As we’re all now aware of, the music legend, recording artist Michael Jackson, passed away at the age of 50 from a heart attack in his rented LA home on June 25, 2009. Michael’s impact as a pop-superstar who affected millions, if not billions of music fans worldwide with his music will be felt for generations. Like the Beatles, Elvis Presely and Frank Sinatra, Jackson is an American icon who transcended race to make music for the masses that carved out a musical niche very few ever realize. In today’s music industry, a transformational entertainment icon is hard to come by. Because music has become disposable, artists like Michael Jackson are few and far between. It is now a question as to whether anyone can ever attain the stature Michael Jackson enjoyed throughout his 40-year musical career.

This post is not meant to be a retrospective on MJJ’s life. My intent is to simply convey the important Michale Jackson had on DJ culture in America and around the world. As a DJ since 1979, MJJ’s music played an integral role in my career development. Any DJ worth his salt understood that dropping an MJJ record, whether as part of the Jackson 5 or as a solo artist, would bring a lulled crowd to a dancing frenzy. In the midst of of a set, when you were looking for that perfect record that would help you build a rapport with your crowd, pulling out an MJJ record at the exact, right moment transformed you from just another DJ to everyone’s favorite DJ. Knowing when, where, why and how to play an MJJ record is an art within the art or music. It’s nothing you can teach, just something you understand as you watch other DJs ply their trade.

I could go through the list of MJJ records that were the primary drivers on and off the dance floor, but I won’t do that in this post, because everyone and their brother are running tribute shows on the radio, over the web and on television that testify to his musical legacy. What I will say is that through MJJ’s musical genius and the talent of the producers he worked with, DJs were handed instant hit records that built their careers. For that, all DJs should be grateful to Michael Jackson’s legacy, which gave us so much to use to fuel our careers, generate revenues and build on.

My favorite Michael Jackson record of all time: “Get On The Floor.” Why? It’s casual, laid back and smooth, simple cool gave you that simple enticement to move your body. The words themselves we’ve all heard in one way or another, but the way Jackson delivered them in such an innocent, boyish way made it possible for so many to say to themselves, “sure…how hard can dancing be?” As a young DJ at Spin-Off roller skating Disco in Boston, MA, “Get On The Floor” was my anthem. Every skate session I worked, that was the record I’d launch my set with. It was a call to humanity to just let yourself go and feel the rhythm. That’s what Michael Jackson represents to me. Just feeling the rhythm and going with it.

Later on, while working at an 80’s club, Culture Club in New York City, I’d pull out the 12″ version of “Smooth Criminal.” This record was the definition of cool. Who doesn’t want to be a “Smooth Criminal?” It told us, hey, you can be cool and get away with things, if you just do it in such a way that you don’t get caught. You just slide through it all.

I am forever grateful to MJJ for giving me the music ammunition on which to build my career. Despite his controversies, his hard work and dedication to the music and his understanding of how to create transformational experiences, whether live or recorded, can never be replicated or duplicated.

He will be missed.

– by Tony Z.

Octavia St. Laurent (Courtesy NYTimes.com)

Daryl Marcus presents GROOVY at Bar 13. Tonight’s event is a fundraiser to benefit the familes of Octavia Saint Laurent a fixture in the house music scene for over 20 years. Octavia passed away on May 17, 2009. As far as we’re aware, no details have surfaced as to the cause of death.

The event showcases 20 different Guest DJs on 3 floors of music from house to hip hop. There will be surprise vocal performances all night on the Bar 13 rooftop (moved inside if it rains). DJs Jellybean Benitez and Hex Hector wlil be spinning with Andre Collins of The Warehouse and Better Days. More surprise DJs are in the works, but no news yet from the Daryl on who those will be. I guess you should show up to find out. Work!

Octavia St. Laurent Benefit Party Flyer

Octavia St. Laurent is a transgendered fashion model, nightlife maven and activist featured in the 1990 film, Paris is Burning, by Jenne Livingston.

Filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s, it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the poor, African American and Latino gay and transgendered community involved in it. Many consider Paris Is Burning to be an invaluable documentary of the end of the “Golden Age” of New York City drag balls, as well as a thoughtful exploration of race, class, and gender in America. – (from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Is_Burning_(film))

St. Laurent was a fixture in the transgender, gay, lesbian and bi-sexual “ballroom” community also known as “ball culture.”

Ball culture, the house system, the ballroom community and similar terms describe the underground LGBT subculture in the United States in which people “walk” (i.e. compete) for trophies and prizes at events known as balls. Those who walk often also dance and vogue while in various genres of drag often trying to pass as a specific gender and social class. Most people involved with ball culture belong to “houses” led by a single leader. – (from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_culture).

Why is “ball culture” important? From the early 70’s to the today, the LGBT community has driven dance music and DJ culture in the United States and around the world. Growing out of the Disco movement of the 70’s, House Music and the nightclubs, bars and other indoor and outdoor events and venues that feature the music have been part of the social fabric of this specific community, which influences the larger electronic music movement world wide. As mainstream Ameria has turned to Hip Hop and Rap as it’s primary form of popular music, the LGBT community has never wavered from its support of Dance and Eectronic music. It’s important to understand how this group’s embrace of DJ culture fueled and continues to support the music and the lifestyle. Individuals like Octavia St. Laurent are notable for their celebrity status within house music sub-culture, as they are the drivers of the fasion, dance (Vogue) and attitude that supports nightlife as part of the entertainment arts that we continue to enjoy today.

Here are some links for you to check out:

• Michael Musto / Village Voice
• The Vine
• Octavia Saint Laurent – Wikipedia
• IMDB – Octavia Saint Laurent
• Brooklyn Blues Blog
• TransGRiot Video Clips Collection

Watch the YouTube video from Paris Is Burning:

– by Tony Z.

Last Wednesday night, despite the lingering rain that has been pestering New Yorkers for the last month or so, I decided to venture out to the newly revamped Mansion, which is now known as M2 UltraLounge–the stealthy moniker that is cover for what’s supposed to be Ministry of Sound’s new NYC effort. If Pacha can bring the funk to New York, then Ministry of Sound sure can too, even if it it takes over a space that has seen it’s better days. I wasn’t much of a fan of Crobar, the club’s original incarnation. But, I must say the venue’s design team have given a touch of class to a huge room that was sorely lacking sophistication.

Showing up to Bacardi’s B-Live was, for me, an off, then on again affair. It was 11 pm and I’d just arrived to my friend’s house across the Hudson in Guttenberg, NJ, where I’m staying for the month to be closer to the city. I knew I had to get up for work early, because I commute about 1.5 hours each way to the office in Long Island. As I sat down to check my Facebook messages, I saw a friend sent me an earlier note asking if I was going to go. If so, she was wondering if I was going to take some shots that she could use for a publication she writes for. Despite my better judgement, I knew she needed my help. I got my butt up off the couch, jumped in the car and shot into the city to see what I could come up with. After all, she’s a great gal and I don’t mind doing a favor for a friend.

Remember, I’m supposed to get up at 6:30 AM to make my way to Long Island for my day job. Staying out late on a Wednesday night is not something I’m accustomed to, but it was for a good cause. Plus, I got some great video and ran into some friends, including Armand Van Helden and my man Ricky and his production partner, Ray, who are working on some tracks as Housing Project (MySpace). More on new music from that crew another time, for sure.

The night was definitely jackin. I go there just in time for the last 1/2 hour of Jazzy Jeff’s set. Every element of every track dropped in that 30 minutes was a bomb that warmed up the crowd for A-Trak, who broke out a big beat infused set of electronic, rock and urban rhythms that kept the crowd jumping until around 3 am. Then, it was DJ AM’s turn to take the wheels. After a few intro tracks, he dropped Notorious B.I.G. and the late night revelers kicked into gear once again.

For Bacardi, this certainly was a highly successful branding experiment. To pack an NYC venue on a Wednesday night until the wee hours of the morning says something about the talent and the offering. Bacardi staffers were everywhere throughout the venue, directing punters to get the pics taken in the Bacardi photo booth, have a custom T-Shirt printed on-the-spot, or grab a rock inspired poster. Throughout the venue, Bacardi imagery was in full effect. Of course, the sure winner was the HUGE, fully lit boom-box, which backed the DJs on the stage. I saw some walking around with messenger bags with a boom box pic printed on the flap. For a commercial effort, they got it right. People dug it and it wasn’t too obtrusive. Even the tour bus out front was hot, which photos of the DJs plasted on the sides.

All in, it was a pretty exciting night for Bacardi and NYC. Definitely a hot event. If B-Live is coming to a city near you, I wouldn’t miss it.

Check out the videos and photos below of Bacardi’s B-Live stop in NYC.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

1234567►

Wow! How MySpace grew to over 1,400 employees, no one knows? Maybe that’s the worldwide number. Regardless, the company, which was acquired by News Corp a few years ago for what was then thought as a steak, is trying to streamline operations and get back to the “start-up” mentality that helped to fuel it’s growth. This blogger highly doubts putting senior executives from companies like AOL and Viacom in charge of anything at MySpace resembles anything close to stealth mode.

Remember, most of these guys and gals have never, ever worked at a start-up. If they have, they are far removed from those experiences and can now sit back and collect six figure salaries to try to stem the exodus to other social media sites, which have been chipping away at their lead. How would they know what start-up even feels like? Nice to want to be something your not, especially in the face of competition from Facebook, whose “Pages” are quietly becoming the new port of call for many recording artists–many of whom have tired of paying someone a couple of grand for a tricked out MySpace page, when what they really need are simple artist tools to aggregate an audience, then promote and share their events. Can you say Going.com or event EventBrite?

To me, MySpace is an entertainment destination. Certainly a necessity for artists, actors, comedians, photographers and other media-centric folk, but Facebook has overtaken the service in terms of functionality and usability as a true social network. For example, the other day, I was looking for a Twitter app for my MySpace page. First, trying to figure out where the application directory is was confusing. Once in the director, I entered Twitter into the search box. The search returned the same application home page twice. It wasn’t until the third time that I found a couple of hits on a Twitter app. I quickly learned that whoever are developing these apps on the Open Social platform are not as sophisticated as Facebook developers. The “iTwitter” app I selected required me to unblock my status on Twitter, in order for it to feed my Twitter data into the app on my MySpace profile page. And, I learned that I couldn’t move the app up or down the page, as Facebook allows, when you’re logged in to your profile.

In comparison, I’ve been Twittering to my Facebook without an issue since the first Twitter app was created. Enuff said. And, with TweetDeck, I have the functionality of both. Where is MySpace in making a relationship with TweetDeck? With anyone for that matter? This is what happens. Control, control, and more control. Once social media companies are snapped up by larger concernes, they lose their mojo. While some argue that Facebook is stupid for not taking the money, I argue that they have a smart plan to be the best at what they do. If you focus on what you’re good at and you don’t sell out (can anyone say Google?), then you will win in the public markets in the end. MySpace now has lost the opportunity to go public. Facebook–if it goes public–will be Google-esque in their command of the social media marketplace. I’ll admit I could have learned a thing or two from that strategy with Netmix back in the day. Fortunately, I have a second chance. Most people don’t get a second chance.

Needless to say, MySpace is light years behind Facebook now in functionality and usability. Where Facebook is almost a perfect (is anything every really perfect?) social media interface and Twitter makes social networking simple, MySpace lags far, far behind. MySpace CEO Owen Van Natta is correct in saying that MySpace is a bloated company. If they can’t get their app search correct, which is one of the simplest of concepts, how do they expect to compete against the next generation? They have a lot of ground to cover, that’s for sure.

Check the Gawker post or read the story at NYTimes.com.

Speaking of closures, I just found out from a friend who worked at Ticketmaster owned and operated, Echo Music, that the company is jettisoning over 200 artists with hosted web sites from division and merges the company with it’s L.A.-based Entertainment division. May artists have been left in the lurch, scrambling to build new web sites or redirect their domains to their MySpace pages. We think Echo Music made a huge mistake being acquired by Ticketmaster. This is what happens when you look for the big payday. You can be out of a job in less time than it takes for a scalper to score 100 front row seats to a Miley Cyrus concert. For more on the Echo Music shutdown, check the String Theory Media blog. They’ve got the in-depth scoop.

– by Tony Zeoli

Tue, Jun 30, 2009
Fordham University (Lincoln Center)
New York, NY
7:00 p.m.

NARIP’s Art of the Music Deal series continues, this time with top music attorneys duking out a 360 deal. Join this special program and mock negotiation with special guest speakers M. JAMES COOPERMAN, Esq., COO & EVP Business and Legal Affairs of
Wind-Up Entertainment and DINA LaPOLT, Esq. of LaPolt Law.

Also joining the panel is Lisa Van Zuidam – Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer,
Tenth Street Entertainment and The Eleven Seven Music Group.

Get more details and register now at www.narip.com

.

Electric Zoo Festival

Electric Zoo New York – to be held in Randall’s Island Park, New York City on Saturday, September 5 & Sunday, September 6, 2009 – releases the latest notable additions to the massive line-up. On Saturday, the festival kicks off with Buzzin’ Fly label head and Everything But The Girl’s Ben Watt, Deep Space dub master Francois K, pioneering Rhythm & Sound’s Mark Ernestus featuring Milton Henry, Berlin’s first lady of techno Cassy, and rising Detroit/Berlin transplant Seth Troxler. On Sunday, the newest additions include; a DJ set from British electropop band Hot Chip’s Felix Martin & Al Doyle, Norway’s space-disco kings Lindstrom & Prins Thomas, and NYC’s own burgeoning star Jason Jollins.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th

• Armin van Buuren
• Deadmau5
• Benny Benassi
• Danny Tenaglia
• Roger Sanchez
• Luciano
• Robbie Rivera
• Tiga
• Ben Watt
• Francois K
• Busy P
• Marco Carola
• Chus & Ceballos
• Kaskade
• Steve Aoki
• DJ Mehdi
• Paco Osuna
• Mark Ernestus (Rhythm & Sound)
• featuring Milton Henry
• Chris Lake
• Speedy J
• The Whip
• Martin Buttrich
• Cassy
• Yuksek
• Seth Troxler

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th

• David Guetta
• Ferry Corsten
• Richie Hawtin
• Markus Schulz
• Special Disco Version featuring James Murphy & Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem/DFA)
• Felix Martin & Al Doyle (HOT CHIP) DJ Set
• Andy Butler (Hercules & Love Affair)
• Frankie Knuckles
• Lindstrom
• Prins Thomas
• Steve Bug
• Audion
• Josh Gabriel
• Desyn Masiello
• James Holden
• Adam Beyer
• Tom Middleton
• Nathan Fake
• Menno De Jong
• Chateau Flight
• Jason Jollins

Electric Zoo Festival

Electric Zoo New York – to be held in Randall’s Island Park, New York City on Saturday, September 5 & Sunday, September 6, 2009 – is pleased to announce more acts at this year’s inaugural festival.

The world’s No.1 DJ ARMIN VAN BUUREN and French superstar house music sensation DAVID GUETTA will helm an unprecedented line-up of over 50+ artists across 4 stages, covering all genres; House, Techno, Trance, Electro, and Indie, including DJs and live acts.

On Saturday, the heavyweight line-up is joined by Canadian prog/tech star Deadmau5, Montreal’s club veteran Tiga, LA’s scenster DJ Steve Aoki, Ed Banger, electrohouse DJ Busy P, fellow French cohort DJ Mehdi, English electro-rock band The Whip, and fiery French live act Yuksek. On Sunday, NYC’s own disco-house purveyor Andy Butler of Hercules & Love Affair, UK progressive house darling Desyn Masiello, Swedish techno auteur Adam Beyer, prolific Jedi/producer /remixer Tom Middleton, next-wave computer rock technoist Nathan Fake, and Parisian experimental house/techno outfit Chateau Flight join the festivities to close out the weekend.

The principals of Made Event, Mike Bindra and Laura De Palma explain their vision for the festival:

“We have been inspired over the years by what happens in Europe each summer, and we’re very excited to be bringing our version to America; Electric Zoo, New York’s first electronic music festival. Our intention is to showcase the top artists in each of the sub-genres, there will be something for everyone – a literal ‘zoo’ of electronic music. For us, this is the culmination of many years of dedication and hard work. The realization of this goal is another step forward for electronic music here, and we’re laying the foundation for many years to come.”

Special introductory ticket prices for Electric Zoo end on 12 midnight June 18th. Use promo code EZNY for $45 single-day passes and $80 double-pak two-day passes for General Admission. VIP single-day passes are available at $120 and VIP double-pak two-day passes at $225. VIP passes include a separate VIP entrance, access to VIP lounge with private cash bar, exclusive viewing area at main stage and access to VIP-only deluxe bathrooms. Tickets are available at www.electriczoofestival.com.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th

• Armin van Buuren
• Deadmau5
• Benny Benassi
• Danny Tenaglia
• Roger Sanchez
• Luciano
• Robbie Rivera
• Tiga
• Marco Carola
• Chus & Ceballos
• Steve Aoki
• Busy P
• Kaskade
• DJ Mehdi
• Paco Osuna
• Chris Lake
• Speedy J
• The Whip
• Martin Buttrich
• Yuksek

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th

• David Guetta
• Ferry Corsten
• Richie Hawtin
• Markus Schulz
• Special Disco Version featuring James Murphy & Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem/DFA)
• Andy Butler (Hercules & Love Affair)
• Frankie Knuckles
• Steve Bug
• Josh Gabriel
• Desyn Masiello
• James Holden
• Adam Beyer
• Tom Middleton
• Audion
• Nathan Fake
• Menno De Jong
• Chateau Flight

Bacardi B-Live Web Site

BACARDI® B-LIVE™ is an nnovative global concert series that is touring the United States, mixing today’s hottest music with the very best in BACARDI cocktails.

A-Trak, DJ AM, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Drop the Lime, and Steve Porter will perform in New York at BACARDI B-LIVE, Wednesday, June 17^th, 2009. This national summer music series brings electro-pop and indie/electronic music to the masses and is taking place at the M2 Ultra Lounge (530 W. 28th St) at 9pm.  The performers will take the stage where they will showcase their own, unique styles to produce a one-of-a-kind performance.

Tickets are $15.00 at WWW.BACARDI.COM/BLIVE. You must be 21+ to purchase and party.

BACARDI has created the ultimate atmosphere for today’s hottest music and the very best in BACARDI cocktails.  Urban fashion andculture, as well as current music trends are reflected through the memorable tour design elements.  An old school boom box, designed by multimedia environment company, Moment Factory, illuminates the room and serves as a backdrop for performances.  Vintage photo booths, vinyl records, retro TV’s fitted with plasma screens and classic vending machines complete the look and feel of the tour.  To reach the avid consumer base of poster collectors and graphic designers in the music world, 10 internationally renowned artists created designs for t-shirts and posters.

Attendees (21+) will have the opportunity to sample custom-made BACARDI rum cocktails at the BACARDI Bespoke Bar. This premium bar allows for attendees to sample and create their own cocktails with the help of a talented mixologist. These unique and personalized cocktails are made using the freshest ingredients, fruits and flavor combinations.