Musician’s Resource Center:

Everything For Every Musician

Can you relate to a 50-year-old session guitarist that feels like the music industry is passing him by with words like “digital distribution” and “e-commerce?” Do you just want to figure out how to get your music onto a website?

If yes, then keep reading; if no then how about this:

Can you relate to a 17-year-old rapper who is ready to expand in terms of record distribution, concert promotion and booking and the overall professional level of his music career?

If yes, then keep reading; if no then how about this:

Are you a musician or at all related to the music b

business?

Then keep reading.

Now, imagine a place that is filled with computers, Macs and PCs, that are loaded with software such as iLife and Dreamweaver that are free for you to access so long as you fill out a small card with your contact information on it. Also imagine that those same computers have graphic design programs. Then imagine, that at this place, different music professionals are available to consult with you on any issue that you might be having as a musician, from digital distribution to web design to record labels.

Welcome to the Musician’s Resource Center in Memphis.

The MRC is an offshoot of the Memphis Music Foundation, a nonprofit 501c3 organization dedicated to the furthering of everything that is the Memphis music scene.

Following a 2002 survey done by the University of Memphis, it was found, overwhelmingly, that musicians in Memphis felt that the city severely lacked a music business infrastructure. That is to say, Memphis lacked the people that make a music scene in Atlanta or Nashville so great.

The MRC was founded to fill that gap and give artists and anyone interested in work in the music business a foot in the doorway to making that dream happen.

Located in a 5,000-square-foot building, the center offers help with just about anything and everything that you could imagine in the music business.

“We just wanted to provide a place and provide a staff that could aid and assist artists who are already doing things themselves, do it better and faster,” said Cameron Mann BLANK at the MRC.

As for the future, how long will the MRC be available? Quite some time.

“We definitely hope that over time the resource center becomes a social nexus for the artists and music business professionals here in Memphis to meet, to learn, to network,” says Allen.

Contact Cameron Mann for more information at cameron_mann@yahoo.com or (901) 830-4818.431 S. Main St., Suite 201, Memphis TN 38104

-Michael Aguila

IN THE NEWS

Well known for his work in former bands The Reatards and Lost Sounds, garage punk musician Jay Reatard recently finished six 7-inch singles for a Matador Records CD/LP compilation out in September. While doing so, Reatard has been touring major U.S. cities from coast-to-coast since early July playing at notable festivals such as Pitchfork Music Festival and opening for Spoon and Le Savy Fav. He has also been recording his Matador debut full-length to be released in early 2009.

www.myspace.com/

jayreatard

Located in the heart of Memphis, B.B. King’s Blues Club offers live music almost every single night. Local house bands include of the “Princess of Beale Street” Zda, living blues legend Carl Drew and his band and the B.B. King All-Stars. Besides great music, the club also offers delicious Southern cooked foods and specialties.

http://memphis

.bbkingclubs.com

Alternative-rock group Prosevere had a CD release party at The New Daisy Theater on July 26, celebrating its new album Versus with special guests Tetanus, Awake The City and other metal bands. On July 29, the band played an acoustic in-store set at Spin Street record store.

www.myspace.com/

prosevere

Memphis rock band Lucero has been around for over 10 years now, grasping hold of a tightly-knit and committed fan base (what the band prefers to call “diehards who come to every show and scream the words to every song”). With the help and dedication of such fans, the band has been touring everywhere from New York to Los Angeles back to its hometown this summer. Lucero is ending its summer tour with a show in Chapel Hill, N.C. on August 14 at the Local 506.

www.myspace.com/

lucero

Local group Eric Hughes Band is a staple in the Memphis blues scene playing weekly in several clubs and cafes around the city such as the Bel-Air Club and Ground Zero Blues Club. The band is performing several times this month at Alfred’s on Beale St., the earliest show being on August 4.

www.myspace.com/

erichughesband

Skillet, Christian rock band signed to Ardent Records, has been on tour for months, playing at many summer festivals around the country. The band will be doing so continuously until the end of the year.

www.skillet.com

Also signed to Ardent Records is singer/musician Todd Agnew, who will be playing at the Crossroads Arena in Corinth, Miss. on August 30. Agnew has also been in the studio recording his next record and informing fans on the progress of the album on his site.

www.toddagnew.com