The Blues Music Association Holds First Public Meeting MEMPHIS, Tenn. (May 28th, 1999) — The inaugural public meeting of the Blues Music Association (BMA) was held in Memphis, Tenn. at the Center for Southern Folklore. The BMA is the "Organization of Blues Music Professionals." It is endorsed by the Blues Foundation. As a professional organization the mission of the Blues Music Association is "To achieve greater economic success for the Blues by expanding the marketplace for Blues music." The long term goals of the BMA are: (1) Using the BMA's research and marketing abilities to sell the appeal of the Blues music to the media: commercial radio, TV and print media (relates to #2 short term goal), (2) Sell Blues music to retail as a PROFITABLE concept, (3) Provide business and technical support to artists (including the exploration of GROUP INSURANCE) and (4) Measure/track the financial growth within the blue genre (related to #1 short term goal). If you would like more information on how to join the BMA or for general correspondence send letters addressed to: Blues Music Association P.O. Box 3122 Memphis, TN 38173 Telephone number: (901) 572-3843. Media contact: Cary Baker, The Baker/Northrop Media Group Tel: (818)501-0056 cary@bakernorthrop.com — Eric Nyberg — Muscle Shoals Music Symposium in Florence, Ala. On Saturday, Nov. 13, the Times Daily and the University of North Alabama will host an all-day symposium about Muscle Shoals music at the University Of North Alabama Performance Center in Florence, AL. The main attraction? How about: Rick Hall, Buddy Killen, Sam Phillips and Jerry Wexler on the same stage discussing the history and influence of the Muscle Shoals music scene and its export to Memphis and Nashville, and vice versa. That will begin at 7:30 p.m. Other events are planned for the day. Among those invited are Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, Donnie Fritts, Rodney Hall and a reunion of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Singing the Praises with the Reverend Al Green Mon., Oct. 11, 1999, 10:53 a.m. Al Green performed his first concert at the church he pastored for years. For more than 20 years, singer Al Green has toured the world with his soul hits while quietly pastoring the Full Gospel Tabernacle church in Whitehaven, Tenn. Sunday night the international gospel singer and the local minister merged, as Rev. Green performed his first full concert at his church. The concert, which also featured the Mt. Moriah East Baptist Church Choir (Memphis, Tenn.), members of his touring band and other solo gospel singers, drew more than 650 listeners and worshipers. Those gathered were treated to a strong dose of old-time religious shouting, dancing and singing that rocked the church and attracted many newcomers. Before he took the pulpit, Green expressed his surprise at how many people had shown up. "I just want to say hello to all of the people,'' Green said with a smile. "It's standing room only and we still have people coming." When asked about the possibility of future gospel concerts, Green said, "I'd love for it to be an annual event, but we'd have to have the convention center, some larger place.'' — John Semien, The Commercial Appeal — Muscle Shoals Music Co. Launches Web Services Muscle Shoals Music Company announced it has selected Liquid Audio, Inc. (Nasdaq: LQID), a leading provider of software and services for the Internet delivery of music, to promote and sell music online that was mastered at this legendary recording studio. Muscle Shoals Music is also launching LAXrecords.com, a new recording studio and record label for independent artists that will make extensive use of the Internet to market and sell its artists' music. Muscle Shoals music legend Jimmy Johnson will serve as chief executive officer of the new label and Ray Carolin will serve as president. In addition to its traditional music studio production and mastering services, Muscle Shoals Music will help individual artists and bands signed to LAXrecords.com harness the potential of the Internet by designing, hosting and maintaining a Web site for each group. As part of this program, Muscle Shoals Music will use Liquid Audio's new Liquid(TM) Platinum Studio solution to promote and sell music online as secure Liquid Audio digital downloads. Liquid Platinum Studio, www.liquidaudio.com/signup will enable Muscle Shoals Music to create secure, CD-quality audio files for its clients that contain album art, liner notes, promotional information and Web links. The solution also includes distribution of these songs to more than 300 music Web sites in the Liquid(TM) Music Network. Fans using Liquid(TM) Player software can visit these sites to sample, purchase, and download music — or link back to the bands' Web sites to check on performance dates or purchase CDs and other merchandise.
Copyright © The Southerner 1999. 
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