'Faith' hits the news!

Things are looking up for the release of "Faith" by Phil Stacey on Conquer Entertainment. The Greensboro News & Record released this story talking the new album with Phil Stacey, Amanda Ridinger and Dennis Franks.

USA Today has mentioned Conquer Entertainment and Phil Stacey multiple times in their "Idol Chatter" section.

Stay tuned for more info on Conquer Entertainment artists in the news!

Ketchup: The saga continues.

After reading this story on MSNBC.com arguing if Ketchup should be room temperature or refrigerated, I would definitely stand on the side of refrigeration. One of the points the author makes is "1) Cold ketchup is pretty gross, especially on hot food." My response to that is "Are you kidding? There is something about hot thick crinkle cut fries and cold ketchup. I'm indifferent to warm ketchup in that respect.

This also got me thinking about various other things that ketchup appears on. Last week, I took a buddy out to a diner and he put ketchup on his eggs. I thought it was a tad strange and then I took the ketchup and poured some on my steak. In high school, it was common practice to put ketchup on the rectangle pizzas for a flavor boost. Students who put mayo on their pizza and/or fries were ridiculed.

Have you ever been questioned about your use of ketchup? Tell us.

*image from MSNBC.com

Phil Stacey's 'Faith' helps "Build a soundtrack for your life."

Some would consider me a softy. For all the hard rock and rap I listen to, I have a soft spot for the song "Have A Little Faith In Me." Strangely enough, that is the first song on Phil Stacey's new CD "Faith" coming out on Tuesday March 29, 2011.

I had the joy of listening to the whole CD and I have to tell you that it kept my attention. Not much multi-tasking was done at all (Sorry, boss.) I sat there and listened. For all the craziness of the day, it was about 45 minutes of peace that was soothing, yet inspiring.

Something else to keep in mind is this album is a testament to the caliber and quality of artists that Conquer Entertainment and Market America are bringing to the table. Listen to Phil Stacey explain it in this new video.

In the video, Stacey say he wants to help "Build a soundtrack for your life." All you need to do is press "play."

Missed Phil Stacey's performance at World Conference? Watch the video for "Be Good To Each Other" here.

For more on Phil Stacey and to order the new album, click on his featured Artist page at ma MyWorld.

Music "Magic" is in the eye of the beholder.

In a recent MSN.com article, Bon Jovi rips Steve Jobs by claiming he is 'killing' music with iTunes.

A paragraph that stands out says 'Bon Jovi tells The Sunday Times Magazine, "Kids today have missed the whole experience of putting the headphones on, turning it up to 10, holding the jacket, closing their eyes and getting lost in an album; and the beauty of taking your allowance money and making a decision based on the jacket, not knowing what the record sounded like, and looking at a couple of still pictures and imagining it."'

Bon Jovi and I had different experiences growing up.

At the crack of dawn one particular Saturday when I was around 14, I went to work part time at a flower shop. The owner wanted things moved out of a rickety old shed. Broken glass, sharp metal pieces that were discarded scraps from some aluminum contraption littered the floor. Didn't matter. It had to come up.

After that, it was on to the roses. And yes, every rose has it's thorns. The resulting mess of greenery and water attracted swarms of mosquitoes around our work tables outside. The owner said he forgot to mention that we should wear pants cause that happens a lot.

At the end of the day, the sun was going down and it was time to quit... and get paid. "Here ya go, son. That was a good day's work." he said handing me $15. From that point on, I learned that when anyone says "It's good work." or "A good day's work.", that usually means it's hard work.

But, I had enough to buy a CD.

Off to record store. This was around the time that stores were doing away with listening centers and all you got to listen to was whatever the store put on the player. I browsed the aisles looking for the CD that would stand out and decided on the newest release from an artist I'll choose not to mention. He had a great radio hit at the time and here it is... that CD. Yes!

I get home and put it in the CD player. I push the button for track 4 and it sounds nothing like what I heard on the radio. Maybe the song is a bonus track on the end of the CD... nope. Well maybe if I just listen to the CD, the song may be under another name... no go. The CD was terrible. The radio played the remix and never mentioned it. A trip back to the record store to return it was met with an "No Returns on CDs." sign.

What is a teenager supposed to do? I did the only thing I could think of. I threw the CD on the ground smashing it and stormed off hoping my protest was understood by someone in the store.

For that reason, I welcomed the dawn of the MP3. With websites like Conquer Entertainment, that allow you to listen to songs before you bought them, came an era where the product I receive for my money becomes exactly what I want and not potluck.

Bon Jovi goes on to say "God, it was a magical, magical time," he continues, "I hate to sound like an old man now, but I am, and you mark my words, in a generation from now people are going to say: 'What happened?' Steve Jobs is personally responsible for killing the music business."

What's "magical" was listening to CDs that I loved for hours. In a generation from now if my child asks "What Happened?" I'll say "You know that song you hate on the radio? Imagine finding out you hate the whole album after you spent your money on it."

*Image from MSN/AP

Jon Bon Jovi slams Steve Jobs for 'killing' music

Internet vs. Newspapers: Can't we all get along?

On any given day, I can run into the local grocery store and am usually stopped by someone trying to sell newspaper subscriptions. Each time I walk past and say "I already have a subscription." That's a lie.

Like a lot of other 30 somethings, I spend time in front of my computer or laptop. I have news feeds, Twitter, Facebook and a list of sites that I check regularly for local and world updates. It's become a habit the same way sitting down to read the paper with a cup of coffee is to others.

When it comes to using the iPad, I haven't fully integrated it into the fold. I still carry my laptop around. When it comes to a newspaper, if I see one, I'll still look at it, but in a less attentive way. However, writing a column and seeing it online is not the same as seeing it in a newspaper. I have had more than a couple stories appear in the local paper and I there is just something about it that can't be duplicated. I can only imagine what it is like for a parent who had a child's picture in the paper after winning an award.

I feel like there will always be a place for newspapers. Just not as the #1 source of news.

Do you still read the newspaper or have you gotten into the habit of reading the news from websites?

Tablets Not Yet A Newspaper Substitute, Telegraph Finds

Behind the scenes with Justina

Conquer Entertainment artist, Justina has been busy as of late. Check out Justina's Conquer artist page for a whole host of new songs for your listening pleasure. One particular song stands out, Hard 2 The Body. I said to myself, "I hope she does a video for that one."

Lo and behold, my Jedi mind tricks of persuasion have worked and I was delighted to take a look at the behind the scenes footage of Justina's new video! Check it out here on YouTube!

Want more of Justina? Check out these links:

Twitter
Facebook
Music

Music lessons find a way without school funding

I remember music class in 5th grade. We were handed recorders and taught to play them in class. But something changed in 6th grade. It seemed like you needed to already know how to play an instrument and I didn't see anyone walking around with recorders. There were band try-outs and the only things to be taught were percussion instruments. I'm not a drummer.

I remember walking past the chorus room listening to the band practice the theme song from Jurassic Park. Some days I would stand there and listen and pick out the instruments that were off key or didn't seem to fit. Later on I thought "What if the song went this way..." and I would hum the revised tune to myself.

In high school, I don't remember any classes being offered to those who were beginners. Once again, band seemed like they had open spots were for percussion and maybe tuba. And then I heard Nirvana on the radio. Guitar. That's what I wanted to do. I wanted to rock.

You can't rock a tuba. (Later in life I found out that you can). School lessons for guitar? Not a chance. I got a job, stopped spending money on CDs and started saving up to buy a guitar and amp. The couple of books on how to play weren't much help. One day I did find a book on how to play the songs by Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Bush, Third Eye Blind and Metallica and that was an eye opener. I already knew how the song went so I just needed to learn how to finger the chords and play to the rhythm. After a bit of practice, something clicks and you can feel the music. People think it's some amazing feat to teach yourself how to play an instrument. A $20 book of chords and finger positions, a $30 book of songs that were easy to play from a band I loved and time to practice. It's that easy.

Feeling the music also comes with drawbacks like busted strings, sore fingers, broken straps and worn down picks. Things that kept me working at a fast food joint so I could pay for them.

Music helped me with life in general. By learning to play guitar, it didn't better my school work. Nor did it get worse. I didn't become a slacker who stayed at home and did drugs. Playing music was an outlet for creativity and stress relief.

I remember one night I had an argument with my late uncle about something that seems trivial now. The next afternoon, I came in the door and he asked where I had been. I told him I took the bus to work, paid a bill, bought some strings and took the bus home. When he asked why I didn't knock on his door for him to give me a ride to work, I told him I didn't want to fight before a long shift. He laughed and said. "And here I thought you ran away. Then I saw the guitar on your bed so I knew you were coming back."

Today, I wonder what I could've learned if they had guitar lessons at school. Then again, it would be focused on passing or failing. I enjoyed learning and studying. Best $50 bucks for books I ever spent.

*image from Foxnews.com

LeAnn Rimes, Seal Upset About the Lack of Music Funding in Public Schools

Cookie resistance is futile.

You've probably already been solicited for Girl Scout cookies from the brownies outside of your local mart or their parents in the work place. This year, I haven't heard a peep.

Throughout the years, I've been one of those folks who didn't want to disappoint folks by telling them "no" and sometimes would end up with 14 boxes. Even when I would avoid them and let my girlfriend or my mother grab a box for me, I would still end up handing both or either one of them at least $10 because they would order what they thought I would want. That would be Caramel Delights and Thin Mints. I liked the lemon cookies and then they didn't seem to taste right after the Girl Scouts council switched to the reduced fat version. This year, I haven't been solicited once and it feels great.

In my new found freedom I realize that I want a box. Just one box. I can pace myself and have 1 or 2 cookies at a time, right? Gone are the days where the box would be devoured watching a half hour TV show... right? Ok, what about if I stick the box of Thin Mints in the freezer? Can I forget about them? Will I wait til the next day and buy some mint chocolate chip ice cream to go along with the frozen Thin Mints for dessert?

I have an idea, I'm only going to buy 2 boxes. The first order form or box placed in front of me will get the money. It shouldn't destroy my diet too much. It only comes around once a year.

What are your favorite Girl Scout cookies?

*Image from CNN

Working off the Girl Scout cookies

Beiber loss at Grammy's may be boon for fans.

For all the Justin Beiber fans spewing hatred after his loss at the Grammy awards show with hashtags like #beiberwasrobbed and #Esperanzawho, I have the same response as some others, #fallback.

The insults came pretty quick after Esperanza Spalding won Best New Artist. The tweets ranged from asking who Spalding was to one post claiming that was name of the lady that used to clean the twitter user's house.

A little research by Beiber fans would pull up that the Best New Artist award has a strange curse on it. Few live up to the hype after they win that award. So if you were to go by that theory, this was the kiss of death for Esperanza Spalding and Beiber has no where to go but up from here.

*image from CNN

Hell hath no fury like a Belieber scorned

2011 Miami World Conference Conquer Entertainment After Party Announcement

When: Friday February 4, 2011 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Where: Grand Central (Bar/Nightclub)
697 N. Miami Ave.
Miami, Fl 33136

Cost: Free entrance all night!

Conquer Entertainment would like to invite you to a special preview of some of our new artist at Conquer Entertainment’s yearly World Conference After Party, Friday February 4, 2011 at Grand Central, located in Downtown Miami.

Special Guests: Please join us for an exciting evening of dancing, cocktails and live music, as well as New York City’s top DJ mixing today’s top 40’s. We will also be celebrating our new partnership that we are extremely excited about with Phil Stacey of American Idol.

Live performances by:
Justina Click here for more info
Brandy Martel Click here for more info
Kimberly Wolff Click here for more info
The Varsity Girls

Music by:
DJ Ammo