Hey all — Wanted to drop an important update on the continuing phenomenon that is Before the Music Dies…..
You can now purchase “the most important film a music fan will ever see” in retail stores!   We’ve broken with industry convention and released the Before the Music Dies DVD exclusively through a network of the nation’s best independent record stores…rather than via mass market retailers.
In a major shift from typical DVD releases, we’ve partnered over 300 independent record retailers to give these businesses an exclusive window to sell a major DVD title.  Why?  Because local record stores have always been critical to maintaining the connection between fans and the full spectrum of innovative new music.  And they need our continued support to keep that connection alive.
Support your local record store and ask for a copy of B4MD today!  CLICK HERE to find a store near you. 
Stay tuned for more big B4MD news in the coming weeks.  Take care until then…
The B4MD/B-Side Team
 

Hey there B4MD fans….wanted to give you an update on some exciting developments in the B4MD movement. I’m happy to report that the film and our innovative release strategy continue to gain momentum across the country. Some big recent news from B4MD-Land:

NOW YOU CAN DOWNLOAD B4MD - DRM-FREE!

Yesterday, we announced a partnership with Indie911 that allows fans to purchase downloads of the film without DRM copy-protection technology…through Indie911’s new hoooka media player. The deal gives you two options for purchasing downloads:

• For $3.99, you can download a small-format MPEG-4 file for playback on an iPod or any other compatible portable video player.
• For $9.99, you can download a high-resolution MPEG-4 file suitable for burning to a DVD or for full-screen playback on a computer or connected television.
• Furthermore, your purchase of a digital download is a down payment on a DVD. Yes, you read that right. If you purchase a digital download from the hoooka, we will credit your purchase toward a future purchase of the full DVD with all of its added features.

The partnership was featured in a great article in yesterday’s Daily Variety…which touted our maverick approach. To purchase a download, please visit our hoooka HERE, or visit B4MD on indie911:

NEW VERSION OF THE DVD!

Now that our promotional program with XM Radio has concluded, we’ve released a new version of the DVD - don’t worry, the only thing different is the cover! We’re selling this version on our site HERE. Stay tuned….we’ve got some exciting news coming up about retailers near you that will be carrying this new DVD as well.

200th SCREENING EVENT TONIGHT - PROGRAM EXTENDED!

Tonight in Hollywood, we reach an amazing milestone - our 200th grassroots screening event since we launched the program only 4+ months ago. Like so many other events, the film will be screening tonight at a cool club, accompanied by live music…with all proceeds going to support a great music cause. There’s no end in sight…check out the upcoming screenings HERE. Also, because of the incredible demand, we’re extending the program indefinitely. If you haven’t hosted a screening event yet, you can learn more and take the plunge HERE. Thanks to all of you for turning B4MD from a film into a growing grassroots phenomenon!

For Immediate Release: April 5, 2007

INDIE911 & B-SIDE ENTERTAINMENT PARTNER EXCLUSIVELY TO SELL DRM-FREE DOWNLOADS OF BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES DOCUMENTARY

FILM FEATURING EXCLUSIVE LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF AILING MUSIC INDUSTRY OFFERS INSIGHT & HOPE NARRATED BY ACADEMY AWARD WINNER FOREST WHITAKER & FEATURING ERYKAH BADU, ERIC CLAPTON, DAVE MATTHEWS, BRANFORD MARSALIS, ?LOVE AND MORE…

(APRIL 5, 2007) — Los Angeles, CA - Fresh from the introduction of its new HOOOKA online music player, online social network and music store Indie911 announced that it will make a DRM-free version of the grassroots sensation BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES available for download as the service’s first feature length film offering starting Friday April 6, 2007. While BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES continues to screen widely through its innovative grassroots release, this is the first time that the documentary will be available for sale in a digital version.

Through a partnership with the film’s distributor B-Side Entertainment, music and movie fans have two options for purchasing the electrifying music documentary - free of copy-protection technology - from the film’s hoooka player powered by Indie911. For $9.99, consumers can download a high-resolution MPEG file suitable for burning to a DVD or for full-screen playback on a computer or connected television. For $3.99, a small-format MPEG file can be downloaded for playback on an iPod or other compatible portable video player. The BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES hoooka can be accessed at http://indie911.com/b4md

The film will also benefit from the hoooka’s viral marketing and sales model, which allows users who feature the film on their customized hoooka players on their blog, website or MySpace page to earn 10% of the profits when other online fans purchase the film directly from them.

BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES is an unsettling and inspiring look at today’s popular music industry that has built a passionate cult following as “the most important film a music fan will ever see” (XM Radio). The film is narrated by Academy Award(r) Winner Forest Whitaker and features interviews and performances by Erykah Badu, Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, Branford Marsalis, ?uestlove and a wide variety of others. Filmmakers Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen walked away from traditional Hollywood distribution to partner with B-Side Entertainment, so that they could bring the film directly to passionate music fans around the world. Since its grassroots release in November 2006, the film has screened nearly 200 times in over 100 markets, with no end in sight.

“This partnership represents the future of the music and film industries for two reasons - fans want their entertainment to come to them, while artists seek to retain their integrity when they enter the world of commerce,” says Justin Goldberg, founder and CEO of Indie911 and the hoooka. “B-Side’s grassroots campaign with Before the Music Dies created massive awareness, now our ’social-networking-meets-online-store’ model allows fans of the film to own it and then pass it on grassroots style.”

“B-Side’s distribution model is about breaking down the walls between films and passionate audiences,” says Chris Hyams, B-Side’s founder and CEO. “By using the viral power of the hoooka player within Indie911.com’s wide community of independent music and film seekers, we are allowing fans of the film to spread the word while sharing in sales they help to create. We are also proud to be leading the way in putting consumers first by offering “Before the Music Dies” without the restrictions of copy protection.”

About HOOOKA
The hoooka is a free, portable digital locker powered by indie911 that allows users to share, promote, sell and play their personal media favorites, via the Web. The hoooka combines the community and networking aspects of MySpace with the digital sale opportunities and exposure of iTunes. Anyone, from artists to fans, can easily create a hoooka and post it anywhere - blogs, social networking pages or Web sites - and instantly become their own mobile media store. For more information please go to www.hoooka.com > .

About indie 911
indie911 is a leading online media and social network providing tools and resources for thousands of musicians, filmmakers and consumers to sell, stream or share any content (music, videos, films, or photos) anywhere online - including websites, blogs and social networks - to an ever expanding network of users. indie911 has evolved into one of the most popular independent music destinations on the Internet, featuring over 9,000 artist and labels, over 75,000 song and film titles, over 100,000 members, and nearly four million monthly page views. indie911 provides original programming, artist services program, and a social network for artists to interact directly with their audiences and find new avenues of exposure and revenue. For more information please go to www.indie911.com

About B-Side Entertainment
B-Side Entertainment is a pioneering distributor and online marketplace for independent films. Through partnerships with IFC and dozens of international film festivals, we help movies find their audiences, and introduce fans to the other side of film. Visit us at http://www.bside.com.

Are you one of those music fans who wonders how mainstream commercial radio came to suck so badly? As many hardcore music fans know, Clear Channel is the company that has emerged as the lightning rod for fans complaining about bland repetition on their local radio dial.

For those who haven’t seen the film, one of its most compelling lessons revolves around Clear Channel’s history and business practices. While this is nothing new for many hardcore fans, we continue to hear from many music lovers that this portion of the film was indeed a revelation…finally an explanation for why they continuously hit the Seek button in a frustrated search for exciting new music. For those who weren’t up to speed on Clear Channel before seeing the film, they now understand why mainstream radio (with few notable exceptions) is such an empty, impersonal experience for so many fans.

Despite what some might assume, B4MD’s Clear Channel commentaries - and even it’s now famous “sexy pop star” segment – aren’t a rant against any particular type of music or taste (pop can be great too!). Instead, we think it’s important for people to understand the corporate forces that are steadily eliminating all but the safest material on mainstream music outlets.

What to do now that you’ve seen the truth? Follow this link: http://www.clearchannel.com/Radio/StationSearch.aspx and enter your city or zip code - Clear Channel will tell you which stations they own in your area. Many are being sold off as listeners increasingly vote with their call button selections… but Clear Channel is strengthening its presence in its “Top 100 Markets”. Check out those stations and listen for yourself… and think about your call button settings… have you really given your great local independent and college radio stations a chance? Listened to Internet or satellite radio? Explored the abundant music sites online? Visited the live music venue down the street in the last month or two? In this age of exploding access to great new music, know this concrete truth: you don’t have to settle for bad radio anymore…

Hey there friends of Before the Music Dies.  Steve from B-Side here with a quick update and important information for you regarding B4MD…

THIS WEEKEND: Another 24-hour Broadcast on XM!  Based on passionate feedback from the XM subscriber base after their initial radio broadcast of B4MD in November, XM has decided to hand the XM Live channel (XM 200) back to us for another 24-hour broadcast.   From midnight 12/10 (Saturday night) to midnight 12/11, you’ll be able to hear the historic audio broadcast of B4MD, along with the great filmmaker interview with XM’s Bob Edwards, on a continuous loop.  Thanks to XM for bringing us back to the airwaves.

TUESDAY 12/12: B4MD DVD Ships! The Limited Grassroots Edition DVD of B4MD — presented by XM — will have its official release on Tuesday 12/12, and is available for a limited time only.   We have had substantial pre-orders in advance of the ship date…and expect great things for the holidays.  As PureMusic.com puts it: “This (DVD) is the must have gift for the musician and music lover in your life!  Don’t get them a f$#%&g sweater, get them B4MD.  It is that important.” Order now to ensure delivery for the holidays at:  http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/blog/own-it. 

AVAILABLE NOW: B4MD Merchandise!  Based on fan demand, we’ve created a set of B4MD merchandise — killer T’s, caps, posters, etc. — that are now available through the B4MD Web site at: http://www.cafepress.com/b4md/. These are great stocking stuffers that allow B4MD fans to literally wear their passion on their sleeves…and heads…

THROUGH MARCH 2007: Host a Screening Program Extended!  Based on the incredible success of the grassroots program this fall, we’re extending it through the end of March 2007.  We’ve had about 100 screenings in 70+ markets to date, and expect to hold a minimum of 400 more during Q1.   All of you who feel like you  missed your opportunity to host an event, go for it.  Many original screening partners are bringing the film back to their towns — in bigger venues…so keep the train rolling.  Thanks to all partners for their incredible efforts and support.  Info re: hosting a screening event can be found here: http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/blog/host-a-screening.

That’s all for now…have a great weekend.

Take care.
Steve

Steve Waters
VP Marketing
B-Side Entertainment

As we’ve toured around the country with Before the Music Dies the past few weeks…and close in on 100 screening parties….some “audience favorites” have emerged. While everyone has their own favorite moments in the film — whether it’s Erykah Badu’s humor, Hubert Sumlin’s wisdom, or Calexico’s live performance — the biggest buzz seems to come from the “turning a model into a pop star” segment.  The filmmakers take a beautiful young model - Taylor Hannah - and have her record a song written on the spot by the talented and hilarious Steve Poltz (www.poltz.com).

Taylor may be beautiful, but her vocal is less than perfect.  Luckily, as Erykah Badu points out, “you don’t have to be able to sing, just move your mouth and shit… they’ll work that out.” With the magic of AutoTune, Taylor’s painful vocal is transformed into a catchy tune that would sound perfectly at home on mainstream pop radio…..

You’ll never look at Hillary, Ashlee, Paris and the rest of today’s pop stars in the same way again. As the first in a new series of B4MD sneak peeks… Ladies and gentlemen, the next pop superstar — our good friend (and great sport) Taylor Hannah!

Hello all —

Steve from Bside here again… we’re on the cusp of a huge week for Before the Music Dies… with thousands of people preparing to attend grassroots B4MD screenings across the US and Canada, and XM Radio poised to air the audio version of B4MD as the first-ever radio broadcast premiere of a full length film. And now… we’re announcing the first opportunity to own B4MD on DVD, for a limited time only. As we move forward together and spread the message of B4MD… I wanted to give you a quick rundown of the different ways we’re allowing you to experience this fantastic film… Hear it… See it… Host it… and now, Own it.

Hear It
On Sunday night November 12, the audio version of B4MD will premiere in its entirety - followed by an exclusive half-hour interview hosted by XM’s Bob Edwards with the B4MD filmmakers, Andrew Shapter and Joel Rasmussen. The premiere and interview special will air at 9 p.m. ET on XM Public Radio (XM 133).

At the conclusion of the weeklong grassroots screenings event, XM will provide a 24-hour loop of the B4MD audio broadcast and Bob Edwards interview on the XM LIVE channel (XM 200) beginning at 8 a.m. ET on November 19. Please go to http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/blog/upcoming-screenings.

See It
Music lovers across the US and Canada will have the opportunity to see B4MD at grassroots screenings hosted by a network of screening partners. Whether it’s 25 people in a private home, 250 people in a cool music venue, or 2500 in a historic university chapel…people will be joining together to see a great film and celebrate the importance of music in their lives. To find more details about upcoming screenings near you, please go to http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/blog/upcoming-screenings. Join the party.

Host It
One of the great things about music is its capacity to bring people together in a meaningful way. We’ve made new friends all over North America through our Host a Screening program…where any music lover can host a killer screening event. The demand has been incredible, and we are thrilled to announce that we will be extending the program through the end of 2006. This is your chance to take your participation in the B4MD movement to the next level…by bringing the film to your area. For details, please go to http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/blog/host-a-screening.

Own It
We are excited to announce the pending release of XM Presents: “Before the Music Dies” Limited Grassroots Edition! On November 13th, you will have the first opportunity to own B4MD on DVD. This special limited edition commemorates the groundbreaking B4MD grassroots screening program that is sweeping North America during fall 2006, and the first-ever radio broadcast premiere of a full-length film…on XM Radio. This Limited Edition DVD will be available through December 31, 2006 only, and is packed with incredible special features. For more details or to purchase the DVD, go to http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/blog/own-it.

Thanks so much to all of you for your continued support. It’s going to be a great week. Onward!

Steve

All, not sure if you caught the news on the wire today, but Before the Music Dies made a major announcement that impacts all fans who want to see the film.

First off, we announced that November 12-19, we will be organizing a grassroots screening week, during which any B4MD fan or music lover can host a screening of the film. We already have dozens of events in the works, and expect to hold hundreds of screenings across the US and Canada during that week in November. We’ll be in venues ranging from music clubs to churches, universities, recording studios, performance spaces, private parties, anywhere people can get together, watch a great film and celebrate the impact great music has had on their lives.

To learn more about where you can see the film, visit: http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/blog/upcoming-screenings

To learn more about hosting your own screening event, visit:
http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/blog/host-a-screening

Also incredibly exciting is the strategic partnership we announced today with XM, which you can read in full by visiting:
http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/promo/B4MD_XM_RELEASE_10-25.pdf

In a nutshell, XM wants to help bring B4MD and its message to their over 7 million subscribers, and will be doing substantial promotion and programming on their satellite network of channels in support of the grassroots event. By far the biggest news on that front is that they will be launching the first-ever radio broadcast premiere of a full-length film, and will play the audio version of B4MD multiple times during the screening week. Andrew and Joel recorded a fantastic interview with XM Public Radio personality Bob Edwards yesterday morning, which will be played after the film broadcasts.

We are breaking ground with this distribution model, because we believe that everyone who wants to see B4MD deserves to see it with others who love great music. We can’t wait for November, and hope you will join us in bringing B4MD to your area.

- Steve

Music lovers within listening distance of Charlottesville – ALERT! The following is a test of the BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES emergency broadcast system… in the case of a real emergency you will receive instructions… actually you will receive them anyway right now.

B4MD has been chosen as a featured film at this year’s Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville (hosted by the University of Virginia). Our screening will be held on the UVa campus at Newcomb Hall, Friday October 27 at 10pm. Admission is $5 ($3 for students).

This is your opportunity to pack a Charlottesville venue and infuse the Festival with the inspired vibe B4MD creates in every audience. Rock the house then go hit some live music in town to celebrate. Check out www.vafilm.com or call 1.800.UVA.FEST for more information and to purchase tickets.

Steve (Bside)

Heads up down in MEMPHIS. We’re partnering up with the Memphis Chapter of The Recording Academy and Grammy University to bring a great screening event to Academy members and the local Memphis community. Next Wednesday at the Studio on the Square (2105 Court Avenue) B4MD will screen as part of a “Make Music, Don’t Get Played” workshop and screening party. At 5:30, there will be a great panel that focuses on new paths of music distribution – a must for artists looking to connect with their rightful audiences and anyone interested in the topic. At 7:30, we’ll screen B4MD and charge up the crowd… filmmaker Joel Rasmussen will also appear to conduct Q&A and share tales from the road while making the film with Andrew Shapter.

Please not that if you want to attend this event, you MUST RSVP to Memphis@grammy.com , or call the Memphis Chapter of The Academy at 901.525.1340. Admission is FREE to Academy members, and $5.99 for the general public… that includes the workshop and the screening.

Hope to see you there.

Steve (Bside)