Author: Christopher Laird Simmons

Mutiny Pictures reports busy winter and spring with key accounts including Interscope Records, ABC, and Drew Seeley

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (MuseWire) – Mutiny Pictures, a Los Angeles-based film company specializing in online branded entertainment and webisode production, made several company announcements through founder Michael Pierce on recent high-profile projects that showcase their branding capabilities and post-production expertise. Mutiny Pictures director Kenny Stoff recently teamed up with U2 to document the launch of […]

Toontrack Music announces The Metal Foundry SDX

Christopher Laird Simmons

Sweden (MuseWire) – The originators of multi sampled drums and Drumkit From Hell, Toontrack®, Music presents an all-new SDX expansion pack for Superior Drummer® 2.0 – The Metal Foundry SDXâ„¢. The Metal Foundry SDX is an all-new recording with Meshuggah drummer Tomas Haake, featuring seven massive drum kits, spanning 300,000 sound files of raw, single […]

Native Instruments introduces DEEP RECONSTRUCTIONS

Christopher Laird Simmons

Berlin, Germany (MuseWire) – Native Instruments today released DEEP RECONSTRUCTIONS, a collection of cutting-edge multi-effects based on the powerful sound processing features of the KORE platform. The new KORE SOUNDPACK provides a wealth of advanced effect configurations that can be used to tweak and transform any audio material in innovative and inspiring ways, for direct […]

Napster Offers MP3s with its On-Demand Streaming Service

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (MuseWire) – Napster, the pioneer of digital music, today unveiled its latest music offering combining the freedom of MP3s with the discovery benefits of a high-quality streaming music service – all for one low price. For as little as $5 per month, Napster users get five unrestricted MP3 downloads, and unlimited access […]

EMI UK Releases ‘The Singular Thomas Dolby’

Christopher Laird Simmons

London, UK (MuseWire) – The Singular Thomas Dolby, a 2-disc CD and DVD (PAL) collection features all Thomas Dolby's singles and videos. It is released in the UK on May 18th 2009 and is available worldwide as an import. Thomas Dolby became one of the most recognizable figures of the synth-pop movement of early-'80s new […]

DashBook 3.0 adds new features designed to handle sales tracking and complex royalties for the music industry

Christopher Laird Simmons

HOUSTON, Texas — After a successful year on the market, adding user-friendly product components that dramatically improve front and back office operations for publishers of books and ebooks, today Financial Softworks, LLC, announced the release of DashBook 3.0 – with new features and functions designed to handle sales tracking and complex royalties for the music […]

Planet Waves’ Scale Master App provides 10,000 guitar scales, modes, and arpeggios

Christopher Laird Simmons

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (MuseWire) – ­Planet Waves, one of the D’Addario Company’s family of world-renowned musical instrument accessory brands, introduces Scale Wizard, a comprehensive guitar scale library as a companion to their best-selling Chordmaster App, a quintessential guitar chord library. Between them, Scale Wizard and Chordmaster provide volumes of guitar reference material in a hand-held iPhone […]

ADAM Audio USA Taps Caputo For US Market

Christopher Laird Simmons

Westlake Village, Calif. (MuseWire –­ Berlin-based ADAM Professional Audio, celebrating 10 years of making critically acclaimed and award-winning professional studio monitors, have hired Robert Caputo as President of ADAM Audio USA. Caputo will over see all aspects of business in the US market and is tasked with expanding the growth the company has enjoyed for […]

Audiolife Tells Indie Music Artists to ‘Wave Goodbye to The Post Office’

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (MuseWire) – Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com), an Artist Services platform designed for indie artists to sell music online and on-demand to fans, has announced a new feature via its virtual, portable storefront. Using their free account, artists will now have the option to use the Audiolife platform for all fulfillment and warehousing needs. With […]

OS3 for Access Virus Ti Line Now Available – Out of Beta

Christopher Laird Simmons

Recklinghausen, Germany (MuseWire) – Access Music announced today the OS3 official release for the Virus Ti line of synthesizers. OS3 has been released for the entire Virus TI range of products after some month of public beta testing. The new operating system features many new effects including a tape delay, a phlethora of new distortion […]

Musician with ALS Composes Piano Rock Album with One Finger – New CD ‘Toxic Charm’

Christopher Laird Simmons

EAST LANSING, Mich. (MuseWire) – Ace Noface, a 38 year old man with Lou Gehrig’s disease, today announces the release of a piano rock CD, “Toxic Charm.” His goal is to leave a musical legacy behind, and raise awareness of ALS. May is ALS awareness month. Words like “inspiring” get used so casually that their […]

Native Instruments introduces DISCOVERY SERIES: NORTH INDIA

Christopher Laird Simmons

Berlin, Germany (MuseWire) – Native Instruments today introduced NORTH INDIA, a new sound library that captures and recreates the charismatic tones of classical North Indian music with unparalleled authenticity. It also marks the launch of the new “Discovery Series” of KORE SOUNDPACKS, which will translate the sonic heritage of various regions of the world into […]

iDrum: Depeche Mode Sounds of the Universe Released for iPhone and iPod Touch

Christopher Laird Simmons

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (MuseWire) – ­ iZotope, Inc. and Mute Records have collaborated to bring a Depeche Mode music application, iDrum: Depeche Mode Sounds of the Universe, to the iPhone and iPod touch. iZotope’s popular, interactive iDrum apps let iPhone and iPod touch users create music by tapping the touch screen and rearranging simple shapes and […]

Planet Waves’ Chordmaster App a Hit with Guitar Players

Christopher Laird Simmons

FARMINGDALE, NY (MuseWire ­– The Planet Waves Chordmaster, a comprehensive and accurate library of over 7,800 guitar chords for the iPhone and iTouch, has become a hit with guitar players of all levels having held the #1 position on the Apple App Store’s Top Paid Music category in recent weeks. “Chordmaster has become so successful […]

Free Awareness Benefit Concert in Boston Common Announced by VHL Family Alliance

Christopher Laird Simmons

BOSTON, Mass. (MuseWire) – This year VHL Family Alliance will be hosting its first annual special event in honor of International VHL Day, which will be declared in Massachusetts in May at the State House. Alex Anderson, a 13 year old boy from New Jersey, started this concept when he had a vision of hosting […]

Monster MIDI Pack Announced by Toontrack as Download

Christopher Laird Simmons

Sweden (MuseWire) – At only $19 USD Toontrack Music is proud to present the Monster MIDI Pack. The pack contains more than 400 MIDI files, individually played by drummer Peter Fredlander. Available as 4/4 straight and 4/4 Swing in various tempos. The Monster MIDI Pack works with EZdrummer and Superior Drummer®, optimized for standard drum […]

ASK Video Distributes New Finale DVD Tutorial

Christopher Laird Simmons

ONTARIO, Canada (MuseWire) – ASK Video Interactive Media, a leading creator of software tutorials on DVD, is now the exclusive distributor of The Finale 2008-2009 Tutorial DVD, a video tutorial for Finale 2008 and 2009 produced by MusicWorks Interactive Media. This new DVD is a comprehensive video presentation developed for the beginner and the intermediate […]

Native Instruments releases URBAN ARSENAL 2 for KORE

Christopher Laird Simmons

Berlin, Germany (MuseWire) – Native Instruments today released URBAN ARSENAL 2, a new collection of production-ready sound material for contemporary hip-hop and similar music styles. Created in collaboration with established urban music producers and sound designers, the latest entry in the KORE SOUNDPACK range delivers a further assortment of professional groove material and instrument sounds […]

Classical Guitarist Stuart Weber and The Meritage Quartet in Concert May 2 in Montana

Christopher Laird Simmons

BOZEMAN, Mont. (MuseWire) – The Instrumental virtuoso and social networking champion returns to One Prime Recording Location of his breathtaking new album – an acoustic marvel! On Saturday May 2nd, 2009, at 8 p.m., classical guitarist Stuart Weber will be bringing his fret board magic to Bozeman, Montana for an acoustic concert at the Ellen […]

Song Writing Collaboration has Unique Twist at Golosio Publishing

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Golosio Music Publishing (www.golosio.com) is just a few months old but it has discovered a new way to expand its catalog of songs. The rhythm tracks for a new groove song were created in the Los Angeles studio of John Scott G and then sent to Golosio songwriters, Doug Colosio in […]

Leon Ware ‘The Sensual Minister’ Celebrates Motown’s 50th with Special Concert at Catalina Bar & Grill

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (MuseWire) – For a man who will be 70 next year, singer/songwriter extraordinaire Leon Ware is working up a storm! Still promoting his acclaimed Stax Records debut, Moon Ride, featuring the divine new single “Hold Tonight,” Ware is also taking a moment to reflect long and deep on his hallowed history with […]

iDrum: Ministry of Sound Trance Anthems now available on Apple App Store

Christopher Laird Simmons

LONDON, UK (MuseWire) – iDrum: Ministry of Sound Trance Anthems lets iPhone and iPod touch owners recreate their favorite Trance tracks of yesterday and today. Starting with professionally produced iDrum kits that emulate the greatest Trance anthems in clubbing history, users can customize the included beats any way they like or mix and match hundreds […]

Sic Skinz Custom Drum Wraps Make Refinishing Your Old Drum Set Possible on a Budget

Christopher Laird Simmons

EVERETT, Wash. (MuseWire) – From bars to arenas to music videos, drummers can finally be noticed, stand apart from the rest, and look cool while doing it. Sic•Skinz Custom Drum Wraps (www.sicskinz.com) has announced availability of their innovative and easy to install Custom Drum Wraps. These drum wraps allow anyone to effectively re-finish their drum […]

Garritan Purchases GigaStudio Technology Assets From Tascam

Christopher Laird Simmons

ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. and MONTEBELLO, Calif. (MuseWire) – TASCAM, a division of TEAC America, Inc. and Garritan Corporation announced the completion of the sale of technology assets relating to GigaStudio, Gigasampler, GVI, Gigapulse and all Giga products. Gigasampler revolutionized the music industry when it was introduced in 1999 and its importance in the music world […]

Toontrack Announces Superior Drummer 2.1 Update

Christopher Laird Simmons

Sweden (MuseWire) – This major update to Toontrack’s Superior Drummer 2 contains many bug fixes as well as features significantly improving the user experience. It is recommended for all users and is essential for SDX (NY Vol2) support. It can be downloaded immediately from the “software updates” section of the Toontrack site by registered owners. […]

Open Labs Unveils DBeat, Highly Anticipated Portable DJ Instrument

Christopher Laird Simmons

FRANKFURT – Musikmesse (MuseWire) – Open Labs, a recognized leader in innovative computer-enhanced musical instruments based in Austin, Texas, debuted their new DBeat instrument today at Musikmesse in Frankfurt, Germany. The DBeat marks the first product developed by Open Labs specifically for the DJ and electronic musician market by incorporating a broader range of sounds, […]

TC-Helicon announce VoiceTone Synth, offering radical vocal processing in a pedal

Christopher Laird Simmons

DENMARK (MuseWire) – Incredible new vocal processing pedal from TC-Helicon: VoiceTone Synth brings together a collection of extreme exotic and contemporary sonic effects, including jagged HardTune effects, classic Vocoder effects, a voice-controlled synthesizer and vocal distortion and megaphone effects. Now vocalists or anyone looking to add a modern edge to their live performances and studio […]

WorldSings Launches Million Dollar Contest to Find World’s Best Song

Christopher Laird Simmons

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (MuseWire) – WorldSings unveiled a new social site (www.WorldSings.com) for music discovery and kicked off the official start to its first annual World’s Best Song competition with $1,000,0000 in prizes. The new site brings together artists and music fans from around the world in a rich social network that promotes self-expression, social […]

Singer-Actor Corbin Bleu Signs on as National Spokesperson for Starlight Children’s Foundation

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (MuseWire) – Starlight Children’s Foundation is pleased to announce that Corbin Bleu is the new national spokesperson for the nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. “Corbin has been a tireless supporter of […]

Cakewalk announces SONAR V-Studio 100 – The second product in the V-Studio line

Christopher Laird Simmons

FRANKFURT – Musikmesse (MuseWire) – The second product in the V-Studio line – an all-in-one recorder, mixer, interface and DAW controller. SONAR V-Studio 100 provides a compact yet feature-rich music production studio that enables musicians to create, record, produce, and perform music – with or without a computer. SONAR V-Studio 100 integrates a 24-bit/96kHz high-speed […]

Record Label Veteran David Kronemyer Joins Music Industry Newswire as Contributing Editor

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (MuseWire) – Online-based recording industry publication adds noted music promoter and former record label VP, David Kronemyer to its editorial staff. Kronemyer will contribute expertise on issues related to the business of artist management, music and independent film, as well as a regular column on “Deconstructing Pop Culture.” MuseWire(TM) is a unit […]

Devine Machine Releases Updated Virtual Instruments, including Krishna Synth

Christopher Laird Simmons

PARIS, France (MuseWire) – Devine Machine software company has updated its Frame Synthesis based instrument Krishna Synth to version 1.5. “Frame Synthesis” is an exclusive technology from Devine Machine that lets you analyse a sound sample to obtain a special “movie” file that Krishna Synth will use as an oscillator. This process, the tools provided […]

Native Instruments announces TRAKTOR DUO and TRAKTOR SCRATCH DUO

Christopher Laird Simmons

BERLIN, Germany (MuseWire) – Native Instruments just announced TRAKTOR DUO and TRAKTOR SCRATCH DUO, two new DJ solutions that bring the quality and creative functionality of the acclaimed TRAKTOR PRO platform into a new price range, offering an affordable entry into the world of digital DJing. The new TRAKTOR DUO software, which is also at […]

Pianist Extraordinaire, Jerry Farber, Appears at Atlanta Unity Fundraiser

Christopher Laird Simmons

ATLANTA, Ga. (MuseWire) – Atlanta Unity presents their annual “Spring Sillies” fundraiser featuring popular comedian and pianist Jerry Farber. The event will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2009 from 7:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. in the Church Sanctuary of Atlanta Unity, located at 3597 Parkway Lane in Norcross. Tickets are $20.00 per person. Heavy […]

TC Electronic to distribute Blue and Tannoy in Europe, China and Japan

Christopher Laird Simmons

Denmark (MuseWire) – TC Electronic has added Tannoy to the growing list of exceptional brands that it is distributing throughout Europe, China and Japan. Tannoy was founded in 1926. After supplying speaker systems to all of the British military installations throughout the war the brand became synonymous with high quality public address systems, and to […]

Darrius Willrich Releases New Jazz-Soul-Urban Album ‘Can’t Get Enough’

Christopher Laird Simmons

SEATTLE, Wash. (MuseWire) – Darrius Willrich and Critical Sun Recordings bring you the CD Release – and the release party – for Darrius’ new album “Can’t Get Enough,” on the Main Stage at the Triple Door in Seattle, Washington on April 29th, 2009. Twenty five percent of all profits from the album go to PATH, […]

Jim Curry Helps John Denver Music ‘Come-back’ to the Symphony in an Unusual Way

Christopher Laird Simmons

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (MuseWire) – The music of the late John Denver is like an old friend, outlasting trends and standing the test of time, but that’s not the case with the original John Denver orchestrations, says Jim Curry Music. More than a decade has passed since the music of American composer John Denver has […]

Paganism in Motion: New Music Video from FookMovie

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (MuseWire) – With hooded figures dancing under a full moon, spectral guitarists torturing their instruments, and large-suited men manipulating stomp boxes, amplifiers and mixing boards, the latest video from FookMovie (www.fookmovie.com) is an explosion of color that matches the sound of “Elephant Gerald,” the new song from James Sotelo. Produced by John […]

Oasis songwriter teams up with Focusrite and Gareth Johnson to record and mix live sound for Teenage Cancer Trust

Christopher Laird Simmons

High Wycombe, UK (MuseWire) – Gareth Johnson is no stranger to recording live music. For years now he's been drafted in for live mixing duties for the likes of Kasabian, The Who, Kaiser Chiefs and Duffy. Now he's adding Noel Gallagher to a CV that's littered with A-listers from the cream of major record labels […]

Audiolife Sponsors The PureVolume.com House to bring indie artists an opportunity to party, play, and profit

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (MuseWire) – Audiolife, an Artist Services platform designed for indie artists to sell music online and on-demand to fans, has announced that it will officially sponsor The PureVolume.com House in Austin, Texas. The sponsorship will provide Audiolife with the opportunity to offer its groundbreaking web-platform to PureVolume’s extensive list of indie artists […]

SAE celebrate opening of bespoke new London campus

Christopher Laird Simmons

LONDON (MuseWire) – SAE Institute's new London campus may have moved to Shoreditch back in 2008, but the official launch party was held recently to celebrate the opening of this bespoke new facility that's set to become a beacon of excellence for anyone wanting to learn how to produce audio or film. Over 150 people […]

Audiolife Releases In-depth Report on the Future of Selling Indie Music CDs Online

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (MuseWire) – Audiolife (www.Audiolife.com), the Los Angeles-based Artist Services Company responsible for the development of a new media web-platform specifically designed for indie artists to sell music online and on-demand to fans, has released an in-depth report of findings on the future of selling CDs online. The report, “The New Way to […]

NARIP Events: Music In Advertising: Selling In, Not Selling Out

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The National Association of Record Industry Professionals (NARIP) is holding the following event on March 12 in San Francisco, Calif.: “Music In Advertising: Selling In, Not Selling Out.” Using music to boost advertising and marketing can have enormous positive results for brands and bands. In fact, matching bands with brands is […]

Toontrack Music announces the first SDX expansion pack for Superior Drummer 2.0

Christopher Laird Simmons

Sweden (MuseWire) – The very first SDX expansion pack dedicated to Superior Drummer 2.0, Vol.2 of the NY Studio Legacy Series, contains unique sample recordings from two legendary New York Studios – Hit Factory NY and Allaire Studios. “The New York Studio Legacy Series Vol.2” altogether feature kits recorded with seven kick drums, thirteen snares […]

Dave Koz to Host Starlight Children’s Foundation Annual ‘A Stellar Night’ Gala

Christopher Laird Simmons

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (MuseWire) – Starlight Children’s Foundation (www.starlight.org) will present Teri Hatcher with its 2009 “Heart of Gold Award” at the organization’s annual “A Stellar Night” gala, presented by California Pizza Kitchen, on Friday, March 27, 2009 at 7 p.m. at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. Starlight’s “Jacki Carlish Humanitarian of the Year Award” will […]

KRK Systems Launches R6 Passive Studio Monitor

Christopher Laird Simmons

High Wycombe, UK (MuseWire) – Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd, the UK distributor of KRK Systems products, today announced the availability of the R6 passive studio monitor. The R6 incorporates design cues from KRK's best selling Rokit line, including radically radiused edges along the front of the cabinet. Since 2004 Rokit monitors have provided thousands of […]

Royalty Free Music Downloads: Soundrangers Launches New Web Site

Christopher Laird Simmons

SEATTLE, Wash. (MuseWire) – Soundrangers announces the launch of their new web site. Founded in 1998, Soundrangers.com was the first online sound library to specialize in creating royalty free sound effects and music specifically designed for the emerging world of interactive and online media. From the beginning their focus was to provide high quality sound […]

New product from VirSyn – FDelay – The Rhythmiser

Christopher Laird Simmons

PFINZTAL, Germany (MuseWire) – Pimp up your loops with VirSyn – FDelay – The Rhythmiser! The multi-band delay machine FDELAY is an exciting tool for sound design and loop manipulation in realtime. In contrast to the delay machines you're used to FDELAY splits the frequency spectrum of the input signal into 27 bands and applies […]

Musicrow Releases Vintage Strings MkIII Virtual Instrument

Christopher Laird Simmons

Haifa, Israel (MuseWire) – Musicrow is proud to announce the release of Vintage Strings MkIII, a virtual string machine that perfectly replicates the sound of analog string ensemble keyboards from the ’70s, like the Arp Solina and the Crumar Multiman. Vintage Strings MkIII can produce a wide range of rich warm string pads, and other […]

Native Instruments introduces ABSYNTH SPECTRAL EXPANSION

Christopher Laird Simmons

Berlin, Germany (MuseWire) – Native Instruments has just introduced ABSYNTH SPECTRAL EXPANSION, the latest release in the comprehensive range of KORE SOUNDPACK libraries. The new collection provides a wealth of inspiring sounds based on the powerful semi-modular sound engine of the acclaimed ABSYNTH synthesizer. ABSYNTH SPECTRAL EXPANSION focuses on expressive, highly playable sounds that range […]