Importance of Publishing

Publishing

            Publishing is a very important in the music industry, but it seems this in one of the most looked over aspects of artist in their career.  Publishing is one of the main reasons artist back in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s ended up losing everything they worked hard for.  Or publishing is the reason that groups like the Temptations had to always keep touring because they did not write or publish any of the music they performed.   In today’s music industry there is not a reason to go through what artists of those time period went through because the Internet allows one to do their research.  But believe it or not some artist are so excited to get a deal that they do not pay attention to what type of contract they are getting into.  People in the music industry understand that they do not make money off of an artist selling music in today’s music industry.  But record labels are still well aware that publishing still makes money like it did back in the day.   

            So a few things an artist should do while making their music.  The first and foremost important step is to copyright all of their music.  This is very important to protect themselves from having their hard work stolen from them.  But I find the problem with independent artist is they do not want to do the research to this and to make sure they are doing this correctly.  A lot of independent artist are just concerned with performing and putting their music out there, and not realizing that they can be setting themselves up for failure.   My advice to every independent artist make sure you copyright your material, and look into get your music published.  As an artist you can make a lot of money by publishing your work and selling it to well known artist in the industry.  And all you did was a write a song, something you do everyday.

Kellie B.

Do Your Research on Digital Distribution

Digital Distribution

            In today’s music industry everyone keeps saying it is easy to distribute music compared to the 90’s.  I would agree as well because you have iTunes, tunecore, CD Baby and even website such as reverbnation that will digitally distribute your music on 40 different sites.   Even though it might be easy to put your music online to be sold, does an artist still have to spend marketing money to make people go to these sites, and buy their music?  The answer the question is yes, an artist has to learn how to market promote their music once they have it available online to sell.

            Just like any other business marketing is one of the highest budgets a company has.  Marketing is the way to bring your music to the world.  So what are ways an artist can promote their online distribution?  A good way to is have their own website, that they have links to iTunes, and other online distributors.  Another major way is utilize social networking sites such as twitter and Facebook.  Those two sites and can be the major source of marketing, and the great part about using these sites is that both of social networking sites are free to use.  Now there are also sites online that an artist can pay for that will teach an artist on how to properly market their music online, and what are some the proper ways to go about marketing their music.  I am a fan of a person investing in themselves and that is the reason I am furthering my education to get the knowledge needed to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.   I think this is sometimes where independent artist makes mistakes on their career.  They are so eager to make a new track and put it online to sell, and they now feel they have made.  Then four months down the road they have only sold ten songs. They do not do the research they need or take the time and money to invest in their marketing to put a single or album out to the world, and this is what hurts them in the long run.  

Kellie B.

Entertainment Lawyer Podcast... Priceless free advice!

Entertainment Law Podcast 360 Deal

            In this podcast from entertainment lawyers they are discussing the 360 deals that are becoming more popular in the music industry.  Record labels are doing these deals because of the decline in record sales, and they are finding different ways to collect money from the artist.  360 deals allows the record label to get paid off of sponsorship, endorsements, live touring, websites, and much more.  These deals can encompass all the rights or partial rights.  There are two types of 360 deals,  ownership of rights deal and income participation deal.   The ownership of rights deal, is a deal where the label owns the rights that they receive income on.  The incomeparticipation deal is when the label does not own the rights, but they just receive income on the different deals. 

            In this podcast these lawyers are giving great advice for artist to look out for while making these 360 deals with labels, but they are also giving great advice for record labels on how to put these deals to together that protects their label.   Also, the podcast discusses the importance of rights and how to protect you as an artist.  For example, they talk about the case of Drake being sued by his ex-girlfriend for using a recorded voicemail on the song Marvin’s Room.  His ex-girlfriend is suing to get co-writer credits.  She is getting credits for song credits on another song on the album, but now she feels she should be credited for this song because of the recorded voicemail that has been used.  Many of us would think that Drake is going to end up paying her a large amount of money, but the lawyers saying that she did not bring that much creative flow the track, and she should not get the credit.  But the lawyers are saying this is a case of how artist should make sure they have everything squared away in the beginning so you will not end up in case like this.  These podcast are very helpful for any up and coming artist or label executive.  They are giving great advice that can help protect you from losing a lot of money in the future. 

Kellie B. 

Intellectual Property in My Industry

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Intellectual Property exists in every industry throughout the world.  Intellectual Property has been put into place to protect the rights of business owners.  There some intellectual properties that people may be unaware of that may affect them in their industry.  It is very important to know these so you do not violate any of them and end up in a lawsuit or even worse arrested with charges.  In the energydrink industry there has been a recent incident in the Philippines that have a few people under arrest for violation of unfair competition. 

Energy Food & Drinks, Inc. had the exclusive rights to distribute Red Bull in the Philippines and T.C. Pharmaceutical Industries was the manufacturer of Red Bull and had its local distributor Maryland Distributors start distributing the energy drink.  TCPI has used MDI labels on the bottles of Red Bull that should have been EFDI, and this has led up to the lawsuit. 

This incident is very important for my company because we are currently working out an agreement with the owners of Cloud 9, which will give our company the exclusive rights to distribute Cloud 9 to the Las Vegas casinos.  Our ultimate goal is to have exclusive rights to distribute Cloud 9 through the United States.  We want to make sure we will not have an incidents were we can violate unfair competition.  We need to make sure Cloud 9 does not have any other distribution deals that could interfere with our exclusive rights deal.  Also, we want to make sure we have all of our paperwork in line to make sure we are protected and that another company cannot get the rights we have. 

EDFI and TCPI allegedly parted ways in 2009, but EDFI claims to have the exclusive rights since 1993, and they are currently the holders of certificate of product registration with the Food and Drug Administration.  This seems to be a case of making sure a company does its research and knows who has the rights to distribute, and again this a great case study for start up companies to make sure they do not end up in a situation like this.

Sounding Like A Broken Record...

Sounding Like A Broken Record…

            I have been an artist manager for over two years, and I feel like I have not moved forward at all.  Well, that is what I feel like, but recently I feel like I might have had a break through with one of my artist.  I have been giving one of my main artists Dilly Boy advice, and tactics on ways he can get his music out into the industry.  I have been preaching to Dilly Boy to record songs to get his catalog started, and how important it is to write everyday, and not to worry about the small things.  For example, I would tell do not worry about the name of your next mixtape, especially when you only have two songs written.  I use to constantly tell him the more songs you write the more options you will have with your career.  But at times I felt like I was sounding like a broken record because I would tell him this almost every day.  And, yes almost everyday because I let him move in with my partner and I.

            What use to kill me the most is when Dilly Boy would come to me and tell me spoke with someone else, and this person would give him the same advice I gave him three months ago, but now that someone else told him the light bulb would go off in his head.  So eventually as a manager I was putting a lot of money into an artist that would not listen.  So I decided to show him tough love.  My partner decided to move because we had recent accident when one of my artists was found in our pool and died from an accidental drowning while we were on vacation.  We had let her move in with us to help her out with her life, but drugs took her away from us.  So my partner and I could not live comfortable in our house, and we had Dilly move in with us because he was the one who found her.  So we felt a little bit sorry for him, but all that came to an end because he was taking advantage of us. 

            So Dilly Boy had to move out on his own, start to make music on his own, and start paying for his music projects on his own.  Over the summer Dilly Boy started to do all these things, and he kept hearing from other people the things I was telling him, and what do you know he is starting to make a little bit of noise.  He has now linked up with Soulja Boy’s camp, and is now getting ready to do collaboration with one of Soulja Boy’s artist.  Also, he was able to reach out T.I. on twitter and he has found out how to submit songs to become a ghostwriter.  All of these things have now woke him up on the importance of making music, and the importance of him getting this done by himself. 

What is a Manager Suppose to Do?

I started managing artists almost 5 years ago, and it has been an up hill battle since the beginning of my career.  I started off with a father and son, and the father asked me to manage his son, who is phenomenal rapper.  But the problem has been the father wants it more then son.  I came across one of the best of female artist I have heard in my life.  Every time people heard her live or on tape they always compared her lyrics to a MC Lyte and her voice to Left Eye, but she just was not strong enough mentally.  We lost her almost a year ago to drugs, and she is now an angel that is looking down on me.  Then I came across Frankie Lymon’s cousin, Dilly Boy, who is talented when it comes to making mainstream hip-hop and can make a catchy hook in his sleep.  But the problem is he thinks he knows it all, and expects for his managers to pay his way.  But now it is going on two years of working with Dilly Boy, and I am finally getting him to think outside the box. 

So many artists want to be the center of attention, and want to hit the stage, but they do not realize where most of their idols started.  Most of these artists in the industry did not start out on stage they actually started behind the scenes, and they knew someone and they are finally getting their break.   I have been talking to Dilly Boy who writes really well, and he has songs that could be great for some of these mainstream artists that are already doing well in the industry.  I have told him a good way to get into this music industry is to start ghost writing for artist.  I tried explaining that this can be great money, and it can be a great way for him to start a solo career.  So finally in year two he is starting to get this point and he is finally starting to build a catalog.  But now I am at the point where I have spent too much time and money for people not to listen, and I am not sure if this artist management is where good money is? 

So as an up and coming manager when do we move on to the next one or when do we move on to another aspect of this industry?  This is the dilemma I am because after almost five years of artist management, and nothing has come out of it, and my artist do not want it.  I think it is time for me to look into product management in the entertainment industry. At least I do not have to solely depend on the product to sell itself, but for me to have to do most of the footwork, and also an all-natural aphrodisiac drink can’t talk back to me like it knows everything.

Interview With Music Executive

I have interviewed a former music executive who has been in the music industry for over 30 years.  He is originally from Detroit, Michigan and worked during the Motown era.  I have had the opportunity to work close with him in the studio and also just talk on how the music industry has changed.  Conversations with him have helped me form my decision to look into other segments of the entertainment industry.  His name is Jason Stanza, and he has had great success in this industry and he allowed me to ask him a few questions to help me learn the music industry more. 

Jason has told me that you have to have very thick skin in order to make it in the music business.  He told me that you have to learn how to separate your personal feelings, and realize business is business.  This means to separate the people from problem, and just get down to the issues.  Many people have a tough time doing this, but Jason told me if you want to be successful in this industry this would be one of the first things you will learn and have to adapt to.  Jason has been in many situations where he has had to come up with mutual benefits for both parties.  He has worked with plenty of artist, and he has had to make sure the artist, and the label were all happy with the agreements.   Jason has also shared with me how much the music industry has changed where everyone is not getting the deals they want, and they are just settling because they want to make money.  

My interview with Jason has made me look even closer at becoming a music executive.  Jason says the love and passion only gets a person so far without money.  But I have learned from Jason the art of negotiation that it will take for me to get Beverage Company off the ground because I will still be in the entertainment industry just a different market.  Negotiations will take place in every industry but you need to make sure every party is happy at the end.

The Importance of Knowing Finance

The Importance of Knowing Finance

            As I continue on this journey we call the business world, I am learning something new every day.  It seems every time I post a new blog I am posting on what I have learned from my past experience.  And today it is the same!  I now understand why I took finance in my undergraduate program. Now that I am older I wish I would have paid attention a little bit more, but this is all right.   Now that I am pursuing my masters, and taking another finance class I see why every successful business had some form of a CFO. 

            So at this point in my growth as company I have found a CFO for my business.  Now some people may think that I am going to lose control, or be careful they might steal your money.  Well the current class I am taking now is giving me the tools that are necessary to not this happen.  My professor told us that we do not have to be finance wizards, but by the end of this class we will know enough to where we can look at financial statements, and understand what we are reading.  I think this is another step and pushing me to be the great CEO that I can become.  As a CEO of successful company I should know how much money my company needs to run the day-to-day operations, and what we need to make a profit, and live to see another day.  For many companies this can become their downfall, and this is why they do make it.  It is not that they are a bad CEO, but it is just they did not surround themselves with the right people to show where their dollars were being spent.  Also, many small businesses the CEO are the CFO, and COO, which can be too many hats sometimes.  So again, I will let the world know that if you want to have a chance of being a successful business owner please know your finance or please put someone who can lead your company in the right financial directions.

Time For A Change

The Entertainment Industry

There are so many different segments in the entertainment industry.  The two popular segments would be the film and music industry.  This blog started as the trials and tribulations of an up and coming music executive, but now it’s about an up and coming entertainment executive. 

As I continue my education in the entertainment business I continue to learn that there is more out there then just music.  I begin to learn that I can still be in the entertainment industry through other outlets.  At this point, I have started a beverage distribution company that is catered to the nightlife.  Being in school has taught me I have to learn how to think outside of the box, and this the beginning to me thinking outside of the box.  Many of you out there are probably thinking. “A beverage distribution company, how does that have anything to do with the entertainment industry?” Well, I have located specialty drinks that are designed to fit into nightclubs, bars, lounges and adult clubs.   I live in the entertainment capital of the world and I have decided to see how I can get a piece of the business out here, without competing with mainstream music acts in Las Vegas. 

I have been in the distribution industry for almost 10 years now.  So I have decided to take my knowledge of distribution, and love for the entertainment industry and combine the two.  I look forward to learning more on the business of the entertainment industry, and taking this knowledge and moving forward with SinCity Beverage Group.

Being Gay In The Music Busines

 LZ Granderson spoke about the myth of the Gay Agenda on Ted.com.  He was speaking on how people think that there is this big gay agenda out there in society that gay people are using to get equal rights.  He reveals the gay agenda, and this agenda is called the constitution.  He point is that gay people deserve the rights that the constitution has for all people, and that there is not a hidden agenda for gay people.  Gay people want the same rights as other American citizens.

This was an interesting topic for me since I am a gay woman working in the entertainment industry.  I deal with a lot of hip hop music which is known for being homophobic and gay artist not having as much success as heterosexual artist.  A lot of artist bash gay people in their songs, and say a lot of gay slurs.  But if gay people do not have the same rights as other citizens of the United States and are not looked at as equal, why would it be any different in the music world?  I am trying to make a difference by being an open gay music executive, and showing everyone that I am the same as them.  My sexual preference does not show if I am a hard worker, committed to doing well or just smart.  LZ Granderson is trying to get people to see and understand that being gay does not take away any of the credentials that persons, but that society makes it this way.  So my questions to everyone what will it take for gay people to be accepted in the hip-hop and R&B world?

Kellie B.

The Importance of the RIAA

            RIAA, Recording Industry Association of America is an organization that supports the creative flow and financial future of the major record companies.  The RIAA members are music labels executives, and personal.  The members of the RIAA are responsible for creating, manufacturing and distributing around 85% of music heard in households.  RIAA also helps protects copyrights and the First Amendment rights of artist and music labels.  RIAA conducts consumer, industry and technical research, and they also monitor and review state and federal laws and regulations to make sure music labels are in compliance.  Another role the RIAA plays in the music industry by certifying Gold, Platinum, Multi-Platinum and Diamond sales awards.

            The RIAA plays an important role in the music industry because of all the support they give to the music labels.  If you are an independent music label the RIAA can be a great asset to your music label.  Sometimes it can be hard for an independent label to know the intellectual property laws that protects them.  Also, many independent labels do not have the money to pay for lawyers that can help protect them and make sure they are not making any infringements with intellectual properties.  The RIAA can provide information to help you protect your music and how you bring your music to the market.  Also, the RIAA can by a great place to start networking, and getting know people in the industry.  The RIAA provides a list of all their members on their website, and the are many leading industry record labels as members.  Becoming a member of the RIAA will also help your record label look professional, and can make you stand out over some of your competitors.  RIAA is a reputable organization, and is well-known in the music industry and this would be an organization that anyone who is trying to make a career in the music industry should join.

Kellie B.

Importance of Having a Business Plan

The excitement of starting a business can take over your everyday thoughts.  You can find yourself at every waking hour thinking of an idea for a business or thinking of all the products you might need to start your business.  All these thoughts can be overwhelming to some, but to others these thoughts keeps their drive going.  Then as you keep thinking of everything you need to start this business; you think about the dreadful business plan you need to do before you actually start.  So like many people do, you decide you do not need a business plan.  Well, I am here to tell you that a business plan is needed in order to have a successful business. 

            You may look at writing a business plan as a long and tedious process, but the business plan is the road map to your success.  If you do not take time to make this road map for your business, then how will you know what direction your business is going?  In an article on intuit, they state gathered information during your planning process can help you see potential risks and develop strategies for dealing with them before they occur.  In a perfect world you would never occur any issues while running your business, but the reality is; you will.   So this business plan will allow you to address these issues head on, and will not slow your business down.  Also in the intuit article it mentions how you can use your business plan to get investments.  You can get investments from banks, venture capitalist and angel investors.  Your business plan is your vision, and in order to show you vision you must write you vision down.  You may think of a big extravagant proposal or plan when you think of creating your business plan.  But your plan can be very simple,with a description of your company, projecting numbers for your company, and what is your target market.

            This has been one of the issues I have struggled with while starting my entertainment company.  Our company had a vision, but we did not write this vision down.  Now as owners we are working backwards and putting this plan together, but we have already spent a lot of money.  Our company cannot get this money back, but if we would have had a business plan we could have foreseen some of these issues that we are coming across now.  So remember, you must have a business plan in order to know where you want to take your company, and your business plan is the VISION for company.  

Kellie B.

Picking The Right Business Partner

Starting a record label can be very stressful, and cost a lot of money.  In my experience of trying to start an indie record labels I am learning do’s and don’t of the start-up business.  First and foremost before starting an indie record label figure out if you will do this all by yourself or if you try and find business partners.  I would suggest if you can afford to take the start up cost on your own, you should start the label by yourself.  If not when it comes to choosing a business partner take the suggestion the article 7 Tips on How to Choose a Business Partner, and choose your business partner as if you are choosing a spouse or a day care provider. [About.com] If I could go back in the hands of time I would have done my due diligence and picked business partners that have the same passion, vision and values that I have.  Also, you want to make sure you choose partners that are willing to invest the same amount time and money into your record label. 

There are important issues that you want to make sure you accomplish when starting a record label.  First, you want to make sure you have a good business plan.  Some people like to go straight into the start of business without having the vision or the plan needed to have a successful business.  I will give you some advice if your business partners do not see the importance of getting all the legal work complete before starting run the other way.  In an article on how to start your own record label, the first plan of action is to start with your first year budget, and create a business plan. [SOS] If you choose to start this label on your own this can be very simple because you are the person in charge, and you can have only your input into this business plan and the budget.  But if you are working with business partners this is crucial that you sit down with all of your partners and develop this plan.  In your business plan make sure you establish roles.   From my current experience this seems to be one the biggest issue we are having moving forward.  The problem with not establishing roles is that no one knows exactly who makes decisions, and your employees do not know who to answer to.   Just remember when starting a record label choose your business partners wisely or try and start the label yourself.

 

Money! Money! Money!

Money, Money, Money!!!!

As an up and coming music executive, I am slowly but surely learning that one of the main assets I need is money.  I currently have seven artists, and they are constantly coming up with songs and ideas. This creates a need for beats and cd duplication.  As I move forward, I am finding it more and more difficult to get beats for free, and it is pretty much impossible to get CD’s duplicated for free. 

When it comes to getting your CD’s replicated, you have to first get them mixed properly, and from there you will have to get them mastered.  These are two very important steps that we cannot bypass.  The reason that you have to take these steps is that if you give anyone in the music industry a bad CD well there goes our one shot of opportunity.   Can you imagine running into Diddy, Russell Simmons, Birdman or Dr. Dre, and they cannot hear your songs because it sounds muddy or the bass is so high they cannot understand a word that is coming out of your mouth?  Well, that is what I have realized, and I chose to invest my money and trying to get our music sounding as professional as possible.  Because of course mixing and mastering comes with a pretty hefty cost, but a cost of doing business.   Now once you have your music mixed and mastered, you are still not at the process of getting the CD duplicated.  You still have to get the artwork done for the cover.

Now, in order to get a cover done you need to have a graphic designer. I am lucky and I have two graphic designers that work with me, but the only problem is since they are doing it for free I have to work around their schedule.  Again, how can I complain when I am getting work done for free?  But once you have the artwork you have to then pay either in the duplication process, or before and send the cover off to print, and get some covers printed.  Designing and printing CD covers is just another cost you will have to incur in order to duplicate your music professionally.  But hey you are little bit closer to being done, but wait there is one more important step you have to take, and what is that?  Now don’t forget you have to get an UPC code for your CD.  If you don’t know what an UPC Code is, well it is known as a bar code, which will allow you to get paid, and track how many records you are selling.  You would think an UPC code would be free, well think again you have to pay for this as well.  Now, you can either get this when you pay a company such as disc makers, or you can go directly to the Uniform Code Council and pay for it, but then you have to really know what you are doing.  You find disc makers at, http://www.discmakers.com/.  Now, you see all the processes it takes just to get a cd duplicated, and this does not include all the promotional and recording cost that comes with making a song.  This one of the trails and tribulations of becoming a self-made music executive… MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!!!!  But like some artist say, “it cost to be the boss”.

Kellie B.

An Up & Coming Music Executive

http://www.knowthemusicbiz.com/best-practices-for-cd-manufacturing/

http://www.worldmediagroup.com/cd-guide

Why Did I Even Try?

Today I was sitting down just thinking why did I try to get into this music industry?  Well, I was able to answer this question, and it is because I love music.  So how far will my love for music take me?  I always wanted to work for a big time record label when I was young, but I never knew what I wanted to do at this record label.  Now that I am grown I have an understanding of what I want to do. I am currently running an entertainment company, which is comprised of a record label and promotional company. I did not start off running a small entertainment company, it all started with me becoming a manager for a local Las Vegas hip-hop artist.  At this point it seemed that I was just trying to figure out how to get his music complete, and then I started thinking I want to grow, and how can I do this?  Well, a year later I met my business partner who had an artist as well, and at this time I had 2 artists total.  So we than decided to start a record label, but then we thought lets start a promotional company that can do the promotions for our record label, and this is where the journey truly began of the Trials and Tribulations of an up and coming music executive.

Kellie B.