Just Plain Folks Music Organization
Encyclopedia
Just Plain Folks Music Organization (often referred to as Just Plain Folks, or simply JPF) is a website and community founded by Brian Austin Whitney with the intent of helping anyone involved in the music industry to network, share their experiences, build relationships, and grow. It is not exclusive to independent musicians or amateurs, as many members of the organization (such as Celldweller
and They Might Be Giants
) are highly successful. To this end, the community has many local chapters which meet face to face each month as well as members in every US State and in over 100 countries around the world which correspond primarily on line or via the organization's website.
, and other similarly prestigious honors, while other members have no commercially released work.
The organization sends out a monthly newsletter, "Just Plain Notes", to all members. Written and put together by founder Brian Austin Whitney, the newsletter includes a range of material from essays and editorials, to general music and JPF news, discounts or deals, announcements, success stories, quotes, and of course contributions by members.
, and more. As JPF has chapters
in every state and around the world, there are discussion forums based on geographical location as well. Of the subforums available, the Lyric Feedback sections are most heavily used, with a total of three identical forums in place because of the massive traffic they receive on a daily basis.
, Pop
, and R&B, to less mainstream genres like Salsa
, Surf
, and Industrial
. The awards are not necessarily run on a yearly basis due to the massive effort required to collect and evaluate all of the submissions, which is primarily volunteer-based. In 2006, the award ceremony was held on November 4 at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, California
. The next awards process will take place in August, 2009 and is expected to involve over 500,000 songs and 40,000 artists and writers.
In 2008/2009 there will be over 100 different genres of music recognized from around the world.
Sponsors of the JPF Music Awards include companies such as CD Baby
, Discmakers, Ourstage.com
and TAXI
.
Update: In the 2008/2009 Music Awards cycle there have already been over 560,000 songs and 42,000 albums entered from over 160 countries around the world.
In the fall of 2009 the organization will be touring England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and the Netherlands.
During the local showcase events, any musician of any level is invited to perform a song or two, meet their peers and spend an evening making music for the fun of it. All genres are welcome and the shows often include wide variety of styles and approaches from German Death Metal to Polkas, Dust Bowl Folk to Inner City Beat Poets, Twangy Country to Space Age Electronica and more.
Celldweller
Celldweller is a Detroit, Michigan-based Electronic Rock project that was created by multi-instrumentalist Klayton, former frontman and songwriter of the bands Circle of Dust, Argyle Park, Angeldust . Celldweller's music is multi-faceted, often labeled electronic rock and more commonly being...
and They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
) are highly successful. To this end, the community has many local chapters which meet face to face each month as well as members in every US State and in over 100 countries around the world which correspond primarily on line or via the organization's website.
Membership
Just Plain Folks is home to over 52,500 members in 50 US states and over 150 countries. As the organization open to anyone, the community enjoys a great variety of members, from hobbyist songwriters, to studio musicians, engineers, producers, publishers, and others. Level of professional exposure and experience is also variable; some members have considerable industry standing and have won Grammy Awards, Emmy Awards, Academy AwardsAcademy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
, and other similarly prestigious honors, while other members have no commercially released work.
The organization sends out a monthly newsletter, "Just Plain Notes", to all members. Written and put together by founder Brian Austin Whitney, the newsletter includes a range of material from essays and editorials, to general music and JPF news, discounts or deals, announcements, success stories, quotes, and of course contributions by members.
Forums
The JPF website has a thriving message board with discussion topics ranging from lyrics, songwriting, and business affairs to technical issues, music theoryMusic theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
, and more. As JPF has chapters
Chapters
Chapters is a Canadian big box bookstore banner owned by Indigo Books and Music. Formerly a company in its own right competing with Indigo, the combined company has continued to operate both banners since their merger in 2001.-History:...
in every state and around the world, there are discussion forums based on geographical location as well. Of the subforums available, the Lyric Feedback sections are most heavily used, with a total of three identical forums in place because of the massive traffic they receive on a daily basis.
Just Plain Folks Music Awards
Since 2000, Just Plain Folks has hosted a large-scale, non-profit music awards program that has been run five times to date; in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006. In the latest iteration of the awards, over 350,000 songs and 25,500 albums were submitted for consideration. The awards are split into several general categories; the Founder's Awards, Song Awards, Album Awards, Video Awards, and Lyric Awards. These categories are then split further. The Song and Album Awards are given in over 70 genres, from more popular ones such as RockRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, and R&B, to less mainstream genres like Salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
, Surf
Surf music
Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...
, and Industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
. The awards are not necessarily run on a yearly basis due to the massive effort required to collect and evaluate all of the submissions, which is primarily volunteer-based. In 2006, the award ceremony was held on November 4 at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
. The next awards process will take place in August, 2009 and is expected to involve over 500,000 songs and 40,000 artists and writers.
In 2008/2009 there will be over 100 different genres of music recognized from around the world.
Sponsors of the JPF Music Awards include companies such as CD Baby
CD Baby
CD Baby is an online music store specializing in the sale of CDs and digital music downloads from independent musicians to consumers. The company is also a digital aggregator of independent music recordings, distributing content to several online digital music retailers.CD Baby has achieved recent...
, Discmakers, Ourstage.com
Ourstage
OurStage.com is a web and mobile-based music community offering free music streaming, discovery, and editorial content. It is owned and operated by OurStage Inc., headquartered in Chelmsford, Massachusetts...
and TAXI
TAXI (advertising agency)
TAXI is a marketing communications company that was founded, in 1992, in Montreal. TAXI is wholly owned subsidiary of Y&R Brands, which is owned by London based WPP. The company has five locations in Canada, one in the United States and one in Europe...
.
Update: In the 2008/2009 Music Awards cycle there have already been over 560,000 songs and 42,000 albums entered from over 160 countries around the world.
Just Plain Folks Roadtrips
Since 1998, the organization's founder Brian Austin Whitney has traveled extensively through North America and Europe meeting musicians, songwriters and music industry professionals of all levels and backgrounds. During the trips he often conducts interviews, sets up networking events, music showcases featuring local artists and visiting the many local chapters of the organization. Since the first trip, over 15,000 musicians have performed at one of their showcases. Visits have included stops in every US State except Alaska and North Dakota, as well as France, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy, The Vatican and Monaco.In the fall of 2009 the organization will be touring England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and the Netherlands.
During the local showcase events, any musician of any level is invited to perform a song or two, meet their peers and spend an evening making music for the fun of it. All genres are welcome and the shows often include wide variety of styles and approaches from German Death Metal to Polkas, Dust Bowl Folk to Inner City Beat Poets, Twangy Country to Space Age Electronica and more.