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.

Leverage the Internet

Everyone knows that by signing a record deal doesn't mean the work is over. Even thought Tate Music Group is the best label around and gives artists the freedom and flexibility they need, I will be the first one to tell you as the Director of Music Marketing that we are not going to do everything for you!

Yes TMG will handle marketing, publicity, promotion, advertisements, radio, booking, distribution and so on... we rely on the artist to network like crazy. The artist needs to be focused on growing, relating and mobilizing their social networks at all times. We need the artist to utilize the tools and services the Internet provides. They should leverage the internet as much as possible to grow their fan base, increase sales and actually grow their music business...and it is a business.

Besides twitter, facebook and the other social networking platforms that are out there you have to get creative. For instance TMG took our niche and organized Variance Magazine. It is an industry magazine that allows us to feature TMG artists along with articles of larger named acts. Scale Variance down a little and you have an industry newsletter. Every artist out there should have a newsletter that informs their family, friends and fans of what they are doing on a quarterly basis. This is just one example but you see how creativity can really allow you to stay relevant in the business. Check out "100 Resources for DIY Musicians" for some other tips.

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.

Is One of the Worlds Largest Labels Shifting Their Focus

A recent press release from EMI leads people to believe that they are shying away from developing new artists and instead, focusing on exploiting their enormous back catalog.

“Owning and exploiting the copyright to songs, rather than selling recordings of songs, is where the money’s going to be from now on.” EMI’s new organization structure “implies a lighter commitment to breaking new artists in favor of relying more heavily on selling publishing rights to its enormous back catalog.” June 22nd Billboard article.

If you don't think the music industry is changing you are crazy. When the largest players in the industry shift their focus off of what has been a cash cow forever it is a great indication that the old model is dead and they are now trying to find new avenues of success.

Being an artist in todays market is much more blue collar than ever. Many can make a living if the effort is there but there will be fewer and fewer at the top.

Even Less Shelf Space Ahead

If you've read any of my blogs or talked to anyone in the music industry you've heard over and over that digital distribution is what matters 100% to 99.99% of the artists out there with a product. It allows artist to distribute their music to the masses 24/7. As an example Tate Music Group provides artists with over 170 different digital retail outlets through our partnership with E1 Entertainment. If asked right now I couldn't name you 17 physical retailers that sell music in today's economy and it looks like another Major Retail Chain is redirecting its focus.

Billboard reported today that "BEST BUYS LOOKS TOWARD GAMING"
-- "As Billboard already reported, Best Buy shares dropped 6% on weaker-than-expected quarterly profits. The company did not reveal much about music sales, but it did make clear the category was among the losers last quarter."

What that means in the long run. As expected retail chains have dramatically reduced their shelf space for music, and it looks like the trend will continue. The majority of CD sales come from live events. With the ability to download singles and albums over the internet, physical CD distribution is becoming extinct.

Regie Hamm's Release Party at SESAC

Tate Music Group Director of Development and Music Operations Bryan Norris and I were in Nashville this past week for TMG Artist Regie Hamm’s official release party for both his new CD “Set it on Fire” and book “Angels and Idols”.

Regie’s release was held at the Nashville office of SESAC, where Regie has been a SESAC writer for over 16 years and awarded SESAC writer of the year 4 times. The turn out was really impressive with about 15 different media representatives in attendance close family and friends and a ton of industry pros. The place was packed!

Saying yes to Tate Music Group doesn’t mean your saying No to everyone else!

Tate Music Group is quickly becoming the trendsetter in the music business. As a music label TMG provides an artist with all of the resources they need to be successful. Tate Music Group gives the artist an opportunity for success most dream about, but it is up to the artist to grab it. TMG provides label support through full production, booking gigs, promotion (radio as well as other media outlets), marketing and one of the largest distribution lists in the industry.

Tate Music Group signs artists to a non-exclusive music contract where the artist retains all rights to their music. TMG will provide continuing support throughout the life of the album, giving the artist the ability to leave at any time for a better deal. If a better deal comes around TMG encourages its artists to take it. We just hope we've created a loyal relationship based upon our honesty and hard work, that TMG is given the opportunity to match any competing offers! By saying YES to TMG you're not saying NO to everyone else. You are simply taking one of the best opportunities in the industry to see how far you can go!