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| Special message from the Planet MoonJune Dear Friends in Music, Greetings from the MoonJune's World Headquarter in New York City As many of you already know, besides MoonJune Records, I also run an independent artist booking and management agency: MoonJune Music (Bookings & Management). Both companies are under one umbrella – MoonJune, and the company is run by myself, alone. I do not have bosses; neither do I have employees. Many of you are also aware that there is no longer any money to be made within the business-model framework of the traditional record label company; at least to the point of producing sufficient cashflow to sustain a business. That said, for an independent label dedicated to a stylistic niche genre such as 'progressive', being profitable has always been elusive. Despite just having reached a milestone 100 album releases, less than a dozen of these releases ever made more than enough money to cover the considerable costs of production and mailing out music-critic copies. (... a sad testimony – yes – but one which reflects the challenges provided by producing such music.) MoonJune Music (Bookings & Management) is my main business; MoonJune Records barely pays its own expenses on a good month. Indeed, the income I derive from MoonJune Music is what allows MoonJune Records to continue as a functional business entity. With the recent development and spread of the Corona Virus now having reached 'worldwide pandemic' proportions, MoonJune Music has been profoundly impacted. Numerous shows – and entire tours – have been cancelled; some of them, suddenly: without warning, after numerous travel and tour-related expenses had already been dispersed, and for which no subsequent payouts or paybacks / refunds could be realized. 2020 was a year that started with great promise. It was slated to be my best year in at least the last decade – with a multitude of shows contracted (and others with contracts pending) on five continents. But, my friends, the month of February, spilling over into March, have been devastating to MoonJune. I've suffered the worst setbacks in 20 years of my doing this. Loss of cash flow and income is not hitting only my company, but most of the artists on my booking roster, also, Without these bookings, I am unable to subsidize my indy record label. There have been so many cancellations: * Stick Men had show cancellations firstly in Hong Kong (due to the unstable political situation), and then, because of the Corona Virus, in China, Japan, the Cruise to the Edge, and then the USA/Canada tour was cancelled as well. So lucky that we did at least one date in Nagoya, Japan which was professionally recorded, then expect a live album of Stick Men with the special guest Gary Husband. * Gong with Steve Hillage supposed to play in Brazil, Chile and then at the Cruise To The Edge, but is not happening anymore. * Le Orme supposed to play in Peru, followed by shows in Mexico and the Cruise To The Edge ... all cancelled. * Claudio Simonetti's Goblin had shows scheduled in Mexico and the Cruise To The Edge. * Stu Hamm's half of the European tour, all shows in Germany and Italy were cancelled – as well as his slated appearance at the Cruise To The Edge. I do not represent my good friend Stu in Europe, but the impact of this cancellation was devastating and affecting my future booking of SkolHamm Asylum band, with Joel Taylor and Alex Skolnick. * Dwiki Dharmawan World Peace Band featuring the Indonesian piano/keyboard maestro together with Boris Savoldelli, Kamal Musallam and Asaf Sirkis supposed to play at a festival in Kazakhstan, and it was cancelled. (... and, sadly, and I wasn't able to visit that beautiful country – which would have been for the first time.) * Markus Reuter Truce band was supposed to debut live at the art rock festival in Gouveia in Portugal; with Soft Machine on the bill, as were also Gong and David Cross & David Jackson. Sadly, this, too, will not be happening. * After that festival in Portugal, I was scheduled to go to Barcelona with Markus Reuter, Fabio Trentini and Asaf Sirkis of Truce – joining Mark Wingfield, and possibly Gary Husband and Nguyên Lê – to record several albums at the magic La Casa Murada recording studio, for future MoonJune Records' releases. (... and on the same trip, I was supposed to be at JazzAhead in Bremen Germany – with the Palestinian our maestro Kamal Musallam, coming from Kazakhstan – and then on my way to Portugal and Spain.) * Now, my June tours of Soft Machine in South America, and Nektar on the East Coast in May and the West Coast USA in June are also in doubt. (Hopefully not, but considering the situation across virtually the entire Western Hemisphere, currently, it is quite possible. Additionally, many shows of Soft Machine in the UK and all over Europe might not happen.) * I do not book my good friend Frank Gambale in Europe, but the cancellation of his 7 weeks European tour is hugely impacting my future bookings of his band in the USA and South America and Asia. It's a domino effect. * Indonesia is celebrating 75 years of the independence, and Dwiki Dharmawan, the cultural Ambassador of that beautiful country that is very close to my heart, might see many of the shows cancelled in North and South America and Africa this Summer and early Fall, and I supposed to be heavily involved in that. * My fraternal buddy Gary Husband will be also heavily affected, while we were just ready to start working on his USA visa for 3 years with a lot of activities in North America. * South American plans for Nektar, Caravan and Leo Lyon's 10 Years After have to be put on hold, most likely. * Levin Brothers' tour planning in the second semester of 2020 are in limbo. * My best friend Beledo's tour planning in Asia in the second semester of 2020 are in limbo as well. And there is much more, this is just on top of my tongue. I have to deal with several dozens of situations in which I have to change flights, hotel bookings, talk to so many people around the globe, rescheduling or trying to reschedule shows, festivals, tours, and much much more. At this point, I am not sure what will happen ... and there is much more than this, affecting other artists on the MoonJune's booking roster., as well. By my nature, I do things, rather sitting around complaining or waiting for life to take some sudden turn for the better. Armed with a very positive attitude and an optimistic philosophy, all I can say is: "the show must go on!" I know that the Corona Virus situation impacts us all. I'm sure many of you have your own related struggles, but if you have a little time and little extra cash, I would humbly suggest you consider this three special offers, which will help me, but above all it will help many of my musicians to go forward and survive the unexpected struggle. I am OK, no worries, many are doing much worst than me, and need help more than me. Despite all, the world will not end tomorrow, it's not the end of the humanity. I come from Balkans, I have a thick skin, I have learned how to survive since I was a little kid. It's the "abracadabra" time! I like to travel, I have been in 80 countries around the world, I am global, and the recent travel restrictions and tours/festivals cancellations, are preventing m to travel. For now I am home, listening a lot of music, and I have a lot of music. And cooking, I love to cook. Life continues. The evil will be defeated and soon. Therefore, I am asking You for a little support. Need to generate some cash flow, to make possible to release several albums still on hold, and to produce more new albums. Anything helps. MOONJUNE SPECIAL OFFERS: 1) 100th MOONJUNE RECORDS RELEASE SPECIAL: 19 CDs FOR $100 (+ shipping and handling) Once we receive payment for this deal (19 physical CD's), you will be sent an e-mail with an attached Excel file — with the list of selected and featured CDs from the MoonJune Records' catalog, and many others from associated artists promoted by my label. No worries, there are a lot of CDs to choose from, over 70! Just e-mail me back the list of chosen CDs: noanoamusic@moonjune.com If you need help, I will do it for You; but make sure you list albums already in your collection, and I will help you fill in the gaps. Link to purchase this specially priced package: https://moonjunerecords.bandcamp.com/merch/100th-moonjune-records-special-19-cds-for-100-shipping-and-handling 2) 100th MOONJUNE RECORDS RELEASE SPECIAL: 19 DOWNLOAD ALBUMS FOR $100 "19" represents 19 years of MoonJune Records, and "100" represents our milestone 100th release on the label. You can choose any 19 digital album available on the MoonJune Records' BandCamp page. Once You make selection, please e-mail us Your desired list: noanoamusic@moonjune.com and download codes will be sent to You in 24-48hrs max. If you need help, I will do it for You; but make sure you list albums already in your collection, and I will help you fill in the gap. Link to purchase this specially priced package: https://moonjunerecords.bandcamp.com/merch/100th-moonjune-records-special-19-downloads-for-100 3) MOONJUNE RECORDS YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION: $100 By contributing $100, you become a "MoonJunista VIP". You are directly supporting MoonJune Records, and in embracing such a role, you'll receive ALL of the upcoming MoonJune Records and MoonJune-related releases in digital format! Realistically, VIP's should expect 15-18 or more releases annually, and that's a killer deal! (CDs and LPs are not included in the subscription package.) As an added bonus to subscribers, an automatic discount of 25% will be applied to all merchandise purchases offered through MoonJune's BandCamp site (CDs, LPs, t-shirts, books, etc). This VIP membership also gets you automatic downloads of 33 digital albums: samplers, compilations and several selected albums from the MoonJune’s BandCamp – including MoonJune Records’ releases, as well some non-label releases promoted by MoonJune through our BandCamp page. You can find which 30 digital albums are included in this offer in this link: https://moonjunerecords.bandcamp.com/subscribe So many of you have been loyal, dedicated supporters; a number of you for many years. As always, your support and encouragement is so greatly appreciated – especially during such dire, extreme circumstances. Thank you all for the support Leonardo Pavkovic MoonJune, NYC write your comments about the article :: © 2020 Jazz News :: home page |