About Fame Games Radio edit
Fame Games Radio is a daily online indie music radio program featuring the best independent music submitted on-line. The show is created by MMI and syndicated with ABC Radio Networks.
Format: Interactive radio music show
Created by: Paul Sedkowski and Laura Krier
Presented by: Laura Krier ("dj crier")
Co-presented by: Paul Sedkowski, Graham Keeling, Lexy Badger-Ward, Jake Waby, Sid Olivera
Produced by: Paul Sedkowski
Background music: © MMI Publishing
Parent company: MMI
Country of Origin: Spain, USA
Submissions: FREE
What is Fame Games? edit
Musos can submit their original songs to be analysed and constructively critiqued within the on-air format of "Fame Games". This is the first time in history that independents can go straight from home-studio to major network music market!
Fame Games is a daily independent music show, currently syndicated through ABC Radio Networks, across the USA and other countries, since June 30th, 2008.
Fame Games began broadcasting on April 28, 2004 on OCI FM 101.6 / 94.6 (part of Spain’s Onda Cero network) and streaming online since April 29, 2006. The show was developed to address a need from unsigned independent artists who were looking for mainstream radio airplay and promotion. Due to the nature of radio formatting and complex record company politics major-network radio access has virtually never been possible for unsigned artists or artists not signed to one of the major labels. The Fame Games launch on ABC marks the first time in history where this entrenched policy has been challenged.
The Fame Games format features the presenters showcasing and discussing songs previously qualified by listeners and external reviewers through the show’s website at http://www.meermusic.com (a.k.a. the "artist's site") or http://www.famegamesradio.com (a.k.a. the "listeners' site"), and includes general, often light-hearted commentaries about the state of the music business, charts, tips & techniques and even occasional jokes. Songs in all musical styles and genres are accepted, from all countried around the world, and viewed from the angle of their “crossover potential.”
Six presenters make up the diversified on-air panel which casts its votes alongside those of the listeners and outside reviewers (including listeners, other artists and industry experrts), thereby electing a Track of the Week. The presenters were chosen to reflect a wide cross-section of musical backgrounds and opinions. The show’s main anchor, Laura Krier is also a singer-songwriter, Paul Sedkowski is a songwriter and producer, Graham Keeling is a session guitarist, teenagers Jake Waby and Lexy Badger-Ward are young up-and-coming artists in training, while the latest addition to the show, Sid Olivera, is a professional radio DJ whose work in the past included the BBC.
Demographic Profiles
The total number of online listeners from May 2006 to June 2008 has surpassed 3 million (pre-syndication figures, which don't include terrestrial figures). The average monthly unique visits to the site ranged between 250,000 and 350,000 within the same period.
Approximately 70% of the show's audience is based in the USA, 15% in the UK and the rest is divided among more than 80 countries around the world. While English-speaking countries (e.g. Australia, Canada, etc) dominate, there is also good representation from countries such as Germany, Denmark, Spain, France or Sweden. Approximately 55% of the submitting artists are from the USA, and about 25% from the UK. 70% of the participating artists are in the 20 to 40 age group. Around 15% are over 40 and 15% are under 20.
The Stated Mission On Fame Games
Fame Games sees itself as more than a mere music radio show. With the ABC syndication, Fame Games is becoming a “revolution” in how music is selected and promoted.
The stated mission is to give the best independent artists radio play based on merit, emphasizing that the listening public chooses what is heard on Fame Games through casting votes and reviewing on the Fame Games website.
Fame Games is also an informational program about new music, aimed at both the independent musicians and the broader public. Fame Games discusses topics directly related to the “indie” music scene, provides hints and tips, general advice and information as well as frequent controversial topics to get everyone involved. In its "educational" mission, Fame Games also delves into aspects concerned with songwriting and music production. Additionally, Fame Games is an international PR vehicle for the artists appearing on the show as well as a fast-growing A&R gateway for records labels. Fame Games aims to be a growing community and forum for independent artists.
Fame Games Step By Step
Registration
Artist sign up on the Fame Games website and submit track(s) from their profiles.
The Holding Area
Submissions are evaluated by the production team and then entered into the Fame Games showcase.
Auditions and BackStage
Submissions are evaluated by Peers and Listeners as well as invited experts, and get Fan support (votes). Scores determine advancement from “area” to “area”. From here, tracks are eligible for the Green Room.
Green Room
In the Green Room, voting and reviews continue. Green Room tracks are now candidates for the Quarterfinals (a.k.a. “The Qualifier Showcase” or “The Q Show”). Each week, the 36 highest-scoring Green Room songs are selected for the next Q shows. Auditions Area, BackStage Area and Green Room songs are not aired on Fame Games until they advance to the "Q" level. Not all songs will make it out of the Audition/BackStage/Green Room areas - some songs will simply not achieve the minimum required level of unanimity or fan support.
"Q" Show
The 36 highest scoring songs selected from the current week's Green Room are showcased on air, during the Fame Games "Q" shows. These shows take place Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday every week, each show containing 12 songs. These tracks are now contenders for the Semi-final Show (which airs on Thursdays), which leads to the Final Show (a.k.a "The Main Show") which airs on Fridays.
Each song presented on the Q shows is played typically for only around one minute, as a "promotional sample" of each artist's music and listeners are encouraged to visit the Fame Games website to hear the songs in their entirety. For each presented song, the hosts read out 2 reviews received on the website. The show focuses on the opinions of the outside reviewers, but the panel also briefly express their views on each song. Each Q show is published the week before the semi-final and main shows air to enable more fan votes and reviews.
Semi-final Show
The top 12 songs from the Q shows and contenders list are showcased during the Semi-final shows, which air Thursdays. These are the tracks that are most eligible to advance to the Main Show. The hosts read out samples of the fanmail received for each song on the Fame Games site.
Main Show (a.k.a. The Finals Show)
The Main Show combines the votes and reviews supplied by the public and outside experts with the opinions of the on-air panel, and awards the “Track of the Week” accolade to one song. A song which defends the title four times in a row is declared “Track of the Month” and is withdrawn from further competition. As a reward, “Track of the Month” songs receive regular rotational airplay on Fame Games and its affiliates. No strings attached. Additionally, the Main Show features discussions about a wide variety of issues relevant to independent musicians, as well as a number of other program segments aimed at broader audiences. Up to five songs from the preceding Semifinal Shows can advance to the Main show (if there is a reigning Track of the Week winner on the Main show, only up to 4 songs can be advance).
Even if a song is in the top 5 on the current Q show (calculated by average score) there is no guarantee of advancement to the Main Show - this is because all other songs that made it the previous Q Shows continue to compete. Songs with the highest scores from the previous Q editions are referred to as "contenders.”
Songs on Fame Games are reviewed in five basic categories: songwriting, production, performance quality, originality and "undefinable appeal." Songs which do not win “Track of the Week” are not forgotten in the system. Multiple charts and further opportunities exist to bring attention to “the best of the rest.”
Rules For Submitting Tracks
Who's Eligible:
Anyone is eligible to sign up for Fame Games as long as the recorded music is original.
Nationality:
All nationalities are welcome; however, please note that non-English submissions may not translate well with the Fame Games audiences.
Signed or Un-signed:
The vast majority of the artists signing up for Fame Games are not signed with a record label. Many are looking for a deal or just wanting to get some feedback on their work. Fame Games will take submissions from independent record labels as long as there is clearance from that label. By signing up for Fame Games artists accept the responsibility for making your music available to the public. Fame Games does not promote currently-signed major-label artists.
Covers:
Only original songs are allowed on Fame Games. In case of cover songs, only explicitly authorized versions will be accepted (cleared with the original publishers).
Genre / Style:
All styles and genres of music including instrumentals are accepted at Fame Games.
Duration:
There are time limits on how long an artist’s track is played on air. This will reflect what the producers of the show believe to be the most engaging for the show’s format (typically no more than 1 to 1.5 minutes of each song played as a "promotional sample"). Listeners are always directed to the full versions of all songs on the Fame Games website.
Public Review Process:
Listeners, artists and invited experts review and vote for songs. Highest-scoring songs have the best chances of advancing.
How to submit to Fame Games:
Artists can submit tracks by filling out an artist sign-up form on the Fame Games website. Requirements include completing a questionnaire, sending an encoded MP3 of at least 44.1kHz/ 128 kbps, current photo of artist or band along with caption as well as band member list. Additional information can be found on the Fame Games website.