The AMAZ Store's blog

Someone said to me today that CD's are a dead format

Someone said to me today that CD's are a dead format. They wondered why I would run a website that sells such an outdated media. Well I guess I don't believe the CD is dead yet.

Its a new decade and a new direction for AMAZ....

I am finally excited again. It took the effort to remake myself and my compnanies but it was worth the effort. As we plunge headlong in 2010, AMAZ Entertainment has shuffled its line up and managerment and booking clients to emphasize a formula that will bring success to all our artists and even make us some money this year. That has been an elusive dream for the last ten years; making money enjoying music. The relaunch of the AMAZ Store with a new hosting company, a new shopping cart and the use of state of the art audio and video streaming is in process. Watch for an announcement in late winter of the official grand opening. Until then feel free to visit and watch our progress as the store morphs from the current beta version into a fully functioning store and information center for the music we all enjoy. Visit www.theamazstore.com and take a look.

Follow This Blog on Twitter

For Those of you who love Tweets you can now follow The AMAZ Store Blog on Twitter. Our Twitter name is 'TheAMAZStore'.

Christmas Eve, Aging, the Comfort of the Past and Family and Friends........

It's Christmas Eve 2009 around mid-day and I just sat at the kitchen table with Christmas music playing in the background courtesy of Josh Grobin. As I ate my lunch I also read a catalog I had received in the mail yesterday from 'The Vermont Country Store' a business founded in 1956 and still being run by the family that founded it. The catlog took me back to a more comfortable and carefree time of my childhood when products were mostly "Made in the USA" and were built to last. This made me think as I face the beginning of my 60th year on this earth how the more I age the more I yearn for the past. My two sons on the other hand long for the future. One always heads to a comfortable place for the holidays. From the past, that comfortable place has always been with family. My youngest son will be spending this Christmas with friends in New England where he lives. We will be with my oldest son tonight at his home along with my grandkids and tomorrow he will join us at my in-laws home.

Perhaps next year we can all be together. No matter what the world brings us we will always have our friends and family no matter where they are and for that we are all blessed. Merry Christmas to you all!

"The Rich Get Richer and........". You know the rest.

I read in today's paper that wholesale prices rose last month which could mean we are in for a bout of inflationary pricing. The article also stated that the Federal government wasn't worried because the continuing recession would keep prices in check. BIG SIGH! My view is really simple; they are wrong. The rich have taken a back seat during this recession and have allowed their fortunes to dwindle. At some point they will say enough is enough and make sure the money comes rolling in again. The old saying about the rich get richer applies. The rich better be careful or they will really foul up things again. We regular folks took a giant hit over the last year and continue to struggle. Prices cannot be allowed to rise to fuel profits for the rich. Maybe the rich need to be satisfied with a two car garage from now on.

We should do this all year long!

I saw the spirit of the holidays at dinner last night. I really wonder why I don't see it all year round. My wife and I went to a national chain restaurant for dinner last night. At many of the other tables friends were visiting with each other. I could hear many of the conversations and they all seemed to start with the same comment; "we really should do this year round and not just at the holidays!"

I couldn't agree more. Why don't we spend time with our friends and loved ones year round anymore? Is the pace of life and the demands society and our jobs place on us really getting in the way of these relationships or have we just gotten lazy. Any relationship requires that you work on it.

Let's all work on our relationships in 2010 and give them the importance and priority they deserve.

One Night Only!! Glenn Yarbrough & The Limeliters

For All you Folk Music Fans; a reminder!!!! Glenn Yarbrough performs with The Limeliters at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts this Saturday, December 5th at 7:30pm. This one night only concert is Glenn's only scheduled performance with the Limeliters. Relive folk music history. Tickets at www.higleyarts.org

Cutting Education Budgets and Tax Hikes - Not Popular Subjects

Ok, so this post really has nothing to do with the entertainment industry; or does it? As is the case with many states, we in Arizona are in a budget crisis. The State Legislature, by law has to balance the budget by the end of the fiscal year. Most of the on going cuts are being made to education and where do educators make their first cuts; music and the arts. Let's face it; education for our kids is expensive. Let's also be honest; a first year teacher makes just over $30k a year here in Arizona. Most college graduates I know would not even look at a job that starts at that level. I urge everyone in every state to let their federal and state legislators know that education is not the place to make up for the mistakes of the past. Although this statement will never get me elected to any office, the fact is we the people have to be willing to pay more for services we are used to getting for free and we need to support some tax hikes and not expect tax cuts year after year. It just can't work that way any more.

Blue enCore a Real Challenger to the Shure SM-58?

Could there finally be a real challenger to the long dominance of the Shure SM-58 microphone in the pro music scene? It's possible that many of you sound professionals may need to take a look at the new enCore line of live sound mics from Blue Microphone. These mics, like so many Blue Mic products, are built to take the rought handling of life on the road. The pricing ic competitive with the Shure product. Of course, its all in the sound and that is up to you the user to decide. My mic case includes a couple of Blue mics but I have used them in the studio, and not on the road. How does that Bob Dylan tune fo again? "The times they are a changin'".......

ASCAP and BMI Royalties on Song Clips at Amazon, Itunes and Other Stores

It would figure that my first blog post would be about ASCAP and BMI. These two organizations are central to the professional Singer/Songwriter's survival. They collect and distribute royalties for writers. Many of the CD's sold on The AMAZ Store site are from singer/songwriters and I applaud ASCAP and BMI for the work they have done in the past.

HOWEVER.....now they are going down a greedy and idiotic path in my opinion. You know those short song clips you find on The AMAZ Store site, on Amazon, on Itunes and just about any other site that sells music. Now ASCAP and BMI are trying to say that the clips qualify as performances and royalties should be paid. Are they nuts. Would you buy a song without first hearing it? OK, maybe you would from Beyonce or The Beatles or Green Day. The average singer/songwriter is none of these people. This proposal is crazy. Who came up with this nutty idea? I certainly hope they didn't get a bonus for thinking of this. Let ASCAP and BMI know your thoughts. This can't be allowed to happen.