Musicians Rally for Digital Freedom

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Digital Freedom Campaign today announced that more than 50 new bands have joined the nationwide movement to protect the rights of artists, consumers and innovators in the digital age. The Digital Freedom Campaign's mission is to ensure that all Americans can enjoy new digital technologies free of unnecessary government restrictions and costly lawsuits that restrict consumers' ability to use lawfully acquired content on digital devices.

The Internet and new digital technologies like satellite radio have enabled individual artists, musicians and groups both big and small to be heard, enabling them to find, cultivate and grow new audiences and an interested fan base. No longer solely dependent on big recording conglomerates for the promotion and distribution of their music, musicians can use cutting edge technology to reach those audiences themselves.

"As soon as we heard about this campaign, we immediately signed on," said Chris Kienel of indie band, The District. "For the 99.5 % of the artists out there trying to make it, new technologies have liberated us and we need to protect our ability to use them to reach our fans."

Bands joining the Digital Freedom Campaign cut across the musical spectrum -- rock, hip-hop, alternative, country and more. Regardless of genre, however, they all recognize the serious threat that costly lawsuits and legislative maneuverings place upon their long-standing rights to use digital technologies like satellite and Internet radio and online content sites like YouTube to create and distribute their art, as well as to create new revenue streams.

"New digital technologies have created unprecedented artist empowerment", said Don Goldberg, spokesman for the Digital Freedom Campaign. "They allow the smallest and newest artists to create, record and distribute their works to audiences who would never otherwise hear their songs."

These technologies not only benefit the artists but the independent labels as well. "You have to remember that these technologies are not only helping the bands get out there, but they also open up new opportunities for the record industry as well," stresses Al Delaney, of Internet radio and online distributor OutboundMusic. "We all better adapt or get out of the way".

The following bands and labels have joined the Campaign: American Princes http://www.americanprinces.com/ The District http://www.myspace.com/thedistrictny Soldiers of Jah-Army http://www.sojamusic.com/ Jason Soudah http://www.jasonsoudah.com/ The Purrs http://www.thepurrs.com/ Airpushers http://www.airpushers.net/ Two Loons for Tea http://www.twoloons.com/ Shane Bartell http://www.shanebartell.com/ Christopher Blue http://www.chrisopherblue.com/ The Hero Factor http://www.theherofactor.com/ Goldenchild http://www.myspace.com/dadathegoldenchild The Plan B http://www.planbboy.com/ Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players http://www.slideshowplayers.com/ The Cassettes http://www.thecassettes.com/ Back to Blonde http://www.backtoblonde.com/ Box of Poems http://www.boxofpoems.net/ The Bourbon Dynasty http://www.bourbondynasty.com/ Kaddisfly http://www.kaddisfly.com/ The Bravery http://www.thebravery.com/ Amity Lane http://www.amitylane.com/ ManDown http://www.myspace.com/mandownofmobile The Bridges http://www.bridges-band.com/ Christmas All Year http://www.myspace.com/christmasallyear Lock 13 http://www.lock13.com/ Circuit Pop http://www.myspace.com/circuitpop Jon Black http://www.jonblackmusic.com/ Cancerslug http://www.cancerslug.net/ SnakeMannn Justify These Scars http://www.myspace.com/justifythesescars Cassino http://www.cassinoband.com/ September Son http://www.myspace.com/septemberson Wild Sweet Orange http://www.myspace.com/wildsweetorange Caddle http://www.caddlemusic.com/ The Ackleys http://www.myspace.com/ilikelikeliketheackleys Juliet & The Torch Ensemble http://www.myspace.com/julietandthetorchensemble Mike Matthews http://www.myspace.com/mikematthewsmusic The Shoes http://www.theshoesmusic.co.uk/ Benvolio http://www.myspace.com/thebandbenvolio Roy Rogers katrina@segue-ent.com Delft http://www.myspace.com/delft East of the Wall http://www.myspace.com/eastofthewall Immure http://www.myspace.com/immure Caspian http://www.myspace.com/caspiantheband The Hold Outs http://www.theholdouts.com/ Dirty Leg http://www.myspace.com/dirtyleg69 Stephan Catenacci http://www.outboundmusic.com/StephanCatenacci Jahmings Maccow http://www.rebelsproduction.com/ Johnnie Colleton and the Bonedrivers http://www.blueblack.com/bonedrivers Jamie Lynch Band http://www.jamielynchband.com/ Dust Galaxy http://www.dustgalaxy.com/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin http://www.sslyby.com/ Mew http://www.mewsite.com/ Roots Tonic http://www.rootstonic.net/ Record Labels: Sarathan Yep Roc Nobility Interloop

For more information about the Digital Freedom campaign, please visit us at http://www.digitalfreedom.org/.

About Digital Freedom: Digital technology enables literally anyone and everyone to be a creator, an innovator or an artist -- to produce music, to create cutting-edge videos and photos, and to share their creative work. Digital technology empowers individuals to enjoy these new works when, where, and how they want, and to participate in the artistic process. These are basic freedoms that must be protected and nurtured. The Digital Freedom campaign is dedicated to defending the rights of students, artists, innovators, and consumers to create and make lawful use of new technologies free of unreasonable government restrictions and without fear of costly and abusive lawsuits.

  Contact:
  Jennifer Stoltz
  202-448-3145
  jstoltz@qorvis.com