>> from the RPM Direct desk...

Do you have your copy yet? The print edition of RPM Direct's producer & engineer directory is available - get yours while they last! If you're wondering, this is it folks - THE ultimate rolodex for contacting the industry's top producers, engineers and producer management companies. And it mirrors the same content found in our online studio directory - making it the most comprehensive resource available, period. Want to order a copy now? Go to RPMDirect.com for more information. Meanwhile, if you have recording industry related press, studio sessions news, announcements, producer client updates, product news, music for review or something else to contribute, send it to News@rpmdirect.com.

Making music? This is the only directory you need for producer/engineer and producer management contacts. RPM Direct is the music industry's leading professional resource for this information. The Music Business Registry is the leader in offering professional directories of A&R, Film & TV Music, Music Publishing and Music Attorney contacts. Two music industry leaders - one must have resource for anyone making music. Go to RPMDirect.com to buy it online or call 800-377-7411 to place your order. But wait - there's more! Want to search a database of the same information? Cross-linking through thousands of artists and producers and their discograpies? Go to RPMDirect.com to sign up for the print edition and online directory access for the most up to date information available. If you're not using RPM, you're not as connected as you could be. www.rpmdirect.com.

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>> Geza X Joins Steven Scharf Entertainment

Legendary Los Angeles based producer, Geza X, recently joined the roster at Steven Scharf Entertainment. Geza, a long time fixture on the L.A. scene, will be represented by a number of tracks he produced for the upcoming debut CD for Tyler Hilton on Maverick Records due in August. Geza has also teamed up with another SSE client Barry Goldberg to produce a new L.A. based singer-songwriter named Pep. Barry Goldberg recently produced the official debut CD "Ghost Train" by L.A. based Darran Falcone, whom Barry also co-writes with. SSE client Michael Vail Blum engineered, mixed and mastered at Titan Recording. Barry Goldberg also produced the new Percy Sledge CD for a September release on Varese Saraband with Michael Vail Blum handling mix chores. Michael Vail Blum co-produced, recorded and mixed the new Adrian James Croce CD at his Titan Recording Studios in Sherman Oaks. The CD is slated for a July 27th release on Croce's Seedling Records imprint through Eleven Thirty Records/Redeye Distribution. Nashville based Miles Wilkinson, recently engineered and mixed Darrell Scott's critically acclaimed CD "Theater Of The Absurd" for Scott's Full Light Records. Wilkinson also produced, recorded and mixed Canadian Guitarist/Writer Bobby Cameron's new CD "Emotional Drift" in Nashville and also mixed Canadian artist Jake Matthews CD in Edmonton, Alberta. The current Live CD by Bay Area based The Waybacks was also produced, recorded & mixed by Wilkinson in San Jose, CA. Please check out SSE management client Emily Curtis on the new RPM Direct Unsigned Volume 3 CD. For further information on SSE clients go to www.stevenscharf.com.

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RPM Direct founder Jerimaya Grabher recently joined Sanctuary Music Group as Director of Producer Management. Jerimaya is thrilled about his new position within the organization. RPM Direct remains as vital as ever and has a dedicated team now in place to continue growing the directories. Though still an owner in the company, Jerimaya has moved on to further his producer management career at Sanctuary Music Group. Jerimaya will be working to secure and coordinate projects for Sanctuary's current client roster of more than 20 producers and engineers. He will also help to grow the company by bringing on and developing new clients. "I have known Jim Phelan, President of Sanctuary Producer Management for years and am excited to be working with him," adds Jerimaya. To learn more about the company, the producer roster and Sanctuary's 360 Degree Company philosophy, visit www.sanctuarygroup.com. Jerimaya Grabher can be reached at (310) 205 5000 or Jerimaya.Grabher@sanctuarygroup.com.

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>> Producer/Mixer John Hiler camps out at The Village, administers The Vaccine

The Village Recorder in West LA has recently become the temporary home of producer/mixer John "J-Hi" Hiler, who has been camped out in Studio D mixing the long-awaited new solo album from Stephen Stills. The album features such diverse songs as "Feed The People", which garnered Stephen the UNICEF Lifetime Humanitarian Award, and "Driving Thunder", rumored to be the next NASCAR theme song. John is honored to have been chosen to team up with Stephen and producer Joe Vitale to bring this seminal work to light. The record is being mastered by Bernie Grundman. Stephen Stills is managed by Gerry Tolman at Management Network (818-783-0707). John has also found time to produce and mix the debut album for The Vaccine, a Southern California 'buzz band' that has attracted attention for it's evocative blend of 70's NYC punk ethos and fun, head-bopping tunes. Engineer Kevin Bartley at Capitol Mastering said it was the best sounding record he's worked on this year. The Vaccine is managed by Garrett Wicks (626-675-4858). Thirdly, John recently produced and mixed a 6 song EP for Santa Monica singer/songwriter Eric Hirshberg. Recorded at Sonikwire and mixed at Prairie Sun, with guest performances by Liz Phair and Daniel Cage, the record is already in rotation on two different KCRW shows, and the song “Two Lost Souls” will be featured in a new movie by producers Chris & Paul Weitz (“About A Boy”, ”American Pie”). In addition to these projects, John continues to work with Aeon Spoke, featured on RPM Direct's Unsigned Vol 3, have been touring in Europe and is currently working on a new solo record due this fall. For more information, availability, or a demo reel of John's work, please contact K1N4GR0 Management @ 323-363-3556.

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>> Breathing Protection Client Update

We recent caught up with Peter Shershin of Breather Protection for the latest client activity. Dave Fridmann and the Flaming Lips recently collaborated on a remix for Modest Mouse (Epic). He also just completed a new Mercury Rev album (V2) and has begun work on a new album for Low (Kranky). Producer, engineer, mixer John Agnello just finished mixing the upcoming Drive-By Truckers album for New West and Jay Farrar's live album with Canyon (Transmit Sound/Artemis). He also just finished collaborating with Redd Kross bassist and Beck sideman Steve McDonald on current hot-property Neon (managed by Winterman Goldstein, who also handle The Vines and Jet). Tony Doogan recorded and mixed Mogwai's latest, Happy Songs For Happy People (Matador/ PIAS). Tony also recorded and mixed David Byrne’s soundtrack to the film Young Adam (starring Ewan McGregor). He is currently in the middle of the next Delgados project for Chemikal Underground. Paul Mahajan, teaming with long-time friend and producer David Andrew Sitek, recorded three of New York’s rising bands, The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, TV on the Radio and Liars. Producer Sandy Pearlman has stepped out on his own by working with the likes of Mercury Rev offshoots Hopewell and Odiorne, the recently signed (by Sub Pop) Rogue Wave, Ryan Laurie (who contributed guitar to the Lips' Yoshimi), Captain Yonder, current New York darlings Levy and Brits Goldrush. For more information contact Peter Shershin, Breathing Protection 917 674 5514 or peter@breathingprotection.com

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>> Who's been making records at Hyde Street Studios?

Hyde Street Studios recently welcomed one of the Bay Area's finest local artists, Brigitte Demeyer, whose six week lockout produced some exceptionally fine tracks with some extraordinary musicians. Brady Blade (Dave Mathews, Emmy Lou Harris, Daniel Lanois, Indigo Girls) acted as both producer and drummer, with Darryl Jones on bass (Rolling Stones, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Miles Davis), Chris Rossbach, Johan Carlberg and Joacim Bachman on guitars, Jim Pugh on Keys and Daniel Lanois (Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel) on pedal steel. The session was engineered by Nic Manders and assisted by Stephen Armstrong. Also in Studio A was Jello Biafra, who finished basic tracks and overdubs for his collaboration with the Melvins. The sessions were engineered by Matt Kelley and Drew Fisher. Upstairs in Studio D, Gabriel Shepard engineered basics and overdubs for the United States Air Force latin jazz ensemble entitled "The Band of the Golden West". The sessions were assisted Jamie McMann. For additional information, contact Jeff Cleland at info@hydestreet.com or 415-441-8934 www.hydestreet.com.

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>> Russ Berger Design Group And BiCoastal Music Nominated For 2004 TEC Award

WRuss Berger Design Group (RBDG) and BiCoastal Music, are pleased to announce that they have been nominated for a 2004 Technical Excellence & Creativity Award in the category of Outstanding Creative Achievement, Studio Design Project. In the 20 years the TEC Awards have been presented, Russ Berger's designs, providing both acoustics and architecture, have been recognized with 19 nominations and eight TEC awards in the category of Outstanding Institutional Achievement for Acoustics/Facility Design. "We are thrilled to receive a nomination for a TEC award," said Russ Berger, president of RBDG, located in Addison, TX. "Being nominated for an award of excellence and creativity is a significant honor since we are judged by our peers as one of the best in the business. This is the ultimate industry recognition of RBDG's dedication to design excellence." Hal Winer, owner of BiCoastal Music in Ossining, NY, had wanted to improve his current recording space. More than a year ago, he decided to augment his house (which was previously an inn built in the 1800s) with a much more grandiose private studio. Winer commissioned RBDG to turn his studio into a luxurious 1,700 square-foot facility where he could record his own music and provide a quaint, authentic place for a small group of locals including Mick Guzauski (Mariah Carey, Neil Diamond) and Neil Dorfsman (Bob Dylan, Dire Straits). "I am honored to have BiCoastal Music nominated for a prestigious TEC award," states Winer. "This recognition by our colleagues is the highest compliment of RBDG's work. I feel extremely blessed to be working in such an exciting industry." Visit www.rbdg.com or BiCoastal Music for more information.

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Big Star, which had all three of their albums included in Rolling Stone's recent 500 Greatest Albums of all time, has reunited at Memphis' renowned Ardent Studios. Recognized as the quintessential American power pop band, Big Star stands today as one of the most daring and revered cult acts in all of rock & roll, with bands such as R.E.M and The Replacements citing them as an influence. Big Star's last studio album, Sister Lover's/Third, was completed 30 years ago, but not released until 1978. Big Star was also honored this year with the first annual Heroes Award presented by the Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy. The band co-produced the new Rykodisc album with Jeff Powell (of Afghan Whigs fame), who also engineered with assistant Adam Hill. Visit Big Star and Ardent Studios online.

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>> Chris Whitley & Malcolm Burn Are At It Again

American songwriter Chris Whitley is currently recording his next full-length album for Messenger Records in upstate New York. The album is being produced by legendary Grammy-winner Malcolm Burn, who last worked with Chris on Whitley's much-heralded debut, 1991's Living With the Law. The as yet untitled disc follows two previous internet-only CDs, War Crimes Blues and Weed, which will be made available in stores this September. Those two solo acoustic albums are starkly poetic and from-the-hip. War Crime Blues is a mesmerizing recording of 8 original songs and 3 covers of songs by Lou Reed, The Clash, and the jazz standard "Nature Boy." Weed is a set of vivid home recordings that recast some of Whitley's best songs in a solo light. The new disc, by contrast, will be a full-band affair featuring Matthias Macht and Heiko Schramm, the same musicians who performed on Chris' 2003 album Hotel Vast Horizon. No release date has been set. Malcolm Burn is represented by Sandy Roberton, Worlds End 323 965 1540 or info@worldsend.com

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>> Jet's Platinum Get Born Mixed At The Village

Get Born by Jet, the hard rocking, Australian four piece who've been called a hybrid of AC/DC and the Stones, is garnering critical raves and Platinum sales, fueled by the success of their hot iPod commercial and two singles, "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" and "Cold Hard Bitch." Get Born, produced and mixed by Dave Sardy (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Marilyn Manson) and engineered by Greg Fidelman, was mixed by Sardy at The Village in Los Angeles, on Studio A's classic Neve 8048 console. "I love working at The Village," said Sardy. "It’s one of the few remaining top studios in the world that hasn't compromised the technical side or the service side to stay in the business. The Village has a clear idea of what a studio should do for its clients." Other current chart-topping albums worked on at The Village lately include Slipknot’s Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses, Usher’s Confessions and Janet Jackson’s Damita Jo. Visit The Village online at www.villagestudios.com

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>> Recording Academy Names Luminous Sound Studios' Chris Bell as President

The Recording Academy's Texas Chapter has announced its new Board of Governors, including its new president, Dallas-based recording engineer Chris Bell of Luminous Sound Studios. As president of the Texas Board of Governors, Bell will work with music industry leaders to support the Texas music community through professional growth and networking events, advocacy initiatives, and music education programs. Bell, who is serving his fourth year on the Texas Chapter's Board of Governors, is an accomplished sound engineer who has worked with such artists as Erykah Badu, U2, Everclear, Destiny's Child, Fuel, Oleander and the Polyphonic Spree. Honored in his field, Bell was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, for Kirk Franklin's The Nu Nation Project in 1998. Luminous Sound Studios welcomed Bell to its team of engineers in 1999, and he played a key role in the studio's redesign and equipment upgrade that same year. Luminous Sound Studios is a world-class recording and postproduction facility located in Dallas, Texas. With three state-of-the-art studios and two Grammy-nominated producers on staff, Luminous Sound Studios is one of the nation's top facilities for sound recording and commercial music composition. President and CEO Paul Loomis is an RIAA-certified multiplatinum-selling composer and producer whose Dallas-based operations include Luminous Sound Studios, The Loomis Agency and Loomis Tunes Music Publishing (ASCAP). Luminous Sound Studios boasts the only SSL 9080J mixing console in the Southwest, and features studios designed by the world-renowned studio bau:ton. Their impressive client list includes Erykah Badu, Jessica Simpson, The Polyphonic Spree, Kirk Franklin, R. Kelly, Peter Gabriel, Kenny Chesney, and Vanilla Ice. For Chris Bell and Luminous Sound Studios contact: Paul Levatino email: levatino@luminoussound.com phone: 972.331.7000 or visit Luminous Sound Studios online.

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>> Executive Board Of Musicians' Union Votes To Endorse John Kerry

During its June 2004 quarterly meeting, by unanimous vote, the International Executive Board of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada ("AFM") endorsed John Kerry for President of the United States of America. The Board endorsed Kerry for his stance on labor issues and economic issues affecting musicians. AFM President, Thomas Lee, stated, "Kerry's stand on economic issues is consistent with that of the AFM. Whether the issue is offshore outsourcing, special tax giveaways to the wealthy or unrestrained corporate power and influence, Kerry promises to fight for fairness and economic prosperity for America's workers." A key issue for the Board was the issue of health care. President Lee noted that "John Kerry believes in securing a bright future for working families who are currently struggling under failed health care policies. Kerry's promise to give every American the same access to the health care plan of the President and Members of Congress is one of the many reasons that working families across the country are supporting his candidacy." Other issues leading to the Board's endorsement included Kerry's focus on the arts, copyright piracy, middle class tax relief, job creation, fair trade, prescription drug coverage, and social security protection. The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. Whether it is negotiating fair agreements, protecting ownership of recorded music, securing benefits such as health care and pension, or lobbying our legislators, the AFM is committed to raising industry standards and placing the professional musician in the foreground of the cultural landscape.

>> Shure Introduces Vinyl Kombat

Shure Incorporated introduced a new competition to the U.S. DJ battle circuit, Vinyl Kombat. The unique aspect of this competition is that it will operate under a "Keep it Clean" premise to offer a safe and positive environment where competitors and audiences of all ages can participate. In addition to the competitions, the Vinyl Kombat tour will feature performances from DJ A-Trak, of the Allies crew, who won his first World DJ title at the age of 15 and retired from battling by the time he was 18 years old, after winning four more World titles. Other headliners include Shure endorsers Mista Sinista, D-Styles, DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5, DJ Klever of the Allies crew, and the Beat Junkies, whose members include Melo-D, J-Rocc, Rhettmatic and Shortkut. Also performing will be some of the nation's most respected turntablists, partyrockers, and emcees including Supernatural, Wordsayer, Gunkhole, DV One, D.O.A. (vocal percussionist), The Original Jazzy Jay, GrandMaster Caz, and GrandWizzard Theodore, the inventor of the scratch. Each of the eight Vinyl Kombat regional champions will receive prizes from Shure Incorporated and other Vinyl Kombat sponsors, Rane, Serato and Remix Magazine. They also will receive roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations to the Vinyl Kombat US Finals to be held in September. For more information, visit: www.vinlykombat.com

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>> Bits & Pieces...

Studio City Sound is raging these days. Audioslave’s Tom Morello (formerly of Rage Against The Machine) is hard at work on tracks for an upcoming movie soundtrack at Studio City Sound, the state-of–the-art recording studio located in Studio City California. The yet untitled feature movie is directed by Bobby Roth. Studio City Sound is on the cutting edge of technology as a full service recording studio, which now offers remote recording of live concerts both audio and video, concept music videos, award show production, 5.1 surround mixing and Final Cut Pro HD.
Contact For Studio City Sound: Estelle Harrison 818 505 9368 eharrison@studiocitysound.com

Producer John Porter is enjoying success this summer with the self-titled, debut album from the Los Lonely Boys which he produced for OR Music/Epic. The Boys’ Latin/Rock/Pop fusion sound has hit a chord with listeners and has been steadily climbing the charts for the past several weeks. Sales jumped 10,000 copies this week according to Soundscan, selling almost 45,000 copies, good enough for 13 on the sales chart. With the record just starting to pick up steam, it surely will certify Gold shortly. John has also just finished producing the debut album for Warner Bros. artist Missy Higgins and his other credits include Ryan Adams “Love Is Hell pts 1 & 2”, Bryan Ferry, Billy Bragg, The Go Go’s and numerous classic albums by the Smiths. For more information on John Porter or other Nettwerk Producer Management clients please contact Alia Fahlborg at alia@nettwerk.com or via phone at 310 855 0668.

Singer/songwriter Tony Adamo and his producer Jerry Stucker were recently at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, CA with Al Schmitt mixing Adamo’s new CD. Al Schmitt has worked with the most influential voices in American Pop and Jazz for over forty years, from Sinatra and Ellington to more recently Diana Krall and Natalie Cole. Adamo’s new CD (to be released in early 2005) will be a collection of jazz standards as well as some pop gems turned into nu-jazz. Jerry Stucker’s music arrangements for these cuts are very hip and smooth. Included are War’s “The Ghetto,” the classic Grover Washington Jr.’s tune “Winelight” with lyrics by Kurt Elling and Adamo’s rendition of Cannonball Adderly’s funky jazz tune, “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.” For more information on this rising new artist, go to www.jazznow.com.

The Latin Grammy’s recognize producer/writer Jason Roberts’ hip-hop style with four nominations for artists/albums to which he contributed production and writing: Best New Artist - Akwid, Best Urban Album - Proyecto Akwid by Akwid, Best Urban Album – Uno, Dos: Bandera by Control Machete, Best Alternative album – Hola Chicuelos by Plastilina Mosh, Also nominated in the Best Alternative album category was Tsunami artist client, Ozomatli, for their EP “Coming Up”. Adam Katz Tsunami Entertainment (323) 210-2525 x129

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