(Sunday, Feb 16, 2014) “You have to be great.” That line has been on loop in my mind since the middle of the week, when I met with Dani Grant from SpokesBuzz and the Mishawaka Amphitheater for lunch, and to discuss her organizations’ support of The Colorado Sound, and The Colorado Sound’s support of some upcoming events at the Mish.
“You have to be great.” Typically, in a normal week, I listen to 3 or 4 new album/ep releases or roughly 30 t0 40 cuts. Of course, those are not all full cut listens – most are 8-second rides – needle drops – looking for that OMG moment when I have to listen more intently to a single track – in the hopes I break a future hit (we djs are always looking to break a hit).
On top of producing the show, I am also on a few event committees. This week I had two sessions where as a member of a committee we evaluated submissions for a couple of upcoming summer festivals. In all, almost 200 acts will be scheduled for five event-days, from over 500 submissions (either a committee recommendation or actual online submission).
“You have to be great.” What does that mean exactly? Buyers look for it. DJs look for it. Fans look for it. “Man, I gotta great deal!” “Man, I saw a great show!” “Man, I booked a great band!” “Man, you gotta hear this great song I found!”
Today’s “radio” is truly anything video related. YouTube is the single most dominant source of new music discovery in the world. Today, more and more, buyers rely on video instead of strictly audio as a way of auditioning acts for an event. Video doesn’t lie. The presentation put forth speaks for itself – especially when the video is from a live performance (and especially from a “smart phone” video). Video quality + audio quality + visual quality + performance quality all now matter in “you have to be great.”
VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK
Katie Herzig is a Fort Collins native, a graduate of both Rocky Mountain High, and Colorado State University. While she was in college she fronted the very popular folk-rock act Newcomer’s Home. Katie went solo, moved to Nashville, and along with Pretty Lights stands as one of the two most successful artists to emerge from Fort Collins. She’s got a brand new album set to drop in April – and in the meantime, she just released this new video from her last album.
PLAYLIST S8 EP06
Earth, Wind & Fire “Reasons” from That’s the Way of the World (1975)
Lannie Garrett “Pickin’ Up After You” from Comes Love (1995)
Jesse Furay Lynch “I Wish It Would Rain” [single] (2014)
Mosey West “Hurricane Eyes” from Bermuda (2014)
Big Head Todd & The Monsters “Josephina” from Black Beehive (2014)
(N) Bad Brad & the Fat Cats “Other Side” from Take A Walk With Me (2014)Churchill “The War Within” from War Within EP (2013)
(D) Mountain Standard Time “Canyon Road” from Sunny (2013)
(D) Swim Through Frequencies “Other Languages” from Rhythm of Complacency (2013)(D) Glitta Kings “Carving In the Stone” from Girls in High Heels Shouldn’t Dance On Glass Tables (2014)
The Motet “Closed Mouth Don’t Get Fed” from The Motet (2014)
Selasee Atiase “One Day” from African Gate (2010)
Al Hood & Dave Hanson “Just A Little Taste” from Just A Litte Taste: Al Hood Plays The Writing Of Dave Hanson (2008)
Newcomers Home “Hold On” from In the Hour (2004)
Katie Herzig “Wish You Well” from Apple Tree (2008)
The Fray “Love Don’t Die” [single] (2013)
OneRepublic “Feel Again” from Native (2013)
(D) The Samples “The Whole World Can Sing” from America (2014)(D) Dianne Reeves “Dreams” from Beautiful Life (2014)
The ReMinders “Africa On My Mind” from Born Champions (2012)
(D) Kinetix “One Life to Live” from One Life (2014)
String Cheese Incident “Can’t Wait Another Day” [single] (2012)
Matt Skinner Band “I’ll Keep Loving” from Native Stranger Pt I – Fandango (2013)
Patti Fiasco “Nobody’s Girl” from The Patti Fiasco (2011)
Danny Shafer “I Am” from Wherever You Are (2013)
GogoLab “Honey Trap” from Border Patrol (2013)
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 