RCS Music News Weekly – The Step Three-dom Issue

This week in RCS Music News Weekly: Jaxsta wants ALL people in the music industry to find and recover revenue they’re owed from neglected music credits, Ontario pauses reopening plans, Royal City Studios’ BOGO rehearsal time offer ends August 31^st, Google trends in local music-related searches, and Rush: Cinema Strangiato – Director’s Cut hits theatres this September (one night only). But first…

Mikalyn Performs Live at Royal City Studios

Multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Mikalyn performs live at @RCSGuelph, August 26^th, 7-9:30 p.m.

>> Get your tickets at Eventbrite.

Ranking among the Top 50 of CBC Music’s Toyota Searchlight 2021 (as judged by CBC Music) for her song “I Love You Too Much,” Mikalyn will perform new songs and previously released material and covers.

With 3+ million streams to her credit, Mikalyn has won or been nominated for an impressive list of awards for her alt-pop stylings that blur lines between genres and eras. Among her many awards/nominations:

• Female Artist of the Year (SocialStars 5^th Annual Best of 2020 Awards)
• Winner (Inspiration Guelph 2020)
• Finalist (Unsigned Only 2020)

Mikalyn is also an in-demand collaborator, and has lent her unmistakable vocals to tracks by Machine Drivers, Öwnboss & Zerky, Röde, 39 Kingdom, and many others.

Don’t miss this licensed, in-person concert by Guelph’s pop/alt prodigy.

Tickets just $13.

>> Get your tickets at Eventbrite while they’re available.

Upcoming RCS Shows

• Make.Shift and Tiger Suit Rock RCS on August 20^th

Limited tickets are available for Make.Shift and Tiger Suit, performing August 20^th at 7 p.m. in a COVID-safe, licensed concert at Royal City Studios. Tiger Suit (Curtis Miranda and Renee Cross) is a duo from Guelph who play an integration of synth pop, rock, and electronica. Make.Shift is a five-piece alt-rock band, writing songs of life, love, and seeking.

>> Tickets (by donation price) at Eventbrite.

• Dazzling Dames Burlesque Returns to Royal City Studios on August 28^th

TroyBoy Entertainment, Sassy Ray Burlesque, and Royal City Studios have teamed up to bring some of the most jaw-dropping burlesque dancers to the RCS stage for one night only. Featured dames include Ruby Moon, Olive Von Topp, Sapphyre Poison, Charlie Quinn, and Red Tongue Raven. Tickets – $50 per person (available here), which includes seating and social section per COVID protocols. For all Health Canada guidelines being followed by this event, visit the Facebook event page.

• The Coywolves Howl at RCS on September 4^th

Called a “band that will leave you mesmerized” by Buzz Music, The Coywolves (Johnny Brousseau, Ben Gray, and Dylan Pacheco) will tear up the RCS stage on September 4^th at 9 p.m. Founded in Guelph by Brousseau in 2015, The Coywolves released their debut album Rise of the Coywolves the same year, followed by Rising Call (2017) and As You Were Meant To (2019).

>> Tickets just $11 at Eventbrite.

Time’s Running Out on RCS BOGO Rehearsal Time

ICYMI: Only until August 31^st, 2021, Royal City Studios is offering BOGO rehearsal time. Book 1 hour of rehearsal time in a small, medium, or large studio and get the second hour free.

This offer is a scalable offer. The more time you book, the more free time you get.

Book 2 hours, get 2 hours free. Book 3 hours… well, you get it.

Simply use the code AUG21BOGO when you book online. Or call (226) 314-2177, email info@royalcitystudios.ca, or DM RCS on social.

Book ahead to grab this BOGO offer and secure your rehearsal time. No charge for cancellation. Masks still required.

Open Call for Bands at Silvercreeks 360

Silvercreeks 360 bar and restaurant (Speedvale Ave. W. and Silvercreek Pkwy. N.) recently posted an open call for bands looking to play live. DM Silvercreeks 360 on social or email silvercreeks360@gmail.com for more information.

In Case You Missed Ian Andrews & The Smokin’ Scoundrels at RCS

If you missed Ian Andrews & The Smokin’ Scoundrels’ August 14^th album release concert at Royal City Studios, here are some smashing images from the event, courtesy of photographer Milton Young. Known for his concert photography, Milton is equally known for his stunning nature photography and affecting character studies—all of which can be found at his Flickr page:

Thanks again, Milton. You amazingly captured the energy and skilled musicianship of a great band, and we look forward to seeing you at another show.

>> Click here to book your own event at the RCS concert hall.

(All photos copyright © 2021 Milton Young. Used with permission.)

Rush: Cinema Strangiato – Director’s Cut Hits Theatres This September (One Night Only)

ICYMI: Rush returns to the big screen for one night only at select theatres worldwide on Sept. 9^th in a director’s cut of the 2019 feature “Rush: Cinema Strangiato.” Celebrating 40 years of Rush’s 1981 album “Moving Pictures,” the director’s cut includes a revamped setlist, bonus tracks (“One Little Victory” and “Red Barchetta”), backstage moments and candid footage from the cutting room floor, and Neil Peart’s final recorded drum solo.

Tickets go on sale in Canada starting September 1^st. For Rush fans in Guelph, the film is currently slated for Galaxy Cinemas. Visit www.cinemastrangiato.com for ticketing and the most up-to-date information regarding participating theatres.

Jaxsta Wants ALL Music Industry Pros to Find and Recover the Revenue They’re Owed

Before streaming reduced the physical album to an endangered species, every key contributor—musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, etc.—would get credit on a CD or vinyl album. Today, streaming predominantly features artists but neglects other credits, and those lost credits can lead to lost royalty revenue.

Jaxsta wants to solve this.

Founded by music industry veteran Jacqui Louez Schoorl, the Australian-based startup is building the world’s leading database for music credits, which allows music industry professionals to set up an official profile and receive notifications any time a song they worked on charts.

Receiving a $1 million investment last fall from Songtradr, Jaxsta provides a full-stack solution for music industry pros to find and recover all the revenue they’re owed.

Says Schoorl, “With all that data, we see ourselves as the LinkedIn for the music industry.”

Ontario Pauses Reopening Plans Under Fourth Wave Concerns

Bittersweet news for those eager to exit Ontario’s reopening process. In an effort to stop (or at least slow down) the Delta variant of COVID, Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, recently announced a series of new measures that pauses the province’s exit from Roadmap to Reopen.

Step 3 will now remain in effect until further notice.

As reported by blogTO, “Certainly nobody wants to see more people die or lockdowns to reappear, but some business owners are cheesed nonetheless.”

Concert venues and performing arts theatres are currently capped at 50% of capacity or 1,000 people (whichever is less) for seated indoor events. Nightclubs and other food and drink establishments with dance facilities can host up to 25% of their usual capacity or 250 people (whichever is less).

While the Canadian Federation if Independent Business is calling on the Ford government to help keep businesses afloat that have been constrained by Step 3 capacity caps, the government remains focused on urging unvaccinated Ontarians to get immunized.

Google Trends in Local Music-Related Searches

Pretty much any music-related keyphrase has been on a wild rollercoaster ride since COVID kicked the music industry in the face, then threw it into a lockbox, then set that box on fire. According to Google Trends, here’s the latest on three keyphrases you may be using for SEO:

• “Local music” rode jagged peaks and dramatic lows during COVID due to lockdowns and restrictions. Today, “local music” is on the uptick, with the most searches coming from Alberta, followed by Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.
• “Live music near me” all but flatlined during COVID, but today it’s on a fairly steady upswing, with most searches coming from British Columbia, followed by Ontario and Quebec.
• “Live concert” rode such a jagged course of ups and downs through COVID that the graph looks like a crazy saw blade used by a serial killer. Today, it’s on a slow uptick, with the most searches coming from Alberta, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

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As always, stay awesome.