BrittleBrattle 101: Declaiming the Business of Dissonance

Woe is Me

2013-02-02T01:10:00.002-08:00

Woe is Me

Hello Family,

Long Time. No See, Right?

We hope you have had an amazing Holiday Season and all your wishes and resolutions have slowly taken place and are working in your favor.

Although 2013 is only 31 days in (33 by the time I'm done editing this), so much has happened with myself and my family that I've had to stop blogging the last few months. From a miscarriage, to family deaths, and beyond, Woe has become the gift that just keeps giving. I have been extended, over-exhausted, and stolid.

I won't go into any sullen illustrations or displays of our situation with regard to certain circumstance, but let's just say it's enough for me to bring my fiancée onboard with me as a writer for this blog. In addition to being my business partner in our many facets of Entertainment, he will also be attending Full Sail University as a Music Business major. How dope is that?

No topics are being covered this week, just an update, but we do have something very interesting in store next week for you all. We may even cover two topics per week instead of one, and ad video clips, but let’s get over the first hurdle shall we?

Forgive My Absence.

Read. Converse. Enjoy.

Cherry

The Looking Glass

2012-10-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

Hello New & Older Viewers,

What’s new in entertainment you think people who read this blog (or I) should know about? What are topic suggestions, debate references, your opinion, etc.? I caught wind that I am a pretty windy writer, but if I am, I prefer to talk about things that interest my readers. This blog is really for you to converse and exchange information, so be active by adding your input!

This week, I have decided to go with some basics – what to do when you decide to start in music and other forms of entertainment. We are really covering things on what I think should be on a need-to-know basis. If you have any other topics you feel should be covered in this post, please jump right in by including them in a comment. I’ll edit the original post up to Friday, October 26, 2012.

When an Artist or Band usually decides to piece together and begin their career, it's common that it’s through the eyes of someone from the outside of the industry looking in. They see fame. They see stardom. They see expense. Very rarely are Artists bred from their prospective households of what the industry is “really” like. Whether they are in Music, Film, Theater, Sports, Arts or Modeling, people just generally don’t know, in lack of better words, what they are getting themselves into.

For this post, I’m going to focus on Music.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://bls.gov), in America alone there were 176,200 people identified as a Musician or Singer in 2010. Break that down. That means that there were approximately 483 people identifying as a musician per day, 20 per hour and about 4 people a second somewhere in the United States of America saying that the music they made mattered.

By 2020, BLS expected that number to increase by 194, 100, at a 10% increase. They are predicting that nearly 17,900 people will identify as someone who works in music 8 years from now.

In that same year, “work” for a musicians was generally described as rehearsal and recording sessions and live performances. $22.39 was the median hourly wage for performers then.

If you’re “good”, you may be able to get Music Investor. In the United States, Music Sponsorship spending has become more and more abundant. The market for Music Sponsorship, provided by GrabStats.com, states that from 2003 to 2006 the market increased from $575 million to $867 million, and in 2007, the Music Sponsorship market finally reached its $1 billion mark. It continues to rise.

This blog focuses on the U.S. and Europe, however the proportion of US consumer’s disposable income spent on digital music vs. Europe has been reported to be 5X’s higher.

Success in the Music Industry for an Artist can be measured indefinitely by consumer sales, ratings and influence (a category which is not taken seriously by every company or label.) Consumer Sales and revenue are a major category in Artist Success. The tours, live gigs and merchandise have been proven sources of sustainable income for many upcoming and established musicians like Raka Dun of Los Rakas (Sydell, 2012.) Sales, of course, are a success factor in any business. Ratings in music are just as important as ratings in motion pictures. It reflects development on not only the Artist(s), but the marketing aspect of the business as well. Influence can be another large successful factor if a company’s promotion knows how to develop profit from an idea of a message, image or song a band or Artist wants to promote. For example Lady Gaga costumes are a large consumer attraction during the Halloween season, and LMFAO’s Party Rock theme is large during Homecoming/Spring Break seasons for a college student demographics.

The “Checklist” of a successful Artist or Band used to be Major Label signing, Hit Record, and Star expenses (Sydell, 2012). Now, that list is few and far between. With independent labels on a rise to popularity and recognition by fans and competing businesses alike – who can owe their credit to dedication, motivation and consistency – there aren’t any general rules to follow. They have become more so built on protecting the rights of the music and musician(s).

You don’t necessarily need to be with a Major Recording Label or even buy extravagantly to be a successful Artist or Band. I have a basic plan that I use with one of many businesses for any person who thinks they want to seriously get involved with a music industry. It’s a process I came up with, being involved in the music industry at a young age.

(1) Ask questions. Why be involved in music? Why now?

(2) Find yourself. What kind of music/message are you looking to put out? What image do you want to be associated with it? Do they compliment each other? Are you looking to follow a trend or start one?

(3) Produce quality material. Write. Write. Write. If you started as a poet, write. If you are already recording and producing material, write. Even if you freestyle, go back, listen and write. Quality over quantity cannot reign more true in this industry.

(4) Social Media Marketing. Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Bandcamp, Reverbnation, Youtube, LinkedIn, Google Plus and many other social media sites have changed the game for music and entertainment. You don’t have to build a formal web page from he ground up as an Artist. As long as you have quality content, you have fans. Social networking has proven to be one of the most important “real” success tools in the music industry today (Patterson, 2010.) To get heard, noticed and even booked for gigs, it’s important that you exercise social media – professionally. Have separate accounts for your band and personal information, and use them accordingly. The major label A&R representative doesn’t care what you had for lunch, and the venue who you are trying to book may not book you if rant about a misunderstanding at another venue.

(5) Seek Management. Although, a lot of bands are following in the trends of managing themselves, or recording for themselves. However, if you start off on the business aspect, how can you expect to develop your sound and craft as an Artist or Band? Can you really handle the pressure of promotion, imagery, development, management and representation all while trying to make music? Be picking in your choosing.

(6) Accept constructive criticism. Artists are most sensitive about the music or image they produce. If you sought management, representation or a label, take meeting notes, listen and follow instruction. They can’t make money if you don’t, so take heed to what’s being said – with your own feedback of course.
(7) Make a plan. Short term and long term goals are most important at this stage. What do you want to accomplish with your band in the next month, 3 months, or 1 year? Include your finances, sales, and profits all planning. Crunch the numbers and see what needs to be purchased and done to get to where you want to go.
(8) Funding. Money, the root of all evil and friction that may arise between yourself, your band and/or your manager. Yes, it is important, but is it the most important factor? You need funding for equipment, your look, production, engineering, travel expenses, etc. and you can’t make money without money, but what are you willing to sacrifice for it? Can you write investment proposals? Can you handle paying for the venue or would you rather have your management front you the money and pay 25%+ of all grossed revenue?

Surely it is not everything (can’t reveal all my secrets), but it is an idea of how to proceed if music and the business of the industry are for you.

As an Artist, or Band, you may wonder which markets are out there for you to appeal and expand to.

Types of Available Music Markets Artists can get into:

- Digital Age (Singles [single tracks], Online Downloads)

- Live Music (Concerts, Open Mics)

- Music Retail (Physical Album Sales, Merchandise, Donations)

- Radio (Mainstream, Satellite)

- Promotional Outlets (DJ’s for Nightclub play, Major and Exclusive Parties)

- Entertainment Outlets (Soundtracks and Scores for TV/Film)

This is some general information I think should every upcoming artist should know. More can be explained through comments, email or social media!

Read. Converse. Enjoy.

Cherry

Fiero, G. M. The 6 Rules of Commercial Music Success. (n.d.). Music Biz Academy. Retrieved from: http://www.musicbizacademy.com/articles/gf_6rules.htm.

McDonald, H. Music Business Investors. (2012). About.com. Retrieved from: http://musicians.about.com/od/musicindustrybasics/p/musicinvestors.htm.
Music Industry Statistics Industry Figures, and Information. (2012). SiteRapture, Inc. Retrieved from: http://www.grabstats.com/statcategorymain.aspx?StatCatID=9.
Musicians and Singers: Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012, March 29). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/musicians-and-singers.htm.

North American Music Industry Revenues (2006-2011). (2012). SiteRapture, Inc. Retrieved from: http://www.grabstats.com/statmain.aspx?StatID=74.

Patterson, V. Social Media Success: The Music Industry. (2010, October 11). Social Media Today. Retrieved from: http://socialmediatoday.com/vashon-60/200287/social-media-success-music-industry.

Sydell, L. How to Succeed In The Music Business (By Trying Really, Really Hard.) (2012, April 9). NPR. Retrieved from: http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/04/09/150287405/how-to-succeed-in-the-music-industry-by-trying-really-really-hard.

Record Labels Vs. Music Groups

2012-10-12T23:51:00.000-07:00

Hello All Bloggers & Readers Alike,

The inspiration for this week’s topic is derived from assignment research (Not everyone goes on Wiki and just site the references at the bottom of the web page.) This month, my degree program coordinator adjusted Intro to Marketing in my schedule, and I am ever so grateful, because that’s the entire reason I began this blog. Last week in the course, we had to options for choosing market research for an established company between entertainment types. Needless to say, I chose a Record Company to research. Of course I did.

However, to my surprise many, many writers, editors and journalists did not understand the difference or separate concepts between a Record Label (hereinafter “Label”) and Music Group...

It made me think to an upcoming meeting topic of the band I manage – the difference between my company and what we do, and other companies and what they do. As Band Management, I am the Managing Member and President of an Entertainment Consulting company to which this band is signed. It’s in the title, we consult, but we are still mistaken as a label or music group or arts collective, and the list goes on.

Hopefully, this article will set the record straight between the two, Labels and Music Groups, and more students will have more proper references to research they conduct (and more writers will have a better understanding of what they write.)

To begin, different Artists and Bands can be signed to different recording labels, but be apart of the same music group. For example: Rick Ross and Wale, American rappers/lyricists, are signed to the different Recording Labels, but apart of the same Music Group. Rick Ross is signed to Def Jam Recordings and Wale is signed to Warner Bros Records, but they are both apart of Maybach Music Group (Just an example, this is not the only case.)

What is a “Record Label?”

According to About.com Music Careers, a Record Label is recognized as a company that manufactures and distributes recorded music and promotes said music (either directly or indirectly). It should be noted, there are different types of labels: Major and Independent.

Major Record Labels are large corporations owned by a parent company, like Sony or Universal. Major labels are primarily recognized as the Big Four – Sony, Universal Music Group (UMG), Electric and Musical Industries (EMI) and Warner Music Group (WMG). Combined, these four companies make up about 75% of the American music market depending on the year.

It should also be noted that Artist could sign to the central label or a subsidiary label to have staff and manage financial decisions. (McDonalds, 2012) For example, Kanye West signed to Roc-A-Fella Records. Roc-A-Fella records is a subsidiary of Def Jam Recordings, which is apart of Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG) and essentially Universal Music Group – of whom Seagram’s is the parent company of. In respect, major labels have a "complex" hierarchal structure, which differs from label to label. Sometimes, distribution is offered to independent labels through major labels.

Independent Record Labels (Indie Labels or "Indies") are companies without a corporate backing. Just because labels don’t have a corporate backing, does not mean they produce music of any less quality than Major Record Labels. Actually, if you need extra motivation, Indies are Number 2 in Gross Revenue under Universal Music Group and over Sony/BMG. (Cole, 2012)

I say: the tip to drive an independent label’s success is finding one niche in Artist services and continually market and develop that niche as the label grows.

Hey, Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller are currently apart of an independent label, Rostrum Records – A label that focuses on Artist Development.

However, just because you are a indie label, don't mean your company is a music group, or vice versa.

So, What’s a “Music Group?”

The Free Dictionary recognizes a music group as nothing more than an organization of musicians who perform together. Could it really be that simple? Maybe. But how would you explain Universal Music Group and other large non-recording label corporations? Pulling from many different sources (and not-so-common sense), here’s my definition of Music Group: an organization of individual Artists, Bands and Recording Labels that exuberate qualities in Artist Services, Management, Song Publishing, Distribution and Corporate Affairs. With this definition, it would make sense that people from two different labels, with two different parent companies, to collaborate as a music group and not have any legal disputes with song royalties, publishing rights, etc.

Although I have all this information, I still can’t figure out if Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music is Recording Label or Music Group or neither. Maybe if we can catch an interview…

Read. Converse. Enjoy.

Cherry

References:

Artists. (2012). Island Def Jam. Retrieved from: http://www.islanddefjam.com/artists/default.aspx?labelID=74

Artists. (2012). Warner Bros. Records. Retrieved from: http://www.warnerbrosrecords.com/#/artists?page=9&ajax=1

Cole, M. Major Labels See Decline In Global Market Share As Independents Grow. (2012, May 4). Complex Media. Retrieved from: http://www.complex.com/music/2012/05/major-labels-see-decline-in-global-market-share-as-independents-grow

Interscope Records. (2012). Universal Music Group. Retrieved from: http://beta.interscope.com/#!/interscope/all

McDonald, H. Big Four Record Labels. (2012). About.com. Retrieved from: http://musicians.about.com/od/musicindustrybasics/g/BigFour.htm

McDonald, H. What Is A Label. (2012). About.com. Retrieved from: http://musicians.about.com/od/ip/g/recordlabel.htm

Musical Group. (n.d.). Farlex, Inc. Retrieved from: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/musical+group

Rostrum. (2012). Rostrum. Retrieved from: http://www.rostrumrecords.com/

Mixtapes Vs. Albums

2012-10-02T06:28:00.002-07:00

Hey Viewers,

This week, I want to separate the differences in between two primary ways musicians, especially Start Ups, are getting a list of their music to the public. It’s very important Novice Musicians and Artists to understand the difference between the two: Mixtapes Vs. Albums.

As a former Artist, and current band manager and consultant, I understand the quality versus quantity aspect of the two. But do you? One provides more types of music all mixed together recorded from different sources, but another is more focused, timelier, and more expensive, but gets you a greater return if done correctly. Do you know which is which?

What is a “Mixtape?”

According to Merriam-Webster, the term “mixtape” was first used in 1991. A Mixtape is a compilation of songs recorded from various sources. Nowadays, that can be on a CD, online, video podcast (of music videos or cinematography - the creation of motion picture images), or wherever you can get music to depending your target market. Mixtapes are usually good in a sense for Start Up musicians, because they may be the most inexpensive way to get a list of your music to the nearest club, DJ or venue you may be interested in playing for. Mixtapes are more freely done, less structured, usually longer and more tracks, and AS LONG AS YOU RETAIN YOUR RIGHTS TO YOUR MUSIC, can be recorded from various locations or sources. Mixtapes are not usually made for a Start Up Artists to seek return, they are more so the music sample to be given away to prep your listeners for the Album, Live Performance, Open Mic, etc.

So, What's an “Album?”

Good old Merriam-Webster states that an Album is one, or more, recordings (12 being industry standard) produced as a single unit. An album is usually is comprised on a CD, or online today. Albums are more so for the Artists that have been “in the game” for a while and have some sort of capital, or profit, where they can invest more money into the necessary equipment, or people, to have all their production (likely mixing and mastering as well) done in one remote location. Albums are more structured with a focus, or storyline, to show the quality of the musicians’ skills, usually shorter than mixtape songs, and completed by a team of 1-2 people, Producer and Audio Engineer.

For example, if you are a live band,

Your mixtape would be:

- Jam sessions;

- Each track 5-10 minutes long;

- May be done live with someone recording “the magic as it happens.”

As where your album would be:

- Composed Music;

- Each track in basic structure;

- May be recorded in an industrial recording set up with an audio engineer instructing the band on how and when to play.

If you are a rapper or lyricist of any sort,

Your mixtape would be:

- Freestyles or ciphers (not necessarily in a battle);

- Lyrics spat or written, and recorded, to industry beats;

- May be recorded on spot with a camera where the audio from the clip would be extracted and put to file.

As where your album would be:

- Written, and revised, lyrics;

- Every track with Hooks and Verses recorded 3x’s over to ensure quality;

- May be laid in an industrial recording lab, and on composed instrumentals made by the Producer or Audio Engineer likely recording your album.

My personal advice would be that if you are a novice musician or Artist with limited funds to invest in an album, record a "quality" mixtape. So, in other words, protect your music rights, and if you can record in one location, do so. If you are recording from various sources, just have the same Audio Engineer mix down and master your all of your music per project.

If you are a beginning musician or Artist that comes from better means, do things right. Not an album "per say" right off the back, maybe just a single or two to circulate so your targeted audience becomes familiar with your sound. After about 6-8 months, work on the release of your album. Details of how to do so will be in another post.

Helpful Links:

UK Music Copyright Info:

http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/protect/p07_music_copyright

US Music Copyright Info:

http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl105.html

Read. Converse. Enjoy.

Cherry

References:

Album. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/album.

Engineer Vs. Producer. (2012, July 21). RCR Recording Studios. Retrieved from: http://rcrrecording.com/blog/2012/07/engineer-vs-producer/

Mixtape. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mixtape.

P-07: Music Copyright Information Fact Sheet. (2004, June 30). Copyright Witness Ltd. Retrieved from: http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/protect/p07_music_copyright.

Target Market Definition. (n.d.). Entrepreneur. Retrieved from: http://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/term/82498.html

U.S. Copyright Office - Copyright Registration of Music. (2010, November). U.S. Copyright Office. Retrieved from: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl105.html.

Brittle Brattle? (About Us)

2012-09-30T12:04:00.002-07:00

Welcome to the wonderful new (focused) blog of Brittle Brattle 101!

Please grab your Composition Notebooks, a Sharpie Pen and pull up your Microsoft Word tab.

This Blog is all about the Business of Music! Get the title yet?

"Brittle Brattle" was hammered into my head from a Theater group I used to work with, Free Street in Chicago, Il. But who are you?
Getting a little off topic, I am now an undergraduate at Full Sail University for Entertainment Business. I am also a multiple business entrepreneur with an extensive background in Entertainment - from sports to modeling to rapping. My current titles include:

Managing Member of Cherry Entertainment Consulting Group, where I manage the band Trunk Music USA, and also involved in Media, Modeling, Theater, Film, Arts and of course...Music;
Lead Designer of Cherie Lamone, International Womenswear;
Co-Chairmen, Editor-In-Chief of Jouir Magazine, upcoming international luxury + fashion publication; and
Vice President, Executive Director of Administration & Affairs of Jouir Entertainment, the primary marketing strategy for the publication.

Getting back to things, as I worked in theater for about 4 years, we "exercised" daily (Yoga, Breath-work, Body-work, Writing exercises, etc.) One of our routines was as we warmed ourselves to chant many things and amongst them, the Consonants "Peanut Butter, Brittle Brattle, Copper Kettle," popping and tapping (annunciating) every-single-letter. So, whenever I had a stage performance or appearance in front of a large audience, I found myself repeating the annunciation to help me with nervousness and to make sure everyone heard me clearly. It evenly helped me later more so than I would realize.

Why A Blog About Music and the Business of It?

Music (and the business of it) is my passion. I adore the concept of developing tone pitch, instrumentals, or song lyrics. I used to perform as a lyricist. I started in about 2000 by writing small things. At that age, I was already heavy into poetry, so rap to me was a more of an entertaining delivery of something I loved doing to vent. I was not exposed to any "real" Hip-Hop until I was well into grammar school, around the third grade. My household was big on Reggae, Chicago House and R&B.
When did you fall in love with Hip-Hop? I was over at a sleep over, and the girls were really cutting up to some strange tunes I had never really heard before, and I loved it. I knew how to dance, so I did. I walked to the radio, and wrote down the station, keeping it in my pocket. When my mom came to pick me the next day, I asked her to change to that station. Although she had seemed she had never known about the station until that day, she ended up only changing during the commercials. I was exposed to Power 92 Chicago that year. Today, it remains my favorite station to listen to whenever I find myself listening to any station in Chicago.

I didn't choose to get involved with the Business of Music purposely. I had an ex (didn't we all?) passionate about music, but had become stagnant with self and mental progression of any sort. She had some very tragic and depressing things going on with her that she couldn't get around, and I kind of just stepped in. The music she used to record was pretty damn good, so I encouraged her that even if she didn't have the heart to record, she should at least still write. And that she did. First as a free write, then to go back and find structure in the chaos. It pushed her to look up old music she didn't get a chance to release...I began promoting it...got her international recognition...tour interest...then we broke up. However, that was the start of my acceleration in the industry. I worked as Development Coordinator for a national tour, consulted in filming, and kept going upwards.

I had ambition and visions about what could be done if upcoming Artists - and some established Artists - knew and understood some of the business themselves for purposes of information and how the industry can work in their favor. Anything from trademarking to Imagery. If I certainly had known half of the information I know now when I was performing, I probably would not be here to give you this information.

I have an informal blog filled with basically Fashion, Beauty & Chaos, so I started a new one with a particular focus. Music and Entertainment are my Art and Passion, so that’s what I decided to begin a new blog about. The purpose of Brittle Brattle 101 is to help upcoming music and entertainment artists and professionals become more knowledgeable about their industry with general knowledge and information on legal and other issues pertaining to music and entertainment.

Everything provided here is a little of what I am familiar with and knowledgable about when it comes down to business (I still have to leave something to manage my Artists with.) I'm not saying that if you follow every step I give, you will get signed to a recording label or noticed by an AR of the such. However, it will give you knowledge on steps you will have to take to get to where you are going. Links and further information will be provided when necessary.

Read. Converse. Enjoy.

Cherry

The information provided on this blog is not legal advice, but general knowledge and information on legal and other issues pertaining to music and entertainment. BrittleBrattle101.blogspot.com cannot provide legal advice, and only provides self-help information, personal knowledge by that of the creator and provided links. The information on this website is not a replacement for legal advice related to music. Before making any serious decisions related to the music industry, you are strongly encouraged to speak with an entertainment attorney.

References:
Annunciating. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annunciate
Consonance. (n.d.). Dictionary.com. Retrieved from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/consonance.
Instrumental. (n.d.). Farlex. Retrieved from: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Instrumentals
Kivumbi. Tone vs Pitch. (2010, June 2). Difference Between. Retrieved from: http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-tone-and-pitch/
Lyric. (n.d.). Dictionary.com. Retrieved from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lyric
Norquist, Richard. Consonance. (n.d.). About.com. Retrieved from: http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/consonanceterm.htm.
Tone. (n.d.). Dictionary.com. Retrieved from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tone