IN STORES NOW - THE SCHOLAR

DOWNLOAD HERE AND GET FREE IMAGES OF SYCHOPATH'S JOURNEY TO THE COMPLETION OF THIS EPIC RELEASE!!!

NEW JERSEY HONOR AWARD FOR SYCHOPATH

New Single from Sychopath off "The Scholar"

"See What Eye See" by Sychopath Now on Amazon

See What Eye See by SyChOpAtH

The Power Hour - DJ Taz and LadiLoxx Interview with Jason Williams

Download or Stream here --->>>  Jason Williams on THE POWER HOUR

Check out Jason Williams aka Sychopath's interview on the THE POWER HOUR with DJ Taz and LadiLoxx. Jason talks about his Relay for Life initiative, current music releases from WarStation plus TrackDiamondz, and more!!!!

Going Digital

            It’s amazing how much things have changed. No more VHS tapes after DVD changed the movie game. Now its appears there is a transition from DVD and Blu-Ray disc to streaming movies. Once the tape cassette reigned supreme in the music industry, but that was swiftly overcome by the world-renowned CD format. Now the MP3 is the wave of the future as CD sales have dwindled annually. It appears that the transition to going digital has also taken place in the video game industry. Sony and Microsoft have made digitally downloadable content a fixture of the next generation gaming systems the PS3 and Xbox 360.

            The handle held gaming market deploys physical copies as the primary anchor to that market. However, as more powerful devices such as the PSP Go and PS Vita come on the market a transition to downloadable full games is beginning swiftly. The PSP Go for example strictly worked with digital content and discarded physical copies completely. Similarly the PS Vita is expected to be a digital system primarily. As mobile phones become more effective at being a complete entertainment center the cost of going digital is minimizing manufacturing cost by the day.  Most new generation phones stream movies, play A-list gaming titles, and connect to a consumer's previously downloaded music content with ease.

            Having a platform to provide your products digitally will allow your consumers to access your material on the go. One of the few downsides of digitally downloading video games is the time that it takes to download a graphical superior gaming experience. Streaming movies can be handled efficiently by most mobile devices, as the same can be said of music downloads.

            Going digital does not mean your physical products will have to be discarded. Yet a smooth transition to the inevitable should be expected and prepared for accordingly. This strategy can possibly set your company up to present its products on an international scale while lowering shipping cost in addition to manufacturing expenses. Digital sounds fancy in comparison to physical, but expect digital to become the norm over multiple product platforms.

Outside Sources:

http://ries.typepad.com/ries_blog/2011/09/netflix-strategy-is-right-and-wrong.html

The Full Sail University Experience

We often come to forks in the road during our growth academically. In my personal experience I felt the need to explore creative techniques to adapt to the new business landscape. Already possessing a Bachelors of Science in Accounting a solid understanding of business mechanics were engrained in my strategies since my undergraduate days. A passion to obtain a well rounded business background; I applied to Full Sail University and decided to aim for a Masters in Entertainment Business.

Media Literacy and Research Methodologies was the first course I took on my journey at Full Sail University. Basic projects such as building a professional learning network were paramount throughout my journey at Full Sail and beyond. Within the first week of this course we sought the advice of professionals in our future industries. Using social media and other online tools we were able to connect directly to experts and peers.

A key to this course was the introduction of the APA format for writing papers. This format is the writing technique that is accepted universally when writing scholarly material. This preparatory introduction to APA became beneficial in nearly every course that I took in my masters program.

How to interpret leadership was a core value that I gained from Executive Leadership. Currently in my career I’ve implemented several principles learned in this course. I seek to lead many in my current position in addition to my future endeavors. To get people to follow you in the business world a leader must be able to navigate a sea of emotional people. Understanding the dynamics that work interpersonally while getting results to foster your follower’s beliefs can be an entertaining challenge.

One project in particular that peeked my interest during this Executive Leadership course was the first assessment project the professor assigned. The instructor provided some case study type information. Then we determined which law or which concept should be applied. Applying Greene’s Law or Maxwell concepts proved beneficial to my understanding of leadership overall.

Below see a video created by my team during my Project and Team Management course:



In my next course Business Storytelling and Brand Development I learned some important factors to build and maintain my company's brand. Implementing the use of certain colors when designing a logo, or determining the strength of the name of a product are a couple of vital lessons learned during this course. Building a tagline that covers your products identity in a few words was a challenge that was worth its difficulty. Early in this course students presented a company overview that became a staple of the business plan that students constructed in later courses.

The brand development aspect of this course revealed the impact of competitors driving your company. Until this course I never realized the direct correlation between our company's strategies coupled with competitive outlook. Being introduce to a standard of acknowledging competition and devising a differentiation between your company is paramount. My company brand was built primarily on beliefs and a mantra that was designed for this course in particular.

Entertainment Business Finance (EBF) became the first course in which I felt my comfort zone. As an accountant for one of the largest journal publishers in the world during my time at Full Sail, I had a clear understanding of finance. Using new tools to look at smaller business was a delight in contrast to the massive accounts I handled professionally. Currently as I'm writing this post I have a 3.95 GPA as I wait for my final course grades to post. However, EBF is the class that I excelled in when compared with other courses of different disciplines.

The break-even analysis and pro forma project I completed in EBF were backbones for future financial projects pertaining to my business plan. Most courses after EBF in my program's timeline insisted on some knowledge of our company’s finances. Having templates to build additional assumptions for our business plan was ultimately helpful. By the time I made it to this course I had a professional blog that grew in viewership significantly. Looking back to this place in my academic timeline at Full Sail this is when I realized I indeed was a scholar again. I had a sense of being prepared to be active in creating businesses and not just analyzing them.

Never in my previous academic history did I have a course that brought about interaction as much as Negotiations and Deal Making. Every week the instructor paired classmates together to partake in a role-play negotiation. These negotiations would vary in industry, dynamics, and roles. Each week would bring a new challenge with a new counterpart. This role-playing tool was helpful in keeping us in tune with the awkwardness of consistently negotiating in the business world.

As mentioned before my increased viewership on my blog increased steadily and I decided to do an article on a leader in the entertainment industry. Up to today this article is one of my personal favorites so you should read it at the link below:

Follow a Leader!! And Get the Deal Done!!

WarStation TV Exclusive Interview

“BI Bang”

http://www.warstationtv.com/2011/06/follow-leader-and-get-deal-done.html

The next course in my programs timeline was Product and Artist Management. This course seemed different in structure to some of the other courses. There seemed to be an emphasis on working with others to make your business work. Looking at products or artist that make your company profitable took the front seat in this class’s ideology.

The students designed an investor pitch that helped give us the experience to speak on behalf of our products/services. Also we created a mock live event for the artist of our choice. This mock live event was a great way to work outside of the constraints of my particular business. This allowed me to learn an additional tool that will be useful in my future business interactions.

It’s with great glee that I move on to Advance Entertainment Law. The course that broke my perfect GPA and the only course that I did not receive a perfect letter grade. I guess I can settle with the "A" that I got for completing this course but I feel that my instructor was consistently strict with the parameters for success in this class. As a lawyer my instructor had an amazing attention to detail. She pointed out minor areas that I required growth to be a perfect student. Needless to say I enjoyed this course with the direct look at legal matters within the entertainment business.

The IP Audit project I completed during this particular course is still a template I look at when making decisions for my company post completion of this program. Creating a written document of intellectual properties that my company owns was good in theory but essential in documenting properties that I’ve created. We also filled out forms for copyrights, trademarks, and company registrations during Advance Entertainment Law.

Entertainment Media Publishing and Distribution provided a business plan strategy project that is helpful in describing what my company does and how it is structured. Straying into aspects of marketing products, I created a detailed video game description that I used for my company. This project was the first time I was able to detail all the moving parts of the video game outlined in my company's business plan.

My instructor in this course provided multiple sample templates. In particular the sample press kit that we were given in this course will be used for future reference when creating a press kit. A sample document that I used in this course outlined the steps in creating a detailed game description.

An extremely helpful course during my masters program at Full Sail was Digital Marketing. The current technological era has forced small business to use the Internet to compete with bigger companies. Using social media was one major aspect highlighted during my time of instruction in this course.

One project of great interest to me at the time was my Marketing Plan Proposal A. In which I detailed my competitors, business concept, audience, marketing campaign and that campaign's budget. Students completed two portions of a marketing plan that showed each segment of marketing for my company.

The culmination of my masters program at Full Sail University was designed to help us create a thorough business plan. Business Plan Development expanded the information that students learned throughout the program. At this point we learned first hand how to build our business plan to be most attractive to potential investors. Being able to identify the structure in which to write our business plan was paramount to this program's completion. A core project during this course was our differentiation assignment. Which simply allowed us to magnify the differences between our company and its competitors.

The last course in Full Sail University’s Entertainment Business Masters Program is Final Project Business Plan Development. Building on philosophies learned in our previous courses students identified how to write out a business plan in multiple ways. Whether using hardcore financials or a virtual keynote presentation, students are now able to reach investors in different ways. I contend to not only to be a scholar based on my education at Full Sail University but I’ve now become a creative business leader.

Your Identity – Your Brand

We are constantly selling ourselves. A job interview, a first date, or when selling a CD we are always marketing ourselves to those that we come in contact with. The Internet has conveniently changed the way in which we market ourselves to the world at large. Preparing for this change and the way our image is viewed is a minor challenge. Allowing your company’s brand to be perceived with the same principles that we would like our personal image to be conveyed can be a daunting task. Maintaining core principles and not leaning from those principles makes ethical issue management habitually. Several experts in the entertainment industry stick to their personal philosophies for how they review business plans and products.

As mentioned in by article “Review of You!!!” Nic Brisbourne is firm in his belief that many business plans are written in a fiction tone. I’ve made sure to development my personal business plans with reality as the major backdrop. For example having a start-up company with 15 employees may sound simple but implementing a project using 5 employees is a sure deal in comparison. Making a definitive production scale based on 5 employees would also provide a more realistic production output in many cases since business plan checkpoints can be derailed at many points. This is just an example of miscues that could possibly lead to a non-realistic assumption of possibilities for your start up business.

Based on my experience in the music industry far to often independent entities insist on using artist approval as means to determine a catalogs success. However, the artist is merely a producer of the material and someone must relay the brand of the overall company other then a creative individual in this process. It is essential to appreciate the artist’s effort in making the creative work but the company must make decisions based on the companies overarching philosophy. Customer satisfaction should always be a deciding factor while constructing and carrying out your company’s brand identity more so then any other factor.

I see my income statement as being the most important portion of my business plan to a prospective investor. In some cases they investor may not be an expert in that particular industry. In such a case having clear financial data will allow an outside investor to make a decision based on cold hard financial information. It’s paramount to display these figures ethical and to an accepted standard so practically any investor can understand your companies future prognosis.


Outside Sources:

Finch, B. (2010). How to Write a Business Plan. Kogan Page.

Buzza, J., & Mosca, J. B. (2009). Create The Plan, Work The Plan: A Look At Why The Independent Business Owner Has Trouble Calling A Franchisee A True Entrepreneur. American Journal Of Business Education, 2(7), 113-118.

WarStation TV – Review of You!!!!! http://www.warstationtv.com/2011/10/review-of-you.html

HIP-HOP LOCKOUT'S Relay for Life Team Page

HIP-HOP LOCKOUT'S Relay for Life Team Page. Click link above for details to join the team.

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.

Why You Need A Manager

            The joy of being a professional music artist comes with tons of hard work and credential building. In todays saturated music market the level of competition is enormous. Independent labels sprout like weeds on a summer day as more and more creative individuals embark on the path of musical success. Advances in technology have allowed musicians to create material in the blink of an eye in comparison to decades past. Furthermore, the need to work as a full-time musician has dwindled with the influx of tools to speed up the music creation process. Part-time schedules, typical family life in addition to having another full or part-time job have raised the need for a management team to handle the numerous business affairs of an artist.

            A competent music manager would likely handle multiple duties from business matters, booking agent, promoter, and personal assistant duties to name a few. Couldn’t you use help in these areas? If so then you should hire a manager today! Oh, but I forgot money is tight and there is no way that you could conceivably pay another individual while your barely making ends meet. Well there is no need to get overly excited since most managers are paid on a commission basis. Typically 15% of relevant net income is the commission fee, so a manager would not get paid until you get paid based on your contractual agreement. This alleviates any competing interest and you will know once your manager is contractual bound to your success that when you make money he/she will make money as well.

            As with any entity that you contract to work for you there should be a solid working relationship. You may not love your manager but you should respect the job that they can do for your music career. Another music industry standard for contracts with managers is to have a length of 4 to 12 months. This allows for flexibility especially in the early stages of your relationship with that respective manager/management team.

            Understanding your limitations is a vital part of analyzing your music’s financial potential. Viewing a manager as a part of that success is key. Often in the independent music scene managers are considered leeches. I think after reading WarStation TV’s article, you will realize that an effective manager will leech others for your and their benefit.

 Outside Sources:

Greene, L. A. (2006). so you want to be a music manager?. Cosmo Girl, 8(6), 114. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

 Oliver, P. G. (2010). The DIY artist: issues of sustainability within local music scenes. Management Decision, 48(9), 1422-1432. doi:10.1108/00251741011082161

 Sutherland, K. (2008). SPIN CITY. BC Business, 36(12), 99-106. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Legal Aspects of the Entertainment Industry

   Often the legality of the entertainment industry is overlooked by up and coming artist. It can be something as small as a sample clearance not being completed that can land a new artist in court for copyright infringement. There is a similar case in regards to Michigan rapper Jon Connor. Jon released a tribute song to fallen rapper MC Breed. However, Jon made a major legal mistake. He placed this tribute song on ITunes for sale without getting permission or clearance from the proper authorities.

            MC Breed’s widow Mrs. Natasha Breed filed suit against Jon Connor stating that Jon used portions of an original cut from one of MC Breed’s previous works without getting approval. Accordant to S. Horowitz (2011) Natasha Breed believes that Jon is profiting off of MC Breed’s music material. She totally disagrees with the assumption that he could do so without getting the proper permissions.

            Lets take a look at a major artist that has legal issues to handle as of late. Trey Songz one of the top R&B acts in the world currently has found himself along with his major label in legal hot waters. In late 2010 through early 2011 Trey Songz had a hit single title “Bottoms Up” featuring Nicky Minaj. Doc Mob Records in addition to IHip-Hop Music are suing Trey Songz plus Atlantic Records for 18 million dollars. Atlantic Records is not the only co-defendant named in the mentioned lawsuit. Two of Trey Songz’s managers are named as well for using the song in an advertising campaign. Based on the information I gathered from a Hip-HopDX.com report, this is a typical case of a producer makes a beat initially. Then another producer refines it, next takes it to a label without making sure that the initial producer is credited. I believe that when major labels work this way it sets a horrible tone, and discredits the independent producers. Hopefully the plaintiffs will collect a portion of the lawsuit amount their seeking if these claims are indeed fact.

            Lastly, lets discuss Jay-Z’s successful legal battle against a chef that appeared on the Hells Kitchen TV show. One of the winning contestants from that show used his prize earnings to open a restaurant titled Rockafella in 2006. Entertainment mogul Jay-Z has owned the Rock-A-Fella trademark for nearly two decades now. Courts in the UK ruled that the owner of Rockafella restaurant would be allowed to use the name in the UK for their restaurant and catering business. However, eventually an appellate court overruled the trial court's decision to allow them to use the trademarked name. Since that time the restaurant has closed down. In cases like this Jay-Z having a strong legal team overseas impacted the appeals process. Although the industries are a little different, I agree with the appellate courts decision. Jay-Z may want to create his own restaurant brand overseas using his labels trademark and this decision makes it to where his competitors would not carry the same likeness.

Outside Sources:

MC Breed's Wife Suing Jon Connor For Copyright Infringement

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16236/title.mc-breeds-wife-suing-jon-connor-for-copyright-infringement

Trey Songz Sued Over "Bottoms Up" Track

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.13981/title.trey-songz-sued-over-bottoms-up-track

Jay-Z Wins Legal Battle Against Rockafella Restaurant

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14154/title.jay-z-wins-legal-battle-against-rockafella-restaurant

ANONYMOUS vs. SONY??? Or SONY vs. YOU!!!!

         Anonymous a well known lose band of hackers has denounced claims that they are responsible for PS Network outages. PS3 owners have become innocent bystanders in a long going battle between Sony and Anonymous. Sources close to both sides reveal a story of propaganda from the other with little remorse for the PS3 Online community. It must be said the Anonymous has spoken for the gaming community in many instances but is often considered friend plus foe by gamers worldwide.

         Earlier this year Anonymous was noted as the group responsible for lagging PS3 servers then quickly retorting the success of the attack on the servers. The reason given by some Anonymous backers was that they did not seek to hurt the gamers in addition too wanting to revise their plan of strategy in the on going battle with Sony. Can a group powerful enough to infiltrate the Sony servers totally bring it down? Shouldn’t Anonymous be given the benefit of the doubt? Is jail time essential for whomever is responsible for this outage? I’ll answer this last question simply, NO!! I’d rather my tax dollars go to the reform of these intelligent individuals whomever they maybe then throwing them in a jail cell. My sentiment is in the minority as a quick visit to any the gaming forum will show.

         Stay tune for more information throughout the weekend.

Social Media and the End of Gender

TED.com Speaker Johanna Blakley

          

           The age-old adage still applies to most marketing plans. You must know your customer to advertise your products successfully. Or is this truly the case in the new social media age? Can advertisers confirm the demographic of every Internet or social media consumer? Is there a chance that little Bobby has signed in to his dads amazon account to purchase a Nintendo DS? These are all relevant question in the recent technological era that all current business will have to confront.

Johanna Blakley a TED.com speaker proposed some innovative ways to view the current landscape in here speaker presentation “Social Media and the End of Gender”. The focus of her brief lecture dealt with many of the question I’ve posed in this article. The old media (TV, newspapers) have for years depended on demographic information to aid in their prospective marketing ventures. Nonetheless, in the new economic climate companies have swayed towards focusing on potential consumer’s likes to determine marketing campaigns. Being aware of what sites a viewer frequents or what sort of advertising they click on can be extremely beneficial more so then demographic data. Social media has driven this train of thought amongst business experts.

As noted by Johanna there is sufficient data that quantifies women as the primary social media user. This cognition will direct the way that companies approach marketing focuses in the near future. Johanna’s approach is clear and concise. I appreciate her candor and expertise in matters of statistical data that doesn’t conform to the old standard. This innovative viewpoint can help new businesses employ effective strategies to compete against better-known entities.

The passion that Johanna displays shows in her charisma while presenting to the TED.com community. The manner is which she translates core data to common wording allows the listeners to grasp her concepts easily. Directing the listeners to a new marketing focus placing women, as the primary gender of advertising should not be a shock unless the issue of equality lies within the reader. We all must recognize as I have in WarStation TV’s marketing plan, women are the first-string gender to frequent social media and dominate that space.

Outside Sources:

TED.com Johanna Blakley: Social Media & The End of Gender

http://www.ted.com/talks/johanna_blakley_social_media_and_the_end_of_gender.html

THE POWER OF ASCAP AND ITS MEMBERS

           The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) is a performing rights organization (PRO) that monitors radio, music label, and other business uses of copyrighted material. ASCAP is a not for profit organization but is responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for their members. Personally, I’m (Jason Williams) an ASCAP member and have been since 2000 as a writer and publisher. This association has over 300,000 members that are comprised of songwriters, recording artist, and publishers throughout the world. Technically the members run ASCAP’s operations.

            ASCAP has been viewed as one of the most powerful associations in the entertainment business. Using a tracking system ASCAP collects data on radio plays, public performances, commercial usage etc. to calculate a dollar value owed to its respective members. Many instances in the past decades have shown ASCAP’s vigor to collect payment on behalf of its members.

            In the current technological climate ASCAP has faced numerous challenges, primarily in regards to piracy in addition to seeking payment for its members from mobile device usage. Recently, PRO associations have gone as far as to seek retribution from individual mobile phone user for playing copyrighted material aloud through ringtones in public places. A simple action such as receiving a phone call initiating a ringtone on a public bus could be a charge based on ASCAP’s assumption. According to figures published by the Entertainment Software Association (2010) in 2009 there where 4.6 billion mobile phone users versus 1 billion in 2002 (¶ 10). This dilemma has challenged ASCAP, its members and other PRO associations such as Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI).

            There are numerous programs ASCAP has implemented to help businesses in the entertainment industry. Awards, grants, and scholarships are awarded through the ASCAP Foundation. Composers are awarded recognition as well as financial supplements annually. To accelerate the process of gaining new innovative members ASCAP has instituted numerous programs to help high school and universities mold entertainers of the future. Notably this powerhouse association has implemented America Scores, Children Will Listen, Music In The Schools, and Creativity In The Classroom programs across America to foster positive music learning practices in America’s youth.

            The marketing campaign of ASCAP is expansive and covers nearly all aspects of advertising. TV Commercials, radio spots, Internet ads to name a few are consistent landmarks of ASCAPS presence to the public. Social media has also felt the impact of this same marketing campaign. ASCAP is relevant on twitter @ASCAP and tweets relevant entertainment resources in addition to workshop information for members.

A Publishing Board, Writer Board, Committee of Boards, and Board of Review comprise ASCAP’s main legislative bodies. These bodies are considered the Board of Directors that is made up of writers and publishers that are elected every 2 years. The Committee of Boards is broken down into several committees that have individual focuses. The ASCAP Board of Review is an independent section of members from the previously mention boards/committees that oversees any claims of unjust practices by ASCAP’s leading committees.

            In the near future ASCAP will continue to be the voice of multiple entertainers. As technology advances its fair to assume that ASCAP will stay relevant and cater to their member’s needs. Maintaining an aggressive approach can appear destructive in certain situations, it does however assure that ASCAP will be a strong association in the current technological landscape.

Outside Sources:

ASCAP Board of Directors Page - http://www.ascap.com/about/board-intro.aspx

Video Games & the Economy

Retrieved 4/2/11: http://www.theesa.com/gamesindailylife/economy.asp

To Be Independent or Not To Be Independent? That is the Question!

~Exclusive Interview~

Marlena Cooper – CEO- TrackDiamondz LLC

            In a time of over saturated Hip-Hop the underground component has become highly competitive. Many artists seek to become major stars with the use of independent record labels and publishing companies. Often an exuberance to lead in the music industry gets thwarted due to the hostile atmosphere surrounding those seeking success. The music business can be a source of enormous income but more often then not will result in a financial loss on the independent level. The music business is better suited for individuals who can focus on the big picture while balancing financial goals.

            This week Warstation TV has caught up with Marlena Cooper CEO of independent record label TrackDiamondz LLC. Marlena has executive produced plus marketed several music projects since 2006, in Georgia, The Metro Area, Nebraska, and Europe. Most notably her 2009 venture, “Grammy Family Chapter 1” featured gold artist Shyheim, Killa Army, Sychopath, Twelve and Blacmaff. This full-length album produced singles that landed on the Underground Charts in France. TrackDiamondz has recently released singles in France, Japan, and the United States in 2010 plus charted on Japan’s Underground Charts in 2009 as well.

            Marlena is managing a mix-tape project for TrackDiamondz set to release April 2011 in France then shortly thereafter in United States. According to Marlena,  “This will be a mix-tape that reaches out to all music genre listeners” in regards to the music project tentatively titled, “The Grind Don’t Stop”.  She continues, “Timing is important, but giving the fans a product they can enjoy is the number one priority “.  Principles that Marlena has displayed professionally have given her confidence in customer satisfaction when managing a project. She is widely considered one of the most influential female executives working in the Northern New Jersey Area independently.

            Budgeting an independent project is important and constrained due to realistic financial possibilities. Accordant to Marlena,” The presentation of the music packaging and artwork are the largest financial hurdles”. In the modern era of independent labels, production is no longer a huge financial burden. Typically the production, engineering, and writing are kept in house to minimize the cost of creating the actual music. Distribution continues to be the constant problem posed to publishers and record labels on the smaller levels.  Marlena noted the importance of social media in her exclusive interview with Warstation TV’s creator Jason Williams. Marlena said, “My camp is strong, they’ve helped me evolve, but social media allowed me the avenue to link up with my current producer then place my products on the global market”.

            When deciding on whether to be an independent entrepreneur, a business man/woman must balance the benefits of that approach. The creativity allowed in smaller companies can be great but if the financial backing isn’t apparent a project may never get out to the masses. Many great ideas can be placed on the drawing board but a financial artist must weave the appropriate results for prosperity. Consumers should be the targets of all decisions made during any projects inception, catering to their needs can allow for the financial gain to fund future projects.

Outside Sources:

Marlena Cooper CEO of TrackDiamondz LLC. Blayze University Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=obH6nXQRhV0

TrackDiamondz LLC. MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/trackdiamondz

Tiny – Sumthin2Groove2 Single, TrackDiamondz LLC. http://juicygangradio.com/tiny-sumthing-2-groove-2/

TrackDiamondz Facebook Video Content: http://www.facebook.com/?page=1&sk=messages&tid=1820959454531

Warstation TV Exclusive Interview with Marlena Cooper CEO of TrackDiamondz LLC. Posted by Jason Williams 3/6/11 retrieved from www.warstationtv.blogspot.com

"Teamwork Intro" By The Managers - Full Sail University

Online Strategies For Publishing Companies

       Online piracy has forced publishers to initiate strategies to secure digital music. Companies expected to be compensated for their music over encrypted downloads. Piracy has constrained compensation for music and companies have struggled to obtain adequate safeguards against it. Online music piracy is one of the key factors in the industry not progressing properly. Effective online strategies are essential for music publishing companies to combat illegal online downloads.
     Large and small publishing companies have different online strategies. Budget and workforce determine the appropriate way to approach this marketplace. Social media such as Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube have given independent publishing companies expanded exposure. Products, services, and goods can be sold on the Internet and placed in the global market. Social media services allow smaller publishers to compete against larger publishing companies while incurring minimal cost. A bigger market share still places large publishers in command of most of the product etc. that gets to the masses. A balance of innovation and budget occurs when different size companies assist in product development online.
     Video game publishers rely on social media to reach out to their audience. Online communities have been implemented into many video game experiences. Multiplayer has added an additional layer to the gaming experience. Games often have separate maps with cooperative play amongst gamers allowing for longer product life. This in theory can be effective for building brand loyalty, but extended play on one title can lower future game sales.
     Online strategies have become the focus for many publishing companies in 2011 and beyond. A business plan in the current economic time depends on an online infrastructure. Connecting with consumers has become easier then in the past, marketing research can be done consistently and with lower cost then in previous economic periods. Independent companies can present their products globally and co-exist with larger entities. Despite secure encryptions initiated for digital downloads piracy has effected the digital distribution of music and video games tremendously. Publishers have to consistently adapt to the online marketplace to increase revenue.




Outside Sources:
Christman, E. (2009). TOP 10 TRENDS OF THE DECADE. Billboard, 121(51), 142.

Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Deahl, R. (2010). Audio's Ups and Downs. Publishers Weekly, 257(26), 17. Retrieved from

EBSCOhost.

Video Game Music Genre...Help Wanted???

         Activision one of the most successful publishing companies has recently announced they’re discontinuing the DJ Hero franchise. Along with Guitar Hero (GH), development is expected to cease in regards to these franchises. The video game music genre has lacked solid earnings the past few quarters, GH allowed players to mimic Rock and Roll/Heavy Metal artist. The gaming experience can be described as music is played along with a visual interpretation of the movements on a plastic guitar replacing the games normal controller. The GH video game experience captivated hardcore and casual gamers worldwide. Guitar Hero, once an undisputed business success has currently been reduced to lackluster remade reiterations. Critics removed their stamp of approval on the Guitar Hero video game releases towards the end of the past decade and sales steadily declined.

DJ Hero, the newer of the franchises introduced a radical spin on the GH experience, gamers now emulated DJ’s, spinning music in the Hip-Hop, R&B, Dance, Trance and Pop genres. Game Informer Magazine voted DJ Hero and DJ Hero 2 music genre video game of the year in each games respective release year. However, the business success of the initial Guitar Heroes could not be matched remotely by either franchise there after. Furthering the financial blow www.gameindustry.biz reported that Activision’s shares have dropped 8% since the announcement to disband development of these 2 video game franchises.

I see the departure of these franchises as an opportunity to innovate within the video game music genre. Other music genre games exist such as Just Dance, Sing Star, and Michael Jackson’s franchises to name a few. Yet, competition has been reduced by the removal of such titan game titles like GH and DJ Hero, smaller publishing companies and developers can now fill a void left within the video game music genre. Patiently we all wait for the arrival of a needed addition to a declining game genre.

Outside Sources:

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14023/title.activision-says-goodbye-to-guitar-hero--dj-hero-franchise

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-02-11-activision-blizzard-share-price-falls-8-percent