Cherry Orchard Music Group (ASCAP), an artist management and music publishing company recently announced that it has reached an artist management agreement with Hip Hop trio KNOTZ.

Press Release 365 : 03/27/2007 – Craig Winstead, CEO of Cherry Orchard Music Group is pleased to announce the company’s most recent signing, the dynamic Hip Hop trio KNOTZ. The deal between Knotz and Cherry Orchard signifies the merger of industry professionals poised to take Hip Hop to new heights.

KNOTZ members Dreadchild (Kareem Parkins), Megaton (Jelani Parkins), and Aswad Mikal the Black Angel (Gyasi Parkins) are no strangers to the Hip Hop scene. Their first large stage performance was in 1995 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana for a BET sponsored event “Catch Wreck ‘95". This was followed by the Download CD release under the group’s independently owned record label Damali Records which sold over 5,000 units and was featured on over 47 underground and college radio stations. One track from Download entitled “Move” was also featured on Insomniac Magazine’s EP, Strategic Infiltration.

Recent releases by KNOTZ include the 2006 CD Poizunous Paragrafz the Mixtape Volume I and the 2007 single Black Rain featuring Najwa. Slated for release later this year is The Antidote EP which promises to showcase the group’s home-grown Hip Hop and Caribbean flavor. Under the direction of “key man” Craig Winstead, who holds a M.S. in Leadership and Business Ethics from Duquesne University and has notable experience in the music industry as a rap artist and producer, KNOTZ is setting itself up as a group primed for the next level.

KNOTZ will be featured in the 2007 issue of The Music Phonebook and was named the Independent Artist Registry 2006-2007 "Indie Award Winner" for Independent Artist of the Year. For more information about the group and to hear a sample of their music, please visit the KNOTZ websites www.damalimusik.com and www.knotzmusik.com. For press, radio, TV, or booking inquiries, email the Cherry Orchard Music Group at info@cherryorchardmusic.com or call 412 308-5134.

Contact
Cherry Orchard Music Group
Craig Winstead
info@cherryorchardmusic.com

"This new CD/DVD series from Time Out (of magazine and guidebook fame) takes artists/musicians/creatives from metro areas around the globe and has them act as tour guides for the "other side" of their city – the cool/interesting/weird establishments they frequent in their actual lives." – Fader

"Pop this in your suitcase along with your translation book and currency converter and you’ll be good to go." – Tokion

"These are insights so intimate that residents of the cities profiled might actually get defensive over the exposure of their hitherto secret spots." – Nylon

On April 10th, Time Out and Deaf Dumb & Blind Recordings release Madlib – The Other Side Los Angeles.  The fifth installment in the Other Side series features critically acclaimed rapper/producer Madlib’s personal  audio tour of the City of Angels. Highlights of this genre-bending mix include the eclectic/outrageous jazz  consciousness originator – Sun Ra Arkestra, 60′s psychedelic blues quintet Outlaw Blues Band, legendary  reggae drummer (Burning Spear) Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, Jamaican record label head/DJ Producer  Prince Jazzbo, and Madlib’s own tunes- as Beat Konducta (solo) & with collaborator Jaydee (Jaylib).

On The Other Side Los Angeles DVD, Stone’s Throw label supremo Peanut Butter Wolf is your personal guide to LA’s sights, sites and sounds. The DVD also features an in-depth interview with Peanut Butter Wolf on 10 years of Stone’s Throw as well as videos from several Stone’s Throw artists.

From the unlikely beach town of Oxnard, 40 miles north of Los Angeles, the multi-dimensional Madlib quickly rose to prominence as one of the most interesting figures in late-’90s hip-hop. With his childhood buddies in the Lootpack, Madlib quickly made a name for himself as a rapper, producer, and DJ. In particular, his expansive style and deft touch for composition made him one of hip-hop’s most sought-after producers. An enthusiastic crate digger, with a deep reverence for jazz and soul, Madlib branched out into a number of ambitious, engaging solo projects.

With the Other Side, a new generation of immersive travel guide is upon us. Deaf Dumb & Blind Communications, a new progressive and multi-faceted entertainment company, teams up with internationally recognized travel guidebook and weekly magazine publisher Time Out to produce a series called The Other Side – an CD/DVD experience that submerses its listeners/viewers entirely below the city’s surface.

Each volume of The Other Side boasts two key elements: a mixed CD compiled by a native audio pioneer and a DVD guide that acts as a visual handbook for both the seasoned traveler and armchair adventurer alike.  While some travel guides aim to be comprehensive, The Other Side isn’t concerned. It simply wants its user  to enjoy and discover the very best and coolest in sight and sounds. It whispers in the user’s ear advice on where to go and what to see – and it does it with unprecedented style and flair.

That’s why Time Out is a perfect match for Deaf Dumb & Blind’s concept. According to Peter Fiennes, Editorial/Managing Director of Time Out Guides, "We’re extremely happy to be working with The Other Side and Deaf Dumb & Blind on this exciting new concept. We’ve always been keen to expand into music, CDs  and travel on DVD, but The Other Side gives us the chance to do it all at the same time. The Other Side has  lined up some great artists and we’re convinced this will be a very successful and ground-breaking project."

TRACKLISTING:
1) The Lightmen Plus One – Energy Control Center
2) Cybertron – Clear
3) Dabrye feat. Jay Dee and Phat Kat – Game Over
4) Steve Grossman – Inmate Man
5) Prince Jazzbo – Blood Dunza
6) Sun Ra Arkestra – Nuclear War
7) Quasimoto – Greenery
8) Outlaw Blues Band – Deep Gully
9) Madlib – Infinity
10) Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace – Herb Vendor
11) Rhythm Machine – Freakish Love
12) Mark Murphy – Sly
13) Harris & Orr – Spread Love
14) MED feat. Poke – What It Do
15) Beat Konducta – Smog Theme
16) Jaylib – Survival Test
17) Freestyle Fellowship – Park Bench People 

www.stonesthrow.com/madlib  | www.myspace.com/madlib

————————————————————–
Lucy Beer
Elemental Consulting
AOL IM: loulou76yo
www.elemental-consulting.com/blogger.html
[online marketing :: music :: lifestyle :: entertainment]

MARCH 28, 2007 – ModernBeats announces the 3 winners and 7
runner-ups of its first Hip Hop Beat Contest. In addition to receiving
a total of $1,350 in cash prizes, the winning musicians gain industry
exposure and name recognition amongst urban music producers. All
Top 10 contestants are now permanently listed on the new "Contest
Winners" webpage hosted at ModernBeats.com.

The grand prize ($1,000 USD) goes to music producer Speedy Noriega
of Houston, Texas. Second place ($250 USD) goes to hip hop producer
Lez "Da Beast" Lemon out of Belleville, New Jersey and third place
($100 USD) goes to producer Lee Fernandes from Issaquah, Washington.

All music producers competing in the Hip Hop Beat Contest used
at least one ModernBeats sound or loop library in their contest beat
productions. Odds of winning were based on the best sounding, most
original, most professionally produced hip hop beat out of all contest
beats received. Contest song genres accepted included Hip Hop, Urban,
Bounce, Crunk, Dirty South, R&B, Pop, and Dance with a hip hop edge.

To view the Top 10 chosen contestants and to listen to their contest
beats, visit www.modernbeats.com/contest-winners.php.

———————————————————————
Press Contact Information: support@modernbeats.com, 512-255-5999

YBM Productions Updates, 2007

March 28, 2007, Detroit, MI – YBM is pleased to announce another adventure, continuing the strong momentum of delivering star quality productions and events.  In addition to the solid reputation of world class music production, YBM continues to venture into various outside arenas in 2007.

DJ Rooftop and The Unsigned Artist Show (TUAS) would like to present Volume I of the Unsigned Artist Show Mixtape.  The mixtape will be available for download on various websites, including www.myspace.com/rooftop1 and www.unsignedartistshow.com. Interested mixtape parties should send all submissions, along with the name of the artist, song and hometown, to regt@unsignedartistshow.com.

COMING SOON – TUAS will launch an Unsigned Artist DJ Mix Show.  All DJs should submit a mix featuring unsigned or independent artists in mp3 format, no longer than ten minutes.  Each week, we will feature up to two DJs on www.unsignedartistshow.com, and a hot mix by both DJs.  The feature page will include your picture, website link and bio.  Mixes should include drops to TUAS and show host Reg-T, or a reference to calling the request line.  Due to file size, sessions should be sent via www.yousendit.com, a free service for large file transferring.  We thank you in advance for your submissions, and remember, tracks should feature an unsigned or independent artist.  Those without access to unsigned artist music, can go to www.myspace.com/ybmproductions.

In November of 2005, YBM launched (TUAS). The Unsigned Artist Podcast Show to gives unsigned artists and independent labels around the world an opportunity to showcase their talent in a radio show format.  Coupled with some of the most exclusive interviews from people in the  entertainment industry, as well as well as some of the featured unsigned artists,  producers and DJ’s, TUAS continues to dominate the Internet as one of the best unsigned artist shows.  Due to our large market and fan base, we have received a combined total of over 200,000 hits on the various sites.  TUAS can be found on many Internet venues, including iTunes, Podcasterworld, Yahoo, and MySpace.

About YBM Productions

YBM Productions (YBM) is a full service music and media production company. In the area of music, YBM creates and records tracks in the music genres of Hip-Hop, Jazz and R&B. YBM offers an enhanced quality of sound and fluency that fits in any production environment. Some of the specific services include music production, audio resumes, ring tones, musical tracks for video games, soundtracks, play and movie scores, commercials (jingles), audio biographies, voice-overs, interactive cds and audio innovations. YBM has been in operation for over ten years, developing a vast selection of music tracks.

About DJ Rooftop

DJ Rooftop is known as the number one record breaker in Scandinavia.  Rooftop currently peaks at over 120,000 monthly downloads.  Fans can download the latest mixtape at http://www.k-werks.com/RMH/mixtape/DjRooftop-GotBeats.ScottStorchVS.Timbaland.rar.  Latest DJ Rooftop mixtapes have received over 150,000 downloads each.

YBM Contact Info
YBM Productions/Michigan
Reginald Turner/ Fred Short
Phone: 206.350.7042
E-mail: info@unsignedartistshow.com
Web site: http://www.myspace.com/theunsignedartistshow.com
http://www.unsignedartistshow.com

Press Contact
YBM Productions
Angela Mathis
Phone: 313.492.0409
Web site: www.myspace.com/ybmadvertising

Ice Cube’s Films Featured on Starz April 2 Beginning at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

Actor Hosts Marathon of His Films on Starz InBlack April 3

Both Nights Include Exclusive Look at His New Movie Are We Done Yet? In Theaters April 4

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., March 28 /PRNewswire/ — Starz Entertainment celebrates Ice Cube the week of April 1 with two evenings dedicated to the actor on Starz and Starz InBlack, to coincide with the theatrical release of his new film Are We Done Yet? which hits theaters April 4.

On Monday, April 2, Starz kicks off "Stars on Starz" at 8:45 p.m. (ET/PT) with a 14-and-a-half minute exclusive "On the Set: Are We Done Yet?" featuring commentary from the cast and crew. The lineup continues with two of Ice Cube’s hit films — Are We There Yet? at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) followed by xXx: State of the Union at 10:40 p.m. (ET/PT).

On Tuesday, April 3, Ice Cube hosts "Close Up With … Ice Cube," a marathon of five of his films on Starz InBlack, including Higher Learning at 5:50 p.m. (ET/PT), Are We There Yet? at 8 p.m. (ET/PT), xXx: State of the Union at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) and I Got the Hook-Up at 11:45 p.m. (ET/PT). The "On the Set: Are We Done Yet?" will also air as part of the evening at 9:40 p.m. (ET/PT).

Are We Done Yet? picks up where the last story left off. Now married to Suzanne (Nia Long), Nick Persons (Ice Cube) has bought a quiet suburban house to escape the rat race of the big city and to provide more space for his new wife and kids Lindsey and Kevin (Aleisha Allen and Philip Bolden). But when his new home quickly becomes a costly "fixer upper" and he finds himself at the mercy of an eccentric contractor (John C. McGinley), Nick’s suburban dream soon becomes a riotous nightmare.

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz(R) and Encore(R) brands with approximately 15.5 million and 27.3 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HD, Starz On Demand and Vongo(SM). Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributed to Liberty Capital Group.

  Contacts:  Rhiannon Hendrickson               Robin Mesger
             Starz Entertainment                The Lippin Group
             (720) 852-5802                     (323) 965-1990
             rhiannon.hendrickson@starz.com     rmesger@lippingroup.com

Source: Starz Entertainment, LLC

CONTACT: Rhiannon Hendrickson of Starz Entertainment, +1-720-852-5802,
rhiannon.hendrickson@starz.com; or Robin Mesger of The Lippin Group,
+1-323-965-1990, rmesger@lippingroup.com, for Starz Entertainment, LLC

Web site: http://www.starz.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Download high-resolution images at http://starz.mediaroom.com

John Pasmore talks to AllHipHop founders Greg Watkins and Chuck Creekmur including these thoughts on their future:

CHUCK: We definitely are developing several brand extensions. There are a number of opportunities ahead of us and we’d prefer not to talk too much about them until things firm up a bit…As we have advertised, expect a dramatic change to the site in the near future. We’ve maintained the same look and feel for a few years now and we’re ready to move on. What’s interesting is our traffic has grown to the point where we’re almost apprehensive about changing it. But, it’s going to happen.

Via Miraflor who also has a few things to say about AHH’s current homepage advertising experiment.

March 28, 2007
HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bill Knollenberg, President and CEO, proudly announces that National Equities Holdings, Inc. (NEHI) (Pink Sheets:NQHD), a 22-year-old company, has aligned corporate operations with Maurice Williams, President and CEO of Wine Enterprises, Inc., also known as Nuwine aka Wine-O, a major Hip Hop Artist. Wine Enterprises now owns a major interest in NEHI. Wine Enterprises, Inc. participates as a wholly owned subsidiary in the diverse portfolio of NEHI Corporation. NEHI is a publicly traded company with major interests in oil/gas exploration, health care services and high-tech devices (blockers of harmful energy fields). The new portfolio includes Wine Enterprises, a progressive company that aggressively promotes Hip Hop, the fastest-growing segment in the entertainment industry.

Nuwine/Wine-O says this affords him the opportunity to safely expand and diversify his investments outside the music industry.

His contributions to the entertainment business complement the other portfolio companies who have outstanding officers and managers with vast business knowledge and experience.

Nuwine/Wine-O has already recorded, produced and sold over a million CDs (and this is a conservative estimate). He now has two new major albums ready to be released with three new hot singles. These five titles are expected to top the charts this year.

Nuwine/Wine-O, whose talents extend beyond personal performances, produced the top hit “Tear The Club Up,” which went platinum in just a few months, for Latoya of Destiny’s Child. His own top hits include “Hooker Hooker” in 2003 and “Pop My Trunk” in 2006. In 2006 there were over 90 million listeners to his music. Nuwine/Wine-O has been fully occupied writing and producing his new music that is expected to make a huge impact when released. His fans are anxiously awaiting these new releases.

Plans are formalized; everything is in place for distribution contracted through the largest distributor in the world, Universal Records. Avery Lipman, executive VP of Universal Records, stated, “These five new titles by Nuwine/Wine-O are destined to rapidly rise to the top of the charts.”

For those with little knowledge on the impact of Hip Hop, a recent one-hour feature by Paula Zahn on CNN acknowledged the financial successes of the artists, and her comment, confirmed by other knowledgeable persons, states, “This is the music that is going to produce the next group of billionaires.”
Contacts

National Equities Holdings, Inc., Houston
Bill Knollenberg, 832-477-7094