Howie Newman
MUSIC, COMEDY and MORE
MUSIC, COMEDY and MORE
| MAY 2010 END OF THE CURSE TOUR UPDATE |
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| www.howienewman.com howie@howienewman.com 781-662-2616 |
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Facebook page
myspace page
To sign up for the e-mail distribution of this newsletter,
click here and type "Sign me up!" in the subject line.
SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION
Is there any other kind?
OK, let’s get down to the basics: Boston Globe, Friday Arts & Films section, me.
It’s true. The Globe has finally come to its senses, devoting a feature story and
color photo to yours truly. And it's a very nice story. I can say that with no
reservations whatsoever because I've read it 36 times (just fact checking, mind
you).
In my wildest dreams, I wouldn't ask you to go out, plunk down a hard-earned
dollar bill and buy a copy of the paper. That’s what we have the Internet for. So
check it out for free. Just click here.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR LOVE ALIVE
As you might have expected, I’m an expert on this subject so listen up. The
most important thing in any relationship is the ability for each person to accept
the minor flaws of his or her partner. Get over it. No one’s perfect.
Toward that end, I've written a musical composition that explores the delicate
intricacies of love, life and the pursuit of happiness. It’s titled:
My Baby Can’t Parallel Park
I kid you not. An entire song, three verses and chorus, about the trials and
tribulations of my lovely wife, Ellen, in attempting to navigate her car into a
parking spot. Come to think of it, it took less time to write the song than her
recent parking job (it’s not just a job, it’s an adventure) in Davis Square.
And it’s not like she’s driving a big rig or an SUV. My baby drives a Honda Civic.
Of course, if that’s the worst thing I can say about her, then I count my
blessings. Every day.
THE CONS OF PROS
I usually try to keep things light in this newsletter but there’s a very disturbing
trend in the local music scene. So let me vent a little. Performance Rights
Organizations (PROs) are starting to hassle small acoustic music venues, trying
to shake them down for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars in annual
fees.
The main PROs are BMI, ASCAP and the Society of European Stage Authors &
Composers (SESAC). In theory, they collect fees when published music is
performed at a venue, take a cut and then distribute the revenue to
songwriters in the form of royalties. In actuality, 99 percent of the songwriters
never see a dime, even if they play at venues that are paying performance
rights fees.
Agents for the PROs have been harassing small venues, most of which are
nonprofits, demanding large fees and threatening lawsuits. Many of these
music clubs have opted to discontinue their music. One of them is the
Somethin's Brewin' Book Café, one of my favorite venues (see related story).
The agents have also threatened many of the local coffeehouses in the greater
Boston area.
This could potentially shut down the local music scene, especially small clubs
that don’t generate large amounts of revenue. The Boston Globe is currently
working on a story that exposes the inequities of this system. I’ll send you the
link when it runs. In the meanwhile, please support your local acoustic music
club and the musicians who play there.
UPCOMING SHOWS
Click here.
Is there any other kind?
OK, let’s get down to the basics: Boston Globe, Friday Arts & Films section, me.
It’s true. The Globe has finally come to its senses, devoting a feature story and
color photo to yours truly. And it's a very nice story. I can say that with no
reservations whatsoever because I've read it 36 times (just fact checking, mind
you).
In my wildest dreams, I wouldn't ask you to go out, plunk down a hard-earned
dollar bill and buy a copy of the paper. That’s what we have the Internet for. So
check it out for free. Just click here.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR LOVE ALIVE
As you might have expected, I’m an expert on this subject so listen up. The
most important thing in any relationship is the ability for each person to accept
the minor flaws of his or her partner. Get over it. No one’s perfect.
Toward that end, I've written a musical composition that explores the delicate
intricacies of love, life and the pursuit of happiness. It’s titled:
My Baby Can’t Parallel Park
I kid you not. An entire song, three verses and chorus, about the trials and
tribulations of my lovely wife, Ellen, in attempting to navigate her car into a
parking spot. Come to think of it, it took less time to write the song than her
recent parking job (it’s not just a job, it’s an adventure) in Davis Square.
And it’s not like she’s driving a big rig or an SUV. My baby drives a Honda Civic.
Of course, if that’s the worst thing I can say about her, then I count my
blessings. Every day.
THE CONS OF PROS
I usually try to keep things light in this newsletter but there’s a very disturbing
trend in the local music scene. So let me vent a little. Performance Rights
Organizations (PROs) are starting to hassle small acoustic music venues, trying
to shake them down for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars in annual
fees.
The main PROs are BMI, ASCAP and the Society of European Stage Authors &
Composers (SESAC). In theory, they collect fees when published music is
performed at a venue, take a cut and then distribute the revenue to
songwriters in the form of royalties. In actuality, 99 percent of the songwriters
never see a dime, even if they play at venues that are paying performance
rights fees.
Agents for the PROs have been harassing small venues, most of which are
nonprofits, demanding large fees and threatening lawsuits. Many of these
music clubs have opted to discontinue their music. One of them is the
Somethin's Brewin' Book Café, one of my favorite venues (see related story).
The agents have also threatened many of the local coffeehouses in the greater
Boston area.
This could potentially shut down the local music scene, especially small clubs
that don’t generate large amounts of revenue. The Boston Globe is currently
working on a story that exposes the inequities of this system. I’ll send you the
link when it runs. In the meanwhile, please support your local acoustic music
club and the musicians who play there.
UPCOMING SHOWS
Click here.
