Above the Noise

After being away a few weeks getting married and spending time with family and friends I am back with a new episode of "Above The Noise."

This week I have Mike James on the show and he has a ton of information to share! From writing Billboard hits to radio promoting, music publishing and music placements, Mike has a great wealth of music industry knowledge!

He is the owner of Milk Music Co., a publishing company administered by Netwerk One Music, and co-founder and president of HipJoint, a production company and label with distribution via Universal Music.

Mike has had success with artists of all styles. Kelly Rowland "Unity" - released worldwide on her Diva Deluxe album - Top 10 radio hit in Canada, Delerium "Dust In Gravity" - Hipjoint were the top line writers on this track that achieved US Billboard #1 status on the Dance/Club Play chart in 2010, Calvin Klein CK1 - Hipjoint's song "We Are One" was used as the positioning track for Calvin Klein's worldwide relaunch of CK1 in 2009 Mika Nakashima "Candy Girl" - The Japanese superstar recently took this Hipjoint track to #4 on Japan's Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, Shiloh "Operator (A Girl Like Me)" - Hipjoint discovered this Canadian artist at 13 and wrote and produced her platinum debut hit for her (Universal Music Canada/Universal Republic), Nikon Cool Pix - Nikon used Hipjoint's track "Bounce With Me" by Kreesha Turner as it's positioning song for a series of Nikon Hip Joint Productions Mike JamesCool Pix ads featuring Ashton Kutcher, NFL Network - The NFL has chosen the Hipjoint written and produced "Crank It Up" by The Young Goulets to promote 2010 NFL Thursday Night Football.

With success at writing hits, promoting singles on the radio, placing music in TV and film, as well as developing his businesses I have asked Mike what he does to be heard above the noise in all that he does!

Aaron Bethune.

In our conversation we discuss:

What makes a hit

Writing for radio

Music discovery

Finding new talent

Music placements

What are the parts that make up a successful artist?

What is success?

How you get heard "Above The Noise."

This week I am interviewing Solveig Whittle. Solveig is involved in the North West Music Experience, a music conference debuting next year in Seattle. She is a singer and music marketer as well as a software developer. As she puts it: "I’m a high tech marketer who has a serious music habit I’ve been feeding for the past 30 years. I love how these two interests are finally coming together for me."

Starting her professional career in music a little later in life she has applied her previous success in business to her career in music. With her own success she is helping other aspiring musicians to do the same.

Coming from the tech world it is surprising just how many similarities can be drawn to the current music industry. Solveig was involved in the early software development at Microsoft. Creativity and collaboration were as important in the early days of Microsoft as they are in today's music industry.

There is always a lot to be learned from the experiences of others and the conversation with Solveig shares many!

Aaron Bethune

www.playitloudmusic.com

This week I am interviewing Solveig Whittle. Solveig is involved in the North West Music Experience, a music conference debuting next year in Seattle. She is a singer and music marketer as well as a software developer. As she puts it: "I’m a high tech marketer who has a serious music habit I’ve been feeding for the past 30 years. I love how these two interests are finally coming together for me."

Starting her professional career in music a little later in life she has applied her previous success in business to her career in music. With her own success she is helping other aspiring musicians to do the same.

Coming from the tech world it is surprising just how many similarities can be drawn to the current music industry. Solveig was involved in the early software development at Microsoft. Creativity and collaboration were as important in the early days of Microsoft as they are in today's music industry.

There is always a lot to be learned from the experiences of others and the conversation with Solveig shares many!

Aaron Bethune

www.playitloudmusic.com

After speaking with experts on the business side of the industry as well as established artists, now it is time to talk to the consumer and fan!

This week I have 15 year old Shimone on the show. Shimone has been a great person to talk to as he is a music consumer, music fan and a budding young musician. He is a potential client for producers and studios, and is part of the generation targeted by a lot of the experts I have spoken to.

At 15 he has the ability to make some money and choose where he spends it, even get a loan if need be from his parents and pay them back. It is interesting where he spends this money, how he values music, where he discovers music, what is "cool," how he experiences music, how much music he listens to, etc...

While originally from the Czech Republic Shimone now lives in Malibu. With friends in both countries and trips to visit Europe multiple times a year, it is interesting to find out about the music scenes, the different music trends, what is considered hip, and what similarities and differences exist, etc...

I cannot recommend more highly listening to what Shimone has to say as his insight is as eye opening to your marketing, sales, branding, fanbase building, etc... as any of the other experts who have appeared on the show so far!

Aaron Bethune.

After speaking with experts on the business side of the industry as well as established artists, now it is time to talk to the consumer and fan!

This week I have 15 year old Shimone on the show. Shimone has been a great person to talk to as he is a music consumer, music fan and a budding young musician. He is a potential client for producers and studios, and is part of the generation targeted by a lot of the experts I have spoken to.

At 15 he has the ability to make some money and choose where he spends it, even get a loan if need be from his parents and pay them back. It is interesting where he spends this money, how he values music, where he discovers music, what is "cool," how he experiences music, how much music he listens to, etc...

While originally from the Czech Republic Shimone now lives in Malibu. With friends in both countries and trips to visit Europe multiple times a year, it is interesting to find out about the music scenes, the different music trends, what is considered hip, and what similarities and differences exist, etc...

I cannot recommend more highly listening to what Shimone has to say as his insight is as eye opening to your marketing, sales, branding, fanbase building, etc... as any of the other experts who have appeared on the show so far!

Aaron Bethune.

As promised, here's our Q&A with musician Jo Burt. After the introduction two weeks ago we left it open for you to send in your questions. Well, we're back and Jo has your answers!

With all of Jo's musical experiences and stories from the road you might want to kick back and put your feet up for this one!

Jo has written, toured, recorded and performed with many artists including Jason Bonham, Jimmy Page, Paul Rodgers, Black Sabbath, Elton John, Bob Geldorf, Roger Taylor, Bryan Adams, The Troggs, Freddie Mercury and many more. From flying across borders and passport controls in private jets, being led by police escorts, performances on navy ships, and having Mick Jagger in the audience while Madonna was the waitress... Jo has a few stories to tell!

This interview covers:

Your thoughts create your future

Big fish in a small pond

The ability to play many genres of music

Agents and managers

Session work: credits or payment

Trashing hotel rooms

The power of live performance and how it affects people

Jo's spinal tap moment with Black Sabbath in Italy

As promised, here's our Q&A with musician Jo Burt. After the introduction two weeks ago we left it open for you to send in your questions. Well, we're back and Jo has your answers!

With all of Jo's musical experiences and stories from the road you might want to kick back and put your feet up for this one!

Jo has written, toured, recorded and performed with many artists including Jason Bonham, Jimmy Page, Paul Rodgers, Black Sabbath, Elton John, Bob Geldorf, Roger Taylor, Bryan Adams, The Troggs, Freddie Mercury and many more. From flying across borders and passport controls in private jets, being led by police escorts, performances on navy ships, and having Mick Jagger in the audience while Madonna was the waitress... Jo has a few stories to tell!

This interview covers:

Your thoughts create your future

Big fish in a small pond

The ability to play many genres of music

Agents and managers

Session work: credits or payment

Trashing hotel rooms

The power of live performance and how it affects people

Jo's spinal tap moment with Black Sabbath in Italy

I was first in touch with David after reading a book he co-wrote on Music Supervision, a book I recommend everyone interested in the world of music supervision. With a vast background in the music industry ranging from working at Myles Copeland's label I.R.S. (the first to sign REM) to running SonicScoop in NYC, David has a ton of knowledge when it comes to music and it's business. David is intensely involved with the NYC music scene and knows what it takes to be "Heard Above The Noise" in the Big Apple. He shares a ton of great information in this interview!

Our conversation includes:

* How we use words to sell our music

* Where is the money in the music industry?

* The future of the music industry

* The power of the mind and how we create our future.

David Weiss is President of D Media, Inc. (www.dwords.com) and is an internationally published freelance journalist. He is the former NYC editor of Mix magazine, the world's leading pro audio publication, and his work has appeared regularly in publications such as Systems Contractor News, Archi-Tech, Digital Television, TV Technology, Time Out NY, Remix and Drum! magazine. He is also co-author of the book Music Supervision: The Complete Guide to Selecting and Licensing Music & Sound Design for Media, published by Schirmer Trade Books in September, 2005.

Mr. Weiss is a music supervisor for retail, restaurant and hospitality environments, guiding content and music management systems while working with one of New York City's premiere A/V integrators, Essential Communications.

In addition, Mr. Weiss is the founder of D Media, Inc. a marketing/PR consultancy for the pro audio, broadcast, A/V, music and fiber optic industries. Clients have included the NYC video editing facility Rhinoceros, communications firm Marcomm Group for clients including Canon, Ikegami, Chyron, Videotek, Vinten, and D Data, fiber optic carrier Q Media, A/V specialists Essential Communications, and post house Planet V.

I was first in touch with David after reading a book he co-wrote on Music Supervision, a book I recommend everyone interested in the world of music supervision. With a vast background in the music industry ranging from working at Myles Copeland's label I.R.S. (the first to sign REM) to running SonicScoop in NYC, David has a ton of knowledge when it comes to music and it's business. David is intensely involved with the NYC music scene and knows what it takes to be "Heard Above The Noise" in the Big Apple. He shares a ton of great information in this interview!

Our conversation includes:

* How we use words to sell our music

* Where is the money in the music industry?

* The future of the music industry

* The power of the mind and how we create our future.

David Weiss is President of D Media, Inc. (www.dwords.com) and is an internationally published freelance journalist. He is the former NYC editor of Mix magazine, the world's leading pro audio publication, and his work has appeared regularly in publications such as Systems Contractor News, Archi-Tech, Digital Television, TV Technology, Time Out NY, Remix and Drum! magazine. He is also co-author of the book Music Supervision: The Complete Guide to Selecting and Licensing Music & Sound Design for Media, published by Schirmer Trade Books in September, 2005.

Mr. Weiss is a music supervisor for retail, restaurant and hospitality environments, guiding content and music management systems while working with one of New York City's premiere A/V integrators, Essential Communications.

In addition, Mr. Weiss is the founder of D Media, Inc. a marketing/PR consultancy for the pro audio, broadcast, A/V, music and fiber optic industries. Clients have included the NYC video editing facility Rhinoceros, communications firm Marcomm Group for clients including Canon, Ikegami, Chyron, Videotek, Vinten, and D Data, fiber optic carrier Q Media, A/V specialists Essential Communications, and post house Planet V.

This week I have Jo Burt on the show. I have been talking to a lot of people on the business side of the industry but this week I am talking with a musician who has “done it all.” Not every one get a chance to play at Wembley Stadium or fly around on jets with Elton John, let alone do it with so many artists like Jo has.

Jo was a founding member of Sector 27 with Tom Robinson – and a member of Virginia Wolf with Jason Bonham. Burt also recorded with Freddie Mercury on his solo album, Mr. Bad Guy and was the bassist for Black Sabbath during their 1987 tour in support of the album The Eternal Idol.

He has written, toured, and performed with many other artists, including The Troggs, Brian Setzer, Bob Geldof, Roger Taylor, James Reyne, The Sweet and many, many more.

As you can imagine Jo has quite the story to tell. For this reason we decided to do this podcast in two sections. This is “The Jo Burt Story” and in two weeks (17.07.12) we will follow it up. And when we do we want it to be with questions from YOU!

Aaron Bethune.

To get your questions to Jo please send them to:

e-mail: abovethenoise (at) playitloudmusic (dot) com

Twitter: @playitloudmusic

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/playitloudmusic

Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/abovethenoise

Wordpress: http://www.playitloudmusic.wordpress.com