In praise of the session musician: Garnett Brown
Behind so many great recorded pieces of music and so many Big Name musicians, you will find a bunch of phenomenal session musicians. It is rare that these names get the recognition they deserve for the contributions they make. Many Big Names will happily pass out the credit to the session musician, hence why they...
The sound of Axe
If you are still unsure how a more effective use of sound can help build brand equity, then listen to this new offering from those people at Axe. Get past the adolescent maleness of the clip, and focus on how sound has been brilliantly utilised to shape the consumer experience. Use headphones when listening to...
The Renaissance of Music – one step at a time…
I spoke a while back at a conference in Lisbon (Radio Congresso) on the future of music. I set the debate within the context of music not being the same thing as ‘music business’. At so many music conferences, the discussion all too often centres on trying to re-configure business models that are bust. When...
Radio in the 21st Century: r@dio em congresso Lisbon
So I have arrived at the R@dio em Congresso conference in Lisbon. The event is set to bring academics and practitioners together to investigate the future of radio in the digital world. I have had some great chats with Nik Goodman, a UK based media consultant who works with radio stations and other media brands...
The original Twin-Decks?
“Le Chronophone’ 1910 by Leon Gaumont. As seen at the fantastic musee des arts et metiers in Paris.
The Sign of Sia
I caught a glimpse of GLEE last night on TV (no really only a glimpse). It had the Glee club member singing with a group of kids who were also signing the words to Imagine. All very nice and all that, but I couldn’t help but think of the glorious Sia who delivered one of...
The Sound of Fonts
When we describe the business value of Sonic Branding to clients, inevitably conversation gets round to comparing our approach to creating the sonic identity of a brand to the work involved in creating the VISUAL identity of a brand. There is nothing more visual in the visual identity of a brand than the font. And...
Wake Up Everybody…RIP Teddy Pendergrass
Time out from music marketing, sonic branding and looking after… Always been a big fan of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. Teddy Pendergrass at his best…
RATM vs Joe: They are on the same label. So what are you raging about?
So the biggest fake fight for number 1 is thankfully now over. Rage Against the Machine is the Xmas number 1, instead of the X-Factor winner Joe something or other. We can all pat ourselves on the back to show how democracy and the power of crowds can overcome the establishment. Power to the people?...
Dear musicians – Does album running order matter any more?
Once upon a time, artists struggled with the perfect running order of the songs for the LP (that’s a big round flat bit of plastic that sound came out of when it came in contact with a needle, and often came packaged in hideously/beautifully designed cardboard). Which songs should be on side 1, which on...
The Sensory Experience of a restaurant
Been around for a while but still the concept of a restaurant that shuts off your ability to view food is a splendid thing. The Nocti Vagus restaurant in Berlin provides an experience of food that demands you to depend on your sense of smell, taste, sound and touch. Much like Gordon Ramsay goes on...
