First Step Records

03/08/2024

It’s getting interesting around here

07/14/2023

Free event later today - what is music business anyway !

What even is Music Business? Why a problem solving mindset? Why is it important??

04/05/2023

First Step Records is excited to announce our first-ever Get Signed! contest in conjunction with Smashed Plastic Record Pressing. Aspiring musicians and songwriters can compete to win a record deal with First Step Records that comes with a prize package valued at over $3,000.

Each participant will be required to submit a song that will be critiqued during a song listening panel at the Midwest Music Expo along with a questionnaire regarding their level of activity in the music industry.

At the panel, artists will play a 60-second clip of their recorded song for the panel industry professionals. Songs will be judged based on five criteria: lyrics, melody, performance, production, and overall impression.

In addition to evaluating the quality of the submitted song, the judges will also take into consideration the contestant’s level of activity in the indie music scene, including factors such as the number of shows they have played, the size of their merch lines, and the number of followers they have amassed. Sign up by submitting the entry form on midwestmusicexpo.com!

05/02/2022

MMX is THIS WEEKEND! Make sure to come out for live music, exciting panels, and a full expo of businesses! You don’t want to miss it! Use the code FSRROCKS to get your FREE tickets today!

10/26/2021

Are you ready for Halloween? We sure are!

Stop by the FSR table in the UC this Thursday, 10/28 to check out the Halloween Percussion Concert CD and get some free candy! 👻

04/19/2021

How to break a band !

Neglected by art history for decades, Jo van Gogh-Bonger, the painter’s sister-in-law, is finally being recognized as the force who opened the world’s eyes to his genius.

04/12/2021

Great stuff from Randy this week !

Midwest Music Expo will be going live on April 14th at 7 PM with 2112 member and author of Making Money with Music Randy Chertkow, discussing 45 income streams in 45 minutes.

04/04/2021

Happy Easter!! 🐥🐰🐣

03/25/2021

Happy Birthday to Aretha Franklin! She was an American singer born in 1942. Her career included being a songwriter, actress, pianist, and civil rights activist. In 1966 her hit songs "Respect," "Think," and "(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman" launched her into fame and gained her the title of the "Queen of Soul." Franklin was also the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was also nominated for the Grammy Award 44 time and won 18 time. She has inspired many people through her music and has made a giant impact to music as we know it.
"Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening." – Aretha Franklin

03/23/2021

This Tuesday we are highlighting RIG TIME who features their song on the “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay” album. Check out the album on our website and go look at their website!🎤

https://firststeprecords.bigcartel.com/product/itsok

http://www.rig-time.com/

Heavy, pi**ed off & loud as hell from La Crosse, WI - FFO: The Acacia Strain, Korn, Xibalba, Full of Hell, Kublai Khan, Dystopia, Godflesh

03/18/2021

Happy Thursday! American Bombshell features their song on the “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay” album. Check out the album our website and go look at their latest post!🎸

https://firststeprecords.bigcartel.com/product/itsok

"Tattoos N Booze" from the debut album "No Regrets" performed live at the world-famous Whisky a Go Go on Jan 26, 2016.Subscribe to American Bombshell's chann...

03/10/2021

Hello Spring!! So excited to see the green grass and blooming trees and flowers!!! To put you into the spring mood check out:
“It’s Ok Not To Be OK” & Amy Catron’s Cello Album “Particles and Prayers”! Visit this link https://firststeprecords.bigcartel.com/category/cds
Amy Catron Gaelynn Lea Music Paper Planes Shannon Curtis

03/07/2021

This coming weds night
Millikin University with Midwest Music Expo and Millikin University Arts Technology & Administration Department I’m looking forwards to a conversation with Bob Heil
- he created a sound system for the Grateful Dead, was commissioned to realize The Who’s concerts in quadraphonic sound, invented the guitar effect talk box as used by Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh and more
And still has a world reknowned
Microphone company Heil Sound - always ready to listen and learn from someone who has been there and done it done it and done it! Free and open to the public weds 10th at 7pm cST plus - you can enter to win one of his mics !

From the Grateful Dead’s sound system to helping The Who Deliver Quadrophenia with the world’s first quadraphonic sound system, to creating Heil sound systems, to pioneering on-stage monitors, to inventing the talk box as used by Peter Frampton on “Show Me the Way”... for over 4 decades peop...

12/07/2020

‘Tis the season! Get in the holiday spirit with our Vespers 60th set with Ornament https://firststeprecords.bigcartel.com/product/vespers-60th-set-with-ornament-set

12/07/2020

Celebrating 60 years of Vespers with this deluxe double disc compiled by students. An extensive booklet and a special ornament from The Glass House in Decatur too! https://firststeprecords.bigcartel.com/product/vespers-60th-set-with-ornament-set

05/14/2020