That Eric Alper! - June 15, 2012

Today in 1921, Pianist Erroll Garner was born. In the great words of jazz writer Scott Yanow, Garner showed that a "creative jazz musician can be very popular without watering down his music" or changing his personal style.  He is referred to as a "brilliant virtuoso who sounded unlike anyone else", using an "orchestral approach straight from the swing era but …open to the innovations of bop." Garner's ear and technique owed as much to practice as to a natural gift. His distinctive style could swing like no other, but some of his best recordings are ballads, such as his best-known composition, "Misty". "Misty" rapidly became a jazz standard – and was famously featured in Clint Eastwood's film Play Misty for Me. http://youtu.be/P_tAU3GM9XI

Here’s cool interview about more about the role of licensing’s gatekeepers – better known as music supervisors.To get the lowdown, Music Think tank spoke with the wonderful Season Kent - Music Supervisor at Clear Songs. Her recent projects include: The Fighter, Limitless,Dear John, Revenge, Macgruber, The Strangers and more. http://bit.ly/LCXSZM

The digital book and music industries are, of course, facing massive change and piracy, but are they really the same? Here are the most salient differences and the way they've influenced the divergent paths the industries have taken: http://bit.ly/Lsial6

The Art of Photobombing consists of of drop in a photo unexpectedly and to hop in a picture right before it is taken. It’s a verb, by the way. Normal, regular people do this all the time (and post it on Facebook, of course), but celebrities can Photobomb with the best of us: http://wp.me/p26Qb8-2cm

93% of Americans over the age of 12 - ie, 242.1 million users - tune into traditional, broadcast radio at least once a week.  The broader US population is now pushing past 313 million, with a substantial chunk (ie, approximately 15 percent or so) under the age of 12: http://bit.ly/LCW5BA

And just in time for the weekend, here are 10 bets you will never lose: http://wp.me/p26Qb8-2c8