Promoting

Career / Celebrity Business / Industry Trends / Performance / Promoting — Comments Off
12
Oct 10

The Millionaire Mentality

Business suit!
This past weekend I took my girlfriend to the mall so she could pick out some sophisticated stilettos for the upcoming fall season. I could not help but notice a young black male being escorted out of the store in handcuffs and overheard the police officer saying to the young brother “for socks and a hat?” It’s a shame that someone feels like they have to steal to get what they want, but it’s even worse to know that they could have gotten what they wanted without stealing, if only they had a millionaire’s mentality.

When it comes to net worth or cash in the bank, I am far from a millionaire. Some people have asked me why I think I can teach people how to become wealthy when I don’t have a million dollars? My response to that fair question is that people spend thousands of dollars on colleges and universities to be taught economics, finance and entrepreneurship, but how many of those professors you think are listed on the Forbes Richest list? None! Since that’s the case why not learn from someone who has done what you are actually trying to do?

The typical net worth of today’s average Black American family is only $6,000. I had a net worth of $10,000 six months after I graduated college. And since 65% percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and I have not worked for anyone in almost four years, I feel I am qualified to speak on the subject of wealth. The knowledge and research displayed on The Black Economy may not make you a millionaire. You may only want to make an extra $500 to $1,000 per month, I don’t know? But I do know that you will become financially intelligent, learn how to become an entrepreneur, graduate from an entrepreneur to an investor and be able to understand what’s going on in capitalist America. You will also learn how to finally take advantage of credit cards, build good personal and business credit, make money, reduce debt, accumulate wealth, and so much more! Continue reading →

Career / Music Business / Promoting — Comments Off
11
Oct 10

Song Demos – How To Get Them Heard

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
By now you’ve probably read a myriad of articles with individuals who claim to have all of the answers and secrets to getting your songs heard and cut – for a price of course. I will not claim to have all of the answers and neither will I promise you fame and fortune, but I will give you some solid advice as to how to get your songs heard. As a former talent booking agent with the William Morris Agency, I can attest to the number of individuals out there who really don’t have a clue as to how to not only write and produce their song demos, but how to market their songs and themselves as viable acts. Let’s look at some key ideas that I’m sure will help you and hopefully further your writing career.

As we say at ReelMusician.com, a song worth hearing is a song worth hearing. Is your song that you are pitching worth hearing? I can’t answer that, but you can. It’s the obvious and we won’t say any more other than that – Make sure your song is worth hearing. Is your song that you want to get heard and ultimately cut, have marketing viability? Does your song have too narrow a niche where you are shorting yourself on possible acts and artists that can cut it? Don’t adjust a great song just for pure marketing, but the odds are greatly increased with a more broad range of appeal. Are all of your songs starting to sound the same? Do you need a writing partner to broaden your song writing horizons? I am asking all of these questions to get you thinking and then I am going to head into the marketing department for a minute to see where you are at. You see, I can’t possibly answer any of the above questions, because I haven’t heard your material, but if you’re honest you can and will. Answering these questions is your first assignment. Continue reading →

Performance / Promoting / Venues — Comments Off
3
Oct 10

To Have A Party At Ibiza

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketThe absolute contrast to ceremonious traveling abroad with obligatory tours of museums and slow sightseeing walk of historical centre is crazy party-tourism, that means going to another country on purpose to have fun, hung up and to join the club life of local youth.

Parties and performances last on resorts all day and night long; therefore it is easy to lose the sense of time and reality in an impulse of impetuous fun.The world capital of party-tourism is considered to be the Spanish island Ibiza situated in the southwest of Mediterranean Sea. Here gather groups of teenagers and the Dj-s from all over the world in search of entertainment and amusement.

The cleanest beaches with white sand, the tender sea, the green meadows and foothills, the freakish and tiny architecture make this island one of the best resorts of Europe.The life of the island twists around the life of the clubs, which number is way bigger than the number of municipal buildings. Loud lively music of any kind is heard here literally from each corner, and discos are organized directly in the streets.

The tourist season proceeds from May till October, but even in winter there are enough foreigners on Ibiza. The opening of club season takes place at the end of May in the club “Es Parades” and abates only to the beginning of September. By and large the amateurs of quiet beach rest have no reasons at all to come here during summer: in the crowd of inveterate party-goers they will obvious be outsiders. Continue reading →

Career / Music Business / Promoting — Comments Off
29
Sep 10

Singers, Bands & the Artist Management Team

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketAs singers and bands compete for the ears of music industry pro’s, hoping to become the next greatest pop icon, mangers and the relationships with their acts have become increasingly important. With the evolution of technology, the internet and fledgling record labels, trying to compete for the next money making act, you can be sure that artist managers have their plates full sifting through myriads of press kits and demos trying to pick the needle out of the haystack.

With each demo that is sent out, artists wait in anticipation of what might become their next step in their artist career pathway. Most of the time, however, the group or singer is met with the, “Thanks for your submission, but no thanks,” letter at the door. What can singers and bands do to increase their odds of developing a relationship with an artist manager? Good question – Let’s look at some ideas and concepts that you can put to work as you try to move your career forward.

As a former talent booking agent with the William Morris Agency and as the owner of www.reelmusician.com, I can tell you that one of the biggest walls that is built between artist managers and acts is a singer or group that is not prepared. They want the representation, but not the responsibility and financial demands that are placed upon them in the initial phase of their careers. They want someone to hold their hand and make it happen for them before they have sunk initial investments whether time, money or emotional investments that being maturity and basic music business knowledge and understanding. With this wall up you can forget it. There’s too much competition out there for a manager to waste their time – Would you? – Of course not and neither will they. Therefore, you make it your first priority to be prepared.

How do you prepare yourself or your band you ask? – Great question. Start with your music. Is your music the same run of the mill sound that’s already out there at countless levels? Does your music or style lend itself to marketing, or can if be differentiated from scores of others already signed to the majors? Be honest here. Quite honestly many individuals or acts have copied the sound of some other act and have not fully matured into developing their own sound. There’s nothing wrong with having musical influences, every act out there will tell you who has captured their musical hearts, but your sound has got to sound like you. Continue reading →

Career / Promoting — Comments Off
3
Sep 10

The Booking Agent Inside

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
As a recording artist, singer or songwriter, finding a booking agent who will actually book your act or show, can be tricky at best. A well qualified booking agent is like finding the needle in the hay stack. While many companies offer traditional artist booking services on a number of levels, there are few out there who really deliver. While a former agent myself, booking many country stars at the William Morris Agency, I am well aware of the inadequacies that many young artists face, in this industry.

Before you begin looking for a booking agent, let’s look at a few concepts that might help serve you in your quest to move your singing career forward. Booking agencies like booking agents, operate on different levels. There are the large well-established booking agencies that have been around for years. These agencies are typically “order taking” agencies with large stars that bring on newer “baby acts” being promoted by the record companies. The young acts being born and promoted from the record companies now push through radio and of course the booking agency who can put that “baby act” in front of large crowds opening for some of the biggest stars in that genre. Sound familiar. That’s how the big boys operate.

The next level down on the booking agency chain is the middle guy. He or she typically books acts that are “has beens” and no longer pull the front-line or large arena crowds. Artists like many products on the shelves of stores, have a shelf life – some longer than others. Continue reading →

Advice / Career / Performance / Promoting — Comments Off
20
Jul 10

Hot Artist & Band Press, Promo Kits!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketWho’s been signed this time, was a common question and theme at William Morris Agency while I was there as an agent. While the agency was always on the lookout, of course with the major heavy weight record labels, knowing which artist would ultimately get the deal was not always an “in the bag” known quantity. As one of the younger up and coming agents, I often learned many valuable lessons from some of the most seasoned and quite honestly almost intimidating agents, not because of personality conflicts, but because of their breadth of both knowledge and weight within the industry. One of the most valuable lessons that I learned from these agents was all things being equal, image and their press kits were as much a part of the deal signing as the actual music performed by the acts. If that’s one of the keys, especially in the beginning phases of a “baby act” trying to break in to the music industry, then why do we see such half hearted attempts and mediocre press kits and promo material out there? I don’t know if I can answer those questions, but I will certainly try to help you gain some insight into what a quality crafted press and promo kit ought to look like.

You would think that with the age of the computer and with very affordable software that press kits would get better. “Flashy” perhaps, but the actual depth of the material being offered into today’s press kits is usually the same with very little emphasis on the needed verbage and elements and filled with the same old clichés of where they grew up, this that and the other. It’s got to be more than that if you want to grab the attention of music industry professionals. At ReelMusician.com we are bombarded by this type of press kit day in and day out, knowing that some of these acts are fairly credible, but without the right image and marketing materials, that being their press kits, that they probably won’t make it. So what does make for a solid press kit? Let’s look at some ideas and concepts. Continue reading →

Advice / Career / Music Business / Promoting / Venues — Comments Off
11
Jul 10

What To Do And Not Do At A Music Conference

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketI just returned from the second annual Hyperfest Music Conference & Festival. It was a lot of fun but makes me think of plenty of do’s and not to do’s. It’s interesting how many indie musicians have good intentions but don’t have a game plan in place when attending these conferences. I have some helpful tips below.

Here is my list.

TO DO:

Have plenty of CDs (with the wrapper removed) and business cards on you. I’m amazed how many people don’t do this!

Smile and be approachable. This is a network event so make the most of it!

Meet and mingle with music industry professionals as well as other musicians. You never know who can help you.

Attend workshops & panels. You can never know it all. Take the time to learn something new.

Be professional. Always, always be professional. Continue reading →

Industry Trends / Marketing / Music Business / Promoting — Comments Off
15
Mar 08

Writing A Music Business Plan For Your Business Growth

Boa KwonFor those interested in the music business, few things are as exciting or as challenging as opening their own music business. There are many facets to the music business, from acting as agent to the hot new music group to running a successful outlet selling new and used musical instruments.

==The Music Industry==

The music industry offers some unique challenges and some great opportunities, and the savvy businessperson can take advantage of those challenges and opportunities to create a thriving business even in the most difficult of climates.

Before opening the doors of your great music store, or taking the new band to the top, however, it will be necessary to create a solid business plan in order to attract financing, partners and investors.

No businessperson will invest in a new music business without a thorough understanding of that business’s prospects for success. A business plan is a way to communicate the goals of the business and to quantify its financial needs and prospects.

== What Should You Include In Your Business plan ==

Many new business owners are unsure how to write a business plan, or what that business plan should include. Every business plan will be different, and the business plan for a new music business may look quite different from that of a new accounting business. Continue reading →

Marketing / Music Business / Music Investors / Promoting — 1 Comment
21
Jan 08

5 Ways To Make Money Fast With Your Rap Instrumental Beats

eve
If you’re a Rap/Hip-Hop beat producer hoping to sell your beats for a living, the most important skill that you can develop, is the ability to create consistent demand for your product. While technical music skills and a general knowledge of the Rap/Hip-Hop industry are necessary and must not be overlooked, neither of these abilities will generate a consistent income for you, if you don’t know how to create a “buzz” or a “name” for yourself. Below are 5 effective ways to go about generating demand and ultimately, dollars, for your rap instrumental beats.

1. Get familiar with your local music scene. Unless you’ve already generated relationships with some of the bigger named artists in the rap industry, it would do you little to no good at this point to simply drop a sampler disk in the mail addressed to a major label or artist. This business is all about relationships and who you know, therefore, you need to get to know artists who have money and are accessible to you right away.

Go to local rap shows/concerts and network with the artists and promoters at these venues (simply reading the entertainment portion of your local newspaper will list upcoming hip-hop shows in your area). Introduce yourself and what you do, and leave them with a sampler disk. Make sure the disk is neatly labeled and includes your name, email, and phone number so that you can be easily reached. Continue reading →

Celebrity Business / Industry Trends / Marketing / Music Business / Promoting — Comments Off
21
Jan 08

Hip-Hop’s Influence on Brands

Baby phat
It has been 35 years since its founding and hip-hop continues to thrive in urban America. Once a block party fad that started in the Bronx, New York, hip-hop is now a $4 billion-a-year-music industry that spans the globe. Although it has always been the voice of inner city youth and young adults, hip-hop has evolved to include the 25 to 34 year-old demographic segment. Proving its staying power, for the past five years hip-hop remains the top-selling genre over country music and is second only to rock music. Formerly known as rap, hip-hop is a moving cultural force that first garnered the attention of corporate America in the early 90’s. When hip-hop made its debut into mainstream, corporate heads began to turn. Enterprising brand managers embraced the culture and soon realized substantial results.

In an effort to be a hip drink of choice, Coca-Cola’s Sprite brand began using rap music in commercial ads in 1994. Sprite Brand manager, Pina Sciarra affirmed that Sprite’s appeal as a favorite soda quadrupled as a result of the ads. Taking notice of Coke’s commercial success, Burger King and several restaurant chains followed suit with similar advertising approaches. By bringing the edgy styles of favorite rappers to specialty stores, the fashion industry became a key contributor to hip-hop’s brand influence. Department store retailers such as Macy’s took notice and filled their racks with the likes of FUBU, Phat Farm, Mecca, ENYCE, G-Unit, and Apple Bottoms.

Traditional designers even realized revenue potential in the hip-hop market. In 1999, Tommy Hilfiger reported a significant increase in annual sales after tailoring his line for “the hip-hop set.” Sportswear giant, Nike expanded its celebrity-advertising list to include hip-hop artist, Nelly. In 2003, Nike released 1,000 pairs of the rapper’s $120 limited edition Air Derrty sneaker. Continue reading →

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →