’90s soft rock icons Counting Crows still rank #3 in terms of Myspace page views for Bay Area bands, clocking in at 2.3 million uniques just behind E-40 and the Pack. Those numbers prove a continued interest in Berkeley resident Adam Duritz’s creativity, so it may hearten some fans to hear that Duritz and friends are in a New York studio recording a new Counting Crows album. Duritz is mum on the album’s contents, completion status or when the world may see it. However, he also started his own record label Tyrannosaurus Records to put out some of his favorite bands. He’s even got a little fanzine called Down the Rabbit Hole. Full release after the jump. – David Downs
Counting Crows Lead Singer, Adam Duritz, Launches
Tyrannosaurus Records
Indie Label Signs Chicago – based Band, Blacktop Mourning and New York MC, Notar
– Counting Crows lead singer and Oscar-nominated songwriter, Adam Duritz, ventures into the label side of the music business with the launch of Tyrannosaurus Records (T-Recs). Starting a new label was not on Duritz’s to-do list, especially while he was busy writing new material and laying tracks for Counting Crows upcoming record (being recorded in NYC as we speak). But a trip to MySpace.com changed all that when he discovered two exceptional artists, Notar and Blacktop Mourning.
According to Duritz, “The talent of Notar and Blacktop Mourning just blew me away and I wanted to be a part of their evolution. But I know that when you start a label you’re responsible for the hopes and dreams of the artists you sign and that’s a big deal to me. We’re here to create a partnership with our artists, help them make great music and navigate the treacherous waters of the music business. Simple as that.”
“My vision for T-Recs is an intimate boutique label,” continues Duritz. “We’re in the studio with the bands, talking to them constantly about their careers and their music. We handle everything in-house and we’re taking on a very limited number of artists so that each band gets personal attention.”
The day-to-day operations of T-Recs will be run out of their New York offices by former Counting Crows manager, Nicole Pierce. The label will be distributed exclusively in North America by Megaforce Records via Sony/RED.
The primary objective of T-Recs is to get good music heard while offering the artists guidance, management, creative freedom and industry expertise. T-Recs will eventually evolve into a full service music entertainment company that handles artist development and management, record production, touring, merchandising and artist promotion.
This is Duritz’s second foray into the business of music. Back in 1997, he started another record label, E Pluribus Unum. The label signed Joe 90, Gigolo Aunts, and Neilson Hubbard – all of whom Duritz took on the road to open for Counting Crows. E Pluribus Unum was purchased by Geffen Records in 2000.
About Blacktop Mourning
Blacktop Mourning is a Chicago-based Rock/Pop Punk band whose music hit MySpace.com in late 2005 and within two weeks, the band had inked a deal with MTV. By the six month mark, their songs had been played on 11 MTV shows and the band had been selected an “MTV Featured Artist.” The band is led by songwriter Max Steger, an 18-year-old guitar prodigy, who Ahmet Ertegun, co-founder of Atlantic Records, called “one of the best guitar players I’ve ever seen.”
Blacktop Mourning’s upcoming CD, “No Regret” will be available on May 15, 2007 with Duritz contributing vocals on four tracks. The band will also appear at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas in March 2007. Tour dates for “No Regret” are currently being booked.
About Notar
Notar defies the standard categories imposed by the music industry. The 26 year-old New Yorker is an accomplished MC with rich lyrical ability and a commanding stage presence as well as a formally trained jazz trumpeter. Notar has a dedicated following from his collaboration with The Formula Project and the resulting tracks “The Choice” and “White Line Fever” that were licensed by ESPN2 for use during NHRA drag racing broadcasts.
Notar’s debut album will be ready for release in Fall ’07 on T-Recs.
For more information including photos, video and music samples please visit www.TyrannosaurusRecords.net.
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