Saturday, July 05, 2014

CBC News: Rob Ford is back, but has the city reached a 'plateau of unhappiness'? (And who's happy enough to change this?)





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Pharrell Williams - Happy (Official Music Video)

328,798,825 Views




http://youtu.be/y6Sxv-sUYtM

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Hey Everybody,

This blog post was just going to be an intro to it, but instead as I rambled on it was inspired by an ironic article about how Rob Ford's return and our general lack of communication, empowerment and civic engagement is causing us to feel unhappy. The irony is many people will probably not be strong enough to read it, or will try to avoid it because it may make them feel unhappy instead of realizing dealing with it will.

After confidently wading through this type of socio-political muck for years and figuring out ways for us to effectively deal with it, I've more recently been trying to avoid it in favour of figuring out better ways to relate to and reach people who can't. As a result, I've lowered my immunity to feeling disempowered by it too, or I'm closer to where most people are. While I can still handle whatever, which is both empowering and isolating, I also find myself reflexively ignoring and being scared of things that might put me in a bad mood, which ultimately makes me feel weaker every time it happens as part of our "keep it happy" brainwashing.

While I want to be happy like everyone else, I don't want to be hyper-sensitive and scared of things that might make me unhappy, or I'll be scared all the time of what everyone might say or do or what I might see or hear because it might make me uncomfortable just like everyone else to some degree. This ironically is resulting in it happening more and more often until it's hard to just be anywhere around other people and relax and exchange respect like the good old days. This makes it harder to talk to people who you don't respect and who don't respect you and it goes on and on and on and makes it harder to just "be" here.

This also relates to our future since it looks grim and we're encouraged to wallow in the retro and how great things were since things look to be getting pretty bad by most estimates moving forward. This means that we're constantly on edge as we live in a world where we're supposed to be happy and desperately want to try to be; but, know we're probably not going to be in the next few years which sucks to meekly accept.

Whether right or wrong, those who feel they're trying to control the future, or at least positively influence it with some chance of success, will feel more empowered than those who think they're definitely screwed.

Therefore, I still feel empowered by what I'm up to while most people unfortunately probably don't realize that part of feeling happy is feeling strong enough to deal with unhappy things and feeling happy because of it, especially men who generally want to feel stronger while women generally want to feel special(er).

This may be less true these days as we're all sort of turning into quiet, frustrated, sketchy, pushy, nervous, bitchy, twitchy and ugly zombie-chicks who take our frustrations out on each other instead of putting out and getting back good vibes. But, with people probably feeling less happy and fulfilled by this, more should consider their options. It sucks to be trapped into trying feel better like this and feeling worse with nearly every interaction. Fortunately, we have options and I have a two-minute song that outlines some of them:

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Thataway - Promo Single



http://youtu.be/t7ILnxgpE48

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Now, I'm not even saying I'm involved in the nitty-gritty of community, municipal, provincial, federal or other politics. But, besides seeing that as compromising my ability to critique the set-up and process, it's mainly because I'm working on why more people can't even conceive of doing anything close to it and working backwards up to it, or trying to figure out how to put people in positions to consistently verbally and non-verbally empower each other since I see the exact opposite happening on a daily basis everywhere I go.

Frankly, I see our ability to deal with 4 (four) spheres of influence as being critical to our happiness and survival as relaxed, confident and capable people. After we screwed them up, I'm working my way back up and hopefully taking everybody with me.  This may sound immodest and I have to affect a certain humility in mixed-up company, but I think it's better than feeling disempowered and like you can't do anything much.

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In order, I believe the 4 (four) spheres of influence we need to be able to deal with are:

1. Personal.

2. Social.

3. Cultural.

4. Political.

We should be able to comfortably comment on each.

We don't have to discuss them for any longer than we want to.

But...

We shouldn't be afraid to discuss any of them at all, at least for a bit.

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Unless we can handle our personal issues - or how we get along with people we know; social issues - or how we generally perceive how most of us are getting along; cultural issues - or how our culture is influencing us; and political issues - or how our political structure is affecting us, then I think we're screwed.

This brings up the article about Rob Ford and our "plateau of unhappiness", plus another about the future being run by machines smarter than us who may see us as a threat to their survival. This was all outlined in "Terminator" and many other science fiction movies which were either coincidentally creative works of fiction or possibly predictive programming authorized by the establishment (and Futurist Society, etc.) to mentally prepare most of us to accept a future they want to engineer. Either way, it's something for us to deal with.

This blog is where I want to continue to flex my hardcore chops and go into the nitty-gritty of whatever whenever, but like other ballsy and creative artists I know what I need to focus on to appeal to most people, especially today, which is namely making them happy and slipping some medicine into the dawg-food.

When you see the trajectory of many artists you'll see the same pattern, or them as brash young potentiatlly world-changing punks discovering how messed up the political system is and making music to help people realize and deal with it; then realizing why they can't and focusing on empowering people to fix it instead.

This happened with Coldplay and their first big album "A Rush of Blood to the Head" where their first song on it was "Politik" and the repeated refrain was "Open up your eye-e-e-s..." to inspire them to deal with the proverbial - or literal - "system" as it were. But, after that and "Spies" off "Parachutes", they rarely hit the political stuff directly and focused more on "X&Y", their follow-up album that focused on empowering men and women and teaching them to empower each other, a major inspiration when it comes to my own recent work. I've checked numerous times and we say many of the same things but in obviously different ways.

This also happened with Tupac Shakur where he went from "Panther Power" to "THUG LIFE" to try to be more like the people he was appealing to, justify, contextualize and empower their existence, then drag them kicking and screaming to where they need to go to deal with more than just feeling good enough to deal with themselves and each other, perhaps joyously by that point. Once people are habitually empowering each other it becomes much easier to do whatever they need to do, from handle ones own and family and friends' issues, to generally dealing with their communities, to their cultures' and political systems' and so on.

Or, IMHO, once they're walking and talking better, then they'll be fine.

Since this is all old news to me, the other old news is I need to try to make it happen with help, or enough money to go to the Beer Fest and out-drink and out-party the rest of my peers while being the best time there, or doing what they like to do and then adding to it. This is been my problem for a while and I haven't been the best at solving it, so I'll take some of the blame for it while taking credit for what I can do if people give it to me and enough cash and credit to do it. I'm looking for contributions if people care so I can remain an independent agent of change who can say things they can't that need to be said that they can listen to.

While I may not be right about everything and may even go too far at times, at least that approach, if enabled, will help pull people to where they comfortable want to get to as opposed to going backwards, or being less relaxed, confident, communicative, masculine and feminine than they want to be, among other areas to shore up which I proved I can help with. I have no problem with guys acting like girls or girls acting like guys, or gays, lesbians, trans-whatevers and so on. I just have a problem with people acting like rude, pushy, nervous, twitchy and spazzy zombies and feel they do too but can't figure out how to solve it. This is where I can help. I'd ignore naked supermodels acting ugly and crazy and trying to freak me out or waste my time and not respect what I'm doing on purpose in favour of a relaxed ugly and crazy person who does.

My pride simply won't let me mess with people or be messed with as is in-style and I don't want to get involved and be all messed up or jittery, or lose the relaxed respect of people worried about what I'll say or do. So, that leaves many people out of sorts since they don't respect the fact that I won't let them mess with me, or they do in a weird and frustrating way, especially when they see that I don't want to mess with them.

These days you have to a bit or you can't stop people from getting too aggressive and frustrated, so I'll typically quickly freak out back with a sign by my ear suggesting I'd rather them explain what they mean by their body language since I don't understand it and don't want to look at it since it makes my uncomfortable.

This creates a perpetual paradox where they simply see themselves as getting fundamentally worse at being human beings while I don't change, or they keep getting more frustrated and sketchy while I remain relaxed and confident by avoiding playing along as a benchmark for how we can comfortably carry ourselves.

Still, instead of just ignoring me which I assumed was possible since I'm trying to mostly ignore them when I think they're being rude, the interest in me continues to quietly intensify as waves of people run up freaking out no matter how many I ignore in some bizarre zombie movie-like situation wherever I got in public.

So, I'm glad to see there's still interest and I'll try to do what I can for interested parties.

Meaning, I'll be in touch with more creative solutions to all our issues, mine included, to help fix yours.

Since this has dragged on for years and "that's just the way things are" doesn't work when the situation keeps getting worse as people freak each other out more and more because it's hard to look at people freaking out so they have to in order to force or trick people into looking at them, and heck it's even worse later in the day than earlier after hours of it, I'm interested in seeing whether people are ready to pay me well to be interested in trying to fix this on behalf of themselves, their families and friends, their children and their future.

Unless they do, I'm afraid I can't continue to be effective as they can see, so it really depends on them.

If people respect me enough to pay me then I will be empowered enough to help get them to respect each other, just like if the local preacher is paid and comfortable he can do it. Otherwise he's just a bum on the street with some neat ideas who can't. I'm cool and think this is important to not just me but others, so I'm working on making it easy for others to show me how important it is and put me in a position to be one of their peers instead of just some anomaly they desperately want attention from in quiet and sketchy ways.

Don't worry, I'm doing "great" thanks to the potential to do great things and cathartic outlets like this blog.

Plus, it's flattering when lots of people don't worry about what you'll do and want to say hello.

Even if I can't look at it because it's too stressful, it's still nice to know and recognize.

Of course, while I really miss being "normal", I have a feeling you do too.

So, let's work together on this, shall we? :)

Peace,

BK

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Rob Ford is back, but has the city reached a 'plateau of unhappiness'?

CBC – 5 hours ago


Only a few days back from rehab, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has already faced condemnation from fellow politicians and confrontations with citizens, signifying that some in Toronto may have reached what one expert calls a “plateau of unhappiness” with the mayor.

Dennis Pilon, associate professor of political science at York University, said that there is perhaps something significant about seeing average citizens speak out and demand answers from the mayor.

“There’s a difference … when people who are not political, but perhaps are civically engaged, step up, that does point towards a level of unhappiness that may be new. A new plateau of unhappiness.”

Pilon said that Ford has always been a polarizing figure, so a reaction, one way or another, was always in the cards.

“I think we knew all along that this is a man that people love to hate,” he said. “There was always the potential for people to step out on the street to disparage him or to support and love him.”

Many have gone through the regular channels such as writing letters or complaining to city councillors, but have found that those methods and even more extreme tactics like public humiliation "don't seem to be working," he said.

Confrontations

Footage of Joe Killoran, better known as the "shirtless jogger," hurling questions at Ford during a Canada Day parade garnered a huge reaction online, and came amid taunting and heckling from other parade onlookers. But the local high school teacher said later he felt so impassioned that he had to confront the mayor, who he believes should resign.

"I think it's demoralizing, depressing for citizens of this city that this sideshow continues, he continues to inflict himself upon us," Killoran told CBC News Wednesday.

While having sympathy for the issues Ford faces in his personal life, Killoran said that his term as mayor has been nothing short of “disgraceful.”

Andray Domise, who is running for city council in Ward 2 Etobicoke North, told Metro Morning’s Matt Galloway that he approached the mayor when he saw him surrounded by a large group of black youth singing his praises. He asked the youth why they were cheering for Ford and one responded, “Because he fights for the people.”

Upset by the answer, Domise, who is black, asked the mayor if he stood by his earlier racial slurs and his remark, made when he was a city councillor, against "hug-a-thug" youth community programs.

Domise said that Ford looked at him, said that it was “complicated,” and walked away.

“I wasn’t expecting more from him than that,” he said. “He’s never been able to answer this question directly," Domise said.

Ford, for his part, said Wednesday in an interview with CBC’s Dwight Drummond that any racist or otherwise offensive remarks he has made were a result of his alcoholism and substance abuse.

Domise said that wasn't good enough.

“It’s completely unacceptable for somebody who represents as large of a population as Mayor Ford does to say the things that he said.”

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/rob-ford-back-city-reached-100000867.html

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By 2045 'The Top Species Will No Longer Be Humans,' And That Could Be A Problem

Dylan Love | Business Insider – 3 hours ago


"Today there's no legislation regarding how much intelligence a machine can have, how interconnected it can be. If that continues, look at the exponential trend. We will reach the singularity in the timeframe most experts predict. From that point on you're going to see that the top species will no longer be humans, but machines."

These are the words of Louis Del Monte, physicist, entrepreneur, and author of "The Artificial Intelligence Revolution." Del Monte spoke to us over the phone about his thoughts surrounding artificial intelligence and the singularity, an indeterminate point in the future when machine intelligence will outmatch not only your own intelligence, but the world's combined human intelligence too.

The average estimate for when this will happen is 2040, though Del Monte says it might be as late as 2045. Either way, it's a timeframe of within three decades.

"It won't be the 'Terminator' scenario, not a war," said Del Monte. "In the early part of the post-singularity world, one scenario is that the machines will seek to turn humans into cyborgs. This is nearly happening now, replacing faulty limbs with artificial parts. We'll see the machines as a useful tool. Productivity in business based on automation will be increased dramatically in various countries. In China it doubled, just based on GDP per employee due to use of machines."

"By the end of this century," he continued, "most of the human race will have become cyborgs [part human, part tech or machine]. The allure will be immortality. Machines will make breakthroughs in medical technology, most of the human race will have more leisure time, and we'll think we've never had it better. The concern I'm raising is that the machines will view us as an unpredictable and dangerous species."

Del Monte believes machines will become self-conscious and have the capabilities to protect themselves. They "might view us the same way we view harmful insects." Humans are a species that "is unstable, creates wars, has weapons to wipe out the world twice over, and makes computer viruses." Hardly an appealing roommate.

He wrote the book as "a warning." Artificial intelligence is becoming more and more capable, and we're adopting it as quickly as it appears. A pacemaker operation is "quite routine," he said, but "it uses sensors and AI to regulate your heart."

A 2009 experiment showed that robots can develop the ability to lie to each other. Run at the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems in the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale of Lausanne, Switzerland, the experiment had robots designed to cooperate in finding beneficial resources like energy and avoiding the hazardous ones. Shockingly, the robots learned to lie to each other in an attempt to hoard the beneficial resources for themselves.

"The implication is that they're also learning self-preservation," Del Monte told us. "Whether or not they're conscious is a moot point."

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/2045-physicist-says-top-species-123359838.html

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Friday, July 04, 2014

NEW PROMO SINGLES: Thataway and I Got This


 

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Hey Everybody,

I'm really excited about making music and figure if - like many artists - I can say things that others can't that need to be said on their behalf, then as long as they support me then I should be able to for all our benefit.

To prove this I've included a couple of new singles and videos that may help. I'm pushing the release of The Pride Trilogy back a week to build some buzz and see what the market is like, please take a look and pass it on.

My other plan is to launch a crowd-sourced site to get funding to make great music which takes time and money instead of quick recording and mixing. There's a lot of competition out there and some great music, but I know if I get a chance to compete fairly then I can compete with the best of them.

On that note, with enough help either this or Thataway then I Got This... so enjoy! :)

Peace,

BK

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PRESS RELEASE: Black Krishna Presents - The Pride Trilogy

This project is to help Canadians and people worldwide between July 1st and September 1st start to communicate better, exchange more respect, relax, feel more confident and have more fun. It's the same stuff Coldplay and many others say but different. Promotion started on Canada Day with the release two weeks later on July 15, 2014.

Please pass it on and for questions, collaborations, interviews and bookings, please contact BK at:

blackkrishna@gmail.com - or - 647.781.1580

The Chixtape

The Blocktrade Project or How We Learned To Relax and Beat Social Constipation

Street Fame: Your Ticket To Ride


Instrumentals courtesy of Sap, Kevin McCall (K-Mac) and Chase N Cashe; and Blocktrade Music including CloudAtlas, Hani G, Amun Rah and The Winner. Production courtesy of Collection Day Entertainment Group and Drew Chale, Sam, Shy Juelz and Kaz. Songs by Black Krishna. 

Music - http://www.reverbnation.com/blackkrishna

Video - http://vimeo.com/thepridetrilogy

Video - http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvHjyR4kkiMPKmfvDSRPgew

Peace,

BK

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Thataway - Promo Single



http://youtu.be/t7ILnxgpE48

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Thataway

Lyrics: Black Krishna

Beat: "Hip Hop" by Amun Rah

MP3 - http://www.reverbnation.com/blackkrishna/song/21267439-promo-single-thataway


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Aw yeah...
It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood...
Sun's out, dogs barking, birds chirping,
Cars outside, it's a beautiful day, 
Well, that might be your hood,
But this is my hood...

(Chorus)

Which way you goin'?
I'm goin' thataway!
Which way they' goin'?
They' goin' thataway!
Which way we goin'?
We goin' thataway!
"He could, go all, the way...!

(x2)

People, all freaked out,
Can't, just relax,
Not even Spice Girls,
"Tell me what you want!"
It's the facts,

Can't look, a man, in the eye,
Lets us know, to relax,
Can't, see a woman shy,
Grow bold, as I slack,

Can't see the space,
In front of my face, or grace, it's a race,
To see, who got time to waste,
No thanks,

Good vibes, guy, say hi,
Tell me what's? On your mind?
You really look?
Kind of high?

Is it crack? Meth? Stress?
Work? Jerk? Don't help?
Break bread, break it down,
Break 'em off, or else,

From twitchin', like crackheads,
To spazzin', like zombies,
Gettin' credit, where it's due?
Do you, as a hobby,

Like, chillin' in the lobby,
Of, a fancy hotel,
Check these streets...

(sigh)

H'oh well...

H'oh well...

H'oh well...

(Chorus)

Which way you goin'?
I'm goin' thataway!
Which way they' goin'?
They' goin' thataway!
Which way we goin'?
We goin' thataway!
"He could, go all, the way...!

(x2)

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I Got This - Promo Single



http://youtu.be/tG0ej4XoFVo

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I Got This

Lyrics: Black Krishna

Beat: Excited by Hani G


MP3 - reverbnation.com/blackkrishna/song/21242916-canada-day-2014-promo-single-i

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Aw yeah...

I got this...

(x4)

Walkin', with ya head up,
Hand in hand, with ya man,
Who's the man? With the plan?
To make a plan? Take a stand?

Make a grand into a mill'?
People, cash, chill,
Pop the will – pill,
Then, I will kill, if I gotta,

But, I got, a lotta time, left,
Rhymes left, the game,
But my game,
Never, left my prime, yet,

Step, to the mic,
'Cause, know that, my hype,
Beats, zebras talkin', on TV,
Wearin' all, different stripes,

Of, a different type,
Calm, cool, confidence, resonate,
Set it straight,
Warren G'd up, 'til I regulate,

Meditate, on a date,
'Til, she salivate,
Then she feelin' great, won the great debate,
Her love, conquors my love of hate...

(Chorus)

"Something's got me so excited, baby!
A feeling I've been holding back so long,
You got the shh--"

I got this...
I got you...
I gotta do...
What I gotta do...

(x4)

Chop, fifty trees down,
Chop 'em up, or we're dead,
This winter, who's a winner?
You can snack, before bed,

Smoke crack, before head,
From a nine, make me whine,
Or, ten's, and they' friends,
Great eight, feelin' fine,

Still, feelin' mine,
Might, chill a dime, with a line,
Hook and sink'er, 'cause a thinker,
Got 'em scared, to unwind,

A little fear, here and there,
Respect, for y'underwear,
Make y'ass, look great,
Movin' slow, right there,

Movin' flow, right hurr,
To right her, and him thurr,
Gender-neutralized,
Pushy, nervous, zombies, with furr,

On a dog, or a kitty,
Ain't worth a look, or the witty,
Feel me, in the city,
Or keep feelin'.... (shh---!)

Keep it happy, man!
Does it keep you happy man? Or ma'am?
Excuse the apostrophe in the palendrome,
But, damn!

Can't fight, quite the same,
Can't say, right the same,
Chickalculate, a million ways,
To avoid, that shame,

So, who got cool?
And, who got fun?
Put 'em both, together,
Hear me vrummm, at ya bum,

So, simple and plain,
It's sweet, like laffy taffy,
They put you here,
To make people happy...

(Chorus)

"Something's got me so excited, baby!
A feeling I've been holding back so long,
You got the shh--"

I got this...
I got you...
I gotta do...
What I gotta do...

(x4)

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Thursday, July 03, 2014

HELP WITH THE GRIND: "Music and the Music Business are Two Different Things" - Erykah Badu




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 Hey Everybody,

I hope all are well and that's "it's all good". While sometimes it doesn't look that way as many people seem to be getting more quiet, nervous, frustrated and sketchy, that's what us artists are here for - to DJ this party.

I know like everyone else that I need to say what I mean and how I feel, perhaps even moreso than most. Unlike many I often can using music, which will then allow me to deal much easier with the social constipation that we all face on a daily basis that my recent projects are helping to deal with and - with help - perhaps help others do the same.

Onstage I can scream "Let's Talk!" like Coldplay to (hopefully) millions. Offstage, also like Coldplay, I can say "Well... we just try to write good songs really, we're not even really sure what they're about so don't get nervous since I can't tell you, we just hope our mums or our cats like them..." (paraphrased) or some other sheepish humble-mumble to take the edge off having one.

It's good marketing and I'm already really happy with having the ability to say what people can't and need to hear while not having to try to say it any other way.

So, muzak it is.

While sending out my press release, I also had a few music biz videos playing the the background and think they're great. I also took notes and while I missed many key things while multitasking I hopefully got some stuff here that you can use below and enjoy if this is an area of interest.

Now I'm trying to connect with more people using my music to see who's interested in addressing some of the issues I discuss; or who's interested in quietly continuing to help me address them which works just fine as well. Either way, I need to join or build a team and make some money working on this stuff or I can't. So, that's my goal moving forward.

With the combination of rapping and singing and finding neat ways to say things well that others can't but need to hear, I think I can positively influence a lot of people like many artists before me. So, even if people can't express themselves the same ways they can at least benefit from hearing them expressed honestly.

Or, I'll throw hard fastballs, then when people catch them they can softly toss allegorical curveballs at each other, or more subtly change how they talk and act to reflect their shared understanding and appreciation without going into detail.

Check it out if you feel and feel free to get in touch.

Peace,

BK

Let's Connect:

Mobile - +1.647.781.1580

LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/blackkrishna

Music - http://www.reverbnation.com/blackkrishna

Blog - http://blackkrishna.blogspot.ca/

Consulting - http://whatyouwanttobelievein.com/

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September 3, 2014

Among other tactics and contacts made I did this...

Google Search: toronto music

https://www.google.ca/search?q=toronto+music&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb&gfe_rd=cr&ei=53q1U4_JCMaC8QedjoD4Cw

emailing everyone that came up for the first three pages

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Google Search: toronto music blog

https://www.google.ca/search?q=toronto+music&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb&gfe_rd=cr&ei=53q1U4_JCMaC8QedjoD4Cw#channel=sb&q=toronto+music+blog&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

emailing everyone that came up for the first three pages

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Google Search: canadian music

https://www.google.ca/search?q=toronto+music&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb&gfe_rd=cr&ei=53q1U4_JCMaC8QedjoD4Cw#channel=sb&q=canadian%20music&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

emailing everyone that came up for the first three pages

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Mike King - Online Music Marketing Clinic



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll3j_5VbNlY

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1. Don't give music for free, exchange for email address, or something.
2. Make sure you get and judge a response.
3. Raise awareness with bits of content.
4. The curse of the developing artist is anonymity, not piracy.
5. It's just not all about giving it away for free.
6. Get to know the people you give music to.
7. Need great music and live shows to make impression.
8. Storefronts – can have everything under one roof like Nimbit, have social media, can sell everything, one dashboard, ReverbNation similar – with restrictions; Topspin really good, leaders, great powerful tools to connect with fans, on marketing and sales side, make widgets to get an email, have dashboard to get more info, organize, message, don't do 3rd party distrib but others can, Bandcamp very good – hosted solution but can integrate into own site, Moontest, suggest people do research, some companies have more and better developers, but those are the top tiers.
9. Physical press kits still needed; live venues want a link – Sonic Bids can host – clubs want that – don't want physical package; regular media wants physical copy, or CD's.
10. OneSheet – Brendan Mulligan set up, collects all social media and positions it on a page, provide background image, 2 mins, very easy, pulls in everything, set up fast.
11. Bandzoogle and Verve, hosted templates, decide on tabs, takes an hour tops to set up.
12. Wordpress.org plus a theme, need domain, hosting provider, BlueHost and Wordpress together are great, very functioning, MusicMarketingBook.com – he said up on Saturday, took 5 hrs pulling in blog posts, etc. NO EXCUSE to not have own site
13. Pandora biggest internet radio – can reject you, don't take everything, have to have physical copy for sale on Amazon, review it, say yes or no, friend got nixed Orchestrotica, radio broken into commercial, non-commercial, anything below 92.0 is non-commercial, above commercial, still need physical CD for commercial radio.

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Independent Artists: How To Promote Your Music

GREAT TALK! :)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eckVV06_wA

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1. Too much music in the world.
2. Will only listen to it for 30 seconds, if ordinary then gone.
3. Always send your very, very best work when getting media attention.
4. Some daytime shows have free plays, few slots.
5. Radio very ineffecient when comes to getting out, have to be listening, usually doing something else, little chance, internet much better today.
6. Bandcamp – money goes direct to artist, makes people happier to know this, also get their email address when buy, great site.
7. Radio not a starting point, need to have other things in order, even they check out if you're serious contender before they decide to back you, 60,000 plays on YouTube, Twitter, etc.
8. SoundCloud – great for getting comments on song from listeners.
9. Myth – shouldn't put streaming single online in case people steal it, old music model, today streaming is the new airplay, want as many people as possible to hear it, such a huge hit that lots of people download and share it, much better for career.
10. Little Comets – one of his fave bands, single "The Little Opus", hired publicist to get plays, within 2 weeks of release had online embargo, tried to get people to rush on iTunes to buy it, but die-hard fans moved on, others who heard on radio and liked it couldn't find it again online to confirm it's good, performed horribly
11. Most Important Thing is: ARTIST NAME
12. Don't skimp on the visuals, get great graphic artist, get great photogs, very important, can work with art students dying to work on stuff for portfolio, make sure it looks like you mean business, looks like you're serious.
13. Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, YouTube, Tumblr, Songkick, Bandcamp, Instagram, own domain name, Spotify, MusicBrainz – BBC radio, when play you, computer generates tracklist, easy to find for others to see what was played, trying to build database of all artists in world, bring traffic to their page – then link to artists, sometimes no artist image, no clickable link – MusicBrainz is public, open source, used by BBC, if have profile then have BBC profile, can click through, he has guide on FRESH ON THE NET – his blog, to get photo appearing can write to them and BBC will upload it.
14. Facebook vital, even though horrible, DON'T USE OWN FACEBOOK, GET SHORT URL, MAKE SURE, get over 70 Likes – then get short URL, can embed Bandcamp, can stream and sell, can have free downloads for email, if people like it – can name your price.
15. MAKE SURE PROFILES ARE CROSS-LINKED TO EACH OTHER.
16. Can't just post on Facebook TimeLine, just disappears soon, need more info.
17. MOST IMPORTANT – ON ALL PAGES HAVE CONTACT INFO – Need to make sure people who want to book you can quickly get in touch – PROMINENT EMAIL.
18. EASIER TO GET IN TOUCH – EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO HELP YOU.
19. Twitter, don't use properly, or enough, NOT THERE TO SELL STUFF, common mistake, just promote – not there, just there to invite to join your gang, not a megaphone to shout at people, it's a telephone to chat with people, great for befriending future allies in the media, can get to quite influential people if approach it softly, but if respond to joke, or make a joke will have a laugh and enjoy, get notice, just conversationally get on people's radars, lots of people get to know without trying to sell them anything.
20. DON'T SEND TRACKS via email, just send link to one track, one-click, all it has to be is good, don't clutter up inbox.
21. YouTube is NOT TELEVISION, it's a very conversational medium, can just record talking on webcam, entire social ecosystem, no relation to industry, charts, radio, can click like, fave, become part of the ecosystem, as you start to reach out they'll start to reach you, word of mouth will spread, like Gangnam Style, acoustic guitar and webcam can get 2 mm plays, lots of people do, most don't, but if stuff is really good then credit, respect.
22. MAKE MONEY – need to sell physical media at gigs, when negotiating with promoter who pays you little, NEED TO NEGOTIATE RIGHT TO SELL MERCH WITHOUT THEM TAKING ANY COMMISSION, 5 min window after set and want to reach you, stand there signing things people bought, posing photos, DON'T HANDLE MONEY, get friend to, get apps to take credit card payment on phone, when live, signed CD, invested, tell friends, drag to next gig, don't invest in getting them pressed, get card sleeves made up, put sticker with tracks on it, get simple CD printer on plain white discs, get great artwork, colour print CD'S, just print a handful for each gig, special, as improve can change stuff on CD's, haven't got to invest money in paying a lot, if 10 people pay $10 for album that's $100 in pocket, great way to make money and move product, have several CD's, have t-shirts, can turn business over and make more music and you're on the way.
23. Promotion on blogs, in press, all centres around release dates.
24. Release Dates: start 6 – 8 weeks in advance, can be changed, called "focus dates" now since often change, stuff online, get press, blog, YouTube video a week in advance, people start tweeting, go for high jump, don't keep on trying to get attention, tour around dates, don't do individual gigs, do them in a burst, gets much more lift, take 2 weeks off work to gig, more than odd blog, gig, here and there, need to have physical promo and digital version on SoundCloud, hi-res image, track art, just need to make it look like a record company or plugger, don't have to make it really nice, just needs to be professional looking, out of hundred records may listen to 20, from 1 in 70 to 1 in 50 chance increase.
25. Promo CD, clear plastic wallet, sticker with all relevant info, key info on sleeve, bits of paper will get lost, insert, invent a logo for invented record company, disc not finished but can be silver or white, canon printer, just name of artist, track, logo, time, where from, that makes it look professional – even they don't have time to send pro albums
26. PUT THE TIME OF THE TRACKS ON YOUR CD.
27. DON'T send jewel case CD's to radio, too big and heavy, when take home to finish then won't take yours if too bulky, don't put info on case – put on CD itself.
28. What should you put out – concentrate on ONE TRACK AT A TIME.
29. MAYBE PUT OUT ONE TRACK A DAY FOR TWO WEEKS FOR TRILOGY.
30. Single formats can be put out, radio edit, DON'T SEND F-BOMBS TO RADIO.
31. LENGTH OF TRACK – nothing wrong with long tracks, but for radio play the shorter the better chance it gets airplay, a 2 min track has 2x chance to get played, radio has 1/2 hour clocks, then news breaks, 27 mins really due to other stuff, can play 3 – 9 minute tracks, or 9 – 3 minute tracks, if yours too long then can't play others, need to make equally good version of track if shorter, send album 3x and hope get through – persistence.
32. Send full album – WRITE KEY TRACKS, 7, 8, 9
33. Sticker with KEY TRACKS, no shrink wrap, only thing that counts is right for show or not.
34. Press pack, used to have 8"x10" glossy photos, life story in lots of detail, loads of PR guff, quotes from others, badges, stickers, postcards, music, contact – used for newspapers, etc, or managers or promoters, or taken to conferences where give to everyone with influence; were expensive, bulky, troublesome, out of date after printing, at radio – thrown out.
35. Today – DO NOT NEED PRESS PACK – just put music on Soundcloud page, can offer downloads, all bio info on there, all release info on there, label, contact, YouTube, etc., can do all of this for free – write to blogger, journalist, all you need.
36. Simple little card much easier, lots of online info, can use smartphone QR code too.
37. Target every individual writer on music blog, have to listen to show in question to find out if play your music, find out what makes them tick, laugh, read blogs, certainly for newspapers, see who might want to review your music, check out what they do, follow on Twitter.
38. Most cheap PR people don't send to right blogs, shows, etc., build relationship slowly, if you seem interested in them they're more likely to be interested in you.
39. Follow up links sent, key to success must be persistence, but record must be great.
40. Pro of good plugger – know who'll like your music, can make promo for you, etc., know how to make you sound interesting, have A&R skills, know singles, radio edits, don't think we can do anything with this one, strategy advice, only chance to go national, some will cut a deal with you and take you on cheap so when you're on chart make them look good, pro plugger leaves you free to make music; CONS expensive, $2000 – 5000 for one campaign, no guarantee of results at all, can't guarantee any plays, only that producers will hear it.
41. IF WANT A TOP HIT RECORD – LISTEN TO NUMBER ONE RECORDS, KNOW THE TOP FIVE, ED WHITE – PRO SONGWRITER – LISTENS TO THEM LIKE HAWKS.
42. Didn't start to make music to get rich, central part of who you are, have to make music or will burst, that's why do it, want people to like and respect you because of your music, if want national recognition then you can have it – I promise you – but it comes with a price, have to be totally single minded, value success about everything else, those are the people you're competing against, monsters who ignore everything else.
43. He's only ever written 2 amazing songs out of 15 albums, where people lost their minds, got into the Top 5, that kind of success isn't worth that kind of price, focus on art, but aim for a balanced life, make great art, integrity, creativity, innovation, originality, that's the way to make the best possible music because have a balanced life, follow your passion.

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Music business 101: Real Advice For Independent and Unsigned Artists



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHufSVrZkAA

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1. He's a 35 year veteran, poet, DJ, promoter, ran studio, etc.
2. About developing relationships, how to present yourself, network, etc.
3. Music biz – like getting into the NBA, every hood has a court, but few make NBA.
4. Need good grades, sportsmanlike, basics, but 2 – 3 major labels only, hard, why only 1 hot female rapper – Nicki Minaj, only few hot male rappers, very closed circle.
5. Need buzz, marketing, creating a demand, supply and demand issues.
6. Can't book a show unless can prove you have buzz, can't convince promoters that you'll bring people in who'll buy drinks and so on, will get blacklisted if only 10 people show, can damage the promoters name as well; so first build product, image and fanbase.
7. Get to shows early to relax and network.
8. Can copyright your own stuff, mail to self and don't open, or Library of Congress, or ASCAP, or Cdn version of same
9. Need to be flexible and go into different areas of the music biz, increase exposure.
10. Need to have biz card, have website, need to be in control of your own site.
11. Need to have something, can be simple but needs to be something.
12. When you perform, have more than you on stage, coordinate, look good.
13. CD Baby.com has partnerships with others so get money there.
14. TAG MP3's to make sure they have it.
15. 128 mbps isn't good enough, go for bigger, WAV files are best.
16. Buzz needs to be there or no go.

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Jason Feinberg: Digital Strategies for Independent Music Marketing



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCJcTm_YsXA

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1. Technology leveling playing field? Bullsh-t. Still hard to compete against labels with teams. Likes indie music, wishes were true, but it's not. It can, but rare.
2. Lots of tools make possible to compete with label people, need same services on marketing side, savvy with digital, run online presence, offline too, or hire agency, etc.
3. Spending money vs. Making money phase; if former then need to get fanbase, selling to them is secondary, hardcore fans then maybe, monetizing fanbase is only after building relationships and goodwill of people towards you, otherwise retail element not there.
4. Direct to fan technology platform isn't that simple, can't assume selling with better shopping cart makes more sales, need fans first, can't go too quickly to the revenue phase. Reality is with so many avenues of entertainment need to work hard to curate fan base. Element of passion one must have to get to that fan base.
5. BE fully in control of own property; distrib to store easier, lots of tools exist for data, etc.
6. Go to where fans already are instead of making them come to you.
7. Need to give them reasons to visit your site; contests; exclusive tracks; interactions; et.
8. Email is still King according to fans and others; best response, conversion rate, with a good email 70 – 80% open rates, 30 – 70% click thru rates, right people with right message; other platforms good too, but relationship between sender and receiver of email more trusted, more than "like" on Facebook, rely on their algorithm, with email know better audience.
9. See that for artists at all levels, not a lot of variance, email is still common tool; maybe teen pop-stars are different, but 25+ age email always the best.
10. Can be tough for smaller artists to use text platforms like mobile, expensive, or services, ad supported, low-cost, older audience slower to take to mobile than younger, but good response at al demographics to using the right fit for technology.
11. Access coupled with convenience beats piracy, next few years will determine what people want, can use Spotify, lots of options out there, don't need to hunt for ways to promote.
12. At Concord see a lot of lift through catalogue using services, just like Direct To Consumer, lots of revenue streams, if good and have content people want adds up to business.
13. Streaming then direct to consumer products are probably way of future for smaller artists, hardcore fans that want to buy something and support you are autographed this, limited that, name in the credits, the rest log on to streaming flavour of the day to enjoy.
14. Labels have many deals, 360 deals can work since they manage expense and revenue, spend more and take more, really good if label really believes in artist and wants to do business, but smaller artists can get screwed, or p'n'd, pressing and distribution – that's all they do while artists team does rest of the work; joint venture is 50/50 split, usually a true partnership, what does each side bring to table, maybe artist has brand affiliation and own initiatives and label brings something similar, hard to be too specific because loose definition, but both bring something to the table to work with, last two most common.
15. Look out for: who owns masters, publishing, approval over how money is spent, who controls money spending, always been the same stuff.

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Renman U Lesson #8 How to Market & Promote Your Music



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q7o6l-0eR4

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1. Can't learn by reading book, learn by doing and hearing from people who've done it, he's got 36 years in biz and lots to know today about image, marketing and more.
2. Need burning desire to do something big, best way to learn is to ask questions, if you don't ask, you don't get and you don't learn, so need to know how to.
3. As indie artist can do a lot of image crafting and more stuff, if get signed then label will appreciate your clarity, need to make it very personal affair, need to make calls, do work.
4. Need to have money to make an impact, recording to marketing, without need to be more creative, do you have a professional team, need manager, agent, marketing, etc., if don't have that then can pay to rent, do you have contacts in industry, influence others, etc.
5. Really need to be honest about this to have a real shot.
6. Screw the gatekeepers, need to make something happen no matter what.
7. Jay Bohberg (sp?), now Chairman of Ingrooves, digital distribution house – not about trying to do everything at once, trying to set small achievable goals, when signed Oingo Boingo did this, R.E.M. same thing, focused on regional dominance, show you're on right track, get a bit of revenue, start fueling future endeavours.
8. Have great product but if don't do great job promoting it then nobody notices.
9. Publicity, distribution, lots of things to work on, radio stuff, visuals.
10. Digital beats physical to save money and move music.
11. People's attention spans so short need to have ways to promote art quickly.
12. Touring key part of marketing plan, purest expression of your performance, can meet customers face to face, gathering point for marketing efforts.
13. In beginning of career YOU ARE the marketing department, need to give it a chance in the real world to either build career or sign with a label.
14. First impressions are very powerful so try to get it right.
15. When contacting music biz pro's, be professional, to the point and ask them to do what you want them to do. Also add personal touch, be honest to make up for lack of experience.

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The Pride Trilogy - Canada Day 2014 Promo Mix



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2293nOHtK4

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Tuesday, July 01, 2014

PRESS RELEASE: Black Krishna Presents - The Pride Trilogy


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The Pride Trilogy - Canada Day 2014 Promo Mix




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Show Me - Canada Day 2014 Promo Snippet



http://youtu.be/XdMsmUVaKkg

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I Got This - Canada Day 2014 Promo Single



http://youtu.be/tG0ej4XoFVo

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PRESS RELEASE: Black Krishna Presents - The Pride Trilogy

This project is to help Canadians and people worldwide between July 1st and September 1st start to communicate better, exchange more respect, relax, feel more confident and have more fun. It's the same stuff Coldplay and many others say but different. Promotion started on Canada Day with the release a week later on July 8, 2014. 

Please pass it on and for questions, collaborations, interviews and bookings, please contact BK at:

blackkrishna@gmail.com - or - 647.781.1580 

The Chixtape

The Blocktrade Project or How We Learned To Relax and Beat Social Constipation

Street Fame: Your Ticket To Ride

Instrumentals courtesy of Sap, Kevin McCall (K-Mac) and Chase N Cashe; and Blocktrade Music including CloudAtlas, Hani G, Amun Rah and The Winner. Production courtesy of Collection Day Entertainment Group and Drew Chale, Sam, Shy Juelz and Kaz. Songs by Black Krishna.

Watch/Share/Download - Canada Day 2014 Promo Mix: The Pride Trilogy



Watch/Share/Download - Canada Day 2014 Promo Snippet: Show Me



Watch/Share/Download - Canada Day 2014 Promo Single: I Got This



Happy Canada Day, Summer, School Year and Future! :)

Peace,

BK

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