Speakers Added for 'IC Virtual Music Conference and Expo'

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 2013) -- Dozens of music industry professionals from around the world will be featured speakers in the first "IC Virtual Music Conference and Expo", an online music industry gathering from Feb. 26-28, 2013 (Tuesday-Thursday).

            Speakers will range from hit singer/songwriter and vocal coach Judy Rodman and film music supervisor Donna Caldwell to Music Dish founder Eric DeFontenay and social networking marketing expert Ariel Hyatt.  Seminars will cover topics such as fan and team building, booking, social media, vocal recording, writing game music, publicity, stage presence, producing, film and TV licensing, funding and touring.

(Photo: Vinny Ribas with The Delearys)

            Tagged as the first music industry event of its kind, the three-day online conference will connect independent artists, professionals and businesses around the world with 60 straight hours of professional activities, beginning at 11 a.m. (EST) Feb. 26 and continuing till 11 p.m. (EST) Feb. 28. The event will be hosted by Nashville-based Indie Connect at http://www.VirtualMusicConference.com.

            Artists, songwriters and others can log in from around the globe to view live and video artist showcases, explore a music industry trade show, see/hear in-depth presentations by noted music industry professionals, and make vital career connections.

            "This is truly a global conference," said Indie Connect CEO Vinny Ribas. "We are excited to have participants registering from many different countries. It is just as exciting to have speakers hailing from Russia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Great Britain, China, Canada and other countries."

            Featured speakers will include

            * Ariel Hyatt of Cyber PR ("Using Social Media and Online Marketing To Sell More Music Online").

            * Hessel van Oorschot of Tribe of Noise in Germany ("2013: The Triumph of DIY Musicians and Songwriters").

            * Jay Warsinske of Indie Power ("Building Your Ultimate Success Team!").

            * Andrew Apanov of Dotted Music in Russia ("The Immortal Music Promotion Channel: Leveraging Email Marketing in 2013").

            * Madalyn Sklar of GoGirls Music ("Expanding Your Presence with Social Media").

            * Top-selling artist, hit songwriter, vocal coach and producer Judy Rodman ("Singing In The Studio").

            * John Oszajca of Music Marketing Manifesto ("Direct to Fan Marketing in the New Music Business").

            * Bob Baker of The Buzz Factor ("Guerrilla Music Marketing Online Masterclass")

            * Tom Jackson of Onstage Success ("Developing Confidence Onstage").

            * Brian Thompson of Thorny Bleeder ("Stand Out From The Crowd. Tap into the Full Potential of the Social Web").

            * Donna Caldwell of Music Cue Review ("Licensing for Film and TV").

            * Ian Clifford of Make It In Music in Great Britain ("Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Your Artist Website But Were Afraid To Ask").

            * 2012 New Zealand Female Country Artist of the Year Aly Cook ("Successful Fan Funding").

            * Eric DeFontenay of Music Dish, Music Dish China and MI2N ("The Music Industry in China").

            * Bram of Indie Hit Maker ("Finding Success In Today's Music Industry: Leveraging Your Live Performance").

            * Mike Shea of Alternative Press Magazine Inc. ("What It Takes To Be A Professional Musician").

            * Jan Smith of Jan Smith Studios "Vocal Coach To The Stars" ("Good Touring Health").

            * Brian Felsen of CD Baby ("Marketing Yourself").

            * Michael Brandvold of Michael Brandvold Marketing ("Touring Secrets" Part 1).

            * Rich Levy of Live Nation ("Sponsorships and Endorsements").

            * Chris Siciliano of EMI Music ("Touring Secrets" Part 1).

            * Tyler Palmer of StageIt.com ("Touring Secrets" Part 2).

            * Publisher/song plugger/independent A&R representative Steve Bloch ("Publishers and Song Pluggers in Nashville").

            * Producer/songwriter Gary Earl ("Get Your Music a Competitive Edge in Film & TV Market").

            * Lynn "Royce" Taylor of The Imperials, The Stamps Quartet and The Vogues ("What It Means To Be A Christian Artist Or An Artist Who Is Christian").

            Registrants can visit trade show booths day and night for professional advice and to learn about the latest music-related products and services. Artists will showcase their talents with live performances (TBA) and recorded videos. Participating artists will include classic rock acts such as Orleans ("Still The One" and "Dance With Me") and emerging country-pop acts Alayna and The Delearys.

            Sponsors include StreetJelly.com, BeAppsolute.com, IndieHitMaker.com, The Business Side of Music Podcast, Music Dish, Music Connection Magazine, Indie Hit Maker, Media Design Services, MI2N, and Whiting Publicity & Promotions.

            To learn more about attending the "IC Virtual Music Conference and Expo", visit http://www.VirtualMusicConference.com, send an email inquiry to vinny@indieconnect.com or connie@indieconnect.com, or call (615) 200-8081.

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Orleans and Judy Rodman to Participate in 'IC Virtual Music Conference and Expo'

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 2013) -- Thousands of independent artists and songwriters are expected to attend the first "IC Virtual Music Conference and Expo", an online music industry gathering from Feb. 26-28, 2013 (Tuesday-Thursday).

            Tagged as the first music industry event of its kind, the three-day online conference will connect independent artists, professionals and businesses around the world with 60 straight hours of professional activities, beginning at 11 a.m. (EST) Feb. 26 and continuing till 11 p.m. (EST) Feb. 28. The event will be hosted by Nashville-based Indie Connect at http://www.VirtualMusicConference.com.

            Artists, songwriters and others can log in from around the globe to view live and video showcases, explore a trade show with more than 100 booths, and see in-depth presentations by noted music industry professionals.

            "This event is unique because it makes career-changing opportunities possible for artists who can't make it to a land-based conference," said Indie Connect CEO Vinny Ribas. "This is going to be a truly global event. We've attracted speakers, businesses and artists from the United States, Russia, Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Japan and China, to name a few. For artists, it is the ideal way to make contacts and showcase themselves to industry executives and talent buyers worldwide. For businesses, it is an ideal way to demonstrate and sell products and services to thousands of artists."

            Seminars will cover topics such as fan and team building, booking, social media, vocal recording, writing game music, publicity, stage presence, producing, film and TV licensing, funding, touring, and international opportunities. The international roster of more than 60 speakers will include Ariel Hyatt of Cyber PR, vocal coach Jan "Mama J" Smith (coach of superstar Justin Bieber), music marketing expert Bob Baker, GoGirls Music founder Madalyn Sklar, Dotted-Music.com music executive Andrew Apanov, Indie Hit Maker executive Bram Bessoff, Music Dish writer/editor Eric DeFontenay, and Indie Connect CEO Vinny Ribas.

            Registrants can visit trade show booths day and night for professional advice and to learn about the latest music-related products and services. Participating companies and organizations will include Cyber PR, Tribe of Noise, Indie Power, Dotted Music, Indie Hit Maker, GoGirls Music, Nashville Songwriters Association International, Onstage Success, Diamonddisc Audio, The Indie Bible, Sound Central Station, and CDX.

            Artists will showcase their talents with live performances (TBA) and recorded videos. Participating artists will include classic rock acts such as Orleans ("Still The One" and "Dance With Me"), hit country singer-songwriter Judy Rodman, and emerging country-pop acts Alayna and The Delearys.

            Sponsors include StreetJelly.com, BeAppsolute.com, IndieHitMaker.com, The Business Side of Music Podcast, Music Dish, Music Connection Magazine, Indie Hit Maker, Media Design Services, MI2N, and Whiting Publicity & Promotions.

            To learn more about attending, showcasing or exhibiting at the "IC Virtual Music Conference and Expo", visit http://www.VirtualMusicConference.com, send an email inquiry to vinny@indieconnect.com or connie@indieconnect.com, or call (615) 568-4736.

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Lance Hoppen to Celebrate Birthday with Special Concert on Jan. 11

Lance Hoppen's Third Annual 'Big Bash Birthday Show'!

Lance Hoppen, best known as a co-founding member of the Pop/Rock band Orleans (who brought you such iconic '70s hits as Still the One, Dance With Me and Love Tales Time) will once again celebrate his upcoming birthday (Jan. 9) in style ... with YOU as the party's beneficiary!

If you've not been to his 'Big Bash Birthday Show' in the past two years, you don't know what you've been missing! And if you have, you know you'll want to be there again on Friday, Jan. 11th at 9 p.m. Last year, Lance gathered around him no less than 16 fine singers and players to help him bring in the new year with a bang. Many of them will be returning, with some new surprises in store as well!

This is a FREE event (with love offerings gratefully accepted :-)

WHERE: Center for Spiritual Living Nashville

                6705 Charlotte Pike (across from Nashville West mall)

                Nashville, TN 37209

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 11th ... 9 p.m.

           Open mic circle starts at 7 p.m. All welcome to participate.

Please come ... tell your friends ... enjoy yourself ... lend your support.

It's gonna be a big 'ole PARTY!

'Orleans & Friends' Show to Honor Late Larry Hoppen

     (Nashville, Tenn.) -- The pop/rock band Orleans, best known for its '70s classics “Still the One,” “Dance With Me”, and “Love Takes Time,” suffered tragedy earlier this year. Lead singer and co-founder Larry Hoppen (right) passed away suddenly on July 24. Larry was well loved and highly respected as a great musician, player, singer, songwriter, brother, father and friend. He was also a great humanitarian activist with a big heart.

    In Larry’s honor, there will be a special “Orleans & Friends” show on Nov. 11 (Sunday) at the Mercy Lounge, One Cannery Row, in Nashville. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. with a $20 minimum donation. Tickets will be sold online and at the door.

     Many local and regional artists, who are also longtime friends of Orleans, will join them on stage. Artists scheduled to appear include Jimi Jamison, John Ford Coley, Henry Paul (Blackhawk), Jonell Mosser, Kathie Baillie & Michael Bonagura (Baillie & the Boys), Bill Lloyd (Foster & Lloyd), Alyssa Bonagura and Pete Huttlinger. The Boy Wonder Blues Band will open.

    All performers are donating their time and talent. All net proceeds will benefit the Hoppen family, especially Larry’s teenage daughters, Maeve and Claire. Additional donations are welcome. Checks can be made out to Hoppen Family Benefit Fund.

     Orleans, now in its 40th year, was scheduled to appear on the Fox & Friends Summer Concert TV Series just a few days after Hoppen’s death. They also had previously scheduled a string of summer and fall shows. While there was no way to salvage the Fox TV appearance, brother and co-founder Lance Hoppen vowed to finish their calendar of 2012 concert dates in Larry’s honor. To accomplish this, Orleans’ mainstays Lance and Lane Hoppen, Dennis “Fly” Amero, and Charlie Morgan welcomed returning co-founder, John Hall, who had taken leave to serve as a U.S. Congressman (2007-2010, D-NY 19), for several well-received shows this past August, September and October. The calendar of live shows concludes with this benefit concert in Nashville on Nov. 11.

To learn more, visit
http://mercylounge.com/calendar/venue/mercy/2012/11/11/orleans-friends-the-still-the-one-guys-are-back/