DJ Khaled Breaks Down "We The Best Forever"

Deal Making Interviews

Name: Cynthia McCarty

Industry: Entertainment

Job Position: Manager to major artists

Description of Position: I manage day to day activities, appearance/performance negotiations for my artists

1. How Important Is Making Deals Important to you and/or your position? Explain?
~Very important, making the right deal the right way plays a big role in my work ethic and builds lasting relationships with others in the business.

2. How do you deal with negative emotions when making deals?
~I try not to work/deal with those types of people who bring negativity to the table.

3. What is “Positional Bargaining” to you?
~People who use their status to get what they want/or offer you a certain rank to get you to do what they want.

4. Have you ever used or dealt with anybody that used dirty tricks or tricky tactics to get a deal accomplished? Explain?
~Yes, I no longer work with those individuals. I base my business dealings on honesty and integrity; no deal is that important to lower my standards or compromise my integrity.

5. How do you think being affiliated with someone or a certain brand affects business deals?
~The world teaches us that its not what you know but WHO you know. I don’t name drop and don’t like people who do.



Name: Brandi Browne

Industry: Radio

Job Position: Market Program Director for WIMX MIX 95.7/WJZE HOT 97-3 in Toledo, OH

1. Making deals are pretty important when it comes to pleasing my listeners but
promotionally. Having the support of the records companies as it relates to the hottest cd’s, trips, and great prizes which usually comes with the artist most of the time. The records companies love to execute promotions because of the big exposure that their artist will get. We on the other hand love them as well because that is another way to boost rating.

When it comes to making deals as it relates to community involvement it is always some type of deal. Basically if you support my event and help out with your street team and etc. then I will support yours. It’s an understanding between the parties and it continues and we build relationships with those organizations, companies, and etc.


2. Dealing with negative emotions is actually pretty simple. Being a great
listener is pretty important when emotions are involved. Keeping a leveled head
and staying professional at all times is the key to success. Loose your cool and
you could possibly loose the deal. I believe that stand your ground professionally
but there is more than one way to skin a cat. Always have a backup plan.

3. Positional bargaining is when my record reps comes in to visit me and want you
To add a song that is getting no activity. It’s usually very hard for a new artist to get attention from Program Directors because I believe in the charts. I have many that I go by and a consultant who does an independent survey on the artist,
movement and holding or staying power. It’s always a back and forth effort
because they have to get their records played. (I had a rep bring a record to me
3yrs ago and I didn’t feel that it would be a hit at the time but another rep came
back to me with the same record and it sounded different at that time and I felt
it was time for it) It became a huge hit for the artist “Noel Gourdin”. New artist then but not now. Great story!




4. Of course I have and those are the people you don’t deal with because of their
business ethics. People who are cavalier when it comes to dealing with you
will eventually get you into a lot or some trouble which could ruin your
position and they definitely will try. What I have learned when dealing with
this type of individual or company you have to choose your battles. If its worth
it then we have to figure out a way to make it work for both parties.



5. It will affect it negatively or positively. I would prefer positively because you
would like to be in a position of power for a long time. I always want when I
hire someone that it would be a individual that would bring something to the
table that would help me in my business dealings. Of course its not always the case
because individuals will say anything to get the job. Its important to get references,
and do a back ground check on the person so that you will not messed up any deals
you have worked hard to accomplish.

Interview: Best Of Both Offices

In part 1 of our interview we talk with Young Sav and Steve-O. They help run the radio department in Def Jam and own Best Of Both Offices. In the interview we talk about how both got their start and how they created the Best Of Both Offices brand. We also talk about how they helped “guide” Rick Ross career.







In part 2 we talk the relationships between the BOBO team and the blog game. For those that know, Savv and Steve have really made an effort to include the blogs in the promo campaigns for their artists (conference calls, web content, etc.). We then talk about their relationship with Rik Cordero, and branching out to film.


Follow Them @YoungSavv and @StevoBOBO

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.