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Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Going Digital!

By: K. Cannick (Makin' It Magazine)

Not too long ago the only way an artist had a chance of reaching a national audience was to get signed to one of the four major record labels. Even though the development of affordable DAW (Digital Audio Workstations) such as ProTools, Sonar and CoolEdit Pro gave independents the power to produce their own music, the problem of fulfillment still remained. Without a major record label to press, promote and distribute your music, you were still dead in the water.

In 1999 the music industry would forever be rocked by the effects of Napster. This simple peer to peer file sharing network was the first glimpse into this digital age in which we now reside. Widespread media coverage further promoted the service while popularizing the little know MP3 file format with the general public. Though Napster was eventually thwarted by the RIAA, a slew of others would step up to take its place including, audiogalaxy, Morpheus and bit torrent.

Where you once had competing digital audio formats such as Real Audio, Liquid Audio and WMA, the MP3 now reigns supreme. The MP3 has since become a part of everyday life. You can now play MP3's on car stereos, iPods, DVD players, PDA's, cell phones and many other consumer electronics. The widespread use and compatibility of the MP3 format has made it a popular medium for pirated music and illegal file sharing.

Though this may spell big trouble for the major labels, it has broken down the final barriers that restrained the reach of independent artists. MP3 files are portable, widely compatible and deliver near CD quality audio at small sizes. For the savvy artists Pressing, Distribution and Promotion are still a factor, but no longer a problem. Since the music is in a digital form you can distribute it to millions of people around the world easily without incurring the cost of pressing up all those copies. Utilizing sites like MySpace, Youtube and Friendster, any artist can easily carve out a nice niche for his music in this global marketplace.

Friday, December 28, 2007

ICE T: POWER!!!

Interview by: The Wonder Twinz
Story Written by: MJ a.k.a. Manssa J. Lonardo

Ice was one of the first rappers to sign with a major label, Warner Brothers. "Since I was part of the first wave, the label allowed the music to stay raw. When "Cop Killer" came out, the majors got attacked and then censorship started becoming the new trend." Next, the labels started pushing artists that they felt would make good "selling music", mostly without a message. The next wave after that was more focused on underground music. However, when Cash Money got signed and got millions of dollars, that's when the majors decided that they would deal with the music, but on their terms only. That's when the singy-rap style came out and slowly started to dilute the music.

Ice believes that the internet has helped destroy the industry as well. Its an opinion that's backed with facts, considering that corporate giants like Tower Records are going out of business. "What was the last CD you bought at a record shop? The last CD I bought from a store was 'Fish Scale' by Ghostface. That was only because I was at a record store to find a sample for my album." The truth is that less and less people still go to stores to buy their music. We now live in a time where you can go on the internet and download or listen to your favorite artist for free. Plus you can download the album cover too and make it your screen saver. "Record sales are not what they used to be, the business has changed. That's why I have other investments and don't solely rely on album money."

That last sentence is like the victory lap of a true champion. The goal of every artist should be to invest in other outlets to secure a great future. "Now a days everyone is a rapper. We all have friends that are unsigned, but can rhyme really good. It's a big difference from when I started." Back then, you could count the total amount of Hip-Hop Artists with albums out on your hand and they each had their own sound. "Today everyone sounds the same and talks about the same subjects, there's no individuality. Hip-Hop, the Kulture, truly is dead. Even my wife Coco admits that when her and her friends listen to a rap song, they're captured by the catchy beat, not the lyrics. That's because most rappers just focus on sampling older songs and then knock out a new single within a couple of minutes. Where as real Emcee's take the time needed to sit down and write songs that can create change."

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Multimillion Mobile Sales Made T-Pain a Superstar!

By: Antony Bruno
Billboard Musician's Guide to Touring & Promotion

"Buy U a Drank" is the best-selling mastertone of 2007, according to Nielsen RingScan, moving more than 2.3 million units year to date. That figure nearly doubles the very respectable 1.6 million digital downloads the same track has sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and completely dwarfs the 686,000 CD's that the album it supports-"Epiphany"-has moved since its debut June 23.

-5 Lessons of T-Pain's Ringtone Success- According to Jive Records Sr. VP of Digital Music, Jeff Dodes.

1. A Catchy Song
Ringtones are like audio versions of a concert T-shirt. They let fans proudly display the songs or artists they like. Therefore, the song that it's based on needs to be a hit. "I'll be the first to say, 'Credit our A&R guys and credit our promotion guys,'" Dodes says. "They're finding great artists who are making great records and getting exposure for it. We just do the rest."

2. The Right Hook
As great as the song may be, fans need to be able to hear it in a crowded room for it to work as a ringtone. Typically, higher-pitched notes work best. This is one reason why the theme song to "Halloween" remains popular. The synthesized vocal effects that T-Pain uses for many of his songs fit this requirement.

3. Relatable Lyrics
Madonna scored a ringtone hit last year with the song "Hung Up," which featured the line, "Ring, ring, ring goes the telephone," primarily because the words fit the situation of an incoming call. T-Pain's lyrics strike a chord with the club-going urban set who relate to songs about buying girls drinks and (apparently) falling for exotic dancers. "If there's something in the lyric that the consumer wants to say about themselves, it helps," Dodes says.

4. Work With The Operators
For all the hay labels like to make about selling ringtones to fans directly via the artist's Website or via marketing partners like Jamster, it's still the prime placement on the wireless operators' "What's Hot" menu on the phone that moves sales. Dodes says sales can increase 75% with such featured placement. Only 3% of sales from T-Pain's "Buy U a Drank" came from outside the carrier sales portal.

5. Exposure
If the song's not getting decent radio play, club spins or video impressions, it likely won't be a big-selling ringtone. That's why few artists write music solely to be used as ringtones. "If you don't know it and if it's not what everybody in the neighborhood knows, you're not really making that statement," Dodes says. "Who's going to buy a T-shirt for a band that nobody's heard of?"

Friday, November 16, 2007

Music Publicist vs. Music Manager

MUSIC PUBLICIST VS. MUSIC MANAGER
Written by: B. Brown of BREG

www.breg1994.com www.myspace.com/breg1994

Publicist – A person whose business is publicity. Publicity is any information or action that brings a person, cause, and/or thing to public notice. (Webster’s New World Dictionary of American Language; 1987)

Manager - *Management: The act, manner, or practice of managing, supervising, or controlling. The persons who manage a business establishment, organization, or institution; Executive skill. *Manager - One in charge of the business affairs of an entertainer. (Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary; 1984)

As you have read above, there is a distinct difference between a Publicist and a Manager. Most new artists, producers, etc. have limited knowledge of what their initial team should consist of; and just as important, knowing the actual job function of each team member.

Usually, your Music Manager is your number one (1) pick when building your team. Your Manager is your most trusted team member and is an extension of you. The Manager’s job is to “Advise & Guide”. They are not your babysitter, chauffer, personal ATM, Bondsman, etc. There are a lot of misconceptions, but the reality is that your manager is your closest confidant and assists you in picking the rest of your Team Members. Your manager can and most likely will be your initial Booking Agent which is a separate function, but when you become popular, you will start receiving requests from many different places and your manager will need to work hand-in-hand with different Booking Agencies and Promoters to confirm Performance Fees and Performance Riders. A Publicist is a key position with your team because the Publicist is responsible for getting you in Magazines, Newspaper Reviews, Award Shows, etc. As you are starting to see, a Manager and some of the other Team Members will overlap in duties, but getting publicity is not necessarily your Manager’s job. Your Manager is your Teams’ President.

Your Music Publicist is usually your third (3rd) pick after your Manager & Attorney. Possibly fourth (4th) if you need to get an accountant very quickly. Nonetheless, a Publicist is a critical Team Member because the relationships of an experienced and established Publicist may secure you opportunities that you would never believe. This is true because a Publicist may have relationships with Booking Agents, Casting Directors, Magazine Editors, Advertising Agencies, etc. So when you see certain artists in commercials, know that is a good chance that their Publicist created that opportunity. A Publicist’s job is to get you noticed by as many people as possible. They want you to be a recognizable Artist!

Now you have a clearer picture & idea of what the difference is between a Publicist and Manager. Choose your team wisely! One Love!

Sunday, October 28, 2007

50 Cent: 50 Ways To Get Rich

Interview By: The Wonder Twinz & Chris Gravagna
Story Written By: Katelyn Nudo

Although 50 Cent is the head of his several businesses, including his label G-Unit Records, he admits having management and the right team behind you is necessary. "I can't take every conversation or make every meeting. A big part of being able to excel, is being able to delegate responsibilities. You can't do everything yourself, nobody can. If you can accomplish making people underneath you feel like they're the boss too, then you'll boost overall moral to the highest level it can get."

50 credits his chooling in "music Biz 101" to the people at Columbia Records, where he first signed as an artist, years prior to Aftermath. After spending a year learning all the responsibilities of his past product manager, Ron Archer, publicist Yvette Gayle and now Art Director of G-Unit Records, Julian Alexander, 50 came out of his deal with Columbia with a well rounded education. "After being around that environment for a while, you learn how to navigate and maneuver. I don't regret that record deal at all. I thought I was ready in 1997, but it took for me to have that experience with Columbia to truly prepare myself."

Now Ten years later, 50 Cent has built a BRAND centered on his name and his G-Unit franchise. Despite all of his current million dollar companies and Formula 50 Vitamin water's gross, his record company is still his pride and joy. Alongside, one time manager and G-Unit Records President Sha Money XL, the label has signed numerous acts, all of which have brought the label success. "I was able to do what a lot of artists weren't. The public knows everyone in G-Unit because I didn't keep them around just to be my homeboys. I broke them up separately and presented them to the general public so that they could be recognized as individuals."

There's often a misconception about what truly happens when an artist receives a record deal. Many Artists believe that once they're signed, they're rich. They instantly want what follows with being a successful artist. The truth is that once you get signed, the road just begins. To beon the level of HipHop successes like Jay-Z and 50 himself, "it's harder than making it in the NBA. It's because of the amount of people trying to make it. Just imagine how many artists are in the studio right now, thinking that they're already in the business."

50 considers himself more conscious than the average guy in the music business. "If you can learn from your own mistakes you're smart. If you can watch other people and analyze their mistakes, then you're bright." To put it in perspective, 50 Cent currently has nearly ten business ventures besides his music career. So don't you think it's about time we all step our game up and learned from the HipHop mogul himself?

Sunday, October 14, 2007

T.I. - Is his BRAND in trouble?

On Saturday, October 13, 2007, the BET Hip-Hop Awards were held in Atlanta, GA for the 2nd consecutive time. That is awesome for a City that is known as the Motown of the South and recognized as the 3rd Major Music City in the United States and the World behind New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA. As more and more Industry Execs. with Deal Signing Power and Events like the BET Hip-Hop Awards come to Atlanta, GA, Atlanta will truly establish itself as the place to be.

Atlanta, GA has the 3rd Busiest Airport in the World, and after Hosting the 1996 Olympics, NBA All-Star Weekend, NASCAR Events, Braves Playoff and World Series Games, Falcons Playoff Games, and even Hawks Playoff Games in the past, Atlanta is known around the World and it's reputation is growing!

T.I., argubly one of the best rappers in the Music Business, was arrested shortly after Sound-Check for his performance at the BET Hip-Hop Awards later that night (10-13-07). The word spread fast! One of Bar-Red's own JaWar (Music Industry Connections) sent word to me what had happened and then my phone started buzzing with people checking in and people asking me what was going on with T.I. The 1st thing I did was check on the status of my two (2) friends that run with Grand Hustle to see if they were ok. After finding out that my people were straight, I started thinking about the implications this arrest may have on T.I.'s BRAND!

As an International Star now, T.I. reaches a lot of young people and endorses products that reach a lot of consumers. Does this arrest affect his BRAND? I believe it does. It is going to probably have two (2) different effects on his career. The 1st is that he may lose endorsement opportunities and the ones he currently has. I believe it may actually help increase the sales of his current release T.I. vs. TIP and it will definitely help the opening day ticket sales of American Gangsta which is a movie he is starring in alongside Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Common, etc. As some people say and believe, any press is good press. We will see!

May God Bless T.I. and the others arrested with him. Time will tell how this will effect T.I.'s Fame and Fortune!

http://www.bregmusicmanagement.blogspot.com/

http://www.parentinghip-hopyouth.blogspot.com/

http://www.breg1994.com/

http://www.myspace.com/breg1994

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

L.O.D.-SUMC Anniversary Week - Schedule

October 8-12, 2007 Legion of Doom-SUMC Anniversary Week!!!
-Celebrating The Legion OF Doom 4th Anniversary Week-

SCHEDULE

Monday October 8th

10pm-2am: Legion OF Doom DJ’S & SUMC-LOD Present “Ballers Gone Wild” @ Blue Flame Strip Club with Hot 107.9 DJ Hershey on the Ones & Two’s Along with Block Entertainment and The Legion OF Doom DJS and SUMC (you must be on the guest list )


Tuesday October 9th

8pm-1am : Legion OF Doom – Opening Night Reception (invite only) At Over Da Edge Restaurant & Lounge 483 Edgewood Ave Atlanta GA 30312
Black Carpet Arrivals 8pm until 10pm (NO SNEAKERS OR T SHIRTS)


Wednesday October 10th

7pm-10pm: Record Label Sponsored Event TBA @ Over Da Edge 483 Edgewood Ave Atlanta GA 30312

11pm-Until: The Legion OF Doom DJ’S Invades The Legendary “Magic City” (You Must Be On The Guest List)


Thursday October 11th

7pm-1am: The Legion OF Doom 4th Anniversary Bash @ Club Masquerade Featuring “The Night OF Stars Showcase & The LOD Back To Basic Seminar Along with Food & Networking


Friday October 12th

7pm-10pm Legion OF Doom & SUMC Invite You To The “Official” Listening Party & Live Performance Featuring Rap Legend “Bizzy Bone” “Sponsored By “After Platinum Records Media Sponsor : Urban Network Magazine
Location: Over Da Edge 483 Edgewood Ave Atlanta , Georgia 30312


Saturday October 13th

10pm-Until-Legion OF Doom After Party Celebrating The BET Hip Hop Awards

Location-Over Da Edge 483 Edgewood Ave Atlanta, GA 30312


SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! Space will be limited so please arrive early at the events!


One Love from BREG!!!