Music Maven - Matron Records

[cthomer5000]

Since I've found myself posting a fair amount in the general discussion forum, thought I should move things here just to keep it streamlined.

This quick-paced dynasty will be about the game Music Maven 3 (a free online game).
http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/

I encourage anyone to join the game. It's pretty fun, and requires very little time daily.

We'll deal most specifically with the band I run (Watery Hands) and the label they founded (Matron Records).

[cthomer5000]

Meet The Band


An all-female group in the generic 'indie-rock' category, the group lists their major influences as The Go-Gos, Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, All of 80's New Wave, The Clash, Superchunk, and many more.

They've got a fairly heavy feminist and political element to their music, and put on a pretty intense, in-your-face live show.

Watery Hands


<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="600"> <tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"> <table class="photcaption-onlightish" align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="250"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2"> http://www.lovetohate.us/jokes/bk.jpg </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="92">Hometown:</td> <td width="158">New York, NY</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="92">Genre:</td> <td width="158"> Indie Rock (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:OpenPopUpWindow%20%28%27genre.php?Gen=Indie+Rock%27%29) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="92">Popularity:</td> <td width="158"> 37 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="92">Stage Presence:</td> <td width="158"> 4 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="92">Cohesion:</td> <td width="158"> 33 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="92">Groupies:</td> <td width="158"> 76 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="92">Manager:</td> <td width="158">cthomer5000 </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="92">Band Leader:</td> <td width="158"> Patty Barton (Backup Vocals) </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="92">Record Label:</td> <td width="158"> Matron Records </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> <td valign="top" width="250"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="1" width="1"> <tbody><tr colspan="5"> <td colspan="5" class="StoryHeader" align="center">Musicians </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td align="left" width="31">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/tnsp.gif</td> <td align="left" width="22"> http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-tab_bass.gif</td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="70"> http://www.lovetohate.us/jokes/anna.jpg </td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="12">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-arrow.gif</td><td class="photcaption-onlightish" align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" nowrap="nowrap" width="282"> Ethel Aaron (http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/musiciancard.php?BandID=150)
Born: 1978-06-03
Most members of the group secretly question Ethel's loyalty, and feel she is just putting in her time until something better comes along. </td> </tr> <tr style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255);" colspan="5" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td colspan="5" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="2">
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td align="left" width="31">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/tnsp.gif</td> <td align="left" width="22"> http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-tab_drum.gif</td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="70"> http://www.lovetohate.us/jokes/carrie.jpg </td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="12">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-arrow.gif</td><td class="photcaption-onlightish" align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" nowrap="nowrap" width="282"> Margarita "Mags" Lawler (http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/musiciancard.php?BandID=150)
Born: 1978-08-05
A true rock drummer, Mags isn't flashy put can pound the skins with the best male drummers out there today. </td> </tr> <tr style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255);" colspan="5" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td colspan="5" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="2">
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td align="left" width="31">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/tnsp.gif</td> <td align="left" width="22"> http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-tab_bkup_voca.gif</td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="70"> http://www.lovetohate.us/jokes/neko.jpg </td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="12">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-arrow.gif</td><td class="photcaption-onlightish" align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" nowrap="nowrap" width="282"> Patricia North (http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/musiciancard.php?BandID=150)
Born: 1972-09-10
Patty is backing vocalist, occasional lead vocalist, and second guitarist. She can also play violin, but the band has yet to find a way to incorporate it. She formed the band after her last group broke up. </td> </tr> <tr style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255);" colspan="5" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td colspan="5" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="2">
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td align="left" width="31">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/tnsp.gif</td> <td align="left" width="22"> http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-tab_voca.gif</td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="70"> http://www.lovetohate.us/jokes/jo.jpg </td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="12">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-arrow.gif</td><td class="photcaption-onlightish" align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" nowrap="nowrap" width="282"> Anna Thornton (http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/musiciancard.php?BandID=150)
Born: 1978-10-26
An amazingly intense live performer, she captivates the crowd. She performs hard and parties hard. </td> </tr> <tr style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255);" colspan="5" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td colspan="5" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="2">
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td align="left" width="31">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/tnsp.gif</td> <td align="left" width="22"> http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-tab_keys.gif</td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="70"> http://www.lovetohate.us/jokes/kathleen.jpg </td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="12">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-arrow.gif</td><td class="photcaption-onlightish" align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" nowrap="nowrap" width="282"> Vikki Thornton (http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/musiciancard.php?BandID=150)
Born: 1978-04-14
A major song-writing force. Vikki is always working on another song. Most the band wishes she'd drop the overtly policatal tunes though. </td> </tr> <tr style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255);" colspan="5" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td colspan="5" align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="2">
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td align="left" width="31">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/tnsp.gif</td> <td align="left" width="22"> http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-tab_guit.gif</td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="70"> http://www.lovetohate.us/jokes/corin.jpg </td> <td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="12">http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/images/biog-arrow.gif</td><td class="photcaption-onlightish" align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" nowrap="nowrap" width="282"> Vanessa North (http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/musiciancard.php?BandID=150)
Born: 1974-02-26
Younger sister of Patty. She's progressing as a guitartist, but isn't particularly good at the moment.</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody> </table>

[cthomer5000]

journal entries from our first month:

Entry #1 - Watery Hands are ready to rock the fucking house.

Entry #2 - My girls had better crank out some new tunes this month.

Entry #3 - Oh man, we're in deep shit. We made $7 at one show... $7!!! We're down to 8 dollars, and we only came up with 2 songs out of 21 days of militant practice.

(editors note: We made some suspect purchases of musical equipment that we didn't really need. It put is in a tough spot early)

[cthomer5000]

Journal Entry #4 - Shit. We've already been forced into an unrealistic tour of North America because we need the cash. Nothing like hitting the road with 3 songs to your name. I hopes the crowd likes 15 minute guitar solos and cover songs. http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif

Note to self: get a part-time job.

Journal Entry #5 - I realized I never ran down the details of the songs we've written... so here they are:

"Womanifesto" - A feminist anthem
"Unscented" - It's up to the listener to figure this one out
"Statement Of Intent" - again, we'll leave this up to the listener

We're planning on taking two of these and sticking them on our first single. The leftover will likely make it to a future release.

[cthomer5000]

June 2005:

Watery Hands (http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/bandcard.php?BandID=150) are proud to announce the formation of Matron Records. Both Matron Records and Watery Hands are proud to annouce their charter release, the single "Womanifesto / Unscented," due next month.

Watery Hands will be touring North America throughout the following months to support this limited release (500 singles will be pressed).

Matron Records is also actively seeking bands to join the roster. We are committed to the artist and will absolutely fund any band we feel has both potential and a common vision. If you are a female oriented group in the indie/punk/electronic/rock community, contact us with any interest.



Matron Records


http://www.lovetohate.us/jokes/matron.jpg

A female owned and oriented label that specializes in Riot Grrrl, Punk, Indie, and Electronic Music. We will focus on female-heavy groups that are out to show that women are a force to be dealt with.
Genre: All genres

[cthomer5000]

July 2005:

Wow. Some big news for us... We sold out the entire pressing of the first single in it's first month of release, hitting #2 in the country!!! (500 copies sold)

Matron Records is now the #1 rated label in the game! http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/eek.gif

[cthomer5000]

August 2005:

Some more great news. Watery Hands have again sold out the 2nd pressing of their first single, moving 1,000 units this month and retaining their #2 chart ranking.

Matron Records is also now drawing serious interest from a number of groups who are interested in joing the label. But we're quite picky, so we flatly reject a number of bands who don't remotely fit our criteria. We do however make two contract offers (we'll keep them undisclosed unless accepted).

And for laughs, check out this awesome angry email we got from a band we rejected:

THATS FINE I DON'T WANNA JOIN YOUR DAMN LABEL ANYWAY WHO NEEDS YOU I B ET NO ONE WILL JOIN IT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN I BET YOU COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD US!!!!
So even though they came to us about joining the label, they apparently didn't really want to be aboard. http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gifhttp://dynamic2.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[cthomer5000]

Watery Hands' plan for September 2005:

Press 1,500 more copies of the single Womanifesto / Unscented (http://www.music-maven.com/mm3/release_dtl.php?RelID=78) and tour the Northeast. With sales of 500 and 1000 in the past months, we're confident we can sell out this 3rd pressing and put this single to bed entirely as we shift our focus to a new record (most likely another single, then a full-length).


throughts from Matron Records:

The success of this first release has exceeded our wildest expectations, we hoped we'd be able to get the original 500 off the shelf and now we're talking about 3000 copies total and enough of a financial windfall to start making some artist acquisitions. The fact that the music world currently has an extremely high public opinion of us is also outstanding, the exposure it's giving us among emerging artists is priceless.