Comments on: 360 Deals and ‘Dumb’ Artists (Hip-Hoppreneur ™ Commentary October 28, 2009 ) http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/360-deals-and-%e2%80%98dumb%e2%80%99-artists-hip-hoppreneur-%e2%84%a2-commentary-october-28-2009/ Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:31:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Bostic http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/360-deals-and-%e2%80%98dumb%e2%80%99-artists-hip-hoppreneur-%e2%84%a2-commentary-october-28-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-563 Bostic Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:49 +0000 http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/?p=998#comment-563 I am in the process of recording a project that will completely change how artist enter the marketplace. Gone is the age of the dumb artist. The new artist will have to cater to an audience that respects the art, shuns the repetitive nonsense, and needs something to identify with. I feel as if I have been exiled from my own coutnry (HIP HOP). Because I am a father, husband, corporate professional, world traveler, and grad school graduate I have been left out of the hip hop equation. I have no desire to hear shoot em up bang bang bling bling me me me music. I need someone that can make me dance with a good conscience. I am in the process of recording a project that will completely change how artist enter the marketplace. Gone is the age of the dumb artist. The new artist will have to cater to an audience that respects the art, shuns the repetitive nonsense, and needs something to identify with. I feel as if I have been exiled from my own coutnry (HIP HOP). Because I am a father, husband, corporate professional, world traveler, and grad school graduate I have been left out of the hip hop equation. I have no desire to hear shoot em up bang bang bling bling me me me music. I need someone that can make me dance with a good conscience.

]]> By: Cedric Muhammad » Blog Archive » Chris Lighty Is Not A Sell Out! The Music Industry Caste System (Hip-Hoppreneur ™ Commentary November 4, 2009) http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/360-deals-and-%e2%80%98dumb%e2%80%99-artists-hip-hoppreneur-%e2%84%a2-commentary-october-28-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-562 Cedric Muhammad » Blog Archive » Chris Lighty Is Not A Sell Out! The Music Industry Caste System (Hip-Hoppreneur ™ Commentary November 4, 2009) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:25:22 +0000 http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/?p=998#comment-562 [...] week’s commentary, “360 Deals and ‘Dumb’ Artists” (http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/360-deals-and-%E2%80%98dumb%E2%80%99-artists-hip-hoppreneur-%E2%84%A2... stirred up quite a reaction. I’m pleased to know that I’ve made a contribution to an important [...] [...] week’s commentary, “360 Deals and ‘Dumb’ Artists” (http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/360-deals-and-%E2%80%98dumb%E2%80%99-artists-hip-hoppreneur-%E2%84%A2… stirred up quite a reaction. I’m pleased to know that I’ve made a contribution to an important [...]

]]> By: Robert Szeles http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/360-deals-and-%e2%80%98dumb%e2%80%99-artists-hip-hoppreneur-%e2%84%a2-commentary-october-28-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-557 Robert Szeles Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:39:39 +0000 http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/?p=998#comment-557 "Until they emerge in critical mass, music will remain a commodity or loss leader..." What else can music be in our culture/economy be apart from a commodity or loss leader? I suppose you're saying that artists have to be entrepreneurs (form their own companies). I understand that, but how to monetize music in this new industry/economy is still a difficult question. I suppose your book would address that. :D Thanks for the great article. Sincerely, Robert Szeles Seduction Revolution Music “Until they emerge in critical mass, music will remain a commodity or loss leader…” What else can music be in our
culture/economy be apart from a commodity or loss leader?
I suppose you’re saying that artists have to be entrepreneurs
(form their own companies). I understand that, but how to
monetize music in this new industry/economy is still a
difficult question.

I suppose your book would address that. :D

Thanks for the great article.

Sincerely,
Robert Szeles
Seduction Revolution Music

]]> By: Tess Taylor http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/360-deals-and-%e2%80%98dumb%e2%80%99-artists-hip-hoppreneur-%e2%84%a2-commentary-october-28-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-556 Tess Taylor Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:59:19 +0000 http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/?p=998#comment-556 Dear Cedric - Nice piece, well-written. We've been doing mock negotiation program of 360 deals for the last year, just had one this week in Los Angeles (earlier this year in NY and San Francisco). The consensus is that 360 deals are getting worse - labels now demand continuing royalties, i.e., sunset clauses much like managers so labels will continue to get their percentage even after the deal terminates. Not exactly favorable to the artist, but then where else can you get money you don't have to repay unless you're successful? I respect artistry a great deal, but as you suggest, being an artist is no excuse to let the business slide or hope that someone else will do it. I have no patience for such people. You don't have to negotiate every deal yourself, but you've got to be at the steering wheel of your own career. And if you're not, don't complain about where you end up. I love this quote: "Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art." - Andy Warhol Be well, Tess Taylor National Association of Record Industry Professionals Dear Cedric -

Nice piece, well-written. We’ve been doing mock negotiation program of 360 deals for the last year, just had one this week in Los Angeles (earlier this year in NY and San Francisco). The consensus is that 360 deals are getting worse – labels now demand continuing royalties, i.e., sunset clauses much like managers so labels will continue to get their percentage even after the deal terminates. Not exactly favorable to the artist, but then where else can you get money you don’t have to repay unless you’re successful? I respect artistry a great deal, but as you suggest, being an artist is no excuse to let the business slide or hope that someone else will do it. I have no patience for such people. You don’t have to negotiate every deal yourself, but you’ve got to be at the steering wheel of your own career. And if you’re not, don’t complain about where you end up.

I love this quote:

“Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.” – Andy Warhol

Be well,

Tess Taylor
National Association of Record Industry Professionals

]]> By: Joseph http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/360-deals-and-%e2%80%98dumb%e2%80%99-artists-hip-hoppreneur-%e2%84%a2-commentary-october-28-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-552 Joseph Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:46:37 +0000 http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/?p=998#comment-552 Another on point dissection of the music business. Why are more artists not going independent? And I'm talking about"established" artists who already have the name and rep. This has me looking for underground MCs and upping my jazz collection. When will they wake up? Who knows? Keep the knowledge coming,Peace......... Another on point dissection of the music business. Why are more artists not going independent? And I’m talking about”established” artists who already have the name and rep. This has me looking for underground MCs and upping my jazz collection. When will they wake up? Who knows? Keep the knowledge coming,Peace………

]]> By: Deitric Muhammad http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/360-deals-and-%e2%80%98dumb%e2%80%99-artists-hip-hoppreneur-%e2%84%a2-commentary-october-28-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-551 Deitric Muhammad Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:30:43 +0000 http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/?p=998#comment-551 As-Salaam Alaikum! Thank you for this most incisive analysis. Only when we control the money flow will artists will be able to make the hundreds of millions--even billions of dollars--from this multi-billion dollar industry that we created but not yet control. Thank you, Bro. Cedric! As-Salaam Alaikum!

Thank you for this most incisive analysis. Only when we control the money flow will artists will be able to make the hundreds of millions–even billions of dollars–from this multi-billion dollar industry that we created but not yet control. Thank you, Bro. Cedric!

]]> By: Eleazar http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/360-deals-and-%e2%80%98dumb%e2%80%99-artists-hip-hoppreneur-%e2%84%a2-commentary-october-28-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-548 Eleazar Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:42:19 +0000 http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/?p=998#comment-548 Nice. Nice.

]]> By: Rabiah Muhammad http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/360-deals-and-%e2%80%98dumb%e2%80%99-artists-hip-hoppreneur-%e2%84%a2-commentary-october-28-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-547 Rabiah Muhammad Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:03:40 +0000 http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/?p=998#comment-547 As usual, an insightful and cuttingly honest assessment of one type of business - the music industry. I am uncovering similar kinds of "not really on your side" attitudes in academia where unwitting PhD candidates (the majority of whom don't finish the program) are wooed with money for their first year and then given brutal teaching schedules for the duration. The school benefits from cheap labor to teach those ubiquitous freshman courses . . . the candidates drop out from the stress of a dual "job" for slave wages (usually around $1500/month!) and the beat goes on. Your advice is universal. We should all listen carefully and then ACT in our own best interests no matter what our field As usual, an insightful and cuttingly honest assessment of one type of business – the music industry.

I am uncovering similar kinds of “not really on your side” attitudes in academia where unwitting PhD candidates (the majority of whom don’t finish the program) are wooed with money for their first year and then given brutal teaching schedules for the duration. The school benefits from cheap labor to teach those ubiquitous freshman courses . . . the candidates drop out from the stress of a dual “job” for slave wages (usually around $1500/month!) and the beat goes on.

Your advice is universal. We should all listen carefully and then ACT in our own best interests no matter what our field

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