Hey guys! I just wanted to say a few things about Sally's song.
I first saw the Nightmare Before Christmas when I was about 13 years old. I loved it so much- the art, the music, the story- that I have watched it at least 40 times since then. It has been an inspiration to me since my artistic identity was just beginning to form, and it never gets old- it still puts me in the mood to create. I was the girl in high school who was blasting TNBC soundtrack in my car instead of whatever was cool back then. In all honesty, Sally's Song has always been "my song" on that CD, and I used to play it over and over, making up harmonies to sing with it. I just want to gush out loud that I am SO lucky that I got to do this. Please believe me when I say they couldn't have gotten a bigger fan to do it. The coolest part about it was that I had complete creative control. It was just like, "go for it!" and I got to recreate the song however I wanted. So I went to my good friend Will Hunt's studio in Ft. Worth (not the evanescence drummer, weird coincidence but its a totally different guy), who is a very creative producer and drummer, and we just had fun with it. I decided to whip out my new budding skill and play harp on the track, which I LOVE and intend to use much more in the future. Even though my version is different than the original, I wanted to pay homage to Danny Elfman and to Sally in every way I could, from the creepy background vocals to the droning harmonium (which reminds me of the accordian in the song). I can't wait for it to come out, I love it so much! Thanks Will!
I'm not sure if you guys know this yet, but I'm going to play it on the Tonight Show on October 13. Tim will be up there with me.
I hope you enjoy the song, I cant wait to hear what you think!
love,
Amy

NMPA Honors Amy Lee, Sen. Leahy
June 10, 2008 - Publishing

By Susan Butler, N.Y.

The National Music Publishers' Assn. will honor Grammy Award-winning songwriter/singer Amy Lee with its 2008 Songwriter Icon Award and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) with the 2008 President's Award.

The group will present Lee with her award during the NMPA general membership meeting, which is open to all publishers and songwriters, next week in New York City.

"The NMPA is in many ways a bridge between policymakers and the music publishers and songwriters we serve, so it's a privilege to recognize an outstanding representative from each of these groups in conjunction with our annual meeting each year," NMPA president/CEO David Israelite says.

"This year we are honored that the multi-talented Amy Lee will join us in New York City not only to receive this award but to perform as well," he continues. "We are also so pleased to present Senator Leahy with the President's Award. He a friend of the industry, and a true fan of music."

The Icon Award, which recognizes outstanding songwriters for their personal achievement, is presented to those who personify the vision of the NMPA and the goals of its members. Former recipients include Jimmy Webb and Neil Sedaka.

The NMPA established the President's Award in 2005 to recognize an individual who has been a leader on issues of importance to music publishers and songwriters, and who works diligently to strengthen intellectual property protection.

The group will present Leahy with his award in Washington, D.C. The annual meeting is set for June 18 in New York City.

1. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black - 9,473000
2. Justin Timberlake - FutureSex / LoveSounds - 8,962000
3. Soundtrack - High School Musical - 8,082000
4. Nelly Furtado – Loose - 8,022000
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium - 7,578000
6. Pink - I m Not Dead - 6,276000
7. Fergie - The Dutchess – 6,206000
8. Soundtrack - High School Musical - 6,154000
9. Beyoncé - B Day - 6,092000
10. Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight - 6,005000
11. Alicia Keys - As I Am - 5,680300
12. Mika - Life In Cartoon Motion - 5,673850
13. Eagles - Long Road Out Of Eden – 5,507225
14. Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn Thing – 5,440575
15. The Beatles – Love - 5,437350
16. Michael Bublé - Call Me Irresponsible – 5,328775
17. Rascal Flatts - Me And My Gang – 5,107325
18. Snow Patrol - Eyes Open – 4,904150
19. Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad – 4,849325
20. Akon – Konvicted – 4,785900
21. Evanescence - The Open Door - 4,727850
22. Josh Groban - Noel – 4,688075
23. U2 - 18 Singles – 4,680550
24. Daughtry – Daughtry – 4,559075
25. Christina Aguilera - Back To Basics – 4,405350
26. Soundtrack - Hannah Montana – 4,358050
27. Norah Jones - Not Too Late – 4,236575
28. Timbaland - Timbaland Presents Shock Value – 4,223675
29. Corinne Bailey Rae - Corinne Bailey Rae – 4,203250
30. The Killers - Sam s Town - 4,012975

In recent years, artists like Ray Charles and Green Day saw significant increases in album sales after taking home statuettes, while last year’s show ended with a huge boost for Corinne Bailey Ray even though she didn’t win anything. Clearly, a pared down broadcast would have a negative impact across the industry.
For nominees and potential performers, who have been looking forward to this kind of publicity boost, the strike has left many musicians in a confused state of limbo. “I don’t get the sense that [the broadcast] is going to be canceled because it doesn’t really involve writers. It’s less affected, for example, than the Golden Globes,” says Evanescence manager Andrew Lurie. “But [Evanescence] empathizes with the creative people who are just asking to be paid for the fruits of their labor.” He says the band plans to attend the Grammys and is negotiating with the Academy about a possible performance. As to whether the band would cross a picket line, he says, “I don’t know. That hasn’t come up in a conversation with Amy [Lee].

Sorry it took me so long to send you this, but I want to say thank you and give a great big hug to all the italian fans who made letters, poems, songs- and especially the birthday song from everyone! It really made me feel special. I was going to post on the website but I realized that there would be no way to prove it was me, and just confuse everyone. So could you please send my message and love to everybody?
I had a great birthday and am really enjoying my time off. My birthday present from Josh was a beautiful harp and lessons which I am taking each week! It is so much fun to play (but Im going to have to work really hard to get good at it) Thats really all I've been doing this month so far and I'm proud to say that I already have a huge blister on my finger. I miss you guys!
See ya.
-amy.

We're so excited to announce that Evanescence has been nominated for a Grammy! "Sweet Sacrifice" is up for "Best Hard Rock Performance".

"This is truly an honor", said front woman Amy Lee, "There is no higher prize in our industry and no event as spectacular as the Grammys. We are grateful for the nomination". Evanescence was previously nominated for four Grammys in 2003 for their major-label debut, Fallen, for which they took home the Best Hard Rock Performance and Best New Artist statuettes.
Be sure to tune in for the results to the 50th Annual Grammy Awards on February 10, 2008 at 8pm ET/PT on CBS.

July 11, 2007, 4:30 PM ET
Gary Graff, Detroit

Evanescence leader Amy Lee says recent lineup changes have made things "more fun" and "a lot healthier" for the band -- which bodes well for its jaunt on the upcoming Family Values Tour.

Lee, who in May replaced drummer Rocky Gray and guitarist John LeCompt with Will Hunt and Troy McLawhorn, both from the group Dark New Day, told reporters today (July 11) that "when we're up there now we're having a lot of fun, and I think when you're on stage and you're in a rock band playing in front of 10,000 people you should be having fun.

"Troy and Will are both very passionate and creative. It's given the show the ability to grow and evolve. We're changing things more often now and getting more creative with the set. It's really given the band the kick start it needed."

Lee says she "can definitely see writing" with Hunt and McLawhorn in the future but isn't yet ready to commit to any specific direction for Evanescence's next album. "I just don't want to get in the way of what they want to do with Dark New Day," Lee notes. "I actually admire and respect that band. I think they're music is really great."

Evanescence is, in fact, focusing most of its energy on preparing for Family Values, which kicks off July 20 in Maryland Heights, Mo. Lee says the group will have a new stage set for the tour, "a whole wall of mirrors, sort of like fun house mirrors, and a whole bunch of lights playing off the mirrors. It should be really trippy and weird." The group is also trying to come up with a cover to include in its 65-minute set, "something very different for us and nothing like us. We're working on it."

There's also no word yet on whether she and Korn will recreate the acoustic version of "Freak on a Leash" from the latter's "MTV Unpluggged." "Obviously that's totally up to them," she says. "I don't plan on it, but if they ask me, I'm totally willing."

Lee says that Evanescence plans to release a new single, "Good Enough," from its 2006 album "The Open Door" and shot a video for the song in Budapest, during its recent overseas tour. And after Family Values wraps on Sept. 20, Lee says Evanescence will likely embark on its own headlining tour.

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Billboard.com