Just a quick one...
CHANGES CHANGES CHANGES
As most of you have noticed, the website has gotten a facelift. It is with great pleasure that I introduce what's to come for the future of QUANTUM: Rock of Ages. The art on the front page was done by new series penciller JAMES RODRIGUEZ and colored by up-and-coming sensation JACKIE TEIXEIRA. Just wanted to give these two talents props and give you, the audience, and idea of what's to come.
NEW YORK NATIONAL CONVENTION
November 29,30,31 at the Metropolitan Pavilion
I WILL be there at the CAG table WITH copies, hot off the presses, of QUANTUM: Rock of Ages #1
Come and get 'em!
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
GOD SAVE MP3.COM
It's been a few days since the big announcement from Vivendi that CNET has acquired "certain holdings" of MP3.com, the web's only real chance of giving you-and-me, the average joe, a fair chance at fairly distributing our music to the masses. As December looms ever closer, I'm downright fearful of the state and security of every independent musician on this planet. And, still, it's been DAYS since this announcement was made, and, still, no rebuttal from the independent music community. Frankly, my friends, I'm worried. Nay, TERRIFIED at what lies in store for the site that we have all come to call a safe haven and a JUSTLY FAIR FORUM OF ONLINE INDEPENDENT MUSIC DISTRIBUTION.
I have many questions to anyone (particularly over at CNET) that might be able to help me with this adjustment.
First and foremost: What about the DAM CD program?
For years, those fantastic folks over in San Diego have been burning me (practcally) ONE-OFF CD's, at my request, AND SHIPPING THEM to wherever my fans (yes, I have them, and I hope so do some of you) order. It may be small potatoes to the bigwigs, but I've sold CD's in Japan, England, Germany, Italy, Ireland, all over the good 'ole corporate US of A. Nearly a thousand, which I'm damn proud of. No one paid me to do it; no one censored any aspect of my process. My baby, my vision, and I shared it with the world. And I earned a profit of it. That's how it SHOULD be!
Secondly, what about the commercial music streaming services?
I receive roughly 1000 streams a day from MP3.com's version of "Muzak." And this is pretty much my primary source of revenue as an independent songwriter and producer. Will this venture be tossed to the corporate wolves for want of higher grossing "established" artists?
I could go on. Lots. But I just wanted to give some of you a feel for what is happening to independent music and art. It is quickly being either swallowed or discontinued to those that wield the power to REGULATE how music is heard, bought, and sold.
Remember the good ole days? Radio played what it wanted to, and ALBUMS were the talk of the day. Nowadays, we're lucky if even ONE SONG is enough to keep a company's attention for long enough. The entire game is fixated on image, not music, and the consumers BUY it. I dare say encourage it.
But I used to have a little haven, where I could record my own record, post it up, and get INTERNATIONAL attention and acclaim. The big corporations never found me "marketable," but I was SELLING, and people were going out of their way to hear my stuff.
Some hundreds of thousands of streams later, I'm finding out that my haven is being torn down, passed on to a company within a company within a company. I fear for the music, my friends, I really do.
Thank god there's still CD Baby. Now, just where can I get my music heard on RADIO?
It's been a few days since the big announcement from Vivendi that CNET has acquired "certain holdings" of MP3.com, the web's only real chance of giving you-and-me, the average joe, a fair chance at fairly distributing our music to the masses. As December looms ever closer, I'm downright fearful of the state and security of every independent musician on this planet. And, still, it's been DAYS since this announcement was made, and, still, no rebuttal from the independent music community. Frankly, my friends, I'm worried. Nay, TERRIFIED at what lies in store for the site that we have all come to call a safe haven and a JUSTLY FAIR FORUM OF ONLINE INDEPENDENT MUSIC DISTRIBUTION.
I have many questions to anyone (particularly over at CNET) that might be able to help me with this adjustment.
First and foremost: What about the DAM CD program?
For years, those fantastic folks over in San Diego have been burning me (practcally) ONE-OFF CD's, at my request, AND SHIPPING THEM to wherever my fans (yes, I have them, and I hope so do some of you) order. It may be small potatoes to the bigwigs, but I've sold CD's in Japan, England, Germany, Italy, Ireland, all over the good 'ole corporate US of A. Nearly a thousand, which I'm damn proud of. No one paid me to do it; no one censored any aspect of my process. My baby, my vision, and I shared it with the world. And I earned a profit of it. That's how it SHOULD be!
Secondly, what about the commercial music streaming services?
I receive roughly 1000 streams a day from MP3.com's version of "Muzak." And this is pretty much my primary source of revenue as an independent songwriter and producer. Will this venture be tossed to the corporate wolves for want of higher grossing "established" artists?
I could go on. Lots. But I just wanted to give some of you a feel for what is happening to independent music and art. It is quickly being either swallowed or discontinued to those that wield the power to REGULATE how music is heard, bought, and sold.
Remember the good ole days? Radio played what it wanted to, and ALBUMS were the talk of the day. Nowadays, we're lucky if even ONE SONG is enough to keep a company's attention for long enough. The entire game is fixated on image, not music, and the consumers BUY it. I dare say encourage it.
But I used to have a little haven, where I could record my own record, post it up, and get INTERNATIONAL attention and acclaim. The big corporations never found me "marketable," but I was SELLING, and people were going out of their way to hear my stuff.
Some hundreds of thousands of streams later, I'm finding out that my haven is being torn down, passed on to a company within a company within a company. I fear for the music, my friends, I really do.
Thank god there's still CD Baby. Now, just where can I get my music heard on RADIO?
Sunday, November 16, 2003
Finally got a moment to sit down and write a note about the progress of QUANTUM. But before I do that...
I want to give a big-up to FRIENDS of LULU, which is an organization whose goal is to educate us all about the role women play in comic books and offer support to female comic book creators. It's a good group of people with a great mission, and I wanted to take a moment to give them some online buzz. It's great to see somebody really actively going for a readership which I feel is largely ignored in comicdom. Check out their anthology "Broad Appeal," and throw a little support their way.
Ok, well, we are roughly a month away from the official release of QUANTUM: Rock of Ages, and things look good to go for a fairly smooth release. I must say, it looks fantastic, and I look forward to getting it into everyone's hands. The only caveat I have to impart to you all is: if you don't find it in you local comic store, bug your retailer to order some up. You can also look for me on the convention circut, peddling my wares. Pick up a copy or ten from me there. I will more than likely set up an online store as well, so those of you who don't have Paypal, get hip.
Anyway, enough of the sales tip (buy my book! Ok, now I'm done), and on to creative updates. Most of the art team is locked in for the first four issues. However, I'm sad to report that Ozzy Longoria has other professional obligations, and will be leaving the series after issue #2. Yes, yes, I'm bummed out too that he couldn't commit, but all is A-O.K. here at Dreamchilde Press. In his stead, I have signed on James Rodriguez to take over as artist. James is a fellow New Yorker and also a member of Comic Artist Guild. I've already seen James' take on the characters, and know that you all will be in for a nice change come issue #3. James will also be providing wraparound cover art for issue #2, giving us an homage to the departing Ozzy Longoria. Everyone here at Dreamchilde wishes Ozzy a fond farewell, and we all thank him for helping to get the book to the point it is right now.
Anyway, about issue #2: it's really sad to see Ozzy leave, because I personally think it is his best work to date. I believe you all will really enjoy it, possibly even better than issue #1, because I feel like I can start settling into a groove and start telling these characters' story. Well, you all will just see when QUANTUM #2 hits in February.
Oh WE HAVE A NEW EMAIL ADDRESS AGAIN!!
quantumcomic@hotmail.com
UPCOMING CONVENTIONS
–––––––––––––––––––––
November 28-30
Big Apple National Comic Book, Art, Toy, and Sci-Fi Convention
@ the Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th St., NYC
between 6th and 7th Ave.
I will be at the CAG table with advance copies of ISSUE #1!! Come and get 'em!
More later,
P
I want to give a big-up to FRIENDS of LULU, which is an organization whose goal is to educate us all about the role women play in comic books and offer support to female comic book creators. It's a good group of people with a great mission, and I wanted to take a moment to give them some online buzz. It's great to see somebody really actively going for a readership which I feel is largely ignored in comicdom. Check out their anthology "Broad Appeal," and throw a little support their way.
Ok, well, we are roughly a month away from the official release of QUANTUM: Rock of Ages, and things look good to go for a fairly smooth release. I must say, it looks fantastic, and I look forward to getting it into everyone's hands. The only caveat I have to impart to you all is: if you don't find it in you local comic store, bug your retailer to order some up. You can also look for me on the convention circut, peddling my wares. Pick up a copy or ten from me there. I will more than likely set up an online store as well, so those of you who don't have Paypal, get hip.
Anyway, enough of the sales tip (buy my book! Ok, now I'm done), and on to creative updates. Most of the art team is locked in for the first four issues. However, I'm sad to report that Ozzy Longoria has other professional obligations, and will be leaving the series after issue #2. Yes, yes, I'm bummed out too that he couldn't commit, but all is A-O.K. here at Dreamchilde Press. In his stead, I have signed on James Rodriguez to take over as artist. James is a fellow New Yorker and also a member of Comic Artist Guild. I've already seen James' take on the characters, and know that you all will be in for a nice change come issue #3. James will also be providing wraparound cover art for issue #2, giving us an homage to the departing Ozzy Longoria. Everyone here at Dreamchilde wishes Ozzy a fond farewell, and we all thank him for helping to get the book to the point it is right now.
Anyway, about issue #2: it's really sad to see Ozzy leave, because I personally think it is his best work to date. I believe you all will really enjoy it, possibly even better than issue #1, because I feel like I can start settling into a groove and start telling these characters' story. Well, you all will just see when QUANTUM #2 hits in February.
Oh WE HAVE A NEW EMAIL ADDRESS AGAIN!!
quantumcomic@hotmail.com
UPCOMING CONVENTIONS
–––––––––––––––––––––
November 28-30
Big Apple National Comic Book, Art, Toy, and Sci-Fi Convention
@ the Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th St., NYC
between 6th and 7th Ave.
I will be at the CAG table with advance copies of ISSUE #1!! Come and get 'em!
More later,
P
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