My daughter Francesca Berlin has her debut single released on 7th August 2006. Moon Records UK are running a competition (with the approval of MoneyAM) in which you have to predict at what number "Colours Faded" will be in the charts for the week ending 13th August 2006. The Official Charts for the week are announced on 13th August. "Colours Faded" is a 2 track single and the full charts are numbers 1 - 200. As there could be lots of entries the tie breaker is what number will "Colours Faded" be in the Download Charts (1 - 100).

Please enter by just stating say 45 (38) (45 being for Singles Charts and 38 being for Download Charts) Its easy and its a bit of fun. First prize is 250.00 of which 125.00 is sent on the winners behalf to the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund. The Winner gets the other 125.00 plus a signed copy of "Colours Faded". MoneyAm are offering a years free subscription to Shares Magazine including a years Premier MoneyAM access which is worth 123.00 to the top three entries. The second and third closest enntries will also recieve a signed copy of "Colours Faded".

My plan is to get "Colours Faded" in the charts by selling via by pre-ordering. We have the ability, via our on-line distributor, to sell via pre-orders and all of these sales will count towards our chart position in week one. If we can sell 3,500 at one week prior to release date we will have a major story to take the media.

Its almost impossible to get a record label deal in UK and so I formed my own record label (Moon Records UK) for the purpose of self release of Francesca's music. The song is titled "Colours Faded" and is about Eva Cassidy. We are working hard to get "Colours Faded" in the Top 40 with no record plugger, no record contract, no video, no national distribution, no radio play and no national press coverage. Its sounds impossible but with your help and the help of our existing fan base it could happen.

The on-line price is 77p per track. There are 3 alternate versions also for sale. If you buy all 4 the cost is 3.08 and all of the 4 sales will count to the charts. The B side is Stronger and that's also 77p.

To buy "Colours Faded" 2 Track Single please click Buy Colours Faded (2 Track Single)

To buy the 3 alternate versions of "Colours Faded" (acoustic, rhodes mix and original demo) please click Buy Colours Faded (Alternate Versions)
or
http://www.moonrecords.co.uk

Recent Press coverage on Francesca.
http://www.oaksite.co.uk/inspiration.html (Katie Melua and Francesca Berlin)
http://www.bcmchess.co.uk/ (Chess and Francesca)

If you would like to download a 50 second preview of the track, please click this link Colours Faded Preview

Finally, from release date "Colours Faded" is to be stocked by HMV (they have been great). Please call your local branch or click here for delivery to your door http://www.hmv.co.uk just enter Francesca Berlin in search.

We are also on iTunes and Napster from release date.

Have fun with the competition.

Competition will close at Midnight 10th August 2006 (as amended)

Howard

Howard,
very many congratulations to you both. You must both be so very proud of each other.
it is wonderful that in these days of conglomorates and packaging, a combination of talent and determination can still succeed.
I wish you both the very best for Francescas future career.
Alan

Bolshi, i think it was a fair enough question, see no harm in you bringing it up,
however i know Howard personally and know how much hes spent on this,hes not a shark benefitting in the background behind false pretences, he has done it with his own money, with lots of hard work and wont even break even, hes done it for the love of his daughter and her potential as a proffesional artist ,hes a really genuine honest fella,he wouldnt want to make money from fellow money am traders, hes not like that,
i suppose i can and do understand why you asked though, unfortunately not everyone is as honest as Howard, and some people including members of the money am community would sail you up the river if they could ,and try and earn money off the back of you , but fortunately howard isnt one of em,
but you shouldnt be scared of asking those sort of questions, those who have nothing to hide will give you an honest answer.

Well done Howard and Francesssca, great achievement,
whats the difference between the independant chart and the one played on the radio?

Bolshi

We are trying to work with the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund and I would like you (as you raised this issue) to go to their website and see what they are trying to achieve.
http://www.melanoma-fund.co.uk/
I met Harry Townsend last week and he is an amazing guy.

I would like to help him and so I have an idea to raise some money for his good cause. It will cost 77p per person and I am going to create a new link for this.

As such I have an idea to raise a little money for his charity from my record label Moon Records UK. If you look on his donations page you will read that he has already recieved 250.00 from us with another 125.00 to come this week. I would like to help him and so I have an idea to raise some money for his good cause. It will cost 77p per person and I am going to create a new link for this.#

More later.

http://www.7digital.com/stores/default.aspx?shop=377&partner=233

This link to buy Colours Faded will register sales for the purpose of raising money for the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund.
http://www.melanoma-fund.co.uk/

Each track costs 77p and 100% of sales will go to the charity. It will start now and close on 28th August 2006. So to clarify that if you buy one track for 77p then 77p goes to the charity.

Ruth

Independent Charts are based on sales of records of independent record labels artists/bands in stores around UK. Does not include on-line (download) sales.

We have had two decent sized independent labels approach us yesterday afternoon. Have meetings set up for later this week. Could be interesting.

Stan

Your cheque and CD waere mailed yesterday. Can you please confirm that you have recieved ok

Don't forget mine, Howard.

Keep us informed as to what is happening Howard.

I'm an avid muso myself ( guitarist ) and jam often with my friends.

I'd be interested to hear where your story leads.......

Howard, Money AM and All,

Just to say that I have received the cheque for 125 and the CD this morning.

Also, Ian from Money AM has Informed me that my subscription Is being set up.

Many Thanks Howard and Money AM, and good luck with your enterprise.

ATB.

Stan.

Howard and Francesca, I think it's great, and it was wonderful to see and hear Francesca at Brighton. We're really grateful for your support for the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund, where we're funding research to find a cure for this terrible disease of malignant melanoma, the fastest increasing cancer in Britain.
I hope that other readers will visit our website www.melanoma-fund.co.uk and read all about what we're doing, and why. Good luck, Francesca, you really deserve to succeed
Harry Townsend

Someone on GNI forum wondering hopw you got on - I'll post the result over there

Any chance of an update Howard?

We reached 60 in the national UK singles charts and 8 in the national independent charts.

There is not too much to report since. We have been building up Francesca's mySpace account and we have a target of 25,000 friends by 1st Jan 2007 and 100,000 later in 2007.

Francesca's MySpace account ishttp://www.myspace.com/francescaberlin

There is a girl singer from the midlands who is planning on releasing one fof Francesca's songs for a single. Channel 4 will be using "Colours Faded" for the background music for a sports programme later this year.

Francesca starts a foundation course at Mountview (musical theatre) next week.

No interest from major record labels apart from Warners interested in what we do next. Have had some contact from smaller labels.

Francesca would love some from of acting role in next year.