KID Kameo… A man on Fire !!!

I’ve been through many situations that have impacted my life, as it relates to music.  I believe in talent, I understand the sacrifice and know how much effort it takes to do what you want to do. Aside from talent, desire is a key factor in achieving success in being one of the best. That’s why I identified myself with many talented people involved in the industry that I know the most… Music. I have to say that I’m lucky to meet new people in my journey that have positive outlooks in making it big.

 A few months ago I met an individual, talented, hard worker and with big dreams, his name is Carlos Perez. Carlos is known as DJ Kid Kameo in the music industry. His involvement in music began during his early middle school age. He’s been working as a firefighter with NASA, in the state of Florida, for the past year, while continuing to develop a successful music career. People are attracted to his creativity in playing and mixing electronic sounds. Because of this attraction, and the support of his followers he has performed in many events in Central Florida gaining the confidence to work with other artist such as Pitbull, Sensato, DJ Freddy Fred, and Baby Bash marking his unique sound.

The music industry is not easy. It takes a lot of patience, hard work, and dedication. This is not the beginning if his experience in the music industry, but a new beginning in becoming a professional performer in the industry. His overall qualities meet or surpass the requirements to be associated with my entertainment business group. That’s why he became part of “LR” Music Group. People like Kid Kameo, inspires growth, fight and to move on, because that’s the attitude of a man on fire.

I will like to share a bit more of him through his music by clicking this link: http://soundcloud.com/kidkameo  

Remember "A life in music is not an easy life, but it has rewards that you don't get in other walks of life". Quote Retrieved in (http://www.artistshousemusic.org/ )

Contact “LR” Music Group for Kid Kameo’s Music

Luismi Rivera: Music Publishing Agent

luismi013@gmail.com

787-367-6850 

A&R Executives

The music Industry has a lot of roles that the people could fit into, but may not be aware. Referring to one of the older blogs I wrote, there are a lot of topics that go with the songwriting and the music publishing side of music describing more deeply those roles. People have been gain the knowledge of how a music publisher, producers, song plugger etc. works but that’s not all it is all about when we talk about the music behind the scene. There exist a source that work more in depth to help songwriters, singer and musician. It’s call A&R executive. A&R means “artist and repertories”. Those professional are affiliate with record labels but are not there employees. The purpose of their service is to find new artists and to run all the process of a music album. The A&R is the person that seeks the right team person like: songwriters, musician, and music producers etc. to do a successful record album for the artist. As we know, most of the people that work with this role are musicians and music journalist. They are known as a very strict and critic person in the music industry. Mention public figure that had been works, as A&R are “Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and L.A Reid”. We know that those people are seen constantly judging, on music competitions, basically they are working as A&R because they are finding the next artist. Think for a moment, music competition like “American Idol and X Factor” what is the prize?? A recording contract.  They are the people who are going to run all the process of the recording section up to the day of release.  That’s the role of A&R executive. Thinking about it, it’s a role that needs the other component of the music, behind the sense, to make it happen. It's a thing that goes with the others but having their credit.  

Source:

http://musicclout.hubpages.com/hub/Successful-AR-Exectives

http://playitloudmusic.wordpress.com/interviews/publishing/interview-with-european-ar-executive-for-universal-music-publishing-pelle-lidell/

http://www.artistshousemusic.org/videos/the+responsibilities+of+an+a+r+agent

"Value of the Songwriters"

People in general mostly care about the final product and do not put any thought in how it was made or how it came to be. Talking a little bit on the music side, people like songs and singers but they forget to value the creator/writer. We know that there exist many programs that show the development of music artist such as American Idol, The Voice and X Factor competitions. These shows however only focus on the singers. But something that I have been thinking about is; “what about the creators like me; the songwriters?” There exist many music showcases that people with the songwriting skills can show off their stuff and they can gain a lot, but sometimes we need more exposure like the one that I mention before. Not only do the people like the A&R executives, music producer or artist managers enrich our talent with the songwriting, but the viewers can learn about the process of how we create the magic of music also. Doing my research I found a show kind of similar to the ones I have mentions like before, but instead of it being for singers/artists it is for songwriters and it’s call The Hitmaker. The Hitmaker is show based on the lyrics of the music, not the talent that is singing the composition. The Hitmaker can be seen on BRAVO. The object of the competition is spotlighting undiscovered songwriters of all genres. Basically they have to battle through a series of innovating songwriting challenge to gain a position on the music charts. Also the grand prize includes cash prize and studio equipment. I think that this is a very good strategy and is a great way to get exposure of the hard work each talented person has. Apart from that it will also awaken the curiosity of the viewers into seeing the process of the songwriting side. Is an opportunity for the songwriters to get the chance to share their work and keep themselves out the mentality that great songs and hit will not get lose and the people will be able to identify with new songs. A songwriters  goal is to have a great singer/artist sing their song and for them as a songwriter be agonized for the work also.

Source:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bGL75Ulriw

http://blog.newsok.com/television/2010/04/26/singersongwriters-wanted-for-bravos-hitmakers-auditions-underway/

The Difference of HFA and PRO

The difference of HFA and the PRO

As a songwriter, I have been doing my research to expand my knowledge concerning the music publishing side of entertainment. I have learned more in depth about music-licensing which is one of the most important part of music publishing. Everybody is aware of the three PRO companies, which are ASCAP, SESAC and BMI. But there exists some difference between those PRO and the HFA. This causes confusion amongst some people. The HFA (Harry Fox Agency) is a company that provides a mechanical license only. Talking a little bit of the service of HFA, they provide a permission sheet to the people that they allow to record a song that has been recorded before. With this license they are dedicated to provide license, also collect and distribute mechanical royalties, which is for the sales of digital, physical or streaming licenses. So basically we know that when any music CD or download is sold the mechanical licenser pays the publisher and the author. Which on the other hands the PRO works to collect and distribute royalties in the performance right. So basically they collect royalties for songs playing in public places such as cafeteria, restaurants, TV, elevator etc. So, never hurts to know a little bit of everything, especially in regards to music and know what it takes to be successful.

Sources:

http://www.artistshousemusic.org/videos/harry+fox+agency+licensing

http://www.artistshousemusic.org/articles/the+basics+of+mechanical+licensing+from+harry+fox

QR Code

QR Code

In the music industry one of the biggest issues that I have seen is that independent musicians, songwriters and artist struggle on how to promote and market their stuff. They don’t realize that there exists so many ways to do it easily and inexpensively. That’s why I want to share the tool of the QR code. This is a marketing strategy that can help those people that want to get exposure to share their work to the music Industry. The QR code means quick response, it is a trademark for a type of matrix barcode. They are used to take a piece of information from a transitory media and put it in to your cell phone. So, we know that now in this day in age most people have smartphones, so basically all they have to do is the QR reader app and just take a picture of the QR to get all the information easily. Ounce you have taken the picture this goes straight to the information that the QR contains. We know that the last thing a person wants to do is take time to research what they want to find… it is a lot easier just to click a button and have information right at your finger tip. Talking a little bit about the music industry, the QR code works very efficiently to promote many things. Some of the interesting places QR Codes can potentially be used for music marketing are: Business cards, Tour and gigs flyers, Demos, press kits, band poster etc. Music Fans scanning QR codes are expecting to find unique content or a special marketing offer when they scan a QR code. Basically linking a QR code to your music work, music videos, song previews, personal message to the fans, studio section, scheduled of your gigs website homepage, Facebook twitter etc. will leave your fans engaged.

Now I’m going to share the link that a person can use to crate a QR code so that they can help grow their product more easily.

Source:

http://www.qrstuff.com/

Podcast

The New Legal battle over the Song Rights

            This case talks about the termination rights provision. An issue that came out legally in a very serious way of music ownership. Since 1978 a lot of famous music albums such as Billy Joel, Kenny Rogers, Barbara Streisand and more, generated a lot of millions for some record companies. Due to the termination of right provision of the United State Copyright law, those famous artist have the right to reclaim their ownership of those recordings works. Listening the postcast on “Lawyer 2 Lawyer” they mention that when the copyright was revised, the creators are allow to own their product after 35 years. In the other hand, the major record companies said that they are not going to abandon recordings that consider their own property. The recording companies argue, the records are work for hire compilations, created not by independent performers but by musicians who are, in essence, their employees. Things that the copyright law, see it in an unconvincing way. But according to the video they said that the solution of this issue would have to be resolving in the court.

Downloading Music Illegally and the role of RIAA

In this case the issue is focus on the Illegal downloads of music, that in other name its call Internet piracy. Basically with the podcast of the “Lawyer 2 Lawyer”, I can analyze the way that the two-attorney guests arguing about this legal issue. The first guest is the attorney Richard L. Gabriel; he is a lead national counsel for the Recording Industry Association of America. And the second guest is the attorney Fred Von Lohman, a senior staff attorney specializing in intellectual property issues with the Electronic Frontier Foundation. An overview of this problem is that exist a lot of people that are starting to download music illegally and share music. Thing that automatically affects the music industry in this case, record companies. In the interview Richard said that the illegal world is controlling the market and has create a huge damage with the purpose that record companies can’t sign new artist because the loss of money because of piracy. Also he mentions that the purpose is to try to control this infringement and educate people of what is legal conduct with music concern. In other hand the other attorney, Fred argue that he is aware that piracy is growing in the market but the purpose is not to sue thousand of people for being fans of music and share songs. He said that the campaign of RIAA is not working and is trying to make that fans feel guilty of suing. Another thing that Fred mentioned is that there is no money for the creators any way because the money that record company use because of getting sued doesn’t go for the songwriter and other creators and that another point that company has to think of.

In conclusion, I have to say that listening those interviews I was very connected with the arguments of those experts talking about each topic. Sometime you have a though and argument but something a very small thing is missing. Thing that in some cases can change the point of view very easy, but for good. In my cases, those interviews woke my curiosity to learn more about legal issues, in away that I can expand my knowledge with expert related to the music industry.

Sources:

The New Legal Battle over Song Right

http://legaltalknetwork.com/tag/artist-copyright-claims/

Downloading Music Illegaly and the Role of RIAA

http://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/lawyer-2-lawyer/2007/11/downloading-music-illegally-and-the-role-of-the-riaa/

Other source: The PeaceTone of legal Empowerment Project and the Power of Music http://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/lawyer-2-lawyer/2011/12/the-peacetones-legal-empowerment-project-the-power-of-music/