There would not be much of a Summer without music. We drive to the beach and work listening to it and it’s a part of our evening dinners and celebrations just about everywhere we go. This is the time of year most music acts hit the road to entertain as the kids are out of school, people are on vacation and it’s “time to party”. Many independent artists find this the best time to load up the van, truck or car to play smaller shows, and to visit radio and fans. With the weather being at its best it seems travel is in the cards and the rush is on to pull in those last minute ticket sales. Here at New Music Weekly we can already feel the heat as the music is exploding from coast to coast. Just look at the charts in this issue.

Musically this time of year is good for everybody. A few decades ago it seemed that the only one in charge of summer entertainment was Jimmy Buffet. That was until the likes of Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith realized that this was a tour and merchandising opportunity. With a number of summer party songs and tour party packages, many other artists started making Summer a major music event. From stadiums, clubs to the outdoor amphitheaters, acts from Country to pop are raking it in big time this time of year.

Every summer there is that big-time Summer Song. This year that might belong to the Swedish band Icona Pop. Not since Abba have we seen such a buzz for an outfit from that territory. Their “I Love It” is already Top 5 around the world and you will no doubt be hearing it at every beach party during the summer of 2013. They started setting the record up with a SXSW debut and they have been on-fire ever since. In Country we have Top 5 hits from Brad Paisley in “Beat This Summer”, to Blake Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here” that are taking charge of that format for this party time of year.

This is also the breakout summer for the independent artist and band. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis recently hit #1 on the pop charts with “Can’t Hold Us” released and distributed on a small Indie label. This outfit based out of the Seattle area is now able to command top dollars at festivals and concerts around the globe. The same can be said about recent chart toppers from the Lumineers to Mumford & Sons. These acts came out of nowhere and are now bringing in top tour dollars. They stared just like every other band by working hard and hitting the road whenever they had the chance.

The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming! For well over four decades we’ve been hearing about the British music invasion. This summer we might be hearing about a Russian music invasion. The band Pompeya first hit the charts at New Music Weekly a month ago and they are now breaking on the Mediabase and Billboard Top40 charts with their debut “YAHTBMF” (Noshame). Russian beauty Alina Artts has been interviewing American movie and pop stars on red carpets around the world but is now she’s set to reverse the cameras. “Hit The Red Light” (R.E.C.) is already getting critical acclaim from radio programmers and music critics alike, so be on the watch as the Russian music scene explodes all over the world and here in the U.S.A.

As an artist or band there is still time to catch some of the magic of the summer but you must move fast. The major label artists and tour packages are pretty much wrapped and there are many holes in the schedule. Here at New Music Weekly we are set and ready to help out all of the start-up artists and bands. Please make sure you contact us this week as our Future Hits music sampler is about to close. We will continue to offer the best “tools of the trade” to break and make this your best Summer ever.