Wednesday, January 28, 2009

tate music group...what's the frequency, kenneth?

One of the things we focus on with the artists Tate Music Group is privileged to work with is the radio. Every artist wants to be heard on the air...some want to hear themselves (which is perfectly normal), others want to make sure their music and message gets broadcast to as many as possible, and most want both. Again, perfectly normal. In fact, we might think something strange if radio and musical exposure via FM/AM airwaves wasn't something an artist was interested in.

What gets tricky is the fact that we don't own or control the stations we talk to regarding our artists. Many times, to them, we are just one of hundreds and thousands of groups or artists who approach them to play some music. So, when you don't control the station or the station manager...and you are (or represent) one of thousands of new (really good) artists, how do you make the station/manager/radio-world take notice? Good question.

Tate Music Group hits this question from a few different angles. One thing our Marketing team makes sure to do is build good, personal relationships with station managers and program/music directors. Many artists still send a CD in an envelop with a 'please play me' note included. Granted, the music might be tremendous but the managers and directors are overworked, overstressed, out of time, and they receive hundreds of those types of submissions every week. It isn't worth it to them to sort through it all to find the few hidden gems. I can't say I disagree with them.

At TMG, we approach things from the personal level. We want to respect their time and we know that we only have a small window to impress and connect. We make sure to connect on a personal level, to let the stations know we are a strong, well-established company that is backing some really, really great music. We also refrain, unless directly requested, from sending 'cold CDs.' Instead, we create for our artists a professional, genre and artist specific electronic press-kit to send their way. These are sharp, well created, easy to navigate, and full of all necessary info to tell about the artist and the music. Since we only have a few seconds to catch their attention, we want to 'wow' them with a great looking, user-friendly EPK.

Besides the personal connections and the EPKs, Tate Music Group has started to offer our own staff and services in ways that are very hard to refuse. As TMG began contacting stations and talking with the directors, we noticed a need (and an opportunity) to take some of the workload off of their plates. We do this by creating our own programs to fit specific stations and areas. We have 2 major shows as of now (with more being added) playing weekly on over 450 stations nationwide. One of the shows, our Christian Hard Rock program (X-Trax) can be checked out here.

There are many other shows and opportunities on the horizon. This is just a small taste of what Tate Music Group is doing when it comes to 'attacking' the radio world on behalf of our artists. We understand how important the radio is to helping up and coming artists gain more and more of an audience. We also see where the radio market is heading. We are constantly discussing, planning, and dealing in regards to online and satelite radio.

The future of Tate Music Group and the radio looks and sounds bright...

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

tate music group...a busy new year

November and December were very busy times for me. I mean, you had Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, not to mention about 20 'dirty santa' parties to attend. I still don't know what I am going to do with a ceramic tea pitcher shaped like a duck.

So January should be a great relief, a slow down from the hustle and bustle of the holiday months, right? Not hardly. I think this month is proving to be just as busy as the last two...and its really disrupting my sleep patterns. Maybe January is a bit hectic because a new year brings new excitement and new possibilities? I'll buy that. I think that is very true.

At Tate Music Group, there are a lot of new exciting events, plans, and possibilities. One exciting plan is the growth and increase of Tate Music Group. In the past year, we have doubled our staff and created a movement that is already starting to knock the doors off of the music industry. This coming year, we will again be doubling, perhaps tripling, the size of our staff as well as our distribution and other marketing tools. It is a very exciting time to be a part of Tate Music Group.

Unlike other companies who try and maintain in order to keep afloat, Tate Music Group seeks to expand and grow because of the success, strong leadership, and smart choices we have made to get where we are. It is because of these aggressive moves and plans we are able to grow and set the standard for how artists should be treated and partnered with.

One of the major events, which I have mentioned before, is our Artist of the Year Contest. We are already collecting the many, many song entries we will receive...and this is just the beginning. What I have noticed is just how many great artists we have. How will anyone judge and narrow those down? There are so many great songs, all competing for one grand prize. That's a wonderful problem to have...I'm just glad it isn't up to me.

So, I guess I'll try and get some rest when I can and realize that all the hard work and extra hours will be worth it...especially when I see the satisfaction on the faces of our artists. At Tate Music Group, we want our artists to know that we are fully committed to helping them succeed...because when they succeed, we succeed.

This truly is a great partnership...and this will definitely be a great year.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

tate music group...2009: a look ahead

Well, another year has been booked and the new year begins. I only have about 16% battery life left on my laptop so I will be brief. And yes, tonight, I am just lazy enough to not go get my plug-in to recharge. My apologies to those of you looking for a good, long read. I just want to take a moment to look ahead at what this new year already has in store for Tate Music Group and our artists.

In March, Tate Music Group will hold the inaugural Artist of the Year Contest. I have to say, there was a bit of a frenzy to get everything in by the 31st. It was a lot of fun, though. It is going to be very difficult for the judges to pick one winner from the amazing pool of artists we have. I know I couldn't do it.

Tate Music Group will also, in 2009, sell a lot of CDs. This isn't necessarily a 'look how great we are' statement but a 'look how great our artists are' statement. We put the channels and work in place to allow for sales but it is the tremendously talented musicians and artists we are blessed to work with who really make it happen. That is what makes this such a great partnership.

Last but not least, Tate Music Group will have hundreds and hundreds of events for our artists all over the country. I am really excited about this. Concerts and signings, as well as interviews, are so vital for success. It takes a lot of work and getting out there to really build up a fan-base and a following. I have read that it takes 100 true fans to be a success. Why? Because those 100 people will be your most reliable attendees, your biggest bullhorns, and your personal and unlimited invitation force. They will be the ones showing up to your shows and signings with 10 of their friends. Multiply that by hundreds and hundreds of shows and you get...well...its too late for complicated math problems but you get the idea. A lot!

As I look ahead to 2009, it looks really bright for Tate Music Group and the artists we are privileged to work with...and for those we have yet to meet. So I say to you all, Happy New Year...because I know it truly will be!