Sunday, December 15, 2013

Queen B! No Promotion!

Call her a queen!!!!!! The Queen has arrived, and that an amazing weekend it was for Beyoncé! Surprising her fans with a new album, self entitled, Beyoncé, and also announcing more tour dates in the UK and Ireland! Beyoncé is on the rise, and much hate has also come her way. Being compared to Rhianna, and other Pop/R&B stars, Beyoncé has crushed the scene in my opinion, and many critics before me. Releasing an album at the stroke of midnight, and not promoting it at all, shook everyone up, and made one of the biggest frenzies that social media has seen in a while! The 14 track visual album, is exclusively available on iTunes, has sold a record of 430,000 albums the first day! If meeting the 600,000 albums in its first week, Beyoncé will definitely hold the best week ever in sales, with the record at that standing or above. (SeeTimes Entertainment Article Here).

What made Beyoncé make an album, and not let fans know anything about it? If many remember watching the remarkable HBO special from Beyoncé, “Life is but a Dream”, Beyoncé dove into many things that she believed music was about. She even at one point said that many artists are not making music anymore, that they are simply putting singles out, and not caring about their fans, and what the music may mean to them. Very powerful words were spoken in the documentary that she had done, and she gave us insight to the beginning to what she was working on. We had no idea what she was doing at that time, but judging from the numbers and the haters, she definitely will go down in history as the “Best Singer Alive”, just as her husband Jay-Z.


Although the album has not been released to stores yet, the numbers speak volumes, I guess we will have to wait until we see what Billboard has in store for us after the first week!.....Stay Tuned!



Monday, December 2, 2013

Manager to Record Label CEO, Yandy Smith


Many know Ms. Yandy Smith as being from the hit sensation television show called “Love & Hip Hop New York”, but many do not know her hustle and grind to get to where she is at currently. She is a respectable woman in the music industry, and is constantly on the go with her two children, one biological, and one step-son, who is the son of her incarcerated fiancé Mandeecees (to see more about Mandeecees (click here to learn about Mandeecees). Ms. Smith has a lot on her plate, but it is nothing when it comes to her first love, and that is managing artist, and playing the role of a strong single mother.

Within recent years of Love & Hip Hop being a hit sensation, many of us have watched YS grow into a loving, supporting, and strong woman. From her fallout with Jim Jones when managing him, to her being the star of Love & Hip Hop and partnering with Mona Scott to produce the show. We, all women across America, and fans of the show wonder what drives YS to continue to do such time consuming things with two young children in her household, and how she even does it! I, myself, as being a single mother, a full-time student and employee, am tired from reading her story, but there is something about her passion and drive that just keeps her going.
In a recent interview with Tract Her Trail Her, YS says that “When I had a baby I realized that the whole sitting in the studio, or going to the club getting DJs to play my records just wasn’t going to be my thing” (read exclusive interview here). Just like most mothers, they want to spend more time with their children, and do more with them. You are being accountable as a mother, and I believe that YS is looking at her children’s best interest, instead of just her own.

As well as her natural ability to spot talent, YS is not alone in the starting of this business, she also has her partner and manager of many artist for years, Rich Dollaz, who is also a main feature from LHHNY. He has the natural ability to spot talent, as YS reports to Madam Noire. These two together are the new hit sensation in my opinion. You have many artist who have been on the search for good managers and record labels to be apart of, and with the new year ringing in, this has came just in time. YS and Dollaz plan on having a national tour to scout and launch their new record label, and are looking for serious people who have serious talent. To turn from a simple artist manager, into a woman building a record label, is why I admire Ms. Yandy Smith. Her hustle is real, and her grind and support of herself is what sets her apart from many. She is what drives the force of many of us African American women, who want to be apart of the music industry. The New Cassette Tape has not seen the rest of Ms. Yandy Smith, Stay Tuned.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

The National Association of Record Industry Professionals

The National Association of Record IndustryProfessionals, better known as NARIP was founded in 1998, on the principals of bringing together the worlds top and leading business professionals in the music entertainment industry. NARIP concentrates on developing a person and taking them beyond what they think they can achieve. Though different areas in NARIP, this is possible. To become a member, one must work at a major or independent record label, record marketer, record distributor, or work for a personal management firm. Membership is strict for this organization, but also important because it allows you to access the world of music business professionals in a way that one may not get to see from the outside.

The NARIP program that I definitely appreciate the benefit of being a member and having guidance. Many large-scale companies want you to partake in memberships within the company, and you might not get too much out of it. The Stan Monterio Mentorship Program that NARIP has to offer is backed up by your own interest survey. They do not just place you in a category with a mentor that they think will fit you best, but they allow you to answer questions about your style, and allow you at actually pick a mentor that fits to your liking. There is a $35 application fee, and I believe they do this to actually make sure you are interested, instead of wasting someone’s time. The program allows you to seek help and guidance in areas of direction for your career, jobs, and resume building.


While researching NARIP, I thought about my own company, and how I would want to model some of the same principals. It is not everyday you come across a company that is accessible to millions of individuals in the world, that actually wants to help build you into a better brand or label. Upon my first professional job, this is an organization that I will be joining, and also seeking the mentorship program to better my chances at advancing. The lists of possibilities through this organization are endless, especially with the list of national speakers who are actively involved in the process of getting you “on your feet”

To learn more about The National Association of Record Industry Professionals Click Here!

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Mohamed Ali: The linkage between Unemployment and Terrorism

When faced with difficult circumstances, ones natural instinct and response is to run; run away and never look back. Mohamed Ali, in his speech on Ted.com, entitled The Link Between Unemployment and Terrorism, he explains that terrorism may be eliminated if we provide opportunity for the youth to be something different. In this situation, with unemployment rates and the surrounding circumstance of violence and fear, the only thing for many young children and youth in many Mogadishu, Somalia the only thing to do is to stay, and become stagnant, or become involved in terroristic activities. Mohamed Ali, spoke about the foundation of many youth in Mogadishu, and the daily life of a young person living in fear.

While many believe that foreign countries are dangerous, Ali believes that there are beautiful things that come out of small unhopeful cities, and that there is hope for the youth of Mogadishu to become rich and prosperous, as long as we and everyone recognize that there needs to be contributions to help. The unemployment rate in Mogadishu is what is driving the cases of violence, or the string of suicide bombers. The youth are being sucked into believing that the only way that they can make sure that their family has money, is to join in on terror attacks, and sacrifice themselves for a payoff for their families. This, as Ali explains, is not what his city should be like, or any city at that.

One of the major things that we all can start doing in our own cities, as well as for Ali in Mogadishu, is to make sure that we are encouraging and educating the youth on what opportunities are available to them. There has to be a push in mentorship opportunities, and resources for the youth to understand how they can not only work for a person to make an income, but that they can become their own boss and be an entrepreneur. Many young people in his native city are unaware of the possibilities that they have, if they find out what they are successful at, and maximize that potential. Ali speaks about encouraging those around us to become better, and not to just be what we see. It sounds familiar because that is how many urban cities operate around the United States.

When unfortunate circumstances surround us, the new question to consider is are we going to run, or are we going to make the best out of the situation that we are presented with. Be something different, and be great.

My driving force behind my career, is to help make people better. I have a passion for working with the youth in my community, and after hearing this inspirational story, there is a chance to save if not one, but many by offering guidance and mentorship. Although this post has nothing to do with the music industry, it has to do with change, and change can only start if you realize that it is necessary. 




"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Entertainer Etiquette 101



Etiquette seams not to exist anymore when it comes to many entertainers in the industry; or really has it ever. In recent months, we have seen a public display of violence towards paparazzi from Justin Bieber and Kanye West just to name a few, with results of injuries to others, and full blown disrespect and videos going viral on the web (Justin Bieber nightclub attack). We can ask ourselves, who’s their security? Why are the paparazzi getting so close to them? Or we can just make the assumption that the paparazzi should respect these entertainers, because they deserve their privacy. WRONG! It’s their job. So how should an entertainer act in public? I mean, they only have fans as young as 2-years old recognizing their songs and they need to be positive while in the limelight.

When looking up proper etiquette for entertainers, I came across something that is extremely true, and it’s a golden rule for anyone. As a person, whether an entertainer or not, you have your reputation to protect, you have an image to maintain. When people see you for the first time, they remember the impression you left on them; make it a good one. Many times an artist, forgets this golden rule of life, and tends to go about doing things their own way. Doing so is why we constantly hear about them in the media doing the unbelievable, or what is made to be unbelievable because of who they are (Kanye West - Excuse me Taylor).

Regardless, entertainer or not, there is a right and a wrong way to handle yourself when you are looked up to by different individuals. There are no solutions that I can provide, but I can give advice and it’s to watch your surroundings! You never know who will be there to record your ridiculous antics and whose blog site you will be put on next!