Musicpress

The Heretic’s Comments: George Howard (a Berklee Professor of Music Business/Management) contributed an article describing strategies you can use to make your music successful (whatever success means to you) for the upcoming year of 2012.

We have provided a direct link below to Mr. Howard’s article. It will take you about 10 minutes to read. Also (as we always recommend you do) if you have time to read the comments following the article make the effort to do so. In a lot of instances you can learn more from reading the comments, than you do from reading the article itself.

http://blog.tunecore.com/2011/12/7-ways-to-increase-your-odds-of-success-in-the-music-business-in-2012.html?utm_medium=email&ref=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=newseletter12_15_11

Closing Comments:

Don’t chase someone else’s musical style!!! I call this the flavor of the month syndrome. Instead, in 2012 make the determination to create the music that personally moves you and brings you enjoyment as opposed to creating music simply because you think it will sell (but it doesn’t move you)!!!

Have the courage to believe………..in YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

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The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: Vinny Ribas of Indie Connect Magazine provides some excellent insight to why you might not have been successful as you want to be in selling your music online.

A direct link to the Vinny’s post appears directly below:

http://indieconnectmagazine.com/2011/11/indie-artist-tip-day-buying-music-online/

Closing Comments:

One of the most tragic mistakes I see recording artist constantly making is thinking that creating great music will cause people to discover them.

It is only partially true!!!

It is a given that you must record and deliver great music, but you also have to make great decisions in mapping out a plan which will allow the widest possible fan-base and customer-base to discover your music.

That being said, if YOU are not good with marketing and promoting YOURSELF these days, YOU will have a very short music career as well as not make any money.

Long gone are the days when you can just be a great songwriter, singer or musician and leave the responsibility of promoting yourself to a Record Label. YOU are YOUR own Record Label, and YOU better realize that YOU are going to have to get out their and kiss some babies and shake some hands if YOU are going to make impact.

YOU are in a business of relationships….if they don’t feel connected to YOU….YOUR music will be ignored…and they won’t spend money with YOU or YOUR products!!!

Take time to read Vinny’s post. It will help you organize your efforts in generating money online!!!

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comment: On the back of muscling Congress into voting favorably to relax Media ownership rules in 2003, now the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is petitioning the Supreme Court to grant approval for a single media company or organization to own newspapers and television and radio stations in urban markets. There are statutes in place currently that prohibit this monopolist land grab.

Closing Comments:

We must aggressively fight against NAB’s further effort to consolidate media control on behalf of its member companies (Pimp the Game!!!).

Just think, if the Supreme Court rules favorably toward the NAB’s argument…that will mean that the SAME Conglomerate can own the primary newspaper(s), television station(s) and radio station(s) in the same urban market.

In other words, one Conglomerate can amass (legally) the supreme power to tell individuals in the creative community…it is either our way or the highway.

So if you pist off the wrong executive at the Conglomerate on the one other hand, or on the other hand a representative of the Conglomerate decides that they don’t like or that they are offended by your music, book, movie, stage play, live show, painting, exhibit, etc…consolidated ownership rules mean that they will have even greater power to use the media to silence you!!!

Email/write/call your congressman/congresswoman and tell them to protest this attempted land grab by the NAB. They are stealing our Free Speech Rights just like a thief in the night, but they are using the law instead!!!

Wake Up!!! Wake Up!!! Wake Up!!!

More info on the NAB’s activities to petition the Supreme Court appears below:

http://broadcastengineering.com/news/nab_supreme_court_ownership_rules_12082011/

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: One of the most frustrating things I deal with day in and day out are producers/songwriters/composers who have compiled tons and tons of original music content but just sit on it.

Why do I use the word frustrate, because many of these individuals are saving their music for one particular project or one particular artist or for the number one hit single they think is coming.

As a creative person myself, I understand that certain songs we compose are indeed very special and we place such songs in our special vault, but if you are wanting to turn your song library into cash-flow, you simply cannot afford to sit on your music (to essentially be for your own exclusive personal listening pleasure).

Music can only generate cashflow if it is used and heard by others.

With the above as our backdrop, I found an excellent article describing options and strategies on getting your music catalog included in various music libraries whose sole purpose is to find work for songs. Additionally, the article provides an excellent explanation for how to set up your own music libraries for licensing (cash-flowing) your catalog. The article is authored by Michael Borges who I read regularly through Linked In. The link appears directly below:

http://www.licensequote.com/blog/index.php/2011/08/how-experienced-music-creators-can-increase-their-sales-revenues/

Closing Comments:

Make the decision that if you are constantly investing the time to create original music content that your creativity has value. Despite the attack the creative music community is under from the freemium models being thrown at us, if you have quality content and have the courage to put a value to it….place it out in the product stream and let the marketplace work for you. Quality is the key determinant. You must have professional grade music in its structure, recording, mixing, mastering and delivery. Remember, you are not competing with local songwriters/producers you are familiar with….instead, you should see yourself competing against world class composers and songwriters. That being said…be you…not them….there is only one you and no one can be a better you…than YOU!!!!

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: We wanted to share a very popular post from Mike Masnick  of TechDirt describing why even major label artists rarely make any money from Album Sales. Mike’s post will take you about 10 minutes to read and we have provided the link directly below. Let us know your thoughts/comments.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100712/23482610186.shtml

Closing Comments:

The individuals that the entire industry is built on (artists/musical groups/bands/songwriters/composers/producers) are getting paid peanuts in some select cases, but in the vast majority of deals, artists end up being upside down to the Record Label and walk away with no money and no music….just fleeting fame.

The Major Label Game is not designed for you to make money.The Major Label Game is designed for you to make the Major Label money and then they chunk you some peanuts after they have fuzzy math(ed) you to death.

Unfortunately, these arrangements won’t change as long as Artists/Songwriters/Musical Groups/Bands/Producers keep biting and scratching to see who will be first in line to secure the next “big” slave deal.

One Final Note:

The lawyers, managers and accountants you might be introduced to represent you (in a lot of instances) have ongoing business relationships with the major labels you are paying them to protect you from. Always know that when a major deal is signed there is underneath table monies and kickbacks if your team is more loyal to the Major Label than to you.

Let us know your thoughts.

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: Steve Albini providing wisdom on how Recording Studios and Engineers can survive in the music game that has been turned upside down.  Let us know your thoughts!!!

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: Chris Payne at Billboard.com has written an informative post concerning 10 do’s and don’ts in using the blogging program Tumblr. We have provided a direct link to Chris’ article later in this post. Fortunately, more and more artists/songwriters/musical groups/bands are finally understanding and accepting the importance of blogging to help build connection points between their music and their fanbase. Tumblr is a great blogging vehicle, because the platform is easy to setup and you can literally began blogging and posting within minutes of opening a free account.

Closing Comments:

In looking at Blogging, we want you to keep the following in mind:

1) Once you start, don’t stop!! If you get fans following your blog, you can’t disconnect. Keep the content coming. I know that this is easier said than done, but it’s a fact of life if you are going to achieve a positive outcome from your blogging activities.

2) Develop a thick skin!! Know that when you start a blog, most people will ignore you. This can be quite discouraging, especially when you put your heart and soul into coming up with great and inventive content. Despite the lack of initial response, however, don’t quit. Keep plowing forward. People are looking at your content even if they are not commenting. Stay consistent!!!

3) Keywords!!! Began understanding how Keywords and tags can help get you higher rankings with search engines such as google, bing, etc. There is a wealth of information on this on the web. Just type in something like  “Understanding Keywords” to get yourself up to speed on this very important topic.

4) Create a Universe around your Music/Product!! If you are using your blog to develop a connection between your music/products and your fanbase, then make sure to create an inviting environment for readers to feel comfortable in getting to know more about you, your music and your products. This means that you don’t hard sell your readers. Instead, you provide them with informative insight and information about why you do what you do, what you have done in the past, what you are doing now, and what you plan to do in the future. In other words, focus on building relationships and not just customers (who will come and up). You have to develop a core fan base and the only way to accomplish this goal is to build relationships and building solid relationships takes an investment of time and effort on both sides of the equation.

A link to Chris’ article appears below. Let us know your thoughts.

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/indies/musicians-on-tumblr-ten-dos-and-don-ts-from-1005541772.story

f you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: A short post to remind songwriters and composers that limiting your entire creative focus to always working on your next single or album is not wise , especially as it relates to generating cash-flow.

Why do I say this? Okay I will answer the question, but before doing so, I want you to think about the following:

Keep in mind that (at its heart) one of music’s most powerful qualities is how effectively it attaches itself to certain moments in our lives.

Once a particular song is attached to a life event, like a special date with a girl or guy, our first kiss, a special night, or special event, that song sticks like cement glue to the point that whenever we hear that song, (even years later) the entire scene of that previous event can come alive again.

Okay I will answer the question now. So the reason limiting your creative focus to just working on your next single or album is a mistake,  is that it positions you to miss daily opportunities to make your music come alive by attaching it to everyday life events.

So instead of just closing yourself in the studio to work on your single or album, as a creative songwriter or composer, create music in real time as life events occur.

For example, you can write words and music for a guy or girl who wants to make an immediate impression on a love interest. You don’t have to charge them a lot of money, make it reasonable so that the word will spread and prayerfully they will tell more of their friends to use your music services so your phone will keep ringing.

Or if you know of a small company that is having a special event, pitch them on letting you come up with the theme music for the event. Again, you don’t have to charge a lot of money at first, just see if you can get this particular niche  to grow, and the money will start flowing more easily.

Closing Comments:

What I have described above of course is not limited to music and can be applied to a host of creative activities. Poets, Painters, Photographers, Dancers, etc can all apply their particular art to everyday life activities and events which people will be willing to pay for if the price is reasonable.

Something for you to Think About!!! Remember you don’t have to always  hit a homerun to score….you just have to keep the ball in play long enough for you to get to the next base without being tagged out…Home plate is coming!!!!

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

The Heretic’s Comments: Earlier today the U.S. Senate fought back a bill (filed by Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson) which would have repealed the current Net Neutrality Rules.

Unfortunately a lot of individuals in the creative community are not even aware of the fight going on concerning whether the internet will remain free and open or a closed universe.

To quickly get you up to speed (in case you are unaware or don’t understand the issues), essentially the fight boils down to a number of telecommunications conglomerates including Verizon, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, AT&T (among others) who want the power to be able to dictate what internet services and content their customers can have access through their networks.

The simplest explanation I have heard in explaining this issue is to think about  how Cable Television works.  Now, we all know that unless you pay for the Comcast or Warner Cable (or whoever) cable service fees, that you can’t (legally) access the channels that are licensed to that particular cable system.

So to help generate cash flow, Cable Providers develop all sorts of different viewing packages;  there is basic cable, specialty packages and finally premium packages. Depending on how much you are willing to pay, will directly determine what cable or premium channels you will have access to view.

So the above description is roughly how the Conglomerates (mentioned earlier) want to control what internet services and content can be accessed through their networks plugging into the internet.

Now the current federal Net Neutrality Rules state that internet access is to remain free and open and that no telecommunication company can exercise unreasonable discrimation in providing access to internet based services or content.

Quite naturally, the Conglomerates mentioned earlier don’t like this rule and thus want the current law to be repealed.

So the essence of the fight is whether the internet will remain open and unrestricted or whether the internet will be a closed universe.

Closing Comments:

The creative community has to stop sleep walking and really become engaged in the fight not to have our voices silenced, muffled or hijacked. Stay up on this issue. Put pressure on politicians. Tell others you know in the creative community. Let’s not allow them to steal our best opportunity to fight the Conglomerates on a somewhat level playing field. Give us your thoughts.

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We also have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!

Drake Addresses Album Leaks

On Sunday night (Nov. 6), while Drake was in his hometown debuting a new song, “Crew Love,” from his upcoming sophomore album, “Take Care” (Nov. 15), on Toronto’s Flow 93.5, a leaked version of the project began circulating online. The version of the album that appeared featured 16 tracks — a few shy of the full collection said to be coming to retail. “I am not sure if the album leaked. But if it did thank God it doesn’t happen a month early anymore,” Drake tweeted just after 11pm EST. Minutes later, he posted a second tweet, saying, “Listen enjoy it, buy it if you like it… and take care until next time.”

“In early October, Drake spoke exclusively to Billboard about album leaks and their impact — almost predicting to the day when his album would leak online. So was last night’s leak a coincidence or all part of the “Take Care” plan?”

Read more at Billboard.com – http://www.billboard.com/#/column/the-juice/exclusive-drake-addresses-album-leaks-1005484582.story

If you enjoy The Heretic™ and the information we provide please sign up as a subscriber today! Thank You!!!

Let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Heretic™ © 2011 Cross Live Media All RIGHTS RESERVED For the MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY FROM YOUR PROJECT Movement……..

www.thecrossfirm.com

Follow us on Twitter @attorneycross

Join our Facebook Fanpage: Search for Music Business Heretic

The Official Release of the  “Before You Sign That” is coming soon. An indie artist inspired book Authored by The Heretic’s very own Leslie W. Cross Jr. and co-authored by platinum recording artist Paul Wall.  More details are coming soon if you are interesting in pre-ordering the book. We are very excited about this Project!!!! We have other projects in the works that we will be sharing with you soon!!!