Resources

NASA’s Stunningly Beautiful Space Now on Instagram!

InstagramEarly last month NASA announced its decision to enter the social media game, creating and maintaining a presence on Instagram. While such a decision may not have monumental significance to either NASA’s space programs or the every day lives of the majority of people, it is definitely an awesome decision with various benefits that may brighten all of our days.

Instagram created a pretty ingenious niche in the social media industry, by basically combining key features of its two largest predecessors: Twitter and Facebook. By taking the best of both worlds, Instagram is an incredible social media magnet (and entertaining time waster.) Twitter thrives on the idea of short, to the point, messages, almost trains of thought, being shared across the web, while Facebook focuses more on longevity, providing easy to scroll timelines of the “social life” of users, for the most part documented through images and pictures.

Well Instagram does both. Bringing quick, thought “process-esque,” sharing to photographs (of course with pretty cool, retro picture effects.) And while Facebook focuses on connecting “friends,” we can probably generalize that statement to “acquaintances,” and Twitter connects friends but most importantly celebrities and athletes to the average Joe, Instagram once again does both, which  brings us back to NASA.

Beyond seeing what your friend’s eating in the “Valencia” color effect, or a squirrel searching for a nut, you can see the New York Knicks pre game workouts, Snoop Dogg, or Lion, smoking, and now beautiful images of space, courtesy of NASA.  NASA’s public visibility has shrunken over the years as the Space Shuttle program is no more. So, what better way to keep the public informed about the amazing space exploration that is still going on than to share amazingly stunning photos from space? “We’re constantly looking to expand our social media portfolio to include tools that will best tell NASA’s story of exploration and discovery,” NASA Press Secretary Lauren Worley said in the statement announcing the new initiative.

So next time you’re waiting for a train or standing in line for coffee, check out NASA’s Instagram, stare at some star formations, some nebulas, comets, cool stuff; and it may spark your interest. This may be a genius way to increase interest in space exploration, especially amongst the younger crowd who’s on social media 24/7.

Until next time,

Kelli Richards, President & CEO of the All Access Group, LLC

An Inspiring Leader & Mentor: Alan Cohen

about-alan-cohen

As a coach and a mentor myself, I think it is very important to have your own coaches and mentors in life and in business. I’ve been privileged to have a mentor whom I don’t know if I could grow my business or career without. Alan Cohen has written about 24 bestselling self-help and personal development books, and he is my mentor in my coaching practice.

Working with this powerhouse has allowed me to stand on the shoulders of giants and accelerate the success of my own business in ways that are too numerable to mention. I work with Alan every day, and I learn new things from him every day. I have been trained and coached in his coaching methodology and he just brings so much vibrancy to my life and so much substance to my work. In fact, I am one of only a handful of coaches invited to be part of Alan’s Foundation for Holistic Life Coaching.

Alan is best known for being a contributing author to the New York Times #1 bestselling series Chicken Soup for the Soul. He has also authored the bestselling books The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and the classic Are You as Happy as Your Dog.

His newest book, Enough Already, gives readers the tools to gain a new perspective about what is present in life and see the many opportunities in somewhat mundane situations. This book gave me a refreshing look at all of the possibilities in my life, and I would recommend it to anyone who is still searching for ways to be present in their daily lives.

Alan has a wisdom and vision of personal and professional growth that I find truly inspiring. He brings lessons of encouragement and empowerment to each of the people he works with.

“Do not wait until all the conditions are perfect for you to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”

It’s ideas like this that have formed much of my own coaching practice and formed the trajectory of growth in both my personal and professional life.

My clients directly benefit from my having worked with Alan on a daily basis. I encourage everyone to seek out a powerful mentor to coach your own success and your own progress. I feel privileged to know and work with Alan Cohen and I want to bring that success to you as well.

Until next time,

Kelli Richards, President & CEO of the All Access Group, LLC

PS: Subscribe to my FREE All Access Group Newsletter https://bit.ly/AAGNewletter

PSS: Listen to an entire library of intimate discussions with industry visionaries https://bit.ly/AllAccessPodcastSeries (Priceless)

 

Hooked on TV or Apple TV or Maybe Both?

I have been hooked on my Apple TV ever since I set it a few months ago.  The small sleek black box lounging comfortably next to my cable box has become a symbol of home and comfort. My Apple TV is my friend. It carries all of my music, movies, and TV shows around for me. I access iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, HBO Go, ESPN, etc.

It seems that a lot of people have also thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment possibilities Apple TV provides. Since January 1, 2013, 6 million 3rd generation Apple TV units were sold. According to Nielson, 98 percent of homes own a TV. Most people have some kind of device hooked up to their television whether it be the Apple TV or some other DVR entertainment device.

step1-appletv-heroThe updated software, which integrated iTunes Radio and various other applications included several Disney channels, the Smithsonian Channel, the MLS, Vevo, and the Weather Channel. While I continue to find new and fun ways to use Apple TV, the honeymoon period of owning such a fantastic device has not subsided. Being able to access an entire iTunes library on a TV seems like an incredibly exhilarating experience. Apple even manufactured an incredibly sleek controller that screams Cupertino!

Not to undermine the obvious success that Apple TV has accumulated, Keith Loria, a writer for CMO.com, has written an extensive article documenting the short falls of “television complimenting devices,” and points to societal norms as a possible reason for a plateau effect on sales and uses. He writes, the TV is still very relevant, “because of the family and group dynamic of watching TV together in households.” (1) He goes on to quote Jay Miletsky, CEO of Sequel Media Group, stating, “The TV experience is a completely different experience that the experience of watching video content on a PC or mobile device. For one thing, TV is more communal- you watch with your friends or family, while PCs and mobile devices are more isolating… TV is a more of a ‘lean-back’ vs. ‘lean-on’ experience, where people watch TV with more of a relaxed attitude that they do strictly Web content.” (1)

While such societal tendencies to communally watch television –or entertainment in general –may for the time being put a ceiling on auxiliary entertainment devices. Erik Dochtermann, CEO of KD+E, a media research agency, believes that in “the long term, the spread of TV viewing to other mobile devices will be more rapid as the younger generation gets older, as their viewing habits are significantly different than the previous generation.”(1) Which may lead to way more impressive and integrated entertainment devices, but for now Apple is the King of such a genre of entertainment, and I would put my money on them continuing its superiority in the future.

1. Loria, Keith. “Insight/ Traditional Media.” New Life For Old Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2013.

Until next time,

Kelli Richards, President & CEO of the All Access Group, LLC

PS: Subscribe to my FREE All Access Group Newsletter https://bit.ly/AAGNewletter

PSS: Listen to an entire library of intimate discussions with industry visionaries https://bit.ly/AllAccessPodcastSeries (Priceless)

 

iTunes Radio: Have They Hit It Out of The Park?

radio_1xCustomizable, user integrated, radio stations have become the norm on music playing services, from Pandora to Spotify to fm.Radio; so it was just a matter of time before Apple’s iTunes developed and released a radio application of its own. And in classic Apple style, the iTunes Radio (accessible directly through iTunes, after downloading the new software) hits it out of the park.

Similar to its competitors, iTunes Radio, allows the user to create personal radio stations based on a specific artist, song, or genre. But where iTunes Radio differs from other learn-on-the-fly radio stations is the option to listen to 250, DJ created and genre organized stations. Featured stations range from The Beatles Radio, to the Voice, to “Miley Cyrus Bangerz,” Diplo tracks, and of course iTunes Top 100. In this way iTunes Radio reminded me of Sirius Satellite and other satellite car stations, offering unique, specific music.

But in exploring iTunes Radio, I picked several categories to study in comparing it with its competitors; the categories being: price, and music recommendations. In terms of price you can listen to iTunes Radio for free if you’re okay with listening to advertisements. However if you own an iTunes Match account, $25 a year, which allows you to store all your music in the iCloud and access it on any device, you can listen to iTunes Radio ad-free. Such a deal. Pay for music accessibility and the absence of ads is offered through Spotify as well; Spotify offers free use, with ads, uninterrupted music on a laptop or desktop for $4.99 a month, or uninterrupted music anywhere on all devices for $9.99 a month.

Pandora also offers a free service with advertisements, or an upgrade with similar deals to iTunes Radio and Spotify for either $36 a year, or $3.99 a month. Another great feature of iTunes Radio that can’t really be matched by its competitors is the ability to purchase a song you have recently discovered, again through iTunes Radio, and have it available in your music library. And you own this song, its not just saved in a queue!

Now on to what I think is obviously the most important aspect of iTunes Radio: the music. In this field, at least at the moment, I don’t quite see iTunes Radio competing with Pandora, in that Pandora offers more than 500 genre-based stations, and more than a million songs from more than 100,000 artists. (iTunes claims they have the most, but haven’t put a number on the “most”). It may be this extensive music catalog that Pandora has acquired that makes its music recommendations not only more accurate but more fun.

I can’t tell you how many new songs and artists I have discovered listening to Pandora radio, and in the few hours that I experimented with iTunes Radio I didn’t come across one “new” artist that I hadn’t heard of. This may just be a result of Pandora being in business longer and perfecting the art of recommending music, but to me they clearly had the advantage in this area. In addition, Pandora’s option to learn more about the playing artist and song lyrics is just a nice touch, aiding in your ability to “discover” new musicians.

That being said, iTunes Radio claims the more you use it, the better the recommendations. (Would you expect them to say anything different?). But for now it reminds me of iTunes “Genius recommendations on steroids.” But they have room to grow and most likely will.

Until next time,

Kelli Richards, CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

Bestseller Event

“5 Steps to Writing and Launching a Bestseller”

Come to this 1-day Workshop and Gourmet Lunch featuring the LEADERS in How to Write a Bestseller and Build REAL Online Branding.

AUTHORSHIP is the KEY to being a RECOGNIZED LEADER

Friday, November 15th, 9:00am-4:00pm
with Gourmet Lunch and High Powered Networking

Regale Winery

Regale Winery, Los Gatos, CA

Featuring: Kelli Richards, Bud Smith, Joanne Lehmkul, Mary Agnes Antonopoulos and some surprise guests: Bestselling Authors and Leaders.

Your Investment: $297.00 EARLY BIRD until 10/15/13 ($397 after 10/15)

sign-up

Come to this 1-day Workshop and Gourmet Lunch featuring the LEADERS in How to Write a Bestseller and Build REAL Online Branding.

In the last two years, I’ve written 2 Amazon bestsellers, and what I’ve learned is that moving a book from idea to fruition to LAUNCH to success is a huge undertaking.

If you haven’t written a book yet, this is a MUST do to be seen as a leader in your industry. Join me and 4 amazing speakers as we expertly cover theTOP 5 Steps in writing and launching a bestseller!

1. Book Development – What’s Your BEST / Next Book?
2. Write for Your Audience, not Yourself

3. Create Your Publishing and Marketing Plan TODAY
4. Build Your Author Platform 
5. Cracking the Code for Amazon Bestsellers

This event will focus on supporting attendees to leverage and create a powerful authorship PLAN and online presence and brand, recruiting valuable brand advocates to build a successful launch, AND blowing past roadblocks around writing, while providing networking opportunities to get to know – and support – other attendees.

This exclusive 1-day event will give you the opportunity to work personally with Kelli Richards and her valuable guest speakers – serious and respected mentors in their field – to accomplish powerful results and learn to use AUTHORSHIP to showcase your LEADERSHIP.  This event is perfect for Entrepreneurs, Creative Thinkers, Professionals, CEOs, and Small Business Owners.

Matt Swafford www.swaffordimaging.com San Mateo California 2010Our Host: Kelli Richards

Kelli Richards is a recognized thought-leader in digital music and entertainment with deep expertise in digital distribution and branded content, plus experience working with a plethora of luminaries and innovators. She drove music and entertainment initiatives at Apple for 10 years, and helped to birth a whole new consumer movement around disruptive technologies and emerging business models. As President of The All Access Group, she has worked closely with the author of “Instant Customer Revolution,” which explains wide range of start-ups, Fortune 100 companies, and established artists and industry leaders alike. She has served as a sought-after strategic consultant for the past 15 years.

Kelli Richards will help you:

  • Define your BEST / NEXT book and define what your audience wants to know;
  • Develop powerful connections that lead to speaking opportunities and a recognized role as a Thought Leader in your industry;
  • Identify the roadblocks preventing you from achieving your bestseller goals.

Floyd Earl ‘Bud’ Smith Bud Smith SmilingBestselling Author and Speaker, Bud Smith 

Million-selling author Bud E. Smith has written about creating Web pages, green computing, and healthy eating using chia seeds. Bud has also helped create technology products for blind people and launch protests for slowing climate change. He holds a BA from the University of San Francisco and an MSc from the London School of Economics and is currently based in Oakland.

  • Common threads and lessons learned from for over 20 years of writing.
  • How to become a bestselling author over, and over, and over again!
  • Using a pen name to help build your brand.
  • How to LEVERAGE your bestseller status to be a sought after author and speaker.

Mary Agnes Headshot Hair UpBestselling Editor, Mary Agnes Antonopoulos 

Mary Agnes Antonopoulos, Social Media & Branding Expert, “How to Crack the Amazon Code & Use Your Social Presence to Launch Your Bestseller.” Mary Agnes is a respected social media strategist with over 100 successful social branding and marketing campaigns for a variety of clients, including NY Times bestselling authors: Jack Canfield, JJ Virgin, and Christine Comaford; and Amazon bestsellers: Libby Gill, Kelli Richards, and many others.

Mary Agnes will share:

  • 45-minutes: Going from confusion to an easy, how-to toolkit to create an effective social media campaign in only 4 hours a week to LAUNCH your Book;
  • How to Crack the Amazon Code to reach #1 in your category;
  • Realistically reach over 80,000 people through Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, iTunes and BlogTalkRadio to help you launch your book!

Joanne LehmkuhlProfessional Authors’ Assistant, Joanne Lehmkul:

Joanne Lehmkuhl is the Owner and Founder ofVirtual Ms. Moneypenny, LLC.  Her specialties include marketing support, client relations, group coaching programs, online research, business systems and resources, and publishing services. She holds a certification in Internet Marketing and is also a certified Professional Author’s Assistant. In addition to serving as Director of Finance for Women in Consulting (WIC), Joanne is also a member of the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce and Business Networking International (BNI), Premiere Chapter, where she serves on the Mentor Committee.

Joanne will share:

  • 10 tips for new authors that guarantee non-fiction success;
  • Book Development, Publishing and Marketing Planning;
  • Have Clear Positioning and the Beginnings of an Author Platform AND Create an Online Media Kit!

Your Investment: $297.00 EARLY BIRD until 9/20/13

sign-up

 

About Regale Winery:

Inspired by Italian landscapes and Old-World villas, Regale Winery provides an opportunity to share the relaxed and sophisticated lifestyle that surrounds the production of wine.

Time seems to stop upon walking into our colorful and intimate garden vignettes featuring beautiful fountains, a spiral herb garden, outdoor fireplaces, a bocce ball court, and a traditional wood-fired oven. Three varieties of olive trees line the property from which we hand-pick and press the olives to produce our Estate Olive Oil.

Welcoming and intimate, the second floor dining room features a vaulted travertine ceiling, Italian fresco paintings, Venetian plaster, and ornate fireplaces to create an old-world Tuscan atmosphere. The room opens onto a heated, open-air terrace with breathtaking views of the coastal range and our formal gardens.

Just ten miles from downtown Los Gatos with no sharp turns or intimidating roads, experience Old World wine country without flying overseas or leaving the foothills of Silicon Valley.

An Interview with Paul Myers, Canadian Author, Musician & Journalist

Paul MyersMy recent Blog Talk Radio guest was Paul Myers. Paul is a Canadian author, journalist, musician, and songwriter, and the brother of comedic actor, Mike Myers. After a brief stint as songwriter and frontman for indie rock band, The Gravelberrys -which enjoyed a moment of fame with their alternative hit “Wonder Where You Are Tonight”- Paul began devoting most of his time to music journalism.

Paul’s first book was the authorized biography of the Bare Naked Ladies, called “Public Stunts, Private Stories,” which was published back in 2001. He wrote his second biography in 2007, “It Ain’t EasyLong John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues.” He later wrote the script for John Orchards film of the same name, which lead to Myers’ nomination for a 2008 Gemini award for best writing in a documentary program or series.

You can hear our full interview on my website at https://allaccessgroup.com under the Resources Tab/BlogTalkRadio

Until next time,

Kelli Richards, CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

 

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Complimentary Access to NARM Webinar Thursday 9/22

I will be offering a 45 minute presentation with NARM this Thursday 9/22 at 1pm PST.

The team at NARM has graciously given me 15 free “seats” at the Webinar to share with my followers and colleagues. The topic will be “Taking The Crowd to The Cloud – Social Media for the Music Industry,” which was the focus of my recent eBook.

Please use code WEBINAR-15-narm when you register to get your free access to this exciting Webinar.  https://netforum.avectra.com/eWeb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=NARM&WebCode=EventDetail&evt_key=74695d42-1584-4595-ae87-e36c1e3822ef

***NOTE: You go through the entire registration process before you get a chance to enter your code and save the $29 fee. But it’s there, don’t worry. Hope all 15 seats get used!

Kelli Richards,
CEO of the All Access Group

An Intimate Fireside Chat with Video Music Director and Producer, Robby Starbuck

This month’s Fireside Chat is an informal Q&A with Music Video Director and Producer, Robby Starbuck.

Robby Starbuck is an artist who’s willing to take huge risks to walk the walk and paint his unique voice on his own private canvas — film. He’s directed music videos for such amazing artists as: Snoop Dogg, Smashing Pumpkins, Escape The Fate, Metric The Sounds, Pierce The Veil and dozens of others and has, to date, almost 28 million views on his YouTube channel.  CEO, Producer, Video and film director, Robby Starbuck is pioneering a new interpersonal relationship between music, video, artist and film. He is first an artist, but constantly raises the bar on himself as a CEO — and on the industry in which he operates.

Kelli:  Let’s switch gears a little bit and talk about the industry itself. Video’s been given new life by social media, and especially through YouTube. Videos by Vevo alone were seen by almost 40% of the unique US videos last year. Do you think video will continue its new popularity after being on the decline for so long?  AND if so, do you think mainstream media, like MTV, could jump back on board?

Robby Starbuck: 
Well there’s two answers there, I think absolutely yes, as far as video continuing its rise… if you look at the numbers and the statistics … and combine it all, it’s staggering.  Now is the time when we see the most music videos ever watched in the history of television and the modern era.  One thing that we have in the palm of our hands is that people are watching from third world countries, tiny cities in Africa.  Do they have TV with MTV on it?  I think not.  But they’re watching on YouTube.  As far as MTV goes, from what I know about production at MTV, I doubt there’s going to be a huge resurgence.

Kelli:  Would you share, in broad strokes, what your social media campaign looks like and how you’ve used it (quite brilliantly, I might add) to embrace the fan tribe around your work? 

Robby Starbuck:  I really feel like such a huge part of me getting to do what I do was building a social network and a following, and my approach to it has always been wanting to know people. Still to this day you can access me any day.  Some people would argue that it’s a bad thing, but I love it.  I love having that connectivity with my audience.  Yeah, I’m very accessible, you can contact me pretty much on any social network…. That’s been my approach, to just be me.  I’ve had a lot of relationships grow just mentoring kids, where I’ve exchanged emails to try to keep them up. Kids need that.  A lot of them don’t have a system or foundation to be confident.  That’s what I’m trying to do, to give people something to believe in themselves about.  Just loving people is what it’s about for me.  Genuinely wanting to be a piece of the puzzle.

Click here to hear the entire interview

Kelli Richards,
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

An Intimate Fireside Chat with Thomas Dolby and Kelli Richards

[audio:https://allaccessgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Thomas-Dolby-QA-with-Kelli-Richards.mp3|titles=Thomas Dolby Q&A with Kelli Richards]

This week’s Fireside Chat was with the Iconic ’80s electronic music and MTV pioneer, Thomas Dolby. I’m very fortunate to know Thomas personally and professionally, for almost 20 years. Best known for his hit, “She Blinded Me with Science,” Thomas Dolby is much more than a recording artist, he’s also a Producer and the Music Director for TED. In fact, he’s STILL leading the tech revolution with his interactive game, Floating City, which reacts to player contributions, eventually granting access to Thomas’ newest music.

This is digital technology meeting music at its best!

Kelli Richards,
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

The Gifts of the Digital Age – Remember 9/11

Like so many, I have my own story about 9/11, one which remains especially poignant for me.  I was scheduled to be on Flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco, returning from a trip to New York to see two-day concert that Michael Jackson did there to celebrate his 35th anniversary in the business. I had a terrible feeling about going to New York though — and didn’t wind up making the trip at all.  I listened to that inner voice, and every day since, I feel that in some not so small way, I’m one of the lucky ones who survived.

Today’s article will be short. It reflects upon one of the most powerful testaments to the age of digital technology. Because of the advances in digital technology, we are able to keep alive the memories of those who lost loved ones on this day, ten years ago – and even more, to broadcast those memories to our nation and to our world. They do not remain locked in a vault somewhere, for eternity, they are instead broadcast to the far corners of the universe through social media.

https://storycorps.org/listen/stories/category/september-11/

For the past five years, StoryCorps and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum have worked to record at least one story to honor each life lost on September 11, 2001, ten years ago today. To date, families and friends have memorialized nearly 600 individual victims of the attacks through the StoryCorps interview process. When the 9/11 Memorial opened this morning, excerpts from 10 of these StoryCorps interviews will be featured at the site.

The gifts of digital technology go one step further. Gratefully, the 9/11 Memorial Guide is available through a new iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone app, which visitors to the Memorial will download before visiting the site. This app will allow visitors to search the names arrangement of the Memorial and present select StoryCorps interviews, which help illustrate the enormity of the loss on 9/11 through the personal remembrances of families who lost loved ones on that day. The app will feature StoryCorps stories from each of the nine groups of victims memorialized at the site:  WorldTradeCenter(North), WorldTradeCenter(South), the Pentagon, Flight 93, Flight 77, Flight 175, Flight 11.

May the memories of those lost be preserved and shared.

Kelli Richards,
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

https://storycorps.org/listen/stories/category/september-11/

VIP Breakfast at Digital Music West – Redefining Social Media for the Music Industry


One of the best perks of being a speaker and a leader in the digital space for over two decades is that several times a year I get to take the stage at a variety of industry events and share the freshest ideas and tech advances with my peers and colleagues.

Digital Music Forum West, put together by Digital Media Wire, is a big favorite among these events. Recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top reads for digital media insiders, Digital Media Wire offers a free daily newsletter that curates the most important headlines impacting entertainment, media and digital technology. Twice a year, Ned and Tinzar Sherman, the heart and soul behind the scenes of DMW, gather some of the industry’s leading minds and put on the leading technology forum for all things music.

As the technology and issues surrounding digital music become more difficult to navigate, Digital Music Forum West (and east, in the spring) provides the stage for discourse, information and sometimes fierce disagreement. It offers great content, access to industry leaders and an introduction to fresh new faces on the music-tech scene, all gathered to socialize, share ideas, do deals and learn about digital technology and services in music.

This year, I’m fortunate to lead a complimentary VIP breakfast kicking off the start of Day 2.  This is an informal roundtable discussion focused on my newest eBook “Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – Social Media for the Music Industry” on Friday, October 7th, from 8:00-9:00am. The VIP Breakfast includes a vibrant discussion, great company, and a printed copy of my eBook, for the first 20 people who reserve their seat by Tuesday, October 4th (to do so, contact my team at sandy@allaccessgroup.com). The breakfast will coincide with the formal Amazon publication launch of my eBook on 11/11/11.

This is the second quarterly VIP breakfast I’ve put together to kick off an industry event. The first was an amazing gathering of new faces and thought leaders, led by me, at the Bandwidth Music / Tech Conference in August.  It included my own social media strategist, Mary Agnes Antonopoulos, Scott Perry from Music Tipsheet (friend to all undiscovered artists), Sibley Verbeck from The Electric Sheep Company / Steam Jam, Aaron Williams from SocialSamba.com (a branded social app that fans join to interact directly with the characters they’re fans TV), and over a dozen other industry leaders.

This VIP Breakfast should be just as exciting, with Digital Media West, setting the stage with 300+ of the most influential music and digital media leaders. Some of who are close personal friends and colleagues, like industry leaders Michael RobertsonJim Griffin and Ian Rogers, CEO of Topspin.

Ian is a rock star in the digital music world and was one of the first to define the way artists and labels promote and experience digital media.  Ian built many of the earliest promotional websites for the music and film industries and prior to joining Topspin Media as their CEO in 2008 and had been GM of music at Yahoo. He was one of the first guests on my streaming radio show Monday nights, which you can hear in its entirety on my website at https://allaccessgroup.com/articles-and-resources/blog-talk-radio

To save your seat at the upcoming VIP breakfast, please email my team at sandy@allaccessgroup.com and feel free to use code DMFW25 to save 25% off the registration fee at Digital Music Forum West.

Kelli Richards,
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC
https://allaccessgroup.com/articles-and-resources/events/

VizLingo – The Newest Gadget for Gen Z

Yes, the tech revolution has produced an endless stream of new gizmos, gadgets and tools. Some of these are vital to our day-to-day existence, like email, and some are simply a fun and entertaining distraction (Angry Birds anyone?)…

Not long ago, entrepreneurs Todd Younggren and Azeo Fables created hatched the idea to use the latest revolution in tech, mobile, to create a new way to communicate, and  VizLingo was born.  Simply put, VizLingo is a messaging tool that translates your words into video. The UI is exactly what the new generation of users demands, fun and easy! Just type, see and send. The user simply types any message into VizLingo to see each word of their message illustrated by a 1-2 second video clip. Streamed together (with subtitles at the bottom for the less creative), it’s a visual puzzle that can be sent anywhere – directly to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, mobile phones and email addresses.

If you’re thinking “I don’t get it” – that’s actually a good thing.  It’s one of those subtle mechanisms that has to be experienced, like poetry for instance.  VizLingo is definitely a sort of “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” medium – a new form of visual poetry, if you will. It’s not only who it plays TO, but also what the “writer” puts into their work. My favorite part of  VizLingo is that, soon, the creator can customize their own Lingo by uploading video clips right from a mobile phone or digital camera. It’s fun and easy, and in the hands of a user who has the time to be super creative, it could definitely go big and go viral.

VizLingo’s Global Lingo is communal, created by and for the VizLingo community, boasting tens of thousands of user-generated clips shared from all over the world. And in today’s world of “new normal” social marketing,  VizLingo could be a BIG deal.  In fact, I think Ford and the Hershey Chocolate company and Virgin Airlines, etc., should engage their younger clientele and create a promotion where anyone using their products in a VizLingo video and pushing it out to their own friends and fans, wins a [fill in the blank].

In the immortal words of one of my favorite ads, “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” And if VizLingo finds the creative joint ventures that FourSquare embarked on when everyone first stood there saying, “I don’t get it,” well, we may end up wishing we did.

Kelli Richards,
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

Big Brother has Landed, and his name is Foursquare

It’s hard to know just how big social media is going to get – and even harder to remember that there was once a world without an internet.  We’ve all just accepted this “new normal” in our day-to-day lives – along with digital music, eBooks, iPads and a long list of other tech advances that were barely even imagined a mere thirty years ago.  (Some of which I actually had the privilege to work on at their inception – like Music at Apple.)

In my recent interview with the CEO of BookBaby and CDBaby, Brian Felsen, Brian shared that 80% of people under the age of 30 have never even bought a CD.  (To hear that interview, go to https://bit.ly/BrianFelsen).

So where does this go next?  It’s more than viral and mobile, in my humble opinion, Social is very quickly becoming Big Brother. Take Foursquare, the king of Geolocated Social Media platforms.  Foursquare made its debut in 2009, popularizing the idea of “checking in,” or using a cell phone application to tell friends that you are at a particular restaurant, bar or park. It’s definitely a cool idea – so cool that Facebook and Google developed their own geolocated check in apps. Everyone wondered if the web giants would squash Foursquare like a bug, but so far Foursquare is definitely more than holding its ground, with over 10 million registered users.

Dennis Crowley, the chief executive and one of the founders of Foursquare, attributed its continued momentum to its singular focus on location. “When people think about Facebook, they think about it as a place to send their friends messages or post updates, not necessarily as a place to check in,” he said. “We’re associated with one thing, location, and that really helps.”

Most recently, Foursquare teamed up with Groupon.  Groupon is actually Foursquare’s sixth and latest daily deals partner, but by no means their last.  Along with Groupon deals, app users also will be able to see deals offered by Foursquare’s five other partners: BuyWithMe, Zozi, Gilt City, Living Social and AT&T Interactive.

In June, they also created an alliance with finance giant, American Express to offer discounts to cardholders when they check in on their cell phone at certain shops and restaurants. (Although Foursquare will not be receiving any revenue from the American Express deal, it says the promotion will help legitimize the company’s approach and will help attract other, more lucrative partnerships.)

How does all of this affect the consumer?  It means real-time, by-location deals will be created through users’ apps.  A simpler explanation:  You’ll soon walk by a Gap and get a Gap deal sent to your device, simply because geolocated Foursquare knows where you are.  Yes, Big Brother is here, and we have invited him into our lives, kimono wide open and location checked in.

Kelli Richards,
CEO of All Access Group

CEO of All Access Group Invited to be in Alan’s Gang

Expert in Music, Technology and Digital Distribution and CEO of All Access Group Invited to be in Alan’s Gang

 

Kelli Richards, a thought leader in digital music and entertainment, and one of only a few select members of Alan Weiss’ Master Mentor Program and Thought Leadership Summit, has recently been invited to participate both Weiss’ new Summit Global Network and also in the collaborative “Alan & the Gang.”

Alan & the Gang is an online destination where both aspiring and veteran entrepreneurs and business people can access thought leaders from around the globe. Kelli Richards joins a limited group of elite international experts in both process and content who contribute their intellectual property and expertise. Gang members are a unique group of consultants and industry thought leaders who offer forward-thinking content to one another and to the world at large, including 320 videos, 426 audios and over 60 articles. These experts are recognized leaders and experts in their fields, offering impressive track records of success to their clients. The Summit Global Network is a network of top boutique consulting and advisory firms. Members are invited only after careful criteria have been met and existing members become familiar with the quality of the candidate firm’s work and client base.  Members share resources, best practices, personnel, and expertise. It’s not unusual for a firm in Australia to provide expertise to a firm in Canada, or one in Maine to one in the United Kingdom. The current membership resides in seven countries and four continents. The combined intellectual property of the member firms comprises over 70 commercially published books, a thousand published articles, and thousands of audio, video, and public speaking appearances.

Alan Weiss is an Inductee in the Professional Speaking Hall of Fame®, a Recipient of the American Press Institute Lifetime Achievement Award and the New England Institute of Management Consultants Lifetime Contribution Award, and is one of the most highly respected independent consultants in the country, according to The New York Post.

Kelli Richards is a true trailblazer in the digital music, entertainment and technology worlds with more than twenty years of senior-level leadership experience.  With a unique talent for connecting innovators in technology with creative leaders in entertainment, Richards is a highly sought-after consultant, mentor, speaker, producer, coach and author, As the CEO of The All Access Group, Richards and her team facilitate powerful strategic business opportunities in digital distribution between technology companies, established artists and celebrities, film studios, record labels, and consumer brand companies to foster new revenue streams and deliver compelling consumer experiences.

Prior to founding The All Access Group, Kelli served in senior roles at Fortune 100 entertainment and technology companies, including Apple Inc., where she launched Apple’s earliest focus on music and drove all music initiatives during her 10 years with the market leader. She also served in senior-level leadership capacities at EMI Music as an A&R exec, and at Silicon Graphics (SGI) where she helped launch Silicon Studio, the company’s entertainment division. She developed PatroNet, the first Internet-based artist subscription service with rocker partner Todd Rundgren in the mid-90s – and helped to launch the entire digital music revolution.

A frequent speaker and panel moderator at digital music and entertainment industry conferences globally, Kelli has also been an acclaimed talent producer of a wide range of award shows, epic concerts, and celebrity fundraiser events for over 25 years.  She co-produced a celebrity fundraiser event to support the UN’s “Adopt-A-Minefield” initiative featuring Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Stephen Stills and hosted by Jay Leno. Additionally, she was a 20-year talent producer behind the BAMMIES, and remains a long-time talent executive and co-producer of the annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards.

***

Kelli Richards has co-authored two books, including the critically acclaimed “The Art of Digital Music:  56 Artists, Visionaries & Insiders Reveal Their Creative Secrets.”  And her next book, “You Say You Want a Revolution – An Artist’s Manifesto for Success in the Digital Age,” is due out 11-11-11. A true renaissance woman, Kelli is also a Certified Integrative Life Coach trained under best-selling authors and coaches Debbie Ford and Alan Cohen.  She lives in Cupertino, CA in the heart of the Silicon Valley.

 

 


 

 

 

Chatting with Brenden Mulligan, Founder of OneSheet, the One Stop Solution for Artists


A few weeks ago, I was very fortunate to interview creative disruptor, Brenden Mulligan, the CEO of OneSheet. For those of you who don’t know, OneSheet is a completely free website which allows musicians to connect their existing social networks and services, creating a basic and graphically exciting site that includes music, videos, photos, concert dates, social streams, mailing list signups and online stores.  Although it literally JUST moved out of beta, Onesheet already has more than 10,000 recording artists signed up, including major label artists like Paramore , Mat Kearny and Owl City.

OneSheet has the added feature of working with many of the most-used musician’s online services, including Tunes, Beatport, Topspin, Bandcamp, YouTube, Tumblr, Songkick, FanBridge and SoundCloud.  It’s also compatible with ArtistData, a popular syndication tool for musicians to post information across the web, which was also started by founder Brenden Mulligan.

Brenden Mulligan:  For a long time now, artists have been asked to create profiles on all of these different services, and one problem I felt was there was that there wasn’t necessarily an easy way to weave these together.  What I wanted to do was make it incredibly easy for an artist to create a maintenance free web presence, something that would take them only a few minutes to do and be totally affordable. 

OneSheet isn’t only a one-stop-shop solution for artists, it’s also been very collaborative. Founder Brenden Mulligan has made many adjustments based on the feedback of artists.  For instance, users can remove the Onesheet header, customize the navigation bar and rename concerts to tour, live, appearances, events or shows, etc. Most importantly, Onesheets can be assigned a custom domain name, which is a great asset in today’s world of uber branding.

Brenden Mulligan plans to add a premium paid service will add additional features and customization. “Mobile optimization is another feature we may charge for. What kind of artists use Onesheet and how they use it, will drive what we do next.”

To hear my entire interview with entrepreneur and CEO, Brenden Mulligan, go to https://bit.ly/BrendenMulligan  

Legacy and Celebrity Wrangling

One of the most important aspects of my career has been creating high impact collaborations between artists, celebrities and corporations, and sometimes between artists and charities. I call this celebrity wrangling.

There’s no shortage of passion in the world surrounding celebrities and musicians; in fact, it’s rare to find one that doesn’t crave the opportunity to create lasting change and global/societal impact. Connecting the right artist for the right purpose – or simply being part of event production as a talent producer for award shows & charity events involving great artist/celeb talent, well, those are definitely career high points. Whether for corporations who want to have a celebrity appear in an ad campaign or established artists perform at employee events or at corporate industry conferences & special events. I’ve had the chance to work on some pretty amazing projects over the years, including great global causes with a broad range of artists, celebrities, and big companies. To learn more about celebrity wrangling, please visit my website: https://allaccessgroup.com/services/celebrity-wrangling

One of my favorite charity event projects was the “Open Hearts – Clear Mines: Adopt-a-Minefield” benefit concert hosted by the United Nations featuring performances by Sir Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson, where they joined together and sang, “God Only Knows“ & “Let it Be”. The concert and the song definitely live in my mind as one of the most moving and inspiring events that I ever participated in. Unfortunately only the attendees in that room got to experience the magic of that union. Though there isn’t any video from the event to really speak of, there is a snippet of it in an Access Hollywood interview, speaking with Sir Paul and host, Jay Leno, about the event. (See below.)

Another example is when I was asked by John Chambers & his team to bring Jerry Seinfeld to Cisco to participate in a 25th anniversary employee thank-you event.

As a veteran Talent Producer and Celebrity Wrangler, it’s events like these that become knots in the thread of one’s life. I’m proud to have been a part of creating these special events and experiences that if executed well tend to leave a lasting impact.

Kelli Richards, CEO, The All Access Group, LLC

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9 Ways to Make a Lasting Impression at Your First Conference

October 27, 2014, LinkedIn Articles Success in business is all about connections and relationships. And with more and more people working virtually and face-to-face meetings becoming fewer and farther between, the stakes have never been higher for making a good first impression. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/9-ways-to-make-a-lasting-impression-at-your-first-conference.html

Turn Up Your Volume: 5 Big Moves Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Music Moguls

October 24, 2014, Inc. Music moguls and entrepreneurs have a lot to teach each other. But don’t worry; you don’t have to sing like Beyoncé or turn tables like Skrillex to bring the music to your business. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/turn-up-your-volume-5-big-moves-entrepreneurs-can-learn-richards/

Carla Harris

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-carla-harris

Stephanie Redd

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-stephanie-redd

Wearable Technology – iWatch and Wait

Formally known as “The Apple Watch,” Apple again forces us all to ask one existential question: What is it? Is it a bird? A plane? A watch, computer, bracelet, phone, or tablet? Now, you might be saying: Smart watches aren’t a new idea. But, in the end, Apple really does just do everything better.

The Ultimate Guide to Delegating (for Entrepreneurs Who Hate Delegating)

October 17, 2014, Inc. Freeing up your time won’t just make you more productive; it will also help maximize the skills and strengths of everyone on your team — including you. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/the-ultimate-guide-to-delegating-for-entrepreneurs-who-hate-delegating.html

The Secret Weapon of Billionaire CEOs and Other Wildly Successful People

October 10, 2014, Inc. If you’ve reached a plateau, it might be time to hire a business coach. A business coach can be a valuable asset to any executive and leader. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/the-secret-weapon-of-billionaire-ceos-and-other-wildly-successful-people.html

9 Ways to Make a Lasting Impression at Your First Conference

October 3, 2014, Inc. Conferences and industry events are a great place to initiate, establish, and nurture valuable business connections, but if you do the work before and after, you’re much more likely to maximize your time when you’re face-to-face. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/9-ways-to-make-a-lasting-impression-at-your-first-conference.html

Peter Hoddie

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-peter-hoddie

The Super Connector’s Guide to Making Powerful Business Introductions

September 26, 2014, Inc. If you aren’t actively looking for ways to make valuable introductions for your connections, your network isn’t as strong as it could be. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/the-super-connector-s-guide-to-making-powerful-business-introductions.html

Elaine Dennis

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-elaine-dennis

3 Essential Steps to Creating a Successful Personal Growth Plan

September 19, 2014, Inc. Drawing up a plan with the counsel of trusted advisors can not only help you visualize your goals and the necessary steps to achieve them, but it can also remedy a lot of the uncertainty that held you back in the first place. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/3-essential-steps-to-creating-a-successful-personal-growth-plan.html

Music and Your Brand: Five Ways to Tune Your Demographic In With the Right Band

Attention is a scarce resource—and that means it’s a costly one. In a world of hundreds of competing voices, art and music have become a powerful way to bring a brand back into the spotlight. The perfect example? The “marriage” of Alicia Keys and Blackberry. Blackberry didn’t just bring Keys in as a spokesperson, either; it made her its creative director. That wasn’t just some made-up title to give the “Girl on Fire” credibility; Keys has brought in some stellar ideas to create user (and fan) engagement. For her first act, Keys shot videos in every location of her tour, and she invited local fans and residents of those locales to send their own photos to include in the video clips. Photos chosen went on Alicia Keys’ on-stage video projection. Now that is a huge win around user experience—one of the fastest ways to turn engagement into ROI. Make It Relevant Right now, consumer brands are marketing more and more with music and entertainment. In fact, it’s become so important that some major brands have started their own record labels—including Red Bull, Scion, Mountain Dew, and Converse. Why? Music is a powerful way to create a cultural connection and engage with an audience while drawing your product even closer to your demographic’s lifestyle. Being hip, cool, relevant, and present as a brand is important, but the more important issue can be the cost to your image if you resist popular trends. (Just one example: Levi’s missed the hip-hop boom, and it cost the company $1 billion in sales—in one year.) Tuning in isn’t just a smart way to connect with your audience; it can be vital to your brand’s survival. The New ‘A&R’ Brands are becoming a trusted source for breaking hip underground artists to the mainstream media. The iTunes team at Apple (my alma mater) chose specific, obscure artists to create buzz around the launch of iTunes. That curating practice was really a form of Artist and Repertoire (or A&R), which used to be the domain of a record company. An “A&R” role—which I once did for EMI Music prior to launching the music vertical at Apple—was responsible for cultivating new talent for a label. Now, brands are performing that role themselves. By partnering with artists who fit your audience, you can create the perfect exposure for your brand to the right people. Here are a few ways to start: Find the right sound. If you don’t know which artists may make sense for your brand, hire people who do, or spend time online and on social media networks researching what your audience is listening to. Just ask and explore; they’ll tell you which artists you’ll want to pursue further. Target your age group. Brands vying for the attention of younger audiences—especially those 13-25—must be tuned into the entertainment world, especially when tie-ins between brands and bands are core to success. By partnering with exactly the right artistic act, you’ll net far more attention—and credibility—with your target audience. Get in touch. Many brands are approaching artists directly. If the artist is signed, the label may be involved, but it’s best to start with the artist’s manager (if an established band) or the artist directly (when a rising indie artist). Go where your audience is. Music festivals create the perfect audience for a brand. You’ll place yourself in front of thousands of viewers and kindle a shared passion with your artists’ fans. There are lots of music festivals catering to diverse audiences; find your niche. Unify and balance. Merging the needs of artists, brands, and fans can create powerful results. When an artist has a song that ties into the theme of a brand campaign, it resonates with the audience and is doubly powerful. Behind the Music There’s nothing quite like a smart, well-executed match between a brand and an artist. When Rihanna debuted her clothing line for River Island during London Fashion Week, she helped generate buzz and boost awareness in the United States around the UK-based clothing brand. When Panic at the Disco partnered with Honda Civic for the Honda Civic Tour in 2008, the group created an original, exclusive song for Honda’s Civic commercial. The band reached a much broader audience, which resulted in higher CD and ticket sales, and Honda was on the cutting edge with a new kind of branded content. Apple’s commercial for the launch of the MacBook Air featured a soundtrack from a little-known artist, Yael Naim. “New Song,” which was recorded in Naim’s Paris apartment, jumped up the charts and subsequently led to a wildly popular US tour—and critical success. Those are just a few examples; dozens of artistically interesting campaigns have benefited from the touch of a complementary musical act. That creative matchmaking is different every time, and it brings a new, fresh twist to a brand’s perception. The reason is simple: By its nature, music is both emotional and powerful. That’s why fans gather around their favorite artists, creating strong, tightly knit subcultures. Tuning into those communities can be the difference between becoming “white noise” and making a truly engaged connection—and that’s every advertising campaign’s goal. This post was originally published on Marketing Profs.

Music and Your Brand: Five Ways to Tune Your Demographic In With the Right Band

September 15, 2014, LinkedIn Articles Attention is a scarce resource—and that means it’s a costly one. In a world of hundreds of competing voices, art and music have become a powerful way to bring a brand back into the spotlight. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140915152830-9638-music-and-your-brand-five-ways-to-tune-your-demographic-in-with-the-right-band/

How to Harness Power Like a Celebrity

September 11, 2014, Inc. Three strategies of the stars that business professionals can use to make a difference in the world and do things that truly matter to them. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/how-to-harness-power-like-a-celebrity.html

Star-Struck: Tapping into the Power of a Celebrity Speaker

September 8, 2014, LinkedIn Articles Creating a well-designed event is a balancing act. Tapping industry leaders and controversial renegades, orchestrating brilliant panels, and throwing awesome after-parties all help draw people in, but a well-informed celebrity speaker can elevate your event to “can’t-miss” status with real punch and energy. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140908165516-9638-star-struck-tapping-into-the-power-of-a-celebrity-speaker/

Lisa Wellman

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-lisa-wellman

How to Harness Power Like a Celebrity.

Three strategies of the stars that business professionals can use to make a difference in the world and do things that truly matter to them.

In the mid-1990s, Apple ran a series of insightful ads entitled “Power Is,” featuring several celebrities describing what power meant to them.

Star-Struck: Tapping into the Power of a Celebrity Speaker

Creating a well-designed event is a balancing act. Tapping industry leaders and controversial renegades, orchestrating brilliant panels, and throwing awesome after-parties all help draw people in, but a well-informed celebrity speaker can elevate your event to “can’t-miss” status with real punch and energy.

Personal Glimpses of a Comet: Comic Genius Robin Williams

Sometimes there are people who touch our lives in brief glimpses – and those encounters are so magical that we hold onto them and look forward to the next one over and over. They’re friends of friends or colleagues we bump into at events or meetings or random connections where it seems serendipity is at work.

Only the Good Die Young: Robin Williams & Other Creative Geniuses Taken Too Soon

August 16, 2014, LinkedIn Articles I’ll never forget the first time I met Robin Williams. I was a teenager attending a taping of “Mork & Mindy” on the Paramount Pictures lot. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140816040437-9638-only-the-good-die-young-robin-williams-other-creative-geniuses-taken-too-soon/

Jamie DeWolf

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-jamie-dewolf

John Cook

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-john-cook

5 Important Books to Create Your Best Success on Every Level

Attention, book lovers – and CEOs – and artists – and entrepreneurs…. Here are five books I absolutely think you should read, and why. Yes, some of them have been out a while, but if you haven’t read them, give yourself an early birthday gift and order all five. (Then share them with someone you mentor. Remember, trusted advisors don’t just give advice and make powerful connections, they share the good stuff out there that inspires change and action.)

5 Conversation Tools For Nurturing Your Relationship With A Mentor

July 29, 2014, Forbes We’ve all longed for a classic mentor-mentee relationship at some point in our careers. We want someone who is savvy and seasoned. We want her to provide the perfect insights and career advice that will help us reach our goals. We want someone who will guide us to our destination. Read the entire article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/85broads/2014/07/29/5-conversation-tools-for-nurturing-your-relationship-with-a-mentor/

How Technology Has Made Home Business Easier

Of the 28 million small businesses in the United States, 52 percent of them are home-based. Maintaining and organizing your business from home is easier with the advancements in mobile technology. With the latest apps and services you can organize your business’ finances, organize your team, market your product, and provide your customers with top-notch customer service. These technologies have made it easy for home businesses to streamline processes and produce products that mimic larger organizations.

Steve Hayden

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-steve-hayden

Eren Niazi

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-eren-niazi

Randy Haykin

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-randy-haykin

A Hard Day’s Night for Digital Legacy – The Lost Beatles Recordings

Great work will never die in today’s ever expanding online digital world. According to the IDC “The digital universe is growing 40% a year into the next decade. By 2020 it will contain nearly as many digital hits as there are stars in the universe.” In fact, according to Science Daily, 90% of all the world’s data has been written in the past 2 years. Wow. That is an incredibly daunting idea. Literally 90% of the information that is readily accessible to the world today was not available only 2 years ago.

Annual Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference

“Allen & Company is a private investment firm formed in 1922, located in New York and London. Allen & Company has advised, helped found and/or invested in numerous companies including BET, InterActiveCorp, Oxygen Media, Discovery Communications, News Corporation, the Coca-Cola Corporation and Google.”

Kick-Finishing: The Next Big Thing in Promotion – from Linkedin Influencers

It’s no surprise that artists and entrepreneurs alike frequently turn to crowdfunding — it works.

Crowdfunding campaigns raised more than $60,000 every hour in March. That’s a huge network recognizing and supporting individual projects and careers.

But it’s not just the initiation stage of a project that can benefit from a crowdfunding network. By using crowdfunding to spread the word after you’ve completed your project, you can turn your fans and partners into a massive marketing team and drastically increase the reach of your brand. This tactic is called kick-finishing, and it’s exactly what my musician friend Brent Bourgeois is doing with his new album.

Brent Bourgeois and the Origins of Kick-Finishing

Brent is a rock musician based in the San Francisco Bay Area with an extensive career in performing, songwriting, and producing. In the ’80s, he was a founding member of a fantastic band called Bourgeois Tagg and has since collaborated with numerous other talented artists.

John Holland

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-john-holland

How to Build a Strong Relationship with Your Mentor?

There is nothing more valuable for your personal and professional growth than finding the right mentor to guide and challenge you. But working with a mentor is not a transaction; it is a relationship, and as with any relationship it can be easily destroyed if you don’t take good care of it.

Tune in for my powerful interview with Brent Bourgeois

Brent Bourgeois is a long-time colleague and notable American rock musician, songwriter, and producer who most recently worked with Julian Lennon on their single ‘The High Road’ off of his New Album ‘Don’t Look Back’ (with sales supporting Julian’s White Feather Foundation).

How Your Brand Can Rock the Socks Off A Music Festival

Summer music festivals are full of sunshine, fun, and community, but they’re also packed with thousands of potential customers and brand advocates. Advertising at these events is nothing new, but startups that can find a way to become part of the festival can reap significant benefits.

Nancy Duarte

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-nancy-duarte

Dear HBO, Please Keep ‘Silicon Valley’ Real!!!

Of course, Hollywood is famous for exaggerating or overlooking important aspects of reality for entertainment purposes, but so far, HBO’s “Silicon Valley” looks promising. Despite the dramatic plotline and startup stereotypes, the show provides a mostly accurate portrayal of entrepreneurial life and may even help demystify some aspects of startup culture.

Cheri Huber

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-cheri-huber-0

Dear HBO, Please Keep ‘Silicon Valley’ Real

May 7, 2014, Forbes Startup life is a hot topic in Hollywood right now. From Joshua Michael Stern’s “Jobs” to the Amazon original series “Betas,” there’s an undeniable appeal to life in Silicon Valley for those both inside and outside the startup bubble. Read the entire article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/85broads/2014/05/06/dear-hbo-please-keep-silicon-valley-real/

3 Seemingly Obvious Tech Mergers We’re Still Waiting For

May 5, 2014, Fast Company One of the best parts of working in the tech industry is having a ringside seat to watch heavyweights like Google and Apple duke it out for market share and to be the first to develop the next big thing. Read the entire article here: https://www.fastcompany.com/3029955/3-seemingly-obvious-tech-mergers-were-still-waiting-for

Important Security Measures for Small Businesses

With business data breaches becoming a common story on the evening news, small businesses need to be vigilant about securing their systems and technology to protect their customers and their operations. Symantec’s 2014 Internet Security Threat Report found that web-based attacks, targeted attacks and the number of breaches all significantly increased in 2013 and one in eight websites have a liability vulnerable to attacks. Make your business data difficult to access and manipulate so criminals move on to easier targets by knowing how data breaches occur, minimizing risk and regularly monitoring security.

Matt Swafford

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-matt-swafford

Tom Rodrigues

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-tom-rodrigues

How to Build a Strong Relationship with Your Mentor?

There is nothing more valuable for your personal and professional growth than finding the right mentor to guide and challenge you. But working with a mentor is not a transaction; it is a relationship, and as with any relationship it can be easily destroyed if you don’t take good care of it.

Cathal Furey

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-cathal-furey

Is a Joint Venture Right for Me?

Entering into a Join Venture is not something to undertake lightly. It is a major decision and requires careful consideration. Here are some of the basics of how Joint Ventures work and some key points to keep in mind when considering whether or not it’s the right move for your business.

Want to Take Your Project to the Next Level? Collaborate!

Although our culture tends to celebrate the idea of the “lone creative genius,” the truth is that a look behind the scenes of any success story will very often reveal the work of a stellar team; a group of passionate people who worked together to challenge and motivate one another. Steve Jobs famously promoted collaboration to increase productivity and creativity at Apple. It was one of the benchmarks of all the work that went on during my years there, and it continues to be a best practice of the corporation, and the alum that worked there.

The Who What Where When & Why of Startups

Essentially, startups form because a group of rebels are fueled to the brim by enthusiasm, innovation and passion about their ideas and products. Sadly, those assets are not enough though. Without the resources, infrastructure, and / or the knowledge to develop it on their own, it’s very likely to go supernova before it ever develops a comfortable orbit. Mentoring is a core part of running a successful startup.

John Amaral

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-dr-john-amaral

4 Steps to Ace an Early-Adopter Culture

In this era of rapid innovation, a new technological breakthrough can shake an entire industry in an afternoon, and consumers are hungry for the most advanced gadgets available. Businesses are constantly expected to be at the forefront of emerging technology.

Chris Dotson

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-chris-dotson-inc

4 Tech Dinosaurs That Will Finally Die in 2015

In recent years, technology has changed the way we view work, entertainment, media, and even our workout habits. While most people are focused on what’s next for wearables, cloud computing, and syncing gadgets, few have taken the time to consider the tech we’re going to be sending into retirement in the coming years.

4 Steps to Ace an Early-Adopter Culture

March 12, 2014, Entrepreneur In this era of rapid innovation, a new technological breakthrough can shake an entire industry in an afternoon, and consumers are hungry for the most advanced gadgets available. Businesses are constantly expected to be at the forefront of emerging technology. Read the entire article here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/4-steps-to-ace-an-early-adopter-culture/232132

How to Vet a Crowded Industry for Hidden Innovation Opportunities

Most of the 10 million thermostats sold every year throughout the U.S. were clunky, inefficient, and impossible to program, but a simple, Wi-Fi-enabled device that could be programmed via a smartphone — that could be a game changer. Fadell and Rogers saw this opportunity, left their jobs at Apple, and got to work.

5 Unlikely Music Legends With Great Advice for Entrepreneurs

We usually expect business wisdom to come from the likes of Mark Cuban, Elon Musk, and Warren Buffett — not Jimmy Buffett. But there are a few big names in entertainment who would surprise you with their entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.

4 Tech Dinosaurs That Will Finally Die in 2015

February 27, 2014, Forbes In recent years, technology has changed the way we view work, entertainment, media, and even our workout habits. While most people are focused on what’s next for wearables, cloud computing, and syncing gadgets, few have taken the time to consider the tech we’re going to be sending into retirement in the coming years. Read the entire article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/85broads/2014/02/27/4-tech-dinosaurs-that-will-finally-die-in-2015/https://www.forbes.com/sites/85broads/2014/02/27/4-tech-dinosaurs-that-will-finally-die-in-2015/

Two Steps to Creating Collaborations and One to Surviving When they Go Wrong.

Today I had the privilege of interviewing Ian Miller. Ian is an expert brand and marketing strategist with 30 years of experience building hugely competitive brands and the CEO and Founder of The Brand Practice, a business and brand strategy consultancy. A recognized expert / lecturer in Ingredient Branding, Ian Miller has led the creation and global launch of the ingredient brand, NutraSweet, and worked closely with over 50 partner brands, including Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi – creating great synergy and collaboration around the business world.

5 Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs in 2014

Entrepreneurs must be practical experts, according to author and leadership expert Simon Sinek. A new business owner needs to specialize in his craft, as well as marketing, graphic design, and plant maintenance. He sweeps, writes press releases, and keeps the books. An entrepreneur is everything to everyone. Juggling so many jobs can be a huge task, but happily there are new tools and tech to get you through it without losing your mind.

Albhy Galuten

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richers-interviews-albhy-galuten

Step Away from the Smartphone

Of the 93% of Americans that use cell phones or wireless devices, one-third of them are using “smartphones,” with which you can browse the Web and check e-mail. In other words, most of us are spending our days walking around with our eyes glued to our phone screens, as chillingly demonstrated in this telling YouTube short.

Brent Bourgeois

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-brent-bourgeois

Bobby Fried

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-interviews-robert-fried

The Benefits of BYOD Across Different Company Sizes

Anyone connected to the business world has heard about the rampant popularity of bring-your-own-device policies, better known as BYOD. The trend will continue for the near future and likely beyond, with Gartner analysts claiming that 50 percent of companies will mandate a BYOD platform over the course of the next five years. The popularity and gains in morale aside, however, does a BYOD set of policies make sense to a company on a financial standpoint? In terms of dollars and cents, some businesses may get more out of BYOD than others.

The Secret to Becoming a Super Connector

January 28, 2014, LinkedIn Articles A few years ago, a former colleague reached out to me. He was working at Cisco, helping the company organize its 25 anniversary employee celebration. For the event’s entertainment, CEO John Chambers wanted Jerry Seinfeld. Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/the-super-connector-s-guide-to-making-powerful-business-introductions.html

iPhone: Hover Technology Coming Soon?

Imagine having dirty or wet hands, not wanting to touch your phone, but still needing to use it- you can. It takes new phone anxiety and consequent over protection to a whole new level. But beyond aiding neat freaks in protecting their phones, this technology has immense potential, and really left me wishing that my phone could do the same cool new tricks.

Peter Hoppenfeld

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-peter-hoppenfeld

Live Viewing Services for YouTube Verified Users?

In a day and age largely defined by the creation and expansion of social networking, and sharing, YouTube’s expansion of live video services to all verified users, may not seem so revolutionary or even like a new idea, but it will no doubt prove its versatility.

Coin: Access to All of Your Cards in One

Coin is a new type of credit card that stores all of your accounts on one card. How can this be possible, you ask? Coin works just like any other credit card and you can swipe it in any machine, only this card comes with out hassle. To choose which account you want to use for each particular purchase, simply click the round button on the card and scroll through each account on the small display screen until you find the correct account.

4 Unique Gatherings for Thought Leaders in 2014

We live in a rapidly changing world, and it’s not about to slow down in 2014. Here are four exciting events in the coming year that will keep you on the bleeding edge of innovation.
International CES “It’s a lab. A social hub. A marketplace. And a few things they’ve yet to create words for.”

Mike Koenigs

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-mike-koenigs-ceo-of-traffic-geyser-0

Chip Schultzman

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-chip-schutzman-miles-high-productions

Anthony Cordova

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-anthony-cordova

Jeffery Weber

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-jeffrey-weber-author-producer

Brenden Mulligan

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-brenden-mulligan-ceo-of-onesheet

Lyle Workman

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-musician-composer-lyle-workman

Christine Arylo

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-christine-arylo-author-and-coach

Luke Potter

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-singer-songwriter-luke-potter

Frans Johansson

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-frans-johansson

Scott Fox

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-scott-fox-0

Judy Robinett

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-judy-robinett

Dave Ulmer

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-dave-ulmer

EOS 3D: A Radical Step Forward for 3D Technology

But all this has changed with the introduction of EOS 3D – which literally prints 3D objects. These machines are capable of “printing” in plastic, metal, and sand manufacturing, and the appeal to various industries – ranging from aerospace to medical and lifestyle products – is undeniable.

How to Start a Rabbl: Tell Your Favorite Bands Where to Play, and When

With the advent of various personal music-creating and editing programs (from Audacity, to Garage Band, to Logic Pro) it has become increasingly easy, and more popular for individuals to dive into the independent music industry. Success stories of amateur musicians, making it big from small, at-home “studios,” are rolling in daily.

Freddie Ravel

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-freddie-ravel

Dave Jaworski

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://jeeni.com/track/kelli-richards-interviews-dave-jaworski-3rd-ever-employee-of-microsoft-canada

Carol Pepper

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-carol-pepper-author-wealth-manager

Linda Ronstadt

Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-linda-ronstadt

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