Manhattan, NY, January 26, 2009 – Start With A Plan, Inc., aka S.W.A.P. Management, a full service Brand management and production company, is pleased to announce that it has signed with Patrick Moxey’s dance label, Ultra Records, which is regarded as the #1 Dance and Electronic Label in North America. As part of this partnership, SWAP Management, founded by entertainment Executives Anel Pla, Michael Connis and Nick Vlachos, will take on the grassroots efforts in promoting international singer/songwriter Annet Artani via digital and brand marketing, touring, the release of her US debut single, “Alive,” as well as the recording of her forthcoming “untitled” debut LP.

Pla says that having Artani as an artist means a lot to S.W.A.P. and its future. ““With the entertainment business being in such a huge transition it’s pretty much a single driven market that will open the door to lead to more. S.W.A.P. has a distinctive advantage for showing the industry the benefits that come with signing on with an entertainment company and the importance of artist development,” says Pla. “Having Artani on our client roster gives the company opportunity to illustrate our abilities in picking the right talent, songs and putting the pieces together in getting the artist out there.”

Come February, Artani’s single, “Alive,” will hit the major airwaves. The song, which was written by Artani, is a motivational “girl power” pop rock dance tune about a woman who’s rises above a difficult break up. “I want to write and perform songs that are personal and emotional, something that people can actually relate to,” says Artani. “I wrote this song when I was coming out of a bad relationship and hope its positive message will inspire others who hear to it.”

Artani, who has already hit stardom abroad, with two gold albums overseas in Greece, a finalist on Eurovision 2006 says that S.W.A.P and Ultra Records is just the company she needs to help put her on the U.S. map. “I was fortunate enough to gain success in Europe over the two years; however, I was ready to crossover here in the states,” says Artani. “In order to do this, I needed someone who was well connected within the industry. As soon as I met Anel Pla, I knew that she and her company would be able to help in the American crossover markets. Everyone at S.W.A.P. has a lot of experience. They know the right people in the business and what steps are needed for taking you to the next level.”

While Artani has faith that S.W.A.P and Ultra will be influential in getting her music heard in the U.S., Pla is confident that Artani has what it takes as a gifted musician. “Annet is a full package. Not only can she really perform live and write her own material, but she is passionate, humorous and driven, which is a winning combination” says Pla. “I have no doubt that she will blossom within the music industry and that she and her music will be embraced by U.S and international listeners. Her voice and confidence gives her the ability to stand among some of the biggest pop artists out there today, such as the Kelly Clarksons, Pinks and Katy Perrys of the world.”

In addition to singing, Artani is also a pianist and a professional songwriter. She penned the Britney Spears’ hit ballads, “Everytime,” which was included on Spears’ In The Zone LP and earned an MTV European Music Award for Best Song of 2004. Everytime” peaked at number 15 for four consecutive weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 thanks to its top twenty placement on the Hot 100 Airplay. It also reached the top ten on the Hot Digital Tracks chart and Top 40 Mainstream chart. In addition, it remained on the Hot 100 for 18 weeks, was certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of over 500,000 copies and ranked at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart for 2004.

“Alive” will be available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon and Rhapsody come February 2009. Her LP is expected to debut later in the Spring.

Annet Artani, a native Greek-American New Yorker, has been performing since she was seven years old. She has a wide range of influences, everything from singing in her college Gospel choir to listening to R&B, pop and rock music. Annet was chosen for an exclusive showcase by the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. The attention garnered from this helped to get her on stage at some of New York’s hottest venues including the Bitter End, Arlene’s Grocery, and China Club.

Start With A Plan, Inc., aka S.W.A.P. Management, understands every facet of the entertainment industry. At S.W.A.P., entertainment professionals work with artists to help them build and navigate their careers by taking advantage of the current trends while also establishing longevity so as not to be affected by passing fads. S.W.A.P. prides itself on providing individual support and offers access to the collective music experience and contacts of a large agency.

— Neve’s 40 years of technical heritage results in the Genesys, featuring Neve’s legendary mic preamps and renowned analog circuit design —

— The Genesys is available only at Guitar Center and GC Pro, where the power of this analog console is matched by GC Pro’s dedication and acclaimed customer service —

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, January 27, 2009 — Guitar Center, Inc., America’s leading musical instrument audio retailer, and Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users, announce an agreement with AMS Neve Ltd. stating that GC Pro is the exclusive U.S. sales channel for the innovative new Genesys, a custom-crafted, expandable analog recording console with digital workstation control, as well as related products. Genesys was designed to address the new realities of the modern professional audio industry for music, postproduction and gaming, while building on Neve’s 40 years of accumulated technical heritage. In coordination with the recently signed agreement, GC Pro has also announced four demonstration facilities throughout the U.S., in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville and Miami. An additional flight-cased Genesys console will be moved on a monthly basis to other GC Pro locations throughout the country. In partnership with Neve, GC Pro will host a series of industry events to present the product to customers nationally. A Genesys console has already been installed in GC Pro’s West LA location, with additional demo consoles arriving in January.

The Genesys is a comprehensive, cost-effective solution to the challenges of audio in the digital age. The base configuration offers 16 channels of mic/line preamps, 16-channel DAW monitoring, 32-channel analog summing at mixdown, DAW control for Pro Tools, Logic, Nuendo and more, 8 auxiliary buses, 8 group buses, 2 main outputs, 4 effects returns, comprehensive metering, 5.1 monitoring, 2 cue mixes, talkback services and an internal power supply. What sets the Genesys apart is its remarkable combination of features and affordability — an affordable Neve analog console with Neve’s legendary sound and digital control at a cost of less than $50,000 enables the widest possible range of professionals to make a genuine Neve console the heart of their studios. Furthermore, the Genesys has the ability to upgrade as studio owners’ requirements change — it can be expanded to over 60 channels in a straight or articulated frame, with options including motorized fader automation, recall, mastering-grade A/D and D/A converters, digitally controlled EQ and dynamics, remote mic amp control and much more. The Genesys was created by Robin Porter, AMS Neve Head of Analog Design, who with his 35 years at Neve has vast experience with the classic 8068, 8078 and VR consoles and was also the principal designer of the 88R.

GC Pro is uniquely qualified to distribute and market this product. A nationwide organization with offices from around the country, no other professional audio team can provide this degree of comprehensive customer and product service. To support the rollout of the console and the new relationship with Neve, GC Pro demo rooms will be optimized to demonstrate the power of the Genesys, and GC Pro’s 56 staff members will take its message to the industry. Additionally, GC Pro is planning a series of hands-on industry events to present Genesys to its client base.

“Neve is a legendary name, and Genesys represents 40 years of analog console development,” commented GC Pro Director Rick Plushner. “We’re very proud and honored to be selected as the U.S. distributor, and our division is fully behind this product line. At an entry level price point of $50,000 MSRP, for the first time, everyone from a studio owner to an artist/producer, to audio enthusiasts, can actually own a real Neve console.”

Mark Crabtree, Managing Director of AMS Neve, says that choosing Guitar Center and GC Pro as exclusive sales and support partner was simple. “The staff are exceptionally well trained and their contacts in the industry are widespread,” he said. “Having store locations in key markets and allowing hands-on access to the console in well-equipped studio environments makes for a very impressive organization. Neve customers expect a high level of customer service before and after the sale, and we’ve seen how GC Pro has delivered above and beyond with other Neve products, so we know that with GC Pro our new customers will be well taken care of.”

“Guitar Center is excited to offer the extraordinary line of AMS Neve Genesys consoles to our customers,” stated Bill Wrightson, GC Vice President, HiTech Merchandise. “Our partnership with AMS Neve, combined with the outstanding services of our GC Pro organization and our financing/leasing options, will help make it easy to own a Neve console.”

About Guitar Center Professional/Guitar Center

Guitar Center Professional is the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users. Its clientele includes recording studios, audio engineers, producers, recording and touring musicians, live sound venues, post production facilities and more. Emphasizing extraordinary individualized service via local account managers, GC Pro offers expert consultation and a comprehensive selection of the world’s finest equipment for music and audio professionals. More information on GC Pro can be found by visiting www.gcpro.com.

Guitar Center is the leading United States retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates more than 200 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician’s Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company’s Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.

— Ideal for studio, field recording, broadcast and live sound use, the durable ATH-M35 professional monitor headphones feature foldable design for easy storage —

WINTER NAMM SHOW, ANAHEIM, CA, January 15, 2009 — Audio-Technica introduces the new ATH-M35 Dynamic Stereo Monitor Headphones. Employing the company’s latest transducer technology, the ATH-M35’s offer the highest level of sonic accuracy in a design engineered to provide maximum comfort for hours of listening. Key features include a foldable design for easy storage and a rugged storage pouch, enhancing the headphones’ durability and lifespan. They are an ideal choice for a wide range of applications, from professional studio and home recording use to more portable situations such as live sound, broadcast audio-for-video and field recording.

The ATH-M35’s employ a low-profile, closed-back design, providing exceptional clarity and superior isolation in high-volume listening situations. Extremely accurate, the headphones feature a neodymium magnet structure and have a frequency response of 20-20,000 Hz.

The ATH-M35’s also have a lightweight and adjustable cushioned headband to provide maximum listening comfort. In addition, they feature a gold-plated stereo 1/8″ (3.5 mm) connector with strain relief and professional screw-on 1/4″ (6.3 mm) adapter, and a sturdy, ultra-flexible 11′ (3.4 m) cable with single-side exit.

The ATH-M35 Dynamic Stereo Monitor Headphones will be available February 2009 with a U.S. MSRP of $139.00.

For more information visit www.audio-technica.com

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, January 26, 2009 – The Institute of Production & Recording (IPR) is pleased to welcome André Fischer as its executive director of music industries. A native to Minneapolis, MN, Fischer returns to his roots to help bring IPR and the community together to give students a well-rounded, content-driven education. more

Adds Big Band Sound with Easy-to-layer Brass Sections

ANAHEIM, CA, JANUARY 26, 2009 – EASTWEST, exclusive US distributor of Best Service products, featured the latest collection by leading producer Chris Hein, Chris Hein Horns Vol. 2 – Section Horns, at NAMM 2009. The perfect companion to Chris Hein Horns Vol. 1 (version 1.5) the new library looks to expand on the previous solo collections and offers 10 section combinations in addition to 17 solo instruments, perfect for a variety of musical genres including pop, jazz, funk and big-band. more

Hal Leonard, Inc. Distributes Exciting New Handbook.

Pictured at the worldwide debut of MUSIC SMARTS by Mr. Bonzai are (L-R) editor David Schwartz, engineer Michael C. Ross, Record Plant founder Chris Stone, author Mr. Bonzai, composer Suzanne Ciani, producer/engineers Ed Cherney, Elliot Scheiner, George Massenburg and CJ Vanston. Photo by KamranV.

Would you like to learn how Kris Kristofferson and “Weird Al” Yankovic got their start in music? How Carlos Santana prepares for a show? How surfing has helped Jack Johnson’s music? Do you know what John Lennon considered the worst song the Beatles ever recorded?

Berklee Press, the publishing division of Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music, announces the release of the book Music Smarts - the Inside Truth and Road-Tested Wisdom from the Brightest Minds in the Music Business by Mr. Bonzai. Designed as a handy illustrated pocket guidebook, Music Smarts is an inspirational and entertaining compilation of profound observations, humor, and wisdom from top names in the music world.

Music Smarts features a short introduction by Graham Nash. The shared experiences of heavy-hitters including George Martin, Tom Petty, Phil Ramone, Brian Wilson, Jack Johnson, k.d. lang, David Foster, and Carlos Santana are loaded with insightful advice for music professionals, as well as those just starting out in the industry, students, wannabees, and all music fans.

“‘Music Smarts’ lays out the music world in three dimensions and shows what it takes to make it at every step of the way.”

- Brian Wilson

“No book has come closer to the reality of a musician’s life.

Actually, it’s almost embarrassing!”

- Mark Mothersbaugh

Music Smarts features hundreds of quotations from a vast array of artists and industry gurus, reflecting on influences, heroes, integrity, performances, and many more critical aspects of being a music person. These gems of hard-won wisdom cover not only the highs of success, money, and fame, but also frankly reveal the lows of missteps and rejection.

Drawn from 25 years of feature interviews by notorious studio insider, Mr. Bonzai, and edited by Mix magazine creator, David Schwartz, Music Smarts features razor-sharp insights from the music industry’s savviest artists, producers, technicians, and business execs, and showcases the brainpower that has made popular music the most influential force in modern culture. This handbook also includes a visual “who’s who” of the music biz with original portraits by Mr. Bonzai of the featured artists.

Music Smarts‘ official release debut took place at a worldwide press conference held at the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Special guests quoted in the book were in attendance.

Music Smarts will be available February 1, 2009 at Amazon, bookstores and music industry retailers throughout the world. Pre-orders can be placed at: AMAZON: MUSIC SMARTS

Berklee Press, the publishing division of Berklee College of Music, is a not-for-profit educational publisher. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of Music Smarts is contributed to the scholarship funds of the college.

For additional information, visit: http://www.berkleepress.com and http://www.halleonard.com