Who is Skrillex and Why Did He Win Three Grammys? (…What is Dubstep Anyways?!?!)

Skrillex accepts one of three Grammy Awards

Skrillex quietly makes his way to the stage to accept the Best Dance Recording Grammy Award for his single “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites”. The first time he makes his way to the stage he is humble. He speaks with passion about the genre of music he represents, electronic dance music, and those who have came before him within the genre “(There are)… Alot of people before who have been doing what we’re doing”, he admits. The third time he is at a loss for words and jokes with the stage band, recommending they do a jazz version of “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites”. Although his mug recently could be seen plastered all over New York’s Times Square on a massive billboard advertising The Grammy Awards, Skrillex seems easily approachable, despite such high exposure and his history making night.

Skrillex Billboard

Skrillex’s wins at the Grammy pre-telecast two Sundays ago was nothing short of amazing for those in the electronic dance genre. Taking home three Grammys (Best Dance Recording, Best EP for “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites”, and Best Remixed Recording for his rendition of Benny Benassi’s “Cinema”), Skrillex has won more Grammys than any electronic music artist since the academy added the category in 2005. Not only did he win big for electronic dance music, but also for his specific dance genre, Dubstep.

Dubstep, according to Wikipedia, is “ is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London, United Kingdom“. The article goes on to describe the sound as ”tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals”. The genre has  taken the mainstream by storm, with artists such as Brittany Spears and even Snoop Dogg adopting it’s grindy basslines and irregular beat patterns. (Skrillex is reportedly lined up to produce Snoop’s next album).

2011, according to Billboard Magazine was “The Year of the DJ”. Artists such as David Guetta, Deadmau5 (prounounced “Dead mouse”), and Skrillex made mainstream headlines. Even Simon Cowell is jumping on the DJ bandwagon with plans to make a new X-Factor based talent competition in which DJs compete with one another for an ultimate prize. ”DJs are the new rock stars,” Cowell says, “It feels like the right time to make this show.”

With traditionally little support from major labels, artists such as Skrillex have risen the ranks by their own merit. Billboard writer Kerri Mason describes their work and attitudes as “rallying cries… antithetical to the purist underground that birthed them as they are to the traditional industry: Mainstream acceptance is gratifying, not demeaning. Sales don’t matter; give it away… The best marketing is free. And most important: Do it yourself. Every last bit of it.”

This is certainly true of artists of the underground Electronic Dance Scene. These artists are applying “homegrown” promotional tactics to the mainstream and it is working. Call it the right thing that clicked at the right time, the results are apparent.

Skrillex's Grammy Award Winning EP "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites"

Skrillex himself has definitely made some waves and earned much recognition. Dubbed by Billboard as the leader of “The Dubstep Revolution”, Skrillex continues to sell out international tours. His EP “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” sold 239,000 copies and 600,000 of the title track alone, according to Soundscan. With recent collaboration with artists such as Korn and the surviving members of The Doors, Skrillex firmly has his feet planted in popular culture.

With such success, one is forced to beg the question, “What is now Pop Music?”. Dubstep and Electronic Dance Music are stretching the boundaries in terms of what the average person prefers to listen to. More and more mainstream artists are adopting the electronic format in their tracks. Dance music has historically popped up on the radar only to fade out again in lieu of the next musical fad. The next question that begs to be asked, is if this time, will it stick? Perhaps next year Grammy Dance Music categories will finally earn their time in the limelight by gaining coverage in the main Grammy Award telecast.

Source: http://www.billboard.com/features/skrillex-diplo-a-trak-the-billboard-cover-1006087352.story#/features/skrillex-diplo-a-trak-the-billboard-cover-1006087352.story?page=1

Clear Channel Announces Syndicated Programming and Layoffs

Last week, Clear Channel announced that it’s performing layoffs in it’s smaller and medium markets. The announcment followed the morning after the company announced that there were several executive appointments.

The news comes as no suprise to many radio industry experts, who say that Clear Channel is out to get more advertising dollars to compete with TV and print mediums. Clear Channel is reportedly $20 million in debt, and is looking to supplement their income by gaining a greater share of advertising revenues.

The announcement also accompanies a new strategy in Clear Channel programming. Syndicated shows will replace local ones, leaving many local DJs without a job as victims of the layoffs. The casualties include many veteran DJs, of which included Los Angeles DJ Jim Ladd, whom Inland News Today touts as “the last DJ who aired the music he wanted”. They syndicated programs will feature “centrally devised playlists” that are “market tested” and “move away from local programming” (http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/10/31/clear-channel-radio-layoffs/).

Is radio drowing?

This is of particular concern to independent artists, who rely on radio as a medium to “break through”. Kevin Anderson of the Entertainment Weekly blog Music Mix writes that “…for artists, there was the ever-present chance that a DJ could fall in love with a song and help it break out on a national level”. This opportunity is now sadly gone. Local acts are not going to have the slightest chance of making Clear Channels syndicated playlists. Other concerns expressed include that the lists will be vulnerable to payola and more influenced by advertisers.

Yet if this strategy works, syndicated programming could become the standard for terrestrial radio. Cummulus Media has also announced layoffs, and time will only tell before other’s follow suit. Radio, as we knew it, will be changed forever.

What do you think about Clear Channel’s practices? Do you listen to terrestrial radio? Voice your thoughts below.

Jingle Beats: The Pros and Cons of Releasing a Christmas Album

That time of year is almost upon us! It’s time to bring out that dusty old christmas tree that you stuck in the closet and string up your lights. It’s also time for a lot of us to think about what sort of stocking stuffers we want to give our loved ones.

The holiday season is typically a dead season in terms of album releases, with the exception of Christmas albums. One only need to look to the likes of Mariah Carey, who typically makes this an annual tradition (this year, she is only being featured on Justin Beiber’s Christmas Album).

Merry Christmas, indeed.

But what are the advantages and disadvantages of releasing a christmas album?

The reality is that people want to have a tangible gift to open on christmas morning. You can’t wrap a download – so the CD makes an excellent stocking stuffer. Record labels receive a seasonal increase in royalties from their Christmas albums.

Does this come with a side of biscuits?

Releasing a Christmas album can also give great exposure. “Holiday albums were a good way to sell records by artists who weren’t top of mind anymore in pop culture and didn’t necessarily get a lot of radio airplay”, says Sean Ross, V.P. of analytics at Nielsen Company. This is why we see artists who don’t typically come out with Christmas albums releasing songs that pay homage to Old Saint Nick.

Nice try, Scott.

For the independent artist, it might not be so lucrative. It seems that these albums mainly benefit mainstream, established artists. There is also a divide between independent and mainstream artists in advertising during the season. TV Networks, websites, and print publications increase their fees during the season, leaving them accessible only to those who can pay them, which leaves only a small group of artists who can afford to give their release the advertising exposure it needs to make it a success.

So while lucrative for mainstream artists, independent artists might not see such success, unless Christmas music is their niche.

“If you look at last year’s top sellers, the number five record of the year — for the entire year last year — was Susan Boyle’s holiday record. You know, you are talking about a record that came out the first week of November.” - David Bakula, V.P. of analytics at the Nielsen Company.

What do you think? Are you an independent artist who has had a successful Christmas release? Comment below with your story.

“That’s not me!”: Remedies for Trademark Appropriation

You’re cruising along the internet one day minding your own business when you see your name listed on an event page you’ve never even heard of. Confused you click on the link.

You read on to see your name listed in the lineup, and yeah – that’s your bio alright! But on the flyer, listed next to your artist name is some other guy’s picture cheesing next to it. That’s when it dawns on you – “Someone has stolen my name!!!!”

Unfortunately, this is a real problem. Many artists have worked hard to maintain their name, only to have it stolen by someone who’s looking for an easy way to acquire a reputation and get gigs. Read on to learn how to remedy the situation, and gain some pointers in how to protect your name and likeness from being appropriated by opportunistic thieves.

Farewell to an Icon: Steve Jobs

He was a man who urged us to “Think Different”. A college dropout who went on to change the world and found a company that turned the music industry on its head. Steve Job’s was a lot of things to many different people, and his untimely death after a long battle with pancreatic cancer came as a shock to many.

Apple, Inc., besides being the company responsible for the iPod and iTunes (which is now the top digital music purveyor in the world), is responsible for providing countless computers and software that are extensively used in studios worldwide. Every recording studio has a Mac computer as a vital part of its equipment make-up, and a lot of artists work on such computers to create their music. Here is what some key individuals of the music industry had to say on Jobs’ passing:

“What made Steve Jobs truly great is that he was only interested in doing truly great things. He was bored by an easy ride or easy profit. In a world littered with dull objects, he brought the beauty of clean lines and clear thought. (He was) one of a very small group of anarchic Americans who through technology literally invented the 21st century. We will all miss the hardware-software Elvis.” – U2 Singer, Bono

“We lost a great innovator…Steve Jobs designed a whole new world…he will be missed…” – will.i.am, artist/producer

“RIP Steve Jobs. ‘Steve was of his era what Thomas Edison was to the beginning of the 20th century.’ You made all our lives a better place.” – Nikki Sixx, Artist

“To be a genius in any field is rare enough; to be a genius in three is impossible Steve did the impossible. His incomparable brilliance in technology, design and business transformed not only the music industry, but many others, and in the process, changed our world.” – Warner Music Group Chairman Edgar Bronfman Jr

All of us at Tramaí Entertainment, Inc., wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to Steve’s family, friends, and employees. The mere fact that the news of his death broke a Twitter record at 10,000 Tweets per second is testimony to the impact that this individual has had on the world. We hope that he is smiling down on us, finally at peace, from the big iCloud in the sky. You will be missed, Steve.

Steve's humble beginnings, 1982

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” — Steve Jobs

Full Sail University 2011 School/College of the Year by FAPSC.

Full Sail University has been named the 2011 School/College of the Year by FAPSC.

During an annual conference by the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools & Colleges (FAPSC) on August 12th Full Sail University was awarded “2011 School/College of the Year” for a second time since 2008.

The FAPSC, founded in 1956, works on behalf of 900 licensed private career schools and colleges in Florida.

Full Sail University is a trade school based in Winter Park, Florida. The university has programs in Entertainment Business, Music Production, Film, Creative Writing and a host of other accredited bachelors, associates and masters degrees.

Full Sail has over 12,000 enrolled students and graduates continue to be successful in the world of entertainment. California Music Industry Summit Founder and Executive Producer Tracy L. Reed is a Full Sail Alumni.  CMIS 2011 speaker and  (three-time Grammy Award winner), Phil Tan was inducted into the Full Sail University Hall of Fame in 2011 for his contribution to mix engineering.

Full Sail University’s President, Garry Jones, had this to say, ““By providing a unique and innovative curriculum focused on merging creativity and technology, we prepare our students for future careers in the entertainment and media industry,”

Full Sail also received another accolade when their Chief Information Officer and Executive Director of Education, Isis Jones, was awarded the “2011 Administrator of the Year.”

Congrats Full Sail University from California Music Industry Summit!

 

Jerrica Lewis is a Staff Writer for CMIS.

Young Artists Changing Music

With the constant changes in today’s music, young artists are sticking to their individual style while making leaps in the world of entertainment. One particular artist that is continuing to develop a new age of music is Willow Smith, the daughter of Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith.

Check out Willow’s video for her new single, “21st Century Girl” !

After being signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation record label Willow’s first single “Whip My Hair”, released in 2010, reached number 11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 list and number 2 in the UK.

With a unique style, fun and empowering lyrics Willow, along with other young artists such as Selena Gomez, are proving you’re never to young to create positive change.

 

Jerrica Lewis is a Staff Writer for CMIS.