85% of all Music Sales in Japan are CDs - Yes in 2014!!

I was just amazed as you may have been reading this. Normally the Japanese are ahead of the technology curve on most things, but it seems there are a number of factors keeping the CD alive and well in this Asian isle. Apparently the digital rights issues have not been worked out quite as well over there as in the US. Two of the biggest music streaming companies, Spotify and Rdio are not yet launched in Japan. That combined with the fact that it seems the culture there really still likes to have a physical souvenir in the shape of a CD case and booklet with their music. Tower Records, the huge music chain that went out of business in the US almost 10 years ago, STILL is alive and well with 85 stores in Japan with annual sales around 500 million. On one hand all this seems very strange to us in the US, however CDs apparently still account for 40 percent of all music sales world wide.

So I guess I'll hang on to my supply of Vincent James "One More Night" CDs and see if there's a way I can get them shipped and sold over in Japan. We are planning a trip there sometime next year so I'll have to find a way to stash of box of CDs for the visit :)

To read more about this very interesting CD phenomena check out the full article in this weeks Forbes Magazine at 85-Percent-of-Music-Sales-in-Japan-are-CDs

I'll leave you today with a fun novelty tune from way back in 1980 when vinyl records still ruled the day. Take a walk back in history with The Vapors and "Turning Japanese":

Have a great nite and will be back tomorrow with another ppppost!

Music, Love & Laughter

~Vincent James @ LoveSongs.com www.Facebook.com/KeepMusicAliveMission

"Summer Love & Music" Tour - Now in its Final Leg!!

So when I say final leg, I'm not talking about a leg of lamb or not even a chicken leg :) All I'm saying is that this is the last week of our "Summer Love & Music" Tour and its been an incredibly inspirational month. I'll recap the whole month and tour in another post when its over, but for now I'll say its been 20 amazingly fun performances so far playing to kids from 1 to 92 (actually I think some were closer to 100 years old). Seeing how playing music for people young and old makes them light up has been such an amazing feeling. It constantly reminds me of why I am on this new mission to help people remember how important music is in all of our lives!

If you're local to the Philadelphia area I invite you to join us for some of our final dates on the tour which include:

• Thursday August 28th (Noon) at The Bourse, Philadelphia/PA
• Friday August 29th (8 PM) at The Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore/PA
• Saturday August 30th (Noon) at Barnes & Noble, Plymouth Meeting/PA
• Sunday August 31st (7 PM) at Coffee Works,Voorhees/NJ

The show this Friday night(8/29) at the Ardmore Music Hall is going to be a very special event and will feature 7 incredibly talented artists on the bill ( okay maybe just 6 incredibly talented artists plus me :)). We've got 12 year old Valerie West singing today's pop tunes like she was already a star, 15 year old Brooke Falls bringing Broadway tunes to the stage and if you close you're eyes you'll really think you're there and 17 year old Kelsey Coan will get your Country music engine started like nobody's business. Then we move on to the over-18 performers who wish were still under 18 and we've got Kim Edwards who was a finalist in the Philly Songwriters Project contest this year, Jeff Twardzik who has a male country voice like no other and who has opened for many country stars including Diamond Rio, John Michael Montgomery, Lee Ann Womack, Dwight Yoakam and more and then Leigh Goldstein whose songs, beautiful bass voice (I still think he's a baritone) and his funny comedy on stage will leave you laughing out loud and smiling on the inside (money back guarantee on this one!). Somewhere in the middle of the show I'll also be doing my Love Songs thing, whenever I'm not emceeing or playing stage hand to make sure we finish on time (you know us musicians we love to be on time!).

So if you live in the Philadelphai region (and you're reading this before this weekend :)) definitely try to come out for the show. It promises to be a fun night of music and community with friends, fans and family alike with so many musicians in attendance as well.

I'll be back on Wednesday with another post promoting Music Empowers which happens to be one of my favorite Music Education Foundations.

Peace, Love & Laughter,

Vincent James @ LoveSongs.com

"Summer Love & Music" Tour in FULL SWING!"

Our Summer Love & Music Tour is now in full swing - To date we've done 10 performances so far including stops at bakeries, diners, coffee houses, nursing homes and one incredible gig at The Bourse down at Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Come to think of it all of the shows were incredible as we got a very positive response every where we have gone. The Bourse was just a little extra fun as we had tourists from all over the world taking pictures and videos of the 4 performers on that day and sharing it with their side of the world. To learn more about where we'll be next in the Philadelphia area this month (and beyond) please click on KEEP MUSIC ALIVE at LoveSongs.com

It seems everywhere we go I'm reminded of how important our mission is. In some instances people seem to have forgotten what its like to hear live music (or is it possible that perhaps they've never experienced). Once they realize that the music they are hearing is LIVE in person they are like WOW this is really cool. I can honestly say we are just in the beginning phase of whats going to be a lifetime mission to reawaken the world to the importance of music, live music, pre-recorded music, country, R&B, pop, rock, ALL kinds of music!

Last 4 weeks was especially crazy in my world, hence why no new Blog entries. We'll be trying to post every day again going forward - wish us luck and as Shannon said way way back - "LET THE MUSIC PLAY"!!!

Peace, Love & Laughter,

Vincent James @ LoveSongs.com

Special song for you this "Fathers Day"

Long ago, in a far away place (okay I haven't really moved and it wasn't THAT long ago :)). Anyhow, some years back, I wrote a song for my daughter Priscilla when she was just an infant. The lyrics talk about how hard it will be for us as parents to watch her grow up, and eventually leave the nest. Well that infant is now 16 years old, and just two years away from High school graduation. My wife and I are definitely starting to FEEEL it as she gets closer to adulthood. On one hand, we love watching our children grow up, and mature into young adults, then on the other hand it's going to be so hard to let them go some day.

"Your Love is a Miracle" is the song I wrote and below is a link a live video recording I did this week in honor of Fathers Day (and the Mothers Day just passed). Some of the lyrics:

"All that I love, now she's grown up...I'll miss the days..when she was here.."

For anyone who is a parent, perhaps you can relate to this. Or maybe you are the son or daughter watching your parents go through these mixed emotions. Either way, I hope you enjoy the song and video for "Your Love is a Miracle".

Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads out there this Sunday - enjoy some extra family time - your kids and you deserve it!

Peace, Love & Laughter,

~Vincent James @ LoveSongs.com

Mondays Featured Song - "Never Gonna Be Alone" by Nickelback

Its hard to believe Nickelback started out way back in 1995, had their first mainstream success in 2000 and 38 million albums sold later can still crank out the hits. Criticized for their lack of originality (which I agree they are not the most original sounding band or songs), Nickelback has that knack for writing a pop-hook and building up a production that gets you singing it over and over. Hey if it was so easy every other band and label would be doing it - you can't tell me they don't want a piece of 38 million albums sold in 10 years in the US alone. And being from Canada, they are the 2nd biggest foreign act (record sales wise) in the 2000's decade just behind the Beatles. What can we say..the bigger you get, the louder your critics are :) Well the current Nickelback song caught my attention with its strong anthemic chorus and heartfelt verse lyrics. The story line is so simple but sometimes that is the best message to deliver. What girl doesn't want to hear "You're never gonna be alone"? Check out the tune and video here:

Never Gonna Be Alone - YouTube

Whirlwind Valentines Tour at Borders Books - Sat Feb 13th.

On Saturday February 13th I'll be attempting to play a 30 minute set at 8 different Borders Bookstores in one day. I'll be starting at 9 AM in Newark, Delaware and circling the city of Philadelphia to end up in Wynnewood, PA at 9 PM. If nothing else it will be a day to remember (and one to see how my voice holds up :)). To get more details and the locations/times please visit me at http://www.vincentjames.com/ . We'll also be posting updates on a new Facebook fan page we'll be launching this week we'll post that info mid-week.

Well Monday's a wrap folks - I hope you enjoyed the Grammys last night - certainly was one of the more interesting broadcasts in a while with the highlight being Michael Jacksons Lifetime achievement award being accepted by his children. I am glad to see that Michael's memory will live on in both his music and his family.

Please have a great nite and we'll be back tomorrow with another tune and American Idollll talk!

~Vincent