Making It in The Music Industry---Faster: 4 Key Indicators

If you study successful musicians, artists, bands and songwriters, one common theme does show up pretty fast---tons of hard work. But just because the work is 'hard' doesn't mean it's right, or necessarily the best way you can go about it. Other factors that have contributed to the success of various 'musical conquistadors' include the tried and true playing out as much as you can, distributing business cards, CD's, and networking as much as possible, etc. But still--no one wants the damn process to take another 10 years for them to finally 'get there', right?

And some of it does just take time--time for you or your band to become seasoned and consistently delivering professional quality performances, time for the right people to find you, etc.  However--there are about 4 key indicators we've noticed (with regard to the current music scene) that tend to deliver the most for your hard earned time and money and have proven to be ways to work 'smarter', not harder:

1) Go find a great music competition or two and enter your best material--it's one of the fastest tracks to the real thing:  And if that means spending a little more to travel to a better studio or to pay for a better recording or producer, then find a way to do it because you're only going to get one, maybe two listens or views of your video and if it doesn't strike 'em, the judges will be saying 'next'. There are several current artists that have gone from zero to hero in just a few months to prove this-i.e. Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, etc. The ASPA offers a great singer songwriter contest right here, with no age limits.

2) Network effectively and don't waste your time: Keep your ears open for people talking 'music industry speak' and make sure to walk by in between sets and thank them for listening, etc--start some easy conversation and see where it goes.  Also keep an ear out for those people that say 'they know someone' - a major producer, artist, etc - and of those that really do, see if there's any way they could review your material and maybe 'point you in the right direction' (use those words--it's non-threatening and it leads you where you want to go more often.

3) Venues: find out and keep an eye out for the best places to play, venues, festivals, etc where other people have been 'discovered'. Obviously, play where you need to so that you get the income needs met, but make time to visit and play wherever there's a known history of 'discoveries' by music industry professionals.

4) Develop your own newsletter (and website if possible), blog, something---and keep in touch with fans at least every couple of weeks with new music and what's going on with your career---and don't forget to ask if anyone knows someone at a label, major studio, etc -- you might be surprised at who knows who, and how fast your material can end up in the hands of the right people.

Remember--work SMARTER, and THEN work harder! And don't forget to check out the ASPA 2014 Singer Songwriter Contest! It's a band contest, country music contest, artist contest and singer songwriter contest all rolled into one!

ROCK ON!

The ASPA

Want to Get That Record Deal Faster? Think Music Contest

A lot of artists and bands work extremely hard trying traveling everywhere just to get notice by the right people, to finally get that record deal so they can finally get out on tour and boost their careers. But that's a heck of a lot of work and quite costly as you're basically paying for your own 'tour'.  A smarter way to get where you want to go much faster is to enter a quality songwriting, artist or band contest.

 

Yeah, there are some bogus music contests or singing contests, etc out there, but there are some very legit ones, too. And not to toot our own horns here, but the ASPA offers a very real, good quality competition with no BS and a lot of opportunity even if you don't with the thing!  And--it's very easy to enter, with no age limits, and can easily put you right in front of major labels that are VERY MUCH looking for the next great talent. That's their business and they are always looking for someone who has the skill and drive to partner with.

 

Our team of judges are connection to Sony, Warner Bros, Hollywood Records, Virgin Records, Ten Ten, and a bunch of top-level musicians and artists who are well connected too--and many of them like to invest in new artists!  And-you don't even have to win!. Our judges look and listen to ALL entries and do pick out quite a few that they feel have talent and pass them on to labels, investors, producers, etc.  All of this for a small entry fee of either $25 or $35, a very affordable way to get your music heard by the right people.

 

So if you've been struggling to 'make it' or just want to get there faster, check out our ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition - you'll be glad you did.

 

The ASPA

http://www.theaspa.com

Making It As a Songwriter, Artist or Band: 4 Tips To Get There Faster

 

 

If you study successful musicians, artists, bands and songwriters, one common theme does show up pretty fast---tons of hard work. But just because the work is 'hard' doesn't mean it's right, or necessarily the best way you can go about it. Other factors that have contributed to the success of various 'musical conquistadors' include the tried and true playing out as much as you can, distributing business cards, CD's, and networking as much as possible, etc. But still--no one wants the damn process to take another 10 years for them to finally 'get there', right?!!

And some of it does just take time--time for you or your band to become seasoned and consistently delivering professional quality performances, time for the right people to find you, etc.  However--there are about 4 key indicators we've noticed (with regard to the current music scene) that tend to deliver the most for your hard earned time and money and have proven to be ways to work 'smarter', not harder:

1) Go find a great competition or two and enter your best material--it's one of the fastest tracks to the real thing:  And if that means spending a little more to travel to a better studio or to pay for a better recording or producer, then find a way to do it because you're only going to get one, maybe two listens or views of your video and if it doesn't strike 'em, the judges will be saying 'next'. There are several current artists that have gone from zero to hero in just a few months to prove this-i.e. Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, etc. The ASPA offers a great songwriter contest right here, with no age limits, and TONS of benefits.

2) Network effectively, consistently (like, every single week) and don't waste your time: Keep your ears open for people talking 'music industry speak' and make sure to walk by in between sets and thank them for listening, etc--start some easy conversation and see where it goes.  Also keep an ear out for those people that say 'they know someone' - a major producer, artist, etc - and of those that really do, see if there's any way they could review your material and maybe 'point you in the right direction' (use those words--it's non-threatening and it leads you where you want to go more often. Don't forget to join a couple of music associations or organizations, like NSAI, The ASPA (see below), etc--there are a lot of resources that can speed up the process like crazy.

3) Venues: find out and keep an eye out for the best places to play, venues, festivals, etc where other people have been 'discovered'. Obviously, play where you need to so that you get the income needs met, but make time to visit and play wherever there's a known history of 'discoveries' by music industry professionals.

4) Develop your own artist newsletter (and website if possible), blog, something---and keep in touch with fans at least every couple of weeks with new music and what's going on with your career---and don't forget to ask if anyone knows someone at a label, major studio, etc -- you might be surprised at who knows who, and how fast your material can end up in the hands of the right people.

Remember--work SMARTER, and THEN work harder!

ROCK ON!

The ASPA

Aspiring Musician, Artist or Band Looking for a Better Way? Check Out The ASPA

Trying to build an audience as an independent musician or artist can be tough and take a long time, but the rewards can be worth it, though. If you own all the rights to everything, it may take several years, but when it does finally get some momentum, you get all the licensing fees and money generated from live shows, merch sales, etc.

 

That’s one good way to do it, and the ASPA (American Songwriters and Performers Association) is designed to support people creating their own success like that, with band contests, industry information, contacts, opportunities and more. In fact, our contests really offer more opportunities and options than most other competitions…

 

That’s because 1) if you win our current Singer Songwriter Competition, you’ll get a professionally produced EP, radio airplay and be introduced to several record labels, producers, etc, that may offer you a record deal and put you on the road touring faster than you ever though possible. OR–if you don’t like going that way, you can just take the EP and use it, market it, sell online, license, etc–your choice.

 

AND–you don’t even necessarily have to win the competition to get somewhere–if our judges think you have what it takes, we’ll put your name and information on The ASPA HotSheet and send to the labels anyway, which may get you a record deal that way, a distribution deal, investor help and more.

 

There’s a LOT of opportunity with the ASPA–it’s not just a music organization or songwriter association, it’s literally the shortest route to get where you want to go with your music career while still leaving YOU in control!

 

Check us out: http://www.theaspa.com

2014 Singer Songwriter Competition--Enter Now!

Ready to BLAST FORWARD with your MUSIC CAREER?

 

We've got some GREAT NEWS for you---the 2014 ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition is NOW OPEN for entries!

 

This is an online competition with NO AGE LIMITS that can win you a professionally recorded EP (up to a full length CD) at a state-of-the-art studio, radio exposure, photo shoot - and get your name, info and music sent to record labels and producers--not to someone who knows someone who might know someone-none of that crap. We're connected to Sony, Ten Ten, Warner Bros, Hollywood Records, just to name a few. 

 

And it's not just for singers or songwriters--if you're looking for a band competition, this is for you, too! We're looking for whoever has the talent and drive to go all the way!

 

Click here for more information and SUBMIT your music, songs, videos today!  You'll be glad you did!

 

The ASPA

www.theaspa.com

Looking for the BEST Singer Songwriter Competition of 2014?

The ASPA is the place to look!  The American Songwriters and Performers Association has created a music contest that offers more real, easily accessible, career changing opportunities than any other competition.

 

Simply enter your song or video links on our music contest page, either become a member for discounts and other benefits, or just enter the competition and that's it.  Our panel of industry professionals--record label owners, producers and mainstream musicians will review it. And even if you don't win the competition, all you have to do is make it to the top 10 and there's a very good chance that someone will be calling you to discuss opportunities!

 

We're here to make things HAPPEN and dreams come TRUE!  Whether you're an artist, band, singer or songwriter, you can enter!  Enter our 2014 Songwriting Competition TODAY and blast your music career into HIGH GEAR!

 

The ASPA

www.theaspa.com

A Music Organization that WORKS for you!

The NEW 2014 ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition: Enter TODAY for a Chance to WIN!

Tired of doing the same old thing, playing the same old gigs, with three people in the room and getting $8 in tips for playing your music?

 

Well, you've got a choice--either stop doing it and get a job and give up your dream of being a successful artist or songwriter. Or---enter a national music competition that can blast through all the walls and stupidity of other people and get your music heard by people that can change your life.  Hmmm...I wonder which one would be better..?

 

Exactly. Enter the 2014 ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition TODAY for a chance to win at LEAST a 3 Song professionally recorded and produced EP, mastered and radio-ready, with radio airplay and automatic presentation to record labels and producers--something that is very hard to do on your own, as you probably know by now.

 

All you have to do is enter a link to your song or video here at http://www.theaspa.com/competitions and we'll do the rest.

 

That's it--take a chance and BE the CHANGE you want to see in your life. It CAN happen--just like that!  Jessica Meuse in the Top 4 of American Idol this year is an ASPA member....

 

Think about it... You can do this!

 

The American Songwriters and Performers Association

www.theaspa.com

The 2014 ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition Has Begun! Enter Today!

It's TRUE!  The 2014 ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition has begun---now you can enter your music from wherever you are in world for a chance to win top-level recording, radio airplay, and many other cool prizes!

 

The ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition is an online music competition designed to give everyone a fair chance at the BIG TIME without having to stand in line for days or get blown off immediately by industry professionals. That's right--ALL ENTRIES are ACCEPTED and CONSIDERED, no matter who you are or where you are in the world! No age limits, either! And you can enter if you're a band, artist, singer, or songwriter-doesn't matter! We know talent when we hear it!

 

To enter, just fill out a quick form, post a link to your video or song, pay the fee (as little as $25 with unlimited submissions if you're a member of the ASPA) and you're in!  The GRAND PRIZE starts out as a 3 Song Professionally Produced EP, all studio expenses paid, plus radio airplay. As the contest grows and more people enter, the PRIZE CAN INCREASE UP TO A FULL 10 SONG CD with more radio airplay, cash and other SWEET prizes! 

 

Who's a member of the ASPA now? Well, ever heard of Jessica Meuse on American Idol this season? She made it to the TOP 4 and her whole musical life has changed!  And there's Sky Colette--currently ranking very high on the Billboard charts for R&B. And we're connected to big names like Warner Bros, Hollywood Records, just to name a few. Yep, the American Songwriters and Performers Association is kind of a good group to be a part of... And you can join for free!

 

AND, whether you win or not, we always present the best entries we have to record labels, producers, and investors so you might get a record deal QUICK and get out on tour faster than you ever thought possible!

 

So KICKSTART your music career and ENTER the 2014 ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition TODAY! Click here for more details! http://www.theaspa.com/competitions

 

The ASPA

www.theaspa.com

 

 

The 2014 ASPA Singer Songwriter Online Competition Starts May 16th!

We're proud to announce that the 2014 ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition starts May 16th! 

Starting May 16th, you, your band, trio, whatever can enter the ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition by submitting your best mp3 recording or video performance for a chance to win a prize package that GROWS depending on how many contestants we have!  And since it's an ONLINE competition, you can enter the contest and submit from anywhere in the world!

The Grand Prize will start off as a 3 song EP, professionally produced in a top-quality studio, with all instruments / musicians paid for, with songwriting assistance if needed, and some radio airplay for you or your group!   The more people that enter, the bigger the prize, meaning that 3 song EP will move up to a 5 song EP, to 7 songs, and even a full 10 song CD that is high quality and ready to sell and distribute to industry contacts! 

And--not just for the winner of the singer songwriter contest, but any contestant that the judges feel has potential, their songs and information will be passed directly to some record label execs, producers, and publishers!  The ASPA is currently forming our own in-house record label, too--which could mean a record deal and getting out on tour faster than you ever thought possible--even if you don't win the competition!

Being a member of The ASPA, among other advantages, enables you to submit an unlimited number of songs or videos for the competition, at $25 per entry.  Those that have a basic or free ASPA profile can submit up to 3 songs or videos at $35 per entry. That means, as a member, you'll have a lot more chances to send us something impressive-- which could make a big difference because you never know what song or video is really going to catch the eye or ear of the judges!  And, as you can see the entry fees are about 30% cheaper as a member.

So stay tuned--we'll have more great information about the contest coming soon!  Get those mp3's and videos ready for the 2014 ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition!

Any questions, hit us up at support@theaspa.com

 

The ASPA

The American Songwriters and Performers Association

America's Premier Music Organization and Musician Social Network!

http://www.theaspa.com

Email: info@theaspa.com

15 Minutes of Sunshine Per Day: So Important for Your Health

It's true that the sun's rays, in high amounts, isn't good for your  skin. But more and more research is proving that getting just 10-15  minutes of direct sunlight a day can be one of the healthiest things  you can do for yourself.

Literally, just getting out of the house, the studio, whatever and  walking around in the yard or down the street on a sunny day for just  10-15 minutes can give your body enough vitamin D to ward off a whole  host of diseases.

 

In fact, vitamin D deficiency has been named by top  experts as one of the main contributing factors for cancer, diabetes,  heart disease, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis,  psoriasis, rickets, schizophrenia, tuberculosis and more. And yes,  vitamin D3 supplements do help, bu it's not the same as the form of  vitamin D produced when the sun hits your skin and your body produces  it.

And it's not just vitamin D that sunlight helps with.  A little  sunlight each day helps with better sleep, more positive attitudes due to increased levels of serotonin (your brain's happy chemical), protection  from autoimmune diseases, and even reducing or preventing Alzheimer's  symptoms.  

 

And with us musicians inside all the time, playing all  night and sleeping all day, we're REALLY prone to vitamin D deficiency  and this could be why a lot of musicians end up with health  problems--other than some other more 'obvious' causes.

Best of all, getting a little sunlight is FREE!  So every day that you  see the sun shining, take 15 minutes, call someone you care about and  absorb some of that health-giving sun--you'll be in a better mood and your body will thank you down the road.  If you'd like more  information on this subject, here are a couple of good articles--or  just hit us up at support@theaspa.com

Host of Health Benefits Attributed to Sunlight:http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/articles/2008/06/24/host-of-health-benefits-attributed-to-sunlight

Sun Exposure Benefits & Safety:http://www.mercola.com/Downloads/bonus/benefits-of-sun-exposure/report.aspx


To Your Health and Success!

 

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

http://www.theaspa.com

America's Premier Music Association

Jessica Meuse on American Idol: She's in the TOP 6 Contestants!!

Season 13 American Idol contestant and ASPA member Jessica Meuse is in  the TOP 6!  After Dexter's elimination last week, there are only 5  other contestants that she has to beat to make it to the WIN!

And it won't be long before the WINNER is chose, but REGARDLESS, Jess  will out on tour with the rest of the IDOLS starting June 24th in  Binghamton, NY and moving on to 40 other cities for an amazing summer  tour!   For more information on the tour, dates, etc, here's the link:http://www.americanidol.com/news/american-idol-summer-tour

And we're down to the last few weeks of the show, so THIS WEEK---we  all need to show some love and VOTE for Jessica, as it does come down  to the vote for who wins American Idol Season 13!  

 

That's Wednesday at  7pm Central Standard Time on Fox, Channel 6, or maybe 1006 for HD (if  you have cable, etc)
 You can vote three ways--and up to 50 times per voting method:  vote at  http://www.americanidol.com/vote or call 1.855.443.6510 or TEXT  number 10 to 83676! #teamjess #jessmeuse #slapout
And DON'T FORGET---we're giving away a FREE 1 Year ASPA membership for  the most TWEETS / RETWEETS of this message below on Twitter.com!  It's  already set to 140 characters--just copy and tweet!
Vote Jessica Meuse Wednesday! http://www.americanidol.com/vote or 1.855.443.6510 or TEXT number 10 to 83676! #teamjess #jessmeuse  #slapout
GO JESS!!  TAKE NO PRISONERS THIS WEEK!  YOU'VE GOT THIS!!

Rex Murphy
The ASPA
www.theaspa.com

The ASPA: The Future of The Independent Music Business?

Like everything else these days, things are changing---and that’s true for the music industry, too. Yes, the major labels are still there doing a great job, but in answer to not only the economy but also to the growing desires of independent artists, musicians, and bands to get a ‘better share of the pie’, new companies are emerging to help the independent musician get where they want to go with better, more ‘interdependent’ deals.  

Now the same rules apply, in general—you’ve got to have the goods, be professional, and willing to work so it’s not ‘easy street’ by any means. But, with companies such as The ASPA (The American Songwriters and Performers Association), you can submit to song & music video contests and win valuable top-level recording and radio packages that used to only be available once you got the coveted ‘record deal’. And then your material gets presented to label execs and other industry professionals that can offer a deal that will be more beneficial for you financially and get you out on tour with the rest of the movers and shakers in your current music genre. In the past, you couldn't 'just do that'--well, win one of these contests and you can.

Sounds good, doesn’t it?  Well, it is, and now, instead of signing your life away or waiting your life away trying to get noticed, you can simply become a member of the ASPA and put yourself in the spotlight of this organization---not to mention all the other great features and member benefits, such as real discounts on music equipment from Sweetwater Music, recording services, entertainment law services (from one of the best law firms in Nashville with A list clients), plus a great, simple social network built into the ASPA website that doesn’t include all the other crap and game requests associated with some other social media sites.  Best of all, you can sign up for a free profile to get started!

So if you’re a serious, hardworking artist, musician, band, songwriter, or other performer looking for a good songwriter competition or music association to join that can really help your music career take off, check out The ASPA.  The next ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition starts May 16, 2014, so you definitely want to get in on that---and you can enter as a singer, band, duo, etc. Oh yeah—they have a monthly ASPA HotSheet that lists up and coming artists, bands, etc that goes directly to record labels, publishers, producers, and investors—if you’re a member and you’ve got some great sounds, you might just be included in that! 

 

So go check out The ASPA and definitely sign up for a free profile and take a look around!  You'll be glad you did.

 

Rex Murphy

The American Songwriters and Performers Association

www.theaspa.com

5 Hit Songwriting Tips You Can Use Now

There are so many songwriters in the world using a ton of different ideas, approaches, structures, etc. And of course, if you stay over on the artistic side of things, one can appreciate just about any of these and recognize the creativity, enjoy the differences, etc. When it comes to writing marketable, sellable songs, however, things change quite a bit. 

 

Yes, you can still infuse that unique creativity that's all yours, but there are certain things that have been proven to make the difference between sellable, popular songs and those that just sit in a catalog or desk drawer.  Here are 5 tips that you can use in your songwriting now to make them better and increase the chances of getting something financially rewarding out of it:

1) Listen to the hit songs in your style--if you listen carefully, you'll notice common patterns that you should probably use, as well. Are we saying 'sell out'? No, but it does make sense to try to incorporate some of the patterns of a song that reached gold or platinum sales status. And many of those patterns you hear aren't just 'stylistic' patterns of the artist--they're proven psychological patterns that cause the listener to pay attention, remember the tune, and buy it.

2) Don't take too long to get to the chorus---yep, even if you think you've got a great song, if you take more than 50 seconds or so from the first note to get to the chorus, history has taught us that you lose the listener in most cases, and that song generally isn't going to be hit. Are there exceptions to this rule, yes, but in over 80% of hit songs, this one remains true.

3) Keep your intro short--intros should take no more than 10-15 seconds if you want to keep someone's attention and keep them listening to the song. Yep, the lyrics should start in 15 seconds or less if you want a shot at a hit song.

4) Write your lyrics carefully--sometimes lyrics do just 'come to you', but if they don't make any sense or they're just 'stupid', that's exactly what the listener's going to think, too. You've done that yourself when you heard something ridiculous and turned it off.  So, start writing out a paragraph's worth of the story behind the song and write some bullet points on the most important aspects of the story, contradictions, main things you want to say--those bullet points will probably be good chorus material. Then ask yourself all the questions that the chorus creates.  Then, write your verses and rest of your lyrics around those questions, answering and relating to the chorus in every line. If you do this, your lyrics probably won't suck.

5) Keep your song in the 3:00 to 4:00 minute range, and preferably 3 to 3.5 minutes. That's another proven tip from the majority of hit songs--they're almost all between 3 and 3.5 minutes. Yes, cut back on all the guitar solos and instrumental passages--for hit songs, that stuff doesn't really help; it distracts the listener from the main hooks of the song--and it's the hooks (lyrical hooks, musical hooks, groove hooks, etc) that make people to 'buy in' to a song and, well...go out and buy it! 

For some incredibly good information on hit songwriting, check out Robin Frederick's Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting  --  amazing book, to say the very least!

I hope this helps you write better tunes and enjoy bigger, better, faster success as an artist or songwriter!  If you have any questions, hit us up at support@theaspa.com

To Your Success!

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

http://www.theaspa.com

The ASPA: A New, All in One National Songwriter & Musician Organization and Social Network!

If you’re a singer songwriter, artist or band, you’re probably constantly looking around for tools, connections and people to help you get where you’re going faster. So, you probably join lots of songwriting organizations, social networks, enter lots of competitions, etc to help with this. Wouldn’t it be nice if all of that was in one place?

 

Well, finally—it is! The ASPA (American Songwriters and Performers Association) was created specifically to make things easier and give you, the musician, artist, band or songwriter, the tools you need, people you want to contact, and a simple, uncluttered social network, all in one online destination. Truth is, we’re musicians and artists, too—that’s how we know what works and what doesn’t in the music industry—and what would help people just like us do what we do—better.

 

We’ve got a great online singer songwriter competition and other contests coming up, discounted products and services for our members (uh, yeah—saving money is good), a classified ad section coming shortly, maybe even a referral program and even a retirement program. We created The American Songwriters and Performers Association to one thing very well—support the independent artist, songwriter and musician in ways that make a difference.

 

We even have publishing services and will soon have our own in-house record label. Yep—all that good stuff in one place. Like someone commented recently—wow, man—someone needed to do this! Best of all, you can join and get a free profile, no strings attached and receive many of the benefits—of course, you do have to be a member (for a low yearly fee) to have all of the advantages and discounts—we’ve got to pay the bills somehow, lol! Again, we’re musicians so we knew this had to be affordable!

 

But seriously – if you’re an singer, songwriter, musician or artist and you want to connect, find opportunities and manage your online presence much more easily, and all in one place, you owe it to yourself to check out The ASPA. It’s a lot more than a music association—it’s a new social order for musicians.

 

The American Songwriters and Performers Association CONNECTIONS--DISCOUNTS--MUSICIAN’S SOCIAL NETWORK
http://www.theaspa.com
support@theaspa.com

Raw Almonds: A Powerful Cheap Snack for Energy and Health

As musicians and artists, we're constantly burning energy creating and performing and often we need some kind of good snack to help keep energy levels up. A lot of us will grab a bag of chips, crackers, candy or something else unhealthy, just because it's quick, cheap, and that's all they had at the convenience store at 3:30am. 

 

If you have the time, you can pack your snacks to take with you, which is a far better, cheaper, and healthier idea than paying retail for junk late at night. And for stuff to pack, one of the best natural snacks we've found to add to your stash is raw almonds. Not the roasted, salted kind--just plain old almonds in the raw.

Why almonds? Not only are they loaded with energy supporting vitamins like manganese and copper, minerals, and key fats that give you energy, they can help protect you from a variety of illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, helps you lower and maintain your ideal weight, prevent gallstones, and a whole list of other benefits. Not to mention, they're really pretty tasty and satisfying--so you don't get hungry again in 30 minutes like what typically happens when you eat that bag of chips.

 

Almonds can even help boost one of the body's key anti-oxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), which helps get rid of tons of pollutants in the blood--like, uh, the smoke you're breathing every night at the club...?

In fact, we generally recommend adding them to your regular diet, putting them in cereals, cooking with them, and snacking on a regular basis because the nutritional benefits of almonds are so high.  Now, if you have any kind of food allergy, allergic to nuts or anything like that, you might need to check with your doctor about adding or increasing your intake of raw almonds. But if everything's ok, you'll probably find that it's tough to find a better snack to help keep those energy levels up and improve your health at the same time! 

Here's a really good link for more information on raw almonds--you might be surprised: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=20

To Your Health!

Red Murphy

The ASPA

http://www.theaspa.com

It's 80's Week on American Idol--Wonder What Song Jessica Meuse Will Sing?

Well, it's 80's Week on American Idol where the 'Great Eight' will be performing their rendition of top 80's hits!  I wonder what song ASPA member Jessica Meuse will sing?

 

There are a ton of great artists she could choose from--wonder who it will be?  Along with her original tunes, she's been practicing singing a ton of cover songs in the last few years at open mics, bars and restaurants--I guess that's a pretty good way to prepare for something like this!  Well, we'll just have to tune in TONIGHT at 7pm CST on Fox 6 to see what she does!  

If you want to check out some of Idol Season 13's latest and greatest, you can check out some behind the scenes pics here: http://www.americanidol.com/photos/album/behind-the-scenes-top-9  and for music : http://www.americanidol.com/news/tag/download-music  where you can download all of the contestants performances!  There's really some great stuff here--check it out!  Might want to download some of these while you can--a lot of times if someone gets a record deal, they'll pull some or all of the songs and pics from before and then it's not available anymore!

TONIGHT---PLEASE VOTE for Jessica Meuse and help her win this thing!  You can vote three ways: : http://www.americanidol.com/vote or 1.855.443.6510 or TEXT number 10 to 83676!   

ROCK ON JESSICA!  YOU GOT THIS!

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

http://www.theaspa.com

Jessica Meuse On American Idol: She's In The Top 8!!

Alabama artist Jessica Meuse rocked Fleetwood Mac's 'Rhiannon' last week in true Jess Meuse style and moved up ANOTHER NOTCH to the 'GREAT 8'!  Yep, there are only 8 contestants left....the winner will be chosen soon!

This week she's, of course, been rehearsing and getting ready for tonight's big performance, and taking a little time for herself out by the pool! I mean, who wouldn't want to soak up some of that California sun!?  

 

She also spent some time with Majesty Rose, who was cut during last week's results. It's clear that Jess has made many new friends (especially the other contestants) and it's tough every time one them is eliminated. At the same time, Jess remains grateful and grounded and feels privileged to continue and receive all the love, support and votes coming her way each week. That's because she's a class act--all the way through.

You can check out Majesty's last performance of Happy by Pharrell Williams here--I think she did a great job--see what you think!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9GcwqOFpgk&feature=player_embedded

As Jessica has said many times, 'Anything is possible!'--so if you're dreaming of something, stop dreaming and GO DO IT!  Before long, you'll find that some amazing things start happening to support you and help you on your way!

And don't forget to VOTE TONIGHT for Jessica Meuse!  You can vote three ways: : http://www.americanidol.com/vote or 1.855.443.6510 or TEXT number 10 to 83676! #teamjess #jessmeuse #slapout  

And don't forget---we're giving away a FREE 1 Year ASPA membership for the most TWEETS / RETWEETS of this message below on Twitter.com!  Already set to 140 characters--just copy and tweet!

Vote Jessica Meuse Wednesday! http://www.americanidol.com/vote or 1.855.443.6510 or TEXT number 10 to 83676! #teamjess #jessmeuse #slapout  

GO JESSICA!  The ASPA is SO PROUD OF YOU!! YOU'RE GONNA WIN THIS SINGER SONGWRITER COMPETITION!

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

www.theaspa.com

JOIN FREE!  www.theaspa.com/register

7 Tips for Success As an Independent Artist or Band--Without a Traditional Record Deal

Tons of artists and musicians have had it drilled into their heads that they have to strive to get to the Holy Grail of music success, 'the record deal'.  And true, having a major label or entertainment company back and support you can make a world of difference. But getting past tons of other people to get noticed can take an enormous amount of time and effort, and then when you get there, half the time (or more), the record deal or contract offered to you isn't all you thought it would be. There are about a hundred pages in the contract and the label is keeping most of the money in about every category imaginable, and you've usually signed away your rights to the songs you worked so hard to create. So, often it's like getting a job and starting at the bottom again, even though you're on tour and everything 'looks' like you've 'made it'.

 

Now to be fair, there are good record deals that are truly good for both parties, but if you want to keep more of your money, keep control of your music, and you can wait a little bit for 'the big time', you might be better served to strike out on your own. And if you do it right, you might not need a label - or if you decide to 'work with' a major label, you'll be in a better position to negotiate terms that are better and more appealing to you. Here are 7 tips to help you succeed as an independent artist or band:

1)  Make sure you have great material, songs, etc. All the marketing and hype in the world isn't worth a dime if you don't have something that's catchy and relevant in the music markets you want to be in.  To get better songs, study the successful people in your type of music and model yourself after them, attend songwriter nights and constantly work to write / collaborate with successful writers and keep increasing your contacts--statistics show that you're only 3-5 people away from whoever it is you want to talk to -- and someone's going to know that person, it's just a matter of time if you keep meeting people.  And make sure you copyright your material with Form PA for songwriting and Form SR for an actual recording you'll be selling so there isn't any question as to who owns what.

2)  Play as many acoustic, unplugged shows and open mics as you can, in as many good original music hotspots as possible--this gets you out in front of people to possibly connect with, gets you feedback on new material and helps get your name out there.

3) Join music associations and other related organizations to learn and get experience---you do make connections with many of these that can help you. The ASPA is a great place to start.  And compete in any competitions that seem relevant to your style--winning a songwriter competition or some other music contest even ranking highly could open that one door that changes your music career.

4)  Keep an ear out for good investors, if you need some help financially. The more you play shows, the more you'll have people come up to you and talk about supporting or working with you, but evaluate them and what they say carefully, and don't sign anything without competent legal advice.

 

5) Find a way to get really good, professionally produced recordings and pay for radio airplay.  Other than having great tunes, the recording needs to be top notch to be able to sell it or get it on radio. With a great recording you can sell CD's and downloads and make some good money. Yes, quality recording and production does cost more, and often that's where an investor can help (even a friend, relative, etc) or a business loan, but it's worth it if you're planning on making music the rest of your life. Then setup every place possible to sell your music, CD Baby, your ASPA profile (with membership) etc and constantly keep people aware of what you're doing / promote yourself on social media.

6) Affiliate yourself with a performing rights organization (PRO) such as BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, etc. They monitor radio, bars, and just about everywhere else music gets played and they'll make sure you get your royalties.

7) Have a great website presence, with a professional look and feel, easy navigation and a place to buy your music and merchandise. This really helps build credibility and helps investors or industry professionals take a closer look at you when you see a professional website. 

From there, keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities, constantly write and produce new material, update your websites, social media, enter contests, collaborate with other successful musicians, and communicate relentlessly--all of this helps create a name that people can say 'yeah I've heard of you', which is important. Any questions, comment below or send us an email at support@theaspa.com

 

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

The American Songwriters and Performers Association

www.theaspa.com
Join Free: www.theaspa.com/register

 

Jessica Meuse on American Idol: She's Got a Single Out! 'Pumped Up Kicks' is On ITunes Now!

Top contender Jess Meuse is climbing higher and higher, now well into the top 10 favorite Idol contestants in America!  Her performance of "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster The People was amazing and done is such a unique way that her version now sticks in your head even more than the original!  You can download that performance here on ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/pumped-up-kicks-american-idol/id843579878   Download this tune and you'll see what we mean!

 

This past week she spent a lot of time rehearsing nonstop to make last night's show on American Idol  uniquely powerful and one that will push her even higher. And that's exactly what she did--her version of Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" was nothing short of amazing!  Even the judges thought she had moved to a new level of expression and confidence--WAY TO GO JESS!!

 

We appreciate all the support and ask that you all keep supporting Jessica and as she rises to the top EVERY WEEK by voting one of three ways: : http://www.americanidol.com/vote or 1.855.443.6510 or TEXT number 10 to 83676! #teamjess #jessmeuse #slapout  

 

And don't forget---we're giving away a FREE 1 Year ASPA membership for the most TWEETS / RETWEETS of this message below on Twitter.com!  Already set to 140 characters--just copy and tweet!

 

Vote Jessica Meuse Wednesday! http://www.americanidol.com/vote or 1.855.443.6510 or TEXT number 10 to 83676! #teamjess #jessmeuse #slapout  

 

Rock on Jessica, and keep enjoying that California sunshine!

 

 

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

www.theaspa.com

Indoor Air Quality: It's a BIG Health Concern for Musicians and Bands

Indoor air quality is a big problem for most of the U.S., with over 90% of households having significant levels of allergy and disease-causing dust, dust mites, mold spores, chemical residues, smoke, and other pollutants floating in the air.  It's a big enough problem that the EPA put out a statement in 2009 and later reiterated it in 2011 that poor indoor air quality is now in the top 5 major health threats that Americans face today, right up there with heart disease, cancer, etc.  Indoor air pollutants routinely contribute to colds, flu, chronic allergies, sinus infections, etc--all of which don't help a musician or artist trying to perform, especially if you're a singer.

And for musicians that routinely play in smoky bars, the problems with indoor air pollution are only compounded. Even if you don't smoke, every hour of second hand smoke you inhale is equivalent to 4 regular cigarettes. So after about six hours, you smoked a pack of cigarettes. Yeah, that's not good, since tobacco is known to contain over 599 chemicals and 43 of those are proven cancer causing agents. And the smoke problem is in addition to all the regular dirt, dust, and other pollutants found in bars, especially those that serve greasy fried foods, all of which becomes airborne, too. 

 

And yes, there are a number of bars and venues that are smoke-free now, which is a good thing, but thousands of places still allow smoke and even if there is no smoke, most of these places don't have good HEPA air cleaners in place--so you're still breathing a lot of stuff that isn't good, including bacteria and chemicals.  And it isn't just the bars--hotel rooms are notorious for having a lot of things floating around in the air that you don't want to breathe.

So what can we musicians, songwriters and artists do to protect our health, since we work in these places and spend a fair amount of time in 'not-so-clean' hotels? Though we can't really control the air in the places we play, there is something we can do.

 

One thing we can do is at least clean up the air at home with a good portable air cleaner from top brands like Aller Air, Austin Air, or Blueair.  Getting a portable HEPA air cleaner has the advantage of being able to take it with you when you travel, as well, so you can enjoy clean air in those hotel rooms, too.

 

This way, by using a quality air cleaner at home and when you travel, you can really cut down on the amount of polluted air you're breathing and eliminate probably two-thirds of any allergy or sinus issues you might be having, as well as cut down on getting sick, which can keep you from working or performing at your best. 

 

A couple of great recommendations for portable air cleaners is the Austin HealthMate Plus Junior or the Austin Allergy Machine Junior--both of these have excellent carbon and HEPA filtration, they're small and portable, and around $400 or less. These are medical grade air cleaners made of high quality materials with filters that last up to 5 years so they're low maintenance, too.  You can check them out here: http://www.airpurifiersandcleaners.com/austin-air-cleaners-and-purifiers 

 

Oh yeah--this site offers free shipping on all products, as well as discounts if you're a member of The ASPA (a music association with songwriter competitions and other benefits!)

Any questions, contact us at support@theaspa.com or call 1-800-701-2513

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

http://www.theaspa.com