tate music group...a good meeting today

I just wanted to write a quick post here to tell the internet world about a great meeting I had today with a potential Tate Music Group artist - we'll call him 'Jamie.' Jamie is incredibly talented - great musical skills, tremendous vocal ability, and writing that is off the charts (no, I am not exaggerating and no, 'Jamie' doesn't know this blog exists).

I am excited about this meeting because of a couple of reasons - 1 is that I am very excited about this partnership and seeing just how far we can take things with the music and 2 is that 'Jamie' is a go-getter that realizes what it is going to take to make it in this industry. He is out 3x a week performing at venues that probably range from 20 people to 200 people...but that doesn't matter too much to him right now because those people (20 or 200+) are walking away with his tunes in their head and his business cards in their pockets. Awesome!

That is something the Tate Music Group Acquisitions Staff is constantly trying to explain to many up and coming artists. It is vital to have an attitude that says, "I'm gonna go and do all that I can...and hopefully, somewhere along the way, I can get some help."

This is where we come in. We want to help artists achieve their dreams, one step at a time. Sometimes you just need that one door to open up...and other times it takes many doors and tons of phone calls to even get close to the dream. At Tate Music Group, our passion and purpose is to come alongside the artists we work with and help them get where they have been trying to get to on their own.

We believe dreams come true...but not without a lot of work and a lot of help.

tate music group...still growing

It is amazing to be able to see what is going on with Tate Music Group and our parent company, Tate Publishing. Most of our artists and authors don't even get to see it but we are growing at an incredible rate.

I find it amusing when I am giving a tour to a potential artist. The conversation always turns to "Wow, you guys are packing it in here?!" It is true, we are truly outgrowing (in fact, have outgrown) our current buildings (we have 5 separate locations within Mustang) and are now expanding again.

We have purchased a very large building across the street and are in the process of gutting it and rebuilding it to fit our needs - mainly the production side of our books and music. I am very excited because soon the Tate Music Group studios will be across the street, instead of a 10 minute car ride away.

It's the little things, you know?!

Seriously, we are all very excited about what is going on with Tate Music Group and Tate Publishing. I think the main reason is that this expansion just shows how successful and how hard-working our company and our staff truly are. As an artist, that would make me overjoyed - to know that the label I partner with is doing outstanding in, let's face it, a pretty rough economic climate nationwide.

There is something to be said about working hard, working honest, and trusting that God is always in control.

Now, let's put up some more sheet-rock!

tate music group...apps

One of the things we try and stress to every artist we work with is the importance of getting and staying connected to your fan base. Why? Well, for starters, they are your fans. Simple as that. The fans are the ones who will not only buy your album...they will get the T-shirts and buttons, too. And, they're the ones willing to leave Milwaukee on a Friday to make it to a show you have in Cleveland on Saturday...in the middle of winter...and love you even more for it. True fans are dedicated to you and the music...as long as they feel like they are truly a part of you and the music.

For our TMG artists, we want to keep those connections as strong as possible. This is why we put a good amount of stress on social networking and connecting through online sites like myspace, facebook, and twitter. Basically, these sites and services are our modern day equivalent to the fan mail of the 60s and 70s. Artists of that era understood how important it was to answer the letters sent to them by adoring fans and friends. Why? To keep them as adoring fans and to make them realize that they truly are a part of the music.

We understand the importance of this at Tate Music Group...which is why I am so excited to be able to announce the new iPhone apps that we will be providing for all of our artists. These are AWESOME! They will be vital tools for our artists to use to keep their friends and fans updated on events, thoughts, music, reviews, and everything else...all while on the go! They will also be great sources of income for our artists because they will be apps purchased by fans...which means more sales and royalties to the artist.

They are also just plain cool. I mean, as a Tate Music Group artist, you are going to have your own app. Who else can say that?

tate music group...some more good stuff

Okay, so I really wanted to share this post from one of our artists, Jeff Chandler. Just to let you know, Jeff is one of the most talented people I have met...I mean that. As a songwriter, he writes with a talent and emotion that, in my humble opinion, is lacking in today's market. As a singer, great range and good, strong pipes. And, as a person, really good. It was great to meet and get to know Jeff and his family during our Artist of the Year Contest. The phrase 'Salt of the Earth' comes to mind.

So, I suppose these reasons stated above are why I truly enjoyed and appreciated Jeff's words (which I will post below). He gives an honest take on his experience and what all of our artists can expect when they work with Tate Music Group.

Don't worry...I'll get back to writing and rambling about nothing soon enough. In the meantime, enjoy.

_____________________________________________

SO YOU'RE CONSIDERING TMG AS YOUR LABEL...
Okay...


So I'm getting a TON of questions from great indie artists everywhere about the integrity of Tate Music Group. This blog should give you a good idea what to expect if and when you sign with TMG.


First of all let me go on record saying that TMG is an amazing group of thinkers and business folks...heck their just awesome people! They are an integral part (if not the tip of the spear) in the future of the music industry and indie artists in particular at this stage in the game. My experience with them as their "artist of the year" for 2009 has been nothing but positive..


"Of course"...you're thinking to yourself "Mr. artist of the year"..."things are GREAT for you"..."but what about everyone who's NOT artist of the year???"


WELL...I'm glad you asked! Here's the long and short of what to expect when you sign with TMG:



DON'T expect an advance..meaning mad cash on the front end of your deal. These look attractive up front, but remember....this is a LOAN...it comes out of your hide later!!


DON'T expect a huge national push for your record. Tate are professionals in PARTNERING WITH INDIES to help them grow and make a living at your music.


1. They help you make an "easy on the wallet" record to kick-start your merch sales and make you credible in the industry. TRUST me...you'll be hard pressed to find someone that can make the quality of a record for the LITTLE amount of money you have to invest.


2. They give you a web-presence. They'll help you get your music distributed in the most accessible market known to human-kind: CYBERSPACE!! Yesssss...


3. They will help you develop best-practices in business to help YOU grow YOUR career. They will not do it FOR you...I think this is where people have gotten disgruntled with them in the past...you WILL NOT BE AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS.


I have been doing this for 18 years.....and only now am I beginning to see MODERATE succes.. Patience is a virtue...



Bottom line: They are a great PARTNER for indies...they can help you in many ways to become successful and YES...even a full-time artist!


In my humble experience you can trust TMG...They've always done for me what they said they would do and I know many artists with them that are hard workers that aren't looking for a handout who are very pleased with TMG...I am one them.


I highly recommend TMG to anyone who is serious about their music career.

Grace and peace to you all!!

tate music group...some good stuff

I wanted to share an email our TMG staff received from an artist who is signed with us and came to do his recording. He shares some very kind words about Tate Music Group and our professional, caring staff. That is one of the things we stress over and over here at Tate Music Group - serve our artists! We want artists to know that when you work with TMG, you get more than you ever would have bargained for. Enjoy!

Hi ______;



Just wanted to say it was an honer to meet you on Monday. Again, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Tate Music Group family. My first recording session went very well and I must say that the guys are all very professional with what they do. I will be going to the studio again today at 1:00pm for the final recordings, I'm very excited for the end product as I know it's going to be excellent. I just can't find enough words or ways to say thanks to TMG; you guys are great!!! I hope to get the chance to meet you again in the very near future and maybe have some lunch with you and the staff. But for now, take care and once again, thank you very, very much.



Sincerely, Keith _________, TMG Recording Artist

tate music group...not the same ol' sock-hop

Dylan said it...'the times they are a changing.' He wasn't talking about the music industry...but I am. I am constantly amazed at the changes and decisions happening on a weekly, and sometimes daily, basis. It seems that as soon as I get through with the articles, etc, from this week...they change and redirect so you never really know which way you are heading.

To be honest, I love it. Granted, I don't love things like that in any other area of my life but with my work in the music industry, I love it. I think it is because I see what we are doing on a daily basis here at Tate Music Group and it fascinates me to see what everyone else is doing or not doing to try and stay afloat, musically and financially.

One of the areas that is constantly changing and cannot be overlooked is the marketing and promotion of music. More specifically, the social marketing/networking side of music. This is something that we talk about all the time. I am constantly talking to potential artists about the importance of having a network of people that you are in contact/connection with so they can know the music, vision, and person of you as an artist.

In our internet society, the social networking culture is vital if you want to have any chance of making it. Why? Well, the old school way of 'pushing' an artist is going away...faster than anyone could have expected. Instead, the 'pushing' comes from the viral and grassroots marketing that can be helped, immensely, by social networking sites like myspace, facebook, and twitter.

One question that might come up is, "Why bother with it?" Well, it all comes down to connection with the listener. Music is an emotional thing. It can help you heal, forget, grow, laugh, relax, or rock...depending on what is on your playlist. Because of that, an artist needs to not only write/perform good music that connects with the listener but they need to keep that connection alive by letting the listener in on a little piece of who they are...or even what they are doing.

Who cares what Taylor Swift is getting at Baskin Robbins? Well, for starters, the thousands and thousands of followers she has on facebook and twitter alone. I am sure that Taylor doesn't always want to share everything...and she doesn't have to. But, as a very smart business-woman, she (or her people) realizes the importance of her letting everyone know that her favorite flavor is cappucino white chocolate chunk with blue sprinkles (just a guess).

You see, when Taylor posts or tweets about her favorite ice cream, her followers/fans know that little piece about her and they probably go and try that very same flavor...which is good for Baskin Robbins. Now, when Taylor mentions (or tweets) that her new album is coming out on pre-sale in 1 week...she has no problem getting those ice cream junkies to go buy the album. It is new-marketing at its finest.

Now for most artists (who aren't on the same level as Taylor Swift), this marketing can and should happen...just on a smaller scale. This is one of the things Tate Music Group focuses on as we work with our artists. You have to realize the importance of getting and staying connected to the people that loved your concert and the EP they got from your table. Now, you have to make sure that they stay connected and informed about new concerts and the upcoming release of your album...so they can go get it as soon as possible and 'be the first.'

And it wouldn't hurt to let everyone what your flavor is...

tate music group...encouraging words

I wanted to share with everyone a letter that was sent to our founder, Dr. Richard Tate. This letter was sent by one of our artists. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, it is very nice to be encouraged from time to time...especially by someone outside of your direct circle. We very much appreciate these kind words and our hope and desire is that all our artists feel the same way about Tate Music Group and how we serve them.

Enjoy.

Dear Mr. Tate,

I am one of the many artists who have come under your blanket of Faith. I am most grateful to have had this opportunity. The very talented staff who were assigned to my project were nothing short of professional, talented, directive and encouraging. I have loved this journey. From Brianne (Acquisitions) to Rachael (Operations), to incredibly talented Steven (Production), Leah (Graphics) and now Eva (Marketing), I am overwhelmed by gratitude. I came across a site whose opinions were not the same and I must tell you, they are the ones who have missed the mark. Nothing could be further from the truth. So my purpose is just to say thank you. My prays are that my CD "_____" will cause such a stir as to rectify any wrong thinking and reflect gloriously on your company. Thank you for believing, hoping and for the courage that it took to branch out. I am eternally grateful!

_________