Jen the Music Maven

Music Business Courses Fall 2012 - Marketing & Survey

2012-07-18T04:43:00.000-07:00

If you're an artist, producer, record label owner, artist manager, recording studio owner, engineer, publisher or ever wanted to learn about the music industry this is a great time to start! The music industry is huge and encompasses all aspects of getting music into the hands of the public including: performance royalties, mechanical royalties, film and television deals, all legal aspects (contracts, etc.), various types of record label deals, global distribution, the responsibilities of producers and the art of songwriting. The future of the music industry is rapidly changing - don't use yesterday's knowledge to navigate today's music industry!

The future of the music industry is rapidly changing - don't use yesterday's knowledge to navigate today's music industry!

I'll be teaching 2 courses this semester at Houston Community College, Spring Branch campus.
Survey of the Music Business
A comprehensive guide to the world of music business including: publishing, record label deals, performance rights organizations (ASCAP, BMI, etc.), royalties, legal contracts, management deals, roles of managers/producers/record labels, concert promotion, role of broadcast and internet radio, record producers/production, etc.
MUSB 1305 CRN 24188
Wednesday's 7-10pm
Aug. 27 to Dec. 16
Click here for registration.
Or: go to HCC homepage/Register Now/Class Schedule
From the class schedule choose (from dropdown menu): Fall term 2012/Music (program)/Survey of Music Business (course)/Spring Branch (campus). This takes you directly to the class info and there's a 'register now' button at the bottom of the page.

Management and Marketing
A comprehensive course that focuses on the management and marketing of a career in the music business industry including merchandising distribution. This course has a heavy emphasis on internet marketing and social media for musicians. This course must have at least 20 students signed up in order for the class to make. This is double the amount previously required. SIGN UP EARLY! Seating is limited and course will be dropped if not enough students register early.
MUSB 1391 CRN 24488
Monday's 7-10pm
Aug. 27 to Dec. 16
Click here for registration.
Or: go to HCC homepage/Register Now/Class Schedule
From the class schedule choose (from dropdown menu): Fall term 2012/Music (program)/Spec. Topics: Mgmt & Marketing (course)/Spring Branch (campus). This takes you directly to the class info and there's a 'register now' button at the bottom of the page

Taking courses in music business also includes membership to student organization MEISA (music entertainment industry students association). MEISA provides students with the opportunity to network with influential people in the industry, put on a talent showcase and music conference
each semester. This is an unprecedented opportunity to work side by side with Houston music professionals including: attorneys, producers, music supervisors, musicians, record label owners, social media experts and more.

See you in the Fall! Please don't hesitate to contact me for more info!

2012-07-01T18:00:00.001-07:00

Live Music is IN!

Part I

Profitability in the music industry has slowly shifted from song sales to concert ticket sales. This is not an opinion; it's a fact; open any trade publication associated with the music industry and you'll read the same there. While there are many reasons why profitability in song sales is down (even if revenue from song sales increased somewhat - song sales are still not nearly as profitable as concert ticket sales), the shift toward live performance has many implications for all artists and their future.

When was the last time you saw a major act for $6.50?

The average price of a concert ticket today is over $50. Demand has increased prices for live concerts while music remains relatively inexpensive.

Old Model:
Artists try to capture the attention of major labels to get signed. Careers are left to the judgment of the label who's actions are determined by the profitability of the artist. When the profitability of any artist declines so does the label's interest in that artist. If another artist emerges that momentarily shifts profits to the new talent, an established artist can be overlooked and eventually dropped by the label. Since the 1980's, labels haven't been interested in artist development. Labels are oft times run by business people who have no clue as to the importance of developing artistic talent...they want profit and they want it now! This is also one of the reasons why artists come and go quickly and music hasn't developed or matured much in the last several decades (adding production quality to formulaic pop songs doesn't account for much in the realm of art).

Newer Model:
The internet has opened up a myriad of ways for artists to capture the attention of major record labels who are still the most influential players in the industry. The complicated network of executive gate-keepers who prohibit unknowns from having a fair shot with industry execs play a much less prominent role in the biz today. A&R has been replaced by online analytics and social media buzz. Major labels are still interested in turning profits quickly but the methods to determine who might make them profitable have been taken out of the hands of executive elites and placed directly into the hands of the public. Your band, your artist, etc. can be fantstic, mediocre or even downright awful...but if you are steadily increasing audiences at live performances and have generated a significant social media presence that indicates an obvious demand for your product (shows, merch, songs) a major label can easily clock your progress and decide if/when they might be interested. The evidence they need is only a click away.

Newest Model:
An end to the need for major label representation. How is that possible? Easy! Just remember: Live music performance is where the profits are...not song sales. Let's say it again: Live music performance is where the profits are...not song sales. So if live music is generating more profit than song sales then it makes sense for artists to give music away to fans (which they've been doing for quite some time) so they maintain fans interest and keep them coming back for more. Increasing your audience for live music performance is your key to success. It becomes a question of how to increase audiences; the first key is: create audience awareness of your performances..DO NOT DEPEND ON VENUES TO GENERATE AUDIENCES FOR YOU! This is not the responsibility of a venue! Yes, it's great when they promote a show but they are depending on the artists they showcase to bring in audiences. If you've ever had a conversation with a club or venue owner then you know what I'm talking about. If you're a successful musical act, you'll have a following, if you don't have a following then you should re-evaluate your methods (are you playing to audiences that can relate to your music, are you increasing your social media presence so that you're easily found, is the public aware of who you are as an artist, is your music found easily, etc.).

You must get these three basic concepts right to advance your career as a live music performer, regardless of genre:

1. You must play venues/festivals, etc. that draw audiences that relate to your music. If you're pop, don't schedule regular performances at your neighborhood hipster hang-out. Music is an individual experience but it's collective at the same time, since like-minded people hang with other like-minded people it makes sense that a group of friends may be drawn to particular types of music and the venues that showcase those particular genres. DO NOT JUST PLAY ANYWHERE! Your time is important to your career and so is the feeling of success. Just playing any venue because you can play is a waste of time and worse, it could damage your reputation if you get a name for not drawing crowds; the public at large will not be able to differentiate between the myriad of business decisions that could lead to poor audience attendance; the public will only hear that you're not drawing crowds; so will venues and before you know it, your reputation is suffering because you've grasped at performance straws instead of making savvy choices about where to showcase your talents.

To see Johnny Winter today you'd pay anywhere from nose bleed $45 to $175 for VIP

The price range for the Allman Brothers today is: $38 to $185

2. You must have music available at your shows. YOU MUST! Don't make the mistake of thinking that because your revenue is being generated by live performance that there's no need for public distribution of your music. It's vital! My suggestion is: give your music away for free to as many people as you possibly can! If someone is enthusiastic about your music as a result of attendance of one of your shows, they'll play your music and thier friends will hear it and the word spreads. Example: You've just played to an audience of 300 people and every person there got a free CD. Even if only 1/3 of your audience listens to your CD afterwards, the chances that your music will reach the ears of hundreds of new listeners is VERY high! When was the last time you heard a band you were really enthusiastic about and didn't share it with your friends? Music is a social experience, it's something we love sharing with friends.

3. You must create an impressive, memorable online presence. Whether you're conscious of it or not, social media is the first place we look for info about new artists: YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Websites, SoundCloud, Apps, Google +, etc. Artists need to be found easily, if not, you run this risk of being forgotten in the relentless streams of competition for musical dollars. Surprise - email is still king! Why? Because fans don't have to look for you, you are waiting for them in their inbox. Why do you think every online entity wants your email address? So they can advertise! It's the same concept as phone apps and RSS. You come to the fans...they don't have to search for you. You've made yourself easy to connect with.The next installation will be how to create effective, easy-to-use mass email applications.

All fans use some sort of social networking to connect with artists. If your online presence isn't effective and impressive, you can't increase your fan base via the internet; and the internet is the most influential source of information available today, the most often used vehicle to implement effective promotional campaigns that (if done correctly) will go viral in a short period of time. Is your Facebook impressive? Can fans listen to your music there? Can fans feel like they engaging with you one-on-one? Can fans easily find your concert schedule, new releases and merchandise? Do you have a YouTube app on your Facebook account? Do you use live streaming for concert events? Is your live streaming app available on Facebook? Facebook is not just a place to keep in touch with friends, it's a unique social network that can provide fans with the most comprehensive set of tools on the web designed to generate new fan bases and maintain existing ones. You're making a huge mistake if you overlook Facebook.

Facebook or Google +? Both! But if you must make a choice because of limited resource - go with Facebook, nearly a billion users shouldn't be ignored!

Twitter is a great place to keep your fans up to the minute and engage them in live chats behind the scenes at concerts and all the in-between places musician's like to hang out. A twitter stream is more tolerant of users that frequently (several times a day) update than a network like Facebook or Google +. Twitter for the most part is a verbal stream - extra actions are needed to show pics, videos, etc. and it lacks the ability to send memorable event information to users outside of posts that announce new concerts, etc. But it is a vital part of any musician's campaign.

YouTube must not be overlooked. Live music is at the top of the music money making heap! Your fans have to know how you sound in a live atmosphere. They must be able to find you easily in a YouTube search. I'll be blogging about the importance of name selection how to implement best practices for fans to find you easily.

Social networking is not difficult! It is time consuming. No great artist ever achieved their goals alone; it takes team work! If you're not willing to work hard, can't work well with others and don't enjoy playing in front of live audiences, you're in the wrong business...period! Someone on your team needs to have social media expertise. Expertise is best gained by those who specialize in particular fields. Would you learn social media from your plumber? Probably not but you would learn from a pro-marketer and social media expert.

There are many ways to learn from social media experts: once you've established a unique and memorable web presence, keep abreast of all new trends, etc. Subscribing to tech blogs and social media sites through your RSS reader (Gmail has a great one), email, or phone app and read on the fly. But learn, you must! A quick easy effective way is to consult with a social media expert like me. In a few tutorials or consultations I can teach you best practices for social media. I can help you maintain your sites on an ongoing basis or train someone on your team to be a super-star social media expert. It's not expensive and it is effective.Tutorials and consultations can be specific, general, done online or in person or in groups (group discounts apply). The sooner you start, the sooner you'll be successful. Procrastinators beware! Competition in this field is extreme - get there first! Email me today: jen@jenthemusicmaven.com, or Facebook me, Tweet me, comment on this blog, the choice is yours. Let's get started!

Dear Music Business and Arranging, Composition and Production, and Music in Performance Students,

2012-05-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Music Business and Arranging, Composition and Production, and Music in Performance Students,

HCC Administration is seriously considering deactivating your programs as semester-hour credit degree and certificate programs, as early as Spring 2013.
This is apparently being done for budgetary reasons and based on what I believe is faulty enrollment and graduation data. The intention is to convert the Music Business and Production programs to the non-semester hour credit Continuing Education Division. If these programs are placed in Continuing Education, you could no longer earn AAS degrees and certificates in Music Business or in Music Arranging, Composition and Production, and it will greatly complicate your taking semester hour credit Audio and Music classes and to receive Financial Aid or Veteran's benefits. This would also remove Music Business and Audio classes out of the Music in Performance Degree, and make it an all Academic AA Music Degree.
As far as I can tell, there is still time to save these programs as they are. Obviously, I believe that this move would be a great mistake for HCC, especially as we have just stepped up our industry partnerships with Preston Middleton's company and Barry Coffing's Springboard South Music Festival, and the future looms bright for these programs and for more job opportunities for you.
What can you do? A lot, really. Education is about students!
For now, I am asking you to:

* If you have not already done so, file an AAS or Certificate Degree Plan with HCC! You can make an appointment with me to do this or you can do it with any HCC counselor. Students on filed degree plans are normally allowed to complete them, even if the program is terminated.
* Write a testimonial to me and Jennifer Hawkins Jennifer Hawkins ‎[jen2hawkins@yahoo.com]‎ titled "What HCC For-Credit Commercial Music Programs Mean To Me". This only needs to be a few lines. We'll use your messages in our arguments to preserve these programs.
* Communicate this crisis to others! Use your social network. My distribution lists only reach those who recently took my classes. I am missing many students or potential students who need to know this. Please circulate on the MEISA sites.
* Help me find alumni and graduates of these programs so that we can document their success and story.

That's all I have for now, but I will keep you well informed on how things are going and what further initiatives from you might help. I would appreciate your advice!

Best wishes,

Dr T

Aubrey S. Tucker, DMA

HCC Program Chair for Academic and Commercial Music

Our 27th Year of Commercial Music Studies at HCC
Assistant Division Chair, Fine Arts, Speech and Commercial Music
HCCS Northwest College

Phy Tur Records on the Rise! Larry Barrett and Ken Banks Make a Positive Difference!

2012-03-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

Larry Barrett, founder and CEO of Phy Tur Records, LLC is a great example of why I love teaching. When I call role at the beginning of each semester, I never know what to expect; there's only one guarantee: I will have interesting and talented students, and if I'm really lucky..they'll be as talented as singer/songwriter/producer and local music businessman: Larry Barrett.

Terry Banks: drummer, Ken Banks: keys, Larry Barrett: singer/songwriter and CEO of Phy Tur Records

By the time I met Larry; he'd already experienced many incarnations of his eventful musical career. Larry cut his professional teeth as member of the Barrett Brothers Entertainment group in Chicago, IL., has been heard over 172 national broadcast radio stations, managed the engineering branch of the Barrett Brothers Group, and opened for such notables as Marvin Gaye and Mighty Clouds of Joy.

Larry's latest gift to the musical community is a collaboration between himself and Mr. Ken Banks, keyboard extraordinaire in Houston, TX. Ken Banks has joined the artists at Phy Tur Records, LLC and performs with Larry who provides the sure-to-put-a-smile-on-you-face soul, and R&B inspired covers and originals.

Mr. Ken Banks

I love being a music maven for all sorts of reasons. When I cover an artist, venue or performance, I'm always in for a good time. Catching Larry Barrett and Ken Banks' performance at the monthly meeting of The Red Hat Society in Houston, TX was especially fun! This high-spirited crowd is known for its monthly get-togethers centered around the companionship and sisterhood of all members; these ladies don't know the meaning of the word boredom! Phy Tur Records provided the perfect entertainment for this group; Ken's lively keyboard improvisations and showmanship keeps your lips curled and your toes tapping! Larry provided the soulful vocals that every woman loves. I had a great time with Phy Tur Records and can't wait to hear Larry Barrett and Ken Banks again soon!

All the Ladies of The Red Hat Society Wear Red Hats!

It's like an indoor Mardi Gras!

The Red Hat Society Loves a Good Time...

and Larry Barrett and Ken Banks of Phy Tur Records know how to provide it!

You Can Find Phy Tur Records on Their Website, YouTube Channel, Facebook and Twitter!

Renee King and the Honky Tonk Queens in Pasadena, TX

2012-03-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

Renee King is a powerful country-western entertainer with a unique vision: bring Texas women and Honky-Tonk music together. Welcome Renee King and the Honky Tonk Queens featuring the best female talent in Texas performing classic Honky Tonk and country-western Texas style! Join Renee King, Mary Sarah, Abby Gough, Bobbie Revak, Amy Heller and Terry Ann Kuykendall for an unforgettable night of your favorite Honky Tonk tunes from such greats as: Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tammy Wynette, Hank Williams, Kris Kristofferson and more on Saturday, March 24th at The Lonestar Club in Pasadena, TX.

I had the great pleasure if interviewing these gutsy gals a few weeks ago at Wire Road Studios in Houston, TX. I'd chatted with Renee on Facebook several times before our fateful meeting but had never heard her or anyone in the Honky Tonk Queens line-up before...I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't expect this...

No shrinking violets here - it's talent like this that put Texas on the music map. I love the dynamics here: 16 yr. old Mary Sarah singing Dolly Parton's classic "Jolene", 15 yr. old Abby Gough performing contemporary honky-tonk alongside Renee King and Bobbie Revak, established pros who continue to delight audiences and inspire talent.

Check Out and Connect With the All-Star Line-up of Renee King and the Honky Tonk Queens!

Renee King Website

Renee King Facebook

Renee King Twitter

Mary Sarah Website

Mary Sarah Facebook

Mary Sarah YouTube

Mary Sarah Twitter

Abby Gough Website

Abby Gough Facebook

Abby Gough YouTube

Bobbie Revak Facebook

Amy Heller

See You at the Lonestar Club in Pasadena, TX, Sat. March 24, 2012!

Ya'll Come Back, Now - Ya hear!

Jen the Music Maven is Proud to be a Sponsor for Renee King and the Honky Tonk Queens!

Ever Considered a Career in the Exciting World of Music Business? You Should!

2012-01-08T16:30:00.000-08:00

Have you ever considered a career in the music business industry? It's just as exciting as it sounds...even more so! The opportunities for careers in music business extend far beyond those of entertainer, artist, song write and musician.

Jen will be teaching 2 inspiring Music Business college courses this semester (Spring 2012) at Houston Community College's Spring Branch Campus.

Consider a field that includes a myriad of talent to sustain it:

Audio engineer (recording studio, live events, concerts, etc.).

Music Producer (ever wondered why a great album sounds great? Cause it's got a great producer)!

Videographer (talk about fun...making videos is a blast)!

Music Publisher: It's been said, for all the right reasons, that music publishing is where the $$ is. Today, more artists than ever before are owners of their own publishing rights.

Record Label Owner

Artist Manager (personal and business)

Artist/Venue Booking

Concert and Touring Management/Promotion

Marketers and Promoters

Merchandisers

Distributers

Working for PRO's (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC)

Careers in Radio (online and off)

Technician

Entertainment Attorney

And much, much more!

Check out the most well known entertainment attorney in the U.S., Donald Passman author of "All You Need to Know About the Music Business" as he talks about the passion behind a career in music business.

Want to be a mover, a shaker; a tastemaker? Join Jen this semester at HCC - let the experts guide your path to success!

Hurry - Class seating is limited - Sign up NOW: Houston Community College Registration.

Survey of the Music Business

MUSB 1305 Class Number: 79713

Houston Community College Spring Branch Campus

Wednesdays: 7-10 pm

Start: 1/17/2011

Finish: 5/13/2012

Course Description:

An overview of the music industry including song writing, live performance, the record industry, copyright, publishing, royalties, PRO’s (Performance Rights Organizations), music merchandising, contracts and licenses, and career opportunities. (Formerly MUSB 1301)

Music Marketing and Merchandising

MUSB 2301 Class Number: 86600

Houston Community College Spring Branch Campus

Mondays: 6-10 pm

Start: 2/11/2012

Finish: 5/13/2012

Course Description:

A study of the methods of distribution, retailing, and wholesaling. Topics include the basics of purchasing, inventory control, shipping and receiving, returns, pricing and cost analysis, merchandising, retail display, sales promotion, advertising, security and shrinkage, personnel management, and relationships between retailers and distributors. Special emphasis on social media, internet distribution and internet marketing.

Please email me if you have any questions: jen@jenthemusicmaven.com

Jen and Midnite Blue Band!

MUSIC: A"LIVE" AND WELL IN AUSTIN, TX; LIVE MUSIC CAPITOL OF THE WORLD!

2011-11-18T12:18:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends and Happy Holidays!

I took a trip to Austin, TX last weekend specifically to check out the !LIVE! music scene. Austin boasts over 900 live music venues, and is known as 'The Live Music Capital of the World." The lively music scene, beautiful landscape, and friendly folks combine to make Austin a favorite destination for music lovers.

The live music scene is more important than ever before to the music industry. The huge profits that came from full album sales have drastically declined over the years with the advent of single song downloads, homogeneous broadcast radio, illegal downloading and the record industry's relentless push for 'product'. Concert tours, merchandise sales, and film and television deals are where the profit in the music industry reside now. This leaves us with a mixed bag of musical offerings in our daily lives. The internet provides a myriad of choices for music but still lacks a consolidated, easily accessible anywhere/anytime (like my car) reliable source for music that the majority of people are familiar with. Gone are the days when you would arrive at work or school and everyone was talking about the same radio program, the same music, the same listening experience. Our points of reference for music are less communal and more individual. This has left a gap in the way we experience music as a community and emphasizes the need for the group dynamics that accompany the live music scene.

I listen to Romani (commonly and erroneously referred to as Gypsy) music because...I love it! It's complex, lively, and compels my body to MOVE.. The Roma play in larger groups, a duet or foursome is uncommon. More likely there are 6-12 members that perform together at any single time. Forced into an itenerant lifestyle, the Romani people developed skills and trades that could travel easily from place to place. Their affinity for music left them in demand as musicians and composers for decades. I've noticed a trend in today's live music scene that mirrors the Romani style dynamics. There is still the traditional 3-4 piece bands but another trend is emerging. I'm seeing 6-12 musicians on stage now with instrumentation that provides a richer musical texture than we've had in popular music for quite sometime: horns, more keys and my favorite: drum kits that include a myriad of hand held percussives in addition to the standard kick, snare, toms and bass. Good music is an instant community builder...when the band and music are good, everyone grooves together. And in oppositin to the current trends in pop music, it's rhythm and melody that are driving these artists...the rhythms are not being used to dominate a piece to the point of diluting melody to an insignificant aside. The complex rhythms weave themselves in and out of pieces to accentuate the melody...did you hear what I said? I said MELODY! This is probably the most exciting part of all - melody is weaving it's way back into music! The music I heard last weekend had more than the typical 2 to 3 note range popular in today's style. I walked away from performances being able to hum the tunes and tap out the rhythms and it felt great. And the stars of these new bands are the groups themselves, often with the entire band singing or switching between band members for main vocals. It's a group dynamic that's unprecedented in American popular music.

In the course of a few days I heard original music (and a few covers) that contained elements of: Ska, Rock, Reggae, Cajun, Spanish, Blues, and Country: different ethnic sounds and musical styles emulating from the same band. The term Americana is currently being used to describe this patchwork of new sound but in my opinion it's inadequate. Americana has come to be accepted as a blues/folk style that ranges from stand-up bass and fiddle to searing blues guitar licks...that doesn't really fit this new style laden with heavy doses of ethnic and cultural influences not common in single pieces of American music before now.

I'm looking forward to the exploration of this new style of music and am very curious to see how/if/when it might work it's way into pop music (broadcast radio) or if it will remain 'too good for radio'!

A very limited sampling of what I'm calling 'new' folk is The Big Ol' Band from Austin, TX. A mutual Facebook friend hooked me and Dustin Edwards (drummer) up. Dustin emailed me their ReverbNation press kit and a few seconds of listening was all it took to know I wanted to hear it all (yes, they passed the ten second rule with flying colors). I agreed to come to Austin to check them out. This is just some of the viddy from my most recent trip.

The TBC House Band from Austin is perhaps the best musical example of the Neo Folk style; these guys cover lots of ground musically, playing nearly all originals I love being in the audience when these guys are playing because they astound people! Every time I see them play I hear the same thing from everyone in attendance: these guys are good!! And it's not just their musicality or their obvious camaraderie (they are best friends after all) it's their music, too. No hiding behind fancy guitar licks or crowd pleasing showmanship (don't get me wrong...they're fun as hell to watch and have plenty of technical expertise) to disguise music that reflects an artists inability to compose genuinely memorable tunes...TBC is the real deal.

This too short viddy was taken last Saturday at Jovita's in Austin ; I was too close to the speaker but you'll get it.

I told you they were fun to watch! Hatch Hilliard (guitar) is sporting his favorite wig: a red mullet, Nathaniel Cox (harmonica man in this viddy), Andrew Crosby (bass in this viddy) and horn and percussive players: Mark Mikulin (who got married the night before) and Jake Middleton and thisisnoordinarydrummer, Adam Kaylor prefer ties worn around their heads...not their necks :-) I'm not sure but I think this might have something to do with Mark's nuptials the night before. BTW: when TBC walked into the audience after their show, the crowd broke into another enthusiastic round of applause.

This viddy was taken the first night I was introduced to TBC. Showed up at KC's on the Creek in Oyster Creek, TX for a birthday party and was blown away by TBC. Performing the "Get Wet" song (a TBC original), notice how they transition from a reggae/ska beat into punk and back again.

This is a mix of covers and originals TBC style.

Would love your thoughts about emerging trends in music, this genre in particular.

Clicking on the name of bands in this article will bring you to their ReverbNation pages.

What is the #1 Factor of Success in the Music Business?

2011-09-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

School has started once again and I’m certain my students couldn’t be more delighted! Seriously: It’s a great time to be reminded of the TOP 4 contributors to success in the music business:

1. Strong Motivation to win!

2. Talent (surrounding yourself with talented people)

3. Perseverance: You must hang in until you succeed – DON’T GIVE UP!

4. Get important information (read the trades, books, articles, take courses, network, etc.).

It isn’t difficult to pick the most important factor of all: motivation to win! If you’re not motivated, it doesn’t matter how incredibly talented you may be…all the talent in the world is meaningless without motivation. On the other hand…how many people do you think are less than extremely talented but are exceedingly motivated to win? The motivated are the ones who take home the Grammy’s! There isn’t a single person who’s experienced success in this business who isn’t meaningfully motivated to do so. If you’re not motivated to win…you won’t, in fact…you’ll lose. You’ll lose to those who may be less talented but work ‘smart’. They surround themselves with talented people, stay informed and are constantly networking and persevere through inevitable setbacks in this business.

There's lots of artists who ‘want’ to win and lots of folks pumping each other with platitudes: You can do it! You’re fantastic! Go Team Go! Egos inflate and deflate quickly. Unless you have a substantial business plan to follow, when something happens to burst your bubble, your ‘hopes and dreams’ will diminish quickly as well.

Be an onion head – not an air head! Activate and sustain your motivation with knowledge and planning. If knowledge were an onion and you were an onion head (really smart fella/gal) then each time you were rejected or ran into career difficulties, you could withstand and even learn from your setbacks and rejections because they would only peel away a few thin layers of a substantial knowledge base. You’ll know what your next step is because you’ve identified your goals and your business plan is firmly in place. A head full of air (ego without knowledge) has no resilience…when an airhead receives a setback, there’s nothing to prop it up and keep it moving…its air (energy) has been released. An air head might continue to get ‘pumped’ full of platitudes again and strike out several times…but without knowledge, planning and goals – airheads can’t win…they don’t know the way to the finish line!

Let’s win! There’s nothing wrong with being ‘pumped’ about your career; in fact it’s essential to keep your motivational juices flowing. The clearer your path, the more pumped you can be. So let’s clarify a few things J

Start with your final goal in mind and work backwards! Start with your long term goal and a short term goal. After achieving your short term goal it might be a good time to re-evaluate your long term goal. Your long term goal may be loftier than what can be actually realized or too modest for your abilities!

Example:

Artist long term goal: Establish own record label with in-house publishing and distribution of own music.

Short term goal: Build following and increase demand for product (music and merchandise).

There’s one word to sum up how to achieve this short term goal: AWARENESS! Audiences have to be aware of who you are and what you sound like! A combination of live performance (a very aggressive approach to ‘getting out there’) and an abundance of music and info available on the internet is a winning combination…one without the other and your chances for recognition and success decrease significantly.

Putting your music online and expecting the fans to roll in…no workee. Playing your heart out around town without having a cyber-home for fans to join you or potential fans to find out about you doesn’t work either. Every time I post something about a band on Facebook – it has the potential to reach THOUSANDS of potential fans!! If I post something about a band on Twitter/Facebook/YouTube, etc. it has the potential to reach thousands more. I can reach thousands of people during the course of 1 day online. But there’s little point in drawing people to your sites if you don’t have music there! I can’t underestimate the importance of having music available to keep people on your site which will in turn draw them to live performances (or vice versa). You should also have cd’s and groovy merchandise (tees, caps, etc., etc.) to sell to fans at every show and always available for purchase online. If you do this, there’s no way you won’t gather more fans quickly and reach your long term goal faster than you expected J

I specialize in marketing and promoting. Peruse my site for info and pricing for various ways I can help increase your fan base now! You can also Email me – let’s talk about YOUR plan!

Artists and Venues Create Marketing Opps for Each Other on Facebook

2011-08-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

The importance of social media for musicians and venues cannot be understated. Music creates a bond between the artist and the audience – it’s personal. Venue owners provide the platform to strengthen the bond between musicians and their audiences.

Since no musical venture can survive without the income necessary to sustain it, artists and venue owners are constantly looking for new ways to increase audiences. Social media gives both a cyber plethora of ways to connect and market to new audiences and strenghten loyalty with existing ones.

Let’s look at a single facet of Facebook (for now). Research shows that more people spend more time on Facebook than any other social media platform. Facebook offers various ways for members to explore the personal and commercial cyber space around them without having to leave Facebook. Let’s take advantage of that.

Musicians: There are more independent musicians today than ever before; the internet provides more opportunity for more artists than ever before; using social media effectively increases awareness of your product, performance schedule and merchandise and should provide existing fans (and potential new ones) with sample downloads.

Does your Facebook page provide visitors with music samples?

No?
Why not?

Think: When you purchase music or go see a live band…how often do you spend money on any music related venture or a band you know little or nothing about? Probably not very often, huh? You gotta provide page visitors, and fans with your sound…PERIOD! They can’t know you if they can’t hear you…if they can’t hear you…how can their interest be sparked? Answer: It can’t!

Facebook members cruise their favorite venue listings to see what’s happening. When a venue posts it’s performance schedule and your band is on it, a golden opportunity has been created for Facebook surfers to bounce over to your music page and check you out. More Facebook ‘listens’ = more fans = more money = more time for music!

Musicians: there are several ways to get your music heard on Facebook. In the next edition I’ll provide a detailed explanation as to why venues and artists who network on Facebook should be using ReverbNation’s artist app and venue app. For now I’ll provide an example that showcases it’s effectiveness.

Neon Dynamite

I’m a jazz lover and I often cruise the Knitting Factory’s Facebook page to check out new jazz artists. The Knitting Factor is a famous live jazz venue – they use ReverbNation’s Venue app and business savvy musicians who play there use the RN’s artist profile app. Saturday I bought music from a band I’d never heard of (Neon Dynamite) because I loved their music on The Knitting Factory’s Facebook page.

Check out The Knitting Factory on Facebook:

Click on their Venue Profile (the Red Star is RN app). You’ll see the concert schedule. You’ll notice some bands have music you can sample – it’s because they’re members of ReverbNation. As of this year Facebook offers artists and venues separate applications that work seamlessly and effectively with one another and offer maximum marketing potential for venues and artists.

Make it easy for folks to find and ‘like’ you! Next edition: More about ReverbNation (selling tix, and merchandise directly from RN’s app)!

Check out Jen’s Awesome August Specials for Artists and Venues (both include ReverbNation apps)! Unique Welcome Page and Event apps. Let Jen use her marketing expertise and experience to create a unique and memorable Facebook experience for your fans today! Check out the other specials (website, merch apps, etc.) available only for the month of August. Develop your art - let Jen develop your fanbase!

Jen the Music Maven’s

Social Media Packages for Artists
Awesome August Specials

$200
Basic Package:

Facebook Page:
• Customized landing page: feature upcoming events, your upcoming single, show photos from recent gigs, the sky’s the limit! Includes 1 simple illustration. For additional illustrations, see add-ons section. (Provide your own photos, logo, etc.)
• Events App: Let your visitors see at a glance where you’ll be playing! Let them “RSVP” and invite friends and do your marketing for you!
• ReverbNation Artist App: Manage mailing lists, release and sell MP3 downloads and merch, list upcoming gigs and more, all in one place!

$350
Deluxe Package:

Facebook Page:
• Customized landing page: feature upcoming events, your upcoming single, show photos from recent gigs, the sky’s the limit! Includes 1 simple illustration. For additional illustrations, see add-ons section. (Provide your own photos, logo, etc.)
• Events App: Let your visitors see at a glance where you’ll be playing! Let them “RSVP” and invite friends and do your marketing for you!
• ReverbNation Artist App: Manage mailing lists, release and sell MP3 downloads and merch, list upcoming gigs and more, all in one place!
• Twitter Stream: Let your Facebook fans see your Twitter updates
• Youtube App: Facebook fans can watch your videos and playlists without leaving your page
Twitter Account:
• Including customized background and usericon
Youtube Account:
• Including customized background and usericon
• Feature videos from past gigs, upcoming releases, Q&A, lessons, etc.
HootSuite Account:
• Manage your Facebook and Twitter posts from one convenient dashboard.

Add-os - Price varies:

CafePress or Zazzle: $75
• Sell tees, tanks, caps, pins and more featuring your artist logo or lyrics through print-on-demand services. (Service only includes set-up of account and posting of up to 10 shop items. Does not include design services.)
Website: $475
• Up to six pages (e.g. home, about, discography, events/tours/gigs, press, contact), additional pages start at $25/page. Blogs cost extra because of the additional coding.
• Includes google analytics set-up and basic custom in-site graphics (including favicons, backgrounds, link & social media buttons.)
• Cost does not include cost of hosting package and domain registration.
• Cost does not include logo creation or detailed design/illustration services.
Go Mobile: $75
• Optimize your website for reading on mobile devices like iPhones, Blackberries, and Android!
Logo Design: $225
• Need a logo distinguish your business online or for selling on tees and tanks? Look no further! Get personal attention and advice from the Maven on selecting a brand identity and a custom logo design from one of her talented designers. Revisions may be charged at an additional hourly rate.
• Includes high-resolution and vector files ideal for printing!
Illustration: $75+
• Need an illustration to spice up your Facebook page or for use on a flyers, tees, or other advertising materials? Look no further! Illustrations start at $75 (prices vary based on detail) and include print-ready files.
All packages include consultation with Jen including instructions for use and tips, tricks, and best practices for getting the most out of your online presence and brand identity!
Need additional consultation? Jen is available for consultation on a wide variety of topics in¬cluding: publishing, copyright, performing rights organizations, song composition, produc¬tion, and more! Visit jenthemusicmaven.com for more info!
Prices are subject to change. Check jenthemusicmaven.com for the latest offerings and prices!

Corey Koehler: Musician, Marketing Junkie, and Musicgoat

2011-07-21T06:46:00.000-07:00

Corey Koehler: Musician, Marketing Junkie and Musicgoat

My first encounter with Corey Koehler was on Twitter. Twitter, in my opinion is a great place to cut your marketing teeth; you absolutely must stand out or you’ll be lost in the stream. But stand out doesn’t necessarily mean ‘scream’ out. There’s lots of campaigns that scream and catch my initial attention, but can’t keep it. Corey’s pic (face smiling into the camera, acoustic guitar, tee-shirt) and tagline let me know instantly who he was musically. He also employed my all-time favorite marketing tool: humor! The line that sold me:

Making music that makes beer taste better!

Bingo! That was it for me – I had to respond to such a clever slogan. Corey could have easily responded with a ‘Thanks Jen” and I would have never heard from him again; but Corey Koehler knows the importance of relationship building.

Building Relationships 101:

Corey Koehler is a solo folk-rock, Americana, country singer/performer/songwriter. That’s a tough gig to pull off all alone…unless you’ve got powerhouse vocals and know how to make your guitar pulse with sentiment like Corey does. But there are lots of talented musicians with similar musical skill sets…what makes Corey stand out on the web? Answer: Marketing. Corey’s strongest marketing point: relationship building. In a recent interview with Corey I asked him about his marketing expertise:

Corey Koehler: My most important tool is the landing page. Well crafted copy and a clear message are powerful. I’ve added many fans to my mailing list and in some cases they haven't even heard my music yet. I spread my landing page everywhere. It is the first place I want new, potential fans to go because I only want them to do one thing: get onto my (email) list so that I can begin building a relationship with them. Make sure your landing page speaks specifically to your ideal fan. Like anything else, do not try to please everybody. I explain how I’ve learned to do a lot of this in my musicgoat newsletter. Relationship building is the most important thing, especially today when there are some many musicians, so many forms of entertainment, so much of everything vying for our time: movies, video games, tv, other artists, etc.When you connect with people you create a bond.

And Corey is absolutely right about connecting – it’s the reason you’re reading about him on Jen the Music Maven’s blog today! After our initial exchange on Twitter, he tweeted to ask if I’d like to be a guest blogger on his blog: musicgoat.com. Of course, I replied. Instantly I logged on to musicgoat to check it out…impressive. Within the next few days I received a free song from Corey via email ( I signed up on his blog)….impressive. We continued on to Facebook, a friendlier format for relationship building. He liked my page and began to comment on it. He was the first artist to respond and submit a song on my SoundCloud Sundays. Corey continues to build his relationships by responding to friends, sending and posting music on a regular basis, blogging, appearing regularly in his fans inbox…never letting us fans wonder what he’s up to…we know! A fan cannot be an active follower if you’re not an active leader.

Corey Koehler: When you connect, people will pay more attention to you because they care more. They feel close to you and become your cheerleaders. Plus it is great for us as musicians. I love meeting new poeple and making new friends. It can keep you going.

Making Music 101:

None of this would matter if Corey Koehler’s music couldn’t hold it’s own against a great marketing campaign. The first song on his Facebook page available for free listening is “Take This Ring”. Great title! Before I listened, I was impressed because I knew it was about a common human experience: love….another smart move. I could see by the friendly face and relaxed demeanor in his profile pic that he was sincere and whatever he had to sing about…I was interested in.

Corey was making all the right marketing moves and his music did not disappoint. His voice is strong, clear, on pitch; it could easily ring out over a noisy crowd. And he’s not afraid of his guitar! He’s a powerful performer with a message and a method that keeps audiences engaged.

Corey Koehler: I want to grab and HOLD an audience; make them feel as close to the song as possible. I’m self taught for the most part. Outside of learning how to play chords, or reading stuff in guitar magazines I never had any formal training. The songwriting is intuitive to a point. I’ve listened to a TON of music over the years. Now that I’ve gotten a little more serious about music, I study songwriters more in depth.

Corey says he pays special attention to: subject matter. Corey Koehler:I like to strip down to the essence of what I’m trying to say and say it descriptively and succinctly. With that said, structure, melody and new sounds are also important. It’s like eating a salad: lettuce is the main ingredient but you have to throw in cheese croutons, raisins, dressing, etc in there to bring it all together and make it even more enjoyable.

In his Minnesota Got Colder video, the opening scene reads: They’re only a memory away” and Corey’s guitar plays a few notes that set a nostalgic mood. He’s not messing around here…he gets straight to the point and holds you there. Corey mixes his talent with his marketing expertise to create a unique and memorable web presence. We could all take some lessons from Corey Koehler!

Follow Corey’s lead: Check out his homebase: http://planetcorey.com/

Follow him on his home away from home: http://musicgoat.com/

Musicgoat’s Mission:

1) Break down music barriers (Genre? What is a genre?).

2) Help bands/artists get their music heard.

3) Bring bands/artists and their fans closer together.

4) Entertain the willing.

I’d say Corey Koehler is accomplishing his mission…wouldn’t you?

Catch Corey Here:

Facebook

Musicgoat

Planet Corey

Twitter:

15 Seconds Can Change Your Life NOW!

2011-06-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

15 Seconds Can Change Your Life!

A few months ago I was chatting with a member of the Weinstein Company when a former student walked onto the scene. Unprompted by me, the Weinstein exec asked her if she was in the music biz. My heart sank as my former student glanced at the floor and stammered for words. It wasn’t for lack of confidence; it was lack of preparation. She did not have her ‘pitch’ down and she missed the opportunity to make a valuable connection. The irony was: we’d worked diligently at her pitch; all my students do…they are tested and timed on their pitch and if they don’t get it right initially…they do it again and again until they can pitch themselves effectively in 15 seconds. It’s painful sometimes but it’s absolutely necessary. Apparently, this student had forgotten her well honed pitch. Don’t let this happen to you. There’s a very good reason why the 15 second pitch is hugely important.

Time is of the Essence

The ‘elevator’ pitch as it’s known is a 15 second ‘sales’ pitch you should be able to give someone in the course of a 15 second elevator ride…sometimes that’s all the time you have and if you’re unprepared, you have even less time than that! You never know when opportunity will strike. You need to be able to tell that all important biz connection: Who you are, What you do, Why you’re the best, and leave them with a Call to Action in 15 seconds.

Highly recommended site to help develop your pitch: http://www.15secondpitch.com

There are 4 steps involved + you can preview your final pitch upon completion. You can redo your pitch on this site as many times as necessary. Time yourself! There are also examples of pitches developed by others. Look at lots of examples…some are definitely better than others. Find ones that resonate with you.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Let’s practice a bit before you start. Let’s pretend I’m Joe Blow of Nose Hair and I’m attending a music biz conference and have just met an influential industry exec whose label specializes in my genre. Mr. Big Shot asks me who I am and if I’m signed with a label. Follow the steps from the 15 second sales pitch site.

Tell the Exec:

Step 1: Tell the Exec who you are:

“I’m Joe Blow, keyboardist for noise band Nose Hair.”

Step 2: Tell the Exec what you do:

“I play keyboard, and compose and arrange all of the band’s material.”

Step 3: Tell the Exec why you’re the best:

HINT: NEVER-NEVER- NEVER say: I’m the best, or I’m better than anyone you’ve ever heard (please folks…that’s an instant turn off to any professional …do you have any idea how many times we’ve heard this before)? Promise me you’ll never say it…ok?! Don’t tell them you’re the best…tell them why you’re the best. Give them proof that you’re the best. Instead of saying: Nose Hair just completed it’s second regional tour; say this:

“We've just completed our second regional tour and ticket sales are up 40% over last year and song sales have increased 25% since then as well.”

Step 4: Your call to action – tell them the next step they need to take to do business with you.

“Contact me and we can discuss representation by your label. Nose Hair is a great fit for your label, Hand Kerchief.”

Be prepared to give the exec a readily available biz card…don’t dig, grope, or sort through a 10 pound purse and don’t sift through pockets that have last week’s dinner in them! Be prepared and don’t forget your manners.

Final Scenario: Professional, Polished and Prepared!

I’m Joe Blow, keyboardist for noise band Nose Hair; it’s a pleasure to meet you. I play keyboard, compose and arrange all of the band’s material. We’ve just completed our second regional tour and ticket sales were up 40% over last year’s tour and song sales have increased 25% since then as well. Nose Hair is a great fit for your label, Hand Kerchief. Contact me and we can discuss representation.

Hand them your card, shake their hand, thank them for their time and expect a call. Who doesn’t want to work with someone who’s professional, polished and prepared?!

If you want the maximum benefit from 15 second pitch consult with Jen – email her: jen@jenthemusicmaven.com. Are you going ‘up’?

Join Jen and Friends Here for SoundCloud Sundays!

2011-06-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

Join Jen and Friends here for SoundCloud Sundays!

Starting at midnight every Sunday Jen the Music Maven’s Facebook Community join SoundCloud Sundays! This is a wonderful opportunity for you as a member of Jen’s FB to expand your fan base, get feedback about your music, and compete for a chance be spotlighted in Jen’s Weekly Winners Celebrity Blog! Winners will be announced the following Wednesdays before 8:00 a.m., CST.

The benefits of a celebrity blog post: Jen has a rapidly growing blog audience, getting your music featured on Jen’s blog can increase your fan base, help drive music and merchandise sales and increase attendance at live performances. A testimonial from Jen about your music, also makes a great addition to your EPK.

How to Post for SoundCloud Sundays:

Join SoundCloud and upload your music (or record songs from your next live gig, or private moment at home). Post link to song on SoundCloud to Jen the Music Maven’s Facebook page! Simple! Place a comment below your submission that includes a link to your artist page or website – your new fans will want to know!

Winners will be judged by Jen on a scale from 1-10 on each of the following items. The artist with the highest score wins. A total score of 80 is possible.

Musicality (are you in tune, can you keep the beat, etc.)
Originality
Song choice
Ability to ‘connect’ with audience
Instant Appeal
Positive reception from other participants (positive comments, etc.)
Potential for popular release (in your genre).
Congenial (are you supportive of other participants)?

RULES AND GUIDELINES: Jen reserves the right to remove any post that breaks any of the following rules:

You must submit your song through SoundCloud.
There will be 2 submissions per artist per Sunday. Only one song per artist each Sunday will be considered for the winning position.
Any material containing adult language must be accompanied by the following warning comment: Warning:This song may contain material suitable only for adults. Jen reserves the right to remove songs that may be considered unsuitable.
Jen reserves the right to remove comments that may be considered offensive.
ALL WORK MUST BE ORIGINAL unless proper licensing and publishing rights have been previously obtained.
Be sure and include additional link to your music (website, reverbnation site, etc.) and video sites in a comment below your SoundCloud submission.
The winner has one week from date of announcement on Facebook to supply Jen with necessary blog info; it should be emailed to: jen@jenthemusicmaven.com. Failure to respond within a week will result in forfeiture of prize.
ALL PARTICIPANTS (musicians and commenter’s) MUST BE MEMBERS OF Jen the Music Maven Facebook Page (must ‘like’ Jen the Music Maven).

Winners will need to email Jen the following info:

EPK (electronic press kit).
Be sure your EPK includes: bio, all links related to your music: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, Your website, ReverbNation, iTunes (if sell directly), TuneCore, etc. and pics and merch info.
If you do not have an EPK, supply Jen with bio and music website info.

Start your online branding today! If you don’t have an EPK, YouTube, Facebook msuician page, Twitter page, Brand (logo, image), YouTube channel, Online distributor, etc. email Jen for help. Jen can build your online brand and can create your unique web presence. Jen is also an experienced music production consultant and can help you reach your musical star potential while you keep all credits. See www.jenthemusicmaven.com for a description of Jen’s services.

Looking forward to a GREAT Sunday – can’t wait to hear your music!

All submissions should be made through SoundCloud (they will be removed otherwise).

Why SoundCloud? I have no current affiliation with SoundCloud…I just love it! I feel that SoundCloud is under-utilized by most artists and it’s ease of use and mobile transmission to social media make it a valuable tool for internet marketing. I’m interested in your success – get acquainted with SoundCloud and use it often. Here’s a link to Jen’s most current blog about SoundCloud, that includes the obvious as well as unique uses benefits of SoundCloud. http://blog.jenthemusicmaven.com/

THE TEN SECOND RULE: WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

2011-06-13T16:54:00.000-07:00

Why I use a 3 step approach to music success that starts with: your music!

The brutal truth about the record biz: a song needs to grab it’s audience in the first 10 seconds. Don’t believe me? Consider this: when you’re surfing radio stations trying to find a good song to listen to…how long do you give an unfamiliar tune before you decide to continue listening or go on to the next one? Answer: the same amount of time label execs, publishers, and A&R execs give new song submissions: 10 seconds.

Picture this: Music publishers, labels, etc. can get anywhere from dozens to hundreds of song submissions per day. This industry is uber-competitive, your song must grab the label personnel’s attention immediately or it runs a very big risk of getting tossed or deleted. It’s been the rule since day 1…when audiences have choices..they’ll choose what ‘grabs them’.

I’ve worked in a publishing office before; my job was screening all submissions and I rarely (if ever) found a song that violated the 10 second rule and was successful. I remember one evening having more than my regular overload of submissions and I took them home with me to finish screening. My sister was observing me as I worked; she didn’t believe that 10 seconds was all it took to screen a song (15-20 if it’s quasi-appealing). So…I challenged her. I gave her the 30 or so songs I’d already screened and rejected. She listened to all of them in their entirety… I made a believer out of her!

The artists listed below have made believers out of all of us: The following songs (spanning over 40 years) all sold over 6 million singles. Most of these songs ‘burst’ into an audience's conscioiusness, same take a few secs but not much. Listen to the first 10 secs of each and hear what I mean. Each of them sets their emotional tone immediately.

Note also: popular songs talk about common human experiences: Love, romance, pain, jealousy, desire, betrayal, sorrow, rejection, loss, family, injustice, nostalgia, etc. When was the last time you loved a song that didn't grab you and you couldn’t relate to?

Avril Lavigne: Girlfriend 2007, 7.3 miln

Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean: Hips Don’t Lie: 2006, 10 miln

Eminem featuring Rihanna: Love the Way You Lie 2010, 9.3 miln

Elvis Presley: Hound Dog 1956, 9 miln

The Beatles: I Wanna Hold Your Hand 12 miln 1964

The best selling song of all time: Can you guess? It was recorded in 1942 and has sold over 50 million copies. It sets a tone immediately: nostalgia, family, happiness and…Chirstmas.

Beyonce: Single Ladies 2008 6.1 miln.

By now, you're familiar with my 3-step approach to music success: it starts with your music! If you need help re-writing, composing a dynamic start (and maintaining interest) email me - we can do it!

Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter - stay current on news that affects your succes!

2011-06-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

Jen Announces SoundCloud Sundays!

Winners, Rules, and Criteria for Judging!

Starting at midnight every Sunday (until further notice) Jen the Music Maven’s Facebook Community has the opportunity to participate in SoundCloud Sundays! This is a wonderful opportunity for you as a member of Jen’s FB community to expand your fan base, receive comments and critiques about your music, and possibly be featured in Jen’s Weekly Winners Celebrity Blog! The winner will be announced the following Wednesdays before 8:00 a.m., CST.

Winners will be featured on Jen’s Weekly Winners Celebrity Blog! Your featured celebrity blog post will also include links to your music, pics an epk, (if available from artist)etc. Your celebrity blog will also feature the positive comments made about your music and a testimonial from Jen about why you were chosen the winner. Jen's blog is followed by Jen's Facebook community (friends and fans), Twitter followers (3 Twitter accounts), followers of Jen's other 3 blogs, StumbleUpon followers, Reddit followers, etc.

Winners will be judged on a scale from 1-10 on the following items. The artist with the highest score wins. A total score of 70 is possible.

Musicality (are you in tune, can you keep the beat, etc.)
Originality
Song choice
Ability to ‘connect’ with audience
Instant Appeal
Positive reception from other participants (positive comments, etc.)
Potential for popular release (in your genre).

RULES AND GUIDELINES: Jen reserves the right to remove any post that breaks any of the following rules:

You must submit your song through SoundCloud.
There will be 2 submissions per artist per Sunday. Only one song per artist each Sunday will be considered for the winning position.
Any material containing adult language must be accompanied by the following warning comment: Warning:This song may contain material suitable only for adults. Jen reserves the right to remove songs that may be considered unsuitable.
Jen reserves the right to remove comments that may be considered offensive.
ALL WORK MUST BE ORIGINAL unless proper licensing and publishing rights have been previously obtained.
Be sure and include additional link to your music (website, reverbnation site, etc.) and video sites in a comment below your SoundCloud submission.
The winner has one week from date of announcement on Facebook to supply Jen with necessary blog info; it should be emailed to: jen@jenthemusicmaven.com. Failure to respond within a week will result in forfeiture of prize.
ALL PARTICIPANTS (musicians and commenter’s) MUST BE MEMBERS OF Jen the Music Maven Facebook Page (must ‘like’ Jen the Music Maven).

Necessary Blog Info:

EPK (electronic press kit).
Brief Bio (individual or group)
Be sure your EPK includes: all links related to your music: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, Your website, ReverbNation, iTunes (if sell directly), TuneCore, etc. and pics and merch info.
If you do not have an EPK, supply Jen with bio and music website info.

All genres are welcome! And…Jen’s always here to help – feel free to ask questions on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.

All submissions should be made through SoundCloud (they will be removed otherwise). Why SoundCloud? I have no current affiliation with SoundCloud…I just love it! I feel that SoundCloud is under-utilized by most artists and it’s ease of use and mobile transmission to social media make it a valuable tool for internet marketing. I’m interested in your success – get acquainted with SoundCloud and use it often. Here’s a link to Jen’s most current blog about SoundCloud, it’s obvious and unique uses and it’s benefits: http://blog.jenthemusicmaven.com/

If you don’t have an EPK, YouTube, Facebook msuician page, Twitter page, Brand (logo, image), YouTube channel, Online distributor, etc. email Jen about pricing. Jen can build your online brand and give you a unique web presence. Jen is also an experienced music production consultant and can help you reach your star potential while you keep all credits. See www.jenthemusicmaven.com for a description of Jen’s services.

Looking forward to a GREAT Sunday – can’t wait to hear your music!

Jen the Music Maven Announces: SoundCloud Sundays!

2011-06-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

Jen the Music Maven announces SoundCloud Sundays on Facebook!

"Like" Jen the Music Maven on Facebook and share your music and/or sounds with the Jen Facebook community!

Why SoundCloud? SoundCloud is an online platform that allows you to easily share your music or sound(s) with any social network in addition to the SoundCloud community…easily! The mobile app allows sharing from anywhere; go to http://soundcloud.com/ for details and fast sign up.

Why Sundays? It’s the end of the week…time to kick back, share and listen. It also gives you an entire week to work on what you want to share: your newest song, aural creation or personalized greeting to the Jen the Music Maven community.

Use SoundCloud to expand your fanbse: SoundCloud has its own community – a great way to stay connected with friends and gain new fans. It’s one of the easiest, friendliest platforms I’ve ever used and as an engineer I like the soundwave visual. You can share instantly from the mobile app. There are some not so obvious ways (that’s why I’m here) to incorporate unique uses of SoundCloud to increase your following and engage fans on a more personal level:

Post personal audio greetings via a SoundCloud link to your social networks: Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, WordPress, MySpace, etc.
Send personal hellos, b’day greetings, thank yous (for all those that came to your show last night, or bought your new CD, or merchandise) etc. to fans. Send snippets of your live shows to friends and fans. I do this often for artists and venues, and can attest to the fact that it increases awareness about both.

Fans and Superfans: There are fans and there are super-fans. Super fans are die-hard supporters. Generating a super-fan base is important to any artist; maininting your super fan base is critical. You cannot maintain a super fan-base by not communicating with fans. Part of Lady GaGa’s phenomenal success is due to her constant engagement with fans. Finding new and creative ways to engage your fans is an important part of building a fanbase. With SoundCloud you can create a personalized birthday greeting to fans in seconds; the rewards can be immeasurable. How about inserting that super fans’ name into the hook or chorus of your latest hit? This is easily done in seconds a capella via SoundCloud. More good news about SoundCloud is that your songs and sounds, fan greetings, can be sent to several networks simultaneously…it’s incredibly easy to go viral...see...

Share new ways to use SoundCloud with us! We want to hear YOUR SoundCloud Now!

The Answer is: Hell Yes!

2011-05-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

What are you listening to…right now? Music? Ocean Waves? Traffic? Children Laughing? Silence? Our senses process the sounds and sights we take in every day and to a large extent determine how we process that input in our art. Art imitates life (I like think that art is life, but that’s another blog). Do you listen to and create music that reflects your daily aural intake? I’d bet so. There are 2 kinds of aural intake: what occurs naturally and what you choose to listen to…music, tv, video games, nature, silence, etc.

Envelope: Let’s toss around a few ideas that might get your creative juices flowing in new directions. Your daily soundscape is full of rhythms, tones, dynamic ranges, harmonies, texture and envelope. Yes, envelope – the attack and decay of any given sound. For example: when striking a symbol, the initial ‘attack’ of sound is loud and abrupt but the decay (ringing of the cymbal) lasts much longer than that of a snare drum. This attack and decay is what’s known as the ‘envelope’ of a sound. The envelopes of various instruments are different. A guitar string when plucked and left to resonate has a very different envelope than a note played on a clarinet. A clarinet has to have air forced through it to sound resonant; a string when plucked resonates on it’s own.

Dynamic Range: Humans have different ‘dynamic ranges’ than animals. A stripped down def of dynamic range is related to volume. Human ears can detect sounds in a very wide dynamic range – from a whisper to the blast of a rocket – that’s a huge range. Imagine if all music were composed in the same dynamic range….it wouldn’t reflect our natural soundscape very well would it? Not to mention it’dbe booooooring! Our ears detect even the most subtle change in dynamic range and we’re accustomed to changes in dynamic range…sounds that fall into the same dynamic range have a more difficult time distinguishing themselves from one another, unless they vary drastically in timbre.

Timbre: Sound textures (timbre) vary wildly. Even with your eyes closed you could tell the difference between a trumpet and an oboe? Why? Because they sound different…that’s the obvious answer but the real answer (and one that will get your creative juices thinking in new directions) is because they each have their own unique timbre…the own unique ‘sound.’ A trumpet and an oboe produce different timbres because they’re made quite differently. A brass instrument blasted through a metal mouthpiece will never sound similar to a wooden vessel whose sound is produced via a slim wooden reed.

Putting it all together: Let’s take these elements of our listening sound scape and concentrate on them this week: dynamic range, timbre and envelope – how do they compare and contrast? What instruments are similar in dynamic range or create a vast dynamic range? What instruments create various timbres? Which instruments/sounds should be used together to create an interesting, stimulating piece of music? How does an instruments’ envelope figure into the equation. As an engineer/producer, these are questions I happily ponder often…and it’s exhilarating when artists gets get the entire equation right. But you gotta be aware of all the elements involved in music to create unique works.

Beck

Artist Example: I have tons of musical heroes but only a few top the list as composers, artists and top-notch producers. Beck is one of those artists. In this example (Earthquake Weather) from his Guero album pay special attention to these 3 elements: dynamic range (the differences in volume of various sounds), timbre (the unique sound of each instrument), and envelope (the attack and decay of an instrument or sound). Note that the song starts very softly and quickly utilizes elements in all three elements to create an original cascade of sound before he introduces a nylon string guitar as the main focus prior to his vocals. The initial cascade of sound is produced (for the most part) elecgtronically and he creates an unnatural envelope for this group of sounds that peak at the highest dynamic range and decreases upon the introduction a nylon string guitar. A nylon string guitar has a very different timbre, envelope and range than the electronica…it contrasts to the electronica – it provides an element of natural, warm tones against the electronica. Note when he introduces the guitar it’s ‘up front’ and obvious in the mix, but not over powering. It’s difficult to get a nylon string guitar to overpower a piece. He also uses a particular technique in many of his compositions. Let’s call it call and answer. He uses a guitar riff throughout the piece (we’ll call it ‘the call’) that is answered frequently by a 5 note response produced by electronic sounds. The call of the guitar leads to the answer of the electronica…very different timbres, envelopes, dynamic ranges…these two distinct groups play off of each other very well and drive the piece forward. His vocals are warm and like the guitar contrast with the electronica to create more dynamic range, varying envelopes, timbres and tonal quality. Beck sometimes sings in falsetto but this songs heavy emphasis on the electronic screams for warmth and he provides it. A lot of artists tend to use the same dynamic range, the same timbre and never pay attention to envelope. They erroneously believe that similarity is pleasing….it’s boring! We tend to ignore similarity. Think: in your daily, natural soundscape, there are many differences…a dog’s bark, a birds tweet, a man’s voice, a woman’s laughter. These differences may be subtle to you as a casual listener and may not even be able to identify them without instruction but now that you’re aware that our daily soundscape is full of varying sound qualities and they’re reflected in the best of our art…try to incorporate variances in your pieces to help create a unique sound of your own.

Listen, Learn, Enjoy! These qualities are not (by any means) the only considerations for artistic composition. But they may be ones that you’re not accustomed to considering. Today’s a good time to start J

Beck: Earthquake Weather from Guero

Take a few more secs to listen to “Hell Yes” from the same Cd. Note his brilliant manipulation of envelope in this sparse soundscape…notice his answer and call technique again….the answer is “Hell Yes” the call is everything else. He introduces the call and answer immediately with a harmonica call answered by single note of a bell with a perfectly manipulated envelope. Note the feminine and masculine voicing in this song – reflected by vocals and instruments used in the call and answer. Ignore the commercial at beginning – not Beck. Enjoy!

Beck: Hell Yes from Guero

Artist Know Thyself!

2011-05-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Success starts with…you. Who are you, as an artist? This sounds like an amazingly simple question, but unless you’ve been in biz for a while, you’d be amazed by the head scratching and brain racking this question creates. My music business students can vouch for me on this one: this is one of the toughest assignments they have all year…defining themselves as an artist.

Artistic Success 101: The good news: the web makes it possible for anyone to get their product seen and heard. The not so good news: there’s a genuine lack of unique material and in order to stand out in today’s uber-competitive market, you must be unique. The best news: Everyone is unique in some way! Let’s define your unique contributions as an artist and get you started on the fast-track to success. Socrates would be so proud!

We’ll use Jackee as our example. Jackee is setting her goals as an artist. In order to define her career goal, she must define her career path, in order to define her path, she must define who she is an artist. She will begin by asking:

The Top 3 Questions That Identify Your Artistic Self:

1. What do you enjoy the most? It’s not up for debate…we’re motivated to do the things we love. Jackee is lead vocalist for an R&B group, Lush-Us. She composes the majority of the groups’ material and she leads arrangement sessions with other members to create a collective sound that is representative of the entire group. Jackee’s a team player..she’s not a soloist. So far, Jackee is: a lead vocalist, composer, arranger.

2. What are your strongpoints? Music is a multi-faceted industry; artists can possess such diverse skills as: live performance (let’s face it…some people suck at it), record production, engineering, composition, arrangement, mastering various instruments, etc. Do you enjoy live performances the most or are you more comfortable in the studio, laying one track at a time, developing a sound that comes from a mastery of the studio recording environment in all its digital glory? Or both? It’s certainly possible to be an audience loving gearhead J Jackee excels in the studio environment, fine tuning her compositions/arrangements before final mixdown – she’s digs being co-producer for Lush-Us. But her real love is the stage. Lush-Us has built a strong reputation as crowd pleasers, and their live shows are almost always sell outs. Their high energy and audience interaction keeps the audience interested and involved throughout an entire show. Now we can add: Live performer and (co)producer to her list.

3. What do you get when you combine 1 and 2? In this scenario we have a lead vocalist, composer/arranger/ producer who loves to perform live. Jackee’s loves and strongpoints define her unique capabilities and will guide her career path. She will establish goals that are very different from a solo artist who loves electronica and whose sole desire is hole up in the studio for months on end and couldn’t work up an audience unless their seats were wired electrically.

Next I’ll show you how to implement your newly defined self into your career goals. I think you can see how defining yourself is critical when defining your career path. A dynamo live performer will be branded and marketed very differently from a solo harp player…get the picture? Defining yourself is where the BIG picture begins.

Because this crucial step involves so many variables, you may find it more difficult than expected and want to consult with me before you proceed to the next step. Click on the services (tab) page (or email me) to sign up for a 1 hour consultation – you’ll be off to a great start!

Houston Rapper/Producer, Nikki Makk Pursues Passions: Music and Charity

2011-05-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

About Nikki Makk: Nikki grew up in New Orleans and began rapping as a young teen. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed his beloved city, he immersed himself in the Miami/Tampa rap scene before settling in Houston in 2008. His work recently topped Billboard’s Greatest Regional Gainer. His successes include collaboratives with:

Roland & Goldfingers

David “D-Dunk” Faulk (producer/engineer for Mystikal)

Will “Playa Will” Nelson (I Done Came Up, Choppa, No Limit)

Dawn Richard

Sinista

Johnny Juliano

Supastar

DecadeZ

Solo Creep

Supa Dave

Z Fish

The Beat Caterez

A.G. tha Hustler

In a recent conversation with Nikki we discovered we’re both HUGE Stevie Wonder fans – I’m happy to introduce Nikki to you on Stevie’s 61^st birthday!

JTMM: Welcome, Nikki and thanks for working me into your super-busy schedule. I know you’re leaving for Haiti again soon, but let’s talk music first, ok? Nikki - I've known you for sometime now and I'm impressed with your talent and artistic commitment. When did you first know that music would be your career path?

Nikki: I didn't know until my freshman year in high school, I would always listen to music but I was really big on sports, I played just about every sport coming up.

JTMM: What happened in high school that changed your focus to music?

Nikki: Around that time I moved from my old neighborhood of Hollygrove/ 17th Ward (New Orleans) to the 7th Ward. I didn’t know anyone in the neighborhood and when I would go out to see if anyone was playing ball I was confronted and would fight because I wasn’t from around there. My sister's boyfriend had a nephew that lived down the street from me who was also from the 17th ward and in the same situation as me. He had DJ equipment and was looking for a rapper. I’d tried it before but once we met, I took it more seriously…there you have it!

JTMM: And music worked it’s magic on you… in a very big way. You're a versatile artist; I’ve heard your rap and recently heard some work that was a fusion of jazz, R&B and pop. Who are your musical influences and how has that evolved since high school?

Nikki: It's weird because although I'm a rapper....my parents played a lot of Stevie Wonder, Maze, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Isaac Hayes and what have you; they really inspired me but as a rapper, I was heavily influenced by Scarface, The Geto Boys, Big Mike, (I was cool with one of his younger brothers),OutKast, Snoop, The Dogg Pound, and my favorite all time locals Tim Smooth, Gregory D, and the Ninja Crew( this was the first group Mannie Fresh was in). I still listen to older rappers for inspiration.

JTMM: Your fave now?

Nikki: There are a lot that I follow and am inspired by; it’d be hard to pick one favorite but in my deck is Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Kanye, The Game and a few more…

JTMM: What's your next step as an artist? Any new releases scheduled?

Nikki: my next step is the D.I.Y. independent route. I have two singles (I Done Came Up, A-ListChic) that are dropping in mid spring and summer. I’ll be releasing my album soon after that.

JTMM: Cool, that’s great you’re dropping I Done Came Up – I saw one of your recent performances – you had the crowd worked up! I felt your connection to that song – glad I was there.

JTMM: now this is a very busy time for you - dropping two singles and an album soon and yet you're taking the time to travel to Haiti to continue your charitable work with the earthquake victims there, tell us about your work in Haiti and why it's so important to you...you've been several times now, yes?

Nikki: Yes, I have. It is very important to me because I am of Haitian descent, these are still my people. When the earthquake first happened my first thought was: Wow...Haiti needs my help and I'm able help with the rebuilding. I’ll be going over soon to help build roof tops and wire buildings for electrical power.

JTMM: That's fantastic; we wish you the best of luck…wait a sec… you're an artist, producer and an electrical engineer?

Nikki: Yes, I am. I also do my own audio engineering, being an electrical engineer gives me a nice edge!

JTMM: Definitely....and speaking of 'nice' I wanted to ask you...as I've mentioned I've known you for a while, I know people you've worked with and we all agree: you're incredibly easy to work with...you've alluded to some pretty tough beginnings in your musical path...how have you managed to 'stay gold' ....untarnished?

Nikki: Ive learned that you can't let negativity get in the way of success. You have to keep it moving; if something is in your way, go around it or over it, if you can't ...go through it. I have been through a lot of heart ache to get where I am but my Pops always told me that the sun comes up everyday, even if you don't see it....you still know its up there. And the light will hit you at the right time, you will only shine when you're supposed to.

JTMM: Wow! Those are powerful words - they've served you well. Your Pops was a very wise man. Niikki - We'd love to have you back soon - will you visit us again when your single drops and update us on the progress in Haiti?

Nikki: That's a10-4, you can roger that.

JTMM: Great – that’s a rap. Thanks Nikki.

Houston Music: Welcome to Diversity!

2011-05-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

What I love most about Houston: Diversity! As Houstonians, we enjoy a vibrant cultural scene that has become increasingly diverse. Diversity plays a huge role in Houston’s popular food and art culture (we have the best restaurants…period); we’re so incredibly diverse artistically that our art scene defies a singular description.

Some cities are synonymous with a single genre:

Chicago: Blues

Nashville: Country

New Orleans: Jazz

Louisville: Bluegrass

But Houston’s music is reflective of its diverse population and our live music scene is represented by a vast array of genres and ethnicities: Rap, Hip-Hop, Rock, Blues, R&B, Gospel, Soul, Funk, Tejano, Country, Techno, Folk, Punk, Cajun, Zydeco, Jazz, Pop, Flamenco, Middle Eastern, African, Indian, Celtic, Classical, Reggae, Heavy Metal, Bluegrass, Asian, Romany and much, much more. Houston has it’s own Ballet, Symphony, and Opera, Theaters (Alley, T.U.T.S.), world class museums (and niche ones, too…think Art Car), and performance venues to fit any budget and taste… accomplishments not shared by all major U.S. cities.

I’m constantly (pleasantly) surprised by Houston’s cultural offerings. In response to an email I received from a friend in NY last night, I was cruising another blog whose origins are not distinct but has contributors as widespread as Serbia, the UK, the Czech Republic, Canada, Belgrade, France, Romania, Italy, Hel Sinki, Bulgaria, Iraq, Mexico and… Houston! Jumpin’ Jupiter – Houston!

The blog entry that started my heart pounding was about an organization in town called: Divas World

Don’t be thrown by the word diva. Diva def: one that defines or channels truth. Isn’t that lovely J

Taken directly from Divas World website:

Founded in Houston in 2006, Divas World is a Houston-based, non-profit performing arts organization dedicated to enriching lives through spirited and moving musical performances that touch the mind, heart, and soul. The organization was founded by local philanthropist Marie Bosarge and Mezzo Soprano Sonja Bruzauskas, whose passions for music and intellectual stimulation are now the cornerstone of the Divas World artistic endeavors. Since that time, some of the city’s most talented artists have been hand-selected to join our organization for their beautiful artistry and amazing breadth of talent. Divas World concerts have now extended beyond Houston, and we have had the privilege of performing in some of the most spectacular venues around the U.S. and abroad.

Inspired by our deep passion for music and our desire to recreate the European Salon style of performance, our concerts incorporate other art forms such as philosophy, history, and science in order to achieve a more meaningful musical experience. This inter-disciplinary approach draws our audience into the performance and creates a deeply rewarding experience that mutually engages both artist and audience alike.

Our name Divas World was selected from the term Diva (or Divo), which in the literal sense, means “one that divines – or channels – truth.” This is the core behind our mission and what drives our performances: to channel truth by expanding one’s mind to not only the sound of music, but the meaning behind it as well. Most importantly, we are here to entertain our audiences…we want you to leave our performances feeling inspired, touched, and fulfilled.

I’m ecstatic about this organization. Their Diva Salon series is free to the public. The salon style experience is much more enlightening, edifying and engaging than the standard concert format. For those of us looking for unique musical experiences (and isn’t that why you’re here), check them out. I will be in attendance along with several excited friends and Facebook followers at the event on the Rice University Campus, Tuesday, May 17^th,"Who are the Roma"

Professor Ian Hancock from UT will enlighten the audience….did you know UT houses one of the largest collections of Romany artifacts in the world? Do you know who the Roma are? The event features traditional Roma music and Dvorak Gypsy Songs. What? You’ve never heard of Roma music or any of Antonin Dvoraks’ Gypsy Songs? Wow - are you in for a treat :-) It’s a BIG beautiful musical world we live in and you can find most of it in Houston!

In the meantime: Enjoy Romany Music. Dominika Mirgova performing Ciganski Diabli (Gypsy Devils).

New “Music on Facebook” Allows Musicians To Engage More Effectively With Fans!

2011-05-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

To Maximize your Musician Page on Facebook: Follow Music on Facebook to get all current info about the new ways Facebook offers to increase fan base and lets artists engage their fans on a more meaningful level. This is a new page launched by Facebook intended for Musician page owners to maximize their Facebook presence.

If you’ve been following Jen the Music Maven on Facebook, you already know that MySpace is for sale. Facebook now has over 600 million users and is determined to capture MySpace’s former audience by making their site the friendliest musician site on the net.

FB is offering more of their own applications dedicated to musicians. One of the newest features that I find most useful is the Facebook “Questions” application. This is a great way to connect directly with fans and find out what they really want.

How To Use Facebook Questions To Increase Fan Engagement, Hypebot

Other interesting and ongoing developments at Facebook (taken from “Articles” on Music on Facebook).

Pandora and Facebook Get Social Music Right, CNET

Radio Station Blazes Trail on Facebook, Manila Bulletin Publishing Company

Lady Gaga Gets Charitable on Facebook, Forbes

Social Music App SoundTracking Passes 250k Downloads, TechCrunch

Be sure to read this enilightening article from Mashable - put it into practice to maximize exposure to FB’s 600 million users!

5 Tips for Optimizing Your Brand's Facebook Presence, Mashable

What do you think? I love it!

Previous Post Facebook Password Change - Error Notification

2011-04-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

My apology for the most recent post that was generated erroneously from Facebook concerning a password change for someone else's account. I hope no one clicked on the link as it was an obvious scam - my apology for any inconvenience - I removed it as soon as I was aware!

Happy Trails,

Jen

Guerilla Marketing for Musicians

2011-04-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

What is Guerilla Marketing: an unconventional way of performing marketing and promotional activities on a very low budget. It’s intention is to get maximum results from minimal resources. For musicians, this often means performing in unexpected, unconventional places and ways.

Think there are no more unexpected places to showcase your talent as a musician? Think again. Quintron and Miss Pussycat, from my fave city, New Orleans are QUINTessential (pun intended) guerilla marketers. I’ll leave their unique branding for another installation.

Quintron (Rhinestone Records) is a musician, performer and inventor.

He’s created and marketed his ‘mad scientist’ image very successfully.

The dynamic duo are famous for their live performances – they work themselves and their audiences into sweat-soaked frenzies. Their performances have been described as: barely controlled electronic chaos, "Swamp-Tech" beats, and small explosions. Quintron spins records and creates beats using his own invention: the drum buddy, a drum machine triggered by light - this is a must see: Click on View Demo . Miss Pussycat accompanies on maracas and puppets….yes, puppets.

One never knows what to expect from Q and MP and audiences are never disappointed. Their onstage antics and spontaneity compel audiences to experience them repeatedly.

Guerilla marketing coming up...

Maximum exposure on a minimum budget: last year Quintron and Miss Pussycat were an installation,

"The Parallel Universe" in the New Orleans Museum of Art. Miss Pussycat showcased her puppets, there was an interactive drum buddy exhibit and Quintron, surrounded by recording gear, he recorded his newest cd in front of thousands of museum goers for several months. This tactic brought new audiences into the museum and exposed Quitron to thousands of potential fans he would not otherwise have been exposed to.…in the city where he lives and performs regularly…all at little or no cost to Quintron…that’s guerilla marketing at it’s best!

Peruse their website and note their unique 'brand'.

Would love your input about guerilla marketing techniques you’ve experienced!

P/S Quintron and MP are coming to SHappy Fun Land in Houston, July 23^rd –ersity lecture ha."See you There!lls

Hi-Res 2010 TOUR POSTER

Can Stevie Wonder Change Your Life?

2011-04-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

You will never listen to or compose vocals in the same way after you’ve finished this article and watched these videos – I promise. Let’s get through a little ‘technical’ stuff first – don’t skip any reading – you might miss one of my jokes. The part about Stevie is coming soon..

Here are a few terms associated with vocal (and instrumental) techniques – if you’ve never heard them before – no prob – you’ll hear examples in the videos – but you need to know what to listen for. In case you’re wondering…I’m proving my point from the last two blogs: talent is directly related to an acquired skill. Buckle up – you’re going to acquire some compositional skills you may not have possessed before…..simply by knowing what you’re listening to.

Technicalities (and a bit of fun).

Slur: to play or sing a series of notes without a break in between. Example: Stevie uses this with the word ‘enough’ in “Living for the City” – ‘enough has several notes in it but there are no breaks between the notes because they are ‘slurred.’ You know…like when you’ve had too much to drink and you start to ‘slur’ your words….they all run together…great….now you’ve got it…next-

Glissando: to glide from note to another. Sounds like a slur doesn’t it… but it’s a bit different. Glissando makes use of ‘space’ between the notes you’re singing…you know…like when you’ve had too much to drink and the police car pulls up behind you…hear that siren? How it glides from one note to the next and back again as you’re being cuffed? Great…now you’ve got that too. In “Living for the City” when Stevie sings the word ‘City’ making it sound more like citaaaaaaay…it’s on the aaaaaaay where his voice glides from one note to the next and utilizes all the musical space in between …you’ll get it after you’ve watched the video and sobered up.

Staccato: each note is sharply detached or separated. In Stevie’s case, he likes to put a lot of emphasis on the words that applies staccato to…sort of like each word having it’s own downbeat (you’ll hear it…I promise).

Arpeggio: a group of notes played one after another either going up or going down. The notes all belong to one chord. These notes can be slurred, arpeggiated, or used with glissando (think Gypsy violin). Stevie does it frequently; it adds interest and range to his vocals…usually appearing at the end of a phrase…it extends words in an interesting way melodically. This technique was severely abused by the likes of superstars like Christina Aguilara, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston who took it to the ‘extreme’ – as incredible as their voices are, listening to the overuse of this technique leaves me misty for a sustained note….and a dry martini….actually…I don’t drink…I just like to act like I do.

So what does all this mean? Nothing! HA! Do you need to know the correct musical terms in order to apply them to your music? NOPE! You just gotta hear them. But now that you know what to listen for…I’ll bet you’ll be listening with different ears and adding more interesting elements to your compositions.

Stevie could sing the same verse 20 times in a row and we’d never get bored because he utilizes these ‘techniques’ in almost every song. Each of these techniques has it’s own set of musical intentions attached to it:

Staccato emphasizes the musical/emotional point you’re trying to make. Glissando is for anticipation…it leads us somewhere – it creates excitement/tension (especially in the Alanis example).

Arpeggios: take us on a journey…we can skip there…we can glide there…we can go past ‘home’ and back again (as the three divas do – to the extreme).

Slurs: sort of obvious…if every note was staccato…I’d have to reach for a bottle of Crown.

For my engineer/ producer friends: You will LOVE- LOVE - LOVE this video of Stevie in the studio recording “Superstition.” In one take! Listen to live studio version and then the radio version to see how everything was mixed….perfectly (in the video the brass and sweetening vocals are somewhat overwhelming).

I’ve also added a great example of utilizing these different techniques from Alanis Morrissette. In “You Learn”, Alanis is masterful in her use of glissando – this song is poignant and she uses it to create tension – to build emotion – and she does it brilliantly, in my opinion.

P/S

If you don’t ADORE the “Living for the City” video – especially for the fashion time capsule that it is – YOU’RE drunk!

Stevie: "Superstition" in the studio

Stevie: "Living for the City" live performance

Alanis Morrissette: "You Learn"

FUN AT MEISA 8X10 Music, Film and Video Conference - Houston, TX 2011

2011-03-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

MEISA 8X10 MUSIC, FILM AND VIDEO CONFERENCE - HOUSTON, TX MARCH 2011

View Entire Photo Album: MEISA 8X10 Music, Film and Video Conference 2011 Photo Album

Enjoy Pics from the MEISA (Music Entertainment Industry Student Association) Conference and Showcase - write up of guests and events to follow soon! In the meantime - enjoy the FUN via Picasa!

Barry Coffing and Yobo Omo

Krystal Blacklock and Jen!

SuperStar Panel: Barry Coffing, Madalyn Sklar, John Fetto, Richard Glasser

TALENT - PART TWO: WE ALL POSSESS IT - LET'S OWN IT!

2011-03-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

TALENT - PART TWO

Last time we talked about talent. Today we'll define it - you’ll see that everyone possesses it. Talent is an innate quality that flourishes according to its development.

Talent: natural abilities or qualities. It seems every description of talent includes the word ‘natural’: talent is a ‘natural’ ability. I feel that people have associated the word ‘natural’ erroneously when it comes to talent – they believe that someone is either magically talented, or not and of not bestowed upon them at birth, talent is unattainable…not true…look closer at the word natural. Natural is generally accepted to mean: if something is natural, it’s in compliance with nature; therefore, if talent is a natural ability and natural is to be in compliance with nature, then it is the nature of all beings to possess talent.

Yes, it seems that some are naturally gifted or show an unusual ability in certain areas, but I would like to challenge that assumption. Name one person that you think is ‘naturally’ talented and possesses skills and knowledge that you think you never could simply because you’ve thought they were more ‘talented’ than you. I challenge you to take a closer look at that person’s background, their influences, and the development of their talent.

Let’s use Mozart for example…no one would disagree that Mozart was talented, but was it a gift…bestowed arbitrarily in unnatural abundance or was it a learned skill thrust upon him at a very early age by an ambitious father? True, Mozart could have rejected music later in life, but he continued to embrace it… but would Mozart be the accomplished, world famous composer that he became if not for his father’s tireless instruction at an early age? Would Mozart, at some point in his life become attracted to music and taken it upon himself to develop his talents at the same pace and depth that he was guided to by his father’s insistence? It’s a question we’ll never have the answer to, but one thing is for certain: Mozart’s development of the natural talent that we all possess was a direct result of his exposure to and development of the knowledge of music. How can anyone write a great song when they possess little or no knowledge about writing music?

Mozart receiving music instruction in

early childhood.

We all gravitate toward songs we like and we like them for particular reasons even though we can’t always articulate what those reasons are…but those reasons exist in the music…the key, the rhythm, the harmony, the tonality, the tempo, the sentiment, the mood…it’s all definable when you begin to break down the elements that make up the songs we love.

Anyone can write a great song – maybe it takes a little more knowledge or exposure than what you currently possess – or a different listening perspective than what you’re currently utilizing, but the skills necessary to write a great song are within easy reach, especially when you know where to look for them!

Next week, I’ll begin to give some examples of how to listen to your music from a different vantage point and begin to identify what works and what doesn’t.

I’m here to help and consult with – email me your music - I’ll listen and during a consultation, I’ll give you meaningful feedback and instructions on how to make your work more marketable and maintain your artistic integrity. Last week, a client and I remixed his beats during a skype session – it opened up his mix, made it ‘bigger’ and upon my directive he separated particular tones in the high end to make them more distinct from one another. We created a bigger, fuller, sharper mix in less than 15 minutes. And we had fun doing it!

Keep up with me on Facebook and Twitter – I’m constantly posting great information about music, the biz, the net and how it all works to enhance YOUR career!