Monthly Archives: July 2012

KCRW Music Announcement

KCRW Introduces MALCOLM – New Digital Music Submission System

Introducing: MALCOLM
A New Digital Music Submission System for KCRW

 The public radio station has created its own system to encourage submissions from independent artists.

SANTA MONICA, CA, July 24, 2012 KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) is pleased to introduce MALCOLM, an online music submission system that assists independent artists in submitting their work to the Los Angeles-based public radio station. Proud to be one of few radio stations that still accepts and listens to demos and unsolicited music, KCRW is making an effort to better serve the up and coming artists that have built the foundation for KCRW’s groundbreaking music programming.

“Independent artists are more important than ever and we want to champion as many as we can, yet the volume of submissions we receive has grown exponentially. We were asking ourselves how we can better serve these musicians and we came up with MALCOLM,” said Anne Litt, Music Program Director. “It’s fast, easy, and allows KCRW to do what we do best – support and share artists’ work.”

The interactive website will allow artists to easily submit their music to KCRW’s tastemaking DJs for potential airplay and will become a hub for DJs to share music with each other internally as well.

For 15 years, KCRW has affectionately called the station’s internal record filing system MALCOLM and decided to transfer the nickname to the new, tech-saavy creation, which was developed by Systems Administrator Ron Gonzalez and designed by Sr. Interactive Producer Nathan Lubeck. It is currently in beta mode.

“Not only is this an environmentally-friendly move forward, but will help us discover great new music faster,” said KCRW DJ and Music Librarian Eric J Lawrence. “KCRW has been instrumental in helping start the careers of a wide range of musicians, from Beck to more recent bands such as Fitz and the Tantrums and Quadron. In many cases, the music was sent to us out of the blue and we pledge to continue this tradition by listening to as many submissions as possible.”

A Little More About MALCOLM:

· Artists can create their own profile – with a bio, photo and links to social media sites — and submit their best 3 tracks to KCRW’s secure and private server.
· They can designate which DJs/shows the music is best suited for.
· Artists will be notified via email when a comment or rating has been added to their profile.
· Instead of chasing each other down in the hallways of KCRW’s basement studios, DJs can share music with each other via this system.

About KCRW: KCRW 89.9FM is an NPR affiliate serving Southern California and licensed to Santa Monica College. The public radio station represents cutting edge radio at its best, presenting an eclectic mix of independent music, news, talk and arts programming. The terrestrial signal serves Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties, as well as parts of San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, and Santa Barbara counties and the greater Palm Springs area. KCRW’ s programming is internationally renowned and available worldwide at KCRW.com. KCRW offers an all-music channel, Eclectic24, an all news channel and on-air simulcast. . Podcasts and archives of our locally-produced programs and live band performances are available on our website, as well as on our smartphone apps for the iPhone, Android and Blackberry. KCRW’s acclaimed Music Mine app for iPad is dedicated to music discovery.

CONTACT:
Rachel Reynolds– KCRW
(310) 314-4625
rachel.reynolds@kcrw.org

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Programming

Radio Icon Joe Frank Returns to KCRW

RADIO ICON JOE FRANK RETURNS TO KCRW

Peabody Winner Produces Special Episode of KCRW Program UnFictional

 

SANTA MONICA, CA, July 19, 2012 – KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) is pleased to announce American radio icon Joe Frank will return to KCRW to produce a special episode of UnFictional. Over the years, his work inspired millions from Ira Glass to David Sedaris and he is the recipient of many prestigious awards including an Emmy and Peabody Award. As a former producer at the station for sixteen years, Frank created several radio programs beginning with Joe Frank: Work In Progress.

“I’m excited to be returning to KCRW as a part of the outstanding public radio series UnFictional. During the last few months I’ve become a fan and look forward to each engaging, diverse and illuminating broadcast,” says Joe Frank.

Known for his ability to engage others through storytelling, Frank is an ideal fit for the UnFictional series. His monologues and radio dramas are known to be philosophical, often times funny and sometimes dark. ‘Dreamers’, the title of his upcoming episode, embraces all of these elements as it addresses questions regarding time and mortality.

“‘Dreamers’ includes stories about a family’s tragic visit to Palestine, a man who attends a dinner party after learning he might be dying, and a contemplation of different perspectives on time,” explains Frank.

“I’m thrilled to be able to present new work from Joe Frank on my program UnFictional. Joe is one of the true public radio pioneers and without his incredible work, programs like mine wouldn’t exist,” says UnFictional Producer Bob Carlson. “Frank’s early programs introduced me to the power and possibilities of modern radio storytelling. Listening to one of his stories is a mesmerizing and disorienting experience. If you’ve never heard one before, you’re in for a trip.”

The episode will air LIVE this Friday at 7:30pm PST on 89.9 FM (in Southern California) or www.kcrw.com and again on Tuesday, July 24 at 2:30pm. The episode will also be available this Friday, July 20 at www.kcrw.com/unfictional to download, stream and podcast for non-Angelenos and for those who cannot tune in live.

UnFictional, part of the KCRW Independent Producer Project, features captivating stories of real life told by writers and performers. It is a showplace for documentaries created by the most talented producers and storytellers from Los Angeles and around the country. For more information on UnFictional please visit www.kcrw.com/unfictional

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CONTACT:
Alyssa King – KCRW
(310) 314-4627
alyssa.king@kcrw.org

About KCRW
KCRW 89.9FM, licensed to Santa Monica College, is an NPR affiliate based in Southern California. The Santa Monica-based nonprofit represents cutting edge radio at its best, presenting an eclectic mix of independent music, news, talk and arts programming. The terrestrial signal serves Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura Counties, as well as parts of San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, and Santa Barbara Counties and the greater Palm Springs area. KCRW’s programming is internationally renowned and available worldwide via KCRW.com, including three streaming channels, 27 podcasts and archives of our locally-produced programs and live band performances. Hear KCRW music online, all the time, on the ALL music stream Eclectic24.

About UnFictional
UnFictional is a program of storytellers and documentaries that cover the ground between the sophisticated and the profane. Audiences will hear captivating stories of real life told by writers and performers with a talent for tales that will suck you in. The program also features documentaries created by the most talented producers from around the country. UnFictional is one part of the Independent Producer Project, an initiative to cultivate and support the work of independent radio producers and other writers and artists. The idea is to create a clearinghouse of creativity both online and on the air.

About Joe Frank and KCRW
Working at KCRW from 1986 to 2002, Joe Frank created four distinctive series, “Work in Progress,” “In The Dark,” “Somewhere Out There,” and “The Other Side.” At KCRW, Frank was honored with the Peabody Award, broadcasting’s highest honor, and he went on to develop works for stage, television and film, in addition to publishing two books. He subsequently received an Emmy Award for “Joe Frank Storyteller” on PBS and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Third Coast International Audio Festival. He is also a Guggenheim fellow.

 

http://www.kcrw.com/unfictional

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KCRW Music Announcement

T. Rex vs. KCRW Soundclash Remix EP Streaming Now

T. Rex vs. KCRW Soundclash Remix EP
Streaming Now!

 Hear remixes by four KCRW DJs and a live cover of “Main Man” by Portugal. The Man at KCRW.com/TREX

“Solid Gold Easy Action” (DJ Dan Wilcox remix) is available for download.

SANTA MONICA, CA  July 6, 2012 — Glam rockers T. Rex influenced many of the bands that have passed through the studios of KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) – from Beck to MGMT – and now, in conjunction with Spirit Music, DJs from the Los Angeles-based public radio station have remixed four of their tracks for the “T. Rex vs. KCRW Soundclash” Remix EP.

All of the songs getting the remix treatment were Top 20 charting singles that came out in the wake of T. Rex’s seminal album “The Slider”. The EP closes with a cover of “Main Man” from “The Slider” recorded live in KCRW’s studios by Portugal. The Man.

Hear the tracks online now exclusively at kcrw.com/TREX and download a remix of “Solid Gold Easy Action” that takes glam rock straight to the dancefloor.

“The subjects of KCRW’s Soundclashseries so far have been Femi Kuti, Ozomatli, David Bowie, and now the legendary Marc Bolan,” said KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley. It’s no simple task to reinvent a true rock ‘n’ roll classic, but our DJs have risen to the occasion with an inspired take on Bolan’s pop masterworks.”

The physical EP will be available on July 21, the 40th anniversary of the release of “The Slider”. KCRW is hosting a live performance from Portugal. The Man at the Annenberg Space for Photography and the first 500 people to arrive will get a free copy of the EP. (RSVP here)

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with KCRW, a world renowned curator of all things cool and classic, to celebrate the legacy of T. Rex.  The new remixes artfully push sonic envelopes just like Marc Bolan did decades ago and the concert will be a brilliant celebration of the timeless power of his music and legacy,” said Spirit Music Group President/CEO Mark Fried.

KCRW DJ and award-winning music supervisor Gary Calamar (True Blood/House/Dexter) gives “Children of the Revolution” an ambient groove to kick off the EP, followed by an industrial-inspired take on “Teenage Dream” from Chuck P. Dan Wilcox gives the salacious “Solid Gold Easy Action” a disco-fied remix with help from the beatmaster of LA band Pollyn, while Liza Richardson, also an acclaimed music supervisor (Friday Night Lights/ Parenthood), loops in famed DJ Harvey to add pounding percussion to the spirited rock anthem “20th Century Boy”.

Best of all, Bolan’s trademark vocals integrate seamlessly with all the updated versions of his songs, further proving his musical sensibilities are timeless.

View the full tracklisting below.

T. Rex vs KCRW Soundclash Remix EP 

Children Of The Revolution (Gary Calamar remix)      T.Rex
Teenage Dream (Chuck P remix)                                   T.Rex
Solid Gold Easy Action (Dan Wilcox remix)                 T.Rex
20th Century Boy (Liza Richardson remix)                   T.Rex
Main Man                                                             Portugal. The Man

CONTACT:
Rachel Reynolds – KCRW
(310) 314-4625
rachel.reynolds@kcrw.org

Eileen Thompson-Ray – Spirit Music
ethompson-ray@rogersandcowan.com

About KCRW:

KCRW 89.9FM is an NPR affiliate serving Southern California and licensed to Santa Monica College. The public radio station represents cutting edge radio at its best, presenting an eclectic mix of independent music, news, talk and arts programming. The terrestrial signal serves Los Angeles, Orange, and V entura counties, as well as parts of San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, and Santa Barbara counties and the greater Palm Springs area. KCRW’ s programming is internationally renowned and available worldwide at KCRW.com.  KCRW offers an all-music channel, Eclectic24, an all news channel and on-air simulcast. . Podcasts and archives of our locally-produced programs and live band performances are available on our website, as well as on our smartphone apps for the iPhone, Android and Blackberry. KCRW’s acclaimed Music Mine app for iPad is dedicated to music discovery.

About Spirit Music Group:

Spirit Music Group, founded in 1995, is one of the world’s leading independent music publishers, owning and/or managing more than 100,000 songs spanning 7 decades and every musical genre.  The company’s repertoire reflects some of the most beloved songs and songwriters of all time including hits by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Santana, The Beach Boys, Barbra Streisand, Gladys Knight,  Chicago, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, Ricky Martin, Usher, Mary J. Blige, and the complete catalogs of such iconic songwriters and writer/artists as Pete Townshend, Lou Reed, T.Rex, Boz Scaggs, The Grateful Dead, The Marshall Tucker Band,  Andrea Bocelli, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and the breakthrough work of such newer artists as Scissor Sisters, The Naked & Famous and Old Crow Medicine Show. In recent years, Spirit’s creative staff has helped transform the publisher’s role beyond royalty collection and song promotion to proactive career and legacy partnership, creating and executing marketing plans to revitalize its clients’ songs and expand their brands.  Spirit Music Group is based in New York with affiliate offices all over the world.  For further information about Spirit Music Group, go to www.spiritmusicgroup.com.

About Portugal. The Man:

Portugal. The Man formed in Alaska and currently reside in Portland. Their most recent release, “In The Mountain In The Cloud”, was among the top 20 most played albums at KCRW last year. Hear their full Morning Becomes Eclectic live session here.

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KCRW Music Announcement, Uncategorized

KCRW Premieres Iggy Pop + Bethany Cosentino Duet for True Blood — “Let’s Boot and Rally”

KCRW Premieres Iggy Pop + Bethany Cosentino Duet
for True Blood — “Let’s Boot and Rally”

Stream it on the KCRW Music Blog now and tune in at 10:20am to hear the radio debut on Morning Becomes Eclectic

KCRW DJ Gary Calamar co-wrote the track which will air on the July 8 episode of the HBO show.

SANTA MONICA, CA, July 5, 2012 - Los Angeles public radio station KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) is premiering “Let’s Boot and Rally”, a duet by Iggy Pop and Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino recorded for the July 8 episode of HBO’s True Blood. The track, co–written by KCRW DJ Gary Calamar, can be heard right now on KCRW’s Music Blog. Calamar also shares the story behind how the collaboration came about.

Calamar will join KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley to debut the track on air on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 10:20am this morning.

“To me, it sounds like classic punk rock Iggy. And Bethany’s vocals take it over the top. They sound beautiful together,” said Calamar.

Calamar has music supervised all five seasons of the show and has put together notable collaborations in the past. Neko Case and Nick Cave teamed up to do The Zombies “She’s Not There” and Karen Elson and Donovan took on “Season Of The Witch“.

This was a case of a tight deadline breeding inspiration. Each episode of True Blood is named after a song used in a show and rather than change the name of an episode called “Boot and Rally”, Calamar called on his friend, songwriter James Combs, to help craft a tune that would work.

Pop had already declared himself a fan of the vampire drama and signed up after hearing a demo. Best Coast‘s LA-based frontwoman jumped at the chance to sing with the punk hero and the rest is history.

Calamar received Grammy Award nominations three years in a row for his work on the True Blood soundtracks. His weekly KCRW show airs Sundays from 6 to 8pm PST.

About KCRW:
KCRW 89.9FM, licensed to Santa Monica College, is NPR’s flagship station for Southern California. The Los Angeles-based nonprofit represents cutting edge radio at its best, presenting an eclectic mix of independent music, news, talk and arts programming. The terrestrial signal serves Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura Counties, as well as parts of San Diego, San Bernardino, Kern, and Santa Barbara Counties and the greater Palm Springs area. KCRW’s programming is internationally renowned and available worldwide via KCRW.com, including three streaming channels, 27 podcasts and archives of our locally-produced programs and live band performances. Hear KCRW music online, all the time, on the ALL music stream Eclectic24.

CONTACT:
Rachel Reynolds – KCRW
(310) 314-4625
rachel.reynolds@kcrw.org

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