Wendy Day: How To Get A Record Deal

   

    Music veteran, Wendy Day, who had a successful 20-year career shopping, structuring, and negotiating record deals for some of music’s biggest talents, is sharing her knowledge of the music industry in a digital book series. Day says she saw a need for current information based on first-hand experiences and sought to dispel rumors that are rampant among young artists. So, she decided to write a series of affordable digital books, covering the prominent industry subjects that she is frequently asked about at lectures and panels.Day has consulted the careers of many prominent artists over the years, making an undeniable mark on the game.

   A few artists that she has helped include, but are not limited to, Eminem, Master P’s No Limit Records, Lil Wayne, BG, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, Hot Boyz, and Big Tymers, Twista, Do Or Die, Cormega, Young Buck, Killa Mike, UGK, Machine Gun Kelly, David Banner, Mistah FAB, TMI Boyz, 4ize, and many others over the years. Her book is titled “How To Get A Record Deal.” In the book she emphasizes the 3 important ways to get a deal: 

1. Get put on by an established artist.This means coming up under an already famous artist within the music industry.With any luck, the artist who puts you on is fair and doesn't do to you what was done to him or her when they were coming up.
2. Create a buzz. This means developing a fan base before getting signed and the trick is to keep it going until you get signed and then turn it up so that the whole industry is hyped about when you're going to drop an album.
3. The last point the books makes is to sell units. This is important because it proves to the labels you can sell albums and you have more control and leverage when negotiating your deal, and often a choice of labels you want to sign with.

Overall, regardless of the level of your recording contract, you need to go into your deal with the attitude that the label is your partner and even if they drop the ball, you should be able to pick up the ball and run with it. I recommend this book to all aspiring artist seeking knowledge on getting a record deal within the music industry.

http://allhiphop.com/2011/10/05/music-vet-wendy-day-releases-digital-book-series-for-music-industry/

http://planetill.com/2011/06/wendy-day-talks-webbie-lil-boosie-360-deals-kreayshawn-and-how-not-to-get-screwed-on-illside-radio/

http://www.rapcoalition.org/how_to_get_a_deal.htm

Best Rapper Alive: Jay Z

The last decade has brought about many changes within the hip-hop industry. Once before, it was an industry focused on lyrics filled with emotion and passion, and now,  its an industry full of pop laced, fast tracks. Despite the new changes, hip-hop remains one of the most dominant genres of all musical forms. However, with all these changes within the hip-hop music industry there still remains a steady debate on who is actually the best rapper alive. There is no definitive answer to this question since it largely depends on personal preference. However, if you're looking at objective figures, such as the number of hit records and wealth, the best rapper alive is arguably Jay-Z. 

The Music: He started his rap career in 1996 with the release of his album “Unreasonable Doubt”. This album featured some features from some notable  hip-hop heavy weights at the time such as Foxy Brown, Mary J. Blige and Notorious B.I.G. From there, he would go on to have 10 number one albums.. Also By the end of 2010, Jay Z had made Billboard's 200 Albums of the Year Chart ten times, the Billboard's Hot 100 Songs of the Year Chart five times and the Billboard's Top Artists of the Year Chart twice. His song "Empire State of Mind," featuring the vocals of Alicia Keys, hit number one quickly after it was released in 2009 and spawned many imitations on the Internet

Business: Jay-Z is one of those rare musicians who have been able to turn his record success into a business empire. As president of Def Jam Records, he has guided the careers of many artist such as Rick Ross and Young Jeezy.  From his business venture he has accumulated a net worth of $450 million.

Despite not being as active as many of the new artist within the industry, Jay Z has pleaded his case for rap supremacy,based on his set of accomplishments. . From the business end to the creative aspect, he has set a standard that many rap artist will never meet, with the very best of which coming close.

http://www.mademan.com/mm/who-best-rapper-alive

http://www.sohh.com/2009/08/jay-z_on_greatest_rapper.html