News
- Answers to your questions about the media
Posted: Thursday, January 26th 2012
Last night, the Portland Music Foundation held our first-ever webinar, and it went great! We had about 15 people listen in live, getting their questions answered in real time, and we've already had another dozen or so listen in to the recording that we posted on Facebook a few hours ago.
Many thanks to Robbie Kanner of Dispatch and Aimsel Ponti of the Portland Press Herald and PMF secretary Sam Pfeifle of the Portland Phoenix. If you want to listen to the webinar (Sam screwed up and forgot to record the introductions, but give it a chance - there's an hour's worth of good advice there), go ahead and click here.
Also, while Alexandra Cavallaro, the Events Editor of the Boston Phoenix, wasn't able to make the webinar, she was kind enough to answer all questions we had sent in via good old Microsoft Word. Here are her questions and answers. (And, don't forget, for local press contact information, you can head to our resources page.)
How much lead time before an event is right for trying to get preview coverage?
For preview coverage I like to get info about an event at least two weeks in advance. As far as trying to get an artist an interview or feature, for the Phoenix ’s purposes, we need to have that info a mont h in advance, if not more, since the story calendar books up fast, and long in advance.
Any guidelines for what to put in the subject line?
I prefer that it’s kept short and simple. Nam e of the band/event, the date (that’s important) and preferably something unique/interesting that tells me why I should be interested before I even open the email.
Does a band need to do a press release per gig? Or, can they give you their whole calendar just once?
For listings, it’s more helpful (and less inbox-clogging) for a band or venue to send out a full show schedule in one email. But if a band has something special/big going on...an album release show or opening for a big name band, etc,. I definitely think an ind ividual press release is a good idea, so the event doesn’t get lost in the big shuffle. Definitely DON’T send out a press release every mont h for your mont hly stand at a bar. I have to say I find those emails incredibly infuriating. If you send out one that lets us know it’s a mont hly gig, we’ll get it on the calendar.
Do you like information sent to you personalized?
Absolutely. If an email seems like it was spammed out to everyone on some PR person’s contact list, I’m not all that interested in reading it. Something as small as opening with “Hey Alex, hope all is well” or referencing the last time we communicated/worked together makes a big difference.
If a band would like to have you review their CD, would you prefer that they send a copy of it with their promo kit? Or, is it just as effective to send an e-mail that has links to the music and bio?
I prefer an email with links to an album stream. If they offer to mail a hard copy, too, that’s cool, but online listening is definitely easier.
How does one go about asking to have a venue reviewed in which their band performs frequently?
I think if you’re trying to score a venue review, you’re going to have to provide an interesting angle for why. Why do we/our readers care about this? We don’t tend to review venues unless they’ve just opened or been reno vated, so that’s probably a tough sell for us, anyway.
What is the proper etiquette when communicating with the press?
I almost always prefer email. Nobody likes being put on the spot by a PR person calling and pushing their band over the phone. It can be intrusive and interruptive. Once you’ve set up a line of communication through email, though, and you’re already working together in some capacity, I’m ok withy a follow up call.
Would your answers be the same for radio and TV? If not, what?
I think so . . . not really my area of expertise. I think it’s always a good idea to be as un-intrusive as possible and to get your info out there in the cleanest, most straightforward way possible. And to always make sure your press release is geared towards the publication in some way/personalized and not some generic mass email that most people will automatically delete.
- How to work with the media? Just ask them.
Posted: Thursday, January 19th 2012
The Portland Music Foundation is going virtual: We'll host our first webinar, January 25, at 6:30 p.m., with a discussion focusing on "How to Work with the Media" featuring these fine folks:
Alex Cavallo - 8Days a Week writer for the Boston Phoenix
Aimsel Ponti - Music Writer for the Portland Press Herald
Robbie Kanner - Dude who runs Dispatch Magazine
Sam Pfeifle - Music Writer for the Portland Phoenix
These media members will give you advice on what to put in your email to get noticed, what should be in your "press kit," how to get your album reviewed and your show mentioned, and lots more.
You can ask as many questions as you want. You can chat with other people on the webinar. You can watch it later in recorded fashion.
So, how do you get in on this action? All PMF members will be emailed an invitation. So, join up for 2012 if you haven't already.
- Portland Music Foundation Year in Review
Posted: Saturday, December 31st 2011
The Portland Music Foundation, founded in June 2006, spent the large part of its first year-plus of existence in finalizing its organization and the goals for that organization. In 2008, following a successful kick-off event in Oct. 2007, the organization really hit its stride, gaining 501c3 status, landing a major grant with the Maine Arts Commission, and delivering on a number of promised benefits for its membership and for the community at large. In 2009, the organization was able to focus on its primary mission, educating, inspiring and inciting its members, with much of its infrastructure in place and building on the grant-aided “Music as a Profession” series begun in 2008. In 2010, the PMF continued this educational series, making all of the content member-only, making it the biggest driver in membership acquisition. The group also added a board member, finally gave the go-ahead to a first major web overhaul, and began in earnest its outreach efforts toward the venue-owning and promoter community.
Now, in 2011, we embarked on our single largest undertaking ever, a Portland showcase at the CMJ Music Marathon, and used it to significantly raise the profile of the Portland music industry. We also did our best to make ourselves more known to the political and business community, extended our boards with new members, and reached out further to the state’s young and future musicians. All the while, we continued our long-standing educational series.
As a recap, in the 2011, the PMF has:
• Seen its membership grow from 152 members to 176 dues-paying members.
• Held seven educational seminar nights on topics ranging from how to organize your CD-release event to making the most of your out-of-town gig to a history lesson on the fiddle from virtuoso Mark O’Connor and fiddle maker Jonathan Cooper.
• Hosted a Portland showcase, with seven PMF member bands, at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City.
• Hosted, with PACA, a mayoral debate at the State Theatre.
• Created the Portland Downtown Live Music Map, which features 15 live music venues, mostly along the Congress Street corridor, and printed 10,000 of them.
• Teamed with the Maine Academy of Modern Music for a second year of the Rock Off, now called the MAMM SLAM. PMF board members served as judges and provided advice sessions to the five finalist bands.
• Teamed with the Maine Academy of Modern Music on the “Kids Are Alright” series, which ran eight Wednesdays this summer, attracting hundreds of very young music fans to watch local bands at SPACE.
• Hosted the Boston chapter of the AES for a tour of significant recording and engineering facilities in Portland, plus a little social mixing.
• Hosted a bowling mixer at Bayside Bowl attended by about 75.
• Worked to educate our membership about LD 901, a bill that would have made it illegal for people under the age of 21 to ever set foot in an establishment classified as a Class A Lounge. This could have seriously affected the all-ages music scene. With representation from the PMF and many others at the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee meeting, the committee voted unanimously to kill the bill.
• Added Mayo Street Arts and Xpress Copy as sponsors
Membership, which costs $20 annually, currently offers the following benefits:
- Free admission to all PMF-organized events, including educational seminars.
- 20% off advertising in the Portland Phoenix (contact the paper for exact rates).
- 20% off advertising at WBLM & WYCC (contact the Citadel Communications for exact rates).
- $10 off the hourly rate at The Studio.
- 10% off the hourly rate at Port Media.
- 20% off Satronen Sound services.
- 10% off all Drum Shop purchases.
- A free lesson with the Maine Academy of Modern Music.
- 10% discount on all printing services as well as exclusive PMF-only design packages at The Arm Factory.
- 20% discount on graphic design and mastering services with each duplication order at Crooked Cove Records
- $50 discount on the Portable Vocal Booth and a 10% discount on any room kit at Real Traps
- 15% discount on an entire project budget at Rocking Horse Studios
- special pricing of $2.50 per disc at Rokbird Flying Discs
- 10% off piano tuning and vinyl-to-disc transfer at Marco Polo Music
- 10% off an entire recording project with Drum Show Productions
- 10% off local-music-themed sandwiches at Mike’s Rock & Roll Deli
- Special “student” pricing for events held by Portland Ovations
- 20% off print/copy services and exclusive PMF promotion packages at Xpress Copy *
- 20% off recording time at Mayo Street Arts*
* Benefits added in the last 12 months
In addition, membership allows entrance into all PMF educational series and events, which will resume in January 2012.
• Received coverage from Huffington Post, the Examiner, 92.3 CBS Radio New York, the Wild Honey Pie, Yahoo! Music, Firstpost.com, BumperShine.com, Eardrum.com, EatSleepBreatheMusic.com, Songkick.com, FearsMag.com, Altsounds.com, the Free Press, the Portland Press Herald, the Portland Phoenix, HillyTown.com, Dispatch, and many others
Board and Leadership:
Board of Directors:
Adam Ayan, Engineer, Gateway Mastering
Jim Begley, Engineer, the Studio, Port City Music Hall
Chris Brown, VP, Bull Moose Music
Sam Cousins, Photographer
Mark Curdo, Owner, Labor Day Records; Host of “Spinout,” local and indie program on WCYY
Will Etheridge, Owner, Eternal Otter Records; Musician, Panda Bandits
Herb Ivy, Station Manager, WBLM, WCYY
Mark Lourie, Skyline Music
*Patrick May, Skyline Music; Musician, Dead Sessions
Lisa van Oosertum, CEO, Omnirox Entertainment
***Sam Pfeifle, Music Writer; Musician, the Grassholes
**Amanda Stewart, Diversified Communications
SuperFrank, Owner, Dispatch Magazine
Lauren Wayne, General Manager, State Theatre
*President; **Treasurer; ***Secretary
Board of Trustees:
Spencer Albee, Musician
Bryan Bruchman, HillyTown.com
Charlie Gaylord, Creator, Greetings from Area Code 207; Founder, Cornmeal Records; guitarist at large
Ceci Gilson, PR, 317 Main Street
Holly Nunan, Music Writer, Dispatch
Todd Richard, Musician, founder www.wepushbuttons.com
Chad Sclove, Common Good Ventures
Jeff Shaw, Founder and Executive Director, Maine Academy of Modern Music
Josh Thelin, Engineer, Gateway Mastering; Musician, Trails
Sue Tran, Founder, Portland Buy Local
Jon Wyman, Engineer, the Halo
- PORTLAND GREENDRINKS at STATE THEATRE
Posted: Monday, November 21st 2011
The State Theatre is proud to announce the return of Portland Greendrinks to the State Theatre on
Tuesday, December 13. Proceeds from the $5 admission at the door ($2 if you bring your own mug) will benefit the Portland Music Foundation.
Deeply rooted in the local environmental community, Portland Greendrinks (www.portlandgreendrinks.com) is an informal social networking group built around a common interest in the natural environment. It occurs from 5:30 - 8pm on the second Tuesday of every month. The goal of Greendrinks is pretty simple: good times shared among people working in, or interested in, environmental and sustainability issues.
The Portland Music Foundation exists to organize, nurture, and promote the unique and emerging music industry of Portland, Maine. An all-volunteer organization of some of the city's top music industry leaders, the PMF aims to cultivate Portland's music industry as a viable economic engine by providing musicians, music businesses and music fans with information, resources and opportunities for growth and independence. At its core, the PMF believes that Portland has the unique potential to be one of our country's great music cities and if properly supported, music can make a substantial contribution to growing the city's economy.
Mark your calendars for December 13 and be sure to bring friends and merriment.
PORTLAND GREENDRINKS
benefiting the Portland Music Foundation
STATE THEATRE
609 Congress St.
Portland, ME
Tuesday, December 13 from 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Admission (ok, "mandatory donation") is $5.00 or $2.00 if you bring your own mug.
Please note that this is a 21+ EVENT
- Portland showcase at CMJ a huge success
Posted: Tuesday, November 1st 2011
More than 100 CMJ badge members came through the door, plus another 30+ guest-listed media and industry members, including reps from the Huffington Post, CBS Radio, Atlantic Records, and NYU's radio station, to see the seven Portland bands the Portland Music Foundation brought down to New York City for the CMJ Music Marathon Oct. 20.
Sullivan Hall is a top-drawer spot, one of the best mid-size venues in New York City, and there are great sightlines as soon as you walk in. The sound was spectacular, and the lights were as good as anything you'd see in a 1500-seat theater, so the simulcast to Bayside Bowl really came through nicely and the recording we captured came out great (we were getting texts all night from people at Bayside watching the stream).
Every band really delivered an excellent set, and the diversity of the lineup was incredibly cool. Toughcats featured a bowed banjo and that trademark kit of Jake's with the suitcase for a bass drum paired with a 16-inch actual bass drum; the Mallett Brothers Band brought full-throated arena country rock, especially punctuated by Wally Wenzel's whining dobro; Milkman's Union hinted at similar alt-country undertones, but instead went for a slow burn; Kurt Baker was easily the best showman of the night, looking sharp and getting the crowd fired up with a brand of pop-rock that surprised a lot of people who didn't know what to expect and had a pre-conceived idea of Portland.
Billy Libby performed an intense, seated set with a stand-up bass, viola, keyboards, and drum kit; Sunset Hearts picked things back up with their vamp and danceability, and Sadie and Sydney won the hearts of more than a few guys in the audience who were desperate for a girl on stage at that point (point noted: we need more girls in the showcase when/if we do this next year); finally Spose just crushed the last set - he started at about 1:15 a.m. (not bad to be only 15 minutes behind with seven bands, we guess), and was contending with a fatigued crowd and a late hour (yes, it's NYC, but CMJ is an industry thing and activities start early.), but there were a loyal crowd who were waiting all night for him and they all crowded to the front at the finish and it ended up feeling like a legit hip-hop crowd.
There was always good energy, the bands were interviewed multiple times and made the connections we were hoping for them to make, and the buzz for Portland was really good. Plus, only so many people are going to show up at 7 and stay till 2. We had a full page ad in the festival guide, and the ad package we bought was the same one that BMI and ASCAP and the entire country of Norway went with, so we really looked like a player, which was the point.
Is CMJ going to make everyone a big star and put Portland on some new kind of map? Of course not. But for the investment of time and energy that we made at the PMF, we felt the returns were absolutely commensurate. Thanks to all the bands who performed and thanks especially to our sponsors, who made it all possible: Husson University, The State Theatre, and Crooked Cove Duplication.
Wish you could have been there?
Well, this video we put together should give you a taste of what went down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKdV4EO5mycOr, you can watch the whole thing on our uStream channe:lhttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/pmfcmj
Download the PMF CMJ Showcase sampler for FREE here:http://www.nimbitmusic.com/portlandmusicfoundation
Here's a taste of some of the coverage the event received:
A blogger talks about our "really huge" crowd: http://wreckaclub.com/st-carolyn-by-the-cmj
The Phoenix wrote us up: http://portland.thephoenix.com/music/128961-road-show-report/
The Examiner interviewed Sam Pfeifle and Bryan Bruchman at the event: http://www.examiner.com/rock-music-scene-in-new-york/interview-sam-pfeifle-and-bryan-bruchman-of-portland-music-foundation
The Examiner also interviewed Billy Libby to preview CMJ: http://www.examiner.com/independent-music-in-washington-dc/cmj-preview-an-interview-with-billy-libby
And Milkman's Union, too: http://www.examiner.com/independent-music-in-washington-dc/cmj-2011-preview-an-interview-with-the-milkman-s-union
HillyTown took some great shots: http://hillytown.com/news/photos-news/pmf-cmj-showcase-photo-recap-10-20-11/
Spose was interviewed by New York's CBS Radio station, plus some video: http://923now.radio.com/2011/10/21/spose-was-awesome-at-the-cmj-portland-music-showcase-photos-video/#photo-1
Even the Press Herald gave us a little love (well, cut and pasted our press release, anyway): http://www.pressherald.com/news/7-Portland-area-music-acts-win-high-profile-gigs-in-NYC.html
- Portland CMJ Showcase Kick-Off Party!
Posted: Monday, October 10th 2011
The Portland Music Foundation invites Portland to send their favorite bands off to New York City in style with a Kick-Off party at the Empire, Oct. 14, that will feature host Kurt Baker and Eternal Otter Records spinning Friday night party favorites along with tunes by all the other bands who'll be playing the Portland Showcase at the CMJ Festival in NYC. Plus, $1 LOCAL MAINE BEERS and there will be a raffle for tickets to shows at the State Theatre like The Flaming Lips, Gillian Welch and the SOLD OUT PIXIES! (Oh, and free music, too.)
The Portland Showcase at CMJ is generously supported by Husson University, State Theatre and Crooked Cove CD/DVD Duplication.
The PMF is taking seven bands (Baker, the Milkman's Union, Sunset Hearts, Spose, the Mallett Brothers Band, Billy Libby, and the Toughcats) to CMJ Oct. 20, as part of the second largest music festival in the United States, showcasing the abundant talent of Portland's live music scene (see more details here:http://www.portlandmusicfoundation.org/cmj).
In order to send them off in style, we are going to GET ROWDY on a Friday night with the party soundtrack supplied by Baker, Eternal Otter Records founder and PMF board member Will Etheridge, and Portland Phoenix music writer and PMF board member Sam Pfeifle.
PLUS, every attendee will receive a free download card that links to downloadable music from each of the CMJ bands.
If that weren't enough to get you in the door, the PMF will also be raffling off, for a mere five bucks per entry, tickets to three shows at the State Theatre: The Flaming Lips, Gillian Welch and the SOLD OUT PIXIES SHOW!
The Kick-Off Party gets rolling at 9 p.m., Oct. 14, at Empire Dine and Dance, at the corner of Congress and Forest. A suggested $5 donation to the PMF gets you in the door.
What's this CMJ thing? The CMJ Festival fills 80 venues with 1,300+ performances over the course of a week, headquartered at New York University's Greenwich Village campus. The Portland Showcase will be held at Sullivan Hall, New York's premier small concert venue, Oct. 20. For the event, the Portland Music Foundation carefully selected seven of Portland's best up-and-coming artists and bands.
- Next Seminar: Your CD Release in a Box
Posted: Thursday, October 6th 2011
Portland Music Foundation “Music as a Profession” series continues Oct. 11, with a focus on making the most of your album release
The Portland Music Foundation’s “Music as a Profession” series continues with “Your CD Release in a Box,” which will provide bands and musicians with practical tips for making sure the biggest event of the year has the most possible impact.
The event will be held at the Portland Public Library, in Rines Auditorium, at 6 p.m., Oct. 11. The event is free for PMF members. Membership costs $20 for the year, $40 for an entire band. Those that sign up now will get full membership for all of 2011 and 2012. Membership information, including many area discounts and benefits, can be found at www.portlandmusicfoundation.org.
The seminar will focus on four crucial areas for ensuring the success of a band’s album release:
1. Duplication and production. Crooked Cove’s Charlie Gaylord, also the host of “Greetings from Area Code 207” on WBLM and curator of the compilation series of the same name, will walk bands through the process of getting a CD created, from file preparation to artwork to scheduling to delivery.
2. Retail. Bull Moose’s Chris Brown will let bands know how to get their CDs in stores, which stores to approach first, what SoundScan is and why you might want to bother with it, and how to get stores to collaborate with your marketing effort.
3. Social Media. Greg Daly, owner of Brand Royal, a design & marketing agency, will focus on setting up, and developing a social media campaign that helps maximize the reach and impact of the release, gets people to the release show, and draws the attention of traditional media.
4. Traditional Media. Sam Pfeifle, music writer for the Portland Phoenix and Dispatch, will give bands a schedule and template for announcing their release to local and regional media, getting their CD reviewed, and utilizing traditional media to spread the word of their big event.
- THE PORTLAND MUSIC FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL 2011 CMJ SHOWCASE LINEUP
Posted: Wednesday, September 21st 2011
OCTOBER 20TH | SULLIVAN HALL | NYC
www.portlandmusicfoundation.org/cmj
For the past few months, The Portland Music Foundation has been carefully reviewing submissions for their 2011 CMJ contest which will provide a showcase spot, a consultation with a national public relations agency, as well as a stipend. The Portland Music Foundation has announced the seven contest winners who will be performing at their official CMJ Showcase on October 20th at Sullivan Hall in New York City at 7pm.
The event is sponsored by Husson University, State Theatre and Crooked Cove CD/DVD Duplication.
Each submission was reviewed by The Portland Music Foundation‘s CMJ committee, which judged participants on both songwriting and performance skills and web presence (web sites and social media). In addition, The Portland Music Foundation will live stream the showcase to Bayside Bowl, in its hometown of Portland, ME so Portland fans not making the trip to NYC can enjoy the show.
The Portland Music Foundation is proud to deliver a lineup showcasing Maine’s wide range of talent:
Spose -- 1 AM -- sposemusic.net
Sunset Hearts -- 12 AM -- sunsethearts.com
Billy Libby -- 11 PM -- billylibby.com
Kurt Baker -- 10 PM -- kurtbakermusic.com
The Milkman’s Union -- 9 PM -- themilkmansunion.com
The Mallet Brothers Band -- 8 PM -- mallettbrothersband.com
The Toughcats -- 7 PM -- toughcats.com
Last year the debut Portland, Maine music showcase was held during CMJ at Trash Bar in Brooklyn. This event was produced by PMF board members Will Etheridge CEO of Eternal Otter Records and Bryan Bruchman creator of hillytown.com. This year’s Sullivan Hall Showcase marks the 2nd year local talent has had the opportunity to play for international tastemakers, press, and industry professionals.
The showcase will be on Thursday October 20th at Sullivan Hall (18+) in NYC. Admission is $10.
PURCHASE TICKETS : http://tktwb.tw/nlRz3k
More Info: portlandmusicfoundation.org/cmj
- 10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Next Out-of-Town Gig
Posted: Thursday, September 8th 2011
Portland Music Foundation “Music as a Profession” series continues Sept. 19
The Portland Music Foundation’s “Music as a Profession” series continues with “10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Out-of-Town Gig,” which will provide bands and musicians with practical tips for making sure their swing through Anywhere, USA, draws as many people as possible and is a positive overall experience.
The event will be held at the Portland Public Library, in Rines Auditorium, at 6 p.m., Sept. 19. The event is free for PMF members. Membership costs $20 for the year, $40 for an entire band. Those that sign up now will get full membership for all of 2011 and 2012. Membership information, including many area discounts and benefits, can be found right here.
From dealing with booking agents to targeting social media blasts to working with traditional media outlets, musicians will leave this session with things that they can do tomorrow make their shows more successful.
PMF president Pat May and secretary Sam Pfeifle have polled booking agents and media members all over the country as to how they like to be approached, what they see in successful bands, and what mistakes they often see in their line of work. They’ll relay that information back in an easily digestible format so that bands can worry less about the big picture and more about the small details.
For more information, email info@portlandmusicfoundation.org.
- Artist Talk: What Cheer? Brigade
Posted: Thursday, September 8th 2011
Since their early days in Providence circa 2005, What Cheer? Brigade has played with Dan Deacon, Man Man, Japanther, Dengue Fever, Okkervil River, Lightning Bolt, Ninjasonik, Mika Miko, Wolf Parade, Matt and Kim, Slavic Soul Party, Javelin, Sage Francis, and Chain and the Gang. They've appeared at Lollapalooza, Sziget (Hungary), and Guca (Serbia). They've played in just about every crazy place you can imagine.
How do they make it all work and hold down day-jobs to boot? What's it like making travel arrangements for 20+ people? What's the whole DIY marching band thing about? Come meet the musicians, hang out, hear funny stories and gain some insight into how these guys have sustained their artistic pursuits.
They'll be at SPACE, Sept. 9, 538 Congress Street, in Portland, at 7 p.m. The event is free and all ages.
Co-presented by SPACE and Portland Music Foundation. Made possible in part through a grant from New England Foundation for the Arts.
