THE ALL-IN-ONE ARTIST/MUSICIAN PACKAGE!!!

Domain Names, Build your own Website, Website Hosting & more!

affiliate_link

Accept Credit Cards, Make Payments and more via PayPal!

Sign up for PayPal and start accepting credit card payments instantly.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Do You Know What It Takes To Make A Hit Record?

Insight from: B. Brown (BREG)

When it comes to knowing how to make a hit record, no one can tell you exactly what to do and bam, you have a hit record!!! But there are some things you can do to increase the chances of having a hit song and several (if not all) of those elements that most hit songs possess are listed below.

I've had the pleasure of working with some very talented artists in the studio and they have all given it 110%, but of course all the songs have not become hits.

So you see, we can all work hard in the studio, but let's pay attention to some of the key things that we can do to increase our chances of having a hit record!!!

Enjoy the information below, and let me know if your next song becomes a hit!!!

One Love!!!



*From the A&R Section of http://www.musicclout.com


What Are The Essential Features Of a Hit Record?
We have all heard those hit songs that can be considered ‘timeless classics’.
Whether it’s a hip hop track, a rock classic or an 80’s power ballad, these songs share some essential features that ensure they will be on the airwaves for years to come. Obviously there is not one hard and fast rule for this as every song is different, but here is a list of features that many of these hit records share.

A ‘catchy’ song

Starting with the obvious, a hit record must be a great song. Above all the melody must be strong, as this is what a listener focuses on and this should be accompanied by some great lyrics and a good groove. You can apply the best production techniques possible, but if the song is weak then the record will sink without a trace!

A strong vocal


Having a great vocal is a real asset to any record. If you have a quality song and you have a strong vocalist to sing the melody, then this can be the golden ticket to creating a hit record. A great vocal does not necessarily need to be technically proficient, but more to do with how a singer can successfully interpret the emotion in the song i.e. how they can convey the message in the lyrics.

A creative arrangement

After the song and the vocal, you need to ensure you have a strong arrangement. This involves using the right structure and ensuring each section of the music is interesting for the listener. This can be achieved by adding extra instruments, adding a counter melody, changing the drum pattern, or changing the key etc. Have a listen to some hit songs, and pay attention to the subtle differences between each section. How is verse 2 different to verse 1? How is the last chorus different to the first?

An accomplished performance

You may have the heard the crude expression “You can’t goldplate a turd” and this definitely applies to creating a hit record. A track must sound like there is ‘life’ in the performance and no amount of editing in the studio, fiddling with EQ’s, compression or reverb can replicate this. It can be hard to put your finger on it at times, which is all the more frustrating, but sometimes one take just sounds better than another. If you have musicians who put there all into a performance and play with real emotion and intensity, then the production phase becomes far easier!

A well produced track

Although there are examples of hit songs which don’t technically sound very good, generally the really big and timeless records do sound excellent. A well engineered record does not guarantee it will be a smash, especially if the song, vocal, arrangement and performance are not up to scratch, but it can add an extra dimension to the overall sound, if the EQ’s are well balanced and the right amount of reverb and compression is applied.

The timeless factor


Despite having all the previous factors in place, if the track sounds like the last trend, and the musicians or band members look like it too, then the record might not take off as you would like. Having said that, a ‘retro’ look and sound to a band can work out really well if you go back two or more trends.

Are all the above factors essential for every hit song?

Well in short, no.

There will always be some songs which become hit records and cannot be explained. You will find some songs with weak vocals and melodies which take the charts by storm.

However, on most of the really big hits, you will find they contain the majority, if not all, of the factors in this article. Songs like “Merry Christmas Everybody” by Slade will be heard every December in shopping malls and on the radio. Other hits like “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson and “Imagine” by John Lennon will be played all year round for many years to come.

Would you like some great tips on how to write a song and compose music in any style? Download a FREE 10-page guide on “5 Essential Elements On How To Improve Your Music Making In Any Style” at http://make-music.net

Thursday, June 14, 2012

JAY-Z can teach us about success in business!!!

Thoughts by:  B. Brown (Bar-Red Entertainment Group)

There is no question that Jay-Z has accomplished a lot in his illustrious career. From the block to the boardroom is a tremendous feat, but he has done it! When you read the article below you will have a glimpse of how he parlayed his entertainment career into an amazing business career!

When I'm speaking with one of my clients, and we're discussing a plan of action, it's always interesting to hear an artist talk about creating music, but I very seldom hear them talk about how they are going to or even want to market and promote their music. You see, having product is one thing, marketing, promoting and selling product is another thing. To be successful, you need all of these components to be in sync to be successful. Here's the beautiful thing, it can be done!

From an independent music company or artist point of view, they usually use all their resources creating their music  --- studio time, paying artist with names for features, going to the clubs, etc. Then when it's time to market and promote their music for real (i.e. Radio Promotions, DJ Organiztions, Flyers, Promo CD's, etc.) they do not have the funds to do so or they don't understand the value of marketing and promotions. If McDonald's and Coca-Cola promote every day and commit major resources to their marketing and promotion campaigns, why don't you believe that you will need to do the same? Ok, let's bring it closer to home. If Universal, Sony and WEA designate large budgets towards marketing and promotions, how do you plan on competing if you don't want to spend a dime?

Checkout the article below and see what one of the best that has ever rocked the mic says about creating music and presenting that music to the world .......

What Jay-Z Can Teach You About Success in Business

September 21, 2011
 
Jay-Z is one of the most successful musical acts of our generation. With Bill Russell and Phil Jackson-like numbers — he’s had 11 Billboard #1 albums and counting — he now trails only the Beatles for most U.S. #1 albums in music history. He has sold over 50 million records worldwide and has received 13 Grammy Awards for his work.

But if you look further, past his fame and accolades as an entertainer, you may find that Jay-Z (a.k.a. Shawn Carter) is perhaps one of the most compelling American entrepreneurs of our generation. Carter is a remarkably successful music artist — he’s worth over $450 million and is on the Forbes 400. He knows music. But most importantly, he knows business: Jay-Z realizes that his music is his product, and his fans are his customers.

To a business, customers are everything. They are the lifeblood of any startup, small company or Fortune 500 corporation. If you don’t have customers, then everything else about a business’ functional areas — from product development to accounting, finance and human resources — are pointless. So needless to say, acquiring new customers is perhaps one of the most important things a business can do. This is especially true for a startup or struggling business. Take Nintendo and its “Wii” as an example.

In 2006, Nintendo, a company that once dominated the video game industry, was struggling. They could not compete with Sony’s new Playstation 3 or Microsoft’s Xbox 360 — two products that “hardcore gamers” loved for their graphics and many advanced features.

So what did Nintendo do? By introducing the Wii — which appealed to almost anyone, from 40-something adults to teenage high schoolers — they entered a segment of the video game market demographic long overlooked and left untouched. And in doing so, by 2009 Nintendo had sold 51.6 million Wii consoles, surpassing Xbox’s 31.35 million and more than doubling the 23 million in PS3 sales.

Similar business and marketing dynamics can be found in Jay-Z’s music. Before the mid 1990s and into the millennium, Rap and Hip-Hop were mostly considered niches within the music industry. But Jay-Z helped successfully re-brand the genre as “mainstream.”

His music appeals not only to lyrically hungry rap die-hards, but also to those who just want to hit up a club or frat party (I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve heard Jay and Kanye West’s new album, Watch the Throne, played at parties in the past month). In business terms, he engages both a faction of loyal users (his biggest fans) and the mainstream market (the rest of us). That’s hard to do. But Carter knows what sells and what doesn’t.

In one of his songs, titled “Moment of Clarity,” Jay-Z explains this understanding through rhyme and clever wordplay: “If skills sold, truth be told, I’d probably be lyrically Talib Kweli. Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense. But I did 5 mill’ and I ain’t been rhyming like Common since.” Rappers Talib Kweli and Common are often considered lyrically talented but have been unable to achieve widespread commercial success.

But as an artist, it’s one thing to produce a few hits and another to consistently stay in the mainstream spotlight. A catchy tune can only get you so far — just ask Vanilla Ice.

Jay-Z is well aware, however, that retaining his fans — his most loyal customers — can be as important as acquiring new ones. While he has many chart-topping singles that appeal to a lot of us, devoted fans often appreciate more than just the hits.

Jay-Z’s albums often have subtle messages about America’s societal ills — specifically, how an environment ridden with poverty, drugs and violence affects those who grow up in it. And perhaps because of this, for some fans, Jay-Z is more than just a rapper: he’s an artist, a storyteller or even a social activist.

It is Jay’s writing talent — his core competence — that allows these fans to see something in him that they don’t see in other rap artists. What’s more, these fans are often willing to pay a little bit more for his work — merchandise, books, t-shirts, concert tickets, the whole works. In other words, for these fans, it’s less about the music and more about the experience. He’s the Starbucks coffee to a McDonalds 99-cent latte. You pay a little bit more for it, but in return you receive, arguably, a better experience.

If you go to a Jay-Z concert, you’ll know what I mean. His concerts feature live bands, real instruments and impressive audiovisual effects. He also points out enthusiastic concertgoers and brings fans on stage, personalizing the concert experience and turning an average listener into a Jay-Z fan by the time the show’s over.

Shawn Carter thinks of music as a packaged experience, as he once said in an interview: “I just believe in giving people a better package so when they leave the concert hall, they want to come back again. A lot of [young artists] make that mistake when they're hot. They just sell off the name and sell off the moment. We over-deliver on the experience.”

If anything, Carter’s success as a music artist and entrepreneur has proved that artists can craft songs for their creative value and make a boatload of money at the same time. They’re not mutually exclusive.

As Carter told Steve Forbes, in a joint interview with Warren Buffett: “When you're in the studio you're an artist, you make music, and then after you finish, you market it to the world. I don't think anything is wrong with that. In fact, I know there's nothing wrong with that.”

In other words: “I’m not a business man, I’m a business, man. Let me handle my business, damn!”
Christopher Henty is a senior in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He may be reached at chenty@cornellsun.com (What up, Jay). #TheStartupBiz appears alternate Wednesdays this semester.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR from BAR-RED ENTERTAINMENT GROUP (BREG)!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR from BAR-RED ENTERTAINMENT GROUP (BREG)!!! 2011 was a great year and at the same time presented some challenges. We THANK all of the individuals, organizations and companies that did business with us in 2011, and we thank GOD for bringing us into 2012!

BREG is excited about the opportunities that are coming forth in 2012, and we look forward to helping our current clients and new clients reach their goals and objectives.

In 2012, look for awesome things from Nu Strata Music Group, Chipped Up Entertainment, X-tratainment Inc. & Hustle University! Artists that are bringing new music, live performances and videos in 2012 include Spade Kosta, Da Bad Habbitz, Grizz, Blushe, Chief Scrill, Lady X, Magnem P.I. & Jay L. Also look for new e-books for your Kindle (click on this Amazon.com link) directly from BREG.

We must address our youth of today that are still killing each other at an alarming rate. BREG is looking forward to the day when the tv is turned on and there are no reports of a young person killing another young person. Parents and adults, it is on us to love, teach & discipline our children so that they will love themselves first & foremost and learn to respect & love others. That way they won't believe it is ok to just end another person's life. What actually happens is that two (2) lives are destroyed. The person that has been murdered and the person that goes to jail. Think about it, it's a lose-lose situation. Young people have a responsiblity too! Do not take education for granted because it is your best option for bettering whatever situation you are currently in, and education will bring about positive opportunities for you. You have the ability to understand what is wrong and what is right. Think before you talk, and definitely think before you act; and you will save yourself and your family a lot of heartache and unwanted problems. Believe in yourself, you can do it and have a successful life!

On the political scene, there will be Local, State and National Elections taking place this year with the Presidential Election being the highlighted election. Do your research on the candidates and make the best decision that you can make for you and your family.

So as you have read, BREG is very excited about 2012 and we look forward to connecting with exciting people, organizations and companies this year and beyond! One Love!!!


Yours Truly,

B. Brown

@BREGBrown

Facebook.com/BREGBrown