Local First Artists

Written by 107.5 KISS FM Monday, 15 February 2010 00:00

In this issue of Music Notes, Patrick looks at local artists from the Our Kids Have Talent event to recording artists like Jodi Pederson, Raquel Warchol and Andrew Allen. Who is your favourite local artist? Maybe there is one we haven't heard of. Let us know and you could win $100.00. Read more in this week's column.

   The annual Our Kids Have Talent event sponsored by Local First KISS FM and Rare Earth Jazz and Blues Fest is set for March 20 th at the Vernon Recreation Center in Vernon. Last years was sold out and we have moved to the larger rec center. Kath Raeber does a remarkable job on this event that invites talented musicians under 18 to perform.Cash prizes on the line to further their music goals. The ten finalists have been selected and you can see their performances below.  Vote on the rare earth web site www.ourkidshavetalent.com. First prize is $5,000 cash. Eryn Kleyh of KISS FM is MC with the fabulous Local First KISS FM events crew helping out as they always do.  

   KISS FM is honored to support the local music community in as many tangible ways as we can . This takes many forms with our $ 6,000 donation divided among the four area high schools in Vernon. Those music programs nurture a love of music in ways that positively impact young people for a lifetime. We also sponsor most of the talented local acts on Canada Day in Vernon to provide a showcase for their special musical gifts. This year we have already contracted Jodi Pederson of Coldstream and Lee Dinwoodie of Westside to join us on stage at Polson Park. Lee put on a great performance sponsored by KISS at paddlewheel during the winter carnival. His dedication to country music and his craft has always been second to none. Country music remains alive in our region largely thanks to individuals like Lee and other " live " performers who keep this great genre growing.

   It has been an incredible past year for local musical acts on KISS FM with Raquel Warchol (runner up in Our Kids Have Talent in 2009)  being played on KISS.  I've included Raquel's new version of her own original song Piano Man. Raquel is a very special performer who always joins us on Canada Day since she was 9. When following the development of young artists it becomes very clear that parents play such an inspirational role. That is the case with Raquel Warchol and Jodi Pederson and Greg Sczebel. The parents have been there every step of the way.  Currently on KISS you can hear Spoiled with Jodi Pederson and I've Got That Feelin with Greg Sczebel of Salmon Arm. 

Jodi's cd has been used extensively on the hit Showcase TV series Crash and Burn . We continue to play Andrew Allen's Not Loving You . One reason this play is important is that KISS is a measured Canadian station on a service called BDS which calculates every single play for artists . Showing up on BDS often leads to additional play across the country. Andrew Allen was sponsored on Canada Day last year by KISS and Greg Sczebel was the year prior. Andrew performed as part of the Torch Run for the Vernon City celebrations. Andrew wrote the other day to give us a heads up about a new cd and we look forward to seeing his new material. Greg Sczebel's new CD is incredibly good . One by One and Causing a Commotion are a couple of faves to check out. Greg is a star who remains humble and he draws a  solid core of his fans to any event that he participates in.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

   The hardest aspect of operating our station is that we are unable to play everything that we receive locally. We listen carefully and select the songs that we believe suit the 40,000 listeners that listen every week to KISS. In order to continue to expose local artists KISS needs to remain a profitable station . That fact allows us to take some chances. As a Local First station for 60 years, the legacy of local broadcasting is what enables us to make our own decisions while working for a great company, Pattison Broadcast, but as in anything in life , results count. There is no doubt that these local artists have helped KISS remain Local First. We thank all of the local artists for their contributions to the culture of our great community.

   One final comment . When KISS plays local artists or any artists , we pay for the right to play their music and that is as it should be. This amounts to significant investment in the careers of those artists we play because radio stations are monitored by SOCAN that collects money to be distributed to artists. You too as a listener or someone who attends a concert help develop artists in every corner of Canada. Thanks for listening to KISS.

Listen to Jodi Pederson's Song 'Spoiled'

Listen to Raquel Warchol's Song 'Piano Man'
 

Listen to Greg Sczebel's Song 'I've Got That Feeling'

Before you go...tell us your favorite local artist among these:
Andrew Allen
Lee Dinwoodie
Jodi Pederson
Redfish
Ryan Donn
Raquel Warchol
Greg Sczebel

Other :

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL PATRICK
Congrats to last month's $ 100 winner Amy whose favorite song of the past decade was Chasing Cars-Snow Patrol