www.nikoonline.com/free-music

 Indie recording artist Niko Papasideris has chosen to forego the traditional music business model, rejecting a major label deal and opting instead to give away his music online for free.

Known simply as “Niko,” the Greek artist and Nashville resident has posted 20 of the most popular tracks from his four releases at www.NikoOnline.com for free download.

“My vision has always been to make a positive difference in the world through music,” says Niko.  “I decided to remove the biggest obstacle that was keeping the world from hearing my songs – money.”

The international singer has developed an impressive following, particularly overseas in Europe and Asia.  His Myspace page averages nearly 5,000 plays a day www.myspace.com/nikoonline, largely as a result of viral marketing and word of mouth exposure.  The response to his online initiatives has been so encouraging that he recently rejected a major label record deal from Warner Bros. in Greece.

“We were honored to receive an offer from such a prestigious label, but ultimately we felt that the old music business model doesn’t lend itself to a new-millennium artist like Niko,” says Niko’s manager, John Walker.  “So much of his vision revolves around breaking down barriers between artists and fans, and working to develop a new paradigm.”

The prolific artist is currently recording his fifth album, an as-yet-untitled collection of “Newgrass” remixes of new and previously released Niko material.  The project features an array of veteran Nashville musicians: Andy Leftwich and Cody Kilby (Ricky Skaggs), Rob Ickes (Blue Highway, Alison Krauss) and Byron House (Sam Bush), among others.  A number of the new tracks are slated for an early summer release, followed by a European tour.

Niko is currently focusing his marketing efforts overseas in countries like France, Greece, the United Kingdom and China, although he has landed a number of songs in local and national television ads.  His indie hit “The Sun the Moon the Stars” was featured in the national “Star 129” diamond ad campaign, and local Nashville residents will recognize him from the infectious Rivergate Dental “Joy, Joy, Joy” television ad, which has now expanded to a co-op of sedation dentists.

For more information and to download 20 free Niko songs, visit www.NikoOnline.com. 

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

2. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

3. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

4. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

5. When you say, "I’m sorry," look the person in the eye.

6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

7. Believe in love at first sight.

8. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much.

9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.

10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

11. Don’t judge people by their relatives.

12. Talk slowly but think quickly.

13. When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

15. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

16. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

17. Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

18. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

19. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

20. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

21. Spend some time alone.

Maya Angelou said this and I agree with her…

   I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today,

   life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

   I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he / 

   she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and

   tangled Christmas tree lights.

   I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents,

   you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.

   I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life.

   I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

   I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on

   both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.

   I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart,

   I usually make the right decision.

   I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.

   I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.

   People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

   I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.

   I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will

   forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them

   feel.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of Cleveland, Ohio"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:   

Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

1. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
   

2. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
   

3. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
   

4. Pay off your credit cards every month.
   

5. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
   

6. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

7. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

8. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
   

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
   

10. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
    

11. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
    

12. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
    

13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
    

14. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
    

15. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
    

16. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
    

17. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
    

18. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
    

19. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
    

20. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
    

21. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
    

22. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
    

23. The most important sex organ is the brain.
    

24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
    

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
    

26. Always choose life.
    

27. Forgive everyone of everything.
    

28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
    

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
    

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
    

31. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
    

32. Believe in miracles.
    

33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
    

34. Don’t audit life.. Show up and make the most of it now.
    

35. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
    

36. Your children get only one childhood.
    

37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
    

38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
    

39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
    

40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
    

41. The best is yet to come…
    

42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
    

43. Yield.
    

44. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”