Heavy Rotation Records Epic Event and Dorm Sessions Vol. 5 CD Release Concert February 6, 2008

Heavy Rotation Records (HRR) presents its eighth annual Epic Event and Dorm Sessions Volume 5 CD release concert on Wednesday, February 6, at the Berklee Performance Center. The concert, a popular event that packs the venue every year, showcases artists featured on Dorm Sessions Volume 5, the new compilation CD by Berklee’s student-run label Heavy Rotation Records. The CD features an eclectic mix of rock, pop, indie pop, r&b, hip-hop, funk, and experimental music by Berklee students and alumni, including The Peasantry, Turkuaz, Kevin Ross, Annie Lynch and the Beekeepers, Christopher Barnes, Black Tea, With Engines, Rebel & the Truth, Honest Thomas, and Altered Tensions.

The HRR Epic Event and Dorm Sessions Volume 5 CD release concert is $10, all ages, and begins at 8:15 p.m.. Please call 617-747-2261 or visit www.berkleebpc.com for more information. Free copies of the CD will be given away at the concert.

Heavy Rotation Records was developed for Music Business/Management majors at Berklee to gain hands-on experience in running a record company. Under the guidance of faculty advisor Jeff Dorenfeld, former manager of the band Boston, the staff oversees all aspects of the label's functions, including A&R, marketing, sales, touring, web development, media, and accounting. Song selection for Dorm Sessions Volume 5 was done last spring and summer. The A&R committee listened to the multitude of tracks submitted to the label, directly and through the Sonicbids website, ultimately choosing 10 artists to feature on the CD with two tracks each. Says Dorenfeld “We covered quite a bit of ground on this CD [musically]. What we look for in the submissions is strong material and a high-quality recording, since we don’t do much re-recording.”

Dorm Sessions Volume 5 is the 10th HRR release since the label formed in 1995. Other releases include the all-female CD Shekinah: 13 Artists, distributed by Epic Records; and Apollo Sunshine’s second album, co-released with spinART records. In addition to Apollo Sunshine, many up-and-coming artists have appeared on Dorms Sessions compilations, including Annie Clark (St. Vincent); The Click Five (then called Oscar Bravo); Big D & The Kids Table; Madi Diaz, who appeared at the Newport Folk Festival and recently on WXPN’s World Café Live; and hip-hop artist Anjuli Stars, whose song “Raindrops” first appeared on Dorm Sessions Vol. 3 and was featured on Pitbull’s album El Mariel.

The accomplishments of the label and its employees are ever growing. The students recently produced a promotional DVD about the label, and also promote live events, including a showcase at the CMJ Music Marathon 2007, parties at SXSW 2006, 2007, and upcoming at SXSW 2008. The label also serves as a springboard for careers in the music industry. HRR alumni have gone on to work at major and independent record labels, including Interscope, Capitol, DreamWorks, BMG, and Universal, as well as in publishing, management, booking, and touring.

Official Website: http://www.berkleebpc.com