Independent Artist Development & Management

Mabon "Teenie" Hodges Famous Al Green Songwriter and Collaborator Dies at 68

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 06:44:00 +0000

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/26/arts/music/teenie-hodges-soul-guitarist-and-songwriter-dies-at-68.html?_r=0

Performance at Double Door in Chicago, IL

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 20:25:00 +0000

On The Grind Management http://otg-management.com/ in Chicago held an event at the Double Door http://www.doubledoor.com/ last night 12/27/2013. Que Billah http://quebillah.com/ was the headliner including other guest such as:

MIC TERROR
SINATRIS
PETEY
KiDD THA CHICAGOAN
NEMISS
MISFITS & OUTCAST
ENERGE
KELLS DOUGIE
NATUREAL
PHILOSOPHA
KIRALY PAYNE
SMOOK DEVILLE
AARON JOHNSON
ZELLE FANARRO***Hosted by DJ Steezy***

Artist Manager Thaddeus E. Ray featured at his Alma Mater Columbia College Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 22:10:00 +0000

http://www.colum.edu/Academics/AEMM/students/profiles/thaddeus-e-ray.php

Keeping a Structured Focus On Your Music Artist or Band

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 06 May 2013 02:55:00 +0000

Many artists get really excited about a new music project or track. Most artists decide to release music before it is reviewed by others or critiqued by people who are in the industry. It is very interesting to see the outcome after the project is released and their not getting the amount of plays they thought they would. The marketing is good its being pushed but there is something about the content that doesn’t relate to the audience. Artists need to keep a creative focus on their music projects.

If you are going to start a project it needs structure and purpose. There is more than putting together a hot beat and dope lyrics. The music must have purpose and drive the fans to wanna play the song over and over again. Many artists get caught up in making one hit wonders or that good summertime song and soon find them back at square one. This is because the projects that they have worked on didn’t have a focus. In order to have purpose you have to have meaning to what you are putting out. Songs like the new Macklemore song “Thrift Shop” has purpose. It gives listeners something to think about. Buying a $50.00 T-Shirt is insane when you can get one for $10 at the Thrift Store.

According to Music-Biz.org there are 5 steps that artists should take in making their music. Believe, energy, courage, will power and serenity. The article states that artist should make a habit of keeping your mind full of reassurance, courage, happiness, success, achievement, enthusiasm, and retribution. This is important because it keeps the artist focused on the project in its entirety. According to the article the artist’s purpose is similar to a road map. You can see the entire route in one page except to experience the places on the map you have to believe you can get there.

Stay focused!

Macklemore: The Importance of Remaining Independent in the Music Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 01:58:00 +0000

Most recording artists and bands want to get signed to a major record label and make it big in the industry. Most artists believe that getting signed to a major or independent record label is the “only” way to make it in the industry. What most recording artists and bands don’t realize is that being an independent artist can be just as beneficial as getting signed to a major or independent label. In some cases it can be better than getting signed to one of the big majors.

Most recently there has been an independent recording artist who has said that not being on a record label helped him succeed. Recording artist Macklemore explains that his success is a testament to how independent recording artist can make it big in the industry. He has currently sold over 4 million copies of his song “Thrift Shop” with views on YouTube reaching over 200 million. In an interview with Chris Hardwick on the Nerdist podcast Macklemore explains his logic of remaining independent. He states that the success of the song “Thrift Shop” is an example of how the music industry is changing. He stated that it gives off the notion of a do-it-yourself attitude behind the music.

Macklemore also explains that there is no need for a record deal at this point in the game for him and Ryan Lewis. He stated that with the power of the Internet and the real personal relationship that you can have via social media, there is no need to get a label involved. He states that people complain about how MTV doesn’t play videos no more and how YouTube is totally the new way to view new music videos. He states that record labels go and spend millions of dollars on branding an artist and they have no idea what they are doing. The thing that sets Macklemore apart from the rest is his ability to figure out his target market and identify who is going to be receptive to their kind of music.

It is important to remain true to your craft and figure out what your target market is. Don’t waste energy on trying to get the labels to pay attention. Target your fans and have them pay attention to you!

What Can You Do To Improve Your Brand’s SEO?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 04:58:00 +0000

This month we have focused on the importance of Search Engine Optimization. We learned that with SEO being discovered online is improved and we gain a lot more customers, subscribers, etc. So the question is how can you improve upon your SEO results. One of the answers is starring you in the face at this very moment. Blogging can improve upon your SEO results. According to Rocketmedia.com blogging provides fresh relevant content. Blogs also attract external and internal links, which gives bloggers the advantage of providing quality content and being credited by other sources.

What does this mean for the recording artist and band? This is a great opportunity to get content out in to the world. Blogging provides musicians the opportunity to expand their audiences by providing their content whether it is though media mediums such as YouTube videos or musical content uploaded to Soundcloud.com. One of the most popular blogs in the city of Chicago that follows recording artist and bands is FakeShore Drive. This blog site provides the most up to date information about what is going on in the music scene in the Chicagoland area.

So we mentioned blogging as a way to improve your brands SEO another way is providing good keywords related to your brands website or blog site. Keywords provide search engines a way to measure how people search for your particular brand. Websites that can help with generating good keywords for your brand include Google AdWords. Having the right keywords pertaining to your company’s website or blog is the determining factor in how you rank amongst search engine results. Also having strong keyword density provides you with the ultimate search power for your company or brand. As a recording artist or band it is important to have strong SEO to be discovered amongst the vast majority of content on the Internet. Distinguishing yourself amongst the other musicians is most important in this industry, especially online.

How Can Search Engine Optimization Help the Independent Recording Artist or Band?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 04:36:00 +0000

Many independent recording artist and bands believe that major labels provide the best marketing concepts and funds. They believe that big budgets are the way to go in terms of getting the recording artist or band on the map. Believe it or not record labels aren’t the only way to get a good following. The Internet has proven time and time again that you are bound to get discovered through websites such as YouTube and Facebook. Social networking sites are one of the major movers of independent recording artist and bands. What it comes down to is how you use your words to describe what you do.

Search Engine Optimization is simply the development of web pages so that your target audience can easily discover them. The way that you word your content and stay current with your web presence is vital for your independent marketing survival. According to SEO Workers.com, the development of Search Engine Optimization can make the content of your web pages more relevant, more attractive, and more easily read by search engines and their crawling and indexing software. This is what sets apart the discovered and the non-discovered in the music industry. As an independent recording artist or band it is important to pay attention to developing social networks and most importantly personal websites and blogs.

According to an article from The DIY Musician.com, search engines are looking at other factors as well, such as domain age, time spent on your site and if you’ve been delivering consistent quality content. This is why updating websites, adding new content, and being creative in the way that people search for your content is crucial to the survival of your viral campaign. Having good keyword placement and relevance to your content is very important in gaining a consistent following on your website or blog.

Below is a video by Josh Bachynsk: Google Search Engine Optimization

Print-On-Demand and the Independent Recording Artist or Band

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 04:53:00 +0000

Music is diverse in the way that it is delivered to the consumer. Musicians and recording artist have alternative ways to package and distribute their works in the industry using Print-On-Demand services. It puts the power of publishing music in the independent publishing company’s hands and allows for artist or artist management firms to keep track of what is going on with the product from sales stand point. These services provide the independent recording artist a way to self package, design and distribute creative works such as albums for sale to stores or to online stores such as Amazon and iTunes. You can custom design album artwork and CD artwork to your liking.

The economics behind Print-On-Demand services is quite unique. According to P.O.D. site CreateSpace their share is calculated by taking a percentage of the list price plus a fixed charge. The fixed charge is $4.95 for each unit and the percentage of the list price depends on where each different sale occurs. For the recording artist or record label accroding to CreateSpace if you sold a CD with a list price of $25.00 through a CreateSpace eStore, you would earn a royalty of $16.30. The calculation breaks down for selling an album is as follows: If the product is listed, as $25.00 CreateSpace share is $8.70. The profit you would make off of a $25 CD would be $16.30, which is considered a royalty rate for the seller.

There are many different P.OD.s to choose from. The best way to see what P.O.D is good for you is looking at what each of the sites offers and what you are willing to put into the project and what your expectations are. Below is a list of P.O.Ds that can help you with your next publishing project.

Happy Self-Publishing!

www.createspace.com

http://www.lulu.com/

What Artist Managers Look for When Signing on New Talent

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 04:51:00 +0000

The task of artist manager is quite arduous when deciding what talent is worth managing or not. Personally I have worked with recording artist who has a unique message. That message could be to create awareness about a situation going on in a city. Mainly the most important thing I look for in a recording artist is determination to get tracks made and performing those tracks to the best of the artist’s ability. I have to see that the artist has passion and my arms are getting goosebumps. That might seem funny but it is apart of the feel you want your audience to experience whether it is physical or mental. The consumer has to connect with your music in some way.

According to an interview on Artist HouseMusic’s website with artist manager Michael “Blue” Williams who has managed big recording artists such as OutKast, Scarface, and Killer Mike he states that you have to be able to spot that star quality. He also states that an artist is always going to look good. So as a recording artist you have to present your best performance or best song with your heart in it. You can’t just put out garbage and expect for a manager to help you get to where you need to go. Help the manager help you and make good music.

At the end of the day the manager needs artist more than the artist needs the manager. Recording artists has the ability to self manage to a certain point. That certain point is reached when the business side of the artist’s career starts to be too hectic. Recording artist starting out should try to self manage as long as possible. If you become that artist that everyone is looking and wanting to hear you will need a manager.

Business Plan Advice from Entertainment Lawyer Claybourne E. Chavers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 22:19:00 +0000

I asked Mr. Chavers a series of questions regarding my business plan. My most important question to him was what business entity I should form my company under. Mr. Chavers stated that I should form my business under a Limited Liability Company because of the benefits of having the protection of being separated from the business on issues of liability the company might endure during its years in business. He went on to discuss the differences of the entities and stated that later I would be able to switch to an S Corporation when business starts to pick up and I wanted to involve shareholders.

The one thing he also told me was that I needed to make sure that was something I wanted to do because once I made the switch to S-Corporation I wouldn’t be able to switch back to an Limited Liability Company. He also stated the importance of having an accountant on hand to explain to me the different tax laws involved with the different business entities to help solidify my decision. Mr. Chavers told me that the accountant should only give me advice on tax issues and not legal issues regarding forming a business entity. Mr. Chavers stated that I should have employee agreements and non-disclosure agreements drafted for future employees to sign so that they won’t give away any confidential company information on how we operate as a business or start their own business with the same ideas if they decided to work for a competitor or start their own business in the same field.

The other issue we discussed was the importance of having artist management agreements for the recording artist we plan on managing after the development stage. He stated that having these agreements in place would solidify the artist management relationship. It will also put to rest any issue about what my job is as an artist manager and what my company expects from the recording artist we manage. It also takes care of the issue of how much my commissions are on the artist’s income and what part of the artist’s income is included in my percentage.

The information that Mr. Chavers gave me can be applied to my business plan by taking the advice on how I should form my business, the importance of artist management agreements, employee agreements, non disclosure and non compete agreements.

http://www.chavlawfirm.com

Industry Liabilities Affecting Recording Artists

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 04:44:00 +0000

Since the digital revolution in the music industry many artists have suffered from the loss of revenue due to illegal file sharing and the new way music is being distributed online. I have researched three articles from the New York Times Media Decoder in which states the many different industry liabilities affecting recording artist at this time. As a recording artist it is important to understand what is at stake in the music industry and being aware of how to go about to resolve the issues that take place on a daily bases in the music industry.

On October 30^th 2012 author Ben Sisario discussed Eminem’s on going battle about digital royalties in a lawsuit that has been finally settled. The case was entitled F.B.T. Productions v. Aftermath Records. F.B.T was a group of early producers who sued a subsidiary of Universal Music Group because they felt that they were not getting the royalties that was owed to them from iTunes and many other digital stores. This particular event opened the door for many other prominent artists to sit down at the negotiation table and discuss their cut from digital sales that was not received. I personally agree with this situation of artists needing to get paid. Just because digital is a new avenue of revenue doesn’t mean that they should not get compensated for their work that is being distributed in the digital format.

The next article from New York Times author Ben Sisario discusses recording artist Chuck D. suing Universal Music over Digital Royalties. Chuck D. is a member of the group Public Enemy. He is one of the latest major recording artists to sue Universal Music Group for digital music royalties. Carlton Ridenhour (Chuck D) stated in an argument that UMG has miscalculated royalties for MP3’s and ringtones. The other big issues was that UMG had incorrectly accounted for downloads as sales stated in the New York Times article. My opinion on this issue is that at the end of the day recording artist need to be compensated on all aspects of the revenue stream when it comes to music royalty payments.

This is an on going battle that must be fought to the death so that recording artist can continue to be compensated for there work for years to come. This example is a powerful testament to work that has been done over 20 years ago for recording artist not getting compensated for work being distributed in a new revenue stream.

The last article I would like to discuss is also from New York Times author Ben Sisario Digital Notes: Music Stars Criticize Pandora on Digital Royalties. This article discusses legal issues pertaining to Internet radio royalties being distributed amongst recording artists. On November 14^th 2012 an open letter signed by over 100 recording artists including Cee Lo Green and Sheryl Crow discussing fair compensation of royalty rates for services like Pandora and the passing of the Internet Radio Fairness Act. The IRFA will enable more jobs in the music industry along with more streams of revenue for recording artist and bands. The letter was publicized by the MusicFirst Coalition, which represents major unions and musicians in the music industry. My opinion on this situation is that this will most likely help both sides of the recording industry consumer and artist. It is important to understand that with new ways of making money artist need to be compensated. This was a very good route for recording artist to take to come together to champion for a very important issue right now in the recording industry. This is a good example for up and coming recording artist to take note that the buck doesn’t stop where the record labels allow. Fight Fight Fight!

Articles:

The New York Times

October 30^th 2012 Lawsuit Seeking Greater Digital Royalties for Eminem’s Music Is Settled http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/lawsuit-seeking-greater-digital-royalties-for-eminems-music-is-settled/

November 3^rd 2012 Chuck D. Sues Universal Music Over Digital Royalties http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/chuck-d-sues-universal-music-over-digital-royalties/

November 14^th 2012 Digital Notes: Music Stars Criticize Pandora on Digital Royalties

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/digital-notes-music-stars-criticize-pandora-on-digital-royalties/?pagewanted=print

The Relationship Between Artist and Manager: What you should know

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 20:20:00 +0000

The connection between artist and manager is an important union in the entertainment industry. Whether you are an actor, comedian, musician, or recording artist the relationship builds character on both sides of the spectrum. The manager is the point of contact between the business of the industry and the artist. It is important to remember that with out a manager it would be virtually impossible for the artist to function on a daily bases. The relationship is built on trust and a common understanding of the roles each entity plays to get the job done.

According to the This Business of Artist Management book by Xavier M. Frascogna. Jr. and H. Lee Hetherington the artist manager is a planner, adviser, organizer, strategist, overseer, coordinator, detail person, traveling companion, and friend. The relationship is built on the initial exploratory period when the artist and manager are feeling out each other. It is important for the artist to understand what he/she is looking for in terms of management. The exploratory meeting between artist manager gives both parties an understanding of what is necessary to cultivate a lasting union or no union at all. This process helps in drafting the final management agreement with attorneys.

Some important questions for recording artist to ask according to the book This Business Of Artist Management is:

1. How did I get involved with this Manager?

2. What is this manager’s background and track record?

3. What exactly do I want from my career?

4. Is this the right manager for my career and me?

The manager should ask:

1. Why did this artist come to me?

2. Was he/she recommended or referred by one of my clients, an associate, or a friend within the industry?

3. Is the artist worth my time according to his creativity and dedication?

At the end of the day the artist and manager relationship is one that will take time to grow. It is a give and take, take and give relationship and it is important that everyone does there part. I will be posting more on the topic of the relationship between artist and manager in the future so stay tuned.

The Importance of Management For Your Band

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 03:46:00 +0000

So you are a leader and member of a band and you are starting to get really busy right? Since the beginning you have managed every aspect of how you and your members are going to make it. Every decision you make is in your hands and your band is looking up to you. What will you do if a record label approaches you and they offer you a deal? Who will you have to look over that offer for you? Will you take it into your own hands and continue on the path of self-management or will you relinquish your powers to a trust worth artist manager or Management Company?

It is important to remember that you are an artist and an artist must remain in the zone of creativity and cultivation. About.com talks about the importance of Band Management. Management can provide this opportunity to you because of the extra workload that would be taken off of your shoulders. You really don’t know how busy you can get until you get busy. It is important to make the right decision for you and your band members so that you can continue to become well known and profitable. You didn’t work this hard to get to where you are at now to throw it away on the notion that you are letting a stranger manage your career. That stranger has talents that you don’t have in terms of moving you in the right direction.

History is here to remind us that people have done this and it has ether worked or hasn’t worked. Creedence Clearwater Revival is a perfect example of self-management going wrong. The band’s leader John Fogerty thought that he could do it all. He was a very talented songwriter and producer for his band CCR. He looked over every contract and signed on the dotted line not knowing how it would impact him in the future. He didn’t have the advice of an artist manager that would have been able to help him develop his ideas and include everyone in the band in the process. This can be the turning point of you continuing a successful career or breaking up like CCR eventually had to do because of their differences.

Importance of Good Negotiation Interview with Arts & Entertainment Lawyer Clayborne E. Chavers Esq.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:50:00 +0000

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Clayborne E. Chavers Esq. is a prominent Washington D.C. lawyer practicing law for over 30 years. His law firm The Chavers Law Firm focuses on a wide variety of law practices including Intellectual Property, Arts, Entertainment & Sports Law, Internet law, and Corporate Law to name a few. In November of 1996 he was named as one of the top Arts and Entertainment lawyers in the greater Washington D.C. area. In April of 2012 he was rated as AV Preeminent Attorney. Among his notable achievements and acknowledgements he has worked hard in the negotiation room working to get his clients the best deal possible while satisfying the wants and needs of his clients.

One of the things that recording artist and bands need is a good negotiator on the team. When that lucky artist or band gets to the negotiation table at an indie or major record label that negotiator needs to be able to get the best deal for both parties. In a recent phone interview with Clay Chavers Esq I asked him three questions related to his experience with negotiation. The first question was “How do you separate the people from the problem?” He stated and I quote, “I am not sure you would separate the people from the problem because with out the people the problem wouldn’t be something that I would concern myself with. My focus is on what’s best for the people I represent so if they have a problem I would have to adjust that problem. The focus should be on how best to resolve the problem.”

My second question to him was “How do you handle positional bargaining tactics?” He stated and I quote “You have to justify or reconcile what your position is specific to your opposition and its better to be in a position where you are not being dictated to yet you are doing the dictating. One way to achieve this he said is to let the other side make the offer and then that gives you time access the offer and make your move on what you think is best for your client in regards to that offer. The third question I asked him was “Can you give me an example of how you worked toward mutual benefit when you were negotiating a deal?” He stated and I quote, “You have to always have everybody give a little something they want and give up a little something they want. If you have a deal that is overly advantage to your client and not to the person you are doing business with, they will be dissatisfied and find ways to get out of it.” He also stated that “In every good deal everybody should give up something and everybody should get something. If you don’t achieve that it is unlikely you will have a relationship of long duration.”

The Importance of Artist Development in the Music Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 02:30:00 +0000

Many record labels these days aren’t interested in developing recording artists and bands. Many simply want to work with an artist that has all of that taken care of. From websites, blogs and social media record labels are not interested in working to develop that side of the artist. Reason being is that record labels want to focus on pushing a product that requires little upfront costs in terms of building the structure that sells the artists in so many words or less. Record Labels are looking for a prepackaged deal that can be marketed to consumers and with little developmental effort what so ever.

What artists need to focus on is having someone develop them before taking an offer with a record label or seeking one. Reason being is because with out the necessary look and feel that artist are suppose to gives off to their audience, labels will offer less initial upfront money for recording projects. Touring helps with this because of the amount of exposure artists receive and the amount of record sales that tours generate over time. Developing your fan base is crucial to you getting the best deal with a record label. Thinking about getting signed to a label and getting a great deal means a great deal of artist development for recording artist and bands.

According to Artist House Music interview with Owen Husney who was Prince’s first manager stated that major labels lack Artist Development. He stated that in this type of market where record labels want artists with at least 5,000 albums sold Prince would have never been able to be signed by Owen Husney. He also states that record labels should invest in developing artist. For artist and bands seeking record deals and opportunities start to focus on touring and working on your songs that will get records sold on tours and develop your fan base.

360 Deals and the Recording Artist or Band

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 04:10:00 +0000

Many up and coming recording artist and bands look for the golden opportunity of getting signed to a record label one day. They have put in years of work and one day a representative from a record label calls them and states that they are interested in you and want to ether come to meet you or fly you out to their offices. The artist gets excited and takes them up on their offer. Now they are in the meeting and the label lets the artist know how talented they are and that they are going to make it in this industry. They also tell the artist that one of the ways they can go about having such success is signing the 360 deal. The question is do you sign or walk away?

Many independent artists have come across this decision once or twice in their career and many have chosen not to go through with it. According to Music Think Tank.com article on The Musicians Guide To The 360Deal it states that record labels stand to make a considerable amount of money on the artist. To break this number down according to entertainment lawyer Bob Donnelly in a Billboardbiz.com statement he states that some record labels that offer 360 deals have between 5% and 50% stake of sales outside of the initial revenue from album sales. That means revenue from movies, touring, etc. That’s why a deal like this is not wise for hip-hop and rap artist if they don’t have the proper endorsement deals making them a substantial amount of money on the side.

It is important also for recording artist to know that staying independent until getting the best deal is important. Touring locally and developing a strong presence in the industry is necessary for success before getting to the signing table. It is recommended to have an attorney present when signing any kind of deal to make sure you are getting the best deal possible. Below are some helpful videos in making your decision to sign a 360 deal. Happy Signing!

Irv Gotti On Signing a Record Deal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xGyWU4LPEs

Entertainment Lawyer Kendall Minter On The 360 Deal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dJhsfjKgQ4

Recording Industry Association of America and You: Manager or Recording Artist

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 03:25:00 +0000

The Recording Industry Association of America is a valuable resource for managers and recording artist. This association provides statistical data that shows where the record industry is as a whole. On the website it gives people the opportunity to learn more about what is going on in the industry through the Music Notes blog and the RIAA newsroom. It also gives information about when records receive Gold or Platinum reviews. You can sign up for newsletters and get the latest information of the current happenings in the music industry. The website also provides a list of legal music services that consumers can use to listen to music with a wide variety of choices.

The RIAA provides information on the performance of the industry. Students, artist managers and recording artists can review the Annual Consumer Profiles that the RIAA releases. These Consumer Profiles are very useful in determining what genres are performing well and what the market trends are within a particular genre. This is done through looking through 10 years of data and listing all 13 genres of music. The consumer profile compares against formats on which music is distributed for example CDs, DVD Audio etc.

This can be useful for managers because they can keep a watchful eye on how there particular genre is performing in the industry. They can also find out what is really selling digital downloads or physical. Mangers can also find out what is affecting the sales of their particular artist meaning the trends in the age ranges of individuals who listen to their music. Through the consumer profile on the RIAA website it also measures the overall size of the U.S. Recording Industry. For recording artist this could be a useful website to see how their particular genre is trending and what market the music is most effective in.

The Hip-Hop Project 88.7 FM WLUW: Interview: City of Win

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 15:53:00 +0000

The Hip-Hop Project 88.7 FM WLUW: Interview: City of Win: Nearly 30 people, 6 mics. 20 track mixtape. 2 hours. An interview that left us feeling like we ran a marathon. Grab it here. #CityOfWin S…

Thaddeus E. Ray pictured upper right with Dave Coresh

Focus On The "Why" Inspiration From Simon Sinek

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 03:01:00 +0000

Simon Sinek explains on many levels how companies, community leaders, and innovators have accomplished their goals. In this TED conversation, he explains his theory on how these companies, community leaders, and innovators have inspired people to either believe in there products, there beliefs or their inventions. Sinek explains that there is a formula that explains what made these individuals stand out from the rest. He states that these people had competitors that had more resources and knowledge yet lacked one simple aspect. What they lacked was the inner workings of how these individuals thought. Sinek believes that they worked from the inside out instead of the outside in. He calls this the golden circle.

The inside out is the why, how and what and the outside in is What, How, Why. The Majority works with the outside in the golden circle concept. Sinek states that people buy why you do something. Getting people to believe in what you believe is what inspires people to pay attention to you and what you are about. He used many examples from how Martin Luther King got 250,000 people to come and listen to him speak on a hot August day and how the Wright Brothers took flight before a popular innovator who had connections, wealth and the press following him around.

For recording artist it is important to remember the why in your pursuit to becoming successful in the music industry. There are many artists who want to do the same thing you want to do, get people to listen and buy your music. You have to have the ability to inspire people and get them to believe in you. That’s the difference between a Justin Bieber and a Soulja Boy for long-term success. Becoming a superstar involves getting people to believe in the “Why” of your golden circle. For me and for all other managers it is important to focus on the why of your endeavors and strive to inspire others to become the best that they can be.

Considering an Artist Manager?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:39:00 +0000

Artists have many things going on at once and it is important that these things get done. Having a manager around who knows what to do is essential to the future success of an artist. I recently interviewed an artist I am considering managing and asked him what he is looking for in an artist. He said that he is looking for someone that can be honest about the different stages of development and not someone that can tell them I can get you signed to this label in no time. Artists are looking for someone to confide in and talk about what is possible and what is not.

The first thing to do when coming to a point where now you have solid material and you are doing shows and things are getting busy is ask yourselves, do I really need to consider having a manager? About.com has an article that can answer the question Do I Need a Manager? It offers information about the kind of managers that would be beneficial to you depending on the current position you are in financially and how developed your music is. Finding a manager that has connections and knowledge about the industry is difficult but what the artist can do is get someone who they are friends with or is a fan of there music who wants to work in the music business.

That would be the most cost effective choice for an artist with limited funds. If you are really concerned about having a really good manager and have the funds to afford one The Lowry Agency has some great advice about What Makes an Good Artist Manager. This article discusses in detail the many attributes a good artist manager has in delivering the best service to their clients. Having management is important and a subject of an artist’s future that is vital for their success in the music industry.

How Can Recording Artist and Bands Fund Their Own Projects?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 03:07:00 +0000

I am currently working with an artist now who is looking to fund a tour with his band. They performed in various venues and college campuses and have received funds for there performances. The big issue now is how can they raise money to go on a tour? It is daunting for an artist to have this on their minds and keep remaining creative in the process. While talking to this artist he stated his concern about having upfront money to start the tour.

You need money for transportation, which includes gas and rental fee of a vehicle if required. This is where the management team comes in and brainstorms ideas for the artist. There are a variety of ways online that help artist fund their projects. The first one I would like to discuss is Kickstarter. This website gives people with a variety of projects from film, food, photography, publishing music etc. to setup an account where their team or fans can go and help them fund projects. This article on INC.com explains in detail on the best ways to get the most out of the Kickstarter website. This website could be very beneficial to an individual in the entertainment industry who wants to get start-up funding for a project.

The next project funding website is Indiegogo. This website allows people from different industries to raise money, start a campaign and global exposure all at the same time. Talk about an online project manager that keeps getting results 24/7. This is a great way for bands and recording artist to create awareness about their projects and gain a fan base that supports the project. This blog on Indiegogo’s blog site gives great insight on 5 Ways to Use Indiegogo Beyond Crowdfunding. Happy project funding!

What Do New Recording Artist Need?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 03:41:00 +0000

One of the things that lead me to the path of wanting to become a manager in the entertainment industry is the ability to make recording artists comfortable in their business affairs. The artist’s job is to maintain a creative flow of ideas and to continually develop those skills on a daily basis. They also spend a substantial amount of time in the studio getting records recorded by a deadline. Now I am not saying that artists are cut out of the business process because it’s their business. The manager is there to make the ruff edges of the artist’s business smooth and straight. I want the artist that I work with to have tunnel vision in their work and to know that Thaddeus Ray will take care of business. The kind of manager that I see myself as is the business manager, coach, mentor, motivator, and the occasional shoulder to cry on.

What I want any new artist to do is figure out what do they need right now. What are the types of business people artists need around them in the beginning processes? This article from Bennett Law Office explains a great deal about what up-coming artist need to get things rolling in the right direction for their enterprise. An artist should look at his/her work as an enterprise and every artist should be thinking on that level. Some of the points the article touches on are topics such as Assembling a Team; Get it in Writing, Protecting Your Most Valuable Assets, Trademark, and Copyright. These are very important issues that must be addressed. Treat your talent as a business because eventually that’s what it will become.

Another great resource from ehow talks about building your music management team. One person doesn’t get the show started. The team is what moves the artist from beginning to a new beginning. If you want to become a serious entity in the entertainment industry, these are the steps that need to be taken.