MySpace – The Once & Future King?
Editor’s Note: Alex Horowitz is a music and tech blogger writing on behalf of Contested. Did we also mention he’s a musician? Check out his band [ghost this] and read his first post for us on Spotify. If you’ve followed a link to this blog post (it would be quite a feat to be reading [...]
PremRock: Killing Your Idols
The Boss Ladies of IXiiV have worked in this industry their entire adult lives, and they can safely say it is a rarity to come across an independent artist who is not only serious about his art, but also serious and smart about the business of that art; someone who is respectful of how the [...]
Gonna Be Ok (da da doo doom), Just Dance
On Monday, August 29, ABC announced the official lineup for the upcoming season of its hit show, Dancing with the Stars. Since then, the internet has been abuzz with many viewers in an uproar over ABC’s decision to include Chaz Bono as one of the contestants. Many fans of the dance competition feel that allowing [...]
To DIY or Not, That is the Question
Editor’s Note: Anastasia is the co-owner/founder of Imperial Marketing Group. We recently interviewed this Boss Lady for our Spotlight On… series. You can contact her on Twitter @BossLadyA or via email: awright@theimgway.com. So you want to be a star? You want to “make it”? Then you’re going to need a few essentials along your journey [...]
Eric Sosa: Mr. 505 Decodes His Sosalogy
Eric Sosa, or Mr. 505 as he is known to refer to himself on Twitter, is not an artist that can be easily labeled or pigeonholed. Unable to be contained in preexisting classifications, he has created his own field of thought and philosophy, Sosalogy, which he uses as the title for his personal blog. Much [...]
Danielle Thornton: Sosa Management Corp’s Leading Lady
“Behind every great man is a great woman.” While the origin of this popular phrase is unknown, one thing is for certain – it was created with Danielle Thornton in mind. The backbone of everything Sosa, Danielle is the president of Sosa Management Corp. and manager extraordinaire to up-and-coming artist, Eric Sosa, who is unveiling [...]
Watch the News: Top 10 Events in Music that Ruled the Summer
Editor’s Note: Jasmine is the creator and lead blogger for iSocialite.net, a site dedicated to everything entertainment. Through iSocialite, she has worked with some of music’s biggest stars including Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Nas, and Ciara. She’s been in the entertainment industry for several years now and doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon. The summer [...]
Anastasia Wright: Being a Boss Lady the I.M.G. Way
Young, intelligent, fearless, business savvy, witty, creative—no I’m not describing myself, I’m talking about Anastasia Wright. When we decided to do these Spotlight On… interviews, I immediately knew we had to feature her. As one of the founders and principal owner of Imperial Marketing Group (I.M.G.), a marketing & branding company specializing in lifestyle and [...]
My Music, Inc.: How to Manage the Business of Selling Your Music
A musician is in essence the owner of a sole proprietorship, a business entity run by one individual. As a recording artist, you wear many hats – you’re the CEO, the secretary, the product manager, the accountant and the salesman, in addition to the talent, all rolled into one. Unless you are signed to a [...]
Bosco and Peck: A New Soul Sound
Bosco and Peck fuse soul music with elements of funk, rock, blues, R&B, and even hip-hop to create a new sound that pushes the creative envelope. IXiiV’s own Boss Lady, Vicki, was introduced to the band several years ago by her friend Brooke Williams, who has sung with the group on and off for the [...]
Ownership Vs. Access: How Spotify Could Change The World
Editor’s Note: We are so excited to welcome Alex Horowitz as our first guest author! He is a music and tech blogger writing on behalf of Contested. Did we also mention he’s a musician? See his band [ghost this] perform live at Bar East in NYC this Friday. By now, even those of us in [...]
Copyright Basics for Recording Artists: Protect Your Music
Copyright law is an integral and often controversial part of the music business. It is the basis for almost every deal that involves recording, touring, publishing, and more. Copyright law determines not only who owns the music, but also, most importantly, it determines who receives royalties every time the music is licensed, recorded, sold, and/or [...]
Making the Most of Internships Part II: 5 Ways to Enlighten, Empower and Employ
In Making the Most of Internships Part I we discussed all the various reasons internships are beneficial to those who are trying to break into the music business and how to use them in the most effective manner. In Part II we discuss why these internships can be just as beneficial to the employer and [...]
Music Industry Networking: Create An Effective Elevator Pitch For Your Brand
What would you say if you were on an elevator with your music industry idol? How would you use this short window of time to convince them to hear your music? To seize this possible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you must be ready with an effective elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a quick summary of a [...]
Making the Most of Internships Part 1: From Coffee Runs to Running the Next Meeting
When most people hear the word internship, they think grunt work and no (or at least very little) pay. When I hear internship, I think opportunity; I’ve always thought this, years ago as an intern and now as a business owner. Throughout my experience, I feel both interns as well as business owners often fail [...]
