WHY IS SOUTHERN SOUL ARTISTS NOT GETTING SHOWS LIKE THE R&B ARTISTS

[DJ GRANDMASTER]

WHAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE I WANNA KNOW SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY ?

[MS HOT DJ(AKA)BETTY]

I SEE NOW GRANDMASTER IT IS PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I THAT HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR THE SOUTHERN BLUES ARTISTS.I WILL DO ALL I CAN DO.I AM NOW TRYINT TO GET THIS PLACE THAT HOLD ABOUT 2000 PEOPLE TO HAVE A BLUES SHOW UP HERE IN NEWYORK

[Joyce Coffman]

because we have gotten use to everyone singing the same types of music, and it seem like we are afraid to be different. We do need to clean our music up in order for it to cross over and sell. But most important we must push the idea that we are preserving our culture, and this is an artform. We should push all of our artist when we know they have taken the time to be creative by creating veues for them. Maybe the world will take notice.

[Dick Fairchild]

Grandmaster.....that may be an easier question to answer than you'd think. With the tremedous amount of internet stations available to get the music played, it's only a matter of marketing...... and the best part is .....it's free. I get solicited several times a week to review artists in the blues and R&B areas. (We have a smooth jazz stream also, but are serviced by most all the majors in that one.)

The southern soul, or soul/blues if you will, is an area we have to beg to get the music. Larry Chambers, of Ecko Records, is the only person/label that services us on a continual basis and has since we started. CDS occasionally sends us an electronic (.mp3) sample and wants us to buy the album in order to play their artists. Malaco ignores us for whatever reason.

The point I'm trying to make here is that in this genre of music folks do not communicate with the very people who can help them. They say they want their music played, but it's like pulling teeth to get the music.

Let me give you one example of a current blues group who has done well with just what we've been discussing. The band is called Root Doctor and they're out of Lansing Michigan. They debuted the first cd in 2006 on a little independent label called Big O Records. They are currently on their 3rd cd and two of the band members have solo careers started as well. When that first album was on it's way to release, I don't think a day went by that I didn'thave an email in my folder about it coming. It's what you call gorilla marketing and they did an excellent job. (I believe 2 of the 3 cds have been in the top ten on the Living Blues chart) The point being is it's free to them to market that cd with that method. The cost (other than the normal production) was the time spent to keep mailing everyone in the world and pumping the product. It really paid off for them,

I know blues, in all it's various forms, tends to be regionalized but it doesn't have to be. The only way you can make that change is to go after it. We're up in Washington State.......is that a southern soul area????.....hell no........are we playing it???.....HELL YES. There is supposed to be a station in Seattle that airs southern soul, but the only thing I've heard there is R&B. If they spin a few now and again it's better than none. Also there is a station in Portland Oregon that is spinning southern soul....so there is a few of us out here.

I guess I burned enough space here with my blah blah blah.........I just feel strongly about it and I like you want to see this art form preserved and to flourish.

[Patty Benson]

Thank you for speaking your mind and enlightening me. I just released a single and found that it is so much easier now to self promote with the aid of the internet. Learning how to use it is the key. Getting off of my ass to do it is the other factor. I'm glad to hear the urgency in your voice to preserve american root music. It really bothers me to hear so many artist who tour overseas, talk of how well they are received there. Good to know of people and places hear that support it tirelessly. Don't you tire and give in to the face of apathy. By the way I just sent my music package to you snail mail.

[Beverly Hunter-Shackelford]

I would love to play the Southern Soul music, but I don't know where to get it or even where to find the jocks to play it.

[James Wilder]

I am not sure. I do think it has something to do with regional support. In North Carolina I play in the only club in Raleigh that has a Southern Soul night. Also the whole state only has a couple of clubs that cater to Southern Soul two notable clubs being Gwendolyns and Carters Lounge.Except for Boogie I get no support music wise and no major stations are playing this music. I dont see radio here getting on board. As someone else commented it's up to us to do our part. Major above ground markets would be great but without that we can raise hell underground and continue pushing this great music.

[Patty Benson]

Wow James very discouraging to hear that being from the same state. I have a foot in blues right now and trying to merge into the Southern Soul genre. I just released a single with the intent that I may never see any fans on that side. But somebody has got to do it to keep it thriving. I'm holding my ground.

[Pantheress]

Well let Mz Pantheress say to all that you are all appreciated in the music world, and i agree us artist have to get out and do our thang, stop holding on to the music and let it flow, how are you gonna play it if some of us/ artist wants to sell it to you ...Hummmm and as everyone doing the same thing..well I dont know bout Pantheress cause Pantheress likes to do her own thang as Pantheress motto is to funk it punk it and bluz it, Depending on the mode of day it is..and everyday is a blessed day ...so if I funk it today am happy, if I bluz it tomorrow same thang, and Ill just funk it in between..and if you would like any music ithat I have feel free to let me know,also you are very welcome to visit Pantheress web pages at
www.aprilwinn.com
or www.myspace.com/aprilwinnlive07
have a good time with Mz Pantheress
You all have a safe weekend and do your thang

James Wilder said:

I am not sure. I do think it has something to do with regional support. In North Carolina I play in the only club in Raleigh that has a Southern Soul night. Also the whole state only has a couple of clubs that cater to Southern Soul two notable clubs being Gwendolyns and Carters Lounge.Except for Boogie I get no support music wise and no major stations are playing this music. I dont see radio here getting on board. As someone else commented it's up to us to do our part. Major above ground markets would be great but without that we can raise hell underground and continue pushing this great music.

[The Boogie Report]

Okay GranDMaster try this one on and see if it makes Cents and Dollas
Southern Soul Has been designated to the chitlin circuit the same acts playing the same venues doing the same show
year after year after year, causes attendence to suffer promoters lose more money, venues close do to lack of business more artist coming on the scene everyday.with fewer venues::::::
:
NOW THE ANSWER

Increase the market share by courting audiences out of the chitlin circuit we need more venue to showcase some of the new hot artist that dont get a break in the traditional circuit.

That means some sacrifice for artist promoters and radio where possible we have to plant seed in fertile ground!!!!!

[jerry mason]

Okay GranDMaster try this one on and see if it makes Cents and Dollas
Southern Soul Has been designated to the chitlin circuit the same acts playing the same venues doing the same show
year after year after year, causes attendence to suffer promoters lose more money, venues close do to lack of business more artist coming on the scene everyday.with fewer venues::::::
:
NOW THE ANSWER

Increase the market share by courting audiences out of the chitlin circuit we need more venue to showcase some of the new hot artist that dont get a break in the traditional circuit.

That means some sacrifice for artist promoters and radio where possible we have to plant seed in fertile ground!!!!!


Okay GranDMaster try this one on and see if it makes Cents and Dollas
Southern Soul Has been designated to the chitlin circuit the same acts playing the same venues doing the same show
year after year after year, causes attendence to suffer promoters lose more money, venues close do to lack of business more artist coming on the scene everyday.with fewer venues::::::
:
NOW THE ANSWER

Increase the market share by courting audiences out of the chitlin circuit we need more venue to showcase some of the new hot artist that dont get a break in the traditional circuit.

That means some sacrifice for artist promoters and radio where possible we have to plant seed in fertile ground!!!!!

[Al Lindsey]

Too much infighting. Lack of cohesion. Too much separation, clicks. Politics.

[JOHNNIE "DJ SUGALOVE" ARMSTRONG]

I CAN ANSWER THAT. IT IS A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY FIRST RADIO PLAY, A LOT OF SSA(SOUTHER SOUL ARTIST) MUSIC IS NOT GETTING PLAYED ON THE RADIO. LIKE IN NEW ORLEANS FOR INSTANCE, THE SAME OL' ARTIST CAN COME TO NEW ORLEANS EVERY MONTH AND THE PEOPLE WILL SHOW NOW ASK YOURSELF WHY?, IT IT BEACAUSE THE RADIO STATIONS ARE STILL PLAYING "GOT MY MONEY GOT MY WHISKEY." SECOND A LOT OF PROMOTERS DON'T LIKE TAKING CHANCES ON SSA, THATS WHY THE SSA NEED TO CHANGE THEIR GAME, LIKE STOP HATING ON EACH OTHER AND LOVE EACH OTHER AND START BOOKING THEIR SHOWS THEMSELVES. LET BE HONEST IF JEFF FLLOYD, MR. SAM, KAREN WOLFE, LACEE, TK SOUL,AND REGGIG P BOOK THEIR OWN SHOW YOU CANT TELL ME THAT SHOW WANT SELL OUT. THE SSA COME WITH A BAND AND THE R&B ARTIST RATHER DO TRACK SHOWS. SO IF THE SSA ARTIST CAN SHOW THAT THEY CAN BOOK AND SELL OUT THEIR SHOWS THEN YOU WILL GET THE RESPECT AND LOVE THAT THE R&B ARTIST GET. ONE HINT AT THE MUSIC AWARDS SHOWS DO YOU SEE WHERE THIER GIVEN OUT THE BEST MALE OR FEMALE SSA AWARD NO YOU DO NOT BECAUSE THEY INDUSTRY DON'T RESPECT SSA RAPPERS HAD THE SAME PROMBLEM 30 YEARS AGO.