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!

A New Beginning for Musicians & Entertainers!

Where do Artists go for Help? 

An up and coming musician I recently met shared Nic Cowan’s post:

Many young musicians have parents who are less than supportive when artistic aspirations are announced. It’s understandable. After all, becoming a doctor, lawyer or accountant are safe career bets. Donning a guitar, writing songs and pounding on club doors for gigs? Not so much.

This is not something uncommon for what are the odds that a musician can succeed in the music industry today? For that matter, ever?

The article goes on to say “But Nic Cowan never had that worry. When the native Texan and transplanted Atlantan decided to get serious about his musical career, he turned to the professional musician he knew best—his dad, a drummer who regularly gigged with folk, country and jazz ensembles. As an aspiring front man and solo artist, the younger Cowan wanted dad’s ideas on what it would take to be successful. And dad, who had played behind more than a few front men—good, bad and indifferent—was more than happy to lay aside his sticks to drop some wisdom. “He said the key is to be completely original,” Cowan recalls. “Don’t do something that people can categorize easily. You want them not to be able to put a label on you. You can be an amazing singer, amazing player, amazing songwriter, but if you sound like something that’s already out there, then you’re not going to get far.” Certainly sounds like good advice, but in today’s world of technology, how does an artist monetize their talent? How does a musician make it?

Musicians Have No Structure

Kevin Pride of Pridek Studios and I talked about this very challenge recently and we both agreed it all has to do with “structure”, or lack thereof. Where do artists go for structure in order for them to become successful in their industry? Most musicians today go out and get gigs wherever they can find an open mic, living from one gig to another but never really having taken the time in strategizing their future, never setting goals other than finding gigs… living from week to week wondering where their next $100 is going to come from. This is no way to build a successful career. Unless this is just a hobby, where do musicians go to build a career... where can they find or get the structure needed in developing a solid career in music or entertainment?

A New Solution

Enter Amanda Ridinger, the CEO of Conquer Entertainment. Amanda was asked in an interview “How did Conquer Entertainment come about?”

With over 10 years of experience within the music industry, I’ve collected a myriad of experiences which have provided an insight into the industry. I’ve worked with a variety of artists, managed street teams, assisted in street team work, took part in graphic design assignments geared towards artist promotion and more. Coupled with the experience as an active distributor I saw an opportunity in the synergy of the Market America system that could serve well in the music industry. Using social tools for one to one marketing to fill the gaps that the industry has failed to cover and give artists a new handle on their career. I have an Associates in Artist Management and a Bachelor’s in Music Business. I've managed about 8 different artists throughout the years and worked on a variety of promotional efforts from street teams to graphic design and social media management.

Conquer Entertainment mission statement is rather simple and straight forward:

Conquer Entertainment is revolutionizing the way music — and all forms of entertainment — is marketed, produced and ultimately delivered to the end consumer.

Conquer Entertainment is the music fan’s gateway into what’s next in music and lifestyle. They foster a direct link between up-and-coming, independent artists and savvy listeners with an ear out for great, new music. Fans can create their own page to connect with artists, buy music, get merchandise and product recommendations, and best of all, get paid by referring others to do the same. Conquer Entertainment not only provides a solid and proven infrastructure for which musicians can  leverage in building their successful music career, but they provide “structure” as well. Training, education, support in developmental and implementation is #1 priority of Conquer Entertainment and their Certified Artist Developers also known as C.A.D.s. C.A.D. is an individual who is a Market America UnFranchise Owner having one or more of the following;

• A strong desire to build artist’s career
• Previous experience in the music industry
• A true passion for working with artists

The infrastructure, training, support, and resources available to an artist provides the maximum level of potential for an artist. The reason the term “potential” is used is because it is ultimately up to the artist to "implement" all of these resources. No one, no company, has ever provided so many invaluable resources in order for an artist to succeed. One very important take away is how unlike a Label, Conquer Entertainment's UnLabel Owner (ULO) Program makes it affordable... rather than an artist spending money they do not have, they build their success using sweat equity... profiting and building as they grow.

For more information about the Conquer Entertainment and the ULO program, visit Explore More About Conquer.

Top News Stories from Around the Web

There’s always something new and exciting happening in the world of social media! Whether it’s an article about making the most out of LinkedIn or a news story about a new Twitter feature, there’s always something new to read, learn about, or explore. Keeping up with all of the latest social media news can be a daunting task, so we’re here to help! Here’s a quick run-down of last week’s top 5 social media news stories you should know about.

LinkedIn and the context of social media etiquette

Helpful tips for abiding by unspoken social media etiquette rules while using LinkedIn.

Social Media Monday: How you can take advantage of Instagram Direct

Helpful tips for making the most of the newest Instagram feature, Instagram Direct.

26 ways to make Pinterest work for your business

Are you on Pinterest? Then you will want to read these 26 easy ways you can leverage Pinterest to build your business.

How to craft the most retweetable tweets

If you’re not engaging with your followers on Twitter (or vice versa), you’re missing out on the most important aspect of the social network! Read these tips for writing the most retweetable tweets.

5 biggest social media lessons of 2013

2013 was a big year for social media! Check out the top 5 most important things we learned from or about social media this year.

These are some of our favorite social media-related news articles from the past week... Do you have any to share? We would love to hear about yours! Tell us in the comment section below which topic or article you think was especially noteworthy this week.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years from the Swartz Family!

What if You Could Practice in a Studio?

The idea is great. Locking yourself in the vocal booth writing your soul out on paper. The guitarist messing around with a riff that catches the interest of the producer and the engineer. The engineer hits the talk back button on the mixing board and says “What was that?” The guitarist says “Just something I was working on. “The producer says “Let’s lay it down.” Magically, the drummer has a beat for it. The bass player is on the same groove and the lead singer’s lyrics fit perfectly. Aren't those movies great? We see it in music videos with the behind the scenes footage. This has to be the way it’s done, right? Well, not really.

Recording studios cost money. It costs bands and artists money… Even when the record company owns the studio. Let’s say you were in the studio for a month (31 days) making your new album. That’s a pretty cool statement to declare. Now let’s say you weren't in the studio for 24 hours a day, more like an 8 hour block of time each day. The studio itself will cost $55 an hour. Your engineer is $35 hour, producer is $60 an hour. One hour of time in the studio costs $150. Multiply that by 8 hours and you have $1,200 per day for 31 days. You are looking at $37,200 to make your new album and that doesn't cover mixing or mastering; only tracking. Now how much of that money/time would you want to spend practicing? And this is a really cheap rate.

Yes, bigger bands have bigger budgets to pull this off with. When you get there, you’ll probably also have enough to build your own high quality recording studio. Until then, the garage, basement, bed room, car, storage shed, barn, etc. are pretty cheap (respectively) ways to practice and get thoughts, ideas, layout and harmonies down cold. So when you get in the studio, it’s all business.

Here is how to make it look like you were there for longer than you really were. Bring in someone to film your studio session. The producer will most likely recommend a change to a song. Whether it be an extra note or a different key or adjusting the tempo or even a change in lyrics. Record on film (or digital) the lead singer writing down an adjustments to the lyrics, video of the drummer, bass player, guitarist and so on doing sound checks, and film of the band members in the control room listening to tracking while waiting their turn. Add all that together into a video and it looks like you all were in there practicing and being high rollers in the music industry.

Pridek Studios is the perfect all-in-one source for doing just that and you don't even have to bring someone to film your studio session... it's all right there. And when it's all done, you’re now looking like a full-time professional artist. Just think of the buzz you can create, and then be part of Industry Night at Pridek Studios. Not only does it look as if you have been practicing and developing your song in a studio, but you are being asked to perform on a special event with the studio! Now that is a home run!

Q&A about Conquer Entertainment & the UnLabel Owner

Recently Market America sat down with successful UnFranchise® Owner Michele Molinaro to talk about Conquer Entertainment®. Being a product brokerage company, Market America has a very unique business approach with respect to marketing and compensation; it's all about paying it forward and putting the majority of the profits in the hands of those who are the actual performers.

Michele along with her husband Tony, are the most successful internet entrepreneurs with Market America being they were extremely successful before partnering up with Market America. Why did they partner then with Market America? I believe the interview below will help shed light, and why this company has been so successful at attracting more business professionals in today's tough economy. And when it comes to the music industry, this company has gone above and beyond when it comes to providing the very best solutions for everyone... even the fan base which has never been accomplished before. Here is the full picture from top to bottom:

How does Conquer Entertainment® work in conjunction with SHOP.COM?

Every artist (which includes but is not limited to musicians, bands, and solo singers/artists) is presented with a Conquer site as well as a SHOP.COM site after being accepted to the platform. The artist will receive retail profits from all Market America products they sell through their site, as well as commissions from both partner stores and our MA branded products.

What kind of opportunity does Conquer Entertainment® offer Shop Consultants, and how can they tap into this opportunity?

As Shop Consultants, Conquer offers us the opportunity to open our business to another industry and connect with talented artists and other individuals. The music industry is composed of so much more than just talented musicians and artists; there are also managers, attorneys, street teams, band members, and even the fans themselves! I have always said, “If your mouth is not open your business is closed.” With Conquer as one of my divisions in my portfolio, I have a whole group of individuals I can tap into to build my business and retail products.

What kind of opportunity does Conquer Entertainment® offer new and/or established artists? Why do these artists choose Conquer over other labels and avenues of distribution?

Conquer gives the artist freedom to build their brand and image without a corporate team telling them what to do. Not only that, but that corporate team that controls their every move also takes about 98% of all retail profit, which can leave aspiring artists struggling. If you look at the market today, online music sites pay the artist approximately 8-12¢ per download. With Conquer, the payout is significantly higher for artists.

What does it mean to become a Certified Artist Developer?

A Certified Artist Developer (CAD) is someone who has completed the two day Certified Artist Developer training with music industry experts. In the past, these music industry experts have included producers who have worked with Swizz Beats and Marc Anthony, and PR Professionals with over 15 years of experience. When you attend a CAD training, you will learn about the music industry, common issues that artists face, the people and organizations generally associated with the artists (i.e. manager, street team, etc), how to effectively research an artist before partnering with them, and the types of questions you want to ask an artist in order to identify important information.

Anyone who is an UnFranchise® Owner can become a CAD.  It is very important in our business to have a clear understanding of each division so we never miss an opportunity to talk with someone or build our business.  Just because we are not majoring in “blank” (blank representing a certain “major” in the ma® University) doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t learn about the products associated with other majors. We all love music; why wouldn’t you want to learn how you can make money from music sales?

Can artists act as ambassadors for Market America products? If so, how can they effectively leverage this aspect of the business?

This is my favorite question because it is exactly what Conquer artists are: Product Ambassadors to our millions of products on SHOP.COM!  Conquer artists have the ability to capitalize on the image they have created around their music to retail products. For example, if they wear a brand of jeans, prefer particular cologne, or take a certain supplement, they can capitalize on this by exposing their fans to where they can buy the very same products on SHOP.COM.  Think of all the musicians in the world; how many are offered endorsement deals with major brands? Not many, that’s for sure. But Conquer offers this to the artist from day one.

The music industry has completely changed from the way it was years ago. We no longer go to the store and buy CD’s, instead we download our music from a website straight to our computers. There are more and more artists who are taking it upon themselves to promote their music rather than waiting to get signed to a record label. When you think about it, it’s not hard to understand why having multiple streams of income would be appealing to an artist.

Does every Shop Consultant have the ability to build their business with Conquer? If so, how?

Every UnFranchise® Owner is equipped with a Conquer portal the day they register their SHOP.COM business. With their Conquer portal, Shop Consultants have the ability to promote music and sell artist merchandise. However, the real benefit comes from the artists who are also promoting SHOP.COM, because all sales generate commissions and retail profit.

A great way to learn about Conquer and become familiar with the site is to download music! While the site accepts all major credit cards, you can also use your Cashback as a payment method. What do you have to lose?

How do Conquer artists expose fans to Conquer and SHOP.COM?  

The artists that are selected to be part of the platform are very high quality artists that have a strong following and presence on social media. Fans fall in love with the music as well as the lifestyle the artist portrays. Every day, Conquer artists are talking about their lifestyle on social media and connecting their fans to Conquer and SHOP.COM.

What makes the Conquer site different for an artist than others music sites online?

Conquer offers artists the following:

• A platform that optimally displays their music and makes it available for purchase and download.
• A profile that displays photos, videos, and a bio.
• Their own Trend Shop, which is featured on their page. This allows fans to browse and purchase the artist’s favorite products without even leaving the site.
• A platform that promotes artist’s social media pages by displaying social media plugins to their profiles and pages.

Michele has had an exceptional impact on sharing and educating other business owners on connecting the dots with respect to SHOP.COM, Trend Shops, and Conquer Entertainment's platform.

So what's Next?

Next Year will be another big year for Conquer Entertainment with a new release of our Conquer Entertainment website which is scheduled to launch in January 2014. And, there will be more big name entertainers coming to our site along with new features including dynamic charts and free streaming that make it even easier to discover our artist's music.

It is important to know that Conquer Entertainment artists are selected exclusively by Certified Artist Developers who again are qualified business professional partnered with SHOP.COM as well as being trained and certified by professional artists to help artists implement the UnLabel System.

For more information about the UnLabel Owner program, or in becoming a Certified Artist Developer, visit Explore Conquer or contact Bruce I. Swartz bruce@growonlinenow.com.

Musicians, You Don't Need to be Superstars First!

Ever watch the Voice, or American Idol? There are a great many singers and musicians out there and these two American Reality-Singing Competition programs are a great boost for an artist’s career… but you almost have to have superstar qualities to even get past their auditions. So what if you have a passion for singing, and have worked at your craft at open mic nights, out at various events and have at least made a valiant effort to reach your goals of becoming a successful musician and/or singer? Well there is another way and it’s called Conquer Entertainment.

Do you recall Phil Stacey of American Idol fame? He was lucky in making the cut, and not everyone can. Being lucky is no longer needed if you have the right team supporting the building of your success.

Known Pitfalls

In a 2012 article by Steve Knopper in Rolling Stone Music, he wrote “Over the past decade-plus, the old-fashioned way of making money in the music business – selling recorded albums – has dropped off a cliff, splintered into a zillion pieces and been run over by that methylene train from Breaking Bad. Many top stars have switched their focus to selling concert tickets; while this is a prudent plan, generally speaking, it's getting trickier now that everyone else is on the road with the same idea. But there's still money out there. Pop stars just have to be creative. "Despite the fact that the traditional ways to make money are challenged – record sales and tickets in particular – there are ways for artists to exploit their talents that didn't exist 10 years ago," says Gary Stiffelman, a veteran music-business attorney who has worked with Justin Timberlake, Eminem and Lady Gaga.”

But what are those ways? You can go to REVERBNATION for 10 examples, some of which are OK, or turn to advice from sources such as Music News Austin. I sort of like what Zac Shaw wrote in his article “Answering the Question, “How Do Musicians Make Money in a Free Culture?”:

“First, I need to dispel this myth that musicians are getting paid by the people consuming their music. In fact, it is the labels, publishers and performing rights organizations that get paid and then distribute money to musicians. Along the way, that money is subject to all manner of recoupment, administrative fees and questionable distribution formulas that favor corporate-backed music enterprises. So forget about this idea that when you buy music, the musician is making money. Too often, musicians making money is the exception to the rule.” 

“Second, I need to dispel another myth — that when musicians make money, it’s because their music is good, or at least popular. It’s certainly much harder to make money off of bad music, though a casual glance at the Billboard top 100 shows it can be done if you throw enough money at the problem.”

The only drawback to Zac’s article is his last line, “And remember, true musicians don’t make music to make money. We continue to rock whether it pays the bills or not.” True musicians do want to make money just like everyone one else in the world… if for no other reason than to simply be able to afford doing what they love, and that is where Conquer Entertainment shines. The UnLabel takes away both of Zac’s myths and much more. The idea that a musician has to throw money around in order to be successful is no longer an issue and when a musician signs up as an, UnLabel doors begin to open in many ways.

UnLabel vs Label

Conquer Entertainment® (CE) is a startup entertainment service with solutions for the music industry in marketing, producing and retailing of songs. These service solutions allow upcoming and independent artists to promote and sell songs without being contracted to a record label. It is the musician’s door into the music world. Through a revolutionary UnLabel system, artists are offered services they need in order to become successful without any strings attached – unlike the current career model offered by major labels. From touring, to web design, to promotion, Conquer allows musicians to have the freedom of choice within their music career. For more information Explore Conquer today and learn how you don’t have to first be a Super Star in order to become a Super Star.