Al Hall
President/CEO of Owl Studios
Owl Studios Emerging Jazz Artist Project
GUIDELINES:
Owl Studios is an award winning independent record label that has seen remarkable success and recognition within the jazz community. The label includes established artists that have made names for themselves performing throughout the world. In addition to their reputations as composers, performers and arrangers, many of Owl Studios’ artists are also educators at top music institutions and award winners: including a Grammy nomination (Steve Allee); jazz historian/ arranger/ conductor for the Smithsonian Institute (Brent Wallarab); winner of multiple Independent Music Awards (Jam Band album of the year, Garaj Mahal; Best Jazz Album, Derrick Gardner); Nomination for the Independent Music Award (Pharez Whitted - Best Jazz Album; Mike Clark - Best Jazz Album); winner of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Performer Award (Frank Glover); winner of the Grand Prize for the American Pianists’ Association Jazz Piano competition (Rick Germanson); and the music director for the award-winning, nationally syndicated Bob & Tom morning radio program (Steve Allee).
Inspired by Indiana University’s strong tradition in jazz education, Owl Studios has developed a one-of-a-kind program to benefit the unique talent collected within the IU Jacobs School of Music. The Owl Studios “Emerging Jazz Artist Project” (EJAP) creates an exclusive opportunity for jazz students in the IU Jacobs School of Music by introducing the award recipient with an unmatched real world experience into the 21st Century recording industry, culminating in a nationally released album.
The EJAP Award Will Include:
- Owl Studios funded recording contract.
- Guidance by producer and industry mentors with the experience of producing and creating a recording project from conception to completion.
- Assistance with copyright/registration/licensing material as needed for completion of project.
- Assistance with booking live performances at the Indianapolis Jazz Fest and other local and regional venues.
- Professional print and radio promotion, resulting in possible reviews in major jazz publications and radio play in major jazz markets.
- Assistance in working with design artists, photographers, liner note writers, PR professionals, engineers and other industry professionals in conjunction with producing a nationally released album.
Who May Apply:
Any current jazz studies major, undergraduate or graduate, within the IU Jacobs School of Music may apply.
Application Requirements:
- Groups must include no fewer than three and no more than seven musicians.
- Democratic or co-lead groups may apply, but an individual contact person must be designated.
- Majority of additional members of group must be currently enrolled as IU Jacobs School of Music Jazz Studies majors, either undergraduate or graduate, or recent graduates of the Jacobs School of Music Jazz Studies program (up to one full calendar year after graduation). Any additional participants must be currently enrolled IU Bloomington students.
- Audition CD must represent actual group. Group members from audition CD cannot change if selected as award recipient.
- Audition CD must have three (3) tracks which will include two (2) original compositions and one (1) arrangement of a pre-selected tune all groups must arrange. These three tracks will be included on the EJAP album.
- A detailed playlist, which includes track titles, exact instrumentation, musician names and composer for each track, must accompany submitted audition CD.
- All applicants of the EJAP award are required to follow the Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct found HERE. At any time during the EJAP process and based on the recommendation of the JSoM jazz faculty, Owl Studios reserves the right to declare an applicant or recipient ineligible to continue in the EJAP award.
Owl Studios is committed to developing the future of jazz and your audition CD should express a clear concept and unique point of view that continues this development. Rather than showcasing virtuosic technique in various styles, you should demonstrate a developed concept and a strong musical voice within all three tracks.
Each applicant shall include a personal perspective on a pre-selected composition from an Indiana songwriter/composer. This is meant to offer comparisons between groups, but more importantly to demonstrate your ability to transfer your musical point of view to non-original material. The 2011 composition from an Indiana composer is "Lonely Ol' Night" by John Mellencamp from his 1985 album, Scarecrow (on the Mercury label). Owl Studios and Indiana University will not provide sound recording of "Lonely Ol' Night", applicant must procure a copy on their own.
Materials must be submitted to Helena Walsh in MU 117 by noon on Monday, October 10, 2011.
Recording must be submitted in the form of a CD, which must be tested beforehand to ensure playability on a standard CD player. CDs which do not play will result in disqualification.
Previously recorded material is acceptable for submission, but in the event of being selected as the award recipient, all material must be re-recorded. This project does not allow an artist/group to use Owl Studios as a vehicle to re-release pre-released or pre-recorded material.
Adjudication Parameters:
A panel of five qualified judges (to be determined by Owl Studios) will convene to select the recipient of the EJAP award.
Selection will be based on quality of composition and arrangement, performance skills, a developed concept, and consistency of vision.
The selection process will be strictly anonymous. Even though your application materials will contain personal information, this will be withheld from the judges during the process.
After reviewing all audition CDs, the judging panel will arrive at one recipient and one alternate. Recipient will be contacted and upon acceptance, will meet with Owl Studios representatives to discuss obligations from both parties. If recipient declines, the opportunity will be offered to the alternate.
The alternate has no obligations or responsibilities unless recipient cannot fulfill EJAP award requirements.
Owl Studios and the judging panel reserve the right to withhold award should no viable applications be entered.
Winners will be announced at the David Baker Jazz Ensemble concert at the Musical Arts Center in Bloomington, Indiana on Monday, October 24, 2011.
Responsibilities of EJAP Recipient:
- Develop no less than 45 minutes and no more than 70 minutes of material for recording. The repertoire will be exclusively original material with the exception of the assigned composition required for the audition CD.
- Meet all set deadlines for recording and post-production work
- Be available for all media interviews and photo shoots
- Maintain regular blogging responsibilities on the Owl Studios Blog under the supervision of Owl Studios.
- Create and maintain fan pages on various social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, ReverbNation, etc). Owl Studios will work in conjunction with the EJAP artist to create an appropriate online/social marketing plan.
- Attend meetings for pre-production, post-production, marketing and legal content.
- Meet regularly with assigned producer/mentor for rehearsals and meetings.
Time Line:
- October 10, 2011: Application materials due
- October 24, 2011: Recipient announced
- December 2011: Two days or recording at Echo Prk Studios, Bloomington, Indiana (dates to be determined)
- January 2012: two days of mixing/editing at Echo Park Studios, Bloomington, Indiana (dates to be determined)
- March 1, 2012: Mastered CD due
- March 2012: meetings with art director, photographer, Owl Studios personnel, etc.
- Friday, April 12, 2012: all materials due to Owl Studios (artwork, proof-read liner notes, CD cover info, track listings, etc.)
- July 2012 Release
Open EJAP Application Form in Adobe Reader in order to view form correctly. Click HERE to download newest version of Adobe Reader.
Any questions can be directed to Brent Wallarab.
Click HERE to download Emerging Jazz Artist Project Guidlines.
2011-2012 EJAP
Judging Panel - TBA