Award and showcase submissions for 2012 East Coast Music Week being held in Moncton, NB April 11-15, are now open. The East Music Association (ECMA) is once again be continuing its partnership with Sonicbids this year. Submissions can be made through http://www.sonicbids.com/ecma/.  Deadline for all submissions is Tuesday, October 4th, 2011.

The 2012 event will see the return of the following Showcase stages: Bluebird North Showcase, Rising Star, Rock Stage, Roots Room, Soundwaves, Songwriters Circle, and the Canadian Music East Coast Style Export Buyers Showcase. Additionally, there will be two new stages: The Breakout Stage and the Country Stage.

The ECMA is also accepting submissions for awards in Music, Industry, and Honourary .  East Coast artists who have released recordings between June 1, 2010 and October 1, 2011 are eligible to submit for consideration to an East Coast Music Award.

Any artist or group who submits for an award or stage by Thursday, September 8th, 2011 will qualify for the early bird submission discount of $5 per submission.  Early Bird Submissions are $25 through PayPal opening at 5 p.m. AST on August 22nd, 2011 until 11:59 p.m. AST on September 8th, 2011. (more…)

The Stuttering Foundation, a nonprofit organization helping people who stutter since 1947, has recognized the song “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”, a 1974 number one hit by Bachman-Turner Overdrive, as being the most unique of the many rock songs featuring stuttering vocals.

Jane Fraser, President of the Stuttering Foundation, said recently: “Not only was “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” the first song with stuttering vocals to reach number one, but more importantly it was the first such song that was actually about a real person who stutters and therefore has a human connection to the struggles faced by someone who stutters.”

There have been numerous songs in the rock era that display stuttering vocals. Among them have been Too Much Time on My Hands by Styx, My Sharona by The Knack, Changes by David Bowie, My Generation by The Who, Benny and the Jets by Elton John, and many more. (more…)

Eric Baptiste, CEO of SOCAN, has announced that the next quarterly payment of royalties to SOCAN members, which will occur in August 2011, will reach a record high at $75 million, including $47 million based on established tariffs plus a special distribution of $28 million in arrears for radio performances between 2003 and 2010. The special distribution is due to additional revenues resulting from the resolution of litigation related to Tariff 1A (Commercial Radio).

“The boost in royalties that SOCAN members will receive in August represents an increase to the income which Canadian music creators and publishers depend on to make a living,” says Baptiste. “SOCAN continues to work diligently towards ensuring that our members are paid adequately through the licensing of music use in Canada.” (more…)

The 2012 edition of the SXSW Music and Media Conference and Festival is now accepting showcase applications. Taking place March 13-18, 2012 in Austin, TX, the 26th edition of SXSW features a keynote address, panels, interviews, workshops, mentor sessions, peer meetings, a trade show spanning the music, interactive, and film industries, the Music Gear Expo, and official SXSW day parties.

SXSW Music is now accepting showcase applications for acts to perform at the 2012 music festival. Musicians can apply for an opportunity to perform for the well over 16,000 industry representatives including almost 3,000 media representatives and the thousands of fans in attendance. (more…)

Honey Jam, Toronto’s annual all-female, multi-genre artist showcase presented by PhemPhat, is happening this Thursday, August 11, 2011 at Toronto’s Mod Club Theatre.

Celebrating its “Sweet 16th” birthday of supporting Canadian female artists this year, the Honey Jam showcase will be hosted by MuchMusic’s Sarah Taylor and feature DJs MelBoogie and Tasha Rozez along with the previously-announced showcasing performers. (more…)