Party 95.5 Internet Radio

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All the new technology, such as satellites and the Internet, help to broaden our horizons with communication and its uses.  Radio is being revolutionized by these two simple to use, yet complex mediums, because unlike standard FM radio, it has no boundaries.  For instance, standard FM radio frequencies can only travel so far before you lose the station, which is not the case with satellites and the Internet, as you can listen from anywhere, anytime and in most cases, get HD quality sound.  Party 95 5 is one of those stations utilizing the power of the Internet to reach millions across the world, helping them to dance the night away.

Party 95 5 is a Top 40 radio station via the Internet.  The most amazing part of the equation is that the station is run from the comforts of their home in New Port Richey, Florida, in a converted garage. Party 95 5 offers opportunities for new talent to come in and do live web cam interviews and shows, while streaming simultaneously with audio on the regular station.  There are many different types of music played, but mainly mixes of some old school 90s hip hop, dance and techno music; but rock and metal are included.  The only kind of music they won’t play is death metal.  Just recently Party 95 5 came out to Rocktober Fest ‘08 and broadcasted the entire event via Internet radio and web cam, it received hits from 12 states and 5 countries. 

For this band of DJ’s, the road to success has not come easy. Party 95 5 started in their bedroom with 100 listeners; overnight it went to 16,000 listeners and a new studio in New Port Richey. They actually had to disband and reassemble this baby of theirs because its success grew so rapidly overnight, it was something they were not prepared for financially. After reorganizing the operation they now have a wonderful station that brings back memorable songs from the 80s and 90s with a huge line of today’s music, we all know and love. The DJs are dedicated to this station, making a successful venture that every music lover can enjoy.  Currently their station runs mainly off playlists, but every Wednesday night, at 8:30 PM DJ Matty-O gets on the webcam and offers live interviews; sometimes when possible he will do a live audio broadcast.  Party 95 5 also features DJ Tommy T from the NYC on the first Saturday of the month for 4 hours.  They also have the likes of DJ Andre from Arkansas, and Doreen/DJ Fantasy and Executive Assistant to Make-Em Dance and The Party 95 5 to give you different personalities and moods.

Party 95 5 has big goals for this station, they want to someday offer a FM station for the Tampa Bay area, and they want to open up a dinner/music hall in the Pasco County area for bands to play. DJ Matty-O and DJ Tommy have made great connections with local artists, merchandisers, and producers that can help out any band.  They are always looking for new talent to come through their doors.  All they require is a written biography, a signed 8×10 photo and a CD.  They will not accept an electronic press kit. 

The Party 95 5 crew is actively looking for advertisers for their station.  There is a lot of potential for advertisers on their web radio station, because it can be listened to anywhere in the world, at anytime. 

The entire staff at Party 95 5 sees how much potential and talent Tampa Bay has in the music industry and it has become their goal, like ours, to bring that talent to the listeners through their radio station.  Hit them up at www.live365/stations/partystation, because you never know, your song might be the next song played on this Top 40 radio station.

Sonicbid- EPK For Bands

If you’re in a band or promoting one, you already know that most places require a press kit before they allow you to book a show.  Press kits are vitally important because they are the voice of your band, a resume in a sense.  Like most resumes most people are intimidated about writing one, mostly because they hate to bragg or because they don’t have a proper format.

Sonicbid.com took the worry out of know the proper format for your EPK.  They give you a template that you can add your information to such as: photos, videos, song lyrics, reviews, discography, radio spins, bio, and just about 50 megs worth of music, plus many more features. 

Whats so interesting about this site is it turns your information into a profile, like a MySpace, that promoters can look through and book you.  Since its electronic, you save money on printing costs and you can email the link to it anywhere, anytime!  You can also go through the site and sign up or apply for bookings being your own agent.

Its a very simple process, that will increase your chances for a possible gig, use it to book your own gigs not offered on the site, and most importantly create a very important document in as little as 30 mins.  Sonicbid does have a free sign-up, but they offer more space and more offers for gigs if you pay a yearly fee, which is only $99.00.  With photos, CD, and printed bio and cover letters, a press kit can easily run you $100.00 or more with just 20.  Over time it would pay for itself.

Eventful - A Must For Bands

Every now and then I run into something that will be beneficial to our readers and artists; today I did just that.  I never would have found it if it had not been brought to my attention.  This great find is eventful.com. 

Eventful.com is a web site that has a great little widget for band members to embed into their web site, MySpace, or Facebook profiles.  It allows your fans to demand you, which means it gives your fans the ability to demand you play in their area.  What’s super cool about this is…

1. It allows others to see that you are in demand, because it gives them a list to see of who demanded you and where.  This adds credibility to you, and shows your popularity
2. You can reference it to promoters and gig venues, giving them the ability to see that people are demanding you play in their area.
3. It allows you or your promoter the ability to see where you fan base is and helps you track where your shows should be booked, narrowing down the city and possibility speeding up time.

As a musician or artist a like you should know the importance of demand for your art or music.  Without it you don’t exist, you don’t get the big gigs, you don’t open for the big bands, you don’t show or display your work.  Eventful.com is a web site that tracks your demand, and gives it credibility!  It is your word of mouth advertising…in a way.

Purple Studio Productions- Recording History

A CD for a band is like a business card to the rest of us.  An average and bland business card might not gain the interest of our potential clients, like one that is well done and pleasing to the eye.  Business cards identify and represent us, as an album does for a band.  If the album is boring, not well mixed or does not represent the band’s true talents, it’s like giving out that plain business card… it gets lost in the shuffle.  Purple Studio Products, run by Miguel Gonzalez is out to change that.

Miguel is a multi-talented artist in the music industry, based in Miami, who brings his clients a different perspective and knowledge to studio production.  Miguel wants to help each artist create, play and write songs to the best of their ability.  Unlike some producers, Miguel has written songs and spent a lot of time on stage so he has been on both sides of the spectrum in terms of the artist-producer relationship.

With his years of experience, Miguel can help any band or artist with their specific needs.  He has a vast list of back-up singers and studio musicians to fit the specific needs of his clients.  In the studio all the flaws are brought out. With Miguel’s advice and resources, he can fill voids or weaknesses the band may have to help them make the best recording possible.  “The microphone doesn’t show the people what clothes you wear, how rich you are, or what car you drive; it only shows talent.”  To be a successful artist you have to be able to capture your raw songs onto CD, and Purple Studio Productions is in the business of helping you do it with excellence.

Miguel’s resume makes him an expert in the field.  He has either produced, performed, toured or written with: Mary Carlson, Bo Bice- American Idol Runner Up, Matt Kramer of Saigon Kick, Spread Eagle formally known as Radio, All Points West, 16 Second Stare, Black Ties, and Brian Howe of Bad Company to mention a few. Currently he tours with Brian Howe and has written many songs for him throughout the last 10 years.  Miguel also helped produce songs with All Points West, that took them from an ordinary band to movie sound track artist for movies from Spike Lee Productions.  He brings this knowledge and experience to each band he produces.

If you are a band looking for a studio that will develop you and make you a success, contact Miguel Gonzalez at 305-624-7987.

MP4s: the New MP3s

Doing video work I tend to send the prototype as an MP4. When my customers receive the file, they immediately call asking, “what the heck is an MP4?” Sometimes it was just out of curiosity and sometimes it didn’t work on their computer, but a simple solution is available. MP4s are the way the industry is going to for video MPEGS and audio files alike.

The MP4, I guess you can say, is the Universal Sign Language to a computer for video. Before 2007 Apple videos and Windows Media files could not be read by each other without a lot of unnecessary configurations. Windows had to install QuickTime, and with Apple well, you were just out of luck. When the anti-trust lawsuit came about with Microsoft, one of the major topics brought to the table, Macs could not communicate with Microsoft content and vice versa.

In 2007, Apple and Microsoft adapted a common video extension called the MP4. It’s playable with Apple’s QuickTime, and Windows Media Player. For the creator, this means they don’t have to save the file as an .MP3 and a .MOV so it can be seen by all computers, creating extraneous work. If someone didn’t want to make the movie into two different formats, they did have the option to make it into Flash. The problem here is, if you don’t know Flash, the option was out of the question.

So with the invention of the MP4 it not long-anticipated and very appreciated, but more functional and cost-effective. You save the movie once as an .MP4 and publish it! The only requirement for viewing is: for a Mac, have the most current QuickTime player and for Microsoft you must have Windows Media Player 9.0 or higher. If you don’t have those, a software update will solve this issue and will cost nothing. If you have Windows, you can also download and install a free version of QuickTime to view the content only. Sorry, but you won’t be able to save it.

The creation of the MP4 has shattered the wall between the two computers, kind of like the Berlin Wall. It unifies the content and ensures that everyone no matter what computer they have can view everything the Internet has to offer, without flash.