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Great panel ahead: Kicking Against It: Ageism & Women In The Music Industry

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The Sled Island Music & Arts Festival and Byta, the platform for sending digital audio files and streams, are proud to present the second in a regular series of free, online conversations about the changing landscape of music called Tête-à-Têtes.

If “rock & roll is a young man’s game,” then where exactly does that leave women over the age of 25? Compounding the myriad of issues relating to sexism in the music industry, there is an added layer of ageism that, to this day, applies wrongfully and exponentially more to women looking to progress their artistic or professional practices than it does to men. The unfair race against time creates very real barriers to women picking up instruments for the first time, experiencing the long-term success and credibility that they could otherwise rightfully earn, and moving into positions of authority within the overall industry to enact change. As a result, we are all, quite simply, missing out.

Three women will discuss the challenges, inspirations and opportunities they see standing before them from both established and new-to-music perspectives alike. Anne Backus had never picked up an instrument before trying to teach herself the drums and ultimately enrolling in the Ladies Rock Camp organized by Girls Rock Camp Atlanta, an experience she considers to be one of the most empowering she’d ever been a part of. Amber Goodwyn is the Artistic Director of the Regina Folk Festival, former Program Director of CJTR, and critically-acclaimed musician (Natural Sympathies, Cobra & Vulture). Gabrielle Rubaine is the Outreach & Development Director of Music Managers Forum Canada, former artist, and important catalyst in diversity initiatives that continue to this day at FACTOR.

Time: May 4, 2021 2:00pmET, and it’s free: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_37HDsjczR0m8mxflq0rV7g?mc_cid=37d36dd72a&mc_eid=75d56d5346

Working with the right lead generation agency

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By Sam

Every business needs a lead generation strategy in place. However, working with the right agency is not easy. In this article, I will discuss what you need to look for.

Working with the right lead generation agency

Your lead generation agency

The 6 step process

To finish

When we think about a lead generation agency, what areas come to mind?

One area that needs to be brought up is conversions. This is always the goal when working with lead generation and developing your lead generation strategy.

However, the road to getting conversions requires analysis. For example, the great benefit of lead generation is that it targets qualified leads. These leads are tailored towards your business These are the leads that were meant for you. Getting those right leads on your own is difficult.

The other goal of working with a lead generation agency is that you can get hopefully multiple streams of leads, month after month.

One lead may not do the trick for your business and its growth. But remember, with lead generation, your first aim is to get a conversion. A conversion may require multiple appointments with your sales team. It can be a gradual process, into converting the conversion to a sale.

With all this said, let’s discuss what you need to look for in a lead generation agency.

Your lead generation agency

The aspect that separates lead generation from other generic marketing strategies is that it targets the right leads for your business. There is always a chance that your marketing strategy will not appeal to your target audience.

Lead generation is as close you can get. This sounds like a reliable strategy, right?

On that note, how do you choose your agency?

One of the first points to look for is their experience and history. Do they have experience in working for top brands?

The other point to consider is that some of the top agencies are there to help once you outsource your lead generation strategy. This may mean that you need to prepare beforehand.

The 6 step process

The agency needs to be a full-service organization. In lead generation terms, this means that they consider all the 6 factors that can play a role in your lead generation strategy. These are.

  1. Linkedin
  2. Cold email
  3. B2B lead generation
  4. Cold calling
  5. Lead generation outsourcing
  6. Appointment setting

 

How many of these steps have you considered before reaching out to a lead generation company?

Linkedin is a great platform to get networks. These networks could be potential customers or even work partners.

Cold emailing and cold calling are both effective forms of communication if done right. With these two methods, you need a bit of guidance because to do these effectively, you need an experienced team that understands communication.

Your sales and marketing team need to know your potential customers information. This is where the B2B lead generation information and data are important. The agency will work hard to identify customer’s information so that your team can get working ASAP on those leads.

The workload can be intense, which is why many outsource their lead generation strategy to another agency. This buys you a lot more time so that you can work more on those leads and converting them.

But, you may find that the process of conversions always includes appointments with your clients.

To finish

All in all, work with a lead generation agency that provides you and your business the whole package of lead generation. Review each step carefully and communicate this with the team.

Experienced agencies exist and they may be 1 click or 1 search away.

Author bio

Sam Edwards is a content writer who lives in Tunbridge Wells. He is working for Pearl Lemon Properties. When he is not writing, he can be found grabbing a coffee or playing guitar.

Chicago Rocker JENNIFER HALL Leans Into Empathy and Compassion in Ethereal New Single “SFA”

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Chicago-based indie singer/songwriter Jennifer Hall leans into empathy and compassion with the release of this, the newest single “SFA.”

Long-time fans of Hall will instantly distinguish the new track as having a softer lilt to the songbird’s vocals than previous releases. There’s a classic, bass-driven vibe to “SFA,” smooth on its cut, while Hall’s perfectly timed vocals give leverage to the overall tone of the track; where once she soared to effortless heights with an infinitely booming instrument, “SFA” steps back into a decidedly softer, more muted undertone.

Hall recognizes the track showcases her deviating away from her sound of yesteryears, pushing play in a forward momentum. “It really needed a different kind of touch, vocally speaking,” Hall says. “Different from how I’m used to singing, with lots of power and volume.

“’SFA’ called for softness, and singing that was still full of feeling — but also gentle. It felt really great to sing in this way. I felt like I had opened a new door and found another way to express myself vocally, like I was really letting in the softness.”

Ethereal and etched in slow-rolling melodies, “’SFA’ is about really leaning into empathy and compassion rather than judgement,” she continues. “When I see myself and my own faults in others, I can struggle with that. ‘SFA’ also captures that feeling of peace and happiness that comes when you choose to embrace compassion and kindness, not only for others but for yourself too.”

The track comes neatly packaged in a gorgeous new music video, shot exclusively in the Bay area of San Francisco. “We had zero budget, so we spent two days driving around the Bay area looking for stunning scenery,” Alex Sheyn, director of the official ‘SFA’ video, reveals. “We were relying on a fun slider gimmick and some post to pull it all together.”

Written, mixed and recorded in her hometown of Chicago, Illinois, Hall incorporated the work of co-writers Woody Goss, and Noam Wallenberg — who not only produced & mixed the track, but also provided percussion, guitars, bass, and keys. The song also features Packy Lundholm and Andrew Vogt bass stylings.

It was Hall who penned the thought-provoking lyrics, never shying away from being her raw and authentic self. As she tells it, her objective is to “harness her musical forces for good, to drive human connection” — a prowess she continues to prove well between +1.3 Million streams across Spotify, her 2015 self-titled debut EP, its breakthrough track “Make It Out Alive,” and 2019’s follow-up “In the Water.”

Derbyshire UK Folk Rocker JOHN STAMP Soars with New Single, “Airplane Mode” featuring Atlanta GA’s PETER STROUD

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Being mature used to be an antithesis to rock and roll, but no more with Derbyshire UK-based folk rocker John Stamp and his soaring new single, “Airplane Mode” — available now.

A fifty-something year old on a whim, you can hear the energy of a satisfied, fulfilled lifetime of helping others in his works… Which would make sense, as he successfully ran a social care company until he was recently fifty-something-else, he shares.

As a music lover, Stamp also had the opportunity to see a ton of concerts around the world — which led to his collaboration with Sheryl Crow’s touring guitarist, Peter Stroud all the way based halfway around the world in Atlanta, Georgia.

When a particular 2018 show left Stamp’s jaw on the floor when it came to Stroud’s playing, he reached out to the musician via social media in regards to his project. Stroud was, at the time, and like many of us, stuck at home, and therefore evermore happy to partake.

“Thank God for the internet during these lockdown times, where new friendships and working together on music from afar can happen,” Stroud shares, adding, “I think he nailed it with this song, summing up what a lot of us can relate to over the past year.”

Stroud also came together with drummer Luke Bullen (Bryan Ferry, Joe Strummer), and UK session bassist and producer Carl Stanbridge (Gloria Gaynor, Mavis Staples).

The work is entirely heartfelt and undoubtedly Brit-born, though light-hearted, and a wise observation on modern day realities. A happy-go-lucky anthem with a message, “Airplane Mode” is a song about breaking rules, breaking out from the modern world, and it’s weird, sometimes dubious “improvements.”

Stroud’s guitar work absolutely shines throughout, and it’s obvious both the producer, artist, and guitarist had a blast doing this fun, heartwarming conversation starter.

Legendary Singer + Play Records Owner MELLEEFRESH Celebrates 25 Years With Stunning Year Ahead

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Simply put: rarely do you come across a globally heralded, multi-award winning female veteran of the music industry who continues to be a ground-breaking, ceiling-shattering revolutionary in all she does for three decades, and counting.

But such is the case for Canadian electronic music scene queen Melleefresh as she toasts her landmark and visionary 25 year tenure helming Play Records — and even longer as a veritable artistic force to be reckoned with in her own right.

Deemed “one of the pivotal figures in North American dance music” by Clash Magazine, the Toronto-based EDM dynamo has been a prominent avant-garde performance artist for the last 30 years.

As President and founder of the Play Records — the one through which deadmau5 was discovered and first signed to, and who she collaborated with as freshmau5 on many tracks, including the 2008 JUNO Award-nominated release, After Hours — Melleefresh has also collaborated with, including Dirty 30 (Alixander III), Billy Newton-Davis, Calvertron, Hoxton Whores, 40oz Profits, Gettoblasters, Jerome Robins, dj genderfluid, and more. She is an inimitable reference point for the cut-throat, competitive intersection that is music, business, and being a woman in the thick of it all.

“I had begun writing and singing my own music, and decided at one point I wanted to do more,” she recalls. “But what I really wanted was to be able to control my own music, and maybe form a label.

“One of my first labels, Nepotism Records, had a motto of ‘Family, Friends, or F*** Off,’” she continues. “I guess I do continue to work more with people I know, but I have not had any major f*** offs!

“That said, it’s been a lot of ups and downs,” she continues, reflecting back. “There have been some battles… Some ridiculous lawsuits… And also some amazing collaborations and performances.

“To this day, I find the constant search for new talent to work with has always been so exciting! That, and to develop new genres of music.

“I am continually evolving as an artist, and always trying out new vocals and musical styles with every different artist I work with. It’s been such a great discovery process, both creatively and from a business perspective…

“I love the evolution of it all!”

Mellefresh’s extensive credits, accolades, and rungs on her resume continue to soar sky-high; never idle, she releases new music frequently — including her latest LP, Invincible, and a special series of Redux re-issues slated for this celebratory year.

She is also the co-founder of Play Deep, a state-of-the-art recording studio in London, England, with DJ Spydabrown (Zachary Spider Brown-Smith). There, they have played host to recording sessions for the likes of The Spice Girls, Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora, Chance the Rapper, Childish Gambino, Nadia Rose, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Gigs, Offset, and more.

Why Is The The SM7 Microphone So Perfect? This Podcast Explains

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Since their founding almost a century ago, Shure has created some of the most iconic microphones ever made. In this episode, the fine folks at Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast worked with Shure to tell the story of the SM7 dynamic microphone: from its humble beginnings in voiceover studios in the early 70s, to its use on classic albums, to its rediscovery by podcasters and streamers.

Produced by Jacknife Lee and written by all four band members with Jacknife and longtime collaborator Coco Morier, Future Lovers delivers quintessentially impressive musicianship and songwriting, complemented, as always, by the killer vocals and whimsically acerbic lyrics The Beaches are known and loved for.

“We recorded most of Future Lovers in Los Angeles with Jacknife during The Professional sessions,” said The Beaches lead singer Jordan Miller. “But the pandemic gave us the opportunity to look at some of these songs and give them some new Beaches twists before they were released… You know, we’ve kind of all matured a little being stuck at home for over a year.”

Future Lovers follows The Beaches’ last EP, The Professional. Released in 2019, The Professional saw the group continue to evolve as songwriters and musicians, working again with their constant-collaborator, renowned producer Garrett “Jacknife” Lee, whose previous collaborations include U2, The Killers, Bloc Party, Snow Patrol, and Taylor Swift. The band’s highly successful 2020 The Professional Tour travelled across Canada, culminating with three of their 15 sold-out shows at The Danforth, in The Beaches’ hometown of Toronto.

Named appropriately after the Toronto neighbourhood they all hail and hang in, The Beaches are authentically rock ‘n’ roll. Their ‘70s aesthetic, unapologetic attitude and electrifying sound all fit harmoniously in a modern rock context. Comprised of sisters Jordan and Kylie Miller (on lead vocals/bass and guitar, respectively), Eliza Enman-McDaniel (on drums), and Leandra Earl (on keys and guitar), the band has a natural kismet that shines through on each track and in their live performances. The Beaches have become one of Canada’s top acts with a global reach, placing them in a modern and future context where rock prevails and marking them one of this generation’s most promising young rock groups.

Since their sizzling major label debut in 2017 with LP, Late Show, produced by Metric’s Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw, the quartet has accumulated an array of impressive highlights. To this day, Late Show’s singles remain fan and Rock radio favourites. The album’s first single, “Money,” secured the No.1 spot for three consecutive weeks and the infectious track “T-Shirt,” which spent nine weeks on the Billboard Rock Chart, recently became Gold Certified in Canada. With five Top 5 Alt Radio singles, a JUNO Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year, opening tour spots for icons like The Rolling Stones and The Foo Fighters, and much more – this is just the beginning of what The Beaches have in store. “T-Shirt,” “Fascination,” and “Snake Tongue” remain regular recurrent tracks on Canadian Rock Radio today.

Gaining recognition from the world’s most renowned artists, including the likes of Elton John, who has proclaimed: “Love them, love them, love them!”, The Beaches are back and have no plans to slow down. And when touring comes back, expect The Beaches to hit the road hard. Stay tuned for much more to come in 2021.

FUTURE LOVERS TRACK LIST
“Blow Up”
“Let’s Go”
“Bad Behaviour”
“Slow Mo”
“You Don’t Owe Me Anything”

My Next Read: “Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama A Memoir” by Bob Odenkirk

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In this hilarious, heartfelt memoir, Bob Odenkirk, the star of Mr. Show, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and Nobody opens up about the highs and lows of showbiz, his legendary cult status as a comedy writer, and what it’s like to reinvent himself as a no-holds-barred action film ass-kicker at fifty.

Bob Odenkirk’s career is inexplicable. And yet he will try like hell to explain it here, because that is what memoirs are for. Charting a “Homeric” decades-long “Odyssey” from his origins in the seedy comedy clubs of Chicago all the way to a dramatic career that is baffling to his friends, it’s almost like there are two or three Bob Odenkirks…but there is just one and one is enough, frankly.

Bob embraced a life in comedy after a chance meeting with Second City’s legendary Del Close, which eventually led to a job as a writer at SNL. As he weathered the beast that is live comedy, he stashed away the secrets of sketch writing—employing them in the immortal “Motivational Speaker” sketch for his friend Chris Farley, honing them on The Ben Stiller Show, and perfecting them on Mr. Show With Bob and David, which inspired an entire generation of comedy writers and stars. Then his career met the hope-dashing machine that is Hollywood development. But when all hope was lost for the umpteenth time, Bob was more astonished than anyone to find himself on Breaking Bad. His embrace of this strange new world of dramatic acting led him to working with Steven Spielberg, Alexander Payne, and Greta Gerwig, until finally re-re-inventing himself as a bona-fide worldwide action star for reasons that even he does not fully grasp! Read this and do your own psychoanalysis—it’s fun!

Throughout Bob’s travels, his memoir preserves the voice he cultivated from years of comedy writing. Featuring humorous tangents, joyful interludes, never-before-seen photos, wild characters from his winding career, and his trademark upbeat but unflinching drive, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama is a classic showbiz tale—and a moving story about what it’s like to risk everything you think you know to make a change.

Watch Metallica playing ‘Enter Sandman’ backwards

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The clip, which was reportedly filmed in 2013, features Lars Ulrich, Robert Trujillo, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett informally jamming in a studio and shows, first, they still love to have fun, and two, this band simply doesn’t age. At all.

Genesis ‘The Last Domino?’ fall 2021 North American tour announced

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On Thursday, Genesis announced their highly anticipated return to North America for the first time in 14 years with “The Last Domino?” tour dates that will have Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford playing major cities across the U.S. and Canada this November and December. Kicking off at Chicago’s United Center on Nov. 15, the group will be joined by Nic Collins on drums, and the band’s long-time lead guitar and bass player Daryl Stuermer.

“Genesis The Last Domino?” North American Tour 2021 marks the first time Genesis has performed stateside since 2007’s “Turn It On Again: The Tour,” which went on to be one of the biggest grossing tours of that year playing sold-out arenas and stadiums around the world. One of the most successful and legendary rock bands of all-time, Genesis has sold more than 100 million albums with numerous top 20 hits, including “Invisible Touch,” “In Too Deep” and “Turn It On Again,” while also being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

Tickets for all shows will be available first through a presale powered by Ticketmaster Verified Fan on May 5, followed by the general public on-sale on May 7. The Verified Fan program aims to create a safe and reliable ticket-buying experience. It helps ensure tickets get into the hands of real fans first. Fans must register for access between now and 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday, May 2. If verified and selected, fans can secure their tickets beginning at 10 a.m. local time Wednesday, May 5. To register, visit www.genesis-music.com.

Beginning May 7, tickets will be available through a public on-sale. Visit www.genesis-music.com for tour, ticket and official VIP package information.

For the biggest Genesis fans who want to get closer to the action than ever before, official VIP packages will be available for all shows. Fans can choose from a variety of VIP package options to ensure they have an unforgettable experience. Official VIP packages will be available beginning at 10 a.m. local time Wednesday, May 5.

The tour and all venues will be following all mandated precautions in accordance with state and local regulations so as to provide the most secure, COVID-19-free environment possible.

 

November 15, 2021

Chicago, IL

United Center

November 18, 2021

Washington, DC

Capital One Arena

November 20, 2021

Charlotte, NC

Spectrum Center

November 22, 2021

Montreal, QC

Centre Bell

November 25, 2021

Toronto, ON

Scotiabank Arena

November 27, 2021

Buffalo, NY

KeyBank Center

November 29, 2021

Detroit, MI

Little Caesars Arena

November 30, 2021

Cleveland, OH

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

December 2, 2021

Philadelphia, PA

Wells Fargo Center

December 5, 2021

New York, NY

Madison Square Garden

December 8, 2021

Columbus, OH

Nationwide Arena

December 10, 2021

Belmont Park, NY

UBS Arena

December 13, 2021

Pittsburgh, PA

PPG Paints Arena

December 15, 2021

Boston, MA

TD Garden