What it is and How It Works If you have access to a Laser Printer which is an HP-Laser Jet+/II/IIP/III or 100% compatible, then you can print two songs from the Music Alternative Publishing Company Catalog. These are copyrighted songs and the copies you receive will state that in order to be authorized copies, they will need a serialized label nameplate for each copy. Serialized label nameplates can be purchased from the Music Alternative Publishing Company for $2.00 each. SONGS? - Yes this is "Print on Demand" Music Publishing, previ- ously a futuristic concept which has been alluded to many times in various music trade journals. There are various music scoring and editing packages commercially available which stand to revo- lutionize the methods in which printed music is created and distributed. I believe that the Music Alternative Publishing Company is the first company devoted exclusively to the business of electronic distribution of printed music. WHAT ARE THE FILES? - Of the files you received, two of the files have an extension PTF. PTF refers to the "print to file" option from L.M.P. the Laser Music Processor, an exceptional music scoring package available from TEACH Services in Brushton, NY. The PTF files include the songs which can be printed on an HPLJ compatible Laser Printer. Other files are considerably smaller batch files and text files which can help take you through the process of printing, depending on the drive where you put the files. Use on A: Drive Use on B: Drive Use on C: Drive SONGSINA.BAT SONGSINB.BAT SONGSINC.BAT FAHOLUVA.BAT FAHOLUVB.BAT FAHOLUVC.BAT FOLLOWA.BAT FOLLOWB.BAT FOLLOWC.BAT MUSIPODA.TXT MUSIPODB.TXT MUSIPODC.TXT FAHOLOVE.PTF FAHOLOVE.PTF FAHOLOVE.PTF FOLLOW.PTF FOLLOW.PTF FOLLOW.PTF When you place the songs and files on the A: drive, put them directly on the A:\ root directory. This allows the batch files listed to work correctly. Once you have files in the A:\ direc- tory, type the word SONGSINA at the A:> prompt. Example A:>SONGSINA (hit enter) If you had placed songs and files in the C:\ directory, you would type the word SONGSINC at the C:> prompt. Example C:>SONGSINC (hit enter) IF YOU WOULD PREFER NOT TO USE THE BATCH FILES PROVIDED, OR IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO PLACE FILES IN A SUBDIRECTORY: The full command for printing the files at a DOS prompt is as follows: COPY/B A:FILENAME.PTF PRN Change the A: to the proper drive letter (and subdirectory if any). Change the FILENAME.PTF to either FAHOLOVE.PTF or FOLLOW.PTF Note to Music Community TO SONGWRITERS: I don't know about you but I am very tired of dealing with the same old same old concerning the business of music. To me, MIDI and electronic music is extremely exciting. I played saxophone in school, however, and I love dealing with the real players and the real instruments. So I have written some scores, and have written down a few songs. I think that the scoring programs on computer are superb and I will highly recommend the L.M.P., Laser Music Processor Program. Not only is it very easy to use, and easy to print, it is also extremely inexpensive. I believe that it still costs less than $100. The main reason I mention this is that credit should be given where credit is due. Also, for implementation purposes, any songs submitted to the Music Alter- native Publishing Company, which are already in a PTF file will gain a serious review for possible electronic distribution. After a few catalog releases by the Music Alternative Publishing Company to "test the waters", I will probably be interested in building a publishing catalog with new music which the standard publishing industry, the dinosaurs, may inadvertantly overlook. As an alternative publisher, I would not be interested in you signing away your copyright. In fact, I would probably only request the right to the electronic distribution of printed copies. You, or your publisher may keep all other uses for your copyright. This is a brand new field and one which I'm sure will become very competitive in the near future. TO PUBLISHERS: One reason I have called this the Music Alternative Publishing Company is due to the fact that this form of print music distri- bution is certainly a new alternative. Although I am interested in obtaining exclusive rights for the electronic distribution of print music for specific copyrights, I will not be persuing this with standard music publishers right away. I will be starting slow, using my own copyrights, and planning to grow. TO MARKET: What's the catch? There is a further incentive to buy the seri- alized label nameplates authorizing song copies from the Music Alternative Publishing Company. This is the potential collecti- ble value of the copies. Every single copy will be issued a sequential serial copy number on the label provided. Every single label will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are quick to order for a particular catalog copy release, you could obtain labels from the prime lot, the AAA series of labels released for a song. Labels are serialized from AAA0001 on up to AAA9999 to AAB0001 on up to AAB9999, etc. and on through the alpha-numerical permutations. The first 1000 copies will also be signed by the songwriter. I can promise to maintain this criteria for my own songs, and hope to maintain this criteria for each songwriter whose song is distributed by the Music Alternative Publishing Company. You can fax reserve your order for label copies for a particular song, if you like. You will see details of this option when you print the songs. As noted earlier, however, I am in a start-up phase, and for now my fax phone and home phone are the same number. I am utilizing a computerized fax board and a fax switch on the phone line. Everyone in my home is alerted to let the phone ring twice before answering. A better system will be obtained when the need presents itself. I hope to have a fax with a large order from you soon. Music Alternative Publishing (a pesonal note) I will simply state it as it is, here in my soul. A song sears beyond dimensions of the worlds as we know them. The worlds of our thoughts are touched in timeless arrays of bells, strings, horns, drums, whistles, water, wind and fire moving, making waves of sound and texture, and color. The worlds of our spirits seek to find a new reality. The worlds of our bodies tend to sway and move and dance. Such is a song, in the purest sense of our reality; a thought to hear and see, a child laugh- ing, playing, or seeking shelter, and rhythms moving with the pulse of life itself. Music Alternative Publishing is here for the honest musi- cians. There is a generally accepted form and format for music which reaches a vast distribution. When honesty stands beyond the stylish fads and yet conforms almost precisely to the accepted forms and formats for commercial music, there is a possibility for a commercial hit song. Unfortunately too many songs seem to be formatted for commercial hits, and the conformity itelf may be choking both honesty and creativity. With honesty, the songs we sing and play include the values from our souls and hearts and minds. Color My Rainbow, I have finally found the very thing that I will do for free. You see, for years I have been doing music for free, yet, I also enjoy business. Business is a great way to meet other busy people. I finally realized that I like business after working in business for about eight years. I was very busy and I met a lot of busy people. I am still very busy, but I am also a musician. Music is a part of my body and soul which I cannot relinquish. The Music Alternative Publishing Company is here to stay. My business startup may be like that of a tortoise in a world of rabbits, but then again, there's always plenty of rabbits. The Music Alternative Publishing Company and the songs which it distributes is my slow and steady offering to the music communi- ty. Godspeed young children! Find voices to sing and hands to play. As you go may you grow with strength, walk in peace, and bring joy to those you touch.