tate music group...a great article

There is a great article about one of our TMG artists that I wanted to share. Tate Music Group is proud of our artist, Nisha, and grateful for her kind words! You can look at the article about her in this months Music Connection Magazine - check out page 26.

Here is the write-up:

“Like any dedicated artist...R&B singer Nisha Hester focused her energy on recording a masterpiece rather than seeking the perfect label. In her corner, however, was former manager, Eric Stancil, who took the time to research her options and mail press kits to potential takers. A likely prospect was...TMG Records.
Although TMG needs to hear at least 3 songs in order to choose an artist, one song in particular got the attention of their signing rep. “Where Did The Love Songs Go” had such an impact that she even included a special introduction in the contract that mentioned the impression-making track as the reason TMG wished to sign her.
‘There are several things I love about TMG,’ explains the rising diva. ‘I like the support and freedom they give to their artists. They allow their artists to maintain all the ownership - as far as songwriting royalties go, we own everything.’ Plus, she adds, ‘They give the highest royalty payments of all the labels out there.’ Also, Hester felt the weren’t hiding an agenda. “We have the freedom to cancel anytime we’re not happy. We can work with other third-party companies,’ she marvels. ‘We have so much freedom!’
There had been another label under consideration, but they asked for a significant chunk of money up front. Weighing the two options, it was clear which company offered the better deal. In fact, TMG’s deal was so generous that she signed without any negotiations.
‘It was almost too good to be true,’ she says. ‘I really didn’t have to think too much about it.’ The agreement itself goes a year and includes an option to renew. Hester recommends other artists to find the label of their dreams; she insists on persistence and never compromising. ‘This is your life – don’t just sign up to the first thing that comes your way.’ She states. ‘And never give up.’
Nisha’s debut, The Metamorphosis, was released in September.

- Andy Kaufmann
Music Connection Magazine”

tate music group...setting our own price

I received this information from some of our Executive Staff. I have to say, when I read it, I was blown away. Not by the facts and numbers that are presented...I knew what to expect there. I was blown away by the candid-ness of this author...willing to share her 'fortunes' (or misfortunes) with anyone who is willing to read them.

Now, you may say, "What does a book deal have to do with my music career/contract?" A lot. Yes they are different in subject/product but not in nature. The basic principle has always been the same for the publisher/label - get as much as you can out of the 'artist'...and then get some more.

Please hear me...I am not trying to say that individuals or companies are crooks, cheats, etc...I am, however, saying that the system that has been in place for a long, long time is not friendly or warm to the artists (or authors) who create the brilliance they sell.

At Tate Music Group, our vision and purpose is to change this model and mindset. We want to be more concerned with working together with our artists, side by side, instead of walking on their backs to get to the end goal. Success usually comes with a price...but Tate Music Group (and Tate Publishing) are not willing to pay the same types of ethical costs that have plagued this industry for so long.

Instead, we are setting our own price...and the outcome is gain.

Here is the article:

A few years ago I made a promise to my writer friends that if I ever had a novel hit the top twenty of the New York Times mass market bestseller list that I would share all the information I was given about the book so writers could really see what it takes to get there. Today I’m going to keep that promise and give you the stats on my sixth Darkyn novel, Twilight Fall.

Here is the first royalty statement for Twilight Fall, on which I’ve only blanked out Penguin Group’s address. Everything else is exactly as I’ve listed it. To give you a condensed version of what all those figures mean, for the sale period of July through November 30, 2008. my publisher reports sales of 64,925 books, for which my royalties were $40,484.00. I didn’t get credit for all those sales, as 21,140 book credits were held back as a reserve against possible future returns, for which they subtracted $13,512.69 (these are not lost sales; I’m simply not given credit for them until the publisher decides to release them, which takes anywhere from one to three years.)

My net earnings on this statement was $27,721.31, which was deducted from my advance. My actual earnings from this statement was $0.

My advance for Twilight Fall was $50,000.00, a third of which I did not get paid until the book physically hit the shelf — this is now a common practice by publishers, to withhold a portion of the advance until date of publication. Of that $50K, my agent received $7,500.00 as her 15% (which she earns, believe me) the government received roughly $15,000.00, and $1594.27 went to cover my expenses (office supplies, blog giveaways, shipping, promotion, etc.) After expenses and everyone else was paid, I netted about $26K of my $50K advance for this book, which is believe it or not very good — most authors are lucky if they can make 10% profit on any book. This should also shut up everyone who says all bestselling authors make millions — most of us don’t.

Just as a side note - if this author would have worked with our parent company, Tate Publishing...the net earnings would have been almost 4 times as much. Just FYI.

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.

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!

tate music group...contract bullets

One of the things I am most proud of regarding Tate Music Group is our contract. It is, hands down, the best contract available to a music artist. One of the great things you will notice about our contract is that it is pro artist. Our artists retain their song rights, they have final approval of production, and they have freedom. They can decide if Tate Music Group is where they want to stay or if they want to move on. Of course, we never want any artist to go elsewhere which is why we work so hard to constantly earn their business. I don't know if you will find that anywhere else.

Most people who read this post will probably not believe our contracts are as good as I am saying they are. With that in mind, I thought about how I could explain and show off our contract offer without just cutting and pasting. I decided to just hit the main points of what we do...what sets us apart from everybody else...what makes our contracts and our model better than all the rest.

So here is the 'bullet point' version of a Tate Music Group contract. Enjoy.

Tate Music Group will:

• Set up and promote gigs and events for you, the Artist, as well as help manage
and promote events set up by you.
• Contact all the media outlets (Radio, TV, and Print) within a 100-mile radius
of each event scheduled.
• Create a customized Electronic Press Kit for promotional use.
• Provide nationwide distribution for your album.
• Present your music to industry trade shows, awards shows, and include it in
our yearly catalog.
• Create and provide marketing reports showing our progress and giving vital
follow-up information.
• Produce, mix, and master your music at the highest quality.
• Create and design original CD artwork to your specifications.
• Provide you with the highest quality product and unbeatable prices.
• Create, manufacture, and promote your album while you retain all the rights
to your music.
• Provide you with over $2000 in merchandise to sell at your discretion.
• Return your Artist Participation Investment once 2,500 albums are sold.
• Work hard and work smart to help you find success and achieve
your dreams.

tate music group...not too good to be true

I had a very interesting (and quite uplifting) phone conversation with a potential Tate Music Group artist today. He is one member of a very talented group. Their sound is soulful and rich and their harmonies are really well balanced and full. He was talking to me about our contract offer and what TMG does for our artists. In the midst of my answering questions he said to me, "You guys have the best deal for artists. This is too good to be true."

Obviously, that comment made my day. I am very glad to know that all the hard work done here at Tate Music Group is being noticed. We come to work with a vision and a passion...to be the best there is. That may sound a bit 'ego' driven, but I assure you it isn't. We want to be the best music label out there because we want to offer nothing but the best to all of our recording artists. That will happen, and is happening, because of the staff who are a part of Tate Music Group and the amazing artists we are blessed to work with.

Somewhere in the midst of the aforementioned conversation, Tate Music Group was compared to 'Alice in Wonderland.' I have to say, that comparison caught me off guard. I don't want any of our artists to feel as if they are tumbling down a rabbit hole. I was, however, quickly relieved by this artist explaining that his comparison is based on the fact that he feels like our music contract and our services are, in his words, "a dream come true."

I am glad he is excited at this possible partnership. We are too. His statements are exactly what we strive for. Our parent company, Tate Publishing, has long since had the motto of: "Making your dreams a reality." I think I am going to tweak it a bit for Tate Music Group: "Making your music dreams a reality."

It may be plagiarism...but it's true.

to assume...

We spent the better part of the morning meeting with and talking to Mark Levine, an author and researcher of book publishers like Tate Publishing, parent company of Tate Music Group. It was pretty interesting, really. Even though he specializes in books, I felt like I walked away with a good bit of insight and information that I can use on the music end. He spoke to us as one on the outside looking in. What can we do better? Where do we seem strongest? What do outsiders say or think about us? Good stuff.

I think, though, that the most important thing I took from the discussion was one specific statement Mark made. I have been thinking about it all day. He said, "You don't have the luxury of assuming people think you are honest." I have to admit, that stung a little bit...and I'm still not exactly sure why.

Maybe its because I do assume people think that. About me. About Tate Music Group. About our offer. But they don't...and they have plenty of reasons not to.

Tate Music Group is just one honest company, among many, fighting an uphill battle. We are fighting this battle because of other companies and individuals who have taken advantage of people, causing all the cynicism and negativity we see today. This is true in all areas of business and service, but it seems to be especially true in the music world. There are a lot of promises made to people that can't be controlled. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, there is a growing lack of responsibility regarding written and spoken word.

So what do we do? How can Tate Music Group win this battle? We keep fighting. We keep doing what we say we'll do. We continue to refrain from saying things that aren't true or promise things that are outside of our control. We do all this and, little by little, we will see the overall assumption begin to change.

a job like no other

It was cold and rainy today at Tate Music Group...a fine day for a post. I was thinking today about what I get to do for a living, what Tate Music Group pays me to do for them. Each time I think about this I have a hard time believing my luck. Of course, I find it amazing that I get the job of listening to music, giving reviews, and offering contracts but my favorite part isn't any of these. My favorite part is when I talk to potential TMG artists and ask them to tell me about their music.

No joke, I really like that part. I like it because every single artist is different in their response. Sure, there are some similarities but, for the most part, I am hearing stories, backgrounds, and causes that are completely unique to each artist. It is an emotional journey on many different levels. You would be surprised how much you can learn about a person by just asking them to tell you about something they love, something as emotional as music.

Yesterday I was able to talk with a potential Tate Music Group artist about all these things. He described his music and the background that brought him to this point. He talked about his group and why they do what they do. He talked about his vision for using music as a way to minister to the people in his community (and beyond) who need to hear something positive come out of people who can relate. He talked about how music, to him, is such an incredible tool, waiting to be used and effective. It was an incredible conversation to have with someone I haven't ever actually met (face to face).

It might surprise you but that actually happens a lot. I am constantly inspired by the artists I have the pleasure of working with. That is something I try to never take for granted. I want to take every opportunity I can to listen to our artist's stories and the emotions behind the music. That is where the real reviews happen. Lots of people can play a chord but few can really strike one.

in our defense

I have been monitoring other blogs and threads dealing with Tate Music Group. Sometimes I get mad but mostly I just have to laugh. Not because of the subject matter, because of the lack of knowledge and understanding of a select few posters.

In my last post, I talked about the lack of factual truth regarding what is written on certain blogs. I was somewhat frustrated at the number of people I felt were paying attention and actually taking these words as truth. Today, however, after I posted answers to all questions asked (including those of an antagonistic nature), I have a restored faith in bloggers everywhere.

It is incredibly apparent that most people researching Tate Music Group are seeing through all the nonsense and negativity. A few weeks ago, almost every thread regarding Tate Music Group was being overrun and 'bullied' by 2 (maybe 3) ridiculous posters. Now, there are many new posters, some with Tate Music Group and some having no connection, coming to our defense. Again, why? Well, I think it has a lot to do with the professionalism we have been (and will continue) showing on all these sites. I think that says a lot about our company. Can we still be kind and courteous to people who are, for lack of a better term, slandering the company that we work for and believe in? We have shown that answer to be yes.

As a company, we are told to take the high road, to be above reproach, by our faith and by our boss. That is definitely not easy. When people attack you personally or something that you care about and work hard for, it is hard to just brush it off and respond with love and kindness. I think, though, that it will be a little easier now that others are speaking up on our behalf.

Thank you to all who have written objective thoughts and support, regardless of your relationship or status with Tate Music Group. Your written 'voices of reason' are heard and appreciated.