Seven months of this new-year have passed and here we are just about to embark upon the eighth, it's amazing how fast the time seems to fly-by - especially when you are enjoying yourself! I have been really pleased with the responses to this new improved web-site and I thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We had twice as many visitors to the site in July than we had in June and three times as many in June than we had in May; we are continuing to "grow" each month, which is fantastic. I truly appreciate all the ideas, suggestions and comments that you have sent in - please keep them coming; I want to be able to ensure that our products are designed - to meet your expectations!

Last month I had the opportunity to address a large group of callers (seventy-seven) at the GSI Caller School in Dachau, Germany - where an important subject was discussed. In order to "set the scene"; let me take a moment here to tell you a little about GSI.

If you are not already aware, GSI (Grand Square Incorporated) is an organisation, based in the U.S.A., which is dedicated to preserving Square Dancing. To achieve this GSI has embarked upon several endeavours one of which is to arrange events that feature top named callers and offer tuition to new and existing callers, FREE-OF-CHARGE. At these events the school starts on Sunday and runs through to Thursday. The cost of the school is covered in part by a dance festival, which takes place on the following Friday, Saturday and Sunday - but is heavily subsidised by the GSI organisation, from their own funds. For more information about GSI, in general, please click on this link.

For information about GSI future activities in Europe please try this link.

One of the subjects upon which I was asked to speak, at the recent GSI school, was the new item on the CALLERLAB Code Of Ethics; item no.9. This states that: "I will only perform music which has been obtained in a manner which properly and completely compensates the artists and producers responsible for its creation. I will not enable others to use copies of my music while I still retain my ownership". In case you don't know, the CALLERLAB Code Of Ethics are the standards to which all callers are required to adhere and the circumstances that have prompted CALLERLAB to add this ninth item - are a cause for concern for all of us.

The fact is that, as I have previously mentioned, record producers, in general, are facing a large number of problems, due to a large number of reasons; not least of which are the technological changes that have made it so easy to "copy" and therefore to "steal" our product. With the introduction of the Mini-Disc machine and the subsequent development in recordable CDs and MP3 computer files, it has become extremely easy to carry large amounts of music, without the weight of vinyl, this practice has distinct advantages and is - in itself - not a problem. These electronic versions are convenient and do not suffer wear and tear - i.e. scratches and skips, which - in general - makes them a great step forward in music reproduction and for all of these reasons, I would fully recommend that any caller should consider using them, subject to compliance with the appropriate copyright laws.

The negative side to this, is that - by making copying so much easier - there are clear indications that illegal copies have become a serious burden upon the music business; although it is possible that these copies might be being made through "ignorance". Callers, who would never consider infringing any regulations and are totally law-abiding, are making and sharing copies of our music - even trading them with their friends; we know that it is happening. The effect of this practice is difficult to measure but it contributes, heavily, to the recent drastic fall in record sales, which has driven many producers out of the market and has forced some producers to adopt "direct-selling" and "special-deal" policies in order to stay in business.

The fact is that - under the legal systems of most Countries - you are not allowed to copy any music onto another media (e.g. vinyl to Mini-Disc) unless you retain the original purchased article. You may not sell the original purchased article, unless you erase the copy and you are certainly not permitted to sell or exchange copies of tunes. I occasionally hear "horror stories" about groups of callers that purchase a single vinyl record between them, by sharing the cost and then make several copies, so that they can all use the music. I recently came across a caller who had transferred all his vinyls to Mini-Disc and was now selling the vinyl copies!

My own experience is that most (if not all) callers are extremely honest and I have hundreds of reasons to believe that. However, I am concerned in case anyone is making, using and sharing illegal copies without realising the consequences. I would like to "educate" these people - and ask them to recognise the harm that they are causing, in the hope that they would discontinue this practice.

If there are any callers out there who intend to steal music, by making and selling/exchanging illegal copies, it will be hard to stop them but it will have an effect on the callers who are paying for the music they use - i.e. the vast majority of you; you are, effectively, subsidising these illegal practices from your own pocket!

All I can ask is that if you should come across or anyone who might not understand the situation - or is deliberately stealing music; on the assumption that it is a "victim-less crime", please try to "reform" the thinking of this (or these) person (or persons). Remember, there are "victims" to illegal copying and that these "victims" include you - as an individual - and the music production business, in general. If all else fails, or if you would prefer - tell me - and I will take whatever steps I can to retrieve the situation. If the evidence is there and they will not listen to reason, I would be prepared to prosecute the miscreants to the limit of the law. At the very least, if we cannot re-educate these people, then we will have to "name and shame" them and make sure that the "good guys" know who the "bad guys" are!

Okay on to more mundane subjects:

LISTEN TO THE STING AND SNOW CATALOGUE (AND BUY - IF YOU WISH) IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME:
Sting and Snow Records now enjoy the "100% available" status on the web-site at www.Dosado.com/Sir.htm - all of our old tunes are listed there, for you to listen to and - if you find some that you like - you can just "click the box" and purchase from our Exclusive Master Stocking Distributor Hanhurst's Tape and Record Service. To buy all of our music and to hear the older tunes try the Buy The Music and Listen To The Music links.

Also - for your interest - you can check out all of our recent releases on the Latest Releases link.

THIS MONTH'S NEW MUSIC:
During August we will be releasing three pieces of music. These releases comprise: one brand new vinyl release and two MP3 versions - of tunes from our catalogue that have been previously released in vinyl. Our vinyl new release is: "I Get A Kick Out Of You" (on STING - SIR 1002) - this is based on the old Cole Porter song but with the blue-grass flavour that Dolly Parton used on her recent cover version. It was recorded in our Nashville session of 2002. The tune makes use of Banjo and Mandolin in addition to our usual full range of instruments and features Søren Christensen from Denmark on the vocal.

The other two releases are the MP3 files of the Elvis Presley tune: "Young And Beautiful" (on STING) with special guest artist Doug Bennett, from Global Music Productions on the vocal and "Toad-In-The-Hole / Spam Fritter" (on STING), which is another double instrumental Hoedown/Patter record in our usual "traditional (on one side) / modern (on the other side)" style. These tunes have previously 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.

FUTURE RELEASES:
As mentioned last month, the streaming audio samples of the future releases on the Future Releases link are up-dated as soon as we have the vocals recorded; make a point to check on this link from time-to-time. If you hear something that you like and want to be sure of receiving a copy - as soon as it becomes available - check out our Standing Order Offer.

RECENT RELEASES: (Full details on the Latest Releases link)
Last month we released two new records on vinyl; this was in a month where again (as in June) a total of 20 new vinyls had been released, which included recordings by several of the top companies and featured vocals by many of the top callers - in fact, in many ways, it was the most competitive month for a long time! In view of these facts, I am very pleased to say that two of our July releases have sold well enough to appear in the Hanhurst's Tape and Record Service top five "Best Sellers" listing; these were: (at number 4) "Every Breath You Take", featuring Paul Bristow on the vocal and (at number 5) "Kitt / Kaboodle", a double instrumental Hoedown/Patter record in our "traditional (on one side) / modern (on the other side)" style.

OTHER NEWS
Hopefully, by next month we will be able to launch a new feature on the web-site. Behind the title of each recording, in the catalogue, I am going to add a "History" that will tell you something about how the record was recorded, how successful it was and - most importantly - it will list the "additional lyrics" that you used to have to listen to the called side to find. I hope that this will be helpful to you.

I hope that you are having a great summer and that it continues that way for you, so until next month...

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