Sunday July 18th a little over a hundred people gathered that night to see what Tate Music Group had to offer from their own Oklahoman artists. Halie Hanson, Chris Crawford, Jeff Hill, Ahsley Windham and Scarlitt Redemption came through to entertain the show and stomp their performances. Each artist had a different musical style and their own way to relate to the audience.
TMG Marketing reps always emphasize the importance of performing. At that time it is the artists greatest opportunity to capture a crowd and entertain them. The transitions from song to song are just as important as the song itself. The entire package needs to be at the same level and that is what the 5 artists did last Sunday night. I was so proud that Tate Music Group was so well represented.
TMG looks forward to creating more showcases for our artists around the country.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Mistake Authors and Artists Make
THE MISTAKE AUTHORS AND ARTISTS MAKE
by
Richard Tate
My wife and I traveled for over 25 years speaking, singing, and conducting seminars and conferences across the US and even overseas. We averaged about 40+ events per year for a quarter of a century. Much of what Tate Publishing and Tate Music Group does for authors and artists is a direct result of our experiences, both good and bad. They say no teacher is more effective than experience and we can certainly vouch for that. Many horrible hotels, hours and hours in a car with kids asleep in the back seat, endless hours in airports, small record and book sales and low payment for services and work, work, work. When I was in the Marine Corps back in the 60’s one of our officers made a statement to us during an especially difficult time. “No one ever drowned in sweat,” he screamed. How true that is.
The sad issue today is that many new authors and artists think that because they have a good book or great music that it should just “happen” for them and that it is the total responsibility of the publisher or label to do all the work. It takes work, persistence, and lots of effort by the author or artist along side their publisher and label. Trust me, it is all worth it and Rita and I have a million good memories as a result of those years and made a fine living on the road. You can too if that is your dream, if you are willing to work with your team.
Last fall I was outside our house standing in the driveway talking with my son Ryan, who is the effective President and CEO of our companies, about TMG issues when my cell phone rang. The voice on the other end was our good friend and country music legend, Kenny Rogers. He was calling about his upcoming trip to our location and wanted to go over a few things with me and Ryan. Here is the “kicker” to the conversation. I said, “Kenny, you sound a bit tired my friend!” He replied, “Just a bit Richard. We have the Fiftieth Anniversary tour coming up in January with Dolly Parton and I have been working ten hours a day on the phone and on the computer calling venues, newspapers, radio and TV stations, and promoters working to get the crowds out. I have been doing this for half a century and it is still a lot of work.” Kirk Webster, who works with us out of Nashville and manages Dolly Parton, told me at our dinner there recently, “Richard, I have never seen anyone work harder than Dolly. She is after it hours and hours every day to stay successful.” Lee Greenwood who is a new part of our music and publishing family and the author of “God Bless the USA” told us in the conference room at his last visit that he worked for years and years in every kind of venue that would book him, large or small before his career took off and he became the legend he is today. Two time country music artist of the year Neal McCoy is doing several projects with us. He was Entertainer of the Year TWICE and said to me his bus one night after a packed out show, “It took me 13 years Richard before I had a hit. 13 years of any and every kind of gig until things took off. I work harder today than ever to keep us on the road doing what I love.” We love our relationship with the Oak Ridge Boys and their long time manager Jim Halsey. I was visiting with Joe Bonsall when the “Boys” were here recently and I asked him (they still do over 100 shows a year) what he would tell some of our new and aspiring authors and artists. He did not even hesitate. “They have to be willing to work. They have to be willing to sing or speak to 5 just like they would to 5,000. Most people think they should get their break because of the record label. Not so. It takes the label and the artist working hard every day. You don’t deserve that booking, you have to work for it and it HAS to be about your music or the message of your book first of all.”
Our marketing and publicists work hard to make each artist and each author as successful as possible. But, the biggest mistake I see authors and artists make is to think they deserve it and it should just “happen.” It takes hard work even after you have become a legend in the industry. Just ask Kenny Rogers.
by
Richard Tate
My wife and I traveled for over 25 years speaking, singing, and conducting seminars and conferences across the US and even overseas. We averaged about 40+ events per year for a quarter of a century. Much of what Tate Publishing and Tate Music Group does for authors and artists is a direct result of our experiences, both good and bad. They say no teacher is more effective than experience and we can certainly vouch for that. Many horrible hotels, hours and hours in a car with kids asleep in the back seat, endless hours in airports, small record and book sales and low payment for services and work, work, work. When I was in the Marine Corps back in the 60’s one of our officers made a statement to us during an especially difficult time. “No one ever drowned in sweat,” he screamed. How true that is.
The sad issue today is that many new authors and artists think that because they have a good book or great music that it should just “happen” for them and that it is the total responsibility of the publisher or label to do all the work. It takes work, persistence, and lots of effort by the author or artist along side their publisher and label. Trust me, it is all worth it and Rita and I have a million good memories as a result of those years and made a fine living on the road. You can too if that is your dream, if you are willing to work with your team.
Last fall I was outside our house standing in the driveway talking with my son Ryan, who is the effective President and CEO of our companies, about TMG issues when my cell phone rang. The voice on the other end was our good friend and country music legend, Kenny Rogers. He was calling about his upcoming trip to our location and wanted to go over a few things with me and Ryan. Here is the “kicker” to the conversation. I said, “Kenny, you sound a bit tired my friend!” He replied, “Just a bit Richard. We have the Fiftieth Anniversary tour coming up in January with Dolly Parton and I have been working ten hours a day on the phone and on the computer calling venues, newspapers, radio and TV stations, and promoters working to get the crowds out. I have been doing this for half a century and it is still a lot of work.” Kirk Webster, who works with us out of Nashville and manages Dolly Parton, told me at our dinner there recently, “Richard, I have never seen anyone work harder than Dolly. She is after it hours and hours every day to stay successful.” Lee Greenwood who is a new part of our music and publishing family and the author of “God Bless the USA” told us in the conference room at his last visit that he worked for years and years in every kind of venue that would book him, large or small before his career took off and he became the legend he is today. Two time country music artist of the year Neal McCoy is doing several projects with us. He was Entertainer of the Year TWICE and said to me his bus one night after a packed out show, “It took me 13 years Richard before I had a hit. 13 years of any and every kind of gig until things took off. I work harder today than ever to keep us on the road doing what I love.” We love our relationship with the Oak Ridge Boys and their long time manager Jim Halsey. I was visiting with Joe Bonsall when the “Boys” were here recently and I asked him (they still do over 100 shows a year) what he would tell some of our new and aspiring authors and artists. He did not even hesitate. “They have to be willing to work. They have to be willing to sing or speak to 5 just like they would to 5,000. Most people think they should get their break because of the record label. Not so. It takes the label and the artist working hard every day. You don’t deserve that booking, you have to work for it and it HAS to be about your music or the message of your book first of all.”
Our marketing and publicists work hard to make each artist and each author as successful as possible. But, the biggest mistake I see authors and artists make is to think they deserve it and it should just “happen.” It takes hard work even after you have become a legend in the industry. Just ask Kenny Rogers.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Justin Bieber Label Support
I want to start this blog off with a disclaimer so people know that I am not sitting around listening to Justin Bieber songs and watching YouTube videos all day long. I happened to catch a special this morning before heading into work that I found interesting titled "Justin Bieber, My World" on E.
It was interesting because some established artists believe that Bieber is probably the last discovered talent (by a label) that will happen in the music industry. The industry is changing so much and so many platforms are avaialable that artists do not need label support in the same way that they used too.
One of the comments Justins manager made was that everyone in the music industry knows that your label doesn't kick in until you have something going on. Keep in mind that they are signed by Island Def Jam. This is a great point to make about industry norm and the Tate Music Group model. TMG will help our artist promote, distribute and market their album from the start. Regardless if you have 1 event booked or 1000. Our marketing staff works with you to increase your exposure by helping publicize the events you have, securing promotional materials, partnering to book events and giving you the label support you need.
It is probably safe to say that everyone knows Bieber was an internet sensation. After signing with Def Jam his manager and mom started posting videos of him singing, interacting and performing. They wanted to use the internet to make it seem like the fans discovered Bieber. By the time he released his album he already had a fan base. The rest is history.
Again I mention this because it is an interesting piece and talks in depth about using the internet to market music. They didn't poor a bunch of money into it at all. Literally they posted a bunch of home videos that captured an audience. Anyone can use that marketing approach.
It was interesting because some established artists believe that Bieber is probably the last discovered talent (by a label) that will happen in the music industry. The industry is changing so much and so many platforms are avaialable that artists do not need label support in the same way that they used too.
One of the comments Justins manager made was that everyone in the music industry knows that your label doesn't kick in until you have something going on. Keep in mind that they are signed by Island Def Jam. This is a great point to make about industry norm and the Tate Music Group model. TMG will help our artist promote, distribute and market their album from the start. Regardless if you have 1 event booked or 1000. Our marketing staff works with you to increase your exposure by helping publicize the events you have, securing promotional materials, partnering to book events and giving you the label support you need.
It is probably safe to say that everyone knows Bieber was an internet sensation. After signing with Def Jam his manager and mom started posting videos of him singing, interacting and performing. They wanted to use the internet to make it seem like the fans discovered Bieber. By the time he released his album he already had a fan base. The rest is history.
Again I mention this because it is an interesting piece and talks in depth about using the internet to market music. They didn't poor a bunch of money into it at all. Literally they posted a bunch of home videos that captured an audience. Anyone can use that marketing approach.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Variance Debut Magazine is a Huge Success
Variance Magazine released its debut publication July 1st and has since garnished over 65,000 unique impressions.
Variance is a new venture and I think we hit it out of the park for our first issue. I had a goal of 50k impressions by the next issue and it looks like we will destroy that number. The magazine is another killer marketing option TMG is able to provide our artists with. Along with Nationwide TV commercials, radio programing we have a share in the three major marketing and advertising mediums available. As Tate Music Group grows so will our share in all three. Variance gives us a go to resource for ads, reviews and articles that demands the attention of people interested in music, books and media. Tate Music Group and Tate Publishing have been able to drive thousands of impressions to our artists and authors this last week that wasn't available two weeks ago. As the viewership increases over time these numbers and results will only get better.
With the positive responses we've received we are excited to get started on the next issue!
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