Category: Entertainment Business

TV sitcoms: Why seeing African-American characters matter to kids

3/8/2015

I happened to be browsing on YouTube when I saw a recent interview with "Scandal" actress Kerry Washington on "The Jimmy Kimmel Show." One comment she made during the interview stayed on my mind while I was writing this blog:

Check out: Why researching minority superhero characters would've done Michelle Rodriguez some good

Washington spoke about how her mother insisted that she had African American Barbie dolls growing up. Even when Washington wanted to be Snow White one year, her mother was okay with it. But Washington smiled at the thought of young, African-American girls having a bigger variety of character to choose from now, including Pocahontas or Princess Tiara.

The same can be said for young, African-American boys in today's society.

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The inside scoop on the business end of shows like 'Empire'

2/27/2015

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Let's make no mistake about it. Taraji Henson and Terrence Howard have already proven to be two incredibly hot artists in their own right, but what they offer to "Empire" is something unseen on television today. We've seen films like "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," "Breakin'," "House Party" and "8 Mile," but "Krush Groove" was probably the only one that was as much about entertainment as it was about the business end of the hip-hop entertainment industry. However, what the TV series "Empire" has done in 2015 is something all its own.

As a former General Manager and Senior Vice President of No Limit Records, I already know what it's like to be on the business side of music. Creating my former music label Me & Mine Entertainment also gave me even more insight on how independent labels work. So it's fascinating to watch a realistic version of it come to our television screens every Wednesday night.

Anyone with a Twitter, Facebook or Instagram account has run into independent artists trying to make it in the music industry. But so many of us see it from the artistic standpoint: we hear songs, we watch artists, we give selective head nods to a few nice-on-the-eyes models posing for those covers, and we bob our heads to the beat. But what "Empire" does is educate people about the business end while still showing off the sexier side of the hip-hop and R&B music industry.

On recent interviews with The Dream, Tyga, Timbaland, Serayah, Jussie Smollett and Quincy, artists have told their views on how they feel about the TV show and the contractual agreements. From a business perspective, I'll answer a few questions I keep hearing about the professional side of the arts.

Do you think an artist who already has a reputable name should do a show like "Empire"? Or, are artists getting too focused on television and not enough on music?

Reputable artists should consider doing a television show like "Empire." It gives them an opportunity to promote themselves in another form of entertainment. If they are trying to expand on their career by being versatile and proving that they have the ability to be actors, it is a great opportunity for them to do so. Artists need to look at ways to promote their brands. The music industry’s income has declined significantly over the last 10 years, and artists who have always struggled financially have to focus on additional ways to generate income (i.e., acting, concerts, merchandising).

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The Pros and Cons of a 360 music production contract deal

2/13/2015

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For artists in various genres, it's no mystery that they want to succeed. With the ongoing trend of independent labels, some have the business savvy and connections to do it on their own. Others choose to work with major record labels. While neither decision is right or wrong, before a new artist (or returning artist) decides to sign a 360 deal, there are some things that artist should know.

In a 360 contract, the label is your management company. They're your label. They're your booking company. They do everything.

So what do you do if you have a problem with the way the record label is treating you? You would usually go to your management company. If you have a problem with your booking agent, you go to your management or your lawyer. But in a 360 deal that entity is everything so it becomes a conflict of interest if you have any challenges.

The good thing about a 360 deal is everything's covered. But whoever the organization or label that's responsible for the artist gets a piece of everything you do. For every concert performance, every downloads, every guest appearances, that organization is getting a profit from it.

If you have a problem with your 360 deal, there's nothing you can do because you're locked in.

It's about equal to a doctor who makes profits from a pharmacy. A dishonest doctor will prescribe medication solely on the basis of the amount of kickback that doctor will receive. It's just not ethical.

Before you sign on the dotted line, it's strongly suggested that you seek outside legal counsel. Make sure you're fully aware of all the perks and pitfalls of working with a major label before it's too late to turn back.

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TV sitcoms: Why seeing African-American characters matter to kids

The inside scoop on the business end of shows like 'Empire'

The Pros and Cons of a 360 music production contract deal

Consulting with Costen

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