A NEW PATH

The music has evolved from generation to generation, just like many businesses of today. The old generation took their time and was very set in their ways. The generation of today is equipped with this thing called technology. Because of this technology, taking your time is a time of the past. Just as quick as you can think it, the new generation can get it out to the world. The change has brought on a new way of thinking for today's music professionals.

A clear parallel can be made to the changes in the way artists are able to sustain themselves. There are more and more incredible indie labels out there to support and amplify artists in a sustainable and organic way. The people at Kickstarter have enabled filmmakers, craftsmen and many others to raise funds to continue creating, and market to an eagerly awaiting market of supporters.

The perspective for these indie artists is different from those artists still caught up in the MTV era. The latter wants nothing more badly than to be on The Voice as a special guest, or in US Weekly with their famous boyfriend, or be grabbed up by the hand of a major label that makes everything easy for them and gives them a bag of money. Some of those artists will succeed for a certain period and for that more power to them. But most artists that pursue this will fall between the cracks.

It’s a lot harder to build your own floor, and it takes a lot longer than just hiring a big company to make it for you. The hard work is a lot less sexy than the sunglasses and the fancy parties you thought you might attend. But if you build your own floor, with the help of a dedicated small team/label that’s on the same page as you are, you can make sure the boards close tightly and you’ll never fall lower than the last level you built.

FEEL RICH

Producer and digital mogul Quincy Jones III has found a way to combine healthy living and an urban aesthetic with his new project, Feel Rich. The creative health initiative aims to utilize the power of hip-hop to make health and wellness “cool.” Utilizing social media platforms such as YouTube and Twitter, and teaming up with some of the biggest names in hip-hop, Feel Rich is making strides to encourage healthy eating habits in urban communities.

Shawn Ullman, Co-Founder and CEO of Feel Rich, mentioned it was difficult to combat the mixed messages children encounter every day from fast food and snack companies. Instead of going to traditional media streams, Feel Rich leveraged the power of social media, utilizing YouTube and Twitter to engage their audience. The result? The company has over 3 million views on YouTube, proving to naysayers that there is a demand for this type of programming in the hip-hop community.

One of the best examples of healthy living in hip-hop is Texas rapper Paul Wall. He stunned fans last year with his dramatic weight loss, dropping over 150 pounds. Wall stressed that he wanted to start a trend in the hip-hop community. “You don’t hear rappers talking about organic milk,” he said. ”I didn’t have role models in my life who were losing weight. I had role models who have died because they were overweight.” Paul’s wife, Crystal Wall, who contributes weekly recipes to the site, stressed that her husband’s healthy eating habits have permeated through her entire family.

As for the future of Feel Rich, Ullman sees the initiative working with health care providers and schools. The brand is also building a mobile app, which will include a calorie tracker and a GPS feature that will show healthy options within a 2-mile radius of your location. The company also is working with brands such as Nike+ with brand integration strategies.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PROMOTER

Concert promoters have an array of responsibilities when it comes to putting together an event. If these responsibilities are not preformed completely, there is a long list of legal issues just waiting around the corner. In 2003 there was a deadly fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The fire was caused by pyrotechnics set off by the tour manager, which ignited flammable sound insulation foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. The fire killed 100 people. In the video below you can see the fire take place. Many affiliated parties were sued because of all the lives lost. Most of the defending parties chose an alternative dispute resolution of offer and settlement, but the two club owners and the tour manager was charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter. When putting together any event, there are going to be things you can and cannot control. In this case, the club promoters, club owners, and the tour manager should have done a better job covering all safety measures for this event.

Another case of negligence took place when the stage collapsed at the state fair in Indiana. Country music duo Sugarland was set to perform on an outdoor when gusty winds caused the stage to collapse, killing seven people. The 48 victims in this case sued several people including the concert promoter (Live Nation) and the stagehands’ union. The band and the other defendants owed a duty to concertgoers to provide a safe environment, and to use reasonable care in setting up and supervising the show.

There are cases when a promoter does everything right and an artist doesn’t show up. Paid 4 Entertainment, concert promoters in the Virgin Islands, sued rapper Young Jeezy for breach of contract. The rapper told the promoter he might not be able to make it on the date scheduled, so both parties agreed to renegotiate the contract for the rapper to preform the next day. The promoters even agreed to send a jet to pick Young Jeezy up and deliver him to the Islands, and the rapper never showed up for his flight. Since the U.S. Virgin Islands follow the same common law principles as the U.S., the rapper had a legal obligation to show up and perform after the original contract was modified.

I JUST WANNA BE FAMOUS!

Over the last three decades, the way the world looks at music has changed tremendously. This includes both the artist and the business of music.

There are two kinds of artists. There are artist, people who started long before thinking anyone might pay for what they love to do. Obsessively in the bedroom night after night, skipping school, honing their own version of music. They need it.

Then you have industry artists. They think of music as a series of career moves. They are in it for the fame, the travel, the money, the glory, the fans, and the adulation. They started by looking at stars on TV and in magazines and saying “I want some of that”.

It’s those industry artists that major labels are there for. Majors are not art institutions. It’s all about the bottom line. It doesn’t matter if they love what you do or hate what you do. If you sell, you’re in, if you don’t sell, you’re out. If you sign to a major and expect to be cherished, protected, nurtured and developed, you’re lost or you have very bad people around you advising you. If you go to the right indie guy, you will be loved and cherished and you will be promoted.

I have come to realize two things:

1. Most artists do not want to do it themselves, maybe they just aren’t wired that way, may they’re lazy, maybe they think they need big money to make it really happen or maybe they’re just getting bad advice.

2. They don’t care about making a bad deal. They just want to be famous. They want fame so badly they will sign anything, and I do mean anything. They don’t believe guys like you and me when we tell them it’s stupid. They want to be famous! 

Negotiations: For better or for worse

  

    When you really think about negotiating, you think back on the many times you pleaded with your parents for something you really wanted. As a kid, you was only thinking about yourself and not really looking at the bigger picture. Once you got that toy, you didn’t care if that was your mom/dad’s last dollars. When you got older, you realized you have to think about both parties and concealing your emotions help. The same applies in business. I interviewed Betty Richardson, the accountant for the Memphis Job Corps Center (MJCC).

    Richardson has been the accountant for MJCC for 16 years. She explains to me that when you are dealing with money, the emotions are high. “Everyone has emotions but the truth is everyone can’t control their emotions. "The key is controlling your emotions at all times.” Richard has three children and knows a few things about negotiating and emotions. When I asked her about emotions in the workplace, she said that it was no different from what she experience with her children.

    As an accountant for MJCC, Richardson negotiates with people on a personal level. When I asked her what she meant by that, she replied by saying that people’s money is very personal to them. Either way you look at it, everyone wants to ensure that they are receiving all the money they worked for. Sometimes employees come to her office and are emotional about missing some money on their paychecks. Richardson says she always keep her emotions in check because it gives her control of the situation and separates the people from the problem. Richardson tells me that there are times when she negotiates with employees about vacation time. She helps employees pick times that will benefit both the employee and the business.

    The last thing I asked Richardson about was having a BATNA and being appreciated. Richardson says having a BATNA is something you should always have, not just for yourself but also for the negotiation as a whole. “A BATNA keeps you in control either way.” Richardson says appreciation means a lot. “A simple thank you goes a long way.” She ends by telling me about the time a lady from corporate told her how she really appreciate the work she has done for the company.

The Things You Should Ask Yourself before Franchising

The key to being successful in any from of business, or anything you chose to do in life, is to educate yourself. Don’t be so close-minded that you feel like just because you are an entrepreneur that you don’t have to educate yourself. Education is key, and I hope to turn on that mental light bulb in your mind with these five questions you should ask yourself before franchising.

The Music Industry Chalkboard: The Numbers That Matter

In business, knowing the financial side of things always puts you at an advantage. In the music industry, there is no difference. A lot of money is made, but a lot of money has to be passed around. I know your music is hot and that you have it all figured out. You are going to get yourself a deal with a