The Future of Music Policy Summit is Fast Approaching

Moving into its fifth year in 2005, the Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit is a forum for musicians, lawyers, academics, policymakers and music industry executives to come together to discuss and debate some of the most contentious issues surrounding digital technology, artists’ rights and the current state of the music industry.

It's still not too late to register for this year's Policy Summit, which will take place from September 11-13th at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium in Washington D.C. Artist scholarships will be offered. Regular registration prices are $149 for a three-day pass and $99 for one-day pass. Discounted registration rates for students will be $99 for a three-day pass and $66 for a one-day pass.

Recently confirmed panelists include legendary funkmaster, George Clinton, and potential panel topics range from sampling, Grokster, Payola, and distribution issues to podcasting, indecency/censorship, and how technology is affecting less commercially visible genres of music.

Sign up here to get the latest updates in the FMC Newsletter or check out an archived blog summary of the 2004 Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit here.

Starlight Music Festival

On Saturday, September 10, 2005 at 3pm, TT Reynold's will be hosting a benefit concert featuring The Speaks, SEV, Red Diamond, Dangerous Kid and Z104 Capital Scene Artists- A Month of Sundays, Laura Tsggarris, Hotspur and Kim Liberto.

The event is 18 or over and the cover charge is $10 with all proceeds being donated to the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation, which assists terminally ill children and their families. This benefit is also sponsored by Embassy Suites Hotel Tysons Corner, The Guitar Center and Z104. For additional information or to make a donation contact Alison Elbeltagi at (703)883-0707.

FMC Launches HINT: Health Insurance Navigation Tool

Are you a musician? Do you need advice or information about health insurance? You're not alone.

A 2001 Future of Music Coalition survey of almost 3,000 musicians revealed that the complicated process of obtaining health insurance overwhelmed many of them. FMC has teamed up with Alex Maiolo and Chris Stephenson to create HINT: the Health Insurance Navigation Tool. The goal of this project is to provide informed, rocker-friendly support and advice to curious musicians who need information about health insurance, for free.

The process is simple. Send a health insurance related question via email to Alex & Chris and they will call you back to discuss your insurance needs. All calls will be confidential. FMC will collect summary data on the insurance needs of musicians so that it can better understand how to effectively work towards providing health insurance for artists in the future.

Watch for the official unveiling of the full-service HINT website very soon. For now, visit: http://www.futureofmusic.org/hint/. You can also visit Alex at the upcoming FMC Policy Summit in DC.

Music Networking Happy Hour Tonight

Come hang out tonight, Wednesday, August 17th for our monthly ArlingtonMusicScene.com happy hour at Iota Club and Cafe (http://www.iotaclubandcafe.com/) in Arlington, VA. The event runs from 6pm to 8pm and is free. Bring your instrument along and stick around for the open mic that begins at 8pm.

Held the third Wednesday of every month at IOTA, these happy hours are designed to give musicians, music industry professionals, music fans and anyone else who would like to attend, the opportunity tonetwork outside of the typical show scene. Basically, the happy hours are meant to be an opportunity for people to get together once a month, have a couple drinks and talk music or whatever you'd like.

If you get there and don't recognize anyone, look for the people with the really nifty masking tape nametags. Hope some of you can make it out! We always a good time. ;-)

Capital Fringe Monthly Happy Hour

This Wednesday, August 17th from 6 - 8pm at The Warehouse Cafe & Bar, The Capital Fringe Festival, will be hosting the first in string of a monthly happy hours that will take place on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.

The 10-day festival, planned for July 2006, will showcase experimental performers -- local and visiting -- who work in theater, dance, music and other disciplines.

Radio Clarendon is Looking for DJ's

Are you tired of hearing the same songs over and over on the radio? Do you have music that no one else has heard? Do you have a sound you want to share with the world? If so, become a DJ on Radio Clarendon. They are looking for folks to do a variety of shows, from local music to talk shows to guest appearences. Read the rules for being a DJ and contact the station at radioclarendon@gmail.com for more information.

Speed Networking for the Music Industry

On Tuesday, August 23, 2005 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at The Mansion at Strathmore, broaden your DC industry connections by meeting 10 times the number of contacts in the time it would usually take to meet one, and receive practical suggestions to advance your career with: round-table discussions to break the ice; talk with a variety of music industry players in a fun and relaxed atmosphere: artists,lawyers, record labels, managers; bring your demos to play and plenty of business cards; express your own opinions and hear from others in the industry.; and learn unique networking techniques and how to put them to use.

By the end of the session, you'll have met everyone in the room, and will have learned what they can or can't do for you. Then continue the discussions with a free drink at Timpano’s Italian Chophouse, 12021 Rockville Pike.

Please RSVP to RSVP@wamadc.com by noon Monday, August 22, 2005. Registration is limited. Early registration is highly recommended.

Table Hosts Include: Blake Althen (Senior Producer, Human Factor), Paula Bellenoit (Manager, Human Factor), Jennifer Cutting (Composer, Ocean Orchestra), Laura E. Jordan (Esq., Law Offices/Laura Jordan), Chris Murphy (Engineer, RHL Audio), Carl H. Settlemyer (Esq., Lutzker & Lutzker LLP & Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts) Dan Schuman (Lawrence Marie, Inc. Design/Advertising), and many more from the music industry.

If you would like to sponsor and/or host a table at this or future networking events, or any other Washington Area Music Association event, please contact sponsor@wamadc.com.

Win a Date With Local Musicians For Charity

A marathon and a charity auction will converge with the world of rock on Saturday, Aug. 6, as TT Reynolds hosts a fund raiser for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Raf of The Speaks will emcee a night featuring a DJ, a 50/50 raffle, and a date auction featuring members of local bands.

They'll be auctioning off dates with members of popular local rock bands, like Crash Boom Bang, 33 West, The Speaks, Says, Welbilt, and Sold; Anna and Laura from DC-101's "Local Lix" show; models from Ringleader Clothing, and even TT Reynolds' owner, Jeremy Gifford (his high bidder will also receive four free bar tabs at TT Reynolds). Any interested audience member can also auction him or herself off, after filling out a questionnaire.

Details: Saturday, Aug. 6, at 9 p.m., at TT Reynolds, 10410 Main St., Fairfax. The bidding should begin around 11 p.m. A $5 cover will be charged.

Sold: Galaxy Hut

Galaxy Hut owner, Alice Despard, is selling the intimate Arlington pub that made a name for itself by booking little-known indie-rock bands (including the Strokes and Godspeed You! Black Emperor) and offering free live music three nights a week; to longtime bartender Lary Hoffman, who's been at the Hut for eight years.

Hoffman says he's not planning a radical overhaul of the place but may make minor modifications, including tinkering with the menu and installing permanent art instead of the rotating shows that cover the walls. However, beginning in September, Galaxy Hut will charge a cover during Saturday, Sunday and Monday night concerts. Currently, because there's no cover charge, bands that play at the Hut are paid with a percentage of the night's sales.

Despard says she always resisted the idea of a cover charge because she wanted to create a community gathering place where people would feel free to hang out, whether they cared about the band or not.

Part of Galaxy Hut's charm was that the lack of a cover encouraged people (including me) to come and check out artists they'd never heard of. I'm thrilled that he plans on keeping the music, but I wonder if Lary would consider having no cover one night a week and just charge the other 2 nights? Or maybe he could have a pay what you can night, similar to what many local theatre companies do when previewing their shows, even if only once a month. I'd feel weird asking him but maybe I should. I think it might work out really well while minimizing the risk of cutting into his profit margin too much. :-)

Thanks to the Washington Post's Going Out Gurus for this information.

Only 5 Spots Left for Barbara Cloyd Song Writing Workshop This Saturday

This Saturday, August 6th from 10am-4pm at Austin Grill: Silver Spring, songwriters with dreams of hearing their songs on the radio will have a chance to learn how to make that happen from someone who has.

Nashville hit songwriter Barbara Cloyd, who penned the Lorrie Morgan classic “I Guess You Had To Be There” will share her knowledge and insights about the inner workings of commercial songwriting during the first half of this day-long workshop and in the afternoon will listen to songs from the participants and give feedback on their craft and commercial potential.

Since 1986 Barbara has hosted the Open Mic at The Bluebird Café, Nashville’s premier showcase club and songwriters’ mecca. She has seen thousands of aspiring writers and artists including Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney when they were still struggling unknowns and has developed a deep understanding of what it takes to make it in the music business. She has a reputation on Music Row for spotting talent and has helped open doors for many now-successful writers including Anthony Smith (“Run,” “Chrome,” and “I’m Tryin”), Barry Dean (“God’s Will”) and Marcel (“Nothin’ to Lose”).

Registration will be limited to 20 participants. Advance registration required. Cost is $35 per person.

For more information or to register contact Chris Patterson at chrisp@austingrill.com or 240.268.1414 ext. 114. Lunch will be provided and is included in the cost. All writers who register will be able to get feedback on one song. The song can be played live or on a cassette or CD. Be sure to bring a lyric sheet for Barbara.