Boston Music Conference 2008 – September 26-27, 2008

Boston Music Conference 2008

The first annual Boston Music Conference (BMC) will be held this September 26 and 27, and is the first major initiative in a series of events that will promote Boston within the music industry and offer the city’s aspiring talent a chance to meet some of the industry’s top executives and celebrities. This year’s conference will include workshops, various networking and educational opportunities and exclusive music industry events. The mission of the Boston Music Conference is to educate and empower the region’s youth and provide them with the information and tools necessary to pursue a career in music. One of the topics to be discussed in the conference this year is Latin music, an emerging genre that is crossing over into mainstream.

Boston has long been known as a source of major talent and is home to arguably the top educational institution for music. However, due to a lack of resources and opportunities within the city for students who are unable to attend college, many aspiring artists are forced to leave Boston to pursue their dreams in other cities. With the Boston Music Conference, more options will be available to the city’s youth in Boston.

The Boston Music Conference is sponsored and supported by many organizations within the city as well as nationally, including Berklee College of Music, MySpace, BMI and all of the major labels including but not limited to Sony BMG, Interscope Records, Mo Town, Def Jam and Universal. In conjunction with ROCA, a non profit organization, (www.rocainc.org) the BMC will be offering 25 scholarships to attend to youths who demonstrate a serious interest in pursuing a career in music but would not be able to attend.

In order to attend the Boston Music Conference, registration online at www.bostonmusicconference.com is required along with a registration fee of $99 for a limited time. Prices will increase closer to the time of the event and capacity is limited. Attendees are encouraged to bring their bio and promotional kit to the event as this is a rare opportunity to meet top music industry executives. Aspiring artists who would like their music to be considered for a commemorative CD to be distributed at the event can send a sample of their work to info@bostonmusicconference.com. Workshops for the event will be held Friday September 26, from 12 to 5 followed by Showcase Performances at Mojitos at 48 Winter Street in Downtown Crossing. The conference will be held at the Roxy Tremont Ballroom at 272 Tremont Street in the Theatre District, Saturday September 27 from 12 to 6.

The goal of the Boston Music Conference (BMC) is to educate and empower the city’s aspiring talent who are interested in pursuing a career in music by bringing the resources and information to them in Boston. The BMC is the first part of an organized long term initiative to bring national attention to Boston as a source of major talent within the music industry and develop local talent. “The Boston Music Conference: Where Preparation Meets Opportunity”.

T-Pain to release “Thr33 Ringz” in fall 2008

Hit-Maker’s Third Album to Feature Chris Brown, Ludacris, Lil Wayne and Kanye West;
New Single, “Can’t Believe It,” Currently #1 Most Added at Urban and Rhythm X-Over Radio

New York, NY – After spending much of 2007 and 2008 on the top of the charts with hits such as “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’)” and “Bartender” and as a producer and featured artist on tracks such as Flo-Rida’s “Low” and Chris Brown’s “Kiss Kiss,” T-Pain announced today that Jive Records will release his third studio album Thr33 Ringz in Fall 2008.  With Thr33 Ringz, he is set to show everyone that he is the ring leader and, in true T-Pain fashion, he is bringing a few of his friends along for the ride.

It’s evident T-Pain has another hit on his hands with the album’s first single, “Can’t Believe It,” featuring Lil Wayne which is currently the #1 most added song this week at both Urban and Rhythm X-Over radio.  A Casanova song, the track is about “getting a girl to ride with you,” says T-Pain.  “Basically I got a lot of stuff on my album that’s not that simple.  It’s just basically a way to calm things down,” he says.

Other tracks to be included on the album include: an up-tempo jam that is destined to be the dance floor hit of the year, “Freeze” featuring Chris Brown; a lyrically clever urban anthem “Chopped & Screwed” featuring rapper Ludacris; a personal and controversial declaration to the industry “Karaoke” featuring DJ Khaled; and collaboration with Kanye West called “Therapy.”

Tallahassee, Florida native, T-Pain burst on the scene in 2005 with his debut Rappa Ternt Sanga and the unforgettable singles “I’m Sprung” and “I’m N Luv (Wit A Stripper),” a song that maintains the title of the highest selling ring tone.  T-Pain continued his success with his sophomore effort Epiphany in 2007, which spawned the #1 airplay record of the year, “Buy U a Drank” (featuring Yung Joc) and the ubiquitous #1 hit “Bartender.” In 2008, T-Pain took home his first Grammy for Best Rap Song (for “Good Life”) with Kanye West, which also garnered a BET Award, where he was the most nominated artist of the night.T-Pain (age 23) currently resides in Atlanta with his wife and children.

Statement from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame regarding the passing of Isaac Hayes

Jim Henke, Vice President of Exhibitions and Curatorial Affairs:

“Isaac Hayes was a multi-talented artist whose body of work had a tremendous influence on the music of the last 40 years. In the 1960s and early 1970s, he was a songwriter, producer, pianist and vocalist for Stax Records, and he played a crucial role in the development of Memphis soul music. Among his many accomplishments, he helped write such classic hits as ‘Soul Man,’ ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ and ‘B-A-B-Y’.

“His solo career included such classics as Hot Buttered Soul and the soundtrack to the movie Shaft. His work as a solo artist laid the groundwork for disco and, eventually, rap and hip-hop. Later, he embarked on a successful acting career.

“He was a truly talented artist and he will be sorely missed.”