DIGITAL DOWNLOADS!!!

December 3
These days, the music industry is a quickly evolving and completely chaotic business environment. As a recording artist and independent label owner, Michael has really had to stay on his toes, holding fast to the principle that it's critical to pay particular attention – and respect – to his audience, which has evolved into two groups: people who want music on CDs, and those who want to download music digitally. So the big news is that Michael's entire catalog is now available, via digital download, at iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, etc. Of course, there’s still nothing better than a live concert performance ...

YouTube (Top 50!), MySpace, and coolest of all, FACEBOOK!!!

January 11
Michael has once again jumped off the cliff into the digital abyss, creating artist profiles at both YouTube, and at MySpace (each of which seems punctuationally challenged). Within the first week, the Michael Gulezian "channel" at YouTube shot to the top 50 most subscribed musician channels in the YouTube universe. Unfazed, Michael continued to work on new music, washing the dishes, and cleaning up about the house. Click here for Michael's MySpace page; please click here for Michael's page at YouTube.

JOHN FAHEY MEMORIAL CD

August 22
More than a year in the making, Takoma / Fantasy Records has finally released The Revenge of Blind Joe Death, honoring the memory of guitar icon John Fahey, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. As both founder and primary recording artist for the legendary Takoma Records label, Fahey practically invented the genre of instrumental solo acoustic guitar. Michael contributes a haunting arrangement of “St Louis Blues.” Other contributors include George Winston, Peter Lang, Rick Ruskin, Henry Kaiser, Nels Cline, Alex DeGrassi, and Blind Joe Death, along with liner notes from Barry Hansen (aka Dr. Demento). Proceeds from the sale of this recording benefit the MusiCares Foundation, which provides critical health and human service assistance to the music community.

GRAMMY AWARDS, ROUND 1 (again)

October 28
Michael’s Concert at Saint Olaf College CD has been placed on the ballot in the first round of the Grammy nomination process, in the category of "Best Contemporary Folk Album." The list will be whittled down to four final nominees, and the winner will be announced at the Grammy Awards in February. The Contemporary Folk category is particularly strong this year - Michael is honored to share the ballot with luminary artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Ani DiFranco, Rodney Crowell, and John Prine. Michael’s 2003 release, Language of the Flame, placed on the nominating ballot in five categories. For more information on the Recording Academy, please visit the NARAS website.

LIGHTS OUT, KINK-FM

May 5
The good folks at Portland, Oregon’s KINK-FM have selected Michael’s track, “Michael Hedges Goes to Heaven,” to be included on the upcoming compilation CD, Lights Out IX. The Lights Out series has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars benefitting the Oregon Food Bank. Other artists appearing on the disc include Daniel Lanois, George Winston, Mark Isham, and Moby. Please visit KINK-FM for more information.

FILM MUSIC

April 19
Music from Michael’s Language of the Flame CD is featured extensively in the documentary film, Acting on Faith: Women and New Religious Activism in America. Produced by San Francisco Bay Area filmmaker Rachel Antell, this powerful film illuminates the lives of three brave women engaged in social activism from a variety of religious backgrounds: Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu. Sponsored by the Pluralism Project at Harvard University, the film will premiere April 26 at Fong Auditorium, Boylston Hall, on the Harvard campus.

TOP 400!

March 17
Based solely on the strength of pre-orders (and the link from All Songs Considered), Concert at St. Olaf College debuts at #5 on the Amazon.com new age chart, with an overall sales position of #367. Michael, never having cracked the top 5000, passes out in disbelief.

EPISODE 79

March 15
Concert at St. Olaf College is featured on National Public Radio’s All Songs Considered. Click HERE to stream audio from the song “Slugbug,” along with commentary from the director of NPR’s All Things Considered, Bob Boilen.

BOTTLENECK SLIDE

February 30
While clearing debris from an unlicensed compost pile on the 1400 block of West Plurfrits Avenue, authorities in Pullman, Washington discovered what appeared to be a green bottleneck slide. Police Captain Lance Baker said, “We have every reason to believe this is a bottleneck slide.” He had no further comment.