FOLK ALLEY LAUNCHES OPEN MIC
MUSICIANS POST MUSIC ONLINE – LISTENERS RATE SONGS
Monday April 3, 2006

For Immediate Release
Contact: Linda Fahey,
Programming and Marketing Dir.
(330) 672-3114
linda@folkalley.com
http://www.folkalley.com

Since FolkAlley.com went live on Sept. 8, 2003, the number one question E-mailed to staff is, “How do I get my music into the Folk Alley music stream?” Like the old joke, the answer once was, “Practice, practice, practice.” While that adage still holds true, songwriters with fully-developed material may now “perform” for thousands of folk fans around the world by posting their songs on Folk Alley’s Open Mic.

For many musicians starting out in the business, their first experiences as performers often come at neighborhood bars or coffeehouses who welcome all-comers for open mic nights. Folk Alley’s Open Mic is a new, Web-centered way of offering musicians a corner of the spotlight on the Folk Alley stage. Intended primarily as an outlet for up-and-coming artists, Open Mic provides musicians the opportunity to upload original songs and artist information. Listeners who are registered at FolkAlley.com can then rate each song. Ten songs will find their way into a monthly contest that asks listeners to choose a favorite for inclusion on the Folk Alley playlist.

Folk Alley brings together the best in singer/songwriter, acoustic instrumental, Celtic, Americana, bluegrass, world and traditional folk styles to listeners from across the U.S. and more than 100 countries over the Internet 24 hours a day. FolkAlley.com is an online folk community offering playlists, artist interviews, a blog, folk music news, an extensive collection of links and “Live from Folk Alley,” exclusive concerts featuring the best of today’s folk musicians. DJs Jim Blum, Barb Heller, Elena See and Jeff St. Clair add insights and information, producing a rich sounding, quality listening experience built on Folk Alley’s hallmark blend of folk music styles.

Folk Alley Director of Programming and Marketing Linda Fahey says, “We are very excited about the launch of Folk Alley’s Open Mic! This is our chance to provide a platform on the World Wide Web that gives singers, songwriters and musicians broad exposure to thousands of people who really love folk music. What a fantastic possibility to spur community-building by connecting fans with developing artists and songs with listeners eager for new music.”

FolkAlley.com is a non-profit Internet venture produced by WKSU-FM, an award-winning public radio station with more than 55 years of broadcasting history. A service of Kent State University, the station also presents the Kent State Folk Festival and broadcasts 13 hours of original folk music programming throughout Northeast Ohio each week over WKSU 89.7, four repeater stations and a translator signal. Folk Alley is one of six music streams made available by National Public Radio to member stations as digital content.
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