Rhapsody x Sean Carter = Creativity!!

Rhapsody teamed up with Sean Carter to re-create all his album covers. A simple but powerful message.



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MJ Birthday Tribute Concert @ GSU TODAY!!!!

Our Friends at GSU & MEISA are honoring MJ's B-day with a BIG concert! Go Support The Greatest Performer that ever lived!! Today... at GSU (Click on the flyer image for more information)

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9/11 Tribute Performance Opportunity

Our Friends at AIA are offering artists the performance opportunity of a lifetime!

(Click the flyer for more information on how to submit)

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From The Soundboard To The Scoreboard

Written by Rhyan Roxx

The Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rogers spent this summer making passes on the field and in the music industry.

Ted Thompson, General Manager of the Green Bay Packers, and head coach Mike McCarthy traded the teams leading quarterback, Brett Farve, last summer after noticing that Rogers was ready to take the team to the next level. But Rogers had another plan in mind.

The 25-year-old quarterback and friend, Rhyan Zachary, recently partnered together to create their own alternative rock music label, Suspended Sunrise Recordings.

Rogers believed the new label was the perfect opportunity to hone his musical talents. He not only has a love for music, but he is also a self taught guitarist.

When asked how the duo came up with the name, Rogers responded, “We came up with the name Suspended Sunrise because when you think of a sunrise, its’s suspended in the air, suspended in time. It’s a cool image because it represents the beginning of a new day. Anything can happen.”

“Joy In Tomorrow”, an Atlanta based Indie/Rock group, was the first duo to sign with Suspended Sunrise Recordings.

Rogers is amongst several NFL players who have invested time and money into the music industry. Bob Whitfield, former Offensive Tackle for the Atlanta Falcons, is the CEO and co-founder of Patchwerk Recording Studios. Also, Craig Terrill, Defensive Tackle for the Seattle Seahawks, is the lead singer of an American rock band, called the Craig Terrill Band.




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Bringing Music Back to Life

So we've ALL heard the statement, 'Hip Hop is Dead' thrown around a lot lately.

Artists such as Soulja Boy, and many other auto-tuning bandwagon musicians have had to defend themselves and their music after becoming scapegoats for the apparent battered state of the Hip-Hop sound. But the Urban community aren't the only ones crying "I remember when...!"

Pioneers in Rock 'n' Roll are just as concerned about the future of their beloved genre. So this leads me to ask the following. Are current music lovers just refusing to accept the inevitable evolution of music, or is music as we know just DOOMED??? Read on, form an opinion for yourself, and don't forget to comment!

What will save rock 'n' roll?
By Todd Leopold
CNN

Steven Van Zandt, guitarist to Rock 'n' Roll icon Bruce Springsteen, talks about the end of a golden age: [Rock 'n' roll] is a craft that has to be learned," he tells CNN. "There are things you learn by listening to great records, copying heroes." He believes that he said some things that people were thinking, but haven't said out loud.

But the rumbles are out there. The music business is in a state of flux, with the sales of more profitable CDs continuing to fall even as single downloads climb. "American Idol's" season is coming to an end, with rock purists once again assailing the show's slick pop sensibility. Commercial radio, country, rap and hip-hop -- they all have their critics, many of them wishing a return to the way things used to be....

To read more, check out this article in entirety here.

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One Time At Bandcamp.....

With MySpace acquiring iLike, this leaves music enthusiast, such as myself, wondering; what does this mean for the future of music? As more and more platforms are created for music artists to upload and distribute their music; how will MySpace compete in the online music market? With artists finding new outlets in droves; what sites and features are attracting them to upload and distribute their music?

A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon a site called Bandcamp. Bandcamp is a FREE publishing platform that gives bands an opportunity to host their music in ways that most platforms have yet to offer. Below are some of the highlight features that Bandcamp offers:

Various Formats (FLAC, Apple Lossless, ACC, Ogg Vorbis, etc.)

I’m sure you’ve heard the term “Superior Sound” from some of Patchwerk’s elite. Most sites offer only MP3 downloads. If you know like I know, MP3's are of low quality sound. Giving your fans the option to select from various formats to download gives you a more worldly appeal.

Name-your-price Downloads

If you have read my article, “Free Is Dead”, you know that there is a debate over the issue of artists giving away their music for free to attract more fans. Trent Reznor, frontman for the NIN (Nine-Inch-Nails) released the band's album, Ghost I-IV, using a tiered model, where fans received more music, content, and memorabilia as they paid more. The “name-your-price” option puts you in the driver seat to determine your music’s worth.

Download Codes

Do you want to stand out from your counterparts in the music industry? I feel that having download codes personalizes the music experience for most fans. Instead of allowing anyone to download your music, giving fans their own download code will possibly open the doors for future purchases. I’ve always stressed that artists should begin building better relationships with their fans. Offering download codes can also help to build your mailing list, which is another important factor for artists.

Search Engine Optimized

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is perhaps the most talked about subject when it comes to marketing online. With most music sites, you will have to hire a pro or DIY (Do-It-Yourself) to optimize your presence online. With Bandcamp, they handle the SEO mumbo jumbo for you.

Sell in (Just About) Any Currency

With international markets emerging and most being exposed to the world wide web, it would be a wise decision to not only attract fans overseas, but to include them in the purchasing process. With Bandcamp, you can price your goods in US Dollars, Pounds, Sterling, Canadian Dollars, Euros, Australian Dollars, Israeli New Sheqels or any of 12 other currencies.

Creative Commons Integration

Are you familiar with Creative Commons (CC)? We’re all familiar with the © (All Rights Reserved) symbol. Well, with the Creative Commons licenses you’re able to give fans permission to download and share your content. Bandcamp integrates with the CC imprint to give your fans the freedom to do what they want with your work of art.

Those were some of the top features on Bandcamp that I felt stood out. For more info about the other features, click here.

Bandcamp is revolutionary in its attempt to give artists and bands a user-friendly platform to upload and distribute their music, as well as allow them to concentrate on their music while they (Bandcamp) handles the technical aspects of running their site. I encourage artists and bands to begin exploring and experimenting with new concepts, platforms, and models because in this Information/Digital Age you have to be highly innovative and distinct to gain attention, which generates revenue.

Below is an introduction video from the Bandcamp site:

For all of you “Golden Era” Hip Hop fans, I found something on Bandcamp that you may like:

Click Here

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Rapping To The Beat Of A Ph.D

‘Roxanne’s Revenge” was an academic triumph. Dr. Roxanne Shante, the first queen of hip-hop brags about her Ph.D. fully funded by Warner Bothers Music Group.

“This is a story that needs to be told” Shante declared, “I’m an example that you can be a teenage mom, come from the projects, and be raised by a single parent, and you can still come out of it a doctor.”

Her 1984 hit single “Roxanne’s Revenge” sold over a quarter-million copies in NYC alone, making her an instant hip hop celebrity. Not only did she lead herself to fame but she also paved the way for other female rappers including Lil Kim, Salt-N-Pepper, and Queen Latifah.

After more than two decades of broken contracts, stiffed royalty checks, and mismanaged money, Shante was displeased with the music industry and her record label. But she remembered an important clause in her Warner Music contract-the music label agreed to fund her education for life.

Without the initial support of Warner Music Group, Shante reached out to Marguerita Grecco, the dean of Marymount Manhattan College, and showed her the contract. As a result the dean allowed Shante to take classes for free as long as she continued to pursue the money from her former record label.

Shante recalled that Dean Grecco assisted her with continuously submitting her tuition bill to the music label.

Finally when Shante threatened to bring her story to the attention of the media, Warner Music Group then honored her contract.

After receiving her Ph.D. from Marymount Manhattan College in 2001, Dr. Roxanne Shante opened a therapy practice for urban African Americans.

She also gives back to the community by offering $5,000 college scholarships to female rappers every semester, and giving music industry advice through her MySpace page.

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iLike Myspace, Do You?

Earlier this week MySpace confirmed that it would be partnering with iLike, a music sharing application for social networks that allows users to share playlists and make song recommendations.

Owen Van Natta, the CEO of MySpace, indicated that the purpose of the purchase was to restructure and refocus the company.

In a recent interview Van Natta said, “iLike is an important part of a lot of different social networking experiences, and we’re excited to extend that experience to other areas of entertainment that MySpace has assets in.”

Although Mr. Van Natta refused to discuss the finances surrounding the partnership, some sources speculate that the purchase will cost the company over $20 million.

Since iLike began two years ago, the music sharing application has attained more than 50 million users. Most of it’s current users acquire the service through Facebook, one of MySpace’s leading competitors. It is unclear how the new deal will effect the partnership between Facebook and iLike. But Mr. Van Natta is confident that both partnerships will result in “making iLike an even richer experience within those environments.”


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(VIdeo Clip) "I dO MUSIC" August

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(Video Clip) Behind The Scenes @ "IdM"

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A Lil' Piece of Advice from Mr Kervins!

Hey Guys - I recently got a question concerning artist management to my email and I thought I'd share my answer with you.

Question: How does a manager set up payed shows for their artist without first doing open mics, and showcases that they themselves (the manager) payed for out of their pocket? Is there a way without a proper enough buzz? Someone let me know please thanks

Answer: Here's what I would suggest. First off, you shouldn't have to pay for every open mic you do unless the audience size and opportunity is actually worth the fee. Second, it's all about perception marketing. If venue managers and promoters THINK your artist has a following that will come out and support they'll usually be willing to put them on the show for free because of the obvious benefit to them. So the trick is to position your artists' brand where when people think of him/her they assume that he has something going. There's no way promoters are going to just pay your artist to perform without them seeing a direct benefit for them. NO WAY! Try to engage in more "Something for Something" transactions and you'll find yourself booking more paid shows in no time.

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The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is now accepting entries for the 2009 competition. Now is your chance to enter what the NY Times calls “the competition to take note of” with $150,000 (US) in cash and prizes - including $25,000 (US) cash for the grand prize winner alone and the best judges for any songwriting competition in the world.Judges for 2009 include: Kings Of Leon, Tom Waits, Rob Thomas, Jeff Beck, Black Francis (Pixies), Robbie Williams and 6 record label presidents from major and independent records labels.

For entry information and a complete list of judges please visit - http://www.songwritingcompetition.com

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Collaborative Viral Music Anyone??

We tag-teamed with Jason Staten to put together the 1st ever collaborative viral "I dO Music" youtube video. Look for more to come soon...



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Event: The Greenlightfest

The promotions team at Patchwerk Recording Studios, TeamWerk, is always flooding the streets with I dO MUSIC. This Friday we will be joining forces with Ian Ford to bring you another event leading up to our 2 year Anniversary September 3rd.

The Greenlightfest at The Loft Centerstage will make you a witness to the next wave of music trends emerging from Atlanta and South-East U.S.A. This event is open to all ages and doors open @8:00pm.

For more information please visit the website www.greenlightfest.com


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Up & Coming Bands Living Comfortable?

Here's a clip from a very insightful conversation I came across on Linked-IN where an indie band posed a question looking for advice on how to live comfortably while on the come-up (if there's such a thing right?!?)

Question: Please any advice out there? Up and coming band needs guidance to living comfortable with music careers.

Answer: (by Alex De La EspriellaOwner, Quicktrackz Entertainment LLC)

"a good manager that will secure gigs and paid events is a good start. lets b real tho... although it is possible to make money with your music i wouldn't quit your day job until the industry demands it simply because right now its too volatile. wayyy to many paradigm shifts going on. if you can get yourself promoted, under good management, and translate your efforts in to Cash money via the Internet then your ahead of the majority of the pack. i know way too many struggling artists to tell you its a cake walk. however if your smart, tech savvy, and driven enough you'll figure it out and live the dream! also check out www.TheHolodigm.com its a great website owned and operated by a veteran music manager / agent named John Hartmann. He managed Peter Paul and Mary, America, and Cher just to name a few. 50Years experience and now he teaches music business at prestigious school in LA. get your fans to buy songs direct from your website instead of looking for distribution... that way you keep alll the cash! oh yea... in case you didn't already know its no longer a music business.... its a multimedia business, the music is just one part of the big picture. every release / record should have a YouTube video at the very least... pictures help sell RECORDS! and NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK! hope that helps a bit."

Good answer Alex! A lot of aspiring artists and bands don't quite understand what it takes to successfully create and sustain a career in this industry. Hope this helps them put things in perspective! Here's a link to read more from this post on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&discussionID=6057439&gid=92831&trk=EML_anet_qa_ttle-0Qt79xs2RVr6JBpnsJt7dBpSBA

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Who's Werking?

Studio 995




R&B singer, songwriter, and music producer Mario Winans was in PatchWerk for several days this past July working with PatchWerk engineer Mike Wilson. Winans' 3rd studio album is said to be titled "Love's Highway". The album is slated for a September/October 2009 release and will include featured guests 'The Game' and 'Diddy'. Ne-yo’s new group FDM Formally known as Fun*dmental, British-bred trio; Varren, Jermaine and Kyle was also in the studio with Winans, and has their Album dropping soon.

R.L., better known as R.L. from popular 90’s R&B group Next , is currently working on his second solo album at PatchWerk studios with engineer Pierre Medor assisted by PatchWerk engineer Mike “Snotty” Miller. R.L. revealed that Next’s new album would be entitled Sex Toy. The title has since been changed to Next, Lies, & Videotape.

Mizay Entertainment Artist, OJ Da Juiceman, a.k.a. Mr. Aaay, O.K., was also at PatchWerk this past July. OJ was working with PatchWerk engineer Kori Anders. After the release of his debut album on Asylum Records in January 2009, let’s hope he’s working hard on bringing us more club bangers.

Yo Gotti’s next album Live from the Kitchen, featuring the single 5 Star will be released soon. Yo Gotti was in PatchWerk for a couple days with producer Khao and engineer Leo assisted by PatchWerk engineer Mike “Snotty” Miller.

Other sessions in 995 included those for Gucci Mane (K. Anders), Cherlise (A. Dickey), Lil Ru (M. Wilson) The Bizness (D. Brown), P Boy (K. Anders), Destin (M. Wilson),Young Ralph (K. Anders), Kasim Reed (K. Anders), G-5 (K. Anders), V-12 (M. Miller).


Studio 9000



Grammy nominated, singer and songwriter Raheem Devaughn was having songs mixed at PatchWerk Studios by Leslie Braithwaite, assisted by Michael Pratt.

R.L., better known as R.L. from popular 90’s R&B group Next , was in 9000 for several days having songs mixed for his second solo album, by engineer Leslie Brathwaite assisted by Michael Pratt. R.L. revealed that Next’s new album would be entitled Sex Toy. The title has since been changed to Next, Lies, & Videotape.

Ludacris is working with Leslie Brathwaite having songs mixed at PatchWerk Studios. Ludacris’ Battle of the Sexes is the upcoming collaboration album between Ludacris & Shawnna. It will be the seventh studio album released by Ludacris and the third released by Shawnna. The album is set to be released in Summer 2009. Ludaversal, Luda’s solo project, is also slated for a 2009 Release.

John Legend released his third studio album Evolver, in October 2008, which he worked on in part at PatchWerk studios. He was back in PatchWerk this past July tracking with Kori Anders and shooting scenes for a video.

OJ Da Juiceman, was also in studio A working with PatchWerk engineer Kori Anders. After the release of his debut album on Asylum Records in January 2009.

Other sessions in 9000 included those for Raybone (M. Wilson), Bones (M. Wilson), Plays Circle (L. Brathwaite), Prisspy P (D. Brown), Like Blood (K. Anders).

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You Gotta Check Out: "In The Know" Seminars

You CAN'T afford to miss this! In order to get signed to a record label, an artist needs to attract their own attention. What are the different types of deals out there?Our successful panel of A&R executives will shed light on the process of getting a record deal, what they look for, and the best way to approach them. There are distribution deals, label deals, artists deals, joint ventures, and 360 deals….we will discuss the pros and cons of each.

Learn from panelists such as:
Mike Caren, VP of A&R for Atlantic Records
Dee Sonorm, A&R for E1 (formerly Koch Records)
Amir Boyd, A&R for Grand Hustle Records (T.I., Young Dro, Young LA)
& More!

This 2 hour online music industry session is moderated by Wendy Day who's been in the music industry for 18 years.

A little bit about Wendy Day: Ms. Day (A Past "I dO Music" Panelist) has negotiated some stellar distribution deals in urban music. She has played a part in Eminem's deal at Aftermath/Interscope, Master P's No Limit deal with Priority Records, DJ DMD's deal with Elektra, Fiend's deal with Ruff Ryders, Trick-Trick's joint venture with Universal/Motown, UGK's renegotiation with Jive Records, and Ruff Ryder's renegotiation with Interscope. She negotiated the incredible joint venture deal for Twista with Atlantic Records in 1996, which both The Source and Rap Pages magazines called "the best deal in the history of Black music," until she topped her own record with the now famous $30 million dollar deal for Cash Money Records with Universal. She focuses on complete control and ownership for the independent label in all of her deals. Master P was the first artist to keep control and ownership of 100% of his masters for No Limit.

All you need is a phone & a computer with internet access to attend! REGISTER TODAY AT http://www.intheknowseminars.com/register.html for ONLY $14.99!! Where else can you get live & direct information and get the opportunity to ask questions of these music industry professionals without having to leave the comfort of your own home?

For more information, contact Kim Ellis at 404-434-0295 or info@intheknowseminars.com.

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I dO MUSIC RECAP & PHOTOS

August 2009


This edition of IDM was like none before with a brand new lineup to mix things up and get the creative juices flowing. To start the night off, our esteemed panelists hit the stage to give everyone some sound advice about the music world. Our experts for the evening included Jodi Cantonis of Muzak, Jeff Ivans, formerly of EMI Music Marketing, Carl Gillespie of Fresh MLK Strategy and Branding, and David Lenton of CL5 Promotions and Marketing.

They talked about advantages of DIY Marketing such as designing your own unique buzz and brand. Major record labels are still relevant in today's music industry if you want crossover appeal but if you want to focus on building relationships and musical freedom take the route of small or indie record labels. Educate yourself on all aspects of the industry including publishing, marketing, management, and live touring.

After the panel the networking kicked off throughout the crowd along with spotlight interviews by Miss Juice. She will now do on the spot interviews of producers, songwriters, engineers, artist, label reps, and other industry professionals followed by snippets of their music. A lot of great networking went on and connections were definitely made in the crowd. In the middle of the networking session, Miss juice made the Big I dO MUSIC announcement...we're moving to The Loft at Centerstage on September 3rd.

Immediately following the big news the performances kicked off. Siya lit up the stage with her 3 song snippet performance followed by our feature artist, Verse Simmonds. Next was the 16 year old phenomenon, Glo, who performed with a very fly and flashy dance group to his song, "Oxy Clean." Jae B smoothed the night out with his ode to "Pretty Girls All Around The World" and Judicial with his song "She Can Get It."

The new format certainly brought new faces to the event. Thanks to all of the attendees for showing your support and Apache Cafe for providing I dO MUSIC with a home for the past 2 years. The quest to Empower Musicians Worldwide continues next month at The Loft!!

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Investing 101: Where Music and Sponsors Meet

In my articles, “Investors for Your Music” and “Show Discipline and Success & Providers Will Invest”, I stressed the importance of building your web presence and brand and knowing your worth before asking for a sponsor or an investor to invest in you. Well, once you have those and other essential factors established; where do you go in search of sponsorship and/or investors? With the internet becoming more reliable and convenient for connecting with people, interests, and information, there’s no reason not to take full advantage of these opportunities.

A month ago, I stumbled upon a site that could bridge the gap between brands and sponsors. Groupable is a community of groups and sponsors looking to match interests, goals, passions, and needs. The Groupable platform can also track statistics on sponsorships, map out group locations, manage sponsorship levels, and even can take sponsorship donations via credit card. Below is the Groupable dashboard:

Like most social networking sites, the registration process is FREE and SIMPLE: sign up, find a sponsor and connect. Also, if you want to sponsor or invest in a group, you’re given an equally impressive platform that allows you to create a profile, add multimedia, and track groups.

Being that Groupable is a startup company, the only disadvantage for brands looking for sponsorship would be that there aren’t many sponsors in their system. However, understanding how social media will play a dominating role in the future of business and how investors may depend and rely more on niche markets and brands in the future of investing, Groupable would definitely be an avenue to consider once you’ve established a foundation for your brand.

Below are some videos from the Groupable site to give you more insight as to the nature of their community.

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Milkbox Search: Artist Development

I always hear people saying that they could be an A&R for a company and their ear for music is what the game needs. Yes that is all fine and dandy but why is it that no one wants to assist the artist in developing their skills? I'm always excited when I open a professional looking, five colored printed CD with the lyrics and hot artwork. Once I unwrap the package though, I couldn't be more disappointed in the minimal songwriting, inconsistent music style, focus of the album and crappy production. All the money an artist takes to record, package and mail out the work to a industry that won't build on their strengths and weakness.

A&R's don't want to work with potential anymore. They need to find what is selling elsewhere and grab market share. If you’re a singer on American Idol with millions of fans already they will take the time to find you great songs and a great producer but that’s because you come to them with a fan base. So much of A&R today is reading soundscans instead of developing talent. A band sells a few thousand records in the southeast states and the A&R man jumps on a plane. This sends the wrong signal to artists and even shuts down artists who just sing and don’t have the ability to create a following.

At one time A&R's went to bat for the musicians they believe in. They would convince other execs the music had potential and risk their job to get the point across. This mentality is gone today. The days of having three strong singles then dropping an album are non-existent. There isn't any connection with the fans to the artist anymore.

Now comes the freedom of music on the Internet which is a blessing and a curse. Rushing a website and a CD release is not going to build your career. If anything it will hurt you because so many people can now see and hear you online. The competition is not so much the talent itself, but the amount of music occupying the marketplace. Believe me the labels will listen to your Mp3 and move right on to the next band site. That was your chance and you wan't on your game.

As an artist, singer or songwriter you must find people who you respect to bounce ideas off of. Attend ASCAP, BMI & SESAC seminars. Become active in the various music events in your city to build relationships with the talent! Yes that means find an I dO MUSIC in your area! Find the best songs or write with people until YOU start writing the BEST songs. Find websites for music producers and listen to their productions. Producers are doing most of the development these days. If you like their work, pay them and take your music with you! Study the past!!!! Understand everything about the music style you want to make. Listen to the singers and their vocal inflections and how they feel certain words. Pay attention to their phrasing. Roll all of these influences into your new vision.

Artist today need to get creative and real because once you go through the process people don't want to mature you. Focus on your positive growth!

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We Want to Know Your Opinion... Leave Your Comments in the Comment Box Below!!And don't forget to come out and experience "I dO Music" for yourself on the 1ST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH!


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I dO Music!..."Empowering Musicians Worldwide"