Entertainment, Music - Air Force Times

A boon for troops' tunes

When a pair of seasoned songwriters decided to show their appreciation for the military, they skipped the care packages and anonymous holiday gifts and focused on what they knew best: navigating the music industry.

Denny Randell, who wrote the Four Tops' "Working My Way Back to You," and singer/songwriter Biddy Schippers put their industry connections to work for musically inclined troops on their social networking Web site, GIJams.com. Musicians can show off their tunes, sell their songs, network with like-minded vets and promote themselves.

The site also offers a service that's rare in the music business: Artists keep 100 percent of the revenues.

"The military [has] made so many sacrifices, and one of them is financial," Schippers said. "Some of these men and women who maybe had aspirations to pursue their musical talent put their dreams on hold to do something for all of us."

The duo wants to use its connections to broker placement and licensing deals for GI Jams artists, including potential album releases.

The professional connections shouldn't deter amateurs from uploading their own bedroom recordings, however, as GI Jams' focus is still firmly rooted in nurturing career aspirations.

"We want [service members] who have musical talent to feel like they have a platform to put their artistry forward," Randell said.

Visit www.gijams.com for more details.