What are musicians looking for today?

For those who are serious about a career in music, they may tell you they would like to have some sort of security. But if asked what that might look like, they will probably tell you they have no idea. Why? Maybe because there has never been “security” in the music industry! It has always been a dog-eat-dog world. If they are honest with you, musicians may confess that in order to be successful it may require them to be creative, to diversify their income and be proactive. If they wait for something to happen, for that big break in their career, most likely they will be waiting for a very long time.

In an interview with Jeremy Gantz, contributing editor with In These Times magazine, Makaya McCraven was asked if the record industry’s collapse had an impacted on his career.

“I've never had a livelihood that was based off of record sales — the only people who made lots of money off of records were selling huge numbers. But one of the things I see in the music industry now is the gap between the haves and the have-nots, and the disappearing middle class of musicians. These days, big labels put a lot of money into promoting big-name artists whom they know will sell. In doing so, they've taken more and more money out of artist development. So you have fewer mid-level artists who are signed and making a living. 

We've seen a lot of industries for working musicians disappear. The advertising industry once provided a lot of work for musicians. Now ad songs can be easily done by one person at a computer.

And then you see, with regular local gigs, that the pay scale hasn't changed in 30 years. These older guys, they used to make good money playing a jingle in the studio before going to play a club gig that night. They got paid the same rate that I’m getting paid to play. So you can see how tough it can be — the cost of living has changed.

Probably the most significant observation McCraven shared was his belief of what he needs to do in order to be successful — words of wisdom which perhaps should become “The Musician’s Mantra” by which all artists acknowledge and adopt: “…if you’re constantly trying to create opportunities for yourself, it’s very possible to have a career in music.”

McCraven went on to say “You don’t even necessarily have to be that great, unfortunately, if you’ve got good business skills. There are two sides to it, for me. One is: what am I doing as an artist? Am I creating my own product to sell, to become known and draw people to my shows? The other important side is becoming known by other musicians as someone who’s reliable, as someone who can play the music well and show up on time — you want to be professional and to not cause any rifts.”

If I may, there just might be a third side which is being overlooked by many artists which could make all the difference in the world… especially in today’s economy and that is, “how do I make a difference for my fans, my audience, everyone I with whom I am associated with?” We know there have been many success stories of entrepreneurs becoming successful by their providing something no one else has… by making one’s life better either in a product or service. This after all is Capitalism, or Free Enterprise is all about. Could this also be applied to music? Well, that is what the dedicated team behind Conquer Entertainment believe. Could this be the wave of the future? Could others see it as well? Then I met Jermaine Purifory.

When I was first introduced to Jermaine and began listening to his music, I was profoundly moved by the quality of his sound. Now I am no music aficionado by any stretch of the imagination, but I know what my ears like… and they were keenly focusing on the quality of this young artist sound. I am actually blessed in being associated with two very talented artists. Melion has a quality that is actually quite unique along with having what I would like to call stage charisma, the ability to really move his audience and boy does he ever move them. It was during my interview with Jermaine that he confirmed what I was hoping would become the wave of the future. Jermaine had actually sought out Conquer Entertainment because he saw the opportunity from the eyes of an entrepreneur as well as an artist for he was implementing “The Musicians Mantra” if you’re constantly trying to create opportunities for yourself, it’s very possible to have a career in music.

During the interview he said he had been searching for ways in which to “expand far beyond what we have available to us now”. Come to find out, Jermaine was referring to finding opportunities where musicians could monetize their craft, their love of music, and to afford creating a profitable and long lasting career. It was a memorable interview, one I only wish I would have recorded so I could listen over and over.

Here was an artist who was very proactive in moving his career forward, but just how proactive I could not have known until he was to join us at the 2015 ma World Conference in Miami, Florida. He was all set and ready to go when he receive an unbelievable surprise in that Jermaine had won the first Hilton Rock Star Contest in which contestants submitted a video of themselves performing an original vocal or instrumental song. Jermaine was notified that he was the recipient of a four-day, all-expenses-paid trip to the Grammy Awards for two, including airfare and hotel, plus seats at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 8 and access to the official after-party. You just can’t make this up folks... Jermaine would miss out on the greatest Event in Market America history, but he would not be missing out on a once in a lifetime opportunity — an all expense paid VIP trip to the Grammys.

Susan Pierce from In Life Entertainment posted Jermaine’s story “Cleveland resident's original song wins him trip to Grammys”, sharing a very impressive element of Jermaine’s character which helps us in understanding what exactly contributes to his success…

“Jermaine Purifory has spent the last decade building a name for himself. Local audiences first heard him sing when he was a student at Lee University and a soloist with Voices of Lee, the a cappella group featured on NBC's "Sing-Off." His voice and stage presence made him a favorite with audiences at the Chattanooga Theatre Center, where he won Miss Annie Awards, which honor the best in the center's performances.”

It is a great story, one which everyone should have a chance to read. Talent comes from so many different forms, and it is really a great story just how he happen to learn about the contest (the very last day to enter) and what he had to do in order to submit for the contest. Nothing fancy, no studio, no expensive equipment, no manager, no producer, nothing but “true grit” in order to get er done as Larry the Cable Guy would say. I mean really, playing a track of your music and singing into a cell phone… and win? Now that is awesome talent!

So what’s next with Jermaine? Jermaine has got some great ideas and plans ahead with Conquer Entertainment — helping artists is only one small part of his strategic planning in moving not just his career forward, but creating a better experience for fans and consumers alike.

Again, I just cannot over emphasize just how much of a pleasure it is in working with such a stellar and dedicated group of professionals behind the scenes at Conquer Entertainment — for their talent, vision, and Amanda Ridinger's belief in her dream to help change an industry that has been screaming for help. It is their hard work and dedication that talent like Jermaine can find and partner with in order to make a huge difference in their lives. What a pleasure it is going to be working with Jermaine Purifory and artists like him Keep your eyes open for Jermaine certainly has all the makings of becoming another legend in music industry. You just never know what will happen when a musician finds what he or she is looking for.

Conquering Miami - Bringing The Right Tools to maWC2015

For years experts in the Music Industry have been discussing changes that are needed in their industry, expressing how the music industry is dying, nobody buys music anymore, and how something needs to be done – all agreeing the industry needs to be saved. There has been ample discussion on the problem and many have come up with ideas however all they have been are ideas… it appears not much in actual action has been taking place. It truly has been a difficult challenge to say the least, and one which appears to be problematical even for experts to think outside the box. In an article by Brad Haugen, CMO of SB Projects and chairman of Pencils of Promise, entitled Data Will Save Music, he just may have come close in peeking outside the box from a very accurate perspective “… we are in the business of music, and it’s time to turn around and look at what other industries thrive on: science (more specifically, data).” And where have you heard that before? Brad certainly brings up another excellent point:

Great artistry thrives on innovation, and innovation is often built on the back of information. In the landscape today, so many of the parties at the table don’t share information often enough. You have agents, labels, managers, artists, retailers and distributors, merchandise companies, promoters, licensees and the list goes on. That doesn't even include social platforms that only give us a small percentage of the data they have.

His article was quite interesting but the message continues to always focus on one point, music. OK, so he makes a great point: “collaboration and opening the floodgates of information would change everything”, but change what? How does that increase an artist’s income? Brad never touches on that, his only point was in using data to make informed decisions which hits the target dead center. The question is, make informed decisions to do what? His final though was

The music industry gets a bad rep because people think it lacks sophistication. I think it just lacks tools. Some of the smartest and most creative people in the world work in music. If we gave them the right weapons, I’d head to the frontier with them any day of the week.

Think what Brad might say should he hear about what happened in Miami earlier this month.

Wow… I was on the right track, but in the wrong station.

Which brings us to, as Brad would say, “The right weapon”. Yep, Conquer Entertainment did it. It was the best ever appearance at any of Market America’s major events after coming onto the stage (pardon the pun) just a few short years ago. It has been an amazing story of foresight, dedication, and “staying the course”. So what's so different? What Changed? There is a new paradigm shift taking place in the Music Industry – and it is not actually being spearheaded by those with whom one might think would be well equipped to make that shift. Rather it is the results of Conquer Entertainment, a division of Market America, which created and implemented the paradigm shift that is changing the music industry into a profitable and honorable profession. Conquer Entertainment has proven just how to think outside the box and bring an arsenal of great weapons to rejuvenate the music industry, and all who are in it. And that’s exciting... JR Ridinger certainly thinks it's exciting!

Artists + Fans + Shopping Annuity = Financial Success
Lifestyle Marketing = Residual Income - "It's a New Wave"

So how does it rejuvenate the entire industry? Well to start with, all the stars and planets have lined up perfectly, creating an explosion of unparalleled magnitude. An eruption of creativity, application, and implementation at a level never before experienced in any industry – all at the same time! What is impressive is how little attention this new division received by the industry. Why? Well first of all, Market America built their success on integrity and reliability with no hype – how else can one explain consecutive quarters of growth since opening their doors in 1992. Market America is a humble and reserved company which has made it the best kept secret for years, but that is about to come to an end. More importantly Market America has always believed it best to put concepts and ideas through the acid test, ensure the product or theory actually performs to the level of expectations, and since Conquer Entertainment was being built upon a brand new platform with a revolutionary concept and an idea whose time has come, they had to make sure it was going to perform. However, Conquer Entertainment was never part of the original plan. For such an incredible change to occur, from any company’s perspective, there has to be an incredible set of dynamics in place. One thing can certainly be said about Market America, they provide the perfect environment for growing ideas.

Over the years, JR Ridinger, founder of Market America, has focused on bringing his vision to fruition and this year it all finally came together which started a few years ago with the implementation of the Shopping Annuity. What was not expected was JR’s daughter Amanda would come up with a brilliant idea that would bring even more value to the Shopping Annuity concept, not only for UnFranchise owners and Customers, but to Musicians, their Fans and even their Service Providers such a Studios, Producers, Managers, Labels and the list goes on and on. And it was the combination of Amanda’s vision and JR’s business acumen that a team of stellar designers and developers were pulled together by Mr. Jorgen Bailey, an artist himself with over 15 years of hardcore experience in the music industry as well as a background in providing solutions, to build the new GetConquer.com Platform. In less than a year, Jorgen put together the first of its kind social and streaming technology allowing Design Agility and Lifestyle Merchandizing to be seamlessly integrated - that is what will create financial stability and growth in the music industry which, after all, is actually comprised of MUSICIANS. The focus has been, and will always be, on the musician. That's the paradigm shift!

From the moment Amanda Ridinger and her Conquer Team Marched onto the stage at 2015 World Conference in Miami, we all saw there was something different, something new was about to happen. But it wasn't just those of us in the Conquer Entertainment that saw it, every UnFranchise Owner present saw it as well. We Came, We Saw, and We Conquered - We Are Conquer Entertainment!

Brad Haugen was correct when he said “Music is still among the most consumed and in-demand content.” and “Numbers – data – can help make informed decisions… The music industry gets a bad rep because people think it lacks sophistication. I think it just lacks tools.” So what do you think? Did Market America and Conquer Entertainment create the best set of tools for the Music Industry, and for all UnFranchise owners? I believe that was proven @ #ConquerMiami - a hit at #mawc2015. #GetConuqer. 

BELIEF - The Strongest Emotion We Have!

It was a special and memorable 30 minutes with an icon! Fat Joe’s story about why - why he decided to become part of an incredible forward thinking business. He was already successful as a "gangster rapper" so why... why change? Could it be he saw his future had to change? It is often said we are who we surround ourselves with. Surround yourself with successful entrepreneurs, successful and positive people, moral and supportive role models - what else could we possibly expect!

It was just a little over a year ago that Fat Joe was sitting in a jail literally across from where we were this past weekend at the American Airline Arena in Miami, Florida. Every night he would read the same book over, and over, and over again, and when asked by Chef Jr. who was also in jail why read the same book so much, Fat Joe responded with a very interesting answer, including this statement which everyone should heed:

“It’s my understanding, if you do the same thing over and over again, you can’t expect a different outcome.”

Fat Joe changed his life… and it was all as a result of one word…”Believe”.

“…from a kid from the Bronx, from the projects, to make something out of nothing, I gotta believe in myself. Nobody believes in me, more than me!”

Probably the best part of his talk was about addiction. Not addiction of food, not the addiction of drugs, not the addiction of alcohol, but the addiction of doubt. This was without question one of the most powerful and moving presentation in front of over 20,000 people this past weekend.

But his Belief came from a story that is sure to tug at your heart... and it was about his mother.

I am sharing this story from our 2015 World Conference in Miami because of the enormous impact it had on so many. It was inspirational to say the least. Belief is the most powerful emotion we have without it we could never make positive changes to our lives.

Listen to Fat Joe’s full story… it will be the best thing you can do for yourself… regardless what business you are in, regardless what venture you've started… “Especially” if you are a musician. Joseph Antonio Cartagena's story will put new life into whatever you do... so long as you BELIEVE in yourself, BELIEVE in what you are doing and just as important, BELIEVE in others with whom you surround yourself with.

Conquer Entertainment is proud to have this very inspirational team member supporting, building, and developing artists and entrepreneurs. Fat Joe has become an exceptional Role Model which everyone can be proud to know, and to learn from. Thanks Joe!