Just a quick comment before ihave to leave JPF for a week or two. My brother just had a massive heart attack.

As I mentioned earlier, I think it is about as fair as this type of contest can be. Certainly not pefect...but pretty decent. Keep in mind that anything created and used by humans is no more flawless than the humans invovlved in their various contributions to the project.

In the Latin Channel, my song, "A Hot Day In Havana" has held steady between #21 and #17 for the past 8 days. The first couple of days, it waivered between 80 and 100. But since then, it has been pretty consistent where it is at this point (#17 yesterday).

I have but one qualm (qualm...another word we do not use as much as we should!) with OurStage; and it has been addressed previously in this thread. And that is, the Channels (genres) are too broad. How can you fairly judge a 60's Retro Rock against a song that Maroon 5, or Pink, might do, or against a Heavy Metal group? Similarly in Jazz, which I do a lot of (I know grammarians...it should be of which I do a lot. But, I don't talk like that...and if you do, you really shouldn't!), how can you fairly judge a Diana Krall song against a Jazz Fusion or B3 Funk piece?

But, that said, I still think it is a very good process. And as someone else pointed out...a LOT of other folks are getting a chance to hear your music...for free! Free is a pretty good advertising/promotion budget for you!

An Derek, I say that the CAN pictures matter. Why? Because if two songs rate identical in my judgment; I will look to see who cared enough about their own work to put up a good promo picture. Nice artwork and a a tastefully creative picture suggests to me that this is a person/band/group who cares about their music and how they want to be perceived by their audience. If they other guy doesn't care enough about his own music, why should I? Keep in mind, I use that criteria ONLY when all else is equal in my eye/ear. Do Look at the ladies' cleavage? You bet! But, it doesn't influence my voting unless it is a better promo picture than the other artist when all else is equal.

Just my thoughts.

Al