Muse Blog and Journals

Recently, someone has been accusing me of using photos on my blogs without the rights to post them (it was along the lines of, I whine about copyright and then use stock photos in my blogs, OMG!). Someone also asked me on one of my posts a couple months ago, but I don't know if the two things are related.

As I explained to the person who asked on Buzznet, I use PRESS PHOTOS in my blog posts on music news (specifically, in the AFI community although I've done a couple about Muse and Tiger Army, and some older Nine Inch Nails ones)

What's a PRESS PHOTO?

Muse

It's an image that has been specifically released by the band's publicist/record label/management for publication with news articles, reviews and other press about the band. 

I receive a ton of press photos in my email directly from publicists with their press releases or queries on whether I want to photograph or interview the band, and most of the record labels/publicity firms also have them available for press download and use on their websites. 

AFI - Crash Love by Jason O'Dell

In other words, I AM SUPPOSED TO BE USING THESE PHOTOS IN MY POSTS.

There seems to be confusion with some people because they posted photos on Buzznet and the admins deleted them for copyright infringement. If they were deleted, it's because the poster mistook a stock photo or other copyrighted rights reserved image for a press photo, or didn't care what it was and just posted it anyway.

Not all "posed" still photos of a band or musician are press photos. It is very common for agencies, media outlets and photographers to do portrait sessions with a band that are meant for licensing as a stock photo or for exclusive use on their website.

An example of portrait photos that ARE NOT PRESS PHOTOS would be the recent "Exclusive Promo Photos" of AFI by MTV photographer Rene Cervantes, meant to draw people TO MTV's WEBSITE. Not to be reposted all over the Internet so people didn't have to go to MTV.com to see them. Believe me, they're gorgeous and I'd love to use them, but I can't.

MTV.com Exclusive: AFI  Title says "Promo" photos but they are NOT "Press Photos".

What's a STOCK PHOTO?

Photography agencies like Getty, Redferns, Music Pictures, Ltd. etc. carry many portrait shots of bands and musicians (and celebrities, and pictures of sunsets, food, sports) that are made available for licensing, many being shot specifically for licensing from them. They're used in magazines, websites, products, cd covers, merch and are not free to repost by fans or media outlets without paying for them. Buzznet has a subscription with Getty Images and you'll see Bree and others using Getty Images in their posts. Buzznet pays to use these images. When other people post them on the site, they have to delete them or risk penalties with their relationship with Getty. Not all of these images are watermarked, but can be identified by checking them on Getty's archive.

Everyone's seen these shots of AFI on Sing The Sorrow stuff, so it must be a press photo, right? Nope. Stock photo.

What's CREATIVE COMMONS?

In the case of the Nine Inch Nails images I've posted, many aren't press photos, but are instead licensed via a Creative Commons license spelling out the terms by which people may repost them. Rob Sheridan released a TON of images from the Wave Goodbye Tour as CCL. (which is also how Trent releases his tracks and video footage for remixing by fans) You can read more about Creative Commons licensing at http://creativecommons.org

Atticus & Trent. By Rob Sheridan ©2007

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nineinchnails/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Creative Commons Licenses spell out the conditions under which you are allowed to use a copyrighted image (without having to contact the photographer first). They usually restrict it to non-commercial use, share and share alike (other people can take it from you and use it), may or may not allow editing of the image, and you must credit the photographer, specify the terms of the CC licensed image, and link back. You can't post it or anything you create with it as all rights reserved to you, it's still not your image.

If you violate the Creative Commons licensing conditions (for example, by not crediting the photographer or linking back to him), it's copyright infringement.

AFI @ The Roxy

Photograph ©2009 Nic Adler. http://www.flickr.com/photos/whoshotya/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

If anyone has any questions about an image I post. ASK ME. Don't listen to trolls on the internet who are accusing me of things in order to act out a personal grudge. Photography and publishing is MY JOB, and I take it very seriously even when I'm posting things on a site where people frequently assume everyone is 14 years old or posting strictly as a fan.

'Why do you say so?' , you all ask me .

Because this old post I found in her facebook account :

"I am totally obsessed with the new MUSE cd.
Everytime I listen to it I feel like I am riding this mad wave of euphoria.....and I am sort of overtaken with the overwhelming desire to sing along really REALLY loudly or burst into tears.
It's not really a rock record or even a progressive rock record or even a modern Opera but it seeps and sprawls all over me and I recognize my own human experience in it:
When I am at my most vulnerable and when I am at my most rageful
my most indignant
my most humane
my most cruel
and my most beautiful
and poetic
and romantic

DO you think if I met him, Mat Bellamy might love me back?"

Pure epic win, no?

Random jornal is random but hey! We need more Muse love and the fact that one of my favorite person on eath loves them and has a crush on Matt Bellamy  ,make this journal worthy! :D

I was watching this video about two hours ago about the making of Uprising (Muse, yes?) and uh, I had a lot of fun by trying to figure out what Matt intended to say and how Dom was being the camera tech making sure that 'everyone looked good'.

But the point of this senseless journal is to tell you how much of a splendid time I had for just two or three seconds.

At 4:18 you can see..oh my God, you can see how adorably Matt shakes his butt.

I'll probably never EVER going to forget that scene.

God bless him :')

Although there are also this memorable pictures

He wasn't accepted sadly for being too...vanilla

Dom Gaga...watch out Lady Gaga!!

Such a holy, devoted man

This is how he mantains the sexy body he owns

And just to indulge myself...another Matt-priceless face!

I got ultra excited, you see :D

That over there, is the man that I will always remember for moving his bottoms in a such hilarious way *sigh*

Well, goonight to you. I might just as well dance to Uprising, too ;)

Oyasumi ii yume mitene :D (correct me if I'm wrong!)

x

I know I was going to show it until December but I just could not wait! There aren't any other releases I should care about anyway (Unless The Strokes release something xD) It is only a top 5 because...there weren't much of good things this year (to me, obviously). So, I'll start right away!

5 → Tonight: Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand

Starting the countdown with one of my favorite bands ever: Franz Ferdinand (as repeated several times now). Comparing 'Tonight' with their last two works, it seems as if they've getting better and better just when I thought it was impossible and make themselves sound improved. The music is always very danceable and simply shameless. Though the lyrics might have gotten a tad obscure, but still sassy. These guys are fantastic and extremely blessed with the creativity of never repeating the same stuff over and over that actually makes sense even if it is in a kind of perverted way. I shall bow my non-existant hat to Mr. Kapranos and his remorseless mind (still remorseless, yay!)

4 → To Lose My Life... by White Lies

This is a debut from British Indie, White Lies. It's a perfect album to describe every dark feeling about death in its depth. It's melancholic just to listen to the words; they're all about losing someone you love and how one can deal with it. Which thoughts run across our heads when going through difficult times. There has been an exaggeration of new artists this year that I really don't support due to their lack of talent, let's be honest, and originality in their music. But White Lies have definitely caught my attention for being very refreshing, as it reminds me of Joy Division and the eerie vocals of Ian Curtis, and honest. They deserve a higher spot but this list has been quite a challenge to me!

3 → 21st Century Breakdown by Green Day

Currently obsessed with the album :) I really, relaly love a concept album and this one is very clear. Three acts, eighteen songs. It starts from the past century to the new age. It narrates the love story of Christian and Gloria in the fucked up society we're living in, which we've helped to create as well. There are the lyrics that no one could ever shout out so sarcastically mocking as Billie Joe in front of a massive crowd. Many people didn't like it, but I love it very much because it is a great piece that shows how a band evolves as the years pass. Change to be the best, no? It has a good message after all that everyone should listen to, especially those ones that preffer to ruin day by day the world we're living in by commiting stupidities just because of being ignorant to what really is happening around them. Better don't realize too late.

2 → Sounds of the Universe by Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode is part of my dad's music heritage and I sure keep it till today. I actually bought it yesterday since I could not resist the temptaion when I had it in my hands. I've listened to it many times before and I can say that it's an excellent album that presents the concept of how the universe can sound, how it can be so wide and diverse. It extends a variety of songs that are inspirationally dark and perverse, as usual. This is a band that I admire very much because they are still here after a long time of up's & down's, especially going up lately with this recent material. There's this joy inside me that I can blast it in the CD player so everyone nearby the house gets to realize how very crazy I've become to listen to something that it's not common enough in here. I iz proud.

And well, ladies and gentlemen, the curtain's pulled as I reveal the masterpiece in my number one spot of this amazing year.

1 → The Resistance by Muse (It's surely a slap on the face for the shock, no?)

Banking protests, a love story from a grand book, personal experiences, geo-political stuff + more of the book, a reflection about life, secrecy behind the leaders many have chosen when they're just part of the great scenario that our world is being manipulated by others, control of the human mind by the projects of those who watch us closely, a weird ol' ballad + French singing, and last but not least, a magnificent three-parts-divided symphony about the wreckage of humankind and our blindness to change until crisis arrives and there's nothing else to do but redemption. I love Muse, I love The Resistance, because it is simply brilliant. But I had this conversation today that the lyrics have gotten quite mellow and...soft in comparison of the Symmetry-Absolution era. Of course it is normal since Matthew decided to open up a little bit about his life, his personal situations, just in case of 'Undisclosed Desires', which is a beautiful outcast that resembles a drunken night whilst listening to the latest of R&B way too much. Though there exists 'Unnatural Selection', about 6 minutes long, with a powerful chanting and demanding chorus. Anyway I'm-a shut up before I ramble about each song! I'm still craving for more, but it's perfect enough to get lost in a surreal journey out of this world that basically resides in to resist in this mad world, with only love by your side.

Jesus, I still got way out of the line -.- Anyway, thanks for reading, it's a pleasure to me that you actually read my words :)

Cheers!

x

Salve, mei amici :)

You know I forgot to tell you my huge proof of courage like two weeks ago xD

Here it goes: It turned out that there was a car crash when I was going home in the school bus and my best friend was going to sleep at my house that day. We stayed there for two goddamned hours until my butt became square (I don't bitch too much about it because I had the best view in the whole world those two hours...that should be blessed anyway xD). Me and my friends (Bessy, Estefani and Alejandra) decided that we had to get the hell out of there. The only problem was that we were a kilometer away from home.

Yes, I walked more than a km.

I almost got blisters on my toes and my toenail where I had that surgery hurt like fu*king hell :| I've never walked that much in my whole life, but it really amazed me that my legs didn't hurt at all...until next week T.T

I just want to get out of school, you know. I need to rest...I need TO REST.

I'm going to miss my friends but that's natural, we'll see soon in three months, maybe sooner by my birthday (It's my quinceañera ;D), I'll miss other individuals of course *cough* but I really need to end this school year because I'm definitely tired (My eyes tell it all, don't you think?)

But now, let's pay some tribute to my doodling around school.

Doodling Around School Part I

That's quite a message that all of you need to take seriously...SERIOUSLY

Aren't they the same?! Even the same tooth is there *dries tear*

That's the inside of my folder, btw xD You can see my schedule xD

I'll post more pictures anytime soon...meanwhile:

GO HONDURAS :D

x!

Would you like for Reza's music video for "Dark Lotus" to be on TV? If so, will you do two things for us?

1. First, will you watch the video at theindieshow.com?
2. Second, will you take a moment to register and vote for us by following the directions in the below clip?

If you could spare a couple of minutes to do this we'd really appreciate it. Voting is open through 5 April 2010 so you can vote for our music and videos as frequently and as often as you'd like :)

Hope this finds you feeling healthy,

-Mason

P.S. I just saw that we're in the Top 10 Alternative Rock artists on Ourstage again this month. Thanks guys!

Exactly today is the release birthday of Muse's first record: Showbiz.

The record that took the band to their amazing success career was recorded between 1998 and 1999. The songs got old tracks of Muse's setlist, dating it until 1996. The band had 50 songs which have been recorded before they went on studio, and, for the album, they chose the songs that they judge less progressive.

John Leckie, who produced the record, started to go to Muse's concert in the half of 1998. Leckie worked on Saw Mills studio, which owner, Dennis Smith, gave the band free time for the band record, which became Muse EP. John built a relation with the band during this time, and he said that he would like to work with them, if they had enough conditions to pay him. The recording were finished in the 15th of May of 1999.

In October 04th of 1999 it was the official release of the album. Right after the release, many critics were fast to deny that the album would make success because it had a sonority alike Radiohead's music, a comparison that many people still use. However, last month the record was added to the list of the 20 best british records of the last 20 years, by James Hurley, MSN Music editor, describing the album as:

Even after the obvious comparison with Radiohead, what even called Thom Yorke's attention, Muse introduced themselves splendid, if not totally original and talented with this record.

The record who gave origin to the first world tour, the first videoclip, the first awards, anyway... Better than words only the sound. The tip for this Sunday is to hear a record which was made 10 years ago and be proud to say that it's still very new, a modern sound, impressive, formidable, anyway... it's MUSE!

MUSE.MU'S PROMOTION

And to celebrate this great mark for the band's history, MUSE will be picking up 3 signed records! To have the chance to get one, just send an e-mail to showbizis10@muse.mu with your name, adress, and the answer to this question: "Back in 1999, Muse were signed in the US to Madonna's Maverick record label, but which rocker also tried to sign the band to his label a little later on in their career?"

Good luck for everyone!! AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR SHOWBIZ!!

In an interview with Zane Lowe, Muse states they’re likely to feature on the soundtrack to New Moon - the latest installment of the Twilight series.

Singer Matt Bellamy revealed: “I spoke to the director yesterday (and) he wants the track I Belong To You, the sort of vaudeville piano track. He wants a rendition of that but the only thing with the new film is they want the songs to be exclusive to the film. So he’s asking if I mind doing, or if we mind doing an alternative version of it.”

Asked if they were up for it Matt said: “I think it’s alright- if it was one of the main tracks on the album I would never do it. But it’s actually one of the weirder tracks on the album. (It’s) one of the can't believe we got away with it kind of tracks. I think it might be worth giving it a go cos it’s a track that might not get played live very often… one of the obscure tracks off the album so it might give that track some life that it wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Muse’s hit Supermassive Black Hole featured in the first Twilight film- giving the three piece exposure in the States.

Dom from the band said: “It’s opened it up in some kind of way, millions of people listening to Supermassive Black Hole that have probably never heard our band before- which is not a bad thing.”

He added: “They have all gone bloody vampire mad over there seriously, it’s crazy!”

MTV2 will be broadcasting the interview between Zane Lowe and Muse tonight at 10PM.

"Interspersed with their videos plus the new tracks live, we got Muse on the brown couch and Zane found out all about their future plans."

Sourced from: http://www.mtv.co.uk/film/twilight/news/154660-exclusive-muse-for-new-moon-soundtrack

Do you think the song fits with New Moon's storyline? If you're a Muse fan how do you feel about their music being included on the Twilight soundtracks? Do you see the benefit to the band of greater exposure, or does it just make you RAGE WITH THE FURY OF TEN THOUSAND SUNS?

Thanks again to everyone for your votes! Our appearance on Fame Games was a big success. Check out what the judges had to say after the break.

By the way, if anyone else wondered what "tickle my tittler" meant urban dictionary gives us the following definition:

1. Tittler - A small alcoholic beverage that is intended to stop after just one. Usually followed by many other tittlers. Usually consumed by people on shift in the restaurant business. tit-ler

"Hey Cypress, is it time for a tittler yet"?

So apparently one of the judges did not believe that our music tickled his small alcoholic beverage. :)

If you feel that you can't stop after voting for just one a'tris song there's good news! Thanks to your support, "Chasing Rabbits" will make its Fame Games debut this coming Monday, 28 September! I can't tell you how excited I am to see that one getting this type of exposure.

Some songs take days to write, some take weeks; "Chasing Rabbits" took months. My writing partner, Michael Kreher, came up with the foundation for this tune and I knew he was on to something the moment he first shared it with me. Even in its early form, CR held a lot of potential; but I didn't know where it wanted to go until I watched a speech that Sam Harris, the author of The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation, gave at AAI 07. If you would like to get some more insight into the source material for this song please visit samharris.org.

To help "Chasing Rabbits" advance please use the following links to vote and review for it!

More news to come!

-Mason

Last time I blogged I asked you guys if you'd like to help us get another tune of ours back on Fame Games by voting for your favorite song. Thanks for responding in a big way! "Black Bird's Song" is now going to be receiving some major exposure as, thanks to you, it will be appearing on Monday's Q show! I'm so glad to see that you like "Black Bird Song"; it's a personal favorite of mine.

For those of you who aren't on Twitter, the guys and I have been tweeting about some really great news this week and I wanted to share some of that with you here. Currently "Automatic Doors" is #1 on Ourstage's Alternative Channel for the second week in a row! There are all kinds of cool prizes to be had for monthly winners so thanks for helping us hold steady at the top :) Two more weeks to go, w00t!

In other cool news, a'tris is currently Globally ranked #71 on ReverbNation's Alternative chart. Just to give you some perspective, over 250,000 bands use ReverbNation to promote their work so we feel really good about that :)

Thanks again for your support!

-Mason