PITTSFIELD - Keith Hannaleck's love affair with music began at an early age. He remembers the excitement of the Beatles taking the stage on "The Ed Sullivan Show" when he was 5. He listened to his brother's Steppenwolf and Rolling Stones albums - and to his sister's Monkees records.
One day, the 1976 Hoosac Valley High graduate decided to put his feelings about a particular album in words and, on a whim, shot the review off to the artist's label. Not only did the label like his review - it wanted more.
That's how Hannaleck found a way to combine his passion for music with his cyber skills and, in 1998, he launched a Web site offering up music reviews for labels and independent artists. It's had various incarnations over the years and was rebuilt and relaunched earlier this year after being acquired by his employer, TalentFusion.
Along the way, MuzikReviews.com has transformed into a leading indie music site offering reviews for fans and publicist services for independent artists around the world.
"If I look back on how my life unfolded...," said Hannaleck, shaking his head slightly as he sat in the conference room of TalentFusion last week. Wearing a Led Zeppelin T-shirt, he recalled the zigzagging path through schools, the Navy and careers before landing at the Internet-based recruitment business. "That was a steppingstone to where I'm going."
The Adams native had headed off to broadcast journalism school after high school but left to join the Navy, then went to California. Six months after returning from California, his mother died. He wrote the eulogy and people "made a big fuss about it."
He describes that as a turning point, a seed planted by his mother that led him to begin writing. He continued his education through Chadwick University, an Alabama school that offers long-distance learning. He worked full time while pursuing two degrees - in business and environmental management - hoping to advance his career at New England Power Co. But it just couldn't hold his interest.
"Working with TalentFusion is the best thing that's ever happened to me," said Hannaleck, who joined the sales division of the Merrill Road recruitment outsourcing company three years ago. "My success is dependent on their success."
Discussion on acquiring the site began nearly a year ago between Hannaleck and TalentFusion owner and founder David Pollard. MuzikReviews became part of TalentFusion in February.
The new Web site allows Hannaleck to efficiently distribute reviews and press releases and offer recommendations to Internet radio sites. He features artists in his "Pick of the Week" with front-page views and Google ad marketing. Services range from a professional reviews to a complete press kit with biography and distribution.
Hannaleck said he takes advantage of the viral nature of the Web by using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to disperse information from his site, garnering up to 10,000 hits.
Though a paid service, Hannaleck said his reviews reveal his true feelings about an artist's work. If he really doesn't like the music, he doesn't take the artist or band on as a client. But he will offer some constructive criticism.
"It's too easy to be negative," he said. "These artists put their soul and sweat into their music - I respect that fact."
An initial appraisal - and recommendation - is offered freely for musicians uncertain about the use of Internet advertising.
The site has more than 120 current album reviews plus guest commentaries, links, partner sites, videos, press releases and more, with plans to continually add reviews dating back to 2000. Hannaleck does the bulk of the reviews but he's open to other music enthusiasts interested in writing. He's also hoping to raise awareness of the site with local bands.
"They don't seem to understand what I have to offer," he said, despite the fact he has clients from around the globe. He's hoping more of them will see how the Internet can expand their career horizons. "The music industry is changing so fast nobody knows what's happening next."
For Hannaleck, life has sort of come full circle: He's living in the house he grew up, listening to his favorite tunes. Only now, he's with his wife, Lisa, and two children, Morgan, 11, and Austin, 14, and the music more often is digital, not vinyl.
Oddly enough, his passion has never been conveyed through making music, though his wife plays the piano and his brother makes guitars.
"I'm very cerebral. I find writing is the best way to express myself."
Hannaleck's "Pick of the Week" will be available on iBerkshires.com.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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