Classical performers wanted for Hennepin County Library's MnSpin program

The Hennepin County Library is looking for a few good musicians — especially classical musicians.

Actually, more than a few: Up to 100 individuals or groups could become part of the library's MnSpin program.

The third-year project is a low-risk, (Minnesota-) nice-reward deal, offering free streaming of an album plus $200 for those whom the panel deems worthy.

Minnesota musicians of any and all genres are eligible to submit one recording made in the past five years by March 27. A panel of local music experts and library staff will review all submissions, and invite selected artists to make one album available through its online platform. MnSpin artists will sign a license agreement and receive $200. Anyone can stream from the platform, and Hennepin County Library cardholders can download songs for free on any device. For full submission details and consideration criteria, check out the MnSpin FAQ.

Those who make it through this year's process will join 125 other acts, ranging from prominent performers such as Atmosphere and Koo Koo Kanga Roo to up-and-comers such as Good Morning Bedlam and Katy Vernon.

MnSpin's community engagement librarian, Jeff Radford, said the criteria "cover all genres in our CD collection," 18 in all. Even the likes of "death metal" are eligible because "that would fit under rock and pop," he said. "A lot of sub-genres work within our genres."

But program officials are especially hopeful about landing more classical acts despite a not-insignificant impediment.

"A lot of those recordings are done with union musicians," Radford said, "and streaming rights are part of that. We don't do streaming rights. We play a flat fee. So it's tougher than it is for, say, a singer-songwriter."

Joshua Weinberg a flutist/harpist/composer who works in classical and experimental music, called MnSpin "a great opportunity to get a bigger forum, even if you have a smaller album or EP."

His EP Today the Rain Fell was one of the MnSpin selections last year. He especially likes the fact that "my album is very different from the album that's next to mine [on the website]," he said. "It makes the music available to a wide range of people."

That's what happens when a collection includes more than 1,100 songs. MnSpin launched in 2017 with more than 50 artists and added more than 70 last year. The project is supported by Friends of the Hennepin County Library, with a goal to "engage our patrons and listeners with a broad representation of music made in Minnesota."

Ensuring that kind of "broad representation" is a panel of curators from diverse musical fields:

• Katie Condon teaches at MacPhail Center for Music and is the music education specialist for Classical Minnesota Public radio.

• Anthonia Eboreime operates a music-and-event-based blog, The Litestyle Observer and works in the audience engagement department at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

• Dan Gaarder is a multi-instrumentalist/vocalist who has been a member of the Jayhawks, Trailer Trash and the Roe Family Singers, and is a featured vocalist on RFD TV's Midwest Country Show.

• Molly Maher is a singer-songwriter who for more than 25 years has worked as a talent buyer, show curator/producer/promoter, string tech and mentor. • Andrea Pierre is a multidisciplinary artist and the founder and co-host of the 98.9 KRSM talk show The Discourse.

• Malik Watkins is a hip-hop artist (stage name: MaLLy), entrepreneur and educator who is preparing to release his fourth album, The Journey to a Smile.

• Bo Weber is the founder of the Twin Cities online music publication MusicInMinnesota.com.