Is that Legal?

The entertainment and music industry is dynamic and forever changing.  This means the legal issues come and go. Lets look at a few recent ones today. It is great to get familiar with the issues that surround your industry of interest.

When was the last time you sat at your computer and pulled up Garage Band created an awesome beat and sung a tune. Yesterday? Great, did you know you have officially written and copy written a song? The time stamp from the computer as well of a few extra steps and that hit is all yours! According to Boosey & Hawkes there are a few things you can do to protect your music.  I always thought the mail your own work to yourself thing was funny but it actually is sufficient.  You can even submit your work to a solicitor and request a receipt, which states the date and a description of your work. These in its self will suffice to claim your work. To take it a step further and be able to file suit you must register at a federal level. This is a big deal in the industry because at one point in time you had to go through a lot and even pay some money just to claim your work. It is a lot simpler now.

Lets take a look a recent case filled against Universal Music Group West Coat Office.

It’s obvious that our entertainers flaunt sex, drugs, and alcohol in the videos and photos but its crazy to think you’re above the law. This is a running issue in the entertainment industry.  There is a case filled by an employee of Universal Music Group West Coast for alleged labor violations including a hostile work environment. The complainant says on numerous occasions there where illegal acts taking place. These acts were brought to the attention of superiors multiple times and ignored. It wasn’t until the complainant came into a situation with the artist known as TI and his entourage. The employee was just trying to do their job. Two days later she found herself terminated. This situation rubbed me the wrong way! Everyone knows it is illegal just because you’re a star doesn’t allow you to do as you please. The Music group is also in the wrong. Why are you allowing this kind of environment in you establishment?  I personally think it time to get all that extra crap out of the artistry of music and get back to real music. Am I saying all artists are clean? No, but stop allowing them to come to the studio that way and see how long they last! Bobby Brown might have had a longer career an Whitney Houston might still be here. Lets be honest her better days were before here addiction.

Lastly it is a big deal to cover your own tail in the advertising world when it comes to using songs as a cover.  Erick Korte  speaks on it a YouTube clip. You cant just take a song and run with it. You first have to buy the rights to the song. He states that there are a lot of people out there that mis uses tunes and find themselves out of a lot of money. I think it is important to learn the ins and outs so you can conduct your business accordingly.  Every artist wants his or her credit. For example, Ne-Yo came out from being a shadow writer to gain his respect for his works. How many times have you heard of someone suing somebody for copying his or her song?  They say artist are sensitive about their work. 

King Bey Said Bow Down ****

My Girl Said Bow Dow

Beyoncé is one of the biggest names in the business. She recently released a song that shocked everyone. When we first seen her with group mates in Destiny’s Child he music was along the lines of “Bills,Bills,Bills”, “Cater to You”, Soldier, and the very popular “ Survivor”.

Her newest song is called “ I Been On”. The H-Town chick came out of her in this tune. She gets grimy and ethnic. To see what I am talking about just take a listen yourself. 

I personally enjoyed it myself. I ask why the change though. They say if it isn’t broke don’t fix it. So why switch it and change something that has worked so well for her.  If you ask me it is because she is an artist. Not just an artist a dynamic artist. She doesn’t have one face.  As an artist manager I would rather work with one of her kind. If I need her to get a tad hood or extra classy she is able to do it.  As to why, it is because that is part of who she is. She is from Houston Texas, as she will gladly tell you and tunes like that are apart of the culture. For example listen to this freestyle with BigPokey.  Beyoncé recently started managing herself. This is great because her true talent is starting to shine. She paid her dues by doing what everyone else wanted and sold millions doing it. You would think she has earned her respect from her fans that they would support her differences and maturity. That was not the case!

Her fans were partial in her recent song release.  Most people think she is being untrue or trying to fit in where she is not. That’s not fair. I hope they see she is being true to her dynamic personality.  I mean gosh Lil Wayne goes into the studio high as a kite, sips on syrup and puts his body in jeopardy to make a hit. The fans have labeled him as the best rapper alive. But when Beyoncé gets into the booth in her right mind we cant accept her.  We as a society got to start respecting true artistry. 

Forever Changing

Music is my passion. I am well rounded and I enjoy all types. So why wouldn’t I want to work for that industry. I see it as art. It intrigues me to watch how much the music and entertainment world evolves. The industry is forever evolving which is the beauty of it.  When I first fell in love with the beat of a song would be when I was running around the house as kid singing. I remember many of times singing “This Weekend” by Anne Nesby  . The funny thing is I didn’t realize my mom was talking about getting rid of my brother and I. All I knew was I loved that sound. When I would go to my friend house we would make up dances to Whitney Houston Step by Step. Music now is completely different.

Now, the kinds of things that catch my ears are far different. Tunes about being rich and the finest thing in the club gets my hips moving.  An intense beat drop with a beautiful stream of cords and piano puts me in my feelings every time.

Notice as I change my choice of music changes. So how can artist possibly keep up?

It takes a talented person to evolve with music. If you ask me Lil Wayne is just that.  Look at his career. Check out his feature in “ I Need a Hot Girl” with Cash Money Millionaire’s in 1999.  Now fast forward to 2011. He drops a hit called “ How to love” Notice those two song are totally different. He even picked up a skate boy act. Some of his fans that loved him when he was just a boy from New Orleans are upset. They feel he has gone too far from his roots. I am here to tell you those statements aren’t true. He is evolving. He still is one of the most respected rappers around no matter which roll he is playing at the time.  He is giving the people what they want and still reaching success. He could be a gangster rapper one second and free spirited skaters kid the next regardless, he will give you a show. That is the definition of an artist isn’t it? So why be mad at Wayne.

As music continues to evolve I expect many more changes from our artist. It may get more strange things in the years to come. 

The art of Negotiating from Zedric Smith

The entertainment business has a wide array of avenues. The gospel industry is one. I grew up watching a lot in this industry. One person who had a major impact on me at that time was my choir director Zedric Smith. He was over the youth choir. That may seem like a small title but I was way more than that. My church is huge and full of talent. We often went on tour and sung at engagements. Not only did he have to negotiate with others outside of the church, but also his biggest works were convincing the church. For new uniforms to contracts and rewards for tours the list goes on. I decided to interview him on his negotiation skills. For me this was a great trip down memory lane. Below is condensed a script of our conversation.

Q: How did you deal with your most difficult positional bargaining situation (Haggling)?

           

Zedric: Well I can remember one in particular that was tough. I know you remember when you guys finally got out of those old heavy choir robs. That was no easy task. I had to work all kinds of hard to convince the musical director you all needed a change. Their position on in great concern that you guys remain discrete in your attire. She didn’t want skirts to get short or pants to sag. To her robs where safe. So I had a presentation set up to show her the current trends and how far behind we were as a church. If I wasn’t for that visual I don’t think I would have won.

Me: Wow I still have that outfit. I loved the new gear. We were so cool after that. It is great to see how you used objective criteria to get your point across and give a benchmark to go off of instead of just your words.

Q: Have you ever used dirty trick? Is not why not. If so tell me more about it.

Zedric:(Laughing) I hate to tell you but I had a few tricks. I don’t think they were that bad though. I would have to manage to produce a great line up for Sunday service as well as manage they young kids feelings. Mike was a great singer but Tim wasn’t kind of thing. So I would use Saturday service to lets the less fortunate get a chance to sing.

Me: Gasp now I sung at a few Saturday services. What is up with that?

Zedric: (laughs) You know you sung every chance you could get. That was the only way to keep you behaved.  You were a very bright and fortunate young lady

Me: Thank you! That is also a great example of mutual benefit. You came to a conclusion that was of great benefit to everyone.

Q: How do you prepare for negotioations?

Zedric: I found it useful to research to whom I am dealing with. I mean everyone from the investors to the congregation to the choir members. This was great because I would have my plan lined up. It would be just awful for me to go and say my students want to go to the water park after their hard work and they actually wanted to go to the movies. I would have looked so bad. This is also great because you can kind of get a sense of everyone’s position before you go in for the fight. Proper preparation also allows you to have a best option in your pocket that is great for everyone.

Me: Something like a mutual benefit?

Zedrick: Yes like the time I convinced the parents to let you guys compete in contest. Winning those allowed me to get a raise because it brought recognition to the church and you guys more funding for trips. Those benefits went three ways; the church, the kids, and me.

Me: Wow! See what a little preparation can do? It allows everyone to win.

This was a great interview. I was able to look at his personal experiences and connect them to negotiating. It is obvious that sometimes you have to get dirty to get the task done. Like he did. Those poor kids that sung on Saturday thought they could sing. Including me. The biggest lesson here would be prepare, prepare, prepare. It can make the difference from getting things done and getting things done right. 

Mix tapes the New Era

It’s so many people out there that are coming up from this fast growing idea of a mix tape. It is a sure way to promote your music and get your name out there.  People like Lil Wayne and Drake have made this category huge. Personally I love Wayne mix tapes more that most of his albums. Why are they doing so well?

It’s always been huge to get a record deal. Even when I was a kid I wanted to be just like Brandy and sign to a major record label. To have a label backing you was huge. You have to listen to the labels creativity and desires. You have no choice but to do the music they want you to do. You have to perform how they want you to perform. With all the puppetry you do at least they fund all the projects as well as pay you. This is pretty much what it is like to get signed to a label. 

When I think of an artist I think of one that wants to express them self through whatever avenue. Being apart of a label isn’t much of that anymore. It’s more about being marketable than anything else. When I heard mix tapes from Chris Brown, Chrisette Michelle and Elle Varner this year I looked at mix tapes in a whole new prospective.  Chris Brown “In My Zone” was a completely different artist that he would of never got to express on a label. That is where “No Bullshit” surfaced don’t get me started on “In my Zone 2” its lots of my favorites there.  Elle Varner put her heart into he mix tape and a great album followed.

Mix tapes are a chance to go independent from a label and do what you want. It is a chance to create what expresses you most. It has proven to be a great platform for up and coming artist and current artist to do what they want to do.  It’s a great way to remind us of your capabilities if we have forgotten. The downfall is if someone picks it up and uses it in a commercial or on their show you can’t get paid on it. In that most mix tapes take samples from current popular hits. Its not all fully your own works. Its kind of funny if all else fails put out a mix tape its free we will listen.

If you will click here you can find more on the differences between albums, mix tapes, and singles. 

The Guilty Pleasure

Reality TV Americas Guilty Pleasure

My first encounter with reality TV and music would be TheAshlee Simpson Show. This show was a hit in 2005 on MTV. I as well as plenty of other people in America watched her career transform before our eyes. The reality show allowed us to see all the aspects of it too. The ups and downs of the career, business and personal side were presented to the public. Ashlee went on to make many hits. Shadow, la la, Invisible and one of my favorites Pieces of me were huge hits in 2004. The Ashlee Simpson show was one the first to combine music and reality television. To take that even further her career was pretty successful too.  At that time having America watch you might not have been a bad idea. Times sure have changed.

  Now there are way more out there. We had Making the bad and plenty to follow. To start out these shows were not a bad career move. Now, artist resort to these to help they careers progress. Brandy, The game, DMX, Chill, Left Eye, RNB Divas, Toni Braxton are to name a few. I am pretty sure the list continues. To add fuel to the fire shows like Love and Hip Hop have turned for the worst. I will say America watches but how does it help an artist career?

            If you’re out to entertain and make money or spread the word, shows like that are worth it. But if your trying to build a solid sound career these shows with what they have become now are a big NO Go.  The focus is more on the drama than the music. I wouldn’t advise this to any artist I work with that is really serious about their music career. I again will admit I love watching these shows! They just do nothing for a solid music career look at the Making the band crew now.