Archive for Editorial
Feb
05
Clay Aiken – Wear Red Day
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Clay Aiken seems to have many fans that are women. They range in age from pre-teens to grandmothers. Each one should be wearing red today.
Today is National Wear Red Day, a part of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement, and is a simple, but powerful, way to call attention to heart disease and stroke.
Heart disease often is thought of as a “man’s disease,” but it is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the U.S., and women account for 52 percent of the total heart disease deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The stark reality is that one in three women will die of heart disease.
The Go Red for Women movement strives to educate women about their risk for heart disease and stroke, how to recognize signs of a heart attack or stroke and how to live healthier lives in an attempt to prevent heart disease and stroke.
The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Web site has an incredible amount of information.
How smart the founders of this project were to choose the month of February to celebrate the day. After all, February is well-known for being the month of love.
That makes me think of love songs…..especially love songs sung by Clay Aiken.
Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You
Something About Us
Jan
30
Clay Aiken – The Ever-Changing Music Field
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With all the research that is done, it becomes more obvious that Clay Aiken looked at the big picture when he signed with Decca, a label in the Universal Music Group. The world’s largest music group is busy adding partners and business associates to keep in the forefront of the ever-changing music field.
Universal Music Group (UMG) is expanding its line-up of direct-to-consumer mobile content and services for music fans through an agreement with Netbiscuits, the world’s leading mobile publishing platform. The announcement was made on January 28th by David Ring, Executive Vice President of Business Development & Business Affairs for UMG’s eLabs, and Ran Farmer, Managing Director of Netbiscuits Inc.
In their press release UMG stated that… With this agreement, UMG will use Netbiscuits market-leading web software to launch mobile websites and services for UMG’s chart-topping artists. By doing so, UMG will be opening up even more channels of content discovery and delivery to music fans everywhere. Through these artist-branded mobile websites, UMG will offer fans the ability to interact with other fans and to make purchases directly from their handset. Based on the mobile websites, Netbiscuits allows UMG to set up smart hybrid apps for all major platforms, including the iPhone, Android, and Windows Mobile devices.
David Ring said:
“Universal is committed to providing consumers with even more engaging interactive opportunities to connect with their favorite artists and music by personalizing their mobile devices. Thanks to the support we are getting from Netbiscuits, we’ll be in an even better position to extend these artist opportunities and products across the widest array of available wireless devices. Through their exclusive technology, we’ll be able to offer consumers truly engaging mobile music experiences that include the chance to generate their own content, leaving comments, uploading pictures, and chatting with each other via these mobile sites. UMG will continue to lead the way in adopting the latest technology to offer fans the most dynamic interactive musical experiences possible.”
In November of 2009, UMG first began working with Netbiscuits when they worked together on the successful launch of the mobile website for Bon Jovi.
Managing Director of Netbiscuits Inc, Ran Farmer commented, saying,
“We’re very excited to help Universal Music mobilizing so many of the world’s most famous music artists All these artists going mobile means to me that the mobile Web today really is a mass market phenomenon. Adding the right mobile commerce strategies and technologies to the mix finally paves the way for real revenues coming from the mobile channel.”
Netbiscuits delivers content for more than 6.000 different mobile devices worldwide. The platform enables a next generation user experience on the latest smart phones and web-enabled phones. For a 360 degree experience, Universal Music will also use the text messaging service suite that is integrated with the Netbiscuits platform to provide music lovers with SMS (short message service) alerts whenever their artist is in town.
So……does this mean that Clay Aiken will be on my phone??? Will Decca let me know when Clay is in town?? I liked the possibilities that…….. “mobile music experiences that include the chance to generate their own content, leaving comments, uploading pictures, and chatting with each other via these mobile sites”……is a part of the package. It sounds like we can have a lot of fun.
For more information on the topic visit Netbiscuit and Universal Music Group
Jan
28
Clay Aiken – Digital Music Report
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As we anticipate the release of the new CD by Clay Aiken, it is important that we stay informed about what is going on in the music recording industry. The following information is important and “hot off the press.”
The IFPI (or International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) represents 1400 record companies in 72 countries. It just published their Digital Music Report for 2010, which looks at international trends in the recording industry over the past year.
The IFPI said that the industry had seen positive developments in 2009, with more than a quarter of all recorded music revenues now coming from digital sales after the industry embraced new ways to sell tracks. Fans today can access and pay for music in different ways. They can buy tracks or albums from download stores, use subscription services, use music services that are bundled with devices, buy apps for music and listen to music through streaming services for free.
Record labels are making music available in many unprecedented ways. Today, albums come in hundreds of formats and products. A popular example is Beyonce’s album, “I Am…Sasha Fierce.” The album is available in more than 260 different products in the United States. These include music videos, master tones, ringback tones and audio tracks.
Lucian Grainge is the Chairman and CEO, Universal Music Group International. He was quoted in the report as saying;
“We are shaping our own future by finding new ways of getting music into people’s lives.”
The annual report is 30 pages long and touches on many positive and negative things in the recording industry.
In their report, the IFPI reported that 95% of all music downloads are illegal – and they say that “cooperation from Internet Service Providers holds the key to this problem.”
Piracy is the major barrier to growth of the legitimate digital music sector and is causing severe damage to local music industries around the world. The IFPI goes on to say that the industry has reached a tipping point with digital music, and suggests that the government needs to look to ISPs to police file sharing. Their plan is to have ISPs use a “graduated response”, warning suspected pirates first, and then disconnecting them from the Internet.
IFPI chairman and CEO John Kennedy said;
“Digital piracy remains a huge barrier to market growth and is causing a steady erosion of investment in local music. The collapse in sales and investment in France, Spain and Brazil, countries with traditionally vibrant music cultures, testify to this and are a warning to the rest of the world.”
Another interesting topic that they reported on was the highly damaging problem of pre-release piracy. Unfortunately, sometimes pre-release tracks and albums leak days or weeks before their official release. Jeremy Banks is IFPI’s director of anti-piracy. He says:
“Record labels are more aware than ever that the protective measures they take in the days around an album’s release are absolutely crucial to whether the album will realize its full market potential. You can count the cost in terms of lost returns to artist and record company from the moment the first copy leaks out onto the internet.”
The anti-piracy team tracks leaks of tracks and albums released all over the world. It searches blogs, forums and websites. They also work with legitimate online services like YouTube, to make sure that copyright infringements are removed. In 2009, more than five million links were removed.
One of the most high-profile pre-release leaks of 2009 was the posting of Leona Lewis tracks online when there was a “Hack” of an internet account at her record company. Syco Records called in the police and by working with industry investigators, traced the origins of the leak. Simon Cowell is the managing director of Syco Records.
The 30 page report has many statistics and quotes and covers much more information than is reported here. If you want to read more information, you can see the entire report HERE.
Jan
14
Clay Aiken – Checking Out FreeAllMusic
Posted by: | CommentsSince Clay Aiken is now a recording artist at Decca/Universal Music Group, it is interesting to follow all the new partnerships that the company is using to keep updated in the changing business of music.
On Monday, January 11th, Universal Music Group announced that they have joined hands with a company called FreeAllMusic. This ad-sponsored digital music download service will offer consumers free, legal downloads.
Because of this new affiliation, thousands of tracks from many of the world’s most famous artists will now be accessible to the users in the private test group. Users will be allowed 20 free downloads in a month, five per week beginning every New Music Tuesday.
FreeAllMusic.com is a new music service that provides consumers with downloadable, high-quality, iPod-compatible MP3s of popular songs that are free, legal, and advertiser-paid. Users receive a permanent, high-quality download which they can enjoy anytime, anywhere with no further advertising or restrictions by watching one brief video commercial per download. There is no software required for the service.
To download a free track, registered users can just choose a participating brand they favor, and watch a concise video from that brand. Following each download, FreeAllMusic.com serves additional advertisements for that brand across targeted websites. Visitors to those sites will see ads displaying information about downloads, supporting brands, and FreeAllMusic.com. If users want to share with their friends, information about their download can be mailed to them and they can even download it legally for free...if they watch the ad, too. Sharing of download activity can also be posted on popular social networking sites.
Coca-Cola, Warner Bros. TV, Zappos.com, Lionsgate, LG, inconcert3D, and Powermat are the charter brands for the private beta period. Users can receive their free music lawfully, brands may expand their loyalties, and artists are compensated no differently than if the tracks were bought, thereby crafting a fair balance to all participants.
Richard Nailing from FreeAllMusic.com said,
“For the first time, a legitimate free music download service is making ‘doing the right thing’ easier than piracy. Our site is fast, easy and fun for consumers. The addition of UMG’s artists from Lady Gaga and Rihanna to Taylor Swift and Jay Sean means people can count on FAM to offer an excellent selection of DRM-free music for just about every taste.”
David Ring, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Business Affairs for UMG’s eLabs stated,
“Free All Music has created a new advertising model that connects fans, artists and brands. It provides an opportunity for fans to support the artists that they love, and brands to build loyalty with existing and new consumers. Universal Music is committed to enabling and supporting services that provide engaging alternatives for fans looking to legally download music.”
Does this seem like the kind of program you would be interested in? Will the general public be willing to sit through a short commercial for a free song? It certainly seems like a good idea and it is nice to see that the musicians will get compensated for the download.
Jan
11
Clay Aiken News Network – 1 Year Old
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Monday, January 11, is the first anniversary of this blog.
CANN was started with the goal of keeping you updated on all the Clay Aiken news as it happens. But the site became more than that. Other elements have been added to help keep the site fresh and informative.
Here are some interesting year statistics:
— We have published 530 posts and articles —
— We have 543 subscribers to CANN —
— We have had visitors from over 100 countries —
— We have had 7,948 published comments from readers —
— We have had fun —
From news about David Hyde Pierce to Diane Sawyer... information on bullying to autism... reviews of performances to crazy polls, live reporting from events to exciting memories, we have tried to keep the site interesting and fun.
Deona is the "techie". She keeps the site running. She adds the "bells and whistles" that make this site interesting.
Musicfan123 (that's me) is the writer. Research and topic ideas are the most important part of my job.
SueReu is the artist. She adds so much with her montages and she keeps the videos stream going.
We are all on the west coast. Deona anad Musicfan123 live about 5 miles away from each other just north of San Francisco. Being close makes co-ordination easier. We have tried hard to present a place where all Clay fans are welcome. Whatever your home board, we hope you enjoy our news.
So.........lets celebrate!! Here's to 2010 and LOTS of news about Clay Aiken!
Nov
26
Clay Aiken – It’s Turkey Time!
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Do you remember what Clay Aiken was doing last Thanksgiving?
We Wish You All
A
Wonderful Thanksgiving.
Enjoy Your Family and Friends.
And......
Come Back Soon And Join Us For More
Clay Aiken News!
Nov
02
Clay Aiken – Always Look On The Bright Side of Life
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I was reminded the other day that at this time last year, Clay Aiken was on stage at the Shubert Theater, starring in Spamalot. I was lucky enough to see more than one production of Spamalot and even ended up being the Peasant one night.
The part of Sir Robin was a perfect fit for Clay and showed not only his wonderful voice, but his comedic talent and his strong acting abilities. Watching Clay made the audience happy. Hopefully, Clay and the entire cast picked up on this and enjoyed the performances too.
I found a great video of Clay in Spamalot. The person who made the video was able to combine the scenes that were available to the public and the end result is amazing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Did you see Clay in Spamalot? If so, what was your favorite scene?
Oct
30
Clay Aiken – Let’s Celebrate!
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Clay Aiken fans have band together to participate in Trick or Treat for The National Inclusion Project. In conjunction with the America’s Giving Challenge, this Halloween Party gives us the opportunity to fund a summer camp for kids of all abilities.
America’s Giving Challenge is a 30-day national competition that encourages people to leverage their personal networks and online social media to help win cash awards that will total $170,000 on behalf of their favorite nonprofit. Participants in America’s Giving Challenge will compete for daily and overall cash awards based on the number of donations generated for a cause, not dollars raised. Awards will be given to the nonprofit beneficiaries of the causes that garner the highest number of unique daily donations between 3:00 p.m. EDT October 7, 2009, and 2:59pm EST on November 6, 2009.
$50,000 will be awarded to the cause with the highest total number of unique daily donations over the 30 days of the Challenge. $25,000 will be awarded to the cause with the next highest total number of unique daily donations over the 30 days of the Challenge. $10,000 will be awarded to the next five causes with the highest total number of unique daily donations over the 30 days of the Challenge. There will also be two daily awards every day of the Challenge: $1,000 to the cause with the most unique donations that day and $500 to the cause with the second highest number of unique donations that day. (Daily awards begin at 3:00pm ET and run through 2:59pm ET the following day.)
We are now halfway through our Halloween Celebration. Many fans donated on the first day and we hope that many more will join in the fun. Every donation counts!!
Donate from 3:00pm, Oct. 29th to 2:59pm, Oct. 30th
and
3:00pm, Oct. 30th to 2:59pm, Oct 31st
So, put down the extra bags of Halloween candy and
help build a camp for kids!
This is a special day at the Clay Aiken News Network. Today, we reached 100,000 visitors to our blog. Our first entry was published on January 11, 2009 when we said hello to the internet world.
Since that day, we have posted 451 articles that have been about Clay Aiken and about topics that relate to him. We have 520 members who have signed up for daily updates by e-mail. We average about 300 visitors a day, but have had up to 1100 in a 24 hour period. We have had visitors from over 90 countries thoughout the world and many have introduced themselves to us.
CANN has also heard from some of the organizations we have written about. It is always exciting to get those messages and know that our blog is being read by them.
This site was started to provide an accurate and positive place to get Clay Aiken news in a timely manner. It’s been lots of fun and we want to thank each of you for your support. Your visits and comments are so appreciated.
So……Let’s Celebrate!! 
Oct
12
Clay Aiken – Raleigh Is My Home
Posted by: | CommentsThe National Inclusion Project will be held this coming Saturday, October 17th, 2009. For that reason, there will many fans traveling to Raleigh from all over the United States to support Clay Aiken and his Project.
If you are one of the lucky one to attend the Gala, perhaps you will have some extra time to be a tourist and see the sites of the community.
Listed below are a few of the recommended sites that you might want to visit. I live in California and, although this will be my 3rd trip to Raleigh, I am certainly no expert on the area. The following suggestions were found at tripadvisor and Yahoo Travel.
NC State Fair
From October 15th to the 25th, Raleigh will be home to one of North Carolina’s most entertaining and memorable events, the 2009 N.C. State Fair. With rides, competitions, exhibits and entertainment galore, the N.C. State Fair is always a great time, attracting visitors from all 100 counties!
The State Fair’s motto, “A Whole Lotta Happy”, pretty much sums up how everyone will feel once they’ve experienced this fun-filled event. As always, there will be a wide array of exciting rides that everyone can enjoy. In between rides, take a break to enjoy one of the many concerts that will take place at Dorton Arena. This year’s entertainment line-up includes Jason Michael Carroll, Kellie Pickler, The Temptations and Eric Church, just to name a few. You can also stop by one of the many exhibits that will be going on, such as Green NC or Field of Dreams.
Historic Oakwood
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Oakwood is an enchanting neighborhood of restored and carefully maintained Victorian and Antebellum homes. It offers an ideal view for a stroll. Lovely anytime of the year, Oakwood is truly at its finest at the annual Christmas Candlelight Tour and again in the spring, when the gardens put on their best show. Bordered by Franklin, Watauga, Linden, Jones and Person Streets. It is close to the Executive Mansion. Sidewalks and trees line the quiet streets, making it an ideal place for a walking tour during an afternoon visit.
Address: Franklin Street Raleigh, NC 27601
Tel: 919 733 3456
The Executive Mansion
The North Carolina Executive Mansion, often referred to as the Governors Mansion, is a monumental building located in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is currently home to North Carolina's governor, Bev Perdue. The mansion on Fayetville Street in downtown Raleigh has not always been the residency for North Carolina state governors; in fact, it is the fourth official house that has been selected.
Since its initial construction in 1882, few major changes have been made to the building's structure. Porches on the north and east sides have been enclosed to expand kitchen and security facilities. The 14 foot high ceiling fits a huge Christmas tree in which the governor traditionally turns on the lights after Thanksgiving. As you walk in you see a huge red carpet given to the house and state for its 100th anniversary.
Overall, the house is very historical and interesting. If you ever have a chance to visit the North Carolina Governor's Mansion then you should go.
Address: 200 N Blount St Raleigh, NC 27601
Tel: 919 807 7950
Mordecai Historical Park
This park is located on a former plantation that was owned by Joel Lane who donated his land to the city of Raleigh. The house on this property was built in 1785 which makes this the oldest house in Raleigh on its original foundation. The land around the house was originally a plantation that was 5000 acres. Most of the buildings on this property were unfortunately built sing slave labor. Also on this property is the building that Andrew Johnson was said to be born in. The park is open 24 hours a day. Guided tours are available on Tuesday-Friday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm
Address:
One Mimosa St. Raleigh, NC 27604
Phone: (919) 857-4364
The State Capitol
The State Capitol looks much the same today as it did back in 1840. Originally built between 1792 and 1796, it burned in 1831 and the government set out to build a new, more majestic, Capitol. Today it stands proud on Union Square, one of the best-preserved examples of Greek-Revival style architecture in America. The centerpiece of the impressive rotunda is a statue of George Washington dressed in a Roman tunic. The building's history is a colorful one, with stories of ghosts roaming and secret spy rooms. Free guided tours.
1 East Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-1011
Open Hours8am-5pm Mon-Fri; 10am-4pm Sat; 1pm-4pm Sun
City Market
City Market, built in the early 1900s, still holds a lot of old world charm. Converted in 1988 to house shops, art galleries and restaurants, the original cobblestone streets, accented with period lampposts, are dotted with park benches. There is a festival atmosphere on the weekends, when the trees are lit in the evenings and live music plays on the streets. Couples holding hands stroll by while children dance and older folks sit tapping their toes. A trolley runs Thursday through Saturday nights, offering free transportation to other downtown locales.
303 Blake Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-1801
Other Place to Visit:
Museum of Natural Sciences
11 West Jones St. Raleigh, NC 27601
JC Raulston Arboretum
Department of Horticultural Science
NC State University
Campus Box 7522
Raleigh, NC 27695-7522
(919) 515-3132
Duke University
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 684-8111
Oct
10
Clay Aiken – We Are Thinking Of You
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A boy needs a Grandpa…
For man-to-man talks,
To go hand in hand
On companionable walks,
To fix up his toys
When they no longer go,
To tell him the things
Little boys want to know.
A boy needs a Grandpa…
To show him the way
To handle a puppy,
To teach him fair play.
To impart bits of wisdom
He’s learned through the years,
That it’s no disgrace
For a man to shed tears.
A boy needs a Grandpa…
To sit on his lap
And if no one is looking,
They take a wee nap,
Each wrapped in an aura
Of love and esteem,
Each smiling gently
At some special dream.
~ Author Unknown ~
