[ drakenet search engine ]

[shootfirst]

DRAKENET SEARCH ENGINE

[ One of the handy features of your specially issued Drakenet phone is access to the Knight's digital archives anywhere, anytime, on the go. As long as your character knows how to operate a search engine* they may submit informational queries about people, places, species, deities, organizations, businesses, locations, objects, creatures, etc. etc. and receive relevant information here.

To use the search engine, simply leave a comment below using the following code, replacing the "search terms" with whatever you want to research, and replacing the # with your Research (INT) skill check roll:

<font face="courier"><b>Query</b> "SEARCH TERMS" <b>Research Check</b> #</font>

[ This can be used at any time, either in addition to or as a replacement for actual threading out research on any topic. ]


*and even if they don't, a successful Computer Use (INT) check of 10 or above will allow them to use the program

Comments

[wynn]

NOVA Records | Music Recording Corporation
Based out of: America, with large offices in New Orleans, LA and New York City (Manhattan), NY
With smaller offices in Chicago, IL, Hollywood, CA, and London, England.

Owned by: Burt Becksworth and Chad Becksworth

Info: Star quality, razzle-dazzle, a twinkle in the eye, that special something. Whatever you call it, that’s what Nova Records recording artists have and what the rest of the recording industry seems to lack. Whether it’s pop, rap, punk, rock,country, classical, jazz, or blues, Nova Records always seems to have someone at the top and the next big thing waiting in the wings. Nova Records finds singers, songwriters, composers, mixers, and producers with charisma. They put a pretty face on every aspect of the recording industry, and every sensation Nova puts in the spotlight looks, walks, and talks like a movie star. Nova Records represents a shining example of an aggressive and ambitious music recording corporation that turns talented artists into megawatt superstars—despite the tumultuous relationship of its two co-owners.

Nova Records had its infancy as B&C Recording in Marengo, Illinois. Two brothers, Burt and Chad Becksworth, created a small recording studioin a tool shed on their parents’ farm and made a record of their sister Celia’s fine gospel singing. The Becksworth family had a long tradition in music, and Burt and Chad’s father had been a highly acclaimed jazz musician before an accident severed half the fingers on his left hand. With a little effort and their father’s music connections, they managed to put a demo tape in the hands of several record companies. In no time, their sister was signed and sent off to a real recording studio. In a few months, Celia could be heard singing catchy pop songs on radio stations from coast to coast, and TV shows were touting her as “one of the preeminent voices of our time.” Living the life of a pop star, she swiftly forgot about her brothers and their struggling recording studio and, for their part, her brothers did the same.

Ironically and tragically, Celia was also the force that pulled the family back together a few years later when she perished in an airplane crash. As many media pundits would soon point out, like James Dean she might well have been lucky in that she died at the height of her popularity. Before the crash, her career had been flat and record sales were quickly trending down; there had even been talk of the label releasing Celia from her contract. However, the record company wasted no time capitalizing on her death. It released special collections, tribute albums, remixes, and albums of previously unreleased tracks. Some of the unreleased songs even seemed to have prophetic lyrics about the time and manner of her death, and Chad and Burt’s sister suddenly became the center of a pop-culture phenomenon. Although her music eventually faded from popularity, the company earned tens of millions of dollars in the wake of Celia’s death.

Chad and Burt drew many lessons from the experience, but the most valuable was the secret behind their sister’s success—marketing. Celia had a nice singing voice and a decent stage presence, but the record company transformed her into a star in fewer than twelve months, then elevated her into a superstar at a point where she was completely incapable of doing promotion or performing concerts. People all over the world had been tricked into thinking that Celia Becksworth stood side by side with the likes of Elvis Presley and the Beatles. This proved to Burt and Chad that you really can manufacture a star. With this new vision, Chad and Burt took their share of Celia’s success and set out to make a name for their company and one of the local country bands they recorded. They changed their company’s name to Nova Records, a reference to the explosive entrance they planned to make on the popular music scene. That explosion took a couple of years to manufacture, but eventually a rap star called Jazzy Z succeeded in bringing international attention to Nova Records.

From the beginning, Burt and Chad treated Jazzy Z as though he was a superstar. They hired bodyguards to escort him to all public appearances, arranged for police barricades to be put in place before he would leave his limousine, and made sure that he traveled first class all the way. Of course,they also paid local actors to play the part of screaming fans at his public appearances, bribed on-air radio personalities to work Jazzy Z’s material into the rotation, and bombarded national magazines (especially the tabloids) with “scoops” about the singer’s whereabouts and activities. Although Jazzy Z eventually changed his name and signed with another studio, his success gave Nova Records a foothold in the industry and a reputation as a company that took careof its artists.The tactics that catapulted Jazzy Z to stardom are still in use at the company today. Nova Records is not unique in manufacturing fame for its artists, but it stands out because of its ability to create so many stars in different parts of thecompany. Nova Records spends millions of dollars promoting its artists, but it spends just as much to promote its producers, sound mixers, songwriters, talent spotters, and the company itself.

This barrage of propaganda must be modified to suit the tastes of different audiences, but Burt and Chad seem capable of handling multiple demographics. Nova Records has multimillion-dollar deals that guarantee its music will be heard in commercials, movie soundtracks,and awards ceremonies. It even has its own network of radio stations that play nothing but Nova Records hits. The company is a colossal success. Nova Record’s reputation is pointed to as a triumph of advertising and spin doctoring. Politicians study its marketing strategy. Corporations from every industry pay exorbitant fees to have Nova Records executives run seminars and workshops for their marketing and PR departments. Most employees want to stay with the company, but those who don’t find that having Nova Records on their resumes makes them highly sought after and practically guarantees a rise in base salary.

The only dark spot on Nova Records’ reputation is the growing division between its two founders, Burt and Chad Becksworth. Since the beginning, the two have had a famously tumultuous working relationship. However, their fraternal love and shared vision has always pulled them together in a crisis. In the past year or two, though, their relationship has soured. Fortunately the company has grown large enough to handle the slings and arrows, because Burt and Chad are focusing all their time and energy trying to cut one another out of various deals. The source of thisargument seems to be an aborted deal to buy Columbia Records. Since that fell through, neither brother has attended any meeting or business function at which the other is scheduled to appear.

The brothers have become regulars on the covers of supermarket tabloids. One headline proclaimed that Burt’s now-divorced second wife had a ménage a trois with both Chad and Chad’s wife. Another claimed to have shocking photos of a private Tahitian vacation Burt took with Chad’s stepdaughter. At first this feud was just embarrassing, but someone from Nova Records recently leaked copies of furious letters,emails, and memos Chad and Burt have issued. The documents show that their anger at one another is causing them to pursue business deals and investments that could very well threaten the stability of their multi-billion dollar company. The brothers’ feud has Nova Records’ stock at its lowest price in a decade. Although the company continues to profit as a whole, the loss of consumer confidence has led to layoffs and a scaling back of the luxurious treatment afforded to many recording stars. Rumors abound that the end is near for the company.

The Manhattan headquarters consists mostly of offices and cubicles, but the areas that are open to the public seem more like a theme park or museum. The Nova Records headquarters has become a tourist attraction where visitors can catch glimpses of a music sensation or movie star entering or leaving one of the buildings. Usually these are look-alikes that the company hires to make dozens of entrances and exits per day, just to excite the fans.