Sounds for Thought

Growth of Mobile Apps

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:36:00 +0000

The growth of mobile apps was almost like an overnight sensation. Well to the public that is always how it seems. The developers’ feel like it takes forever for the concept to catch on, but for the rest of the world, it comes around unexpectedly. This growth is helped by the percentage of smartphone users. Over 50% of the U.S population owns a smartphone (Cocotas, 2012).

An example in the fast growth of mobile apps is the overnight sensation of the app Draw Something. Draw something was released to users in early February, and after 9 days had already acquired about 1 million downloads (Cocotas, 2012). The growth did not stop there, because after six weeks, the game had approximately 35 million downloads (Cocotas, 2012).

According to PwC, smartphone owners use their smartphones for three daily activities: basic communications, accessing news, weather or sports and social network usage (Tofel, 2011). PwC has also surveyed that 40% of these owners will increase these activities to 14 different areas, including travel, healthcare and management because of apps (Tofel, 2011).

In the business world apps have started to become just as important as Internet media. Smartphone owners can do everything from place orders, to shopping, to finding different business in their exact location. AT&T surveyed businesses and more than a third of these small business feel they could not survive without mobile apps (Cascade Marketing Solutions, 2012). Within the survey they were asked what the most valuable sorts of mobile apps were and 46% said “apps that help you shop or make purchases” (Cascade Marketing Solutions, 2012).

As I graduate from school and start my own business, it is important for me to keep up with the trends that will help my business thrive. I know how frequently I use my mobile phone, and how I use it more then my computer sometimes. This makes me realize that this is the way the world is going. They want convenience and a way to access as much as they can in the palm of their hand. The growth in mobile apps shows me how I can use this trend in my marketing efforts and in my businesses everyday operations. I believe this trend will help me be successful and help me connect with a wider audience.

References

Cascade Marketing Solutions. (2012, January 1). The Growth of Mobile Applications - No End in Sight! Retrieved August 24, 2012, from Cascade Marketing Solutions: www.cascademarketingsolutions.com/2012/03/growth-mobile-applications-sight/

Cocotas, A. (2012, March 23). The Breathtaking Pace of Mobile App Growth Is Just Gettting Started. Retrieved August 24, 2012, from Business Insider: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-03-23/news/31228305_1_smartphone-app-zynga

Tofel, K. C. (2011, November 18). Why the mobile app economy will keep growing quickly . Retrieved August 24, 2012, from GIGaom: htp://gigaom.com/mobile/why-the-mobile-app-economy-will-keep-growing-quickly/

Opportunity Finance Network

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:18:00 +0000

Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) is a network that helps provide investment opportunities to community development financial institutions (CDFI’s) benefiting “low-income, low wealth, and other disadvantaged communities across America” (Opportunity Finance Network, 2012). Within this Network the CDFI’s deliver “responsible, affordable lending to help low-income, low wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities join the economic mainstream” (Opportunity Finance Network, 2012).

For their members OFN provides news, innovations, and results. They also provide an overview of all loans and investments to CDFI’s since 1990. For investors, they give a description that offers opportunities for investors interested in providing performance-based financing to CDFI’s nationally and methods to find more information on these opportunities (Opportunity Finance Network, 2012). For CDFI’s, OFN provides financing products in order to help CDFI’s with their individual missions.

In order to become a member and obtain finances for these developments, potential CDFI’s are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Membership Principles. OFN rests on four different principles: Mission and Impact, Finance-led Strategy, Commitment to Performance, and Support of OFN’s Mission. If a CDFI meets the eligibility criteria, then the OFN assists them in meeting their PerformanceExpectations. CDFI’s have to meet all of the membership principles but do not have to meet all of the performance expectations.

There are some really great things on this site that help provide a lot of information and keep members connected. There is a program called Staying Connected where members share ideas with OFN and each other. They use conference calls to keep in touch and schedule them frequently throughout the year. OFN also provides a Small Business Finance Forum. This is where more than 150 representatives from many CDFI’s around the United States and their partners, talk about issues that are important to small business finance providers (Opportunity Finance Network, 2012). This also provides networking and the opportunity to build relationships.

OFN’s slogan is “finding financing opportunities that others miss” which points out a great advantage to using alternative financing. A lot of these organizations can show you opportunities that you did not know existed. If these opportunities go unnoticed, then they will be gone before you even knew they were there. Another advantage of alternate financing is the opportunity to help others who might not be able to obtain financing on their own. Some disadvantages are if you are not familiar with programs like this, you might sign up for something that is not beneficial for you or your company. It is important, especially with finances, to make sure that you really research and know where you are getting your finances from so you and your business can be successful.

References

Opportunity Finance Network. (2012, January 1). Opportunity Finance Network - About. Retrieved August 11, 2012, from Opportunity FInance Network: http://opportunityfinance.net/about/

Helpful TIps When Writing a Business Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 21:20:00 +0000

I am currently in the process of writing the business plan for my company. When I started my business plan I was not sure what to expect. I was also not sure if I could effectively include everything that is needed in order to have a successful business plan. I researched experts Dave Lavinsky and Tim Berry in order to give me some guidance when writing my business plan. As I continue to write my business plan, there are a few things that I want to take from these experts that I did not think of before.

Dave Lavinsky, President of Growthink, talked about 4 critical things that should be incorporated into your business plan and from those four, one really stood out to me. He believes that the first thing you should do when writing is one line that clearly summarizes what your company does (Lavinsky, 2012). This has been helpful because I want to make sure that investors or anyone else, who reads my plan, has a great understanding of what my company is about. Because of this advice, I have made sure that at the beginning of each new section, I summarize what my company is about. All investors do not read business plans from beginning to end, so it is very important that no matter what section they start from, they know what the company is about.

Tim Berry, President of Palo Alto Software and founder of bplans.com, shared 8 factors that make a good business plan. Of the 8 factors, the one that really stood out to me was, communicate the business plan to those who have to run it (Berry, 2009). This made me sit and really think about all of the responsibilities needed in order to run my business. This advice has made me rethink some of the responsibilities and it made me realize that there are positions that I do need to have that I did not have before. It also reiterated communication to me. I have to make sure that when I do hire new employees, I have to communicate what I want my business to convey so that my employees convey that same message.

A business plan is very important when starting a new company. There are many aspects and doing each section correctly is key. However, I feel the most important part of a business plan is the executive summary. According to Susan Ward, “the purpose of an executive summary is to summarize the key points of a document for its readers, saving them time and preparing them for the upcoming content” (Ward, 2012). Setting your readers up to understand the content of a lengthy business plan is very important. I feel your executive summary can make or break your business plan. If your readers do not understand this critical part of the plan, then they might not understand your business, which could hinder the start of your business.

References

Berry, T. (2009, February 18). 8 Factors that Make a Good Business Plan. Retrieved July 27, 2012, from Planning Startup Stories: http://timberry.bplans.com/2009/02/some-key-questions-on-business-plans.html

Lavinsky, D. (2012, January 1). How to Make a Business Plan: Free Business Plan Tips. Retrieved July 27, 2012, from Growthink: http://www.growthink.com/businessplan/help-center/key-components-business-plan-part-1

Ward, S. (2012, January 1). Executive Summary Definition - Executive Summary. Retrieved July 29, 2012, from About.com: sbinforcanada.about.com/od/businessplans/g/execsummary.htm

Business Plan Experts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 22:55:00 +0000

According to SBA.gov, a business plan “defines your business, identifies your goals and serves as your firm’s resume” (U.S. Small Business Administration, 2012). Many times entrepreneurs, looking to start a new business, will seek out the help from business plan experts. Some experts help write the business plan with you, or they give you the necessary tools needed to write a successful business plan yourself. I am currently in the process of writing my own business plan, so after researching some business plan experts; I want to share with you the thoughts and ideas from Dave Lavinsky and Tim Berry.

Dave Lavinsky is an expert in business planning, capital raising, and new venture development (growthink, 2012). Lavinsky is the President of Growthink, which has written over 2,000 business plans, and has helped more then 250,000 entrepreneurs by providing training materials to help them begin and grow their businesses (Lavinsky, 2012). Lavinsky has been called a business plan expert by BusinessWeek and received his MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA (Lavinsky, 2012).

Lavinsky created a video on how to write a business plan and he feels there are 4 critical things that you must start with in order to be successful. He believes the first thing you should do when writing a business plan is one line the clearly summarizes what your company does (Lavinsky, 2012). Lavinsky feels this is critical because he has been involved with investors when they read new business plan, and they can read through the first page of the plan and have no idea what the company is about. The second thing that must be covered is your financial model (Lavinsky, 2012). This lets the investors know how much you will need, how much you will pay back, how long it will take you to make revenue, and the cost of your products or services. If you need investors to help you pay to start, they need to know how much you are expecting them to provide. The third area starts with a question, “what are your risk mitigating milestones?” (Lavinsky, 2012). This shows your action plan in order to achieve success and when it is completed it makes a company more likely to succeed (Lavinsky, 2012). This is important to investors because every time a milestone is achieved, the risk becomes smaller for the investor (Lavinsky, 2012). The fourth step is answering the question “why are you uniquely qualified to succeed?” (Lavinsky, 2012). Lavinsky feels this is the most important thing that the readers of your business plan care about, but about 90% of business plans don’t include them (Lavinsky, 2012).

Tim Berry is the President of Palo Alto Software and the founder of bplans.com (Berry, 2012). Berry is the author of Business Plan Pro, The Plan-As-You-Go Business, and has been named as one of the top 20 entrepreneurs to follow on twitter by Business Week (Berry, 2012). Berry has an MBA from Stanford.

Berry feels there are 8 factors that make up a good business plan. Factor number one is, it fits the business need (Berry T. , 2009). When starting a business you want to make sure that the plan achieves its business purpose (Berry T. , 2009). Factor number two is, the plan is realistic. It can be implemented (Berry T. , 2009). You want to make sure that your business plan can actually happen. If you present a plan to investors on a business that is impossible to start, investors will not support your plan. The third factor is, it’s specific. You can track results against plans (Berry T. , 2009). Your plan must be measurable; this will help you evaluate your results. The fourth factor is that it clearly defines responsibilities for implementation (Berry T. , 2009). Make sure someone if responsible for every task required in your business plan. This will show investors that no task will be unnoticed. The fifth factor is, it clearly identifies assumptions (Berry T. , 2009). This is important because these are what we think is going to happen. Showing these throughout our process keeps consistency. The sixth factor is, it’s communicated to the people who have to run it (Berry T. , 2009). Make sure that everyone involved with the plan knows exactly what the plan is about. The only way a plan can be implemented is if all of the parties involved are all on the same page. The seventh factor is, it gets people committed (Berry T. , 2009). The plan has to get the team wanting to commit to the idea. The last factor is, it’s kept alive by follow up and planning process (Berry T. , 2009). Make sure you do not write a business plan that ends up in a drawer and is never managed or implemented. Berry feels you can finish the first 7 factors and still drop the ball with this last factor. Of course, the last 3 steps touch more on the process surrounding the plan, but Berry still feels they are just as important as writing the plan itself (Berry T. , 2009).

References

Berry, T. (2009, February 18). 8 Factors that Make a Good Business Plan. Retrieved June 30, 2012, from Planning Startups Stories : http://timberry.bplans.com/2009/02/some-key-questions-on-business-plans.html

Berry, T. (2012, January 1). Introducing Myself. Retrieved June 30, 2012, from Planning Startups Stories: http://timberry.bplans.com/introducing-myself

growthink. (2012, January 1). Dave Lavinsky. Retrieved June 30, 2012, from growthink: http://www.growthink.com/team/dave-lavinsky

Lavinsky, D. (2012, January 1). How to Make a Business Plan: Free Business Plan Tips. Retrieved June 30, 2012, from Growthink: http://www,growthink.com/businessplan/help-center/key-components-business-plan-part-1

U.S. Small Business Administration. (2012, January 1). What is a business plan and why do I need one. Retrieved June 30, 2012, from SBA.gov: http://www.sba.gov/content/what-business-plan-and-why-do-i-need-one

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 02:11:00 +0000

Social media has taken over by storm. These sites help stimulate many different needs for their audiences and some sites have become a part of people daily routines. The impact that social media has on people lives is amazing. This is where people keep up with the personal lives of their friends and celebrities. When I think of social media I think of sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Pintrest, and Google +. However, there are more sites then these and that is what I want to focus on. I want to focus on a site, that brings business professionals together, and has become popular in its on right, and that site is LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is a professional network that currently has over 120 million members (LinkedIn, 2012). With LinkedIn, users can publish professional profiles, stay in touch with colleagues and friends, find experts and ideas, and explore opportunities (LinkedIn, 2012). I was first introduced to LinkedIn last year. I was not sure what it was and if it was worth using, and I honestly I only signed up because it was a requirement for class. It did not interest me because I did not have a business, and even though I was starting my Master’s Degree, I did not consider myself to be the type of professional who could use a site like this. I felt it was more for the white-collar worker, not a performer. I would have never thought it would prove me wrong.

LinkedIn allows users to post their current and past work locations, education, websites, bio, experience, skills, expertise, recommendations, and gives the opportunity to connect with other industry professionals in their field. LinkedIn is also a great place to find other executives and company owners. This networking brings you closer to CEO’s and owners that you maybe felt were unable to connect with. You can search companies, find jobs, and even find new employees for your business.

LinkedIn is currently ranked number 4 in social networks in the U.S with 86 million visits in March (Wasserman, 2012). Unfortunately, everyone is not familiar with LinkedIn. So how come it has such a great following? They have done a good job at following the trends of other successful sites. LinkedIn Today allows users to share content on a “wall” just like Facebook (Simply Zesty, 2011). Adding activities for users to engage in has stimulated audiences more then just having a profile others can view.

I think LinkedIn is a great tool for business professionals. I have been able to connect with others in my profession and share my ideas. I believe LinkedIn will continue to thrive and I hope more people utilize this great networking tool.

Ericka Womack-Brown

References

LinkedIn. (2012, January 1). What is LInkedIn - LinkedIn Learning Center. Retrieved June 15, 2012, from LinkedIn: http://learn.linkedin.com/what-is-linkedin/

Simply Zesty. (2011, May 29). Why LinkedIn is copying some of the most successful Facebook features. Retrieved June 15, 2012, from Simply Zesty: http://www.simplyzesty.com/social-media/linkedin-2/how-linkedin-is-piggybacking-on-facebooks-success

Wasserman, T. (2012, April 6). Pintrest is Now No. 3 Social Network in the U.S. Retrieved June 15, 2012, from Mashable: http://mashable.com/2012/04/06/pintrest-number-3-social-network/

Effectiveness of Digital Marketing in the Music Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 18:00:00 +0000

The music industry never has a consistent trend. This is because the music industry is ever evolving and today’s #1 hit is tomorrow’s one hit wonder. However, when marketing started to become digitally based, record companies, artist managers, and artist seemed to be hesitant to the idea.

The music industry has marketed music and artists a certain way for many years. Marketing used to be done by hiring an agent and driving from city to city, or from store to store selling records (Digital Fire, 2011). Now digital marketing, especially through social sites, not only promotes artists’ music, but also allows the fans to build a relationship with the artist.

Recently I took a class on media publishing and distribution. I decided to focus on the music industry, so I had to create a music press kit. According to About.com, a music press kit “is a tool used by musicians, labels, agents, and managers to promote a group, a new release or a tour” (McDonald, 2012). We were given many options on how to create our music press kits, and we could choose whatever option we wanted. However, the option that I found very intriguing was the digital press kit. Powerpresskit.com is “a revolutionary electronic press kit that is a power-packed arsenal of promotion” (Power Press Kits, 2012). This site takes you step by step on how to promote yourself digitally, by adding photos, videos, music tracks, and so much more, and puts it just a click away from others who could help us in our careers.

Other ways that digital marketing has been effective on the music industry is the social media networks. The popularity of sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and YouTube has helped new artist and famous artist alike promote their music and build a fan base. There are currently 500,000 artists who use Facebook’s app, BandPage (Cohen, 2012). Some feel Twitter is a better marketing tool then Facebook, because it brings the fans to their favorite artists on a more personal level. Mike More, CEO of Headliner.fm says, “One of the main advantages Twitter has for artists is that it’s more open than Facebook or any other social platform. Artists can follow any band they’re into and connect with them easily. This is a big plus.” (Titlow, 2012). No matter what site you prefer, it is almost critical that a new artist use these sites to promote their music; it is almost becoming the only way.

Digital marketing is effective in the music industry because it has brought fans closer to artists more then ever before. Fans can download a new album from the comfort of their own home, or buy tickets off of an artist’s website without having to stand in line. Digital marketing has also given unknown music artists the opportunity to promote their music on a larger scale, without having an agent or a great budget. As the music industry continues to evolve, I believe digital marketing will soon completely replace the traditional styles of music marketing and set a stigma on how marketing is done.

References

Cohen, D. (2012, March 12). 500,000 Artists' Facebook Pages Use BandPage. Retrieved June 2, 2012, from AllFacebook: http://allfacebook.com/bandpage_b81409

Digital Fire. (2011, May 4). Digital Marketing and the Music Industry. Retrieved June 2, 2012, from Digital Fire: http://www.digitalfire.co.za/blog/digital-marketing-and-the-music-industry/

Label 2.0. (2009, October 13). 5 sites to Improve Your Music Marketing. Retrieved June 2, 2012, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJRsStRAba4&feature=related

McDonald, H. (2012, January 1). What is a Press Kit. Retrieved June 2, 2012, from About: http://musicians.about.com/od/ip/g/presskit.htm

Power Press Kits. (2012, January 1). How to make a press kit . Retrieved June 2, 2012, from myPPK: http://www.powerpresskits.com/power_electronic_press_kits/about.aspx

Titlow, J. P. (2012, March 23). How (and Why) Musicians Are Using Twitter. Retrieved June 2, 2012, from Read Write Web: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/how_and_why_musicians_are_using_twitter.php

Dubstep

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:18:00 +0000

Dubstep is a vastly growing trend in the music industry in the United States. Originating in the U.K. dubstep is defined by allmusic.com as “a genre of electronic dance music” said to be “tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals.” This electronic, computerized sound started showing up in the middle of hits from artist such as Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Flo-Rida, Kanye West, Jay Z and many more.

Dubstep originated in South London, in 1999, and has been growing ever since. I remember being introduced to dubstep for the first time in 2011 in a remix of Britney Spears’ song “Till The World Ends.” When I heard it, I automatically loved it. I loved the contrast from the normal basic music styles that have been released in the music industry for the last couple of years. After hearing that song, I started to notice that almost every new release had an element of dubstep in it, and from then I knew it was the new sound.

Because of the popularity of the dubstep movement, there are many websites and programs to help music producers and DJ’s create this sound. MusicRadar and FLStudio Music are two sites that provide free dubstep samples that you can download directly from their website. There are also more intricate kits that can be purchased but most sites offer these sounds for free. There are also many video tutorials on YouTube that will take you step by step on how to create a dubstep track.

When listening to dubstep, there is a difference between taking a song and adding a dubstep music break, and a song that is dubstep from beginning to end. Some dubstep songs can feel to electronic for me. However, I do like a good dubstep music break. I also like how DJ’s have found a way to incorporate dubstep in many different genres, not just pop or hip hop music. There has even been a dubstep remix to the John Denver’s ‘Country Roads.’

Even though dubstep has been around since 1999, I believe that it has only recently made its mark. Since I am in the music industry, I am always interested to hear the new sounds of music, and I can’t wait to continue to see the impact that dubstep will continue to make on the industry.

References

Boy In A Band. (2009, May 2). Top 5 Dubstep artists you pretty much need in your life. Retrieved May 19, 2012, from Boy In A Band: http://www.boyinaband.com/2009/05/top-5-dubstep-artists-you-pretty-much-need-in-your-life/

UDubStep. (2012, January 1). The History of Dubstep. Retrieved May 19, 2012, from UDubStep: http://www.udubstep.com/the-history-of-dubstep/

Press Kits

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:59:00 +0000

A press kit is a collection of materials that helps promote a person and their work to the media or their agent. This material can be submitted as a traditional hard copy press kit or as an electronic press kit. I recently learned about press kits and got the opportunity to create one of my own. Before I created my press kit, I was given many different resources to help me be creative and organized. I found it was easier to use Keynote to properly organize everything how I wanted, but before I decided this method I visited powerpresskit.com.

Powerpresskit.com is an electronic press kit service that helps you create your press kit electronically, and upload it so it is accessible to the public. Even though I did not decide to use this to create my press kit, I do feel it is more in tune with the direction our industry is continuing to head. Each week powerpresskit.com features a number of different press kits and I decided to evaluate Regina Belle’s to see if it is a successful press kit.

Regina Belle is a Gospel artist from Atlanta, GA, who is a four-time Grammy Award and Academy Award winner. When you first visit her press kit, her song “Higher” is playing in the background. I really liked this element of her press kit, because it introduced me to her sound right away. Additionally, you are able to read Belle’s biography on her home page and there is a picture so you have a visual as well. There are tabs at the top of the page were you can navigate and see photos, videos, press releases, schedules, and hear audio tracks. When navigating through her press kit, I was hoping to see more photographs, there were only five and none of them were her in action. However, I did like how there was a store that included links where you could buy her music.

Powerpresskit.com can really help those create a press kit when they do not know where to start. It contains a step-by-step process so there is no confusion. They also have a 2-week trial period so you can try it for free before making a financial commitment. I would recommend powerpresskit.com to make an electronic press kit but if you like a more traditional style then that is still accepted too.

References

Power Press Kits. (2012, January 1). Free Electronic Press Kits Service. Retrieved May 19, 2012, from Power Press Kits: http://www.powerpresskits.com

Expert Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:46:00 +0000

http://feeds.feedburner.com/LNPatentLawCenterPodcast

LexisNexis is a provider that combines information and technology in order to educate professionals in legal, risk management, corporate, government, law enforcement, accounting, and academic markets (LexisNexis, 2012). LexisNexis provides many podcasts in order to share information with its professionals and I recently listened to one on IP laws. On this episode, Walter Palmer and Cristina Pinheiro, talk about the developments of IP laws in Brazil in 2010. They focused on Trademark, Copyright, and Patent laws, and how they have changed over the years, and how they hope to change in the future. There was something very interesting to me about music copyrights in Brazil. Palmer talked about how it is illegal in Brazil to buy a CD from the store, take it home, burn it on your computer, and then make a copy to a blank CD. Something else very interesting about this podcast was the discussion that took place about Law No. 9.610. This Law on Copyright was originated in 1988, but was not official until February 19, 1998. It took the government ten years to come to an agreement on what copyright laws and punishments needed to be in the Law. Brazil still has a lot of work to do in order to finalize the IP laws to something everyone is satisfied with. They are hosting the 2016 Olympics and are trying to finalize most of these laws before this event.

http://legaltalknetwork.com/RSS/WCM_feed.xml

Legal Talk Network, LLC provides podcasts that talk about important legal issues with well-known guests (Legal Talk Network, 2012). I recently listened to a podcast on worker’s compensation and got a lot of insight on the history of the matter. Host Attorney Alan S. Pierce, spoke with the Honorable Richard S. Tirrel from the Department of Industrial Accidents and Attorney Joseph F. Agnelli Jr., partner at Keches Law Group, P.C. This podcast took place in 2011, which marked the 100^th anniversary of worker’s compensation. The host and guests talked about the many influencers of worker’s compensation and the one name that really stood out to me was Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt introduced the first part of workers’ compensation legislation to become a law (Legal, 2008). The law is called the Federal Employer’s Liability Act and covered workers in unsafe work environments and employees in similar situations (Legal, 2008).

http://www.entertainmentlawupdate.com/2012/03/episode-29-360-deals-rights-of-publicity/

The last podcast that I listened to was an Entertainment Law Update Podcast. Gordon P. Firemark and Tamera Bennet hosted this podcast, with special guest Erin Jacobson. A lot of topics were discussed in this podcast including 360 deals in conflict with the Talent Agencies Act, music sales vs. license litigations, copyright termination updates, ReDigi injunction denied, Aereo and retransmission fees, and many more. There were a couple of cases that were really interesting to me that I had no idea were currently happening. Drake’s ex-girlfriend Erika Lee is suing him for royalties over a song he released called Marvin’s Room. In the song there is a phone conversation that is dispersed throughout the song that Lee’s voice is on. Drake has offered her money but she has denied all offers and wants to take it to court. Another topic that really made me think about digital downloads is the topic of music sales vs. license litigation. Artist are putting up a fight and requesting that if iTunes, Amazon, or other digital sites sell their music that it should be sold as a license instead of a sale. When music is sold as a sale, an artists only gets about 12-14% of the profit, where if it is sold as a license the artist can get as much as 30%. I thought that was very interesting and helps explain why all artists don’t necessarily like selling their music on digital sites.

I learned a lot of great information from these podcasts. They gave me new insights on IP laws, workers’ compensation laws, and different laws that pertain to the music industries in regards to copyright, music sales, licenses etc. However, when it comes to my business, the most important thing I learned was from the LexisNexis podcast. Even though the laws they were taking about were from Brazil, it is very important for me to research and keep up with the changing of the laws. It seems that there are always elements that change or are being revised. In order to protect my business from others, or protect myself from infringing on other businesses, it will be my responsibility to check on the laws. This will ensure that my business is following all of the IP laws correctly.

Ericka Womack-Brown

References

Legal Talk Network. (2012, January 1). The Company. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from Legal Talk Network: http://legaltalknetwork.com/about/the-company/

Legal, R. (2008, July 10). 2008 Theodore Roosevelt Workers' Compensation and Disability Management Awards. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from Roland Legal PLLC: http://rolandlegal.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/2008-theodore-roosevelt-workers-compensation-and-disability-management-awards/

LexisNexis. (2012, January 1). About LexisNexis. Retrieved April 24, 2012, from LexisNexis: http://www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/about-us/about-us.page

Industry Liabilities

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:59:00 +0000

When dealing with any business, it is important to become knowledgeable about the different intellectual property issues that can affect your business. In the entertainment industry, these things happen everyday, so it is important to protect yourself and to make sure you research others in the industry as well. This will help you avoid infringing on others belongings and having to deal with a lawsuit. While researching the entertainment industry on legal controversies, I found three lawsuits that taught me valuable lessons, and made me aware that paying attention to small details can help prevent me from infringing upon others.

In March of 2012, Power Rangers owners sued Michael Alen, the owner of “Power Hoodiez,” for infringing its copyright and trademarks (Gardner, 2012). SCG Power Ranger LLC sued Alen over lookalike-hooded sweatshirts that had similar design and symmetry to its owned intellectual property (Gardner, 2012). The hoodies have been displayed on many websites, are being sold for $85, and SGC says that Alen “never got permission to use Power Rangers IP in connection with the sweatshirts” (Gardner, 2012). SCG also feels that the hoodies have formed confusion in the marketplace and that Alen should be punished (Gardner, 2012). The clothing is not the item protected by copyright; it is “any pictorial graphic, or sculptural authorship that can be identified separately from the utilitarian aspects of an object” (Gardner, 2012). This lawsuit shows me that research and permission must be done before releasing a product to the public. If Alen would have asked permission from SCG, he might have been able to sell his product with no problem. It seems to me that SCG was more upset that Alen felt he could just release a product, with a pattern that they made recognizable, and was not even asked permission for using it. With a lot of designs, artists take a lot of time and effort to make something that is hopefully so recognizable, that the moment you see it your think of one product. When I first saw the hoodies, I thought Power Rangers. You can like a TV show, like a design, but you can’t take someone’s trademarked design and make a profit off of it, without permission.

Oprah Winfrey was sued two years ago by motivational speaker Simone Kelly-Brown over the headline, “Own Your Power,” which she used on the cover of her magazine in 2010 (Gardner, Oprah Winfrey Wins 'Own Your Power' Trademark Lawsuit, 2012). Kelley-Brown ran a motivational service company and had registered “Own Your Power” as a trademark in 1996 (Gardner, Oprah Winfrey Wins 'Own Your Power' Trademark Lawsuit, 2012). On Tuesday March 6, 2012 U.S. District Court Judge Paul Crotty finally dismissed the case (Gardner, Oprah Winfrey Wins 'Own Your Power' Trademark Lawsuit, 2012). Kelley-Brown felt Winfrey infringed her trademark rights and confused the original meaning of her mark, but Judge Crotty ruled that there could be no confusion about the authorship and Winfrey had the right to use the headline (Gardner, Oprah Winfrey Wins 'Own Your Power' Trademark Lawsuit, 2012). Kelley-Brown wondered if “Own Your Power” really represented what was in issue, but the judge felt that because there were other encouraging taglines on the cover as well, then there was no confusion on the matter (Gardner, Oprah Winfrey Wins 'Own Your Power' Trademark Lawsuit, 2012). This lawsuit showed me a couple of things. If you are going to go into a lawsuit with a high powered, highly influential, entrepreneur like Oprah Winfrey, it is imperative that you are overly prepared to sue her. Someone like Oprah is going to have the best on her side so it is important to really research your case, prepare your case, and decide if it is a good idea to go forward with it. It is also important to really protect your trademark. I am not saying that Simone Kelley-Brown did not do this; I just wonder how she protected it. What are the guidelines and stipulations to someone using this slogan? Is it only allowed to be used in a certain context, or not at all? Ask yourself all of these questions and protect yourself to the fullest extent.

Victor Willis, the original lead singer of the Village People, is trying to recover his share of copyright credit for 32 of the band’s songs (Gardiner, 2012). When Victor Willis wrote these songs he was with the music publisher Can’t Stop Music and they claim that the songs were works made for hire (Gardiner, 2012). According to the copyright law, a work made for hire means the employer, not the employee, is considered the author (United States Copyright Office, 2012). The music publisher has a lawsuit against Willis and a judge will soon rule on the matter (Gardiner, 2012). The reason this has become an issue is because Willis sent termination notices to Can’t Stop Music and they feel multiple authors cannot be fired by a single co-author (Gardiner, 2012). Can’t Stop Music is now saying that the songs were not works for hire which puts Willis a step ahead in the case (Gardiner, 2012). Robert Besser, the attorney for the publisher said, “The reason for the withdrawal is that all of the original copyright filings answered ‘no’ to the question on the form that asked whether it was a work for hire, but for that fact, we would have proved the work for hire allegations” (Gardiner, 2012). This case is tricky. You have Willis who is known for helping make the Village People such a success, yet he is fighting for copyrights to his songs. This shows me that when you work with other people, whether it is in business, song writing, choreography, etc., you have to negotiate and decide who owns what. When you negotiate and sign a contract, know what you are signing. At the time you might have a good relationship with your fellow employer, but relationships can always go sour, and if it is not clear what you want in your contract, then don’t sign it. I would also discuss what will happen with the creation before you even put your pencil to paper.

There are many different things to remember when creating and protecting the things that you own. When it is done properly then you can stay protected and fight for your rights. Remember copyright and trademark laws are there to protect the things that are most important to you, so research and use the one that works in your favor.

References

Gardiner, E. (2012, March 22). Music Publisher Drops Key Claims in 'Y.M.C.A.' Copyright Termination Lawsuit. Retrieved March 30, 2012, from The Hollywood Reporter: http://www.thehollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/ymca-village-people-lawsuit-copyright-termination-303377

Gardner, E. (2012, March 7). Oprah Winfrey Wins 'Own Your Power' Trademark Lawsuit. Retrieved March 30, 2012, from The Hollywood Reporter: http://www.thehollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/oprah-winfrey-own-your-power-trademark-lawsuit-297402

Gardner, E. (2012, March 13). Power Ranger Owner Sues Over 'Power Hoodiez Sweatshirts'. Retrieved March 30, 2012, from The Hollywood Reporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/power-rangers-sweatshirts-power-hoodiez-298653

United States Copyright Office. (2012, January 1). Works Made for Hire Under the 1976 Copyright Act. Retrieved March 30, 2012, from United States Copyright Office: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ09.pdf

Derek Womack

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 23:14:00 +0000

Derek Womack is a singer, songwriter, producer, and musician who has had a passion for music since he was a little boy. Passion might be an understatement, as the art of performing has become his lifestyle; a lifestyle that defines who he is and who he wants to be.

Born and raised in Tampa, FL, Derek started performing at the young age of three in his living room. As most music artists, Derek loved Michael Jackson and at age three he was able to watch his tour and reenact the entire performance for his family and friends. This is just the beginning of what you would see from this talented performer. By age 14, Derek was writing his own songs, playing the bass, drums, and singing back up for his mother Belinda Womack. He had a desire to share his talents with anyone who would listen.

Being a songwriter, Derek writes about his life experiences. He never writes about what he does not know, and I believe that is why people enjoy his music. He has always had a way with words and would write songs all day if he could. He has had many opportunities to take his talent to the next level, but the one thing Derek will not compromise is his integrity. It is very important to him that he shares his music, because he feels it is real and represents him as the person he is. Most record companies want to make you into a product, but Derek has spent the years of his life creating his own product, and feels no one can make him better then he can make himself. He feels that same way when producing or songwriting for other artists. He will always give you his full effort, give you the best product he can, and will not rest until it is done. Derek has produced and recorded many songs from artists in the Tampa Bay area, and they know they will get nothing but the best when it comes to Derek Womack.

Derek has always been in charge of his product. Derek is not just another artist trying to make it; he is running a business that encompasses many assets. He writes his own music, he produces all of his songs, he has his own recording studio, and on most of his tracks he can play every instrument needed to create the song. He self promotes and chooses what, when, where, and who he wants to perform for. He believes his talents are a gift from God, so he uses them wisely.

Over the years, Derek has performed in the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux Switzerland, The Rock and the Rabbi, The Child, Men of Note, various Jazz festivals, The Hard Rock, Blue Martini, plays drums in many bands in the Tampa Bay area, various shows at Busch Gardens and many more. Derek is infections. His smooth sound and outstanding range is a rare find. When he is on stage he draws you in with his stamina filled stage presence, and you keep watching wondering what he is going to do next. Derek Womack is destined for greatness, and with his humble attitude, inviting presence, and unlimited talents, he will have no problem getting there.

Derek can be seen at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Timpanos in Hyde Park every Friday evening, and many other events. For more information on Derek Womack or for hiring contact him at womackmusic@yahoo.com.

Tiffany Deriveau

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:14:00 +0000

Tiffany Deriveau has a gift. A natural performer at heart, Tiffany is not only a talented singer but she is also an actress, musician, and a songwriter you can’t take your eyes off of.

Tiffany is not new to the entertainment industry. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario Canada, Tiffany’s first gig was at the age of 14 in a local legion hall. At 14 years old parties and hanging out were not her priority, all she wanted to do was perform. Since she was under age, her and her mother had to convince the legion that she was 19 and with her mother’s accompaniment, she would make $50 a night every weekend. This was only the start of great things to come.

Two years later, Tiffany would sign with her first agency and began working in film and television. She booked a speaking role in the TV movie Model Behavior, starring Justin Timberlake and Maggie Lawson, and also went on to become a member of ACTRA in that same year.

As I mentioned before, Tiffany is a young lady with many talents. I asked Tiffany what talent she would like to focus on and she says, “my recording career.” Tiffany currently has three singles on her website, "Big Love", "Quicksand", and "On The Clock". Her songs don’t only tell a story, but they exude an emotion you can hear through her voice. Tiffany is currently working on an album she hopes to release this summer.

Tiffany wants her songs to tell a story. She does not want typical love songs, but songs about “seemingly arbitrary things.” Tiffany says,

“I do love a good love song, but if you can write a song that is inspired by a raspberry beret, or a river boat, then much like a painter takes to a canvas, I can use music to point out the beauty in the everyday things that surround us.”

Tiffany is in control of all aspects of her business. When you’re an unsigned artists, there is a lot of work to do. Tiffany has created her own website, that shares her video reel, resume, live video footage, original music, press releases, and past shows. Tiffany has also learned how to create her own demo reels, in order to show people all she has accomplished in just a glance. It is important for an artist, who does not yet have a label on her side, learn traits in order to self promote. Tiffany’s website is professional, clear, and easy to navigate, it also includes links to her Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. Tiffany knows the hustle of the entertainment industry and takes charge of what she wants.

Tiffany Deriveau has a talent that does not come around that often. She can sing, act, write, perform, and is still humble and grateful for every experience that comes her way. I truly believe Tiffany will make a lasting impression on the entertainment industry and will continue to inspire those around her, including me.

For more information on Tiffany Deriveau visit http://www.tiffanyderiveau.com

Annie DeVaux

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:04:00 +0000

Annie DeVaux is a performer and Production Sales Representative for Event Show Productions. Event Show Productions is a corporate entertainment company that provides creative and technical services for corporations across the globe. Annie has been performing for the company for eight years and recently has taken on the responsibility of putting together proposals for clients, who are looking for entertainment and production ideas at their next conference, party, and many other corporate events. I got a chance to sit down with Annie and ask her a couple of questions regarding negotiating.

In the entertainment business, you have dealt with a lot of clients as a performer. Now that you are proposing ideas to these clients and you know how some of them operate, how do you separate the people from the problem?

I always tell the client that it is going to work out. Telling them that it is going to work out calms them down before we even get started. I try to make them feel a part of the solution. I do not give them multiple options. I give them one option, and then get their feedback. If they do not like the first option, then I give them another one.

How do you handle affiliating with your clients?

I like to talk to them in person. Seeing them helps me tell their tone and feel them out. I then treat them like they have an in. If they have been dealing with the company for some time now, then I really want to make them feel privileged. This makes them want to work with us, and continue working with us in the future.

Have you ever used BATNA?

Yes, but actually the client uses it a lot of the time. They will call and have a set budget in mind. What they want for that budget costs a lot more then they are willing to pay. I will tell them what we can do to shift things around in order to keep their budget the same, and they usually say to me that they can get what they want from another company. My job is to sell what we offer and let them know that it is the best. I tell them that we have the highest quality and they always want to think about it. They usually call back because they want the best, and also because they never had a BATNA to begin with.

What is the most important thing to you when negotiating?

Making them feel they have told you everything they need to tell you. If you have all of the information, then you can do the best job possible in fulfilling what they want. Make it so our company is adding more and making it better.

Dealing with negotiating in the corporate entertainment industry can be a challenge. Annie has the right tools to be successful in the industry, and making her clients happy one step at a time.

Dave Ramsey

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:39:00 +0000

Finances are a very important part of life. Whether you are a stay at home mom, a business owner, or a struggling musician, your financial outcomes can affect your life drastically. I am currently taking a business finance class and I am learning how to budget and handle finances for my business. This has really made me think about, not only my business but my personal views on how I handle my finances. This has made me interested in getting rid of my debt and saving money so when my husband and I expand our family, our children will be well taken care of. Who better to help with this part of my life then Dave Ramsey.

Dave Ramsey is very familiar with how you can be financially set one minute and then have nothing the next. Ramsey is a financial author and motivational speaker, who help people manage their finances with his program Financial Peace University. I first heard of this program a couple of years ago in my church, and now have many friends and family members who have benefitted from its classes. Ramsey has classes for churches, military personnel, correctional facilities, nonprofit organizations, high school students, college students, and even businesses (Ramsey, Dave Ramsey Homepage, 2012).

Core Financial Wellness is a financial wellness program made specifically for the business community. The program is made to help the employees within your business with their financial stress, so they perform better at work. Ramsey feels that employees within a business that are financial happy perform better at work, show up on time, and make more money for the company (Ramsey, Real Debt Help-Get out of debt with Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover Plan, 2012). I found this very interesting, because I was under the impression that Ramsey only had programs and classes for church groups. But the reality is everyone struggles with finances at some point in their lives, and even if they haven’t, everyone has to start somewhere. I really hope that this program can help me in my personal and business financial lives, and I hope you find this to be helpful to you as well.

Resources

Ramsey, D. (2012, January 1). Dave Ramsey Homepage. Retrieved January 20, 2012, from Dave Ramsey: http://www.daveramsey.com/home/

Ramsey, D. (2012, January 1). Real Debt Help-Get out of debt with Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover Plan. Retrieved January 20, 2012, from Dave Ramsey: http://www.daveramsey.com/financial-wellness/

Performing for Love or Money

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:15:00 +0000

Working in the entertainment industry can be a rollercoaster of emotions, jobs, and especially money. The life of a performer definitely comes with its challenges, but many people are willing to go through the struggle, for the ultimate adrenaline rush of being on stage.

Over the last couple of months, I have written about different performers in the Tampa Bay area. All of them being very talented and living the daily grind of a performer. Not knowing if a contract is going to be renewed, or when the next move is going to be, or when you are no longer the “it” performer can be very scary. But all of these performers love what they do and the money does not matter. Exposure is a big key to success but some performers choose to stay local and not take that next step into stardom.

A performer in the entertainment industry myself, I have had the pleasure of asking those around me why they do what they do. The most common answer is the love of being on stage. The least common answer is fame and fortune. Now do not get me wrong, most people want financial stability, and that is very possible in the local entertainment industry. According to Salary.com, the average actor/performer in the Tampa Bay area makes on average $47,311 per year (Salary.com, 2012). This was surprising to me only because the average income for a performer in Tampa, FL is higher then a performer in Orlando, FL. Performers in Orlando, FL make an average of $46,505 per year (Salary.com, 2012).

You might be saying, “I am a performer in Tampa and I don’t make nearly that much, what am I doing wrong?” Well one thing that is important to know is the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity. Most of my fellow performers work at multiple theme parks, work in professional theater, they have bands, they sell CD’s, and they play for weddings, parties, wherever they feel they can showcase their talents. Doing this helps them financially and it also helps them gain exposure.

I love what I do and feel Blessed everyday I get to work in this industry. Money is not as important to me as the joy I get from performing. But I am just one person and one opinion. So, if you are looking for financial gain in this industry, treat your craft as your business and market yourself to the right places and the right people.

References

Salary.com. (2012, January 1). Salary.com. Retrieved January 6, 2012, from Salary.com:

http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Actor-Performer-Salary-Details-Orlando-FL.aspx

Salary.com. (2012, January 1). Salary.com. Retrieved January 6, 2012, from Salary.com:

http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Actor-Performer-Salary-Details-Tampa-FL.aspx

Robert Gupta: Music is medicine, music is sanity

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:58:00 +0000

Music is medicine. That is what Robert Gupta talked to his audience about in March of 2010 on the TED stage. A violinist with the L.A. Philharmonic, Gupta talks about his encounter with a violinist, Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, who suffers from Paranoid Schizophrenia, and how this changed his mind on the power that music has over us.

In 2008, Robert Gupta met Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, after a concert he was involved in with the Philharmonics. Ayers came back stage and met Gupta and they had a great conversation about music and life and then they both went on their way. Before I tell you what happened next, let me tell you about the life of Nathaniel Anthony Ayers.

Nathaniel Anthony Ayers was a student at Julliard but had to drop out of school because he suffered from Paranoid Schizophrenia. Thirty years later, living on the streets of L.A., Steve Lopez, a columnist for the L.A. Times heard Ayers playing on the streets with a violin that had only 2 strings, and from there a beautiful relationship was made. Lopez wrote columns about Ayers, which turned into a book, and then eventually a movie featuring Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx called The Soloist. When Gupta met Ayers, he knew all of this about him, but he was not expecting what was going to happen next.

A couple of days later, Gupta got an email from Steve Lopez saying that Ayers wanted a violin lesson with him. So they met for a lesson. As they got started, Gupta started to realize that Ayers was getting very uncomfortable and out of sorts. This was happening because Ayers was a schizophrenic who would not go receive treatments. Ayers refused treatments because of the bad experiences he had with shock therapy, handcuffs, and things of that nature. This frightened Gupta because he thought he was going to lose him, so instead of throwing more information at him, he started playing his violin. Almost immediately this changed Ayers mood. He calmed down and became so intrigued with what was happening that he started playing his violin as well. The music that Gupta played soothed Ayers nerves and brought him back to reality.

This story that Gupta told was very powerful and it was told very well. Gupta spoke about this encounter with so much passion and belief that as a listener I could not help but be moved. Hearing the backstory of Nathaniel Anthony Ayers and realizing the severity of what he has gone through is amazing to hear. I was not very familiar with this story and Gupta told it very well.

As I stated before, music is medicine; it changes us. For Ayers it gave him sanity and musicians understood him. I know I do not deal with a severe mental illness, but I have always found a healing sense in music. Whether I am mad, sad, or happy, there is a song that I can turn to for comfort.

I was not familiar with Robert Gupta before; but after hearing him play his own rendition from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1, it reminded me how beautiful and emotional classical music can be. In the end of his speech he said he would always make music with Ayers because he will always remind him why he became a musician. That is inspiring and reminds me that inspiration might come from where we least expect it.

North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:47:00 +0000

I have had the pleasure of performing in the entertainment industry for the past 5 years and I have gotten to a place in my life where I want more. I want to take my experience to the next level and help others take their natural talents there as well. I feel North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents can help me in this venture, by helping me develop professionalism and give me the community support I need to succeed.

NAPAMA is a non-for-profit service organization, founded in 1979. This organization prides itself by promoting the professionalism of its members and the spirit of the performing arts. Located in New York City, NAPAMA has helped artists, managers and performers for over 30 years. Their mission statement is “to promote the best interest of performing arts agents and managers through leadership, professional developmental and alliances in the performing arts industry.” All of NAPAMA’s active members consist of agents, agencies, presenters, associations and artists, and uses the Certified Performing Arts Executive Certification Programs to help their members with professional development. They also collaborate with other organizations including Arts Midwest, Western Arts Alliance, Performing Arts, and many more.

There are many services that NAPAMA provides to its members. Members receive discounts on conferences and industry products and services, professional development, access to discount legal and tax advice and insurance coverage, awards and industry recognition, and industry liaison and advocacy. There is also an annual education retreat where you learn professional development, communication and outreach by distributing newsletters, email blasts, and performers reference guides, and an extensive list of references that provide information on the performing arts fields. Members are the only people who have access to these resources making it very intriguing for people like me to join.

This company has quickly become influential to me. I did not realize that an organization like this existed and makes me feel more comfortable knowing I have a place that I can get assistance. Only having performance experience in the entertainment industry is not enough; it is resources like this that can help me become more informed in my field so I can be the best manager I can be. The affects that this organization has on the industry seem to be all positive. They build a community within people who might otherwise feel they have no support and educate new comers like me to better my career.

NAPAMA is very important to the entertainment industry, because for the last 30 years, it has helped agents, managers, and many more, better their knowledge of the industry. It has become the voice of agents and managers, helping artists and presenters as well, and has been known to have “a cooperative voice in a competitive business.” I believe this is a very good reputation to have. The entertainment industry can be brutal and intimidating, so it is nice to know that there is something out there to welcome managers and agents with open arms.

References

National American Performing Arts Managers and Agents. (2009, January 1). NAPAMA History. Retrieved December 7, 2011, from National American Performing Arts Managers and Agents: http://www.napama.org

Genuine Music Group

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:05:00 +0000

Artist management has become an interest of mine the more I am involved in the entertainment industry. I have had the pleasure of working with many talented artists who do not have representation. Since my blog is about unsigned, underrated, and undiscovered artists, this has helped me find those artists who need proper representation. Trying to get into this avenue of the industry, I have researched other companies that can help me toward my goals. One company who had the same idea in mind almost twenty years ago and has had continued success is called Genuine Music Group.

Genuine Music Group started in 1995, by Michael Mavrolas, with its mission being to manage and develop the careers of Music Producers and Songwriters. The company decided to partner with Greg Johnson in 2002, and from there the company has grown dramatically. The company now consists of four other avenues including, Genuine Representation Management, Genuine Music Publishing, Genuine Cinema, and Genuine Sports. This expansion of focus has given Genuine Music Group the opportunity to help more then Music Producers and Songwriters; they can help a wider array of people and this has helped grow their business.

The company within Genuine Music Group that has influenced me the most is their Genuine Representation. This division helps develop young unsigned artists, by using the Songwriters and Producers within the company to help create projects. This is very inspiring to me because this company has all of its resources on hand, making most of their work 100% theirs. To be able to develop your own artist, knowing that all of the resources you need for their success are already within your company, can be very comforting to an artist, and more profitable for your business. This has also helped Genuine create a non-traditional brand for their clients, making them unique.

This company is very important to the entertainment industry because it shows that independent companies can still have success in such a competitive industry. This also shows that with the right resources an independent company can work with and be recognized by top named artists and producers. Genuine has over 60 RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) Gold and Platinum awards because of their work on artists like Usher, Justin Timberlake, Trey Songs, Jay Z, Faith Hill, Jennifer Lopez, Eminem, and many more.

Genuine Music Group has the right idea. They started with one focus in mind and grew their company as their success grew. This is important to an industry that struggles with album sales because of the economy, because there are so many avenues that can make you successful. I have the same idea in mind, start small and see where my business takes me.

References

Genuine Music Group. (2011, January 1). Company. Retrieved November 26, 2011, from Genuine Music Group: http://genuinemusicgroup.com/wp/company

Belinda Womack

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:28:00 +0000

Singing in clubs at the age of eleven, Belinda Womack has become a beloved vocalist in the Tampa Bay Area. Mostly known for her smooth jazz sound, Belinda has sung almost every genre of music over the past 47 years.

Born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, Belinda knew what she wanted at a very young age. Living in the south during the civil rights era, she experienced a lot of racism and dangerous situations; but the one thing that could not be taken from her was her voice. She sang in nightclubs with her Uncle Jerry, starting at the age of eleven, and then three days after she graduated from high school, she decided to move to Detroit, before going to Savannah State. Belinda attended Savannah State from 1970-1972, until she got sick and had to give up her scholarship. Since her grandparents could not afford paying her tuition for her, Belinda decided to move back to Augusta, and start singing with her uncle again. After taking a year off, Belinda went back to school at the Medical College of Georgia in 1973, obtaining her associates degree. Accomplishing this was great for Belinda, but in a couple of years, her degree would come second to her singing career.

In 1976, Belinda, then known as Belinda West, moved to Nashville, and worked for Combine Recording Studios. Here she was able to do voice-overs, sound a-like tapes, and sing back up tracks for Amy Grant, on her album Never Alone. She also got the opportunity to work for, RCA records, doing commercials and voice-over talent for Ron-Joy Mad Lab. Two years after moving to Nashville, while traveling, she met a man named Derek Womack, and seven weeks later, they were married. Belinda continued to work for RCA records, and in 1980 got her big break, signing a seven-year record deal, and recording her first hit. Her first record consisted of two songs, Seabiscuit In The Fifth and Easy. With great success for being her first record, Seabiscuit In The Fifth made it to number 12 on the billboard charts, and number 14 on the dance billboard charts. At the same time as her success, in July of 1980, Belinda and her husband had a baby boy. She loved singing, but traveling the country with her son and husband was not an ideal lifestyle for her. Three years after she signed her contract, she decided to leave RCA records and establish herself as a local artist, in Tampa, Fl.

For the past 31 years, Belinda Womack, has graced the community with her voice, performing in clubs, festivals, and churches. Jazz was her love when she began singing in Tampa, but over the years she has grown to love a stronger power, God. She has been the worship director at, Hyde Park United Methodist Church, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, and Wellspring United Methodist Church. She also has started her own ministry called Pinehills. This is a community choir that ministers around the bay area, and has taken them as far as Sweden. This has become her true passion, to spread the gospel to those around her, through her voice, and her words, by saying, “I am just one body, tryin’ to tell everybody, about somebody, who can save everybody.”

Belinda has accumulated many honors and awards on her behalf. She has received five “Florida Jammy” awards, for best vocalist, and best jazz band, the Woman of the Year award from the Seroptomists of Florida, the Tribute to Women in the Arts award, the Woman of Distinction award from the Suncoast Girl Scout Council of Florida, and that is only naming a few. Belinda has also done commercials for, Burger King, Coors Beer, Schlitz malt liqueur, car dealerships, furniture stores, Channel 13 and many more.

Still a hot commodity in the Tampa Bay Area, Belinda has recently been on tour with the Musical David, performed a jazz and gospel concert in Sweden, and on November 4^th was the headliner for the Ybor Jazz Festival. You can see Belinda every Friday night, at Timpano’s Chop House, in Hyde Park Village, starting at 7:30pm.

Belinda Womack is an amazing talent, who has touched thousands of people with her voice, and loving spirit. She always puts others before herself, and has stayed true to what she believes in. If you have not gotten the opportunity to hear her music, you are missing out on a legend. I can promise you that once you are graced with her voice, you will always remember the name Belinda Womack.

Josh Howell

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:58:00 +0000

Josh Howell is a Christian Artist with an unexpected sound. A calm presence with a powerhouse voice is what you will encounter any time you are graced with his music. Currently located in Tampa, FL, Josh has something he wants to share with the world, and that is the hope and love of Jesus Christ.

Growing up in the church Josh knew that singing was a gift he was given at a very young age. A native of Dallas, Texas, Josh sang his first church solo, "Seek Ye First," at the age of five and hasn’t stopped singing the gospel since. Josh attended Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas and sang in the choir until he graduated from high school. At the age of 18, Josh moved to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to attend Ouachita Baptist University. He spent four years there and left with a degree in church music. After college Josh explored his performance options by traveling and working for different places and companies around the country. First he moved to Branson, MO, performing for a couple of years in various shows. Next Josh would get the opportunity to perform on three different cruise ships, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and Princess, that would span over the next four years of his life. While Josh was singing on the cruise ships, he decided to search for other singing opportunities out there, and sent his singing reel to Busch Gardens Tampa. After communicating with the management team, Josh was hired by Busch Gardens and had a job waiting for him when he left his last cruise ship.

Josh has been a part of Busch Gardens since 2009 and is one of the top singers in the park. He was nominated for the Best Male Performer Award by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attraction in 2010 and received an Honorable Mention. Being very appreciative of all of his accomplishments Josh wants to share with people not only his talents, but a message that he feels gives people encouragement. Growing up listening and singing Christian music, Josh loves the message of hope and peace that it gives to people, and he feels music is a way to relay this message to others since everyone loves music. Josh says, “music is a way to express things that we can’t put in words,” and also feels, “a song can really speak to someone where they need it most.” I first got the pleasure of hearing Josh in a show at Busch Gardens called, Christmas From The Heart, and the minute he opened his mouth I was hooked. After talking to him I believe in what he wants to pursue. He has a genuine spirit and a humbled heart.

Currently Josh is working on a Christmas Album titled, Beneath His Father’s Heaven, which is based off of an old Brooklyn Tabernacle Selection, talks about the birth of Jesus Christ, and how it was all done beneath our Father’s Heaven. Josh wanted to use this title because it is one of his favorite songs. This ten track album will be available in mid November and will be a free download through Itunes and Amazon and will be Josh’s first released album. Josh is also working on an album of original Christian songs that he will release in May. Josh would like all of listeners to get one thing from his music; hope, and as a follower of Josh Howell’s music myself, I can confidently say that you will feel nothing but joy when you listen to his voice and his message.

For more information on Josh Howell and his music check out his website www.Joshhowellmusic.com which will be available Saturday November 5, 2011.

Check out these other sites on Josh Howell

http://twitter.com/#!/JoshHowellMusic

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Josh-Howell-Music/303354449678718?ref=ts&sk=wall

http://www.reverbnation.com/joshhowell

http://www.youtube.com/user/JoshHowellMusic

Men of Note

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 05:30:00 +0000

Growing up in Tampa I have had the convenience of visiting Busch Gardens very often. Going there as a little girl I would see the animals, ride the rides, and watch the shows. The one show that I would always look forward to watching was any show put on by a group called, Men of Note. This acapella group could sing any song in perfect harmony and captivate the audience with their smooth sounds and effortless presence.

Originating in East St. Louis, Illinois, the group was started by 14-year-old Laron Shepard. Laron wrote original songs and eventually became a duo with Derrick Harley. When they decided to add more members and make their duo a group, Derrick went to school with a student named Curtis Griffin and became the third member of the group then known as Casual Lovers. Over time other members came and went never really being a good fit for the group. After dismissing the other members leaving only Laron, Derrick, and Curtis, the harmonies required a fourth singer. They sought out the vocal talent of Calvin Jones, sending him songs that they had been working on. After listening, Calvin became the fourth member to finally make the group complete. Over the next four or five years, the group perfected their sound and tried to decide on a catchy name. They went through multiple names: Fourth Dimension, For of A Kind, and finally decided on Blak Together.

In 1991, Busch Gardens held auditions for new talent at the Hyatt Regency in East St. Louis. Blak Together felt this was a good opportunity to get their group exposure, so they went to the audition, but was missing one of their members, Calvin Jones. Busch loved the group but wanted to see them as a whole and decided to put them on active standby. As time went by the group forgot about the audition and continued singing in their hometown. A year after the audition Blak Together decided to go to the mall and challenge the singers at The Fudgery, a store where they sing while making fudge, to a sing off. After the singers at The Fudgery heard the group they informed them that Busch Gardens was upstairs holding auditions. After receiving this information the group decided to go upstairs and audition for the company again, but this time as a complete unit. Busch loved them so much they had them sing 10-15 different songs and hired them without hesitation. That same year Blak Together relocated to Tampa, FL now as, the Men of Note.

Once relocated to Tampa, FL, Men of Note not only became the first singing group hired as actual Busch employees, but they also became ambassadors for the company. For the first three years Busch sent Men of Note back and forth to Canada to promote the company. Along with Canada the group was also sent to, Venezuela, Guatemala City, Argentina, Buenas Aires, San Juan, and many more. Being ambassadors for Busch was not the only opportunity given to the group, in 1993 they were featured in the movie Cop and a Half. Ten years after the movie in 2003, Men of Note thought they finally got their big break and was offered a deal with an independent record label. Thinking this was the direction they wanted to go, the group left Busch Gardens but quickly returned, as the deal went sour in just three months.

After the disappointment of the bad record deal, Men of Note continued to perform at Busch and within the years of 2005-2006 one of their original members, Derrick Harley, left the group due to an addiction he could not control. So there they were back to a threesome, missing that fourth harmony that was so important when trying to put the group together years before. After six months of searching they finally found their replacement, Stewart Best. Stewart would stay for five years but Busch had different plans for him because in 2011 Best would no longer be with the group.

The opportunity for the next member to become the final member of the group was an opportunity that he wanted for years. When he was a young man he watched Men of Note and they became an inspiration to him and his music. The group knew him when he was younger but did not realize the magnitude of his talent. When he was hired at Busch Gardens in the hit show Katonga, his true potential came to the surface. He knew that Men of Note was what he wanted to do and Men of Note knew he would help take their group where they wanted to go, so Men of Note added Derek Womack to be their fourth and final member. Now that Derek has been with the group for almost a year a Men of Note feel that Derek has helped them, “surpass the original group.” Laron Shepard said, “That boy is going to put us back on the map.” They loved their decision on adding Derek to the group and Derek feels very “humbled,” to be part of such a legacy.

I asked some of the members to tell me what they would say to describe Men of Note and Curtis Griffin said, “Very in tune with each other,” and Calvin Jones says, “Very talented raw performers.” I definitely believe this. After watching them since I was six years old and also getting the pleasure to work with these talented individuals, Men of Note is on a level of their own. They are the epitome of what real talent sounds like with harmonies stronger then ever. Men of Note is more then a singing group they are a brotherhood that no one can ever shake. For more information check them out on You Tube or visit Busch Gardens Tampa.

Sounds For Thought

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:04:00 +0000

Sounds for Thought is a blog about finding and exposing unsigned, undiscovered, and under rated talent in the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay consists of 7 counties so I have a lot of ground to cover. Having worked in the entertainment industry for the past five years, I have had the pleasure to meet and work with many talented people. I want to use this blog to show the locals what they are surrounded by. I will cover everything from jazz singers, rappers, top 40 bands, Christian artists, rock bands, acapella groups, and many more.

Some blogs talk about the positive and negatives of topics; I want to do something different. I only want to write about musical artists that I find inspiring or that I feel will inspire others with their music. All of my posts will be positive and helpful for the artists and make the reader want to take a chance and support a new group. I will be open to seeking out artists in different establishments and give them a chance myself, but I will only write about them if I feel they will benefit my readers.

As more and more music is being released on the radio today, I am finding it harder to relate and like what I am hearing. Music is more about making a product then the quality it used to have. With the change in technology and what can be done to a persons voice in the studio, having a good voice is not as important as it used to be. I want these local artists to get the exposure they need so their music can be on the radio everywhere, and not just the Tampa Bay area.

I hope you enjoy the musical artists that I introduce to you, and hope they are as inspiring to you as they are to me.

Ericka Womack-Brown

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