A Biannual Music Journal.
● Event Sponsor
National
Sounds
The National Sounds Music Journal is proud to co-sponsor the first-ever International Day of Music 24-hour livestream, plus two live shows—one in New York City and the other in Oregon.
On this day, National Sounds Press will release the first of its 2 issues for 2026: “POLITICAL CONTROL BEHIND A.I. IN MUSIC”. This publication explores political ties and financial power moving deep into the music industry through the power of A.I.
Also on October 1, National Sounds makes available all of the first 4 inaugural issues of the publication. A brief description of each of those first four issues is provided below.
● National Sounds Volume 1, Issue 1.
Pacific Northwest Music Scene
National Sounds has a reputation for exposing important issues most artists at the top of the industry deal with. Much has to do with the use of foul play but at the very tippy top of social circles, political power, and economic demise.
In its first issue, National Sounds talks to inspired artists, business owners, and radio deejays inside the Pacific Northwest Music Scene.
Cover story focuses on Matt Vaughan, owner of the iconic record store, Easy Street Records, located in Seattle, Washington. In this interview, we see a side of the industry not once delved into until Vaughan’s breakthrough article, “Dropping the Needle: Shaping Culture By Manipulating The BillBoard Charts.” That’s the first time a store owner with close to forty years of experience shined any light on how an artist may be much-loved around the world yet never come close to fair treatment on the charts. Published inside of the on-line publication Westside Seattle, in 2024, Vaughan’s daredevil expose provided stark sales statistics in contrast to million-dollar publicity tricks in the face of industry chart supremacy.
Stories that change the world.
In its first issue, the National Sounds biannual music journal dared to publish a story no one wanted to even think about: music powerhouse Macklemore’s unwavering support of life inside Gaza. Since 2023, Macklemore has sent a message across international audiences: save Gaza’s people. It’s one that could bring about global awareness of an essential difference in firepower between Israel and the residents of Gaza, who, right now, are experiencing a terrifying military onslaught. The full story is shared inside National Sounds, Volume1, Issue 1.
● National Sounds Volume 1, Issue 2.
America Within The Songwriter
National Sounds was spurred into existence by a real-life story concerning one songwriter who embodied discipline for speaking truth. Sadly, her legend ended in tragic abuse.
Seeking support for the cause of the songwriter, National Sounds soon garnered support from a multitude of industry players. All experienced the same thing: gross misalignment of top circles playing the industry with smoke and mirrors but the rest deal with the worst financial return possible.
The second publication, America Within The Songwriter, is dedicated to the force of good called Melanie. The songwriting legend was also a Woodstock-era genius. She was welcomed on stages around the globe. She sold out major auditoriums without question. She performed alone with her guitar for one to three hours. Her self-penned songs searched deeply into the minds of her audience.
Editor-In-Chief, Corinne Devin Sullivan, shares the full story of corruption surrounding the life of Melanie. Since the early Seventies, Melanie was stalked. Her private life was torn apart. Her music was stolen. She still wrote and recorded about 20 hit songs. She used her earnings to launch Neighborhood Records, her very own music company. It was located on an entire floor, inside a skyscraper in New York City (1971-1974). Melanie also scored a Billboard Number One hit song, Brand New Key. Sadly, all of her work was taken away again and again. She lived in sadness and defeat while major corporate players inside Netflix, Sony, Roundhill Music, BMG and ASCAP collected on her life’s work without any pay whatsoever to her, not once at any time in her life.
This terrible and hidden situation in the industry—where artists’ lives are shot at routinely—is explored in detail.
● National Sounds Volume 2, Issue 1.
Hall Of Fame: Music City, USA
National Sounds was spurred into existence by a terrible mistake inside the American music community. It’s one no one can easily deny. For, truth be told, money is where it’s got to be at or the artist—despite his or her calling—is out.
The third issue of the publication takes readers to Nashville, Tennessee. The town is known as Music City, USA. It’s there for the sake of favored songwriters. It’s a safe haven for the world’s best session musicians. And if looks can kill, this city is one step short of Nirvana.
Hall of Fame, Music City USA gives insight on amazing men and women who weather the storm of the industry through the power of love. Stories focus upon lifetime contributions to a world of song by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, plus the trend-setting independent radio deejays inside Lightning 100, as well as the brilliant teacher and saxophonist for Dave Matthews Band, Jeff Coffin.
But the theme of the entire issue is the call for a better way for artists everywhere to live by. Cover story, “With Its Last Breath The Old Industry Finally Dies” puts readers into the mainline stream. From start to finish, the article shows how the best of the best survives it—all told by examining a life of soul and sound, shouldered for decades by guitarist Regi Wooten.
● National Sounds Volume 2, Issue 2.
Scenes From New York City
National Sounds biannual music journal places emphasis where it’s needed most. At the heart of the matter is what the people need to hear. For that information in the right hands can be the ONLY difference between life and death.
2025’s second issue, Scenes From New York City, presents the ideal zone for music. This issues feature article, “Steve Walter Is NOT A Deal Breaker,” focuses on a magnificent man at the helm of one of the city’s last-standing halls: The Cutting Room. Owner Steve Walter shares the inside story about what it really takes to meet demand day in and day out.
This issue takes each reader into the heat of the Live Nation/Ticketmaster lawsuit. The monolith was sued by the United States Department of Justice in 2024, and that struggle is real. Explore many sides of the story, from the 2023 Senate Judiciary Hearing that dealt with Ticketmaster’s mis-steps in relation to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, to major acts on tour during the lawsuit, to the simple reality of Shannon, a songwriter who left her home in Los Angeles to busk on the streets of New York City.
Stories that no one can stop sharing.
National Sounds is there when music needs the real story. In January of 2023, the United States Senate Judiciary convened with their That’s The Ticket: Promoting Competition and Protecting Consumers in Live Entertainment hearing inside the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. This single event inside the nation’s capitol has changed everything. And it’s all because Taylor Swift dared to speak. Read the entire story in 2025’s Issue 2, Volume 2, Scenes From New York City.
● National Sounds Volume 3, Issue 1.
Coming Soon
National Sounds is proud to present our front cover of the first issue for 2026! It features drummer Jason Carter. Carter champions fair treatement in the music industry. His reputation for “going the extra mile” when it comes to serving the industry includes founding and launching Atomic Disc, one of the nation’s leading music production companies. In this issue, Carter discusses his experiences with AI in music. The new issue will be presented during the International Day of Music 24-hour Livestream on October 1, 2026.
