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.