COPE ‘06 Soul and Blues Summit

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For Immediate Release
Atlanta, GA - April, 2006



In tribute to the works of COPE founding board member, the late Barbara Thomas, COPE ’06 will include a ‘conference within a conference’ with its one day “Soul and Blues Summit”. The Summit, which convenes Wednesday, June 28th, will offer opportunity for soul and blues artists to network with entertainment buyers and fellow artists who face the unique challenges of the genre.
As radio streamlines its playlists and institutes the radio consultant to choose what records they will play – the promotion of soul and blues faces even more challenges. As soul and blues artists continue to petition mainstream radio to play more of their music, they depend on street promotions, performance dates and alternative campaigns to broadcast their name, publicize their product, and sell their records.
Additionally there is an influx of new artists emerging on the scene seeking to fill the empty seats left by legends Johnny Taylor, Little Milton, Tyrone Davis and other elder blues/r&b/soul artists. How will they grow their careers? Will the ‘new’ genre Southern Soul find a place at radio? Just what is Southern Soul? Can Southern Soul expand its appeal to other regions? Without radio, how? How can club owners and entertainment buyers benefit from these affordable soul and blues shows?
Tom “Dr. Love” Davis of Dr. Love Radio and Jerry “Boogie” Mason of The Boogie Report have taken the lead in publicizing and organizing the COPE Soul and Blues Summit. Program directors from broadcasting conglomerates Radio One and Clear Channel will join independent radio programmers to discuss their guidelines. Media experts will introduce their products and services to assist in the promotion of soul and blues product. Blues legends and hitmakers will share their success stories and offer advice during discussions of the soul and blues. COPE participants will have an opportunity to express their concerns and have them addressed by the experts.
At the end the evening, COPE will present a soul and blues concert that will be broadcast live on Dr. Love radio (www.dr-love.com). On Tuesday night, Blues Legend Bobby Rush will receive the COPE Living Legend Award. Soul and Blues artists are invited to promote their music on the COPE Compilation CD that will be distributed to participating club owners and entertainment buyers.

For more information, visit the website (www.clubCOPE.org), contact the COPE headquarters in Atlanta at 404-752-5920 or by email (copenow2006@yahoo.com).


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Additional Information
Libby Anthony
404-752-5920