Obstacles are only Obstacles if you think they’re Obstacles... otherwise they are Opportunities.

When you think of Amazon.com, you think of an internet shopping magnate… and you would be correct, however something very interesting happened in the past couple of years… SHOP.COM and Market America.

I just finished watching Jeff Bezos’ Biography, a 40 minute documentary on the man who created Amazon.com. When you watch this very interesting story of a visionary you begin to really understand and appreciate what JR Ridinger envisioned way back in the very early days of Market America, “The Mall without Walls”. And over the years, what did he wind up owning… actually, where did we wind up owning? “The Mall without Walls”! Ever wonder where genius comes from? How about sheer determination in doing something out of the ordinary. Jeff Bezos has it and JR Ridinger has it, and because of JR Ridinger many of us have a gift to build upon the opportunity that came along as a result of Amazon.com, Bill Gates, Yahoo.com and Oak Investment giving up SHOP.COM.

There has never been a documentary done about JR Ridinger, and there should be, but watching Jeff Bezos’ biography followed by reading up others who sold SHOP.COM such as Bill Gates, Yahoo.com and Oak Investment Partners, it really hits home to what we have at our finger tips.
I came across a very interesting statement on Google.com/Finance: “SHOP.COM lets Web browsers do it till they drop. The company pulls together products from more than 2,000 merchants (including Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Gap, and Macy's), making them available to consumers in a single, convenient online location. It operates e-commerce sites in Canada, the UK, and the US. SHOP.COM's precursor firm Altura International, a builder, developer, and manager of e-commerce sites for catalog and mail order retailers, was founded by Lee Lorenzen in 1997. Investors in SHOP.COM have included Bill Gates, Amazon.com, and venture capital firm Oak Investment Partners. Internet marketing firm Market America acquired SHOP.COM in late 2010.”

Did you know:

• SHOP.COM developed and created dozens of shopping portals including Yahoo Shopping, Excite, Quixtar / Amway, Shaklee, GM, Visa, Verizon, Sears?
• In 2010, Zscaler Research firm reported that SHOP.COM was America’s 4th Largest Online Shopping Site. The graph on the right were the top 10 shopping sites.

Today, thousands of UnFranchise owners have taken up where Jeff left off in what everyone at Amazon.com focused on in the being “Customer Centric”, and added several unique and critical elements to making SHOP.COM even more competitive with other sites including “Comparison Shopping”, Personal “Shopping Consultants” along with many high tech tools making it easier for consumers to find, save and earn cashback on millions of products and services.

One of the takeaways from Jeff Bezo’s biography was when his mother said her father, Lawrence Preston Gise, would tell Jeff over and over:

“Obstacles are only obstacles if you think they’re obstacles, otherwise they are opportunities”. 

Market America epitomizes that very declaration by turning obstacles into opportunities at every level.

Elsi Pacheco - Director of Events with Conquer Entertainment

What do you get when you take a beautiful and talented event producer, filled with emotion and timeless sense of wonder, along with a head for numbers, design and staging, mixed in with tenacious research and evaluation skills? You get the vivacious Elsi Pacheco, Conquer Entertainment's Director of Events. 

Sure Conquer Entertainment provides the music, the services, the parties and the whole shabang but without the the invaluable members of the staff, much would be left unfinished. These dedicated members are like the unsung heroes of the music industry. Without Kirk Aidoo with his rocking personality and welcoming service, April Benson's insightful training for bettering the industry, and Jorgen Bailey's IT vision to mention a few, where would Conquer Entertainment be? These are all professionals from the music industry providing the backbone of this division within Market America and the glue for all Certified Artist Developers (C.A.D.) and UnLabel Owners (ULO).

This week Conquer Entertainment thought it necessary to celebrate one of their "diversified" members who is often the hero, the villain and the Jackie of all trades. Executing memorable events, managing operations and more, Elsi is "the" foundation that keeps the Conquer Division rock solid and the fuel that keeps the Conquer engine running. Elsi and our Conquer staff keeps "the" playlist rocking!

With 10+ years of experience, Elsi has got the eye for planning, love for music and the passion for new talent which helps us to get artists going. She is the lady spinning the tracks at many Conquer Entertainment events. Conquer Entertainment sat down with Elsi for an impromptu interview:

Tell us about your music related skills and experiences. I’ve always been surrounded by music. As a little girl my father taught me Salsa and how to play some instruments, it was then that I fell in love with music. At a young age I started working the hospitality industry in New York City. My experiences range from the opening of restaurants to running some of the major New York City venues, and because of this I met some of the top people in the music industry. From there I started working directly in events within the music industry.

Tell us about how you came to discover Conquer Entertainment. I was introduced to Conquer through a friend who is also a DJ and had worked some of my events at the time. He told me that Conquer was looking for an event planner. I thought to myself, ‘Ok, great! A new client’, little did I know this was not for just one event, they wanted to develop an entire events department and touring system in the US and eventually go Global!

What impact does music have on you? I listen to music all day long. I cannot do a chore or run an errand without music. No matter what mood I’m in, I can find a song that matches it and gets me through the day. Even when I’m down, I can pick a song for my melancholic mood and by the end of it I always feel better. I also tend to sing at the top of my lungs no matter what song it is, as long as no ones around.

If you could choose one song to describe your personality, what would that be and why?
LOL right now it would have to be (a tad embarrassed to admit it) Work B*$#H by Britney Spears… “You wanna hot body, You wanna Bugatti, You wanna Maserati, You better work! You wanna Lamborghini, Sip Martinis, Look hot in a bikini,You better work! You wanna live fancy, Live in a big mansion, Party in France, you better work!” You get my drift? I like to work.

Do you have any talents of your own? Do share!
Well if you must know, I went to a performing arts school from Junior High through High School. I traveled, competed and performed with the school choir. I was also in dance. During High School I stuck to dance and only sang around the house. Every once in a while people would catch me singing and due to my extreme shyness I would stop. So if you ever catch me singing, let me know what you think.

We are highlighting Stevi Leigh who this week on the top of the charts this week with her song One Voice. Her poetic lyrics derive from overcoming life experiences, transforming tragedy into strength. Stevi, has been developing her talents of dance and music for over a decade. Presently taking control of her music career she is a bright light in a dark industry. Aside from her involvement in the entertainment industry, Stevi Leigh is a full time student of Complimentary and Alternative Health as well as a practicing Health Coach. Through her success in the music industry she plans to open up facilities and create universal mentoring programs for the lost, broken, addicted, depressed, autistic, fostered etc.

Below is the promo to Atlanta's first the 30 minute Conquer Entertainment Night... an event dedicated in highlighting unknown artists working their way into the music industry.

For more information about Conquer, go and Explore Conquer Entertainment.

Does Everyone Seem to Prey off Musicians?

Recently, a great deal of articles, posts, and YouTube videos are hitting the internet talking about the future of the music industry. Everyone agrees the music industry of yesterday is not the same today or ever will be. It is hard to sell records, albums or even CDs given all the various online platforms available today. There are so many and as easy it is to mention them, why bother since anyone can Google them themselves. And that is exactly where the problem comes in for today's musician... where do they go to showcase their music, who do they talk to that will help them, inspire them, support them, or better yet, who can they trust? And who really believes only selling music will help someone become rich, or even make a living?

One self-proclaimed pundit made the statement, in referencing musicians who are “avoiding these labels”,

“…there are all these different companies trying to help them, but in our case today that we’re going to be talking about, actually take advantage of them.”

So what does he do? Reads off what anyone can find on the internet that he believes supports his claims to be a scam, without any actual research through interviews with musicians or anyone within the company... it's only his “humble” opinion.

I have no problem with someone investigating companies and/or individuals participating in scrupleless activities - that is what makes a free marketplace work. But when someone begins to go down the road smearing or defaming anyone or company, based on their own perception or bias, without any definitive facts supporting the claims, that person leaves themselves open to being brought to account for their motive(s). In most cases, if not all, when someone takes on the act of slandering anyone or company, they usually have an ulterior motive which is to sell their own product or services; and the best way to do that is to have people think they are the good guy by making others look bad. A pretty good article was written by Michael Pascoe in 2012 titled “Bad news sells, good news buried”. He should know, he has written thousands.

“Feeling a little guilty about all those scary headlines, I now try to devote a greater percentage of my time to trying to keep perspective about what’s really the state of play, as opposed to what sounds the most sensational.” 

It is not the intent of this piece to pick anyone apart, but hopefully impart a bit of wisdom for those who truly are looking for solutions but have found themselves coming to an abrupt halt after viewing or reading something negative on the internet about the company they are investigating or evaluating.

Now that word “evaluate”... it is an exceptionally important word. No matter who you are, or industry of interest, never pursue anything by yourself! Anyone who has ever succeeded in anything never did it by themselves, plus they fully and completely investigated the company and all aspects of their activities before engaging into a relationship with them.

A little additional help for musicians, I thought the article "20 Tips on Networking in Music Industry" written by Vinny Ribas, author of "CEO Secrets", to actually be a very good educational piece that certainly could be applied in other businesses besides the music industry. His first paragraph sets the tone:

“There is no denying that whether you are a band, singer or an individual musician, you need the help of other people to have a successful music career. It doesn't matter if you can play every instrument, sing all of the vocal parts and make great recordings all by yourself in your own studio. You still need fans to buy your music, people to book you, people to show up at your gigs, and maybe people to help with the business and legal sides of your business.”

Perhaps his book "CEO Secrets" may be a good book everyone should have as part of their arsenal and educational library. Musicians can certainly benefit from experiences of others... and isn't that what a partnership should be all about?

So, does everyone seem to prey off of musicians? I don’t believe so! But there certainly are despicable individuals out there preying off people gullible enough to believe in their skewed observations. I would certainly be wary if not fully distrustful of anyone claiming themselves as being “A Scam Buster”, especially if their site could be filled with “scam” programs being sold by a master scammer themselves. Always ask… what's the ulterior motive? I am all for cleaning up business, but not by someone who may be the very culprit they are supposedly exposing.

Conquer Entertainment Spotlight - Jeneen Terrana

Like the notes to a song, the Conquer Entertainment (CE) platform is a unique blend of melodies featuring artists from all walks of life and styles of music. We are not in the business of delivering mundane, we aim for extraordinary and so do our artists!

Recently Conquer's spotlight was on Jeneen Terrana, a NYC artist with a sweet voice, big heart and recipes to accompany her tunes. Here is a copy of  Conquer's interview with this up and coming star performer:

CE: Tell us a little about yourself, how you came to be an artist and how you define yourself within the industry.

JT: My first love was singing.

My mom played music all the time by artists like Barbara Streisand, Barry Manilow, and The Carpenters. I used to memorize all the songs as a little girl and record myself singing them. My dad used to sit at the end of my bed at night when I was a little girl, play guitar and sing folk songs. My grandfather, who was from Sicily, would come over every Sunday for dinner and then sing in the living room while we all watched. He wasn't trained; it was just his natural tenor voice. He did songs from operas and Old Italian folk songs.

Within the industry I define myself first and foremost, as a singer. It’s still my first love and I love singing all different styles of music.

CE: You've had countless performances throughout the year of 2013 including performances at the Market America International Convention, Regionals and more. Tell us about those experiences. How does it feel to perform before an audience of 20,000+?

JT: Performing at the World Conference was amazing! A captive audience of 20,000 people is something I dream about every day. I was a little nervous at first but as I saw everyone’s glowing faces, it felt like home.

I love playing live, and I enjoy all types of venues from coffee houses to arenas. Every show is so different and special in its own way. It’s all about the people you meet at these events and connecting with them through music.

CE: You recently performed for an event called "Uniquely You" hosted by your Certified Artist Developers (C.A.D.) Zoe and Glant Lee, tell us about that event and your personal experience.

JT: This event was geared toward women and helping them feel beautiful no matter what shape, size, or color. We had a great lineup of five different artists over a three hour span. I was really taken back by how receptive the audience was to each of the artists. We also had booths set up for Motives, TLS and Conquer so our guests could be exposed to different products and majors in the business. It was really wonderful and we’re having another one on April 19th!

CE: Working on any new project(s)? Tell us about the inspiration behind it (them).

JT: I’m recording a new EP at the moment with producer Nick Howard. It’s a really exciting project for me because the songs have a more pop/rock feel to them. I've been listening to a lot of electronic rock bands recently and you can hear it in the new songs. It’s funny how that happens! I think part of any artists’ journey is to grow and evolve musically as you grow and evolve personally. These songs will capture a new energy that I've been experiencing.

CE: Where do you aspire to be music wise?

JT: I want to reach the world with my songs. I want to play sold out arena tours. I want to inspire the young and old to follow their dreams.

CE: Why did you choose to work with Conquer Entertainment?

JT: I love the people behind Conquer and their passion for helping artists earn the money to follow their dreams! It’s also been really great to plug in to the events and conventions and perform in front of a brand new audience. My CAD’s, Zoe and Glant Lee are amazing and really have a vision for my music and for Conquer. My husband Craig Mackay is very supportive and is a CAD as well. As we learn more about Conquer and the business, we see more and more possibilities.

For more about Jeneen Terrana, visit here on Conquer Entertainment.

For more about Conquer Entertainment, the UnLabel Owner or Certified Artist Developer programs, visit us at Explore Conquer Entertainment.

Distribution - The Future of Retailing

"Distribution"... I want to share a word that stood out to me yesterday by a very sharp business woman, Autumn Essie Bailey-Ford and I quote "I love Distribution, that's all today - was a good day." When I saw Autumn's post on Facebook it reminded me of something I recently read where the Shopping Mall was turning 60, and they were dying (The Shopping Mall Turns 60...). Did you know not a single enclosed mall has been built in the US since 2006?

At the mall’s peak popularity, in 1990, America opened 19 of them. But we haven’t cut the ribbon on a new one since 2006.) 

Then there was the Business Insider report E-Commerce and the Future of Retail" where in the first paragraph they state:

The retail industry is undergoing a dramatic shift: E-commerce is capturing a larger share of sales than ever before. 

So, where is this all leading? Right back to Autumn's quote and distribution which is where it's at. But it's not just in the entertainment industry. The way people shop is shifting dramatically with more convenience in doing everything off the internet however, not all e-Commerce outlets are doing great either.

Anyone heard of Amazon.com? In an article by International Business Times dated December 18, 2013, Amazon has been in business nearly 20 years yet the company is still not profitable! How can that be, and why do investors continue to sink money into a non-performer? They are a distribution company aren't they and leveraging e-Commerce, so what's the problem?

And what about malls... they are filled with smaller companies distributing products and services... so, what's the takeaway? What was it that I saw that tied Autumn's quote, mall closures, and the failure of companies like Amazon in being profitable? It is the way and more importantly, "HOW" products and services are being "distributed".

It all comes down to relationships. Autumn develops and builds upon relationships. Malls and Amazon do not! In today's social media frenzy, consumers are looking for convenience but they also like a "personalized" connection. They are looking for the convenience of internet shopping along with someone with whom they can have a more personal relationship with, someone they may be able to trust or relate with. And guess which industry provides the quickest way with which to draw consumers? The music industry! What better way is there to get that "personalized" connection than through a fan base!

The bottom line, businesses whose goal it is to be successful in today's economy will adjust and leverage the many social media outlets out there, some of which are Conquer Entertainment and SHOP.COM in concert with various Social Media Channels. This is leveraging at its best where everyone wins... Consumers, Entertainers, and Business Owners (large and small).

It was just that one post from Autumn that brought it all together for me... I never gave it much thought in the power of that word "distribution" even though we use it all the time. What a brilliant idea it was for a company to integrate the Music Industry with Social Media, and an online e-Commerce Consumer Purchasing Website along with providing a "Personal Touch" to the distribution of millions of products with "Shop Consultants".

And given the biggest change that has occurred over the past decade has been in the music industry, the biggest opportunity is for musicians. They are in the right place at the right time to leverage off the "Future of Retailing". People love good music, and when they follow an artist they will listen to their recommendation to products and services. Now that's a beautiful way to develop distribution!