August 28th - "Culturebeats" - DeepSexyCool @ Playboy - 6pm-10pm (slt)

CULTUREBEATS - A Collaboration of music and art presented by Oyster Bay's Morris Vig & Playboy's Doubledown Tandino.

Live Turntable DJs:
Brian Nicholas (funky)
Doubledown Tandino (deep)

Artists:
Cheen Pitney (sculpture)
Finny Yates (RL art)
Jazz Calhern (SL photography)

DeepSexyCool - Tuesdays 6pm-10pm (slt)
@ Playboy

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SECOND ARTS - August DeepSexyCool CultureBeats recap

Boof World

Boof World

Exclusive from Reuters: Philip Rosedale interview from SLCC

This doesn't have much to do with DJing and electronic music, but it has to do with SL, and also I wanted to have a reason to link to Reuters. Here's a good article with Philip Rosedale. I'm glad they will be focusing on quality in the next 6 months. Generally I have a warm fuzzy feeling with all of Philip's answers. Yeah, he's a good politician and evangelist, but he shows he's listening to everyone's concerns. ....and he's a good smart dude that made a place with millions of people.... and all those people have issues.... and he's doing the best that he can. And the best that he can is actually really pretty good. When I started in SL, I thought LL was the devil because they took away dwell and traffic stipends. ahahah. Now, I feel Philip is a cool dude. He's human. He's someone that made a reality from a dream. I have to give all the folks at Linden Lab a thank you now-a-days. Sure, I bitch. We all bitch. And LL does too. Our problems are their problems. We're all just chillin' in SL together trying to make it all work, taking a risk, and hoping it all won't go flip-side and ape-shit.

Exclusive: Philip Rosedale interview from SLCC
Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:08pm PDT
By Eric Reuters

CHICAGO, Aug 25 (Reuters) — Linden Lab CEO Philip Rosedale sat down for an exclusive interview at the Second Life Community Convention on Saturday to talk about Linden’s business model, its relationship with its customers, and whether the company will have to chase the lowest common denominator in adhering to real world laws.

An edited transcript follows.

Reuters: Linden built the tools that empower Second Life, but it’s the residents that built everything in it. What surprises you most out of what’s come out of Second Life?

Philip Rosedale: Nothing has really surprised me, because we always expected the system to be inherently complex.

Conspiracy theories… one of the small negative side effects is a lot of that kind of thinking.

That’s one of the challenges for us as a company. There’s a strong sentiment in many cases that we are engineering society to a degree we are actually just not. There’s just not enough of us to do that even if we weren’t on principle opposed to that.

Reuters: How do you combat that as a company?

Philip Rosedale: Well we’ve always believed in being transparent, with each other inside the company and then with everybody in Second Life outside. The only thing that limits transparency for us is simply manpower. We just don’t have enough people to emit all the data we want to emit to the world around us.

The more you can just throw the doors open and turn the lights on and say: “Look you guys, you can come on in. You can sit in my office with me. This is how we’re doing things.” All of that makes things better.

Reuters: Do you have an alt? Do you ever go into Second Life undercover?

Philip Rosedale: I’ve got some accounts I created long ago but sadly I really haven’t had time to use them.

I don’t know whether I’d personally ever be comfortable not saying who I was. It’s hard for me in terms of my personal style to imagine being comfortable doing that. But I’d like in the future to go in there as a normal user.

Reuters: Is Linden profitable?

Philip Rosedale: Linden is roughly profitable. We’re right at the point of profitability, which for a company of about 200 people is pretty impressive.

The business model is actually pretty simple. The engine of growth in Second Life is a lot of small-scale entrepreneurship. We have a thousand people making more than US$1000 a month. That engine is what enables some of that economic activity to be paid to us as the operators of the simulators who provide the service.

Reuters: What are Linden’s real sources of income? You’ve got a small spread on the Lindex, land sales, tier fees.

Philip Rosedale: By far the largest source of income to Linden Lab is the sales and the tier fees.

The core of our business is a hosting business.

Reuters: You’ve mentioned you want to make a move towards open source servers. If land is the bread and butter of your business, and you’re open sourcing that, how will that work in the future?

Philip Rosedale: If you’re an entrepreneur, wanting to enter the virtual world and sell stuff to people, you’re going to want to find the largest possible audience. So you’ll be strongly drawn to set up your shop on the system with the largest number of people using it. There will be a tremendous desire by people to link those servers together and be on our network so they can have access to the largest base of people.

Reuters: So Linden will charge an access fee?

Philip Rosedale: Right.

Now you wouldn’t have to, obviously, under the open source model. Not every application would demand one to connect to Second Life. But the entrepreneur who comes in will want to come towards where the largest market is.

We believe we can reasonably make money — barely make money — by just charging access to the system.

We also provide a whole bunch of global services. The uniqueness of your name, your inventory, the ability to unique mark things — this person built that object.

Reuters: You talked a lot this morning about reliability. What are your performance benchmarks? What is a reasonable goal for Linden to accomplish?

Philip Rosedale: We need to increase service availability. It’s not as high as it could be or as high as we’d like it to be for a commercial large-scale operating service. We’re going to publish the running data of how we’re doing. So everyone will be able to see us hopefully improving it and gauge and discuss whether we’re improving it quickly enough.

We need to get to the place where Second Life is as reliable running on your PC or a Mac as an Internet browser.

Reuters: In terms of new features versus bug fixing, which do you consider the more important of the two?

Philip Rosedale: Fixing bugs.

There’s not a key feature — I think that voice is exemplary of a very important significant platform feature that’s necessary for people to do everything they immediately think of wanting to do. But beyond that I don’t see a huge imperative feature — if you were to push me I’d probably say getting a web browser onto the surface of objects, so you can be browsing the web while you’re standing with somebody. That’s a very powerful feature that we’ve partway implemented already. So I think that’s something that’s a basic capability. But that is way outvoted by the simple requirement for greater reliability.

Reuters: Are there any plans to take Linden Lab public in the near future?

Philip Rosedale: No. We’re profitable now and sustainable, so that choice is up to us. And we don’t have any immediate plans.

Reuters: Is there a problem where German laws are more restrictive than American laws on ageplay? And likewise, American laws may be more restrictive than European laws on gambling. Are we moving to the lowest common denominator?

Philip Rosedale: No.

The lowest common denominator is just not what you want to do. It’s not going to happen on the Internet, and it’s not going to happen here. We’re doing what we can as a platform to try to make that the case.

If you want to apply a local jurisdictional law to people, we’re going to make it so you apply that to people who are individual avatars trying to go to one place. That’s what we’re doing with age verification. We’re making that a feature that’s tied to land and people, not a feature that’s tied to the whole system. When we’re confronted with a legal or regulatory matter where we need for legal reasons to enable a certain type of restriction on behavior, we do that as locally as possible and not have a lowest common denominator.

Reuters: So there may be code in the future where your avatar is tied to your real-life nationality and then based on that nationality certain restrictions may or may not come into play?

Philip Rosedale: Right.

If the local restrictions that countries for example are making on avatars, if those restrictions are well-published and transparent and in the public light, I think we’re going to get to a good overall set of choices. Countries will make the right choices about how they want to restrict people’s use in Second Life if they can see what other countries are doing rather than us being the sole decider of what’s right locally.

Reuters: As CEO of Linden Lab, what is your number one focus and priority for the next six months? When you get up in the morning, what do you think about getting done in Second Life?

Philip Rosedale: Quality. We’re at a place where we’ve demonstrated that the virtual world can exist. Now we need to make it high quality so it does continuously support the activities and desires of the people who are using it. That’s what we’ve learned by listening for the last couple of quarters. We’ve got to increase the quality.

Philip Linden At Timeless Underground III

Philip Linden At Timeless Underground III
Originally uploaded by TaranRampersad

Finally we got Philip Linden dancing at Timeless Underground!

Thanks TaranRampersad

Aug 19th - 11am-4pm (slt) - Timeless Underground Rave

WHO: You (and whoever you'd like to bring along) plus a fantastic DJ line up all day!

11a.m.: Doubledown Tandino - Deep House

12p.m.: Lain Messmer - Progressive Trance

1 p.m.: CJ Arliss - Trance

2 p.m: GW Raymaker - Tech House

3 p.m.: Shad Raffke - Psytrance

WHAT: A massive party to celebrate Timeless Underground! A unique Second Life Club experience.
WHEN: Sunday, August 19th, 2007 , 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. SLT
WHERE: RavKom (48,192,24)

Low on gimmicks, high on environment. No sploders and no contests, we simply believe in the power of music and good people. At Timeless Underground you are vulnerable to death, it adds a nice edge of adrenaline, but at the same time you get to experience what it's like at a real life rave - there are people capable of harming you, but typically don't because it's a culture of people who understand energy and respect. Let yourself be immersed. Everyone is welcome here. :)

Amazing event photos by JenzZa Misfit HERE Slideshow view

Also posted on Your2ndPlace.com

August 16 , 17, & 18th 7:00PM-9:00PM SLT - SL Woodstock

SLWoodstock
August 16 , 17, & 18th 7:00PM-9:00PM SLT

The mixes you hear in between acts on Edloe island are being provided by the magical scratching hands of Doubledown Tandino.





Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Edloe/77/126/28

Things are changing every day, so please visit us at http://slwoodstock.com/
for all the latest changes from performers to times.

CURRENT LINEUP

Twilight Gardens on Edloe

THURSDAY
7PM-8PM PA SL Band/ Real life band name Produto Acabado
8PM-9PM Grateful Stryker
FRIDAY
7PM-8PM Clayton
8PM-9PM TBA

Nowhereville-Los Arboles
􀀁
THURSDAY
7PM-8PM Sebastian Jacks
8PM-9PM Spence Wilder
FRIDAY:
7PM-8PM FoxyFlowr Cure
8PM-9PM Grace McDunnough
Saturday:
12PM-1PM Natalie Moody
1PM-2PM Jacek Zehetbauer
2PM-3PM Rich Desoto

Club Cocomo on Pitt Island
􀀂
THURSDAY
7PM-8PM Dolmere Talamasca
8PM-9PM Ictus Belford
FRIDAY:
7PM-8PM Lyndon Heart
8PM-9PM Sojurn Rossini

SLWoodstock currently sponsored by:
http://qdnow.com/
http://shop.onrez.com/
http://podcasting.isfullofcrap.com/

The Significance of Music in Second Life

Sunday, August 05, 2007
The Significance of Music in Second Life

Thank you to the author of this article
John von/Johnvon Watanabe
( http://www.johnvon.info/ )


Music has always been a social art form, created and enjoyed by people in groups. Some argue that music was one of the primary means by which early groups of humans communicated and maintained the social bonds that held their communities together.

Since the invention of music recording however, about a century ago, technological developments have made the experience of music a more and more private activity. Once music could be purchased for listening at home, the possibility of enjoying music in private by yourself became a more and more popular alternative to attending performances. This has led to our current iPod era, where the most iconic image of a music listener is of a solitary individual dancing with mp3 player and earphones attached, rather than the more social concert or club audiences of earlier periods.

More recently, networking and new online media technologies have reversed this trend to some extent, giving us new ways to form communities around music. Napster showed us all how badly we want to share our music, and in spite of the dogged resistance of the 'mainstream' music industry, technologies for sharing music and other media online continue to grow in sophistication.

Most recently, virtual world environments such as Second Life have introduced a significant new development, creating a virtual 3d space in which groups of fans can listen to and experience music together in real-time. Of course virtual reality tech like this has been around since the early 90s, but the last couple years mark the first time that they have been easily accessible by a large simultaneous user base.

We anticipate that virtual world technologies are likely to have a major impact on the world of music in the near future. We will focus on Second Life here as it currently has the most sophisticated in-world music scene.

Continue & read the entire article here:
http://www.johnvon.info/2007/08/significance-of-music-in-second-life.html

ASCAP and BMI Announce Launch of Online Music Cue Sheet Technology RapidCue

As mentioned before, BMI is in SL. Still after the interview, many are really bothered that BMI was welcomed in by Funky House Club. The general feeling is just to steer clear of BMI. The club owners and DJs I wanted to interview did not want to go on record for the concern that BMI is the enemy, and they all need to be avoided.... that is unless your music gets on their licensing service.

From the ASCAP website:
ASCAP and BMI Announce Launch of Online
Music Cue Sheet Technology RapidCue

Online standard set for electronic submission of music cue sheet data for
Television, Cable and Film music usage

August 14, 2007 - NEW YORK - ASCAP and BMI, the leading U.S. performing rights organizations (PROs), have announced RapidCue, a state-of-the-art cue sheet technology for the use of music in the film, TV and cable industries. RapidCue is a secured website that allows users to enter, manage and electronically submit music cue sheet data for television, cable and film productions to BMI and ASCAP. A cue sheet is a document that lists data on all the music performed in a particular film or television program and constitutes the basis of payment of royalties for performances of music in audio-visual programming.

Jointly developed by BMI and ASCAP over the past four years and setting an industry standard, RapidCue allows users to electronically and securely submit cue sheets to the PROs and provide electronic notification and acknowledgement of receipt. Developed with the participation of the film, television production and television network communities, the program offers electronic or hard-copy versions of cue sheets, as well as the ability to revise data.

"This standard-setting system will cut down the submission and processing time for the film, TV and cable communities when submitting music data for their productions," said Alison Smith, Senior Vice President, Performing Rights, BMI. "This secure, automated system will help ensure timely receipt to BMI and ASCAP so our composers, songwriter and publisher affiliates can be fairly compensated."

"RapidCue provides a cost-effective, streamlined cue sheet process for film, television production companies and television networks," said Al Wallace, Executive Vice President/COO, ASCAP. "At the same time, ASCAP members and BMI affiliates will benefit from the accuracy, timeliness and broader tracking of their music. We're happy to be able to begin rolling this out to the community."

Contact info@rapidcue.com for more information.

About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) is the first and largest U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing a repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 300,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP also represents the repertories created by the international affiliates of 90 foreign performing rights organizations. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing and distributing royalties for the public performances of their copyrighted works. ASCAP is the only American Performing Rights Organization owned and governed by its writer and publisher members.

About BMI
Now marking over 65 years in business, Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), is an American performing right organization that represents a repertoire of more than 6.5 million musical works including the music of thousands of the world's most successful international composers. Representing more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in all genres of music, the non-profit-making corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.

###

MEDIA CONTACTS:

For ASCAP

CooperKatz & Company, Inc.
Meredith Topalanchik
Tel: 212-455-8018
mtopalanchik@cooperkatz.com

ASCAP
Pauline Stack
Tel: 212-621-6278
pstack@ascap.com

For BMI

Hanna Pantle, BMI
Tel: 310-289-6328
hpantle@bmi.com

Jerry Bailey, BMI
Tel: 615-401-2825
jbailey@bmi.com

"Asian Variations" by Moshang Zhao - Various Artists, Remixed by Moshang

About the album
The Asian Variations album is a collection of remixes produced by MoShang in his Chinese Chill style of downtempo electronica, melding deeply laid-back beats with Chinese traditional instruments. Some of these remixes were solicited by the original artists, two were done for remix competitions, and in some cases MoShang approached artists directly requesting permission to remix their work. The artists represented on the album are literally from all over the globe; The U.S.A. (Fort Minor, Toao, Lovespirals, Brad Reason), Taiwan (Kou Chou Ching, Chang Jui-chuan, Viba, Andre van Rensburg, MoShang), South Africa (Gordon’s Suitcase), Japan (Akihiko Matsumoto & Chage), Italy (Big Red Devil), and Slovenia (PureH) and for the most part the collaboration with MoShang was via the web. With the exception of Fort Minor and J-pop star, Chage, none of the artists are signed to major labels and all are working hard to be heard.

Visit the download page to download the complete album as a .zip file and for the press kit. For recent news and reviews of the album, please visit the blog.

The complete album and all the tracks on it are made available under a Creative Commons Music Sharing License. In short, you are welcome to share these tracks and freely use them for any noncommerical purpose, as long as you give credit to MoShang and the original artists involved.

Aug 14th - DeepSexyCool at Playboy - DJs Shad Raffke & Grip Talon

An Interview with Charming Babii & Danni Dollinger, Owners of Funky House Club, & Now Sponsored by BMI

As I reported a day earlier HERE there was upset when the Funky House Club announced it would be taking on BMI as a sponsor. I promosed an interview for both Funky House Club owners as well as for all of the DJs, artists, club owners, and partygoers that may have been concerned about BMI's long-term SL plans.

I was joined by Charming Babii & Danni Dollinger, the owners of the Funky House Club (FHC) in Second Life. Recently they had advised the DJ/Music/Club scene that BMI has joined their endeavors as a sponsor.

Generally, most musicians and DJs have varying conceptions & misconceptions about BMI (more about BMI here). When the Funky House Club sent their news, it was met with congratulations, but also confusion, suspicion, and anger. Charming, Danni, and I were anxious to sit down and discuss more specifically FHC’s new projects, what BMI as a sponsor means,& what will BMIs presence in SL mean to other club owners and artists, performers, and djs.

--This text transcript has been edited for spelling, grammar, and extraneous content---
("You" = Doubledown Tandino)

[14:29] You: firstly I’d like to thank you for doing this. I think it's the best method for people to understand what you're all about to do... instead of them leaving them assuming the worst. Tell me about yourselves regarding real life. Before you found SL, what kinds of things musically were you each doing?

[14:31] Charming Babii: I have been a DJ for 12 years in clubs in Denmark. I’m not playing live in RL at the moment..only SL. Im also working on my own production :) House and dance music that is :)

[14:34] Danni Dollinger: I’m a music lover. I have met may famous people in RL. muso's. Mostly Australian artists.

[14:35] You: Was there any RL music or event related work you have done? What is your skills background?

[14:38] Danni Dollinger: i have a bachelors Degree in Economics and work as a management consultant in RL

[14:38] You: When did you both enter SL?

[14:38] Charming Babii: 2/22/2007

[14:39] Danni Dollinger: haha i cant remember the exact date the 25th of Feb I think.

[14:40] You: Charming, when you entered SL, were your first thoughts along the lines of getting involved with the music DJ scene? What was your first big project?

[14:41] Charming Babii: No..not all..I didn´t know anything about DJing in SL...I was happy when I found out. Went to (Club) Fallout.. and realized the DJing was possible in SL.

[14:41] You: how about you Danni; Your first big SL undertaking?

[14:42] Danni Dollinger: Learning how Sl worked and what it all meant.

[14:43] You: I mean, right after that, what was sort of the first project you got involved with?

[14:44] Danni Dollinger: I guess that would be getting involved with Hed Kandi

[14:45] You: The RL label.... not just some dude in SL that happened to be named "Hed Kandi"?

[14:45] Danni Dollinger: haha very funny. No, the RL label.

[14:45] You: What paths did you each take to arrive to the creation of the Funky House Club? When was the club's opening date?

[14:46] Danni Dollinger: Charm and I met at Fallout where he was spinning.

[14:46] Danni Dollinger: I loved the tunes he played and we became friends instantly.

[14:46] Charming Babii: we opened the club the July 20th, 2007

[14:46] You: Yeah I was at the opening, place was hopping! And since then you've grown to the beach and the yacht. What were the original ideals and goals when the concept of FHC formed?

[14:48] Danni Dollinger: Charm and I both loved House Music and the format of Fallout was changing towards another direction musically.

[14:49] You: so pretty much, you had the means and saw that FHC could give more freedom towards what you wanted to do with a SL club?

[14:49] Charming Babii: We could choose the music and play what we like :)

[14:50] You: Was gaining sponsorship an idea that you toyed with?

[14:51] Charming Babii: No not at all, the opportunity presented itself.

[14:52] You: Tell me a little about that, who approached who, and what were some of the basic ideas talked about?

[14:54] Danni Dollinger: We were approached by a BMI representative and we discussed the idea we had for the club.

[14:54] You: At this point, BMI is officially a sponsor, correct? Now, what does that mean exactly? What are some of the plans that BMI has for FHC, or vice versa? What does the sponsorship actually entail?

[14:55] Danni Dollinger: We are sponsored by BMI London. Our plans are to promote new talent and Artists in Dance Music. As well as have a hot of a time doing it :D

[14:56] You: Is it an exchange of money for signs and promo? Or is it about future BMI headliner events? What kind of options are the possibilities BMI wants to do? Will Funky House Club will have more to pay performers? Will BMI reps also be hanging at FHC looking for potential prospects?

[14:57] Danni Dollinger: Double let us resond to one question at a time. BMI already promotes events here in SL.

[15:00] Charming Babii: BMI wants to promote artists from the dance scene ...and they want to do it with FHC. They want to sign / discover artists (artists including writers, DJ´s, & producers) in SL and RL and promote them in SL and of course in RL. We are making our island into a dance scene.

[15:02] Danni Dollinger: We are planning to hold monthly events where Dance Music Artists can play their tunes to a live audience. At the moment BMI co-sponsors the Wavelength event at The Blarney Stone here in Sl which is a live simulcast from Hammersmith London (the Regal Rooms). The Hammersmith monthly event is for Piano acoustic artists.

[15:04] Charming Babii: So if there are DJs, producers, & artists in the dance scene in SL...they really have the opportunity at FHC.

[15:05] You: What key points about FHC was it that made BMI select FHC? Can you think of anything specific that got BMI to notice FHC? Why FHC, what were some things that made it more exceptional than other clubs?

[15:06] Danni Dollinger: The collaboration with FHC is to promote Dance music from SL into RL. Part of the reason i think they chose FHC is because of our vision to the future. That being.... Funky DJ Agency and Funky Music Productions

[15:10] You: Moving on to more BMI related. You two are not BMI reps, so i wouldn’t expect you should know all these answers. BMI, what are they about.. in essence?

[15:11] Danni Dollinger: Performing Rights Representation for Creators of all Music.

[15:12] You: in simple terms: They make sure artists receive the money owed from their music being played live, correct? or does live not have anything to do with it? .... (example, a commercial wants to use a song, they'd go to BMI for that license?)

[15:13] Danni Dollinger: No they would need to get permission for the Music Publisher

[15:14] You: ok, so BMI mainly relates to music played at a public event, correct?

[15:14] Danni Dollinger: Partially but also radio, tv, cable, and the net.

[15:15] You: Net streaming (what performers do into clubs in SL) .. Would that fall under BMI's jurisdiction, or RIAA?

[15:15] Danni Dollinger: Not at this time (it does not fall under BMI’s jurisdiction.

[15:16] You: But perhaps, someday? BMI could be in SL to create new laws and licenses?

[15:17] Danni Dollinger: BMi doesn’t create laws. It is governed by a consent decree which is legislative.

[15:18] You: Does funky house club now have a BMI licence?

[15:18] Danni Dollinger: No. It is a promotional activity to promote dance music in SL.

[15:18] You: Is BMI supplying FHC's DJs with free music to promote?

[15:19] Charming Babii: No not at all... i wish lol

[15:19] Danni Dollinger: lol

[15:20] You: so specifically, how does BMI "help promote a performer or artists" ?

[15:21] Charming Babii: Showcases, co writing sessions, meet n greats, and general promoting activities.

[15:22] Danni Dollinger: And introductions to people in the Music Business.

[15:22] You: And we should expect to see some BMI reps hanging at the club sometimes?

[15:22] Charming Babii: yes :)) that’s the point :))

[15:22] Danni Dollinger: Yes of Course

[15:23] You: Do you feel it's hypocritical to join with BMI, knowing that you are playing music unlicensed for FHC?

[15:24] Charming Babii: No not at all

[15:24] Danni Dollinger: BMI is here in a promotional capacity only.

[15:24] Charming Babii: …on the dance scene

[15:25] You: Many are saying "Yeah, they say they're here in a promotional capacity, but there's no way they're not going to start snooping around." If BMIs company IS keeping licenses and selling them in RL, why would they overlook the countless live performers and clubs in SL that are potentially doing something unlicensed that BMI could collect money from?

[15:28] Danni Dollinger: That’s between Linden Lab and all of the agencies that are trying to get their piece of SL.

[15:28] You: Here's a worst case scenario: BMI is invited in by FHC..... BMI then comes up with some "virtual world performance" license and demands SL clubs or performers now need licenses.... then BMI goes to all the popular clubs and logs who is breeching licenses.... and then they contact Linden Lab to request RL personal info.....

[15:28] Danni Dollinger: BMI is here to promote new talent.

[15:28] Charming Babii: BMI is here now for the Dance scene.

[15:29] Danni Dollinger: That type of thing is legislative and not BMIs domain.

[15:30] You: before you both connected with BMI, what were your opinions about BMI?

[15:30] Charming Babii: I thought BMI was a record company lol.

[15:32] You: It's a huge step and FHC will gain much success.. What are your thoughts about the feelings of the SL DJ/Club community? Do you feel this will only help or hurt?

[15:33] Danni Dollinger: FHC feels that this is a really good thing for Artists and Djs in SL. They will be given more opportunities to be promoted in RL which may not have come along if they weren’t in SL

[15:34] Charming Babii: Yes..You never know..maybe I’ll get my tunes out ;)

[15:34] You: If other club owners or club goers still think negatively about BMI doing this, and FHC doing this, do you have anything to say to them to convince them that BMI is honestly here to promote artists and djs only?

[15:36] Danni Dollinger: I would say come along to our first live event and be heard!

[15:36] You: It seems people may be naive about what BMI is all about, where can they go to get more BMI info?

[15:37] Charming Babii: http://www.bmi.com/

[15:37] You: thank you for doing this

[15:37] Charming Babii: yw Double :))

[15:37] Danni Dollinger: thanks :)

BMI to Sponsor Funky House Club - Some Congratulate, While Others are Very Upset

BMI is a performing right organization: It collects license fees on behalf of its songwriters, composers and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed. Generally in the USA, BMI requires licences from live music venues, and sometimes the performer. In real life, If a venue has musicians performing music on BMI's roster, DJs playing music, or even an Ipod for background music, then the venue is required to buy a contract from BMI. (ASCAP is also another company that requires a public music performance licences)

DJ Charming Babii is one of SL's top DJs. He is co-owner of Funky House Club and frequent performer. The Funky House Club has scored an amazing opportunity:
From Funky House Club (Charming Babii via notecard):
"BMI is the largest performing rights organisation in the world. A quick scan of BMI’s legendary roster turns up such names as John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Dave Brubeck, Willie Nelson, The Eagles, Thelonious Monk, Carlos Santana, The Beach Boys, The Neville Brothers, The Who, Aretha Franklin, Waylon Jennings, Charles Ives, John Kander & Fred Ebb, Leadbelly, John Williams, The Bee Gees, B.B. King, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and – via its affiliation with the British performing rights organization PRS – David Bowie, Sir Elton John and Eric Clapton.
The need to stay current is one of the music industry’s driving forces, and BMI meets that mandate with such names as Kanye West, the Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, John Adams, Juanes, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Keith Urban, Lil Jon, Mike Post, Juan Luis Guerra, John Legend, Tim McGraw, Conor Oberst, Keane, Don Omar, Thomas Newman, Snow Patrol, Snuffy Walden, William Bolcom, Ivy Queen, Snoop Dogg, Shakira, Seal, Rhianna, Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyke, Fedde le Grand, BT, Basement Jaxx, Paul Oakefold, Gorrilaz and many other top names on the contemporary scene. http://www.bmi.com/genres/C2681 (dance music)"

However, there's been communication through me about this being a problem for SL DJs and Clubs. Some are fearful that with BMI in SL and invested in the DJ/Club scene, they will begin investigating venues and DJs that may not have proper licencing to play music publicly. They may also begin designing rules and laws to regulate "virtual public music events". One angry raver said (as a group of 15 were hanging out in a club when Charming's Group Notice came through announcing the news.)"BMI is probably coming in to invent some new rules where virtual events are considered real life live events. They want to come in and take control of the music scene in SL, and make everyone pay to play."

One one hand,
But is taking BMI as a sponsor hypocritical? One DJ at the same club I was at said "It's like making virtual weapons, and accepting the Nazi's as a sponsor"

Danni Dollinger (owner of Funky House Club as well) has very positive reasons for wanting to be involved in SL. "i think its important to know the whole role of BMI . Its not only about licencing. Its also and moreover about discovering new artists and talented djs. BMI is a non-profit organisation that sponsors artist to spread their talents to the world BMIs major role here in SL and RL is for that in the forefront. We are really happy to explain BMIs role and plans for SL in tomorrows interview. Its actually a very exciting concept."

Are people just scared because they don't know what BMI and Funky House Club are up to? FHC owners are excited and happy to speak about their new adventure. Getting RL sponsorship from a music company is HUGE! Are the naysayers just jealous because he landed a big sponsorship deal?

I am going to interview Funky House Club owners tomorrow (Aug14th) so everyone can learn more about the project. I am also conducting several interviews with people that have strong opinions about this matter. (and you must be on the record).

Please stay tuned for the full story tomorrow. In the meantime, please post your comments or questions I should ask tomorrow.

--UPDATE-- Interview with Charming Babii & Danni Dollinger POSTED

The Subscribe-O-Matic

The Subscribe-O-Matic
Posted Aug 10th 2007 2:37AM by Akela Talamasca of Second Life Insider

I'd never heard of Synthetik before this, but they're ready for stardom with the release of the Subscribe-O-Matic, which sounds wonderful. Tired of having to get people to subscribe to your Group just to send them updates and notices? The Subscribe-O-Matic takes care of that by allowing anyone at all to join your list at the touch of a kiosk.

There are a number of reasons to use the Subscribe-O-Matic, and the pricing plan sounds reasonable, so check out the particulars at the site, and someone please let me know if this works as advertised!

(Thanks, MSo! & Akela)

Thursday August 9th - 7pm - Oyster Bay Second Arts Photography Grand Opening

Oyster Bay is pleased to announce the grand opening party for its new Second Arts Photography gallery, located off the sculpture garden.
From 7-8PM SLT, DJ Doubledown Tandino will break out the house tunes and cool jazz beats while you check out the creative SL photography of: Paolo Bade, Jazz Calhern, Ty Ebisu and Isolde Flamand. From portraits to environmental/landscape works, this eclectic mix has a little for everyone!
Come and enjoy these great SL photographers!

The SL DJ & Club Scene Updated News Kiosks are Now Available!

NEWS: The DJ & Club Scene Newsletter IS NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DJ & CLUB SCENE KIOSK!! If all works as it should: you should be able to left-click the kiosk and receive the most curent update. If you right-click you should be able to take-copy the whole vendor and rez it yourself anywhere. If that doesn't work, IM Doubledown Tandino and he'll send you a kiosk to rez. REZ THE KIOSK EVERYWHERE! At your clubs, venues, stages, & shops

New Track by Brad Reason - "In The Back Of Vega"

Lately I've been hanging out at SL clubs listening to great DJs, and I'd get the itch to mix with them or create my tunes along with what they're spinning. I call it 'client side mixing'
I suspect many other DJs in SL do this... where they're hanging and listening to an excellent DJ, and then they have that desire to want to spin with em.

Tonight I was at Club Vega listening to DJ Evermore Noel. Excellent DJ!
So I was inspired to make a track during the set.

This is sort of a minimal funky house track, good for mixing in with other tracks.
Download it here until this link doesn't work anymore.
After that it will be available in my Second Tunes vendor.

Aug 2nd - DeepSexyCool @ Playboy - 6pm-10pm (slt)

Pictures from the evening:

iBreaks Radio - Breakbeat Radio, Record label and Breakbeatonline.com enters Second Life

iBreaksRadio Nightclub - Breaks/Breakbeat, Techno, Funk, DnB

(SLURL will be posted here once SL is operational again)

Breakbeat, tech, funk, techno, minimal sounds for your lsitening pleasure with live in world and offworld DJ's. Over 8 hour each day of live performances plus additional inworld shows.

Current inworld DJ's:
Norgan Torok
Jmekka Oh

iBreaks Radio - Breakbeat Radio, Record label and Breakbeatonline.com music distribution. Our goal and drive is to unite a community and help expose our music to more of the world. The Compound is a huge area containing a group buildings incorporating the ibreaksradio nightclub, breakbeatonline shop, retail shop space, public sandbox and general hangout.
More info and Schedule please check the website or in the club itself at http://www.ibreaks.co.uk

Chicago Music Promotions Premieres MP3 Music Store in Second Life

Chicago Music Promotions Premieres MP3 Music Store in Second Life

I met Mattchicago Cleanslate at his MP3 music store in Second Life. I was intrigued and impressed. Mattchicago seems to possess marketing and promotion skills especially since he's taking his operation into Second Life. He has set up presences including the website: http://chicagomusicpromotions.com/, within Second Life, myspace, and on other online social networks.

I joined myself up as a DJ and Music Artist through the site and can't wait to check out the numbers of visitors and downloaders of my music and DJ mixes. This also looks like a GREAT way to get music for my DJ sets.

-----

From the Press Release:

Michael Nalett (aka Mattchicago Cleanslate) has opened a music store in SL with a different idea behind it.

Most online music stores on or off SL are staid affairs, consisting of stale menus and simple shopping carts.

Even in SL, the inclusion of Streaming music in the world has been a problem... while most people stream lots of music, the copyright issues have tended to be iffy. Attempts to chop music into 10 second clips have proven somewhat prone to lag.

Mattchicago's company,

Chicago Music Promotions http://www.chicagomusicpromotions.com
has recently invested in most of the Ilgop sim. One of their first activities (after investing in actual public works) was a nightclub streaming several genres 24/7, with regular changes of music depending on the day of week.

MattChicago says the latest attempt to build a independent music-themed sim in Second Life by his company is purely for promotional purposes. "We're not looking to actually earn directly from Second Life, but rather, to give Residents a chance to listen to music from our artists and (hopefully) get hooked enough to buy the music that we promote."

The company has opened a in-world shop where Residents can sample some of the music his company offers in a music store setting http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ilgop/187/160/57
and purchase legal copies of MP3s from its library on the spot.

The shop is relatively simple, consisting of several listening booths with chairs and "players", each linked into a separate stream from the company's servers.
On one far end of the shop, a wall of virtual albums is placed, each purchasable with L$.

The cost of the download is a nominal fee, mainly to cover the cost of bandwidth for the downloads themselves. Prices ranged from L$150 - 250 at the time this report was filed. and it was noted that some mixes actually lasted over an hour.

MattChicago plans to introduce even more music in the MP3 Music stores, but can't promise a timeframe: "We have over 2000 to 3000 songs across a wide spectrum of genres, and more are being submitted everyday at our website. To give you the cream of the crop here in SL requires a lot of vetting by the company, and this is not something we want to rush."

The delivery consists of a simple script for less technically oriented Residents who don't know how to set media URLs on their land, as well as a URL for a direct download for those more interested in bringing the music into their part of the real world, or into a more capable media player.

As Mattchicago tells it, this wasn't an easy thing to do.

"I'd asked around and while nightclubs are a dime a dozen in Second Life, a shop that sells 100% legal DJ mixes isn't a thing that has been done before. Until now, that is."

Chicago Music Promotions plans on opening more CMP Music Centers in Second Life to promote other genres of music under the company's wing in the coming months. The company is welcoming land owners interested in setting up such centers in other parts of the grid catering to different genres of music.