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Special Issue2002-2003: A year in review
By Pat Ferris - Publisher
It's hard to believe, but another year has come and gone. Looking back at 2002,
HotBands Entertainment Inc. was launched in rough seas. In spite of plenty of
bumps along the road, our user base more than doubled to over 3000 bands, and
our traffic more than tripled, to over 750,000 hits monthly, solidifying HotBands.com
as a heavyweight in the Internet music industry.
Internet piracy, copyright politics, file trading and RIAA witch-hunts dominated the music news for the year. Companies that exploded on the scene, like Kazaa, have spelled disaster for the major labels CD sales as well as subscription-based services like MusicNet and PressPlay...neither of which have been able to attract more than 100,000 users in spite of heavy advertising.
Looking back at my predictions for 2002: My predictions for 2002 music industry:
-
More lawsuits by the recording industry against peer-to-peer file traders. (maybe
they'll figure out that it's time to re-think distribution, but I'm not holding
my breath for any of the corporate types to have a fresh idea
Man! Was I on the money or what? In spite of attempts to regulate or outlaw file trading, the global reach of the Internet will create rival options outside of the reach of RIAA (American) law. In the end, the file-traders are unaffected, the record companies are the big losers, not because the Internet damaged their CD sales, but because 50 years of abusing the public with a monopolistic, supply driven industry. The big winners are...as always...the attorneys.
- The rise of new file compression to rival MP3.
I think Microsoft will have a hand in this. MP3 Players will end up becoming
obsolete and new players that play multiple formats will be created.
Okay, this hasn't happened yet, but it's already in the works. Microsoft is already creating browsers with built-in subscription music services that will increase the likelihood of a user to 'purchase' the download. My gut feeling is that once (and IF) this becomes commonplace, Microsoft will convert files to Microsoft compatible players that won't play other formats such as MP3.
- Several versions of copy-protected CDs that hackers
find a way to de-protect. This is the rise of spy vs. spy in the business sector.
This has been going on all year. Expect more of the same in the upcoming years. Whatever can be protected, can be hacked. The way to keep the hackers from hacking is to take the wind out of the sails (sales) by re-thinking distribution and support industries.
- Britney Spears gets another boob job.
Another missed prediction...I guess silicone boobs lasts longer than I thought. By the way, do breast-fed babies from mothers with silicone implants develop pearls under their tongue?
We added more bands this year than we had from the four previous years combined, which was a blessing in the sense of LOTS of great music to hear, but also makes the job of selecting 'favorites' more difficult than ever. Rather than going month by month through 2002 talking about each week, I'll list the picks, when they were listed, where they're from and why they were selected:
|
Artist/Band of the Year: Leftover Salmon
- Boulder Colorado Best CD: Moses Guest (self-title release)
- Houston, Texas Best Acoustic Songwriter: Caroline Aiken
- Atlanta, Georgia (album - Unshaken)
Best Composer/Arranger: Jorn Lavol - Bergen,
Norway Best Website: The Badlees - Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania Best Male Vocalist: Pete Palladino - Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania
Best Guitarist: Bill Kirchen - Washington, DC Best Live Performance - Yonder Mountain
String Band - Nederland, Colorado (at The Showbox in Seattle 11/14/2002) |
This
was a tough call as there were so many great bands that were featured
throughout the year. Leftover Salmon has been a powerhouse in the bluegrass/jamrock
scene for a number of years, but the passing of founder and banjo player
Mark Vann was not only a loss to the music world, but many thought it
may have been the death bell for the band as well. Amazingly, the band
pulled together, brought in Noam Pikelny to fill a BIG pair of shoes,
and are back to business as always...selling out large venues well in
advance. The energy, musicianship and fun this band shares with the listeners
is evident by the size of their ever-growing following.
Hands
down, there was no CD that came across my desk this year that was even
in the same ballpark. Moses Guest first release was not only a double-CD,
but also the production, artwork, photographs, layout...everything from
top to bottom was totally professional. If you want to see how to do it
the right way, take notes from Moses Guest!
Caroline
Aiken is one of the finest female singer/songwriters in the folk arena
today. Her silken voice and introspective lyrics capture ones imagination,
and has kept Caroline touring on a national level for the past 20 years.
Caroline's CD 'Unshaken' was finalized in Boston only two days before
the 9/11 tragedy in New York with an eerie twist best explained in my
interview with her.
Jorn Lavol is definitely one of the most creative and prolific composers
I've heard. At age 26, he is already a theatre director and consultant
and composer at the college in Bergen, Norway. His genre is varied, but
I would consider it Experimental Classical, pushing the boundaries of
traditional classical music and using unique recording and composing methods
to create a mental image from the sounds played. Really wonderful music
to let your mind wander.
Flash
seems to be the way things are being developed in the realm of 'flashy'
websites, but when, where and how to use the latest graphics techniques
are what separates the wheat from the chaff. The Badlees website is graphic
intensive, but offers the user that is still using dial-up connections
the ability to get to the information quickly without all the bells and
whistles. For the music industry executive or those with money to afford
broadband, The Badlees website offers not only information, but captures
the feel of the band in the most professional looking website I've seen
to date. This is what a well created website can do for presenting a professional
image of your band.
Pete Palladino originally sent his solo CD 'Sweet Siren of the Reconnected'
which was a doorway to my introduction to The Badlees. The Badlees chemistry
is Pete singing songs written by Bret Alexander-guitar, mandolin, and
vocals. Pete has tremendous vocal control, power and unbridled passion,
which is what brought The Badlees two top-10 singles.
I
can't say enough about this woman! There are some great female vocalists
and great female guitarists, and great songwriters of both genders, but
Carolyn Wonderland has it all! She has a voice that has to be heard to
be believed and songwriting that is some of the best I've heard. Carolyn
was the first featured artist at HotBands and has had several reviews.
If you're asking why I review Carolyn when there are plenty of other bands
I haven't...go see her! 
Bill Kirchen and his band, Too Much Fun, are a good ol' fashioned, high-octane,
fuel-injected, American rock and roll band that defines the epitome of a successful
indie artist...flying under the radar of mainstream fame for nearly 30 years,
while consistently earning a viable living playing music for two generations
of fans. His guitar playing is something that I recommend EVERYBODY to see LIVE!!
If you're a fan of all the greats, they're all rolled into Bill Kirchen and
his VERY worn telecaster!
This show was one of the most electrifying musical experiences I can remember.
The irony is that Yonder Mountain String Band is an acoustic bluegrass
band! The energy created by the synergy of audience and the four musicians
onstage was incredible! The image that is permanently burned into my mind
is a huge bear-like man in bib-overalls dancing, hooking arms and swinging
around with anybody that was near him! It was a true hillbilly hoedown
in a larger than life setting! After the show, I got to hang out and talk
with the band backstage and found four of the most down to earth, witty
and hospitable musicians I've had the opportunity to meet. Great songwriting,
great musicianship, great attitudes...what more could anybody ask for?
My predictions for 2003 music industry:
More lawsuits against peer-to-peer file trading companies and attempts to criminalize file trading among users. Prohibition doesn't curb demand...it just creates a black market.
Widespread use of 'disguised' viruses through file-trading companies to attempt to sway users to use subscription based services. I'm not sure if it's legal to use these tactics or if there is a way to trace it back to the originator, but IF this becomes commonplace, I think it will backlash and only drive the market for virus-detection software created by the file-trading companies.
The major labels will purchase more of the successful Internet music upstarts in an attempt to maintain monopolistic control over the market.
Thanks again to all of the artists that have contributed to HotBands.com by
adding your information. We finally have our MP3 section and gig calendar integrated
and will be launching a new local scene for each city, so make sure your information
is current and your MP3s are working so it will give our readers and your fans
an enjoyable visit.
More features and services are coming this year which will include area-specific classifieds that will enhance the ability for an artist to get from 'I have an idea for a song' to being on the road promoting a CD.
Stay posted, check back and help us get the word out!
Happy 2003!
Patrick J. Ferris
President - HotBands Entertainment Inc
Publisher - HotBands.com
