Speakers
Go
Events for full listing of Songsalive! Events
About
our Workshops
Upcoming speakers
in chronological order
ROBERT A. CASE
 Robert
A. Case, President of
New Pants Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP) and
Old Pants Publishing, Inc.
(BMI)
is a graduate of the Colorado Institute of Art, Denver, Colorado in the USA
with an Associates Degree in Business with an emphasis in Music and Video
Business. He completed studies at Community College of Denver in Business
Administration and Marketing. Mr. Case’s songwriter's songs have appeared in
TV shows placements including on FOX SPORTS, Discovery Channel, NBC Friday
Night Lights, the New CBS Primetime show Love Monkey, One Life to Live on ABC
Daytime, the Soap Network and South Park on Comedy Central in the US and
Internationally in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. Mr. Case's companies are
proud members of ASCAP, BMI, ACM- Academy of Country Music and The Recording
Academy. (Grammy), NATPE-National Association of TV Programs Executives and
the Association of Independent Music Publishers. Mr. Case has produced and
released several CDs through the years that have been on the Grammy Entry List
in 30 separate categories including Album of the Year, Rock Album of the Year,
Pop Album of the Year and Country Album of the Year. Mr. Case has appeared
Internationally and Nationally on several music panels and workshops as a
speaker including William Patterson University, New Jersey,
www.songsalive.org Music Publishing Workshops,
Sydney, Australia, and Los Angeles, www.Songnet.org Music Publishing Workshops
Los Angeles, The Taxi Road Rally Los Angeles, The Dallas Songwriters
Association A&R Workshop, Atlantis Music Conference, Vegas Music Conference,
Dewey Beach Music Conference The Millennium Music Conference The Global
Entertainment Summit Los Angeles and New York, The Cutting Edge Music
Conference New Orleans, The Independent Music Conference Philadelphia,
Publishing Panel, Dallas IMC Publishing Panel, The Indy Sessions Radio Panel
Los Angeles, The Indianapolis Music Conference Publishing Panel, The
Crossroads Music Conference - Independent Label Panel and Booking and Touring
Career Development Panel Memphis just to name a few...
Huntsville Alabama Workshop:
Saturday May 17 - Topic:
"Basics of Music Publishing"
Sydney Australia Workshop: Tuesday July 1 -
Topic:
"Basics of Music Publishing"
SINDEE LEVIN, Esq.
 Sindee Levin is a veteran entertainment attorney whose credentials include
business affairs at major film studios, music publishing and mechanical
collection and extensive private practice. A noted expert who speaks at
conferences, panels and seminars nationwide, she is a well-versed authority on
international as well as domestic business models. Levin, a 30+ year Hollywood
veteran, has invaluable contacts, education and expertise; she is a powerful
advocate for songwriters, composers, recording artists, music publishers and
record labels. In the high-stakes world of Hollywood entertainment, Sindee
Levin is at the forefront, a well-respected authority that insures her clients
will be fairly compensated for their creative efforts. As a consultant to
Credit Lyonnais, Polygram and Universal Music Group, she has a comprehensive
view of corporate entertainment enterprises, but she exerts undeniable
advocacy for the creator. “As tough as I am, I do care about people,” says
Levin. “Lawyers know how to make publishing deals, but they do not know how to
really get their clients paid. If I’m your representative I will protect your
interests.“
Los Angeles Workshop:
Sun May 18, 2008 - Music Law and Publishing
Don't know a pro from an mro, or emi or bmi or sesac? This is a down to earth
discussion about how to get paid in the music business. Whether you have a
lawyer or business manager you need to know the basics to be know the
questions to ask to be sure you collect. Don't find yoursel ten years after
your hit wondering why you've never gotten paid or where your royalties are.
We will discuss basic legal and business questions in today's music world.
Bring your questions !
Sue Duchesne
A few years ago, Sue had ‘a big idea’ during the country music festival in
Tamworth. Deciding it was worth pursuing, she developed her idea into a small
business that received interest and eventual backing from AusIndustry, through
its Commercial-Ready-Grant program. From these small beginnings, Sue has grown
her idea into the recently launched online platform for new music -
www.songcentral.com.au Being
close to the plight of songwriters and composers, for whom opportunities to
have their songs/music heard and considered rarely exists, unless they are
known by or know someone in the business. She became passionate about finding
a way to bridge the gap that exists between the creators of songs and music
and those in a position to use this material commercially. Her goal was to
create a solution that provides songwriters and composers with those
opportunities, and, at the same time as provide potential users of that music
– artists, performers, publishers and producers (from a range of industries
and mediums) with a much wider pool of talent and material from which to
source & select. No schmoozing required for the creators and no time consuming
‘meet and greets’ required for the potential users.
www.songcentral.com.au provides
songwriters and composers with a range of online services, including storage,
version management and playback facilities. Membership to this online
songwriting community opens up a range of opportunities, such as the ability
to showcase and market their material, respond to industry tenders, as well as
to find and be found by potential collaborators. Registration for bona fide
industry users is free, opening up a whole new world of time-effective
possibilities for their commercial needs. “The Song Central platform allows
writers to find each other and to work together. And it enables our industry
to find their songs. Song Central is a very, very good idea!” Brian Cadd, 2007
Sydney Australia Workshop: Tuesday June 3
DAN KIMPEL
 Acknowledged
as one of the American media's foremost authorities on popular music and
songwriters, Dan Kimpel contributes to a dizzying variety of print and
electronic mediums: interactive CD's, magazines, web sites, podcasts,
documentary films, videos and new media. His notable interviews include
conversations with Leonard Cohen, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Green Day, Metallica,
Fergie, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, and Dr. Maya Angelou. Beginning in the
summer of 2008, passengers worldwide on Delta Airlines will hear Dan's
interviews with recording artists and songwriters on Delta On Air, the
airline's inflight audio programming. Dan's newest book, Electrify My Soul:
Songwriters and the Spiritual Source featuring interviews with Melissa
Etheridge, Paul Williams and many others, explores the axis of spirituality
and creativity specific to songwriters. As an author, his other best-selling
titles include How They Made It: True Stories of How Music?s Biggest Stars
Went From Start To Stardom; Networking Strategies For The New Music Business,
and Networking in the Music Business. A noted music business educator, Dan
conducted a weeklong master seminar for five years at Sir Paul McCartney's
Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in the UK. Stateside, he
lectures at colleges, universities and conferences across the U.S. and Canada
and he is a faculty member at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California,
where he was recently named MBP Teacher of the Year. Dan began his career as a
musician in his hometown, Lima, Ohio, and has lived and worked in Nashville,
New York and Los Angeles, where he currently
resides. Visit Dan online at:
www.dankimpel.com
Los Angeles Workshop:
Sun June 15, 2008 - "Electrify
My Soul: Songwriters and the Spiritual Source"
Songwriters are asked to bring "spiritually oriented songs" to the workshop
Not seeing who you want? check out the
chapter pages, or join
Enotes
to be notified in your email inbox
Past Speakers at Songsalive! workshops worldwide
In alphabetical order by last name
MOSES AVALON
 Mr.
Avalon began his career as a New York record producer and recording engineer.
His combined work with Grammy® award-winning recording artists has earned him
RIAA Platinum record awards as well as other awards. Today he is an artist’s
rights activist and the author of a top selling music industry reference,
Million Dollar Mistakes and also Confessions Of A Record Producer which is
required reading in the music business curriculum of over 40 schools, including
UCLA, Loyola Law School, Fullsail and NYU. Mr. Avalon is a court-recognized
music business expert in New York, California and Florida and has also acted in
an advisory capacity to the Senate Judiciary Committee in their campaign to help
legitimize areas of the music business. His award winning website which
discusses controversial issues in the music business and his advocacy efforts
can be visited at
his website. His syndicated newsletter, MOSES SUPPOSES, which features
informed editorials on the inner workings of the music business, reaches over
13,000 subscribers each month.
Los Angeles Workshop:
February 3, 2008 "The Secrets of Digital
Distribution"
Moses Avalon will discuss and reveal the secrets of Digital Distribution, what
DRM is and why it's important for any songwriter to understand the issues. Also
how to avoid getting ripped off by correctly interpreting the contracts of
several leading Digital Distributors.
John Battaglia
John Battaglia is the founder and president of Rockstar
Image, an image-building and personal coaching firm for artists. He's been the
imaging and marketing agent for Usher, Beyonce, Jessica Simpson, Eve and many
other music stars. No matter what you're up to, you can be a rockstar at it.
Join John Battaglia, author, speaker, personal coach, and image consultant, as
he shares that in order to be a success, one must adopt the strategy of
approaching life like a rockstar, and harness the inner rockstar that we each
have in ourselves. John shares his expertise on the qualities and traits of
successful rockstars and how to apply them in your life, no matter if you're an
actor, executive, salesperson, entrepreneur, or actually a musician. For more
info, please visit his
website.
New York Workshop: Sun March 26, 2006
Bernard Baur
Bernard Baur is an artist crusader and award-winning journalist. He’s
credited with over1000 published articles - almost 600 of them in Music
Connection magazine where he is the Review Editor, Feature Writer and
A&R columnist. With over twenty years in the biz, Bernard has
worked with signed and unsigned artists as a former attorney, director of
business affairs and A&R executive. For many acts he has been the
connection between the streets and the suites. Recently, Bernard formed
BGO
Entertainment Network,
a Development & Production company, with famed producer Dito Godwin (No
Doubt, Motley Crue, KISS, Carlton Pride, etc). BGO’s primary mission is to
“Empower Artists.”
Los Angeles
Workshop: August 2004 - MUSIC, the MEDIA and YOU
BOBBY BORG
Bobby Borg is the author of the forthcoming book “The Musician’s
Handbook, A Practical Guide To Understanding The Music Business
(Scheduled for release by Billboard Books in Spring 2002). Bobby's
perspective is unique in that it's written FOR MUSICIANS--BY A MUSICIAN;
from someone who has been in the trenches himself; from the rehearsal
studios, to the major label signings, to the recording studios, to the
tour busses, to the concert stages.
Los Angeles
Workshop: November 02
LOU BRADLEY
Lou Bradley made her
Hillbilly Pop
ep at the end of last year and so far every song
comp or awards entered, has resulted in her being a finalist or a winner.
She has attracted industry interest from big wig managers...one from the
USA, and been asked to do heaps of radio interviews this year. She
was runner up in the folk category for the second song on the ep @
Australian Songwriters Awards. She has just returned from a tour, funded by
the John Butler Seed Grant, from Mullumbimby to Darwin. She won her "Road
to Tamworth" heat and is in the running to go to Nashville. She won the ABC
radio "Live in Your Lounge Room" Country Competition. She is a finalist at
the CCMA awards in Tamworth this year. She has been selected to attend the
CMAA
College - which is very prestigious! Lou will be sharing with the
Songsalive! workshop participants, her experience as songwriter, performing
artist and recording artist living in the North Coast area. Don't miss it -
Sunday December 18th, 7pm at the studio @ the Buddha bar, Byron Bay (who
generously sponsor us)
Byron Bay Australia Workshop: Sun
Dec 18 2005
John Braheny
 John is a top consultant and coach for songwriters, writer/artists and music industry entrepreneurs in Los Angeles.
 His book, The Craft and Business of Songwriting (Writer’s Digest Books) has sold over 75,000 copies and the new 3rd Edition is now available. He and Len Chandler founded and ran the
legendary Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase for 25 years. He’s past president of the California Copyright Conference, a former board member of The L.A. Chapter of The Recording Academy (NARAS) and a consultant and screener for TAXI.com, the leading
independent A&R company. His interviews with more than 600 successful songwriters (including 55 for United airlines In-Flight Entertainment) have given him a unique overview. John will discuss "Pitching to Film/TV Markets." There's a growing market for both instrumental music and songs in the audio/visual market and you can access it in a variety of ways. I’ll explain differences between and relative merits of pitching to
music libraries, song placement companies, music publishers or directly to music supervisors as routes to audio visual media. What's the role of the music supervisor in the selection process? What kind of material works? How is music used? What
constitutes broadcast quality? How do you research the users? What are the best tip sheets for Audio/visual projects worldwide? What are the legal issues (including work-for-hire agreements with musicians and singers)? What licenses are needed? How do
you prepare and present your music? How do you get paid? This class will answer those questions. Handouts include: Film//TV tip-sheet list, sample combined Synchronization/Master Use License, sample cue sheet, sample Work-For Hire Agreement. For more
on John, visit his
website here.
Los Angeles Workshop: Sun. March 4 2007, 1pm - 4pm at The Coffee Junction, "Pitching to the Film/TV
Market".
Los Angeles
Workshop: Sun. March 5 2006, 10am - 2pm at Mazzarino's
- "Marketing your Music"
DAVID BROWNSTEIN
 David Brownstein is the President and Founder of
Hollywood Coaching, an Executive Coaching and Leadership Development Company in Los Angeles that specializes exclusively in the Entertainment Industry. A Professionally trained and ICF-Certified Executive Coach, he has developed an approach to coaching,
facilitation and workshop/retreats that are well suited to entertainment industry executives. David has a natural ability to bring out the best in their leadership styles and to awaken new skills that are right for the person, their company and their
industry. David's 2-day “Extreme Leadership” workshop helps executives develop their personal leadership style and structures for accountability while leading their company and teams more collaboratively. David also composed and produced the Hip-Hop
soundtrack for the award winning “Bomb’s Aren’t Cool” educational music video that won festival awards in New York, Chicago, Seattle, France, Canada, and Japan and continues to air on WNET/13’s Independent Focus. He has taught film producing and production
management at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco and is a member of the National Recording Academy (NARAS) in the Music Producer and Music-Video Producer categories. David graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA with a BA in Filmmaking and
Psychology and received his Coaching Certification from the Coaches Training Institute in San Rafael.
Click here to visit
his website.
Los Angeles Workshop:
Sun. Oct. 1 2006,
10am - 2pm at Mazzarino's - "Marketing Your Music"
ROBERT A. CASE
Robert
A. Case, President of
New Pants Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP) and
Old Pants Publishing, Inc.
(BMI)
is a graduate of the Colorado Institute of Art, Denver, Colorado in the USA
with an Associates Degree in Business with an emphasis in Music and Video
Business. He completed studies at Community College of Denver in Business
Administration and Marketing. Mr. Case’s songwriter's songs have appeared in TV
shows placements including on FOX SPORTS, Discovery Channel, NBC Friday Night
Lights, the New CBS Primetime show Love Monkey, One Life to Live on ABC
Daytime, the Soap Network and South Park on Comedy Central in the US and
Internationally in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. Mr. Case's companies are
proud members of ASCAP, BMI, ACM- Academy of Country Music and The Recording
Academy. (Grammy), NATPE-National Association of TV Programs Executives and the
Association of Independent Music Publishers. Mr. Case has produced and released
several CDs through the years that have been on the Grammy Entry List in 30
separate categories including Album of the Year, Rock Album of the Year, Pop
Album of the Year and Country Album of the Year. Mr. Case has appeared
Internationally and Nationally on several music panels and workshops as a
speaker including William Patterson University, New Jersey,
www.songsalive.org Music Publishing Workshops, Sydney,
Australia, and Los Angeles, www.Songnet.org Music Publishing Workshops Los
Angeles, The Taxi Road Rally Los Angeles, The Dallas Songwriters Association
A&R Workshop, Atlantis Music Conference, Vegas Music Conference, Dewey Beach
Music Conference The Millennium Music Conference The Global Entertainment
Summit Los Angeles and New York, The Cutting Edge Music Conference New Orleans,
The Independent Music Conference Philadelphia, Publishing Panel, Dallas IMC
Publishing Panel, The Indy Sessions Radio Panel Los Angeles, The Indianapolis
Music Conference Publishing Panel, The Crossroads Music Conference -
Independent Label Panel and Booking and Touring Career Development Panel
Memphis just to name a few...
Sydney Australia Workshop:
Tuesday March 6, 2007
Los Angeles Workshop:
June 4, 2007 10am - 2pm at Mazzarino's - "Steps to Music Publishing"
Austin Workshop Guest Speaker: Sept 13th, 2007 -
"Music Publishing for the Indie Artist"
Orange County Workshop Guest Speaker:
Oct 28th, 2007 - Robert Case
"Music Publishing for the Indie Artist"
Las Vegas Workshop: April
15, 2008
- Topic:
"Basics of Music Publishing"
Allan Caswell
Internationally
acclaimed songwriter Allan Caswell, also a very generous guest speaker, who came
along when the doors opened at 7.30, sat and listened to several songs before
his talk. He
spoke about his experiences as a singer and songwriter, answered questions, told
a few industry secrets and stayed and listened to and critiqued the rest of the
songs played until the very end. The
next day Allan phoned me to say how much he enjoyed being part of our workshop
and how very impressed he was with the songwriting talent of our members.
Allan
is perhaps best known for writing ‘On the Inside’ the theme song from the
hit TV series ‘Prisoner’, and is one of Australia’s most recorded artists
with over 400 songs recorded worldwide.
Allan’s
resume includes five Golden Guitars at Tamworth, two Gold Singles, an ARIA
Award, as well as one platinum and four gold albums for the hugely successful
children’s albums by Don Spencer. His
new album 'Don't Count On it' with Gangajang's legendary Buzz Bidstrup shows a
new and harder edged side to this ever-creative talent.
Go to Allan's
website
Sydney Workshop:
June 2004
BARBARA CLOYD
Over years of performing and hosting writers nights in Nashville, Barbara
Cloyd's energetic personality and genuine love for songwriters has endeared
her to the community. She has served as a workshop moderator for the Nashville
Songwriters Association (NSAI) and was the creator and host of the
long-running Country Song Contest at Gibson Cafe which helped many writers
make connections in the music industry. She has hosted popular writers nights
at local venues such as Radio Cafe, The French Quarter and The Broken Spoke.
Currently she books all the early shows at the Bluebird Cafe, writes a
question/answer column for hestagehand.com, is a board member for the Frank
Brown International Songwriters' Festival, and a mentor for Just Plain Folks.
For this workshop, "Writing For The Row", participants will create a list of
some of their favorite hit songs and examine them, using a series of exercises
to bring out some of the main qualities a song needs in order to get cut on
Music Row.
Huntsville Alabama Workshop: Sat. Jan 12 2006 - "Writing
for the Row" - An overview of the craft and business of professional
songwriting in Nashville presented by Barbara Cloyd, hit songwriter and host of
The Bluebird Cafe. Focusing on a music industry discussion -
"Songwriting/Publishing”
Nashville Workshop: Sat. April 21 2008 - 5pm -
7pm at Caffeine's - "Writing for Music Row"
DAVID CAT COHEN
 Cat
Cohen
is an ASCAP songwriter with pop,
jazz and R&B songs cut by recording artists Cheryl Lynn, Syreeta, Freddie
Hubbard, and Bo Diddley, and social commentary songs played on several KCET
programs. He co-wrote a jazz instrumental featured in the recent HBO movie
The Rat Pack as well as a song for last year's hit Universal feature film
Undercover Brother. As a session pianist his keyboard work is featured on
the Hamster Love cut on the Rhino Records Dr. Demento's 30th
Anniversary. Cat wrote the chapter on music theory for John Braheny's
recently revised book The Craft And Business Of Music. He was a
regular speaker at the LASS and NAS Song Expo for many years. A respected
journalist with articles in Music Connection, Songwriter, and LASS
Musepaper magazines, Cat has written several musicals including the
spiritual-rock Lightflow and The Not So Great Escape, a
children's anti-drug pop-opera which Opera Pacific commissioned and performed
extensively in schools throughout Southern California. Cat teaches
songcraft at UCLA Extension and original songwriting and artist development at
Musician's Institute. He coaches and consults for keyboard players and
songwriters in private sessions in the L.A. area.
Visit his website here.
Los
Angeles Workshop: Sunday March 3rd 2008 -
Writing Songs for Your Original Act
Los Angeles
Workshop: July 03
AMANDA
COLLIVER
Being
a vocal coach, Amanda’s talk was very close to my heart.
Members and guests were very impressed when they heard about her
experiences during her time spent teaching Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor and
many other Musical stars.
Amanda
has spent many years as a vocal teacher to the stars (including Nicole Kidman,
Ewan McGregor, Hugh Jackman, Paul Mecurio and many others) and was a highly
respected Vocal Tutor at Nida. She has worked as Vocal Advisor on many major
shows including; Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserable, Miss Saigon, Chicago, Boy
from Oz.
Her
most recent work was as Vocal Coach and session singer on Moulin Rouge and the
recording of her own original album.
Sydney
Workshop: March 2004
ROGER CORBETT
Roger Corbett has been a member of the legendary Bushwackers Band since 1980.
Now in their 35th year and with 17 albums behind them, The Bushwackers have an
enviable reputation as the premier Australiana band in the world. Roger
Corbett was a senior tutor and the Director of The CMAA College of Country
Music for eight years. During that time he ran the songwriting course teaching
such stars as Sara Storer, Brooke McClymont and Brendon Walmesly. Roger
conducts many workshops and seminars, including the Tamworth Camerata, around
the country mainly in the craft of songwriting and studio production but
encompassing performance, musicianship and music business. Roger Corbett owns
The Valley Studio in the Blue Mountains and has worked with many new
performer/songwriters helping them to achieve success in the Country Music
Industry and has been nominated three times at the CMAA Achiever Awards in the
Producer of The Year category. Roger Corbett continues to write songs,
perform, teach and produce, has been a board member of the CMAA and continues
to serve on the CMAA Talent Development Sub-committee.
Sydney Workshop:
Nov 2 2005 - Titles Workshop;
and
August 2005
Barry DeVorzon – Songwriter, Composer and Creator of MasterWriter
Composer/Artists Barry DeVorzon has long been a prominent name in the
recording industry. He has had a total of twenty hit records, which he has
written and/or produced.
He discovered the highly successful group, The Association, and
developed one of the most successful independent record and publishing
companies of that time.
He later sold his record company and his publishing company 'Tamerland'
to Warner Brothers. He has composed the music for a number of major
features, among which are "Bless the Beasts and the Children",
“Hard Times”, “Dillinger”, “The Warriors”, “Ninth
Configuration”, “Xanadu”, “Tattoo”, “Looker”, and “Exorcist
III”. His TV credits inlcude “S.W.A.T.”, “Simon and Simon”,
“Renegades”, “Private Benjamin”, "V", “The New Twilight
Zone”, “Intimate Strangers”, and “The Belarus File”.
Los
Angeles Workshop: Sunday Sept 5 2004
Matthew Donlevy
Matthew is
the Managing Director of the Australian arm of Peer Music Publishing. Matthew
has come along to many workshops over the past eight years to talk about the
benefits of Publishing Company’s. Matthew always stays for the duration of
each workshop he attends to take part in song critique, and imparts a wealth
of information. Matthew will be the first to point out to Songsalive! Members
‘Never Give Up’
Sydney
Workshop: March 2005
MARGO DRGOS
 Margo Drgos and Paul Anthony started Organic Entertainment in 2005 after spending several years developing and launching corporate communications programs for both start-ups and
existing brands within the music, media, online retail and technologies industries. Their passion for music, particularly within the NYC independent scene, forced them to acknowledge an emerging market not yet well met by a morphing and shifting industry.
Organic Entertainment abides by the concept that independent record labels and the musicians they represent are much like any other brand in an already over saturated marketplace. Our campaigns empower clients to define and effectively communicate their brand
messages through creative, homegrown and consistently authentic means. This belief is rooted firmly in a proven philosophy that there is simply no better way to cultivate a brand that will reap a sustainable return-on-investment. Reaching mainstream and
independent media through publicity and radio promotion along with marketing and branding strategies are services that Organic Entertainment offers clients exclusively within the global independent music community.
New York Workshop: Sun January 28, 2007
BRYAN FARRISH
Los
Angeles Workshop: December 02
CHRIS FLETCHER
Since 1989 Chris Fletcher has been operating her own booking & promotion
company, Coast to Coast Music. She has worked with over 30 artists securing
tours, endorsements, and grants and executing promotional plans. Chris
developed and is teaching music business & touring classes at Musicians
Institute & LA Music Academy plus works as a booking manager with 3 solo
artists, 2 bands and a voiceover personality.
See more at the
website.
Los Angeles
Workshop: Sun. May 7, 10am - 2pm at Mazzarino's
- "Indie Booking, Touring and Marketing", and Sunday November 7
2004
MATT FORGER
LA based Matt Forger met and worked with Michael
Jackson on the ‘THRILLER’ album and also worked on the ‘E.T. STORYBOOK
ALBUM’ with Quincy Jones and Steven
Spielberg producing. Following the remarkable success of the album, Matt
worked on the groundbreaking ‘THRILLER VIDEO’ with director John Landis. He
has also worked with Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Bruce Swedien, Japanese
superstar Yuming, and on Michael Jackson's film project ‘GHOSTS’
with director Stan Winston. Among the other works Matt has completed are his
efforts on the re-mastering and adding of bonus tracks to the Michael Jackson
‘Special Edition’ albums; ‘OFF THE WALL’, ‘THRILLER’, ‘BAD’,
and ‘DANGEROUS’. The nature of Matt’s involvement with Michael
Jackson is extensive. Forger provided a technical foundation, and relaxed
studio environment for the creativity of the artist to flourish where Michael
would write and develop songs and arrangements. “This process of
experimentation, exploration of sound, and application of new technologies, is
always challenging, but can also be most rewarding,” says Forger. This
year has found Matt working in the LA singer/songwriter community, working
with many new and promising artists. Matt is also offering his services as a
consultant, for the creative recording arts. The basis for his work is the
emotional content of the recording. “Remembering that music is a form of
emotional communication is important” Matt says, “Too many people view
recording as a technical experience. It is important to understand technology
and be able to control and it, but it’s the music at center stage. It’s
the song people remember, not the recording system.” Matt is also recording in a classic format with exciting new
results. Matt calls it ‘reality recording’, this is a live to 2-track
recording style that uses a carefully placed single stereo microphone and a
high quality signal path. It is capturing the moment of a great performance,
and putting the listener there in the environment to share the experience.
"It is especially well suited to acoustic performances and elegant in
its’ simplicity," says Forger.
Click here to visit
his website.
Los Angeles
Workshop: Sunday October 3 2004
STEVE FOX
Los
Angeles Workshop: March 03
RENEE FRENCH
 Renee
French is a writer/artist/voice coach in Austin, Texas, having taught at the
Austin School of Music since 1996. Hundreds of students of all ages and
abilities, professional to beginner, have benefited from studying with
this naturally gifted singer, songwriter and pianist. Renee began singing at age
8, stopping only for a few years to major in Child Development/Family
Relationships at UT Austin, and to teach preschool! Her music education
comes from 10 years of private piano instruction and many years of varied music
experience; some notable teachers being Pat Pattison, founder of the songwriting
department at Boston s Berklee College of Music, and Debbie Beinhorn,
world-renown vocal expert. Renee coaches voice using the
Beinhorn Method.
Two Way Mirror is Renee s CD of 11 original songs, released in 2005, produced
by Dave Sebree at ASM studios. Mark Waterbury for Music Morsels says:
mesmerizing her sweet voice with the poise and control of a classical
or standards crooner fits pleasantly into a singer/songwriter backdrop. Backed
by several noted musicians, the music is dreamy but attention-grabbing with a
stunning vocal beauty. The CD is available at Waterloo Records, and online at
CDbaby, iTunes, and SonyConnect.
Renee is a past president of the Austin Songwriters Group, and a SESAC
affiliate. She has shared the stage with hit songwriters Eric Kaz, Mark D.
Sanders, Jim Rushing, and Darden Smith, among others. She has appeared on
FOX television s morning show, and played live on Austin s KLBJ radio. She also
watches a lot of baseball.
Learn more about Renee at
her website.
Austin Workshop: December 13,
2007 “Taming the Voices: connecting singer to songwriter" and
Q&A discussion.
SCOTT G
Scott G (The G-Man) is a recording artist on Delvian Records and iTunes,
and a journalist with the Immedia Wire Service and MusicDish.com. He makes
commercials at G-Man Music & Radical Radio, and is a creative director
for NARIP (National Association of Record Industry Professionals). His 3rd
album, "The Platinum Age of the Remix," is in the Top 40 on the
Masspool DJ Association Dance/Crossover national chart. An article he wrote
on 'advertainment" entitled "Barcodes in Commercials & Wristwatch Credit
Cards" is on 100+ Web sites. An article written about his career,
"Peer-to-Peer to Launch a Career," is on 200+ Web sites.
Contact him through his
website here.
Los
Angeles Workshop:
August 2004 - MUSIC, the MEDIA and YOU
JEFF
GRAY
, Retrofit Tunes
, President
Musicians
and songwriters with a sense of business are a unique breed.
Jeff Gray is such a talent.
Working with independent songwriters Jeff earned a strong reputation for
instilling confidence in those he wrote and performed with.
An outstanding guitarist, Jeff’s passion for music and specifically
songs blossomed into fervor for the music business.
Recognizing that great song writing is essential, Jeff became active in music
publishing working for Bug Music. While
in the company, he was rewarded for his skills receiving several promotions.
His work with such artists as Jennifer Marks, Janis Ian, Anne McCue,
members of the Guess Who and Superdrag were to lead to an opportunity with
legendary producer Geza X. This
opportunity gave birth to the founding of Retrofit Tunes.
Los
Angeles Workshop: November 03
ALEXIA HELFAND,
Co-founder, Music
Gorilla
Alexia has worked in the entertainment industry, since she started working. As a student at New York University, she was a producing and business major. She interned at such places as Fox News Channel, Tribeca Productions (Robert DeNiro) and Creative Film
Management (commercial production). She also produced the thesis films of several Tisch film students with budgets ranging from $10,000 to $150,000. After graduating in 1998, she continued her film career. First working at Miramax films, and then freelancing
on such films as The Family Man and Someone Like You with Executive Producer Lynda Obst (now a mentor of sorts). After joining Local 161, she worked as the Assistant Production Coordinator on the television show Big Apple. She decided to move away from her
hometown of New York City, to the more relaxed environment of Austin, Texas. In Austin, she worked as the Post Production Coordinator on Spy Kids 2 and Once Upon A Time In Mexico with Elizabeth Avellan and Robert Rodriguez. "Alexia is the hardest working
woman in the independent music business!! You are a true soldier of the independent movement and we see your passion for music, and we're proud to be affiliated with Music Gorilla, partially because you're associated with it. Keep up the good work!!" –Darvio
Morrow, Untouchable Clique C.E.O.
Austin TX Workshop:
Thursday, Dec 14th, 6-8pm at Cafe Caffeine.
LIZ HOWARD
 Elisabeth Howard holds a B.S. and M.S. in voice from the
Juilliard School and a Graduate Assistantship from Indiana University. Elisabeth has been called a “vocal chameleon.” Her expertise and ability to sing in styles from blues, R&B and country western, to jazz, music theater and opera has taken her to 23
cities in ten countries presenting Vocal Power workshops at national and international voice teachers conferences. Ms. Howard was on the voice faculty of Pepperdine University for seven years and has been on the faculties of Hunter College and a guest
faculty member at the University of Southern California. Elisabeth is founder of the Vocal Power Academy in Los Angeles and in 2006 established a branch in Las Vegas. Vocal Power Instructors are in Italy, Germany and Brazil. Her students have been on
American Idol, Star Search, Broadway and National tours. As singer/song-writer in New York, Elisabeth had a contract with MCA Music. Ms. Howard has had lead roles in over 25 musicals and operas. Elisabeth is the author of the new SING! book and CDs and
ABCs of Vocal Harmony book and CDs and co-author of the Born to Sing DVD exclusively distributed by Alfred Publishing Co.
Los Angeles Workshop: Sun. Jan. 7, 2007, 10am - 2pm at Mazzarino's - "Discovering Vocal Power"
ROXANNE KIELY AND STEPHEN KIELY
About Roxanne: Songwriter and dynamic performer,
Roxanne is co-founder and runs the Australian office of
Songsalive! Her experience in the industry is extensive, via her own talent, and
her ability to foster the talent of others. As vocal coach, who's former
students now count among Australia's well known TV and recording artists,
Roxanne continues to write, develop, perform and inspire others to do their
best. She also performs with the guy pictured below in CoverMe.
Roxanne is also a well-respected vocal coach.
About Stephen: Although Stephen has made a career
in the Australian music industry as a writer, performer, producer and arranger,
and his mp3.com site recently broke through 100,000 downloads, he was bitten by
the website design bug and founded Corner 41 in 1996. Stephen
hosts the Songsalive! Sydney Workshops on a monthly basis. Recently, he
married Songsalive! co-founder and girl of his dreams, Roxanne. They write for
themselves and other artists, and perform together under the name CoverMe. Roxanne and Kiely will kick off the first Byron Bay Songsalive! Workshop with
coordinator Jo Young.
Byron
Bay Australia Workshop: Sun
Nov 20 2005 -
Inaugural Workshop
including Vocal workshop then song critiquing.
DAN KIMPEL
Acknowledged as one of the American media's foremost authorities on popular
music and songwriters, Dan Kimpel contributes to a dizzying variety of print
and electronic mediums: books, interactive CD's, magazines, web sites, videos
and new media.
19 million monthly passengers hear Kimpel's interviews with songwriters and
recording artists on United Airlines flights worldwide. Whether interviewing a
classic song poet like Leonard Cohen or a hit maker like Sheryl Crow, Kimpel's
insight, empathy and music choices make for lofty listening. Kimpel also
writes, interviews, produces and voices other shows for The United
Entertainment Network, Amtrak, and President George Bush and Vice President
Dick Cheney's planes, Air Force One and Two, respectively. Recent shows have
featured Paul McCartney, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon.
Los
Angeles Workshop: September 03
GREG KNOWLES
 Greg
Knowles has been a record producer in Los Angeles and New York for the past 24
years. He holds a doctorate in music and is on the music faculty of The
Juilliard School, where he teaches theory & harmony, along with classes on the
music business and recording. Very active with the Recording Academy (Grammy
Awards), he spent 8 years on the Board of Governors, 6 years on the Board of
Trustees, and 3 terms as Los Angeles President. Greg chaired Grammy in the
Schools for 14 years, and is still very active with Academy Foundation events.
He continues to produce artists in all styles of music, but currently
specializes in jazz and classical (with the occasional pop and rock albums!)
Dr. Knowles is the author of 2 music textbooks, Reading Exercises for Solfege
and A Composers Treatise for Scoring Percussion.
New York Workshop: May 6th, 2008 - Topic: various
topics about the music biz, including Music Delivery Systems, The 360 Deal,
producing a great demo, plus how to package and market that great demo!
ALAN KOVIN
Alan will share his techniques of writing and producing
songs that have melodic hooks. Utilizing the Piano as his main composing
instrument, we will explore the use of chord progressions that challenge
the commonly used conventions of minimalism and delve into patterns similarly
utilized by such greats as Steely Dan, Bacharach, Billy Joel, Paul Simon
and the like. We'll also discuss Alan's continuing voyage of learning to
arrange and orchestrate with a hybrid of traditional and non-traditional
instruments and techniques--utilizing real instruments and samples, explore
his ongoing work on his second CD, The Journey and his current studio
production process.
www.zonamusic.com
Phoenix AZ Workshop:
Tues May 6, 2008 - Confessions
of a Determined Melodician / Songwriting and Production.
LAYNE LAURITZEN
Layne a very experienced Music CPA in Austin, and has worked with many
notable musicians. He will be talking about music as a business, management,
and the mistakes frequently made when filing taxes as a musician. Layne
Lauritzen has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1980. He started his
own firm in Austin, Texas in 1985 and began to develop a concentration in the
music industry. Currently, over half of his client base consists of music and
other entertainment-related clients. He is locally and regionally recognized
as having a "niche" in this area and has developed an expertise in many
aspects of the business issues facing music professionals. He has served on
many music industry seminar panels in the Austin area through such
organizations as South by Southwest (SXSW), Artist Legal & Accounting
Assistance of Austin (ALAA) and the Austin Music Foundation. His website
includes lots of excellent info and faq's for musicians.
Austin Texas Workshop: Nov 28 2005 - Bringing
Business Sense to the Music Mind
JOANNE LEDESMA
 Joanne
will speak on a variety of topics necessary to make your music marketable
including: networking, packaging your material, the appearance of your
product, what A&R is looking for & the importance of follow-up. Joanne Ledesma
is a music industry insider and entrepenuer who works in multiple aspects of
the business. She is the host and producer of the groundbreaking radio show
"Music Biz Radio" which covers multiple aspects of the business in multiple
genres. Her background includes 20 years of musicianship as a keyboard
player, several years as a music programmer, coordinator, planner and
interviewer for custom shows that can be heard on airlines, movie theaters,
and more. She has worked with some of the industry’s top talent such as Carlos
Santana, Kiss, Tom Petty, Andrea Bochelli, Kenny Loggins, Mana, Dramarama,
Jackson Browne, Joe Walsh, David Crosby, Steve Vai, Holland-Dozier-Holland,
Ozomatli, Jo Dee Messina, Toby Keith, Lee Ann Womak, and others. In addition,
Ms. Ledesma has several years of experience as a music publisher placing songs
on film and television with credits on Disney, Cartoon network, ABC, NBC,
Bravo, HBO and numerous others. In the last 5 years Ms. Ledesma added A&R to
list of talents by becoming a screener for Taxi Music the world’s largest A&R
company, authored a book titled “Prepare Your Music – A practical guide to
making your music marketable”, an Educator at Citrus College Department of
Recording and Performing Technology teaching “Career Opportunities in the
Music Business”. Ms. Ledesma is currently the subject of a documentary on the
Musicians of the San Gabriel Valley to be completed. Look for Joanne at:
www.MusicBizRadio.Net
www.myspace.com/musicbizradio in 2008.
Los Angeles Workshop:
April 6, 2008 TOPIC: Making your music
marketable, pitching music
Orange County Workshop:
April 27, 2008 TOPIC: Making your
music marketable, pitching music
ALEX LEGG
Music festivals across Australia have showcased Alex along side Martin Pearson in their new band The MP3s, however this new tour features his warm Americana songs bursting with biting wit and political comment to promote his new album "Healesville".
"When I first heard Alex Legg, I was surprised to only see one musician on stage. His Guitar techneque blends percussion
bass and harmony with out ever descending into pointless showboating, and when coupled with this thoughtful songwriting and sharp lyrics, makes for a pretty compelling show. I am a Fan" (Bassplayer-extraordinaire, Steve Lawson - Bass Guitar Magazine).
Alex has 4 songs in the Australian top 10 'One Sweet Day', 'This Christmas Tale', 'One Day Soon', and 'Heaven Help Me'.
Sydney Workshop:
November 7, 2006
JERRY LEMBO
 Jerry is
President of the Jerry Lembo Entertainment Group (J.L.E.G.).* As a music
business and media consultant, he assists clients in developing strategic
marketing and promotion plans.* Jerry's award winning radio promotion career as
both a label rep (Columbia 1986-1997, Chrysalis 1984-1986) and as an
entrepreneur have earned him multi-platinum plaques from notes artists including
Mariah Carey, Billy Joel, Michael Bolton, Kenny Loggins, Melissa Etheridge,
Maroon 5, Norah Jones, and many more.* Jerry especially enjoys the process of
artist development and provides career counseling to many independent artists.*
Ben Green, Lucinda, Jefferson Thomas, Laura Bradley, Russ Bonagura, and Byron
Zanos are just a few of the artists who have benefited from J.L.E.G.'s
expertise.* You can review J.L.E.G.'s complete services
here.
New York
Workshop: Sun Feb 26, |
