Wednesday, June 18, 2014

#InvitedbyShySpeaks EP Release Prep, Show, and Encore

The last few months have been extraordinary.  I'm amazed at what has been accomplished by Tenth Child Inc in such a short span of time.  Preparing for the EP Release of ShySpeaks has been an exciting run filled with many tasks, managing moving parts, and a prayer to seal the deal.  

From the time we began planning this event it was apparent that a lot would ride on the success of this EP launch.  Initially the artist wanted the EP to be a free download and a gift to her fans to keep them interested. After encouraging Shy to allow me to introduce her to the world with a fresh sound and new brand she agreed to treat this as if it were a new introduction to ShySpeaks.  

We agreed to take her stage performance from energetic to captivating by adding live elements to her show.  By using her performance tracks as a guide we added singers, drums, keys, and a bass player as musical director.  Thaddeus Tribbett is most known for being music director for his Grammy Award Winning brother Tye Tribbett.  He currently tours with Jill Scott and Maxwell which makes him the perfect candidate to bring out the best in ShySpeaks music.  The singers and musicians are also up and coming artists looking to take their skill to a professional level and wanted to be apart of this experience.

The next step was to redesign the artist website.  We added new graphics and high resolution photos and social media feeds to bring her site to industry standards.  We had to conduct research to get the most out of the website functionality with a restricted budget.  My goal with this assignment was to invest in things that we can have multipurpose use.  So the photo shoot would provide content for the album cover, website, and electronic press kit.  

The promotional video was created the same night as the branding photo shoot and a personal invitation teaser to be leaked to fans to anticipate the final body of work now known as Invited.  I tend to ration content little by little to keep a professional appearance as new opportunities comes.  So far the strategy is paying off.  ShySpeaks has received an overwhelming response to her new brand.  And the feedback has been overwhelming for Tenth Child Inc.  The industry is recognizing our signature and it feels incredible.  

The photos attached are a reminder of the hard work, sleepless nights, disagreements, tears, and prayers that have sealed ShySpeaks and Tenth Child Inc on this journey to platinum.  It takes courage and commitment to be broken and restored.  Artists should see themselves in their brand.  A brand must have the ability to evolve.  A manager, artist developer, or branding strategist must be able to create the model experience for the artist to deliver commitment in an instant.  Tenth Child Inc is a capable of building, launching, and managing any artist brand.

Now it's time for an encore!  Consider yourself #Invited.

Live footage coming soon...



















Photos by Faith Anderson

Album Art by Collette Presley


Sunday, June 8, 2014

Industry Research: Music in Our Schools, Distribution, Entertainment Education in Brand Management, and Virtual Artist Management


Music in Our Schools

I was very fortunate to grow up in a city that inspired children to reach the highest level of talent imaginable.  As the daughter of a teacher I have spent many days preparing myself for college and life after school.  Having grown up in a family of musicians and singers it has been a natural progression for me to sing and play the piano. In high school my teacher, Janice Bayouth, was a major influence in my life.  She encouraged me to embrace being in the company of creative people.  Ms. Bayouth is still my teacher, counselor, and mentor.  She nurtured me through all of my insecurities with music performance.  Regardless of the applause from the crowd I lived for her approval. 

Because of this experience I am advocate for the school of performing arts.  With the economic decline in our nation funding for music and fine arts are limited and diminished in priority throughout out our national public schools systems.  Disney Performing Arts is an advocate for the Music in Our Schools efforts and partners to award teachers and institutions with recognition and finances to support create efforts.  Recording Artist, Danielle Bradbery, has been featured on the 2014 promotional tour to bring awareness to this issue.  The performing arts program at Disney has inspired me as a talent recruiter.  It is necessary that talent can reflect the mission and importance of achieving the highest expectations for our children.  Exploring every opportunity in creative arts will inspire discipline, harmony, and happiness among our youth.   Since 2009 public school systems have reported an increase in the dropout rate and test scores.  According to the New York Times, studies have shown that there is a direct link between music and literacy and believe that removal of these programs in our schools should be reconsidered and treated a vital programs for the next generation of youth.

This information will help me execute a plan to launch an awareness campaign to keep music and fine arts at the helm of public school funding. With March being the month designated for this cause I can begin building corporate sponsorships and plan a campaign to inspire charitable donations and bring awareness through artist performances.   My initial campaign will start with developing an online platform to receive donations and provide live stream performances through online media.  Having identified existing music appreciation models has inspired me to action.  I am now aware that this issue is at the forefront of several institutions and that my contribution will further this cause.


Distribution

Live entertainment is now available online through cable providers.  Subscribers have the ability to access programs online as a result of their subscription.  In prior years this activity did not require authentication from the viewer.  Cable providers who have merged with television networks risking inflation of prices to consumers of nearly 121%. In 2013, TimeWarner Cable resolved its issues with CBS in after refusing to pay a significant fee to transmit CBS signals resulting in an increased payment to subscribers. 

Independent artists and filmmakers have been given the opportunity to avoid the corporate monopoly by creating live performances to be viewed via live stream on platforms such as stageit.com and YouTube.  Through this platform performers are afforded the opportunity to sell tickets to live performances creating a revenue stream for themselves.   Similar to Vevo, the artist can control live performance videos provided to audiences across the globe without the ability to archive each recording for future view.  However, artists have the ability to use another digital platform that will reach anyone with a smart mobile device.  Consumers have the opportunity to either determine the ticket price and/or purchase the experience as advertised.  The benefit to the artist is that can promote an album free of the expense of travel to new markets.  The concept of this idea translated to television networks is an idea to be considered. 

Just as Sony Entertainment and Universal Music Group hasuse YouTube as a tool for artist recruitment and marketing, television networks can use similar platforms to select live performances for the music channel bundles to be sold and distributed worldwide.   Should recruiters adopt this practice more independent artists would subscribe to the use of digital tools and consumers would gain access to new and innovative talents giving digital platforms the opportunity to provide reporting to every chart within the Nielson rating system.  Knowing this information will assist in endeavors to pioneer a new movement for independent artists to expand revenue and market reach from free media solutions to television.

Entertainment Education in Brand Management

The entertainment industry is a demanding industry.  Some refer to it as cutthroat while other industry’s frown at the freedom of expression while parallel industries partner to bring awareness to their missions.  New artists/athletes are often thrown into fame with only a surface view of the responsibility to model appropriate behavior maintaining a positive image.  Overnight success translates to infinite access to people, power, and money.  As brand identity is defined, so should education be provided to new artists and athletes launched in entertainment. 

Performers should know why celebrity sells and how to secure and maintain endorsements.  A DualEntertainment Path Model of Brand Endorsement was created to display the correlation between the consumers emotional needs and the assignment of endorsements to superior celebrities.   This model considers the entertainment value to the fullest.  Consumers and their interest are the basis on which this model is created and used to determine a successful brand.   The recent deal between Beats Music and Apple Inc. is said to the largest acquisition in Apple’s history.  As a result of consumer interest in the headphones, Apple has set its eyes to purchase the headphone and digital music streaming service for $3.2 billion dollars.  This deal is a great example of how consumer interests play a significant role in brand success. 

Entertainers should determine short and long term goals.  Managers should choose clients who have realistic long term goals and are prepared to not only excel at their craft but also in creating an iconic brand.   Brand development should evolve over time and with consideration to the consumer base.  Consequences of disappointing consumers can be fatal to a career.  Managers of high school recruits scouted for national leagues and newly discovered artists can benefit from knowing this model intimately and preparing themselves for a highly favored yet scrutinized future with consumers of their craft and corporations.  Further study and exposure of this tool may lead to the development strategy to develop a model for independent artists seeking endorsements.

Virtual Artist Management

Independent artist have need of organization.  These artists are unique in the fact that they operate as record label without the capital to penetrate the market through mass publication and distribution.  As software is developed for proprietary use the need to manage a career according to industry standard still exists for unsigned artists.  Artist Growth is software now available to new artists and some major labels.  This tool can assist in the organization of finances, merchandise, calendar events and more.


This tool will be instrumental for virtual artist management for a TENTH CHILD INC.  Use of this tool can support salary demands up to and above $90K according to Bureauof Labor Statistics. To management multiple artists with equivalent needs at various stages of their career is a strong feet.  A key characteristic of a manager is the ability to navigate in entertainment business is the ability to manage and promote the artist’s career and protect assets.  The artist growth management tool creates an intimate view to be shared to administrators and public view to band members.  Artist Growth is unique in the sense that it provides an education in financial management, social imprinting and tour scheduling.

Tenth Child Inc will develop a plan for virtual artist management to expand market reach nationally.  Upon completion of this plan the company will open artist roster to candidates across the United States within the scope of entertainment.  By adopting a system of record for all clients the ability to streamline multiple artist management is now possible.