Jazziz Digital To Be Portal To All Things Jazziz

Music-industry veteran Jim Snowden is spearheading a new company that combines a radio network, an audio and video extension of Jazziz magazine, podcasts, downloads, television and an open-source label. Jazziz Digital, aimed at cultivating all things jazz, opens its doors with an ambitious slate of projects and divisions planned for 2006 and '07. Launched by Jazziz magazine founder and publisher Michael Fagien and Liaison Entertainment Inc. president Jim Snowden, Jazziz Digital will be managed by Snowden and will launch with a Jazziz-branded music and video label; JazzizRadio.com; MyJazziz, a podcast center that will develop and acquire original programming; and an online extension of Jazziz magazine.

Additional plans call for syndicated terrestrial radio programming, a "Jazziz Presents" television series and a jazz-centric digital download center. "Having known Michael since the inception of his magazine 25 years ago, I have closely observed his vision, strategic presentation of unique editorial, design and brand-building," says Snowden. "I am extremely excited to be part of a team that further grows and leverages this jazz empire (now including Jazziz Bistro restaurants/nightclubs, a new merchandising entity called Jazziz Style and the magazine) into the digital space and beyond.

"With so many levels of marketing and exposure available to the jazz world through the various branded properties and the huge combined customer base to market to a target demographic, Jazziz continues to be the leading one-stop shop for artists and labels to work with and is a needed integrated marketing machine for our music and other industries."

Jazziz Music & Video launched with the DVD release of Terence Blanchard's "Flow: Living in the Stream of Music," videographer Jim Gabour's tour-de-force documentary, on Sept. 26. The critically acclaimed film follows Grammy-winning composer-trumpet player Blanchard and his band on a worldwide musical journey and captures the intensity of Blanchard's scoring session for Spike Lee's box-office smash "Inside Man." In addition to CD and DVD releases, Jazziz Music Video will also create unique CD and virtual compilations themed after three radio channels on Jazziz Radio and the self-produced specialty shows, with distribution for all titles through Warner/Ryko.

The MyJazziz podcast center will kick off in early October with the podcast of an exclusive interview between jazz and pop legend Herbie Hancock and former President Bill Clinton. The podcast premiere ties in directly with Jazziz magazine's October cover story, which features the Clinton-Hancock interview. MyJazziz is powered by English technology company MediaGraft and will develop, acquire, create and distribute exclusive content -- and programming for both computers and handheld devices. Content will include new and exclusive music and live events, artist direct pods, recorded and live interviews and interactive album reviews, providing Jazziz users with options to hear the music editorialized in text. Users will be able to utilize the podcast center's content and music to create and share their customized podcasts.

The Jazziz Radio Network is in its third month of broadcasting three 24/7 radio channels, four on-demand specialty shows (two are produced in house: "Ipanema Café," hosted by Gina Martell, and "The Crossroads Café," hosted by Bubba Jackson), as well as a number of exclusive on-demand live concerts and specials. The three channels cover all things that jazz is, was and will be. Traditions is the traditional-straight ahead repertoire, Contempo covers all of the contemporary jazz scene, and Bistro Lounge spins the future of the genre, focusing on a younger crowd with its mix of downtempo/jazz-centric/electronica and appropriately named for the music played at Jazziz Bistros.

The Jazziz.com portal will continue to be the home to the online version of Jazziz magazine, jazz's most widely circulated and respected publication. Jazziz Digital works closely with the magazine's creative team, lead by Fagien, offering expanded content exclusive to the website, including additional interviews, reviews, commentary and information relevant to the jazz world. Also in the works for 2007 are television production and development for "Jazziz Presents," featuring special jazz events, backstage and behind-the-scenes footage and concerts and on a regular basis to be filmed in front of a live audience at the Jazziz Bistro's and other venues.

Jim Snowden has been in the record industry for over 26 years, presiding over such labels as Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings, Passport Records and Paras Recordings. Artists signed, developed and cultivated under his tutelage include Rick Braun, Al DiMeola, Randy Crawford, King Sunny Ade, Gilberto Gil, Buckwheat Zydeco, The Rippingtons, Max Roach, Black Uhuru and Steel Pulse, along with many others.