Indie - Ezine
2002 Edition

FRED WHEELER TRIBUTE 2002 FREEAUDIOPLAYER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER Life Time Achievement Award Fred Wheeler  Fred was one of the first artists to venture out on the internet ..... a "charter artist" and one of the leading Artist Management  forces on MP3.Com. Through his vision and imagination--hundreds...maybe thousands .... of  Independent Artists have found direction  to build a fan base through the internet. He has been.... and remains today one of the  dominant forces behind Indie Music. He helped mastermind the huge  promotional success of artists like  joe e. daddario, Dr. Oakroot, Remo, and American Gypsy, who (while virtually unknown off the internet) ...have developed "astronomical" fan bases  world wide and are selling  "huge numbers "of CD's to eager fans across the WWW Interplanetary highway .. Beyond that ---- Fred 's  group "StrangeCloud" has held more  top 40 hits in "more genres" on the Indie Charts  than any other artist  I can think of  except  "International Super-Star Pianist"  Ernesto Cortezar. Artists like Alicia Keys, Missy Elliot, Shania Twain, Tom Petty, michelle branch, Enya, O-Town, and the Backstreet Boys  have followed down the"WWW promotional  trail" Fred helped to blaze So it's with great  pride  this year... The FreeAudioPlayer Network bestows it's 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award to Fred.... He has earned it many times over    Here is what some of the  Top Indie Artists World-Wide  Are Saying About Fred... And The Future Of Music On The Internet.. joe e. dadarrio joe e. daddario He has strength and courage. And his work is admirable both as an artist and manager. He is an icon in an iconoclastic world. Fred took me into MCR and in that very act rekindled the flame in my music as I never thought I'd see again. Like someone said earlier, he is diligent, organized and exudes the love he obviously has for helping creative people and practical promotion. Even if Fred hadn't been one of the first to the scene, he'd certainly still be one of the best. No doubt. Offspring The Offspring  "The reality is that this album is going to end up on the Internet whether we want it to or not," Offspring singer Dexter Holland tells the Los Angeles Times,  “So we thought, 'Why don't we just do it ourselves? We're not afraid of the Internet.  We think it's a very cool way to reach our fans." Are'nt ya glad Fred led the charge and laid the groundwork  .... Janet Murphy   Janet Murphy Integrity...integrity.....integrity. He is honest and trustworthy Sooooooo intelligent....and what I would call a visionary. He's able to use both the left side and right side of his brain, which I admire. His music is always well done and exacting. I am pleased that I had the chance to meet Fred.   David Bowie David Bowie David followed Fred's lead and set a whole corporation  up to set his music up for purchase on the web.... Check it out... Now available for the first time to the general public, and hand-picked by David for inclusion here, the Bowie/Eno track "I'm Deranged" is from the exclusive BowieNet "members only" CD LIVEANDWELL. This amazing double CD set was designed by BowieNetters and is not available in stores. 14 songs spanning two CDs, the set features tracks culled from the 1997 Earthling tour and includes studio remixes by Moby, Danny Saber and others.  Remember, if you like what you hear, you can get a FREE copy of the entire CD with your annual subscription to BowieNet!  Way Cool.... Jim Reeder Jim Reeder Fred has repeatedly renewed my interest and excitement in promoting my music to the world. If you want to know how to be successful online he is the man to ask. Somehow Fred also finds time to compose and record and perform his high quality music live. Someone told me once to hang with the winners is you want to be successful and that's what I do with Fred. Remo Remo Fred Wheeler IS and HAS been an invaluable guide to me on how too promote on the internet. He has great integrity and is a trusted friend! He devotes alot of time and energy in helping his fellow artist and for the love of music. A man I thank and respect immensly! A talented allie ( of the independent musician!  Jimmy Stewart Jimmy Stewart  Back in the old days Fred would pop in and out of some of my larger "Dinner" threads with the Jums on the old MP3 BB. I had listened to some of his stuff back then, and thought folkish, though good.  Sometime around the early summer of 99, Fred contacted me and asked if I would be interested in doing an interview for the "Indie Journal". I accepted and the rest is history as they say. A couple of times back then, Fred had selected a couple of my tracks as Indie Journal Top 10 tracks. Fred had one of the first promotional on-line indie music mags going. From there we just got more involved and I finally decided to join up with MCR in June of 2000. This was even after we had done "Lock Up" together. Lock Up by the way holds the record as the most successful collaboration at MP3 staying in the NUMBER ONE PROGRESSIVE ROCK slot for over 16 straight weeks. Pretty unbelievable. Hearts In Armor Hearts In Armor When I first joined this crazy online music world about 2 years ago, I couldn't understand why after I built it...they didn't come. I soon found the mp3.com bulletin boards and immediately identified Fred as being not only a great artist, but a guy who knew the ropes. At the time, not knowing the difference between a bulletin board and a chalk board, I asked Fred to call me...yeah, a real phone call, not an online chat. Fred called within minutes and spent a while on phone talking to me about things like downloads vs. streaming, and he shared some valuable ideas about marketing your music in cyberspace. He taught me a lot. Ever since then, we've had a very cordial relationship, he's always been a man of his word, very reliable. Oh, by the way, I've always loved his music as well.  Red Shift  RedShift --------------------------------------------------------------------------------  I haven't known Fred as long as most of you. He as always been around to help and answer questions. When Fred speaks, everyone listens, even Rod Underhill, I heard. When I joined FAP, I didn't know what to expect, and mentioned to Bud, that I was worried about not being in Fred's NMA. No problem. I do know that amongst his peers who are NMA's, Fred is well-liked and respected. I can't post any stories, but I will say one thng for sure, I love his song Open Hand, and I feel, that's how Fred lives his life.......extending his hand to those that need it.  Patti Sterling Patti Sterling I met Fred through his collab ..."Lockup"... I loved the composition...creaking doors and all  I listened to it, and many other Artists, thru Bobby Bensley's AHA...I remember Fred always standing up on the side of the Artist when things weren't so calm on the AABB. Were it not for Fred's strength of character, Bobby Bensley's insight as an Artist and NMA promoter, AND Hizzhoner's professional background...I can tell you that MP3 would be a very different place than it is...no matter WHAT you think of it today...it is infinitely better than what it may have been without Fred's insight and strength !  Bruce  Cook Bruce Cook Fred approached me a few years ago about joining forces with MCR. He was interested not only in my pop music, but also the classical project of medieval/renaissance music I have called Overcast in A. I was surprised by this, because most mainstream NMAs wouldn't touch this stuff with a ten foot pole.  Fred is interested in ALL kinds of music. This is obvious by his many outstanding and diverse musical identities: Strangecloud, QCC, Magellan, and not to forget the comical and obtuse Phanus Phallus Phobias. He is one talented guy. I have watched Fred work his tail off to promote all sorts of different artists both on and off the internet. At his invitation, I've opened several Strangecloud shows around the Twin Cities. The MCR Celebration on Sept. 1 was a phenomenal collection of talent from all over the US. Fred and John Massey made every aspect of this ten hour concert happen. (Maybe we can get 'em to do another one....)  The collaborations and friendships that have happened because of Fred's networking amazes me. This board is only one example of his dedication to music and musicians. I remember one night I logged-on to a chatroom meeting of MCR members. We had people from both coasts and Europe. RayMaxer in Moscow was having problems with his connection that night. (5 a.m. Moscow time...)  Fred has helped me to harness this technology. It's easy to take for granted, but I'm always astonished that people all around the world can listen my music. You deserve much credit for all you've done for music on the internet Fred.  Thanks and congratulations!  Donaldo Donaldo Fred is a leader in every sense of the word.  Don Jerry K Jerry K  Fred ALWAYS has time for anyone...no matter how stupid the request is. VitalPoint Vital Point When I first started hanging around FAP, I was lucky enough to have Fred actively posting. Seems like a never-ending wealth of useful information from him, and just by lurking and reading through various in-depth threads about the online music world, I learned a LOT, and Fred's posts were always most helpful ... I'm glad I got to know him here ... thanks Fred, and congrats Jon Solo Jon Solo I have only known fred since september of 2000 - but the time that i have known him i have become infinitely wiser about this whole online promo game - he knows what works and he goes with it - well, if you can cut the mustard and wanna go places - fred will take you there Don't get me wrong, fred can be tough  but his toughness is like a parent training a child on a certain thing - you know what's right so you are forceful about training correctly and not letting the child get away with anything - that's fred - again, he knows what works Fred has been invaluable to me as a friend, promoter, nma, sounding board and all sort of little things that go on behind the scenes He seems to have a never ending supply of energy - he is always there to answer questions no matter how dumb and it is always a swift reply Oh yeah - and he is a great musician too!!! Luv ya fred!!!