Australian Music Prize opens up competition to shorter pieces

Story from Undercover.com.au

The Australian Music Prize Criteria Changes

by Tim Cashmere

The Australian Music Prize has changed it’s criteria to enter. So if you previously thought you weren’t eligible, then read on.

The biggest change is the acceptable length of an album. It has been reduced from 40 minutes to 33 & 1/3 minutes (for those of you whose skills are better left to music and not maths, that’s 33 minutes and 20 seconds).

Prize director Scott Murphy said in a press release “We’ve made a pretty obvious mistake which we all, particularly me, simply didn’t notice – until I started to receive queries from musicians stating that their ‘albums’ were under 40 minutes…. yet by all other criteria, still albums. After quick email and phone communications over the past week we’ve made the unanimous decision to lower the minimum required minutes of music. We’ll make every effort possible to ensure all musicians know of this change.”

With this widening of the acceptance criteria comes one important change, you have to get your entries in faster. The new closing date for applications is December 23rd, 2005.

Entries will be judged by 61 judges from media and retail, as well as certain artists. On February 6th, 2006 a shortlist of the top 8 albums from all entries will be released and re-judged. On March 8th, 2006 the winner will be announced at a ceremony in Sydney.


Read more at Undercover.com.au




Buy Jazz CDs, Box Sets of Great Jazz Music

Try Rhapsody for 14 days FREE and get unlimited listening access to 1,000,000+ songs from 45,000+ artists.

ListMania's Best Rock'n'Roll Books ever!!!


Purchase Hurricane Healing music for charity CD online, these song downloads benefit the victims of the Katrina hurricane damage affecting New Orleans, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and region:

HurricaneHealing.us

For Australian, Canadian and world music news and views, check out the Blue Pie Artists Blog, with digital downloads from hot new recording artists!

Rabbitohs Radio featuring Hurricane Healing Volume One Artists

Rabbitohs Radio Music

Rabbitohs Radio at Live365.com


Sydney, Australia-based Rabbitohs Radio rock pop shop and all things cool at Rabbitohs Radio. Feel free to email us at the station on requests@rabbitohsradio.com

Hurricane Healing Vol 1

NEW RADIO PROGRAM featuring all the artists that are out now on Volume 1 for Hurricane Healing. For more information go to www.hurricanehealing.us


Welcome to Rabbitohs' Radio - a first within the Australian sporting community that once again demonstrates the South Sydney club ’s innovative outlook and dedication to our fans. This exciting online radio station is totally focused on The Rabbitohs and will feature the latest team news, interviews, game calls, player comments, competitions and much more.

At the moment, the music component is built around a great mix of classic rock, easy listening and new releases, but we also want to hear what kind of music you want to hear… you tell us, and we’ll play it! The most important thing about this station will always be you… the fans.

In fact, you’ll even get the chance to star on Rabbitohs’ Radio… as well as hearing form your favourite players and other identities associated with the club, we’re going to broadcast regular interviews with true South Sydney supporters. Not only could you hear yourself on your favourite team’s radio station, but we’ll also be running regular competitions and there’ll be some great prizes up for grabs that you could win.



Find Rabbitohs Radio at Live365.com/stations/rabbitohsradio



Hurricane Healing music for charity CD, to benefit the victims of the Katrina hurricane damage affecting Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and region:

HurricaneHealing.us


Blue Pie artist Yuya has 3 songs being featured in the Rock section of StayAround.com


StayAround.com Yuya Music

Apple's iTunes launches Australian music and video store

By Julian Lee and David Higgins of Sydnay Morning Herald

Apple Computer quietly launched a long-awaited Australian version of its music and video store at 3am today.

The site is up and running at http://www.apple.com.au.

The Australian iTunes Music Store offers more than 1 million songs from major and independent record labels as well as about 1000 music videos.

Only one major record label - Sony BMG - has withheld its music catalogue from the Apple store. That means acts such as Pete Murray, Alex Lloyd, Franz Ferdinand, Rogue Traders and Australian Idol artists Anthony Callea and Shannon Noll will not be available.

Songs are priced at $1.69 each. Most albums cost $16.99 including GST - much cheaper than the retail price of most CDs.

Music videos are offered at $3.39 each.

Users can play songs on up to five personal computers, burn a song to CD an unlimited number of times, burn the same playlist up to seven times and listen to their music on an unlimited number of iPods.

Advertisement
AdvertisementThe global head of Apple iTunes, Eddie Cue, said in Sydney today that the advent of iTunes would spell the end of the CD in the not too distant future.

"To kids these days, the CD is a bit like the 8-track [an archaic US cassette system] was to me. They don't see music as coming on a CD - they see it coming from this [iTunes], to be played on something like this," he said, pointing to the latest video-capable iPod.

Mr Cue would not be drawn on the impact on the Australian music download market other than to say that it would be good for consumers and for the overall music market.

In the 2½ months since iTunes was launched in Japan, the volume of downloads has rocketed. Prior to launch, Japanese were downloading 400,000 songs a month; four days after launch, Apple recorded 1 million downloads.

The Australian iTunes store is Apple's 21st, giving it 90 per cent coverage of the global music market.

Apple would not comment on plans to sell TV programs on the Australian website. In the past week, the US site has been selling episodes of popular programs such as Lost and Desperate Housewives as soon as they have gone to air.

The Australian site offers short films from cartoon maker Pixar, but TV downloads are not available.

Today's launch marks something of a landmark for Apple. The Australian website has the highest content of independent music to date.

"Most sites we have started off by talking to the big labels but this time we started off with the independents and then went to speak to the big ones," Mr Cue said.

Apple estimates that 30 per cent of music sales in Australia are of local artists.

Mr Cue declined to comment on Sony BMG's decision to boycott iTunes.

"But we know their artists want to get on it because we talk to them about it," he said.

While some Australian record companies might believe that internet music downloads pose a threat to their control over the industry, it may in fact prove to be their saviour by tapping into younger audiences and offering a viable alternative to music piracy, say internet analysts.

Read more at SMH.com.au

What causes stress, and how does music help to heal it?

How can stress be relieved with music?
by: Martin Mayer


With a stressful lifestyle - long working hours, less time for exercise, leisure and relaxation and our increasing reliance on television and the internet - it is more important than ever to make time away from this. Stress is our body's reaction to events that threaten us. In a hostile environment, stress could be the difference between survival and death. For example, if threatened by another animal or person, stress hormones would be released proportionately with the perceived threat. Then, adrenalin released and increasing blood pressure would lead to agression, anger or fear of that threat.

In our society, this loss of control could lead to unacceptable consequences - we have to abide by a moral code governed by our laws. Therefore, the overwhelming majority of people hold in this anger, agression, fear and worry. In doing this, we burn up more energy doing nothing about the causes of the stress. This leads to physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. Anyone, of any age, can suffer from stress and its effects can be equally debilatating.

Relaxation music or relaxing music (also known as meditation music or yoga music) can be used as part of stress relief or relaxation technique. Most importantly, try to remove yourself from stressful situations or learn to deal with the fear, anxiety or annoyance that causes them. As this is not always possible, it is important to have time away from these situations to unwind and relax. Try to find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed and listen to relaxing music. Listen to relaxation music at a volume level that is high enough to mask any background noise but not so high as to be overbearing. In a busy workplace or home, headphones are useful.

The music should not be too distracting and should be carefully composed to be easy to listen to. Music should be upbeat but also interesting and different enough to capture the imagination and become a suitable focus for relief. Nature sounds enhance the experience as this helps you to imagine a place of peace, calm, tranquility and serenity. It is best to use music written specifically for relaxation, although you could use any music that you find particularly relaxing. This technique is most useful if it can be practiced for a significant amount of time - more than half an hour. However, it can be effective if used for just a few minutes at break times.


Martin Mayer is a media composer and owner of Hole House Records and Sounds That Soothe - producing music to calm and relax

The new CD, "Silver Streams" is available now - instrumental pieces developed to relieve stress and aid the body in relaxation.

Australia's Missy Higgins slams music idol show during ARIA Awards

SINGER-songwriters Missy Higgins and Ben Lee scooped the pool at the 2005 ARIA Awards last night, heralding a backlash against the hype-fuelled rise of reality TV pop stars in the Australian music industry.

Higgins was crowned Australia's latest pop princess, winning five gongs in the ceremony at Sydney's Superdome.
The chart darling, who scored her big break on Triple J's Unearthed competition, claimed to be a breed apart from Idol's ARIA winners of recent years.

"There's a lot to do with image in Australian Idol," she said.

"Obviously when you enter your music into Unearthed there's nothing to do with what you look like or how you present yourself on television or what you dress like. It's all to do with your composition and the way that you perform."

But last year's Idol runner-up Anthony Callea hit back, defending the program as a legitimate kick-start for performers seeking their big break.


Advertisement:
"It's a great launching pad for artists out there," he said.
"People can bag it, people can say what they want but at the end of the day there's not many opportunities.

"What's the difference coming from a radio competition or a television soapie? It's just another way of getting out there."

Higgins celebrated her massive haul by humping the Hoff, who presented her with the big one - Album of the Year.

"I never imagined that I'd be able to kiss David Hasselhoff on the lips and then dry hump him, but that happened," Higgins said.

Read more at News.com.au

Ozzy Osbourne, Rod Stewart, Gwen Stefani, Mary J. Blige unite to record Clapton's Tears In Heaven as charity single

Sharon Osbourne unites all-star musicians for charity single

Britain's first lady of heavy metal, Sharon Osbourne, has assembled an all-star cast to record a charity single of Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven."

Rod Stewart, Katie Melua, Elton John, Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Phil Collins, Andrea Bocelli, Robert Downey Jr., members of Velvet Revolver as well as Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne joined voices for the single to benefit Save The Children, the BBC reported Tuesday.

Osbourne started putting the plan together in the wake of the Asian tsunami, but her original goal has since been expanded to include victims of recent hurricanes in the United States and other natural disasters.



Read more about the recording sessions at RealityTVworld.com and about the charity single at News.BBC.co.uk

Thirteen years on, Ben Lee's star rises

By Andrew Murfett of TheAge.com.au

ONE of the big stories set to emerge from tonight's ARIA awards in Sydney is the resurgence of Ben Lee.

Lee, once openly spurned within the Australian music industry, is suddenly playing the biggest shows of his 13-year career and, with his fifth record, Awake Is the New Asleep, notching up the best album sales too. "I feel like this is my second act," Lee said in St Kilda this week. "I've learnt that in pop music, you really never know what's going to happen."

Lee's revival follows a dark period for the 27-year-old. His long-time girlfriend, Hollywood actor Claire Danes, broke off their relationship and, after disappointing sales, Lee parted company with his record company.

"It's just all roles they want you to play," Lee says. "In the beginning I was meant to be the prodigy, then I was meant to be the arrogant indie-rocker, and then I was meant to be the heartbroken guy, now I'm the comeback. All these things are pigeonholes people want to put you into."

Resiliently, Lee set up his own record company and instead of writing a morbid album of break-up songs, wrote an album of catchy pop.

"I thought 'this record could mean a lot to a lot of people'," he says. "I don't think about sales and charts; to me it's more exciting to become a part of the pop culture fabric and I feel like this record has."

As well as selling more than 100,000 copies in Australia, the album has been released in the US, across Europe and in South Africa. In Spain, Catch My Disease was featured in advertisements for a transport company and became a hit. Lee even headlined a festival in Barcelona.

Remarkably, tonight's ceremony, at which Lee will perform and, along with Missy Higgins, is expected to win multiple awards, is his first ARIA award show. Lee picked up a suit this week from a store in Greville Street.

Read more at TheAge.com.au


Check out the New Orleans music for charity CD project, songs to download to help hurricane victims in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, find tracks for sale by Yuya, Lucinda Peters, LIK, Tommee, Seydina, Billy Lofton, 3rd Unit and Sahra on the Hurricane Healing project site at HurricaneHealing.us and also, please visit the Yuya page at StayAround.com

Find hot new trax from online music sellers, download MP3 songs for iPods, ROKR phones, Ringtones

Find new trax from online music sellers, buy songs from Yuya, Sahra, Tommee, 3rd Unit, Trace Element and Slimey Things at the following online digital music retailers:

Blue Pie recording artists have mp3 songs available for download from the
following digital music retailers:

iTunes.com
Music.man.com
Emusic.com
StayAround.com
Rhapsody.com
MusicNet.com
MusicNow.com
Napster.com

and many more top online music sites.

Search for Yuya and other Blue Pie artists at your favorite music download websites.


New CD from YUYA, Give U Everything:




If you have time you can also see and hear Yuya, Lucinda Peters, LIK, Tommee, Seydina, Billy Lofton, 3rd Unit and Sahra on the Hurricane Healing project site at HurricaneHealing.us and please visit the Yuya page at StayAround.com

HurricaneHealing.us Music for Charity cd features Canadian singer Yuya

Hurricane Healing charity cd for Katrina relief efforts features Australian, Canadian and world music artists including Yuya, Tommee, Switch 3, LIK, 3rd Unit, Slimey Things, Trishaa and Astronaut 7.

NEW RELEASE: New Blue Pie Productions recording artist, the DEBUT release of Canadian singer/writer YUYA!

Check out new tracks from Give U Everything, produced by Michael St. Clair:

Yuya Joseph

Yuya Joseph Lifeguard is an exciting new vibrant and visionary voice from the cold and beautiful north, another in the great Canadian tradition of songwriters. Composer and singer of over 30 original songs, he is now collaborating with top Toronto producer and award-winning hit songwriter Michael St. Clair (composer of music for 2004 Top Ten hit “Shady Day”, recorded by jacksoul) and with legendary Canadian rock guitarist (and former David Bowie sideman) Tony "Wild T" Springer.

Growing up near Toronto, Yuya was influenced by everyone from Neil Young to Rush, and from Leonard Cohen to his 3 biggest musical mentors: Dylan, Lennon and Marley.

With his new CD entitled Give U Everything offering an array of post-punk (a la Joe Strummer / The Clash, eg. Out In The Moonlight, written by DOA singer Joey Keithley) and modern rock (such as the Bowie-ish What Went Wrong, What Went Right) tunes that are bristling with energy, the disc is rounded out nicely by the spiritually inspired reggae tracks like Nyabinghi and Ganjah Wise.



Give U Everything by Yuya is a hot new release available by download, and it is a perfect musical party platter for the 21st Century. Download some songs by Yuya today: your soul will thank you for it!!!

Yuya Joseph - Post Punk ala Clash and Big Audio Dynamite with that distinctive vocal, reminiscent of Joe Strummer .... a refreshing addition to your CD collection if you want to have something that is not pablum - this is rockin' reggae for grownups!!!

Yuya Joseph

Find YUYA, Sahra, Trace Element, SLIMEY THINGS, Tommee songs and ultra-kewl tracks to download for ipods, MP3 players, ROKR phones and Ringtones, hot new rock music for sale in mp3 format!!! Visit Blue Pie for great songs available for download at iTunes, Yahoo, StayAround.com, EMusic.com and MSN Music!


For interviews and downloadable music from Australia’s top rerecording artists, visit Australian Music Online at AMO.org.au


Wanna keep up with Aussie music and all these great new acts?? Subscribe to the Blue Pie Newsletter, just Click Here and enter your email address and you’re in like Flynn!!!

If you have time you can also see and hear Yuya, Lucinda Peters, LIK, Tommee, Seydina, Billy Lofton, 3rd Unit and Sahra on the Hurricane Healing project site at HurricaneHealing.us and please bookmark this Blue Pie Artists Blog page in your Favorites at BluePieArtists.Blogspot.com

Rapper Cam'ron was shot 3 times in Washington, DC this morning

By Nolan Strong of AllHipHop.com
Date: 10/23/2005


Superstar rapper Cam’ron was shot three times in Washington, DC this morning (Oct. 23) sources have revealed to AllHipHop.com.

The Harlem, New York native was leaving club H20 en-route to Love (formerly Dream) when three unknown gunmen approached the rapper.

While details are sketchy, eyewitnesses said the men were seeking the rapper’s pricey Lamborghini, which he was driving while in town for a performance over the weekend.

“They were after that car,” an eyewitness told AllHipHop.com. “Cam refused to give it up and attempted to drive away and they shot up the car.”

Cam’ron was struck three times and while officials have not released his actual status, sources said at least one bullet struck the rapper in the arm.

His injures are allegedly not life threatening and the rapper was treated at Howard University Hospital.

Read more at AllHipHop.com

Neil Finn to honour Paul Hester at Australia's ARIA Awards

By Christine Sams, of SMH.com.au
October 23, 2005

Neil Finn will perform an emotional tribute to former Crowded House drummer Paul Hester during tonight's ARIA Awards ceremony.

Finn, with full backing from Hester's family, will perform an acoustic version of Better Be Home Soon in honour of his long-time friend and former bandmate who committed suicide earlier this year.

The tribute performance has been kept top secret by ARIAs organisers, but music industry speculation has centred on Finn preparing to make a special appearance tonight.



Hester, who sold millions of albums worldwide with Crowded House and Split Enz, committed suicide in March after battling depression. The skilled drummer was a much-loved member of the Australian music community.

Read more at SMH.com.au

PyroMusic.net release first free downloadable Aussie Metal Compilation

PyroMusic.net has released a diverse compilation of Australian metal available on for download on their website. PyroMusic released this statement, "PyroMusic.net release first free downloadable Aussie Metal Compilation
To coincide with out revamped, expanded and improved website, PyroMusic.net is proud to announce the release our very first free downloadable Aussie Metal Compilation. Featured on 'PyroMusic.net - Aussie Metal Compilation Volume 1' are a selection of Australian Metal bands whose styles range from Thrash, Black and Death to Doom, Prog and Power Metal.

01. 'Exordium / The Cold Taste Of Steel' - Scourge
02. 'As Dusk Covers Day' - In Malice's Wake
03. 'Spawn Of The Maelstrom' - Kill For Satan
04. 'Eclipse' - Kania
05. 'From Ashes' - Inane Eminence
06. 'The Dawn Of Defeat' - Transcending Mortality
07. 'Remote Viewing' - Alarum
08. 'Scars' - Elegeion
09. 'Erebus' - The Amenta
10. 'Spread Sickness Upon The World' - Dissension
11. 'Bleeding Eye' - Pathogen

Visit TheGauntlet.com and PyroMusic.net for more info and to get this free heavy metal cd, with free mp3 rock songs available for download.

Presenting Blue Pie recording artists, new songs by conscious artists for sale by download

Tommee, Sahra, Yuya, Trace Element, Slimey Things


TommeeMusic.com

Tommee was born in the heart of the jungle, in a village called Bima on Sumbawa Island, which lies on the eastern side of the Indonesian archipelago. His musical journey began in his mother's kitchen, with an orchestra of instruments including pots, pans, plates and buckets.



TommeeMusic.com





SAHRA IS BLUE PIE'S TOP SELLING DIGITAL ARTIST. Boogie Oogie is now selling well in the USA and the UK.



Sahra

From a small country town north of Sydney, Australia, Sahra was introduced to the world of entertainment at an early age. Even as a child, Sahra was convinced that performing would be her life. Since then she has journeyed far.

Singing alongside Australian acts such as Vanessa Amorossi and Richard Clapton and touring with bands throughout Australia and performing both as a singer and actress on television, Sahra now brings to you, her debut album, GIRL PARTS .

Sahra




NEW RELEASE, New Blue Pie Productions recording artist, the DEBUT release of Canadian singer/writer YUYA!

Check out new tracks:

Yuya Joseph

Yuya Joseph Lifeguard is an exciting new vibrant and visionary voice from the cold and beautiful north, another in the great Canadian tradition of songwriters. Composer and singer of over 30 original songs, he is now collaborating with top Toronto producer and award-winning hit songwriter Michael St. Clair (composer of music for 2004 Top Ten hit “Shady Day”, recorded by jacksoul) and with legendary Canadian rock guitarist (and former David Bowie sideman) Tony "Wild T" Springer.

Yuya Joseph - Post Punk ala Clash and Big Audio Dynamite with that distinctive vocal, reminiscent of Joe Strummer .... a refreshing addition to your CD collection if you want to have something that is not pablum - this is rockin' reggae for grownups!!!

Yuya Joseph







Trace Element

TRACE ELEMENT:

Queensland's alt-heavy metal group started life 18 months ago in the Gold Coast when Nathan Ballard advertised in the local newspaper for band members. After a couple of line-up changes Trace Element's line-up was finally complete. Trace Element consists of Nathan Ballard (Vocal/Lead), Scott Chapman (Rhythm), Ben Doran (Drum) and Drew Carr (Bass/Vocals). Each band member are prolific artists, each having extensive experience, actively seeking to challenge themselves and their listeners through intense and provocative performances. Trace Element released their debut album, "Brand New Day", which became a hit on local radio. The band's regional success led to more prominent gigs where the band had gone from virtual unknowns to playing in front of a crowd of hundreds. "Brand New Day" became the fastest selling independent album released in the Gold Coast to date. Striking while the iron is hot, "Drowning", a track from their debut album became the most requested song of all time on Hot Tomato 102.9FM and eventually received national airplay throughout Australia. Blue Pie Productions spotted their exceptional talent and signed a publishing and recording deal with Trace Element. Soon after Blue Pie organised a management contract with Wayne from Voyager Music. To record an EP titled the "Forgotten Ones", the band decided to work with producer Richie Robinson (Audiolab) at Core Studios. The recording was completed within a week and is scheduled to be released early July 2005. With the combination of management support, Blue Pie and the guru production talents of Robinson, Trace Element's growing popularity, and the quality of the songs are sure to be a hit with the fans nationwide, spearheaded by their predicted hit song "Drowning". Their debut EP is a remarkable collection of great rock songs in the classic sense of the word.

Trace Element



Slimey Things

SLIMEY THINGS, Australia’s most amazing sci-fi pop band, were first sighted in the venues of Sydney’s underground in 2001. This sextet of pseudo-pop psychos have a reputation for their infectious music and memorable, “seared into your brain” live performances.

Their unearthly sound is and energetic blend of catchy pop, futuristic 80s rock, sci-fi movie soundtrack music and zany cartoon sound effects.





Slimey Things


Online radio stations featuring Australian and world music, new releases and songs available for download:


Blue Pie Productions Online Radio

Fringe Radio

Hawks Radio

Rabbitoh’s Radio