Common Commercial Radio Myths

The way Tate Music Group is structured we happen to talk to musicians at different stage of the game. Undoubtedly the same misconceptions about radio airplay are apparent to anyone who hasn’t received tons of commercial radio play. I want to clarify that I am talking about Commercial Radio, not the mom and pop station that hasn’t updated their equipment in 20 years. If you have to send a physical CD to the radio station for them to play your music, more than likely they are not a large commercial station. Therefore they are probably not a reporting station and besides the fact that you can get easy spins there it doesn’t really matter.

One Myth is the DJ’s choose what songs are in their rotation. Again we are talking about Commercial Radio. The majority of people in the US listen to commercial regular-rotation radio and on these stations DJ’s have no say at all in what is being played. If you ask a DJ to listen to your music for possible spin consideration they are not allowed to say “No”. At the least it is up to the Program Director and sometimes they are completely out of the mix depending on how large or corporately owned the station is.

Myth – Good songs spread to other stations – Tons of research and money goes into every song you hear on these stations. The DJ’s just make it sound like they picked the record out of a hat, but in turn that is not the case.

Myth – College or Specialty Mix Shows will expand to Commercial – Just because you receive regular spins on a show like this doesn’t mean it will transfer over. Again this is usually just a testing ground and very few make the transfer.

Myth – Request calls will help – Having all of your friends call and request your song really doesn’t help. Your time will be better spent inviting people to your gigs. Stations know which calls are real and which are bands and their friends calling in.

These are just a few of the myths you can find out more by checking out the article on Music Biz Academy.com “Commercial Radio Myths” by Bryan Farrish.

VersaEmerge Lands on the Cover of Variance Issue 3

"There's a vulture on my shoulder / And he's telling me to give in"

There may be a vulture on Sierra Kusterbeck's shoulder, but she won't be giving in any time soon. The young lead singer of explosive rock band VersaEmerge is a powerhouse of sound and emotion that will not be denied. With the recent release of their first full-length album, Fixed at Zero, VersaEmerge has built momentum that catches up dedicated fans and new listeners alike.

The band just finished up their first headlining tour, "The Vultures Unite Tour," and according to Sierra each night was incredible.

Be sure to log onto Variance Magazine January 1st to see full article plus features on Disciple, Venus Infers, Christopher Moore, Barats and Bereta, KTTK, Michelle Buzz and many more.

Create a Fan Base Through Social Networking

One of the practices that should consistently be used by artist regardless of where they are in the music game is maximizing the opportunity social networks provide. This is a great way to get your music in front of tons of people. Just think of how many events you would have to play to equal the amount of personal exposure the internet provides. Once an artist is ready for marketing at Tate Music Group, we want to mobilize these networks to spread the word that the project is ready!

There are just a few steps to make this really beneficial to an artist and their project. Anytime you are sending a message, reaching out to someone or requesting anything be sure there is a link in your message back to your websites. Usually you have one opportunity to catch someones attention and you might just catch them at the right time where they feel interested enough to click through to your website and listen to your music. So be sure you don't miss any opportunities to attract a new fan.

(We used this very tactic in promoting Variance Magazine and garnished over 200K hits from it.)

I always suggest to search facebook, Myspace, Twitter and other social sites to find artists or influential people in your genre. Request them as friends, leave comments on their page and search their friends list to do the same. Again you are reaching out to music lovers of the same genre befriending them and asking them to check out your music.

Trust me this works. There are some bands that pride themselves on this. Building a bands social network is vitally important to their future growth. Think of it like building an online street team. These are the people that are going to spread the word about a new single, concert, or CD release.

Very important to remember that once you have fans you have to keep them. That means keeping your websites fresh with content. Do not let it become stale because as quickly as they come they will leave in the same fashion. You have to engage and mobilize social networks for them to be beneficial.

For other great Blog articles check out Music Man's Blog.

Jay Z and Warren Buffet Have More in Common Than One Would Expect

I was traveling back home to San Diego this last weekend for an early Thanksgiving with my family and I picked up the recent Forbes magazine with Jay Z and Warren Buffet on the cover. I usually try to read Inc., Entrepreneur and magazines focused more on marketing than the 400 wealthiest people in the world, but you have to admit the two individuals on the cover are interesting on their own let alone interacting together.

The article was great and actually the two have more in common than one would think. Steve Forbes led the interview and the three of them talked about business, money, inspiration and the art of giving back.

Check it out here Forbes Article

Day 2 of the Billboard Film and TV Music Conference

Two interesting points from Day 2 of the The Hollywood Reporter/Billboard Film and TV Music Conference in Los Angeles.

There are more places for indie artists to license their music and get their music out. "Last Call" does look for emerging bands that it can grow with. "It's real A&R when there is no A&R," Daly said. Daly and music booker Davis Powers listen to new artists, scan YouTube and have partnered with L.A. venues like the Hotel Cafe to find new acts. "Yo Gabba Gabba" accepts song submissions and uses some, even though they create most of their own music.

-- More music supervisors are using production music because the rights are all cleared. Production music quality has also improved. Production music companies buy music from indie artists through different types of deals. Getty Images director of music product Larry Mills said, "Once you're in, you're in" and you can write more music for them. Universal Music Production Worldwide president Gary Gross said they sign mostly work-for-hire deals, so they own the rights for the songs. Occasionally production music deal can lead to label deal as it did for Gnarls Barkely on the hit "Crazy."

And They Say People Don't Get Caught

Jury: Jammie Thomas-Rasset Owes $1.5 Million
November 04, 2010 - Legal and Management

Associated Press

A federal jury has decided that Jammie Thomas-Rasset owes $1.5 million for sharing 24 songs over the Internet.

Jurors determined Wednesday (Nov. 3) that Jammie Thomas-Rasset from Minnesota owes $62,500 per song.

Last year, a federal jury found Thomas-Rasset willfully violated the copyrights on 24 songs. She was ordered to pay $1.92 million in damages, or $80,000 per song.

But Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Davis reduced the verdict to about $54,000 in damages, calling the jury's penalty "monstrous and shocking." The Recording Industry Association of America rejected the reduced penalty, setting up the new trial to determine damages.

The RIAA says in a statement it hopes Thomas-Rasset "finally accepts responsibility for her actions."

A message left for Thomas-Rasset's attorney was not immediately returned.

Tate Music Group Launches Internet Radio Station

OKLAHOMA CITY – In the two short years since its inception, Tate Music Group has made huge strides in an industry whose future is more and more questionable each day. Taking their next step into future of music, TMG launched their very own internet radio station, TMGRadio, late last week.

Based on Tate’s high number of artists in the Christian music demographic, the station’s content is predominantly a mixture of Christian rock, contemporary, worship, and urban gospel. “We play both the top TMG artists and the best of what is currently on the charts now, from Need to Breathe to Skillet to Lacrae,” Director of Radio Promotions & Development at Tate, Allen Finch, says.

The station will include several daily programs, much like its terrestrial counterparts. According to Finch, several shows and specials are still in the works, but here’s a taste of what listeners can expect from TMGRadio:

“[During] The Morning Drive, we play only the top artists from Christian rock, AC, and CHR charts from 8-9am. At lunch we have The Retro Lunchbox, where we focus on the best Christian music from the 80’s and 90’s. And every Sunday morning we will play great worship music all morning long,” Finch says.

But the sweetheart of the operation is an unorthodox special designed for a little nostalgic inspiration. It’s called The Carman Cure.

“Yes, that is correct. We have a segment dedicated to the king of all Christian music, Carman,” Finch reports. “Every day at 2:30, we play a favorite Carman song to help get listeners over that afternoon hump.”

Whether or not they catch The Carman Cure, listeners can tune into TMGRadio at http://www.tatemusicgroup.com/radio.php. An iPhone app for the station is also being created for listeners on the go.

Record Deals Are Never Free

The biggest misconception in the music industry is that music deals are full of up front money and equal profit sharing. Again this is a huge misconception! Even though the traditional music labels are dieing daily I recently read an article in Billboard about Marilyn Manson signing a deal with an indie label overseas.

I would have to say that at best less than 1% of musicians are in a category to receive an advance. What also has to be understood is that is an "advance" the record label will hold back any profit to the artist until that advance is recouped. Also remember that it's just not the advance that has to be recouped before the artist starts making money. Any money spent on marketing, distribution, promotion etc... is part of that equation as well.

In reference to Manson's new deal "The structure is a 50-50 profit share after the label recoups its costs, which include an advance paid out to Manson and a major marketing commitment."

Everyone here at Tate Music Group and Variance Magazine continue to stand by our contract as an industry best. Our contract benefits an artist who is not in the public eye from the start to someone like Kenny Rogers, Katy Perry Toby Mac etc... TMG pays 50% on all digital sales and the artists has the ability to make 70 - 80% on physical CD sales.

TMG Radio on Live365.com

In a continuous effort to promote Tate Music Group artist on the radio TMG has officially launched TMG Radio. This is an internet station where the TMG Radio promotion department controls the content.

The content of the station is predominantly a mixture of Christian rock, contemporary, worship, and even urban. We play both the top TMG artists and the best of what is currently on the charts now (from Need to Breathe to Skillet to Lacrae).

TMG Radio has some special programing as well:

The Morning Drive – we play only the top artists from Christian rock, AC, and CHR charts. 8-9am

The Retro Lunchbox – we focus on the best Christian music from the 80’s and 90’s.

The Carman Cure – yes…that is correct. We have a segment dedicated to the king of all Christian music…and possibly the reason TMG can be TMG…Carman. Every day at 2:30, we play a favorite Carman song…to help get you over that afternoon hump.

Breakthrough Sundays – every Sunday morning we play great worship music all morning long.

Variance Magazine Passes 200,000 Hits

The revolutionary music magazine passes 200,000 hits with their second issue. Variance Magazine is a magazine for the people by the people.

Industries boast that they are concerned with what their consumers want to hear about but Variance is the only one that actually puts truth behind that statement. The magazine accepts article submissions and publishes those articles in upcoming issues. More than half of Variances articles are written by people not employed by Variance.

Their tag line says it best when referring to article submissions "if you got em we want em".

Becoming Successful in the Music Industry (Clip)

Sam Feldman is the CEO of S. L. Feldman & Associates, Canada's largest full service talent agency. The company books dates for artists such as Robbie Williams, Dido, Coldplay, Sarah McLachlan and Bryan Adams, as well as managing the careers of artists and producers like Anne Murray, Martina McBride and Bob Rock. Feldman himself helps manage the careers of Norah Jones, Diana Krall, and Elvis Costello. Check out his video clip on Becoming Successful in the Music Industry. For other great music blogs check out Music Man's Blog.