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Monday, February 28, 2011

Black Music Month and Beyond

Though Black History Month has come to a close, it is always an ideal time to be reminded of some of our most lauded and diversely talented artists as they indelibly stamp their accomplishments into history's archives including swinging über composer Quincy Jones, power duet Beyoncé and Jay-Z and Blues legend Buddy Guy. The richness of their musical genius is immeasurable. Several other such amazing artists are also highlighted by The Recording Academy® at http://www.grammy365.com/news/black-history-month-musical-enrichment-0.

How copacetic that OK Senate Bill 73 was approved almost unanimously to honor "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" as the official state Gospel song. Put forth by Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa, it is now headed for a vote by House Representatives as sponsored by Rep. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa.

Wallis Willis, a Choctaw freedman living in Indian Territory, penned and composed the classic spiritual.

Other Oklahoma state songs include:

  • Official Song: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma”
  • Official Country and Western Song: Bob Wills’ “Faded Love”
  • Official Folk Song: Jack and Woody Guthrie’s “Oklahoma Hills”
  • Official Rock Song: The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??”

For more info, read Tulsa World.

To hear more amazing music year round, check out TMG Radio.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Voices Of Glory Reacting at Radio: #1!

Congratulations to America's Got Talent finalists and TMG artists Voices Of Glory for moving into the Number 1 DJ favorite artist ranking on Radioactive Airplay and for their recent Number 1 song "You Untie My Wings" at radio!

High Protein Promotions: Gaga’s Grammy Egg

Now that the splendor and splash of the Grammys has passed, how were you inspired? Watching it, I was amazed by the most awesome opening choir ever of Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, Yolanda Adams, Florence Welch; Esperanza Spalding vs. Justin Bieber; Janelle Monae; Bruno Mars and B.o.B.; Rihanna; Cee Lo with Gwyneth and puppets, and so many others.

Congrats again to fellow Grammy contender and TMG artist Addis.

What a night for independent artists! More than 50% of Grammy nominated projects came from independent record labels. You can fully consider that fact by visiting American Association of Independent Music at: http://a2im.org/2011/02/14/indies-reign-at-grammys-taking-home-album-of-the-year-and-best-new-artist-awards-%E2%80%93-total-indie-tally-is-46-grammys. Does that realization dim the sheen of major record label offerings? Not specifically though what it does do is brilliantly illuminate to every independent artist currently working, hustling, pushing, promoting, writing, recuperating, exhausted-yet-still-inspired, to stay focused on your vision and the impeccable execution of your music.

The Grammys triggered much for many. How did it ignite your muse? Were you inspired by the music, the dance, the fashion … that egg? OK, let’s talk about Lady Gaga and her performance birthing capsule. It might not have been understood, but it was a marketing and promotions stunt that still has folks either perplexed and intrigued or dismissive of such performance art. Regardless and better than Humpty Dumpty who perished for his passion, Gaga’s egg cracked open another level of promotion to demand attention. In a room of titans, all heads noticed.

Fret not. Even though that high protein idea is fried, what new ideas do you have to similarly attract media to your music? What press soufflé will you whip up to encourage curiosity about what you do?

Start thinking. Stay creative. Be dynamic. Eggs-actly.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Tate artists and staff up for top awards

Great things are happening for Tate Music Group artists and staff. Just check out the following accolades!

ARTISTS:
TMG artist Addis is on the official ballot for the 2011 Grammy Awards in the following categories:
Category 6 - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Addis - Come Back To Me
Ballot Entry # 002

Category 6 - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Addis - Psalm 151:1
Ballot Entry # 003
If you are not a voting member of NARAS (The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences is responsible for the Grammys), ask me how to join. For more info, visit: www.grammy.com/join.



Great Wind Sounds Of Trumpets have been nominated for multiple 2011 Rhythm Of Gospel Awards. For more info, visit: http://www.therhythmofgospelawards.com/about.html:
· Quartet CD Of The Year

· Quartet Song Of The Year



Verily has been nominated by the National Traditional Country Music Association for Folk Gospel CD of the Year (http://www.orgsites.com/ia/oldtimemusic/ ).


The Jesus Radio Network (http://thejesusradionetwork.ning.com/page/ccm-voting) has nominated for Favorite CCM Artist:
Adam Howell – Just Because
Jamison (listed Dennis Jamison) – Song of Creation
Frank Caswell – Learning To Lean
Larry Newsom – Change The World
· Justin Honaman has won Grand Prize from the ParamountSong.com for his song “Empty I Love Yous.”



NITE*SKY AWARDS (http://www.nitesky.us) has nominated for Group/duo and Bluegrass artist Gary and Carol Bibb (Other family nominated members include: daughter Kimberly Bibb Marrs is nominated for Country artist and Group/duo; son-in-law Larry Marrs is nominated for Studio/engineer, New Star and with Kimberly on Group/duo).


STAFF:
Southern Entertainment Awards has nominated Monique Headley as Industry Executive of the Year. For more info, visit: http://www.southernentawards.com/ballot/vote.html?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=It%27s+official+the+8th+Annual+SEA+Ballot+is+Here!&utm_campaign=It%27s+official+the+8th+Annual+SEA+Ballot+is+Here!&utm_term=SEA+Voting+Link

Voices Of Glory excel at TMG

Tate Music Group artists Voices Of Glory have set a precedence by selling more than 4,500 CDs in record time. Slated for release on January 4, 2011, the rapid advance sales of their self-titled debut have already authorized the return of their artist investment - meaning their project was recorded and is being marketed and distributed for free.

The inspirational and international recording artists are actually the Cole family trio of siblings known individually as Nadia, 10, Avery 14, and Michael, 18. The group came to fame as a result of a string of acclaimed performances on the smash NBC TV show America’s Got Talent. The start of their remarkable journey was inspired by love in the face of tragedy transcended into miracle when their mother Felicia Cole fell into a coma for 8 months. In 2007, when on her way home from class to achieve a fourth advanced degree, she was hit head-on by a drunk driver and severely injured. In response to the devastating news, the children decided they would sing at their mother's bedside in the hope that she would recognize their voices.

“People love these kids wherever they go. They work hard, they are respectful and honest and they have a team behind them that works even harder. I haven’t talked to one person that has had an unpleasant experience with VOG. From the kids, parents to the management team they are a first class operation all the way”, said Chris Rutherford Director of Music Marketing at TMG.

More than an idea for a hit song, belief is an omnipresent theme for the Cole family.

VOG manager and uncle, Gerard Cole said about their ascending success, “You have to be committed to your project and believe in it and what TMG can do for you … to get the job done. TMG can only do what you allow them to do. I was consistently involved with Tate and Tate has consistently been involved with us. If you follow the steps of their program, it will come together. Bottom line, it’s about believing … it’s important to concentrate on what you can do through press, marketing and social networking, Gerard Cole said.

At times, Cole said there were anxieties with TMG’s unique though undeniably successful process.

“The recording part was uncertain,” said Gerard Cole. “I wanted to move faster but Tate had a system,” Cole continued chuckling, “I didn’t have as much patience as the people in the Midwest. They are very laid back.”

The investment was another consideration, Cole added. Many outsiders openly scoffed at the idea of paying to record and release their own music versus the more traditional record label system, he said. Undeterred, Cole was already familiar having employed the same tactic of personal investment with his own daughter when it came time for college. According to Cole, your actions illustrate your commitment to the task.

As for VOG, the Tate offer has been strictly beneficial, Cole said.

“Each and every dept has been very supportive. When it was done absolutely everyone told me this is a very professional package,” Cole said. “I pressed harder but if you have money invested, make calls and get it right. Don’t complain if you don’t reach out. You have to be on top of own game. Strive for perfection; be patient but strive for perfection. Make sure each stage is at its best and correct for every level. When you get to the end, you will see it all come together and you will be satisfied.

“We haven’t even scratched the surface,” Cole said.

To learn more about Voices Of Glory, visit http://www.tatemusicgroup.com/epk/?id=12141. For more information, please contact Monique Headley, Marketing Representative, at (888) 361-9473 or email monique@tatepublishing.com.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Are We There Yet?

Scroll back through your memory, and I’m sure we can all recall a time seemingly stuck in the family car when all you wanted to do was stop the hot-sticky-seats madness of the journey; a time when the only relief seemed to stop the “getting there” part and just get to the “get there” part already.

Sometimes a process, a journey can feel like forever. Everyone has periodic moments of impatience. The trick is what you do with and learn from such bursts of anxious adrenaline.

As an artist, such impatience can manifest as, “Why am I not a household name yet?” “Why am I not gigging more?” Or the classic bawl, “Why won’t radio spin my music?”

Why ask why?

Do something. Do something different than you've done before.

Keep learning to contunually tweak your approach to music. Cultivate the relationships you want. Introduce yourself. Be fearless to go for what you want and unafraid to push boundaries as an individual. Work as a team and be effective as a solo operator. Do not stand on the sidelines awaiting recognition—create the happening. Consider everyone else in the picture to be additions to your own genius plan of attack.

While working at Verity Records, one particular artist (who shall remain nameless) actually created a pseudonym to use when booking events and performances. Such a smartly shrewd tactic created the ability for this artist to be an entrepreneur about his business without sacrificing his artistic persona. Or consider the icon Vickie Winans who prides herself on being the hardest-working woman in Gospel. If you have ever had the pleasure to be within a 50-yard radius of the radiant artist-preneur, you would see in action her drive, smarts, savvy, mega-watt smile and strengths that have been well cultivated to allow her music to flourish.

Recently, I met TMG Gospel artist Mary Rieves in Missouri as she travelled cross-country on a concert and breast-cancer-awareness tour designed by and fully incorporating herself and her family’s talents. Such purposed creativity in action is success. To read more about Mary in the January issue of Variance Magazine, visit http://www.variancemagazine.com .

If it's not happening, make it happen.

Do all that you can to build your business strong enough to support your dreams.

I want to encourage you to seize every moment to turn whine into wine.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Artist + YouTube = 20 Million and counting

What do uber-crush Justin Bieber, Portuguese songstress Anna Free, and Okie Grayson Chance have in common? They are all YTBs…YouTube breakouts.

Think you need pyrotechnics or that megawatt radio as the only ways to make it? As the song goes, it ain’t necessarily so.

What Free, Beebs, and Chance have discovered is that they have the power to make a difference in their own lives as artists, each breaking records in the world of music marketing and self promotion.

Their weapon of choice? Social networking and multimedia.

So far, Free has achieved over 20 million views. And if you have not yet heard her music, it’s only a matter of time. To learn more, check out: http://www.rohitbhargava.com/2010/09/how-a-portuguese-singer-got-20-million-views-on-youtube.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rohitbhargava+%28Influential+Marketing%29

What chance will you dare to better market and free yourself to succeed?