22 February 2004

Industry Labelling Code of Practice on CDs

Australian Record Industry Assoc (ARIA) reports on their website:

Since 1996, the Australian Record Industry Association Ltd (ARIA) and the Australian Music Retailers' Association (AMRA) have administered an industry Code of Practice for providing advice labels on CDs and cassettes that may contain potentially offensive lyrics and/or themes.

A  review of the code was recently undertaken and whilst under the previous criteria there were only two (2) advisory levels (General and 18+), there are now three (3) levels indicated by three standard and individually coloured labels.

These consumer advice labels are designed to assist consumers when they are buying recorded music or when supervising the music their children are listening to, and use the type of terminology familiar to viewers of TV and film.

If you are concerned about potentially offensive lyrics and/or themes contained in music product look out for these labels on audio-only CD's, cassettes and records.

Download ARIA's consumer awareness guide in PDF format

What do the new labels mean?

14 February 2004

Swollen Vocal Folds
Hay fever, allergies, alcohol, smoking, passive smoking, drugs, asthma (Ventolin) and reflux can cause swelling of the vocal folds.

Often when viral bugs get you down, your vocal folds become swollen. You may notice this will make your voice deeper, huskier or hoarse. Some find it a novelty in having a "new voice".

However, it is important to treat your voice with some extra care when these illnesses occur:

• Be Quiet. During your illness, bear in mind that your vocal tissues are especially vulnerable to damage. Limit talking to bare essentials. When you do need to talk, do so softly and avoid shouting or screaming. Ideally, one day of rest for the voice per week is good for recuperation

• Steam Inhalations increase hydration and help repair the voice: Boil plain water in a pot, remove from the stove and put your face in the rising steam. Gently inhale steam through your mouth. Take care not to scald your skin by leaning too close to the hot water. Tent a towel over your head to keep the steam from dissipating. No need to add eucalyptus as is commonly done. The steam gives the require effect we need
• Avoid throat clearing and harsh coughing . This action can damage the delicate vocal fold tissues. Clear your throat with small gentle actions

It is important to look after your voice. Therefore, seek medical advice from your doctor or ENT (Ear Nose & Throat) specialist if you are concerned about your voice or problems persist.

For more vocal health singing tips see 8 Steps to Vocal Health

12 February 2004

Enter the digital age

Taken from Paul Lloyd's article in The Advertiser on 24/1/04

The digitalisation of music began with the making of CDs. From this you saw the file-swapping of songs where millions of people are online downloading and uploading songs to their personal computers.

Even though this practice is in defiance of copyright laws, it has been
enabled by freely available software, the best known of which is Napster. The record industry did however take it to court and now Napster have gone legit, joining the online sales push.

Other names continue, including Kazaa, Grokster, Morpheus and BearShare estimating a total of up to 18 million people online downloading free songs at any given time.

The record industry says it has been suffering for about three years and the users of these networks claim they are not responsible for the sales.

One effect of all this online piracy is the debundling of albums, as fans cherry pick songs to download, to burn on to 50c blank CDs or store on their MP3 players, so making up their own compilations.

This cherry picking has carried over to the legitimate online stores, which stress sales by track rather than by album.

Stopping the illegal downloading and copying of tracks

Leanne's thoughts...

Australian copyright laws need to be in place for consumers to make back-up or alternative copies for private use of commercially distributed music. Secondly, the ability to easily purchase music (legally) online will give the consumer legal options. Once there is public awareness in these areas the public will have the opportunity to develop a conscience and hopefully do the right thing to help our music industry.

Do you burn CDs?

Is the album dying?...part 1

Is the album dying?...part 2

Australian music industry launches action over web downloads

11 February 2004

Idols - are they really that bad?

As the heats of the 3rd American Idol are being aired on Australian TV we are seeing (and hearing) a lot of very bad singers. This leads to the question, are there that many bad singers out there in 'I wanna be a star" land? Why are there so many shockers?

Both the good and the bad hopefuls you see on TV during the heats have been specifically chosen from a first round or "cattle call". This all happens before they come in front of the TV cameras and the 3 high profile judges that we learn to love (or hate).

In this first round, the good singers are chosen to be in line for the Idol crown. The not so good ones are specifically chosen (or set up) for the purpose of ratings.

How it works:

Approximately 50 people at a time are brought in from a line in the street (due to the many auditionees involved), and taken into a large room.

They are then broken into groups of 5 and taken into separate audition rooms, with two judges listening to each person.

These judges are not "Dicko" Marcia, Paula or Simon, but instead the producers who are choosing the good and the bad for the next step, the TV!

So you see, the good and the bad we see in the early stages of the Idol programme have been specifically chosen for either their good voice or their very bad ones.

They all however believe that they were chosen based on talent. Those who were chosen for their lack of were sadly let down.

7 February 2004

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Australian music industry launches action over web downloads

ABC News Online reported yesterday:

The Australian music industry is launching legal action against the world's largest file sharing network, alleging mass copyright breach.

Kazaa is an Internet-based distributor of software that allows people to swap music files online.

The Australian Record Industry Association's (ARIA) chief piracy investigator, Michael Speck, says his representatives raided 12 premises in three states this morning gathering evidence for a civil action to be launched in the Federal Court next week.

"This is the largest copyright infringement case in Australia," he said.

"These people are the largest infringers of copyright in the world.

"Their operation is a global one, it's based almost entirely on illegal traffic."

5 February 2004

Music Scholarship

Gawler Gourmet and Heritage Festival is proud to announce "The Glenn Shorrock Music Scholarship Awards.

Open to musicians and vocalist aged 15-25 years. Three finalists will perform at the Festival. Patron Glenn Shorrock will present the the Scholarship to the winner.

The winner will receive an instrument valued at $3000, cash of $2000 and mentoring and assistance from Glen Shorrock with the production of a CD.

Entrants to submit 3 songs. Entry fee is $25.

more...

Gawler Gourmet and Heritage Festival represents a celebration of pioneering culture, heritage, art, unforgettable entertainment and fine regional food & wine from the Barossa and Gawler regions. Held at Easter on April 11 & 12, 2004, will attract visitors from across the country and around the world.

more...

3 February 2004

The Impact of Reality Pop Shows

Reality TV pop shows are having an effect on the music industry that goes beyond increased album sales.

From the first Popstars way back in the year 2000 to the recent World Idol programme, I (Leanne Hoad) have noticed a change in the public's way of thinking towards music and, particularly, singing.

People who would not have considered doing singing lessons in the past are taking the plunge and giving it a go. These people realise it is an option available to them that they may not have considered in the past.

The age group of people who are responding to singing lessons as a result of the reality Pop Shows is also quite astounding. Many more adults are doing it, and in particular, males. Males in the past would not have considered lessons as a priority in their lives. Watching Shannon and Guy may have sparked enough passion to give it a go.

Similarly, many of the youth who do lessons with us are more open to singing songs in different genres. This may be due to being exposed to a variety of songs sung in the Australian Idol series. These include Natalie Cole's L.O.V.E and Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World; both would have been considered "old fashioned" in the past.

Singing is something that can be done by anyone. Whether you do it for professional reasons or just for fun, there is a lot to be gained from it if you harbor the passion or even if you're just plain curious.

2 February 2004

Is the album dying?

Is the album dying? Part 1

Part 2 (cont./ from Part 1)

In the US, Pioneer Apple - saying "it's a song economy now" - has sold 30 million units od music product online since last May through its iTunes store. Its ratio of singles sales to albums is 15:1.

In Australia, the field really opened when Sanity, HMV, JB HiFi and a revamped Chaos Music - four names already collectively responsible for about half of Australia's annual music sales - went online with a 100,000-song catalogue. These sell at between 99c and $1.99 a track - from the likes of Kylie Monogue, silverchair, the Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams and Norah Jones and Delta Goodrem.

It works like this: select a track from the web page catalogue, let your credit card or voucher be charged, download the song to your computer and then burn it to CD or load it on an MP3 player.

Adelaide record producer Terry Bradford, of the independent Round Records agrees: "it could mean the end of the album as a complete thing.

"...I see it as the obvious way to go. People listen to tracks on the radio, not whole albums. Many people buy whole albums for just one track.

"So if people are getting just the song they want, it could be a real benefit." Mr Bradford says.

Its not exactly happening yet but the revolution is young. Industry heavyweights will be watching this year's sales trends of CD albums, singles and tracks purchased online with intense interest.

 Mary-Anne Foster with guitarist Alexei and backing vocalist and teacher Allison Bourke at LHSS Performers Concert 2003 No.2

click image above for full size photo