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May - June 2013
Roses lookin' good this year!
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Hi All, 

Well here we are headed into another summer. Traditionally a slow time but maybe a good time to be writing some Christmas tunes for the coming season. Most of us try to put a new slant on the traditional PD songs. Now may be a good time to give it some thought.

Why I Love Writing Production Music

I was running through my Tunesat account the other day and was reminded once again why I love writing production music and today's technology that makes so much possible. As I looked at the networks running our music they included shows about swamps, country music, rappers, Latin culture, zany reality shows, episodic TV as well as major network placements.

 
For a couple of a "certain age" and now living outside the confines of L.A. I feel very fortunate to live at a time when this is all possible. Though I have had a fair amount of success in other parts of the music business this has been a dream of mine for many decades. To sit at home and write whatever comes to mind with no stress and still make a decent amount of money is just too cool as far as I'm concerned.

 

To all of you just starting out, keep writing and plugging away. Much can be done with patience and persistence.


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Please Remember: Much of the site is free and you can learn a wealth of information without paying a dime. There are also a number of ways to earn free access.  

Metadata and Tagging Your Music
Marina from TagTeamAnalysis recently posted some great tips on effective tagging of your music. Here's an excerpt:

Music Keywording Techniques
   
This is a brief guide to help artists create for themselves, a tagging protocol for their music library.  After tagging music for Pandora and currently tagging and collecting metadata for licensing companies, I have gained some important and vital techniques for music keywording/tagging.

To read the rest of Marina's post click here
Recent Forum Topics and Comments
Affiliates Program - Earn Some $$$!
If you are a current or past subscriber you may not know that you are automatically signed up to our Affiliates Program. Just use the same log-in information you use for your current or past subscription. You may also join if you have never been a subscriber.

The process is very simple:

1. Visitor clicks on an affiliate link on your site or in an email.

2. The visitors IP is logged and a cookie is placed in their browser for tracking purposes.

3. The visitor browses our site, and may decide to order.

4. If the visitor orders (the order does not need to be placed during the same browser session - cookies and IPs are stored up to a configurable amount of time), the order will be registered as a sale for you and you will receive commission for this sale.

Give it a try and earn some moola! Click here.
Call For Composer Interviews - Earn Free Access
Many composers have responded to the call for interviews. You can check them out here. Lot's of good info.

If you would like to participate the interview questions are here. To be included you must have some experience in the field and be making at least 5 figures annually (we have quite a few at 4 figures and less already). The interviews will always be available free of charge (they will not require a subscription to access).

Those accepted will receive one month free access. If you have a lifetime membership you can donate the free month to a friend.
Composer Poll
Composer Poll: Check out the composer poll and make sure to vote! Lot's of interesting questions such as "How Many Tracks In Your Catalog?", "How Many Different Libraries Do You Currently Have Music With?". Find out what your fellow composers are experiencing. Read More
Joke Corner
A father was buying bass lessons for his son.

The 1st week the father asked him what he had learned.
The son said "On my 1st lesson we learned about the E string"

The 2nd week came and after the lesson the father asked what had he learned that week.
The son said "On my 2nd lesson I learned about the A string"

3rd week came by and the father said to his son, "You know these are expensive lessons what have you learned this week".

The son said "I quit the lessons, I already got a gig".

Credit where credit is due. :-) Thanks to Osborn Music  
Robin's Good Eatin'
Creamy Vegan Potato-Leek Soup

For more yummy vegan recipes like this one, go to:

 

www.care2.com/greenliving

 

Here is a delicious creamy soup made without dairy, but sure to satisfy. Leeks give lots of iron-rich mineral nourishment, while garlic and onions add their immune-boosting and heart-healthy benefits. Paired with a crisp salad, Creamy Potato-Leek Soup makes a perfect cozy fall supper. (I made it in May and it was fantastic -- You can serve it warm rather than hot, if you prefer.)


INGREDIENTS

 

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 leeks, white and light green parts washed and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
2 cups chopped yellow onion
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 large Yukon Gold potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled and cubed into 1/2-inch cubes
4 cups vegetable stock
2-3 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves

 

1. Heat a 4-quart soup pot over medium heat and add the oil.

2. Add the leeks, onion, and sea salt and saute for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onion begins to turn translucent.

3. Add the garlic and stir well. Cook for 1 minute more.

4. Add the potatoes and vegetable stock, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook 20 minutes.

5. Remove the soup from the heat and use an immersion/stick blender to blend the soup in the pot or ladle the soup into a blender, 1 cup at a time. Blend the soup with the fresh rosemary leaves until smooth and free of chunks. Pour smooth soup into a heat-proof bowl and continue until all of the soup has been blended.

6. Transfer the blended soup back to the original soup pot and warm over low heat until heated through. Serve hot.

 

Serves 4 - 6.

 

Robin's Yoga For The Stressed-Out Composer  

For A Pain In The Neck. . .       

The neck is actually a part of the spine (the cervical spine).  When we get stressed, it is very common to wind up with a stiff, achy neck.  Here are some moves that can help.  Sitting up tall at the edge of a chair or on the floor with the support of a sturdy blanket or cushion, or sitting against a wall,  take a deep inhale, then as you exhale, drop your chin slowly and gently towards your chest. Don't try to force it further than is natural. Allow your head to hang heavy as you take 3 or 4 smooth, slow, easy breaths (preferably through the nose.)  Notice the gentle stretch on the back of your neck.  As you breathe here you may notice that the cervical spine lengthens a little more.  On your next inhale send your right ear towards your right shoulder.  As you exhale bring the chin back to the chest.  Then inhale and send your left ear towards your left shoulder.  Be very mindful of not "throwing" your head by using momentum, but using the muscles on the back of the neck to roll the head slowly. If you are getting resistance or discomfort on one side, back off of that side enough to make it comfortable. Or just bring the head back to center for a few breathRobin-4s.   When you have completed 3 rounds, both right and left, bring your chin back down to the chest again and take a few breaths there.  Place your hands on either side of your face to gently guide your head back to center, gaze straight ahead.  While your hands are there, massage out your temples, then your jaw, then the back of the neck and shoulders.  Release the hands, take a deep inhale and exhale through the mouth with a deep sigh. Say, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"   
Don't Forget!
MLR Jukebox
MLR Jukebox: Show off your music on MLR! Read More:

Critiques: Want some feedback on your music? Tap the wisdom of MLR's readers. Read More:

Newbie Info: Answers to the most common questions if you are just entering the music library world. Read More:
Well that's it for now. Remember: Patience and Persistence. In the music library business as well as in life!

Art