Atlantic City Weekly will soon launch its Local Music Guide, which will enable local acts of all genres - from DJs and cover bands to lounge singers and singer-songwriters - to create their own free band page at acweekly.com.
A recent Atlantic City Weekly interview with Donna Summer has the music icon quoted as saying “There’s almost nothing you can do that will not be around the world in seconds.” It was a reference to the Internet, and how people today can so easily obtain information, post it on the Web, and transmit it to millions of others around the world.
It was meant to be cautionary, and to imply that the Web could potentially be used to generate negative publicity. Just as easily, though, is its capacity for good, and Atlantic City Weekly intends to utilize its recently re-launched and well-trafficked Web site for the latter means.
In the very near future, acweekly.com will debut its Local Music Guide, designed to allow local bands and solo artists (of any and every genre) as well as band managers, promoters and DJs, to create their own free page on the guide. They will be able to upload a photo, bio, links, MP3s, contact and booking info, upcoming gigs, and even video. Currently artists can send their information and links to editor@acweekly.com with the subject line: “BAND NAME/LOCAL MUSIC GUIDE.” Soon, however, during the “soft” launch of the guide, musicians will be able to create their own free band page themselves at acweekly.com. The guide will be structured similar to that of AC Weekly’s sister paper, Philadelphia Weekly, which can be viewed here.
“The Local Music Guide is a great idea,” says local musician Michael Hoebler, founder of the percussion-based workshop organization called LifeDrums. “I believe it’s very important for the musicians to work together and support each other, rather than just protect their own ‘piece of the pie.’ The South Jersey music scene seems to be growing stronger and stronger, and hopefully this guide will make it easier for all involved — clubs, fans and musicians alike — to continue that growth and bring back the ‘glory days’ once more.”
“I think it’s a great idea,” says local singer Melissa Marshall. “Any forum that we have to reach out to the public, the better.”
Soon you will be able to create your page directly from a link on our home page. For now, AC Weekly is asking bands and solo artists, managers to send the following info, links and attachments to editor@acweekly.com:
1. Band/Artist Name
2. Short Bio/music description
3. Web address(es)
4. email
5. band member names
6. upcoming gigs (include venue, date, and time if possible)
7. A band picture that is a high resolution jpg image.
The intention of the Local Music Guide is to allow local acts to promote themselves for free and also interact with each other by listening to fellow area band’s MP3s, leaving comments on their page and contacting them if needed via the contact links.
“I love the idea and think its great,” says Paulie Day, a veteran area DJ and head of Elite Entertainment & Promotions.
"No other publication has been more supportive to local musicians than AC Weekly," says singer/songwriter Patty Blee, a favorite at places like the Library III, Cousin Mario's and other local hot spots. "The Local Music Guide should be no exception."
“It’s a wonderful idea to utilize the Internet to provide patrons with an avenue to find their favorite artist or even new artists in the area,” says local singer Beth Tinnon, a favorite at Tango’s at the Tropicana and winner of AC Weekly’s Reader’s Choice Nightlife Awards in 2009. “I just pulled a report from my Web site [bethtinnon.com] and noticed that I am getting 2,000 to 3,000 hits a month from folks wanting to know where to find me. Web pages are a great tool! I think it is a wonderful idea, especially if we are able to post videos from our gigs, or blogs of our activities.”
“Artists and musicians should work together in the development of a better music scene in the area, so this is definitely going to be a help,” says Scott Vattima, proprietor of Emerge Artists & Sunset Entertainment, and special events and music coordinator at Hibiscus in Somers Point. “South Jersey has a large pool of talented musicians that needs better exposure. I will be adding all my artists to it ASAP.”
“I think it’s a great idea,” says Carmen Marotta of Tony Mart’s Presents. “We have some truly gifted and talented musicians in this area and in the region … There is no question that [AC Weekly] staff is doing a bodacious public service with respect to the music community in our area. I am so pleased to be a part of it.”
Atlantic City Weekly editor Jeff Schwachter — a local musician himself who performs solo, with the band the Ocean Ryders, and with the acoustic duo Sweet Lorraine — is excited about the soon-to-be-launched guide and its accompanying “In-Studio Sessions” video series, which will offer local musicians the chance to perform live, be video-recorded and featured in Atlantic City Weekly’s upcoming “In-Studio Sessions” video series, which will be taped inside the music-video studio at the Grass Roots Music Store, AC Weekly’s partner in producing the video series, located in Ocean City.
“Musicians will be able to update their band pages with upcoming gigs and such once the guide is live,” says Schwachter, “which should be in a bout a week or so. Artists eventually will be able choose a user name and password, and then create their own music page for free on acweekly.com. This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, and it’s great to see it coming together. I’ve already received emails from dozens of bands and artists who are interested and many have started sending me their required information.
“Through the next week or so, we’re asking local acts — including acts who perform locally on a regular basis, but who are from another area — and managers to send the following information to editor@acweekly.com: Band Name, Bio, Genre, Photo, Links to Web pages and, only if applicable, one or two MP3s of Original Songs and an Upcoming Gig schedule.
“But again, musicians — from local DJs and hip-hop artists to lounge singers and cover bands — will be able to create their own page directly from our home page when the Local Music Guide launches later this month. Let’s rock this thing!”
For more information, click here or contact editor@acweekly.com.
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