So many bands and music fans are concerned about the future of the Manium - an all ages venue in downtown Olympia that the city is trying to shut down. If you have ever been involved with an all-ages venue in any city in the US, you know the kind of problems they face. Instead of being appreciated for getting kids off the streets and away from the television, they are viewed as sources of illegal activities and the corruption of society. Maybe there are a few rare cases where this happens, but usually the venue is a boon to society, especially a culture that neglects its youth more and more and fails to provide healthy gathering spaces. ([More →])

The RIAA is responsible for defending our rights to ringtones? Talk about a surprising plot twist! With all the talk of Apple iPhones and ringtone technology, the truth is revealed: creating your own ringtones and using them on your phone is explicitly legal thanks to RIAA. That’s right, the originators and biggest defenders of DIY ringtone access is the same agency famous for SLAPping toddlers and grannies with music piracy lawsuits. It turns out, in a move very similar to the tactics used by Clear Channel and Payola, that the RIAA wanted to “distribute ringtones of its artists’ music without having to pay the artist big money to do so…” Therefore, the RIAA convinced the Copyright Office that ringtones of copyrighted music is not a derivative work, and thus does not infringe on the songwriter’s and performers’ copyrights. The results of winning their persuasive argument, is that anyone can create a ringtone without a license for the music. As long as you legally own the rights to the music (which includes rights granted to the consumer upon purchase of an album/CD/mp3 etc.) you can legally make a ringtone out of it. However, this does not give you permission to sell, distribute or otherwise commercialize your creation. So, does this mean junglists can get sample clearance if they make a ringtone of the sample they want first? ([More →])

When I needed some fresh music today, I headed over to one of my favorite music streaming sites - the ever clever Podington Bear. Podington makes incredibly sweet, fun electronica music and makes it easily accessible in a stand-alone music player or podcast subscription. Well, quite unsuspecting of the momentous occasion I was about to encounter, I clicked over to PBear’s online den and LO and Behold! Today, Wednesday July 25th, Podington Bear posted his 100th hand-made track of 2007! That’s right, the prolific little bear has hand-crafted 100 songs since the first of January. He posts a new song every other day, despite being on the road pretty much constantly. ([More →])

How do all-organic, fair-trade speakers sound? I have yet to try, but this has got to be the next best thing - HEMP speakers for your home stereo, your hemp guitar, or your dub soundsystem. Check these beauties out! Hemp board cabinet construction, with a bamboo outer shell. Fully-loaded with hemp cones in the drivers. Who would turn such a concept into reality and then offer Hand-Dyed One-of-a-KIND Speaker Grills to go with? Hard Truckers does.

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Those of you in the NYC area this weekend are hopefully excited about the FREE Citysol Party. You didn’t forget did you? Well, just in case you did, here’s a reminder…

The clean energy, interactive art and music festival opened tonight at 6pm with performances that included bicycle-powered turntablism by DJ Mistakes! Wow! The wheels of the bike turn the wheels of wax? Too cool! But, wait - you haven’t missed out, the festival runs all weekend long and there is great stuff happening Friday, Saturday and Sunday too! ([More →])