Entertainment YoYo

David Banner receives the key to the City of Jackson from Mayor Harvey Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 22:38:00 +0000

http://www.clarionledger.com/videonetwork/2191335759001/Entertainer-David-Banner-on-importance-of-reading

Snarky Puppy in Jackson, MS

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:22:00 +0000

Snarky Puppy snuck up on us and gave us a real treat last night. Their music is so engaging, fun, funky, jazzy and fused altogether. Look out Hattiesburg they're heading your way and you don't want to miss them!

L I S T E N

mgid:uma:content:mtv.com:1692592

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:06:00 +0000

mgid:uma:content:mtv.com:1692592

Entertaining the Next Step

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 22:43:00 +0000

This statement can be figurative, but it is truly a literal statement for me. This is the last week of my program at Full Sail University. If you haven’t been following my blog, I am pursuing my Master of Science degree in Entertainment Business. The time has sailed passed so swiftly. It is truly hard to believe that it is almost over. I have just two assignments to complete the program (you’re reading one of them).

Self-Doubt

I still remember the apprehension I had about enrolling in the program. You see I am not a traditional student. I have been married, divorced and remarried. I am the mother of 5 girls. I have 1 grandson. I also have 2 stepsons and 1 step-grandson. I have a full-time job, a small business, a house, bills, and completely lodged inside of life! I just didn’t know if I could do it. It had been 13 years since I had been in a structured higher education program.

Encouragement

Luckily, I had a strong support system. My husband encouraged me to do it! Surprisingly to me, I was accepted into the program. It wasn’t easy and it took some major sacrifice, but I’ve made it! I enrolled in the program so that I could gain knowledge about the industry. I needed to be able to position the artists that recorded in my studio. I felt I have a responsibility to them. I should be able to provide them with sound direction for their careers.

Appreciation

I’m appreciative of all of my learning experiences. I learned so much more than the industry. I had some wonderful Professors and some amazing classmates. I have a new network of professionals that I can access if I ever need them. The program taught me how to become an effective leader. It taught me how to work within a team and how to manage a project. It taught me about laws within the industry, how to market my business and to brand the company. It taught me how to develop a plan for my business and the financial makeup of a solid business.

I am truly grateful for the experience and hope that one day I can be a resource for Full Sail as an industry leader!

Alternative Funding

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 21:03:00 +0000

At first glance this phrase makes perfect sense, but for those living in the reality of their economic status, it’s no alternative, it’s the only option. A lot of people that have pursued entrepreneurship have done so by strong faith, intestinal fortitude, and a passion that continues to drive them, not knowing when their next sale will be. Wondering if they will have enough this week to pay the mortgage, the car note or even afford them a decent meal.

Credit Denial

They have survived through numerous denials for funding. They have tried their local bank, and maybe their local credit union. Unfortunately their personal financial trials have taken a toll on their credit. Maybe they were left hung to dry through a nasty divorce, or maybe there were medical bills. Regardless of what the circumstance, their creditworthiness was destroyed through these trials and the inability to make enough to change their forecast.

Financial Resources

Entrepreneurs must educate themselves to improve their situations. They can’t continue to walk in ignorance and use their past financial status as a crutch. There are endless resources available to increase their chances on finding funding for their business:

The SBA offers training on preparing your finances, writing a business plan, financial assistance programs, and loans and grant resources. There are online courses on how to prepare a loan package and introductory accounting. You can also learn how to assess when you will make a profit through a breakeven analysis.
Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) is the national network of Community Development Financial Institutions(CDFIs) private financial institutions that are 100% committed to delivering responsible, affordable lending to help low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities join the economic mainstream.
HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation) is a community development financial institution for those living in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. They have worked for the past 18 years to close the gap in the Mid South creating opportunities for low and moderate-income people to access affordable, responsibly structured financial products and services.

The Business Side of Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 01:14:00 +0000

Key Business Plan Components

The creative world boasts of their passion and ability to express themselves in various forms, whether it’s singing, music, art, film, dance or poetry. Rarely do we find these same people with a solid plan to turn their art form into a successful business. It is important to have a spark, a passion and creativity in their expression, but it is equally important to develop a business plan so their passion can generate revenue.

The blogspot, http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com, features business plan expert views and shares successful businessmen and their methodologies. Two excerpts featuring Muhammad Yumas and Bobby Flay and Steve Ells stood out to me.

Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus was a successful economist that founded Grameen Bank. They had one of the most successful loan repayment rates in the world. He came from humble means growing up in a poverty stricken area of Bengal and believed education was a tool that could help him escape. He believed in giving loans to people who had a passion and a drive, and only needed the money. He believed that credit was a fundament human right, which is probably why he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983.

Indie Artists

In the entertainment industry one may wonder, what does this have to do with me? This speaks volumes to those of us pursuing our passion, especially independent artists needing financial backing. We all have talent but we must remember that we need to reflect this passion in an organized business plan. This one step could be the difference between struggling to pursue your passion, and having the funding to truly establish your brand. You could successfully develop a marketing plan and properly advertise to bring clients to your doorstep.

The Business Plan

This has motivated me to change the way we do things at CC Productions. We’ve always had passion and talent, but we didn’t have a proper business plan to seek funding, so that we can position ourselves in the market. We must understand that investors are analytical people. Our most important section is the market and the budget. Investors need to know that there is a market for your talent and a budget that will show a return on their investment.

(Sources: The Nobel Peace Prize, http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2006/yunus-bio.html/, Expert Views on Business Plans, http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com/)

Bobby Flay and Steve Ells

Bobby Flay is a household name to those who are into reality cooking shows. He not only boasts this fame, but he is one of America’s top chefs and owns six high-end restaurants and five fast casual dining restaurants grossing millions of dollars. Steve Ells equally acclaimed as Bobby and has a few things to boast about on his own. He founded Chipotle in 1993 with an $85,000 loan from his father and now he is a top investor on the new hit series Americas Great Next Restaurant. This show was looking for the best concept to invest millions of dollars to open three new restaurants in Los Angeles, Minneapolis and New York City. There were three key components that investor were looking for in the business plan for the concept to work:

The Name

The name must represent whom the owner is and what they are trying to convey. This is key in my business plan. The name has to have a sense of your style and what it is your trying to say. The name has to connect with the product or the service. In my case, the name fits the owner, its fun and not too serious.

The Logo

The logo is another key component in the business plan. This is an area that I struggled with the most in my business plan. I wanted the logo to be eye-catching, memorable, fun, horizontal and reflect who we are. It is very important for it to be connected to what we do, short and to the point.

The Slogan

The slogan is the next key component part in the business plan. The slogan needs to be able to pull all of the components together in a simple phrase. It needs to be one that the employees can remember and one that can remind employees who we are.

Out of all of these important components in my business plan, I feel that the most important section is the financial statements. The typical investor just wants to know that they will have a return on their investment.

(Sources: Neumeier, M. (2006) The Brand Gap.

McDGospel Jackson

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 02:46:00 +0000

image compliments of http://www.365black.com/365black/index.jsp

McDGospel Jackson
365 Black is a program by McDonald’s corporation to show a commitment to the African-American community. It is to highlight, promote and celebrate our culture, our achievements and our communities every day of the year, as opposed to celebrating Black History Month in the shortest month of the year. It is a place where our community can share, learn, search for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, education and meet people that have been affected by McDonald’s efforts.

Gospel Tour in Jackson, MS

One of 365 Black’s campaigns is a Gospel tour sponsored across the country, which is marketed as Inspiration Celebration. Well maybe you’re not familiar with Jackson, Mississippi, but we’re kind of a black-sheep City, when it comes to attracting major Artists. Well let me explain. We are a last-minute market when it comes to purchasing tickets, so a lot of promoters are not comfortable waiting until collecting at the door to cover their expenses, or maybe not. This is not the case for every Artist, but you have to be pretty special to sell out before the actual concert. Recently we booked Elton John, which was very surprising and the tickets did sell out almost immediately. Another concert is the American Idol concert. It sold out in minutes due to the fact of a local Brandon native who was in the top 5, Skylar Laine, is on the ticket.

Thanks McDGospel Jackson

Well thanks to McDGospel Jackson we recently had the pleasure of having a “free” concert featuring major national gospel artists: : Canton Jones, Byron Cage and Fred Hammond. Of course the tickets went fast, because it was free! This concert opened up a wonderful opportunity for a local group (they won’t be local long), Darius Brown and Freshwind.

Freshwind pictured alongside Byron Cage (Middle). Leader Darius far right.

They had the honor of providing background vocals for Byron Cage. The artist had the pleasure of hearing what Jackson has to offer and has shown an interest in using the group for future events in the Southeast if the opportunity presents itself. Well, not to highlight any one particular person, because they are a group, but they are equipped with some heavy artillery. They have some prolific singers with superior vocal talent, skill and range. Congratulations Darius and Freshwind. I can’t wait to see what’s next! A special shout-out to my oldest Asia, and my Spain buddy Larry. (Good evening this evening J)

Overcoming Perceptions

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 02:21:00 +0000

Perceptions

Overcoming perceptions are generally a common practice for the average individual whose reputation precedes him. The perception could derive from a brief encounter, when the person is having a bad day. It could even come from a generalized category from hanging with a certain crowd. What about when it comes from the history of your state?

Mississippi

Mississippi has it own pre-conceived identity. Most are surprised that we can read, wear shoes, can speak intelligently and some even have a solid education. Working for the Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau, I’ve had calls from potential visitors and they want to know if it’s “safe” to visit. Typically, I think they have concerns about crime, since there has been an increase regarding crime in the news. Surprisingly, they can identify my voice as an African-American and they have concerns about racial harmony and want to know if a lynching is possible? Seriously!

Music in Mississippi

With all of these pre-conceived ideas about our state, it made me wonder how does it affect the music industry as it relates to our state? Is the factor in securing viable artists? Do they fear their safety as it relates to their ethnicity? I guess it’s kind of like any other new thing you want to try, unless someone you know has tried, you may not trust what others are telling you.

I also thought about another pre-conceived ideas concerning music in our state. We are known for the Delta blues. Mississippi Mass has definitely made its mark on the gospel industry. We have other artists such as the legendary Williams Brothers, Canton Spirituals, and Lee Williams just to name a few.

Musicians in Mississippi

I guess thinking about this topic, a flood-gate of thoughts rushed through my mind. What pre-conceived ideas are there about musicians here? I attended a concert this weekend featuring gospel artist James Fortune and Fiya. They are an awesome group with major vocal talents. They performed to tracks. Did they have a pre-conceived idea about musicians here? Did they not trust that they were capable of capturing the arrangement on their cd? If they were in another city like, Detroit, would they have performed to tracks? Well I guess, I’ll probably never know the answer to that, but the promoter hired a “house” band to fill in where needed. Well, I won’t say that these were not good musicians, but I will say they did not help the case. They didn’t seem sure of themselves and didn’t have a seasoned band sound. So, I guess whatever James Fortune thought prior to coming was magnified by that experience.

Music Album Credits

Future promoters please don’t hire a band without experience and solid credits for artist of that caliber. They are easily accessible through a simple Google search for album credits. I’ve provided my husband’s. They are not accurate and missing a lot, but that’s another blog.

It was not a good look and we really missed an opportunity to show what Mississippi has to offer.

(2012). Giving Credits their Due. Retrieved on June 3, 2012 from
http://albumcredits.com/Profile/732558

The Light Side of the White House

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:31:00 +0000

Images by Haraz N. Ghanba

I usually try to stay away from politics and I realize that technically it’s probably not part of the entertainment industry, but it definitely provides its share of entertainment on numerous occasions.

I recently saw excerpts of the 98^th White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner with President Obama and Jimmy Kimmel. It was quite funny. It’s amazing how they can put aside their positions and different issues and make light of things that otherwise would be very serious topics.

This happened right after the Secret Services’ sex scandal, the now infamous Summit of the Americas. The President took a jab by saying, “Four years ago, I was locked in a primary battle with Hillary Clinton, four years later, she won’t stop drunk-texting me from Cartenga.”

Meanwhile Jimmy Kimmel took a jab at the Kardashians joking about how last year on the eve of the dinner was Osama bin Laden’s killing. “Who will it be this year?” Stating that the Navy Seals should focus on them.

President Obama didn’t stop there. He took a jab at his opponent. “It’s great to be her in the vast, magnificent Hilton ballroom, or what Mitt Romney would call a ‘little fixer upper.”

He also made light of himself. The first term I san Al Green. In his next term he’s going with Young Jeezy.

Kimmel joked about the Secret Service scandal. “If this would have happened on President Clinton’s watch, those Secret Service agents would’ve been disciplined with a very serious high-five. Palms would be beet red.” He also poked at Governor Chris Christie’s weight. “Gov. Christie, you may be misunderstanding the New Jersey slogan. It’s not the ‘Olive Garden state.’”

President Obama also showed a picture of him when he was first elected and he had black hair. He then showed a picture now with a lot of gray hair, and then he showed a picture of how he would look in the next term and it was a picture of Morgan Freeman.

Politics will be heating up over the next couple of months with the election coming up in November, but it was certainly a nice break from dealing with all of the issues surrounding the election and just enjoying some humor.

Two Iconic Deaths of the Disco Era

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Mon, 21 May 2012 02:29:00 +0000

images by CNN

The deaths this week of disco legends Robin Gibbs, of the Bee Gees, and Donna Summers, marks an end to two important icons in the disco-era. Personally it carries me back to a carefree time in my life, when I lived the carefree state of California in the city of San Diego. A time before the modern day conveniences of simple downloads and easy access videos. The days, in which we waited for signature shows that provided our entertainment exposure, shows like Dick Clark and Soul Train. This was a time before 106 and park and Friday night videos.

Robin Gibbs was one of the singers and brothers that made up the iconic group the Bee Gees and created the signature “Saturday Night Fever” sound, as well as other 70’s sounds. They brought us songs like “Stayin Alive,” and “Jive Talkin.” Their 1979 album, “Spirits Having Flown” had six no. 1 hits, the only group in pop history to write, produce and record that many consecutive chart-topping singles, according to the Hall of Fame.

Donna Summers was the Queen of Disco. She gave us dancing tunes that will forever be etched in our minds when we see a disco light. She defined the disco era. Her sultry voice coupled with strings, synthesizers and a fluid dance beat created the movement. Her tunes were a bit too racy for some with her heavy breathing. Her music really introduced machines as a part of music. Her influence can still be heard today, just listen to Lady Gaga's "Born this Way." She gave us tunes like “Bad Girl,” “Love to Love you Baby,” and “She Works Hard for the Money.” She had a sexiness in her music that went right along with the carefree era that existed during that time.

It was time when we had to listen to music on the record player with vinyl records. My older sister, six years my senior was my exposure to music. She kept the records safely tucked away in her room and I would wait for her to come home so that I could listen to them. She was my link to the “big-girl” world and would teach me dances like “The Hustle.”

I can still see the big bright flower Donna would wear in her hair, and hear the smooth harmonic voices of the Bee Gees.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/20/showbiz/robin-gibb-dies/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/17/opinion/coleman-summer/index.html

Legally Speaking with Kamel King

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:44:00 +0000

image courtesy of Frascogna Courtney, LLC

I had the awesome opportunity to speak with entertainment attorney Kamel King of Frascogna Courtney, PLLC located in Jackson, MS. I have several connections to Kamel, although I don’t know him personally. I actually grew up with the show his father created, “Black Gold,” a local weekly musical entertainment show that featured the latest music and local dancers. It was my first encounter of the entertainment world. I actually had a neighbor whose twin nephews were on the show and when they would come to visit, I thought they were celebrities. This was Jackson’s version of “Soul Train.” His firm also represents legendary gospel trio “The Williams Brothers,” which employs my husband for their studio recordings. Lastly, we both attended the most prestigious Tougaloo College, that prepared the both of us with a solid foundation to pursue our dreams.

He shared that his father also had a record label at one time and did concert promotions. So obviously he was influenced by his father’s endeavors in the industry. I’m sure his father had enough influence for Kamel to be successful in the business, but Kamel wanted to pave his own way. He attended Mississippi College School of Law, successfully passed the Mississippi Bar. His pursuit of excellence has definitely paid off. He is currently the attorney on the road for The Williams Brothers, the Director of Operations of Blackberry Records, which is owned by the Williams Brothers. He is also the Sales Manager of Terminal Recording Studios, which is where my husband records with the Williams Brothers.

Yolanda: What are some common mistakes made by artists, as well as, managers?

Kamel: Not getting an entertainment attorney (we both chuckle). This is not for my own gratification or to seek financial gain, but you need a competent person who knows the “lay of the land” early. The internet can teach you anything you want to know, but it can also give you a false sense of security. It’s the same as any other professional business. You may be able to brush your teeth and floss, but you can’t do what a dentist does.

Yolanda: For those who know they need an entertainment attorney but have a fear factor of what it may cost, is there such a thing as a fair cost?

Kamel: Most definitely! In my career the artist is the biggest obstacle. I’ve had to educate them that they don’t have to be independently wealthy to secure competent counsel. I tell them an old adage I learned from my boss. “You can’t eat the elephant all in one bite, you have to eat it in pieces. I identify their immediate needs and address them first. It is better to go to an attorney with $300 and say this is what I have now, then to have the fear factor and never seek counsel.

Yolanda: Do you have any tips for a new artist?

Kamel: Yes, educate yourself, surround yourself with a good team, a good accountant, booking agent, manager and yes an entertainment attorney!

Law and Entertainment

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Laws, rules, and regulations govern the world. They have been developed, amended and revised based upon different situations since our existence. It is advantageous to be familiar with them to ensure you are in compliance and don’t suffer the consequences of violating any of them. This holds true especially for the entertainment industry.

It is important to understand the laws and regulations that govern our industry. Entertainers are exposed to a high influence of lawsuits because of their financial status. This also holds true for people on the opposite side of the industry to know their rights, as one woman learned after claiming the movie “The Help” was based on her life. This movie was an adaptation from the novel written by Jackson, MS native, Kathryn Stockett, about 60’s era black maids and the abuse they often endured from upper class white women who employed them. Ablene Cooper, Stockett’s brother’s maid, sought $75,000 in damages stating her likeness was used in the book without her permission. The case was thrown out due to the one-year statute of limitations elapsing. Ms. Stockett gave Ms. Cooper a handwritten note accompanied by the book in 2009 and the law suit was not filed until 2011.

This is a solid case of Ms. Cooper not knowing the law for intellectual property. This is not to say that Ms. Cooper is wrong or Ms. Stockett is right, but because of her lack of knowledge, she didn’t even have the opportunity to prove her case. This happens far to often with naïve young artists and writers. They don’t have the proper guidance to get their works copyrighted or trust others to look out for their best interest.

The terms of a contract constantly cause legal woes in the entertainment industry. I can’t count the times that I have agreed to the terms of different websites without reading and completely understanding the terms of the agreement. One case that seems so elementary is Huang Hoang, an actress that sued IMDb over an age revelation. IMDb breached their contract with Ms. Hoang and violated laws on consumer protection are plausible enough to proceed with her case. Junie Hoang, her American stage name, signed up for a Pro Account, which she disclosed her real age, 40. The website published her real age, which she claims has cost her acting jobs. The allegation of the breach was based upon the premise of IMDb’s privacy policy, which promised customers that it would “carefully and sensibly” manage how information about customers is “used and shared” and that IMDb “will always comply with applicable laws and regulations.”

A few words can change the whole context of a sentence or terms of a contract. It is very important that an organization have a complete understanding of their contracts to avoid legal issues like this.

There are also lawsuits for things that seem trivial, like misspelling a name in the credits. This may seem trivial to an onlooker, but if a person has worked diligently to create a respected and recognized name in the industry, it is a big deal! Tina Turner went through hell with Ike, but in the end, all she wanted was her name. She knew that she could rebuild everything that she had lost, if she could keep her name. Her name meant something in the entertainment industry. Recently, German director Uwe Boll was sued by producer Rob Van Ronkel, spelled Rob Runkel, claiming the misspelling was not an accident. He had a dispute with the Director and felt like it was misspelled on purpose.

Credits are very important in the entertainment industry. It is essentially their resume. It confirms the validity of their career. One should truly consider the legal ramifications for every aspect of the industry. Entertainers work very hard to establish themselves in the industry and should just as much concentration in protecting their careers.

Artist Management

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:54:00 +0000

The role of an artist manager is really to do anything to further the artist’s career. This can involve a well defined career plan or ironing out the tedious negotiation of a contract, suggesting a different outfit or contributing to a lyric idea or change or providing constructive criticism for a recording. This can also range to even more personal management, like keeping different love interests at bay, or making sure they have their favorite food on hand.

The artist manger must be multi-faceted. They have to be a planner, an organizer, a confidant, a strategist, a traveling companion and a friend. They are involved in every aspect of their life. This is a tough job and everyone doesn’t have the personality or skills to handle the job. They must definitely possess the desire to serve to be a good artist manager.

There is one area that the artist manager does not have complete control over, that can truly affect the artist’s career, their personal choices. Too many artist and entertainers have made bad personal choices that have virtually ended their careers. The artist manager cannot choose their love interest, how much they drink, if they choose drugs or other abusive habits, or live a lavish lifestyle that their finances cannot support. This is a risk in taking on artist management. You may have complete faith in their abilities or talent, but you never know when their personal choices will affect your paycheck.

The latest and most tragic example is Whitney Houston. She had the talent to tame a lion with her voice, but made some very bad personal choices that virtually destroyed her career. I’m sure her manager urged her to change her habits, advocated rehabilitation and many other interventions, but to no avail. The drugs destroyed her voice. She had so many people rooting for her, but no one could restore the vocal chords no matter how much we cheered.

Artist Management

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 04:55:00 +0000

Our first assignment in our class posed the question, what artist would you like to manage? I know there are thousands of people that I could have chosen, but I chose Stan Jones. Stan Jones is an Artist, as well as a producer and songwriter. He actually has numerous awards for his Songwriting and Producing. Some people may wonder why I would choose him over all of the superstars in the gospel industry. Well the first thing you have to understand is we have been instructed to make our goals attainable. Stan Jones is attainable to me. I know him, he was my husband's best man in our wedding and on top of that he is so talented and a joy to be around.

Our text, This Business of Artist Management, gives us the ingredients to a successful artist/manager relationship. One of those ingredients is compatibility. Regardless of my creative ideas and contacts, we have to be able to work together. This makes for a great potential working relationship, since we've already conquered the first. I don't expect him to consider me without the education I am receiving at Full Sail, because the one thing that I have learned about him is, he is professional when it comes to music.

Another factor in choosing him is his work ethic. Our text tells us to take creative inventory of the artist's abilities. Evaluating Stan Jones' ability, I know that he has the potential to become a greater influence in the industry as an Artist. He has a unique sound and style. He is not trying to be like anyone else in the industry. Material is definitely not an issue, he has numerous awards for his writing, which increases the opportunity for long-term record deals, which he is negotiating a new deal now. His Physical Appearance is an asset. He is a clean-cut handsome man with a great style of his own. He definitely has the Total Image Package. He is a stellar guy with a strong work ethic and lives his image.

Negotiating with Stan Jones

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:39:00 +0000

STAN JONES

Award Winning

Songwriter and Producer

February 19, 2012

By: Yolanda Clay-Moore

Stan Jones is an award winning songwriter and producer. In addition to establishing himself in these areas, he is also a gospel Artist. Stan Jones has won numerous awards including a 2011 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) award. This award honors the most successful songwriters and publishers in R&B, Hip Hop and Gospel Music. This particular award was given for writing and producing Brian Courtney Wilson’s hit “All I Need.” This song spent 92 weeks on the Billboard Hot Gospel Song Chart, breaking the all time record for the longest running current single ever in the history of the Billboard Gospel Charts, which also went on to receive a 2011 GMA Dove Award nomination for Urban Record Song of the year. In 2010 Billboard year-end charts would name Stan Jones as the #3 Songwriter and #4 Producer of the Year. He has worked with artists such as: Yolanda Adams, The Williams Brothers, Marvin Sapp, The Jackson Southernaires and many more. This doesn’t even touch the surface of his many accomplishments.

Yolanda: How did you initially negotiate as an artist?

Stan: My first album was with Blackberry Records and they approached me and asked about what type of deal I was looking for? I wanted a one album deal so I could make judgments based on the performance. I also wanted so many pieces of products, that when sold I would have 100% ownership. (He was obviously successful with his negotiations. I don't think he made demands, only requests. This is an art form that one must master) I am currently negotiating with another company.

Yolanda: Was negotiating as a producer different than as an artist? And How?

Stan: As a producer, it's a little bit different. The only difference is you negotiate a per track deal, because you may not do a whole album. It is definitely about negotiating, because there are others you are bidding against for the gig. When you have the privilege to be able to negotiate, is when you have a track record that's believable with most labels. A lot of people can say they worked with particular artists, but if they don't have hits, so having a track record of hits definitely creates a demand for you and gives you more negotiating leverage. If you haven't accomplished this, then there is no negotiating (he laughs). A successful track record can put you in the negotiating seat. The world is based upon proof!

Yolanda: Can a musician have leverage?

Stan: Being a musician myself, yes a musician can have leverage. The main thing is loyalty. Other factors include having character, reliability and dependability. These are the things producers look for, and are very hard to come by. There are many musicians with the talent, but they lack the character to be able to work with them.

Yolanda: Have you ever been taken advantage of ? If so, how did it change your negotiating tactics?

Stan: (He laughs) Yes I have been taken advantage of. I have been dealing with this issue the past couple of day (I hear you Lord). Also when I first got started I was being used. I allowed myself to be used, because I felt like it would pay off and it did. You have to stay somewhere. Stay on the path and keep knocking it down. I heard someone say, "You can't grow roots if you keep changing soil." Stay there and fight and continue to grow. I'm glad I had a mind to stay there. I'm grateful for those stages. I now take pride in taking care of my musicians, because I just graduated from there.

Yolanda: We’ve learned five core concepts in negotiating, what role have any of these played in negotiating deals?

Stan: (Affiliation) Negotiations are the beginning of relationships. It's totally better if you can be in that person's presence so they can feel your personality, your spirit and who you are. They may have a better interest on your behalf and want to help you, rather than just seeing words. Those are definitely different dynamics in negotiating. Some executives don't want to take a chance of getting personal and won't meet you, they want to keep it strictly professional. If the person allows it, definitely take advantage of it. It becomes more personable. (Autonomy) I can sculpt the things that I want. I'm not told what to do. I'm not exclusive to anyone. There have been attempts to make me exclusive, but that's not what I wanted. I'm my own boss.

Yolanda: How often do you assess your role and where you want to be? Is it something you think about or does it just happen?

Stan: I think about it daily, all day, everyday. I see it before I do it. I visualize that it can happen and I pursue it. I don't understand how people can be arrogant. I continuously strive. When I reach one level, I'm trying to reach another level. That's why it's hard for me to understand arrogant people. They are complacent in where they are. People who are humble are people who are still striving to get higher than where they are. Sure they have great accomplishments, but they want to go higher.

Stellar Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:16:00 +0000

My Business Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:43:00 +0000

My Business Inspiration

The idea of owning a business is appealing to most people, but very few people have the know-how, intestinal fortitude, guidance or courage to actually make it happen. I always had the desire to have my own business since I was a little girl. This mainly came from the motivation of my grandfather. My Grandfather, Elbert “Boy” Stringer was a self-made entrepreneur in a very tough time for black people. In fact, at that time we had not yet upgraded to even being called black, we were colored. He was the owner of a grocery store when I came along. He also owned cattle. I later learned that he owned a pulpwood company, and a café. He was a very prominent man in his time.

This really stuck with me, because as I got older I learned that he only had a 1^st grade education. I saw him sign for deliveries with just an “x” for his name. Yet he had the ability to learn how to operate all of these businesses successfully without being able to read. I distinctly remember him checking his inventory and determining what items were selling and what items needed dust removed from them. After taking a finance class, I now know he was assessing his inventory turnover ratio. He was the first person to introduce me to finance. He is the reason I knew how to give change without using the register to calculate it for me.

I guess this is the reason I was determined to have my own business. My Grandfather left a legacy and I felt obligated to continue it. I didn’t quite know what area I would pursue, but I knew that one day I would own a business. My parents instilled music in me with piano lessons when I was young, and then the band. This was expounded upon when I met the love of my life, Cornelius “CC” Moore, a professional musician. It was then, that I was able to pursue what I ‘ve dreamed of for years and we created CC Productions. I now have an obligation to gain the management knowledge needed to strategically position my company for success.

Charles Hazlewood: Trusting the ensemble

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 06:05:00 +0000

TED.Com is a remarkable website that is devoted to spreading worthy ideas. It is a non-profit organization that is making a huge impact in the collaboration of design, technology and entertainment. It offers the top world-changing innovators from around the globe. This particular post of speaker Charles Hazelwood is very intriguing. He is an acclaimed conductor and used his profession to illustrate trust. He begins speaking and prompts violinists to play. They enter from different areas of the room, creating a surround sound. This was used as an icebreaker. Everyone was pleasantly surprised and it unified the audience.

Mr. Hazlewood talks about how important it is for him as a conductor to trust his ensemble. He even has to trust himself. He must trust that his instruction during rehearsal was sufficient and that he is exuberating the right body language. He has to have enough control to direct, but not too much control that the ensemble cannot flow. He used an excellent example given to him early in his career. If you hold a bird too tightly, you will crush it, and if you open your hand too wide, it will fly away. This is a perfect analogy for a conductor to follow.

He spoke of a remarkable experience in South Africa, where he overcame adversity through the power of music, which taught a life lesson about trust. The choir was comprised of mostly black singers with a handful of whites. One of the white members was a former South African Police Officer. Understanding that police were charged to go into the black communities and aggress them, created a lot of intensity in the room. Mr. Hazlewood overcame this distrust by singing, singing and singing some more. This process developed trust and blossomed new relationships.

He also revealed a very inspirational project that was developed because of his daughter that suffers from Cerebral Palsy. ParaOrchestra was created for disabled musicians. These musicians have the opportunity to do what they love through this initiative. There was a left-handed pianist that played beautifully and even used humor to tell about his condition, that he was born with one hand. Some other musicians create music electronically. One man interviewed was a former trumpet player that was left paralyzed through a road accident. He expressed the joy he feels creating music and would take the ability to play his trumpet again, over the ability to walk. This was hard to imagine, but it illustrated how important music is to a person.

The conductor also told of a story of a Prince that declared the musicians’ families were no longer welcome in the castle. They were sent away. The conductor illustrated how music was used to show the Prince their anger for his decision. Conductor Hazlewood directed the ensemble to play a beautiful piece. Just as you were completely engaged, one by one, members of the ensemble stop playing and walked off the stage, until they all disappeared. Conductor Hazlewood re-entered the stage and informed the audience that the Prince soon allowed the musicians’ families to return.

This was very inspirational as a musician. It was very informative and the music played by the Scottish Ensemble made it even more intriguing. It illustrated how music can be used to develop trust. It was also thought provoking and challenging. How are you using your talent to help people or enhance their lives?

namVe

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:55:00 +0000

The National Association of musicians, vocalist and entertainers is a very important organization in the music industry. It offers a comprehensive benefits program to aid those of us working independently. It provides such benefits as: Prescription Drugs, Financial Counseling, Health Care Counseling, Roadside Assistance, Dental and Vision Programs, Artist Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Care, Accidental Coverage, Life Coverage, and an Internet Shopping Mall. These are invaluable benefits. The average musician, vocalist or entertainer works independently and does not have these benefits, nor are they able to afford them on their own. I know numerous uninsured musicians and vocalist that could really benefit from taking advantage of being a member of this organization. Healthcare costs are astronomical and almost unaffordable on your own. This organization shows the benefits of being part of a large network. They are able to offer these benefits because of the numbers they offer to various companies. They are able to negotiate lower costs for their members.

Every independent musician should have artist insurance. This insures classical instruments and equipment, studio liability, tour coverage and liability, special events, and musical instruments and equipment. The lack of these benefits could destroy a musician. Just imagine playing independently and there is a power surge that destroys your $3,500 Motif XF8. The average musician lives paycheck to paycheck in this economy and would not have the money saved to purchase another keyboard or could afford to wait until it was repaired. I actually know a musician that had the misfortune of this experience. He has not been able to have it repaired yet. Fortunately he does have another keyboard, but an instrument of this caliber lets other musicians know that you are knowledgeable of a good instrument, and you care enough to invest in a good instrument. I guess it shows a certain status as a musician.

NAMVE also is an advocate for issues in the music industry, such as budget cuts for Art Programs and Funding, Health Care, Social Security, and Medicare. These are all issues that will have a huge impact on our industry and it is important to have a voice. Musicians, vocalist, and entertainers have the same concerns and face the same issues as other working Americans. However, it is even more crucial because if you work independently, you are not paying into Social Security and not eligible for Medicare, unless you have an eligible spouse or another type of job on the side.

The average musician, vocalist and entertainer do not have steady work. They are working diligently to sell themselves to have more bookings. They may travel from city to city, or state-to-state, and some even travel out of the country, completely on their own. This organization can provide invaluable assistance and has inspired me to create a local organization to help the people I know.

Images

Katt Williams

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:34:00 +0000

I had the opportunity to attend a comedy show last night, in the great city of Jackson, MS. I was very surprised and elated, because we very rarely get these types of headliners. I’m not sure if it’s because of the negative image that is etched in people’s mind of our past, or if they think we’re so far behind in time, that we don’t know who they are. Whatever the reason, I am grateful we were chosen.

Google Images

Katt Williams is one of the most renowned comedians of this time. He is known for making light of the truth of things that aren’t usually spoken about. His trademark is his style. He dresses somewhat like a “pimp” and wears his hair permed, and it’s usually the prettiest in the building. I had the privilege of being center stage on the second row of the venue. Katt was in rare form. He entered the stage and immediately jumped off and ran around the venue, getting up-close and personal with the audience. He had a very nice black and purple silk blazer, black silk pants, and some gray Nike tennis shoes that lit up like Sketchers. Ironically we did not see his signature hair. Instead he wore a purple fury Kangol hat.

His show was just as ironic as his well-manicured hair being covered. He spoke in duration about the tragic death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson and his predator, Dr. Conrad Murray. He couldn’t quite fathom the idea of paying a doctor $150,000 per month to administer a drug that according to the defense, Michael Jackson was able to administer to himself. It just didn’t add up to him. He also spoke about how America is slowly wiping out its enemies, with the deaths of Sadam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, and Khadafy. An idea that seemed impossible ten years ago.

Katt is also known for making light of a favorite pass-time, smoking marijuana. This time the only mention of smoking was when he was comparing religions and said it went along great with meditation like certain religions. In his religious comparisons, with one eyebrow raised, he endorsed Jesus Christ! He also spoke about homosexuality being in the bible, but he excused the lesbians, because they weren’t mentioned in the bible. He told of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and how homosexuality was being practiced in both of those cities and God burned them both down. Katt also spoke adamantly that the apocalypse is coming in 2012. He warned everyone to find a significant other, and get their finances in order, a strong resemblance to Y2K.

The show was funny, but it had a political and almost spiritual undertone that made us laugh, but think as well. It wasn’t the usual weed-smoking, permed hair, pimp-style dressing Katt that preceded him. He made us realize he does believe in a purpose and he has decided to use the stage as his platform. I enjoyed it!

Sunday's Best Le'Andria Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:17:00 +0000

Music World Gospel

Reading the articles Gospel stardom a bumpy road for Le'Andria Johnson written by Jonathan Landrum and Sunday Best's Le'Andria Johnson has a Testimony by Bob Marovich, gives you a depiction of the life of an upcoming gospel artist, but it also took me back in time. Le’Andria Johnson was the winner of a BET series called Sunday Best, hosted by Kirk Franklin and had a panel of gospel Grammy award winning legends, Mary Mary and Donnie McClurkin. The season that Le’Andria was on Tina Campbell was out having a baby, so Yolanda Adams took her place. I actually had an opportunity to attend several tapings during that season. I attended the taping for a friend, Dathan Thigpen, who actually made it to the finals. I did not realize what a blessing it would be to attend. This particular season another contestant, 80 year old Elder Goldwire, electrified the stage, as well. This made it a very tough competition.

Le’Andria stood out. There was something on the inside of her that drew you in. You could always tell that she was singing her story. She would ignite the crowd and the judges to the point where taping would have to stop and the people would just have to praise God. She not only had the stage presence, but the honesty the sincerity and the humbleness was all over her. I was there to support my friend, but she quickly made me a fan. This admiration only grew after hearing her story.

She arrived at the audition wearing socks and flip-flops. She described the other contestants were dressed up and she literally wore what she had. She was a twice-divorced, single mother of three, who had struggled financially to the point of foreclosure. She didn’t even have a car to get to the auditions. A close friend encouraged her and the rest is history. She is human and has struggles like the rest of us, but she is still striving to achieve. She has lost a great deal, but slowly gaining so much more. Her new album "The Awakening of Le'Andria Johnson" was released mid-September and has topped Billboard’s Gospel Album Charts for the fourth time in the last five weeks. If you ever have an opportunity to see her live, please do. You will be blessed!

iChanged

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Steve Jobs

1955 - 2011

Apple's Founder

October 5 marks a day of triumph for the heavens and a day of apprehension for the rest of us, as we learned of the passing of Steve Jobs. It also marks the two-year anniversary of my father's death, so somberly I sit.

I was given an assignment to post an industry-related blog for class, and I was moved to say something, because Steve Jobs truly changed the entertainment industry, especially music. Simplistically, as you go throughout the day, count how many white earbuds you see attached to an iPhone, iPod or an iPad. I realize that Steve Jobs never knew my name or the effect that he has had on me, and so many more, but he really changed our lives. He has provided an example to all us to follow our dreams, and if we truly believe in something, enjoy what we do, and pour ourselves into it, we can achieve! I am so motivated by his life. He started out in the garage and developed a world-changing product, which virtually ended up in our garages. Apple has touched so many lives, and changed the way we socialize and do business. I am a student at Full Sail and every student enrolled on campus or online has an apple computer, because of the advanced technology and dependability it provides.

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being”.

This statement speaks volumes about what he meant to the world. I remember travelling abroad to Spain and the people requesting that we send back iPhones. They were very expensive to obtain, but they wanted them very badly.

Steve Jobs created an opportunity for those in the music industry to be seen and heard. He launched the iPod in 2001, he bound it to iTunes, the first easy-to-use software for managing your digital music collection, which had debuted earlier that year.

This invention changed the music industry in the aspect of giving the aspiring artist a chance to get his music out there, without a major record deal. It changed the music in the sense that it gave the consumer more power in the way they purchase music. The consumer can choose to buy a single, as opposed to buying an album full of filibustering songs.

I admire him also because, he showed us how to survive, even when your world has crumbled. He built Apple and had a power struggle with his Board and was fired. He gave a commencement speech and stated how devastated he was, but he was determined and driven by the passion still inside him. He started NeXT and acquired Pixar and ten years later joined forces again with Apple.

I pray for his family’s strength. I can’t even imagine the loss they must feel, and I pray that Apple can continue his vision. RIP Steve Jobs, hence iChanged.

The Williams Brother New Release

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:26:00 +0000

The Williams Brothers are celebrating 50 years in the music industry. Originally they started off as The Little Williams Brothers. They are just a very talented family. I think of them as the Jackson's of Gospel music. I often reflect back on their talented brother Frank Williams. He had such an anointing that is carried throughout the family. You also have to mention Huey Williams, their brother of The Jackson Southernaires, when you think of the talent in the family. I know them personally through my husband "CC", who is their bass player for recordings. I must say that the first time I went to the studio, I was a little nervous about how they would act, or react to my being there. You must understand that I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of different celebrities, including Shaquille O'Neal, Warren Moon, David Hollister, Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, Vanessa Williams, Rick Foxx, Kurt Carr, Dottie Peoples and Johnny Gill just to name a few, so by no means am I an amateur of being around a star. I guess it was the close encounter, their greatness and talent and being confined in a small space together that made me nervous. I must say I had no reason to be nervous. They are the nicest, down-to-earth people and they made sure I felt right at home. Did I mention how humorous they are? Well I can't think of a group that deserves more. Please get the new release and support the legendary Williams Brothers! Mississippi's own!

Move in Me by The Williams Brothers (Hubby on bass)

noreply@blogger.com (Yolanda Clay-Moore) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:21:00 +0000