James Allan

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James Says

I have been writing a series of articles. You can reide them on the links below.

Links
How to Gain Fans For Your Music Through the Internet

How to Gain Fans For Your Music Through the Internet - Part 2


Learning How To Use Use the Internet Successfully

Today was the day that I was going to learn how to control my own web destiny. I have an incredible designer. She is really, as far as I am concerned, one of the best on the net. She knows how to translate ideas into reality. I spend a lot of time getting her to do the mechanical stuff that is simply “horse work”, but it wastes her time. While I am waiting for her to finish a design I could be doing a lot of that horse work. It is my company, but teamwork means that everyone does their part.

So today I met with Johnny “Hollywood” Rotnem (a.k.a. “Crazy J” to the Internet Marketing arena). He is a good friend and most importantly, he has been doing this for years. He had taught himself all about web design, internet marketing and traffic generation. We have decided to become a Team, exchanging ideas. This starts as a big advantage for me as he will be mostly giving me his expertise. His niches are different but similar enough for competition not to be a question. Yes people, business is a competition, hence the most important phrase in the business glossary, “competitive”. That is as in competitive edge, or competitive advantage.

He has always been really good at motivating and explaining things, it is not the first time I have learned from him and so I knew the meeting would be productive.

In a long day covering, basic domain registration, hosting, basic web design, and including the use of programs such as Cpanel, Joomlaa, Wordpress, and Mambo. We went through email and email checking, spamming, blogging and article marketing. We even covered social networking. Finally we went into the vital topic of traffic generation and back link directing.

I have a lot experience myself in many areas of the Internet and of course in some of the things we covered, but Johnny simply has really deep extensive knowledge through his investment in and study of qualified literature on all of this.

I am now fired up and ready to get into it. I will be diving into this and am certain that I will be seeing the results within days. That will be real money making results.

We will be working on this to build on each others expertise. Workshops seminars and online courses will be following. He will be concentrating on the area of mentoring and comedy and I will continue to work with the music branch in which I have 20 years of experience.

One thing I can guarantee is that I am going to love applying what I've learned and will be learning. I see direct implementation for my artist in my  RRIPMusic Management Company to expand my programs for them to become successful and more importantly, make money out of their music. I predict that those artists who do not take on at least 50% of these ideas are bound to fail in the new world entertainment. Multiple streams of income is the buzz word and I promise that it is at the moment the only real way to grow.

Keep watching for more information.  There will be continuous updates on what we do and learn. Of course you can take the courses in the future but between us, we will be giving you a lot of valuable content and information.

I love this stuff.

James

James Murdoch: 
illegal downloading no different from stealing a handbag

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/10/murdoch-illegal-dowloading-stealing-handbag

 

No it is not.

If a shop decided to throw it’s handbags out onto the streets and everywhere and said don’t you dare pick them up. They are great and we have no real way of checking. We want you to have them and we will charge you. But don’t just take them!

You are King Canute

If you want to make comparisons then King Canute is the one people like Mr Murdoch should be thinking of. You can claim to be King and demand that the sea stay back. But guess what. You are not God. You serve the public, your customers, not the other way round. Now he and others like him are complaining because they refused to pay the money to keep up with technology. Now they are sitting in a boat that is leaking like a sieve.  You do not own music.

The simple problem is that having managed to totally lose their market and business they are still not taking any responsibility for the problem they created. First the business pushed the price of the simple CD into an area that even the “simple” customer could see was simply an exercise in taking candy from a baby. At that point the customer lost all trust in a business which had become totally about money and not about the art. Even artists started counting their success in dollars and pounds and not in quality of work.

Think about this

These people who just want to make money sue these “kids” and give none of the money to the artists whom they say the kids are stealing from. They want to use the protection of the law which is paid for by our taxes and uses money to pay lawyers which they take from money that either they took from these kids in fines or from profits they made in the most dishonest part of the music industries history.  WE ARE PAYING FOR THEIR MISTAKES in everyway and they complain about the fact that we don’t care. Tell me all of you honestly. Do you truly believe that James Murdoch and people like him care about is any single artist is getting his money? I suggest that they all care only about the fact that they have lost their way of making money off the musicians.

Artist, Executive, Customer. Team with no one at the top.

Musicians have always played written and performed music. That has never changed. Customers have always simply listened and enjoyed music.  The job off these executives was always to maintain the value of the product. That can only happen if all the stakeholders are happy. This is simple business theory. It became so clear that the only really happy stakeholders were the music executives. Not even the richest most monetarily successful artists were happy, Prince, Robbie Williams, Toni Braxton. There were artist against record company court cases every where. The artist were not getting their money, The customer was paying too much and these King Canute figures were simply smiling and thinking that they were more powerful than the sea of disapproval. Well guess what. Moan complain and shout all you want. You are being swept away.

You gave it away, it was not take just like music is now.

Then a different business just happened to appear. The most scandalous part about it is that the music business had its core competence taken by a business that was and still isn’t even trying to compete. The recording companies and old style managers are simply refusing to pay for modernisation. If you want a secure shop, build walls, put in security, pay for competent staff and learn how to run it. Do not just dump your product on the street and tell the police and legal system to look after it. What do we need you for if you can’t even provide a secure fair and effective shop premises. Why s it everyone else’s fault if you let the walls crumble.

Grow up

Honestly. Are they not like children who stamp and scream and blame everyone else because they could do their homework. “the cat ate it!”, “the answers are wrong”, “everyone else had more time”, “I never get to go and play!”

Mr Murdoch, I will treat you like we should treat such children. Stop complaining and don’t come back until you have done your homework.

Anyone is welcome to reply, agree, disagree. Yes, even you Mr Murdoch. The way forward is intelligent, grown up conversation. I promise I won’t take you to court for disagree. I love music, not money.


James Allan
13 March 2010
www.jamesallan.de


Band Manager

Hi. I read the following article and just liked it so no need to re write. I do not agree with it all . I am alos very careful about who needs to get signed to who. but read the article as a start for a conversation.
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James Allan

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Jamesallan0 Hellp Music Festival http://bit.ly/cCRQXF Katatsrophal. wir waren leider auch dabei. http://Never2Loud.de yesterday reply

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Jamesallan0 Great meeting with our new Never2Loud corporate sponsors, Pelé Sport. http://pele-sports.com. To the event I have nothing positve to report. 3 days ago reply

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Jamesallan0 Berlin Help Music festival. Debora and I are performing (http://Never2Loud.de) Really looking forward to it. http://help-musicaward.c... 5 days ago reply

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Jamesallan0 In Munich and have finalised details of the new Caught in the Act project. 4 of the best performers and a great production team. Watch out! 7 days ago reply

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How to Get Signed by a Record Label

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
It takes talent, marketability and a good bit of luck to get signed. Even then, you are not guaranteed fame and success. Here are a few tips to getting your band noticed, and hopefully signed, by a record label.

Steps

  1. Make good music that is well written and can be marketed.
  2. If you need to replace a member do it before you cut the demo. It will save you legal hassles later.
  3. Practice regularly. It isn't just about sending out packages, you also need to be well rehearsed.
  4. Save your money. There are hard cost associated with making demos and getting noticed.
  5. Start booking shows locally.
  6. Market your shows on Myspace, local music stores, with other bands and have everyone bring all their friends. It's more than just playing a gig. You have to develop a following.
  7. Start looking around for an experienced manager to help you get started. An experienced manager will probably not be your best friend, your dad, your guitar teacher but someone who understands the ins and outs of the industry. This person may also be able to help you secure an entertainment attorney when the time comes.
  8. Develop a local following and then branch out into more regional shows. Market these shows in the same way.
  9. Develop the songs on stage and use the audience to gauge what works and what doesn't. It will be a good representation of how others perceive your sound. Your favorite song may flop with the crowd.
  10. Record an amazing sounding demo with a great producer and pay to have a professional label made with your contact information. Don't send covers but send your best sounding original music.
  11. Print multiple copies and set some aside for selling at shows.
  12. Go to the gym. Image is everything especially if you want to be noticed by the majors. You want as many things to work in your favor and this includes having an interesting look for the band.
  13. Avoid drugs. Word travels and artists with drug problems usually cost more money than artists without issues. Labels want a good return on their investment these days, not headaches.
  14. Coordinate the style of everyone in the group.
  15. Arrange a wardrobe for shows that make your group look like a marketable group.
  16. Get professional photos made and video if you can
  17. Make a press pack which consists of a photo, your demo (printed) a biography of the group and interesting info about the members, press clippings, photos of live shows.
  18. Find the address of any record label your music would feel home with and send them a press pack (make sure they accept unsolicited demos).
  19. Playing shows isn't a guarantee but exposure is never a bad thing. You could possibly be signed without ever playing a show but chances are slim. Additionally, having some popularity will help you negotiate a better deal with a label when you are signed.
  20. Sign up for websites like lp33.tv, unsigned.com, www.myspace.com/flowyoungin, and unsignedbandweb.com. These websites will give you access to fans as well as talent scouts.
Always keep your hopes up* Dont let anyone put you down if, you hear a negative comment it should courage you to do better and keep on going. Dont give up if you know you got it then go get it. And make it happen*

JSC ENTERTAINMENT'S Tips

  • Be marketable. Spend time thinking and working with your image as well as your sound.
  • Having a band is much like being an owner of a business. You sometimes need to cut dead weight to bring in someone to help you move forward.
  • Call local festivals and find out who you might be able to open for.
  • Sign up for band contest sponsored by local radio stations or concert halls
  • Have someone video your shows and ask about having them played on public access TV shows.
  • Never sign away your rights to the master recordings!
  • Some people are just not photogenic or do not look good on video. Accept if you're one of these people. Experiment with your look, and find out what you need to do in order to look better on film.
  • Have your own look & be original.
  • Try not to look like you just walked out of the crowd and climbed on stage. Spend time and money on your look. It's not selling out, it's investing.
  • Be smart with your set list. Play your best song last. End on a bang! Do this at every show. Never leave your best song out because you are sick of it.

Warnings

  • If you don't get signed, don't be too discouraged. Record a demo cd and send it around, or do it independently for a while. If your fan base is big enough, people will have to listen.
  • Don't sign contracts without careful consideration and legal advice.

Things You'll Need

  • Band or musicians to play with if you're a soloist
  • Manager
  • Booking agent
  • Photographer
  • Original Music
  • Access to a recording studio
  • Money to get started
  • Access to local and regional venues

Related wikiHows

  • How to Get Gigs for Your Band
  • How to Create a Benefit Concert Series
  • How to Start a Rock Band
  • How to Add Music to Your MySpace Profile
  • How to Get a Job Working for a Rock Band

Sources and Citations

  • Try www.unsigned.com, www.want2bdiscovered.com, www.indiecharts.com. http://www.phantomcitystudio.com/Demo_Submission.html
http://www.themusiciansguide.co.uk/how-to-get-signed-to-a-record-label.html

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Get Signed by a Record Label. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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