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January 31, 2006
Coretta Scott King Dies!
According to a report by CBS this morning, Coretta Scott King, the widow of civil rights legend Martin Luther King Jr., has died in Atlanta at the age of 78. She had suffered a stroke in August. She and her husband shared a dream, a common vision of a nation no longer separated by racial division and hatred, reports CBS News correspondent Alison Harmelin reports.
As the wife of Dr. King, the greatest civil rights leader in America's history, she too would become a symbol of hope. Like her husband, Coretta Scott King devoted her life to nonviolent protest and peace.
When her husband spoke of discrimination, she had lived it. Raised in Alabama, she saw firsthand the horrors of racial prejudice. While a still a music student, a young Coretta Scott met a charismatic new minister named Martin Luther King. They married in 1953 and had four children. Together the Kings worked tirelessly for civil rights, encouraging peaceful protest instead of violence.
On a personal note, one of the reasons I went into the radio business many years ago, is that it gave me the great opportunity to meet almost anyone. I had the good fortune to meet Yolanda King several years ago in Los Angeles. It was a beautiful visit with the oldest living daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King.
As a third generation native Californian, as a person who believes in the power of the word, individual rights and freeddom, our flag will be at half mast today at the Santell home.
To us at What's Out Next, Coretta Scott King, you are so beautiful to me!
Posted by mitchsantell at 08:33 AM
January 27, 2006
Podcast Interview With Norman Ellis-Flint! - Part One
Norman Ellis-Flint has played an important and fascinating role in the evolution and development of modern radio and radio advertising. Norman was one of the pioneers in the development of several major rock stations across the United States and then became a leader and innovator in developing some of the most powerful marketing concepts used by companies that advertised on radio.
Working as a young man in San Francisco during the famous “Summer of Love,” Norman helped develop KMPX-FM: one of the first true rock stations in America. The format Norman developed was quickly picked up by KSJO-FM in San Jose and many other stations across the United States. In less than 18 months, CBS took notice of Norman’s and his partner Lou Waters’ success and influence and brought him to New York City, to help turnaround and revitalize WCBS-FM.
Norman was later lured away from WCBS to work with John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Kharma Productions in Toronto, Canada. Norman was hired to be their Director of Creative and Media Relations. It was here that Norman gained so much of his in-depth understanding of business, marketing and advertising.
We had a wonderful time with Norman during our interview and afterward. We won't give about the story here in this post, however, we invite you to click on the podcast logo below and check out Part One. You can also check out Norman on the internet too!
Norman welcomes your questions, comments or insights at: norman@normanellisflint.com
Part One of the Norman Ellis-Flint - Show # 1 for 2006! (16 Minutes 13 Seconds).
Posted by mitchsantell at 11:21 PM
January 26, 2006
Happy Birthday Anita Baker!
When Anita Baker vanished from the music charts and the public's view a decade ago, the sound of R&B was already changing from the lush love ballads that made her 1986 album "Rapture" a multiplatinum hit to what we know today: more and more graphic expressions of lust laid over more and more thunderous beats. (Think R. Kelly.) Baker may or may not have seen that coming, but she knew something was out of whack. Her early-'90s tour with Luther Vandross was reportedly fraught with contention, and she was butting heads with the new CEO of Elektra Records, Sylvia Rhone. One ex-Elektra employee recalls regular screaming episodes, and a durable rumor has it that Baker once slapped her boss. Baker dismisses this story and says she and Rhone had "different agendas and different visions, but we were always professional, no matter what the rumors say." (Rhone could not be reached for comment.) After the release of her last album, in 1994, she battled her way out of her Elektra contract and retreated to her 15-room mansion in Detroit to take a rest from the drama.
She didn't get it. While Baker got to see her two sons (now 10 and 11) grow, she had to watch both her parents die after long illnesses and suffered strain in her 12-year marriage. She signed a deal with Atlantic in 1995 but couldn't write a new album. "The music wasn't there, the words weren't coming, and that was because I was spending most of my time at the nursing home doing what every child must do at some point in their life—caring for an ailing parent or, in my case, parents. I lost the Atlantic deal, and that's the first time I've ever lost a job in my life. I was devastated." But Baker, a onetime legal secretary from Toledo, Ohio, knew all along she'd get back to music, and the results are here this week: "My Everything," an Anita Baker album in her classic mode, with arrangements by jazz master George Duke, a duet with Kenneth (Babyface) Edmonds and that unmistakable throaty voice. In sound and style, it picks up just where she left off 10 years ago. "I just do what I do," says Baker, 46. "The music was coming to me, and it wouldn't stop. It had been a long time since that happened. I know the industry has changed, but that doesn't bother me. I've never been one to do what everybody else was doing. I do what works for me." Works for us. "My Everything" won't break into what's now mainstream radio, but if even half of her old audience finds the album, she won't have to worry.
A special thank you to Allison Samuels at Newsweek who originally wrote this. We share it with you, our What's Out Next readers to celebrate Anita's special day. From our view, her music is just as fresh today as it was when she launced over 10+ years ago. Happy birtthday!
At What's Out Next we won't forget !
Posted by mitchsantell at 11:11 PM
January 25, 2006
Want To Send Audio? JUST SEND IT!
First, I want to thank all the new readers of What's Out Next! Our mail bag was pretty full today and on behalf of our entire team, we thank you for your continued support.
Now onto today's posting!
If you love music the way I do, you write it, produce it and you have others who produce music and want to send it to you. Right? The big challenge is, how do you send it without your email bouncing it back? The problem is: how do you avoid having your email sent to the "junk mail folder?"
Well (drum roll), we have the ansewr for you. That answer is send it!
I guess they were just happy together!
At What's Out Next we say, just send it: http://www.yousendit.com/
Posted by mitchsantell at 08:07 PM
January 24, 2006
Art Bell & His Darling Wife Ramona!
Later this year my darling wife Laurie and myself will happily celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. As I thank God each day for the gifts that I have been given, I think about the love we share for each other, I also think about those who had a love that they lost.
If you are as big a talk radio junkie as I am, you most likely have heard of Art Bell who is quite a legend in late night talk radio circles. Art Bell's wife Romana of 15+ years together passed away over a week ago in her sleep from an asma attack.
We keep Art Bell in our prayers this week as he is still in mourning over the loss of his dear wife a wonderful lady who was by Art's side for over 15+ years!
Posted by mitchsantell at 02:15 AM
January 22, 2006
I Love Sterophonic Sound!
Stereophonic Sound (1958), Quadrophonic Sound (1968) & Surround Sound (1992)!
Ah! The one and only blessed and wonderful sound of stereo on vinyl! In 1958 we were introduced to the stereo effect on records, which consisted of two separate channels recorded in the same groove known as stereophonic. Just as the use of two eyes creates a perception of depth, the effect of musical presence is achieved by stereophonic. This is facilitated by recording sound with two appropriately positioned microphones and playing it back on two separated loudspeakers. A stereo recording provides two separate signal channels as oscillations perpendicular to either one or the other of the faces of the record groove. The monaural pickup is replaced by one with two coils, which sense the motion of the stylus at right angles to each groove wall; the inside wall is used as the left channel and the outside wall the right.troduced by Phillips Electronics eventually replaced them. However, the quadrophonic sound has made a come back in the form of surround sounds which include 5 speakers.4 channels leading into the 5th speaker. Its a new name given to the Quadrophonic sound!!
There is not much to say about the quadraphonic sound recorded on discs. The birth of the Quadrophonic sound came about in the the early part of and great things were predicted for it's success on the market. The Quadrophonic disc had four channels, as compared to that of the Stereophonic discs which had two. The two extra channels were often used to reproduce ambient sound four rear left and right speakers. This innovation on records never really caught on with the buying public, and it was doomed to die a natural death because commercially it was a complete failure!! Though it faired slightly better on 8 track recorders that was not too successful either as the cassette tape machines in introduced by Phillips Electronics eventually replaced them. However, the quadrophonic sound has made a come back in the form of surround sounds which include 5 speakers.4 channels leading into the 5th speaker. Its a new name given to the Quadrophonic sound!!
Surround Sound was born in 1992 and is Quadrophonic sound another speaker. More than ever before, the record labels are releasing CD's in DVD format thus allowing more content.
At What's Out Next we think the next thing will be Podphonic Sound! To me this sound like a roundabout!
Roundabout (Track One from Fragile Released on November 1, 1971 by YES).
Posted by mitchsantell at 04:22 PM
Is This America?
Jenna Sue Santell
On January 25, 1985 MGM Released Falcon and The Snowman! If you recall the picture it was the true story of Christopher Boyce (Hutton), a young All-American man whose job as a guard for sensitive documents shatters his faith in his country and leads him to a sometimes comic, sometimes chilling sideline as a spy for the Soviets, aided by his scruffy buddy, Daulton (Penn); it can't last, though, and the consequences are tremendous for Boyce and his family.
Now fast forward to 2005. First for the good news, The Patriot Act was defeated by a only 8 votes. The eight congressman who voted against this law which is totally un-Constitutional should be given the congressional medal of honor.
Now For A Very Personal Story.....
Like yourself, I think it is good to have solid borders and I think that one of the gifts of America is the ability to legally become a citizen here. That is all a good thing.
Yesterday while traveling from Rosarito Beach (Baja, owned by Mexico), our family traveled through the border check point to re-enter the U.S.A.
We love our country, the United States and want everyone to be safe here. In the mini-van was my wife of 20 years, my two youngest children and our in-laws.
We all had our ID's out to show the border patrol guard and to answer a few questions. I was not nervous at all. why? First, I was born and raised in the United States, Second, our family is about as Apple Pie as they come, and third, I figured, this is a piece of cake!
What happened next really shocked me. So much so that I decided to break from my regular What's Out Next music and technology format. (We will return tomorrow with a new podcast). When we reached the border, the officer asked for all of our ID's which we all handed over, at least the adults did.
My 10 year old Jenna was in the back seat with her sister Hannah. Jenna was barely awake from her nap when the officer insisted that she move closer to the front of our mini-van to answer questions.
The officer then invested the next 5 minutes grilling my 10 year old daughter. Sound strange? I had already stated that she was my daughter. We had already stated where we were coming from and where we lived. We had already shown the officer our ID's. He started grilling her with questions because she did not have her school ID with her.
During the time that the officer was asking questions of my daughter, I had to keep her calm and keep her from crying. She had no clue why this guy was asking her what he was asking. What was scary for me as Jenna's father was I felt safer at Rosarita Beach in Baja than I did going into my own country.
At What's Out Next, while we track Music, Technology and Buzz in the music industry, what happenened at the border is another example of how the Federal Government continues to use 9/11 to violate the personal rights of our citizens.
While we all want safe borders, I think that our Federal Government should be ashamed at the way they continue to violate our rights and scare our own children. You are invited to write to me at: mitch@whatsoutnext.com with any comments or questions that you may have. It's all good!
Original Poster from Falcon & The Snowman from 1985!
If this behavior continues we will be thinking that this is not America!
Posted by mitchsantell at 04:14 PM
January 21, 2006
What The Bleep Do We Know?
While What's Out Next is dedicated to Music, Technology and Buzz, form time to time we come across something different. Coming form an entertainment family and being in that business myself, I must admit that I have always believed that we create whatever reality that we want!
For those of you that don't believe me, simply go out and rent the movie "What The Bleep Do We Know?" Thanks to my son Michael I was able to see the film this morning and it had a profound and positive effect on me.
What's my take on it? I figured out why my sister-in-law has to take pharmaceutical drugs like ritilin and paxil. My Aunt Shirlee never emotionally recovered from her parents divorce. Why? It all has to do with how we see the world and how we think. As David Ickle likes to say "it is the silence between the thoughts." Why causes this grief? It has to do with people who do not live in the moment. People who are trapped by their own past or live in the past and can't get on with it. Make sense?
In the music business why is it that an artist like Sheryl Crow will produce album after album of hits while other artists like Duncan Sheik will only be a one hit wonder? It all has to do with how we view the world.
When you do your dream in the music business and you start out with an idea on a napkin most people will tell you....your nuts! Then if you stick with it all the things that you create start to take on a reality all of their own. Life is about living it as a fully integrated person.
Hey you must rent this movie! The change will do you good!
Posted by mitchsantell at 05:23 PM
January 19, 2006
When You Wish Upon a Star, Pixar & Disney!
Jobs's filmmaking company, Pixar Animation Studios, is discussing a possible merger with Walt Disney Co., according to a source with knowledge of the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are confidential. A deal, which could energize Disney's animation unit, would underscore the importance of new digital technologies in a rapidly changing media landscape. It also would inject Jobs's vision into the Disney animation empire.
A charismatic leader renowned for big risks and big stumbles, Jobs is on the rise again. His Apple Computer Inc. reported record revenue in the latest quarter as sales of Mac computers rose and, more importantly, consumers snatched up 14 million iPods over the three months. Jobs's innovative digital music player expanded into video last year, helping spur a surge in mobile viewing, and customers have begun ordering the first Apple computers with Intel chips. All of Pixar's films -- including "Toy Story," "Finding Nemo," "The Incredibles" and "Monsters, Inc." -- were monster hits, making the studio the undisputed leader in cutting-edge animation.
"To me, the deal has the smell of inevitability to it," said Paul Saffo, an analyst with the Silicon Valley think tank Institute for the Future. "If it doesn't happen, for whatever reason, it would be a lost opportunity for both companies. The long-term trajectory of both these companies without each other is downwards."
Yes, your looking at the original Disneyland Coupons from the early 1960's!
At What's Out Next, we know what dreams are made of!!!
Posted by mitchsantell at 11:48 PM
January 17, 2006
It's All On The Tape!
Music has an amazing way of taking you back to another time. When Fleetwood Mac was in the studio back in 1976 working on Rumors released in 1977... they had no idea what a blockbuster the album would be. Going through an unbelievable amount of pain and drama, Fleetwood Mac would go on to produce an album that had so many hits on it that some Executives within the music industry simply wanted to call the album "Fleetwood Mac's Greatest Hits!"
What most of you don't know who are out there in the digital music space is this amazing fact. Rumors was recorded on good old Ampex 456 Tape. Two inches wide and a standard for 16 and 24 track recording, the feel off this tape had a warmth that is hard to match today.
Here is a little known fact about that album. Ready? Back in 1977 when Rumors was recorded they had a "safety back up" of the drum tracks. (This was also on 456 tape). By the time they got down to the final mix of the album, they noticed that all of the "high end" on the drum tracks including the high-hat could no longer be heard. It had rubbed off of the tape.
Lindsey Buckingham and Richard Dashut, the producers on the record knew they had a huge problem on their hands. What did they do? Using two multi-track recorders they had the original safety track playing in one ear and the original finished track in the other. This was painstaking work as they had to match the finished track with the safety in order for the tracks to work.
At What's Out Next, we know what dreams are made of and we are still in awe of the magic that was created. Now that is magic to our ears!
Posted by mitchsantell at 07:59 PM