Digital World

Finally, music is going digital. So, is there any need in having a major label? I say, yes and no. Yes, because of the funds and resources they have. No, because of there detriment to creativity. It is possible to have success without a major label. Though it may be harder to reach the masses. With iTunes becoming one of the most popular ways for consumers to purchase media, artist no longer have to worry about distribution. The Internet is a key source in promoting your music. Americans spend approximately 32.7 hours online according to IT Facts. Nearly double amount of time that is spent on T.V. The industry has yet to see an artist embark solely from the digital world. Perhaps it is time. The path is clearly showing that this will be the new formula for upcoming artist(s). However, the industry seems to still be in panic mode and is still scared to embrace the powers of new technology. Maybe its because they wont have lavish pay checks. Or, they could still be complacent. Whatever the cost, it is my belief that music wont only be distributed digitally but it will be marketed and promoted digitally as well. This is the new era of music and I hope that all music enthusiasts are ready for it.

Business Plan Vitals!!

It would be wise for all entrepreneurs to give detailed and descriptive analysis of the financial portion of a business plan. It is also obvious to give the aforementioned information on the company description. I say this because why would anyone invest in a company; if they cant see a profit? I know I wouldn’t. Also, if your company doesn’t have a clear vision on what it is, consumers wont either. I will say however, the financial section is vital to gaining potential investors. The Entrepreneurs Help Page agrees with me as well stating “The Financial model. Good plans share the company's cash burn rate, working capital and capital investment needs and timetable to breakeven on a cash flow and operating profit basis. In addition, investors seek information regarding projected revenue growth and sustainable operating and cash flow margins (Powers).”
Tim Berry has made business planning his number one focus and host a blog on how to start up new businesses. You can find his blog on timberry.bplans.com. On his blogs he introduces new ways to spice up your business plan. He also introduces new software that is helpful for the creation of business plans. With that information, he gives advice on what it takes for a new business. A recent blog post that really helped me out was: Why the bank won’t finance your business plan. I've always believed that solely having a business plan would help in getting future funds from banks, investors, etc. I had no idea that getting a loan off of a business plan was illegal. Sure, I knew that the bank would need some type of collateral, however; I believed if they saw the vision of your business, then that would grant loans. Tim Berry’s blog site is extremely informative for the naïve and novice. According to his blog he describes himself with the following passage:
I’m on Twitter a lot. Business Week included me as one of its top 20 entrepreneurs to follow on twitter in March of 2010. And the New York Times included me as number six in the top 11 companies to follow on twitter in June of 2010. Business Insider includes me in top 20 entrepreneurs to follow in December of 2010…I’ve spent a career in entrepreneurship and business planning. I teach planning with my own company, and for 11 years as an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon, and in published books and software, and in speaking engagements for the likes of Apple Computer, Autodesk, Progress Software, USASBE, Academy of Management, and so on. In 2007 I won the USASBE (United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship) Corporate Entrepreneur of the Year award and a USASBE award for teaching (Berry, 2011).


Berry, Tim. (2011). Introducing myself. Retrieved from
http://timberry.bplans.com/introducing-myself


Powers, Mark. The five most important items to incorporate in
a business plan [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.tannedfeet.com/readers_lisaspringer.htm

Business Plan

Tim Berry is a master when it comes to the creation and formation of business plans. He has made business planning his number one focus and host a blog on how to start up new businesses. You can find his blog on timberry.bplans.com. On his blogs he introduces new ways to spice up your business plan. He also introduces new software that is helpful for the creation of business plans. With that information, he gives advice on what it takes for a new business. A recent blog post that really helped me out was: Why the bank won’t finance your business plan. I've always believed that solely having a business plan would help in getting future funds from banks, investors, etc. I had no idea that getting a loan off of a business plan was illegal. Sure, I knew that the bank would need some type of collateral, however; I believed if they saw the vision of your business, then that would grant loans. Tim Berry’s blog site is extremely informative for the naïve and novice. According to his blog he describes himself with the following passage:
I’m on Twitter a lot. Business Week included me as one of its top 20 entrepreneurs to follow on twitter in March of 2010. And the New York Times included me as number six in the top 11 companies to follow on twitter in June of 2010. Business Insider includes me in top 20 entrepreneurs to follow in December of 2010…I’ve spent a career in entrepreneurship and business planning. I teach planning with my own company, and for 11 years as an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon, and in published books and software, and in speaking engagements for the likes of Apple Computer, Autodesk, Progress Software, USASBE, Academy of Management, and so on. In 2007 I won the USASBE (United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship) Corporate Entrepreneur of the Year award and a USASBE award for teaching (Berry, 2011).


Reference:

Berry, Tim. (2011). Introducing myself. Retrieved from
http://timberry.bplans.com/introducing-myself

You gay...

When you listen to hip-hop one may find a common denominator. Hip-hop is fueled by masculinity. Yes, people may argue other factors that contribute to the aurora of hip-hop. You have sexism, violence, and materialism among other adjectives to describe the music. One underlying factor is its masculine nature. With this said, can a homosexual artist survive in a culture where being gay is deemed taboo? It is ironic for me to have doubts. I am a homosexual female who believes that a gay male in hip-hop will have battles being a musician based on his sexual interests than his music. I was recently asked to help in a marketing plan for an unknown artist. The music was sub par but the artist’s image is extremely sellable. However, he is gay. This factor immediately raised red flags. For one, I personally believed that the artist needs a lot of marketing dollars and a distinguished marketing team behind him. I also thought that a key figure in the music industry was needed to break his music (i.e. Lady Gaga). Without this, I thought there was little to no hope to get potential fans to pay attention to his music and not his sexuality. Being a gay male does not make you less masculine than any heterosexual male. I often joke with my straight friends who have a stereotypical view on gay men. I say, they have to be tougher because people are constantly challenging their man hood. Yet I still am unsure if a gay male artist can exist in hip-hop. I’m pretty sure there are a number of homosexual males within the culture. However, they put on a façade to relate. Maybe it is time to show that you don’t have to be the stereotypical “sissy” gay male. There are plenty of homosexual men with high masculinity that would have people in disbelief.

Please take my survey!

Ignorance is bliss?

Is it necessary to use a term so vile, but polish it off as a term of endearment? The latest hip-hop sensation, Kreayshawn is an Oakland, CA native. She is different from most female MC’s. Her sex appeal doesn’t drive record sales. She emerged onto the music scene with little to no help from well-known music camps. The “white girl mob” movement has been what keeps fans interested. However, members of Kreayshawn’s team have been known to use the N-word. Using the term would have gone unnoticed had her team been a few shades darker. Which is silly. It makes you wonder though. Is this how I sound when I talk to my friends casually? Do I sound as ignorant as them when I use the term? Yes! Kreayshawn explained that she does not use the term, but her sister does in a recent article:

"I never said that in my music," she says. But wasn't there a video on her YouTube channel where someone did? "It might have been my sister, V-Nasty," she says. "She says it all the time, and that's because she grew up all different. She goes in and out of jail for armed robbery all the time. Her mom calls her that. But personally, I don't say it in my music, because it's not my place."…"I told V-Nasty," says Kreayshawn, "I always get this question, and it's burning me! And she was like, 'I ain't gonna stop saying it, they ain't gonna change me.”(Abebe, 2011)

I am not going to act as if I never used the term myself. I’ve been taught the origins and meaning of the word. My grandfather told me stories of being tarred and feathered back in South Carolina. My grandmother explained that after her family moved from the south to the north, that word didn’t cease to exist. Knowing all this, I still find myself saying it. Now I see what I look like to those around me. A fool.

Abebe, Nitsuh. (2011, June 17). Kreayshawn is the latest controversial white rapper. Retrieved from http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/06/kreayshawn.html

More Dirk please

Recently the Dallas Mavericks has shocked the NBA world. Their championship win over the heavily favored Miami Heat has solidified their place in NBA History. Their rode to victory was challenging, but the Mavericks superstar player Dirk Nowitki pulled them through. Along with his first NBA championship, Dirk was awarded the NBA Finals MVP. The 33-year-old power forward is also considered one of the best players to ever play the game of basketball. However, is Dirk Nowitki marketable? Yes he has won a championship before the Heat and the big three got the chance to do so. Yes he was selected NBA Finals MVP. But, who will really sign an older NBA star to a lucrative endorsement deal? Flash in our culture can outweigh finesse at times. We all know that Dirk is not a highflying phenomenon. He depends on his mid range shot. He is mild mannered, while most highly profiled athletes are charismatic. He lets his game do the talking, while others (i.e. LeBron James) guarantee multiple championships before a first practice. Even though his team won the championship, many believe that they won’t be able to protect the title next year. With all that said, Dirk most likely has a good 3-4 years left in him. My question again, is he marketable? It’s hard to believe that I have to ask this question. It should be a sure yes. Today’s society is different. The Mavericks are the NBA champions, yet the media still debates on what went wrong with the Miami Heat. Dirk is the NBA Finals MVP, yet LeBron James receives more media attention on his lackluster performance. Our culture doesn’t appreciate the journey towards success. Our high speed, no patience mentality has left us with enjoying only the glamour’s of success. Dirk is not that. He is as blue collar as they come.

Show me the money

There is an old saying that in order to move toward your future, you must know about your past. There have been many recessions in U.S history. During the Great Depression entertainment took on a new meaning to U.S citizens. The escape from the world around them was worth the dollar that was hard to come by. However, sports leagues have folded and cut backs are on a rise. Premier sports leagues have created ways to be more efficient with money. Baxter Homes wrote, “This year the Lakers e-mailed Christmas cards to save postage. The team cut back on corporate gifts, created an installment payment plan for season-ticket holders and noticed many fans didn't buy season parking passes (Holmes, 2009).” This method of efficiency seems to be working. American sports leagues may have taken a hit economically. However one sport prevails to be recession proof. Although soccer is not a popular sport in America, it is in high demand amongst the rest of the world. This global popularity may be the reasoning why soccer seems to be unaffected by the economy. Soccer leagues also distribute money differently than American sports. Parmy Olson wrote:
Soccer differs from American sports in the way it distributes its TV money. U.S. leagues like the NBA and NFL tend to sell rights centrally and then distribute the revenue equally. Most European soccer leagues share revenues based on performance. The EPL distributes half the money equally among its 20 clubs, with the other 50% based on number of TV appearances and league position. France opts for a 75%-25% split. Performance-related sharing of broadcast rights makes leagues more competitive, according to Stefan Kesenne in the International Journal of Sport Finance (Olson 2010).
History has shown us that there is no need to panic when it comes to sports in America. The fan base may get smaller, but it won’t cease to exist. It is up to the sporting industry to maintain composer and find new revenue streams during trying times. Cutbacks seem to be the most efficient system during this recession. Sports leagues have to analyze there needs and get rid of the unnecessary.



Reference:

Holmes, B. (2009, December 30). This time around, sports aren't
recession-proof. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/30/sports/la-sp-economy30-2009dec30

Olson, P. (2010, April 23). The world's most recession-proof sport.
Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/0510/companies-soccer-valuations-manchester-united-recession-proof-sport.html

Bloggers and the Press.. Cant we just get along?

Many sports bloggers are upset that their sites do not get the respect they deserve. I can understand why many bloggers do not get press credentials. Bloggers may lack heavy traffic on their website making it hard to earn respect. The media sees this as a problem. Avery Holton from the University of Texas at Austin had this to say:
Independent bloggers wanting more access to teams need to continue to advance their
credibility through trust and by moving themselves out of the fan category and into
the social media arena. Bloggers may be able to achieve this by delivering original,
newsworthy content, beefing up their site to reflect the most current in digital
media, tracking and reporting increases in their daily site traffic and interacting
with baseball front offices on Facebook and Twitter (Brown, 2010).

Bloggers have had quarrels with the media. In 2010, three bloggers were denied press credentials (Brown, 2010). Incidents like this are very common amongst online bloggers. However, these bloggers sued for their rights and respect as journalist.
It is clear that the old way of journalism is outdated. Technology has changed so much. The Internet has changed how music is enjoyed, how job seekers apply for employment, and much more. It is necessary for the media to devise a plan that includes bloggers in major events.

Below is another article by Malika Ashford expressing her thoughts on the issue.

Ashford, Malika. (2010). Are you journalist enough for a press
pass? . Retrieved from http://www.stinkyjournalism.org/editordetail.php?id=666

Brown, Donal. (2010). New york city considers press
credentials for bloggers. Retrieved from http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/new-york-city-considers-press-credentials-for-bloggers/

Brown, Maury. (2010). study finds independent bloggers "least
trusted", likely denied press credentials in baseball. Retrieved from http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4657:study-finds-independent-bloggers-qleast-trustedq-likely-denied-press-credentials-in-baseball&catid=60:internet&Itemid=125

NFL Lockout 2011

It has been two and a half months since the NFL lockout began. Leaving fans, players and owners anxious to see what the end result will be. For most, the NFL lockout has little to do with equality because greed seems to be the driving force. NFL players have been showing good face by committing to team workouts, although the 2011-2012 season seems dismal.

According to the New York Post, May 17 is when a few judge’s put a permanent freeze on a ruling that had briefly lifted the NFL lockout in April (Hubbuch, 2011). With that said, the lockout continues. Jason Chayut is a sports lawyer and agent who gave his opinion on the ruling before it was overturned:
The legal system is based on precedent and Judge Nelson in her ruling used a lot of
the 8th Circuit's previous rulings to come down with her decision in favor of the
players. From that standpoint I think it's going to be very difficult for the Circuit
Court to overturn what Judge Nelson ruled. But, my understanding is that anything can
happen in the courtroom. Nothing is a hundred percent…from a legal standpoint the
conversation about shutdown exists largely because when you're in anti-trust
litigation there is what's called treble damages, which is triple damages for the
winner of an anti-trust litigation. If the owners were found to be in violation of
anti-trust law then basically any working conditions or wages, anything imposed by 32
competing businesses on non-union employees would all be violations of that anti-trust
law (Valentine, 2011).

I empathize with the players. It’s been clear that the players want a fair portion of what’s rightfully theirs. I hope that the owners are in violation of the anti-trust law. It is time for them to realize that without the players they wouldn’t be able to afford their lavish lifestyle. The players do not need the owners. The owners depend on the athletes.

Hubbuch, Bart. (2011). Nfl lockout continues after ruling. New York Post, Retrieved
from:http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/nfl_lockout_continues_after_ruling_enuvsOW1nTTLfwi6mzvInN

Valentine, Ed. (2011, May 16). Nfl lockout 2011: a legal perspective. New York Giants
News, Retrieved from: http://www.bigblueview.com/2011/5/16/2173352/nfl-lockout-2011-eighth-circuit-court-of-appeals-jude-susan-nelson

Fines, fines and more fines

Is it just I or could it be that the NBA seems to set a moral standard in the league? We all know that it is illegal for anyone associated with the NBA to talk to college and high-school athletes without an agent present. The league cracks down on those who infract these laws with hefty fines. The message is clear; the NBA does not want to “corrupt” collegiate athletics by tempting those with monetary value. Lets dig deep in this issue shall we. Recently hip-hop legend and mogul Shawn “Jay-z” Carter was investigated for having illegal contact with University of Kentucky men’s basketball team. The media mogul insisted that he wanted to congratulate the team’s success but was later fined. Jay-Z is a minority owner of the New Jersey Nets leaving the pro-team liable for his actions (Amick, 2011). However I see something wrong with this picture. How much do you think the University of Kentucky makes off of their athletic department? According to there 2010 budget, at least 72.65 million (Fy10 budget, 2010). U of K men’s basketball added 15.6 million to that total (Fy10 budget, 2010). Here is the problem. You have these young kids trying to get to the next level in their career while building a reputation for a college to draw in more athletes. Seems like a bit much. Sure these athletes receive athletic scholarships, but that’s about it. I have always believed that college athletes should receive a monthly stipend so they can steer clear of temptation. Do you remember the hummer controversy with Lebron James? The funny thing is, Lebron was still in high school when he was under investigation (Kindred, 2003). I think it is time for collegiate sports to pay up other than scholarships. Some of these kids don’t have family who can help them out during their tenure in school. With their schedule being so demanding, how else can they get by?

Reference
Amick, Sam. (2011, April 8). Nets fined $50k for jay-z 's visit.
Sports Illustrated, Retrieved from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/nba/04/08/nets.jay-z.fined/index.html

Fy10 budget. (2010). Manuscript submitted for publication,
Department of Athletics, University of Kentuck, Lexington, Kentucky. Retrieved from http://www.uky.edu/Athletics/Board/agenda/may09/2010ProposedBudgetppt.pdf

Kindred, Dave. (2003, February 10). Don't blame king james.
Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_6_227/ai_97450898/

Ochocinco

Untitled from erica lewis on Vimeo.

Fans of the National Football League (NFL) were pleased about learning the concept of Fantasy Football. According to NFL.com, “Fantasy Football puts you in the front office and on the sidelines as General Manager and Coach of your team” ("Intro to fantasy,"). These Fantasy Football enthusiasts can also play to win for cash prizes. Here is what CBSSports.com offers:

There are different versions of CBSSports.com Fantasy Football 2010. The Gold version costs $39.99 per team, with a $200 league champion prize! The Platinum version costs $99.99 per team, with a $600 league champion prize! The Diamond version costs $249.99 per team, with a $1,600 league champion prize! The Double Diamond version costs $499.99 per team, with a $3,500 league champion prize! Fantasy Football 2010 includes a free version of our Fantasy Football game for beginners with no prize for the league champion. Fantasy Football Commissioner is offered for those that want complete control and ultimate customizability at a cost of $179.99 for your entire league to play the whole season online ("Faq,").

Although fans can earn thousands of dollars, those who have employed these Fantasy Football followers lose billions on productivity. According to FoxNews.com, “During the National Football League regular season, nearly 37 million people spend an average of 50 minutes a week at work managing their fantasy teams comprised of real-life players tallying points based on statistical performance, according to outplacement consultants Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc” ("Study: fantasy football," ).

Fantasy Football has millions of fans across the nation. This translates to a multi million-dollar industry that doesn’t seem to loose steam any time soon. The NFL lockout may pose a threat to the Fantasy league. However, fans still log on to support their favorite teams and players until that issue becomes a clear detriment to the NFL.

           

Faq. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://football.cbssports.com/splash/football/spln/single/faq#

Intro to fantasy football. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.nfl.com/fantasy/help/whatis

Study: fantasy football costs businesses $1.1 billion a year

(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,208719,00.html

Negotiation with Trevor Jerideau

Recently I had the opportunity to speak with Trevor Jerideau Vice President of A&R at J Records. He oversees the careers of platinum selling artist Mario and Marsha Ambrosius among others. Mr. Jerideau has been in the music business for over a decade and had to negotiate many artist contracts over the course of his career. Some see an A&R position as a high-risk job. I can understand those opinions for it is rare to see an A&R maintain his/her position for several years at one label. I asked Trevor what does he require before going into a negotiation. He mainly insists that an entertainment attorney represents the artist(s) he has shown interest in. By proper representation, the negotiation will run smoothly without awkward conflict. Mr. Jerideau also insists that the artist(s) has the proper management. Most inexperienced managers make it hard for A&R’s to work efficiently. Managers may see the A&R as a threat. I understand their reasoning for some A&R’s manage high profile artist. As far as the contract is concerned, Trevor negotiates different contracts based on the artist(s) notoriety. For some artist(s) he considers a distribution deal while others get the now popular 360 deals. He stated that the 360 deals allows the label to recoup money though artist branding. The decline of music industry sells has required the music industry to improve the now defunct standard business module. All and all he says the discussion is quite simple and usually takes 30 minutes to an hour when inquiring about an unknown artist(s). However if the artist happens to be Beyonce the negotiation could take several days due to the clout in which she has. Mr. Jerideau insists that anyone interested in an A&R position should study the art of negotiation. Without that skill you would not hold down that position for long.

Has the music died?

Major labels are changing their traditional relationships with artist by implementing 360 deals. According to MTV News, 360 deals are where a label partners with the artist in publishing, merchandising and touring revenue (Montgomery, 2007). Usually the major labels benefit from the sales of recorded music. Since the decline of sales in the music industry, 360 deals have become more intuitive. If the music industry continues to struggle trying to work with technology, then it will continue to see the decline of sales. The Internet has transformed the way major labels conduct business. Therefore, it seems as if labels are constantly playing catch up. Peer to peer networks such as Napster and LimeWire continue to be a major concern for the recording industry. No one has a clear answer to whether or not labels will become outdated. The majors may not become obsolete in the literal sense, but definitely will have changed and adjusted to a point where they have more control over artist endeavors. 360 deals and the invention of the Digital Rights Movement have worked in labels favors, however; the recording industry is fighting an uphill battle with the constant change of technology.


Montgomery, James. (2007, October 16). Are radiohead, madonna, trent reznor sounding the death knell for major record labels?. Retrieved from http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1571936/20071015/radiohead.jhtml

Will Wright makes toys that make worlds