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In The Biz
In the Biz is devoted to the business of making jazz music. We will feature established and emerging jazz artists and discover how they successfully maneuver in the often-challenging world of music today.
Matthew Shell: Making Art with Substance
Matthew Shell is a Washington, D.C.-based music producer and engineer. Founder and CEO of publishing house and record label MTS Music, Shell writes and produces music for his own solo releases as well as for bands and other solo artists. Currently working on an hour-long jazz opus, “First Light," Shell shares his upbeat philosophy of life and music success tips with our readers. All About Jazz: In this changing world of the music business, how ...
read moreRoberta Piket: Focusing on the Music
Native New Yorker Roberta Piket is a pianist who loves to explore the more inventive territory of jazz and improvised music. A gifted composer, she was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk BMI Composers' Competition. Her latest album, One for Marian: Celebrating Marian McPartland, reached JazzWeek and CMJ Jazz Top 50. Piket graciously shares a bit of her own career philosophy with us, along with helpful tips on how to flourish in the music business of today. ...
read moreArtist Roundtable: Where's the Money?
In our last roundtable, we delved into the topic of hiring a publicist, and the benefits of doing so. In this article, we will discover how our roundtable peers make money from their musical recordings. Are there any secrets to successfully releasing albums or singles in this era of free streaming and rampant stealing? Let's find out. D. Edward Cheryl Hodge Suzanne Grzanna Grace Garland Laura Ainsworth All About Jazz: ...
read moreDavid Longoria: Embracing Innovation
Popular trumpeter, songwriter, and producer David Longoria has achieved success in music by refusing to follow the musical crowd. Growing up in relatively poor circumstances, Longoria learned to trust his instincts and to embrace innovation as he set his sights on becoming the internationally respected musician that he is today. At the age of ten, Longoria chose the trumpet as his primary instrument. It took the youth over a year to raise sixty-five dollars, the amount required ...
read moreCheryl Hodge: Chasing the Muse
Award-winning jazz and blues artist Cheryl Hodge shares how she manages to thrive in the dark and light of today's music business. With a 2016 release (Living Off the Grid) and a persistent attitude, Hodge continues to navigate the sometimes choppy waters of a music career on her own terms. Just nominated for another Hollywood Music in Media Award for her single from Living Off the Grid, “Senegal," Hodge keeps chasing her particular muse with satisfying results. ...
read moreCarol Albert: Going for the Finish Line
The new single release by Carol Albert, “Mas Que Nada," has achieved critical acclaim. The recent Global Peace Song Award winner says a jazz musician is like a marathon runner who needs to stay the course in order to win. Here she chats about her own musical path to success, and offers readers tips on how to elevate their own jazz journeys. All About Jazz: Please tell us how you decided to record your very engaging “Mas ...
read moreHiring a Publicist: Is It Worth It?
"Without promotion, something terrible happens... nothing!" --P. T. Barnum Jazz artists strive to make the best albums possible, choosing the best songs, selecting other musicians to interpret those songs, and recording the pieces with artistic and technical skill. When their masterpieces are complete, it does not all end there. The artist or band must reach out to the public, and there are as many ways to do that as there are stars in the sky, it seems. ...
read moreArun Shenoy: Change Brings New Opportunities
In the Biz is devoted to the business of making jazz music. We will feature established and emerging jazz artists and discover how they successfully maneuver in the often-challenging world of music today. This is the first article in the series. I recently spoke with Singapore-based jazz composer and record producer Arun Shenoy. His 2012 album, Rumbadoodle, launched Shenoy into international fame and garnered the talented musician a first Grammy nomination. His brand new A Stagey Bank Affair ...
read moreWhy Don't People Listen to Your Music?
My name is Mike Rubini, and I'm pursuing a career in music. I have worked for All About Jazz as a social media consultant. This new column will focus heavily on a well-researched and thoughtful critique of major issues facing independent musicians and an in-depth analysis of the processes that can be used to understand the state of jazz music today. This article was translated from Italian. Music is communication. I believe communication is more ...
read moreIndie Musician in a Digital Age: Self Promotion Basics
Recently, I've had a very educational experience from being a member of a Facebook page for jazz musicians. As it turned out, the group that listed over 2000 members and was intended for musicians only had a fairly narrow spectrum of actively discussed topics. Rise's Rose Garden Movies and beer?--No. Music?--No, of course, not! How to promote?--Yes, exactly. Most posts and associated comments could be covered by just one question: “how to ...
read moreThe New Artist Development Model: Growing your Brand from the Ground Up
So you are a jazz musician trying to navigate the complex path to build yourself into a sustainable brand? Where do I begin? What are the steps in the New Industry Model? How can I move forward? How can I survive? How can I cut through the clutter? These are all common questions I get constantly from artists and industry veterans alike, who are just overwhelmed by this new environment. So, it is from ...
read moreThe Future Record Label Model = Brand Marketing Collective
Several months ago Michael Ricci approached me with the idea of starting a column dealing with the business of jazz. During our subsequent conversations we both agreed that jazz musicians needed more tools, more ideas and more education on how to successfully monetize their music and strengthen the jazz scene as a whole. Given my formal educational background (recently completing an MBA), business knowledge (forming Pitch Artist Services) and experience, (over a decade as an actual performing jazz artist and ...
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