Shock Value Music Webzine

Volume 3 Issue 1 July, 1999

Home Past Issues Links Banner Exchange E-mail

Contents

Gwendolyn Speaks, Artist of the Month
Focus Article: How to Get Free Publicity for Your Music
By Julie Peterson
Unsigned/Independent Artists
Hot Links

IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY VIEWING, PLEASE RELOAD THE PAGE

Welcome!

Welcome to the first edition of Shock Value's THIRD year in publication!!! Shock Value is a free online magazine written for and about unsigned and independent bands, singers, songwriters and musicians. Send us an ad for your CD/tape, and concert listings and we'll print it for free in our Unsigned/Independent Artists section, just e-mail us: SVwebzine@aol.com. You may also send your CD for consideration for our Artist of the Month section: P.O. Box 303, North Bend, Ohio 45052. We know you have a busy schedule, that's why we print Shock Value all on one webpage so that you can print it out and take it with you. C.J. Cauley, editor-in-chief, has been in the music business for over 13 years, and has been employed in broadcasting for over ten years. If you would like to know more, you can visit the Cauley family's webpage. If you would like to help spread the word about Shock Value, visit our banner exchange page.

Thank you and enjoy! -Shock Value Staff

Gwendolyn Speaks
Artist of the Month

This month's Artist of the Month came about by accident. I was walking through a local Border's Bookstore and saw this CD that said Gwendolyn Speaks, and it jumped out at me because my daughter's name is Gwendolyn. It wasn't until I got home that I realized Gwendolyn Speaks was actually a local independent band. Tara Fisher-Dill, originally from Ohio, and Scott Dill, originally from Delaware, met in North Carolina while performing in a Top 40 show at an amusement park. Soon after, they were married in California and made one last trip to settle in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1996 they started the band Gwendolyn Speaks and the rest is history...o.k. maybe not, but someday it will be because this band is going places! Soon after forming, Gwendolyn Speaks released a four song EP, Beyond, and now have a full-length CD entitled This Time, available at Cincinnati area Border's Bookstores or by checking out their Product Ordering Page on the web.

The first cut that caught my eye, My Golden Angel, is a blues tune mixed with folk and pop. Gwendolyn Speaks performs at folk shows around town, including the upcoming Fall Folk Festival at Sharon Woods park on September 18th, so folk music plays a big part in their sound. Up next is the faster paced title track, This Time. My favorite cut (I always have one!) is Remember Me. It has a great violin track and really accentuates Tara's vocal ability. Her vocals on this ballad are reminiscent of Karen Carpenter's sweet, angelic voice. I'm also fond of Him. It has a great upbeat sound that can stand up to any song on the radio today. My favorite songs tend to the ones that Tara and Scott wrote together. They have terrific chemistry that flows in their music.

Tara and Scott have wonderful harmonies. No track accentuates their harmonizing abilities like Hanley St.. It really reflects their folk music influences and has perfect harmony. Yes, I said perfect...and I don't use that word often or lightly. We need more male/female harmonies in today's music. We keep seeing all male and all female groups with great harmonies, but very rarely do you see male/female harmonies performed so well. Hanley St. is also a good example of a rarely written about homage to a place close to one's heart, like the street you grew up on where everyone knew everyone else, everyone looked after each other's kids and you had some of the best times of your life. Tara's vocals shine in Searchlight, also a mix of folk and pop with blues accents and Small Pieces, another great ballad. The soul of her voice is highlighted in the a cappella beginning of The Secret. This Time closes out with Outerspace, a quiet space melody, one to add to the list, along with David Bowie's Space Oddity and Elton John's Rocket Man. Track 10 is Give Me Hope, that is something I definitely give to Gwendolyn Speaks. They have a bright future ahead of them. With continued success, practice and a bit of luck, you'll be able to say that you knew Gwendolyn Speaks when they were Shock Value's Artist of the Month...before they were stars.

To be considered for Shock Value's Artist of the Month section, please send a press kit and CD to: Shock Value, P.O. Box 303, North Bend, Ohio 45052

FOCUS ARTICLE:
How to Get Free Publicity For Your Music
By Laura Peterson

Free publicity, such as a feature story on you and your music, in a newspaper or magazine will greatly enhance your efforts of becoming a successful musician. All you need is a well-written press release, a black and white photograph of yourself, a recording of your music, and a mailing list of media (newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations). The following are instructions for getting free publicity for your music.

Write a one-page press release. This is very easy to do. Most companies and entrepreneurs send press releases describing their products and services to editors on a regular basis. In order to get a story in the media; your press release should contain an interesting twist - something creative or unique about you or your music.

For example, suppose you are a musician with a history of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). While growing up you became interested in music because it was soothing - clamed you down - helped you focus, etc. You learned that you could use music to cope with your ADD instead of medication. Now you write and sell music for ADD children and adults. Your press release might read:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Music Instead of Ritalin for A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder)

John Smith, a musician and songwriter, no longer takes Ritalin for his ADD. He listens to music instead. After years of medication and treatment for ADD, Smith discovered that listening to certain kinds of music is more soothing than his medication. Now he writes and sells music for children and adults with A.D.D.

"If I am having a problem focusing or concentrating, I just listen to one of my CD's and I feel more relaxed and focused." States Smith. Smith's music helps ADD sufferers focus and concentrate at school and on-the-job. Many of Smith's fans have been able to function normally without having to take medication for A.D.D. ...

Suppose you are a musician without a disability. Writing songs and performing is not necessarily newsworthy. What would make interesting copy is how you use your talents to "give back" to the community. In addition to performing at clubs, you visit a local center for disabled children and teach songs to children on a weekly basis. You may also visit hospitals, schools, etc. By including your volunteer work in the press release, your story will make an inspiring profile piece for the local paper.

If your music is already unique and one-of-a-kind, you won't need to come up with an interesting twist - you already have one. A good press release should be simply written and include the following:

Headline

Your name and phone number or who to contact for more information about the press release.

Description of your music

Experience, training, etc.

How to get more information

The first paragraph of your release should describe your music. The second paragraph should highlight the uniqueness of your music. It should also include any newsworthy information on you as an artist, such as volunteer work. The third paragraph should give the details of your music. The fourth paragraph should explain how to get more information, such as address, phone and fax numbers, how to contact or order, and web site and e-mail addresses.

Do not indent the first paragraph of the release. Indent all following paragraphs five spaces. Type the press release double-spaced with three spaces between paragraphs on plain white paper or on your letterheads. Include black and white photographs of you and your artwork. If you are just starting out, take the pictures yourself.

Mail your press release with photos, or recordings (press kit), to media. You can either go to the library or surf the net for media addresses. If you are a musician, the best places to send your press release to are local radio and TV stations; local magazines and newspapers; and industry publications. You can also check out http://www.ecola.com and http://www.prweb.com. Send press releases to feature stories editors (find out their names in you can). Do not email your press release. Always fax or snail mail press releases.

Now, you can wait for the phone to ring. Sometimes a newspaper may run your story without contacting you. If you do not receive any response from your mailing, rewrite your release and include a different twist. Re-mail your press kit in a couple of weeks (I recently read how one woman became successful by sending three press releases about her business every day). If and when your story runs in the media, contact the editor of the publication and ask for permission to reprint the article to send to clubs, record companies, etc.

Free publicity will not necessarily sell your music, but it will familiarize the public about you and your artistic talents. When the public knows who you are and has read about your work, the more willing they will be to go to a club and listen to your music.

Laura Peterson is a freelance writer and the Midwest Region Account Executive for Montanesque Enterprises. She publishes An-Internet-Marketing E-zine - http://www.an-internet-business.addr.com/an-inter.htm - a free how-to marketing e-zine. Montanesque Enterprises - web sites for artists designed by artists - offers a $295 turnkey Artist Web Package designed to be a complete one-stop web development and electronic commerce solution at a price that any musician can afford - http://www.montanesque.com You may order a FREE REPORT on electronic marketing for artists by contacting Laura at laura_peterson@montanesque.com.

Shock Value would like to thank Julie for donating her article!

If you'd like to suggest a focus article subject, or would like to write one yourself, please send your submission to us via e-mail: SVwebzine@aol.com

Unsigned/Independent Artists
A listing of concert dates, websites and merchandise for sale
Due to the dated nature of this material, this section of unsigned/independent bands, singers, musicians and songwriters has been deleted. To view a current listing of artists, along with their concert dates, websites and merchandise for sale, please visit the most recent issue of Shock Value Music Webzine. If you would like mainstream tour dates, visit POLLSTAR, for mainstream artist CD ordering, please visit Amazon.com.

Please send us your ad and concert dates: SVwebzine@aol.com

SEND US YOUR DEMOS, ADS, AND CONCERT DATES:

SHOCK VALUE
P.O. Box 303
North Bend, Ohio 45052
SVwebzine@aol.com

For your FREE subscription to Shock Value Music Webzine,
Send e-mail with "subscribe" in the subject to:
SVwebzine@aol.com

Your address will never be sold to mailing lists!

Send us your comments and suggestions!
SVwebzine@aol.com

Top Home Past Issues Links Banner Exchange E-mail