December 10th, 2009, New York, NY – The New Music Seminar (NMS) and OurStage.com announce the “Artists on the Verge” Winter New Artist Search. Enter to win this once in a lifetime opportunity aimed to help break aspiring artists’ careers in the music industry though direct exposure and personal mentoring from some of the most influential and connected industry leaders of the new music business. The winner will also receive a special prize musical package including free musical equipment, video promotion, publicity services, legal work, CD pressing and much more.

Entries are open to all unsigned artists in the Urban, Rock or Pop genres, and will be accepted until December 22nd, 2009 at http://bit.ly/TheVerge

Ten Finalists – A Judge Panel consisting of music industry leaders will select ten finalists from the top 20 ranked artists from each of the “Artists on the Verge” OurStage Channels. These ten finalists will have their A&R promotional packages and EPKs delivered to 20 top record labels in North America for consideration.

Top Three Finalists – The top three finalists will be awarded travel funds and passes to Los Angeles to attend the New Music Seminar on February 2nd, 2010 following the Grammy Awards. The three finalists will each receive a live mentoring and critique session by industry experts (led by superstar artists, producers, radio programmers, and bloggers) in front of the NMS audience.

Grand Prize Winner -The One Grand Prize Winner will be chosen at NMS to perform at the NMS After Party and will receive a comprehensive music consultation package that will include special music prizes, services and offerings from some of the smartest and most connected leaders of the new music business. (See full details below)

“Last year 105,000 albums were released but sadly, less than 50 artists doing it themselves broke 10,000 album sales for the first time. The New Music Seminar along with OurStage is dedicated to helping new artists learn how to ‘cut through the noise floor’. This contest will provide the opportunity and the right tools for the most talented new artists to break in the new music business,” explains NMS Founder Tom Silverman.

“We are thrilled to partner with the such an important program such as ‘The New Music Seminar’ and to help deserving emerging artists increase their exposure and improve their craft,” shares Ben Campbell, CEO of OurStage. “OurStage is in the business of delivering life-altering opportunities for worthy artists – so this is really exciting for OurStage and our whole community.”

The Grand Prize Winner Package will include:
· Travel funds to attend New Music Seminar in LA
· New Music Seminar attendance
· Mentoring & Consulting
Ø Tom Jackson – The Premier Live Performance Producer and Consultant
Ø Tom Silverman – Founder of Tommy Boy and the New Music Seminar
Ø Dave Lory – Manager and Touring Expert
Ø Martin Atkins – Author of Tour:Smart – expert on touring and the live experience
Ø Linda Lorence Critelli – Free 1 hour consultation with SESAC on “The business of songwriting and music publishing”
Ø Pam Workman – Founder/Owner of WE + PR and Public Relations, in-depth PR consultation and strategy session
Ø Joe Serling – Serling, Rooks, Ferrara, McKoy & Worob LLP – $5000 worth of billable time for legal work and consultation
· Music Business Toolbox
Ø Tour:Smart book – Signed by Martin Atkins
Ø Music Success in 9 Weeks book – Signed by Ariel Hyatt
Ø Musician’s Atlas Subscription
Ø Trendrr Pro Gold subscription
Ø Broadjam Subscription – One year to receive opportunities to get
Ø your music used in TV and Films
Ø Canadian Music Week – 2 Tickets to the convention in Toronto, March 2010
Ø New Music Seminar Guidebook
· Exposure
Ø A&R package critiqued at NMS by industry experts
Ø Performance at the New Music Seminar immediately after the final panel
Ø MySpace promotion
Ø Yahoo! Music – Exclusive front page video debut for your next video
Ø Pandora targeted ad campaign
Ø OurStage Feature
Ø WE + PR campaign to promote winner
Ø Ariel Hyatt PR Blog Campaign
Ø Corey Denis Cyber PR Social Network Makeover
Ø A&R Package sent by NMS to top A&R execs in North America (top 10 semi finalists)
· Monetize
Ø Sabian Cymbals
Ø Guitar Center $1000 Gift Certificate
Ø Rainbo Records1000 CD’s manufactured
Ø Mozes Connect Subscription
Ø Ross-Ellis 500 deluxe vinyl jackets (packaging only)

For more details on the entry rules and contest please go to: http://www.ourstage.com/go/artistsontheverge

About The New Music Seminar
From the co-founder and director of the original legendary New Music Seminar comes a conference for the Next Music Business. Artists have never had so much power to control their own careers and build their success. This affordable, one-day event gives artists and their representatives the knowledge, tools and connections to step into the tomorrows music business today. Delegates get an intense program including a keynote speech and four Movements with an incisive curriculum redefining the music business from the artists’ perspective. Delegates all receive the New Music Business Guidebook filled with important do’s and don’ts by the experts, tips, information, forms and essential websites and blogs. The NMS Schmoozatorium will have important exhibits by companies to help artists with their careers and amazing networking opportunities

About OurStage
OurStage is emerging as one of the hottest new-music discovery platforms on the web. On OurStage, artists, fans and industry professionals all come together – to discover, judge, & enjoy the best new music and the best new artists online – as ranked by the fans. Top-ranked artists receive significant career-building promotion and support from famous artists, fans, industry professionals and a broad assortment of partners, including MTV2, ABC Radio, Radio-One, AOL Music, Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot, PLUG Awards, Newport Folk Festival, JVC Jazz Festival Newport, Paste Magazine, CMJ, Noise Pop, and many others. Founded in 2007, OurStage delivers music and related content to more than 4 million fans in over 140 countries each month. www.ourstage.com

Los Angeles – Not many comedians can claim a career as diverse as that of veteran funny man Michael Colyar. A true comic master, Colyar has been delivering his phenomenal brand of humor to audiences for over two decades now. Rousing, relevant, conscious and inspirational he transcends dimensions, with a style that defies restrictions.

Colyar is currently celebrating his longevity and tenacity with his casting in Disney’s highly anticipated new film, “The Princess and the Frog,”starring Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman, Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard. In the animated spectacular, Colyar provides the voice for the character of the chef. Lending credence to his mixed bag of skills, he then flips the script playing a dirty cop in Snoop Dogg’s upcoming short rap film, “Malice N Wonderland,” starring Jamie Foxx, Soulja Boy, DJ Quik and Xzibit.

Soulja Boy and Michael Colyar on the set of “Malice N Wonderland” (Photo Credit: Jared R.Milgrim/ http://www.jrmphoto.com)

Colyar began his career on the shores of Venice Beach, where for nine years he honed his craft performing five one-hour shows a day! Mainstream success knocked on his door in 1990 when he was selected the $100,000 Grand Prize Comedy champion of “Star Search,” the popular nationally televised talent competition. Colyar, who has always advocated giving from the heart, donated $50,000 of his win to homeless charities throughout the Los Angeles area. A charismatic personality, Colyar went on to tackle the big and small screen, garnering film and television credits. He even served as one of television’s pioneer late night Black talk show host entertaining audiences nightly on “BET Live From LA.”

“God is just the greatest,” shares Colyar. “I am blessed to be a channel for him, delivering a message of wholeness and well being through what is sometimes perceived to be the bawdiest humor. But laughter is the most healing balm on the planet. When you laugh, your heart opens and that’s when I get you. My goal is to raise your consciousness by any means necessary!”

2010 will see Colyar delivering his first ever comedy album, “Michael Colyar’s Greatest Hits and the Greatest Unknowns” a compilation CD of music from up and coming musical artists, interspersed with his classic comedy routines. His character’s voice from “The Princess and the Frog” will also appear in the Wii game version from the movie and his new DVD, “Michael Colyar’s Extravagant Adventure” is slated for release early next year.

Colyar is also busy putting the finishing touches on two new books, “Miss Innocent Goes to Kool Skool and Other Silly Stuff,” which is a book of poetry for adult children and “Michael Goes Motivational” which he describes as “an autobiographical adventure of self discovery through humor and the transformational power of God.”

Motivational speaker Les Brown provides the foreward for “Miss Innocent Goes to Kool Skool and Other Silly Stuff” and states, “I have been fortunate to meet many talented and gifted people. Two, who stand out most in my mind for their ability to change people’s lives with the power of the written word, are Maya Angelou and Michael Colyar.”

From the sand and shore of the beach, to the gritty streets of hip hop, and the magical world of Disney animation, Michael Colyar remains a captivating persona of laughter and love. Visit with him at http://www.MichaelColyar.com.

Atlanta, GA – After directing some of the hottest music videos for popular hip-hop, pop and alternative artists from Detroit to Los Angeles, director Dennis McKinley marks his Atlanta directorial debut and official move to the city lensing “Go Shorty Go,” an upbeat club video for hip-hop group, Travis Porter. Fellow rappers, Dem Franchise Boyz, Lil Chuckee, DJ Teknikz, and DJ Spinz Hoodrich dropped by the set for cameo appearances.

“Travis Porter’s energy and positive attitude made the video come to life,” said McKinley. “I also respect their hustle; they stay on the grind. Like Soulja Boy, these young men didn’t wait around for a record deal. They created their music, put it online and now they’re blowin’ up across the country.”

McKinley continues, “That’s what McKinley Presents is about. We’re not waiting for the studio to make our movies. We’re doing our own thing, pushing the limits of new technology to make low-cost films and videos with high production value. In 2010, we’re going hard producing feature films and developing music mini-movies comparable to Michael Jackson’s Thriller.”

The video, filmed on location in a trendy Atlanta nightclub, begins with Travis Porter in the VIP area reminiscing about the previous weeks party. After walking through the crowd of over 200 club-goers, exotic dancers and pole dancers, Travis Porter uses the bar as their stage and puts on the performance of their career.

McKinley credits the success of this video to his all-star support crew which included: James Houk, director of photography, Ishamel “Ham” Isring, assistant director, and co-producers, Hamadi James and Kim Bell.

“I moved my operations to Atlanta because it’s one of the hottest spots in the country for entertainment,” said McKinley. “I have two feature films in development and, according to my research, this city has the talent, crew, celebrities, and film incentives to get the job done. It’s an economically sound business move for my company and it doesn’t hurt that I love Atlanta,” said McKinley who holds a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Michigan and a certificate from Dov S-S Simens’ internationally recognized, Hollywood Film Institute.

Kim Bell adds, “We’re excited about our move to Atlanta. In addition to producing music videos and commercials targeting the younger demographic, McKinley Presents will focus on telling provocative, realistic, and constructive stories. I majored in political science so you can count on us making some noise and keeping it very real.”