January 2009 - FREE
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HOW TO Buy A RECORD Deal REAL TALK Written by K. Cannick If you’re an independent artist, producer, manager or label owner looking for a shortcut to success this may be the most important article you’ll ever read. I’m sure you’ve all heard that getting a deal is about having the right product at the right time for the right people. Success in the music industry takes a combination of hard work and good luck but even then nothing is guaranteed. Many artists struggle for five to ten years before ever getting that big break. In my years spent consulting independent artists I’ve ran into a countless number of individuals with a little bread that felt they could bypass natural order of
Artists
things and just buy their way into the industry. Looking for a shortcut to success many were fleeced out of small fortunes. One “artist/CEO” in particular spent over $1.2 million pursuing a music career only to end up in a federal prison. For all of the warnings I may layout in this article, some of you will finish reading it and walk away still thinking that for the right price someone in the industry will “put you on”. These are the same artist that I will see months later complaining about DJ’s, promoters, magazines, producers, studios, publicists and other companies that sold them a lie. The scenarios may differ but the underlying
theme is always the same: Success can be guaranteed for the right price. Sadly, this is a lie but the industry is littered with people who will line up to take your money under this false pretense. What you must realize is that it is your responsibility as a professional (and as a consumer) to evaluate all opportunities with a prudent eye before shelling out your hard earned cash. Nobody can sell you something that they don’t have. If someone offers to sell you fame or fortune for they might as well include the moon and the stars with it. There are a ton of snakes, leaches and bottom Continued on page 6
The Premiere A&R SHowcase Written by K. Cannick
Atlanta has become the new Motown for a generation of independent artists, producers and DJ’s looking for their big break in the entertainment industry. Every day I would estimate hundreds if not thousands of new industry hopefuls pour into the city pursuing this dream. Unfortunately, with so many aspiring artists floating through Atlanta, the Showcase circuit has become one of the city’s biggest hustles. I’ve seen artist spend their hard earned money to perform for the promise of cash and prizes that never get awarded. I’ve seen countless flyers with celebrity judges that never show up and many times the artists that
come out to these events only end up performing for a room full of fellow artists. When I originally came up with the story concept I had planned to write an article about everything that’s wrong with Atlanta showcase scene. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to participate in something so totally new and refreshing that I’ve decided to right about what is right with it. On Sunday December 15, 2008 I attended the very first audition for The Premiere A&R Showcase at Sugarhill in Underground Atlanta. This was a private, invite only, event full of A&Rs, Label Reps and a ton of Media. Out of
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over a thousand songs that were screened only twenty acts were invited to come and perform. The level of talent was great and the variety of music was impressive. There was free food and drinks for all in attendance (shout out to the caterer) and there was a lot of good networking going on. I originally met Kevin Shine, the events founder, speaking on a couple industry panels. As the A&R consultant to Wayne Williams, the Senior VP of A&R at Jive Records, he has brought a unique outlook back to the Showcase scene. Tapping his industry friends Continued on Page 6 The Atlanta Grind - January 2009 | Pg. 1