erode, technology has made it easier for more creators of music and multi-media projects, and with this proliferation of new material came new avenues to listen and expose these creations. The new record industry has been birthed and the initial growing pains are now presenting themselves. Change can be embraced, fought or ignored, change cannot be stopped, and today's technology has brought many new revenue generating ideas to our industry.

RADIO To exist in a profit making position Radio will need to focus on its local sponsors and core community. Music will probably be the first thing that will leave the format as more and more stations will turn to talk and information radio. Genre specific radio has risen significantly already with the proliferation of Hispanic, sports, talk, Asian, Haitian; and other formats. It is not too difficult to envision that this type of audience targeted radio will become mainstream soon. Music is now available on a multitude of levels as proven by the data being collected today on Arbitrons PPM, and consumers are turning away from radio to hear this music by using many different devices.
RETAIL Independent record retailers are fast becoming a thing of the past. These retailers have had to change their buying patterns and start carrying clothing, multi media accessories, and adult novelties based on their specific customer genre just to stay in business.
An example of positive genre specific business practices is the new deal announced between MUSICNET, the music unit of MEDIANET DIGITAL and LA CURACAO, a leading Hispanic mega retailer in the U.S. creating the first ever full-featured Hispanic focused digital music service.
MUSICNET with LA CURACAO partnering have created PASITO TUNES a Hispanic based fully customized digital music subscription service and download store, along with the ability to access users' music collections both on PCs and portable devices. Users will have access to a bi-lingual online music destination with catalog from Latino music genres including Salsa, Meringue, Cumbia, Tex-Mex, Reggaeton, Bachata, Rancheras, Baladas, Spanish pop music and more.
RECORDS CD, vinyl, and the almost extinct cassette sales are plummeting at a faster and faster rate every year. Digital sales ARE increasing however they are not nearly as bountiful as yesterday's cd and vinyl sales once were. Record labels are now turning to different sources for their revenue.
The music business is no longer about promoting records, but it has changed into a licensing business.
UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP is trying to create a comprehensive subscription plan, called TOTALMUSIC, which would require buy-in from ISPs and mobile access providers. This is an interesting idea if the consumer doesn't have to foot the bill; however we already know that the ISP will automatically increase monthly access charges in exchange for a subscription-based music plan.
The NATIONAL MUSIC PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION has stepped up their efforts to shut down popular websites that publish lyrics to songs without their permission -- and are demanding that GOOGLE and YAHOO! remove all references to them in search results, reports THE NEW YORK POST.
The move against lyric sites comes because the publishing business is in the midst of rolling out OFFICIAL online-lyric offerings through such places as YAHOO! MUSIC and REAL NETWORKS' RHAPSODY, via deals with lyric aggregators GRACENOTE and LYRICFIND
Since 2003, IODA has been at the forefront of digital independent music distribution marketing and technology. Now IODA is in the digital video distribution business, with content from a broad range of top-tier indie film production companies along with IODA's labels' catalog of music videos. Distribution outlets include movie download sites NetFlix and EZTakes, mobile outlets Groovemobile, Hudson, Jamba/Jamster, Mobile Streams, Rogers Canada and Musiwave, and music video purveyors Real Rhapsody, Muzu and Veoh.
WARNER MUSIC GROUP and CHRIS LIGHTY, Founder/CEO of VIOLATOR MANAGEMENT, have formed a joint venture to be known as BRAND ASSET GROUP. The group is designed to increase revenue by more aggressively managing artist brands from all genres and capitalize on the value of those brands through corporate sponsorships, strategic and integrated marketing campaigns and comprehensive brand extensions.
I will say it again. The music business is no longer about promoting records, but it has changed into a licensing business.
HUH...HUH...HUH...Peepin'
Allen Johnston - The Music Specialist

Highline Ballroon 431 West 16th Street New York, New York 10011 (Bet. 9th & 10th Avenue

Henderson calls his latest CD an EP for Easy Play as compared to the LP or long playing albums of the last century. "Global Warning" is not only a musical masterpiece - it is Music with a message. Henderson takes to heart the problems facing our environment and is spreading the word.

Many people are not paying attention to the ecological imbalance of the earth," says Henderson. He calls this CD "Edutainment" - education through entertainment. The first cut on the CD is titled "Global Warning" and is followed by several other versions including a radio mix, regular mix, dance mix, extended mix, and club mix, as well as other original works.

Henderson is the man behind the famed Jazz Crusaders that he began in a Texas junior high school in the mid 50's. Since then he has found fame and success as an international recording artist, multi-instrumentalist and producer/composer.

This artist is known for pushing the envelope of the typical jazz sound. With the Jazz Crusaders he looked beyond the straight arrow and often restrained jazz sounds. Henderson mixed elements of Jazz, Funk, Soul, R&B, Rock, Latin and Gospel - resulting in an iridescent sound that made a major impact on the industry.

Henderson who is known as Wayne "Trombone" Henderson and "Big Daddy" has not only gained accolades as an artist - but also as a producer/composer. He worked with the best in the industry - such as Patti Austin, Steely Dan, Rebbie Jackson, Marvin Gaye, B.B. King, The Jackson Five, Joni Mitchell, Tina Turner and so many more.

In the 1980's, Henderson continued to be on the cutting edge of music. With the growing popularity of hip-hop, Henderson co-created funk-fusion and jazz funk. Now, he has created a new innovative music style entitled Jazziphop. His epic productions revolutionized the recording industry in every continent and urban music culture was never the same and so it will be with Jazziphop. This new music is a hybrid of jazz fusion, rap & hip-hop flavored with rhythm and blues. "I want to continue to maintain my loyal fan base of jazz enthusiasts, and in the process, gain a host of new fans by serving them with rap cooked right", says Henderson, "Enjoy It"! D.Y.M.E. LTD. -www.wmgw.net -

-Everyone knows, or should know...that Mr. Henderson and I go back at least 20 years...so I am a little partial. However, good music is good music regardless of the friendship.

"GLOBAL WARNING"- Jazz in the Hip-Hop Generations is composed of five mixes of the titled CD "Global Warning"..The Club mix nearly took me outta here! Volume turned up...doing the funky monkey and whatever gyrations I could muster up at my age and inhaler in hand...I commenced to dance for the total time of the track...six minutes,exactly 30 seconds short of going into convulsions...the only thing that saved me was, I could not reach the phone to call 911 and the Smooth Jazz track - "Reflections Of The Sun". coupled with...a cool R&B ballad"I Want A New Man" featuring Brenda Pierce which really speaks for itself with lyrics that will fire up the female demographics.

Ray Stevens just thinks funny. His humor is keenly observant and rich in nuance. His style is unaffected and unpretentious which for the past fifty years has allowed for entertainment that is both witty and guileless. From his multi-million selling comedy hit, "The Streak" to the socially aware "Mr. Businessman" to his Grammy award winning pop standard "Everything Is Beautiful" his talent has touched so many. Not only a singer and composer, Ray has also produced, arranged and played on the recordings of some of Nashville's most legendary performers. "Anyone who doesn't love Ray Stevens is un-American. The latest Ray Stevens, HURRICANE, is one of those story-songs that'll fit any format, any program, anytime for it relates to everyone listening" - Don Kennedy - Host-Big Band Jump - 200+stations

Never let it be said that Peepin' The Scene is not an equal opportunity publication...I must admit that I am not familiar with the country music marketplace...to read about Ray Stevens in his biographical profile is just the tip of his actual performance in song and lyrics. "Hurricane" is a spoof on the weather situation...could this be another Global Warning???

Those of you that know TERRI ROSSI knows SWEETPEA!!! I was with Terri when she picked her friend out of a new litter in New Orleans. SWEEETPEA...The most well traveled dog I have ever known...smarter than a lot of people I know...loved more than I have ever been loved except by my Master

Lend Me A Pup I will lend to you for awhile a puppy, God said, For you to love him while she lives and to mourn for him when she is gone. Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe for two or three But will you, till I call him back take care of her for me?

She'll bring her charms to gladden you and (should her stay be brief) you'll always have her memories as solace for your grief. I cannot promise that she will stay, since all from earth return, But there are lessons taught below I want this pup to learn.

I've looked the whole world over in search of teachers true And from the folk that crowd life's land I have chosen you. Now will you give her all your love Nor think the labour vain Nor hate me when I come to take my pup back again.

I fancied that I heard them say "Dear Lord Thy Will Be Done". For all the joys this pup will bring, the risk of grief you'll run. Will you shelter her with tenderness Will you love her while you may And for the happiness you'll know forever grateful stay

But should I call her back much sooner than you've planned Please brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand. If, by your love, you've managed my wishes to achieve, In memory of her that you've loved, cherish every moment with your faithful bundle, and know she loved you too. -Author Unknown

WE ROLL LIKE THIS!!!!

Bill Cosby - "Come On People"
Unyted Records - J. Randall

Peepin' The Scene
From A Whisper To A Scream

email: awhspr2scrm@aol.com
web: http://www.pauletteadesuzia.com