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Ralph Jaccodine management

The 2014 Maine Music Awards Hall of Fame Show

Ellis Paul will be inducted into the inaugural Maine Music Awards Hall of Fame with Don McLean, Howie Day and Dave Mallett at Maine’s most prestigious entertainment venue the  Cumberland County Civic Center of downtown Portland on Saturday, July 12, 2014. The show will be a major presentation of Maine’s most esteemed artists with numerous celebrities, hosts and presenters. The show is being filmed for a major television special and DVD release for the holiday season. Special guest appearances and music collaborations will elevate the excitement even more. Maine is one of the best places to be in the summer and this show features the best music artists too.

The Maine Music Awards Hall of Fame Show will feature sets by this year’s inductees:
Ellis Paul
Don McLean
Howie Day
Dave Mallet

With added music performances by:
Devonsquare
The Mallett Brothers Band
Carol Noonan

And other special guest hosts and presenters.

Susan Cattaneo's latest album, "Little Big Sky" released August 2012

Susan Cattaneo039s latest album quotLittle Big Skyquot released August 2012
Cattaneo has a wealth of experience in the entertainment word, excelling in a broadcasting career that has netted her some very high honors. But, all along, she was honing her craft of performing in area clubs. As this disc shows, she’s more than ready to take that next step.

Her vocals are very much at the forefront of this album, with her sounding as confident as a rock star on the energy-filled “Let The Music Deliver Me.” Other high-octane cuts include “Spare Parts” as well as the exhilarating title cut.’

She definitely saves the best for last, though. “Better Day” sparkles the brightest of all the cuts included on this collection. She layers the song with a very earthy vocal approach that makes the poetic lyrics come to life. I would dare say that she is on the right track, for sure!

- Chuck Dauphin, Music News Nashville

Ellis Paul's new album and fundraiser!

Ellis Paul039s new album and fundraiser

Photo credit: David Butler

Ellis Paul is thrilled to be back in the studio recording a new studio album slated for a Spring release, and Kristian Bush, half of the Grammy-award winning Sugarland duo, has officially signed on to produce the record. The project will be 100% funded by fans via various unique incentives given to fans in exchange for their partnership with the project, including t-shirts, hand drawn art by Ellis, limited edition copies of excerpts from Ellis' road journal, and more. Ellis' fundraising target is 1,000 contributors and we are well on our way with over 430 people graciously extending a hand to get this project out in the streets.

Peyton Tochterman Featured in the Alternate Route Magazine!

Peyton Tochterman Featured in the Alternate Route Magazine
The Alternate Route is an interactive music magazine featuring all genres of traditional American roots music including, Americana, Alt-country, Blues, Rockabilly, Folk, Bluegrass, Roots Rock and traditional country. We also produce the weekly internationally syndicated American Roots music show “Alternate Root TV” and publish the Top 66 International Airplay Chart.

Check out this month's magazine, which features Peyton Tochterman!

Taylor Swift Takes On Hollywood

Taylor Swift Takes On Hollywood

She already rules music, so now it's on to Tinseltown: Taylor Swift's concert documentary is poised to dominate the fall movie season, challenging the hegemony of film studios and consecrating her business empire.

Swift is taking a break from her wildly popular tour that began in March -- performances will resume in November and run late into next year.

But in the meantime, the 33-year-old is hitting the silver screen: "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" is slated for release on October 13, and has already broken the record for pre-sales in the United States in one day, with $37 million in revenue.

The film could exceed $100 million in its opening weekend, said Jeff Bock, an analyst for box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

"I think we could be talking about the biggest film of the fall season, which is pretty incredible," he told AFP -- even if, for now, only screenings in the United States are on the books.

Swift opted for an unconventional release, announcing it less than two months before its premiere and directly working with the theater giant AMC, while bypassing the traditional film studios.

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And in a sign that Hollywood -- which is embroiled in prolonged twin strikes by actors and writers -- fears Swift's release, studios have postponed the opening screenings of several films that fall around the same dates, notably that of "The Exorcist: Believer."

According to the specialist news outlet Puck, the budget of Swift's film fell between $10-20 million.

She will share 57 percent of ticket sales with AMC, says Billboard, a similar proportion to what studios would normally receive. The remainder would go to theaters, under the deal.

"I don't know an artist today with that kind of leverage," said Ralph Jaccodine, a professor at the Berklee College of Music.

The Eras Tour currently boasts 146 dates, and some analysts anticipate it will cross the symbolic $1 billion mark, a feat never yet achieved.

According to the industry tracker Pollstar, each concert generates some $13 million in revenue, which would put the total proceeds at $1.9 billion.


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Before her tour and film, Swift garnered significant attention -- and found resounding success -- by re-recording her first six albums in a bid to control their master rights.

The power move came in the wake of public sparring with industry mogul Scooter Braun, her one-time manager whose company had purchased her previous label and thereby gained a majority stake in her early work.

He later sold Swift's master rights to a private equity company.

The situation left Swift publicly incensed: "I just feel that artists should own their work," she said in 2019.

"She's a vocal advocate for artists' rights," Jaccodine said. "She's built her own brand."

Swift is currently worth an estimated $740 million, according to Forbes, but steps closer every day to becoming the first singer worth a billion based on her music alone.

Before her public efforts to regain control of her work, Prince, George Michael, Jay-Z and Kanye West all also fought for control of their masters -- one-of-a-kind source material that dictate how songs are reproduced and sold -- but none had gone so far as to re-record them completely.

"She has been very bold in terms of the strategies that she's been willing to pursue," said Carolyn Mary Sloane, a labor economist at the University of Chicago. "She's been willing to pursue all of these different avenues, a very kind of savvy and smart and strategic economics."

"So you might see some change from other artists."

Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo, for example, has said she ensured control of her master rights when inking her first contract, inspired by Swift.

Swift has sweetened her re-releases with bonus material and previously unreleased tracks -- like the 10-minute version of "All Too Well" -- to the delight of her ardent fans.

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Making an event of each re-release also allowed her to promote her early work to younger fans, who were perhaps less versed in her "Taylor Swift" and "Fearless" periods.

In a similar vein, her "Eras" film will grant "people an entry into her concert" even if they couldn't afford or make it to the live show, Jaccodine said.

Other artists have released concert or tour films in theaters; "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" from 2011 has performed the best at the North American box office thus far, with $73 million in revenue.

But, according to Bock, the industry has never seen "a film like this drop at the height of an artist's popularity, like we're going to see in October with Swift."

"It sets a precedent," he said. "And I think it is something that other artists may consider now."

Bock however added: "There's maybe a handful of artists that could probably pull this off."

WHO KNEW The Smartest People In The Room - George Howard and Ralph Jaccodine

WHO KNEW The Smartest People In The Room  George Howard and Ralph Jaccodine


WHO KNEW The Smartest People In The Room George Howard and Ralph Jaccodine

We're back!!!! After a brief fall break, we are thrilled to get back on our normal schedule of delivering exceptional pairings of rockstar music industry executives sharing their stories, wisdom and predictions for the business.

To kick it off, we are thrilled to present two highly accomplished music execs who have been constant advocates for indie artists by starting and running very successful businesses.

George Howard has held some big jobs in some big places. For example, he was President of Rykodisk, co-founder of Tunecore, CIO of Riptide Music Group, and CMO of Moodagent. If you are keeping score at home, those diverse titles should tell you right away that he's the smartest guy in any room he enters.

Ralph Jaccodine's music business resume is also equally diverse and accomplished and includes running his own label and artist management firm.

Both of these rockstars keep paying it forward as faculty members of the Berklee College of Music.

Check them out on Tuesday, October 19 at 2:00 pm ET/11:00 am PT. It's FREE, but you must register below.



CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Music agents and managers lean on Congress for small-business relief

Music agents and managers lean on Congress for smallbusiness relief


By John Garelick, Globe Staff


With Congress back in session, a lot of independent music venues, managers, agents, and producers find themselves in the same boat as hair salons and hardware stores. All are small businesses facing a coronavirus-induced existential crisis. All are hanging on hopes of a generous bill to replace the CARES Act relief package that expired July 31.

For many small music venues, that means the Save Our Stages bill, which would provide loans and other relief. But many are also looking to the broader bill dubbed RESTART, sponsored by senators Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, and Todd Young, an Indiana Republican. RESTART offers generous relief to small (fewer than 500 employees) and mid-size (fewer than 5,000 employees) independent businesses.

The appeal of RESTART is in its long-term repayment program — up to seven years in some cases — and its generous forgiveness for losses suffered in 2020. Its provisions are crucial to the many independent players in the concert music business.

“Our business was one of the first to have to close down,” said talent agent Ted Kurland, who runs Boston’s Kurland Agency. “And we will be one of the last to come back.”

Kurland, who books blue-chip jazz acts like Pat Metheny, Wynton Marsalis, and Cécile McLorin Salvant, pointed out that tours and performances originally scheduled for 2020 were at first moved to 2021 and are now being scheduled for 2022.

The live music business, said Wayne Forte, who runs New York’s Entourage Talent Associates, needs “a long runway before we are back in business.”

“That is to say, if the all-clear is given in the spring of next year, it will take 6-12 months to coordinate, organize, book, and then market and promote client/artist tours,” he wrote in an e-mail. “We do not have the luxury of opening our doors, turning on the lights, and being back in business.” And revenue won’t be generated until those newly booked shows play — anywhere from another nine to 18 months, he said.

With all that on the line, indie music industry professionals have found themselves in an unusual position: building support in Congress. And to that end, they’ve formed a nonprofit coalition, the National Independent Talent Organization, and hired a lobbyist.

“I’m a political junkie,” said Frank Riley of High Road Touring, a founding member of the new organization whose clients include Aimee Mann, Amanda Palmer, and Brittany Howard. “I always thought, ‘Oh, well, I know about politics.’ Well, it turns out, I didn’t know anything about politics until I got involved in this. Votes are currency in D.C., the currency that allows you to get reelected.”

The group has provided tools at its website, www.nitolive.org, for e-mailing and writing to members of Congress and getting the word out on social media.

Based in California, Riley made his comments last month at a town-hall-style Zoom meeting of the Boston Managers Group, an organization founded 27 years ago by Watertown artist manager Ralph Jaccodine and former Aerosmith manager Tim Collins. The meeting also included Kurland and Forte.

“If you say this is important to you, your representative will register that,” Riley said at the meeting, which was open to journalists. “It might sway them to incorporate aspects of the various bills that are in front of Congress right now that are meant to get us through this terrible time, to get us to a place where we can all resume our very successful, profitable, and productive businesses.”This last is an important talking point for the group. All of them were running robust small businesses before they were throttled by the coronavirus.

“We’re not looking for a handout,” said Forte, another NITO founding member, whose clients have included David Bowie, Tom Petty, and the Clash.

During the Zoom meeting, and in separate conversations, the NITO members spoke hopefully of their alliance with the related National Independent Venue Association, and a word that came up often was “ecosystem” — lighting and sound technicians, venue staff, touring crews, and the importance of live music to dozens of related industries, from restaurants and parking lot attendants to hotels.

The common denominator for performing arts businesses, of course, is the necessity for public gatherings.

Live performance, says singer-songwriter Livingston Taylor, is about “how to be around, literally, dozens, hundreds, thousands of people.” The Massachusetts native, a Jaccodine client, has taught stage performance at Berklee College of Music for years. He calls live shows “the absolute antithesis of the coronavirus mitigation solution.”

“I’m deeply concerned about people living paycheck to paycheck,” said Taylor. He says he is lucky enough to have the resources to weather a year of unemployment. But the people on his management team, like Jaccodine and his booking agent, work on commission. “And if I’m not generating an income, it ain’t happening.”

Ralph Jaccodine & Jeremiah "Ice" Younossi @ Boston Calling

Ralph Jaccodine amp Jeremiah quotIcequot Younossi nbspBoston Calling

Photo Credit: Michael Spencer Photography

Ralph Jaccodine Management Welcomes Stu Kimball

Ralph Jaccodine Management Welcomes Stu Kimball

For the past 25+ years I have managed the careers of some great artists such as Livingston Taylor, Ellis Paul, Martin Sexton, The Push Stars, Magic Dick & Shun Ng and many others. Helping musicians has been my passion.

It is not often that I add artists to my roster but, today, I have some exciting news... I have recently teamed up with my 20+ year friend the multi-talented Stu Kimball who has a long and varied career as a band member, sideman and producer and, for the last 15 years, as the guitarist for Bob Dylan.

Between joining Bob Dylan’s “Never Ending Tour” in 2004 and leaving it in 2018, Stu strapped on his guitar for 1,323 shows; the most that any guitarist has ever played alongside the iconic singer-songwriter. He has made significant contributions to seven Dylan albums, including 2006’s Grammy-winning, Platinum-selling "Modern Times," and has been hailed by preeminent Dylanologist Peter Stone Brown as “One of the top five guitar players to play on-stage with Bob Dylan — easily.”

Besides working with Bob Dylan, Stu has played with a variety of amazing talent. Check out the list here.

Welcome Stu Kimball! We will be looking to get Stu back out on the road touring as a sideman, playing sessions and producing for his next chapter.

I look forward to hearing from you if you have any questions about Stu.

Culture Shocks with Barry Lynn - 3.14.19 Episode with Ralph Jaccodine

Culture Shocks with Barry Lynn  31419 Episode with Ralph Jaccodine

Cultureshocks is a podcast and blog that takes a sometimes serious, sometimes comedic, look at the politics and culture of today. Barry Lynn’s goal is to do just the opposite of David Letterman’s new podcast “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction”. He introduces folks to people they well might not know because our media has a tendency to recycle “famous people” and ignore innovative voices out there.

Barry Lynn was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His family moved to nearby Bethlehem when he was a child. He attended Bethlehem's Liberty High School, graduating in 1966.

Lynn received his B.A. in 1970 from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and his theology degree from Boston University School of Theology in 1973. After attending law school at night, he received his J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

After law school, Lynn continued to work with the United Church of Christ to gain amnesty for young men who refused to fight in the Vietnam War. Later, Lynn held various positions related to religious liberties.

From 1974 to 1980, Lynn held positions within the national offices of the United Church of Christ, including two years for the Church's Office of Church in Society in Washington, D.C., as legislative counsel

In the mid-to-late 1980s he was legislative counsel for Washington's ACLU office, where he frequently worked on church–state issues.

From 1992 until his retirement in 2017, the Rev. Barry W. Lynn served as executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to the preservation of the Constitution’s religious liberty provisions. In addition to his work as a long-time activist and lawyer in the civil liberties field.

Lynn is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, offering him a unique perspective on church-state issues. An accomplished speaker and lecturer, Lynn has appeared frequently on television and radio broadcasts to offer analysis of First Amendment issues.

In 2006, Lynn authored Piety & Politics: The Right-Wing Assault On Religious Freedom (Harmony Books). In 2008 he coauthored (with C. Welton Gaddy) First Freedom First: A Citizen’s Guide to Protecting Religious Liberty and the Separation of Church and State (Beacon Press).

His latest book is God & Government: Twenty-Five Years of Fighting for Equality, Secularism, and Freedom Of Conscience (Prometheus Books), published in 2015.

Lynn has appeared frequently on radio broadcasts and television to debate and discuss First Amendment issues, including The MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour, NBC's Today Show, Nightline, Fox Morning News (Washington, D.C.), CNN's Crossfire, The Phil Donahue Show, Meet the Press, CBS Morning News, ABC's Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, and Larry King Live. He is also a weekly commentator on church-state issues for UPI Radio, and served for two years as regular co-host of "Pat Buchanan and Company" on the Mutual Broadcasting System.

Lynn hosted the radio program Culture Shocks, from 2005 until 2013, which could be heard from Washington, D.C., to Southern California on AM and FM radio stations. The show was syndicated nationally by "GCN Live", The Genesis Communications Network.

In October of 2018, Barry Lynn returned to the airwaves with a weekly podcast of Culture Shocks. The show airs at 3 p.m. Pacific Time, every Friday on Radio Station KCAA AM-FM, Loma Linda, California.


TO LISTEN, CLICK THE LINK BELOW, SELECT THE PLATFORM OF YOUR CHOICE, AND FIND EPISODE 3.14.19

MBJ Cut Time: Episode 1 - Interview with Ralph Jaccodine

MBJ Cut Time Episode 1  Interview with Ralph Jaccodine
Berklee College of Music's 'Music Business Journal' Podcast.

Exclusive interview with industry professional and Berklee professor Ralph Jaccodine discussing current industry management techniques and trends.

Happy Holidays from Ralph Jaccodine Management!

Happy Holidays from Ralph Jaccodine Management!

Greetings from Ralph Jaccodine Management!

2018 has been a great year for our management team of Brittany Bethune, Jeremiah "Ice" Younossi, and Ralph Jaccodine and our roster of amazing artists!

We are proud to work with hardworking and talented artists serving music fans all around the world. Thanks to Livingston Taylor, Rebecca Loebe, Shun Ng, Magic Dick, Ellis Paul, Flynn, Kemp Harris, and Pat Pattison.

Collective, our artists have performed over 225 shows in 14 countries including Canada, Bermuda, Panama, Ireland, Singapore, China, Malaysia, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Cameroon, and all across America.

In October, Ralph was honored with the 2018 Club Passim Legacy Award, recognizing years of dedication to the organization and the Boston music industry. This comes after 12 years of serving on the Passim Board of Directors and 25+ years of our artists performing on their historic stage. Ralph will continue to be on the Passim Advisory Council.

Some highlights from the year:
Livingston Taylor

With a busy touring schedule & teaching at Berklee College of Music, Liv hosted his first retreat this Summer with folks from all over the country in attendance.

The documentary film about Liv, "Livingston Taylor - Life is Good" premiered at film festivals across the globe & was picked up by Amazon Prime.Click here to watch the trailer!

Liv also taped a live performance for American Public Television. Big news! See it around the country next year.

LIVe - Livingston Taylor Live box set is a project finally ready for your collection. It features 86 previously unreleased live recordings from 50 year, from 1969 through present. This set will also include the documentary film & a photo book with notes from Liv. Out spring 2019!
Rebecca Loebe

Rebecca signed to Blue Corn Music & has been working on her next studio album. With a release date of February 2019, "Ghosts" has already received the attention of Billboard, who premiered her music video "Ghosts". Check it out here!

She has continued to tour throughout the US, UK, & Europe & is touring all three markets in support of her new album.

Her newly formed trio Nobody's Girl debuted this year. They completed two great tours in the spring & fall. They signed with Lucky Hound Music & released their EP "Waterline" this fall. The title track was listed on Rolling Stone Country's top 10 songs of the week over the summer.
Kemp Harris

New to the RJM roster this fall, Kemp is a Cambridge-based composer, musician, children’s author, actor & teacher.

As a musician & composer, Kemp has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, Gil Scott-Heron & Koko Taylor. He wrote & performed “If Loneliness Was Black” for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater & Complexions Dance Company. He has also composed for WGBH TV / Boston.

Kemp also composed the credit soundtrack for “An Unreasonable Man”, a documentary about the life & career of Ralph Nader. It is now the theme song for Mr. Nader’s weekly radio talk show.
Shun Ng

Shun continues to tour as a duo with Magic Dick, founding member of the J. Geils Band.

He also has a new project, Shun Ng & The Shunettes, that began touring last year.

Shun has been touring internationally solo, with Magic Dick, and with The Shunettes, with trips across the USA, as well as Bermuda, Panama, Canada, China, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Pat Pattison

A legendary professor at Berklee College of Music, Pat is recognized as one of the top songwriting instructors of all time. Past students include John Mayer, Gillian Welsh, David Wilcox, & Mike Gordon (Phish), to name a few.

"I took a class with a great teacher named Pat Pattison... I learned a lot in that class...and I still read that book, Writing Better Lyrics. I think it's great."​
- 7-time Grammy winner John Mayer


For the first time in 10 years, he is hosting a Boston songwriting workshop Writing Better Lyrics, also the title of his best-selling book. This will take place at theCenter for Adult Education on April 6.

Pat also hosts masterclasses around the work, including Australia in January.
Ellis Paul

We continue to work with our longtime friend and client Ellis Paul.

The ever-touring Ellis has been working on his next album "The Storyteller's Suitcase". He's been funding the project through his fan base & will be releasing the album in spring 2019.
Jeremiah Younossi at RJM, management & international agent for Albert Johnson pka Prodigy frontman of iconic new york hiphop duo, Mobb Deep from 2001 until Johnson's passing in June 2017.

During his tenure with Prodigy & Mobb Deep, Ice produced hundreds of successful concerts across the world & supported Prodigy’s endeavors including catalog reissues, books, speaking engagements, activism for prison reform, a Blue Note NYC Residency & more.

"Ice" wanted us to share this wonderful Podcast he worked on this past year with NPR / WNYC chronicling the life & illness of the beloved New York MC.

Introducing The Realness:
The Untold story of Albert “Prodigy"

The slate wrote:
Prodigy was known for his ability to tell gritty and often nihilistic stories grounded in the black experience of what Cornel West calls the underside of the American democratic experiment, and The Realness beautifully and empathetically reveals why his songs have such an edge. It’s not because he was, like Jay-Z, born into a family where he felt he had to sell drugs or that he, like Nas, felt his genius was underappreciated. Prodigy’s struggle was more personal, and it took his life on June 20, 2017, at the age of 42.

From Ralph, Brittany, Ice, and our team of interns, we wish you a happy, healthy, and rockin' 2019!

Ralph Jaccodine Receives the Club Passim Legacy Award!

Ralph Jaccodine Receives the Club Passim Legacy Award

For Immediate Release
Contact: Adam Klein
Adam@Callananklein.com
617-504-6156

Ralph Jaccodine Recognized with Passim Legacy Award

Award Recognizes Individuals Who Have Demonstrated Extraordinary Commitment to the Organization

Cambridge, MA, October 30, 2018 – Recognizing years of dedication to the organization, Passim announced that it has bestowed the Passim Legacy Award on Ralph Jaccodine, founder of Ralph Jaccodine Management and faculty member at Berklee College of Music.

“For more than a decade, Ralph has been a part of the Passim family, serving on both our Board of Directors and our Advisory Council,” said Jim Wooster, Executive Director of Passim. “His unwavering commitment, depth of knowledge and willingness to help guide the organization over the years has been unmatched. We are thrilled to honor him with this award and publicly recognize his contributions.”

The Passim Legacy Award recognizes individuals who have shown extraordinary commitment and dedication to the organization, and whose contributions have had a profound and lasting impact on Passim, its members, and the community served by Passim. These contributions have enriched the lives of members of our community, consistent with Passim’s mission of helping the performing arts flourish by providing exceptional live musical experiences, nurturing artists at all stages of their careers, and building a vibrant music community.

Jaccodine’s work with Passim traces back to the organization’s transformation from a music club, under the leadership of Bob and Rae Ann Dolin, to a non-profit organization. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for twelve years, ensuring the financial stability of the organization while helping to expand the mission to serve a greater community. He currently serves as a member of the Passim Advisory Council.

“Passim has been an integral part of my life, first as a fan and then throughout my career where many of my musicians began to play. Over the years, I began to see my support of the organization as a way to give back to the music community that has shared so much with me,” said Jaccodine. “Like many members of the Passim community, I view the organization as a national treasure. I am honored to receive this award and look forward to continuing to share Passim’s mission to the greater music community.”

As founder of Ralph Jaccodine Management, Jaccodine has emerged as an important voice in the music community in Boston, helping musicians build lasting careers by focusing on hard work and doing things for the right reasons. Jaccodine is also a full-time faculty member in the Music Business/Management Department at Berklee College of Music.


About Passim
The mission of Passim is to provide truly exceptional and interactive live musical experiences for both performers and audiences, to nurture artists at all stages of their career, and to build a vibrant music community. Passim does so through their legendary listening venue, music school, artist grants and outreach programs. As a nonprofit since 1994, Passim carries on the heritage of our predecessors-the historic Club 47 (1958-1968) and for-profit Passim (1969-1994). We cultivate a diverse mix of musical traditions, where the emphasis is on the relationship between performers and audience and teachers and students. Located in Harvard Square, Passim serves Cambridge and the broader region by featuring local, national and international artists. Our ultimate goal is to help the performance arts flourish and thereby enrich the lives of members of our community. For a complete schedule, visit www.passim.org.

Ralph Jaccodine Management Partners with Kemp Harris!

Ralph Jaccodine Management Partners with Kemp Harris
Ralph Jaccodine Management is proud to announce the expansion of the the roster to include Cambridge-based artist Kemp Harris. Kemp has a long and varied career as a songwriter, storyteller, actor and activist. For 40 years Kemp has been an educator as well as a children's book author. He has acted in films, TV shows, commercials and is as comfortable on stage with artists such as, Taj Mahal, Koko Taylor and Gil Scott-Heron as well as performing sold out shows playing solo or with his smokin' band.
Check out Kemp in action (put Link to video here)
Blues Revue nailed Kemp with a review stating: "Harris has his finger on the pulse of the modern world with an intensity born of awareness, and he writes with an understanding of what our lives lack.  He delivers this wisdom with a timeless voice.
Ralph Jaccodine Management a 25 year old artist management company in the Boston area. They have helped develop careers of artists such as: Livingston Taylor, Martin Sexton, The Push Stars, Ellis Paul, Rebecca Loebe, Shun Ng & Magic Dick, Antje Duvekot, Adam Ezra Band, Bang Camaro and others.
Welcome Kemp Harris!
rjmanagement 151



"Kemp Harris is a thief, a tease and a heartbreaker. He knows too much. And it’s all right there when he sings. Beautifully there. He'll take your breath away."
- Tom Ashbrook, Host of NPR's On Point

Kemp Harris is a composer, musician, children’s author, actor, and teacher. Born in North Carolina, Kemp taught himself piano and was writing songs at age 14. As a musician and composer, Kemp has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, Gil Scott-Heron, and blues artist, Koko Taylor. He wrote and performed “If Loneliness Was Black” for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Complexions Dance Company. Kemp has also composed for WGBH Public Television/Boston.

Kemp’s album, “Sometimes In Bad Weather”, is a thoughtful tapestry, exploring the intersection of American Roots music, Jazz, and African Folk influences. Kemp’s second release, “Edenton” is a blues inspired journey, featuring the Grammy-nominated Holmes Bros providing additional vocals. Kemp composed the credit soundtrack for “An Unreasonable Man”, a documentary about the life and career of Ralph Nader. It is now the theme song for Mr. Nader’s weekly radio talk show.

Kemp taught kindergarten and 1st grade in the Newton Public Schools system for 38 years. He wrote the
children’s book/song “Snow”. He has since retired yet continues his storytelling in elementary schools. Kemp
looks forward to exploring all aspects of his artistic interests.

"Earthy, insightful, haunting... sacred and profane. Harris is in perfect communion with the Holmes Brothers and his earthy band."
- Frank-John Hadley, Downbeat

"Harris has his finger on the pulse of the modern world, with an intensity born of awareness and he writes with an understanding of what our lives lack. He delivers this wisdom with a timeless voice."
- Art Tipaldi, Blues Revue

Live From The David Bieber Archives : 082418

Live From The David Bieber Archives nbsp082418

Ralph Jaccodine was featured on the August 24, 2018 episode of "Live From The David Bieber Archives".

Check it out here!

Livingston Taylor Joins The APA Roster!

Livingston Taylor Joins The APA Roster
We are thrilled to announce a new booking partnership between Livingston Taylor and APA Agency! APA is one of the top agencies in the business with a wide variety of artists including Ani DiFranco, Judy Collins, Brian Wilson, Bruce Cockburn, David Bromberg, and Burt Bacharach... just to name a few!

For booking information on Livingston, please contact Seth Rappaport: srappaport@apa-agency.com

Flynn & Robert Mueller

Flynn amp Robert Mueller

Flynn and Robert Mueller (Director of the FBI)

Flynn performed at the Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service.  July 2004.

WGBH's Front Row Boston featuring Shun Ng

WGBH039s Front Row Boston featuring Shun Ng
March 1, 2018 – Award-winning finger-style guitar virtuoso, Shun Ng, performs live at WGBH's Fraser Performance studio with drummer Lesley Mok.

My Guitar, My Guiding Light - Shun Ng feature in Star2

My Guitar My Guiding Light  Shun Ng feature in Star2
Once dismissed as a failure because of dyslexia, Shun Ng went on to find his niche in life through music. This guitarist extraordinaire has even caught the attention of multi Grammy-winning producer, Quincy Jones.

By N. RAMA LOHAN
star2@thestar.com.my

“THE next thing I knew, someone was banging on the toilet door. It was my manager, who told me Quincy was talking about me.” Shun Ng walked out nonchalantly in an attempt to calm his nerves, but he should have known better. And just as he arrived at the main area where architect Frank Gehry’s house party was swinging, he caught the eye of multi Grammy-winning producer, Quincy Jones, who duly introduced him to the audience.

Of course, the two men are no strangers. Ng had performed for Jones at his home upon the music legend’s behest, after the octogenarian had watched him in the music video for the song Get On With It with Singapore’s King Of Swing, Jeremy Monteiro.

Four years on, and that performance by Ng now marks one of many highlights in his young yet chequered career. It’s hard to fathom this was the same young man who was once dismissed as a failure because of his dyslexia. The ill-educated perceptions served nothing else but to hurt his confidence.

“I never realised how badly it affected me until later. I grew up with low self-esteem because of it,” revealed the Singaporean, who was born in Chicago, the United States.

As a child, though, he at least found a calling in gymnastics. “I was a hyperactive kid, and the one most likely to jump into a sponge pit. But that environment (gymnastics) became too competitive for me, and I began to hate it within a couple of years. My coaches pushed me hard, and my parents felt I should stick to something, but all I was trying to do was quit,” he said, ruing the time spent. Naturally, that interest died quickly, even though he persevered for several years – until a friend brought a guitar to the gym one day. That’s when everything changed.

In the instrument, Ng found a voice, a calling that would have him dedicate his life to the six-string.

“I felt like there was nothing I could do well at that age, but the guitar changed that. Learning to play that first chord felt like an achievement,” he shared, detailing his start as a musician.

That first chord learnt soon led him to learning all the parts on Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, a challenge thrown at him by a friend which he duly took up and accomplished. Did he play it for Mr Jones, then? “No,” he responded sheepishly.

A stint at Singapore Polytechnic to pursue an Associate Degree in Music and Audio Technology when he was 16 did little to convince him that formal education was the way forward. Poor results needlessly discouraged him further. “I didn’t do well, and it was just a struggle. Reading music was tough, and it made me feel like I would never be good.” But even in the throes of despair, the guitar remained his guiding light.

Music not being predominant in his household barely deterred Ng, too, and soon, he was learning the classics by ear.

“I passed off (the Beatles’) Hey Jude as my own to my dad,” said the 27-year-old, with a hearty chuckle, revealing that it was his old man who bought him his first guitar for his 14th Christmas. “Music was an escape, and that’s how I became a student of it,” he added.

It was the blues that truly turned him on his head, the mournful, rootsy idiom resonating with him like no other.

“Blues is raw, and the way it’s played has an intellectual feel. Emoting is important, and though there are only five notes in the blues, I loved it and I dove straight into it.”

There’s the ill-advised belief that the blues is nothing but an interminable jam session, but Ng disagrees. “People need to listen to the great old stuff, where you can feel the pain in the music and lyrics. For some reason, people are scare to delve into the sorrowful element of the blues,” he opined.

Ng, though, dipped liberally into the wellspring of blues influences, absorbing the sounds of Robert Johnson, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Freddie King. While cutting his teeth in the genre, he was fortunate enough to ply his trade in the club circuit in Chicago, playing with grizzled old hacks and younger musicians alike.

“They taught me that the blues is about being a family. They all treated me like one of them and were so encouraging. They loved the idea of a Chinese kid playing the blues,” he said, of the experience.

The flame of desire in him grew exponentially, and in 2012, he released his debut album, Funky Thumb Stuff, which even drew the attention of revered guitarist Tuck Andress, of duo Tuck & Patti. The album was also the entry point in him gaining Jones as an audience and fan.

But fate had other ideas for the budding guitar player, and upon the recommendation of Singapore’s Cultural Medallion winner, Dr Kelly Tang, he was awarded a scholarship from Berklee College of Music, and was eventually selected for the prestigious Artist Diploma, an esteemed programme for highly recognised musicians.

This educational stint, though, yielded something much more meaningful – being in Boston allowed him to cross paths with 1970s blues rock outfit J. Geils Band’s harp player, Magic Dick. Ng and Magic recorded the God Of Father of Soul, James Brown’s clas- sic Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, a cool bluesy rendition of the gem.

Ng currently tours with a duo of back-up singers, powerhouses Deon Mose and Angel Chisholm, who are collectively labelled the Shunettes, a moniker clearly inspired by 1960s vocal girl group The Ronettes.

He may still need years to emulate his heroes, but he has certainly set himself on the right path and dug deep into a genre that best represents him.

“I feel nothing has been more satisfying than learning life through music,” he said. And based on his meeting with Jones at the elder statesman’s home, where they spoke about everything but music (“We talked about life, ribs recipes, culture, architecture ...”), life has already presented him with a perspective that could only serve him well in future.

Welcome Pat Pattison!

Welcome Pat Pattison
World-renowned songwriter and professor, Pat Pattison, has officially joined the roster!

Pat Pattison is currently a professor at Berklee College of Music, where he teaches lyric writing and poetry.

In addition to his four books, Songwriting Without Boundaries(Writer’s Digest Books), Writing Better Lyrics (Writer’s Digest Books), The Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure(Berklee Press), and The Essential Guide to Rhyming (Berklee Press), Pat has developed five online courses for Berklee Online: three on lyric writing, one on poetry, and one on creative writing, all available through online.berklee.edu, and more than 1,300,000 students have enrolled in his coursera.org MOOC "Songwriting: Writing the Lyric" since its first run in 2013. He has written over fifty articles for various blogs and magazines, including American Songwriter, and has chapters in both The Poetics of American Song Lyrics (University Press of Mississippi) and the Handbook on Creative Writing (Edinburgh University Press).

Just recently, Pat's book, Writing Better Lyrics, was mentioned in Songwriting Magazine's top 10 books for songwriters in commemoration of World Book Day! You can read the article here!

Pat continues to present songwriting clinics across the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Pat’s students include multiple Grammy-winner Gillian Welch, John Mayer, AND Tom Hambridge, Karmin, American Authors, Liz Longley, Greg Becker, Charlie Worsham, and many more.

Meet Ralph Jaccodine of Ralph Jaccodine Management / Berklee College of Music

Meet Ralph Jaccodine of Ralph Jaccodine Management nbspBerklee College of Music

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ralph Jaccodine.

Ralph, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started promoting concerts in my hometown of Allentown, Pa. And then at the University of Notre Dame where I was the concert commissioner. I was able to work with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Hall & Oates, Rush, Kiss and Livingston Taylor, who years later I started to manage.

After a decade in the commercial real estate business in downtown Boston, I embarked on another career chapter and started a record label with my friend Mike Dreese, the founder of the Newbury Comics retail chain.

Eventually, this set me on a 25-year path of managing artists such as Livingston Taylor, Ellis Paul, Martin Sexton, The Push Stars, Adam Ezra, Rebecca Loebe, Shun Ng & Magic Dick from the J. Geils band and others.

Five years ago I joined the faculty of the Berklee College of Music and eventually, was promoted to a full-time faculty position in the Music Business/Management department which is where I have found an inspiring new home.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There is no smooth ride in the music business.

As a manager, I am paid a commission from what independent touring musicians make traveling the globe. The climate for the musicians, and for the music industry, in general, is always changing, growing, and sometimes shrinking, sometimes at the same time.

On most days there is never a dull moment.

The job of a manager is not for those who thrive on consistency, or security. Managers ‘eat what they kill’ so it is a job of constant hustle and creating something out of nothing… much like the job of a musician.

Somehow I have managed to have amazingly talented artists to partner with which has helped smooth out many of the bumps in the road. It has also created a lifetime of good stories.

Ralph Jaccodine Management/ Berklee College of Music – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Ralph Jaccodine Management was established in 1994 in Boston as an artist management company built on integrity and tenacity. The company has thrived with years of success launching musicians and their artistic projects in an ever-changing music business.

The RJ Management company also runs Black Wolf Records which initially partnered with nationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Ellis Paul, then other artists, to create a catalog of music, visual media and book releases.

The philosophy is indie and fiercely independent with global reach in mind for our artists. The goal is to dedicate building lasting careers, focusing on working hard and doing things the right way for the right reasons.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is leading a balanced life where my heart, mind, spirit, body… and bank account all get proper attention.

Success is when I can be in the moment… and understand how darn lucky I have been with being given another day to do what I do.

Ralph was interviewed last month by the 'Mentoring for the Modern Musician' podcast. He discussed his 25-year career of managing muscians. Click the link below to listen to the podcast.

Summa Cum Laude: Ralph Jaccodine

Summa Cum Laude Ralph Jaccodine

Many musicians come to Boston to pursue their personal and professional dreams. And for a growing number of these, the road runs through Berklee.

While at the world-famous school of music, artists meet other like-minded people with a driving passion to express themselves through song. They also learn how to turn that passion into a career.

Among the leaders of the artist management muster at Berklee is Ralph Jaccodine.

Having started his own career as a performer, Jaccodine knows well the trials and tribulations (as well as the glory and the fun) involved in a musical life. As he understood the difficulties involved in making it as a performing musician, Jaccodine diversified his passions while in high school in Allentown, PA, promoting shows by the likes of Hall and Oates, Kiss, Rush, and Styx as a member of the city’s high school student government. He then went on to promote shows at the University of Notre Dame, including a concert by Bruce Springsteen.

“That experience brought me a complete fascination with the business of music ,” Jaccodine explains. “I was in a small town and suddenly these huge, shiny busses pull in and everybody in town comes out.”

And while the bands would “blow everybody away and then move on to the next town,” something stuck with Jaccodine that shaped his career and his life.

“To be able to meet the artists and see it all, I really caught the bug and found that I really had a lot of passion for the whole circus act,” he smiles.

In 1994, Jaccodine co-created Black Wolf Records with friend and fellow industry expert Mike Dreese, who had created the popular and enduring Newbury Comics record store. Ralph Jaccodine Management (www.ralphjaccodine.com) was born soon after as a company that, Jaccodine says, was “built on integrity and tenacity.” These dual qualities have helped Jaccodine steer his curated family of clients amidst the tidal waves of a tumultuous industry.

“The philosophy is indie and fiercely independent with global reach in mind for our artists,” explains Jaccodine, noting that his company also founded Black Wolf records with award-winning singer/songwriter Ellis Paul. “The goal is…building lasting careers, focusing on working hard and doing things the right way for the right reasons.”

As he was in Boston and working with many nationally-touring artists, Jaccodine was often invited to speak and present at Berklee.

“I was pretty familiar with the folks in the faculty and Berklee’s status in the music world,” Jaccodine explains. “I also really like talking to student(s) because I feel I have a lot to offer them because I have 25 years of hard-earned experience as a manager.”

The more Jaccodine got to know the school and its faculty and students, the more he wanted to be a part of it.

“Years ago, I asked my management client Livingston Taylor why he was so excited to be teaching at Berklee,” Jaccodine recalls. “He said it was because he was among the best, most talented faculty and students in the country. That stuck with me! “

And while he admits that he was initially reticent to share his wisdoms with the students, Jaccodine says the he now relishes the opportunity.

“When I first started to talk to students, I was very nervous because I did not feel I was an authority figure on the business of music,” he recalls. “But now that I have been managing artists for so long, I feel confident that I am the expert on one thing, my career and my years of experience and the lessons I have learned from the trenches of the music industry.”

As he lives what he teaches, Jaccodine has been able to bring a rare, real world perspective to his classes and his students. “Because it is my day job, I have to be up to date and so I can bring that updated information and perspective to the students,” he reasons. “It is a really good feeling to be able to help them!”

At Berklee (where he won the Dean’s Award for Innovation and Service in 2015 ), Jaccodine also wears multiple hats, serving as an Assistant Professor in the department of Music Business/Management, co-managing the Berklee Music Law & Management Club, and also developing a series of professional development seminars with the Boston Managers Group, which he started 20 years ago with ex-Aerosmith manager Tim Collins.

“The club brings speakers in for the students and the community-at-large,” Jaccodine explains, listing such other austere speakers as Don Law of Live Nation, Panos Panay of SonicBids, Derek Sivers of CD Baby, and Berklee President Roger Brown and also mentioning a recent seminar with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Oates. “I am trying to bring a lot of energy and great talent to Berklee.”

Jaccodine has also been able to gain a great deal from his time at the school as well. Among his Berklee-bred clients are Shun Ng and Rebecca Loebe (see January, 2015 issue), and long-time friend Taylor. “I also mentor many of my students and others at the school,” Jaccodine says.

In his role at Berklee, Jaccodine is able to support and influence many young artists and future managers. When asked who influenced and inspired him, Jaccodine again mentions Collins and Dreese.

“In 1992, I came to Mike ranting and raving about Ellis Paul, and how great this guy’s music was. He quickly brought me down to earth saying those two words that have haunted me ever since- ‘Nobody Cares!’”

While Dreese’s response drove home the hard reality that, for the most part, music is seen as disposable, it also encouraged Jaccodine to work even harder to make people care about the songs and songwriters who mattered to him.

“Mike’s challenge to me back…was ‘How do I make people care about the music I care about?’” Jaccodine explains. “I have made a career out of spreading…the music of other people I care about.”

In fact, Jaccodine takes Dreese’s words so to hear that he continues to see his role not just as manager, but also as proselytizer.

“Personal management has to be a holy crusade or nothing at all,” Jaccodine observes. “You have to have confidence that people will care. Spreading my artist’s music is how I feed my family, but just as important… it is how I feed my soul.”

In an effort to repay his mentors and to help them support each other and other colleagues, Jaccodine has also organized a manager’s roundtable, of which Collins and Dreese are integral parts. In fact, Jaccodine recalls, Collins was there from the beginning.

“I had a few months of calling myself a manager under my belt when I called Tim,” Jaccodine recalls. “Tim was on top of the food chain for managers and I just wanted to meet him, touch his garment and hope that something would rub off on me.”

After what turned out to be an extensive conversation, in which Jaccodine was able to share his knowledge of the MA music scene with the eminent manager, Collins offered to reciprocate.

“I asked him to help me form a ‘bunch of managers’ so we can help each other out,” Jaccodine explains.

Thus was the Boston Manager’s Group born!

“As a manager,” Jaccodine suggests, “I am supposed to know how to guide a career without question, the artist places their trust in my guidance. I need to be an expert.”

While Jaccodine says that the Group helps him and other managers find the answers and garner the support they need to help their clients and to hopefully help strengthen and grow the music scene and the industry at large, he still feels that his main role is as an educator.

“I feel like I have found my calling in teaching,” Jaccodine says."

Boston Managers Group

This business of music is changing almost daily. I am bombarded with new companies, blogs and slick new technology - it is hard to keep up. Often I turn off the clutter and lean on my reliable sources for the information I let come my way, experts I subscribe to on-line or on my phone line daily. I don't need to be THE expert, I just need to know where to find the experts I need.

When I got into this business, I had a few months of calling myself a manager under my belt when I called Tim Collins, the longtime manager of one of the world's biggest bands, Boston's  Aerosmith. For a while, they were arguably America's biggest rock band. Tim was on top of the food chain for managers and I just wanted to meet him, touch his garment and hope that something would rub off on me... so I called to set up a meeting, and he said sure, come on in.

Tim was very generous of his time and we had a very nice, cordial meeting in his office overlooking the city. We talked, I gave him my first Ellis Paul CD, dropped off a business card and went on my way, thrilled for the time I had with of of music's best managers.

To my surprise, Tim called me the next day and asked me if I knew anything about a 200 capacity club in western Massachusetts, The Iron Horse. I did, and for the next 15-20 minutes I was able to download everything I knew about the club to Tim. He said "thanks" and we said good bye.

I hung up the phone and was amazed that I was able to help Tim Collins just months into this new career. So I called Tim back and said "Hey Tim, I just helped you" and he said "yeah, thanks" and I said "If I can help you, I"m sure you can help me out."

Needless to say, managing Aerosmith for almost 2 decades at the highest levels of the music business made me confident that Tim knew a couple of tricks about managing artists and while I was on a roll, I told Tim that "we should get all the Boston managers together to help each other out".

Many years later, it sounds a bit naive, and it was, but this conversation was the birth of the Boston Manager's group that is now still going strong after 20+ years and with over 50 managers as members. With the birth of this group, I have my personal panel of experts I can contact to help me out of a situation that needs some extra finesse, and vice-versa.
As a manager, I need to be the leader of the Holy Crusade and I am supposed to know how to guide a career without question, the artist places their trust in my guidance.  I need to be an expert at finding experts.

Here is the info on the Boston Managers Group

Co-Founder: Tim Collins: Collins Management
Co-Founder: Ralph Jaccodine: Ralph Jaccodine Management

Founded in 1995

Previous Speakers;

Mike Dreese: Newbury Comics
Rob Light- CAA
Timothy White: Billboard Magazine
Don Law: Tea Party Concerts
Roger Brown: Berklee College of Music
Ted Kurland: Ted Kurland Agency
Bertis Downs: REM Management
Julie Burros: City of Boston
Bert Holman: Allman Brothers
Phil Antoniates: NIMBIT
Derek Sivers: CD Baby
Steve Mindish: Phoenix Companies
Chip Rives: Boston Music Awards
Eric Suher: Iron Horse Entertainment Group
Panos Panay: Sonicbids
Dave Kusak: The Future of Music
Jim Glancy: Bowery Presents
Steve Morse: Boston Globe
Bruce Warilla: Unspring media
Ryan O'Connor: Ticketfly

Shun Ng Update

Shun Ng Update
Shun Ng plays solo acoustic guitar like no other and will blow away an audience on stage. I promise! He also has a duo Magic Dick, the founding member of the J. Geils band and harp genius.

'Papa's Got A Brand New Bag'

A year ago, Shun played a sold out show hosted by one of his biggest fans, Quincy Jones, at the Eli Broad Stage in LA. "When you see Shun Ng, you won't believe your eyes nor your ears - he belies all stereotypes, all premonitions. I was simply blown away by both his soul and his science - his creativity and his uniqueness is astounding." - Quincy Jones

Highlights of his touring have been several sold out shows in his former country of Singapore, a run of five shows at Biscuit & Blues in San Francisco. After his APAP showcase and Rockwood Music Hall show in NYC, Shun will be playing at The Opera House in Boothbay, ME, The Center for the Arts (TCAN) in Natick, MA, and Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, NH this April and for a sold out 2Cellos show at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston, MA in May.

He released a video covering Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" - a tough one for solo guitar - and I believe he nailed it! Within hours, Queen's guitarist, Brian May, started spreading it around to Queen fans all over the world by Twitter: "You gotta see! Amazing new solo and acoustic vocal arrangement of Bo Rap." Check it out below!

Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody - Shun Ng

Ellis Paul Update

Ellis Paul Update

Touring:
-172 shows in 2014... workshops, showcases, festivals, and adult and family shows in 34 states!!

Music Releases:
-"Chasing Beauty" Release date: September 9, 2014
This second fan-funded album raised over $125,000! "Everyone can relate to Ellis Paul and his songs and for that reason he continues to be a national treasure." - Absolute Punk

Book Releases:
-"The Hero in You" (Published by Albert Whitman & Co.) Release date: September 1, 2014 #1 "Must Read" Teacher recommendation at Scholastic Magazine! A company with books, magazines and more in over 90% of United States schools. Parents Choice Foundation, Gold Award


-"The Night the Lights Went Out on Christmas" Release date: September 15, 2015 A story of neighbors who are so caught up in having the best Christmas lights, forget about the true meaning of Christmas, until their lights cause the entire world to lose power!

Awards/Recognition:
-Maine Music Hall of Fame inducted in July 2014

-University of Maine commencement speaker and Honorary Doctorate recipient, May 2014

Film and Publishing:
-BMG Chrysalis Ellis signed a publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis, one of the largest publishing companies in the world.

-"10 Days in a Madhouse" the story of 23-year-old pioneering reporter, Nellie Bly, who faked her insanity to study a mental institution from within. This film to be released in September 2015 will feature Ellis' song 'Nellie Bly' as the end title credits song. Christopher Lambert will be starring in the film, directed by Timothy Hines.

-"All In Time" will feature a song Ellis wrote for the film, "Saving Grace". It is current on the festival circuit and will be released in early 2016.

-"Me, Myself, and Irene", "Hall Pass", and "Shallow Hall" are other films that include Ellis Paul's music.

Rebecca Loebe review in Maverick Magazine UK

Rebecca Loebe review in Maverick Magazine UK
MAVERICK MAGAZINE UK - Circus Heart Review
by Arthur Wood

4.5 Stars - Quite simply this is a wall-to-wall folk/pop delight.

The ten-song CIRCUS HEART is 2009 Kerrville New Folk Song Contest winner Rebecca Loebe’s third full album - born in Virginia, has lived in Georgia, Massachusetts and now resides in Texas. The album was recorded at Mark Addison’s Aerie Studio in Austin, and he engineered the sessions, whilst Matt Sever aka. Matt the Electrician occupied the producer’s chair. Amongst a vast array of instruments, Addison played Wurlitzer, electric guitar, bass, bouzouki and added harmony vocals, whilst The Electrician added keyboards, acoustic, electric and tenor guitar, ukulele, trumpet and more, as well as singing harmony. The other session players were Dony Wynn (drums, percussion), Andrew Pressman (upright and electric bass), Raina Rose (lead guitar, harmony vocals) plus harmony vocals from Lex Land and Shae Stuart. The latter pair are out-of-towners, now an entegral part of the vibrant Austin music scene.

I clearly recall first hearing the album opener during a 2010 Kerrville Folk Festival In-The-Round that featured a quartet of New Folk winners and finalists, including Rebecca. During that performance, Raina Rose proved beyond a doubt that girls can play lead guitar. There’s an obvious and wicked twinkle in the eye of the sassy Darlin narrator- sic: ‘The smell of your beard in the morning’ - as she recalls, instantly being transformed from introvert to extrovert - ‘Next thing I knew it was skipping’, out on the pond, skinny dippin’ - whilst the lyrics is neatly wrapped up by the repeated ‘What did you to my (pause) heart.’ Of course, what made me truly smile was the ensuing aside: ‘When can you do it again.’ Sever has gone for a ‘everything including the kitchen sink’ approach on Darlin and it succeeds in spades.

On this set, Rebecca has hook-laden melody nailed down, and replete with a Mariachi interlude that’s clearly evidenced by the ballsy title song. The allegorical Swallowed by the Sea concerning her life in the music business was penned during her participation in the first Stateside season of The Voice. Loebe possesses one hell of a set of pipes and on High & Lonesome, her voice ascends to the stratosphere and then gently settles back to terra firma. The latter is a treatise with a twist - namely, love and less-than-luxurious hotel rooms that are a road warrior’s lot.

At almost six minutes duration, the sublime Georgia - replete with mention of the state’s prevalent ‘magnolia and pine’ - is this album’s longest song, wherein the deceased narrator contemplates reincarnation with: ‘Heaven send me back to Georgia.’ Death is also very much present in The Chicago Kid. The album’s only cover song is Joan Jett’s Bad Reputation: Mercy possesses a confessional feel, while the penultimate, keyboard propelled I Will Wait is a love ode.

Featuring Raina’s lead guitar and harmony vocal, Vagabond Prayer brings the album to a gentle close with the road warrior deliberating on the subject of home. An infectious air of unshackled abandon pervades this folk/pop collection. CIRCUS HEART is a wonderfully wayward tonic and more fun than a bag of monkeys, and that’s a fact.

Ellis Paul's "The Hero in You" Wins GOLD Parents' Choice Award!

Ellis Paul039s quotThe Hero in Youquot Wins GOLD Parents039 Choice Award
Since 1978, the Parents' Choice Foundation strives to provide parents with reliable information about tools to help their children learn, to explore new challenges, to discuss ideas and to pursue dreams. Their experts navigate the huge array of children's media to award a select few with their highest honor of being chosen a 'Parents' Choice'. A GIANT Congratulations to Ellis Paul's "The Hero in You", chosen for the Gold Parents' Choice Award!!

Ralph Jaccodine Management partners with Shun Ng

Ralph Jaccodine Management partners with Shun Ng
Ralph Jaccodine Management (RJM) is proud to announce that Shun Ng (http://www.ShunNg.com) will be joining their management roster.
Shun Ng is a very gifted 22 year old singer-songwriter born in Chicago raised in Singapore currently enrolled in the esteemed "Artist Diploma" at Berklee College of Music. He is known for his virtuosic and unique style of guitar that infuses elements of Funk, Fingerstyle, Blues, Jazz & Motown, to create a one-man band like experience. His flamboyant guitar work is equally matched with passionate vocal styling seemingly well beyond his years, yet with a light and energy that can only be described as childlike innocence.

In 2012, he released his debut album, entitled “Funky Thumb Stuff” which explores honest stories of his early teen life as well as the rise of his ever-improving guitar pyrotechnics. "Funky Thumb Stuff" was well received by many acoustic guitar lovers and musicians around the world. Shun is a featured performer at some of the top music festivals including: Japan, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore. In fact, at a recent show in Boston Shun shared the stage with Livingston Taylor who said of him, “Shun Ng is amazing. His talent rests on a rock-solid work ethic and the results are pure WOW!”

To see Shun perform is to truly understand the level of his talent, so I'm including two video links here, one is the official video for his title track, "Funky Thumb Stuff", and the other is from the recent performance I mentioned in Boston, at a Red Star Studios event for Boston Beyond Borders, playing a track entitled, "Slam!"

Ralph Jaccodine leads industry experts in panel at BCAE / Boston Globe

Ralph Jaccodine leads industry experts in panel at BCAE nbspBoston Globe

Dave Herlihy, Ellis Paul and Ralph Jaccodine at Unplugged & Uncensored at the BCAE

Singer-songwriter Ellis Paul, lead singer of O Positive and Northeastern University School of Law professor Dave Herlihy, and music manager Ralph Jaccodine were just a few of the music industry professionals at Unplugged & Uncensored: An Insider’s Guide to the Music Industry at the Boston Center for Adult Education over the weekend.

Ellis Paul update

Ellis Paul update
CHASING BEAUTY
Ellis' new release, which he will bring with him out on the road this summer, is called "Chasing Beauty".

The producer is Kristian Bush from the Grammy award winning, platinum selling band Sugarland.
The Sugarland band was Ellis' backing band with the Red Molly band and others adding background vocals.

The music was recorded in Atlanta Ga. and will be nationally released in September.

Ellis raised over $100,000 from his fans for the recording. A full promotion and marketing team will commence work in June and not let up.


THE HERO IN YOU
September 1st we are re-releasing "The Hero In You" CD which won the Parent's Choice Gold Metal Award.

This CD is coming out along with a beautiful Children's book, released by Albert Whitman Company, a prestigious Children's book publisher out of Chicago.

The Hero in You Video


HONORARY DOCTORATE
Also: Ellis will be the commencement speaker at the University of Maine. The degree that will be bestowed upon Ellis is the Doctorate of Humane Letters honoris causa. He is also writing and performing the school's new Alma Mater.


MAINE MUSIC AWARDS
A month later, Ellis will be inducted to the Maine Music Awards Hall of Fame with: Don McLean, Howie Day, Bob Ludwig/Gateway Mastering and Dave Mallett at the Cumberland County Civic Center on July 12th.

Devonsquare and Carol Noonan are special guests performers.

Ralph Jaccodine announces a new duo... Magic Dick & Shun Ng

Ralph Jaccodine announces a new duo Magic Dick amp Shun Ng
I am thrilled to announce the start of an amazing musical collaboration.

Magic Dick, the legendary harmonica player for Boston's legendary J. Geils Band has recently partnered up with guitar and vocal sensation, Shun Ng, to create one of the most dynamic musical acts to come out of Boston in a long time. The music is soulful blues, rockin' yet thoughtful and performed by arguably two of the top musicians at their respective instruments.

Since 1969, Magic Dick has toured the world playing and blowing away clubs and stadiums with the J. Geils Band. He explains the formation of the duo:

"From the moment I first heard Shun Ng's CD "Funky Thumb Stuff" I knew that a manifest musical collaboration was about to happen. Shun's sound simply made me feel very alive and induced in me a synchronous alignment of musical DNA as if it was his intention as well as mine all along! I helped it along by asking his manager, Ralph Jaccodine to introduce us at his office. A long and enlightening conversation happened on that day of our first meeting and now we are a duo and I couldn't be more delighted.
"Shun and I have a deep vibe connection, I know how fortunate I am to have found a true fellow minimalist. Shun's creativity is amazing and his musical skills as a guitarist, singer, and composer are mind blowing. And yes, less is indeed more."

Shun Ng was born in Chicago, raised in Singapore now based out of Boston. At 24 years old, he is already an international star, a soulful, world-class guitarist, vocalist, and electric performer who in a short period of time, has caught the attention of the top players in the music world including Quincy Jones who said: "When you see Shun Ng, you won't believe your eyes nor your ears - he belies all stereotypes, all premonitions. I was simply blown away by both his soul and his science - his creativity and his uniqueness is astounding."

"In this collaboration with Magic Dick," Shun says, "we wanted to make music in a way that no one had quite done before while remaining grounded in our roots. Magic Dick brings a powerhouse attack with ferocious precision and a killer groove to this duo. I have great respect for him, he has seemingly done it all, but is still constantly trying to push the boundaries of music and chase the best in himself, a true artist. To be working with a true Boston legend is a real privilege."

Watch their new video here!

RALPH JACCODINE PANEL AT SxSW, "MANAGING FROM THE TRENCHES"

If you're headed to SxSW, come join Ralph's panel on Friday, March 18th at 12:30pm on Managing from the Trenches.

Ralph will be joined by a veteran group of managers - you can read more on the panel here: http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MP990229

Ralph will be moderating a panel at the Rethink Music conference.

Ralph will be moderating the panel 'Managers and Artists: Our Perspective', to be held at 5:00 PM on April 26th at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

Part of the Rethink Music event, the panel will be a sit down with leading managers and artists for their perspective on the current state of the music industry, what's working for them, and what they foresee in the future.

The panel will be:
Moderator: Ralph Jaccodine (Ellis Paul, Flynn)
Paul McGuinness, (U2)
Mike Mills, (REM)
Bertis Downs, (REM)
Michael McDonald, Mick Management (John Mayer, Ray LaMontagne)
Simon Renshaw, Strategic Artist Management (Dixie Chicks, Clay Aiken)
Mark Kates, Fenway Recordings (MGMT, Mission of Burma)

Be sure to check out this very cool event!

Newport Folk Festival stays fresh with younger and more diverse acts

Newport Folk Festival stays fresh with younger and more diverse acts

Mavis Staples and Hozier perform during the "If I Had A Song" tribute set during day three of the 2019 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 28, 2019 in Newport, R.I.  Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

By Molly McCaul
July 19, 2022

This summer, the Newport Folk Festival is in full swing to bring one of the country’s premiere music festivals back to New England. From Friday, July 22, through Sunday, July 24, Newport Folk will bring more than 50 artists to Rhode Island’s Fort Adams State Park for a weekend of live music.

As David Pruett, an ethnomusicologist who teaches at UMass Boston, explains, the festival started decades ago when founder George Wein experimented with adding an afternoon of folk musicians to his already-existing Newport Jazz Festival. Following the immense success of that afternoon, in 1959 Wein expanded it to a whole weekend of folk music.

An annual tradition ever since, the Newport Folk Festival is most well-known as the setting for the infamous 1965 set wherein Bob Dylan “went electric” for the first time — to the shock of folk purists. According to Ralph Jaccodine, a professor of music business and management at Berklee College of Music, that wasn’t the only surprise Newport has had in store for audiences over the years.

That 1965 set was “when Dylan freaked everybody out,” said Jaccodine, a music manager and promoter. “And then 40 years later, Jay [Sweet, Executive Producer and Director of Newport Festivals] books The Pixies, and they go acoustic.”



More than 60 years later, the Newport Festivals Foundation is still running both its annual Folk and Jazz Festivals. After pandemic-related cancellations, it’s the first time since 2019 that the Newport Folk Festival will have its typical three-day, full-capacity format. Jaccodine attributes the festival’s longevity to a “brand” built around the quality of acts they book — it has a tradition of selling out well before its full lineup is announced. “You know if you go to Newport Folk Festival and you don’t know who’s playing, it’s going to be great,” Jaccodine said.

A crucial part of the festival is its “spirit of collaboration,” as Amelia Meath, of The A’s, described it. The A’s, a collaborative project by Meath and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, will make its live performance debut at Newport on Friday. Both are experienced musicians who have previously performed at the festival with their folk trio Mountain Man.

Getting to “[hop] on stage with a whole bunch of incredible musicians” and perform impromptu “without ever having a rehearsal” is, to Sauser-Monnig, part of what makes the folk tradition so unique.

“It's going to be kind of a wonderful collaborative review of all the things that had been released ... as well as seeing old friends and making new friends,” Meath said. “That's one of the true gifts of Newport is that, every time I go, I ended up singing so much more than I thought I was going to. And it's always a blast.”



The modern construction of folk music, as Pruett put it, goes hand in hand with the commercialization of music at the turn of the century. Once music became profitable, the style and image of what he called old-time music “was changed by folks who were writing those checks,” Pruett explained. “Old time had this stereotype of being music from the South, music among white people, music among those mountain-type folks.” The music was marketed under the pejorative term “hillbilly music.” Artists started curating their stage presence and musical styles to match the commercial mold, leading to “the whiteness of what these genres stood for,” says Pruett, while blues artists who didn’t fit were categorized as “race records.”

Even today, the Billboard Americana/Folk Charts are topped almost exclusively by white artists, a supermajority of whom are men. It takes scrolling to the 20th album on the year-end chart for 2021 until Black Pumas, 2020 Best New Artist Grammy nominees and recent Boston Calling performers, break the streak of an otherwise entirely white list with their self-titled 2019 full-length release.

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Sheryl Crow, Maggie Rogers and Yola perform as part of the Collaboration during day two of the 2019 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park on July 27, 2019 in Newport, R.I.
Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

The most prominent modern example of the impact of racialization in folk music is that of British band Mumford & Sons. The band has, on multiple occasions, faced backlash for their affiliation with far-right speakers like Jordan Peterson and Andy Ngo, most recently leading banjoist Winston Marshall to take time away from the band after he praised Ngo’s book. Frontman Marcus Mumford is slated to perform a charity benefit set in Newport as part of the festival’s after-show series on Saturday, July 23.

The element of Mumford’s music that Pruett was quick to highlight, though, is that the band represents “a full circle of world music history.” Combining Irish and Celtic influences, Appalachian folk tradition and the banjo — “which was an African instrument from the west coast of Africa, from Mali,” Pruett said — the band, without audiences even realizing, shows a result of centuries of musical migration.

Even beyond Mumford, this year’s Newport Folk Festival lineup poses an exciting opportunity for audiences. Jaccodine pointed to this year’s “bold” lineup that features non-traditional “folk” groups like The Roots, Dinosaur Jr. and The National.

“For folk music to live we need younger people, we need [a] diverse audience, we need to demonstrate that this quote-unquote ‘folk’ music can be done [by those artists] because it’s storytelling,” Jaccodine said.

Despite having such varied musical backgrounds, both exploring other genres through different collaborations many of the other artists featured on the lineup, Meath described The A's album Fruit as “a celebration of folk music that we’ve loved for years and years, particularly yodeling music.” But Meath added that a category like “folk,” like the genre label “pop,” doesn’t have strict boundaries: “Anything that originated from someone seems to be folk music at this point.”

Other notable names on the lineup include Arooj Aftab, a Brooklyn-based Pakistani vocalist who was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys in 2022 and won for Best Global Music Performance, a new category this year; Joy Oladokun, whose most recent release, In Defense of My Own Happiness, explores her identity as a queer Black woman in the United States; and alternative pop band Japanese Breakfast, whose frontwoman Michelle Zauner garnered buzz this year for her memoir “Crying in H Mart.”

Ralph Jaccodine & Rebecca Loebe Featured on Higher Education Today!

Ralph Jaccodine amp Rebecca Loebe Featured on Higher Education Today


Some exciting news for our team: In November, my client Rebecca Loebe and I went to Washington DC for the taping of an episode for Higher Education Today.

We were just notified that our segment was named a finalist in the Excellence in Local Journalism Dateline Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Washington, D.C. Professional Chapter! Congratulations to Higher Education Today for this accomplishment!


Wednesday, May 6, 2020 @ 4:00pm ET

The Boston Managers Group and Ralph Jaccodine hosted the first virtual meeting meeting, joining forces with the Berklee College of Music Law & Management Club to present a conversation with Jim Lucchese and George Howard.

Thank you to Entrepreneurship and Art for hosting the stream for this event.




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Jim Lucchese joined Sofar Sounds as the CEO in 2019. Sofar Sounds is a global community of musicians and music fans who organize intimate concerts in over 420 cities around the world. Prior to SoFar Sounds, Lucchese was the founding global head of Creator and CEO of The Echo Nest at Spotify. From 2007 to 2014, Lucchese served as CEO of The Echo Nest, from 2007 through its acquisition by Spotify.



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George Howard is the former president of Rykodisc, independent record label, and cofounder of TuneCore, the world’s largest independent digital music distributor.. He also is a columnist for Forbes, and a frequent contributor to the New York Times and many other publications. George is a professor of music business at Berklee College of Music.




About the Boston Managers Group
Twenty-five years ago, Ralph Jaccodine, a Boston based music manager and Tim Collins, the longtime manager of Aerosmith, started the Boston Managers Group. Founded as an organization for managers and music industry professionals it has been a dynamic group associated with some of the top talent in the nation. In the past decade it has expanded to include some of the leading players in the music and entertainment business as well as faculty from colleges such as Berklee, Northeastern, and Harvard

Frank Turner/ Lost Evenings Panel Discussion: Friday at 3pm House of Blues Foundation Room

Frank Turner Lost Evenings Panel Discussion Friday at 3pm House of Blues Foundation Room
Frank Turner Presents: Panels at Lost Evenings III.

Industry Seminary @ 3:00pm | House of Blues Foundation Room

Industry professionals share their experiences and answer your questions about building a career in the music business.

Moderator: Ralph Jaccodine

Panel: Kelly Kapp, Chris Trovero, Jill Reda, Ben Morse

Produced in association with The Ally Coalition

Ralph Jaccodine Management's Rebecca Loebe Awarded a 2018 Black Fret Grant!

Ralph Jaccodine Management039s Rebecca Loebe Awarded a 2018 Black Fret Grant

Black Fret awards $250,000 in grants to 20 Austin acts at annual gala

Outside, the rain was coming down in buckets on what was one of Austin’s worst weather nights of the year. But inside ACL Live on Friday night at the fifth annual Black Fret Ball, everything was perfect.

Since 2014, Black Fret — a local music patron organization in which members pay a $1,500 annual fee for access to concerts and parties throughout the year — has given more than $1 million to Austin acts. Members nominate 20 artists each year, then attend performances throughout the year and vote on major and minor grant winners announced at the annual December gala.

Here’s the list of the 2018 recipients:

$20,000 grants: Donovan Keith, Greyhounds, Los Coast, Jane Ellen Bryant, Jaimee Harris, Wood & Wire, Jeff Plankenhorn, Israel Nash, Shy Beast, Tomar & the FCs

$5,000 grants: Texas KGB, Rebecca Loebe, Dave Scher, Palo Duro, Megafauna, A Giant Dog, Trouble in the Streets, Billy King & the Bad Bad Bad, Otis the Destroyer, Kalu & the Electric Joint

• More photos: A-List gallery from the Black Fret Ball

This year marked a big step up for the Black Fret Ball, with a move from the Paramount Theatre to ACL Live. Increased ticket sales weren’t the reason, as the event is not open to the general public. But Black Fret’s membership has grown significantly in five years, and the nature of the event’s production greatly benefits from ACL Live’s more spacious environs.

Most importantly, the venue’s stage is large enough to be split into two smaller stage plots. That meant Black Fret nominees could perform back-to-back without any set changes, resulting in a significant streamlining of the show. Past Black Fret galas had sometimes stretched past four hours; this one ran a tight and tidy three hours, plus a half-hour intermission. “We built this (Black Fret) model with this place in mind,” co-founder Colin Kendrick said at the start of the event.

Most acts played two songs, keeping the action moving quickly after a 7:15 p.m. start that was slightly delayed to allow for weather-related late arrivals. Between performances, fellow co-founder Matt Ott and various guest presenters, including ACL Live general manager Colleen Fischer and KUTX program director Matt Reilly, announced the grant recipients.

A rousing ovation greeted bluegrass band Wood & Wire after its spirited set, in part because the crowd knew what a big day it had been for the group. Winning a major grant came on the heels of Friday morning’s announcement that their album “North of Despair” is up for a Grammy in the Best Bluegrass Album category.

Of this year’s 20 grant nominees, 15 performed at the Black Fret Ball. A couple of acts were on tour or had members touring with other groups. Jeff Plankenhorn, playing in Colorado this week, sent back a note that Ott read to the crowd, thanking members for their support and concluding, “I promise not to spend it on that drum machine I’ve wanted since high school.”

After high-powered soul band Tomar & the FCs led a rousing, all-hands-on-deck finale of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home” to close out the night at 10:45 p.m., Ott said to all the Black Fret members in attendance, “We’re onto something great here. Stick with us.”

Live Nation Rules Music Ticketing, Some Say With Threats

Live Nation Rules Music Ticketing Some Say With Threats

In 2010, when the Justice Department allowed the two most dominant companies in the live music business — Live Nation and Ticketmaster — to merge, many greeted the news with dread.

Live Nation was already the world’s biggest concert promoter. Ticketmaster had for years been the leading ticket provider. Critics warned that the merger would create an industry monolith, one capable of crippling competitors in the ticketing business.

Federal officials tried to reassure the skeptics. They pointed to a consent decree, or legal settlement, they had negotiated as part of the merger approval. Its terms were strict, they said: It would boost competition and block monopolistic behavior by the new, larger Live Nation.

“There will be enough air and sunlight in this space for strong competitors to take root, grow and thrive,” said the country’s top antitrust regulator, Assistant Attorney General Christine A. Varney. And she went further, suggesting that reduced ticket service fees, even lower ticket prices, might be on the horizon.

Ways You Can Defeat Distractions and Win Your Day

Ways You Can Defeat Distractions and Win Your Day
“Distractions destroy action. If it’s not moving towards your purpose, leave it alone.”—Jermaine Riley

Almost everything around you is designed to steal your attention.

That’s why it’s essential to learn how to shield yourself and develop your ability to focus on command.

You will need to fight off five types of distractions, and below you will find different ways that will help you do exactly that.

My Guitar, My Guiding Light - Shun Ng feature in Star2

My Guitar My Guiding Light  Shun Ng feature in Star2
Once dismissed as a failure because of dyslexia, Shun Ng went on to find his niche in life through music. This guitarist extraordinaire has even caught the attention of multi Grammy-winning producer, Quincy Jones.

By N. RAMA LOHAN
star2@thestar.com.my

“THE next thing I knew, someone was banging on the toilet door. It was my manager, who told me Quincy was talking about me.” Shun Ng walked out nonchalantly in an attempt to calm his nerves, but he should have known better. And just as he arrived at the main area where architect Frank Gehry’s house party was swinging, he caught the eye of multi Grammy-winning producer, Quincy Jones, who duly introduced him to the audience.

Of course, the two men are no strangers. Ng had performed for Jones at his home upon the music legend’s behest, after the octogenarian had watched him in the music video for the song Get On With It with Singapore’s King Of Swing, Jeremy Monteiro.

Four years on, and that performance by Ng now marks one of many highlights in his young yet chequered career. It’s hard to fathom this was the same young man who was once dismissed as a failure because of his dyslexia. The ill-educated perceptions served nothing else but to hurt his confidence.

“I never realised how badly it affected me until later. I grew up with low self-esteem because of it,” revealed the Singaporean, who was born in Chicago, the United States.

As a child, though, he at least found a calling in gymnastics. “I was a hyperactive kid, and the one most likely to jump into a sponge pit. But that environment (gymnastics) became too competitive for me, and I began to hate it within a couple of years. My coaches pushed me hard, and my parents felt I should stick to something, but all I was trying to do was quit,” he said, ruing the time spent. Naturally, that interest died quickly, even though he persevered for several years – until a friend brought a guitar to the gym one day. That’s when everything changed.

In the instrument, Ng found a voice, a calling that would have him dedicate his life to the six-string.

“I felt like there was nothing I could do well at that age, but the guitar changed that. Learning to play that first chord felt like an achievement,” he shared, detailing his start as a musician.

That first chord learnt soon led him to learning all the parts on Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, a challenge thrown at him by a friend which he duly took up and accomplished. Did he play it for Mr Jones, then? “No,” he responded sheepishly.

A stint at Singapore Polytechnic to pursue an Associate Degree in Music and Audio Technology when he was 16 did little to convince him that formal education was the way forward. Poor results needlessly discouraged him further. “I didn’t do well, and it was just a struggle. Reading music was tough, and it made me feel like I would never be good.” But even in the throes of despair, the guitar remained his guiding light.

Music not being predominant in his household barely deterred Ng, too, and soon, he was learning the classics by ear.

“I passed off (the Beatles’) Hey Jude as my own to my dad,” said the 27-year-old, with a hearty chuckle, revealing that it was his old man who bought him his first guitar for his 14th Christmas. “Music was an escape, and that’s how I became a student of it,” he added.

It was the blues that truly turned him on his head, the mournful, rootsy idiom resonating with him like no other.

“Blues is raw, and the way it’s played has an intellectual feel. Emoting is important, and though there are only five notes in the blues, I loved it and I dove straight into it.”

There’s the ill-advised belief that the blues is nothing but an interminable jam session, but Ng disagrees. “People need to listen to the great old stuff, where you can feel the pain in the music and lyrics. For some reason, people are scare to delve into the sorrowful element of the blues,” he opined.

Ng, though, dipped liberally into the wellspring of blues influences, absorbing the sounds of Robert Johnson, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Freddie King. While cutting his teeth in the genre, he was fortunate enough to ply his trade in the club circuit in Chicago, playing with grizzled old hacks and younger musicians alike.

“They taught me that the blues is about being a family. They all treated me like one of them and were so encouraging. They loved the idea of a Chinese kid playing the blues,” he said, of the experience.

The flame of desire in him grew exponentially, and in 2012, he released his debut album, Funky Thumb Stuff, which even drew the attention of revered guitarist Tuck Andress, of duo Tuck & Patti. The album was also the entry point in him gaining Jones as an audience and fan.

But fate had other ideas for the budding guitar player, and upon the recommendation of Singapore’s Cultural Medallion winner, Dr Kelly Tang, he was awarded a scholarship from Berklee College of Music, and was eventually selected for the prestigious Artist Diploma, an esteemed programme for highly recognised musicians.

This educational stint, though, yielded something much more meaningful – being in Boston allowed him to cross paths with 1970s blues rock outfit J. Geils Band’s harp player, Magic Dick. Ng and Magic recorded the God Of Father of Soul, James Brown’s clas- sic Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, a cool bluesy rendition of the gem.

Ng currently tours with a duo of back-up singers, powerhouses Deon Mose and Angel Chisholm, who are collectively labelled the Shunettes, a moniker clearly inspired by 1960s vocal girl group The Ronettes.

He may still need years to emulate his heroes, but he has certainly set himself on the right path and dug deep into a genre that best represents him.

“I feel nothing has been more satisfying than learning life through music,” he said. And based on his meeting with Jones at the elder statesman’s home, where they spoke about everything but music (“We talked about life, ribs recipes, culture, architecture ...”), life has already presented him with a perspective that could only serve him well in future.

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Welcome Pat Pattison!

Welcome Pat Pattison
World-renowned songwriter and professor, Pat Pattison, has officially joined the roster!

Pat Pattison is currently a professor at Berklee College of Music, where he teaches lyric writing and poetry.

In addition to his four books, Songwriting Without Boundaries(Writer’s Digest Books), Writing Better Lyrics (Writer’s Digest Books), The Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure(Berklee Press), and The Essential Guide to Rhyming (Berklee Press), Pat has developed five online courses for Berklee Online: three on lyric writing, one on poetry, and one on creative writing, all available through online.berklee.edu, and more than 1,300,000 students have enrolled in his coursera.org MOOC "Songwriting: Writing the Lyric" since its first run in 2013. He has written over fifty articles for various blogs and magazines, including American Songwriter, and has chapters in both The Poetics of American Song Lyrics (University Press of Mississippi) and the Handbook on Creative Writing (Edinburgh University Press).

Just recently, Pat's book, Writing Better Lyrics, was mentioned in Songwriting Magazine's top 10 books for songwriters in commemoration of World Book Day! You can read the article here!

Pat continues to present songwriting clinics across the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Pat’s students include multiple Grammy-winner Gillian Welch, John Mayer, AND Tom Hambridge, Karmin, American Authors, Liz Longley, Greg Becker, Charlie Worsham, and many more.

Ralph Jaccodine visits Harvard Law School

Ralph Jaccodine visits Harvard Law School
Ralph was on a panel this week at the Harvard Law School for the Recording Artists Project. He shared the panel with:
Adam Alpert of Sony Disruptor (behind the #1 song in the country, Chainsmokers)
Mark Jourdian of Nettwerk Music Group (representing Fun, Guster, Father John Misty)
Sickamore of Epic Records (behind the #1 album in the country, Travis Scott)

Antje Duvekot F.A.M.E. Review

Review-F.A.M.E.
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer

Antje Duvekot
Black Wolf Records - BW008
Available from Antje Duvekot's online store.

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
by Roberta B. Schwartz

(rschwart@bowdoin.edu)

Antje Duvekot is destined for greatness. It's there in the way she sings, it's in her phrasing and it's in the way she constructs a song in order to tell a particular story. She has a small girl's vulnerability and a woman's strength. And she sings in a voice that is immediately recognizable—it is an instrument of true beauty.

Her second release, The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer, delivers on the promise of her earlier work, Big Dream Boulevard. The recording is produced by one of contemporary music's finest singer/songwriters, Richard Shindell. Shindell surrounds and supports Duvekot's perfect vocals with some of the best musicians working today: Duke Levine on electric guitar, Mark Erelli on mandolin and backing vocals, Lucy Kaplansky and John Gorka on harmony vocals and Ben Wittman on drums and percussion, among others.

The CD opens with a captivating song called Vertigo, which Duvekot co-wrote with singer/songwriter Mark Erelli, who contributes mandolin and harmony vocals. It tells the story of the high wire dancer of the album's title. But it's really a metaphor for the risks one takes in life, and especially in love. Erelli shines here as well as producer Shindell on acoustic guitar.

One of the CD's best cuts is Long Way. It's a road song that takes the listener across the country from Michigan to Minnesota, Tennessee to the badlands of South Dakota, to Washington, California and the Arizona desert. It has a wonderful melody and John Gorka on superb backing vocals. It's the perfect song to take with you on the road.

Scream is about the attractive quality of opposites and the ways in which love can become destructive. Duvekot has a lovely higher range to her voice that is employed here to dramatic effect.

The recording closes with a tender children's song in Duvekot's native German called Augen, Ohren, und Herz. Here we have Duvekot, voice and guitar, and that is all we need.

Antje Duvekot possesses something that is very special in this business—a voice that is so pure and has such richness in tone that you can imagine a noisy room becoming silent the moment the first musical notes escape from her lips. Richard Shindell has recognized her unique gift in that he allows her voice and beautifully written lyrics to remain front and center. There are many great talents in the acoustic music world who lend a hand here, but it is Duvekot whom we have come to listen to. The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer takes us on a journey that has us balancing on the fine line, or high wire between love won and love lost, life lived well and not lived at all, and like a circus, you never know what to expect next. What we do know to expect are great things to come for Antje Duvekot. The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer is a beautiful work of art. Antje Duvekot has arrived!

WPA on WXPN's World Cafe: Superior Super Group

WPA on WXPN039s World Cafe Superior Super Group
WPA had the honor of performing on David Dye's World Cafe on September 16th. Click the link below to hear why David called WPA a "Superior Super Group".

Ellis Paul's Fan Funded Album

After 20 years of touring and 14 albums, for the first time in 10 years Ellis Paul will be releasing a CD without a record label. With an inexplicable show of generosity, Ellis' fans have helped him raise over $90,000 to record, manufacture and distribute his yet-to-be released album! The album is slated for Fall release with working title "The Day After Everything Changed", and is currently being recorded in Tennessee under the watchful eyes of Producers Thad Beaty and Jason Collum of Sorted Noise, as well as Executive Producer Kristian Bush of Grammy Award winning duo Sugarland.

Many thanks to all for the overwhelming support and belief of Ellis Paul's art. Please check out a sample song off the new CD, "The Day After Everything Changed"

Jack Ingram & Ellis Paul in USA Today

Jack Ingram amp Ellis Paul in USA Today
Ingram has 'Big Dreams' for Album

Jack Ingram hasn't chosen a title for his new album, but he knows it'll come out March 17. "There's a song I haven't recorded yet called Big Dreams and High Hopes," says the Texas-based singer/songwriter. "In my mind, that's the working title. But it's not the title yet."

Ingram's 2007 album, This Is It, was the 38-year-old singer's commercial breakthrough, with four top 20 country hits, including the chart-topping Measure of a Man. The new album's first single, That's a Man, is currently in the top 25 of USA TODAY's country airplay chart.

Ingram has written several new songs with Radney Foster, who is producing the album along with Jeremy Stover. The album also will include a cover of Boston singer/songwriter Ellis Paul's The World Ain't Slowin' Down. "It's by far his most popular song," Ingram says. "It'll be fun for me to expose people to a fantastic song from an artist who's had a 20-year career of being a very successful folk artist." Brian Mansfield, USA Today

Ellis Paul in the Boston Globe

Ellis Paul in the Boston Globe
Lighters down, checkbooks up
A growing number of musicians are looking to fans, not record labels, to help fund their albums and tours. And giving has its perks.
By James Reed
Globe Staff / April 12, 2009


Ellis Paul, a veteran singer-songwriter who first made his name in New England's folk clubs in the 1990s, found himself in a disconcerting position last year. He had decided not to renew his contract with Rounder Records, his longtime label, but wanted to make a new album.

With no immediate ideas for funding, Paul took a novel approach: He enlisted his fans, posting a letter on his website asking for donations. Since July they've surprised him by contributing more than $90,000 through a Framingham-based online service called Nimbit, along with checks sent in the mail.

"When you're only selling 20,000 or 30,000 records, you don't really need a label," he says. "We figured we could do this in-house, but we just needed the money, and where was the money going to come from?"

In a growing trend reminiscent of the old-fashioned ways of artists and patrons, musicians around the country - including local singers Mieka Pauley, Mark Erelli, Kris Delmhorst, and former Throwing Muses singer-guitarist Kristin Hersh - are depending on their fans for unprecedented financial support. And it's not just limited to American artists. In France, singer-songwriter Grégoire channeled fan funding through the website MyMajorCompany.com and released "Toi Moi," which peaked at No. 2 spot on the French album charts.

Even as the economy deflates and the record industry continues its downward spiral, indie artists are finding that their supporters are eager to help. In a sense, the fans are replacing - or at least augmenting - the traditional role of a label, which previously would have financed the album with a monetary advance and then taken care of the promotion and distribution.

Piano-playing songwriter Seth Glier, who lives in Western Massachusetts, is only 20 but has already built a fan base that supported him on a recent monthlong tour. Through online efforts, Glier raised $2,500, which came in handy as he and a bandmate zigzagged across the Northeast and had to pay for gas, tolls, and the occasional hotel room.

The initial goal was to raise $500, which Glier accomplished within two hours and then kept going. Glier admits it takes a certain caliber of artist to ask fans outright for money. "It was an idea I had a couple of years ago, but I have a really hard time asking for help," he says. "When I was able to unclench my fist, it was great to realize how many people were there for me."

The fans aren't technically just giving money to these artists: They're buying services.

To fund "The Day After Everything Changed," his new album out in the fall, Paul allowed fans to buy different tiers of sponsorship, ranging from $100 (the "Antje Duvekot Level," named after the local singer-songwriter) up to $10,000 ("the Woody Guthrie Level").

The higher the contribution, the greater the goods. For $100, you got an advance copy of the album with a bonus disc of demos and outtakes, along with tickets to one of Paul's shows. For the top-level contributions, of which Paul received a few, fans got several perks - everything from a one-year membership to Club Passim to a signed acoustic guitar to a credit as an executive producer of the album.

One $10,000 contributor, a Boston-based fan who wished to remain anonymous ("People are losing their jobs and homes right now. I don't think it feels sensitive," she explains), says she and her husband couldn't pass up the opportunity to have him write a song for them, one of the perks at their donation level. They even visited Paul in the studio.

"We left feeling that our donation - as well as everybody else's - is in very good hands," she says. "In this day and age, to pull out your pocketbook, it's got to be something pretty compelling."

Karen Zundel, a librarian in Pennsylvania who's been a devoted Ellis Paul fan for 12 years, says she even saved up for her contribution because it held more importance than your typical splurge. "The arts are what sustain us and bring individuals and communities together and help us to connect with our innermost beings," Zundel says. "A new car won't do that. When you buy a new car or a new outfit, you get that little thrill that lasts very temporarily, and then it's gone. But I think art really sustains me. It lasts."

But the way that art gets to the consumer is changing. Dave Kusek, vice president of Berklee College of Music who co-authored the book "The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution," says the role of record labels is declining.

"I personally think unless you need massive radio airplay, there's very little reason for record labels to engage with artists anymore," he says. "It's a relic of the past in that artists today can find other ways to get to the market, to get money, to distribute their product in a way where they have a lot more control."

Kusek acknowledges there are pitfalls to blazing a new trail with fan funding, though. "I do think there's some risk if you don't deliver," he says. "Essentially, you are relying on people's trust in you. They're effectively loaning you money in the hopes that they'll get something in return. So if you don't come through, you're running the risk of alienating your fans and eliminating those relationships."

Jill Sobule, who rose to fame in the mid-1990s with the ubiquitous hit "I Kissed a Girl" (long before Katy Perry swiped the topic), recorded "California Years," set for release on Tuesday, with the help of $80,000 from fans after establishing a website, www.jillsnextrecord.com, specifically for the project.

"I know some people say that's a lot to record a record," she says, "but it's also for everything a big label is supposed to do: publicists, marketing, promotions, distribution. I've pretty much used all of it."

Like Paul, Sobule offered various services at different price points. For $10,000 one lucky contributor got to sing on a new song. Sobule says she vetted the idea with her fans first. "That's really important: You leave out the middleman and go directly to the fans and talk to them," she says.

The one thing she hadn't counted on was the level of freedom fan funding brought her, both financially and creatively. "In the old model, you'd have to sell 150,000 albums for people to think you were successful," she says, "and now you don't have to."

"It definitely is humbling," she says of asking fans for money. "I feel like I better do the job for my fans. I better bow down to them more than a record label. They're the ones in control now, in a way."

James Reed can be reached at jreed@globe.com.

New Signing: WPA!

New Signing WPA
RALPH JACCODINE MANAGEMENT PARTNERS WITH WPA

New Album To Go On Sale Fall 2009



[For Immediate Release – May 2009] Boston, MA – Ralph Jaccodine Management (RJM) is proud to announce that Works Progress Administration or W.P.A. (www.wpamusic.com) will be joining their management roster. Founded in 1992, RJM has worked with some of the nation's top musicians such as: Ellis Paul, Antje Duvekot, Flynn, Adam Ezra Group, Bang Camaro, Martin Sexton, Averi, Vinx and The Push Stars. Black Wolf Records, a 15 year old independent record label started by Ralph and Newbury Comics CEO, Mike Dreese is also run by Ralph Jaccodine Management.

W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) consists of some of the most prolific musicians in today's music scene. Founding members Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek), and Luke Bulla (Jerry Douglas Band, Ricky Skaggs) have teamed up with Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell, Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Beck), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Randy Newman), Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Cracker), and long-time acclaimed producer Jim Scott (Wilco, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Rolling Stones) to create the group's highly anticipated forthcoming debut album.



In an era where the expectation is that a "supergroup" is something conceived by business executives, this band came out of an authentic and vibrant musical community, and the album is a beautiful reflection of its origins. W.P.A. was born out of the musical community surrounding the legendary LA club, Largo. The eight members of the band had known and admired each other for years, and found themselves with a strong batch of unrecorded songs, a little down time, and a collective feeling that it might be a good idea to put something on tape.

The album is expected to be released in the Fall of 2009.


Contact:

Ralph Jaccodine, Manager
Ralph Jaccodine Management / Black Wolf Records
(617) 393-9800
www.ralphjaccodine.com

rjaccodine@gmail.com

###

New Music Seminar NYC 2010 : July 19-21

New Music Seminar NYC 2010 nbspJuly 1921
The New Music Seminar began in the 80's and 90's and was the largest music conference in the world, starting all other conferences including SXSW, Canadian Music Week, the Winter Music Conference and others. The NMS is a way to teach artists, managers, agents, labels and others how to maximize fan relationship management, and get to the 300 ticket mark in multiple markets, while at the same time creating change in the industry by working with our partners. The NMS New Music Business Guidebook, given to every attending delegate, is filled with forms, marketing and promotion tips, do's and don't's and other valuable information to help artist's kick start their career.

NMS is happy to announce that after the success and the requests from delegates attending various NMS events last year, especially NMS Los Angeles, which sold out, NMS NYC 2010 will now be extended over two days and three nights from July 19-21, 2010, The Opening Night Party on Monday, July 19th as well as the daily seminars, will be held at M2 Ultra Lounge, located at 530 West 28th Street (between 10th and 11th Streets), with the nightly events on Tuesday, July 20th and Wednesday night's Closing Night Party, July 21st, to be held at Santo's Party House, located at 96 Lafayette Street (one block south of Canal Street). NMS will be adding an additional Movement over the two days, along with "Breakout Sessions", "Lectures" and some surprises that will make this year's event in New York even better.

FOR A LIMITED TIME: 2 FOR 1 DEAL, simply put in code nmsny10 when registering, and you will get 2 registrations for price of one. $150 early bird rate is only good until April 30th. For more information, please visit the NMS website (below).

jaccodine 55

ANTJE DUVEKOT Nominated for Best Music Poll '09 - VOTE NOW!

ANTJE DUVEKOT Nominated for Best Music Poll 03909  VOTE NOW
Antje's been nominated for Boston's Best Music Poll '09 Best Female Vocalist -- Please vote your support & pass on to friends! VOTE HERE!

RJM Signs Adam Ezra Group!

RJM Signs Adam Ezra Group
[Boston, MA] – Ralph Jaccodine Management (RJM) announces the signing of Boston-based Adam Ezra Group (www.myspace.com/adamezra) to it's management roster. Founded in 1992, RJM has worked with some of the nation's top songwriters such as: Ellis Paul, Antje Duvekot, Flynn, Martin Sexton, Bang Camaro, and The Push Stars. Black Wolf Records, a 15 year old independent record label is also run by Ralph Jaccodine Management.

Adam Ezra is an extremely passionate musician and songwriter. Drawing from his experience of living out of his van, farming in Canada, doing relief work in Kosovo, studying in South Africa, working as a kitchen hand or carpenter, teacher, lacrosse coach, or world traveler, Adam manages to cram it all into the music, always challenging our perspective and often teetering somewhere between the ballsy rocker and sensitive poet

The Adam Ezra Group devotes a good deal of time to community outreach and activism. Their recent schedule is highlighted by spots at the environmentally conscious Rothbury Festival along side Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer, Boston's Earthfest and the Download Festival. Emerging out of Boston, the group's live performances have made them a staple in the Northeast and are continually growing their fan base nationally


"Adam Ezra can write an indelible song from basic folk to classic-rock material...just try to get the melody out of your head." - Boston Herald
"Boston's new voice in acoustic rock"- Boston Phoenix

2015 Boston Music Award nomiations!

We are excited to announce that out artist, Shun Ng, has been nominated for his third Boston Music Award - International Artist of the Year!!

Also, two of our team members have been nominated for awards - Holly McGarry's band Honeysuckle and Ian Jones' band Grey Season have both been nominated this year.

Congratulations to everyone who has been nominated this year!

Shun Ng signed to Supreme Entertainment

Shun Ng signed to Supreme Entertainment
Great news from Ralph Jaccodine Management!

Shun Ng, one of my clients, has signed with booking agent Shaun Hague of Supreme Entertainment!

After over a decade in the music industry, Shaun Hague has carved quite a path on all sides. Hague has played the part of Touring Sideman (Kenny Wayne Shepherd, John Waite), Writer (Acoustic Guitar, Fretboard Journal), Talent Buyer (Saint Rocke) and the agency world (Monterey International). Now as an agent for Supreme Entertainment Artists, Hague is the RA for many talented acts such as Pat Travers, John Waite, Mike Campbell (of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), Freedy Johnston, Meiko, Marie Digby and Shun Ng.

Born in Chicago, raised in Singapore and based out of Boston, Shun Ng (pronounced 'ing') is a fingerstyle guitarist, vocalist and acclaimed international performer known for his unique and virtuosic style which infuses elements of Soul, Funk, Blues and Jazz. Shun dazzles audiences from all over the world with his flamboyant technique, soulful vocals and hypnotic groove. Today he stands as one of the most dynamic and innovative performers, winning accolades from legendary producer, Quincy Jones to fellow fingerstyle virtuoso, Tuck Andress.

"I was dazzled by his technique and captivated by his guitar grooves. Shun's music has that special quality, the dream of all musicians, the natural ability to touch the heart of the listener."
- Tuck Andress (Tuck & Patti)

A year ago, Shun played a sold out show hosted by one of his biggest fans, Quincy Jones, at the Eli Broad Stage in LA. "When you see Shun Ng, you won't believe your eyes nor your ears - he belies all stereotypes, all premonitions. I was simply blown away by both his soul and his science - his creativity and his uniqueness is astounding."
- Quincy Jones

Highlights of his touring have been several sold out shows in his former country of Singapore and Malaysia, a run of five shows at Biscuit & Blues in San Francisco. After his APAP showcase and Rockwood Music Hall show in NYC, Shun played at The Opera House in Boothbay, ME, The Center for the Arts (TCAN) in Natick, MA, and Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, NH and has a sold out 2Cellos show at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston, MA in May.

Witnessing Shun's one-man band performance live is an unrivaled experience that is not to be missed.

New Ellis Paul interview with Where Magazine

New Ellis Paul interview with Where Magazine
"Boston singer-songwriter Ellis Paul has been composing folk music since 1993. Since then, he’s worked his way to the forefront of the local and national music scene with 15 studio albums and another set to release in 2012. He frequently collaborates with Kristian Bush of Sugarland and toured with the Grammy-winning country band for the second time this summer, and he’s a favorite of the Farrelly Brothers, who have featured his music in their films “Shallow Hal” and “Hall Pass.” This month, Paul wraps up his 20th year making music and sat down with Where to reflect on his career, folk music today, and the fact that he’s just as busy as ever." - Leigh Harrington, Where Magazine

Ellis Paul performs with Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Ellis Paul performs with Kristian Bush of Sugarland
"Last night, Kristian played his annual Thanksgiving solo show at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, a longstanding tradition performed this year alongside singer-songwriter Ellis Paul. The pair traded songs -- many of which they'd written together -- and told stories of their twenty-year friendship over two shows and close to four hours of music, as the other half of the Bush Brothers, Brandon, contributed accompaniment on piano and accordion." - Sugarlandmusic.com

Read the rest of the blog entry about Ellis and Kristian's show here.

Ellis Paul and Amy Black named to WUMB's Top Artists of 2011 List

Ellis Paul and Amy Black named to WUMB039s Top Artists of 2011 List
"You voted -- and we’ve tabulated the votes - all 3,514 of them from 31 states and 6 countries! Ballots were submitted from September 1 - November 7, 2011. Several hundred performers received votes, and several performers have made it to this list for the very first time!" - WUMB.com

88 - Amy Black
12 - Ellis Paul

View the entire list here.

Adam Ezra Group Cover Story in the Boston Globe

Zak Kuhn talks with Ralph Jaccodine, Professor at Berklee College Of Music

Zak Kuhn talks with Ralph Jaccodine Professor at Berklee College Of Music


Zak Kuhn is a true New Yorker and former student of mine who went from Berklee College of Music to Nashville, of all places. It was there that Zak has carved out an amazing career including starting the Nashville Briefing (link here), a must read for the music industry. The Zak Kuhn Show is a his podcast series with some amazing players in the music industry... and for some reason, he asked me to share my thoughts. We had fun! Enjoy.

Ralph Jaccodine Interview - The Future of Artist Management

For all the upheaval that the music business has experienced in the past 15 years, the work and priorities of the artist manager haven’t changed that much. “I remember I saw David Byrne speak about the Internet,” veteran artist manager Ralph Jaccodine recalls, “and he said that the fact that it’s a level playing field doesn’t mean anything.”

Even though the landscape may have changed, managers remain responsible for two things: hustling up business opportunities for their clients, and exploring ways to augment, supplement and realize those clients’ creative visions.
jaccodine 67


In that sense, the panel that Jaccodine is moderating on Tuesday, Artists and Managers – Our Perspective, is less about looking into the future and more about comparing notes on the present. The strategies and outlook of a panelist like Bertis Downs, who represents REM, are likely to differ considerably from those of Fenway Recordings‘ Mark Kates, who represents bands ranging from MGMT to Bodega Girls.

We grabbed a few minutes of Jaccodine’s time to discuss his upcoming panel, and here’s what happened....

You can read Ralph's complete interview with We All Make Music via the link below

The Alternate Root review of The Day After Everything Changed

The Alternate Root review of Ellis Paul's latest release:  The Day After Everything Changed

MBJ Cut Time Podcast with Ralph Jaccodine

MBJ Cut Time Podcast with Ralph Jaccodine
Berklee College of Music's 'Music Business Journal' Podcast.

Exclusive interview with industry professional and Berklee professor Ralph Jaccodine discussing current industry management techniques and trends.

ELLIS PAUL IN BOSTON GLOBE - TRIBUTE TO DICK PLEASANTS

Ellis was honored to play with a star-studded cast of amazing musicians this Friday, to pay tribute to the legendary Dick Pleasants.  

Read on with the Globe to get the scoop on a wonderful night of music!

Mentoring for the Modern Musician Podcast with Ralph Jaccodine

Mentoring for the Modern Musician Podcast with Ralph Jaccodine

#3 Management w/ Ralph Jaccodine


The Mentoring for the Modern Musician podcast, often featuring interviews with industry insiders who would never take your call, is designed to help cut the learning curve for musicians in and ever-changing music industry. Through in-depth topical discussions, the Scharff Brothers look to help musicians cultivate the skills necessary to forge a career as a creative artist. Pioneers in Virtual Artist Development, the Brothers steer each interview and conversation in an entertaining, informative, upbeat and completely original direction. In an ever-changing music industry, up to date and often cutting-edge information can make all the difference in a successful career. As the boys will tell you “You got this…We got your back.”

The Scharff Brothers guest on Mentoring for the Modern Musician in this episode is Ralph Jaccodine, Founder of Ralph Jaccodine Management and co-founder of Black Wolf Records. Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music, Music Business/Management Department. Beginning with a young artist named Ellis Paul, then quickly followed by powerhouse performer Martin Sexton Ralph has, over his 25-year career, managed numerous brilliant artists. The list includes: Livingston Taylor, Shun Ng, The Push Stars, Flynn, Antje Duvekot, The Adam Ezra Group, and many more! We were thrilled to be able to spend some time picking his uniquely insightful brain!

ELLIS PAUL MUSIC PICKED FOR FARRELLY BROTHERS BLOCKBUSTER COMEDY, "HALL PASS"

Movie director Peter Farrelly, one half of the Farrelly Brothers, once praised Ellis Paul as “a national treasure”.  Ellis’ songs have appeared in the soundtracks for two previous Farrelly Brothers' movies, “Me Myself & Irene” starring Jim Carrey and Renee Zellweger, and “Shallow Hal” starring Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow.  The Farrellys have chosen Ellis Paul to come on board for a third time to collaborate in a broader role on the score for their forthcoming release "Hall Pass".

Released on February 25, 2011, "Hall Pass" - starring Owen Wilson and Christina Applegate - showcases nine musical tracks off of Ellis' latest album The Day After Everything Changed.  The movie's plot revolves around a married man (Wilson) who is granted the opportunity to have an affair by his wife (Christina Applegate), and you can get a sneak peek via the link to the official movie trailer for "Hall Pass" below.

MAYOR MENINO DECLARED "ELLIS PAUL DAY" IN THE CITY OF BOSTON!

MAYOR MENINO DECLARED quotELLIS PAUL DAYquot IN THE CITY OF BOSTON
Whereas:  Ellis Paul rose out of the competitive Boston music scene to the top of the American singer songwriter world. He is known throughout the country for his literate, provocative songs, non-stop touring and is one of the top modern day troubadours.;

Whereas:  After graduating from Boston College, his musical career began in the Boston area open mics and church basement coffeehouses and has flourished with 150 shows annually. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, his beloved Club Passim and throughout Europe. Ellis' songs are know by fans around the world on radio, TV, in several Hollywood blockbuster movies;

Whereas:  Ellis’ contribution to music bridged the gap between modern folk sounds and populist traditions and helped ignite a revival in the folk world. He proudly sports a Woody Guthrie tattoo and has even co-written a song with Woody using lyrics from his archives entitled "God's Promise";

Whereas:  Ellis was one of the first national artists to start a record label, Black Wolf Records. To date he has recorded 16 CD's, a concert/documentary DVD, and a book of his writing, "Notes From The Road";

Whereas:  We will continue to benefit from Ellis' invaluable voice and creativity as his words fill our hearts with love, warmth, and beauty;

Whereas:  The City of Boston will always be grateful for Ellis’ tireless efforts to help fill Boston with song, improve the music community, and to make our great city a world-class destination on his journey; NOW

Therefore,  I, Thomas M Menino, Mayor ofthe City ofBoston, do hereby proclaim Friday, July 9, 2010 to be

ELLIS PAUL DAY


in the city of Boston.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino

Detoxicity Podcast Episode 24

Detoxicity Podcast Episode 24


Ralph Jaccodine has 4 decades of working in the music business working with artists as diverse as Bruce Springsteen, Rush, Kiss to Livingston Taylor, Martin Sexton and Ellis Paul. He started promoting concerts in Allentown, Pa. and at the University of Notre Dame. Then after a career in commercial real estate, he started an indie record label and artist management company. He is the founder of the Boston Managers Group, a 150+ professional organization. Ralph teaches full time on the faculty of Berklee College of Music in the Music Business/Management department.

This episode finds me and Ralph exploring teaching and mentorship, the things Ralph learned from the church, Mother Teresa and Bruce Springsteen, and the things that he tries to pass along to his students and his children. We also talk about the stresses involved with managing artists’ careers and how to keep the faith in uncertain times.

What will concerts be like post-pandemic? Planned Palm Desert arena offers a glimpse

What will concerts be like postpandemic Planned Palm Desert arena offers a glimpse

Brian Blueskye
, Palm Springs Desert Sun

Imagine this: It's a Friday night in 2022. Your favorite band is playing at a new arena in Southern California, and you're ready to enjoy live entertainment again.

Even if the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, you can expect the event to be different.

When you visit the concession stand for a hot dog, products will be grab-and-go, and the purchase won't require human interaction.

Sanitization and cleaning will be more thorough. The air circulation system will be equipped with new technology for ventilation.

These are just a few examples of the new design elements that Los Angeles-based Oak View Group is looking to implement in its venues — not just in Southern California but also in Seattle, Austin and New York. The coronavirus pandemic is leading to changes at many sports stadiums and live event arenas as they try to safely serve fans.

OVG's planned 10,000-seat arena, which will be built just outside the city of Palm Desert, offers a window into what the post-pandemic concert experience could be like.

"We need to understand there will always be the spread out there, even if it's on a much smaller scale, and there may be other viruses that we have to deal with as we become a global society," OVG CEO Tim Leiweke said. "We're ready for it."

What will concerts look like post-pandemic?

Live Nation, a Beverly Hills events promoter, is partnering to provide entertainment for OVG's Southern California arena. When asked about the type of acts that will perform, a spokesperson pointed to Cher, KISS, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez, and Queen + Adam Lambert, who partnered with the company for nationwide arena tours in 2019.

Those tours drew an estimated 10,000 to 14,000 people. Experts are already speculating about the types of changes fans might see in concert arenas of that size.

Leiweke told Music Row in June that an Oak View Group task force is reviewing more than 180 products, solutions and technologies for seating, concourses, restrooms, concession stands and locker rooms not only for its own live entertainment facilities but others across the industry as well. Its Southern California arena also will be home to the Seattle Kraken's American Hockey League team.

'We're figuring out how we ultimately make our buildings safer," Lieweke told The Desert Sun. "We're spending millions of dollars more on all of our projects."

UCLA public health professor Dr. Richard Jackson described the SARS-CoV-2 strain as "fragile" and easy to destroy with alcohol.  

"Your biggest risk is the guy next to you sneezing and breathing in your face, (and)going to the bar and being eight inches from somebody else's face whose got a runny nose, coughing and not wearing a mask," Jackson said.

For that reason, arenas could require face masks or temperatures checks upon entry, not only for attendees but for staff. They might keep a certain number of seats open between fans. Surfaces that you are likely to touch might be made of materials such as copper, which erodes the COVID-19 virus. Air might be recycled through high-quality filters and ultraviolet light.

And technology could be used to ensure social distancing. When it's time for beer, fans might pour it themselves through an automated system like the one developed by Illinois-based company Pour My Beer.

"The day where you reach into your wallet or pocket and put a bunch of dollar bills on a counter where a guy picks them up and puts them in with everyone else's money, I think those days are ending and we'll be paying with a card," Jackson said.

Jackson believes the virus will be eradicated by 2022, but added if COVID-19 is still widespread, it won't be safe to open arenas at all.

When will concerts happen again?

It's uncertain when concerts will be able to happen across the U.S.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in April that live music is unlikely to return until there's a COVID-19 vaccine. And Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said this month that he doesn't expect a vaccine until the middle of 2021.

NFL teams such as the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys have allowed some fans to attend games, but many teams are not allowing fans into the stadium until the third or fourth weeks of league play, or for the entire season.

Fans at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami are required to check-in at assigned gate entries, adhere to social distancing and park where they are assigned by an attendant. Staff are required to wear masks and have their temperature taken.

One of 16,000 fans who attended Kansas City's opening gameagainst the Houston Texans on Sept. 10 tested positive for COVID-19. Fans who sat near the attendee were alerted through the stadium's contact tracing system and are currently in quarantine.

Dr. Paula Cannon, professor of molecular microbiology & immunology at the University of Southern California, said these decisions must be made at a local level and reflect the risk of the population in those areas.

"I think the reality is, you can put a lower number of people in a stadium but if you believe they are always going to be socially distant, that's somewhat naïve," Cannon said. "But if you're in a state or a locale with a very low local transmission and can ensure that your audience wear masks, that's a huge reduction in risk."

Live music industry faces uncertain future

But live entertainment may already be permanently altered for years to come.

Ralph Jaccodine, an assistant professor of music and business management at Berklee College of Music in Boston, described the touring industry's infrastructure like the "Wizard of Oz": Arenas can operate successfully thanks to smaller venues that act as cogs churning out buzz and new artists.

Bigger stadiums book music acts based on projected ticket sales, when a band was last in the market, a new album or an increased amount of publicity and radio airplay.

"If the arena is going to guarantee all this money, they want to make sure they don't take a hit, so they're smart about it," Jaccodine said. "In order to fill up the arenas, they have their eyes on the clubs, the theaters, the colleges and what's going on there. Because they need to see their arenas with new bands."

But many small independently-owned venues across the country are either currently closed or at risk of closing. The Troubadour in West Hollywood, for example — known for helping to launch the careers of Elton John and the Eagles — has been closed since March. Christine Karayan, the club’s general manager, told the Los Angeles Times that its survival amid the pandemic is a "big if."

Jaccodine recalled attending a mentoring session with Live Nation's New England President Don Law, who said these smaller venues are integral to the entire touring industry infrastructure.

"(Law) was talking about how important it is to have healthy clubs," Jaccodine said. "You're not going to play at the Boston Garden if you haven't had five to 10 years of working the little clubs and the little theaters."

Still, Jaccodine is hopeful that the industry can recover, similar to professional sports.

"When a band like Nine Inch Nails comes to Boston, that's 10,000 hotel rooms, restaurants, and rental cars and it just it brings so much financial help to the city," Jaccodine said. "We're living in a strange world, but managers like me, booking agents and even musicians, we're a pretty positive and optimistic group."

Boston Managers Group Meeting: The National Independent Talent Organization

Panel Ralph Jaccodine Jim Lucchese CEO SoFar Sounds amp George Howard former president Rykodisc

Hosted by Ralph Jaccodine of the Boston Manager’s Group, Ted Kurland (The Kurland Agency), Wayne Forte (Entourage Talent Associates), and Frank Riley (High Road Touring) discuss the state of the touring industry and the formation of The National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), for which they are founding members.

NITO is the ONLY organization actively lobbying congress on behalf of all independent booking AGENTS and independent MANAGERS... that means US!

Panel: Ralph Jaccodine, Jim Lucchese (CEO, SoFar Sounds), & George Howard (former president, Rykodisc)

Panel Ralph Jaccodine Jim Lucchese CEO SoFar Sounds amp George Howard former president Rykodisc

Hosted by Ralph Jaccodine of the Boston Manager’s Group, George Howard and Sofar Sounds’ CEO Jim Lucchese talk about how the music industry is changing as a result of the pandemic, what Sofar Sounds is doing to address the changing market, and how artists can sustain their careers in the current climate.

Culture Shocks with Barry Lynn Podcast with Ralph Jaccodine

Culture Shocks with Barry Lynn Podcast with Ralph Jaccodine

Cultureshocks is a podcast and blog that takes a sometimes serious, sometimes comedic, look at the politics and culture of today. Barry Lynn’s goal is to do just the opposite of David Letterman’s new podcast “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction”. He introduces folks to people they well might not know because our media has a tendency to recycle “famous people” and ignore innovative voices out there.

Barry Lynn was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His family moved to nearby Bethlehem when he was a child. He attended Bethlehem's Liberty High School, graduating in 1966.

Lynn received his B.A. in 1970 from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and his theology degree from Boston University School of Theology in 1973. After attending law school at night, he received his J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

After law school, Lynn continued to work with the United Church of Christ to gain amnesty for young men who refused to fight in the Vietnam War. Later, Lynn held various positions related to religious liberties.

From 1974 to 1980, Lynn held positions within the national offices of the United Church of Christ, including two years for the Church's Office of Church in Society in Washington, D.C., as legislative counsel

In the mid-to-late 1980s he was legislative counsel for Washington's ACLU office, where he frequently worked on church–state issues.

From 1992 until his retirement in 2017, the Rev. Barry W. Lynn served as executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to the preservation of the Constitution’s religious liberty provisions. In addition to his work as a long-time activist and lawyer in the civil liberties field.

Lynn is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, offering him a unique perspective on church-state issues. An accomplished speaker and lecturer, Lynn has appeared frequently on television and radio broadcasts to offer analysis of First Amendment issues.

In 2006, Lynn authored Piety & Politics: The Right-Wing Assault On Religious Freedom (Harmony Books). In 2008 he coauthored (with C. Welton Gaddy) First Freedom First: A Citizen’s Guide to Protecting Religious Liberty and the Separation of Church and State (Beacon Press).

His latest book is God & Government: Twenty-Five Years of Fighting for Equality, Secularism, and Freedom Of Conscience (Prometheus Books), published in 2015.

Lynn has appeared frequently on radio broadcasts and television to debate and discuss First Amendment issues, including The MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour, NBC's Today Show, Nightline, Fox Morning News (Washington, D.C.), CNN's Crossfire, The Phil Donahue Show, Meet the Press, CBS Morning News, ABC's Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, and Larry King Live. He is also a weekly commentator on church-state issues for UPI Radio, and served for two years as regular co-host of "Pat Buchanan and Company" on the Mutual Broadcasting System.

Lynn hosted the radio program Culture Shocks, from 2005 until 2013, which could be heard from Washington, D.C., to Southern California on AM and FM radio stations. The show was syndicated nationally by "GCN Live", The Genesis Communications Network.

In October of 2018, Barry Lynn returned to the airwaves with a weekly podcast of Culture Shocks. The show airs at 3 p.m. Pacific Time, every Friday on Radio Station KCAA AM-FM, Loma Linda, California.


TO LISTEN, CLICK THE LINK BELOW, SELECT THE PLATFORM OF YOUR CHOICE, AND FIND EPISODE 3.14.19

Above The Basement Podcast with Liv Taylor

Above The Basement Podcast with Liv Taylor

Boston’s own Livingston Taylor is a musician, teacher and interested man.

Yes – we said interestED, not interesting. Not that Livingston isn’t interesting, because he certainly is. This will all make sense in our conversation.

Liv is a full professor at Berklee College of Music where he teaches Stage Performance.

He is currently celebrating a 50+ year career with a brand new album called "The Best of LIVe – 50 Years of Livingston Taylor Live". This album has 11 tracks from his upcoming box set of the same name featuring unreleased live performances spanning his career from 1969 through 2016.

There is also a fantastic documentary called "Livingston Taylor: Life Is Good” that won The Van Gogh Award for the Feature Documentary category at the Amsterdam International Film Festival and you can check that out on Amazon.

Livingston has played with Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffett, and Jethro Tull to name just a few and he continues to play and tour internationally.

Liv flew in from Martha’s Vineyard (and I mean he actually flew himself in as he is an instrument-rated pilot) to have a truly great conversation in his Watertown offices with us.

We talked about teaching, performance, learning and even about Steel manufacturing – he’s a man who has an insatiable thirst for being interested and he will tell you without asking that he loves you.

And he means it.

Mentoring for the Modern Musician Podcast with Liv Taylor

Mentoring for the Modern Musician Podcast with Liv Taylor

#34 Living legend Livingston Taylor LIVE @ Berklee College of Music


The Mentoring for the Modern Musician podcast, often featuring interviews with industry insiders who would never take your call, is designed to help cut the learning curve for musicians in and ever-changing music industry. Through in-depth topical discussions, the Scharff Brothers look to help musicians cultivate the skills necessary to forge a career as a creative artist. Pioneers in Virtual Artist Development, the Brothers steer each interview and conversation in an entertaining, informative, upbeat and completely original direction. In an ever-changing music industry, up to date and often cutting-edge information can make all the difference in a successful career. As the boys will tell you “You got this…We got your back.”

In this episode of Mentoring for the Modern Musician the Scharff Brothers were privileged to sit down with living legend Livingston Taylor In front of a live audience of students and faculty from the Berklee College of Music!!!Livingston Taylor’s career as a professional musician has spanned 50 years, encompassing performance, songwriting, and teaching. Described as "equal parts Mark Twain, college professor, and musical icon, Livingston maintains a performance schedule of more than a hundred shows a year, delighting audiences with his charm and vast repertoire of his 15 albums and popular classics. Livingston has written top-40 hits recorded by his brother James Taylor and has appeared with Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, and Jimmy Buffet. He is equally at home with a range of musical genres - folk, pop, gospel, jazz - and from upbeat storytelling and touching ballads to full orchestra performances. In addition to his performance schedule, Livingston is a full professor at Berklee College of Music, passing on the extensive knowledge gained from his long career on the road to the next generation of musicians.

Artists as Activists

Artists as Activists
Cohosted by the Music Business/Management Department at Berklee College of Music and the Dance Division at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, this residency was designed to highlight artistic collaboration between musicians and dancers on themes of activism and using art as a platform for empowerment, political expression, social justice, and fighting oppression. During the residency, artist will offered master classes and clinics, working together to create a new work in real time, then demonstrated it in performance.

Artists as Activists featured Kemp Harris, singer-songwriter, actor, and educator; Christal Brown (Urban Bush Women and program chair of Dance at Middlebury College), choreographer, educator, performer, and writer; Vincent Thomas (Urban Bush Women BOLD facilitator), dancer, choreographer, and teacher; and Chad Stokes, cofounder of Calling All Crows, a nonprofit organization. The residency also featured Barry Lynn, American journalist and writer; and Jim Lucchese, former CEO of Echo Nest/Spotify.

It was made possible because of generous support from the AVK Foundation.

Missing From Your Job Description

Missing From Your Job Description

If you're working in an office, here are some of the checklist items that might have been omitted:

  • Add energy to every conversation
  • Ask why
  • Find obsolete things on your task list and remove them
  • Treat customers better than they expect
  • Offer to help co-workers before they ask
  • Feed the plants
  • Leave things more organized than you found them
  • Invent a moment of silliness
  • Highlight good work from your peers
  • Find other great employees to join the team
  • Cut costs
  • Help invent a new product or service that people really want
  • Get smarter at your job through training or books
  • Encourage curiosity
  • Surface and highlight difficult decisions
  • Figure out what didn't work
  • Organize the bookshelf
  • Start a club
  • Tell a joke at no one's expense
  • Smile a lot.

Now that it's easier than ever to outsource a job to someone cheaper (or a robot) there needs to be a really good reason for someone to be in the office. Here's to finding several.

WPA Review on BMF

Antje Duvekot Review on Fish Records

FISH RECORDS

Three years on from her excellent 'Big Dream Boulevard', Antje returns with a new album that is destined to see her rise to the top of the current singer/songwriter scene.

One of the few criticisms of the previous album was that the production was a little too much in places, but that is remedied in some style 'The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer' which sees Richard Shindell in his first role as a producer. Bringing Shindell to the songs has given the whole album a more gentle, flowing and relaxed feel that suits her though provoking, occasionally dark songs perfectly. These are essentially understated songs that show real insight into social and personal situations, and the lightness of touch in the production helps the lyrical insights land their punches with the listener. The strength of the lyrics is accentuated by Antje's distinct vocals, there's a youthful innocence in her voice that is immediately disarming and easy to listen to.

As well as producing the disc, Shindell's presence is felt on many tracks in the form of immediately identifiable instrumental and vocal work, and the disc also features the talents of Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka and Victor Krauss.

While her very early self released discs demonstrated her writing talents, the songs here show her development into one of the best contemporary writers around, at times very reminiscent of Patty Griffin, the ten songs here are all excellent, in particular the beautiful 'Long Way', the Griffin-esque opener 'Vertigo', and 'Ragdoll Princes and Junkyard Queens' the most upbeat song on the album.

'The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer' really delivers on the obvious promise of her previous albums, and the pairing with Shindell has brought the songs alive by taking away the unnecessary in instrumentation and letting her vocals and lyrics speak for themselves. A beautiful album, full of great songs.

Track listing
1 Vertigo
2 Ragdoll Princes and Junkyard Queens
3 Long Way
4 Lighthouse
5 Dublin Boys
6 The Bridge
7 Scream
8 Reasonland
9 Coney Island
10 Merry Go Round