PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2008

CONTACT
Casey Rae-Hunter
Communications Director
Future of Music Coalition
p: 202-822-2051
c: 301-642-6210

web.illish.us Series Celebrates Culture, Commerce and Creativity on the Internet

Future of Music Coalition and realizePhiladelphia join forces to support net neutrality

Philadelphia, PA – Future of Music Coalition (FMC) — whose Rock the Net campaign boasts more than 1,000 artists that support net neutrality, including Pearl Jam, OK Go, R.E.M. and Kronos Quartet — has teamed up with realizePhiladelphia, a group that promotes social causes through musical and educational events, to create web.illish.us: a multi-faceted web and live show effort to raise awareness about net neutrality and democratic access to the media.

Net neutrality is the principle that protects the open internet. It gives everyone the same access to the legal content of their choice, and helps independent artists connect with potential audiences.

Net neutrality is currently threatened. The big telecom and cable companies would like to charge content providers a fee for the faster loading of their sites. Those who couldn’t afford to — or didn’t want to — pay a toll would be stuck in the digital slow lane.

One of the central features of web.illish.us is a monthly concert series at Philadelphia’s Silk City. The events, which will take place on the third Wednesday of the month from November 19, 2008 until February 18, 2009, will each highlight a different aspect of net neutrality. Hosted by web TV personality Charles Gregory of 3 Guys Don’t Lie (http://3guysdontlie.com), the shows will include live music performances, DJ sets, special guests (bloggers, artists, politicians), and music- and technology-related giveaways. Each show will be webcast live at http://web.illish.us/.

The first show, “Level up, ppl,” is an introduction to net neutrality and will focus on how the level playing field that net neutrality provides positively impacts creators and musicians.

Musical acts at the November 19 show will include Black Landlord, Tuphace, The New Age and DJs C Sharp and Phsh. Speakers will include FMC’s Education Director Kristin Thomson, entertainment attorney and Drexel Music Industry Program Director Marcy Rauer Wagman, studio producer/engineer Robert “Taj” Walton (Fugees, Boyz 2 Men, Wyclef Jean), William Lewis of Big Bloc Entertainment and Geoff DiMasi of P'unk Avenue.

Future shows will focus on “Digital Love” (digital inclusion), “Kiss My RSS” (Participatory Democracy) and “Threads and Cred” (Creative Culture).

For more information, visit:
http://web.illish.us

Rock the Net:
http://www.futureofmusic.org/rockthenet/

What: web.illish.us
When: Every third Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - February 18, 2009
Time: 9:00 PM
Where: Silk City, 5th & Spring Garden, Philadelphia, PA, 215-413-3666
Info:http://web.illish.us

About the Future of Music Coalition
Future of Music Coalition is a national non-profit education, research and advocacy organization that seeks a bright future for creators and listeners. FMC works towards this goal through continuous interaction with its primary constituency — musicians — and in collaboration with other creator/public interest groups

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