WNET.ORG Announces Next Phase of Landmark “Public Television Rocks!” Initiative
Innovative Music Series “Live from the Artists Den”
Premieres Nationwide On Public Television February 2009
Performers Include Alanis Morissette, Raphael Saadiq, Ani DiFranco, The Hold Steady, Jakob Dylan and Ingrid Michaelson
New York, NY (February 2, 2009)—Today, WNET.ORG announced that the next phase of the Public Television Rocks! initiative will be “Live from the Artists Den,” an innovative new music series featuring extraordinary artists performing in extraordinary settings, premiering nationwide on public television beginning February 2009 (check local listings). Each week, the series spotlights a cutting-edge contemporary musician performing at an intimate, invitation-only concert, and includes artist interviews and insights about the unconventional venues chosen. “Live from the Artists Den” is produced by Artists Den Entertainment and WLIW21 for WNET.ORG, and is funded in part by Grey Goose Entertainment, a dedicated sponsor of the series and a strong supporter of emerging talent. The series is distributed by American Public Television.
The season kicks off with a hits-filled performance by seven-time Grammy Award-winner Alanis Morissette, recorded at Judson Memorial Church, the famous Lombardo-Romanesque structure built in 1890 located in New York City’s Greenwich Village. The funky grooves and smooth balladry of soul singer, producer, and three-time 2009 Grammy nominee Raphael Saadiq (formerly of Tony! Toni! Toné!) follow with an evening filmed at Boston’s magnificent Harvard Club. Filmed in high definition, 13, one-hour episodes are planned for the series’ inaugural season on public television, including stellar performances from Ani DiFranco, Jakob Dylan, Aimee Mann, Patty Griffin, The Swell Season, Ben Harper and The Hold Steady.
THIRTEEN and WLIW21 launched Public Television Rocks! in June 2008 with a fundraiser –the final concert performance by The Police held August 7 at Madison Square Garden – that grossed $3.1 million to benefit the two New York public television stations. The initiative combines music programming and events to expand public television’s appeal to a wider audience.
“‘Live from the Artists Den’ makes the Public Television Rocks! model available to public television stations across the country, which was our plan from the start. We’re committed to providing intelligent, innovative, and inspiring programming to our viewers and other stations, and ‘Live from the Artists Den’ offers that with outstanding performances from exciting musicians in equally exciting places,” said Neal Shapiro, President and CEO of WNET.ORG. “We’re thrilled at the prospects and opportunities this multi-platform series provides for future events, and for attracting a younger audience to public television.”
“Launching our series on public television realizes a long-anticipated dream,” noted Artists Den creator and executive producer Mark Lieberman. “Great musicians deserve a great audience, and partnering with WNET.ORG expands the Artists Den platform to a broader and sophisticated viewership known for its discerning cultural palette. That’s exactly who we want to reach. We are also thrilled to continue our relationship with Grey Goose Entertainment—its commitment to creativity has helped make this series possible.”
Unlike other televised music series, “Live from the Artists Den” breaks away from the confines of the conventional studio set by unveiling a new, unexpected venue in every episode. Each stunning location is transformed into a concert setting for one unforgettable night. All top, live acts, the musicians often play a role in picking the stage for these memorable events, which frequently inspire new renditions of songs and special set lists. Noted music critic Alan Light (former editor-in-chief of “Vibe” and “Spin” magazines) conducts artist interviews on-site at every concert.
“I walked into this room, looked around, and thought, ‘wow, this is probably the most beautiful venue I’ve played in on this run,’” said Raphael Saadiq of his Artists Den performance at the Harvard Club. “I like to be really close to the people, get a feel for them, so I’m at home in venues like this. This building has some history and my music has some history, so I think it’s a perfect match.” Exclusive videos of extended artist interviews, photos, set lists and venue histories will be available online at wnet.org/artistsden.
“Live from the Artists Den” also features iconic independent singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the oldest art museum in the United States; singer/songwriter Jakob Dylan, lead singer of platinum-selling band The Wallflowers at Desmond Tutu Cultural Center in New York City; recent indie-pop sensation Ingrid Michaelson (“The Way I Am,” featured in “Grey’s Anatomy”) at Cape Cinema, a 1930s movie theater on Cape Cod; and classic rock-inspired indie band The Hold Steady at a former bank now designated an NYC landmark. Other featured artists include KT Tunstall, Crowded House and Josh Ritter. Edited versions of select episodes aired on Ovation TV in 2008. This February, public television gives audiences a front-row seat at these once-in-a-lifetime events with the series launch of “Live from the Artists Den.”
A Public Television Rocks! Presentation, “Live from the Artists Den” is produced by Artists Den Entertainment and WLIW21 for WNET.ORG. Executives in Charge: Josh Nathan and Kent Steele. For the Artists Den: Executive Producer: Mark Lieberman. “Live from the Artists Den” is being distributed nationally by American Public Television and is funded in part by Grey Goose Entertainment.
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About the Artists Den
The Artists Den has been presenting emerging and established musicians in unique settings around the world since its inception in 2004. The venture began as one music lover’s vision of staging outstanding, live music in non-traditional venues. Initially a series of private living room concerts, the Artists Den expanded to include unforgettable performances across North America and Europe by some of today’s most significant names in music – in some of the most interesting, off-the-beaten-path locations imaginable. “Live from The Artists Den” premieres on public television in February 2009. Recordings from concerts are released nationally as CD / DVD titles by Artists Den Records.
About WNET.ORG
New York public media company WNET.ORG is a pioneering provider of television and web content. The parent of THIRTEEN, WLIW21 and Creative News Group, WNET.ORG brings such acclaimed broadcast series and websites as Worldfocus, Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Wide Angle, Secrets of the Dead, Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, Visions, Consuelo Mack WealthTrack, Wild Chronicles, Miffy and Friends, Cyberchase and Public Television Rocks! – publictelevisionrocks.org – to national and international audiences. Through its wide range of channels and platforms, WNET.ORG serves the entire New York City metro area with unique local productions, broadcasts and innovative educational and cultural projects. In all that it does, WNET.ORG pursues a single, overarching goal – to create media experiences of lasting significance for New York, America and the world. For more information, visit wnet.org.
About American Public Television
With more than 10,000 hours of programming in its library, American Public Television (APT) has been a prime source of programming for the nation’s public television stations for 48 years, distributing more than 300 new program titles per year. Known for its leadership in identifying innovative, worthwhile and viewer-friendly programming, APT has established a tradition of providing public television stations with program choices that strengthen and customize their schedules, such as such as Rick Steves’ Europe, Worldfocus, Globe Trekker, Simply Ming, Spain…on the road Again, Sara’s Weeknight Meals, America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Doc Martin, Lidia’s Family Table, Rosemary and Thyme, P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home, Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, The Windsors: A Royal Dynasty , Biz Kids, In the Footsteps of Marco Polo, and other prominent documentaries, dramatic series, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies.
About Grey Goose Entertainment
Founded in April 2005, Grey Goose Entertainment is dedicated to supporting original and unique content for television, music, and film. In addition to “Live from the Artists Den,” Grey Goose Entertainment funds the groundbreaking television series “Iconoclasts” where each episode features two leading innovators from different fields who come together to discuss their passions and creative processes.
