Reflections of An OrangeMoon

New Album Release Mishal Moore

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Fri, 25 May 2012 22:00:00 +0000

It's amazing what you find when you are not looking. My love for natural hair design has directed me to an artist of whom I adore. Just the other day, I was browsing Youtube looking for different styles for my hair.

One of the channels that I am subscribed to played a song called Love Again. The song and the voice was very unfamiliar. I soon became more interested in the music than my original reason for watching the video. What a great way to promote your music!

Mishal Moore is on Myspace and YouTube. Her new album is entitled I'm Not A Hipster EP: The Mishal Moore and DJ Fonti Project. It includes Love Again and Wolf. She definitely has a soul and pop sound. I greatly enjoy the music! Check her out!

Image source : http://mishalmoore.bandcamp.com/

Click Here to become a fan on FaceBook

Click Here to subscribe to her YouTube Channel

-Summer Lessons!-

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:20:00 +0000

Good Day!

I am providing piano, guitar, and voice lessons at a Summer rate!

If you are in the Atlanta area, and know someone that would like lessons, spread the word!

Click Here if you would like more information on summer lessons! (www.reniseallenmusic.com)

Click Here if you would like to see my ad on Craigslist.com.

Email Me directly for further questions and to set up your lessons.

Thanks.

Ms. Renise

Full Sail University Graduate

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Sat, 05 May 2012 20:07:00 +0000

I graduated! I feel so accomplished and ready to take the steps towards my dream!

Congrats to all the graduates out there, especially from Full Sail University!

Live Performance Trends in the Music Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 03:15:00 +0000

One of the most exciting benefits of following your favorite musician/band is being able to experience their work through a live performance. Although the music industry has faced several trends both good and bad, live performances seems to have a consistency in the industry.

Even though there has been an increase in the use of technology in the music industry, there has not been a significant change on money spent on live performances. According to hypebot.com, live performances will continue to gain benefits when compared to web interaction and other networks (Smith 2011). Some would argue that this gives artists who are actually talented a competitive advantage on artists who are just entertainers. Let's be honest for a minute. The music industry and its professionals focus more on artists who are marketable instead of talented. This is why there are only a few artists who are able to produce an actual "live" performance. Internet and other technologies are definitely a plus to any artist. The world has become more Internet driven allowing artists to reach out to their fans more efficiently. What does this mean to live performances and artists?

According to research found on rand.org, innovation will be discouraged if performances and recorded music are heavily managed by the increase of artists (McCarthy, K. 2001). This will make it almost impossible for unique artists to gain the fan base they need which will eventually effect live performances.

As a result, live performances and its rate will decrease due to quality of artists. However community based performances will remain constant throughout the years and will remain a demand from fans and customers. If the industry continues to market "entertainers" instead of talent (which they probably will), then the demand for live performances will decrease. Similarly, artists who are capable of producing live concerts will continue to benefit from live concerts but would not media driven unless the artists has a great PR. Live performances are great for artists to express their work directly to fans. All in all, there will always be a demand in live performances, talent or no talent.

Image Source

www.performing-musician.com

Other Sources

McCarthy, K. (2001). The Performing Arts: Trends and Their Implications. Retrieved from http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB2504/index1.html

Smith, C. (2011). 5 Top Music Tech Trends For 2012. Retrieved from http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2011/12/5-music-tech-trends-for-2012-augmented-reality-remixes-mainstream-hack-days-obscurity.html

Making Money as an Entrepreneur Despite Economical Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 03:26:00 +0000

One of the happiest and most fulfilling careers as a professional is working for yourself. Making your own hours, working from home, and making important decisions rather than impressing your boss are some of the reasons why people tend to open their own businesses. Although the idea of opening your own business sounds stressful and quite time consuming, the outcome is usually a grand achievement on many levels. One of the main stresses in starting a business is usually the start-up costs and all that the costs entails. A helpful article found on Inc.com gives tips on how entrepreneurs can raise money during this "economic recovery".

The article found gives 6 great tips on how to raise money. The first tip stated to find investors, but know that you are ready to accept the money. Starting any business can be risky. If you are passionate about starting this business, seek out to investors when you are ready to start the business. If you have already started your business, but are stressed or confused about your finances, maybe you do not need money. Fenn explained that entrepreneurs need to know whether they need money or just an accountant who specializes in working with finances.

Another helpful tip included hunting for help. Fenn explained how to join meet-ups or groups with angel investors and entrepreneurs that can point you in the right direction or give you helpful advice for your business in desired industry. I found this tip to be very important. You never know who knows who or what that can guide you in the right direction for a successful recovery.

The other tips included not giving up equity unless there is a great need, knowing all of your liabilities, interviewing the right investor for you and your business, and not giving up during your start-up. These tips seem practical and geared towards entrepreneurs in their start-up position in their business. If there was however, an immediate need for money, I would definitely think about other services and products that I can provide. There were people that commented on the article providing their feedback as well as additional tips and services to help entrepreneurs with their finances.
For more information about this article, click here. For more information about the writer, Donna Fenn, click on her name. You can also follow her on Twitter @donnafenn.

Sources

Image Source (www.thestayathomemother.com)

Fenn, D. (2012). 6 Tips for Raising Money During the Recovery. Retrieved from http://www.inc.com/donna-fenn/6-tips-for-raising-money-in-a-recovering-economy.html

Incorporating Expert Advice on the Development of a Business Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:22:00 +0000

There are several experts that give advice on how to write effective business plans. Depending on your management and marketing strategies for your business, some advice can either help or harm. How do you know what advice is good advice for your plan? How do you know that the expert has the credentials to give effective advice for your plan? While researching advice on business plans, I found two experts with great tips on writing business plans. Click here to read the blog first.

In the previous blog, I explained how Mark Cuban stated that start up businesses should not hire a PR firm. In my opinion, this is a very sensible decision. In your development of your business, one is always looking for ways to save money. Not hiring a PR will allow you to have constant feedback with your audience and maybe find ways to increase and effectively gain more customers. If I were start developing my dream business, I would not hire a PR right away. I would use a PR as a way to satisfy goals if set plans were not working. Therefore, hiring a PR would not be a necessity during my start up.

While researching other experts and their advice, there will be a few changes that I will make during my start up. I will definitely give more attention on an investor pitch. Seeking out investors will definitely give a slight sight of relief instead of borrowing all of the money for start up costs. People tend to work differently especially when working with other people's money.

Furthermore, the business plan will need to have a thorough exit plan as well as a growth plan so that investors can understand how they will earn money. These are the major changes I would make in my business plan. If there are other changes in my business plan or any other advice that I find to be effective for my plan, I will definitely take the tips into consideration and evaluate my options.

Advice From Two Leaders in Writing Business Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:20:00 +0000

When writing business plans, it is important for writers to receive advice from experts in the field. There are many experts in the field that have their view on how a business plan should be set up. I have researched 2 experts and found their advice to be very useful.

The first expert to be discussed is Mark Cuban. According to sources, he is a billionaire entrepreneur. Cuban is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA and has invested several business opportunities, including startups. He grew up in Pittsburgh and received his Bachelors in Business Administration from Indiana University. Cuban's blog on different business advice can be found here.

One of Cuban's articles explain how important startups should not hire PR firms. Cuban's view on PR and startups are valid. The most important time of a startup is building personal relationships with customers and businesses. Startups usually need to save money as much as possible. I agree with Cuban about PR with startups; there is not an immediate need for a PR at the beginning of your business. Building direct relationships with customers are long lasting instead of through a PR.

Another expert in the field of writing business plan is Bill Payne. Payne is an entrepreneur as well as an angel investor. He breaks down each section of the business plan and what is expected in each section. What I found to be the most important advice in one of his articles is the elaboration on a growth plan for investors. Payne discussed what investors would like to know in your growth plan. The exit strategy will explain to investors how the benefits of the return on investment. The capital plan will explain how investors will achieve cash flow that will potentially increase growth in the company.

In conclusion, gaining expert advice, especially critiques, can make your business plan more pleasing to investors. Making sure that the advice from experts relate to your business plan is also important. Furthermore, knowing exactly how you want your business can be managed will help you gain the advice you need from experts. Take time to research the experts and their qualifications to somewhat validate their advice given.

Sources

Burhoe, S. (2011). Expert Views on Business Plans. Retrieved on February 6, 2011 from www.bpexpertviews.blogspot.com.

Cuban, M. (2012). Blog Maverick: The Mark Cuban Weblog. Retrieved on February 6, 2011 from www.blogmaverick.com

Payne, B. (2010). Writing Effective Business Plans. Retrieved on February 6, 2011 from www.flatheadbeacon.com.

Violinist Rocks!

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:20:00 +0000

Check Out Darlisia Grant on her Violin! She is awesome!!

You can follow her on twitter at ViolinistDG.

Subscribe to her videos on Youtube TheNaturalViolinist.

Astro Throws A Tantrum on X-Factor

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:19:00 +0000

One of the most watched and tweeted shows on television is X Factor. This show gives opportunities to undiscovered talent. I was amazed at how young and talented Brian Bradley, also known as Astro was when he performed. However, his arrogant and obnoxious demeanor was quite disturbing.
There is a difference between confidence and arrogance. His behavior definitely does not portray a decent behavior to viewers his age and younger. If I were one of the judges, I would have voted him off because of his behavior and attitude.
Life is not always going to give you everything you want when you want it. I try to teach my students that as well as other lessons. Sometimes it is better to accept criticism without always trying to have a rebuttal. When Simon tried to tell Astro that he was disrespectful, he should have just stood there. Even though his nonverbal language spoke louder than his words, he should have remained open minded and respectful.
Is this the type of behavior we have to look forward to in the future? What type of examples are people in the media are setting for viewers?
Video Source: Click Here

Tips on Effective Social Networking for Artists

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:08:00 +0000

One of the best ways to keep up with family, friends, and celebrities are through social networks. My previous blog explained the importance of these social networks for artists and artist lovers. However, there are a few ways artists need to keep in mind when presenting themselves through a social network. Here are some tips I have found to be useful and resourceful.

I found a blog on musicthinktank.com that gives 7 rules for effective social networking for artists. The writer of the blog, Michael Epstein, is also an artist who gives his personal experience of how he attempted to increase his fan base through social networking. The first rule that he discussed about social networking is to use it as a form of listening to your audience rather than broadcasting (Epstein, 2011). Use the social networking to answer questions, reply to comments, and basically building stronger relationships with your listeners. Artists should be able to broadcast, but make sure that you are listening to what your followers would like to receive.

I found that this rule is extremely important. If an artist is always persuading you to buy something that they are endorsing, it is definitely hard to see if your audience enjoys what you are selling when you do not listen. Building a relationship with your listeners will definitely help with ideas about how to market as well as what to market. Keep in mind, the audience is the one that will help you in the future. Another researched source found that it is important to respond frequently to keep up with what they have to offer (Frick, 2010).

Another rule from Epstein's blog stated that artists need to hone their identity through visual identity and through their personality (Epstein, 2011). Branding an identity is definitely important, especially in the entertainment industry. In this rule Epstein discussed how members of the band should have their own personality and not communicating with others behind your band. He believed that communicating behind the band is impersonal and not a reflection of who you are.

I found this rule to be partially true. Regardless if you are with your band or not, people are going to form their opinions of your personality as part of the band. It is true to have your own personality, but if you belong to a band, whatever personality that you have will also be a reflection of the band as well. Consistency is the key here. Frick discussed the importance of consistency by stating that the artist should create a campaign that reflects the artist's visual identity (Frick, 2010). This will be effective by showing your fans and audience who you are, what you stand for, and what you do.

Out of all the seven rules, I found these 2 rules to be the most effective. To view the other rules discussed, visit the blog here.

Sources:
Frick, T. (2010). Return on Engagement: Content, Strategy, and Design Techniques for Digital Marketing. Focal Press: Amsterdam.

Epstein, M. (2011). Seven rules for effective social networking for artists. Retrieved from http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/seven-rules-for-effective-social-networking-for-artists.html

Music Marketing : Social Networking

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:36:00 +0000

The music industry has definitely been impacted on the increase of technology. This increase has allowed music from established and non-established artists to become convenient and readily available for consumers. However, the use of technology has also had a negative impact on artists. More and more artists have been a victim of online piracy. There have been strong hits on sites such as Limewire and other peer to peer sharing sites that have suffered as a result of pirating. Digital marketing has definitely change the way the business of the music industry.
One way to increase your fan base is to create a fan page on Facebook. Online social networking is very important in marketing, especially in the music industry. Facebook has recently added a "like" button that allows fans to like a fan page. In addition to the like button, Facebook has also added subscriptions. If a fan is interested in concert information, subscriptions to the artist page will low them to receive information about the artist.
One blog found agrees that social networking for an artist is very important. According to the blog, social networks are relied on heavily by consumers to receive the latest information about an artist (Un 2010). This is also a helpful way to hear what fans are wanting/needing from the artist. Artists are able to tweet about news and updates about their music, allowing followers to be thoroughly informed. Another blog stated that digital marketing in the music industry is crucial, but also possible threat to the artist (Digital Fire 2011). This blog also stated that in order to succeed, the artist must give the fans what they want.
Indeed, digital marketing has definitely changed the business of the music industry. Social networking has increased to receive important feedback from fans but has also caused a threat to the artist due to piracy. I think its very important for an artist to use social networking as strategy for increasing fans. However, the artists needs to be careful how much information and music they allow consumers to hear via websites. Perhaps making clips of the music with voice-overs will allow the fans to hear a part of the song. Hopefully the music industry will find better ways to allow parties to prosper in the future.

Sources:
Digitial Fire (2011). Digital marketing and the Music Industry. Retrieved from http://www.digitalfire.co.za/blog/digital-marketing-and-the-music-industry/

Un, R. (2010). Digital marketing: the music industry new hustle. Retrieved from http://blog.ovrdrv.com/digital-marketing-the-music-industry’s-new-hustle/

Interview with Experienced Entertainment Lawyer

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:24:00 +0000

Every forum and other information found about establishing a business in the entertainment industry has stressed the importance of networking. When starting your business, it is definitely important to know the legal issues your company can potentially face when established. Networking with experienced entertainment lawyers will allow your business to avoid unnecessary legal actions in the courtroom.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Robert Finan for my future music venue/lounge business plan. Finan is an Associate Entertainment Lawyer licensed in both New York and Georgia. He is currently working for Greenberg Traurig in Atlanta, GA. His area of concentration is transactional entertainment law in which he advises and counsels recording artists, record producers, personal managers, publishing companies, and songwriters. Finan received his bachelors from George Mason University in 1995 and his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 1999 (Gtlaw.com).

My future business plan consists of establishing an eclectic music venue/lounge to promote local artists and improving nightlife. This music venue/lounge will also serve as a place for established artists to perform live concerts, and a place for entertainment industry professionals to network and relax. Even though music is the business main focus, my business will also incorporate other arts such as graffiti and freelance artists, dance, and spoken word. I have researched the Atlanta, GA area of where I currently reside and found a select few places that are similar to my business plan. However, there were not any particular venues that incorporated all creative arts and all genres of music. It is my goal to become owner of one of the leading venues to promote eclectic art and music.

Owning a business, especially in the entertainment industry will have its prosperities and adversities. Knowing your legal rights as a business and as a business owner is important. Receiving valuable and accurate information from industry professionals is crucial to the success of a business. From an artist’s standpoint, Finan believes that it is important for a venue to have proper marketing and promoting tactics. If a venue negotiated with an artist about promoting the artist’s music, then the venue should have creative ways to promote the artist’s music. In an effort to succeed, my business will plan to utilize entertainment-oriented marketing strategies such as email marketing and social networking (www.pbplans.com).

The artist-venue relationship will be very important to my business. In order to successfully negotiate the needs of my business and the needs of an artist, there will be a contract between the artist and venue. Finan stated that a venue should provide provisions on compensation and cancellations for artists. This is very important, especially to artists who live out of town that spent amounts of money to perform for the venue. Also liability and insurance provisions will need to be discussed. Finan believed that venues should portray a sense of superior marketing strategies and should explain compensation in the contract. One of the biggest issues that Finan believes that happen between an artist and venue is the cancellation of a show. When this happens, both parties will need to negotiate front end and back end settlements due to the cancellation.

Although the artist-venue relationship will be very important to my business, more established artists would probably have booking agents that will do business with my venue. However, this relationship will also need to be treated just as important.

This interview was definitely rewarding. I have been inspired as well as gained insight on the entertainment industry as a whole. The advice from Finan about entering a career in the entertainment industry was definitely a challenge. I know that I am passionate about everything I do, especially in music. I have always been an advocate of music education and music therapy. On the other hand, I also would like to live a certain lifestyle. Sometimes we have to ask ourselves if doing what we love has a monetary value on it. Of course we receive compensation for the work, but having a sense of knowing that what we do makes us happy is worth more than any monetary value ever imagined.

Sources:

Greenberg Traurig Law (2011). Biography. Retrieved on October 22, 2011 from http://www.gtlaw.com/People/RobertJFinan.

E3 Playhouse. (2011). Nightclub, Dance Classes Business Plan. Retrieved on October 23, 2011 from http://www.bplans.com/nightclub_dance_classes_business_plan/executive_summary_fc.cfm.

Top Legal Issues in the Music Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:34:00 +0000

The music industry face many legal issues on a regular basis. There are entertainment lawyers that are available to offer assistance and information on legal issues to avoid in the music industry. While researching legal issues in the music industry, I noticed there were 3 issues that were consistently appearing: copyright, sampling and publishing.
There are a few articles that include court cases on copyright infringement. One court case in particular describes the specifics of the Limewire case and its results. For more information, please read my blog entitled Limewire Legal Issues Settled. Another court case on copyright issues is the Sony vs. Tenenbaum case. In this court case, Joel Tenenbaum was accused of downloading illegal music and sharing the downloads. According to azoz.com, the court threw out the fair use defense which would have allowed Tenenbaum to have a defense against Sony. As a result of this case, Tenenbaum had to pay $2250 per infringed work.
Fair use and licensing are keywords in the music industry that continues to come up in legal issues. An article found on sampling in the music industry discusses the importance of gaining a license. Ivan Hoffman, writer of www.ivanhoffman.com, explains the importance of fair use per court case. Hoffman quoted from court case Bridgeport Music, et. al vs. Dimension Films et. al to explain fair use in music sampling. The court found that the plaintiff could not prevail on their claim of sampling music as a copyright infringement. There was not enough evidence to prove that there was an sampling issue. However, Hoffman explains how fair use is different per case because it would an analysis.
Last but not least are issues on music publishing. There is a helpful site that provides informative articles on music publishing. Information includes what rights one have if they own a song. Another website that also has valuable information is artisthousemusic. This site has interviews and videos from professionals in the music field to give their advice and explain their experience in the field. According to music-law.com, the song owner's biggest right is to prohibit performances. In this case, companies such as BMI and SESAC are keeping track of who plays your song.
There are other issues in the music industry, however, I found these to be the top legal issues. In conclusion, if you are unsure of rights and responsibilities, get advice from an entertainment lawyer. Do not try to assume any information for that can possibly cause legal issues in the long run. Research and know your rights as a music professional because it is definitely half the battle of winning over legal matters.

SOURCES:

Hoffman, I. (2011). Fair use: music sampling. Retrieved on October 2, 2011 from http://www.ivanhoffman.com/fairusemusic.html

RIAA Lawsuits (2011). Sony v Tenenbaum. Retrieved on October 2, 2011 from http://www.azoz.com/topics/lawsuits/Tenenbaum.html

Music Publishing. (2011). Retrieved on October 2, 2011 from http://www.music-law.com/publishing.html.

Site Review on Bill Lowery Music Publishing

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 02:49:00 +0000

Online presence is just as important as the presence in person. Atlanta, GA is one of the largest cities whose emphasis are based around music. While doing some research and searching the Atlanta, GA area, I came across a Music Publishing website.
Bill Lowery Music Publishing is based out of Atlanta, GA where this business has been available for more than 10 years. The owner, Bill Lowery, sold the company to Sony Corporation in 1999. His son continues to manage the company after the death of Lowery in 2004. From this company began a recording studio called Southern Tracks and the Bill Lowery Foundation which supports a passion of mine, music education in the state of Georgia.
With all of Lowery's credentials and experience, I was expecting the website to be a little more extravagant. However, simplicity definitely portrays humbleness and honesty. There was not that much information on how to license work, but the information on the site was very organized. In fact, there were not examples or music they have published anywhere listed on the website. With the website stated that they have been around over 50 years, it is definitely hard to believe that without supporting examples or other information on the site. I noticed that a network designed the website. Perhaps the site is undergoing a website makeover. I am not sure if I would use this company to assist in publishing my work or finding published work. Updated post to come if the website changes any information.

Source:
www.lowerymusic.com

Prediction: Future Collective Blanket Licensing of Music

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 02:22:00 +0000

Recently, I have been doing research on music publishing trends and distribution. I have come across several websites that discuss the current trends as well as future publishing in the music industry. One of the particular websites that I have come across (www.futureofmusicbook.com) discussed eight trends that the author predicts will happen in the next five years in the music industry. David Kusek, the author of the article, discussed collective blanket licensing as one of the eight trends that will occur in the next 5 years.

According to www.caret.cam.ac.uk, collective licensing is when the user is offered a blanket licensing to cover all of their works instead of just one. This is beneficial to the user because the user would not have to negotiate with different individual licenses for their work. Collecting societies that exist are usually nonprofit organizations that assist with the copyright of the work. However, there are certain rules and stipulations that may apply with certain societies. Reading the terms and conditions of the society carefully will prevent potential misunderstandings from occurring.

Kusek believe that collective licensing will be readily available in the next 5 years. He also believe that government will support the collective content licensing as it would legalize content users place on the Internet.

In conclusion, collective blanket seems to have more positive outcomes than negative outcomes. This feature seems to be easy and convenient for users to be able to protect all of their work instead playing the waiting game per work. The only problem I would predict is the file to file sharing controversy coming back up again. If a company allows promotes collective licensing with a monthly access fee, but also allow peer to peer file sharing of the works. Since there are many works that are no longer available to be published, peer to peer sharing is helpful to those who would like to have out of date works. Eff.org explained that there should be a peer to peer software that would allow the use of peer to peer sharing but also stay within legal rights of copyright infringement. In this case, there will not be any legal issues involved in this scenario. As a result, everyone will be credited as well as rightfully paid for this option. More research on possibly other negative outcomes of collective blanket licensing will be posted at a later date.

Sources:

www.caret.cam.ac.uk/publishing

www.eff.org

Kusek, D. (2011). Retrieved on September 18, 2011 from http://www.futureofmusicbook.com/2009/05/10/8-key-trends-for-the-next-5-years/

LimeWire Legal Issues Settled

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 01:51:00 +0000

LimeWire has been one of the most popular sites to download free music from. However, LimeWire has faced many legal issues. I found 3 interesting articles on LimeWire and the legal issues that they have faced over the past few years.

(image from google.com/limewire.jpg)

According to associatedcontent.com, LimeWire is considered one of the most safe sites to download free music. This site breaks down how the site works. The site stated that LimeWire should not be used unless the reason is for legal purposes. LimeWire allows consumers to upload files to a "shared folder". When the uploader is hosting, others are able to download the shared file located in the shared folder. However, the site stated that LimeWire is not responsible for copyright files uploaded to the site. LimeWire displays a warning right before downloaded stating that downloaders can be caught for downloading copyrighted work.

But how is it save? Once the file is downloaded and saved to a safer place, LimeWire is not able to locate its location. In this case, it is easier to locate the uploader rather than the downloader. Associatedcontent.com also stated that there are certain programs that can block IP addresses from accessing your computer. However, the music industry has found ways to blame and cause controversy with Peer to Peer sharing LimeWire.

Last year, about eight music publishers filed a lawsuit against LimeWire for copyright infringement. The publishers that against LimeWire were members of NMPA (National Music Publishers' Association) suggested that LimeWire failed to implement legal file sharing among consumers (computerworld.com). The case made it to U.S. District Court and ruled in favor of the music publishers. The ruling asked the court to shut the computer down permanently and freeze all of its assets.

Another source (appscout.com), the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) will seek to go back to trial in January of 2011 for damages that LimeWire has caused. As a result, CEO of LimeWire Mark Gorton agreed to settle at $105 million of damages. According to jerebeasleyreport.com, file sharing dropped 9% in 2010 due to the closing of LimeWire. However, there are other sites such as BitTorrent and FrostWire that previous LimeWire customers use.

In conclusion, LimeWire allowed copyrighted files to be uploaded to their site for file sharing. Since there were not any consequences for consumers to upload and download from the site, Music Industry professionals went after CEO for misuse of technical barriers causing copyright infringement. As a result, LimeWire had to be shutdown and pay $105 million worth of damages. If the CEO did not want to get involve with this legal issue, he should have made it harder for consumers to upload copyright files and harder for consumers to download. He allowed consumers to illegally upload and download copyright files, thus resulting in the demise of LimeWire. Legal issues such as copy infringement need to be contemplated before starting a business, especially in the music industry. From a musician's perspective, LimeWire definitely did encourage piracy. From a struggling college student who loves music, LimeWire did give the opportunity to enjoy music without purchase. Regardless how its done, stealing is stealing. And it goes against many morals. There was definitely a lesson learned in this legal issue with LimeWire.

Click below for more information about LimeWire.

LimeWire Shuts Down
LimeWire Lawsuit
Legal LimeWire

Rest In Peace Amy Winehouse

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 21:55:00 +0000

It saddens me to hear one of my favorite artists was found dead today. At the young age of 27, Amy Winehouse life has ended. She had hits that included "Rehab", "Valerie", and one of my favorite to perform, "To Know Him is To Love Him".

Even though there was a drug abuse problem, she was able to release two awesome albums entitled Back to Black and Frank. Winehouse was from and lived in England. Her music will not be forgotten.

Rest in Peace Amy Winehouse.

Facebook vs MySpace for Musicians

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:53:00 +0000

Online social networking is a huge deal for musicians, especially independent musicians/artists. Myspace has always been one of the best sites for musicians to display their work as well as increase their fan base.
Facebook recently added apps as well as pages for musicians to allow fans to like their Facebook page. Will Facebook eventually over throw Myspace for musicians in the future?
Every time I log on to my Facebook, there is something new. I remember when Facebook was simple and easy to check pictures and keep in contact with friends. That very next day there seemed to have been an overload of applications and games that crowded the page. I was definitely not impressed with that decision made. However, I found ways to tone my Facebook applications down.
MySpace, on the other hand, was always over crowded and unorganized with information (in my opinion). I did love the ability to post your own music and become fans of other people's music. That was definitely a great aspect of MySpace. However, MySpace had way too many privacy issues. My account was deleted several times. The very last time, I decided not to reopen my account.

According to www.thebiz.com on 2011 Music Industry Trends, MySpace has become the 24th most visited site. I am usually around several musicians, and MySpace for social networking is usually not the main site fans are encouraged to visit.
MySpace is still hanging in there, however I predict another more effective, organized and reliable source will allow ease of music sharing for independent artists and their fans. I would not be surprise if the Facebook Team will create or have created a more efficient site for musicians.

Source: Music Industry Trends

Lip Synching and Live Performances: Entertainers vs. Talent

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:55:00 +0000

Ashlee Simpson lip sync fail on 2009 Saturday Night Live episode

One of the most exciting specs for an artist to experience is going on tour. Tours are usually in several big cities around the country that last for a few months. Tours give the artist an opportunity to gain income as well as more fans. Even though tours are exciting for artists and the people who work with the artist, tours can also bring stress to the artists. Some stress can possibly affect how an artist perform.

For an artist who is a vocalist, stress can cause their voices to be strained and worn out. This stress is definitely not pleasing to the fans if they have paid for to see the concert. Instead of cancelling the show, artists have created a way to perform the show with out damaging their voices further. Lip-synching or lip singing as we would call it is the strategy used to assist artist in their performance.

But when is Lip syncing too much? Some artist have taken advantage of this strategy for many other reasons. One of those reasons for utilizing lip syncing is to be able to effectively perform the practiced dance routines. Here are my questions. What is your purpose for going to a concert? Do you purchase tickets for a vocalist to see them dance or do you purchase tickets to see a vocalist sing? One of my favorite artists is Janelle Monae. I am definitely purchasing tickets to hear her sing and not watch her flip across the stage. In my opinion, dance routines need to be allowed for the backup dancers and such. That's what they are paid for, right?

Janelle Monae

Other reasons found why artists lip sync on concerts for television purposes and for artists who are insecure about performing live. Televisions producers advised some artist to lip sync to cut down on the time and rehearsal time for broadcasting reasons. On the other hand, some artists prefer to lip sync because of the chance of pitch problems. This insecurity definitely strikes a question ask yourself. What media driven artists can actually sing rather than put on a good show for entertainment?
Listening and watching live concerts have definitely caused me to have a slightly different respect for certain artists. In my opinion, most of the media driven artist are "entertainers" and not "singers". The artists that I do consider very talented are not in the media as much or at all. This is definitely a trend in the music industry. Artists are great performers, but singers; not so much.
I am not saying that there is anything wrong with being an "entertainer" or lip synching. However, there should be a limit. Also, if I am going to see a vocalist perform (sing), I want to see just that. If I want to watch someone dance and entertain the audience, I can definitely save my money and watch it at home. In the music industry, we have entertainers and we have musicians. There is definitely a difference.

Source:

Entertainment Weekly

Interview with local Recording Artist J. Henry

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 03:43:00 +0000

I have the pleasure of speaking with Journell Henry about negotiation. J. Henry, native of New Orleans, LA, is a local (Atlanta, GA) recording artist who plays the saxophone. The following were a few questions asked during his interview.

Can you describe a negotiate where you had to separate the person from the problem?How did you approach the negotiation?
There was a particular organization that wanted me to perform for one of their functions. I was in the process of releasing a new album and would like to advertise at the function, or at least have the announcer mention it. The organization was a church based organization; therefore, there was not a great amount of money involved. This is one of those times where you cannot get upset at the messenger. We finally came to a mutual agreement about my performance and its details.

Are you familiar with BATNA? If yes, Have you ever used that approach?

Yes of course. BATNA is all about negotiating and getting what you deserve.

What do you think is the one of the most important things you should know going into a negotiation?

The most important aspect of a negotiation is to make sure that the end results are in mostly in your favor. Even though it has to work for both sides but the negotiation should be at your advantage.

How do you deal with negative emotions?
I try my best to avoid emotions in a negotiation because I feel that you put yourself in a disadvantage when doing so. This is another time when you have to separate the person from the problem and know that the other side is also trying to get an advantage as well.

Which of the following is most important you in a negotiation: Role, Status, Autonomy, Affiliation, Power/Leverage, and Appreciation?

A person's status is the most important in a negotiation. Having an awesome status boosts your affiliation and power within any negotiation you will ever have.

Do you always strive for mutual benefit?

Most definitely! I negotiate with private companies, organizations, churches, and everyday people on a regular basis. There is no point in burning bridges because you may never know who you may meet that well help you to get ahead.

Special Thanks to J. Henry for allowing me to conduct this interview. For more information, please visit J.Henry

Music Entrepreneurship: A Review on Ken Lopez, Professor of Music Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Sun, 22 May 2011 20:40:00 +0000

I found another exciting and useful interview on my favorite website, ArtistsHouseMusic.org about the future of entrepreneurship in the music industry. Ken Lopez, a professor of Music Industry at University of Southern California, was interviewed to share his experience, knowledge, and comments about the future of the music industry.

He first discuss the challenges of the music industry. Lopez describes how the music industry has become more dependent on the latest technology which completely affects some aspects of the music industry. Record labels as well as the general radio are some aspects of the music industry that recent technology and made a major impact on. Lopez discussed that the general radio has major competition because the marketed age group have found other ways to listen to music. He feels that if this particular age group does not grow up listening to the radio, then they are not going to listen to the radio when they get older.

Lopez explains an entrepreneurship example how a student created a website for unassigned and underground bands. The student was working for a web casting company and was currently a junior at University of Southern California, when he investigated on how to create pod casts. The student later gave the idea to the company he worked for them to create a website that involved interviews with unassigned and underground bands. The company now earns a profit off of this idea that the student presented to the company.

The advice the Lopez gives about entrepreneurship is simple. If you are thinking about being an entrepreneur, especially in the music industry, you must wear all the hats. When you "wear all the hats" you have to be market yourself, create an online network with your fans, tour, promote, etc. There are many entrepreneurs in the music industry that include record label owners, singer/songwriters, musicians, and others. Lopez explains that if entrepreneurship is something that you would like to do, then you must be fully engaged.

I found this interview to be useful and interesting. Other information about entrepreneurship can also be found on ArtistsHouseMusic.org as well.

Click Here to see the full interview of Ken Lopez.

Image Source: ArtistsHouseMusic.org

Running and Owning A Club Vid Review

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Thu, 05 May 2011 04:00:00 +0000

I found an interesting video on one of my favorite music information websites, Artist House Music. Owner of a Montreal music club explains how he earns profit for the club. Alex Limieux is the owner and stated that the club makes their profit off of alcohol served inside the club. The building that the club is located in is rented on a 6 year lease. They have been open for one year. Admission into the club changes depending on the band that is performing. He stated that most clubs in Montreal do not charge an admission fee. The band only pays the sound engineer to set up for performances. The owner is also a band manager and has other jobs. He stated that he is not at the club working all the time. But when he is there, he is usually working with admission and the serving.
The owner also talks about expanding. The club can hold about 120 people. He stated that there are curfews in some neighborhoods which could allow him to possibly close early due to complaints from neighbors. Luckily, employers of the club live within the same building; therefore, no complaints have been made.
Limieux explained that he only profits off of alcohol because alcohol sells. He also explained that the company received a loan from the bank through his partner that helps with maintenance of the club. Limieux stated that owning a club is better when a bar is involved because of the profit. He feels that getting a percentage from admission or from the band would feel like a rip off and only profits off of alcohol. The club is open every Thursday through Sunday.
Most establishments that I have been to charge at least a $5 dollar admission to gain some type of profit for the night. This club is located in Montreal, Canada where alcohol is huge for nightlife. Personally, I would not solely gain profit from the bar. The owner did not explain the neighborhood or the atmosphere of his establishment. He also did not state if the sound engineer worked for the club or if he was independent. If I were to own an establishment, there would be admission simply because my establishment would be a little more high end. Of course, it would not be to rip any customers off, but to factor in employees, food, alcohol, sound system, seating, and the atmosphere provided. It seems like this establishment only makes enough of a profit to survive. I would definitely like to make a profit to where I can survive and be comfortable. The owner stated the he could not live off profits from the venue and has multiple jobs. Having multiple jobs is stressful! I am definitely experiencing that now!
This video was definitely insightful and I look forward to learning how to gain a profit through an establishment.

To Check out the Video, Click here.

Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams Vid Response

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 04:29:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of researching TED.com videos on amazing speakers who talk about various topics and experiences. The video that truly spoke to me was the "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" by Randy Pausch.

Even though this video is not specifically about the music industry, I feel that it is relevant to everyday life. Pausch discusses his childhood dreams and how he was able to achieve them. His dreams included to experience 0 gravity, become Captain Kirk, become a Disney Imagineer, play in the NFL, write an article in the world encyclopedia, and winning huge stuffed animals. Even though this video was over an hour long, the delivery was quite amusing. Pausch gave helpful advice.

Pausch was able to experience everything on his childhood dream. He met the actor that played Captain on Star Trek and was able to experience the enterprise and other gadgets Captain Kirk used. He was able to participate in space camp that allowed students at Carnegie Mellon University to experience 0 gravity. He mentioned about how easy it was to change information on Wikipedia. Since he was not able to play in the NFL, he carries a football with him to his classes and juggles the football when he is in deep thought about an idea. In the video, he shows all of the huge stuffed animals that he won over the years.

All in all, the Pausch was an excellent speaker. He portrayed humor, wit and good advice in his speech. He mentioned brick walls when he mentioned about being denied employment as a Disney Imagineer. The brick wall stood as a barrier for people to overcome the brick wall if they really wanted the objective. The brick wall also stood as a dead end for people who seriously did not want the objective. In conclusion, this speech was not really about how to accomplish your dreams, but how to live your life. Pausch stated that if we lead our life to the fullest, karma will take care of the rest. He has definitely inspired me to think about my life and do things that matter to me and carry out things that I always wanted to do.

If you would like to view the video, Click Here!

Professional Association-CMAC

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 06:02:00 +0000

Finding a professional trade association is very helpful when starting your own business. My passion is music and my goal is to own one of the leading music venues that will promote creative independent artists, serve as a performance venue for established and independent artists, thus improving nightlife. Researching and becoming part of an association is a big step in researching the industry.

According to CMAC's official website (2010), California Music and Culture Association is a non profit organization consisting of an alliance of venue owners, industry professionals, and fans dedicated to the preservation and enrichment of music and culture in the state of California. The purpose of this organization is to foster a safe entertainment environment in the state of California. The organization began in 2009 in the city of San Francisco. Currently, CMAC's board of directors consist of President Sean Manchester, Vice President Demetrius Chapin-Rienzo, Treasurer Barry Synoground, Secretary Terrance Alan, and 4 directors.

One of CMAC's driven purposes is to foster safe entertainment environment. The organization strongly supports entertainment safety act in the state of California. CMAC strives to collaborate with government agencies to support regulations and safe neighborhoods. The Public Safety Committee and Policy Commission of CMAC held a hearing for people to voice their opinion on policies. In addition to their efforts to involve fans and industry professionals, they have also supported the San Francisco Committee passage, the Oakland City Council for amending the cabaret ordinance, and the SB32 bill.

The San Francisco Safety Committee passage expanded entertainment commission authority to revoke entertainment permits on issues related to public safety and public nuisance. This gives the authority to shut down a venue when there is unsafe and illegal acts being performed. One of the notes on the organization's Facebook page stated a response to one of California's nightlife club Suede. The organization stated their stance on safety in venues and supported the positive results to resolve the issue. It is very important to have an association that supports safety. Another reason why the organization supports safety for the entertainment industry in the state of California is because of the revenue that the entertainment industry brings in to the state. The Oakland City Council amended the cabaret ordinance in order to extend operating hours to support economic vitality. CMAC addressed their supporting statements on their Facebook page. CMAC also supported the SB32 law that was passed to permitted infused beverages such as sangria to be flavored with fruits, vegetables and herbs and to prevent and clear up confusion. This confusion from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverages inconsistently appeared in 2008 and in 2010. Thus, CMAC supported the bill to clear the confusion.

In conclusion, CMAC is an organization that supports safety in the entertainment industry in the state of California. Their Public Safety Committee definitely allows citizens to get involve with policy changes and supporting of bills. Safety is a huge issue especially when alcohol is involved. This organization has done an excellent job of informing fans via Facebook notes and wall posts; and through membership into the organization. This organization does not have a direct effect on my industry and business plan because of location. However, I am glad that organizations like CMAC exist to inform fans about policies and bills passed, keeping entertainment industry safe, and facilitating economic revenue for the state. Please visit CMAC for additional information.

Sources: CMAC (2010). Retrieved from http://cmacsf.org/about-us/.
Facebook (2011). Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/CMACassociation

Image Source: Facebook (2011). Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/CMACassociation

Soul Lounge Expansion.

noreply@blogger.com (Renise) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 01:01:00 +0000

One of the most innovative promoting business and franchise to soul artists would be the Soul Lounge. The creator, Bill Lee, is passionate about building his platform for soul artists to promote their live music and gain exposure. The Soul Lounge began in a music venue in Nashville, TN in 2009. Lee originally started with live hip hop, and urban music. According to their fan site on Facebook, genres such as jazz, rock, indie, and fusion are also performed during the events.
Soul Lounge hosts an open mic event in different cities including Memphis, St. Louis, Huntsville, and now in Atlanta. The event is usually once a month in their marketed city. The Soul Lounge is now operating in 8 U.S. cities and plans to expand to other cities. Soul Lounge seems to be a growing commodity!
The Soul Lounge team consist of the owner, Bill Lee, Jamel Johnson who is the Operating Manager, Universal Events as their PR, Delonte Briggs as the Regional Expansion Developer, and Drea Thompson as the Photographer. They began by networking with several musicians. Within the last 2 years, Soul Lounge gains over 60,000 contacts! They began to network through social media blasts about vendors, artists, venue, and sponsors.
I came across this franchise when Joi Tiffany, one of my favorite soul artists, entertainers, and fraternity sister (Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, Inc.) announced that she would be hosting a Soul Lounge event in Atlanta, GA. Joi Tiffany is usually the Host in Huntsville, AL where I have heard many spectacular comments about the event. She will be hosting the upcoming Soul Lounge in Atlanta on April 20th at 8:00 pm.
There are several outstanding artist that have performed with the Soul Lounge. Artists including PJ Morton, Tommy Sims, Anthony David, Jaspects, Eric Roberson, Willie Lynch, Jr. and others. In my opinion, this franchise is a very innovative business for many reasons. They have gained much publicity and fan based just by promoting music through open mic events in selected cities. The owner is currently applying for sponsorship through Prilosec OTC. Readers are suggested to vote for Mr. Lee to increase chances of receiving the sponsorship. Click Here to vote for Mr. Lee to gain this sponsorship for his tour of the Soul Lounge.
I have not been to a Soul Lounge event. However, I do have plans of attending one in the future. The Soul Lounge was definitely a creative business plan for Mr. Lee to promote soul artist in the United States to gain exposure needed. I wish future success for the franchise and in hopes that I would be able to work with them in the future with my endeavors.

Image Source: www.souloungeusa.com