Hello, and welcome to the first ever Music Sumo Podcast brought to you by Recast Records!
Music Sumo is dedicated to promoting and selling all independent artists’ music over the internet at www.musicsumo.com.
Music Sumo is run by Recast Records, an independent record, management, booking, marketing, and promotions company that is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
After returning home to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2002, I decided to try and develop a way for independent artists to be heard by larger audiences. While finalizing my business plans for Recast Records, I furthered my experience in promotion, marketing, licensing, retail merchandising, customer service, and accounting while working for Bill Graham Presents / Clear Channel Entertainment, Cinder Block Merchandise, MP34U.com, and Rasputin Records.
Now, I am launching Music Sumo, an online independent music webstore! With a proposed start-up date of early 2006, Music Sumo will be aimed at assisting independent music artists, in further promoting their careers through distribution, marketing, and promotion on the internet. Artists will be able to sell their CD’s online, advertise upcoming shows and releases, and be featured on Music Sumo’s regular Podcast.
Some of the other key features that we are currently incorporating into the Music Sumo webstore are:
• A website where your fans, and the general public, can come and buy your CD’s. • A place for customers to leave reviews of your music. • A concert calendar so you can let your fans know about your upcoming gigs. • A bulletin board system that you can use to get questions answered about the music industry, as well as help others. • A chat room where you can interact with your fans and other musicians in realtime. • A way to further promote your band, music, and gigs through links and banners. • And more!!!
Currently we are accepting CD submissions for the store and if you submit your CD now you will receive over 20% off the future sign-up fee! So sign-up now! Visit www.musicsumo.com!!
Now taking advantage of the over 20% savings in sign-up fees, our first artist to sign-up with Music Sumo was folk / rock, singer / songwriter, Michelle Lewis from Boston, MA. Michelle submitted her new album, “This Time Around”, which you will be able to buy at Music Sumo in the beginning of 2006.
As her website describes her:
“If you meet Michelle before you hear her music, you might be surprised to find out she plays folk. She doesn’t fit the profile. She quotes Homer Simpson before Paul Simon. She prefers Mardi Gras to Earth Day. She drives fast. She throws snowballs. She talks loud, she eats meat, and if you leave the mayonnaise off her sandwich she might try to fight you.
If you hear Michelle’s music before you meet her, you might be surprised at her exuberance. Her songs throw you against a wall. They kick you out of the house and walk around naked. They call up to heaven. They crumble at your feet.
At first, it doesn’t add up.
But then you get to know her better and you begin to notice that she always tells the truth. You notice that she’s been listening the whole time. You realize how much she values sincerity and that, even when she’s clowning around, she’s just being herself.
Then you listen to her lyrics and you hear the triumph. You understand that she finds as much exhilaration in performing her music as she does the rest of her life. More, even. You realize that when she performs she is living the life to which her songs aspire.
Michelle’s music is caring, vivacious and completely authentic. Watch her perform and you will understand. Her fingers articulate every note; her voice picks out every word. But you don’t hear notes and you don’t hear words. When Michelle plays, all you hear is music, and it all makes sense.”
I have had the great pleasure of being able to work directly with Michelle right when she was starting her professional career as I assisted her in booking her first two West Coast tours. These tours were great successes since we were able to at least break-even while at the same time producing a whole new fan base for her on the West Coast. These tours took place back in 2002, and since then Michelle has been coming back to the West Coast on a regular basis. Be sure to make it to one of her shows when she gets back out here next! To see where she is and what she is up to you can visit www.michellelewismusic.com.
Just a few of the things Michelle has done this past year:
• She was announced as a finalist in the Williamsburg Live Singer / Songwriter Competition. • Two of Michelle’s songs, “Caroline” and “Midnight”, made it to the Santa Cruz (CA) Songwriting Competition. • Her new album debuted at #2 on KBBI radio in Homer, AK and at #8 on KKSM in San Marcos, CA! • In May, Mediaguide, a national radio airplay-monitoring group, named Michelle it’s “Early Riser” for the week of the 9th – 16th. Michelle’s album placed in the top ten of self-released artists, probably in no small part due to overwhelming support from WAWL in Chattanooga, TN, which played Michelle’s album more than 140 times in the previous couple of months! • Michelle also stared in an award-winning film, Melvin’s Kitchen! Melvin’s Kitchen was screened at the Best of Boston awards ceremony for the 48-hour Film Project and won an award for best wardrobe! Michelle’s role was definitely among the crowd favorites, but seeing as how the movie is a mystery, to find out what role she played you’re going to have to watch the film yourself. (You can view the film here: http://www.aftongrant.com/movies/melvinsKitchen.cfm ) • Michelle was selected as a showcase artist at the NEMO Music Showcase and Conference, one of the largest industry events in the country. • Michelle has also starred on many radio shows throughout the country doing interviews, contests, giveaways, and many live studio sessions.
Michelle almost never seems to be sitting in one place at one time so be sure to check out her website often to find out where she is. (www.michellelewismusic.com) Try and see one of her shows when she is in your area. You won’t be disappointed. Also remember to also pick up a copy of her album, This Time Around, at the Music Sumo webstore (www.musicsumo.com) in the next couple of months!
Finally, to close out this first installment of the Music Sumo Podcast I will leave you with Michelle’s title track to her album, This Time Around. Thank you for listening and be sure to check out the Music Sumo webstore at www.musicsumo.com. We are currently collecting inventory from artists at a discount of over 20% and will be up and running for fans to buy items in the beginning of the New Year! So, if you are a music artist and would like an avenue to sell your CD’s online please check out www.musicsumo.com and take advantage of our great deal of over 20% in savings when you sign-up now!
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