OUTmusic gets a new website at OUTmusic.com
by: Bee Carluss

National organizers of OUTmusic announced today that their brand new website www.outmusic.com will launch March 7th, with online early registration available to artists and supporters on March 1st.

OUTmusic.org will feature detailed information about thousands of OUT artists in over 15 musical genres, biographical sketches of OUTmusic supporters, event schedules, and information about resources, news and more. Individual Artists, Bands, and choral events will be featured equally in detailed descriptions. The website will also include information about the OUTmusic Awards, its history, nominees, and presentors. Full details about travel, lodging, and transportation will help award participants plan their next visit to the OUTmusic Awards.

Register Early: Save Money, Upload your Videos !
Participants will be able to log on to www.OUTmusic.com, select one of many musical genres, upload their music and videos, create their biography which includes photos, and include their music or video in the OUTmusic store, and pay their membership fees - all in one seamless operation. "Early registration will be important for those who are eager to save money and promote their music," said Michael Biello, OUTmusic Co-Chair. "Several genres have historically reached their capacity limits soon after registration has launched." By registering early, participants save up to 100% off the base registration fee for the first month.

Website visitors will also be able to view and listen to OUT music and videos, purchase collectible logo-imprinted merchandise, volunteer to help with the OUTmusic Awards, learn how to sponsor OUTmusic or donate funds, sign up for a quarterly electronic newsletter and read inspirational stories about artists who are OUT and PROUD. Additional features will be added throughout the summer of 2008 and into 2009, including ticketing for OUTmusic Awards Ceremonies, special shows and finals of some genres.

"OUTmusic's entire team, volunteers, vendors, and music industry experts have accomplished something very extraordinary," said Deidra Merideth, CEO of OUTmusic and inspiration to the New OUTmusic outlook. "Less than three months after being awarded the honor of starting a fresh take on OUTmusic, we are prepared to launch a highly complicated website with the features and benefits artists and supporters will need to register with OUTmusic." "Our joint commitment to a complete and accurate registration system has been the hallmark of our partnership with high profile Gay Corporations these past 2 months," said Martie Marro, Technology Committee. "In addition to the OUTmusic Board of Directors, our vendor partners and volunteers deserve a great deal of recognition for taking so much time out of their lives to establish an online registration system more quickly than any previous national music website."

The Web site design was done by LoveYourWebsite.com with multimedia support from Materville Studios. The Registration database is also being done by LoveYourWebsite.com.

About OUTmusic
OUTmusic is the preeminent 501c3 non-profit organization that is solely dedicated to supporting and honoring openly LGBT Recording Artist and Performers. Having now celebrated 17 years of musical excellence, the Founders and Board of Directors look forward to expanding the visibility of the OUTmusic Brand in the ever changing climate of the Entertainment Industry. OUTmusic was founded in 1990 by songwriters and life-partners Dan Martin and Michael Biello when they invited a handful of LGBT musicians to their New York City loft to share music and experiences. This became the monthly open mic and then expanded to other programs designed to provide performance opportunities for LGBT musical artists. The Annual OUTmusic Awards was created in 2001 and has quickly grown into an outstanding event, honoring LGBT Recording Artist, Musicians, Performers, Singer/Songwriters and Producers across the country.