Washington, D.C. -- The National Association of Broadcasters today released new radio spots and digital ads highlighting the importance of AM radio in the automobile. These tools include a direct call to action for consumers to contact Congress and will further enhance NAB's advocacy efforts to keep AM radio in the car dashboard.

The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) today announced JPMorgan Chase as the recipient of the 2023 Corporate Leadership Award. The award will be given during the 2023 Celebration of Service to America Awards, presented by Bonneville International and Hearst Television and held in Washington, D.C., on June 6 at The Anthem.

WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) today announced award-winning ABC News broadcaster Gio Benitez as the host of the 2023 Celebration of Service to America Awards. The ceremony, which honors broadcasters for their outstanding commitment to public service, will be held in Washington, D.C. on June 6 at The Anthem.

WASHINGTON, DC -- Multi-hyphenate entertainer Wayne Brady will receive the Service to America Leadership Award from the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) during the Celebration of Service to America Awards on June 6 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. The award, NABLF’s highest individual citation, is presented in recognition of honorees’ charitable work and public service.

WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) honored the recipients of the 2023 Celebration of Service to America Awards tonight during a gala held at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. The awards, presented by Bonneville International and Hearst Television, honor the impact and excellence in community service and philanthropy by local radio and television stations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to passage by the Senate Judiciary Committee of the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

In response to Sen. Cantwell's remarks at today's hearing and letter urging the FCC to refresh the record on vMVPDs, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today launched a nationwide search for an executive vice president and managing director of Global Connections and Events overseeing the annual NAB Show – one of the largest business-to-business trade shows in North America and the premier trade show serving the media and entertainment industry. The position presents a unique opportunity for an experienced executive with a strong trade show and strategic business background to lead and inspire a team of 30 responsible for executing NAB Show, NAB Show New York and NAB Amplify.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to today’s passage by the House Judiciary Committee of H.R. 4250 - Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act (PRESS Act), which provides federal-level protections for journalists regarding disclosure of confidential sources, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the Senate Commerce Committee's passage today of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Emmy nominated broadcaster Rich Eisen will host the 2023 Marconi Radio Awards Dinner, presented by Xperi, on October 25 during NAB Show New York. Record producer and radio host DJ Scratch, who performed at last year’s event, is back by popular demand to provide live music for radio’s biggest night of the year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NAB Show New York and the prestigious HBO Camera Assessment Series (CAS) are thrilled to unveil a dynamic new collaboration at this year’s NAB Show New York, which takes place October 24-26 at the Javits Center. On October 25, attendees will gain access to screen The CAS, which is a meticulous exploration of the cinematic storytelling potential of today's leading cameras. The follow-up session, The Making of The HBO Camera Assessment Test (CAS) Seminar, takes place October 26 at the Cine+Live Lab on the NAB Show New York show floor. For the first time, in celebration of the series' 10th anniversary, the creators will publicly share their insights and the journey behind making the assessment series.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) will host a webinar on the importance of documenting and preserving broadcast history for future generations. The webinar will air on August 23 at 2 p.m. from NAB’s state-of-the-art studio in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Hall of Fame CBS sportscaster James Brown is the recipient of the National Association of Broadcasters’ 2023 Distinguished Service Award (NAB DSA), the organization’s highest honor. The award presentation will take place during the NAB Marconi Awards Dinner, presented by Xperi, on October 25 at NAB Show New York.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the Senate confirmation of Anna Gomez to the Federal Communications Commission, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) today named seven new members to its board of directors in accordance with its bylaws. Joining the board are Catherine Badalamente of Graham Media Group, Lynn Beall of TEGNA Inc., Joe DiScipio of Fox Corporation, Chad Matthews of ABC Owned Television Stations Disney Entertainment, Marian Pittman of Cox Media Group, David Santrella of Salem Media Group and Karen Wishart of Urban One.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the passing of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NAB Show New York will shine a spotlight on creativity, innovation and collaboration, announcing the winner and full contest review of “Empire State of Mind presented by Bamboo.” This first-of-its-kind photo contest is seeking the next great photographer for a chance to direct a photoshoot on the streets of New York City with social media influencer and expert strategist Avori Henderson, shoot her next merch drop, speak at NAB Show New York and win $4000.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Twenty senators have sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the Commission to refresh its nearly decade-old proceeding examining the digital television streaming marketplace. The letter asks the FCC to solicit new public comments about virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPD) and whether federal action is needed to ensure consumer access to local broadcast programming on online platforms.

NEW YORK— Total preliminary registered attendance reached 12,231 for the 2023 NAB Show New York, held October 24-26 at the Javits Center. NAB Show New York is the most efficient and diverse event experience on the East Coast where thousands of content economy professionals reconnect, reevaluate and rediscover ways to get more creative with new-to-market tech and existing tools through exhibits, conferences and networking events. There are more than 225 sessions hosting nearly 300 speakers.

WASHINGTON, DC -- A one-hour television and radio special of the 2023 Celebration of Service to America Awards will air nationally on over 700 local television and radio broadcast stations across the country beginning today, November 27 through December 24, 2023.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt participated today in a Senate AI Insight Forum titled "Transparency, Explainability, Intellectual Property and Copyright." 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the effort by Sens.Ted Cruz (R-TX), Edward Markey (D-MA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act in the Senate by unanimous consent, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

Washington, D.C. -- The National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) is now accepting entries for the 2024 Celebration of Service to America Awards. These prestigious awards recognize the critical role local radio and television stations play in their communities across the country.

Washington, D.C. – In response to today’s passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of H.R. 4250 – Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act (PRESS Act), the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt: 

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), in collaboration with Hispanic media groups and organizations, today announced a first of its kind coalition focused on get out the vote (GOTV) efforts for the Hispanic community. The nonpartisan coalition consisting of 13 organizations is dedicated to increasing voter registration and voter turnout in the Hispanic community for the 2024 national elections.

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters today revealed a groundbreaking lineup for the NAB Show Welcome Session, taking place on the Main Stage at NAB Show, April 15 at 9:30 a.m. PST.

Washington, D.C.— With tens of millions of individuals worldwide engaged in the growing creator economy, NAB Show emerges as the central hub for networking, exploration and education within the evolving creator market. The 2024 NAB Show, slated for April 13 – 17 (Exhibits April 14 – 17) at the Las Vegas Convention Center, promises to empower creators with invaluable insights and opportunities. Leading the charge is renowned YouTube star, digital creator, filmmaker extraordinaire and multi-media innovator Casey Neistat, who will inspire creators to think outside the box and redefine their creative potential when he takes the Main Stage. Known for his signature "Do What You Can't" motto, Neistat will share his career journey, the unconventional choices that propelled him to success and offer actionable lessons on innovation and creativity.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan majority of the United States House of Representatives now supports the Local Radio Freedom Act (LRFA). The LRFA, which signals members of Congress' opposition to imposing new performance royalties on broadcast radio stations for music airplay, now has 225 cosponsors in the House. There are 24 cosponsors in the Senate.

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that Gabriela Sibori has joined as senior director of Communications on the NAB Public Affairs team. Sibori will report to Alex Siciliano, senior vice president of Communications.

Washington, D.C.— Emmy-nominated Sean Evans will give a behind-the-scenes view of how he fired up the celebrity interview show Hot Ones to become a cultural phenomenon when he takes the Main Stage at the 2024 NAB Show. Hot Ones, which features celebrities interviewed by Evans as they progressively work their way through a lineup of increasingly hot wings, has more than 300 episodes, 9-million followers and hundreds of millions of views. Evans will discuss the creation and rise of Hot Ones, core creative choices, the business behind the wings and his personal interview process.

Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that Nandu Machiraju has joined NAB’s legal team as senior vice president and deputy general counsel. Machiraju will report to Rick Kaplan, chief legal officer and executive vice president, Legal and Regulatory Affairs.

Washington, DC — From early-stage startups and edge-of-the-art media technologies to industry powerhouses debuting boundary-pushing products and technologies, a dynamic roster of nearly 1,300 exhibitors will present the forefront of innovation at the 2024 NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 13-17 (Exhibits April 14-17). With 65,000-70,000 attendees from 160 countries and 575 international exhibitors from 41 countries, NAB Show is the world’s largest marketplace featuring advanced technologies and solutions from the latest gear to generative AI to ATSC 3.0 and beyond, exploring the impact of the newest tech on storytelling, business models and society as a whole.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- TheNational Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) today announced the recipients of the 2024 Celebration of Service to America Awards, which recognize outstanding service to their communities by local television and radio stations. Winners will be honored at the awards ceremony on June 4, 2024, at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. – In response to the announcement that House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (NJ) will hold a legislative hearing April 30 titled “Draft Legislation to Preserve Americans’ Access to AM Radio,” the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

Today, Melody Spann-Cooper, chairwoman and CEO of Midway Broadcasting Corporation, testified on behalf of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) at a hearing held by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce titled, “Preserving Americans’ Access to AM Radio.” Click here for a copy of her testimony.

Washington, D.C. – In response to the announcement that the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce will hold a markup of legislation to preserve Americans’ access to AM in automobiles, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce's successful markup and passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt:

Washington, D.C. – NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt issued the following statement in response to the markup of the American Privacy Rights Act:

In response to the release of Evan Gershkovich, a journalist wrongfully imprisoned in Russia since March 2023, the following statement can be attributed to NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt.

Radio and TV personality Bobby Bones will take the stage as host of the 2024 NAB Marconi Radio Awards, set to take place on October 9 during NAB Show New York. Bones will also be honored with the prestigious NAB Distinguished Service Award (DSA), the National Association of Broadcasters’ highest honor.

Washington, D.C.— The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is gearing up for the highly anticipated 2024 NAB Show New York, taking place October 9-10 (Education October 8-10) at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. As the premier event for broadcast, media and entertainment on the East Coast, NAB Show New York brings together the industry’s most prominent voices and innovative tech leaders in the media capital of the world.

Washington, D.C.— The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is gearing up for the highly anticipated 2024 NAB Show New York, taking place October 9-10 (Education October 8-10) at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. As the premier East Coast event for the broadcast, media and entertainment industry, the Show will feature hundreds of new products with 20 product launches and nearly 50 first-time Exhibitors displaying advanced solutions to meet the evolving needs of the industry. With Q4 being a critical buying season, this is a must-attend event for professionals finalizing year-end budgets and planning for 2025.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that Sean Perkins has been named chief marketing officer and senior vice president of Global Connections and Events (GCE), where he will oversee marketing efforts for NAB Show and NAB Show New York. Perkins will drive strategies aimed at increasing engagement and visibility for NAB’s premier events, reporting to Karen Chupka, managing director and executive vice president, GCE.

English: Les Miserables at Queen's Theatre, as seen in the day. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There have not been many movies I have looked forward to watching more than Les Miserables. So I understand this is always hard to satisfy.

When I was 21 years old I saw the musical live on stage in London from the 5th row and ever since then it has been my favorite musical. One of the things that I love most about the musical is that the sets are more of a secondary aspect and the music is the star.

This is the big mistake of the movie. It had great cinematography and looked amazing but the star power and picture seemed to take precedence over the singing. I just don't think the stars that they cast were capable of singing at the level you get on Broadway.

English: Eddie Redmayne, British actor. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They are both live or in the moment which I know is what the director was going for but with the right actor you can still have the best of both worlds. I believe that if the directors would have not sold out for star power and focused on the singing more this movie could have been phenomenal.

Even within the movie itself I much preferred the voices of the actors I didn't know before hand like Eponine (Samantha Barks) and Marius (Eddie Redmayne). The movie was much more enjoyable in the sections of the movie that focused on them. But as soon as Russell Crowe came back in I think I actually cringed in the theater.

So all in all as far as movies go it was probably pretty good but for someone who truly loves Broadway Musicals this movie left me wanting.

• Approach the note from above.
• Singing is an athletic event.
• Drink in the breath.
• Listen louder than you sing.

• Let the breathe fuel the sound.
• Stop talking.
• Smile with your eyes
• Sing through it, not to it.
• What are you singing? To whom are you speaking? What are you trying to say?
• 80% of life is showing up. The rest is what you do after.
• Gird up your loins!
• Pitch is not optional or approximate!
• Stand from the waist up.
• Pull the taffy!
• What are you singing ABOUT?
• One more time...
• Make mistakes. Make them boldly. Make them once.
• Lay a big fat green egg, because I cannot fix "nothing."
• Have a love affair with the center of pitch.
• Too much, too soon, too bad. (About a crescendo)
• Once a mistake, twice a habit!
• Don't make it more accidental than it already is.
• The higher you go, the brighter. The lower you go, the brighter.
• No one can smile and sing except Miss America...and she only learned one song.
• Bend your knees.
• Long vowels!!
• Put more space in your face!
• No one note is the same as the other.
• Everything we do, we do together.
• Never sing louder than beautiful.
• Look up here!
• Do not take steps backwards!!
• I own your eyes.
• Pretend there's a string being pulled out of the top of your head.
• What does [accel./rit./fermata/etc.] mean?" After various mumbled responses with the actual definition, "No, it means to look at me!"
• There's a reason God gave us two ears and only one mouth.
• The arch of the eyebrow governs the shape of the tone.
• Honor the rests, please.
• Look up and live.
• Miss a note. Get a rhythm.
• Enjoy the process not the product.
• Ok we're going to go from the top to the end. I promise I'm not going to stop.
• All music must dance.
• Watch!!!!
• Better to be confidently wrong than wimpily right.
• One more time.
• Let your head rule your heart and your heart rule your head.
• Never louder than lovely.
• They who cannot spread light, are content to generate heat instead.
• It's a SONG, so SING it.
• Sing through your eyes.
• Good is the enemy of excellent.
• Fish lip and rabbit teeth.
• We want bel canto, not can belto.
• I coach choir.
• I'm tired of that mistake, make another one.
• Do we sound like one?
• Do as I meant, not what I said.
• Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable.
• Look #, don't b flat, and act natural.
• Make it interesting!
• The eyebrows matter - it's hard to look interested and sound dull and equally hard to look uninterested and sound engaged.
• Look up and live!
• Sing as if you were fatter stand as if you were taller.
• Strong and wrong is better than feeble and right.
• North-south vowels rather than east-west vowels.
• One more time...
• If the basses are bad, the choir is bad.
• Sing on air.
• Sing from your toenails.
• “What's your favorite piece?" Students: "The one in our hand!"
• Men - sing like football players in tuxedoes.
• Vertical vowels, please.
• Breathe in the shape of the vowel.
• Sit tall.
• Don't 'sing the voice - - sing the phrase.
• Don't land hard on the last note of the phrase just because you've got extra air to spend.
• English is a second language for conductors - Sarcasm is first.
• That vowel sounded like a cat being pulled through a keyhole - backwards.
• That sounded like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!
• “How do you Spell Monodynamoc?" (Choir starts to spell) -interrupting- "Wrong! It's B.O.A.R.I.N.G!"
• Vomit out the air.
• Breathe as if you have 20 noses around your waist.
• Don't let the consonants contaminate your vowels.
• This is a Chor"us" not a chor"me"!
• Use your "Disney eyes"
• Sometimes it's more beautiful when you DON'T sing! (Rests)
  

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You know, I never thought to mention this, but I am left handed. Now this may not seem important to most, because there are certainly a lot of guitar players our their who are left handed, but most left handed guitar players who are capable of great technique and guitar speeds, typically choose to string and hold their guitars completely opposite.

This is not me. I play guitar the same way that most right handed guitarists play. What is the correct approach if you are a left handed person is just starting to play guitar? well, naturally there is no right or wrong way to go about it. I can remember when I first started playing, for the first 3 months, I couldn't do what most right handed guitar players had accomplished in that same amount of time.

So, if it was that difficult for me, then why did I go this route? because I was told that I had too, and that playing my guitar in reverse would be harder to practice on. What do I think now? its rubbish of course. Just because a right handed guitar player might imagine it to be a difficult task, doesn't mean that a left handed person will have a hard time with it. I mean, asking someone to go against their physical or genetic design, is like asking them to walk on the ceiling.

Oh, it gets better!!

This is really quite fascinating. The other night I was reading about being ambidextrous, because I claimed to be so to a particular person once. She told me that I was not ambidextrous, but that their was a different name for my capabilities, and that I was only "half" ambidextrous. So, I put it out of my mind, but when I read this article the other night, I was blown away by what it had to say about ambidextrous people.

The article explained that basically if you can do one thing that you shouldn't be able to do with your unfamiliar hand, then you are technically ambidextrous. Here's where it gets good. The article went on to explain that most people who are ambidextrous, start out as left handers, and learn to become ambidextrous because we live in a right handed world. Fascinating!

This tells you that what you believe someone can do is only based on them being "gifted", "lucky", or "blessed" is total B.S. I've said it for years, but people just like to make excuses for themselves, I think. I mean that's easier to do, right?

Anyways, imagine that you wanted to become ambidextrous for some reason - could you do it? hell yes you could! When I was six I broke my left arm, and it was in a cast for a very long time. I loved to draw, and spent most of my time doing this. So, I had to learn how to write and sketch with my right hand. I'm way out of practicing now, but at the time I learned to develop my right hand pretty well.

Anyways, if you are a left handed guitar player, don't let others make fun of you and push you around. This whole article came about from me watching a left handed guitarist in a video. He was amazing, but everyone was leaving hateful comments - just because he was left handed.

So, the question now becomes, "how should I hold my guitar?" or "do I need to re-string it?". My answer is that you should just pick something and go with it. I mean guitar is a challenging thing anyways, and you certainly can find little short cuts to make it easier, but if you were always looking for those shortcuts - you'd probably never get any practicing done.

I suggest going against the grain. I mean, if you practiced or played just like
everyone else, wouldn't you sound just like everyone else? yes, and guess what? most guitar players sound just like the guitar player standing next to them.

Guitar teachers all around the world teach the same stuff, with the same approach,
and if you collected all of these methods and put them together - you would have a manual for how to play guitar. Yet, how can man assume the authority to write such a thing, when music is art? how can you define what proper guitar playing or a proper guitar sound is? Do most guitar players want to do everything the way everyone else is? do they aspire to be birthed from the mold of regurgitated art?

Let me give you an example. If these very famous left handed guitar players were told to learn guitar the way everyone else does, do you think we would even know their names with that iconoclastic twist?

James Marshall Hendrix
Frank Anthony "Tony" Iommi
Kurt Donald Cobain
James "Iggy Pop" Newell Osterberg, Jr.
Sir James Paul McCartney

Strive to be original in whatever you do.

Some interesting facts about left handed people can be found in this.
left handed article

Also be sure to check out Left Handed Guitarists.com for a very complete list of left handed musicians.

Go get 'em south paws! ;)

In an effort to make a more user friendly guitar instructional blog, I have just created and launched the official Guitar Speed Secret Blog, which is a sister site to Guitar Speed Secret.com.

I do understand that the topic of speed development and mastering advanced techniques is very specific, but I do get a lot of questions regarding these subjects. So, if this doesn't interest you - I'm still going to maintain GuitArticles, and I will try and stay on top of both blogs as much as possible, but you also know that I just added a lot to my plate, right? ;)

Anyways, check out the new blog, and you can do me a favor by participating in the poll on the right hand side, which will give me a better idea of what you would like to work on. You can choose multiple answers, and if for some reason the poll is too vague, let your voice be heard by emailing me or commenting.

It works best with user participation, because I can teach you more directly this way. Feel free to express your views, so that we can learn and share together.

Take care

Today I received an email from some old acquaintances informing me that some of the chaps from The Dead Matter movie that I helped with are looking to raise $5,000 for a shoestring budget film called Noose.

These guys are really cool and know their stuff and have a wonderful idea for a meager budget film that would be in the style of Dario Argento, probably the greatest Italian horror film director of all time and one of my all time favorite filmmakers.

As described in the video that you can find on the pledge page here, they are looking to shoot something very colorful and psychological along the lines of Suspiria and Deep Red, two outstanding Argento films.

As I mentioned before, the guys behind this project are cool as shit, extremely talented and unfortunately do to the economy, getting the funding for a feature length motion picture in the states of Ohio and Michigan has become increasingly more difficult. These people hover together like families and have great connections back to California, but have decided to go more independent a number of years ago to produce great thriller/horror films.

It's unclear to me at this time whether or not they are intending to shoot a feature length script or make a short, but regardless -- even these days short films can cost a lot of money, but I've always been a fan of making my own short films with no capital, and I really want to support Noose, because I know in my heart that you can make great movies with very little money, and if these guys are intending to make a fairly lengthy film -- then this could be a great inspiration and "role model piece" for young film students.

So, if you like movies (and many of us do), love horror movies, are interested in filmmaking and enjoy supporting this form of the arts, I recommend that you make a small pledge. They have until August 27th to reach their goal of just $5,000, and all you have to do is contribute at least $1.

If you guys are interested in this, I'll try to keep you posted with any details that I receive, but it would be great to get these guys launched to a great start and support really solid entertainment.

Again, here's the page where you can make the Pledge for Noose.

Dead Matter Trailer