Passion, Persistence & Expertise

As you embark on your PR journey, there are a few essentials you must have to ensure success. One of the most important tools you must have is a smart press list. To compile an excellent and practical press list, there are a few things you must think about.

Why Do You Need a Press List?
The answer to this question might seem obvious, but it’s actually more multifaceted than you might imagine. In today’s world, everyone is so connected and informed about a variety of different issues and events. Despite everyone being so interconnected, establishing a link with these individuals can be quite difficult. Without going through the right channels, it can be next to impossible to reach a large audience. The press, however, is that direct link between you and your audience. By placing yourself in the press, you will again access to the ever-growing network that exists in the world outside of your immediate social network. If placed properly in the press, you’re audience can grow exponentially.

Who and What Is Your Target Audience?
Who is the audience for your message is an important and significant part of your press list. Without understanding who and what your target audience is, it can be very difficult to build a following and establish yourself in your particular field. The reason this particular piece is so important is because it will help you figure out where to direct your focus. For instance, if you were DC’s youngest (and most talented!), electronic rock band, you’re target audience might be teenagers and young adults who listen to electronic rock and similar genres. With that in mind, you’ll want to seek out outlets that have that following. You’ll want to seek out press placements in teen or music magazines and other similar outlets. Granted, being on Fox News in the middle of the day might be a great feat, but if your target audience isn’t watching, what’s the point? Being able to hone in on your audience, capture and maintain their attention are the goals of public relations and, more specifically, a press list.

Last, But Certainly Not Least…
There are always a few logistical aspects to these processes. You must think about the geographic area when building press lists. If you’re touring in and around Baltimore, find news outlets that cover that area. As mentioned before, it’s great if you’re in the press in California, but when promoting for an event, you want to make sure that you’re target audience (in this case, the audience in a particular area) sees your message.

Also, remember the world of press and media is much larger than you think. Today, people are accessing their news from more than big television networks. Blogs, independent news outlets, and radio are also big sources of information for the masses of today. Seek out media sources in places that you might not normally. The bigger and broader your network, the more potential you have to gain a larger audience.

And always remember, the team at Massey Media will build your press list, if needed. Massey Media puts together the perfect package for your public relations needs. We have the passion, persistence and expertise to make your dream into a reality!

- Hilary

Press Release for Immediate Release
March 21, 2010
Contact: Sarah Massey, 202 445-1169

Power Pirate, DCs Youngest Electronic Rock Band, Sacrifices Family Life for Completion of Debut Album

[Washington, DC] — Power Pirate, DC’s youngest electronic rock band, is releasing its debut album titled Plane Ticket on April 10 at the U Street Music Hall. The three-piece group, all between the ages of 15 and 17, wrote, recorded, produced, and designed the art for the 11-track album themselves.

Power Pirate’s first record depicts the difficulty of family separation, and having to choose between pursuing a dream and a family life. Emily, the lead singer and guitarist, gave up living with her family in order to complete Plane Ticket. Her dad had to take a job in Brussels, Belgium, and moved there from DC in August, 2009 with her older brother. In the song “Night Drive,” she shares her personal reaction to the separation:

…The headlights hurt my burning my eyes.
They won’t be coming back this way again.
We’ve lost them. There’s no going back…

The cover of the album, a picture of a young girl succumbed by the powerful scenery of the sun setting behind the Washington Monument, emphasizes DC’s importance to Emily and the rest of the band. The three grew up in the DC area, and are keen on being a part of the DC music scene.

Power Pirate is a three-piece electronic rock band from Washington, DC formed in the fall of 2007 by Emily Pakulski (vocals & guitar), Michael Garate (keyboards), and Annika Monari (drums). The three met when Annika and Emily hosted an informal session to meet new musicians. Among them was Mike, who stayed with them with the goal of creating original music that fuses innovation and traditional musical theory.

The band is determined to employ a D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) philosophy by recording and producing their music at home, which is available on iTunes, as well as doing all the graphic design, photography, promotion, and booking themselves. The members make a strong effort to spread their spirit of self-help to other artists.

Since their formation two years ago, Power Pirate has found its place in the DC/MD/VA music scene through catchy melodies and complex instrumentation. The group has played at popular local venues such as the Black Cat, the DC9 Nightclub, the Rock and Roll Hotel, the Fort Reno summer concert series, and many more. Inspired by modern artists such as Muse, Infected Mushroom, and Daft Punk, this trio fuses 80s-styled techno synths with hard-rock drum beats and guitar riffs to create the new, uncategorized genre unique to Power Pirate.

The band won third place overall in the finals of a national teen battle of the bands in Anaheim, CA in January. Over 200 bands from all over the country were narrowed down to 10 finalists for a live battle of the bands at the 2010 NAMM show. Emily earned ‘best guitarist’ and received a new guitar, while Mike also took home top honors in his instrument and was presented with a new keyboard. As medalists, $1000 in grants were distributed between the band members’ high school music programs to spend on new music equipment.

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To get a preview of the album for reviews, please contact Sarah at Sarah@massey-media.com

Making headlines can unlock the doors to recognition and sales for artists. But how do you start? Artists who want to get press and attention focus on populating our openings and garnering reviews.

Submissive Heartthrob by Brad Ulreich

The press list for a DC artist with a local event should include the Washington Post Going Out Guide, Washington City Paper calendar, Art Beat at WAMU, and popular blogs like FreeinDCBlog and websites like BrightestYoungThings. These are key to getting the word out and getting seen here in DC. A coveted review in the Washington Post will bring you new fans, but that slot is highly competitive.

read it all here in Sarah Massey’s column for the Pink Line Project.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 03/03/2010
Contact: Lacy MacAuley, (202) 445-4692, lacy@massey-media.com

Revolutionary Rhymes with Hip Hop Lawyer Shahid Buttar, at G40: The Summit this Friday
Shahid Buttar organizes grassroots action by day and kicks rhymes by night

What: Hip Hop Lawyer Shahid Buttar mixes politics and music at G40, the Summit
When: Friday, March 5th, 8 PM – 9 PM
Where: 223 23rd St, Arlington, VA, near Crystal City metro

WASHINGTON DC – This Friday, hip hop lawyer Shahid Buttar will perform on the opening weekend of “G40: the Summit” in Crystal City, Virginia. The show features over 500 artists, including acclaimed graphic artists such as Caia Koopman and Jophen Stein, and DC’s own renowned Matt Sesow and Dana Ellyn.

By day, Stanford-trained lawyer Shahid Buttar roams the halls of Capitol Hill, city halls, think tanks and universities to advocate for civil liberties eroded by the War on Terror. This week he was interviewed about his political analysis and grassroots organizing by KPFK in Los Angeles, WBAI in New York, and several other stations around the country. At night, Buttar haunts the San Francisco and DC underground electronica scenes as an MC, hitting the mic with DJs spinning deep house to acid breaks, old-school hip-hop and everything in between.

The G40 Summit by ArtWhino is a dynamic and contemporary art exhibit featuring curated works from artists around the world, musical and visual performances, lectures, live painting, and much more. Buttar’s work will add a politicized element to the opening weekend of the month-long exhibit. With a set including several political songs, he will inspire his listeners to question authority, reaffirm their commitment to values including peace, sustainability, liberty, and transparency—and to take action to build a grassroots movement committed to restoring them.

“Commercial hip hop used to talk more about real issues and inspire people to change, but nowadays it’s mostly fluff,” said Jessie Phille, one of Buttar’s longtime fans. “Shahid’s work is empowering and makes you want to get on your feet, not only on the dance floor but on the streets, too.”

Buttar’s music and lyrics strike at the heart of Babylon, the political culture that surrounds and enables the institutional madness that he engages more rigorously through his legal and organizing work. His music challenges people to question dominant culture. For example, in “Bumpin’ in my SUV,” he weaves syllables effortlessly over a funk track to say

Our nation’s transportation ultimately bears an inextricable relation to our foreign policy, and military policies — and actually, while we’re at it, don’t ignore the way SUVs affect our atmosphere floor: more carbon dioxide heating the planet, greenhouses gases spewing so that we can have it in comfort….As SUV owners throw us back into the past: imperial conquest, the last laugh. We be using force to subjugate other people so we can have more food on our plate, singing ‘Bumpin’ in my SUV’…” [View the video to “Bumpin in my SUV”]

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For more information on Shahid Buttar: www.shahidbuttar.com

For more information on G40: The Summit http://www.artwhino.com/g40

photo by http://www.rosinaphotography.com/

You are invited!

Guitarist and Keyboardist Win Top Honors, High Schools to Receive $1,000

Press Release: January 19, 2010
Contact Sarah Massey, 202 445 1169

Washington, DC - Power Pirate, the District’s youngest electronic rock band, won third place overall in the finals of a national teen battle of the bands in Anaheim, CA on Saturday, January 16th. Over 200 bands from all over the country were narrowed down to 10 finalists for a live battle of the bands.

Emily Pakulski (vocals & guitar)

“We’re thrilled by how our performance in Anaheim went, and are glad to be home in DC to continue our progress as a band,” says Annika Monari, the band’s cheerful drummer.

The band’s 15 year old singer and guitarist, Emily Pakulski, earned ‘best guitarist’ and received a new guitar, while Power Pirate’s 17 year old keyboardist, Mike Garate, also took home top honors in his instrument and was presented with a new keyboard. As medalists, $1000 in grants will be distributed between the band members’ high school music programs to spend on new music equipment.

The finals took place at the winter NAMM Show, where music equipment merchants, industry professionals, and professional musicians come together every year to see the new products to be released for the new year. Power Pirate was the only band at the California finals representing DC.

At 15, 16, and 17 years old, the teen band is already accomplished. A December show at DC’s popular Black Cat drew a crowd of nearly 100 fans. Power Pirate also recently released a single titled “And We’re Off” from their upcoming home-recorded album.

Since their formation in 2007, the band has worked hard to cultivate its sound into a rich fusion of ‘80s synths and hard rock rhythms, and cites modern artists such as Muse, Silversun Pickups, and Infected Mushroom as major influences.

Power Pirate will be playing a free entry show (21+) at the Velvet Lounge on Monday, February 8th. Doors open at 7:30 PM.

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Biography:
Power Pirate is a three-piece electronic rock band from Washington, DC formed in the fall of 2007 by Emily Pakulski (vocals & guitar), Michael Garate (keyboards), and Annika Monari (drums). The three met when Annika and Emily hosted an informal session to meet new musicians. Among them was Mike, who stayed with them with the goal of creating original music that fuses innovation and traditional musical theory.

The band is determined to employ a D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) philosophy by recording and producing their music at home, which is available on iTunes, as well as doing all the graphic design, photography, promotion, and booking themselves. The members make a strong effort to spread their spirit of self-help to other artists.

Since their formation two years ago, Power Pirate has found its place in the DC/MD/VA music scene through catchy melodies and complex instrumentation. The group has played at popular local venues such as the Black Cat, the DC9 Nightclub, the Fort Reno summer concert series, the Santa Fe Cafe, and many more. Inspired by modern artists such as Muse, Infected Mushroom, and Daft Punk, this trio fuses 80s-styled techno synths with hard-rock drum beats and guitar riffs to create the new, un-categorized genre unique to Power Pirate.

About NAMM
NAMM is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the international musical instruments and products industry. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM or the proven benefits of making music, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

Call Massey Media to put your 2010 dreams into action.

What’s your dream for 2010? Is it stopping the destruction of mountains in West Virginia, bringing affordable, quality health care to the nation, covering the urban environment with murals, ending representational bias in the electorate, or maybe, just maybe, you dream of winning a national battle of the bands and taking your rock group global? As we reflect on 2009, we see the Massey Media team has brought positive media attention and new audiences to all of these dreams.

Mobilization for Health Care for All: Shifting the Conversation in the Press
The summer of 2009 was a time of intense opposition for the national healthcare overhaul. The conversation shifted from what kind of publicly supported healthcare should the United States have to should we have that at all. Advocates and activists took notice and organized to bring attention to the millions of Americans who believe health care is a human right and want universal healthcare for all. Massey Media helped the Mobilization for Health Care for All to create newsworthy messages, bring out the cameras, and successfully use social media to broadcast its vision.

I Wanna Rock: The Power of the Press in the Entertainment Industry
This year was groundbreaking for Massey Media in our work with arts and artists, especially when we successfully placed an art mural on the front page of the Weekend Edition of the Washington Post. As a result, our arts portfolio is rocking with new clients like DC’s youngest electronic rock band, Power Pirate. This fall, we placed the band on NBC4 for a live interview about their dreams of winning a national battle of the bands and playing for an international audience. The results were thousands of new fans who cast their votes in favor of the group and helped the band to win the contest.

Massey Media Takes on Massey Energy to Protect Appalachia
First off, no, we’re not related. Our group of Masseys want to protect Coal River Mountain from destruction, while the other group wants to blow off the top and rip up the hills for coal and greed. Mountaintop removal coal mining lays the mountains low, poisons the air and water and ruins livelihoods. We love mountains and green spaces. We believe there is a better way to make energy, such as wind farms. Massey Media is supporting Climate Ground Zero and this vital campaign by connecting them with national press.

Recent press results for our clients:

• 11/05/09 ABC News Protesters Arrested at Lieberman’s Office
• 11/19/09 NBC4 Power Pirate
• 11/29/09 The Atlantic The Best Picture Of The 2008 Electorate To Date
• 12/14/09 All Our Noise Tearing Down the Walls of Medium: District Calling Builds with the Mortar of Creativity
• 1/1/2010 Washington Post Storefront Exhibits Offer Artists a Different Kind of Exposure

Please call us at 202 518-6186 to discuss how we can place your message in the press.

Check out Massey Media’s rocking-est clients, Power Pirate, as they promote themselves in a national battle of the bands contest on NBC4. They need your vote to win: http://www.power-pirate.com/vote.html.

This young band is focused on getting their music out and getting noticed. Their approach is completely DIY, which means Do It Yourself. They are building a studio, producing their own album, and finding great PR help to push them to new audiences. And, they are 15 and 17-years-old.

Massey Media leverages our DC media contacts to promote Power Pirate because we see this as a positive, uplifting story about what teenagers can do. The Power Pirate story is a strong antidote to the usual “if it bleeds it leads” or negative stereotypes about youth.

Freedom is Created by Collaborative Experimentation
District Calling Brings Together Up-and-Coming DC Artists

(Washington, DC) – District Calling, a Washington, DC-based multidisciplinary arts project, hosts its first collaborative performance showcase at the District of Columbia Arts Center on December 5, 2009 at 7:30 and 10 pm. District Calling: Freedom is a tightly choreographed, full-length performance, featuring the collaborative work of artists from across various performance mediums, and highlighting a diversity of perspectives around the theme Freedom.

District Calling showcases up-and-coming (yet still under-represented) Washington, DC artists across a map of performance media, including music, storytelling, dance, and video. These artists, some of DC’s most exciting talent, have made a considerable contribution in their own performance mediums, but have had limited opportunities and venues to collaborate with artists working in other media. District Calling has provided a venue for bringing these artists together to encourage exploration of new ideas and the possibilities of collaborative performance. By providing structured workshops as forums for artist exchanges, District Calling sought to dissolve traditional artistic silos and build a space for artists to forge new, exciting partnerships, and establish a freed sense of what is possible in their performance work. The result has been an environment of heightened creativity and impassioned commitment to breaking from the traditional boundaries of the artists’ respective mediums.

In District Calling, freedom is examined in personal, social, and structural terms: it is found in the boundary blurring of storytelling backed by projections and music; the dancer’s movements that toy with freedoms of a captive audience; and in the improvisational music of a string quartet whose piece is an ode to creating structure only to become freed from it.

John Moon, sound artist and member of the group Cornel West Theory says this project is perfect for what he’s been wishing to explore artistically. “I have all these crazy ideas in my mind but most of them require other people, so this is forcing me to get a lot of these ideas out of my head. I get to work with some really obviously talented and interesting people. I’m blown away.”

“I’m really ecstatic about the opportunity to work with string instrumentalists again,” says Britton Powell, a classically trained turned experimental musician. “I’m excited to collaborate because it always opens your eyes up to another perspective.”

A grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities made the project possible, enabling co-producers Sean Peoples and Melissa Krodman to provide artist stipends and host workshops. Peoples and Krodman chose the theme of freedom as the project’s first showcase as a nod to the process of artistically breaking from the norm, but also as an acknowledgement of the word’s semantic power. “In the last decade there’s been a dramatic shift in people’s association with the word ‘freedom,’ says co-producer Melissa Krodman. “In a way we’re seeking to reclaim the word from the realm of the political and re-explore what it means to us individually, as artists and as humans.”

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District Calling is partially funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and sponsored by Massey Media and Affinity Lab.

District Calling: Freedom
Saturday, December 5
DC Arts Center, 2438 18 Street NW, Washington DC
7:30 pm and 10 pm shows / $10
For tickets call: (202) 462-7833

District Calling artists are:
Carmen Wong, Producer and Creative Director of Banished? Productions
John Moon, Sound Artist, member of Cornel West Theory
Ayo Okunseinde, Video/Visual Artist and Co-founder of Ayyoko Confidential
Sean Peoples, Sound Artist, owner of experimental label Sockets Records, DJ (Fatback)
Vivianne Njoku, Percussionist, Storyteller, and Member of the Band noon:30
Britton Powell, String Instrumentalist and Member of the Band Save Hume
Melissa Krodman, Performer, Writer, Producer
Rashad Dobbins, Lyricist and “Blak Fantasy” Experimental Theatre Creator
Heather Doyle, Dancer (Daniel Burkholder/The Playground, Liz Lerman)
Yvonne Gilmore, Poet, Lecturer, Member of Cornel West Theory
Aaron Thompson, Singer, Songwriter

District Calling: Freedom, is a collaborative performance project featuring the work of Washington, DC’s rich artistic community, and highlighting the diversity of perspectives around the theme Freedom.

Contact:
Melissa Krodman
Phone: 202.251.8802 / 240.662.2915
Email: districtcalling@gmail.com

Teen Battle of the Bands Contest Aimed at Encouraging Music Making Among Teens and Helping School Music Programs

[Washington, DC], November 12, 2009— Power Pirate, DC’s youngest electronic rock band, has been selected by NAMM to move on to the semi-finals of the SchoolJam USA teen battle of the bands competition. To win this round, Power Pirate’s fans support them with votes at http://www.power-pirate.com/vote.

“Power Pirate is thrilled to move up to the semi-finals of the NAMM teen battle of the bands,” says Emily Pakulski. “Our audience is growing as we grow.”

Power Pirate recently released its first single “And We’re Off” on iTunes and other digital music stores. Since their formation two years ago, Power Pirate has found its place in the DC/MD/VA music scene through catchy melodies and complex instrumentation. Power Pirate’s sound combines hard rock with video game synths.

Power Pirate is a three-piece band from Washington, DC with Emily Pakulski (15, vocals & guitar), Michael Garate (17, keyboards), and Annika Monari (15, drums). The three attend DC-area high schools, Georgetown Prep and the International School.

The nationwide contest, sponsored by NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, is designed to encourage teen bands across the United States to demonstrate their musical talents and enjoy the many proven benefits of making music.

Power Pirate is included in the Online voting portion of the competition that began November 1, 2009, at www.schooljamusa.com. Everyone is encouraged to visit the site and vote for their favorite band. The top two bands in five designated regions that receive the most votes will be announced on Dec. 19, 2009, and will be invited to the live SchoolJam USA battle of the bands finals held at the NAMM Show on Saturday, January 16, 2010, in Anaheim, CA.

The SchoolJam USA Battle of the Bands helps highlight the best and most talented teens across the country, while supporting the bands’ school music education programs. The winning band will receive $750 toward new musical equipment and could win a trip to perform at the SchoolJam Germany live finals in Frankfurt, Germany, at the MusikMesse trade fair. The top band’s school music program will also receive $5,000 toward new musical equipment purchased at their local NAMM Member retailer of choice. The competition is sponsored with the help of MENC, the national association for music education; the Music Education National Conference; Music For All; the John Lennon Educational Bus; SchoolJam and InTune Monthly magazine.

Biography:
Power Pirate is a three-piece electronic rock band from Washington, DC formed in the fall of 2007 by Emily Pakulski (vocals & guitar), Michael Garate (keyboards), and Annika Monari (drums). The three met when Annika and Emily hosted an informal session to meet new musicians. Among them was Mike, who stayed with them with the goal of creating original music that fuses innovation and traditional musical theory.

The band is determined to employ a D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) philosophy by recording and producing their music at home, which is available on iTunes, as well as doing all the graphic design, photography, promotion, and booking themselves. The members make a strong effort to spread their spirit of self-help to other artists.

Since their formation two years ago, Power Pirate has found its place in the DC/MD/VA music scene through catchy melodies and complex instrumentation. The group has played at popular local venues such as the Black Cat, the DC9 Nightclub, the Fort Reno summer concert series, the Santa Fe Cafe, and many more. Inspired by modern artists such as Muse, Infected Mushroom, and Daft Punk, this trio fuses 80s-styled techno synths with hard-rock drum beats and guitar riffs to create the new, uncategorized genre unique to Power Pirate.

About NAMM
NAMM is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the international musical instruments and products industry. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM or the proven benefits of making music, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

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For photos and interviews, please phone 202 445-1169