How Much Does That...?!

I have had the privilege to be at music conferences, open mics, and shows with the major

acts and the two common denominators are DJs & Artists music. But as I...yes me, was a fly on the wall at a conference, I saw the 'beef' escalate between the DJ and the artist. My account of this 'beef' doesn't make me take a side but it compels me to put the situation “out on front street” (Eclipse flow). So... 

As we know, or some of us may know...Hip Hop started as a DJ based phenomenon on the streets of the 70's run down New York. It spread nationwide, and later into a world wide culture that put the MC, the Rapper, on stage. By the end of the 20th century, Hip Hop was and still is the most influential music genre, changing the face of Pop culture forever, and spawning subsequent changes to R&B, dance music & Jazz.   

Lets address some age old questions:  What is a DJ if he can’t scratch?...What is an MC if he can’t rap? -The Egyptian Lover. These bars are for the new era of hip hop.   

The answer to these questions are a no brainer.  As music has evolved into this digital era access and tools to create projects ie: songs, EPs, mixtapes, and albums have become more accessible.  With that being said…divided we fail. This coins the old phrase, which came first the chicken or the egg?  In the case of music, the song before the DJ.  But, where would the DJ be without the tracks?    

I'm looking at Facebook live. DJs/Promoters asking artists to perform for 8 minutes or 1 song sets. Now I know this is an old practice but it is now commonplace for artists to pay to be seen and heard at the club. Let's examine this a little more in depth. "Paying to play" is defined as bands paying to play live at a bar or club. The payments are typically made to the owners of the club; sometimes this happens through a middleman i.e. DJ or Promoter. So far this seems to be fact of nature...Pay and you get to Play! How much? We’ll hit that concern in a paragraph or two.

So what was supposed to be a friendly Q & A went south, real fast when out of the back of

the room came, “I play only out of towners music cause believe it or not when these ni**as come to my club they never come empty handed, they show appreciation for what I do for them. Local ni**as just want spins and think I have to do that shit for the home-team. Get real!” In a non illuminati setting this DJ told his secret. I'm sure this is the practice from one DJ to another but do it with tact. 

Uh-Oh! It was time to pull out the iPhone and get this shit on record. Nope, I will not put names or faces out there but this 6 foot tall BadAss (thick to death) female artist didn’t hold her tongue about the 'injustice'.  “Fuck all you terrible business conductin, shady ass, fake ass, downlow ass DJs, artists, and promoters!  Ya whole weak ass team and da sour face people who love you!  That’s my muthafuckin attitude right now!  Don’t call me no muthafuckin Diva, call me an Artist!"  There was a hush in the room either from how fine she was or how right she sounded to the other artists in the room.  Now, I'm sitting here thinking what's next...someone from the panel stood and politely asked the artist "to sit down" and wanted this topic to be addressed.

He goes on and says, "Let's cut past all the history and facts and look at what the new deal is. If you’re not signed to a major, then this is what you need to think about." His pricelist read like a government spending allowance. 

Tour support: $3,300

Mastering costs: $1,000

Marketing: $14,000

*Advertising: $2,000

CDs/Artwork : $4,200

Promotional Items: 

Total: $24,500

(For one project)

*Advertising – Advertising expenses can include any print, radio and online advertising the record label incurs to promote a new release 

So clearly, an artist has great out of pocket expenses. 

Then he begins with the expenses of the DJ:

Equipment: $8,600 for the new Digital DJs

Equipment: $10,300 for Vinyl DJs

Promotion: $1,500

Total: $20,400

*Promotion - Includes radio, mix tapes, and flyers

So the breakdown was to show the amount of money each party is out of pocket.  Which went back to the good ol' paying to play statement. 

"Let's look at the real picture here. You (DJ) are paid to play at multiple events (weddings, after-hours, receptions, parties, hell, you will even play other artists music at a showcase)..but the indie artist that you invite to perform doesn't receive a dime of what's brought in.” Of course the whispering and mumbling spread through the room. So what I was witnessing was a uprising and boycott in the making. Our brave speaker continued to bring awareness to the differences of the two entities.  

DJs like presentations and artists like representation. At that moment lightbulbs started going on over everyone head. Networking went into action. Now I don't expect DJs/promoters to pay the artist anytime soon, but it seems like someone or some bodies began to agree to disagree. The two pink elephants in the room sat down in their neutral corners and hushed till the next Artist says, “He needs to pay me to perform,” and the DJ says, “He needs to pay to perform."

The music industry is and has been a networking game from the first beat of the signal drum!  Greed is out there whether you're the artist or DJ.  You both want to get paid for your talent and hard work, hell the owner should step in and pay you both!  Was the bar ever empty?  NO!  Club owners want to see bar business, DJs want to see a crowd, and artists want to grow their fan base.  The goal is the same...PEOPLE!  If the DJS, artists, and promoters have an alliance they could truly all make money. 

#LeslieMac

I Know Ya... YOU Ain't Gotta Lie To Kick It!

Some of my consistent readers and followers are aware of my current and future projects. To my new readers, I aim to put out the best music reviews and at the same time give you

some hardcore facts about your career. My Fluence account is quite busy, the Mixtape issue of n'Rotation The DJ Magazine will be wrapping up in the next few weeks and  "The Needle To The Record" documentary is in pre-production as I type. So please continue to share and personally be inspired. I kept this entry short and sweet due to my new and up coming projects. But I promise to always bring you the best of the #MacAttack. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

As musicians the music you create is your story to the world. You spend weeks and months writing, recording, mixing and mastering. After all of that, you now get to see if it was worth all you've went through. If you hate math...GET OVER IT! These numbers set your mood from here on in your career. There's plenty of methods and tools to get your name and voice out there. If you look at the industry as a game of chance, you'll be looking at it in the wrong way. There’s no testing your song out while you create your greatest work. If you're listening to your entourage at the point of creation...DEAD WRONG! Know what you want, because that deal you seek comes with a label who "CONTROLS" every aspect of your career. We know that even major label artists have flop albums.

Don't get stuck in this mindset. The internet gives you a direct connection to new fans and access to music listeners. True music listeners can give you feedback instantly and don't mind sharing good music. My time at Fluence I've reviewed, in my opinion a lot of potential hits. 80% of the artist have followed our advice in one way or another. I know this because the numbers have increased dramatically. The ones that don't follow through...well, let's just say..."Incomplete!" I have a couple things together that may help you in the pursuit of music career happiness. 

KNOW YOUR FANS!

You have direct contact to key fans already, an email list. Now I know there's so many ways to connect, but email is your virtual hand to hand combat. The thing with emails is they may get discarded, so I suggest you develop a dialogue with your fans and inform them that you need their feedback and ask if you can email them something important. You already have a great way to get direct feedback from your fans. Google Forums is a great way to ask your fans what do they want to hear from you; possible collaborations or send that recorded verse and hook to them for their listening pleasure. Remember you're trying to reach music listeners and not your folks and 'em. Ask your fans direct questions about your music. Ask them to vote on your next potential single, the sky's the limit.

If you’re not getting as many survey responses as you’d like, you could tie it into a contest. Everyone who participates could win a free t shirt, signed CD, or be with the entourage. Incentives will get you more results.

NUMBERS DON'T LIE!

Who's checking the analytics? We all can't be analysts, that includes your friends and fans. Someone at a label, media outlets, or a promoter is checking to see your likes and fan engagement. I'm not saying you don't have to learn anything about analytics, but you could learn from them. Why is someone watching your video in Norway, or who's actually listening to my music? These numbers can have a good impact on your fans. Deliver the truth, the truth that they can understand. Views and likes are easy to show but it's more views and likes that you can create across the board. Place your content on many media outlets. Grab that view count and make it known, "My material has XYZ views!" People don't want to miss out on what everyone else is watching.

Give your fans everything they want and need to keep you relevant from day to day. Your music isn't just a product,it's your message to the world! Deliver it the right way and ALL of your efforts will never go unseen or unheard. 

#LeslieMac

Texas Rapper Gets Arrested While Shooting 420 Video!

Not a #Happy420. Texas rapper gets pulled over in his #LincolnNavigator during his #420 #music #VideoShoot http://bit.ly/SPissues watch to #theend #DWB?

Closed Mouths Don't Get Fed!

So your project is done, has been done, or you thinking about going into the studio...Well wait one minute! The truth has to be discussed and it may hurt or discourage many. But, if you truly want to know about your career, you have to know what you're really up against. What ever you need to do to get in your zone, I suggest you do it NOW! 

Let's look at music posts like you look at your social media posts. 60 seconds...Over 12 hours of audio is uploaded to Soundcloud every minute. That's not including any other site. Yep! That's a lot of noise. So how will you be noticed, please tell me?!?! 

Here’s the problem my colleagues and I face on a daily basis, as media journalist, and it’s getting "worse” by the day. Too much content. My only filter and is a benefit for an artist is

to submit music to me via Fluence. I can guarantee: a listen, feedback, and possibly a share if it's up to par. Really there's too much noise out there. During the "iHeart Radio Awards" Madonna said, "2 million songs released to the world." That's mainstream only...DAMN! It’s easy to get lost in this sea of new tracks and songs, so you need to WORK on getting heard. 

I played the fly on the wall a couple of days ago and it really took a lot for me not to blow my cover. I am sad to report, people are not listening! No matter how good your music is, no one is taking the time to listen. Strangers won’t sit for an hour with their headphones on to appreciate the structure of your track, the melody or lyrics. If your music is very good it could help win their ears, but they just won’t spend one minute to listen. They will scan the track list briefly, looking for those mainstream features. With No big feature, it's likely your music won't be allowed inside their world which is already overloaded with music and information. I've always said, "people listen with their eyes, not their ears, and they may not even know it.”

Artists and DJs alike, "listen to me now and believe me later on" (in my Kujo Goodie voice), campaigning needs to be turned up! If you're giving away material, get something in return,

 even if it’s not money, i.e. some type of social media contact. Gain a connection don't walk away from a potential fan empty handed. You put money and time in the production of your project, so totally "free" is not something I'm a fan of. I can't give you a dialogue for that because the environments that you may be in might seem like it's not ideal for that type of exchange, however, become clever when you distribute your material. O.K. I will give you one idea...Take a pic with the potential fan and ask for their IG handle so that you can mention them when you post. (hint, hint) There’s still some dialogue required, but the engagement was made. 

As you could notice, I didn’t mention promotion at all, although without marketing and

networking you won’t get too far. You need to work on your brand first, then you can think about reach. A new listener will pay attention to your look, the cover artwork. It’s sad how many artists still think all it takes to achieve success is to have great music and to reach as many people as possible. Thats a logical idea, but its madness. The truth of it all. Its a tough industry, but if you use the legit and effective tools to get your brand noticed, this could lead to that “Dream come true.”   

#LeslieMac

Tidal Gotcha Money...

If you slept on the iHeart Radio awards, you slept on Rihanna’s ‘Bitch Better Have My Money’ bars that indicated its time for artist to get whats due to them. In a Twitter post Rihanna stated, “NAVY, turn the tide.” 

WHHHHHHAAATT? Well the story begins with Jay-Z’s $56.2 million dollar purchase of a Swedish streaming company Aspiro.  A countdown clock on the TIDAL homepage moves closer to the 5 o’clock Eastern Standard Time launch. TIDAL is a high-definition music streaming service. The company has been sending out invites for a press conference today, in which Jay-Z will announce, “a commitment to a new direction for the music industry from both a creative and business

perspective.” The unofficial buzz is, the company will be using the event to confirm the first big-name artists to stream music exclusively on the Tidal platform. 

Over the weekend, the Swedish blog Breakit reported — citing sources close to the deal — that Tidal’s plan of attack will be to ink first-window deals with the artists, where Tidal would get first releases of tracks from big-name artists ahead of any other digital streaming services. This would be exclusive, but only for a period: Spotify, Pandora and others would eventually also get these tracks, but only later. Now that is major!

What’s in it for these artists? From what I’ve found on the net. It seems that Tidal may offer a more attractive set of terms to musicians than other streaming services — often agreeing to payouts of twice as much as its rivals. Now do you hear Rihanna singing “Bitch Better

Have My Money?”  Many artists have been complaining that digital music streaming is not providing decent enough returns. This makes the rumored deal TIDAL very appealing. But it’s a bit of a long shot when you do the comparison with its biggest rival Spotify. 

TIDAL currently offers some 25 million tracks and 75,000 music videos. Users can currently sign up to Tidal for either $9.99 or $19.99 a month. Unlike Spotify, Tidal doesn’t have a free tier, and its standard-quality subscription is available for the same price as Spotify Premium package $9.99. Not to mention Tidal has only 35,000 subscribers paying $19.99 per month, where as Spotify had 15 million paying subscribers in January. The numbers may be off but the Jay-Z connection along with his ROC Nation brand would ease the mind of any artist who even began to give this deal a questionable thought. 

Remember I spoke of a change is going to come…Here’s the ball rolling in that change direction! 

#LeslieMac

Knowledge is POWER!

Buyers beware! I love music and I love the creative ways to take the music to a new level. There are way too many entities that want to exploit the hard work put into artist projects. Have you ever seen this in your inbox or DM?  "Hope all is well! Great to connect with you on twitter/FaceBook/IG! We're currently offering great, affordable, and unlimited song promo & hosting packages.” I see these messages day in and out. People please read the BIO! Some of the most successful brands don't hit your inbox up or  give you “subscribe to them” message. They have already made its database a proven track record. This is why the independent artists have no major traction. They all too often buy into the BS and never see any ROI (Return on Investment).

Knowledge is POWER! Before you go and pump your money into a bunch of likes and  followers...do some research, ask a DJ! Speaking on asking a DJ...There's plenty of DJ tastemakers and mixers out there, but there's 1 that I highly recommend, the VirDiKO quarterly mixer in Dallas, Texas. If you're in the area around the time of these mixers, as a artist, producer, or entertainment industry professionals it would be in your best interest to make your way to one. 

That was a side bar… sorta. But as there's a need for a regulatory commission on BS for music, there's a need for one to stop the music "promoters" and "marketers" who have PROVEN that there's no ROI for artist. Ok, the BBB is not going to be who you talk to about your wasted money, but as a artist you should find out who has gotten shows based on their fictitious friends, followers and bogus likes. My aim is to encourage entertainers to spend their hard earned money with people or companies that truly connect you with the individuals who care about the direction your music career goes. 

This leads me back to "big daddie THE DJ" and VirDiKO. VirDiKO is the abbreviation for Virtual Distribution KOmpany. This is some gangsta shit! According to @Virdiko's  Twitter,

"VirDiKO Specializing in Global Music Promotion Services To Thousands of Professional

DJs & Music Stakeholders In More Than 150 Countries..." I can say Amen to that! Artists that I've worked with have not only gotten their music distributed across the globe, I see these artist post pics from the shows that came from the result of using VirDiKO. This is not a paid advertisement for this company but a testimony and a fact. ‘Google it’ and see for yourself that this is a great example of putting your money to work. If you're looking for that DJ to hear your music and possibly give you the feedback you desire...VirDiKO is the way. 

Before I power down my laptop and head to SXSW, I want all my DJ friends to get ready for their closeups...because 

#LeslieMac

A Change Gonna Come!

There's a serious need for a Bullshit Regulatory Commission on music. DJs control the night and they have a reputation to uphold and that's 1 reason that new track of yours isn't getting a spin when you walk it in the club. 

Let's explore the word ‘Ritual.’ A Ritual is a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order. 

Now with that little bit of knowledge we can explore this "change". What is a DJ if he can't scratch, what is an MC if he can't rap? Those lyrics were directed at the future. Now we have "Push Button" DJs and songs are being pumped out of the studios faster than I

can listen and write my reviews on Fluence. Now, I will never knock talent or the attempt there of, but I will call attention to quality! So to answer the second question, a MC that can't rap is someone who hinders the movement. These MCs have unintentionally created the politics of the industry. Politics have their own place but in Hip-Hop? NO! What do we say to that? In the words of Hip-Hop legend Chuck D, "Fight The Power."

As the records, CDs, or even the colorful graphics display on your installed DJ program

have a revolution, the industry must have a Re-Evolution. An indie artist is born faster than

mothers delivering a baby through natural child birth. "There's a song and a remix in your inbox," is what just displayed on my computers desktop as I type. There’s passion in the production of these songs, however there's a lot of bad quality projects that are being put out. These projects hinder the good music from gaining its momentum to move from emails to ears. But that's a blog to be discussed at a later day. 

ATTENTION ASPIRED MUSIC ENTERTAINERS

Quality is priority #1! You absolutely, positively cannot cut corners on this part AT ALL. 

1. Get to a studio, with a booth and a engineer… get the sound A-1! 

2. Everyone with PhotoShop thinks they can do graphics, so not the case. Find that 1 graphic artist that really does know how to give you that quality...keep going to them. If it doesn't look good, what are we going to expect from the music?

3. Seek out a lot of good, consistent business relationships. DJs, promoters, Bloggers, fan engagement, and most of all treat your projects and talents as if they're the love of your life. 

This brings me back to Ritual… Imagine having to set the mood or tone for 100s even

1000s of people who want to hang out after work or after a long week or after monumental occasion. Well that's what DJs are tasked with when the club doors open. When fansstream mixtapes to their devices they're looking for that mood changer and motivation. Consider the daily and weekly Ritual of the DJ. Don't think you're going to just walk in and drop off some music and hear your song in the middle of the DJs set! Create a Ritual for your music and then you may fit into the DJs moment. 

I want to end with two finds that I have discovered. 

1. Next 

Next combines Instagram, Tinder, Twitter and Facebook all into one app and lets the artists, DJs, and Music fans discover new music without the garbage that can litter the information highway. Hence one way to regulate the bullshit in music. If you're not delivering a good Listening experience, they will swipe to the left. You have 30-seconds to preview your skills. New fans can view full-length videos and full profiles. No ads and it's free! Next boasts that it's app is, “A real, dedicated music community for mobile.” This is the app that requires you to look good and sound good. You have 30 seconds...GO!

2. Bandcamp 

I'm going to start with a fact....Bandcamp has paid $100 Million to Independent Artists and labels. This direct to fan (DTF) music sales platform, has been the new version of "out the trunk" since its launch in 2008. While the industry reports record sales declining, Bandcamp reports the opposite. In a interview with Billboard Co-founder Ethan Diamond stated, “Bandcamp  has increased 30% in sales last year and now average $3.5 million per month in record sales." That "works out to about 16,000 records a day...One every five seconds, twenty-four-seven." Oh by the way, it's free to join Bandcamp. The site is planning on some major add-ons, so it behooves you to get that project right or the consumers will continue with the 'boo' action. 

If you're looking for a start, submit your music to me at Fluence for immediate feedback. Be a part of the change or end up sounding like the artist that says, “ …I’m just trying to get my music played."  

#LeslieMac

Uninspired AND Unexcited...That's some BS!!

Your music journey may have many highs and lows but one thing you must do is surround yourself with the "Real." Throughout my journey I've hit roadblocks and obstacles that only made me work harder. 

Over the weekend I was invited to the "I Am Dope Tour" where I heard a new sound Hip Hop, Punk Rap. The band "No Solutions" is going to be a game changer. Saturday I was in Denton Texas attending the Thin Line Music Festival. I saw AV The Great perform with a live band and I was like, "Damn! He killed it!" Headlining that night was the incomparable Devin The Dude who brought with him The Odd Squad and the artist RUMe of Coughee Brothaz performed the hit "Garden Tool" this is definitely one you need to have on repeat! At the end of Devin's performance, AV took to the mic and expressed his appreciation for Devin coming to rock the stage for the Thin Line Festival. I have to say that was a true moment of inspiration. 

Music should never lose its intent. I've traveled and have had the honor of meeting some of the most influential people in this business. All have given me the push and support needed in this industry. You can't do this if you're Uninspired and hanging around the Unexcited!

We all know how great music makes us feel. Plenty of life's quotes have come from Hip Hop and the DJs have been the physicians providing us the medicine to get us through each moment of our day. Most of these quotes are about girls, money and success, but there’s still great quotes about happiness in life and they inspire which turns into excitement! 

In 1995 Russell Simmons presented the world with the movie "The Show." To those of you

who don't know about this true Hip Hop classic, it's a documentary about the Hip Hop culture at that time. This opened my mind up to the stories behind the music. Before I was just enjoying the music and not giving a thought to the things that motivated them to write those lyrics. From Slick Rick to Snoop Dogg and from Dr. Dre to Andre Harrell... I fell in love with Hip Hop all over again!

Through every handshake and interview, I have been inspired to help others see their vision and grow this industry. Over at Fluence (https://fluence.io/alme214) I have the opportunity to expand your brand even more, now that is exciting to my soul!

As artist or a DJ, the only way that you can achieve the goals of your career is to surround yourself with an excited team. Not the ones who are excited to be getting in the club with the artist, but the ones who will pick you up when it's time to go to the studio, the ones who will tweet, retweet, share and repost. And

notice I didn't mention those who just hit the "Like" button. Likes don't put your music in front of new fans. So watch for those excited people. They will support your movement, they will believe in you and not just the perks. 

Hanging with the Uninspired and Unexcited is some BS! I have music submitted to me day in and day out and try not to miss a single beat. Don't hesitate to email me directly with your music or submit it to me over at Fluence. I can share to my vast network of industry colleagues. Stay inspired and excited!

#LeslieMac

PutOnForDaCity

So the inbox was filled this week. I want to thank all the artists and DJs who reached out to me last week. The reoccurring question of the week was, "How can I get in the blog or in n'Rotation?" Well… in coincidental fashion, I planned on speaking about getting to that next level, and that could be any level of the industry.

For the past year I've been Editor-in-Chief of n'Rotation The DJ Magazine and the one beat that played on and on was, "DJs don't play local artist, but play artist from everywhere else". Honestly DJs do a lot more than we think when it comes to supporting the "Local Artist” (I prefer to just the use “Artist”, much more professional)…They Put On for Tha City! 

I had to hustle to whatever level this is that I'm on now. I've had the privilege of seeing the super small showcase crowd to the packed out house show case not to mention the sold out arenas. The big difference is artist support. The support I'm speaking on is, YOUR FAN BASE! Let's jump into the thick of it. You, the artist, make the music to sell your music. Here's where the DJs "Put On!" When a DJ or promoter calls and opens the door to the club he/she is spinning at, they are giving you a stage. But don't look at the DJ if it's a lack luster crowd. You gotta be in the streets and everywhere else to gain the fan base that will follow you to your show!

I hear tons of great projects and scratch my head when the support is minimal. Blame it what you may, but diehard fans will follow you if they know you put in the grind.  I know this ain't nothing new to an artist, but some artist’s point the finger at the DJ. The DJ is taking the risk with his word to the powers that be at the venue they invite you to. Let's think outside the box a minute… DJs like your music, but they don't put it in the streets. They put the result of your grind on the stage in front of crowds that you may not normally get the chance to get exposed to. Before artists try to track me down, I want to be clear, I promote music and I support good music. So if I'm putting it out there,  I'm trying to push it further. Note that I said good music! The only way to hear good music is if it's being pushed. When a song is being pushed to EVERYBODY, the DJ is more inclined to add it to their set. Playing music no one knows won't help a DJ at all ;) Break down and get a plan to build your fan base. 

I was interviewing a DJ friend who gave me the analogy of how it should be done. We met in the Lenox Mall food court. As we introduced and did our pleasantries we looked around for what we wanted to eat. In every mall across America there is this one Chinese food place where they are offering you a sample of what they have. As soon as you walk upon the location, you are turned on to the idea of having some Chinese food. If the sample ends up being better than anything else in the food court, then you'll be back. So as we ate what I obviously had the taste for after getting that same sesame chicken sample that is found across America, I was told by interviewee, "Artists need to treat EVERY showcase like the food court...Give out the best shit in the beginning, whether it's CD presentation, show performance, or general interaction with the fans who are at the club." I said, "True". Showcases is where you win them over. If it's not packed, re-evaluate your fan base first, then in the words of Kendrick Lamar…

“I got love for you all but I'm tryna murder you  ni**as

Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you  ni**as

They don’t wanna hear not one more noun or verb from you ni**as!”

To sum it up… the DJs "PUT ON" for what they get a sample of. And the streets will call for what you give them a taste of. So when you salute the DJ, the salute should acknowledge that you know they will play what the crowd wants, You have to be that #1 supplier. It is a money game, but if you put it where it needs to be, then you'll never be denied. 

CrateKeepers in conjunction with other music distribution outlets are just the tip of the iceberg. Feed the streets and watch what happens when the DJs PUT ON FOR DA CITY!

For more information on CrateKeepers and other music distribution affiliates, follow and DM me @alme214 or email: aLeslieMacEvent@gmail.com.

#LeslieMac