Review of You!!!

                There is nothing quite like a new product that you’ve wanted to buy before its release date approaches. Brand loyalty overrides the need for further insight before the actual purchase takes place. In other instances a quick overview of the quality of a particular product can be the determining factor on an actual purchase being made. Product/service reviewers have become more important as the internet has provided access to multiple items in a matter of minutes. A consumer of music and video games in particular have a plethora of digital products that can be purchased and downloaded in mere seconds due to advances in technology. Having honest reviews provided by industry expert can alleviate any anxiety leading up to the purchase of a digital product. The same can be said when analyzing a business plan. A trusted reviewer of any aspect of  business planning can ease tension during the creation process of these business plan.

                Steven Horowitz an editor for HipHopDx.com and YRB Magazine reviews music and music companies in both of these publications. Steven was a senior editor for Kiwibox Media Inc in which he posted multiple viral articles and discussed the marketing component of independent businesses in the hip-hop genre. Being capable of reviewing music products while also understanding the construction of independent labels marketing strategies makes Steven an excellent reviewer on a primary aspect of business plan development.

                Nic Brisbourne is an excellent writer who has written a couple articles designed to discuss and outline some components of reading a business plan. Nic is a director at WAYN and Tribold while being a holding partner at DFJ Esprit. He is considered an expert of consumer applications and services. Nic has highlighted the fact that many business plans are looking at forward progress and capital that has yet to be realize therefore making it a fiction story. He feels sure that investor should read these business plans with that in mind. Nic also feels that momentum is a key component to be looked over as the products/services come to fruition. Working to complete the goals aligned in your business plan are critical while remaining optimistic that things will happen that have not been planned. Being aware of this notion, while being willing to change to reflect unforeseen event can make a business plan stronger and more adaptable then competitors without such resilience.

                Business plans are like opinions since everybody appears to have one. Taking the time to properly document the events that create a successful business are paramount. Learning to take advantage of reviewers such as those mentioned in this article can leave a lasting impression on your business model in addition to your consumers.

Outside Sources:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/steven-j-horowitz/13/1b3/b11

http://bpexpertviews.blogspot.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/in/brisbourne

Hip-Hop Versus Pop Music

            The music world was set on fire when hip-hop emerged as a major player in the entertainment industry. As the years have passed and the golden era of hip-hop is now gone there has been a convergence of styles between hip-hop and pop music. Country music has remained one of the leading contenders in record sales while hip-hop and pop music have remained solid in recent years when compared to other genres. The new genre to have emerged from the combination of hip-hop and pop is simply called hip-pop. Gone are the days of pop and hip-hop artist being on different sides of the revenue spectrum. Now both sets of artist share similar lifestyles and instrumental templates.

            Some of the worlds biggest pop stars such as Brittany Spears and Rhianna often do music alongside hip-hop artist such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne to name a few. This emergence as a joint genre has produced multiple platinum hits and has sparked the debate of if mainstream hip-hop can maintain the underground sound without the pop appeal. There can be some success on the underground marketplace of hip-hop but even there the line between going pop can be blurred.

            Music acts such as “Black Eyed Peas” have exemplified a musical style that encompasses hip-hop traditional sounds with a clear-cut pop feel. This format of music has garnered them worldwide acclaim as elite artist who can fill a stadium to its capacity with little promotion needed. Maybe artist should refer to hip-hop as more then a subculture containing the elements of DJ'ing, graffiti, rapping, and breakdancing. More so hip-hop can be identified as the new popular form of music. In itself being a popular form of music makes that genre pop based on sheer definition.

            In the modern era of music I wonder how many young artist realize that making a hit record no longer entails sticking to your genre to receive acclaim from peers. With the completion of a joint genre now the goal should be simply to stand out amongst all competing music acts for the same consumer dollar. Now the competition for a hip-hop rapper is no longer the rapper from across town that is known for “spitting hot verses”. More so the competition might be a singer from around the corner who can dance and melt the hearts of their fans. Going forward these opposing musical acts should be identified as the barometer for comparable success.

A Thin Line Between Art and Professionalism

In the major entertainment industries many artist contribute substantially to their respective community’s growth. Some mega stars even go a step further and contribute to global causes to make a major difference. Currently artist from “201 THE MOVEMENT” in addition to multiple states in America are making a mix-tape to raise cancer awareness for the Relay for Life organization. There are many major stars that make charitable contributions ranging in the millions and this week WarStation TV will examine “50 Cent” platinum recording artist plus actor.

In 2011 Curtis Jackson (50 Cent) conceived an initiative on behalf of “Street Kings” energy drink to feed over 1 billion of the worlds population. The focus of this project is children in Africa dealing with possible starvation. The onset of this project deals with each sale of an energy shot directly forcing proceeds to feed one kid in Africa. To date this project has feed over 2.5 million children in Africa. Bold initiatives such as this can be seen as a relevant way to contribute to the global hunger cause while making a product that benefits many customers. WarStation TV appreciates the opportunity to highlight causes attended to by hip-hop mega stars.

Image Rights reserved: http://www.streetking.com/

The website Hip-HopDX.com posted an article explaining Curtis Jackson’s outlook on the “Street King” project detailing the pros and cons of such an initiative. Local artist can gain exposure in conjunction with fulfilling a cause while taking on a business venture such as Mr. Jackson has in this article. There are new and refreshing ways to make a difference while staying relevant in ones art form. In the near future it would be an amazing direction in marketing strategies to see more artist prove that they will contribute to relevant causes in their communities. Having the resources to make meaningful art also places entertainment entities in a secure environment to make differences beyond just record or video game sales.

Outside Sources:

Grant, D. (2007). ARTISTS AND CHARITY. American Artist, 71(777), 76. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Grant, D. (2007). ARTISTS AND CHARITY. American Artist, 71(777), 76. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.