Author: John Lawless

That is the obvious question in your mind as you look over this new site. We feel that our bluegrass community can only benefit from an accurate, authoritative and timely source for bluegrass news and comment – and this is exactly what Bluegrass Today is meant to be!

Imagine being able to log on several times each week – or even daily with your morning coffee – and see a roundup of news about the music we love. You might first see an item about a new release date for an upcoming CD, or maybe some European show dates for a favorite bluegrass act. The next could be a notice that a well know act is still looking for tunes for an upcoming recording project, or some “studio notes” about how a project is coming along. It could be an announcement about a new bluegrass radio show coming online, or a new web site or festival being launched.

Most items would include an outbound web link for additional details – one of the chief benefits of the way that blogging combines elements of news gathering with the interconnectedness of the Internet.

Perhaps the greatest potential benefit is the combination of the three elements highlighted above:

Accurate: We will only include verifiable information, first hand whenever possible, with identification of our sources included. When we pass along unsourced bits, we will do so with the certain knowledge of the veracity of the information.

Authoritative: Unlike email lists and bulletin boards/chat fora, Bluegrass Today is not published anonymously, but by named individuals who are known in the bluegrass world, and who put their credibility on the line with each edition. Further, a blog like this avoids the chatter and din that make bulletin boards and listserve email groups so cluttered and chaotic.

Timely: We can post information within minutes of receiving it, and post updates/corrections just as fast when they are indicated.

One of the things that is so special about our music is the fact that almost everyone who works in the industry is a fan as well, and many fans also are involved on an amateur or part time/volunteer basis on the industry side. We are confident that Bluegrass Today will be quickly seen as a valuable resource to both producers and consumers in the bluegrass and acoustic music community – and those who work both sides of the fence.

If you work in bluegrass music, or some related field, and can see the benefit of reaching both other industry folks and fans/consumers alike with announcements, publicity bits or even requests for information, you might begin to see the value of a resource like Bluegrass Today.

For folks in publicity, artist management or promotion Bluegrass Today offers an excellent way to reach both groups mentioned above, and to time the release of information carefully, or get “breaking news” out there as soon as it is known.

For amateur and student pickers, you can get updates on workshops, jams and new instructional materials as they are announced. If you produce this sort of resource, you can find an effective way to announce and promote events and products.

Instrument builders and folks who market accessories can use Bluegrass Today to get new information out to potential customers along with links to your web sites. Do you have a new endorser, or perhaps want to plug some upcoming in-store clinics? If you let us know, we can announce them on our blog.

Independent bands, artists or songwriters can level the playing field a bit by getting your announcements read by a large number of fans as well as radio people and festival promoters. Established acts can pass along info of particular interest to online consumers, such as inclusion in popular pay-per-download sites, or positive news about your music’s rankings on Apple’s iTunes or Amazon.com.

Radio programmers can use Bluegrass Today to pass along requests for CDs, announce the launch of a new show or a change in time or affiliation. Broadcast syndicators can announce new affiliates and cybercasters and podcasters can announce changes in their programming availability.

Event producers can surely benefit from access to this site, to announce a festival roster for the year when it is finalized (and point people to your site), or maybe get the word out on the addition of some new feature or special event at your festival.

Of course, regardless of whether you fit any of the categories above, the site will be of interest if you just want to follow the news as it relates to bluegrass and acoustic music and keep abreast of what’s going on in the bluegrass world.