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Here’s hoping the cream rises!

Major record label moves the ‘demo tape’ online
The days of the traditional demo tape may be numbered.
U.K. recording label EMI has set up a new, online system to accept music files and allow aspiring stars to tell if their work has been reviewed.
The London-based group’s Parlophone label has adopted a new software, called A&R Tools, which was created by ex-musician turned IT consultant Nigel Rees and the software group Senica.
Parlophone is considering phasing out acceptance of demo tapes and CDs sent by mail in favour of the online system.
Prospective musicians already send MP3 files, web addresses and links to personal sites such as MySpace, where demos can be placed online.
But, until recently, recording studios had a tough time keeping track of online demos.
The new software provides a more viable system to receive and rate these recordings.
Musicians and musical groups can upload their recording and photos to the Parlophone website.
The artist and repertoire (A&R) team at the recording studio can then rate the material, group it with other work from the same artist and, if it seems promising, forward it up the hierarchy in the company.
Artists are notified when their work has been seen and reviewed.
The software system is already in use at some independent labels and Parlophone tried it out for three months this summer before deciding to run with it.
“One of our top priorities is to keep our talent-spotting process as efficient and up to date as possible,” Parlophone’s Nigel Coxon said in a statement.
“This new system allows us to do just that, while at the same time, helping us stay committed to giving anyone the opportunity to be heard.”
In addition to Parlophone, whose artists include Paul McCartney, Radiohead and Norah Jones, EMI has other major recording labels, such as EMI Records and Virgin Records.
It has not announced plans to take online demos at these labels.