Jujitsu was excellent last night. Did more excapes from garotting, though now I have rope burns on my wrist and a couple of scratches on my back. Hmmm. Sounds dodgy but was all in the name of getting my blue belt. Bit battered and stiff today though. Decided to join a gym as I'm eating too many pies.

Although we have sent the message out that we don't accept physical submissions, they keep coming in. I asked the postroom to forward them onto me so I can send them a message getting them on here. However, I've not had time for a couple of weeks and now they've mounted up. I've got loads to get through. It's going to take me ages. I'm going to have to do a pile a day or something as there's too much to sort out.

Ok. The media player, the first and easiest idea to start on. The spec I'm working to so far is:

1. Sidebar embeddable
2. 30 Track Playlist (20 Playlisted 10 Wildcards - changed weekly - best of get added to playlist)
3. Can Be embedded on other sites
4. Each track has link to artist's Vox homepage
5. Artwork window at top
6. Play/Pause/Skip/Random Play Buttons

That's the spec. I'm going to approach our digital creative dept to start work on it unless there's anything screaming out at you that needs adding?

Artist services - Well the gigs thing could work. After all I've already started working on my own thing. So if that works out maybe it could be taken larger scale? We'll have to see how that works. The distribution thing is a whole other matter which will need a lot of talking about.

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Gigs 31/10/2007

Busy one tonight for Hallowe'en, you doing it in fancy dress?

Worldview is doing an acoustic set @ The Purple Turtle (Oxford) from 6pm

Our friend Susie Wilkins is returning to the Troubadour tonight, though the actual stage time has been sketchy. I'd say get there for 7 and you'll be fine.

Angular Electro Pop outfit Molloy are celebrating Hallowe'en at 93 Feet East which should be a good laugh. 8pm.  Be sure stop by Beyond Retro. It's one of my favourite bits of London around there.

Right, I'm going for a quick sit in the carpark whilst it's sunny then onto the mountain of demos, emails, letters etc.

Hope all is well with you.

IB

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Long post today as I have some catching up to do.

Much Table Dancing

On Thursday night I was invited to a do for the RCA label near Baker St. It was excellent and nice to see them all in a social setting. There was a buffet consisting of the hottest curry I've ever eaten. I was trying to look cool whilst speaking to Stormyduke, one of their A&R fellas, when I had my first mouthful, nearly spat rice accross the room. Subsequently I ended up drinking a lot of beer for its' medicinal value. Luckily, I didn't make too much of a t**t of myself.

The highlight of the evening was a performance by newly signed Ray Gun & the Aggitators. When I first started this blog I made a deal that I wouldn't use it to punt signed talent but I was really left childishly excitable after the gig.

The vocalist Ray has a great voice, moves and looks like Iggy Pop/David Bowie and the band are musically brilliant. Once more, it's a rock n roll band (with elements of disco). I mentioned to Craig that I thought it was a really brave signing when labels are searching out retro-electro wizardry or mass-acousitic Arcade-Fire-Esque bands to sign a four piece rock band who would have easily

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been at home playing CBGB's in the mid 70's.

Irrespective of what you're into. You couldn't sit back and say Ray Gun and the Aggitators were crap. I doubt I'm articulate enough to make clever comparions and insightful comment on their influences. So it's easier to give you a link to their myspace and leave it at that. You have to see this band live before the venues get too big and the tickets too expensive.

On Friday I was asked to film Celine Dion. You're probably staring at your screen like it's a magic-eye picture with a '?' above your head. A colleague of mine asked if I had access to a decent video camera. I said yes but suggested that I come along to film as it would lessen the chance of mishap.

It was at the Dorchester Hotel in an amazing suite. After much shuffling about, testing and re-tesing the camera, the light etc. I was ushered into the room where I was filming. I've not met many international superstar-types, infact she's the first but she was lovely. I was really hoping she'd be a major nasty diva so I'd have lots to write about in the way of tantrums, but no. Polite and friendly after a long day of interviews and such. On finishing the shoot she asked "Is that ok sir?" and then I was left to pack away my stuff. All straightforward. However, after about five mins I realised I was locked in. I was meeting a friend, itching for beer, and a knew my taxi was waiting. There was a fully stocked bar aswell that I didn't touch. The only way out was through a room where they were recording a radio interview. Damn. So I explored the various features of the camera on my phone and got the pics to the right. I didn't ask to take any of C.D. as I didn't think I should. I think the film might end up on youtube so I'll post the link once I have it.

Anyway! Here we go THE END OF CAMDEN IS BACK ON!!!!! Come on you good thing! I have a better DV cam, and people to help me film and edit. So, who have I got confirmed so far? Well, I want FOX CUBS to headline the 10th November slot so far supported by Vote Show Pony and Susie Wilkins. I've got one more slot to fill. The venue manager and me will be going through what I've got to decide what we need to complete the lineup. I'm really excited about this. It's going to be a FREE GIG. So come down and get inebriated with me and watch some fantastic bands at Tommy F's in Camden. I hear there's already some non-Sony BMG industry types turning up. Maybe they're spying. ;-)

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Gigs 29/10/2007

Just the one tonight it seems.

Ashley Hicklin is playing (again) a free solo acoustic set at Revolution, stage time 8pm. If any of you go let me know.

Hope all is good with you.

IB

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Just sent off my new A&R list to the labels, will get onto them this afternoon and hassle them to see what they think. I treat the lists as almost my own personal best-of's. I will start publishing them once this platform has been running a year I think. I'm in with RCA tomorrow so will be able to show off my wares there aswell.

I was meant to go to the Fox Cub's gig last night but as it took me about an hour and a half to get home to drop my stuff off, and I couldn't get any cash out because of this...

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..I couldn't make it. Damn. I had to scrounge change from around my room to make it to work this morning.

It's such a hassle but it will probably stop me spending for a while which isn't a bad thing.

Anyhow. I've forwarded on the results from the discussions happening around the development of the A&R platform to my boss. I also mentioned to Ged the recent activity and he was pleased to hear of the input and has been having a look around I believe.

Rather than put a poll up, which is what I thought about doing in the first place. I'm simply going to investigate every option to see how feasable it is first then see if I'm in a position to implement them. If it's something fairly easy (like the new media player) then we might aswell just do it. The more complicated ideas, like co-branded nationwide gigs, may be a little harder to acheive. But I will have a look nonetheless.

Big apologies to the Fox Cubs, it all got a bit much once I got home. Will have to catch the next one. Did anyone go to the Claire Toomey gig? I'm curious to see what she is like live too. 

Tonight Shortwave Fade are playing at the Charlotte in Leicester. They've been in the community a while and are worth checking out. I really like their track Stay As You Are, take a listen if you get time.

Hope all is well with you, keep on adding the gigs and as soon as I've glued my card back together I'll start getting out and about again.

Hope all is well with you.

IB

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Grrrrr. Had a rant yesterday and must have one today. Though it will be my last rant for a while. I prefer happy posts.

Got my mobile stolen on the nightbus. In a bizarre clothing assault.

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Whilst asleep on the bus (yes I know, stupid thing to let happen) some nobhead cut a hole in my jeans, through the pocket lining and then robbed my phone. They spent the evening calling international numbers and I didn't cancel the handset until this morning. Crap. £200 I would have liked to spend on something else.

It was kinda ironic that I was on the way home from Jujitsu. I like to feel prepared and such but I never thought about defence from attack whilst asleep. I will have to invent the 'sleeping drunkard' style for those who are verging on narcoleptic like myself.

Anyway, class was really good fun, lots of new people to play with.

Musically, there's a gig on tonight that I wanted to see of that Jono chap I was telling you about. Will tell you more about him as I find out, he's set up a blog and will let you know the address once I find it.

Got a really excellent Friday planned and already looking forward to it. There are a few good gigs coming up and maybe will have another bbq if the weather is good. Listening to some really good submissions this morning aswell, don't know why but quality has stepped up a notch over the past couple of weeks again. I've sent a list around RCA and Columbia of some tracks that jumped out for me. I hope to follow these up next week.

So, did anyone else have an interesting evening last night? Hopefully not as expensive as mine, if it was I'm hoping it was worth it. ;-)

IB

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Not got that much to write, but I'm feeling quite chilled out, the sun is shining and I just had a great lunch. This is the first good afternoon I've had in a while.

New guy started today and seems like a good chap. Knows what he's talking about and got really good experience. Might see if he'd be into the blogging as he'd knock out some interesting posts I think.

Plus, I think I'm happy that there's actually someone in my office. I work in a large open plan space. No one else in it bar one person at the far side of the room. Plus I sit facing a wall. Rubbish. Started feeling like I'd been a naughty boy or something.

I must've look quite miserable after reading joamo's post, as I instill guilt into passers by it seems. Be sure to visit her and leave a comment of how distraught I've been that she hasn't been blogging. ;-)

Just had a quick A&R meeting with Columbia, it's RCA's turn tomorrow. Forwarded on my wears just now and will demo the stuff tomorrow aswell. I'm starting to feel a bit like a door to door salesman with a suitcase of artists.

Got a lot of homework to do tonight, no going out for me plus I've managed to spend myself through my overdraft and don't get paid till the end of the month, damn. It was fun though.....

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Hello,

What's happening out there then? What are you all up to? I need DETAILS.

Off to visit the folks this weekend. Just got my train ticket. Except when they're packed, or I'm sat next to a nobhead, I really enjoy train journey's. It gives me the opportunity for a bit of reading, listening to albums I haven't heard in a while, bit of sketching. Anything like that really. Plus I'm always going to somewhere I really want to be when I head out by train. Manchester, Brighton, Nottingham (bear with me, it's who's there rather than the place) and such. Reading Michael Palin's diary at the mo. Excellent stuff.

Be sure to check out the RCA and Columbia label blogs today. There are a few artists featured on there. In fact, I should feature some here. So here we go:

The Beat Poets - Got in touch with me a while back and they are very busy boys. Have a listen to Post Pop War, has a teeth-grinding pogo anthemic quality. :-)

Lightningtype - Met one of them in a toilet at a gig. Wasn't pushing my wares, but whilst having a pee I was whinging about the band that was on, the state of the music industry, how Lion bars have gone crap/smaller and how I wanted to move to Canada. One of lightningtypes chaps contributed to my rant and subsquently got in touch. Luckily their music is pretty damn good. Listen to Pressure, Message Waiting and Poor You. Any band that has a lyric like "I like you like cannibals love people" is great in my book

Hansolo - Not a fan of the name, maybe I'm a starwars purist and want to hear refences in their music. Dispite the lack of Yoda quotes, I Could Be Wrong is a really decent track. I hear a Robert Smith quality to his voice which is probably what initally caught my ear.

So there you go, what you all listening to? This time tomorrow I will be stuffing my face full of bacon sarnies freshly prepared by my mum and heading off to Afflecks Palace. Will share the experience no doubt.

Keep the stuff coming in, it's getting really good. PM's an comments welcome as usual.x

IB

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Have a look at our Youtube channel. (Again if you were here for one of my first posts that mentioned this)

It will give you the opportunity to have a good laugh as I'm not my of a TV personailty. Ged (the Chairman) is up there, along with Mike (Head of Columbia) and Craig (Head of RCA).

I don't think any of us are thinking of quitting our day job but it gave us an opportunity to show you at least what we look like. I think I will try and stick a few more videos up there of what actually goes on in here so it makes a bit more sense.

I'd like you to comment on what you think of all this on the channel if you can, be honest, good or bad. The reason I ask is the only people who seem to have commented on there so far aren't involved in our community and don't seem to see it for what this is.

The reason this is starting to take off now is because all of you are supporting this very much from the inside. Which I'm really grateful of. As a result of the growth of the site I've managed to get a few things in the pipeline that are going to be really exciting. I can't give any details away as yet but I will soon.

Hope all is well with you out there.

IB

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There are a number of reasons my being cloned would be of benefit.

Dolly The Sheep

I could take turns (with myself) to go to work or stay at home blogging, playing games and watching youtube.

&

I COULD ANSWER ALL MY PM's!!!!

If there are people out their who think I'm am a rude hypocrite in talking about transparency and conversation in the music industry, and then not getting back to you, I'm really sorry. I've just got lotsa messages recently. I do evetually answer every message I get and try to reply to every comment also. If I'm not quick enough, just let me know and I'll get back to you. :-)

I found the radio show I was on, had a listen and was quite relieved. I only flapped a little towards the end and missed the mic at one point, apart from that all good. It's 15 mins in if you want a listen but if you're here and already blogging I doubt it will be of much use to you.

Got good feedback from our youtube vids aswell. If you're curious as to who the guy is who does all the artwork that has been mentioned recently, that's Mike, you can see his video aswell.

One thing that has really made me happy is the fact that a lot of you are championing this community and making it your own already. There's loads of good messages and idea floating about, keep em going, put's me in a great mood when I start worrying if this is going to work or not. In fact leave some comments on the youtube site if you can as it looks really bare and I'd like to know what you're thinking about it, good or bad (infact the only comment there at the moment is a bad one :-/ )

I've got to get back into the columbia & rca label blogs today, I'm going to sink back into the unsigned community and listen to music all day. It's a hard job but someone has to do it I guess :-). I'll post some of my personal favourites up here later on today.

Ok now, this is important. I'm totally blown away by how quickly this is taking off and how much good stuff we're getting so we're pretty much on stage 2 (I have a plan in my head) already.

We need to start connecting to each other and talking about each other's music. Aswell as this being a community for people like me to find new talent, I want this to be considered the place to find great new music. To do that we need a tight-knit community of artists, passionate about what they do and passionate about good music. This means finding each other and creating your own communities. For example, I already notice there are some Jazz musicians appearing, straight away they need to form a sub community and maybe between them start a group page or blog where they can pool their stuff and link to individual blogs. That way they could end up being a true tastemaker in the world of Jazz.

Some of you are already mingling a great deal and as a result listening to a lot of new music. I will evetually start recruiting people like you to help me do my job. I'm not sure what I can offer in return yet, even if it's just getting us on the guestlist at a particular artist's gig or something. I will talk more about that when I think about it.

In the meantime, keep linking me and other, send messages and I'll listen to as much stuff as I can.

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Well, I think it's fair to say this has kicked off and I have a lot of work ahead of me.

Since Friday's media coverage we've got hundreds of new submissions, before I could simply look over all submissions leave comments, say hi to the bands etc. Now I just don't know where to start!!

This is where we should start seeing the community aspect come into play :-)

At the moment it's a bit like a whole bunch of people stood in a room shouting about theirown music but not actually talking to one another. NOW THIS IS THE SECRET TO IT - Start connecting with one another and getting those comments on your band. Bands who have their own communities and lots of comments really stand out to me.

Some of the music is fantastic and I'm already going to present some of it at the next A&R meeting I'm in. Plus I also post loads of internal blogs at work so I'll be sure to put my personal highlights up there for all to see.

Looks like I'm going to spend the rest of my Sunday answer the messages I've got and commenting on the bands that I'm liking (of which there's a lot).

Yo Daniel has put some vids on youtube which we're going to use as a 'hello, this is what it's about' message for newcomers. I doubt that any of us will be hosting our own show anytime soon as a result. But it shows who we are and hopefully gives you some idea of what's going on.

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I have been crazy busy for the past week or so.

We launch our new initiative next week and I'm getting the final pieces together to make sure it all starts well. I've got the other A&R guys blogging, I've got our welcome pages set up properly thanks to my pal at Vox (thanks again) and we have some bands within our neighbourhood. They're pretty good aswell. I'd have a look at Jason Lipman in the Columbia neighbourhood. Under A Bathroom Light put me in a really good mood this morning. :-)

Ended up in front of a camera yesterday, talking about what's happening with our blogs and how to get involved. That was unexpected and I haven't seen the finished article which makes me nervous. "Look natural mate, and make sure you're relaxed" was what the guy with the camera told me. 'Making sure' you do anything isn't relaxing, is takes concentration. It's a bit like saying "What ever you do don't think about this or get nervous, it looks rubbish".

Anyhoot, it was only 60 seconds of my life I guess.

Hopefully I can start going to gigs again soon. Once this has been launched and starts ticking over I should have lots of time. Then I can get some really great stuff up here from gigs.

Have a look at the bands in RCA's and Columbia's neighbourhoods. You'l find some good stuff in there.

IB

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