Hello and a warm welcome once again to the wonderful new, greatly improved, Sting and Snow web-site.

This is the third newsletter, since we re-launched the web-site and I am pleased to be able to report that - after a slow start - things are now "picking up" with record production. December, January and February saw very few new vinyl releases by the major record producers, only 14 records in that three-month period. However, March and April featured 32 new records from 16 different producers, in only two months. Hopefully, this is a good indication that the industry is still "alive and well", in the face of declining sales and illegal copying.

We all still need to do what we can to encourage callers to buy the new music - by this method we will be able to ensure that record production continues! One solution, to the problem, is to "subscribe" to the record labels i.e. take out a Standing Order. This would increase the number of record sales, provide more revenue for future record production and indicate to the producers that there is still a reason to go on! The record producers need your support; if demand falls any further then companies will stop producing or introduce direct selling methods that may limit the availability of new music.

Standing orders are one way to help support the industry, check out our Standing Order Offer - if you are a caller, please consider signing up to this - if you are a dancer, or a club leader, perhaps you could consider a subscription - to provide your caller with the best in modern music - just a thought…

THIS MONTH'S NEW MUSIC:
During April we will be releasing four pieces of music; two brand new vinyl releases and two new MP3 versions - of tunes from our back catalogue that have been previously released in vinyl. One of the MP3 releases features a tune that has been "unavailable" for many years.

The first of our vinyl new releases is: "Heaven" (on SNOW - SNW 902) - this is an old Boxcar Willie tune that we recorded in our Nashville session last November and features Wil Stans from Holland on the vocal. The second of our vinyl new releases is: "Kettle-Of-Fish / Bucket-Of-Worms" (on STING - SIR 518), which is a double instrumental Hoedown/Patter record in our usual "traditional (on one side) / modern (on the other side)" style.

The other two releases are the MP3 files of "Mama Mia, I Love You" with Tommy P Larsen on the vocal and "I Want To be Back Home In Nashville" featuring Lars-Göran Börgel on the called track - this second song has been "Out-Of-Print" in vinyl for several years. These two tunes have previously only been available in vinyl but as we now have the MP3 licences, we can offer them to you via www.Dosado.com/Sir.htm in the MP3 format.

Next month will see the conclusion of our massive programme to re-release ALL of the "old" (pre 2000) songs as MP3s. Thus almost all of our back catalogue will be available in the MP3 format. Unfortunately, there are a few tunes that cannot be released as MP3s; these are the ones where we could not obtain a "Digital Media" distribution license.

All of our new music, in either vinyl or MP3 format can be purchased on-line from our Exclusive Master Stocking Distributor Hanhurst's Tape and Record Service at www.Dosado.com/Sir.htm

FUTURE RELEASES: (Full details on the Future Releases link)
Following our trip to Nashville Last November when Sting and Snow records recorded fourteen new singing calls as well as seven new hoedown/patter releases, we are now well advanced in the "post-production" process. The Sting and Snow staff callers are - even as I write - recording their vocals and forwarding these to me; I will then send the music packages to be pressed at United Record Pressings in Nashville and distributed by Exclusive Master Stocking Distributor Hanhurst's Tape and Record Service at www.Dosado.com/Sir.htm. These, together with other previously recorded tunes, will be released over the next eighteen months.

To guarantee that you receive your copy as soon as it becomes available, check out our Standing Order Offer.

RECENT RELEASES: (Full details on the Latest Releases link)
I am very pleased to see that one of our February re-releases "Blanket On The Ground" (STING - SIR 314) has appeared in the top five listing on Hanhurst's Tape and Record Service at www.Dosado.com/music in the February Best Sellers listing. Also, in the March Best Sellers listing, we have both of our releases, for that month, listed in the top five. These were, "A Coin In The Fountain" (SNOW - SNW 703) featuring Maarten Weijers, from Holland, on the vocal and the double instrumental Hoedown/Patter "Footloose / Fancy Free" (STING - SIR 517). Check out all of our releases on the Latest Releases link. To buy all of our music and to hear the older tunes try the Buy The Music and links.

FESTIVAL UP-DATES: (For full details of all events see the Festivals link)
From Friday 4th to Sunday 6th June 2004 courtesy of The Hayling Mudlarks S.D.C. you can dance at Sting U.K. in Hayling Island in the Southern part of Great Britain to the calling of the three U.K. members of the Sting recording staff.

In 2005 the Pader Jumpers in Paderborn, Germany who are organising a special Sting Festival to take place from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th October 2005 will host Sting Records. For accommodation details and to register - visit the Pader Jumpers web-site.

OTHER NEWS:
Plans are becoming more detailed for our next trip to Nashville, this year, when we will record another batch of singing calls. Already four song titles have been confirmed, for a "make-over" into the Square Dance format and all the staff that have committed themselves to the session are working on the task of selecting the tunes that will sell. Remember, if you have ideas for new tunes that could or should be recorded, Contact us - we would love to hear from you.

Go Squareful! - Paul Bristow (Owner and Producer Sting and Snow Records)