Down On The Corner

By Paul Moffett

• The Internet is the most wonderful reference source - when you use it. Recently, I was involved in a number of conversations about the music industry and referenced Courtney Love's screed about the music business that appeared on the Salon.com site, particularly her comments about the now-infamous 1999 change in the copyright law that made sound recordings eligible to be "works for hire," which would effectively make the recordings the property of the record company in perpetuity. That change caused considerable uproar at the time, including allegations that the insertion of the few lines of text into the law was done surreptitiously and without the knowledge of the legislators. Whatever the truth about the origin of the text in question, efforts began immediately to change the "works for hire" section back to its original form, resulting in the Work Made For Hire and Copyright Corrections Act of 2000, which was passed by the House on September 19, 2000, passed by the Senate (thank you, Orrin Hatch) on October 12, 20000 and signed by President Clinton on October 27, 2000. Artists can now relax a bit, knowing that after only thirty-five years, the copyright on their sound recordings will revert to them or their estate.

I confess that I had missed this bit of news back then - I clearly have not been keeping up with my trade publication reading. I promise to do better in the future - or at least search the Net more consistently and carefully before I make pronouncements.

• The Louisville Youth Orchestra is offering three camps for young string players this summer, from beginner up to students with three years of training. The camps cost $40 and will be held at the end of July and the first part of August. You must register by July 15.

The LYO has also scheduled auditions for young musicians through age 21 for the 2001-2002 season on August 24-27. Contact Melody Welsh-Buchholz at 502-584-0135 for information.

• Over at Mom's Music in Jeffersonville, Mark Maxwell is planning the new season of their "Live at Mom's" TV show, which will kick off on September 15. In the meantime, the "Best of Live at Mom's" will continue to be broadcast on WYCS Channel 24 Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m.

• The 18^th Annual Mid-Atlantic Song Contest is now accepting entries. The deadline is August 31, 2001. This contest has developed into one of the better regional songwriter contests, though they do require you to give them the right to use your song free of charge forever. If that isn't a deterrent to entering, you can contact them at 1-800-218-5996 or log onto www.saw.org for entry information.

• Got the itch for a music conference. The 2001 Atlantis Music Conference is scheduled for August 1-4 in Atlanta and will feature the usual array of workshops, showcases, symposia and networking. This year the conference is focused on the Urban Music Industry. For info, call 1-770-499-8650.

• Look for a battle of the bands at Willow Lake Tavern later this summer, sponsored by WLRS. It'll go on every weekend, until all the bands have played, and gotten paid to play. The winning band gets free studio time from Chris Cassetta of Canyon Productions, located in the Falk Audio building. Send a CD or other music sample to Eddy Metal and Extremekore productions, 4006 S. 5th St., Louisville, KY 40214. Be sure to include contact information.

• On July 24, find your way out to First Quality Musical Supplies for a 7 p.m. clinic with fingerstyle guitarist Tim Farrell. First Quality has been in the instrument making/selling/repairing business in Louisville for over twenty years, but only relatively recently opened a retail space in the Louisville Tradeport. Due to the location, they're not well known and would like to change that. Having been there to hear the bluegrass band IIIrd Tyme Out give an in-store performance, I can vouch for the quality of the instruments they sell, especially in given that their longtime business has been mail order marketing to bluegrass professionals. Certainly worth checking out if you play an acoustic instrument. For more information and directions, call 1-800- 635-2021.

• Satellite Radio is nearly here. XM Satellite Radio's second satellite, "Roll," which was launched May 8, has entered geosyncronous orbit. Roll, which is the second satellite needed for the system, is maneuvering towards its final geostationary orbit position. The satellite was expected to begin full-time broadcasting in late June. Both "Roll" and XM's first satellite, "Rock," are being prepared for XM's commercial launch later this summer. Now all you need is a radio capable of receiving the signal.

• Stuff Swiped from Leslie Stewart Dept. ear X-tacy's publicist Leslie Stewart sends the news that vibraphonist Dick Sisto recorded his new album with pianist Fred Hersch at the Kentucky Center for the Arts and May 18. Likewise, she sends news that ear X-tacy artist Heidi Howe is in Texas for the Kerrville Folk Festival. She'll be taking in some of the many workshops for singers and songwriters, and has several gigs lined up in the area while she's visiting the Lone Star State.

I just wondered if she remembered to pack a sidearm.

Leslie also mentioned that Les Reynolds and Jennifer Ratoff are hosting a monthly series of house concerts under the name of Musical Chair Productions. They recently featured nationally known singer-songwriter Darryl Purpose as well as local and regional favorites Joel Timothy and Kathleen Hoye. Performances are usually held at a Highlands or an East end house, hence the moniker. Ticket prices are $10, with a percentage often going to a local charity. The average attendance is around twenty people, so it's a very intimate concert experience. Musical Chair Productions doesn't have a website as of yet, but Reynolds does have a monthly mailing list. Send him a note at running609@aol.com if you're interesting in being on it. For more information on the overall concept, check out www.houseconcerts.com.

•Commonwealth Broadcasting is teaming up with the Bardstown Bourbon Festival to host a "Battle of the Bands" in September. Deadline for applications (with a 3-song demo) is August 19, and all genres of music will be considered. There is a $25 application fee, which will be returned if your band is not selected for the event, set for September 17 at Spalding Hall and the City Hall Lawns in Bardstown. For an application, call CBC's Lisa Kearns at (270) 692-3126. Bands will be judged on marketability, originality, stage presence and talent, with the winning band picking up $500 and other prizes. Runner-up prizes will also be awarded.

• Louisvillians on MP3.com Dept.

Chuck Baxter reports that several poor girls tracks, including "I Spent a Night with your Image," "Inspiration Evolves," "Cosmopolitan Hong Kong" and "I Painted Her Torso" are now posted at http://www.mp3.com/poorgirls.

Dave Ernspiker gushes that he's "excited to share that we've [the Stumps] got the #1 song on the mp3.com Pop&Rock in Louisville Charts." The tunes are at www.mp3.com/stumps . The Stumps site is www.thestumps.net.

•From across the Big Water, we got this email request:

"We, 1st for UK Artists, are an Independent Record Label from the United Kingdom, are organising a small tour for an up and coming UK Ska band called 20 Dead Camels. We are looking for venues in the Kentucky area who would like to book this band between the dates of March 8th and March 20th 2002. If you are interested in booking this band, please e-mail us at: ukartists@ntlworld.com"

Always happy to promote good international relations with our English-speaking compatriots.

Codas

• Barbara B. Elliott,. 88, died on May 4 in Louisville. She was a gospel singer, former organizer of the Brown Gospel Consolers and belonged to the Schaum Music Association, Louisville Choral Union and the Gospel Singers of America.

• Timothy James Dykema, 34, died on June 15 in Louisville. He was a musician, writer and film producer.

• Robert Lee (Bob) Maples, 50, died on June 10 in Jeffersonville, Ind. He was a guitarist and songwriter who collaborated with Jak Son Renfro of Serpent Wisdom and was a regular performer in the early days of the Monday Night Open Stage at the Rudyard Kipling.

• Brenda Joy Secuskie, 55, died in Montezuma, Ind., on May 31. She was a native of Louisville and a performer with the trio Rhapsody.