
An innovative online music initiative aimed at mentoring emerging artists.
Los Angeles, CA (February 19, 2015) -- Hyundai and The Recording Academy announce the launch of the third annual GRAMMY Amplifier - an innovative, online music initiative aimed at mentoring emerging artists and providing them the opportunity to elevate their careers by showcasing their talent.
Three-time GRAMMY and Brit winner Mark Ronson will serve as the 2015 GRAMMY Amplifier Ambassador alongside this yearās program curators ā current 57th GRAMMY nominees The Band Perry and Ziggy Marley, and singer/songwriter Allen Stone. The ambassador and curators will vet talent via online submissions and select the programās three winners who will individually be awarded one of the following prizes: (1) a studio recording session with a GRAMMY winning producer; (2) filming and starring in their own music video with a noted director; or (3) securing an opening spot for a noted musician and/or at a music festival.
āWe couldnāt be more excited to continue our dedication not only to the GRAMMYs but to the celebration and support of making music,ā said David Matathia, Director, Marketing & Communications, Hyundai Motor America. āThe Amplifier program and our partnership with the GRAMMYs allow Hyundai to celebrate innovation and creativity through a truly unique and inspiring platform.ā
Artists can begin entering submissions on January 27th at GRAMMYAmplifier.com. Based on their track plays and social media āamplifications," the top 25 finalists will be brought together for a GRAMMY Amplifier mentorship experience. The top 25 will then be whittled down by program curators to a short list of finalists, at which point the program ambassador will select the final three winners and align each of them with one of three top prizes.
The new GRAMMY Amplifier website will go live January 26th and will feature the debut of the mentoring session video series. The episodes document the year-long learning experiences of the 2014 winners and include footage from a studio session with Ronson, the experience of performing on the road as opening act for Allen Stone, and conceptualizing and filming a music video under the guidance of industry professionals. The 2015 GRAMMY Amplifier program marks the start of a newly inked three-year renewal between Hyundai and The Recording Academy, again naming Hyundai the official vehicle partner of The GRAMMY Awards. In addition to a new Hyundai commercial scheduled to debut during the 57th GRAMMY Awards television broadcast, Hyundai vehicles will be featured on the GRAMMY red carpet, GRAMMY Celebration after-party, in addition to a Hyundai fleet of vehicles chauffeuring talent throughout the week.
For more information:
GRAMMY
Get premium spring reverb tones in a compact and practical format with the Carl Martin HeadRoom Mini. Featuring two independent reverb channels, mono and stereo I/O, and durable metal construction, this pedal is perfect for musicians on the go.
The Carl Martin HeadRoom Mini is a digital emulation of the beloved HeadRoom spring reverb pedal, offering the same warm, natural toneāplus a little extraāin a more compact and practical format. It delivers everything from subtle room ambiance to deep, cathedral-like reverberation, making it a versatile addition to any setup.
With two independent reverb channels, each featuring dedicated tone and level controls, you can easily switch between two different reverb settings - for example, rhythm and lead. The two footswitches allow seamless toggling between channels or full bypass.
Unlike the original HeadRoom, the Mini also includes both mono and stereo inputs and outputs, providing greater flexibility for stereo rigs. Built to withstand the rigors of live performance, it features a durable metal enclosure, buffered bypass for signal integrity, and a remote jack for external channel switching.
Key features
- Two independent reverb channels with individual tone and level controls
- Mono and stereo I/O for versatile routing options
- Buffered bypass ensures a strong, clear signal
- Rugged metal construction for durability
- Remote jack for external channel switching
- Compact and pedalboard-friendly design
HeadRoom Mini brings premium spring reverb tones in a flexible and space-savingformatāperfect for any musician looking for high-quality, studio-grade reverb on the go.
You can purchase HeadRoom Mini for $279 directly from carlmartin.com and, of course, also from leading music retailers worldwide.
For more information, please visit carlmartin.com.
Kirk Hammettās Top Three Guitars (Yes, Greeny Is One of Them)
Photo courtesy of The Collection: Kirk Hammett, Gibson Publishing
In a lavish new coffee table book from Gibson, The Collection: Kirk Hammett, Metallicaās lead guitarist shares some of his most spectacular vintage instruments and the stories that go with them, as well as his love of Hawaii.
Together with Nathaniel, weāre decoding our favorite eras of the Edgeās tonesāfrom his early Memory Man days through his expanding delay rack rig, into his 1990s Achtung Baby sounds, and all the way through to his Sphere rig. How does he get those amazing delay tones? And what are those cool picks he uses?
Thereās a good chance that if youāre a guitar fan, youāve seen Nathaniel Murphyās gear demosāeither on his Instagram account, where he goes by @zeppelinbarnatra, or on the Chicago Music Exchange page. His solo arrangements of classic tunes display his next-level technique and knack for clever arranging, and he makes our jaws drop every time he posts. When we learned that the Irish guitarist is a huge fan of U2ās The Edge, we knew he had to be our expert for this episode.
Together with Nathaniel, weāre decoding our favorite eras of the Edgeās tonesāfrom his early Memory Man days through his expanding delay rack rig, into his 1990s Achtung Baby sounds, and all the way through to his Sphere rig. How does he get those amazing delay tones? And what are those cool picks he uses?
This episode is sponsored by Voodoo Lab.
PG contributor Tom Butwin digs into seven very different boost options, from classic clean boosts to tone-sculpting EQ beasts. Whether you're chasing midrange magic, vintage character, or gig-saving utility, there's something here for every board.
VOX Amplification Tone Sculptor
The VOX Tone Sculptor graphic EQ delivers tube-driven tone shaping that adds warm distortion as you raise the level, infusing your sound with rich tube harmonics and natural compression.
$219 street
voxamps.com
SoloDallas SVDS Boost
This pedal recreates the legendary 1975 signal boost from the Schaffer-Vega Diversity System, which provided up to 30 dB of boost, shaping the tones of Angus Young, David Gilmour, and others. Unlike typical clean boosts, it enhances vintage coloration and harmonics. Built with high-quality components, itās designed for both studio and stage reliability.
$129 street
solodallas.com
Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster Mini
The Pickup Booster Mini delivers the perfect boost and features a resonance switch for multiple tonal characteristics without taking up space on your board.
$99 street
seymourduncan.com
J. Rockett Audio Designs Archer Clean
The Archer Clean is a recreation of the clean boost found in a Klon Centaur. Go from beautiful cleans to slamming the front end of your amp instantly!
$229 street
rockettpedals.com
VOX Amplification Power Burst
The VOX Power Burst offers the rich tone of a genuine tube boost, designed to enhance your tone with natural compression and tube saturation.
$199 street
voxamps.com
Rock Nā Roll Relics Stinger Boost
Not your typical boost. This single-transistor midrange booster lets you switch between a punchy silicon transistor and a warm, vintage NOS Germanium transistor. Whether placed before or after other drives, it delivers the signature midrange growl that defines classic rock ānā roll. Each pedal is aged to perfection.
$279 street
rocknrollrelics.net
MXR Micro Amp
The MXR Micro Amp slams your amp to the brinkāup to +26dBāwhile adding just a touch of honey to your tone with the twist of a single knob.
$99 street
jimdunlop.com
Learn More about these pedals:
https://voxamps.com/
https://rockettpedals.com/
https://rocknrollrelics.com/
https://www.seymourduncan.com/
https://solodallas.com/
https://www.jimdunlop.com/products/electronics/mxr/