January 2014 by AIRPLAY 360

New Year Cover

January 2014

AIRPLAY 360

INSIDE JANUARY 2014 CONTENTS 3

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: “Exceed Your Best Expectations in 2014” by Ace Alexander

COVER STORY: Mali Music “Taking His Gift to the World” by Louise Moore

NEW MUSIC RELEASES

10 VOCAL TIPS: What Should You Charge as a Singer? by Dileesa Hunter 11 10 Tips for a Healthy Voice 12 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: MEESA & MEAH - Turnt Up for Christ! by Louise Moore 16 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS: Out the Box Newswire by Francesca Hayes 17 TAXES: Deductions Every Artist On the Cover: RCA Recording Artist Mali Music

Do You Know What You Should Charge as a Singer? Pg. 10

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Tax Deductions Every Artist Entrepreneur Should Take Pg. 17

PUBLISHER’S NOTE Exceed Your Best Expectations in 2014 s we begin 2014, let’s strive to exceed expectations—even our own. In this New Year, we don’t want to just be average but exceptional. We want to rise above mediocrity and aim for excellence so that we can achieve success in every area of our lives. Let’s do more than expected and experience the abundance of what being a good steward brings. I want to share a brief quote that pretty much says it all.

The top people do what's expected of them, and then some. They are thoughtful and considerate of others, and then some. They meet their obligations and responsibilities fairly and squarely, and then some. They are good friends to their friends, and then some. They can be counted on in an emergency, and then some. And so it is when we do what is assigned to us in our lives and in the church, and then some; then the Lord pays in full, and then some. Have a Happy and Prosperous 2014!

January 2014 / Vol. 5 No. 12 PUBLISHER Ace Alexander ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER Michelle Slater EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Louise M. Moore CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS Adrian Anderson Tina A. Fears Kathy Grant Angela D. Green, Esq. Dileesa Hunter Pam Perry Roger Ryan Nicole B. Simpson, CFP Mark A. Williams, M.D., Ph.D. Tracy Williamson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Francesca Hayes Letita Martin Tray Simmons

ADVERTISING LTL Entertainment LLC AIRPLAY 360 Online Magazine published Monthly airplay360.com Copyright © 2008-2014 Airplay 360 Online Magazine, an Ace Alexander Company publication Reproduction, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Readers are free to forward this web magazine to friends and colleagues.

Ace Alexander Publisher/Founder @acealexanderVIP publisher@airplay360.com

DISCLAIMER: The articles and resources in AIRPLAY 360 are not intended to be a substitute for professional consultations. While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this web magazine, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.

Ace Alexander is a Stellar Award winning nationally syndicated radio host, a two-time recipient of the Central South Distribution REACH Award and two-time nominee for the R&R/Billboard Achievement Awards for Radio Personality and National Music Director. He is also a speaker, consultant and facilitator.

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January 2014

Mali Music Taking His Gift to the World

BY LOUISE MOORE 6

January 2014

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ali Music is delivering a different kind of musical inspiration that has captivated the music world and is definitely an alternative style. But his style and his message is resonating with an audience that traditional gospel artists do not appeal to and often cannot reach. With his unique musical talent, Mali has performed on stages such as the BET Awards, and the Essence Festival. On Rollingstone.com, Yahoo Music says Mali is “as equally gifted as Lauryn Hill in the arts of singing and rapping with a sound that blurs the lines between gospel, rock, R&B and hip hop.”

like, “This is crazy but I’m going to have to show some Mali on it and I’m probably going to change the words and then boom, he was like, “That’s cool man just do whatever.” And then, boom, “Tell the World” came out and he was like, “Man this is it,” and it’s a very, very popular and powerful song. A360: Now tell me about “Ready Aim”. You go from

“Secular music is not what I do or am going to do. God entrusted His gift into me and I named it Mali Music. That’s the type of music I do.” A360: I want to congratulate you on so many levels—your new label, you new EP, your new single and everything that’s coming together for you. Mali: Thank you so much. A360: Of course, now you are on RCA with label mates like Kelly Clarkson, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, I mean the list just goes on. What do you hope to bring to the table at RCA? Mali: What I hope to bring to the table is just a fresh take. I bring another outlook on life that can bring somebody joy, hope and give them enough sense to try again after something that’s disappointing and help somebody deal with life. A360: I’ve listened to some of your music and I’m trying to put you into a certain category but I really can’t, so tell me, how do you define yourself as an artist? Mali: I think at the end of the day, I’m just as baffled as you. All I know is it’s good. It’s really good. I would say it is like a mash-up of soul, hip hop, a little rock and like a ton of inspiration. That’s like the mixture of the sound. It’s like (Bob) Marley mixed with CeeLo (Green) and the storytelling of folk artists. I can’t explain it. It’s just a lot. A360: Tell me about your collaboration with Lecrae on “Tell the World.” Mali: We had a good time. He reached out to me and he was like, “Mali I got this joint and it was like Rudy Currence singing a different hook and I was

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an airplane to a rocket. Explain that. Mali: (laughing) In “ready Aim”, I do not literally go on an airplane and I’m not literally on a rocket. A360: I know. (laughing) Mali: “Ready Aim” is like a metaphorical story or picture that kind of categorizes the way I felt in certain transitional periods. It’s saying that I’m on a mission. I’m here on purpose. I have a purpose. I’m walking and living that out. I’m just singing songs to all the things that are designed to thwart my process and get in my way and stop me and I’m just saying, “Fire!” because whatever you bring you can’t shoot me down and it’s a beautiful song. For all the criticism for his recent change from gospel to mainstream and an upcoming album that will feature popular R&B, hip hop artist Akon, Mali said this via Facebook, ““Secular music is not what I do or am going to do. God entrusted His gift into me and I named it Mali Music. That’s the type of music I do.” Follow Mali Music https://twitter.com/MaliMusic

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January 2014

Strategoi Fabe

Jeremy Tutt

Undisputed Proof

Jahaziel

Immovable JAN 1 HonestMuzic Ent

Life JAN 2 Lyfe Ministries

I Am Proof JAN 2 3IRTY1 Entertainment

Heads Up JAN 7 Select O Hits

Colton Dixon

Sheri Jones-Moffett

iWorship

Shout Praises! Kids

A Messenger JAN 7 Sparrow

Power & Authority JAN 7 EMI

Now Next 2014 JAN 7 Integrity

We Belong to Jesus JAN 14 Integrity

Papa San

Various Artists

J Moss

Israel & New Breed

One Blood JAN 21 Beloved Records

I Have a Dream JAN 21 Motown Gospel

The Very Best of J Moss JAN 21 RCA

Playlist â&#x20AC;&#x201C;The Very Best of JAN 21 Sony Legacy

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Latice Crawford

Jamie Grace

Lowell Pye

Casting Crowns

Latice Crawford JAN 28 RCA Inspiration

Ready to Fly JAN 28 Gotee Records

Transformed JAN 28 Entertainment One

Thrive JAN 28 Provident

Winans

Various Artists

Charles Butler

Various Artists

Family Tree FEB 4 Entertainment One

WOW Gospel 2014 FEB 4 RCA Inspiration

Better FEB 4 Entertainment One

Ultimate Easter Worship FEB 4 Integrity

Got New Music? Promote Your New Music Project with AIRPLAY 360 CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US NOW airplay360.com

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VocalTips

What Should You Charge As a Singer? BY DILEESA HUNTER

was talking to a gospel artist recently who expressed disdain over how professional singers react to the question ‘How much do you charge?” For some reason, our music industry does not like absolute numbers, especially when you are starting out. The artist was upset because she needed background vocalists for a gig and when she inquired about rates, she was given the response, “It depends on your budget.” She unfortunately, interpreted that response as , “It depends on how much money you have. If you have $500, then that’s what I charge; if you have $50 that’s what I charge. I’ll take the maximum that you have.” Needless to say, this rubbed her the wrong way. I actually clarified with her that often times singers don’t want to give an absolute figure for fear of losing the business. They think, “If I tell her I charge $250 when she only has $75, I risk losing this client. So, I’ll just let her tell me what she has, because as long as it’s reasonable, I’ll take it”. Sound familiar to any of you? Unfortunately, this is not the most professional route to take. I understand the notion that ‘everything is negotiable’ but remember, singing is a business (as well as ministry) and if you are a singer it’s YOUR business,

January 2014

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and you have to give the client (buyer) something to negotiate. Don’t be afraid of pricing yourself where you feel you are worth. If someone really wants you after they hear your price, one of two things will happen. 1) They will say ‘ok’ and pay it (and you’d better be worth every penny). Or 2) They will say, “I Know you are worth that, but I actually had this much in mind to pay you, do you think you could do it for that?” Now you can negotiate like a real business person. And it may mean that you have to walk away from some engagements because they truly may not be worth the cost of time and energy in which to participate. But others are worth far more than money and it’s worth you cutting your price down in order to network with people and build a relationship with what could turn out to be a great client. I hope this helps. God bless. Dileesa Hunter is an international vocal coach and consultant based in Atlanta, GA. She also records and tours with several recording artists and performs in various stage plays. Born in Manchester, England, she has always been exposed to different vocal and music styles. Dileesa’s vocal repertoire includes Gospel, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, Barbershop Quartet and Opera.

10 Tips for a Healthy Voice

1.Drink water to keep your body well hydrated, and avoid alcohol and caffeine. 2.Allow yourself several "vocal naps" every day, especially during periods of extended use. 3.Don't smoke, or if you already do, quit. 4.Don't abuse or misuse your voice. Avoid yelling or screaming, and try not to talk loudly in noisy areas. 5.Keep your throat and neck muscles relaxed even when singing high notes and low notes. 6.Pay attention to how you speak every day. Even performers who have good singing habits can cause damage when they speak. 7.Don't clear your throat too often. When you clear your throat, it's like slamming your vocal cords together.

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8.When you're sick, spare your voice. Don't talk when you're hoarse due to a cold or infection. 9.When you have to speak publicly, to large groups or outdoors, think about using amplification to avoid straining your voice. 10.Humidify your home and work areas. Remember, moist is good for the voice. airplay360.com

Source: LiveScience

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January 2014

BY LOUISE MOORE eesa and Meah Evans are setting the standard for Christian youth everywhere by living a dream they set into motion more than a year ago. The young, vivacious sister duo set out to create a fun radio show with creative elements and great motivating music that would appeal to kids their age as well as young adults. The result: M&M Live Radio, the #1 teen radio show in the nation. As hosts of the one-hour urban-formatted program, the sisters display a high energy, entertaining yet radical approach, and feature relevant, exciting and heartfelt topics combined with

January 2014

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positive music that inspires, empowers and elevates. “There are many young people out there whom God has blessed with great gifts. We like to encourage them to use their talents for the Kingdom, but most importantly, offer them a platform to do so,” says 19-year-old Meesa. Virginia natives, Meesa and sister Meah, 16, broadcast their show Sundays live from Atlanta. M&M Live Radio is heard on WIGO 1570 AM, an affiliate of Sheridan Gospel Network, and also on Stellar Award winning Internet radio station, Yes Lord Radio on the HYPE Channel. A360: Congratulations on being added to Yes Lord Radio’s lineup. Meesa & Meah: Thank you so much!

A360: How did you decide to become media personalities and launch M&M Live Radio? Meesa: It’s so funny that you say that because we actually went to a performing arts school about a year ago and there was a media department there and we were listening to radio and every single time our mom would pick us up from school, the same traditional gospel song would come on and I was like, “Awe man, why are they always playing this song, it’s so repetitive?” And my sister was like, “I think it would be really cool if teenagers had a source of music with a good beat as well as really good lyrics” and we decided to go with the idea of having our own radio show. We decided to do like our mother always told us to and write the vision and make it plain and from that came M&M Live Radio.” A360: What role do your parents play in M&M Live Radio? Meah: My mom is executive producer and manager and like our #1 supporter. She told us to just write the vision and make it plain and just go for it, like there’s nothing we can lose if we just trust God; everything else will fall into place. And our dad also plays another major role and supports us. He’s always dancing around when we’re on the radio. They both play a major role in M&M Live Radio. A360: You both are younger than any radio personalities I know in gospel, so tell me, what is it that’s different about your radio show other than the fact of your youth? Meesa: I know one thing and that’s that we want to keep everything real and authentic. We want to make sure that (young people) know that being unashamed for God is cool. We can make it hot. We can make it trendy and popular just like we can make the new Jordan’s (shoes) popular. We can make being on fire for God very popular and we don’t have to sugarcoat or water down anything to our listeners. A360: You’re playing contemporary and urban-style gospel artists but are you open to playing artists that are not necessarily “gospel” or “inspirational” if their message is positive? Meah: Honestly to me it’s all about the message. I feel like if they have a good heart and it’s a good song and it’s in the right mindset and it’s a great beat and great lyrics and it’s positive and it’s not going to put you down, I will honestly play it on the radio.

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A360: I know you’ve interviewed a lot of gospel superstars but what is the best interview experience you’ve had with an artist? Meesa: One that stands out to us is Canton Jones. We went to the same church and we knew him more and it was like having somebody coming back home and have a conversation with us. We grew up listening to Canton Jones from his very first album to present. A360: What type of support do you receive from your church ministry? Meesa: They’re so supportive. They’re always listening to the show. They’ve got the apps and listen every Sunday. A360: How do you come up with the different ideas and features for your show? Meah: We actually both come up with it. A lot of it comes from the social media that we are engaged in. Our generation is really big on technology and media so it just makes sense for all of it to fall in line. And right after the show we do a video blog that recaps what we talked about. A360: What do you have coming up? Meesa: Well we have a lot of things to jump off in the beginning of 2014. We have the Stellar Awards coming up and we’re looking forward to meeting new people and having a great time there in Nashville. And we also have an event the 25th of January at the C-Room in Forest Park, GA called “College Night” where we’ll get a chance to reach out to our listeners and our generation and have a blast to start out the New Year. A360: What message do you want to relate to your listeners and to other teens. Meah: Don’t comprise who we are and don’t think that you have to (be like the world) to be cool because God is the hottest thing out there. A360: Since you guys do a radio show and play a lot of music, what is in your iPod or MP3 player? Meesa & Meah: We want to keep everything real and we want people to know that we do listen to a lot of artists. We love Beyonce. We also listen to Canton Jones, Lecrae, Andy Mineo, 116 and many others so we have a large range of artists that we listen to but also we like to be real and control what’s going into our spirit. Follow Meesa & Meah on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mmliveradio

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Full Page Ad Yes Lord Radio

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By Francesca Hayes

ot off the wire: Award winning gospel singer Marvin Sapp received a personal protection order against Michigan doctor, Teleka Patrick, three months before she went missing. Sapp, pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, MI, alleged that Patrick claimed to be his wife, contacted his teenage children and had been to his home. He said she had joined his church after moving from California. "I have at least 400 pages of correspondence from her which I have never responded to," Sapp wrote in his petition requesting the protection order, which is effective until March 18, 2014. Patrick has not been seen since Dec. 5, 2013. Actor James Avery, best known for his role as Uncle Phil in the hit TV show Fresh Prince of Bel-Air with Will Smith, died Dec. 31 reportedly after complications from surgery. He was 65. Grammy and Oscar winning singer, actress Jennifer Hudson surprised her assistant Walter Williams with a house for Christmas. Williams and Hudson have been longtime friends, meeting as classmates at Yale Elementary School in Chicago, IL. Pope Francis announces plan to visit Holy Land to boost relations with Orthodox Christians. Supreme Court issues temporary stop on same-sex marriage in Utah. info@airplay360.com AIRPLAY360.COM

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For more of Francesca with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Out The Box NewsW!reâ&#x20AC;? visit: outthebox-newswire.net

Tax Deductions You Should be Taking as an Artist Entrepreneur s we enter a new year, we also embark upon the beginning of a new tax season. Here are some deductions you should consider as an independent artist entrepreneur running your music career as a legitimate business.

Rent Rent for storing your gear and for practice space.

Equipment Gear and Accessories Amps, pedals, effects, straps, carrying cases.

Professional Fees/Legal Fees Fees for attorney, manager, agent and accountant.

Equipment Repair

Stage Clothes Apparel that you wear only when performing.

Lessons and Instruction such as vocal coaching.

Consumable Supplies Drum skins and sticks, guitar strings and picks. Books and Manuals Music business books, record company directories and venue directories.

Membership Professional organizations, associations and unions.

Travel Expenses Airfare, ground transportation and local travel. Postage Costs from mailings related to your music business. Film and Processing

Subscriptions Any subscriptions trade magazines such as Billboard. Sheet Music and How-to Books and Manuals Promotional This can include CD/tape duplication for demos, photos and bios. Office Supplies Paper, envelopes, photocopies, stamps. Fees related to maintaining your website and e-mail access for your music-related activities.

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Copying and Printing Flyers, cards and other promotional items. Advertising Web ads, magazine ads or radio ads. Tax Preparation Fees Telephone and Internet This information is provided for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for obtaining professional accounting, tax, or financial advice. Further explanation of deductions and tax forms are at irs.gov.

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