Ice Page

ICE =

INDEPENDENT COUNTRY ENTERTAINERS

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ICE stands for Independent Country Entertainers.

It seems an apt acronym; Independents are often left "out in the cold" by the music industry.

An Independent Artist is one who does not have a current contract with any major recording company. He/she has complete control over every aspect of his/her music career, but he/she must use personal funds to record and promote his/her music. Major artists have a vast pool of experienced publicists and media contacts to rely on, all paid by the company purse. This means that they get their product noticed, on radio playlists, and in the listener's ears, with an ease that bewilders some critics. Independents were left in the cold. Who has the time or money to compete with 'the machine' of big business?

When I released my first CD in 1999, I was a babe in the woods, prey to all sorts of misinformation, scam-artists and classic errors. Like 90% of Independent Artists recording for the first time, I was fighting for recognition.

As a Freelance Journalist, I began to use email to send my press releases to media outlets. My Independent Country Music friends and colleagues said, "I wish I knew how to do that." I told them it was easy, but they didn't have my background in Journalism to give them courage. So I invited them to send their info to me. I would polish it, spellcheck it and add it to mine. Word got around and dozens wanted to join in. Almost overnight it grew into a regular monthly e-newsletter--ICE News (Australia/NZ) -- one single informative publication, the quintessential must-have information sheet for Radio and other media seeking news of Independent Country Entertainers in Australia and New Zealand. I did it for free then, and I do it for free now.

That e-newsletter sparked great interest in the industry. A colleague offered his website as host to the ICE International Directory, where Independent Country Entertainers from all over the world could join, creating a network group of Independent Artists worldwide numbering over 1800, with branches in Australia / New Zealand, USA, Canada and Europe.

Due to unforeseen problems, our original website host closed in early 2003, forcing us to start all over. This new website, designed and hosted by Touchwood Entertainment (our own company) has been designed to link directly with the Artist's own web pages, sorted by country of origin. It may not be as pretty as the original site, but ICE was then, and remains still, an information network, dedicated to the education and development of new, emerging and established Independent Artists.

The added bonus in the new website is the addition of sections for related services, media and industry contacts in every country. This will be an invaluable tool for new artists and entertainers venturing into foreign markets

It is still completely free for all participants. Contact me for details.

Why do I do it? Because I know first-hand the enormous pool of talent out there, unsigned and unknown by the masses. If I can help the public realise that there is more to Country Music than just the chosen few signed to the major labels, if I can help one new artist avoid the pitfalls and ever-circling sharks, if I can help spread the information instead of spreading the bullsh*t, if I can make one tiny bit of difference, it will all be worth it.

Lets pull together for a better, brighter future for Independents.

Deborah Minter (April 2003)

Oh, why the butterflies?

Butterflies are free to fly and so are Independents!