What Business Are We In?
You’ve heard us talking about the recent Copyright Royalty Board ruling that essentially puts small broadcasters out of business. The CRB and its enforcement arm SoundExchange have issued a decree that is beneficial to big Internet players like Pandora, Spotify and iHeart Media, but is essentially a death knell for thousands of small Internet broadcasters. Already 6,000 stations have been silenced, taking the diversity that comes from a level playing field and giving a handful of big companies control over what we see and hear.
The message from the government and big radio and recording industry corporations is, we’re not going to let you make money playing recorded music on the radio, and if you’re a small, independent broadcaster, we’re going to stack the deck against you. So recently, an artist was thanking us for interviewing him and for playing his new CD on the radio. He said, “You guys oughta do shows! It’s the perfect combination, you’re already playing the music, your audience knows it, likes it, knows the artists, likes them … it’s perfect.”
So we’re doing shows. And it fits with our mission of introducing you to the people who keep the fire burning for the music often referred to as The Great American Songbook. We have said many times that we believe this music we play for you is America’s greatest contribution to the arts. So we call this series of shows we’re sponsoring “The Torchbearer Series.” Our first show features two artists you’ve heard us play in the past, Dave Damiani and Renee Olstead. The show is Thursday evening, May 12 in The E Spot Lounge at Vitello’s in Studio City, CA.
“Bending the Standards,” is something Dave and the No Vacancy Orchestra are famous for. On two albums and dozens of concert appearances, they put their own unique twist on familiar Great American Songbook tunes. With inventive new arrangements and even reimagined lyrics, Dave and the No Vacancy Orchestra have built a following with new fans on both coasts and everywhere in between.
Renee Olstead has grown up before our eyes … and ears. We first met Renee in 2004 when, at 14 years old, she caught the attention of super producer David Foster and we began playing her self-titled debut album on Reprise. Now 26, with TV series’ like “Still Standing” and “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and several movies behind her, Renee has joined Damiani in several concerts, including a Frank Sinatra tribute at L.A.’s premier shopping complex, “The Grove.”
The first show is designed to attract sponsors for this and subsequent shows. Having singers of this caliber and a full house ought to impress potential sponsors and help us keep the music playing for you. Tickets are available through The E Spot Lounge at Vitello’s by calling (818) 769-0905 or online by clicking here.
The success of this show will allow us to do more, not only here in L.A., but our goal is to start in the west and spread across the country (and around the world). If you’re in Southern California, please join us. If you’re not, look out, we’re coming your way. It’s another way that together, we’ll keep the music playing!
Click here to sign the petition to save Internet radio stations like Martini in the Morning!