On Average Only 5 Out Of 100,000 Artists/Bands

Will Make It Out of Obscurity

According to music industry stats only 5 out of 100,000 artists will make it out of obscurity and into the game by selling 10,000+ units. Of the 227 artists who were able to do that in 2008 only 14 did it on their own. You know what is even worse?

In 2008 1,515 albums sold 10,00+ units breaking what has been coined “the obscurity line”. In 2010 the number was only 1,215. That’s a 20% drop!

Myspace reported that there are some 4.8 Million bands/rappers/singers on their site. Standing out and getting the attention you deserve can be difficult. That is one of the reasons Conquer The Industry was created.

Shifting The Odds To Your Favor

Many labels prefer to wait until you “prove” yourself through sales. Krayzie Bone has taken a different approach with his label The Life Entertainment. Through the Fast Track program Kray has been personally investing his time and effort to listen to submissions and provide feedback to artists. His efforts have paid off!

On his last FixTape Kray featured a few of the artists he has found through the program in the song Ready to Go! Others he has reached out to and will be working with shortly.

Listen to Fast Track Artists Featured On Kray’s Last FixTape

Of course not everyone is ready. There are a lot of artists that still need to work on their craft. That being said there have been a lot of artists that are really good.

Special Announcement

Originally Kray said he would only work with 2 artists, but he has already reached out to way more than that. That is why he is going to close Fast Track. This way Kray can focus on the talent he has discovered. Plus there are few surprises coming up for all VIP members.

Fast Track will come back, but Kray is going to have someone he really trusts listen to the submissions and provide feedback instead of doing it himself. When this change is made anyone already in the program will be notified. Active members will still be submitting directly to Kray until then. The Fast Track Waiting List will be closed shortly and no further members will be allowed in until the change is made.

Conquer The Industry will keep looking for ways to help artist and you can expect to see some major changes in 2012. We are not going to let the cat out of the bag yet, but just know we are working with Kray to develop platforms that will help you reach a larger audience, build a following and ultimately sell more units. Stay tuned for more.

Kray will release Fixtape Volume 4 Under The Influence on Nov. 22,2011. The track “Ready To Go” features some of the artists discovered through Conquer The Industry’s Fast Track Program. Kray is also in contact with others so there is more to come.

There is a lot of great undiscovered talent out there. Originally Kray said he was only looking for 2 artists but now he is in contact a few others in addition to those featured on this track. We are really excited about the release of “Fixtape volume 4” because this track “Ready to Go” has parts from 2 groups and 2 solo artists who were all discovered through ConquerTheIndustry.com.

By putting this song on Kray’s Fixtape these artists are getting exposure to millions of fans worldwide. This is exposure they wouldn’t have otherwise which makes their independent projects way more marketable.

This track features Lil C & Spaz Crillz make up the duo group “T-Kay-Yo.” Charlie Ray, Jaemez, & Big Fub make up the Group “Related Ryhmes.” Isreal Spain is a solo artist. And Lil Witness is a solo artist. Artists are listed in the order of performance.

To make this work, Krayzie Bone had to put hurdles in place which separate the serious artists from the others. That is why we developed the Fast Track Program which is a paid service. It allows artists to submit 1 track per month and get feedback from Kray.

Some artists don’t think they should pay for it, but since Krayzie Bone is listening to artist submissions and providing feedback personally, we had to do something to avoid wasting time on those who are not willing to do what it takes. It’s been a real challenge working with Krayzie Bone’s busy schedule, but he is committed and we are seeing good things come from it.

Participating artists need to be patient. Kray takes this program very seriously; however, it can take a while to get feedback due to his busy schedule. Some artists have waited over a month.  Those who hang in there always get their feedback from Kray. Customer support is also provided and is always available to answer any questions and help members with any issues concerning their account.

Right now the Fast Track Program is full, but space will be opening up soon for those on the waiting list.  We are also looking at the possibility restructuring the program to provide artists with more promotional opportunities and quicker feedback.

Anyone wishing to get on the waiting list can go to http://conquertheindustry.com/fast-track/

Click Here Discover How You Can Get On The Fast Track

**** Note This site is for music professionals. Your comments and links are welcomed. However, we ask that you please do not use profanity or link to music that may be considered offensive.

I just came across this YouTube video posted by Ereez where he goes over the feedback he receives from Kray through the Fast Track Program. It’s a few months old, so some things have changed, but it will give you a good look at the following:

1. What categories Kray considers when providing feedback
2. What is important to him when listening to artists submissions
3. What a review from Krayzie Bone can look like.

Fast Track gives artists the opportunity to send their music to Krayzie Bone. He listens to the music and provides feedback. Some artists discovered through the program are now working with Krayzie Bone. The track “Ready To Go” on Fixtape Volume 4 features 2 groups and 2 soloist discovered through the program.

To get on the waiting list Click Here or go to http://conquertheindustry.com/fast-track/

This will give you an inside look at what labels want when signing new talent, negotiations and much more.

Fast Track is the program Brian Shafton refers to where Krayzie Bone personally mentors new artists to help them break into the Music Biz and Conquer The Industry. Click Here For More Info

You would be smiling too, if your record company grew by 30% last year, especially since all the majors have been scrabbling to figure out how to stay in business.

Did you know that Warner Brothers just laid off almost their entire music department? I am not picking on Warner Brothers because this kind of thing is happening everywhere.

CNN Money called the last 10 years “Music’s lost decade.” That‘s because total revenue from U.S. music sales took a nose dive to 6.3 Billion in 2009 from a High of 14.6 Billion in 1999. That means record sales were cut by more than half!

It is no secret that the music industry is changing and the ability to openly and freely exchange music online has dealt a heavy blow to the industry. Now a lot of people would like to blame digital downloads and sites like the infamous Napster or Limewire, but those are just symptoms of a deeper problem.

A problem you can hear every time you turn on the radio. Mainstream music has lost it’s soul. This is the exact problem I detail in my presentation “Fast Track | Opportunity is knocking”

Record companies do not want to take risks. A rush to put out records and an insistence to sticking with “proven” cookie cutter formulas are also hurting sales.

US Today may have hit the nail on the head when it said,

“The $14 billion (now $6B) recording industry, struggling through its first sales slump in a decade, faces challenges on several fronts, not the least of which is a tarnished image in the eyes and ears of fans who feel ripped off by greedy, tone-deaf bean counters.”

That may be a little harsh, but it does have a certain ring of truth to it.

You may have heard the saying, “if it doesn’t make dollars, it doesn’t make sense.” I agree. This is the Music Business. There is no question about that, but the people in the business should still have a love for music. Don’t you think? Making good music is good for business.

So let’s get back to my friend who is smiling from ear to ear. He is a savvy business man who also loves music. He has worked with Snoop Dog, NWA, Bone Thugs, Public Enemy and many more.

This is what he is saying regarding the problem we see in the industry today.

“We have records a la Tech N9ne, that have incredible sales, but yet radio and video have not embraced him. This is one example of many. We don’t have the financial wherewithal or the major label agenda to force those records on the general public. If you’re a brand new artist on DefJam, you’re much more likely to be broken on radio because Def Jam can say, ‘I’m going to give you Jay-Z for your summer concert if you give me this amount of spins.’ That’s not reflective of what the public wants to hear, it’s what the labels want.”

Now check out the irony…

It may put the independents at a disadvantage when it comes to radio play, but people are only going to come out of the pocket for GOOD music. It may be harder to go platinum in this day and age, but there will still be plenty of support for good music.

My guess is, that’s why my friend has such a big smile. His record company RBC has been a champion of the independent artist and is reaping the rewards.

I will be posting an interview with Brian Shafton the man you see in this picture. He is a Partner/Owner of RBC Records and has a large roster of artists who he has helped to Conquer The Industry.

You will not want to miss out on this one! Be sure to check back soon for it.

And if you haven’t seen my presentation Fast Track | Opportunity is Knocking check it out for a further breakdown of what is going on CLICK HERE to watch it.

I have exciting news for anyone looking to break into the music industry. My label The Life Entertainment is looking for talent. If you are an artist who is looking for a real shot, keep reading.

ConquerTheIndustry.com is now the official channel The Life Entertainment will use to identify, develop and sign new talent.

Here is how it works.

Listen to Jay Quatrini as he explains how he sells record deals.  Jay Quatrin is a top entertainment lawyer and partner at Davenport Lyons.  Quatrini has offices based London and New York.  Listen carefully to what he says. It is important that you understand this.

Thanks to Artists House Music for putting this video up

**** Note This site is for music professionals. Your comments and links are welcomed. However, we ask that you please do not use profanity or link to music that may be considered offensive.

This is the final post of this 5 part series on online music marketing.  This is just a quick recap of the benefits you will receive from implementing this powerful strategy to take your music career to the next level.

Here are the 7 things this strategy accomplishes

1.       Attracts more fans to your email list

2.       Gets your fans to open and read your emails

3.       Develops more loyalty from your within fan base

4.       Makes getting gigs easier

5.       You will make more money from your gigs

6.       Your shows will be packed

7.       The music industry will begin to take notice

One final note on the people you want to get on your list. Make sure they are people who like the type of music you play and will want to go to the events you promote. Build a local fan base first. This way you can get them to the events.

I hope you found this strategy helpful. Play with the idea and improve upon it. Before you go, be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think about this post. Also feel free to ask questions and share ideas. Then go out and make it happen.

**** Note This site is for music professionals. Your comments and links are welcomed. However, we ask that you please do not use profanity or link to music that may be considered offensive.