“Songwriter” TV Show Using Kickstarter to Launch at Berklee
New Show Will Give Viewers Opportunity to “Get Inside the Music.”
Boston, MA, July 26, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Emmy-winning director and producer Sunny Lake today announced the launch of “Songwriter,” a reality TV show for songwriters, with a promotional video on Kickstarter, the crowdsourcing Web site.
With “Songwriter,” Lake would like to do for songwriting what “American Idol” has done for singing. Using “Kickstarter,” he seeks to raise a minimum of $50,000.
Funds raised will be used to shoot a pilot for “Songwriter: Get Inside the Music” at Berklee College of Music, the country’s preeminent college for the study of contemporary music and songwriting. Lake is a Berklee alumnus.
Those who pledge funds will receive special gifts ranging from a “Songwriter” download for $15 to a special promotional “spotlight” and an all-access pass for four to meet the cast and crew at a private backstage reception for a pledge of $10,000. A video explaining “Songwriter” and samples of songs already written are available at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/137389948/songwriter-get-inside-the-music-reality-tv.
Berklee signed a contract with Songwriter because it sees the show as a good way to promote both the school and its talented songwriters, according to Jon Aldrich, associate professor of songwriting at Berklee, who will serve as Music Director for the show.
“Where else are you going to find as many talented people and resources for filming ‘Songwriter’ as you have at Berklee?” said Lake. “It would be hard to find anywhere else that even comes close.”
Lake previously shot a “treatment” of “Songwriter” at Berklee to test the concept and he has discussed “Songwriter” with various celebrities. Several have expressed interest in serving as regular judges on the series or making guest appearances.
While Berklee students will be a major source of talent, Lake also plans to hold auditions in New York City, Nashville and Los Angeles. In all, 24 songwriters will be chosen by a small group that will include Lake, music celebrities and a Berklee professor.
Each week, the songwriters will be given a word or phrase and will have an hour to complete a song. The show will follow the songwriters through the creative process, then completed songs will be performed. Judges as well as viewers will have an opportunity to choose the winning songwriters.
“‘Songwriter’ will provide a behind-the-scenes look at how songs are created,” according to Lake. “Viewers will have an opportunity to ‘Get Inside the Music’ by watching interviews with contestants and celebrities as they develop their songs. The interviews will give viewers insights into the songwriting process and an opportunity to see how songs are developed.”
Songs created for the show will be published through Songwriter, LLC and will be available for immediate download.
“‘Songwriter’ has an opportunity to create a new model for the music business,” according to Lake. “One reason the sale of digital music has rapidly exceeded sales of traditional formats is that it allows spontaneity. The ability to see a song being created on the air and then to download it takes advantage of that spontaneity.”
Lake, who lives in Sterling, is an Emmy Award winning director and producer, and was an arranger and producer for New Kids on the Block after attending Berklee. His broadcast credits range from PBS specials to DVD releases for Metallica. He has produced hundreds of jingles and TV spots, and music and sound-design projects for MTV, CBS, ABC, NBC, Comedy Central, Nick at Night and Warner Entertainment. He has created TV commercials and other productions for companies such as Staples, Raytheon, Thomson Reuters and Philips. He began his career touring the U.S. for nearly 10 years as a singer/songwriter and studio musician.
Kickstarter.com is the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. Crowdsourcing, which uses small contributions from a large number of individuals, is a growing method of fundraising for small businesses.
About Songwriter, LLC
Songwriter, LLC is the creator of “Songwriter: Get Inside the Music,” the first reality TV show dedicated to the art of songwriting. Founded by an entrepreneur and a life-long musician and producer, “Songwriter” aims to create a new model for the music industry by showing viewers the creative process, then providing immediate access to new songs through digital downloads.
About Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, for over 65 years, has evolved to support its belief that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through contemporary music education. The college was the first in the U.S. to teach jazz, the popular music of the time. It incorporated rock n’ roll in the 1960s, created the world's first degree programs in film scoring, music synthesis, and songwriting, and, in recent years, added world music, hip-hop, electronica, and video game music to its curriculum. With a diverse student body representing over 80 countries, a music industry "who’s who" of alumni that have received 200 Grammy Awards, Berklee is the world’s premier learning lab for the music of today – and tomorrow.
With “Songwriter,” Lake would like to do for songwriting what “American Idol” has done for singing. Using “Kickstarter,” he seeks to raise a minimum of $50,000.
Funds raised will be used to shoot a pilot for “Songwriter: Get Inside the Music” at Berklee College of Music, the country’s preeminent college for the study of contemporary music and songwriting. Lake is a Berklee alumnus.
Those who pledge funds will receive special gifts ranging from a “Songwriter” download for $15 to a special promotional “spotlight” and an all-access pass for four to meet the cast and crew at a private backstage reception for a pledge of $10,000. A video explaining “Songwriter” and samples of songs already written are available at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/137389948/songwriter-get-inside-the-music-reality-tv.
Berklee signed a contract with Songwriter because it sees the show as a good way to promote both the school and its talented songwriters, according to Jon Aldrich, associate professor of songwriting at Berklee, who will serve as Music Director for the show.
“Where else are you going to find as many talented people and resources for filming ‘Songwriter’ as you have at Berklee?” said Lake. “It would be hard to find anywhere else that even comes close.”
Lake previously shot a “treatment” of “Songwriter” at Berklee to test the concept and he has discussed “Songwriter” with various celebrities. Several have expressed interest in serving as regular judges on the series or making guest appearances.
While Berklee students will be a major source of talent, Lake also plans to hold auditions in New York City, Nashville and Los Angeles. In all, 24 songwriters will be chosen by a small group that will include Lake, music celebrities and a Berklee professor.
Each week, the songwriters will be given a word or phrase and will have an hour to complete a song. The show will follow the songwriters through the creative process, then completed songs will be performed. Judges as well as viewers will have an opportunity to choose the winning songwriters.
“‘Songwriter’ will provide a behind-the-scenes look at how songs are created,” according to Lake. “Viewers will have an opportunity to ‘Get Inside the Music’ by watching interviews with contestants and celebrities as they develop their songs. The interviews will give viewers insights into the songwriting process and an opportunity to see how songs are developed.”
Songs created for the show will be published through Songwriter, LLC and will be available for immediate download.
“‘Songwriter’ has an opportunity to create a new model for the music business,” according to Lake. “One reason the sale of digital music has rapidly exceeded sales of traditional formats is that it allows spontaneity. The ability to see a song being created on the air and then to download it takes advantage of that spontaneity.”
Lake, who lives in Sterling, is an Emmy Award winning director and producer, and was an arranger and producer for New Kids on the Block after attending Berklee. His broadcast credits range from PBS specials to DVD releases for Metallica. He has produced hundreds of jingles and TV spots, and music and sound-design projects for MTV, CBS, ABC, NBC, Comedy Central, Nick at Night and Warner Entertainment. He has created TV commercials and other productions for companies such as Staples, Raytheon, Thomson Reuters and Philips. He began his career touring the U.S. for nearly 10 years as a singer/songwriter and studio musician.
Kickstarter.com is the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. Crowdsourcing, which uses small contributions from a large number of individuals, is a growing method of fundraising for small businesses.
About Songwriter, LLC
Songwriter, LLC is the creator of “Songwriter: Get Inside the Music,” the first reality TV show dedicated to the art of songwriting. Founded by an entrepreneur and a life-long musician and producer, “Songwriter” aims to create a new model for the music industry by showing viewers the creative process, then providing immediate access to new songs through digital downloads.
About Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, for over 65 years, has evolved to support its belief that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through contemporary music education. The college was the first in the U.S. to teach jazz, the popular music of the time. It incorporated rock n’ roll in the 1960s, created the world's first degree programs in film scoring, music synthesis, and songwriting, and, in recent years, added world music, hip-hop, electronica, and video game music to its curriculum. With a diverse student body representing over 80 countries, a music industry "who’s who" of alumni that have received 200 Grammy Awards, Berklee is the world’s premier learning lab for the music of today – and tomorrow.
Contact
Songwriter LLC
Sunny Lake
801-349-0925
sunnylake@mac.com
Sunny Lake
801-349-0925
sunnylake@mac.com
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