Points in this episode:

• More Access means more competition
•  Must plan ahead for marketing strategies before expecting your music to simply “be discovered”
•  Same as having your music in iTunes, just having it there doesn’t guarantee sales
•  Not optimistic that Classical Musicians will be “Magnified” by Google Music
•  Definitely a serious music store with Android users on the upwards trend

In reference to this episode, we ask that you also read our blog Rosebrook Classical Stands Against SOPA & PIPA

Jade Simmons and David Weuste discuss the SOPA & PIPA Blackout Strikes of last week (1/18/12) and the impact that these bills could have on independent artists and arts organizations.

Listen to the episode “Music and Death”:

Download this episode and subscribe to the podcast in iTunes!

Music on this Podcast:

Bonus Track to listen to that we ran out of time for:
Track: Symphony No. 5, Funeral March
Composer: Uri Caine/Gustav Mahler
Artist: Uri Caine Ensemble
Album: Mahler: Urlicht – Primal Light
Label: Winter & Winter
Click to listen on Spotify

Download this episode and subscribe to the podcast in iTunes!

Subscribe to the New Classical Order Playlist on Spotify

We stand with the many websites and web-companies today in opposition to the current “Stop Online Piracy Act” and “Protect I.P. Act” in the House and Senate.

Online piracy, especially illegal downloads, has helped to bring a massive decline to the independent recording sector, and we must strive to stop it, however, the current bills in the U.S. House and Senate do not help accomplish this. As a company, Rosebrook Classical helps independent artists, organizations, and record labels to expand their businesses and art through online marketing efforts. These efforts help to use the internet to grow their business rather than destroy it. However, should the online outlets like Facebook, YouTube, SoundCloud, Twitter, Blogs, and the many many more that our clients use to grow their businesses be threatened with complete blacklisting for illegal content posted by users, their ability to have viable businesses creating, presenting, and spreading the Arts would be greatly hampered.

But not only that, censorship of this nature is an ever-growing, and always-hungry beast, and without due process (which is one of the biggest sticking points of these bills), artist websites, record label sites, arts organizations sites and more could all be blocked on a whim, crushing their ability to market and sell their artist products. Think that point is a little far-fetched? While we work diligently to stop all SPAM comments or SPAM-related Ping-Backs on any of our client’s blogs, the process is still mainly reactive, meaning that for even a little while, there could be an infringing link on a website. Sites have been hacked with SPAM related issues for years, why do people think it would stop now, especially when a site could be completely blocked because of a SPAM or Virus attack? Within these bills, a few infringing links (whether they were posted by the site owner or not) are enough to block a site full of legal material. Imagine being an orchestra that depends on web-ticket-sales as much as phone sales all of the sudden waking up with all U.S. web-traffic and search traffic blocked? How would that orchestra’s sponsors react? This is an issue for more than just tech-geeks, it’s an issue for all, and as a sector (the Arts) that has always struggled against censorship, we should stand up and say no!

But don’t just take our word for it, educate yourselves and act:

• AmericanCensorship.org
• SopaStrike.com
• Google
• Wikipedia
• And for a little humor about it all: The Oatmeal

But Facebook isn’t the only site the ASQ has a new presence on:

• ASQ on ReverbNation
• ASQ on InstantEncore
• ASQ on Chamber Musician Today
• The ASQ is blogging again! This is one you REALLY want to subscribe to!

Points in this episode:

• The changes to MySpace are nice for the platform, but not new to digital media available to artists
• Good news if you are an already active MySpace user
• If you’re not on MySpace, you don’t need to worry about joining as all of these features are available via other digital media applications that can be incorporated into your existing social media platforms

As we work to guide and develop their social media efforts, we are happy to announce that they are hosting a giveaway for their concert in San Francisco this weekend on their Facebook Page! Check it out right here, give them a like, and enter to win!

Connect with the Alexander String Quartet:

Official Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube

About the Alexander String Quartet:

THE ALEXANDER STRING QUARTET has performed in the major music capitals of five continents, securing its standing among the world’s premier ensembles over nearly three decades. Widely admired for its interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart, and Shostakovich, the quartet has also established itself as an important advocate of new music through over 25 commissions and numerous premiere performances. The Alexander String Quartet is a major artistic presence in its home base of San Francisco, serving there as directors of the Morrison Chamber Music Center at the School of Music and Dance in the College of Arts and Humanities at San Francisco State University and Ensemble in Residence of San Francisco Performances.

The Ensemble will be celebrating their 30th Anniversary with an anniversary concert on February 4th!

Subscribe to the New Classical Order Podcast!

The New Classical Order Podcast, co-hosted by Rosebrook Classical’s David Weuste and Purdue University’s Dr. Jennifer Hund, is now available for subscription in iTunes!

Click Here to subscribe to The New Classical Order in iTunes!

Want to know where to find the music in these podcasts?

• Find them all in the Podcast feed with links to either Amazon.com or their Labels.
• Subscribe to the New Classical Order Playlist on Spotify!

Delos New Release

Delos has a new release from the brass quintet da Capo Brass called From the Beginning. The CD comes out at the end of this month (1/31/12), but is already available for digital download, and debuted at #8 in the iTunes Classical Charts! So congratulations to Delos and da Capo Brass!

“From the Beginning”

da Capo Brass
DE 3417

In keeping with Delos’ founding principle of showcasing exceptional American artists, here is an auspicious debut recording from da Capo: a superb North Carolina-based brass quintet. Musicians will immediately pick up on the album’s title, “From the Beginning” (English for the musical term “da Capo”).

And who wouldn’t thrill to the majestic sound of a crack brass ensemble? This instrumental family’s unique sonorities – ranging from the trumpet’s clarion brilliance to the French horn’s mellow tones –can’t be beat for music of noble pomp or stirring glory – not to mention material of a more humorous nature. And, given the brasses’ distinctively varied tonal qualities, what better way to pick apart more complex music like a Bach fugue?

Reference Recordings New Release

Reference Recordings released the next LP release in the Reference Mastercuts series today! One of the best-known audiophile labels has finally gone back to creating vinyl releases after finding quality ways to reproduce the medium up to their high standards, and the first two LPs were released to enormous success. The new release featuring their recording of the Minnesota Orchestra performing works from Rachnaminoff is critically acclaimed as their best recording in their 30+ year history!

RACHMANINOFF: SYMPHONIC DANCES; VOCALISE (RM-1504)

Eiji Oue/ Minnesota Orchestra

33 1/3 rpm, Half-Speed Mastered, 200 gram virgin vinyl from Quality Record Pressings in gatefold jacket

FIRST TIME EVER ON LP!

Widely believed to be the finest orchestral recording RR has ever made.

Sergei Rachmaninoff was one of the most beloved composers of the twentieth century. His music is redolent of his Russian homeland, and it sings long, lush melodies that define the term “romantic.” Everyone who knows and loves his piano concertos will enjoy these lyrical and dynamic works for orchestra. The “Symphonic Dances” in recent years have become one of Rachmaninoff’s most-performed scores. “Vocalise” is one of the great classical melodies, and is hummable by everyone. Grammy® Nominated 2002– Best Engineered Album – Classical; Keith O. Johnson, engineer

Reference Recordings launches RR Radio!

Reference Recordings is excited to announce a new avenue for you to listen to Reference Recordings Music — RR Radio via SoundCloud!

RR Radio will feature one full track from each of our new releases, added after each album is released. RR Radio will also bring you a full track from a featured release from Reference Recordings’ 30+ year history. RR Radio will stay fresh, and will rotate tracks in and out as we go on, so make sure you’re listening often!

Pianist Jade Simmons is, as always, doing big things all over, but one of the most exciting social media-oriented developments is that Jade is a new contributor on The Huffington Post! So far she has published three articles, and each one has been a gem.

Do yourself a favor and click these links to read Jade on The Huffington Post!

• Rick Perry as Carmen?: GOP Candidates Reimagined as Famous Opera Characters, Part 1 Published Today
• Know Your Worth: A New Year’s Resolution Every Artst (and Every Person) Should Make Published December 31, 2011
• The Surprising Thing About Playing at the White House Published December 21, 2011