Lil’ Wayne: The next Wayne Plus Eight?

He is a baby-making machine! Lil’ Wayne confirmed during a BBC interview that he and R&B singer Nivea Hamilton are having a baby boy. This will be Wayne’s fourth child. Each kid has a different mother and his last baby momma just gave birth to his third child September 9.

I think TLC needs to drop Jon and Kate and bring a new show to the table: “Wayne and his Lil’ Eight.” I’m positive at this rate he will be having more than eight kids. I can see it now, Wayne teaching his kids to roll the perfect joint while he’s sippin’ on syrup in the background. Family trips to the MTV music awards, the Grammy’s, and his many court appearances. I wouldn’t mind being one of his kids. Lil’ Wayne, you can adopt me!

Lil Baby Wayne

-Rachel

Lil’ Wayne: The next Wayne Plus Eight?

Making Money Off of What has Become Free

In what is slowly becoming a free market, music executives and musicians are finding themselves in need of finding new ways to make money. They have tried everything from Kanye West vs 50, to Radiohead's "In Rainbows" with modest success. Kanye West outsold 50 cent 957,000 to 691,000 (Wiki), while Radiohead sold 3 million copies worldwide in physical and digital sales.

In 2007 Saul Williams attempted to use the same strategy as Radiohead. The following is from his wiki page:

“154,449 people had downloaded 'Niggy Tardust'. Of that number, 28,322 people chose to pay the asked price of $5 USD ($141,610 USD Total)”


Let's compare these numbers to Williams' previous self-titled album, which sold 30,000 copies. His recent "pay what you want" release helped expand his exposure. He made less money, but reached more fans than his previous release by using the "In Rainbows" model.

All that is old news, but where has the next "big marketing idea" been for the masses? People come up with ideas for their niche markets, but worldwide sales have declined along with pop artists' talent.

As a former hater of Lil Wayne I have learned to respect him. While he has not the best talent in my opinion, he shows emotion in his music and when he is serious you feel what he is talking about. With a constant onslaught of material for fans (mixtape after mixtape) he doesn't give them a chance to give up. His last album, "Tha Carter 3" sold 2.88 million copies by New Years Eve in 2008 making it the largest selling album of the year. Wayne has built a broad fan base over a long time.

So in an era of music where the value is lost, how do we make money in this industry?

Don’t give up, keep making contacts, and always make content for the fans. Money is not something you can make overnight and if you have true talent, don’t hold it in. You have to let the world hear it.

For those in the business world: Just because you can’t find “marketable artists” as available as before, it does not mean that the industry is dead. We just need something new, so find artists that sound different. As I told many people recommending artists who sound similar to Lil Wayne, “when his career is dead so will yours be”. Artists have to make their own sound and they’ll make their own path.

It’s not about strictly talent or marketing anymore, but drive as well. Never give up. For every person that does quit there's somebody who hasn't.

From the mind of
Keveeno Reeverts

Making Money Off of What has Become Free

News & Views - Ep. 8

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News & Views - Ep. 8

A Brand of Band - Part 2

-Look at the Beetles in their day. They were compared to a religion. They had people who murdered to be able to go to their shows (not literally) and had fans that would camp out just to see them.

- Look at Lil Wayne now. He is huge! People want him on their album and he is willing to put his name out there. Will his fame fade? All depends if he ever decides to quit.

Lil Wayne's Discography

-The Jonas Brothers is now one of the biggest brands. Connecting with Hannah Montana and Disney has been a merchandisers dream.

-Battling the merch and brand even has its branding. One of my personal favorite artists, Immortal Technique is a good example of fighting the mainstream with good results. His music is politically motivated. Immortal Technique connects with millions of Americans on day to day issues that they deal with.

Immortal Technique's album "The 3rd World"

A brand is an image that artists either keep or drop (name another Sir Mix A lot song other than "Baby got Back"). People say artists sell out when they re-brand themselves for the mainstream, so starting with a credible brand is key for any artist or band. A brand of a band is like something you live with. Their are a few exceptions. Instead of hits we have niche’s and demi-hits, and its about finding your own and making it big there. Specific Branding.

From the mind of

Keveeno Reeverts

A Brand of Band - Part 2