Miley Cyrus…Management Disaster

The 20-year-old pop start got her start on the Disney channel show playing Hanna Montana. I must say myself the show was pretty awesome. I am saying this and I had no business sitting up watching it at the age of 21. That say a lot she was doing her thing. Like most Disney stars they have to figure out the perfect magic potion to successfully cross the threshold to successful music artist. Like those before her (Justin Timberlake, BritneySpears, Christina Aguilera) she did perfectly fine. She came out with a popular song to many called; “Party in the USA”. She gained respect and was liked by many.  She was even crafty enough to continue her hit show and maintain a music career. From a management stand point I would pat myself on the back. Its hard to get to people to stop looking at you as a sweet little girl and accept you dating and coming into your sex appeal. They managed to do that. Then things took a turn. Even myself as a fan of her career has grown confused.

In her new single “We Can’t Stop” she has defiantly taken a new leaf. My question is who, what, when, where and why?  The video was already a tad controversial but I like it. Her recent performance on the VMA’s crossed the line. The well-respected successful young lady we knew before looks a mess on stage.  I totally understand allowing the artist to grow up, but there is a way of taming the image. I’m not sure what the intention of this performance was but the results were negative. Was this a ploy for attention? I was asking where is her father who as been in the music industry if I were him I would drop my head in shame. Is she on something? If you ask me I think her and Chris brown has been smoking, shooting, or popping the same substance and they have rubbed off on one another. They are both running around looking like dirty orphans one a downward spiral. A year or two from now we will be wondering what happened to them. And if they make it through their careers will be behind them.

From a management standpoint, I believe in creating longevity. Careers that base on things like this are current short runs. Usher, JT, Mariah Carey and many others can hop on any stage and sell out right now! Can Bobby Brown? I guess that is the path her management is going for. I hope her Hanna Montana money doesn’t run out anytime soon.

Where Did RnB Go?

I recently found myself browsing the web and looking at interviews of a few interesting artist. There were two in particular that inspired this post. The first interview involved Elle Varner. She is an up and coming artist with a dynamic sound. She was asked if she would ever shift here sweet quirky girl image to the sexy sex sells body image the entertainment world pushes. She responded; “no it’s not me. My music speaks for its self.” As a young woman she is totally one with herself and it shows.  This conversation made me think about the new wave of weight loss craze that has swept the industry. Artist like Jill Scott and Fantasia who have always embraced their curves are now on the Beyoncé diet. Along with the weight loss success comes hot sexy pictures. Have they given up on believing in themselves? What message does that send to those who are still curvy? From a career management stand point if my artist was going to do this it would have to be for the right reasons. Jill Scott says most of her reason for the weight loss was to be healthy. I can handle that but to fit in is not a good image.

Post the interview

The second artist interview that caught my ear was an interview with Seyven Streeter. She has been in the industry for a while now. Before her hit “I like it” she was a co writer for various artist. She was asked; where do you see Rnb music going?” She replied saying, “ Its crazy how people say I want bring it back but I like to say I just want to bring it to the now. It never left its just resurfacing with a twist!”

I totally agree with her. Rnb still lives. It was just on the back burner and we got sidetrack as consumers by all the junk they were throwing in our faces. These two artists together in my opinion are going to be at the forefront of the industry and they were there rnb hats proudly. So where did Rnb go? Nowhere it’s been under your nose all along the smell of the movement is just getting stronger now. 

Just Us Inc In the Making

In the last post I took the time to get expert advice for my future endeavors.  They had lots of advice that helped me move along. I made a few changes to my plan according to the helpful hits I came across. There are two major changes made.

First, Barbara Corcoran had a lot insight to off when it comes to branding. Most people take this concept lightly. I must say I was pretty guilty of this before doing my research. I was placing a lot of emphasis on locations and affiliations of my business. Those are two concepts that are important but it’s even more important to position my self. I shifted my emphasis on how I will present my self to these locations and affiliations. The first impression is important. So branding the company stance will help push and set my company apart.

Daymond John made me completely re-think my financial plans for my company. He pointed out to me that it is important to invest in your own company. That makes sense. Why would some one want to invest in your company if you don’t? I literally had to go back to the drawing board on my financial plans. The new plan had me take a look at my own financials and see just how much of my own money I can put aside to invest in myself. I now have my bank account set up to save a small percentage of my check each month and with this I will be able to invest 25% if my own money to start up cost.  This is a huge amount coming from the hard working class. I hope this helps the investors see that I to have a vested interest in myself.

With all the changes being made for the better I began to see a true theme in my business structure. One of the main focuses of my business plan is culture and branding. It is especially important that my investors notice how my company is positioned in the market. It is a humble artistic environment. We embrace all people and we are out to touch lives. We will do this one event at a time.

Look out for my company Jusst Us inc. We are coming to a location near you soon! With the careful planning and research we will be well equipped to succeed!

As Told by Barbara Corcoran and Daymond John

Finding unique ways to grow and expand your brand

 Based off the fact that I plan on starting my own business soon, I obtained information that could be very helpful to a young and aspiring entrepreneur. According to one expert marketing and networking with vital investors could be the forefront to having a very successful business but another expert believes that branding your self the right way could bring about new and even a lot more investors to build trust and loyalty in your company. Both believe that your brand should be supported by your own vision of success as well as others who could also share in that vision.

All it took was dream and a $1000 for Barbara Corcoran. She used the money as start up capital and opened up a small real estate company in New York. She went on to turn that company into a multi-billion dollar business.  Barbara states on her site that branding is one of the single most important keys to success in today’s highly competitive world of commerce.  This makes someone, like me, want to place emphasis and importance on that concept. To stand out in the crowd is the ultimate goal. Most people are timid and tiptoe around people’s feelings but Barbara Corcoran is just the opposite and I like it. She really tells it like it is.  Barbara bluntly states, “Its streets smartsthat helped me succeed.” This just shows how experience can get you almost anywhere. She had 20 jobs by the time she was 23 years old. A final thought I took from Barbara was how big culture of a company can come into play. If you read up more on how she ran her companies you will find that the culture of her company has set her apart. When people are happy and love you they perform and perform well. You have to create a positive and motivating environment to get the right results.

In my findings there are 3 things to take from Barbara Corcoran. Focus on branding because it is critical to your business success. “Street smarts” can make you. Lastly, a “people centered” culture can multiply your success if done correctly.

Barbara Corcoran is also on an interesting show called SharkTank, which brings aspiring entrepreneurs from all around the world to a panel of experts. The guest pitch their company or idea to the experts and investors and they negotiate on doing business together.  Daymond John is on this panel as well.

Daymond John is an entrepreneur, author, consultant and motivational speaker. He is also the CEO of the clothing company FUBU.  He is very big on branding as well and he feels it should be the focus. He also believes the business should be marketed in a way that makes it stand out. He is basically saying a great marketing plan can make or break you. Through his experience in investing he points out that it is important to invest in your own company. It really makes an investor leery about investing in your company when you, yourself, wont put any money into your company. Daymond has given great advice on the show when it comes to pitching your business and he believes you should never over exaggerate the current state of your company. Honesty is key. When looking for investors you’re, in actuality, looking for partners and if you can’t be trusted why should anyone invest any money in you or your company? With that being said its best to have an investment in your self. Using that as a foundation would be more appealing to investors to showcase your self worth. If you take your company and brand seriously and show great self worth then others will as well which makes it easier to form bonds and build trust and loyalty between investors and companies. Investors tend to put more effort and trust towards companies who have a firm and solid backbone within itself, even more so when a company can thrive off of its own resources.

Resources:

1.     http://daymondjohn.com/about/

2.     http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/23/leadership/corcoran-real-estate.pr.fortune/index.html

3.     http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-07-02T08:44:00-07:00&max-results=7

4.     http://ww2.abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank?nord=1

5.     http://barbaracorcoran.com

Your Secrets Safe With Me

Artist work put in a lot of effort to brand them selves, keep up appearances, a fan base to be successful at their craft. Why is it all that hard work can ruin by just one wrong move of falling in love with the wrong person. We have seen plenty of different relationships some good, bad and ugly.  One thing they all have in common is the decision of whether to go public or not.  When I thought of this three couples came to mind.

The one that inspired this topic was the new couple Ciara and Future. The recently have a hot Video out in which Ciara features her new man in called  “Body Party”.  They have recently started dating. Most couples decide to be very private about their relationships, but not this couple. In an interview on ThisisRnb.com Ciara talks about why they decided to go public. Before now she was known in the past to be in a relationship with Bow Wow “Mr. 106nPark”. When they where dating neither one of them claimed each other publicly as they were trying to keep it private but both parties were caught with other leading the relationship to appear fake. Lots of people felt the relationship was a publicity stunt. In a real dating situation that is a major disaster. Ciara states “When you find someone on the same page as you and hold the same values it makes things easier. As well when you truly love someone you profess your love for them so this love connection wasn’t going down like that!”  They are both being very brave by doing this in that there are some cases that don’t go so well. Check out the interview below:

This is rnb interview

Speaking of those that don’t go so well. Lets look at one of the most talked about pair in the industry today. Rihanna and Chris Brown relationship is what I call a public disaster. When they first started dating they were not so open about in interviews then it became a situation you cant hide from.  This is an example of a relationship that almost demolished their careers.  Chris Brown was said to have beat Rihanna and the lovebirds went their separate ways. Chris Brown spent a solid year trying to shave of his women beater image and in the mist of messing up his good boy look has become a rebellious free spirit

Before

After

Rihanna spent the year fighting off her battered women persona. She didn’t get it that bad. She actually had the luxury of being the victim.  As a fan I will say we watched a struggle in both artist. They were both at a peak in their career and with this hitting the media it hurt them. Rihanna struck her fans the wrong way when they found her to be back in relations with the artist again. All the sympathy they had for her was short lived.

Source

Source

I will say they have managed to get their careers back on track. But that is a risk that it takes a special person to take on. This emotional roller coaster has been entertaining to watch. Lets look at a couple that has runs smooth some how they managed.

The truth is no one knows how Beyoncé and Jay-z does it. They are very few words about their relationships always, which keeps it authentic and they both a walking millionaires because of their success. They managed to date, get married, have a kid and still take their careers high and higher.  Jay- Z recently is setting up a tour with Justin Timberlake. He has been in the game for a 20 years stretch that is wonderful. And Beyoncé is in the middle of a worldwide tour. It has only been a year since her Baby girl was born and it looks like she never had one.  This couple should share their secrets and those coming after them should follow their lead.

King Bey and Jay-Z