myhotmusic.com

Myhotmusic Pick of the Week

2009-01-03T16:10:00.005+11:00

Our favourite tracks this week.

1. Tree/Soundz "Sweetest Secret".
2. Anna Vandas "You're Here".
3. Sonny & Cher "I Got You Babe".

To listen to these tracks and more then click here. Go on you know you want to.

Nikon D90 and why you MUST have one. Pt 1

2009-01-03T15:24:00.002+11:00

The Nikon D90 is a ground breaking camera. It is the first DSLR to do HD recording and has pulled some amazing results. In fact we are so impressed with the camera that we are urging ALL artists, bands and managers to buy one.

This is why: Youtube has now gone HD, the quality of the images are unbelievable, it is affordable, video is more important that EVER, and well to be honest no one can now afford to be producing expensive music videos costing thousands.

The bar has been raised as far as quality is concerned. No longer do you have to put up with low quality footage especially as it is quite affordable. In the spirit of DIY it is even possible to make a music video using just this camera, even for the editing as it has editing capabilities.
So what are you waiting for ? Beg, borrow or sell your cameras and video cameras and get this ground breaking beauty of a camera.

Now just to prove my point. Watch these examples of music videos shot entirely on the Nikon D90. Nikon D90 music videos

Myhotmusic is a changing in 09

2009-01-03T15:10:00.005+11:00

We got a lot of exciting things happening in 2009 to make this blog that much better. Hope you like the new template and look. Anyway there are 2 parts to this blog. The first part which is on the front page (this page) is where all the articles, comments and rants shall be featured while on the inside pages www.myhotmusic.com/myhotmusic we will have music videos, trailers and viral videos (all with some music angle of course). We want you to contribute to this blog so send us your tips, articles, links and what have you and we shall publish it (if we like it of course). Have a happy and prosperous 2009.

Lily Allen album preview and review it

2008-12-24T13:58:00.001+11:00

So here it is at last. The new Lily Allen album. This is the album that has been held back in order to cash it in for EMI or to avoid a drubbing in the charts. What do we think of it ? Well it's ok. Nothing spectacular, but a good listen. It seems that she has gone more pop with this album, but a lot of the songs don't have any melodies unlike her first album. But preview it and review it guys !

Simon Cowell is the modern pop genius

2008-12-24T13:39:00.004+11:00

He is loved and loathed in equal measure, but like it or not, Simon Cowell is a modern pop genius. While everyone else in the music industry is struggling with the current recession, Cowell and his acts go from strength to strength. He was criticised for the terms of his contracts (with his artists) but responded with charm and candour. However, we admire Cowell for is ability to understand the basics of success in the modern music industry.

Cowell and his company Syco, adopt a simple approach which has resulted in over a quarter of British households tuning in to watch his show The X-Factor. His approach is give people what they want i.e real hit songs, be they covers or new material as in the case of Leona Lewis.

What is less known about Simon is his independent roots. He cut his a&r teeth working for independent label Fanfare Records notching up many top ten hits, including Sinita whose 'So Macho' single sold over 500,000 records. On Fanfare's demise, he became an a&r consultant for BMG & set up S-Records where he had even more pop success.

Not one to mess about with niceties (mostly for TV ratings I must add), Simon has been rude, obnoxious and cruel, often cutting down and reducing young hopeful to tears. Now that seems harsh but if you look beyond the 'viper tongue', you will discover that Simon is just passing on what motivated him to succeed.He was told by many a record company bosses that his acts were rubbish, didn't have a hope in hell of succeeding etc but he eventually proved them wrong. What can independent labels learn from Simon Cowell ? Find your formula, find the right songs (covers, originals it doesn'r really matter) and stick with it, even if the whole world hates you.

Enjoy the best of his 'viper tongue'.

You can read more about this subject on the new Myhotmusic blog.

Viral Videos: Bored at work ? Check out the following videos.

2008-08-30T20:17:00.002+10:00

New blog details

2008-04-25T20:07:00.005+10:00

The Myhotmusic blog is moving house. You can read the new blog here http://www.myhotmusic.com/myhotmusic.
We will still have the old blog online, and you can read all the archived posts.
The new blog will have lots of new features and has a completely different design.

Check it out now by clicking the link.

My Favourite 80s songs.

2008-04-11T20:12:00.005+10:00

I have just been listening to my favourite 80s songs and I find it hard to beat Sade's "Sweetest Taboo" or Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". These 2 songs will possibly feature in most people's best 100 80s songs. Anyway enough of me waffling on about it. Have a listen to them now.

Check back and bookmark this page because I will be adding more songs to the playlist.

Gabriella Cilmi A New Generation of Hot Australian singers.

2008-03-13T04:23:00.009+11:00

After many years of frankly not much to shout about, Australia is producing a crop of super talented chicks. First there is Gabriella Cilmi and of cours our very own Sesha, whose video "The Power of Love" is threatening to become the next big Youtube hit.

The future is bright for Australian pop. Gabriella's single "Sweet About Me", written with Xenomania who gave us the excellent Sugababes song "Someone In My Bed" is catchy and while it's not my favourite song on the album, I have found myself singing along to it and her vocal style is unique enough to penetrate your brain. She has been compared to Amy Winehouse and it's obvious why. However, she is young and doesn't yet have the mature vocal tones that Amy does. Gabriella should go out of her way to dispel the comparisons and by supporting Sugababes on their tour, I think she is making a big statement to distance herself from the "Amy Winehouse lite" tag.

On a wider point, regarding female Australian singers, Australia isn't reknowned for great Australian female pop stars. There's Kylie and well, Kylie. Stephanie McKintosh couldn't cut it, Kate Alexa is more 'bark' than 'bite' (although she is young and is growing as a singer), one of the problems of the past is a certain pop snobbery amongst musicians and singers. However this is changing and on the underground there are a lot of hot, good looking singers who with a bit of guidance and collaboration with the right writers and producers, will be able to rival the Sugababes, Girls Aloud, Natasha Bedingfield and Rihannas of this world.

All in All Gabriella is the start of a new generation of female Australian pop singers, with her super, delicious HOT MUSIC !

Could Guy Hands & EMI go independent ?

2008-03-13T04:04:00.002+11:00

The Guy Hands revolution goes on at EMI who are now rumoured to be joining the independent collective AIM & WIN. What would this mean ? Well for a start EMI will become the largest and one of the most successful independent labels. It would also mean that AIM & WIN for that matter will benefit from a huge financial input which would also see EMI getting more clout and the independent sector will gain a serious amount of bargaining chips when negotiating with third parties. There will also be one less major. If Guy Hands succeeds with his plans to reinvent EMI, it will spell the end of the Major labels as we know it and the rise of the independents.

We7 signs with Sony/BMG (streaming only). My thoughts.

2008-03-11T13:53:00.000+11:00

From April music fans will be able to stream the back catalogue of Sony/BMG for free at we7.com, with an advert in between each song. This is a compromise solution for both companies as We7 prefer fans to be able to download the tracks so as to wean them off the illegal p2p sites. However there are merits to a streaming only deal which at least offers labels and artists payment for the now ubiquitous free music on Youtube, Myspace and a host of other sites, most, dubious copycats. Users have the option of buying the download.

I think We7 are moving forward in a very good way and are showing the likes of Youtube and Myspace a thing or two. By having audio ads in between each song, advertisers are guaranteed that their message will be heard. I think as long as the entry point for the advertising is done "Google style" this could work in a huge way. Media companies, record companies, artists and everyone who advertises on radio would be jumping at the chance of advertising on We7.

I do think one thing is missing. This is the ability to offer incentives for sharing. If We7 allow fans to profit in the sharing of the music playlists as has been done successfully with www.revver.com and British company www.unrulymedia.com then you will see an explosion of shared playlists across the country and the globe. If We7 do this they will profit tremendously from doing so.

First there was Winehouse, now there is Duffy

2008-03-09T21:00:00.003+11:00

The UK is producing a lot of retro female singers. Apart from Amy Winehouse, there are: Adele, Gabriella Cilmi, and now Welsh singer/songwriter Duffy. Born Aimee Anne Duffy in June 1984 in Gwynedd, Duffy is being tipped as the modern day Dusty Springfield. I am not totally convinced by Duffy, I hate this completely fake 60s makeover that they have "forced on her". However, I acknowledge that she has a good voice, good songs and there is a lot of money being spent on her to break her so there is no doubt she will have a succesfull couple of albums but apart from that I am not sure. Tell us what you think.

Shameless plug: Project Sunday "The Power of Love"

2008-02-28T11:50:00.005+11:00

Watch the video to the brand new single by Project Sunday featuring Sesha. The Power of Love is the cover of Jennifer Rush's 80s hit which was also covered by Celine Dion. This version has a pretty good rhythm track that some have compared to Cascada though I personally don't hear that. Anyway can't say too much as it is one of our own so enjoy.

Myhotmusic Alert - Michael Jackson "Got The Hots"

2008-02-21T17:09:00.005+11:00

Is there another male voice as beautiful as Michael Jackson's in his hey day ? This is a track off the Japanese version of the Thriller 25 year album. Outstanding harmonies as usual and a late 70s disco meets 80s sound. For all you producers and a&r people signing talent, nothing beats a quality vocal. It makes everything around it work. May all the pop pretenders go to music class and listen to a 'real' vocalist at work.

Audio link: from www.imeem.com

Jill Sobule asks fans to invest in her new album.

2008-02-20T12:07:00.004+11:00

2007 was the year of the 'whatever you can afford' album. Will 2008 be the year fans invest in the production of a new album, in return for certain privileges ? Jill Sobule thinks so. It is not a new idea and has been tried out before but has Jill got a new spin on it ? Have a look a this.

Myhotmusic Alert - Darksyde "Bounce".

2008-02-18T11:04:00.003+11:00

I have no idea who the Darksyde crew are but let me just say this is the beginning of a new Garage assault on the charts. Fabulous vocals, catchy chorus (not terribly memorable after a few listens though). But put it on the decks and grab a girl and groove away to this bouncy pop/garage tune. Will it be a massive hit in Aiya Napa ? Yes! Will it hit the top 10? Yes ! Come on guys get your cheque books out and sign this record, it will be massive.

Myhotmusic - Playlist of the Day.

2008-02-02T16:49:00.000+11:00

I grew up listening to Reggae in West London and I can remember the early tapes my dad played on his reel to reel tape recorder. I was introduced to a number of hits this way as a lot of Reggae hits were covers. Anyway I always enjoy good Reggae music especially Lovers Rock on a lazy day. This Imeem Playlist caught my attention and I would like to share it with you. Stand out tracks for me:

Maxi Priest "Tender Touch"
http://profile.imeem.com/EGY0w1/music/zBer1IyW/maxi_priest_tender_touch/

JC Lodge "Stealing Lodge".
http://eautifulgirl.imeem.com/music/hIEgjz1K/jc_lodge_stealing_love/

Brilliant just brillant.

Wow Just have a listen to the first lady of British lovers rock, Janet Kay.
This song is amazing and you will be singing the chorus all the way.

Also listen to this:

Justin & Bitty McClean "More than Words"
http://nylsirk.imeem.com/music/z-kIDcik/justin_young_more_than_words/

Myhotmusic Alert - Depeche Mode

2008-02-01T23:23:00.000+11:00

Electronic, synth pop never sounded better than Depeche Mode. I was quite a fan of theirs after watching "Love in Itself" on TV. So I am highlighting 2 of their songs on Myhotmusic today. The video is "Stripped" and you can listen to "Love in Itself" below. Brilliant.

Myhotmusic Alert - Atomic Kitten "Anyone Who Had A Heart"

2008-01-29T04:06:00.000+11:00

Well at last a UK girlband to rival the Sugababes. Well Atomic Kitten are back with another ballad which sounds alright, love the video for its simplicity. The girls new look, is not so great. But love em all the same.

Myhotmusic Alert - Maxi Priest "Just Wanna Know"

2008-01-26T17:42:00.000+11:00

Music like this is timeless, beautiful and just marvellous.
Here is the original UK mix version which made me buy the album back in 1992. Pity I bought it on Cassette which has now gone the way of the dodo.

Don't Watch...America's Most Smartest Model.

2008-01-18T14:30:00.000+11:00

You know what you think about animal testing, right? But what are your views on model testing?
MTV puts beautiful models to the test! Throwing them into a house to carry out experiments and IQ tests to decide who will win the dubious title of 'America's Most Smartest Model.'
If cruel tests on gorgeous models offend you, then don't watch it on Sunday 20th Jan, 9pm, on MTV ONE.
Join the protest at www.mtv.co.uk/againstmodeltesting

Models have right too, ya know!

How to have an iTunes hit the Youtube way.

2008-01-18T14:26:00.000+11:00

Quietly and without an awful lot of fanfare, there are many independent artists who are selling thousands on iTunes. One such artist is Kelly who has sold 300,000 songs on iTunes. Yes folks, 300,000 songs. Now his video for the single "Shoes" has a total of 40 million views. Amazing. Now you can watch it for yourselves (below). How can you do the same well try the following:

1. Shoot A quirky (crap) video shot cheaply with a mate's DV camera.
2. Place a direct link to iTunes so that people can impulse buy it.
3. Mash up a mix with a popular hit song or do a cover.
4. Send it out to the media hyping it as a genuine internet hit.
5. Bank your money and ride around in a posh car.

40 million views to 300,000 sales sounds about right. But enough of that now watch the video for yourself.

Nike+ Supersonic

2008-01-04T18:48:00.000+11:00

Britney Spears Custody drama escalates.

2008-01-04T18:34:00.000+11:00

Apparently emergency services, the Police, Ambulance and Fire dept have all turned up at Britney Spears' home to attend a family custody dispute. Surely Kevin & Britney have to come to an amicable solution for the sake of their children. This is not the right way to resolve this. Having said that, it does seem a little over the top for the Police, Ambulance and Fire Dept to show up. Britney despite her woes is riding high as far as her music is concerned with her latest single "Piece of Me" doing pretty well.