Last year the unsigned UK pop duo Georgia Wonder tasted minor but traditional success through supporting Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall on his first solo tour.

This year an unconventional approach has seen their debut EP “Hello Stranger” downloaded over 30,000 times in four days by users of Frostwire, one of the file sharing programmes the music industry would prefer to shut down rather than harness.

For Georgia Wonder’s vocalist, Stephanie Grant, the opportunity was irresistible:

“What Frostwire helped us achieve is incredible. Their support has put our music into the hands of tens of thousands of potential fans in a matter of days.”

And all Frostwire did was add a link to the duo’s songs on the programme’s welcome page, their spokesperson Kademlia explained (via email) that Georgia Wonder was an act they believed in:

“When we first heard Georgia Wonder’s EP, we couldn’t stop humming ‘The Girl You Never Knew’ (see below). We knew there is something unique about them, because this doesn’t really happen within our team. Another interesting thing was that we immediately felt the need to share the word about them.”

Even though this altruistic attitude has given a massive boost to Georgia Wonder’s listener base, Frostwire’s software is also helping a vast amount of people share music that should have been purchased.

When you read the latest statistics you can’t blame record companies from gnashing their teeth over the huge sums of money they are potentially losing.

Figures recently published by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) showed that forty billion files were illegally shared in 2008.

As these statistics are based on results from only 16 countries the extent of their problem is potentially much bigger.

Sharing this many files has been made very easy thanks to the “BitTorrent protocol” which allows a computer programme to download a file from many sources instead of the traditional one point of contact.

For example: if you were using the BitTorrent protocol to buy a book in the physical world, individual pages would be sent to you by hundreds of people instead of the whole book delivered from just one shop.

This type of data transfer is known as Peer-to-Peer (P2P) with the “peers” being thousands of domestic computers running programmes like Frostwire.

If you visit the charts hosted at “The Pirate Bay” you’ll see what is currently popular in the BitTorrent universe.

Heading music’s Top 100 is Pink Floyd’s full discography – all 27 albums wrapped up in a file that is just under 4 gigabytes in size.

Also in the charts are established groups such as U2, Metallica, Coldplay and The Beatles as well as a host of present day artists.

Unbelievably, unsigned Georgia Wonder are rubbing shoulders with these giants and, during the period their EP was available on Frostwire, they broke into the Top 20 – which is a remarkable achievement.

It would take many months for Georgia Wonder to reach a similar number of listeners using networking sites such as MySpace, YouTube, ReverbNation and Facebook but at least with those places a firm relationship can be developed with the visitor.

However, as Frostwire only promote music they believe to be a worthy listen, they themselves will form a relationship with their users and that level of trust will mean many more digital artists knocking at Frostwire’s door.

As Kademlia points out: “Music just seems to be the natural thing to share and young and up-and-coming musicians seem to be first to understand and utilize the advantages of peer-to-peer distribution. After all, today’s new artists are the pioneers of the future music industry, one which will not be controlled by a hand full of record labels.”

With this type of success it won’t be long before the music industry embraces P2P trading and, with yearly downloads of 40 million; even fifty percent of that traffic would be a tidy sum.

For Kademlia the future is obvious: “P2P has been proven to be an effective media distribution technology. It’s been embraced by millions organically. Hopefully, the music industry will evolve and figure out way to use it, instead of fighting it.”

For the past 100 years the planet has experienced its second Dark Age: two world wars, a cold war, the incredible rise of materialism and the ensuing deterioration of our environment.

It seems that humanity has been wandering around with an executioners sack on its head, waiting for the chop. Since the arrival of Barack Obama, people are beginning to feel the sun on their face and the light in their eyes.

His arrival also sees the beginning of the retreat of the people who have been holding the world back.

George W Bush will be remembered for his financing of the fight against Aids in Africa but had he approached Afghanistan, Iraq, Wall Street and the environment with the same conviction we might be looking back fondly on his eight years in power.

However for many his tenure will be seen as the cold part of the night just before dawn.

The new President will still face opposition to his message of hope in the Parliaments and Presidential palaces where the idea of change conflicts with the desire for power.

Within those walls there is a belief that the current system will survive the financial meltdown and that eventually Obama will be drawn into the fold; in a similar way Tony Blair succumbed in the UK.

Blair was also elected on a wave of optimism and hope but it wasn’t long before he was enthralled by the financial world and men of money who seemed to be saying: “If you make change it will be bad for the economy!”

The financial crisis has drawn the rug from under that argument and no matter how many billions are pumped into the system it seems that nothing can stop the collapse.

On one hand Barack Obama brings hope and great expectance and but also the knowledge that we have many miles to travel before we can relax in a rebuilt world.

It was written somewhere that wisdom is intelligence with love, in Barack Obama that love of the people shines through and will hopefully saturate us all.

If you are new to this story some background links are available at the end but, in summary, December’s issue of Share International and a subsequent press release announced a Christmas Miracle was expected:

“In the very near future a large, bright star will appear in the sky visible to all throughout the world – night and day.”

This “Miracle” would signal the beginning of the open Emergence of Maitreya, a person who will guide humanity to a golden future. Soon after the star’s appearance Maitreya, under a different name, would be interviewed on American television and start delivering His message of hope and change.

According to Benjamin Crème, editor of Share International, Maitreya is the One awaited by all religions who’s Emergence has been ongoing since His arrival in London in July 1977. It’s potentially a massive news story.

People who naturally deride this whole story see this new star’s non-appearance as yet more proof that Maitreya and the Masters of Wisdom do not exist as well as proof that Benjamin Creme has been deluding many people for many years.

However if Maitreya is of the stature that Crème suggests, someone who seems to be saving humanity from humanity, then no doubt any “opposing forces” would try to stop, or at least delay Him. They have been blamed before.

In 1987 twenty-two journalists gathered in Brick Lane, in the East End of London, to hopefully meet Maitreya or one of His envoys.

Crème has always stated that Maitreya needs the media to invite Him forward because He cannot infringe humanity’s free will. Which is why Maitreya is unable to launch Himself unannounced on an unsuspecting public during the final of major sporting event.

Maitreya sees the media as the true representatives of the people, so instead of “take me to your leader” it’s more like: “put me in your leader”.

So this group of expectant reporters met in a curry house at 8pm on 31st July hoping to start the ball rolling. Unfortunately for everybody concerned nothing happened; at least in that room.

An explanation from Benjamin Crème’s Master was printed in Share International (September 1985) and might well give some insight as to why the “Christmas Miracle” has yet to be seen.

“The advent of a Being of the stature of the Christ is an event of planetary and even cosmic importance and is governed by certain laws. Inevitably it also inspires the opposition of those materialistic forces, seen and unseen, planetary and cosmic, who stand to lose the power which has kept humanity in thrall for untold ages.

On that day, beginning about 12 noon, an initiative was launched by these forces which took the total attention of Maitreya and His Brotherhood of Light to contain. This was not achieved until about 3 am.

The unanimous advice of the Masters was to postpone the contact. This decision was finally made about 9 pm. It was decided that the reception through the news media channels would not be of the best, evoking more disbelief, opposition and fear than was desirable.”

As we have no idea what was happening in the unseen areas of our planet we have to look elsewhere and a search of the Internet reveals two “seen” events which could have a bearing on the above explanation.

In Mecca 400 Iranian pilgrims were killed in clashes with Saudi Arabian security forces and in Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) calls July 31st 1987 Black Friday because of a very strong tornado: “…the weather in Edmonton is reaching biblical proportions: torrential rains, rivers rising and severe hailstorms.”

Deadly Skies: Canada’s Most Destructive Tornadoes

Another event that is probably unrelated, but still would have caused extra activity in the media, was the UK’s Attorney General deciding to sue the Sunday Telegraph over the publication of details from Peter Wright’s Spycatcher novel.

That aside there are parallels with the previous two events and a couple surrounding the Christmas Miracle that Creme predicted.

The festive time frame for the miracle was only announced in December’s issue of Share International, although it was first mentioned at Crème’s public meeting* in October but then is was expected “soon” and not a specific period.

Since the press release was sent out, two situations have shaken the world: Israel has attacked the Palestinians in Gaza and the Russians have cut off gas supplies to many homes in Europe.

No one is suggesting that the leaders of Russia or Israel are in league with “the other side” but the influences of the forces of materialism were blamed before, so have they sown seeds of discontent and suggestion again?

* Benjamin Crème’s next public meeting is Thursday January 15th 2009 at Friends Meeting House, Euston, London, doors open 18:30. (free)

Background reading:

The Christmas Miracle Press release

Share International magazine

“Ponder on This” A compilation of extracts from the books on Esoteric Philosophy by Alice A. Bailey.

He has also covered the Maitreya/Creme story in his book “The Spiritual Tourist” and once made a revealing documentary for BBC Radio 4 in which Crème not only spoke about his life’s mission to bring Maitreya to the public’s attention but also revealed what is was like to work with a “Master of Wisdom”.

But even though a writer of his standing is bringing this story to people’s attention you are left wishing that there were other journalists of Mick Brown calibre prepared to stick their neck out and create more awareness of Maitreya and the possibible benefits his emergency would make around the planet.

However “the sit back and wait approach” is apparently the way forward as Maitreya (under another name) will be interviewed on American TV a week or so after the “Christmas Miracle”.

Yet here we are, two days into the New Year and still no sign of any bright lights in the sky.

However I still haven’t stopped looking up at every opportunity hoping to catch that first glimpse of this new celestial object.

I’m usually looking to the north as logic dictates that if you are going to cause people to look up in awe, day and night, then away from the sun would be a sensible idea.

And we’ve had some lovely clear days and nights in England, almost perfect conditions since Christmas but still nothing.

Although remember this: Christmas is twelve days long and the last day, Epiphany, is on January 6th

I only recently found out that Epiphany in Greek means “to manifest” or “to show”. So there is always hope of impeccable timing.

Yet the disturbing situation in the middle-east could prove a hindrance. With the Israelis attacking the Palestinians in Gaza I’m wondering if a cease-fire is needed before any light comes from above. Or would a new star in the sky cause people to stop their war?

Proof that the city dealers haven’t learnt from this disaster came with the news that billions of pounds have been lost by hedge funds short-selling shares in German car maker VW

(VW goes from the Beetle to the world’s most valuable company, The Guardian)

Even after all of their losses the city hasn’t learnt and their mistakes threaten our way of life.

There can’t be many people in this world who haven’t noticed the recent injustice of our financial institutions receiving billions of dollars in aid, while millions of Zimbabweans are on the brink of starvation.

This planetary imbalance of fortune needs to be addressed and there is one person who has consistently provided a blueprint to a better future for everyone.

His name is Maitreya and His plan for humanity includes: the end of starvation and war, Peace and Justice for all, with adequate food, housing, health and education as a basic right.

Maitreya not only sees our problems as easily solvable but also predicts that by following His plan we can expect this to be achieved within 25 years. All we need to do is see the earth as belonging to everyone and share its resources.

He has been generally ignored by the media for the past thirty years but now, with our economies on their knees, is the ideal time to test Maitreya’s ideas face-to-face and see if they stand up to intense scrutiny. We have nothing to loose and everything to gain.

However the media have always had a problem with who Maitreya is claimed to be and maybe that is why He isn’t a household name by now.

Since May 1975 Maitreya’s plans have been presented by Benjamin Creme during his monthly lectures at Friend’s Meeting House in Euston, London.

Along with annual talks in Europe, Japan and America, Creme says he has been “preparing the way” for Maitreya, once describing his role as a bit like John the Baptist but without any baptising.

Creme is also editor of Share International, a magazine in its 27th year of publication and in that time it has never taken an advert.

As you would expect the ‘share’ in this case is “Share and Save the World” and for Maitreya this is the only way forward for humanity.

In a series of messages given to Benjamin Creme, by Maitreya between September 1977 and June 1982, the idea of sharing was a regular topic:

“The answers to your problems are simple indeed. Many times have I told you that the will to share must govern your lives. Once again, I repeat: without Sharing and Justice, My brothers and sisters, man will know no peace.”

(Message No. 133 December 16, 1981)

So who is Maitreya? And what is His background? On Share International’s web site they claim this about Him:

“He has been expected for generations by all of the major religions. Christians know him as the Christ, and expect his imminent return. Jews await him as the Messiah; Hindus look for the coming of Krishna; Buddhists expect him as Maitreya Buddha; and Muslims anticipate the Imam Mahdi or Messiah.

Although the names are different, many believe that they all refer to the same individual: the World Teacher, whose personal name is Maitreya.”

(Who is Maitreya? Share International)

If true this would be the biggest news story the planet has witnessed but maybe a claim the media have found impossible to stake their reputations on with an in-depth investigation.

They might have also had a problem with the notion that they need to invite Maitreya forward. Creme says Maitreya can’t just materialise on TV sets around the world as that action would infringe humanity’s Free Will, something a person of Maitreya’s standing sees as sacrosanct.

The media are also seen as the people’s true representatives. It is them and not politicians or religious leaders who are needed to put Maitreya’s plans forward but only after thorough testing and questioning of His qualifications.

Creme’s first attempt at bringing Maitreya and the media together was a major press conference in Los Angeles on 14th May 1982.

After placing full page adverts in newspapers around the world, ninety journalists from the main news outlets gathered to hear Benjamin Creme announce that Maitreya, The Christ and World Teacher, was living as an ordinary member of the Asian community in London, ready and willing to help humanity.

All the media had to do was go through the motions of looking for Maitreya and He would be able to start His emergence. In a Share International pamphlet Creme explained:

“A well-known journalist would need to be assigned to the task, so that on meeting Maitreya they would have sufficient professional standing to be believed by their fellow journalists.”

Unfortunately no one came forward. And in some respects you can’t blame them as the Share International adverts had proclaimed “The Christ Is Now Here”.

Now from Creme’s point of view he is telling the absolute truth but it must have seemed a very difficult task for the journalists, returning to their editors with the news: “Well, Christ wasn’t there, but Benjamin Creme says we’ve got to go and look for Him and then he will come forward.”

However the story did inspire some freelance journalists and twenty-two gathered at a curry house in Brick Lane, London on 31st July 1985 with the hope of meeting Maitreya, or an envoy.

A humorous account of the evening was written by Alan Rusbridger, the current editor of the Guardian newspaper, who since hasn’t written anything about Maitreya.

No one put in an appearance that evening and enthusiasm for the story diminished but, according to Creme, enough of an attempt had been made to begin the process.

In the September, 1985 issue of Share International he writes:

“Of course, all of us who have worked so hard to bring this gathering of journalists about were disappointed. From the viewpoint of the Christ, however, the evening was a great success. For the first time, a truly representative group of the world’s media, East and West, made themselves available to be contacted. This represents a symbolic invitation from humanity to come forward and immeasurably frees Maitreya’s hand to act directly Himself.

In the long run, the media have still to make Maitreya known to the world but the work of getting them involved is done. We can now await Maitreya’s direct action with added confidence and faith.”

Twenty-two years later and with the same optimism and hope for the future Benjamin Creme is still giving lectures in Friend’s Meeting House and at the most recent (7th October 2008) he said Maitreya’s first TV interview was very close. It will be in the United States, He won’t be called Maitreya but he will put forward His views and ideas.

Creme even gave the audience a time frame in which this would happen and the details have been printed in Share International (November 2008).

Apparently this August, Maitreya gave a bottle of hair conditioner to a woman stall holder the Esoteric fair in Magdeburg in Germany. He told her that: “If you are very sparing, the event will happen before this bottle is finished.”

Maitreya also gave her another sign that the moment was near: “The event will be announced by a bright star in the sky,
which will be visible for everybody.”

Although when it comes to continuing the Showcase, which puts unsigned and independent music on the radio, people seem to be cowering behind the studio door, fingers in ears, exclaiming the idea to be “dangerous”.

Well, dangerous might be a small exaggeration, but what I’m finding is that playing “new music” on commercial radio is seen as a bad idea because, the theory goes, listeners want familiar songs. Songs that they know and love and have heard many times before.

If they don’t hear a familiar song they’ll change channel.

And that’s even with the new music put into a “new music show” with a presenter telling you that there is “new music” about to come on.

It’s surprising the ‘familiar’ theory is so prevalent because pop radio has been with us for over 40 years and by now we should be used to hearing the occasionally different song.

The only person widely associated with broadcasting new music the late BBC broadcaster John Peel and bizarrely enough he became popular before joining the BBC playing new and different music on a pirate radio station.

So even in the late 60’s pirate radio fell into the trap of playing safe.

The message is loud and clear: commercial radio plays music you already know and new music is the BBC’s remit.

Commercial television doesn’t have a problem with untried talent. If you went to ITV chief Michael Grade and suggested he should drop “The X Factor” and “Britain’s Got Talent” I am sure he’d suggest you did something unprintable.

These two shows are their biggest ratings winners and although the format maybe familiar the acts aren’t. It is a sure bet that radio wouldn’t have discovered Leona Lewis or Will Young.

I’ve recently been reminded that “radio is a village”. A great analogy to be sure but, to my eye, commercial radio’s current attitude appears more like local gentry, living on a big hill near the village, with a loud speaker on the turret, expecting everyone to love them because of the familiar songs they broadcast.

The only time these gentry visit the village is to collect money from traders, or hand out prizes when ratings are being counted.

If, on these rare visits, they were to collect a few new songs from the village and then expand on that interaction, they might engender some respect, loyalty and more importantly for the traders – show they have a connection with the community.

Advertiser’s current worry is their message falling upon deaf ears because, if people are listening to familiar songs on the radio, are they really “listening”? Are they just treating it as background music?

Of course the other question radio should be asking is “How many times do people switch when they hear a song they are familiar with?”

Commercial radio is an excellent medium for musicians, listeners and advertisers to co-exist but for me the current trend of safety will widen the distance between the station and the community.