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/

Do you ever wonder how an artist or a band suddenly shows up in the newspaper and TV news? How did they get the coverage? Doesn’t your project also deserve press attention? Of course your work deserves to be broadcast too; and, with knowledge of how the press functions and a touch of creativity, your project can make headlines.

Read the full column from Sarah Massey at the Pink Line Project.

You are invited!

The NY Times front page today reads like a playbook of failure:

The Obama administration has decided to continue to imprison without trials nearly 50 detainees at the Guantánamo Bay. … The Supreme Court decision (campaign finance) will increase the power of lobbyists and interest groups at the expense of candidates and political parties. … Lawmakers are weighing a pared-back approach on healthcare …

I mean a failure for justice, health care as a human right, and democracy. There was a sad headline for progressive voices when the left’s response to right-wing talk radio, Air America, went off the air with a fizzle. These issues are interrelated: poor reporting of the news, ill-informed constituents, less than half of eligible Americans choosing to participate in voting, and corporations winning the power to run elections from the Supreme Court.  It’s about dominance and greed; and, when the powers that be don’t hear from regular folks, they ignore us.

It almost makes you want to bury your head in the blankets, but you can make change. I challenge you to do one thing today, which is learn how to be a media activist, meaning learn how to call your local newspaper newsroom with an alternative to the bad news your are seeing on the front page.

Pick a positive story. Do you know a local business that is going green? Do you know an arts group that is reaching kids in new ways?  What is good news for your community?  I specifically want you to find good news, because it is uplifting to audiences and works diametrically to the usual “if it bleeds, it leads” press mentality. This is a viewpoint that is used to scare people and make them afraid to act. Are you participating in a volunteer effort for Haiti or New Orleans?  Call the press and tell them.

Find the general number for your favorite news outlet, call, and ask for the newsroom. When the reporter picks up say, “My name is such and such, and I have a story idea for you.” Explain your story and then say, “Thank you for listening to my pitch. I read your paper everyday, but I am tired of bad news. We need something different.”

Remember, it’s the media that persuades people that the problems we face are too hard to fix or that one group of people is dangerous. The media tells us that wars and consumerism are OK. Fox network has a larger viewership than all the other popular cable news outlets combined. And that’s not OK. You can do something about it.

Imagine if 10 people in your community called the paper today with a good news story. They’d have to print it. It would show them a demand.

Demand change.

Some helpful resources for media activism:

FAIR: Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

SPIN Project

- Sarah

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).

Press Release: For Immediate Release
Contact: Sarah Massey 202 445-1169, Sarah@massey-media.com

Art Brings Us Together: Till Death Do Us Part
Matt Sesow, Dana Ellyn Gallery Exhibit at Long View Gallery Opens Feb 5 With Couple’s Wedding

(Washington, DC) — Where do two artists meet and fall in love? At an art show, of course. On Friday, February 5, from 6:30 – 9:30 PM, two of Washington, DC’s most celebrated local artists will tie the knot at Long View Gallery at 1234 9th St NW. During the opening night reception for Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow’s “Till Death Do Us Part” art exhibition, the long-time couple will exchange nuptials. The couple is inviting all of DC’s artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts to the public event.

It all started eight years ago when a friend suggested to Dana Ellyn that she check out a venue for her premiere art show. While she liked the space and the art that was on exhibit, she was most attracted to the man behind the paint and canvas, the artist Matt Sesow. Sesow also liked what he saw and invited Ellyn to “see his studio,” which she interpreted correctly as artistic code language for inviting her on a date. Over time, the two found synchronicity in a rhythm together as full-time artists. Painting canvasses and producing art shows mark the beats of their lives.

The “Till Death Do Us Part” exhibition and wedding will be a landmark event for the DC art scene, as well as the couple’s lives. Sesow and Ellyn have challenged themselves to address the meaning of marriage through art. You will see all the myriad hues of married life, the “the good times and the bad times and in sickness or in health.” In Ellyn’s “Institution of Marriage,” the couple wears straight jackets with untouched wedding cake lying nearby. Sesow also takes on the complicated feelings of love, pain and commitment in his “Til Death Do Us Part” as the celebratory couple stands ready to stab each other with sharpened knives, while a bright red heart pulses above. Their artwork also shows the confidence and comfort of marriage. Ellyn’s “Date Night” is a portrait of a beaming woman, sipping two-buck Chuck with curlers in her hair and red booties on her feet. Only a truly happy wife could pull of that look and make it sexy.

"Till Death Do us Part" Dana Ellyn

Ask Sesow what the marriage means, he jokes, “We get to share paint.” Together, the couple shares canvas, acrylic paint, time together in their studios, and they share the spotlight as two of DC’s sought-after artists. Ellyn’s recent Blasphemy Day show grabbed CNN, NPR, and USA Today headlines, while Sesow’s political art made Artnet Magazine’s top-10 for 2009 list.

For the “Til Death Do Us Part” Long View Gallery exhibit, running February 5 to March 1, 2010, Sesow and Ellyn fill the space with a diversity of work, including Sesow’s 100 for $100 small works and Ellyn’s large oil on canvas. Sesow’s work is an emotional response with a foundation built on personal childhood trauma and disability, growth, healing, and a reaction to politics, policies, travels, and life experiences. Ellyn’s color-saturated work is exemplified by a risk-taking vision and playful, yet scathing, critiques of social norms. Both are exploring new materials to create unique sculptures reflecting this next stage in their lives. Sesow’s unique sculptures will be created using kitty litter.

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http://www.sesow.com/wedding/
Long View Gallery: 1234 9th St NW, Washington DC 20009, 202.232.4788
Till Death Do Us Part Feb 5 - Mar 1, 2010

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.

Affinity Lab Spotlight: December 2009 Newsletter

Massey Media
Washington DC Public Relations Firm
(Affinity Lab member)

Why did you start your own business?

Sarah Massey: “I launched Massey Media as a public relations consulting business exactly four years ago. A colleague from AFGE (American Federation of Government Employees) needed public relations assistance while opposing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s attacks on workers rights to choose a union at the workplace. Rumsfeld said that the unions were a threat to national security. This is illustrative of Bush Administration doublespeak, meaning the government didn’t want to pay employees living wages and benefits. I helped position AFGE in the media, showing the strength and determination of the union for its members and its cause.

Lacy and Sarah

What I learned on that first job was how to lend the expert extra set of hands that campaigns needed, do the great work of making headlines, advance the issue for the client, and build capacity for the client. We then researched and identified a demand for creative media consulting in the progressive political arena and stuck with our niche market until we had mastered it. Most of Massey Media’s clients have been progressive nonprofit organizations, but lately we’ve been expanding our mission. Throughout 2009, we expanded Massey Media’s target markets to include socially responsible businesses and the arts.”

What makes Massey Media different from other PR companies?

One of the reasons our clients select Massey Media is because we are passionate and deeply connected to the issues of our day. Everyone at Massey Media comes from the progressive movement, and we care as much as our clients about advancing their causes. From workers rights to environmentalism, from global justice to public art, Massey Media has a vision of a more just planet where everyone enjoys freedom and has a roof over their head, safe and healthy food and water, literacy, and so forth. We are deeply connected to the media that covers these issues and know how to craft stories that producers and journalists want to use. Our clients know us from the community we serve and see how we work to make stories happen in the press on a daily basis.

Our team has years of experience in the top national and international campaigns: raise the minimum wage, campaigns for global justice, promotion of a climate treaty, protection of voting rights, and so forth. Massey Media identifies the successful campaign tactics and applies them to local projects and small business public relations, and it’s working. For example, we worked with Albus Cavus this summer to publicize their work on DC’s largest public mural in Edgewood. Massey Media operated the media work as a campaign to win more walls for public murals in DC. We announced the artwork project with a press release (campaign launch), we wrote a press release a week telling the story of the artists and the community (developing the campaign platform), taught a workshop on spokesperson skills to the artists and the 45 young people working with the group (empowered campaign supporters), brought the press to the mural wall to see the work in progress, and culminated with a huge community event with live painting (victory rally). The DC art and event press loved it, ultimately awarding us the front page of the Washington Post weekend section and the center spread of the Style section. This coverage has led to more projects for Albus Cavus and renewed interest in public art in DC.

Another reason we stand out is that we take our ethic of empowerment to our clients. When we partner with a client to promote their issue, we hand over all of our intelligence and information tools and help them to use it. Each client gets a Massey Media kit that includes the press results we create, the press list we use and notes with full contact information, all the materials we write, and also a debrief memo on how to be your most effective in story-telling. We believe that using the power of the press is a powerful tool for communications and that the ability to make headlines should be more democratic.

Tell us about one of your newer clients and what you are doing for them?

Massey Media recently started work with the Zinn Education Project to promote their creative teaching tools to high school and middle school teachers. The project brings Howard Zinn’s book, A People’s History of the United States, to life for teenagers. Our public relations work is to place stories about bringing history alive in the traditional press that reaches teachers, as well as social media and popular websites. It’s an honor to be assisting Howard Zinn and the Zinn Education Project, and we feel this partnership a special acknowledgment of our vision. Zinn has helped shape our perspective as active participants for social change. We are proud to be serving our communities by helping people to learn their own history and tell their own stories.

What advice do you have for small businesses and arts organizations who are considering PR?

The most important first step to consider is whether you have the capacity to take on a sustained public relations partnership, both in terms of time and financial resources. The press is demanding. They want stories, photos, and interviews and they want them on a 24/7 news deadline. Do you have time to help supply this or a budget that allows your PR firm to take care of it for you? The best avenue for earned press is to position your business or yourself as an expert in the field. Do you have time to invest in creating this profile? When you get press attention, do you have the capacity to fulfill the increased demand for your services?

The next piece of advice we have is to get ready to get creative. We all think we’re newsworthy; however, the press has a certain approach to storytelling, and there is a lot of competition for their attention and airtime. Your PR pro will help shape your project, product, service, or cause into a story the press wants to cover. This will include chiming in on holidays, (like “Eat Well to Feel Well in 2010” for New Year’s Day) creating fun visuals (fake health care lobby greenbacks with pictures of Joe Lieberman), and having you practice slogans (“hard work deserves fair pay, so raise the minimum wage”) so you get quoted in the press. Get creative and have fun with it!

Sarah Massey, Principal
Lacy MacAuley, Project Director

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.