From the Writer's Thoughts...

To Be or Not To Be…

I can remember the days where children had dreams of becoming an astronaut, firefighter, or a school teacher. But seems like now-a-days, you can find kids mimicking their favorite rapper, singer, or basketball player. Of coarse, as a parent you want to support your child in any dreams they have, but do you allow them to see reality at a young age or do you enable them to follow their dreams?

Personally, I have always seen myself working within the music or entertainment field. But at an early age, my parents talked to me about pursuing my dreams as well as having an education to support them. Being from a family of musically inclined people, I always dreamed of having a recording deal. But becoming more familiar with the “real world” my stance has changed to step more backstage and handle the business aspects. I believe that many overlook the amount of detail and leadership skills that are required to operate and manage an act.

Below is an infographic that I created to show you how the music industry has changed between the Major Record Labels/Artists and the Independent Record Labels/Artists. Take a moment to see if you can understand the meaning:

The picture explains how time and technology has shifted the growth and decline of major and independent labels/artists. As you can see, the majors were very suave and strong, and many “outsiders” wanted to become a part of that world. Indie labels/artists were around but not as apparent and seemed weak. They did not get a lot of support for distribution or radio play. Allowing technology to shift the market, social media sites and online streaming has open the flood gates of new artists and record companies. The majors are still pulling their weight, but it seems that indie labels/artists are reaping more from the changes.

What do you think? Are major labels/artists becoming the “outsiders’’?

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Grammy University

Being a part of Full Sail University, the school encourages students to dive into the creative arts. The past 2011 Grammy Awards spotlighted several Full Sail University Alumni that had been nominated on their works within the music industry. At the Grammy party, Grammy University had a table that included information about their association.

Grammy University is a offspring of the annual awards show that encompasses networking, educational programming, and performance opportunities for full-time college students. Any one who meets the scholarly requirements and are between the ages of 17-25 can join. Grammy University has twelve chapters across America. Cities and regions include:

·     Atlanta

·     Chicago

·     Florida

·     Los Angeles

·     Memphis

·     Nashville

·     New York

·     Pacific Northwest

·     Philadelphia

·     San Francisco

·     Texas

·     Washington D.C.

These chapters are involved with their perspective local music industries including artists, record labels, and recording studios. This network helps the students to prepare for the real world and a career in today’s music industry.

With the business plan that I am preparing for my Master’s Degree from Full Sail University, it would be wise to connect and engage in the different functions that the Grammy University offers. Becoming an independent artist and record label manager, partnering with Grammy University would allow me to network with individuals trying to break into the industry. Also, if my company created an event such as an open mic or concert is in a certain area, volunteers could be pulled from the network.

The objective of this association is to help enhance individuals who have a strong interest in working in the music industry. There are three different membership lengths and charges:

·     1 Year Extended Student Membership ~ $25

·     3 Year Until Graduation Membership ~ $50

·     4 Year Until Graduation Membership ~ $50

Although I have never been to a function of theirs, I look forward to involving myself with them in the future. On April 6, 2011, the Florida Chapter will be having a GRAMMY SHOWCASE. Over 300 members auditioned for the contest and six (6) finalist were chosen and will be showcased. The finalist will be competing for a valuable artist development package and granted the opportunity to perform in front of music industry leaders. This event will be held at The Social in Orlando, Florida.

For more information about joining click here.