There seems to be a battle of wits trying to persuade you all that there is no underlying motive other than to do you all a good turn whilst benefiting from the side effect of you realising what it is that the Blog does offer.
Well all this seems to be quite a challenge. I am however going to start off by not taking all this advice at first and just stating who and what I am and what I would like to achieve with no clever tricks.
I am based in Cologne, Germany. I am a MBA (Masters of Business Administration) who concentrated his education on the music business. Yes I am a failed, though not totally and not yet given up, pop/rock/soul/house star.
I am enjoying the downfall of the old style record companies which, in my smart arse (wow, arse is not in my browser dictionary) opinion, only took from artists and customers and gave back the very least that they could get away with. Now I too want to take a lot but then I am not here to claim altruism. I do have one flaw as a businessman. I love the art of music. Hence I am stuck in that position where I am a fan myself, of the people I do and will represent. This means I am probably not going to be able to be unbiased about their music. I may well go on too long about how good they are. I will defiantly not be shy about criticising other artists, companies and pretty much anyone. I will be wrong at times and my not be gracious enough to admit it. I will try but hey, I am only human.
I am no genius. If I were i would already be rich and famous. I am not a musical genius otherwise I would have sold my 5th album by now and living a life of recording studios, concert venues and TV fame. I am not being modest, just honest. Don't get me wrong. I have a lot of stage experience so I am not bad at all that. I have a fan base but I just do my thing and always will.
So why is it called midnight@? I run a company called R.R.I.P.M. it is for Rock, R&B, Indie and Pop, Management. As part of my strategy to promote new artists I host a party called Midnight@. It is a club event that features as the first part , a live performance from a new artist who is normally unsigned. they play their own music and are what I consider the best. I then get the best DJ's to turn the second half of the party in to a dance event. I want you to come and see the artists. If not, come later and enjoy the party, but best would be for you to enjoy both.
I want you to film my artists and put their videos on line so you can experience them and their music. I will be giving you the chance to give me feedback on their music. You can suggest bands or artists. I want you to talk about them and us. I want you to be as direct and uncompromising as I am but mostly I want you to help me prove that you do not need t be a 60-year-old cynical business man with a big record company and best friends with every executive from TV and Radio to have a say about who is good in the music business.
I am terrible at spelling and I do not check my writing enough so you will find mistakes. Well at least you will know that it is me.
You will fine me in various places. I was a dancer for Fragma and many dance acts in the early 2000's. I was and am still recording house tracks with DaHool, Dj Hooligan, Mario Lopez, Street HiFi and was the Rapper who never spoke in the reformed 2 Unlimited in 2003 ( a group I am no longer in but get asked to do shows with the music). I am a model and I am a stand up comedian in English and German mostly performing around Nordrhein-Westfalen. I have done TV, German films and even background roles in the film "Desert Flower". I have heard positive and plenty of negative comments on line about me and my various media roles.
Now you have heard the basics. I am here like most people, to achieve something. I hope it is more than just a business but I hope it is at least a business.
I am James Allan. Come to my monthly event in Germany (at present Cologne), look in on my websites and argue with me as much as you want.