Hey guys,

Paul DeGeorge (aka Harry Year 7) here to introduce you to Volume 2 of our awesome EP Club Newsletter. I thought I would use this opportunity to give you a little insight on what's involved in running the EP Club. Today, we're talking about packaging!!!!

If you've already joined the EP Club, then you've seen the first three releases from 2008 and you know how awesome they look, sound, and feel. This year, in honor of the Whomping Willow's participation, we've printed the jackets on 100% PCW recycled cardboard stock. The incredible design work you've seen on the sleeves was done by my dear friend and one of my favorite artists, Marty Allen. Marty plays in the band Uncle Monsterface and also produces and sells sock puppet portraits. Marty collects all the artwork from each band, as well as tracklists and liner information, and then seamlessly integrates them into the overall design aesthetic that he's crafted for this year's CD covers and discfaces. When that's done, we send them off to Bellwether Manufacturing, our CD manufacturer. They make sure everything is cool, send us some PDF proofs and then we tell them that everything is cool and they make the CDs.

We had a little hiccup in the process of manufacturing the 4th, 5th and 6th CDs. When we got the quotes back from Bellwether, we discovered that their CD jacket printer (a separate, contracted company from Canada) had raised their prices for printing on the cardboard sleeves. And this wasn't just a slight increase, they more than doubled the prices. This really freaked me out because at the new price level, it was going to cost us $6000 more than we anticipated to continue printing on these awesome cardboard sleeves.

Fortunately, the folks at Bellwether Manufacturing were super helpful. I've been working with them for 6 or 7 years now and they are great people who take a lot of pride in what they do and really care about making sure every project comes out right. The EP Club is a something they are really excited about, and so when the price increase came in, they were just as concerned as we were. They really went to bat for us with their jacket printer and were able to lock-in a much smaller price increase which will enable us to continue to print on the cardboard sleeves for the duration of the project. Their efforts saved us nearly $5000, so I'd like to use this opportunity to thank Michael McPeek and Kristin Londergan, of Bellwether Manufacturing. They are truly some of the unsung heros of this project.

In the next edition, I'll give you an update on the new Harry and the Potters EP. Joe and I recorded it a couple weeks ago in the basement and we're really pumped about it. We can't wait to share more with you.


From The Basilisk In Your Pasta:

So far it has been really great to build this project together, because as a gigantic band we all have ideas for songs and it's fun to experience different styles. As this EP will be our first release, we have decided not to go for a specific theme or genre, we are just going to record any song that is ready. The EP will then be a kind of compilation of all the member's songs- because there are some that we wrote all together, and others that were invented by only 2 or 3 members of the band. For example, Nelly wrote "Bad Guy" on her own, and then Glutte added some chords to it. Also, we include a lot of our friends into the band, whether it's for writing lyrics, playing guitar or singing- because the whole thing about our band is to share the fun with as many people as possible. Lately, we haven't been able to see each other a lot to rehearse, but hopefully when everyone is on vacation we will write some more kickass songs! That's it for the update, we'll keep you posted :) Oh and Lou just called me to say that we received the EPs, I can't wait to listen to them!


From The Nifflers:

Update time baby boo!

Our recording from the EP of the month club has gone so well over these past few months. Our tracks our better than we could have ever hoped for and we think you'll think the same when you hear the EP. If you haven't noticed yet our page has a brand spanking new version of the smash hit song "Sweater For Christmas."It was just uploaded last week-ish. I'm in love with this new version, it's too sweet. The new electric parts, Christian from Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls put in, is sooooooo good. So if you have the time please feel free to check it out along with our other new songs if you have not heard them yet. There is still one more song coming that is being brought back from the grave of Nifflers songs, and it is going to kick mega butt. I'm not just blowing smoke either. That song is in the works and should hopefully be finished by the end of the month.

Both the Nifflers want to thank our amazing buddy Christian, from Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls, for helping us record and mix our songs. Without him we wouldn't be able to give the subscribers the best. You can check him out at www.myspace.com/oliverboydandtheremembralls.


Finally, here's an awesome video of Matt and Justin packaging CD mailings! Woo!



www.wizardrockclub.com

Hello friends,

This is the first installment of the EP of the Month Club’s official newsletter! Every two weeks or so, we’ll be updating you with the club’s latest happenings, including glimpses into each participating band’s experience recording and ultimately receiving their new EPs. We’ll also include anecdotes from Paul and Matt about the complicated process of running a charitable CD subscription service. This first issue includes updates from The Whomping Willows, The Gryffindor Common Room Rejects, and The Giant Squidstravaganza! In addition, we have a review of Justin Finch-Fletchley’s EP, courtesy of fellow Club participant Gred and Forge!

From The Whomping Willows:

Hi everyone!

My EP is due to the manufacturer in about a month, and I’ve yet to actually begin recording it. This is because I’ve been working on a million other things over the past month, and I haven’t had any time to spare. But I have been writing lyrics for my Treestylin’ EP, some of which I’ve sampled on my youtube channel (youtube.com/thewhompingwillows). Currently I’m working on lyrics for “Cover Your Junk,” a song about how one should be careful when taking a bath at Hogwarts, because Moaning Myrtle might be hanging around trying to sneak glimpses of one’s private parts. Oh yes, I was very pleased when I heard that this would not be considered inappropriate for the EP Club.

In mid-April I spent roughly 22 hours packaging and sending out the first shipment of EPs. It was quite a process. I just kept thinking about how awesome the CDs were and how much people were going to enjoy them. From what I’ve heard, we have a bunch of very happy customers so far. I am really looking forward to the next round of CDs!

From the Desk of a Gryffindor Reject:

On Friday something too amazing for words arrived in my mailbox. I held three of the most beautiful EPs I'd ever seen in my hands. In early February GCR.Squared had the incredible pleasure to perform alongside both Justin and Jace, so I was really excited to hear their EPs. I popped the songs unto my iTunes and they've been on repeat ever since.

I've been singing "We're the Students at Hogwarts" all day. All of Catchlove's songs are just such good quality and so amazing. "Legacy of a Fallen Wizard" is the catchiest song I've ever heard. Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills never cease to amaze me. It's hard to put into words just how awesome he is. Whenever anyone one mentions a certain Bulgarian seeker, I have the uncontrollable urge to say, "Krum! Oh, Vicktor Krum! Oh, Vicktor Krum! Oh, we love you, Vicktor Krum!"

I took the copy of GCR.Squared's EP and pretty much showed it to anyone at school who would look because it was just that pretty. My teachers all approve of Marty's design. I signed on to MySpace, and we had new comments. Everyone likes that feeling, and it doesn't happen often for us because we're not very popular (We try, but alas...). So I check the comments, and we had something like four or five comments all telling us how much they liked our EP and how "The Moon and Stars" was completely awesome. It was a really cool feeling. And then we had an entire PAGE of friend requests. It was an amazing feeling. (Given, a page is ten, but it was still really cool.)

-Amber, Gryffindor Common Room Rejects

Update from the Giant Squidstravaganza:

I had originally intended to release a quadruple vinyl version of my EP, but Harry Potter said it would be too expensive and we wouldn't make enough money for the charity. I'm not sure that's a good enough reason to stifle my creativity, but whatever. I'm thinking of including a cooking segment, so if anyone has any good recipes for toast, email me at giantsquidrocks@yahoo.com and I'll try them out and if I like them, maybe I'll put them on my album.

A Review of Justin Finch-Fletchley’s “Hufflepizza” EP
Written by Jarrod of Gred and Forge:

"JFF's cd is like inserting a party into your stereo. But better."

Hey everyone!

Thanks so much to all those who have resubscribed from 2007! And thank you to all the new subscribers that have joined up! We are so pumped to have you all on board for the 2008 year, which is shaping up to be INCREDIBLE.

The first three EPs will be shipping out in mid-April, so you can start looking for them soon! You will be receiving EPs from Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills, the Gryffindor Common Room Rejects, and Catchlove. Get pumped!

Also, the final 2007 shipment was made at the end of February, so hopefully everyone is enjoying their hott new tracks from Draco and the Malfoys and Dumbledore! A song from each are posted in the MP3 section if you guys want a taste!

There are plenty more subscriptions still available for 2008, so please tell your friends about it!

Paul

Hello wizard rockers!

2007 was an incredible year for Harry Potter fans and an incredible year for Wizard Rock. In fact, that's almost an understatment. In February 2007, there were, according to wizrocklopedia.com, 130 Wizard Rock bands. As I write this in mid-January 2008, there are now 420 Wizard Rock bands listed. That's unreal! Anyone who is reading this right now should feel a great deal of pride in this musical movement that you've had a hand in creating. We are all a part of this unique community that eschews nearly all conventional music business nonsense and commercialism in favor of empowering ideals like self-publication, independence, friendship, and love. With a passion for what we are doing, we can, and will, change the world.

As of this writing, I'm happy to report that I've already donated $13,000 to First Book with money raised though sales for the 2007 Wizard Rock EP of the Month Club. I made the donation during the month of December, and during that month, Simon and Schuster had pledged to donate 1 book for every dollar donated, so the donation from the Wizard Rock EP Club should amount to 18,200 new books for kids! I cannot tell you how thrilled I am with the success of this club. It's been a joy for me to run, and I've gotten a terrific response from subscribers, so it seems like everyone is having fun. High-fives all around!

With that in mind, we have decided to continue the Wizard Rock EP of the Month Club into 2008!

It's a new year and a whole new line-up of bands!

The 2008 Club will feature exclusive, limited edition EPs from:

Harry and the Potters
the Whomping Willows
the Hermione Crookshanks Experience
the Mudbloods
Catchlove
Gred and Forge
Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills
the Nifflers
Tom Riddle and Friends
the Giant Squidstravaganza
the Basilisk in Your Pasta
Gryffindor Common Room Rejects

For each month of 2008, we will be releasing an exclusive CD from one of these totally awesome wizard rock bands. Members in the club will receive 3 CDs at a time, at four different points in the year. The cost to join the club will be $60 for the year and includes all 12 CDs, plus some cool bonus stuff, I'm sure. These EPs will be extremely limited and the only way to acquire the full set will be through subscriptions.

The membership fees will be used to cover all costs associated with producing and distributing the CDs to members. After that, all remaining proceeds will be split evenly between two organizations: the the Harry Potter Alliance and First Book. We're very happy to continue to support literacy by raising money for First Book, a non-profit organization that gives children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books, and this year, we're glad to add the Harry Potter Alliance into the mix. The HP Alliance was recently recognized by JK Rowling, who wrote the following on her website:

I am honoured and humbled that Harry's name has been given to such an extraordinary campaign, which really does exemplify the values for which Dumbledore's Army fought in the books. To Andrew and all the others who work on this most inspirational website: the world needs more people like you.

So this year, not only will your subscription dues continue to introduce young children to literature, but they will also help in creating a real-world Dumbledore's Army. Hurrah! We're hopeful that we'll be able to raise at least $20,000 this year.

In addition, each participating band will receive 200 copies of their CD for free and they will be able to sell these separately, outside of the club subscriptions. Through these sales, many of these bands will be able to raise money to support future wizard rock endeavors.

To enhance your 2008 EP Club experience I recruited the outspoken Matt Maggiacomo of the Whomping Willows to lend a hand in overseeing operations this year. Together, Matt and I poured through the entire list of wizard rock bands to choose a dozen that would represent the EP Club well in 2008. This was an incredibly difficult task and in our research we discovered scores of wonderful bands. I would have loved to release about 30 or 40 CDs this year for the EP club, but the reality is that we're just a few people and even releasing just 12 CDs per year is more than many independent record labels will attempt. The depth of the wizard rock community is incredible and I really encourage you to go to wizrocklopedia's band list and spend a couple hours just digging through and checking out some of the amazing bands that you've probably never even heard of.

And after you do that, hopefully you'll consider joining up with us! For the very reasonable price of $60 ($5 per CD! OMG!) you'll get 12 different CDs over the course of 2008. Let me reiterate that the content of those 12 CDs will be completely exclusive to the EP Club! Pretty much the only way you're going to hear these songs is if you're subscribed to the club. And then on top of that, a whole bunch of that money you spend is going to help organizations like First Book and the HP Alliance continue to spread the spirit of Harry Potter all over the world. So you can feel good about helping kids read, helping kids rock, and basically making the world a better place.

Thanks for being a part of this,
Paul T. DeGeorge
Harry and the Potters