Violating The Game: Chris Lighty Interview Pt. 2

Violating The Game: Chris Lighty Interview Pt. 1

In the first part of Al Linstrom‘s convo with the Violator Management mogul, Chris discusses his days at Rush Management, working with Lyor Cohen and Russell Simmons and choosing artists for the Violator roster.

Music Industry Update: Warner Music Group

First off, since I'm in a Finance class this month at Full Sail University, when I found out that "Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) is the world's only publicly-traded major music company" I was intrigued and knew that Warner Music Group (who was last traded at $8.17 today 6-10-11) was the perfect thing to discuss for the 1st Music Industry Update on my blog. The Overview on WMG's website states that Warner comprised of

"an array of businesses aimed at helping artists achieve long-term creative and financial success while providing consumers with the highest-quality music content available. WMG is engaged in the recorded music business (including artist services) and the music publishing business. WMG is a global leader in national and international repertoire and home to some of the best-known labels in the recorded music industry including Asylum, Atlantic, Cordless, East West, Elektra, Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Rykodisc, Sire, Warner Bros., Warner Music Nashville and Word. " In Hip-Hop & R&B, this means that WMG is the house of Artist such as Gucci Mane, T.I., Bruno Mars, B.o.B, Saigon, Musiq Soulchild, Travis Barker, Diggy and the newly signed & popular artists of Rick Ross' Maybach Music.

The overview also states how within the last few years, WMG has "grown to become the world's third-largest recorded music business and third-largest music publishing business and, during a time of dramatic industry transition," became established as one of the music industry's most successful companies.

The first piece of news comes from a blog post of Forbes Magazine's site about billionaire Len Blavatnik‘s purchase of Warner Music Group. He purchased the company with a $3.3 billion all-cash buyout. "Blavatnik’s company will pay $8.25 per share for publicly-traded Warner, a 34.4% premium over the stock’s six-month average price. The Russian-American billionaire is no stranger to Warner and its management–he served on the company’s board from 2004-2008 and purchased a Manhattan townhouse from chairman Edgar Bronfman, Jr. in 2007 for $50 million." WMG's CEO, Edgar Bronfman, who holds 7% of the company stands to gain $100 million from the deal.

In other WMG news, also on Forbes' blog, there is an article on WMG's Chief of Recorded Music, Lyor Cohen speaking on the future of the music business. The ex-president & co-founder of both Def Jam & Rush Management respectively spoke on various topics, including "the importance of multiple rights deals and implications of shrinking artist rosters industrywide." In the video posted on Forbes' site, Cohen overall speaks about how "The Revolution Will Be Digitized". Both articles on Forbes' site are important to know because these types of moves such as being bought and hearing from influential Music Industry people speak on how technology is changing the music industry is very important to those people like me interested in becoming apart of the Music Industry because we need to know what's going on & the effects they are going to have on the industry.

Hip-Hop Since 1978 Gains Another Rap Star & Potential Merger

It's Official. Nicki Minaj has dropped Diddy as her manager, according to XXL. XXL has confirmed that Nicki has parted ways with Diddy and is now being managed by the men of Hip-Hop Since 1978, Gee Roberson and Kyambo Joshua. They also have Lil' Wayne, Drake and Young Jeezy on their roster.

Although the reason for her departure isn’t clear, another source tells XXL that Minaj was under the impression that Diddy would be more hands-on with her career, but was disappointed when she realized it wasn’t the case. Just like most of everybody that was excited with the management venture Diddy took with signing both Rick Ross & Nicki Minaj, I thought this was going to be a very beneficial move especially after seeing some of the moves Diddy made with Ross just off of getting him his first commercial. However, despite not getting any commercials or signing any endorsements through her management venture with Diddy, Nicki still had a successful year and is continuing by Touring with Wayne, Ross, & Travis Barker on the I Am Music 2 Tour and with plans for a Pink Friday Tour for 2012, there is no worry about Nicki gaining the $$$.

In other related news, Cortez Bryant, both Lil' Wayne & Drake's Manager is on the verge of making his business deals with Hip-Hop Since 1978 official. Bryant "has made an indelible mark upon the music industry with his hands-on management style. For the last seven years, the Jackson University grad has ushered his roster of artists to chart-topping musical phenomenons. Lil Wayne, for instance, completed 78 headlining shows in nine months in 2009 that grossed well over $40 million, making him one of the most profitable touring artists. Similarly. Meanwhile Drake has secured endorsement/sponsorship deals with brands ranging from Sprite and Kodak to AT&T." In the Black Enterprise article, they interviewed him about his success with Wayne & Drake and about his upcoming power merger with Hip-Hop Since 1978.

This move in my opinion is great for Hip-Hop because both companies already have joint management duty for Wayne and Drake, by merging they are under one branch and it allows for Bryant to have more say in their careers and provide potential opportunities for the other Hip-Hop Since 1978 clients. It also gives Hip-Hop Since 1978 another power boost and leg up against other Management companies like Violator, G.O.O.D. Music, Roc Nation, and Diddy's new Bad Boy Management. With these powerhouse companies existing with successful artists like Drake, Nicki, Ross, & Wayne, Hip-Hop is continuing on its rise from the dead.