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2003: A year in reviewBy Pat Ferris - Publisher
Another year has passed into memory and history. Mega media mergers, lawsuits against file-traders and scandals topped the music news charts throughout the year, while many performers took their final bow. Phil Spector was charged with murder, and Michael Jackson with molestation of a minor. The RIAA went wild with lawsuits against file traders, file trading companies, ISPs and anybody else that was in their crosshairs, yet file-trading has continued to flourish and still accounts for more than 90 percent of the music acquired through the Internet.
Music obituaries for 2003 include: Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter, Warren Zevon, Maurice Gibb, Barry White, Johnny Paycheck, Hank Ballard, Edwin Starr, Little Eva, Nina Simone, Herbie Mann, Benny Carter, Celia Cruz, Robert Palmer, Righteous Brother, Bobby Hatfield and last but not least, MP3.com, which dealt a major blow to independent artists around the world.
At a chance meeting last February with Bill Gates at the EMP in Seattle, I attempted to discuss Microsoft's planned role in the music industry. Mr. Gates quickly moved to end the conversation by bluntly stating, "We're a software company and we're not involved in the music industry"
Now I'm no fool, and I know that for the past three years, Microsoft has been playing a role in how media and entertainment will be distributed over the Internet. 2003 saw Microsoft actively in the music industry by offering music downloads through several subscription services, and are aligning themselves with the major labels to fight music piracy. This was a prediction I had for 2002, so even though I was off by one year, I knew it was inevitable that the Microsoft, the key master to the majority of Internet users worldwide, would play a role in distribution of music.
Reviewing 2003 and my predictions for 2003 music industry:
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More lawsuits against peer-to-peer file trading companies and attempts to criminalize file trading among users.
I'm right on the money, but it's pretty easy to put one and one together to come up with two. Lawsuits against students, ISPs and residential users of file-trading software were abundant while services like I-Pod have created what looks like a profitable subscription service.
- Widespread use of 'disguised' viruses through file-trading companies to attempt to sway users to use subscription based services.
I find this prediction almost humorous in its irony. On December 31st, 2003...the last and busiest day of the year for updates and website changes, I was hit with a series of viruses that have caused irreparable damage to my computer. As I finish this editorial and layout, I'm severely crippled and have to do all edits in the most basic programs, which have to be entered through back-door means. I'll reformat once this issue is posted!
- The major labels will purchase more of the successful Internet music upstarts in an attempt to maintain monopolistic control over the market
On the stranger twist of things, we instead saw Apple join the music industry with I-Pod, Real Networks purchase Listen.com and Microsoft testing the waters on a number of different fronts ranging from subscription to pay-by-download. The music industry seemed to be so caught up and focused on suing people that the music industry, by default, is being controlled more and more by Internet and computer companies.
On a personal level, HotBands.com has grown another 30 percent to nearly 5000 artists and we will be focusing on the integration of each local music community in 2004. Artists that are signed up are urged to log in to fill in their information, add their live shows, MP3s and links to their official website. Changes in the New Year will help feature artists that are active and use our services.
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Artist/Band of the Year: Yonder Mountain String Band - Nederland, Colorado Best New Band: Pop Shuvit - Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia Best CD: My Favorite Record - The Asylum Street Spankers - Austin, Texas
Best Male Vocalist: Reggie Watts (Maktub) - Seattle, Washington Best Female Vocalist: Martha Redbone - New York, New York Best Solo Performer - Baby Gramps - Seattle, Washington Best Live Performance - Leftover Salmon - Boulder, Colorado (at Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival |
If this category were strictly based on following, Yonder Mountain would stand alone as the band that created more of a groundswell in 2003 independent of any major label than any other band listed on our site. With amazing three and four part harmony, exceptional musicianship and songwriting that speaks for a generation, I would equate this witty and extremely personable Colorado quartet as The Beatles of Bluegrass.
Malaysian skater band Pop Shuvit has moved to the forefront of headlining acts in Southeast Asia. Their first CD Take it and Shuvit release through EMI Asia last December, garnered two Grammy nominations, three songs that went to number 1 on HITZ, (Malaysia's equivalent to Billboard), and numerous awards for their videos 'Skaters Anthem' and Slip Away. As well as headlining every major X Games event in SE Asia this year, Pop Shuvit's music debuted in the United States at ESPN's X Games event in Los Angeles last year. Pop Shuvit will be touring Australia in April and are looking to come to the United States in summer of 2004.
Released late in 2002, My Favorite Record was a concept album, a comedy album, and had music ranging from Tin Pan Alley to Blues to Rock and Roll. The Spankers are like the Harlem Globetrotters of music...the best of the best having fun entertaining their audience. My Favorite Record has some of the finest picking and funniest songs of any record I've heard and is guaranteed in the very least, to put a smile on your face!
Voted best band in Seattle on several occasions by readers of The Seattle Weekly, which is the primary entertainment editorial in Seattle, Maktub (pronounced mock-tube) has attracted national attention with features on NPR and MSN and toured this past year with Soulive. Front man Reggie Watts diverse vocal range is often compared to Al Green or Marvin Gaye. His recently released solo album, 'Simplified' has received national acclaim coast to coast and further displays his diversity beyond the sound he help forge in Maktub.
Martha Redbone's debut album, Home of the Brave showcased Martha's amazing voice along with strong songwriting that gives her music mainstream appeal in several genres. Martha's vocals have every attribute made popular by soul/funk greats like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, and Prince, phrasing and bending her powerful voice with super-human control. Martha's influences couldn't be any closer to the roots of funk; she was mentored by legendary musician, Walter 'Junie' Morrison, who was an original member of the Ohio Players and later, Parliament Funkadelic. Martha also sang backup vocals on the Mothership reunion album with George Clinton.
Baby Gramps is a true American musical treasure that represents an art form that nearly became extinct in the early 20th century. An artist, guitarist, storyteller, and painter, Baby Gramps has been a legend in the folk community and an icon in the Seattle music community for over 40 years. Arguably one of the best and definitely one of the most animated guitarists in the folk world, Gramps' guitar playing embodies the styles of legendary greats like Robert Johnson, Charley Patton and Son House. Baby Gramps is like a Saturday morning cartoon character that touches the inner child in all of us.
Leftover Salmon was selected as last year's Artist of the Year based on fan response, live recordings and press. I didn't actually SEE my first Leftover Salmon show until September of 2003 at Seattle's Bumbershoot festival. I was impressed to say the least! Using a slide and effects you would normally associate with an electric rock guitarist, mandolinist, Drew Emmitt took mandolin playing to another level. Filling a big pair of shoes left empty with the death of Mark Vann, Leftover Salmon's new banjo player, Noam Pikelny, played with a fury that Bela Fleck would adorn, and created sounds that you could never imagine would come from an electric banjo. Leftover Salmon is a MUST SEE band if you are within 100 miles of one of their shows!
Predictions for 2004 will be more of the same, but further down the path. The RIAA will continue to pressure congress to force ISPs to release information about their customers, creating a legal battle regarding privacy. More subscription services will be repackaged and sold but the majority of music downloaded will be through file-trading services. Microsoft will continue to play a larger role in the music industry. However, IF Microsoft installs some sort of program that limits user ability to do what they want freely, it could create a rebellion that would pave the road for freeware platforms like Linux. Rather than risking any loss of a customer base for their main product, Microsoft may lead the way in reforming how the music industry is structured. It wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft launched their own label with their own artists to compete against The Big Three.
Thanks to everybody that has helped keep our site alive and free for the artists and thanks to the artists for helping to create a growing worldwide community of musicians..
Stay posted, check back and help us get the word out!
Happy 2004!
Patrick J. Ferris
President - HotBands Entertainment Inc.
Publisher - HotBands.com
