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The Muse's News |
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Issue 5.6 - September 2002
ISSN 1480-6975
[ Back to The Muse's News Index ] [ Home ]
This issue sponsored by:
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I n T h i s I s s u e :
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@-- Editor's Musings
@-- Copyright & Publishing Q&A with Nancy A. Reece from Carpe Diem
Copyright Management
@-- Music Reviews - by Ben Ohmart, Ashley Petkovski, Stacey Board
& David Lockeretz
@-- Songwriting Book Review - by James Linderman
@-- Musical Notes - Songwriting Contests & Market Info.
@-- Muse's Clues - Songwriting Web sites that inspire - brought
to you by singer/songwriter & teacher, Irene Jackson.
@-- Featured Article - BE IT, FEEL IT, LOVE IT, LIVE IT
by Diana Yampolsky
@-- Columnists In Spotlight - Meet Our Music Reviewers!
@-- On Site Featured Article - An article already online for your
viewing pleasure.
@-- Classifieds & Useful Services
@-- Contact information
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ISSN 1480-6975. Copyright 1998 - 2002, Jodi Krangle. For more
contact information, see end of issue.
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Visit http://www.musesmuse.com/musemerchandise.html for great
Muse's Muse products like mugs, mousepads, shirts, and even wall
clocks! Start your own store too - with no up front costs!
See http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/storeref.aspx?refby=musesmuse
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Please support the sponsors that support this newsletter! Thanks!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LYRICIST! VERSION 2.2 HAS ARRIVED-INCLUDES ON-LINE COPYRIGHT LINK
Virtual Studio Systems, Inc. is proud to announce Lyricist V2.2 -
The Songwriter's Best Friend: the first-of-its-kind word processor
designed for musicians, songwriters, and poets. The software
includes a rhyming dictionary, thesaurus, album categorization,
chord charting, chord generator, song arrangement, On-Line
Copyright Link, and much much more - all in a user-friendly
package. Check out the review at www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html
Muse's Muse visitors can take home the product for $5.00 off the
regular selling price just for purchasing through the form provided
off of the review!
For more information, visit the review url above or call us at
888.732.1176 inside the U.S.A. and Canada or 603.726-4499 outside
the U.S.A.
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E d i t o r ' s M u s i n g s :
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Hi everyone. I've decided to send the newsletter a couple of days
early due to the upcoming long weekend in the US and Canada. Lots
of folks are going away for a little while and I want to catch you
before you leave! :) This Musing is going to be a bit long, so
please bear with me. As per usual, there's lots happening around
the site.
Singer/songwriter, Henri Ferguson has a new column to talk about
the DIY process and there are two articles online now in his
section (http://www.musesmuse.com/col-henriferguson.html). I hope
you'll have a look and take the time to welcome him on board! I
think you'll find his writing very helpful to you. And since he's
a Canadian currently living in Hong Kong, I'm sure a lot of his
advice will help you no matter *where* you happen to live.
Jon Nicol has also joined us to talk about writing songs for
worship. I know there are a lot of you out there who write and
perform in this genre. I feel confident Jon's articles will be
enlightening. :) Drop by www.musesmuse.com/col-jonnicol.html to
view the first one and you can also speak with him on the Muse's
Muse message boards (www.musesmuse.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi) in
his very own forum.
For a list of all the current columnists, have a look at
http://www.musesmuse.com/menu-columnists.html . There's a lot of
great stuff to choose from!
Nancy Reece will have a new book on copyright and publishing coming
out shortly. Her new page is online at
http://www.musesmuse.com/realarealq.html. Feel free to send her
questions. There are also many new articles contributed by the
regular columnists. I hope you'll take a look when you get a
chance: http://www.musesmuse.com/menu-columnists.html .
In other news, there's a Just Plain Folks showcase happening in
Toronto at Clinton's Tavern (693 Bloor Street West (Just East of
Christie)) on September 30th. This venue can accomodate bands and
soloists. We will meet for networking at 7pm and the music will
start at 8pm. If you're interested in participating, please drop
by http://www.justplainfolks.org/ubb/Forum2/HTML/001035.html to
register, and then email me at jodi@musesmuse.com to let me know
you would like to perform. Please let me know if you're a soloist
or a band and if you have any special time considerations. Both the
Songwriting Association of Canada (http://www.songwriters.ca/) and The
Muse's Muse are co-sponsoring the event so I definitely intend to
be there. :) I hope to see some of you - even if you're not there
to perform! Please do introduce yourself. Remember also that
Brian will be collecting CDs for the Just Plain Folks Radio
Free Virgin Channel (Irene reviews it later on in this newsletter)
and I'll be collecting CDs for possible airplay on Radio Muse
(http://www.musesmuse.com/radiomuse.html) so if you're interested
in passing on CDs to us, please do. (I actually devoted an entire
Radio Muse show to some of the talented performers that were at
least year's showcase. If I receive enough CDs, I'll do that again
this year.) Incidentally, there are Just Plain Folks showcases
happening all over, so if you're not in the Toronto area, don't
despair. There's probably a showcase happening near you!
The raffle winners for this month are Jim Deaton from Hyattsville,
MD, who has won a copy of Jerry Vandiver's and Gracie Hollombe's,
"Your First Cut" (they have generously allowed a second copy to be
raffled. You can read the review from last month at
http://www.musesmuse.com/5.5-August02.html#book - and they're also
offering a 15% discount to Muse's News readers!)- and James Poelker
from Augusta, MO, who has won a copy of VSS's helpful songwriting
organization product (for a review of Lyricist & information on a
discount offered, see http://www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html ).
This month's book review is about Carla Ulbrich's wonderful book,
Theory for Young Musicians (http://tinyurl.com/118c). I do have a
copy of the book to raffle off to a lucky subscriber, but since
this is a fairly specific topic, I'd like to make sure the book
goes to a good home. ;) If you are interested in receiving a free
copy of this book (for your child? Your students? Yourself?),
please write to me at authors@musesmuse.com with the reason(s) why
you feel you should receive it. Though I know it'll be hard, I'll
choose one winner and will then let everyone know who won in next
month's newsletter.
And without further ado, on to the issue!
All the best,
--Jodi
Back to Menu
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Please support the sponsors that support this newsletter! Thanks!)
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DO YOU HAVE A PRODUCT OR SERVICE FOR SONGWRITERS OR MUSICIANS?
Your message could be right here!
See http://www.musesmuse.com/media.html for how - and for other
sponsorship opportunities on the website and in this newseltter.
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C o p y r i g h t & P u b l i s h i n g Q & A :
With Licensing executive Nancy A. Reece
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Nancy is hard at work getting her book ready, so there's no Q&A
this month. However, to view more information on that upcoming
book and to ask her a question, see her new "Real Answers to Real
Questions" columnist section at www.musesmuse.com/realarealq.html .
*****
ABOUT NANCY A. REECE:
Carpe Diem Copyright Management's owner and president, Nancy A. Reece has
been involved in the music business since 1983. She was the president of an
independent advertising agency for eight years as well as a successful
personal artist manager for nine years. She represented the careers of
several recording artists and songwriters including those with EMI, Zomba
and Liberty Records as well as Benson, Starsong, WoodBridge, Temple Hall and
N'Soul Records. She also represented, for a number of years, a Grammy and
Dove nominated record producer. Reece has won awards of excellence in print
magazine advertising and has been named as one of 2,000 Notable American
Women (1995) as well as being listed in the International Who's Who of
Professional and Business Women (1993). She was also named Cashbox
Magazine's Promoter of the Year (1989). In addition to her work at Carpe
Diem Copyright Management, Reece works at a performing rights organization
in the United States and is an accomplished contemporary artist working in
abstract and multimedia on canvas and wood.
**If you would like to ask Nancy a question, you can send your
e-mail to Nancy at nreece@musesmuse.com . She can't guarantee
she'll get to all of the questions, but she'll certainly try.**
Back to Menu
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M u s i c R e v i e w s :
by Ben Ohmart, David Lockeretz, Stacey Board & Ashley Petkovski
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Duke Fame - Regrets (by Ashley Petkovski)
Regrets is a road trip record with soul. From the second that the
title track from Duke Fame's debut record picks up, it becomes all
about you, the hot sun, the cool wind, your brand new convertible,
your best friends, miles of empty highway, and, no doubt, a trunk
full of beer. Incredibly catchy, tight and brimming with fire-ball
energy, Duke Fame’s powerful guitar-work, pounding, driving rhythm
section, and completely irresistible ba-ba-backup vocals make
Regrets an unassuming, unaffected sonic experience. Although the
mood does darken on tracks like "Hunger" and the album's standout
track "Sad But Beatiful," the genuine enthusiasm, energy and
excitement of a new band, seemingly not jaded, cynical, or
'radio-fied', comes through on every track on the record.
As with so many current North American alternative rock records,
Regrets doesn't drag on. It comes on strong from the beginning, and
drives forward during each one of its 43 minutes. With most tracks
clocking in at around four minutes, they musically possess the
spirit of the Twin Cities Triple-Threat - Soul Asylum, Husker Dü
and The Replacements – the last of which serve as the band's
biggest influence. Coming from a collaborative scene of punk and
DIY alternative, Duke Fame proudly display their influences on this
record. Although claiming that their punk influence goes
unrecognized within their music, the lead guitar twists and turns,
adding continuous flow and an occasional counterpart to the solid
melody, very much in tune with the "formulas" of early punk.
Personally, I hear everything from Johnny Thunders/The New York
Dolls to early Stranglers.
Regrets, however, holds a lyrical depth not typically found in
modern alternative music. Primarily written by Steve Tockerman
(guitar, vocals) and Eric Zweig (vocals, guitar), Regrets showcases
a little soul within a set of solid pop sensibilities. The main
theme seems to extend into that crazy world of relationships,
something that can kill off any potential for lyrical decency. Be
they "man/woman" or "man in room analyzing self to point of
insanity" Duke Fame handles their recorded relationships with class
and intelligence. Undoubtedly the gift of good songwriting is also
what gives Regrets its wonderfully memorable melodies. Lyrics like
"I am a house on fire/I am a malicious liar/Is there truth in
me?/Can I find what I can't see?" (Sad But Beautiful) and "All
things are beautiful in their own light/I keep my thoughts pure and
simple in the dark of the night/Most days mean nothing to me/Most
days are incomplete" (Most Days) pull everything together, proving
Duke Fame's ability to give their music some heart.
The only thing that holds down the record from rock 'n' roll
perfection is consistency... a little too much consistency. At
times, the more upbeat songs tend to have very similar structures,
without a lot of variation in terms of small details (i.e. little
guitar lines and drum fills). It's not distracting enough, or
boring enough, to sound like one 30 minute song with several
movements, like Dream Theatre for example, nor is it entirely
unavoidable.
In the end, Atlanta's Duke Fame (named for one of Spinal Tap's
bondage favouring opening acts) are solid songwriters and solid
musicians with, you guessed it, a solid record. They could've been
a 'road-rocking, opening act at the outdoor festival' kind of band,
but instead have taken a basic power-pop structure and added a
rarely seen level of intelligence and DIY integrity into their
music and lyrics. A record with the depth, passion and talent
possessed by Regrets is a rarity for a new band, and a record
that'll take over that ever-elusive reserved space in my CD
player... at least for now.
Contact: dukefame@email.comhttp://www.dukefame.net/
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OTHER NEW MUSIC REVIEWS SINCE LAST MONTH INCLUDE:
Avikal Costantino & Murray Burns (by Ben Ohmart)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000257.html
Marly Hornik (by Ben Ohmart)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000256.html
Iron Savior (by Ben Ohmart)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000258.html
Matt Jorgensen (by Ben Ohmart)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000250.html
II Big (by David Lockeretz)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000259.html
Kathy Compton (by David Lockeretz)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000255.html
TampaStan (by David Lockeretz)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000254.html
King Bathmat (by David Lockeretz)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000251.html
Jack's Mission (by David Lockeretz)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000262.html
Robin Kelly (by David Lockeretz)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000263.html
Code Green (by Ashley Petkovski)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000265.html
Damir/Rimad (by Ashley Petkovski)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000266.html
Greg Tannen (by Ben Ohmart)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000269.html
Chione (by Ashley Petkovski)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000272.html
Guy Bergeron (by Stacey Board)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000274.html
Naked Angel (by Stacey Board)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000275.html
Steve Elliot & Lucie Walker (by Stacey Board)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000276.html
Eric Colville (by Stacey Board)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000277.html
Melinda Gidaly (by Ashley Petkovski)
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000279.html
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******
For bios on each of the reviewers, see
http://www.musesmuse.com/musicreviews.html . If you're considering
sending in your own CD for review, you can also view that page to
find out which reviewer reviews your genre. Thanks!
Back to Menu
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S o n g w r i t i n g B o o k R e v i e w : by James Linderman
Theory for Young Musicians - By Carla Ulbrich
http://tinyurl.com/118c
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When I began to ponder, how I might best approach the task of
reviewing this book for musicians between the ages of 8-12, my
first thought was, "I'm not 8-12".
I was a musician when I was 8 years old and yes... they did have
music theory way back then but... it was a while ago. I then got
the idea that since I teach music theory to 65 guitar and piano
students in my private teaching practice, and many of them are
between 8 and 12, I would get them to check the book out and I
would let their comments be the content of this review.
To put some of these comments into context, I would first explain
that this book is a work book where students fill in note names,
draw musical notes and symbols, and can color in pictures, There
are re-occurring characters; Slick the cat and a lady named Dee
Dee.
Jamie 8: "Cool cover... pass me a pencil and I'll fill in the
answers right now"
Sarah 9: "This is a good way to learn note names, and Slick is a
good name for a cat, and Dee Dee is a good name too. This is a good
book for names."
Jessica 11 "I can do this book at the cottage, I'll bring it back
in a month, ok?"
Gabriel 9: "Oh man, can I fill in the names and then play the notes
and then color the pictures and then keep the book... Or do you
need it?"
Jake 7: "It teaches you a little bit about music and you get to
fill in the notes... I'm impressed!"
Jordan 10: "The answers are in the back!?!... Hey, are you trying
to trick me... how do you know I won't look up the answers and
cheat... oh! I guess I wouldn't learn much if I did that... and my
mom would freak!"
Jameson 11: "It's interesting, it guides you through music, it
works with all instruments, it teaches notes and it's fun and
that's it"
Rae 13: "A must read for beginner musicians"
There you have it, a review from a perfect test group of end users
of this very cool little book. If you teach music or you've got
kids who are learning music, then this is one music theory book you
will find that they simply will not put down.
Pencil, crayons, and a good sense of humour required.
******
James Linderman lives and works at theharmonyhouse, a music lesson,
songwriting and music pre-production facility in Newmarket,
Ontario, Canada. He has worked as a collaborating songwriter and
consultant for The Toronto Office of Catholic Youth and leads a
music workshop program for Life 100.3 Christian radio. James writes
songwriting articles for The Muse's News web magazine, Canadian
Musician Magazine and Professional Musician Magazine.
Contact James at: theharmonyhouse@rogers.com
Back to Menu
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Please support the sponsors that support this newsletter! Thanks!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UNLEASH THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE INTERNET WITH SONGSCOPE.COM!
SongScope is a valuable tool enabling you to build an on-line song
catalog, accessible only by proven industry professionals. Receive
FREE email informing you every time record producers and industry
professionals make requests. Song listings are only $29.95 per
year. An ecommerce enabled marketing/promotion page and tour
calendar are also available for performing songwriters to get
further artist exposure. And more services are coming soon!
See http://www.musesmuse.com/songscope.html for details or contact:
writerinfo@songscope.com ~ Tel: 770.754.4543
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M u s i c a l N o t e s : Songwriting Contests & Market Info.
In the interest of conserving space, I will only be including
changes to this listing in this newsletter. All other contests
and market information that have already been listed here, are
displayed at http://www.musesmuse.com/contests.html &
http://www.musesmuse.com/markets.html . Please check there
regularly for updates!
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PERFORM AT THE SONGSCOPE/MUSE'S MUSE SHOWCASE EVENT AT 2NMC!
The Nashville New Music Conference (2NMC) is now accepting bands
and musicians for a special Songscope / Muse's Muse Showcase event
to take place during the conference on October 9th - 12th. To sign
up, go to http://www.2nmc.com/showcase/ and put 'SONGSCOPE/MUSE'S
MUSE' as your REFERRAL CODE.
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JUST PLAIN FOLKS SHOWCASE IN TORONTO!
On September 30th, Just Plain Folks (www.jpfolks.com), is holding a
showcase in downtown Toronto at Clinton's Tavern (693 Bloor Street
West (Just East of Christie)) for performing songwriters and
independent musicians to spotlight their music and meet one
another. The Songwriting Association of Canada (www.songwriters.ca)
and The Muse's Muse are co-hosting and we'd all love to see you
there! While registration is required to participate, anyone that
wants to is welcome to. After you've used the url below to
register, please do email me at jodi@musesmuse.com to let me know
that you intend to participate, if you're a soloist or a band, and
if you have any special time considerations that need to be taken
into account. Each performer will be able to perform only one or
two songs as we need to let everyone have a chance - but this will
be a great way to network. Just Plain Folks has many other
showcases planned within Canada and the States, so if you don't
live in or near Toronto, you can still get involved. Drop by
http://www.justplainfolks.org/ubb/Forum2/HTML/001035.html for
details on how to do that. There are already 21 sign-ups for the
Toronto show so if you'd like to get involved, do so QUICKLY! I'll
look forward to seeing you there. :) Please do say hi!
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BABYFACE TAKES TONI BRAXTON IN NEW DIRECTION
Tonos hosts many songwriting contests and Industry Opportunities
specifically for songwriters every month. August contests include:
-Babyface Takes Toni Braxton in a New Direction - Tonos co-founder
Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds is looking for songs for R&B superstar
Toni Braxton. You may remember that we looked for songs for Toni
Braxton, a short while ago. As you all know the music industry
changes daily, and Toni Braxton has since changed her direction.
She is looking for songs with a more urban hip-hop style.
-R&B/Pop Group Looking for Female Vocalist - Wisdom Entertainment
is a new entertainment company created by insiders in the industry.
They are looking for a female singer between the ages of 17-24
years old for a Pop/R&B group.
-Larry Klein Wants More Material For His New Production Company -
Legendary producer Larry Klein, best known for his work with Joni
Mitchell, Tracy Chapman and Peter Gabriel, is starting an L.A.-
based production company and is looking for his first act to sign
to a development or production deal.
TONOS MAKES HISTORIC AGREEMENT WITH 5 MAJOR MUSIC PUBLISHERS
In order to help all the various talent in the global Tonos
Community, we are thrilled to announce that we have made historic
agreements with 5 major music publishing companies
(Warner/Chappell Music, EMI Music, DreamWorks Publishing, Chrysalis
Music and Famous Music). These top publishing firms have
"guaranteed" that they will EACH sign two tonosPRO songwriters
and/or singer-songwriters to publishing deals over the next 12
months. To be considered for all these deals, we'll be looking for
the artists and songwriters who have at least 3 very strong songs
posted in their Tonos Profiles. Sign up today to be considered!
See http://tinyurl.com/9tm for more details.
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WANTED: SHORT STORIES INSPIRED BY MUSIC
"Chicken Soup for the Music Lover's Soul" is looking for
heartwarming stories about music, and how it changes lifes and
inspires people. Stories should be approx. 300-1200 words in
length, and must make the reader "Laugh, cry or get goosebumps".
If your story is accepted into the book, the writer receives $300
and a paragraph in the back to promote/introduce yourself (CD's,
websites, projects) to potentially millions of readers. For story
guidelines and submission information, please visit
http://www.musicloverssoul.com/. For example stories, please visit
the official http://www.chickensoup.com/ website.
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NORTH CAROLINA SONGWRITERS CO-OP'S FIFTH ANNUAL SONGWRITING CONTEST
Deadline: September 9, 2002. The N.C. Songwriters Co-op is
searching for the BEST SONGWRITERS in North Carolina! You are
invited to submit a tape or CD with the application provided. Each
tape/CD will be evaluated by a committee, and eight finalists will
perform live before a panel of judges and a live audience on
Saturday, November 16, 2002 at the Carrboro Arts Center. Finalists
will be judged on quality of composition, quality of performance
and quality of musicianship. All interested songwriters can obtain
an application and more information about the contest by visiting
the website at: http://www.ncsongwriters.org/
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GREAT AMERICAN SONG CONTEST NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES!
Annual songwriting event features top music-industry judges,
including publishers, producers, recording artists and hit
songwriters. Offers multiple awards and prizes for 40 winners in 8
different style categories. Every songwriter who enters receives a
written evaluation of his or her work. This contest is sponsored
each year by Songwriters Resource Network, a free online news and
education resource for songwriters and lyricists everywhere. This
year's event is open through November 7, 2002. Information is
available at: http://www.greatamericansong.com/ or by visiting Songwriters
Resource Network at: http://www.songwritersresourcenetwork.com/ .
Printed contest brochures can be requested by emailing:
info@GreatAmericanSong.com
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GREAT ARTICLES TO CHECK OUT COURTESY OF GALARIS INDEPENDENT MUSIC:
* It's not over just because you sign a deal!
http://www.galaris.com/articles?id=114
* Get Focused!
http://www.galaris.com/articles?id=124
* Recording The Acoustic Guitar
http://www.galaris.com/articles?id=27
* Surprising Differences That Mastering Can Make
http://www.galaris.com/articles?id=34
* Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan
http://www.galaris.com/articles?id=58
Sign up for the Galaris Independent Musicians Newsletter. Simply
send a blank email to mailto:addmuse@galaris.com and twice monthly
you will receive FREE, direct to your email box, articles
containing: Promotion tips, Career advice, Recording tips,
Practicing tips, Legal advice, Musician's health, Radio promotion,
Songwriters tips and much more.
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CMT/CMT.COM AND NSAI LAUNCH 3RD ANNUAL SONG CONTEST
Opportunity for Aspiring Songwriters to "Be Discovered"
The CMT/CMT.com NSAI Song Contest provides the best avenue for
aspiring songwriters to open doors to industry contacts and have
his or her song pitched to record labels and top publishing
executives. CMT will again provide the Grand Prize Winner with a
network appearance on CMT. Click here for a list of other prizes:
http://nashvillesongwriters.com/songcontest_prizes.htm
Entrants submitting songs to the contest before Sept. 30, 2002 will
receive $5 off the entry fee, and will be entered into a raffle for
a Big Baby Taylor Guitar and an AKG C 900 microphone. All entrants
will receive a judging report for every song submitted for the
contest. The final deadline for contest submissions is November 30,
2002. For more information on the Nashville Songwriters Association
International or the 3rd Annual CMT/CMT.com NSAI Song Contest,
visit www.cmt.com, http://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/ or call
800-321-6008.
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2002 ANNUAL DALLAS SONGWRITERS SONG CONTEST
Deadline September 10, 2002
8 song categories.Grand Prize is a Gibson Ebony Les Paul Junior
Lite valued at $1229. 1st Place winners receive $100 cash and a 1
Yr membership to Broadjam; 2nd Place, $50 and 3rd Place a 1 YR DSA
Membership. All semi-finalists are announced at the DSA website.
Grand Prize winner will be picked by Tonos A&R. 1st, 2nd, & 3rd
Place winners picked by music industry professionals. New! Now you
can enter online, courtesy of Broadjam.Com or print the song
contest form and send by mail. Go to http://www.dallassongwriters.org/ for
details and contest rules. Need not be a DSA member to enter.
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INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC) DEADLINE IS SEPT. 30TH!
Enter your songs now to win over $65,000 in prize money and
merchandise and have your music heard by the music industry's top
professionals! ISC judges include some of the most high-profile,
influential members of the music industry including: Monte Lipman
(President of Universal Records), Rob Thomas (Lead
Singer/Songwriter, Matchbox 20), Arif Mardin (VP/GM of Manhattan
Records), Andy Summers (performer and ex-member of The Police), Kim
Stephens (VP A&R of Atlantic Records), Jeff Fenster (SR VP and Head
of A&R, Island/Def Jam), Eddie Kramer (producer, The Beatles, The
Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix etc), and David Bendeth (SR VP A&R of
RCA Records).
For more info, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/.
Back to Menu
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M u s e ' s C l u e s : by Irene Jackson
©1998-2002 Moonstone Productions All Rights Reserved. Used By
Permission
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I'm almost certain that this little column has mentioned Just Plain
Folks before, and if it hasn't and you've never heard of them,
mosey on over and check it out (http://www.jpfolks.com).
I want to focus on one particular area this time, however, and that
is the JPFolks station over on Radio Free Virgin
(http://www.radiofreevirgin.com/). Radio Free Virgin has created a
network of more than 40 channels of music, different genres, some
commercial, some not. You can download a player or listen
immediately from the website using their "lite" player.
Once you get to their website, hit the "Listen" button and scan
down to the Channel Guide. Here you will find a listing of all of
the available stations, which are listed alphabetically by genre.
Just Plain Folks has its own station, all members of the JPFolks
website who have sent in their CD's. In fact, you can join up and
send yours in!
I've been listening to this station quite a bit in the last couple
of weeks and I am impressed with many things. First of all, these
are really good quality songs and recordings. This is nothing like
mp3.com where you have to wade through a bunch of, well, for lack
of a better word, "junk" to get to the good stuff. The station is
programmed by the music directors at Radio Free Virgin and some of
the people at JPFolks, and you will find a real mix of different
genres and styles in this collection, all good quality.
The second reason I'm really impressed is because I didn't realize
just how many great songwriters there are out there! If you want
to get a real sense of what other songwriters are doing, outside of
the limited scope of commercial music, you've got to dial this
channel in for a listen. I've basically had it running while I'm
doing my other (ahem) work on the computer.
The third reason I am impressed is because Radio Free Virgin has
signed agreements with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. This means that a
songwriter who is a member of any of these organizations and has
his or her song played on JPFolks may be compensated for Internet
performances. This is not just pretend radio, it's the real thing.
The JPFolks station is well worth checking out and I think it is a
positive sign of the wonderful possibilities the digital age has
presented us, both as songwriters and as artists.
******
Irene Jackson is a performing songwriter from Victoria, BC in
Canada. Aside from writing, recording and performing, she also
maintains a website for songwriters that includes tips, articles
and more links of interest. Her eagerly anticipated CD "Catnip" is
finally here, and her earlier recordings have had attention
everywhere from Japan to South America.
Songwriting Tips: http://www.irenejackson.com/tips.html
Homepage: http://www.irenejackson.com/
Songs on MP3:
http://www.mp3.com/artists/20/irene_jackson.html
Back to Menu
=================================================================
F e a t u r e d A r t i c l e :
BE IT, FEEL IT, LOVE IT, LIVE IT
- by Diana Yampolsky
© Diana Yampolsky, 2002 All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In this article, I would like to talk about the true dedication
that is required to become a singer. You may ask, "What
dedication"? How is my life going to change? Let me try to express
my point of view with regards to this subject. In many ways, your
life will be much like that of an athlete or ballerina: a 100%
dedication to your art. Several years ago I saw a movie called
'The Mirrors' which was about a pair of ballet dancers. In one of
the scenes in the movie, the dancing couple approached the director
of a theater about obtaining a performance contract. After
interviewing them and deciding to hire them, he handed them a
contract that did not represent a sufficient amount of money for
the couple to accept it. The male dancer asked the female dancer
how much she weighed and her reply was 100 pounds! Then the male
dancer turned to the theater director and said,"You see, sir, I
have to lift my partner six times and this adds up to 600 lbs in
total. The money that you are offering us is not enough!" The
director at this point could not disagree with him and offered them
a more suitable contract. Now let's suppose for a second that the
female dancer would decide to go around the corner and eat a piece
of cake. You may ask, "So what? She is just a human being, right?"
Not quite. In this instance, she would be taking the risk that she
would be adding an extra pound or more to her body weight. What
will happen? A couple of things. As you remember, the male dancer
has to lift her six times each performance and that added up to six
hundred pounds. If she puts one pound on, he will have to lift 606
pounds and this was not a part of their professional agreement.
Moreover, she is risking the possibility that he will drop her and
even injure her because he is not accustomed to having to lift any
more weight than 100 pounds at a time. The moral of the story was
that she could not do anything she wanted to. She could not eat a
piece of cake or any other fatty foods. Nor could she stay out all
night partying if she needed to be rested for the next day's
performance or practice. The same is true for a singer. In order to
be successful at your craft, you have to realize and accept that
you are not the same as everyone else; your profession demands a
certain lifestyle and requires a certain degree of commitment and
sacrifice.
The truth is that most people either don't understand what it takes
to be a professional singer or aren't willing to offer the level of
commitment necessary. Too many people think that all they have to
do is open their mouth and sing and that will automatically make
them a professional singer. Nothing could be further from the
truth. I would like to identify four areas in which you have to be
committed in order to become a truly professional singer: physical
conditioning, vocal training, emotional openness and ensuring that
you are doing everything for the right reasons.
As I have mentioned in other articles, being a professional singer
is very similar to being a professional athlete and it demands a
certain amount of physical fitness. Do you have to have huge
muscles and not an ounce of body fat? No, but you should aim to
keep as lean a physique as possible and should have strong
abdominal muscles in order to be able to give physical support to
the sound you are producing. More importantly, you need to maintain
a fairly strict diet. Love milk? Well, as a singer you really need
to avoid dairy products, as they clog you up with mucous which is
definitely the opposite of what you want to achieve. In fact, any
of the minerals and vitamins that you have been getting from dairy
products can be found in other foods. I know it's hard - some of
you probably love cheese or ice cream - but you will have to give
it up for the sake of your goal. Keep your body clean, free of
mucous and your voice will reflect exactly that.
Another serious commitment that you must make if you wish to become
a professional singer is a commitment to learn how to use your
voice properly. The obvious reason is that you will be a better
singer and will learn how to play "your instrument" in the same
manner as any other musicians playing their instruments. The other
obvious reason is to learn how to use your voice safely in order to
prevent yourself from ever damaging it due to incorrect technique.
As I've mentioned, in most other fields, training is a
prerequisite. If you are a professional or aspiring basketball
player, figure skater, ballerina or sprinter, you have a coach who
assists you in being the best you can be. The same should be true
for singers as well. If you are truly committed to becoming a
professional singer, professional coaching is a necessity and not a
luxury. After all, if you want to become a professional engineer,
you will have to go to university for several years. By the time
you receive your degree, you will have probably spent at least 30
-50 thousand dollars. But you are also hoping that once you find a
job, you will make back your investment within your first year of
working and for the rest of your life you will be gaining a pure
profit from your education. Why should it be any different for a
professional singer? The word "professional" implies trained,
educated, and certified. Is this worth your investment? Definitely!
There is another important commitment that many aspiring singers
are often very apprehensive about: exposing one's inner self to
the outside world. I always tell my students that to be a complete
performer, one of the most important pieces of the puzzle, is
having the ability and willingness to share who you are as a person
with the audience. All the greatest singers make an emotional
connection with their audience through their singing. When I take
on a new student, I start out by teaching them the technical
aspects of singing. Once they have mastered vocal technique and no
longer have to consciously worry about staying in key, etc., I work
with them on developing the emotional component of their singing.
When this happens, I actually feel as if I am working as both a
vocal coach and a psychologist. This can be very difficult because
a large portion of the population subverts their natural charisma
and personality and it can be very hard to "free a person's
spirit"! Furthermore, you do not only need to share yourself with
the audience, but also to have something worth sharing. Singers
need to lead inspired lives. Pull yourself away from the computer
at least long enough that you might fall in love or get your heart
broken or develop a close friendship.
The final commitment that you need to make should be relatively
easy for you: putting singing above everything else because you
love it. Be obsessed with it, strive to get better, and perform
every performance as if you are performing in front of thousands of
adoring fans. Furthermore, sing for the right reasons and not
because of a desire for money or fame. Only one in a million
becomes a Celine Dion or George Michael, regardless of talent. For
this reason, you need to be doing it purely because you love it. Of
course, it's a wonderful thing if you do sell millions of records
and I am in no way trying to convince you to not strive for
commercial success. But if you truly love singing and are committed
to being the best singer you can be, it will be reflected in your
performance and will actually enhance your chances of selling
millions of your CD's.
******
Diana Yampolsky is a Toronto-based Vocal Coach/Consultant. She is
the creator of the Vocal Science Program, which has been designed
to achieve Accelerated Vocal Development and guarantees to turn a
beginner into a professional singer in a matter of hours. This
technique focuses on the idea that the voice is an expression of
the emotional, physical and spiritual state of the person singing
and Diana therefore works not just on the voice but on the
performer as a whole. The Royans School for the Musical Performing
Arts (http://www.vocalscience.com/) specializes in Accelerated Artist
Development, including Vocal Coaching/Consulting, In Studio Vocal
Production Expertise, Style Identification & Differentiation, Voice
Repair and Psychology of Performance.
Back to Menu
=================================================================
C o l u m n i s t s I n S p o t l i g h t :
Meet The Muse's Muse Music Reviewers:
http:/www.musesmuse.com/musicreviews.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The roster of music reviewers here on The Muse's Muse has been on a
steady increase for a couple of months now. Since the new
additions may not have caught your attention yet, I thought I'd
spotlight all the current reviewers so that you'll have a good idea
of where to send your CDs when you're ready to do so.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BEN OHMART - Senior Music Reviewer
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-ben.html
Ben has been with The Muse's Muse almost from the beginning and I'm
*extremely* grateful to him for all the wonderful reviews and
articles he's posted through the years. Amazingly enough, he's
still going strong (thanks, Ben!).
Bio:
Ben lives in Boalsburg, PA where greedy people want to put up
condos in place of a nature preserve. He spends his off hours
listening to radio comedy - especially British - loves reading and
watching horror, and hates trying to make ends meet. Send him money
and gifts. While waiting for bribes, he's currently writing the
official biographies of The Bickersons, Paul Frees and Daws Butler.
His latest bit of immortality? The text for bickersons.com.
Contact him at: ohmart@musesmuse.com.
Genres Reviewed:
Soundtracks, World, Classical, New Age, Progressive, Jazz,
Instrumental, Spoken Word, Comedy, and Classic (major label) Rock.
How to Submit a CD:
Send to: Ben Ohmart, P O Box 750, Boalsburg, PA USA 16827
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ASHLEY PETKOVSKI - Associate Music Reviewer
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-ashley.html
A proud Canadian grrrl with too much drive and too many opinions
for her own personal good, Ashley is the creator of Kiss Me Deadly,
a zine (a la 1991) focused on the interests and issues revolving
around young femme revolutionaries, and a regular writer for a
community newspaper. While not reading old J.D. Salinger novels and
listening to local college/alternative radio, she volunteers at one
of the stations, spends too much time with a friend endlessly
dissecting retro music, goes on mindless, day-long hunts around the
city and beyond for the newest record to catch her ear (until she
gives up and orders from the distributor), and trudges through
countless hours of education, in which she writes constantly, and
focuses far too much on essays about Third Wave Feminism and The
Strokes. She"…would have been just the coolest person 20 years ago"
according to many, and is a self professed Tori-Morrissey fanatic
who lives by Oscar Wilde's words: "Popularity is the crown of
laurel which the world puts on bad art. Whatever is popular is
wrong."
Contact her at: ash@musesmail.com.
Fan Favourites/Proof of Genre Indecisiveness:
anything… absolutely anything …except for shallow hip hop and rap
and rusty-cookie-cutter-top-40 pop.
How To Submit a CD:
Send to: Ashley Petkovski P.O. Box 62047 Victoria Terrace P.O.
Toronto, ON, Canada M4A 2W1
-------------------------------------------------------------------
DAVID LOCKERETZ - Associate Music Reviewer
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-david.html
A Boston native, David has been living in the Los Angeles area
since 1999. He has toured internationally with Persian diva Leila
Forouhar and has appeared throughout California with the modern
jazz group Guavajazz and the blues/rock band Voodoo Highway, whose
first CD, "Love's Addiction", he co-produced.
Contact him at: guavajazz@musesmail.com
Genres Reviewed:
Rock, blues, jazz, classical, country, folk, world, electronic,
techno, acoustic
How To Submit a CD:
Send to: David Lockeretz 315 N. Associated Rd. #1803 Brea, CA 92821
-------------------------------------------------------------------
STACEY BOARD - Associate Music Reviewer
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-stacey.html
With three CDs under her belt, Stacey Board has been critically
acclaimed by reviewers and adored by fans coast-to-coast. Stacey
was raised in the South, taught herself guitar and began writing
music at 13. Working with bands in Florida, Georgia and North
Carolina she eventually moved to Los Angeles. Her 1998 solo debut
CD, simple thing coincided with a move to Utah, now home base for
her full time music career. Since its release in December 2001, her
third CD Drive has been given rave reviews and is getting airplay
across the US and beyond. Stacey's CD's, show calendar and all
sorts of information can be found at http://www.staceyboard.com/.
Contact her at: staceyboard@musesmail.com
Genres Reviewed:
Pop, R&B, Country and Pop/Folk
How To Submit a CD:
Send to: Stacey Board 10889 Shady Dell Sandy, UT USA 84094
-------------------------------------------------------------------
GIAN FIERO - Associate Music Reviewer
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-gian.html
Gian embarked upon his career in the music industry as a personal
manager where he was successful in landing record deals for five of
the six acts that he managed. Currently, he is the director of
operations and founder of MBIS Enterprises, a 10 year old company
that provides career counseling, business support, and legal
assistance to the music community. He has been a featured speaker
and mentor at industry events, and conducts educational seminars on
a variety of music industry related topics for SBA (Small Business
Administration) and California Lawyers for the Arts in the San
Francisco Bay Area.
Contact him at: Gfiero@musesmail.com
Genres Reviewed:
Pop, R&B, Hip Hop, and Rap
How To Submit a CD:
Send to: Gian Fiero 1714 Franklin St. Suite 100-119, Oakland, Ca
94612
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Gian is our newest addition so he doesn't have any reviews online
just yet. That should change shortly. Hip Hop and Rap are two
genres that have been sorely neglected here on The Muse's Muse and
I hope to change that soon!
New CD reviews are posted each month and then listed here in the
newsletter - so feel free to send in your CD (remember to make sure
you're sending it to a reviewer that reviews your genre!) and watch
for your name to appear. :)
As a side note, I'm including the reviewers' email addresses so
that they can be contacted if you have questions - but PLEASE do
not add them to your mailing lists without asking them beforehand,
ok? We'd all really appreciate your consideration in this matter.
Thanks! -- Jodi
Back to Menu
=================================================================
" O N S I T E " F E A T U R E D A R T I C L E :
BOY!! BANDS!! By Danny McBride
http://musesmuse.com/columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000267.html
Danny discusses the dreaded recording industry practice known as
"unrecouped" If this is a subject you're unfamiliar with and you're
interested in signing a record deal, it's something you NEED to
know more about!
=================================================================
C l a s s i f i e d s & U s e f u l S e r v i c e s :
-----------------------------------------------------------------
MUSIC BOOKS PLUS
The Songwriter's One Stop Resource for Books, Instructional Videos,
CD-ROMs and DVDs. We feature over 5,000+ titles at
http://www.musicbooksplus.com/ - areas covered include: International Music
Directories, Music Business, Song & Lyric Writing, Music
Publishing, Rhyming Dictionaries, Theory & Arranging , Instrument &
Vocal Technique, Recording, Internet ... and so much more. Free
electronic newsletter, monthly & customer specials, new titles
added weekly. Come check us out!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
HEY SONGWRITERS! POP QUIZ. GIVE ME THREE RHYMES FOR "HEARTBREAK"...
Locate every song's lead sheet you ever wrote, their genre, and
album. What's the fingering for a G#sus4 chord at the ninth fret?
Now copyright a song from where you're sitting without removing
your hands from your mouse or keyboard. Your time is up! You know
what you need? LYRICIST! It's the songwriter's best friend.
Includes Rhyming Dictionary, Album Categorization, Chord Charting,
On-Line Copyright, and more. Check out the review at
http://www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html .
For more information, visit the review url above or call Virtual
Studio Systems at 888.732.1176 inside the U.S.A. and Canada or
603.726.4499 everywhere else.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
GO GLOBAL WITH CDSTREET.COM
CDstreet.com is your secure source for credit card music ordering
in your own website. As a member of the CDstreet network, you will
have access to the most cost-effective, secure transaction
processing for global music merchandise distribution. Plus, low
setup fee and no sales equals no cost!
Check it out - http://www.cdstreet.com/signup/musesmuse
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Get REVIEWED / CRITIQUED by an AWARD WINNING PRODUCER!
Indiemusicreview.com REVIEWS and CRITIQUES independent
artists of all genres. Staffed by an award winning producer and
experienced music journalists, IMR empowers artists and offers
personalized objective insight into songwriting and production
techniques.
Check out the details at http://www.indiemusicreview.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CUSTOM DEMO ARRANGEMENTS FOR SONGWRITERS
Excellent quality at a reasonable price with quick turnaround using
the latest in synths and samplers with Pro Tools 5.1 credits
include national commercials, album productions and demos
visit http://www.barclasionmusic.com/ for more information or contact Rick
at 813-689-6066 or rick@barclasionmusic.com references and demos
available upon request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ATTENTION: INDEPENDENT BANDS AND SINGER-SONGWRITERS
You CAN earn a good living selling your MP3s! CoconutRoad.com will
invite up to ONE MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR to hear and buy YOUR music!
Sign Up NOW! Plans as low as $10 a month. The Revolution Begins.
Go to http://www.coconutroad.com/.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
GET YOUR COPY OF THE INDIE CONTACT BIBLE & START MAKING WAVES!
This is an absolutely priceless resource for indie musicians. If
you want your music reviewed, on the radio, *heard*, THIS is the
resource you need to have. It's not going to tell you "how" but it
will *certainly* tell you "who". I highly recommend you pick it up
in order to compliment your other music marketing techniques. Have
a look at this url and read through a few sample pages to see what
I mean: http://www.bigmeteor.com/muse
(Full review at http://www.musesmuse.com/3.4-July00.html#book)
=================================================================
ADVERTISING RATES: For Classifieds: US$50 Max. 8 lines, where
a line = 65 characters including spaces and punctuation. All
contracts must be prepaid. Write to: editor@musesmuse.com
For Newsletter Sponsorship rates and other advertising
opportunities, please see http://www.musesmuse.com/media.html .
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=================================================================
C o n t a c t I n f o & C r e d i t s :
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jodi Krangle ............................................. EDITOR
Kathryn Obenshain ...........................GRACIOUS PROOFREADER
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Muse's News is a free monthly newsletter for and about
songwriters. Subscribers are welcome to recirculate or reprint
The Muse's News for nonprofit use as long as the appropriate
credit is given and the ENTIRE text of the newsletter is
included (including credits and information at the end of each
issue). Others should contact me at editor@musesmuse.com.
All articles copyrighted by their authors.
Back issues and other information will be available at:
http://www.musesmuse.com/musenews.html
The Muse's News is part of The Muse's Muse, a web resource for
songwriters: http://www.musesmuse.com/
For further information, send your e-mail to:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
adinfo@musesmuse.com - How to place a classified ad, pass
on market information or sponsor
The Muse's News.
info@musesmuse.com - How to subscribe, unsubscribe, etc.
editor@musesmuse.com - To submit articles,reviews,ideas,etc.
SNAILMAIL: Please contact me first at editor@musesmuse.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back issues of the newsletter can be read at the National
Library of Canada ecollection:
http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/201/300/muses_news/index.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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