Which is my tie into the music you’re hearing today. It’s a band called Mooncake. They’re a Russian band. What you’re hearing is the music from an Acoustic DVD that they’ve released. It’s mellow and slow evolving, at least this particular tune is. Novorossiysk 1968. I have no idea what it means. I’m guessing it’s something significant to do with 1968.

The video isn’t really the focal point. It’s the 3 people playing the music. The more you let it play the cooler it gets. That’s a good thing.

Right now, I’m in need of geting back into writing mode. Time to knock out some more music for a project I’m aiming to get. Thus I’m going to leave you with the musical mooncake recipe while I go make some more music myself. Have a great day!

1. How about promoting the sale of music? That’s probably the toughest one because it’s against the grain of a streaming radio service. How to do this: Put “Buy Now” links on album pages and next to individual tracks.

2. Do what Apple and other sites have done – vette the artist and allow them to edit their profiles.

3. How about promoting where people can find more information on the artist? Easy to do if Spotify would display links to official websites, FB pages, twitter and pinterest (et al).

4. Allow users to “Like” and “Follow” an artist right from the Artist page. Though this corresponds with the last point. Most sites now allow people to “Like” and “Follow” almost everything. Get with it!

5. Assist artists in building their fan base by allowing users to sign up for artists’ email list from the Artist page. This goes back to allowing artists to edit their profiles. It would be fantastic to allow inputting of scripts to gather email from fans.

6. Serving ads in a way that did not encourage users to interrupt their listening mid-album/playlist in order to listen to or do something else. Terrestrial radio doesn’t do this, why do you?

7. Equalize the monetization. Pay independent artists the same rates as major label artists. Or better yet, cut indies in on a percentage share of the company. If not sharing the revenue, then give independents equal pay + the 18% extra.

8. Pay artists a flat rate for their streams. Don’t tie their royalty rate to advertising revenue over which the artist has no control. Artists should not be taking on risk along with Spotify unless they’re also given stock options in the company. The current Spotify model treats artists like investors but without any [equity-type] long-term benefits.

Care about the musicians you listen to? Make a stink about Spotify. Email their customer support. Email Daniel Ek. Write letters and the musicians you care about get the recognition and compensation they deserve from the companies that make their business model and living off the backs of artists.

Support Gavin, and Single of the Day. Buy his music. Sign up for the email list in the upper right (that’s mine).

A PAC is a “Political Action Committee”. They get to raise money and spend it to influence Federal Elections. You’ve seen and heard what they do. They spend money on campaign TV ads, radio spots, and other advertising propaganda.

A Super PAC is an “independent expenditure only committee”. Doesn’t really have the same ring to it, does it? What do they do? They can raise as much money as they can, then use it to promote whatever political agenda it pleases.

The real story here is, what is Colbert really doing? Is he going to influence the election? Or is he showing the absurd nature to how our elections now work? I’m guessing it’s 30% part 1 mixed with 50% part 2 and 20% humor to boot.

I have to imagine that a lot of people are donating money to Colbert who Say Ok, let’s see what you can do. Which leads me to 10th Concession. They’re a band with a song called Say Ok. From what I gather about the lyrics, it’s about a person asking for another to put their faith in them. Then be allowed to follow wherever it takes them.

There is a cool piano opening here. It’s what immediately drew me in to the song. Once the song gets rolling I get the feeling that it’s band was born on a University campus. I’m not sure why. It’s the feeling I get. Either way, it’s a fun little song that gets my toe tapping. I like that.

Why not be part of 10th Concession’s pac? or at the least, be an über fan. Of course if you go the super route, you might get people to say ok, what is a super pac? Then you can set them down and explain it all.

Heck be a part of my pac, sign up on the email list in the upper right – you’ll be glad you did!

Actually, I shouldn’t say dreaded. More or less it’s part of making new contacts stick and seeing how the relation between people can be beneficial. One thing a lot of people tend to say to me is that I’m pretty good with making and dealing with connections. Even had it suggested that I ought to write a book on networking, and how to do endorsements. I think it’s pretty wild that I’m considered to be that good at it – I have to work at it like anyone else.

For today, I’ll be sending out a video to a couple of companies that wanted a particular type of PR usage on a recent project I did. Then I’ve got about 25 emails to write to reach out and talk about some strategies for how I can benefit them and their work. I can’t forget that I need to also do some composing. One of the peeps I need to reach out to later this week wanted some cues from me. Eight of which will be all new and I’m still working on them. Which means, get to the music for today’s SOTD.

Today is something quite different in the Hip Hop world. It’s a bit raw. It’s stretching boundaries with a little more singing and lot more harmonies than I’m used to hearing in a Hip Hop song. It’s the Wandering Monks. I dig the funky opening with the bass and the punchy horns. Beyond the standard vocal layering, they’re using a bunch of harmonies. This has me twisting my head slightly like the old RCA Victor dog. When I do that, most often it’s because there is something in there that I’m really intrigued by. Wandering Monks are no different. There’s a blend of something new for the genre and it’s fun and refreshing to hear.

That’s the real ticket, getting someone to really dig the vibe you create. Wandering Monks have that. Hopefully their doing some good networking for themselves.

Speaking of which, I need to be getting on with things. Time to kick into network follow up email mode. Which means, enjoy the music, enjoy your day. If you’re diggin the blog – make sure to sign up for my email list in the upper right column and enjoy something extra!

I really need to stop wondering. Every time I do such a function, I get a great response. Especially like last night where a whole slew of people came up saying all kinds of great things. Including the person responsible for bringing me in. They made the comment “we need to have you speaking at every panel.” All well and good, but at some point if I’m going to be a spokesperson like that, I need to ask for a raise.

The overall consensus was that the old model of music business was dead and that it’s finally time to move on. Good thing I’m already moving on to that. It seemed that there were people there who were still grasping to the old school method. I get that. I really do. However, I have to be one of those people who moves forward. I always do.

Enough about that, need to get to the song for today. I’m going with New Found Good by Antony Bitar. From the moment you press play on this there’s a really cool bounce straight out of the piano. The drums add a nice shuffle groove underneath. Antony’s voice comes over the top with a mellow vibe that has a certain sense of confidence. That’s a great thing to have in a singer. That really helps to carry a ditty. Solid performance and moving melodies. Great stuff.

I have to wonder if Antony has a secure sense of speaking to a room as well. Especially if he can craft a tune like this and perform it. I know that one of the other composers on the panel last night was also very well spoken too. The third composer had some good things to say but there was a hint of nervousness about it. In all it’s an aspect to life that can be learned, the ability of speaking eloquently to the room, but for some it’s innate. Where do you stand with public speaking?

Get your words out, comment below. Otherwise I’m asking you to put your digital trust in my email list and join in the upper right. Have a great day and keep that new found good in your life.

I’ve done several panels in the past and often my answers/stories then to draw a lot of positive feedback. Either I’m a good story teller, or I’m full of a lot of good information. In some panels, I’ve ended up monopolizing the answers. Even on call in radio it’s happened. I tend to ask about it after it’s over and the organizers say – it was brilliant. Thus I leave it at that.

In thinking about this concept for today, I realized there’s not as many songs as I thought that would be about this day of the week. There’s Tuesday Afternoon’s by the Moody Blues. There’s Tuesday’s Gone by Lynyrd Skynyrd and the cover by Metallica. But the most famous has to be the ditty by Cat Stevens. Thus I’m rolling with Tuesday’s Dead. How’s that for a feeling for quotes and quotables?

A brilliant piece of acoustic work. That’s the best way I can describe it. Not to mention that it really has a fantastic melody to boot. Powerful combination that’s for sure.

Hopefully you’re getting your day off to a much more lively start than dead. Wouldn’t be much of a day if you weren’t alive for it. At least that’s my assessment. Go forth and this a prosperous day filled with awesomeness. Then you can look back and grab some tuesday quotes for your future. Don’t let monday’s and fridays have all the fun. Right? Or do I now sound like Rebecca Black?

Give me your take on this post below.

It was part of the reason I started Single of the Day. To be a source of new music. A way for some lesser known artists to hopefully gain exposure in the sea of the digital internet ocean. I do what I can to fulfill that goal. The real plus is when an artist meets me face to face and thanks me for having this blog. It’s awesome when I hear that they gained new fans because of you, my friendly readers.

I may or may not have mentioned that I’m a Grammy member in the past. I actually enjoy it. There’s some cool perks. I also enjoy having the credentials to be a voting member. Which allows me to listen to a lot of music around this time of year. Or more than usual. I recently turned in my ballot. While I won’t say who I voted for, there is an artist that I had not heard of that somehow created a sneak attack on my musical senses.

Upon the initial moments of listening I was thinking, ugh, this is not gonna work. But I had a moment of distraction. Next thing I noticed I had listened to the whole song and found myself hitting the repeat button so I could hear it again.

One of the absolute greatest things you want when writing music is to encourage that desire to hit the repeat button. Not but outright saying it, but by having such a great song that the listener is compelled to hear it again.

I’ve had people say it about me, and it was extremely flattering. It’s rare I say it about someone else. However, today is one of those days…

The artist in question is Bon Iver. Pronounced: Bon E-vere. The song is Holocene. At least that’s what you seeing and hearing here now on Single of the Day. If you’re on the RSS feed, click through. You gotta hear it. It’s simple layers that add up to complex stuff. It’s unique. It’s different. He draws you in, ever so slowly, and then wraps you up in a way that you can’t escape, but end up loving it. I’ve played it for a few people in the past couple of days and everyone has said the same thing: I love this.

Those vocals! That’s the part that really gets me. They’re so layered. In a way that I would really think ought not work. And yet, this works oh so well it’s sick.

I ended up googling him and found a great interview that must have taken place recently. The man behind this is so cool. He’s like most really talented musicians I’ve met who aren’t stars – he’s humble and easy going. At least this is the persona that came across in the interview.

While I’m doing what I can to make finding music you like less hard. I’m going to go out of my way today and say – you had better pick up this album. It’s a veritable classic. Along the lines of a Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon classic. Seriously. It’s that damn good.

While you’re at it, hit up my email list in the upper right for a surprise. Don’t forget to leave a comment down below. I will respond.

Tension. Excitement. Gridiron classics are made of these. What also has a tendency to go with all of this? Pizza and beer. I spent some time this morning making some of my infamous pizza dough. Why? ’cause I’m all about the quality pizza. No Dominoes cardboard for me. No greasy Pizza Hut either. Papa John’s can’t match my organic freshness. If there is one meal I rule at, it’s pizza.

For beer it will have to be some local brewed ales. Mostly due to the fact that I have yet to delve into the art of making home brew beer. Not that I haven’t thought about it. No. As a matter of fact I own the domain mymicrobrew.com. I have plans for it. Big ones.

Once the pizza is in the oven and the brews are uncapped it’ll be time to be screaming at the tv about bad calls, awesome plays and general sportsman cheering.

In the meantime I should probably make reference to some music. Seeing as how this is a music blog.

Well since football is on my mind and that I’m out and about in the world away from my computer, I’ll have to roll with a song I can easily get to. Plus it has to be about football. This I have to reintroduce you to Do You Want To Play – NFL.

Anthemic. Easy to sing and groove too. Sounds great in an arena. Simple and catchy. All phrases that describe this song. The best part is that it was done by yours truly.

Big NFL fan? Great. Then I’m sure you’re interested in picking this gem up. By the way I’ve done a version for your favorite team or teams.

To make it even better for you… This song while bei g available at for favorite digital music service is also available from me for a limited time. Visit nfl.hearjody.com and follow the rules. The. We’ll both be in bliss.

May your team pull out an astounding win today. What better way to get past wildcard Saturday than to win here and go on to the Super Bowl. Right? Discuss below.

Get thyself onto my email list and have some real fun. How? Follow the form on the right side of the page.

Such is the case for myself right now. I’ve just opened up a little competition on my website where I’m looking for fans to name the club, or insider area. I mean Lady Ga Ga has her Monsters, which probably comes from Fame Monster. John Mayer had his Local 83, not sure what the state of that is now. Maroon 5 has S.I.N. which is appropriate since he sings a lot about sex and misery, though it stands for strength in numbers. KISS has their KISS Army. I could go on, but I’ll stop right there.

Each of those bands has the right idea of treating their fans well and making them feel like they’re a part of something. Something I’m working on developing and frankly, let’s be honest here, something every artist needs. Without the fans we all play music to brick walls. While we can entertain ourselves, it’s much more fun with an audience.

Today’s band, Ten Year Vamp, is doing a lot of things right. Especially when it comes to the most important part – the music. It was a tossup as to which song I’d roll with as several of the ones I heard were all awesome. With the frame of mind I’m in, I had to roll with Making Me Want You. Mostly because if a band is doing their job correctly, it makes the fans want them. In perusing their website I see a plethora of stuff all over it. I see a google+ right at the top, and further down the page I see a mailing list. The missing element was the fan club. Not that it’s a bad thing. Just wondering where it is.

This song instantly getting you moving. It’s an uptempo rocker. Debbie’s voice deftly carries the song with a super sense of urgency. It really pumps things up. It also doesn’t hurt that she’s got a good tone with her voice. I can certainly see why they’re getting some great gigs and licenses for their music. I can certainly hear why they’re going places.

While I was call their sound a very updated version of say Pat Benatar, this is not a bad thing. Pat had some amazing songs. It’s a great thing to have a springboard of greatness to leap from. Ten Year Vamp has that.

I’m sure Ten Year Vamp is seeing some good success, I wish them well. I also hope they capitalize on gathering fans. I won’t be offended if they decide to hold a creative contest to name their fan club (provided they don’t have one). Make sure you hit them up and buy their music! There’s no shame in gathering in numbers.

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Have a differing opinon? Wanna take it up with me? Leave a comment. Wanna be a part of my contest? Follow me by filling out the upper right form on this page. Have an awesome day!