The Direction of ACE: Productions

            I’ve watched the growth of the internet users since 1995 and knew back then that technology was on to a new way of mass communication and deliverance. With the many industries affected by the technology of the internet, it has also affected how the user gets information, watches programs, listens to music and communicates both sociably and personal. Taking this into consideration, it brought me back to the reasons independent artists failed in their attempts to succeed in their distribution attempts.

            It is thought that by just putting their music up online that it will sell itself. If they only took a little time to consider higher possibilities, performed some research and learned to understand a little more about the music business industry than they currently understand. It would change their mind-state to what is really out there.

            Trying to understand internet users and behaviors, the graph below gave me the window view of the internet population; a big picture of it all. The graph only shows the amount of unique (new) internet subscribers as of 2008.

(Click the graph to go to the article on the hosting web site: http://www.psfk.com)

This was cross-referenced on ChartsBin (http://chartsbin.com/view/36n) where they provide an active map and table that gives a worldwide count of internet users.  It doesn’t stop there either; a search has to be narrowed down.  To narrow this down, you want to know what is going on domestically.  This is where you have to ask yourself, what are your markets by age and demographics.  PSFK.com was able to provide the graph below.  

(Click the graph to go to the article on the hosting web site: http://www.psfk.com)

          Pew Research has a list of tools at http://www.pewinternet.org. The site is strictly for gathering information on internet usage.  Trend data is what helped me view the same age groups in a different demographic breakdown.  Allowing me to visually see the statistics by race/ethnicity, household income, education attainment and more. Then Ofcom (http://www.ofcom.org.uk) offered a document that answered the magical question about iPod users.  This played a big part in the creation and existence of the ACE: Productions radio show: JDL’s WRMS Radio Mix Show.  Along with understanding this taken from PSFK:

Why the 13" MacBook Pro still uses Core 2 Duo CPUs

Why the 13" MacBook Pro still uses Core 2 Duo CPUs

In case there were questions about this issue, the answer has been given. In the music entertainment industry and other entertainment industries alike, the Mac is a primary computing piece of hardware. For a while, it was believed that having a Mac was better. As a long time PC user and a past career as a PC technician, my stand was with the PC. My transition into using a Mac was due to my change into the music entertainment industry. Once discovering keyboard and similar application operations, the realization became preference. FOXNews.com wrote an article in February of 2010 (http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/02/23/pc-vs-mac-the-straight-scoop/) that pretty much sums up my analysis of the two - they are just computers. Where the PC offers many varieties and flavors, Mac has basic variants.

When you get into the price between the two, you get what you pay for basically. Mac only offers high-end from their smallest MacBook to their power desktop and there's no "bells and whistle" extras. PCs offer features like touchscreens, Blu-Ray and more. At the end of the day, you can purchase a PC-based machine that costs the same as a Mac and get the same performance or better.

Software-wise, there are applications that are strictly for Mac and there's applications that are both PC and Mac compatible. Based on operating systems, Vista was no match for Mac's OS X. From experience, a high-end PC running Windows XP Pro, I saw no difference in performance. Again, it boils down to preference.

Now, there is a way you can purchase a Mac and setup a dual boot and run Windows XP or Vista as well as Mac OS X (http://www.ehow.com/how_4919543_dual-boot-mac.html). If you are not savvy on computer setups, it is suggested that you have a technician perform this for you or someone who knows how to setup dual boot systems. As the owner of both type of systems, they both serve their own functions for specific reasons in my daily routines. In my past, I have crashed both systems proving to myself that one is no better than the other. I practice securities, maintenance and backups on both machines and my issues are only what I make them.

Goin' Thru My HOUSE

JDL's WRMS (WORMS) Radio Mix Show

What a whirlwind of house cleaning!! Coming back from a small vacation, "J.D.L." doesn't get enough of bringing some heaviness to your ears. Consistent with his mixing style, he relentlessly drops tunes that evoke you into a state of party. Creating nostalgia and just keeping you into a non-stop groove is what makes this a must listen to.


JDL's WRMS Radio Mix Show has now been up and running since January of 2010 and has taken off.  With an already proven point of mixing skills and song selection that is not like any other, "J.D.L." insists that he will push buttons that will appeal to a world mass.  


He has also brought a guest DJ on the show and says there will be more coming to the forefront as well.


"This is truly an independent format that I have created here.  The DJs that will participate as guests on my show already know that this show is like home; you can come and kick off your shoes and be true to the sound that makes you the DJ you are," says "J.D.L."


When asked will this format change to a more commercial radio-type show, he eagerly replies, "You're out of your fucking mind!  This is a mix show and it will remain that way in all of its existence.  It is the DJ's show!  This is not a show for artists or bands nor will it become a mixtape sampler.  The DJ's only way to convey to a crowd an emotion or mood, is through what he plays.  The DJ is the maestro and the club, party or gathering is either the cathedral or church.  Those are the days I come from and I'm just giving back the experiences I was given through the show."


It is an experience for new listeners and for the experienced, it has a great nostalgic, constant flow that keeps you right where you want to be. 

Lena Horne dies at 92

Lena Horne dies at 92

As a child, I was introduced to this legend's music and movies by my late great-grandmother. Initially, I fell in love with her everlasting beauty. As I grew up and revisited her music, I fell in love with her music. For those who don't know her or of her, she was also apart of the civil rights movement. She now joins other greats that have passed along. This repost is not to inform of her death, but to encourage research of her music and film work so that you can experience her greatness as I already have. Here is an article from The New York Times on Lena Horne.  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/arts/music/10horne.html?pagewanted=1

Lena Horne,
Your career in the entertainment world was an experience to me and many more in the world. Your legacy will never be forgotten.

ACE: Productions: The Movement

     This is the first publicly noted opinion where I intend to share my stand on what the overall accomplishment of ACE: Productions will be for new joining artists/bands.  I can go into this from many angles, but I am going to touch base in one area that I like many others, feel very strongly about and this will speak the purpose behind the goals of the ACE: Productions vision.

     Music and I have a lifetime relationship.  Our marriage has been the only relationship that I have cheated on abusively but she has never left my side nor have I hers.  Music has many sides (genres) to her and I enjoy an extensive wide range of them.  Like in any relationship, there are some things that I don't like but they are easily overlooked because of my love for her.  Through the years, she has changed and continues to change, but she has been used and abused by many others.  Some to glorify her and others that has made her look like, what I would call, a "crack-head whore" - used and abused.  I know that was a very strong thing to write for you as a reader, but the imagery is appropriate if you continue reading.

     Amongst the different genres that will be produced under the ACE: Productions name, Rap music will be the one most paid attention to for its content.

     "All cultural products are expressions of certain values. Rap music is characterized by greed and lust and vanity. Greed for money, and cars, and cribs, and bling-bling. Lust for a crude form of sexual gratification, that is not liberating, but is demeaning and dehumanizing. And a simple-minded form of boastful vanity that would be easily seen as vulgar if, say, a white teenager in Van Nuys exhibited it, but that is somehow an admirable expression of racial pride if a sneering black rap performer prances about with his ego on display."  (DeWitt, L., 2005)

     This is something that I have seen take place since the mid-90s and have been an advocate against to where I show no love for artists that produce Rap music with this expression in their music.  As a DJ for 30 years, I have helped break and played many of the greatest emcees and will now only play songs that have real emcees.

"I'm not removed from it, but I can't really tell the difference between Young Jeezy and Yung Joc. It's the same dumb stuff to me," says Duncan-Smith, 33. "I can't listen to that nonsense ... I can't listen to another black man talk about you don't come to the 'hood anymore and ghetto revivals ... I'm from the 'hood. How can you tell me you want to revive it? How about you want to change it? Rejuvenate it?"  (Moody, N.M., 2007)

     Rejuvenating the sound and what will be heard is the direction of ACE: Productions.  Yes, the battle will be uphill, but what is a fight that has no meaning?  What is a fight that has no purpose?  This is more than about appreciation, it's about passion for music and the image she is portrayed in.  Chuck D said it best in his visit to Full Sail:  "A lot of people don't know a lot about music." (iTunes U: Full Sail University, 2008)  It is true that history can save you as my experiences has led me to this point with trying to make a difference in the way people will see music in her future.  This is the vision of ACE: Productions and how we will rejuvenate my first love - MUSIC.

References:

DeWitt, L., (2005). Rap music: making excuses for a degenerate culture [Essay]. Retrieved from http://www.larrydewitt.net/Essays/Rap.htm

iTunes U: Full Sail University presents Chuck D, (2008, May 16). The past, present, and future of the music industry [Video]. Retrieved from https://deimos.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/BrowsePrivately/fullsail.com.1805599638

Moody, N.M., (2007, March 1). Sales of rap music are declining as more are critical of its message. Herald Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070301/NEWS/703010476