For all you Fangbangers, Bloodsuckers, and iTunes Whiners

JE - 10:41 am | 7

The True Blood Season 1 DVD and Blu-Ray discs are on the shelves. Hell, they are flying off of the shelves!
The Soundtrack is also now available, which of course features “Bad Things” as the lead track.

iTunes has made the soundtrack and the show available as well. A lot of folks have been whining about the “album only” designation iTunes frequently uses on compilations such as this. As a huge iTunes customer and someone who has benefitted greatly from their business model I’d like to explain this a little more clearly to you the consumer.

The “album only” designation is not some corporate malfeasance on the part of greedy Steve Jobs and his evil iTunes elves. In fact, they usually have little or nothing to do with that decision. The owner(s) of a given recording license that recording to iTunes. In the case of the HBO “True Blood” soundtrack there are 19 tracks by 14 artists. Each track is owned by a record company. All of these songs existed before they were put on this soundtrack.

However, now Atlantic Records has licensed all of these songs for the soundtrack. Now there is yet another mouth to feed!

I’ll use “Bad Things” as the example, but please understand that every record is different. Their like snowflakes… only plastic.

So, I recorded “Bad Things” in 2004 while under contract as a recording artist with Sony Music. Therefore, Sony Music owns that recording.
I wrote the song while under contract as a writer with EMI Publishing. Therefore, EMI owns the publishing (I own a nice little chunk of it too).
In 2008 Alan Ball chose to license the song for “True Blood”. Now HBO has to pay a licensing fee to Sony and EMI.
Sony and EMI still own what they have always owned, but they are “leasing” the property to HBO.
Now HBO, via Atlantic Records, has released a soundtrack. They do another licensing deal with Sony and EMI. This license agreement would likely include the caveat that “Bad Things” must be sold as “album only” on digital download sites. Why? Because Sony and EMI are already selling “Bad Things” as a single. The soundtrack, in some ways, is competing with their existing product. Furthermore, they don’t have to split the money with Atlantic or HBO when “Bad Things” is purchased form the Sony album. So why do it? Because “True Blood” is more popular than “Jace Everett”. Even though they will make a little less per unit off of the soundtrack sales, due to the popularity of the show, they are likely to sell a greater volume of units and make up the difference.

You know… the Wal-Mart model.

Sorry for a boring post, but I’ve been inundated with emails from angry folks crying about the evil Apple empire.
Just thought I’d clear some things up.

As far as the soundtrack goes; there are some really, really cool tracks on the record. Buy it!!

And when “Red Revelations” (my new album) hits iTunes in a few weeks don’t be surprised to see “Bad Things” as an album only track!

Peace,
JahSay

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Are you famous?

JE - 12:17 pm | 6

“Are you famous?”
My favorite question to get in the airport. I guess standing around the airport with a guitar on your back and a stupefied look on your face indicates to some that you’re in a band. Limp Bisquick maybe?

Kids, if you have to ASK whether someone is famous isn’t it rather clear that they aren’t? Never mind, it allows me the awkward opportunity to promote my new record; one coach passenger at a time. I guess I’m gonna be using up my miles.

So, L.A. was cool. Had a few meetings, spent some time with some friends old and new, and got squared away with a giant crystal dildo thingy… Otherwise known as a BMI award. I left it in L.A. ’cause it weighs too much to put in a carry on and I was afraid it would turn into a pile of glass beads in the cargo bin. So, I put it in a cab with a wad of cash and my address taped to the top.

Also, every time I take Dan Cohen to the Pacific time zone somebody breaks into his house. Dan is going to leave a key under the mat. Please stop breaking things. Take what you need and be on your way. And don’t let the damn cat out! There used to be some consideration in burglary. Class it up people.

Here are some clips of me caught on camera chewing gum; very cosmopolitan!
Jace at the BMI Awards

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BMI Film/TV Awards

JE - 6:48 pm | no comments

Hey kids,

So I have been invited to attend the 2009 BMI Film and Television Awards in Beverly Hills this Wednesday May 20th.
Pretty cool. This will be my second BMI award (the first for penning “Your Man” a number 1 country record for Josh Turner). I honestly have no idea what the award stuff means… I guess that somebody, somewhere, with a bunch of money notices you exist for a minute and wants to give you a gold star.

I like gold stars.

I like popsicles more though.

Anyway, I’m taking my label mate and guitar hero friend Mr. Dan Cohen as a date. He is sooo cute. We’re gonna spend the week in L.A. working on our tan and getting our hair highlighted. Also, we have head-shots for EVERYBODY! We’re like the Matt Damon/Ben Affleck of Nashville. Dan, can I be Matt? Ben has had some weird stuff go down. Although…J.Lo is kinda cute…

Obviously, all this love and affection for “True Blood” has been a nice shot in the arm and I can’t wait to unleash the unfettered greatness of “Red Revelations” on the world.

Call mom, I’m gonna be home late…

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Under the Hood…

JE - 11:12 am | 2

So here I am under the hood of this website. My man Brian at The Kompanee set this site up for us. It’s all “artist friendly” and what not. That basically means a monkey can run it.

Sadly, I’m an ape. Pongo Lacépède specifically. Hopefully, I’ll turn the bend on the learning curve before the new record hit’s the shelves.

Speaking of which, we will likely be doing a pre-order promotion for the “Red Revelations” vinyl and CD in the next couple of weeks. Why pre-order? Because in these crazy times you never know what could happen! Your 401k could tank, you could lose your 7 figure job, Jesus could come back… Also, you’ll get a discount.

Word to Ya Mutha

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New and Improved Site

JE - 8:39 pm | no comments

So here it… the new and improved Jace Everett Dot to the Com.
It’s still getting its sea legs but by June 23rd we should have things pretty jam up and jelly tight.

I’ll put up some amazingly lucid, insightful, and likely brilliant blogs in the near future.
If you have any life questions you’ll know where to look for the answers….

All right, maybe not. But I promise to constantly talk about myself and promote my career at every available opportunity.

Welcome to the cool side of the pillow…

Jace

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More new album news!

JE - 9:25 pm | 18

I just finished mastering the album today with Hank Williams at Master Mix!

It sounds great!

Even more cool… the BONUS TRACK!

For those of you wanting to get the original “Bad Things” on CD, it’ll be there!

Sony Music has granted me a license to put “Bad Things” on my new album as a bonus track.
So June 23rd you can get 11 new full band tunes and a 12th bonus track: BAD THINGS.

Stay tuned for more news on an upcoming live streaming webcast of me and the band rocking out through the entire record before it hits iTunes and the streets….

Jace

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