The Como Brothers Band

Having grown up performing in a Beatles tribute band the Como Brothers are no strangers to the Long Island music scene. Matt and Andrew Como have been honing their craft as established singer/songwriters and performers and are ready to make an indelible mark on the music industry. Just off the heels of the release of their sophomore EP “Still Waters” (March 2013), the Brothers released their first full length album, “Baby Steps” (October 1, 2013). 

Our music has been placed in: 

• MTV's Real World Portland & St. Thomas
• E! Network’s Keeping up with the Kardashians
• The Oxygen Channel's Best Ink
• Quicksilver Advertisements
• Indie movie Wingman Inc. Soundtrack
• Canon Consumer Electronics Trade Show Commercial

Notable experiences in 2014:
• Won 2014 Artists In Music Award Composer of Year, Album of Year- Baby Steps
• 2014 Artists In Music Award 5 nominations – Best Rock, Best Singer/SongWriter, Composer of Year, Album of Year, Artist of Year
• Deli Best of NYC 2013 Emerging Artists Alt Rock – Top 9 Honorable Mention)
• Our song Late Nights featured in Canon Consumer Electronics Trade Show Commercial

Notable experiences in 2013:
• Opened for Jillian Jensen (X-Factor) at 89 North Music Venue (February 2013)
• Opened for Frankie Zulferino at the Highline Ballroom (February 2013)
• Performed on Balcony TV Charleston (February 2013)
• Were finalists in the Hard Rock Rising 2013, playing at the Hard Rock Café NYC (February 2013)
• Our music was accepted on Pandora
• Opened for the Wallflowers at Alive@Five in Stamford, CT (June 2013)
• Performed in “Make Music NYC” (June 2013)
• Ten Como Brothers songs were determined radio ready for CBS Radio's "Tomorrow's Hits Today” (July 2013)
• Performed for an A&R from A&M / Octone Records Showcase and received very encouraging and positive feedback (August 2013)
• Won 2013 Good Times Magazine - "Long Island Music Festival" (August 2013)
• Performed in the CBGB Festival on the ReverbNation Stage at Tammany Hall (October 2013)
• Opened for American Idol Winner, David Cook, at 89 North in Patchogue Long Island (October 2013)
• Performed in the Port Jefferson Music Festival (October 2013)
• Top 5 Pop Genre Finalist Show Me the Music Contest - song Straight Face (Nov 2013)
• Interviewed on CBS Sports Radio on the Darryn Yates Show

Notable experiences in 2012:
• Named Emerging Artists by S&IS Shortcut to Sony, went into the Sony building, and had our music heard by Sony A&Rs! (January 2012)
• In Phase I of the Hard Rock Rising Contest our song “I Don’t Like You” had the most number of downloads in the entire USA. (January 2012)
• Finalists in the Hard Rock Rising 2012, playing at the Hard Rock Café NYC (February 2012)
• were asked to play at Sullivan Hall (February 2012)
• performed in the Montauk Music Festival (May 2012)
• Won 2012 Ernie Ball Battle – Played in Warped Tour at Nassau Veteran’s Coliseum (July 2012)
• played the Nikon Jones Beach Theater Side Stage before Rachel Crow, Cody Simpson, and Big Time Rush (August 2012)
• performed at Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George, NY (August 2012)
• performed 35 shows in 2012 (Long Island & NYC at bars, town events, charity fundraising events, and festivals)

The Como Brothers Band brings an energy, excitement, and originality to the stage that leaves fans wanting more. The band is very personable and accessible to fans. We can’t wait to see you at our next gig! 

“Baby Steps” Reviews:

 

• Brian Lion of Under The Gun Review has praised the album, stating, "Pretty much the whole of Baby Steps is catchy as hell". 

 

• Brian Weidy of IX Daily’s reviewed the album, writing, "The Como Brothers Band excels on their debut".   

 

• Joshua Smotherman of Middle Tennessee Music writes, “Baby Steps includes track after track of grade A++ quality songwriting, musicianship, and originality”.  

 

• James Wilson of My Random Jukebox speaks of Matt and Andrew’s songwriting abilities, stating, “How the music is put together alongside the catchy lyrics is a credit to their songwriting ability (which I think is their biggest talent)”.   

 

• I Am Entertainment Magazine claims, “It’s just a matter of time before these guys explode into the mainstream”.

Indie It Press “To say the least, this indie band is taking indie listeners and many mainstream pop fans by storm.With a clean look and sound like Michael Buble, the Como Brothers still have their own unique tone and songwriting quality to them that is garnering some much deserved attention. Mix in some of The Black Keys rhythm and you come up with a rare compilation of music in Baby Steps that is The Como Brothers Band.” 

Singer Adrianna Freeman Releases New Single 'No More'

January 17

by Music News Desk

Related: Adrianna Freeman

Country singer Adrianna Freeman's new single, "No More" (AFM Entertainment) is a tribute to relationships that endure, through thick and thin. The song is being released to radio stations nationwide.

"No More" is sung from the perspective of a woman whose grandparents married young and stayed together into old age, despite the kinds of problems that might cause other marriages to break up.

"It's about how some relationships are unbreakable," she said. "It's a granddaughter singing about how her grandmother never thought of leaving, even when Grandpa was hitting the shine. Now that she's gone, Grandpa misses her because, as the song says, they don't make 'em like that no more."

The initial response from country radio programmers is positive. During its first weekend in release, "No More" was among the top five downloaded country songs on Play MPE, a music delivery service used by most radio stations throughout the United States.

Written by Amber Leah White, "No More" features Freeman on lead vocals, ACM Fiddle Player of the Year Aubrey Haynie on fiddle and mandolin, Kelly Back on guitar, Gary Lunn on bass and Jason Webb on piano.

Freeman plans to include "No More" on a forthcoming EP. Her debut album, "Either You Do or You Don't," was produced by Teddy Gentry of the GRAMMY-winning super-group Alabama. It was Gentry who discovered "No More" and brought it to Freeman's attention.

"When I first heard it, it spoke to me," Freeman said. "Even though times get tough, love endures. This is a feel-good song with a positive message."

The music of Adrianna Freeman is available through iTunes and other Internet retailers. Information is available at www.AdriannaFreeman.com.

Lee Gray

Since forming at the end of 2011, Lee Gray & The Beat have been regulars on the New Zealand music circuit; their high energy, well-crafted live performances giving them an ever increasing fan base together with a fast growing reputation. The pair, Lee Gray (UK) and legendary drummer Pete Warren (NZ), have just finished recording their first project with ex-Pretenders bass player Malcolm Foster at his ‘Blue Octopus’ studio in Whangaparaoa. Come On Down, a 5-track EP which melds Lee’s ‘singer/songwriter’ vocals and acoustic guitar with a mixture of Pete’s dance grooves is a record setting itself apart from typical pop/dance music.

“We wanted to make dance music that we could play on acoustic guitar and drums.”
The Duo recently finished 2nd out of hundreds of bands in New Zealand’s acknowledged launching pad ‘Battle of the Bands’ National Championship, receiving great feedback from the judges for their live performances and song writing. They represented the competition on TV One’s Good Morning show at the end of May, playing the track Million Lights to rave reviews.

Lee Gray – Vocals, guitar, loops
Lee is originally from the UK where he wrote and released two albums before touring much of Europe as part of the Duo “Woodface”. He opened the main stage at the 2009 ‘Fete de le Musique’ music festival in Nice and has received several awards including ‘Best male vocalist’ in VF (Swedish Music Magazine) and ‘Best Vocalist’ in this year’s Battle of the Bands National Championship. Since moving to New Zealand two years ago, his career has really exploded and has seen him play some of the top events at the most prestigious venues Auckland has to offer.

Pete ‘The Beat’ Warren – Drums, samples
Pete is nothing short of an institution having shot to fame in New Zealand in the 80s after co-founding iconic Kiwi band ‘DD-Smash’ whose first album titled 'Cool Bananas' debuted at #1 - an historic first - remaining in the charts for 24 weeks, going triple gold in the process. Pete is one of the only drummers in New Zealand history to receive the ‘best drummer’ award 4yrs running and was among the first rock drummers to have a world-wide drum endorsement with Remo drums and Sabian cymbals. He has since toured much of the globe playing alongside some of music’s all time greats, racking up yet more Top 10 hits around the world. Pete is labelled the ‘human drum machine’ for his ability to do just that.

Online social media sites:
Website - www.leegrayandthebeat.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/leegraymusic
Twitter – www.twitter.com/leegraymusic
Youtube – www.youtube.com/leegraymusic
SoundCloud – www.soundcloud.com/leegraymusic

Rock Turns The Table On Pop

Rock Turns The Table On Pop
Led by Arctic Monkeys, Bastille and Jake Bugg, Rock music claims a third of the albums purchased in 2013 - its largest share since 2010

By Mi2N [02-15-2014]

The fact that Pop, in the shape of three Now compilations (86, 85 & 84 respectively), One Direction (Midnight Memories) and Emeli Sandé (Our Version of Events), accounted for the five best-selling albums of 2013, was still not enough to stop Rock overtaking it as the most popular music genre of last year, according to the latest BPI annual survey of music genres based on Official Charts Company data.

Rock climbs above Pop
While the upper echelons of the year-end charts were dominated by Pop releases, a mix of new albums and solid catalogue sales across the total number of titles purchased in 2013 helped Rock's overall share of sales inch above that of Pop's for the first time in three years.
Boosted by the likes of Arctic Monkeys (AM), Bastille (Bad Blood), Jake Bugg (self-titled), Mumford and Sons and Rod Stewart, whose album Time sold over half a million copies, Rock music generated a third (33.8 per cent) of all the UK album sales during the 12-month period – its highest share in five years. Pop as a category, which came out on top in the 2012 survey, was not far behind, however, on 31 per cent.

The depth and popularity of Rock music catalogue also contributed to the genre's strong performance in 2013: Of the top 10,000 best-selling albums in 2013, over 4,000 - 40 per cent - were classified as Rock. The revival of interest in the vinyl format, which is often regarded as an extension of Rock culture and in 2013 saw its highest level of sales in over a decade, arguably also supports the overall trend towards Rock music.

Rock sub-genres
Over half of all Rock music purchased in the UK last year was defined as Contemporary Rock (18.8 per cent out of the 33.8 per cent figure), while 7.1 per cent of the total was A.O.R (Adult Orientated Rock) and 6.8 per cent was categorised as Metal/Heavy. Progressive or 'Prog' Rock (0.8 per cent) and Punk (0.3 per cent) made up the rest of the Rock category.

Dance on the rise
Another riser in the genres 'charts' was Dance music, which, propelled by such acts as Rudimental (Home), Calvin Harris (18 Months) and Disclosure (Settle), accounted for 8.3 per cent of the albums market - the genre's highest share since 2006. Whereas only five Dance titles made it into the list of the 100 best-selling albums of 2012, last year saw this figure increase to twelve.

Bublé and Robbie swing it for MOR/Easy Listening
Dance came in just ahead of MOR/Easy Listening, which was responsible for 8.1 per cent of all albums sales in 2013 thanks mainly to the combined efforts of Michael Bublé (To Be Loved) and, somewhat ironically given his ‘Prince of Pop' mantle, Robbie Williams (Swings Both Ways). The genre was also boosted by the strong performance of the Les Misérables Motion Picture Cast Recording.

Contemporary Urban: R&B and Hip Hop
R&B, which in recent years has been averaging a double-digit share, accounted for only 5.7 per cent of the albums market in 2013 – its lowest figure since 1995. This translated to just five titles in the list of 100 best-selling titles last year. Hip Hop fared little better, with just 3.6 per cent share of the market – albeit fractionally up on 2012 thanks to the strong performance of Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP 2 album. Tastes in music tend to be cyclical, but one further explanation for this dip may be that a number of artists whose heritage lies in Urban music have 'crossed over' into more mainstream Pop or even Dance in recent years.

Speciality genres
Heading the ‘Speciality' genres is Classical music, which remains steady at 3.2 per cent of the albums market, ahead of Country (1.7 per cent), Jazz (1.3 per cent), Folk (1.2 per cent) and Blues (0.9 per cent). Reggae has a 0.7 per cent share of albums sales, with the remainder of the list made up by Children's (0.2 per cent), World Music (0.2 per cent), Spoken Word (0.1 per cent) and New Age (0.1 per cent).

SINGLES - Pop still rules
In contrast to Rock's performance when it comes to albums, an analysis of the Singles market, which is made up 99 per cent of digital downloads, shows that Pop is by far the more dominant genre. It accounts for 36.2 per cent of all singles purchased in 2013 compared to just 21.4 per cent in respect of Rock (still the genre's best performance since 2009 however). Like Pop, Dance is a category that performs proportionately better on the singles front - responsible for 16.1 per cent of sales, a trend also evident with R&B (13.5 per cent). R&B's strong performance was thanks in part to the huge No.1 success of Robin Thicke, T.I. and Pharrell Williams' smash hit Blurred Lines, while Hip Hop (8.6 per cent) benefited from the success of two Macklemore releases.

COMPILATION ALBUMS - Now albums help Pop outsell Rock by 8 - 1
The popularity of Pop over Rock is even more pronounced when it comes to compilations, accounting for nearly half of all UK compilation sales in 2013 (44.9 per cent) and outselling Rock-based titles by a margin of 8 to 1.

Such a performance shouldn't come as a surprise given the huge popularity of the Pop-inspired Now range, which claimed the top 3 best-selling albums of 2013 (Now 86, 85 and 84 respectively in terms of sales). Pop actually came in ahead of Dance, which accounted for 27.7 per cent of the comps market – thanks mainly to the success of the Ministry of Sound range, followed by R&B (6.9 per cent), Rock (only 6 per cent), MOR/Easy Listening (5 per cent) and Classical (4.3 per cent).

Source: http://www.musicdish.com/mag/?id=13537

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POLICE STATE, USA

'Trigger-happy' cop kills disabled man's service dog

Shocking video draws reactions from around globe

Published: 15 hours ago

Drew Zahn About | Email | Archive

Drew Zahn is a WND news editor who cut his journalist teeth as a member of the award-winning staff of Leadership, Christianity Today's professional journal for church leaders. A former pastor, he is the editor of seven books, including Movie-Based Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching, which sparked his ongoing love affair with film and his weekly WND column, "Popcorn and a (world)view."

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Tarek Hassani's dashboard-mounted camera shows moments leading up to and following shooting that left a dog dead

When Officer Tarek Hassani responded to a call of dogs running wildly through a Filer, Idaho, neighborhood on Feb. 8, a pair of Labradors – one yellow, one brown – barked and bounded around him like agitated guard dogs.
The video camera on Hassani’s squad car reveals the stunning events that happened next.
The dogs can be heard barking and growling. They leap around the police officer. The cop draws his gun. He kicks out wildly at the dogs, only stirring them up more. Then, as he makes his way around a vehicle in the driveway, Officer Hassani pulls the trigger.

The brown Lab’s body is slammed to the ground. The barking suddenly turns to whining and whimpering, as the dog named “Hooch” drags its broken body out of the camera’s view.
The dash-cam video has since created an international stir, with hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube and tens of thousands of people on Facebook calling for Hassani to be fired for what they say was excessive force used against dogs that weren’t actually threatening or attacking the officer.
Jon Alexander of Idaho’s Twin Falls Times-News was the first to report on the video, writing in his original article, “A dog is dead, and its owner is alleging trigger-happy police work.”
“Sure enough, that video went viral,” Alexander wrote in a subsequent editorial. “It’s gritty, brutal and powerful. Hassani’s .45 caliber hollow-point drives the poor animal into the ground as if it was hit with a sledge hammer. You watch the dog slink away to its death.”
Police officers who shoot dogs: Journalist tracks incidents of gratuitous pet deaths around the country
The dashcam video of the shooting can be seen below (Editor’s note: The following video contains graphic, real violence and foul language and may be disturbing to some viewers):

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As it turns out, this isn’t the first time the “trigger-happy” Hassani has been under investigation for questionable discharge of a firearm.
Following a high-speed chase of a shooting suspect in May 2010, Hassani approached the suspect’s stopped vehicle, but the tinted glass obstructed his view of the interior. Hassani then fired through the driver’s side front window, wounding the suspect in the head.
Three months later, Ada County Prosecutor Greg Bower and Deputy Prosecutor Shawna Dunn absolved Hassani of any wrongdoing following an independent investigation of the events.
“(Hassani’s) actions were justifiable,” Dunn said at the time.
Filer Police Chief Tim Reeves said at the time he was happy that Ada County prosecutors agreed with his department’s findings in the case.

Protesters gather on Feb. 12 to demand firing of police officer who shot service dog in Filer, Idaho

Rick Clubb is the owner of Hooch, the 7-year-old Lab Hassani killed. Clubb suffers from Parkinson’s disease and said Hooch had been his service dog for two years.
Clubb told the Times-News that his son’s 9th birthday party was wrapping up about 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 and that the dogs, which are normally let out in a fenced area in the back yard, escaped out the front door while guests were coming and going.
“We want (Hassani) fired,” Clubb told the newspaper “He had other options. He didn’t have to kill my dog.
“It was right outside my son’s bedroom,” he continued. “What if [the bullet] had ricocheted through the window?”

Rick Clubb, pointing to place where Hooch was shot

Police, however, say the dogs had been running loose earlier in the day and previous attempts to find them proved unsuccessful.
Police Chief Reeves again came to Hassani’s defense, telling the Times-News his officer had no choice but to put the Lab down after it kept taking an aggressive posture.
Hassani’s motive in shooting the animal remains a bit mysterious. On one hand, the dogs can be heard and seen barking and growling at the officer; but on the other hand, the video doesn’t show the dog making any attempt to attack him.
Some comments posted on Alexander’s online articles come from people who claim to be locals with first-hand knowledge of Hassani as a local bully with a badge.
Others have reported to be neighbors of Hassani’s who spoke highly of his character.
Pamela Geller of the Freedom Defense Initiative and the Atlas Shrugs blog speculated Hassani may be a Muslim name and suggested Islam is prone to reviling canines.
The video itself contains audio of Hassani speaking with Clubb immediately after the shooting, explaining, “I am sorry I shot your dog. I love dogs, but I am not going to be bit again. Like I said, sir, last time I ended up in the E.R.”
Filer Mayor Rick Dunn told the Times-News the Nampa, Idaho, police department has been hired to investigate the shooting, and Hassani has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

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How To Get Your Music On Pandora: Physical CD No Longer Required

« Super Bowl Gave Artists A Lift On Spotify | Main | Former Exec Accused Of Embezzling $1M From Warner Music »

How To Get Your Music On Pandora: Physical CD No Longer Required

Pandora has finally opened its doors to musicians (and comics) who aren't on a label and don't have a physical CD with UPC on Amazon. This is great news for both DIY and digital-only musicians whose presence in the industry has grown stronger with the rise of EDM. Once word spreads there's likely to be a glut of music submitted and extra delays in consideration by Pandora so do submit soon and avoid the rush.

If you're trying to be findable by fans and future fans, Pandora is one of the places you would typically want to have your music available. In the past they required a CD on Amazon with a UPC code which was a barrier to entry for many DIY artists. It may sound weird but it's similar to reviewers requiring CDs. It used to be a valid way of identifying who was getting serious and who wasn't.

But things are changing and Pandora now allows direct digital submission of music that is available via iTunes (US only), Amazon.com/MP3, CD Baby or Bandcamp.

Here are the steps you'll need to take based on Pandora's guidelines:

First you'll need a free Pandora account.

You'll also need:

• Contact information
• Artist/band name
• Name and type of release
• Valid link to at least 1 of your tracks on iTunes (US only), Amazon.com/MP3, CD Baby or Bandcamp

Sign-in at Submit to Pandora using your free account login.

Then follow these steps:

• Provide us with your basic contact information
• Give us details about your submission including your name, release information and links to your tracks
• Ensure that you have legal rights to your work and it is available on iTunes (US only), Amazon.com/MP3, CD Baby or Bandcamp
• Verify your account

Note that you can only have one submission in at a time. You are asked not to submit music until that first track goes live which might be a minute. If the track is not approved, you can start over and try again with a different track.

Also note:

"If you live outside of the US, Australia and New Zealand you can still submit your music or comedy to Pandora for consideration. Please contact us here and we will create an account on your behalf. With that log-in you will be able to access submit.pandora.com."

You can find the above steps and details here but keep in mind that thesubmission form will walk you through it.

Best of luck and see you on Pandora!

Hat tip to the sharp eyes of Ari Herstand.

More:

• Getting Sensible About Pandora Royalties: An Analysis By Jay Frank

Hypebot Senior Contributor Clyde Smith (Twitter/Facebook) is currently relaunching All World Dance. To suggest topics about music tech, DIY music biz or music marketing for Hypebot, contact: clyde(at)fluxresearch(dot)com.

Antelope Valley's 1960's Band Reunion in Palmdale CA on July 19, 2014

So long, CES. Hello, Slingshot.

Posted on Jan 20 2014 by The TagStation Team

In this post, we’d like to give you all a little recap of NextRadio’s showing at CES and give a quick overview of a new offering. The idea of FM radio as a technology innovation, recently catapulted by our Pogie Award, was an overarching theme at CES this year. It’s never felt more comfortable to be radio folks sitting in the middle of CES’s vanguard, and the reception was motivating.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Over 124,000 app downloads
• Over 6,400 FM radio stations tuned to from the app
• Over 78,000 hours of listening through NextRadio
• A 4.2/5.0 Google Play Store user rating

We think there was a good boost coming off of the show, which we’ll talk more about in a moment, but we’re always pushing for better and more. We’re hoping the information in the next section will help make it even easier to participate in the NextRadio movement.

INTRODUCING TAGSTATION® SLINGSHOT

In an effort to break down every barrier to entry we can for stations getting on board with TagStation, we’ve created a datacasting software solution especially for NextRadio. We call it Slingshot, and it’s a simple piece of software that connects your station’s automation system to TagStation for enhanced data delivery to NextRadio-enabled devices.

We’ve worked very hard to partner with automation system and middleware providers to make sure that the playout systems you already have in place at your stations can be utilized to deliver data through TagStation to NextRadio. Included in those great partnerships are TRE, PADapult, Center Stage Live, Jumpgate, and Wide Orbit Automation for Radio. But in the situation where supported systems are not already in place, we’re working with you to make sure additional purchases aren’t necessary to get started by providing this specialized middleware link to NextRadio. It’s easy to install, and works with your current playout system. Best of all, it’s included (if needed) with your TagStation license. Contact us for more information about it. If supported systems were an issue with your participation before, we look forward to talking about getting up and running now!

Click here to download an informational PDF with a little more technical detail.

CES WRAP-UP

Did you see us at CES this month? Thanks to our friends at iBiquity, we had a nice space to demo in the HD Radio booth this year, and boy, did we demo! In the spirit of FM Radio as a technology innovation, CES enabled us to reach three main audiences in Las Vegas:

Consumers were able to test drive the NextRadio app, and there was a terrific level of interest and curiosity from other consumer device and app makers on partnerships or integration to improve their own distribution.

Broadcasters were able to visualize the potential of enhancing their own programming content through TagStation by tuning into some participating local stations in Vegas. And a presentation alongside Mark Yarkosky from Sprint at the NABRTC helped to spell out the case for more involvement in delivering enhanced content to the app.

Automotive industry interest was the most impressive. We performed smartphone app and emulated dash demos to countless manufacturers, brands, and OEMs. And the link between the enhanced broadcast displayed on the smartphone and subsequently the dash, proved immediately compelling to those audiences.

In an interview with Buzz Knight at CES, Ford was asked where broadcasters need to be thinking when it comes to radio’s space in the connected car. They mention the NextRadio proof of concept through their Applink system:

“Those are pretty interesting experiences that are created by joining the connected car with traditional terrestrial radio using the smartphone. So we’re pretty excited about researching those, enabling those through proof of concepts, and helping take them to production as well… so keeping traditional AM/FM radio really fresh, creating new experiences – those that’ll benefit customers – and build a stronger industry overall.”
– Jim Buczkowski, Director of Electrical and Electronics Systems, Ford

More exciting interviews and coverage from the show included the BBC, RAB, and others. We can’t get enough of these two videos in particular: Tat Wza from In Flex We Trust’s interview here, and John Potter’s RAB coverage here.

MOVING FORWARD

Let’s talk phones. There are now about a million smartphones on the market that have the ability to run NextRadio. That’s a lot of potential users/listeners, right? But about 400,000 of those were sold before NextRadio’s launch. So Sprint is working with us now to try to activate those users by sending what’s known as “push notifications”. These alerts will target those pre-launch phones with FM capability and urge them to download and try out NextRadio. We expect to see a nice spike in downloads as a result. So let’s work on getting those stations ready, shall we?

Also, the new NextRadio-enabled Moto G is now available from boostmobile.com and starting today, is also available in stores! We have another Boost offering coming up at the end of the month, so stay tuned for that.

We look forward to chatting with you again in a couple of weeks. Stay warm and safe in these polar vortices!

Charles Bunting

I'm a song writer that enjoys putting pen to paper and a melody about my life experiences, hope you enjoyed the laid back acoustic sounds

1960's Antelope Valley California Rock Bands Reunion scheduled for July 2014

ARROYO GRANDE CA (IFS) -- +Merrell Fankhauser reports that a reunion of all the bands of the Antelope Valley from the 1960's will be getting together for a big night of partying, singing and just a good old time to remember.  The event is being lead by +Carla Weston, the daughter of Country Music's legendary great +George Weston on July 19, 2014 at the +Palmdale Hilton Hotel in Palmdale, California.

With SDC Radio Networks release of the Top 50 Songs of 2013, with two songs on the list lead by Merrell Fankhauser and Captain Beefheart's "Diddy Wah Diddy" from the A&M Records Sessions.  For more information, email:   merrell@merrellfankhauser.com  - 

http://psradio1mag.blog.com/2013/12/24/amy-barberas-walking-on-the-stars-heads-sdc-radio-networks-top-50-songs/

George Weston stands in this black-and-white photograph. While never finding a place in rockabilly stardom, Weston is remembered for a guitar prowess that was featured on the shows "Hee Haw," "The Grand Ole Opry" and "American Bandstand."

Comment by Carla Weston Skaggs on November 7, 2013 8:28 pm

Dear Merrell,
This is Carla Weston Skaggs, George Weston’s daughter. So glad to hear you new my Daddy. He was so easy to be with, and funny. He played his guitar like as if it were oxygen to him. I just arrived home and received the package of autograph records. Daddy’s spirit is so happy. He loved you too.Thank you . Our Team spent a month traveling to talk with people and hear their stories of the late George Weston my Daddy. It was great, constantly going everyday, and foot stomping too. We video so many people that new Daddy I am so full of his life now ,so many stories,We want more…we have been putting all of his music and photos together for my book that I’m writing in honor of him.Then my lead found Glenn Mac Arthur Jr. We hadn’t seen each other since the 60′s , We were so jazzed, and then there it was Daddy’s music and yours ,and other artist just all boxed up. Eleven hours later or more there was my Daddy all back together almost.Daniel help me so much what a great person. He love music and did you see his guitars, he wants to go far with his music.So after all of that work then on a plane we go.We all met with the Team George Group in Auburn New York for the last week of our journey to work and recording all of his music . His first CD just came out I will send you a CD, and the next one will be out soon.Please send us your picture so that we can put in the book and a story about you and daddy too. Thank you so much
LOVE CARLA WESTON SKAGGS
Team George

Hey Kenny

I recently went up to AV and Glen's son had a bunch of unreleased songs on two track masters! I bought them and below is what I've found!

 Carla Weston, Rock A Billy singer George Weston's daughter got a bunch of her dads songs also and I'm helping her make a CD.

 She's also promoting an AV 60's Band Reunion at the ballroom in the Palmdale  Hilton Garden Inn July 19th. It would be great if you could come and sing a song or two with us!

Best Always,

Merrell

     "The Lost Desert Tapes"

                 1964 - 1967

Merrell And The Exiles - The Velvetones - Fapardokly

The Lost Desert Tapes                              1965 - 1967    Merrell And The Exiles, The Velvetones  And Fapardokly  1. Merrell And The Exiles - 13th Child ( G. Weston)  2.  Merrell And The Exiles - Love Only You      3. The Velvetones - Fuzzy Wuzzy  4. The Velvetones - That's The Way  5.Merrell And The Exiles with Little Linda - Over You (A. Tousant)  6. The Velvetones - Moon Shadows  7.  The Velvetones - On The Beach  8.  The Velvetones - Velvet Stroll  9.   The Velvetones - Undercover 10. The Velvetones - Gerico (trad) 11. The Velvetones - Shell Never Be Mine 12. The Velvetones - MR. X 13.  Fapardokly - The Music Scene (alternate take w/ spoken intro)                               (M. Fankhauser) All Velvetones songs by Clint Stouvall  Fankhauser Music ASCAP (C)2014 except tracks 1 - 4 - & - 9 Recorded at Glenn Records Studio Palmdale California from 1964 - 1967 Unreleased and on the shelf for 50 years !

Conrad Alvin Barrett's mental health as possible defense

By MICHAEL GRACZYK

This booking photo released by the Harris County Sherrif's Office shows Conrad Barrett after he was arrested for DWI in 2003. Barrett, now 27, was arrested Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, on federal hate crimes charges for allegedly shooting video of himself sucker-punching a 79-year-old black man in a "knockout game"-style attack. According to prosecutors, the attack happened Nov. 24 in Katy, but it wasn't until 12 days later that authorities connected the attack to the cellphone video of it. (AP Photo/Harris County Sheriff's Office, via Houston Chronicle)

HOUSTON — A white Houston-area man was arrested Thursday on federal hate crimes charges for allegedly shooting video of himself sucker-punching a 79-year-old black man in a "knockout game"-style attack.

Conrad Alvin Barrett, 27, made a brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy, who scheduled a detention hearing for the Katy man on Friday.

According to prosecutors, the attack happened Nov. 24 in Katy, but it wasn't until 12 days later that authorities connected the attack to the cellphone video of it.

Authorities learned of the case because Barrett allegedly showed the video on the night of the attack to an off-duty arson investigator he had just met at a restaurant in nearby Folshear. According to the criminal complaint, Barrett asked the off-duty investigator and the woman with the investigator if they knew about the knockout game. He told them he played earlier that day, then showed them the video, prosecutors allege.

The investigator then flagged down a uniformed officer across the street and led him to Barrett.

The attack video doesn't show Barrett's face, but investigators matched his voice to the voice in the video and the couple at the restaurant told investigators that Barrett was wearing the same shorts and shoes at the person who shot the video.

According to prosecutors, the video shows Barrett approach the victim and ask, "How's it going, man?" A "loud smack" is then heard, the victim falls to the ground, Barrett laughs and says, "Knockout." The assailant then flees in his vehicle.

The victim lost three teeth and needed surgery to repair his jaw, which had been broken in two places. He was hospitalized for more than four days, authorities said.

Investigators retrieved other videos from Barrett's phone, including some in which he uses racial epithets and talks about trying to work up the courage to play the knockout game, the complaint states. In one, Barrett says: "That plan is to see if I were to hit a black person, would this be nationally televised?"

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson said Thursday that such crimes won't be tolerated.

"Evidence of hate crimes will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted with the assistance of all our partners to the fullest extent of the law," Magidson said.

Barrett's attorney, George Parnham, said Barrett has bipolar disorder and has been prescribed heavy medications to treat it. He said Barrett's family "feels horribly sympathetic" for the person who was attacked.

"When you start peeling back the layers of the onion and look at the mindset behind the action you soon realize there's a mental issue," said Parnham, who added that he's trying to gather as much information about Barrett's mental health as possible.

If convicted of the hate crime charge, Barrett could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $250,000.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.