We've picked out some great Songwriting opportunities out today, courtesy of
Music Connection.

May you be inspired and be great in 2009
www.gillimoon.com
Warrior Girl Music www.warriorgirlmusic.com
Songsalive! www.songsalive.org
www.myspace.com/gillimoon
www.linkedin.com/in/gillimoon

“FRIDAY FREEBIE” GIVEAWAY CONTINUES BOLDLY INTO 2009
Music Connection, together with name-brand retailers, has been giving away FREE
amps, guitars, software, lessons, and other musical products EVERY Friday as
part of our “Friday Freebie” drawing. A recent winner was Philadelphia,
PA’s Clifford Hritz who won the Foundation Bass Bridge from KSM Guitars. It's
still easy to win because not that many people know about it yet! To put
yourself in the running go to the Music Connection website and look to the upper
right hand corner for the words "FRIDAY FREEBIE". Go to www.musicconnection.com.

BILLBOARD’S AMATEUR/PRO PHOTO CONTEST DEADLINE LOOMS
Billboard magazine is looking for your Year In Music Moment. From the crowds to
the artists, Billboard wants to show the music scene through your eyes. The
inaugural Year In Music Moment photo contest will be held for both amateur and
professional photographers. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
Fans' Favorite, Spontaneous Moment, Crowd, Breaking a Band, Live Music and
Mobile Shots, with one grand prize winner. For amateurs, the cost is $15 per
image or $20 for a series ($35/single and $50/series for the professional
contest with the same categories as the amateur contest) with prizes that
include cash, gear and more. The deadline to enter is January 30, 2009. Visit
www.billboardphotocontest.com.

FOCUS ON INVESTORS AT MIDEM IN FRANCE THIS MONTH
Many funds and venture capital investment companies are currently investing in
music-related businesses. To improve understanding of this trend, MIDEM is
dedicating a special conference to the subject on January 19th. The event will
bring together four major investors involved in financing the music industry and
related services: DN Capital, Benchmark Capital, Ventech, and Power Amp Music.
For more information on MIDEM: www.midem.com.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY AT MUSIC CONNECTION MAGAZINE
Join MC’s elite, creative magazine team as we enter our 32nd year of
publication! We are currently seeking a full-time Account Executive with both
print and internet ad sales experience. Please send resume to:
ericb@....

09' OC MUSIC AWARDS / SHOWCASE SERIES
The OC Music Awards is an annual event providing exposure and recognition to
musicians from world-famous Orange County, CA. Now in its eighth consecutive
year, and calendared for Saturday April 4, 2009 at The Grove of Anaheim, CA, the
awards have a new front-man spearheading the efforts. Martin Brown has passed
the torch to Luke Allen - owner of Gemini Studios. Local OC venues will host
free weekly Tuesday showcases leading up to the event beginning January 6th
through March 10th. Finals for the two live categories - Battle of the Bands and
Acoustic Showcases - will be held the last weekend in March just before the
awards. For more info check out www.ocmusicawards.com.

NY'S CMJ FEST EXTENDS DATE FOR EARLYBIRD DISCOUNT BADGES
Thursday, January 8, is your last chance to take advantage of the Super Early
Bird discount on badges for the CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival 2009, held in
New York from Oct. 20-24th. More than 1,200 artists and 120,000 fans will take
over 75 of the city's greatest nightclubs and theaters and headquartered at New
York University's Greenwich Village campus. With the discount, attendees can
save more than $200, 40 percent of the price: badges are $275 and $85 for
student badges. Artist submissions are also open so apply today through
Sonicbids for an Early Bird Rate of $35 until March 31. Visit
www.cmj.com/marathon for the latest.

AUDITION FOR YOUTUBE'S VIRTUAL ORCHESTRA TO PLAY CARNEGIE HALL
Professional and amateur musicians of all ages, locations and instruments are
welcome to audition for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, the first-ever online
collaborative orchestra, by submitting a video performance of a new piece
written for the occasion by the renowned Chinese composer Tan Dun (Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon). YouTube gives you the tools to help learn the music,
rehearse with the conductor and upload your part for the collaborative video. To
audition, send in a video performance from a list of recommended pieces.
Finalists will travel to New York in April 2009 to participate in a summit and
play at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. The deadline
for all video submissions is January 28, 2009. For details, go to
www.youtubesymphony.com.

PHENOM KID STARTS SYNDICATED RADIO NETWORK
At 17 years old, Mitchell Keller has launched his very own syndicated radio
network, Capitol Broadcasting Network (CBN), with programming already bursting
at the seams. While Keller will continue to host his ever popular flagship The
Back Porch Show country music program, he has also signed on to host On Air with
Mitchell Keller, a Top 40/Hot AC formatted show broadcast live every weekend
from Hollywood, CA. More than 15 stations across the nation have picked up the
show, which will have Miley Cyrus as one of its first guests. Keller has
interviewed the likes of some of country music’s biggest names including
Carrie Underwood, and Trace Adkins, as well as other notables like Presidents
Bill Clinton, President-elect Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Contact Don
Murry Grubbs at donmgrubbs@....

NEW INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWYER AT VENABLE
Venable LLP has announced that noted attorney George Borkowski, who has
represented major entertainment and content industry constituents against
copyright infringement and Internet piracy, has joined the firm as a partner in
its Los Angeles office. Mr. Borkowski will also serve as co-chair of
Venable’s national Intellectual Property Litigation Group. For more, visit
www.venable.com.

MAJOR LABEL A&R EXECS REVEAL WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR IN ‘09
The current issue of Music Connection features in-depth conversations with 4
major label A&R Executive who come forth with the kind of straightforward info
that all artists need to know. To see this exclusive article, click HERE

MIAMI’S ULTRA CONFERENCE ADDS MORE ACTS
The ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL (UMF) -- the world’s leading two-day electronic and
alternative music experience set for Friday March 27 and Saturday March 28, 2009
during the Winter Music Conference in Miami -- has announced more additions to
its lineup. Promoters for the festival have revealed that The Prodigy (who will
release their new album Invaders Must Die on March 2) and Pendulum, two of the
most anticipated live acts for 2009, have been confirmed along with DJ titans
Paul Van Dyk and Armin Van Buuren. Moby has also tapped UMF for his exclusive
Winter Music Conference appearance. For complete info, see
www.ultramusicfestival.com.
FOR MUCH MORE “NEWS YOU CAN USE” BE SURE TO READ MUSIC CONNECTION'S NEW
DIGITAL EDITION
www.musicconnection.com/digital


CIRQUE DU SOLEIL MUSIC AUDITIONS
Las Vegas & Los Angeles, Feb. 2009
All voices & instruments needed.
Apply online!
www.cirquedusoleil.com/jobs

GOT SONGS? JOIN SONGSALIVE!
Get your songs to the world!
Largest internationally based
Non-profit songwriters organization
www.songsalive.org