To have a successful album you need the media involved whether you just have a great life story or create controversy. This can sell albums and help out your career greatly. Think of publicity as free advertising. Any media that is available will work to get you more exposure and hopefully in turn get more shows and sell more records. Many artists would be surprised how much press they can obtain if they just ask. You must have a good press kit or at least photos, music, and a good biography to email to get press. If you do not have one of the three above then don’t try because they are all needed to get coverage with a respected publication. One thing every artist should do is find emails to create a mailing list of press. This can be done by simply going to the websites of the press pertaining to your genre and searching in their “contact us” page or by buying the magazine and checking the articles. Not all magazines give out emails, but many can be found on places like Myspace, Facebook, and other popular networking sites also. When contacting the press, remember that they receive a large number of emails a day so your story must have a catch to it and be interesting for it to print. Also, the theme must pertain to what the magazine is about. No media outlet wants to hear how you are the best artist etc……They want facts and stories that will be interesting to their viewers. To really take advantage of press……and if you have the extra funds, then the best way to go is to hire a public relations company or a publicist who has a history of working with artists in your genre, who has results and is able to show them. A good publicist can run you anywhere from $500 to $4000 a month, depending on what company you hire and what you need. Here at CollegeDJ.net we would like to recommend Fabiola Fleuranvil of N.Y.L.A. Entertainment Group.
www.nylaentertainmentgroup.com Remember you do not need a publicist year round if you aren’t an artist with a large budget -but signing a publicist for a few months before and after the release of your next single, mixtape or album…..greatly increases the chances of making your next project more successful.
At CollegeDJ.net we are always looking for the latest and most fresh to death music that is on the come up. Wicked (an MC from Connecticut), the King of Connecticut to be exact, is fresh to death. His consistency proves he's too much to handle for any MC that is not up to par. Wicked is one of the last real MC's who displays real musical and lyrical TALENT!!
If you don’t believe me, check out his latest single “Now’s the Time” which you can download right now from us at CollegeDJ.net. Also, I had the pleasure of getting to sit down with Wicked and talk about the state of the mix tape game, and much more. Here is the transcript of the interview that I had with Wicked.
DJ KidRelly: What’s goin’ on ya’ll? It’s your boy “DJ KidRelly,” doin’ it real big, and joining me at CollegeDJ.net, is an upstart rapper who’s down with Arkangel Ent. And lookin’ to be the next big thing in hip hop, please welcome the Connecticut Native, Wicked – What’s good, man?
Wicked: What's poppin my dude
DJ KidRelly: I’m glad you had the time, because what we want to do is put you on blast. Let everybody know who exactly Wicked is.
Wicked: Yo, I'm that dude you probably heard on mix cdz killin them freestyles and droppin them street bangaz and was probably like who this Connecticut dude? I never seen this dude before. That was me. I’m an artist, entrepreneur, businessman, hustla, all balled up into one man.
DJ KidRelly: Where is one place, when you’re not doing something musically, where you have the most inspiration – is it in the car, is it in the shower, is it just hangin’ out with your family?
Wicked: (Laughing) either in the bathroom taking a shit writing or in the car because the music is all around me and I just zone out
DJ KidRelly: When you’re rappin’ is everything written down or is it off the top of the dome – how do you go about it?
Wicked: Rappin off the top of my head is my favorite however I feel as though when I'm dealing with a song with meaning, like concepts, stories, ect. I like to have more concentrated thoughts on paper, so I write it down.
DJ KidRelly: In the studio, you’re there a lot, and you’ve been knockin’ out a lot of material for mix tapes – you recently unveiled Code of the Streets Vol. 5 : The Features, a mix tape with DJ L & myself (DJ KidRelly). What type of exposure did that mixtape give you?
Wicked: It reached millions or should I say billions of people. It’s on itunes, amazonmp3.com, napster.com, rhapsody.com, emusic.com. This cd has not even been released yet in the streets, It’s exclusively online for now.
DJ KidRelly: For a fan who wants to go pick up a couple brand new mix tapes out on the street, what distinguishes Wicked’s material on his mixtape from anybody else who’s just a run-of-the-mill artist puttin’ out a mixtape?
Wicked: First off my covers are made strictly by Miami Kaos, no one else. Second, you will notice my mix cds have original music on them.
DJ KidRelly: So you’re strivin’ for that connection between the artist and the listener?
Wicked: Yes, I have a connection with my fans, I’m striving for a more broad connection with more fans worldwide.
DJ KidRelly: Continuing on with some mix tape talk: because the mix tape market over the past few years has become relatively flooded, do you feel like mix tapes hold the same weight that they once did, in order to help you achieve success in terms of getting a label deal, getting “on” in a region that maybe didn’t know about you before?
Wicked: Yes & No, the mix tape still holds weight if you’re a hot MC. Also it’s good for exposure to labels or DJz. Mix tapes used to generate a nice cash flow if your shit is hot, but for the most part it’s an excellent marketing tool. Mix tapes sales are not like they were in the early 90s to 2000.
DJ KidRelly: Do you currently have any particular songs being concocted in the studio that’ll be a big part of someone’s life when they get to listen to it in the near future?
Wicked: Yes always. I think the song “Pursuit of Happiness,” off Code of the Streets Vol.5 will play a major role in a lot of people’s life when we release it.
DJ KidRelly: Wicked, how can all of my listeners and your fans find out more about what you got comin’ up?
Wicked: You can stay up on my myspace page myspace.com/wickedct for all latest updates on Wicked.
DJ KidRelly: Definitely! On behalf of CollegeDj.net, we wish you nothin’ but the best of luck on your upstart career and much success into the future. Any lastwords, and/or Shoutouts?
Wicked: Yes sir, I wanna thank CollegeDJ.net and you, DJ KidRelly for allowing me to express myself up here. My dude Pharoah, for holdin’ it down for the team. Be on the look out for the latest project by me, Wicked “Code of the Streets Vol 5: The Features.” Also look for that new single “Now’s the Time” it’s can be downloaded at CollegeDJ.net right now. One love to all my supporters’. Thank you for standing by the kid and never giving up. Now’s The Time Y’all, PEACE OUT!!!
Just as Julius Caesar came, saw, and conquered the small town of Tokat in contemporary Turkey, www.collegedj.net arrived, observed, and began its weekend take-over of the 305 in Dade County, Miami! CollegeDJ.net in conjunction with BestOut Entertainment rented a mansion on Millionaire's Lane in the North Beach of Miami to celebrate our wonderful Nation's Day of Independence! The weekend consisted of a catered VIP evening at Miami's exclusive Opium Gardens and several events in the mansion itself including an after-party Friday night, and a house party Saturday night. Although we will not name-drop, in attendance at the events were a few NFL players, Miami models, producers, and entrepreneurs. Check out the “White Party” and mansion pics in the gallery section below. This was just the first of a string of several exciting, exclusive, events that CDJ will be offering. If you were not able to make it to Miami, but are going to be in the NY, NJ, CT, Philly or D.C. area, be on the look-out for our next event-The Loft Party. Make sure to listen to and download the newest releases from your favorite artists here at CDJ.net…..the number 1 website for college dj news, technology and information.
It is not enough to make a press kit, because many major record labels do not even open them once they get to the office. There is a way to avoid this situation from happening. You need to know who you are trying to contact at the office. In most cases, you want to get the contact information of the record labels’ Artists and Repertoire (A&R). The A&R is responsible for scouting and artist development, he probably doesn’t have enough time to sort through the plethora of demo tapes sent by hopeful musicians. Doesn’t make sense? Sure it does, - you have to know the A&R or have management that can facilitate a meeting with the A&R. This may be very expensive if you do not live near a location where many A&R’s work out of. Do not fear. A&R’s have created digital networks with independent artists to help them create a digital press kit which will allow them to meet with the labels when they are interested. So….. if you don’t have a direct connection with an A&R, you should be using the internet to try to get the attention of the label and get more listeners. Remember, creating a strong digital press kit is key. Don’t send them a press kit in the mail, because most likely the A&R will never open the shipping package. Here is a resource that can help, www.majorcontacts.com is one of several premier virtual A&R services. The website allows you to create a virtual press kit and shop it to different A&Rs.
Electronica is coming back. These days, much of the new music that has come out has an electric house feel to it. Many artists from rappers to pop and R&B artists are making music that appeals to people who like house music. Artists like Akon, Madonna, Ne-Yo, Lil Wayne (remixes), Kanye West, Lupe and Kenna have recently made tracks with an electronica feel. The trick to making a good cross-genre beat is to stay true to one form while respecting the other. For example, Kanye’s “Flashing Lights” and “Stronger,” are classic house beats that are true to electronica and house, yet still have the basic elements of hip hop. Other artists have synthesized classic hip hop beats to house music by using pitch controls to speed the beat up while some have kept the beat clean like Wiz Khalifa’s “Say Yes”. The combination of hip hop, house and rock has helped to define artists that are looking to reach broad audiences while giving their fan base something new. A lot of the new music also comes with a house style b-side for the djs to play in clubs or other venues that ordinarily don’t play rock or hip hop. Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” has elements of house music -so electronic house beats are unlimited to typical genres. -DP
College DJ would like to congratulate all of our college seniors. We wish you the best and hope our graduating djs continue to stay involved in music and www.collegedj.net. Make sure you get your alumni .edu email from your college so you can always access our music. You can also access our music using any new email address and we will confirm you as a former college dj member. Check in with us frequently to get new music before it hits the streets. Feel free to drop us a note and let us know if you will be working in a dj technology or music related field at contact@collegedj.net !!! We thank you for helping us become the number 1 source for college dj technology, information and music. Best of luck in all your endeavors….
Madonna is back with another hit. Once again she has found a way to re-reinvent herself and stay relevant. Always beautiful, shapely and stylish, Madonna has come back with a new hit single featuring Justin Timberlake called "4 Minutes". Madonna made her debut as an 80's pop phenomenon and was later labeled the "Queen of Pop". In the 80's she created her own fashion trends and was the envy of many teenage girls. She was the first of many female pop stars to come…., but none of them have had the impact Madonna has had on popular culture. Always controversial, Madonna has been able to stand the test of time by creating classic songs and memorable collabos. The new song is rapidly rising on the charts and has a catchy hook. The new album "Hard Candy" will definitely solidify her pop nobility. Madonna has done it all from books, to movies and she is also tech savvy. We are featuring "4 Minutes" and other new music on our player -so make sure you check in with www.collegedj.net at least once a week to get the new -best out- before anyone else. What's up with the remix of "4 Minutes"?????? . ……….. dp http://www.collegedj.net
Many of the best producers are former djs and they create new music using the MPC. Take Pete Rock for example, his affinity for producing comes from having his ear to the streets and his love of music from various genres. He is considered one of the best hip hop producers of all time and he uses the MPC to make his beats. The MPC allows the user to mix records and sample beats from various tracks. This gives the producer the ability to use real music as music. Many producers also use keyboards, live instruments and live voices in conjunction with the MPC to create even more unique sounds. Originally designed as a drum machine and midi sequencer, the MPC- formerly known as the MIDI production center (now called the Music Production Center), features sampling and storage functions that can be combined with other instruments and sounds to create new music. Created by Roger Linn and produced by Akai since 1988, the MPC is a powerful tool used by many producers today. The MPC 2500 is a 32 voice-drum/phase sampler with up to 128 MB of RAM and extensive editing control. It has a functional user interface, responsive velocity- and pressure- sensitive pads, twin onboard effects processors, four Q link controllers (two sliders/two knobs) for extensive real-time control, plus 10 outputs and a S/PDIF digital output. This MPC also has a 100,000 note/64 track MIDI sequencer that can be assigned to four separate MIDI outputs for a total of 64 independently addressable MIDI channels. Watch Pete Rock using the MPC to create a new beat from a classic 80’s tune.........-dp http://www.collegedj.net/
Posts
