
Esperanza Spalding Holding her Grammy
Independent Music got a huge boost with this year’s Grammy award for Best New Artist as unsigned artist Esperanza Spalding beat out the well-know artist Justin Bieber, as well as the high-profile artists Drake and Florence & the Machine. Living in Los Angeles, the home of the Grammy’s, I caught a story on one of our local television stations about Esperanza Spalding. As it turns out, this lady is quite talented and has taught herself to play many instruments; but ultimately settled on playing the double bass at the age of 16.
Winning a Grammy is a remarkable accomplishment and one that few artists ever experience, let alone an independent 26-year-old jazz bassist and singer. In fact, according to the report I watched on ABC News, Esperanza Spalding’s Grammy for Best New Artist was the first time ANY Jazz artist has won the Best New Artist category.
As a huge supporter of a collection of Independent artists known as “The Pack”, I was quite impressed and excited with Esperanza’s Grammy. Why? Because her success proves that an artist DOES NOT necessarily need to be signed with a big label or have corporate ties to succeed. What I did learn, however, is there were a few key ingredients that may have helped her win. You see, Esperanza is a musical prodigy and through the years, she has acquired some famous fans and many critics have applauded her music.
“Esperanza first started playing when she was just 4 years of age and within on year, at the age of 5, she joined the Chamber Music Society of Oregon, in the United States. At the age of 20, she became the youngest faculty member at the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
While she won the best new artist award this year, she’s been around for a while. “Esperanza,” her 2008 album, spent more than 70 weeks on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart and was the most successful internationally selling debut that year. She recorded her first album, “Junjo,” in 2006. ” (ABC News, February 14, 2011)

50K Music Magazine is all about supporting independent music and since I have the same passion, 50K Music Magazine and I thought it would be a natural fit to team up and help promote the indie artists we support. Personally, I am looking forward to this new collaborative effort. It’s a win/win for everyone and with a little creativity and a lot of hard work…who knows, one of the artists we support may be on that stage one day…holding a Grammy.
Anyone who knows me understands the passion I have for “The Pack”. I am proud of these artists; but completely devoted to them as well. They are all exceptionally talented, intelligent, and super hard-working artists who all deserve out support.
Beginning in November of 2010, Radio Enkhuizen out of the Netherlands
started playing music by “The Pack” on a regular basis and just last week, another radio station, Vixen FM, The Fox’s Den Radio ProgrammeVixen 101 FM out of England welcomed their music, as they played songs by 9 of the artists. Next week, they will play music by the other artists. Additionally, I’ve submitted a couple of CDs to NPR radio from the United States…the world’s largest radio station and a HUGE supporter of ALL music. Next, I’ll be shooting for Los Angeles radio stations…which would be the ultimate prize! People in Los Angeles spend a great deal of time in their cars and because of this…radio is a major part of the LA lifestyle.
It’s all about reaching out to as many people as possible; because if the music is good, people will not only request it…they will buy it.
To everyone who supports independent music…thank you! Collectively, we can all make a difference…it’s our choice.
-Wolfman
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