Resources
When Past Glory Becomes Present Pressure: The Quiet Self-Sabotage of High Achievers
LinkedIn.com, April 10, 2026
There’s a pattern I’ve observed—both in others and, at moments, in myself—that doesn’t get talked about enough.
It’s not failure in the traditional sense. It’s something more subtle. More disorienting.
It’s what happens when someone who has been exceptional finds themselves no longer operating from that same level of momentum, relevance, or external validation… but is still being perceived through the lens of their past success.
From the outside, they’re still “the one who did X.” On the inside, something has shifted.
And that gap—between past identity and present reality—can quietly become one of the most destabilizing forces that a high achiever will ever face.
Read the entire article at When Past Glory Becomes Present Pressure: The Quiet Self-Sabotage of High Achievers
Spring Has Sprung — and Apple to the Core
We are certainly living in uncertain times; much of the time we don’t feel we have much control over what’s taking place on the world stage. But closer to home, the seasons are shifting and here in the US, spring has arrived. Having said that the weather has been absolutely nuts — climate change all over the country; crazy cold on the East Coast, with summer temperatures in the West. With spring being here, things just feel lighter and more hopeful.
Despite all that’s swirling around us, the one thing we do have control over is our attitude and our mindset. I try to maintain an optimistic stance, and as ever I remain immersed in innovative and creative endeavors with clients and projects that I’m most drawn to and enthused about. Having my mind and heart stimulated actively is something that’s really important to me – and co-creating with like-minded people where there is rapport, aligned vision, and a sense that we’re making a difference and having an impact. Never was that more true than in all my years in the Apple orbit — and with Steve Jobs — before, during, and after my lengthy tenure with the company. I’m beyond grateful for the experiences I had and how they shaped me. This issue has several references to my alma mater.
I hope you’re doing what you can to enjoy what you can in your life and your work, and to surround yourself with those who make you happy and light you up the most. To me, that’s pretty much the definition of success.
To your success.
Kelli
Apple at 50: What Most People Still Don’t Get About Its Greatest Innovation and Legacy
Apple turns 50 on April 1st — imagine; it sure doesn’t feel like that amount of time has passed since its inception.
As anyone who knows me and my history is aware, I am Apple to the core. With the release of “Apple: The First 50 Years” by David Pogue, I found myself reflecting not just on Apple’s impact on the world but also from my unique vantage point—shaped by my close association with Steve Jobs, and by being a part of the company during a formative era—the real lesson has often been misread.
This isn’t a retrospective. It’s a lens into what Apple actually changed—and why that matters even more in the age of AI. The “inner tech” matters as much or more as the innovation. Because the real legacy isn’t just the ‘insanely great’ products. It’s the brand the company cultivated and the philosophy that underpinned everything. And we’re going to need that for what comes next.
Plot Twist – When the Platform Didn’t Buy the Studio: What Paramount’s Win Means for the Future of Media, Tech & M&A
This past month didn’t just reshape Hollywood.
It clarified the future of media consolidation.
After months of speculation, Paramount — backed by David Ellison and Skydance Media — won the battle for Warner Bros. Discovery, outmaneuvering Netflix.
A few weeks ago, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos publicly emphasized that walking away was a valuation decision — not a political one.
But this story is ultimately bigger than who won in this specific transaction.
It signals a deeper recalibration in how platforms, studios, and technology companies think about ownership, scale, capital discipline, and vertical integration moving forward.
Is this simply another mega-deal?
Or are we witnessing a structural shift in how power consolidates across tech and entertainment?
In this article I share my updated analysis — and what it means for the next wave of M&A.
The Compound Power of Consistency: Why the Slight Edge Always Wins
We live in a culture obsessed with breakthroughs, big wins, viral moments, and overnight successes. But the real advantage is consistency.
Inspired by the book, The Slight Edge, this article explores how small, seemingly insignificant daily actions — repeated over time — quietly compound into extraordinary results in health, in wealth, in relationships and in leadership.
The leaders who endure aren’t always the most intense — they’re the most consistent. They’re the ones who take small steps and aligned actions daily. That’s the real edge. Where has consistency quietly outperformed talent, luck or intensity in your life?
Spotlight
Retail Designer – Tim Kobe
We recently lost a giant in both the design world and in the extended Apple family in Tim Kobe. Tim was a design powerhouse who co-created the Apple retail stores with Steve Jobs in the early 2000s. He could have stopped right there. But he was also the founder and CEO of Eight Inc. Sometimes referred to as as Apple’s “best kept secret’” , Eight has been one of the world’s most progressive design firms — and they’ve worked with many global brands for decades. The secret to their success may have been that they uniquely looked at design elements through the lens of humanity and human interactions. This was a testament to Tim’s vision. He published a book on his ethos here.
I was lucky to have crossed paths with Tim in the early days of his work with Steve, and then again much more recently over the past couple of years. One of my esteemed friends and colleagues, Kenny Lauer (an accomplished Chief Experience Officer), was very close to Tim – they were dear friends. I encourage you to read Kenny’s notes on a sit-down conversation he had with Tim a few years ago here, for more insights on Tim and his storied career. And also Kenny’s very moving homage for even more context after Tim passed last month. His work truly made a dent.
Media Recommendations
“Apple: The First 50 Years” by David Pogue
Released just in time for Apple’s 50th birthday (April 1st), Pogue walks the reader through Apple’s storied history. From its origins, to the many management changes, and of course with a spotlight on its many products through the years (some that you know about, and others you probably never heard of) readers will learn more about the tech giant than they probably were aware of. It showcases the innovative product wins in the marketplace and also those that never saw the lght of day. Pogue conducted over 150 interviews with many in fthe Apple universe, and the book is well-researched. Reading through it was a walk down memory lane to be sure. But of course the soul of the company is really only known by us ‘insiders’ who lived through Mr Jobs Wild Ride first-hand. I published my own account of Apple’s culture (& Steve!) through my lens about 15 years ago in “The Magic and Moxie of Apple”.
“The Real Things” by Brent Bourgeois
I’m a little biased because I’ve been a fan of Brent as a musician for over 40 years (from the Bourgeois Tagg days). And also because I’ve spent the better portion of my career in the music business coming up at the same time Brent’s career took off – and overlapping with many of the same people; so for me, it was a lot more of a personal (parallel) journey than it might be for other readers. I was looking forward to learning some new things about Brent’s history than I knew in this book, and I was not disappointed. He’s had the great good fortune to have been able to make a living as a musician for many years – doing what he’s been most passionate about – but not without some gaps and stumbles. I’m pleased he was comfortable sharing the good, the bad and the ugly; it demonstrated great vulnerability and humility.
People Say the Nicest Things…
“Kelli has a knack for seeing possibilities others don’t, and for seseing around corners as a visionary”.
Steve Jobs
This is a photo of Tim Kobe, founder and CEO of design agency Eight Inc (as above); perhaps most famous for his designs of the Apple retail stores with Steve Jobs. As many are aware, Steve was passionate both about aesthetics and the the consumer experience. And as Tim shared, he believed that Steve was one of the few people who understood that “design is a strategic tool for business success.”
Apple at 50: What Most People Still Don’t Get About Its Greatest Innovation and Legacy
LinkedIn.com, March 2026 -On April 1st, Apple Inc. turns 50.
Half a century since two Steves—and a vision that seemed almost implausible at the time—set something in motion that would go on to reshape not just an industry, but culture itself.
The timing feels especially poignant with the release of “Apple: The First 50 Years“ by journalist David Pogue, which captures the arc of that journey. I published my own book on Apple 15 years ago – “The Magic and Moxie of Apple: An Insider’s View”. There’s no shortage of retrospectives celebrating the products, the milestones, and the mythology.
But anniversaries like this aren’t just about looking back. They’re also about understanding what actually mattered—and what still does.
Read the entire article at Apple at 50: What Most People Still Don’t Get About Its Greatest Innovation and Legacy
Plot Twist – When the Platform Didn’t Buy the Studio: What Paramount’s Win Means for the Future of Media, Tech & M&A
LinkedIn.com, March 2026 – Several years ago, I wrote about the inevitability of a streaming platform acquiring a major Hollywood studio. And just a couple of months ago I published an article specifically on the implications of Netflix acquiring Warner Bros/HBO.
The thesis was simple:
Distribution + Data + IP would eventually collapse into a single operating system. Last week, that thesis was tested — and the outcome is, well, complicated.
After months of negotiations, Paramount (via Skydance) secured Warner Bros. Discovery, outbidding Netflix and reshaping the consolidation narrative. Netflix walked away without any further discussion or negotiation.
And that decision may matter more than the transaction itself.
Read the entire article: Plot Twist – When the Platform Didn’t Buy the Studio: What Paramount’s Win Means for the Future of Media, Tech & M&A
The Compound Power of Consistency: Why the Slight Edge Always Wins
LinkedIn.com, February 2026-There’s a seductive myth in our culture: That success comes from a breakthrough moment, a viral post that lands, a single brilliant move, a moonshot deal. Or even luck!
But in reality?
It’s almost always the result of something far less glamorous and far more powerful. In a word — Consistency.
In The Slight Edge, author Jeff Olson argues that the small, seemingly insignificant actions we take daily — or neglect daily — are what compound into extraordinary outcomes over time. Not dramatic, not flashy, but decisive and almost predictable in terms of the results that accrue.
Read the entire article: The Compound Power of Consistency: Why the Slight Edge Always Wins
New Lenses, New Possibilities
As long-time readers will attest, I’m all about living into “What Ifs” and possibilities. As we embark on this coming year, amid all manner of uncertainties swirling around us (many of which we can’t control), I think it’s more important than ever to look at what we can do and what inspired actions we can take that empower and embolden us. One of the things we have control over is our mind, what we focus on, our attitudes, and where we direct our attention.
If I have one piece of guidance for you this year, it would be to try and have a more expansive view on our lives; consider alternatives and possibilities in all areas of our life and our work. If something is stalled or blocked, what creative ideas can you conjure up which would allow you to try another approach or path to get where you say you want to go? As one of my esteemed colleagues is fond of saying, “this is not a go it alone life.” Reach out if you’d like some support.
I’m always here for you. Here’s hoping your year ahead is fulfilling for you on multiple levels.
To your success.
Kelli
Implications of kids graduating without financial literacy skills
(not often taught in U.S. schools)
Our schools are preparing students for tests—but not for life.
As best-selling author Scott Galloway recently underscored in his No Mercy / No Malice newsletter, and as Pew Research Center data confirms, most young adults are entering the world financially underprepared—not because they’re incapable, but because we’ve failed to teach them the basics in high school.
Budgeting. Debt. Credit. Investing. Cash flow.
These aren’t “nice-to-have” skills—they’re foundational to adulthood. When schools ignore financial literacy, the cost shows up later as anxiety, dependence, and delayed independence. It also appears to limit financial success over time. This article explores what’s broken, why it matters, and what must change if we want the next generation to truly thrive.
Slow Productivity: A Smarter Way to Re-Enter the World After the Holidays
As we wrap up the holiday season and step back into the work world, the most effective strategy may be to take a page from our holiday pace—and embrace slowing down rather than speeding up. Doing so can better support our nervous systems while optimizing our impact in the process.
In this article, I discuss the power of “Slow Productivity” and how working with greater focus and intention can actually lead to better results, while minimizing stress and burnout.
Spotlight
Ritual at Manresa
I have friends who are gourmands and who travel the globe eating at some of the finest restaurants in the world. While that can certainly be fun, it can also be time-consuming and expensive. Those of us in the SF Bay Area now have the reverse opportunity—to enjoy something extraordinary right in our own backyard.
Legendary chef David Kinch of Manresa in Los Gatos has partnered with visionary entrepreneur Luis Caviglia to create something special and unique called Ritual at Manresa, housed in the same location as the famed and beloved restaurant in Los Gatos.
Luis curates a rotating lineup of some of the best Michelin-starred chefs from around the world, each of whom completes a monthly residency at Manresa. These are impeccably crafted experiences that reflect the culture and talent each master chef brings to members of Ritual. Ritual at Manresa is a membership model, and it is definitely an investment for those who choose to participate in these unique experiences. That said, it’s far more affordable than global travel and much easier logistically for us locals.
I was fortunate to experience one of these wine-and-dinner pairings prior to the holidays, and it was truly a magical evening.
Many of the innovators and founders in Silicon Valley (and elsewhere!) that I meet are seeking unique, memorable experiences—and Ritual at Manresa is a shining example of what’s possible. I highly recommend it for individuals and couples, as well as for team-building with founders, innovators, and leaders who want to deliver a truly exceptional experience for their people.
Media Recommendations
Jacob Collier (his live show in SF & BBC doc)
Last year, I was introduced to the multi-hyphenate musical genius that is Jacob Collier. A friend recently brought me with her to see his show at Davies Hall in San Francisco, and I was completely blown away. Jacob is a young savant—a Grammy-winning English singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who creates unique, innovative, genre-defying music that has captivated and lit up audiences around the world.
He first came on the scene via YouTube during the pandemic, where he became famous for covering popular songs and recreating them in inventive ways that showcased his extraordinary talent for vocal harmonies and lush arrangements, paired with visuals that became music videos in their own right. He’s truly amazing and one of a kind.
The BBC did a short documentary on him, which I highly recommend, entitled Jacob Collier: In the Room Where It Happens. It’s a great overview of this genius.
Ripple (Netflix TV series)
A friend recommended this eight-episode drama series to me, which was just released on Netflix last month—and I loved it. The story centers on four strangers in NYC whose life experiences become intertwined following critical losses, detours, and high-stakes decisions that alter the trajectory of their lives.
As the series progresses, the viewer is drawn into the characters as we experience the ripple effects of small actions with significant impact. The storytelling and acting are first-rate. Eight episodes were not enough and left me hungry for more; I hope the show gets picked up for renewal and additional seasons. It’s a real winner.
What Happened To Your Hair (book)
Gunnar and Matthew Nelson are identical twins, sons of the late Ricky Nelson, and chart-topping performers in the early ’90s. Beyond their obvious musical talent, one of their biggest claims to fame is being part of the only family to have #1 records in three successive generations—stemming from a 100-year legacy of entertainers.
We crossed paths during my longstanding tenure as co-producer of the Pollstar Awards (concert industry), where I brought them in as presenters, and I’ve recently reconnected with them. They have always impressed me with how grounded, hard-working, approachable, and real they are as people.
They released their memoir at the end of the year entitled What Happened to Your Hair? How We Played Loud… Loved Proud… and Never Backed Down, which went to #1 on Amazon within days of its release in December. The book tells the story of their lives and careers, and the many experiences and challenges they endured—because theirs was not an easy life. They’ve worked hard for everything they’ve achieved; despite appearances, nothing was ever handed to them—quite the contrary, as you’ll discover when you read the book.
For me, it was a walk down memory lane, as they named names I knew from my own music business career.
People Say the Nicest Things…
“I had a chance to dive into your recently updated site – and wow. It’s simply stunning, and it radiates the high-touch, high-impact work you’ve always embodied. I’ve long admired your gift for helping visionaries like me, see around corners, stretch beyond our limits, and move with clarity and purpose toward what’s next.”
Rob Terry
Founder/CEO
Seafood AI & SmartCatch
I lost a dear friend just prior to the Holidays in Jeffrey Diamond. I met Jeff and his then collaborator, Michael Van Himbergen, about 30 years ago — and they have remained close friends of mine ever since (actually they’ve both been more like brothers to me, truth be told). They were both early grads of CalArts in LA, and early pioneers and innovators in the visual effects space in the 90s. When we met, they had just collaborated with Doug Trumbull on the VFX for Luxor’s launch in Vegas in the mid-90s, and together with Diane Pearlman who was EVP & GM at a major VFX studio in MA called Mass Illusions on films like: The Matrix, What Dreams May Come, Starship Troopers, Eraser, Die Hard with a Vengeance, and Judge Dredd, among others. Diane and Jeff were married and had two wonderful boys, Jake & Matt.
We all shared a passion for the convergence of tech and entertainment, and Jeff in particular showed me that it was possible to create a life of freedom as an entrepreneur, giving me the motivation to strike out on my own when it was time for me to launch my own consultancy. Jeff left us too soon – a victim of early onset Parkinson’s Disease – and I will miss him greatly.
Implications of kids graduating without financial literacy skills (not often taught in US schools)
LinkedIn.com, January 2026 – We talk a lot on LinkedIn about future skills: AI literacy, leadership, strategic thinking, resilience. And yet, when it comes to the basic economic foundation that enables all of that — financial literacy — we are failing our young people.
That’s the harsh reality echoed by thought leaders like Scott Galloway and corroborated in hard data from the Pew Research Center.
Read the entire article here: Implications of kids graduating without financial literacy skills (not often taught in US schools)
Slow Productivity: A Smarter Way to Re-Enter the World After the Holidays
LinkedIn.com, January 2026 – As the calendar turns, as we return to work, and as inboxes begin to refill, there’s an unspoken pressure to snap back into full speed.
Back-to-back meetings. Ambitious Q1 goals. The familiar hum of urgency.
But what if the most strategic way to re-enter the year isn’t by accelerating— but by moving more deliberately? This is where the concept of slow productivity becomes not just relevant, but essential.
Read the entire article here: Slow Productivity: A Smarter Way to Re-Enter the World After the Holidays
Celebrating What Matters Most
This year has certainly brought its share of ups and downs. But as we wind down another year and enter the holiday season, I hope you’ll take some time to celebrate what matters most in your life. Whether it’s your health, your family and friends, or the adventures you get to enjoy, most of us are pretty fortunate.
This is a great time to slow down and reflect on all the love and abundance in your life, and to be grateful for what’s going well. It’s a pretty crazy world these days—so take a moment to hug those who mean the most to you and count your blessings. Let’s make the new year the best yet!
Happy Holidays,
Kelli
When the Platform Buys the studio: Why Netflix-Warner Bros/HBO Changes Everything
(and Why it Was Inevitable)
Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. & HBO isn’t just another media deal—it’s the inevitable collapse of distribution, data, and IP into a single operating system. More than a decade ago, I predicted that a streamer would eventually acquire a legacy studio—not as a bet, but as a pattern. Distribution always pulls content upstream. This moment forces new questions about power, creativity, governance, and what becomes truly scarce in the next era of entertainment.
Why Being “Different” Makes You a Stronger Board Member
(and Why the Boardroom’s Future Depends on It)
Traditional board qualifications are no longer enough. Some of today’s most valuable board members are the ones who bring unconventional backgrounds, nonlinear paths, and multidimensional perspectives. Here’s why being “different” is no longer a perceived liability – it’s the new strategic advantage for modern progressive boards.
Read the Article
Embracing Neurodivergence: The Other Side of Genius
(Why Visionary Founders, Innovators & Creatives are Wired for Breakthroughs)
The traits you once saw as flaws may in fact be the source of your genius. After decades advising visionary founders, innovators, leaders and creatives, I’ve come to see neurodivergence as the hidden engine of innovation. Here’s why it’s time we treat it as a superpower—and not a stigma.
Read the Article
Spotlight: Wand.ai
I’ve just started advising Rotem Alaluf, the Founder & CEO of Wand.ai which is the only platform for management, execution, and creation of AI agents as trusted members of your workforce. We should be excited about an agentic workforce not because it replaces humans—but because it liberates human potential at a moment when complexity, speed, and ambiguity exceed what traditional org structures can handle. Enterprises are moving from a purely human-centric model to a new hybrid, dual-workfoce model where AI agents work with people side-by-side, which results in a foundational change in how organizations operate. With this approach, AI models create productivity efficiencies, saving time and money, and minimizing or eliminating redundancies — freeing up people to focus on creativity, judgment, strategy and relationships. This is a structural competitive advantage that compunds over years. We are indeed living in exciting times rich with both innovative breakthrough technologies and emerging business models. Wand is definitely one to watch.
Media Recommendations
This is the section where I typically share what books I’ve read, or the latest movies and TV shows I’ve watched that I’m enthused about. However, these past couple of months have been quite full — and I’ve gotten behind on all of this. The TV I’ve been watching has mostly been new seasons of shows I’ve enjoyed that I’ve written about previously (and still enjoy!) like “The Morning Show”, “Somebody Feed Phil”, “Palm Royale”, “Man on the Inside”, and the Beatles Anthology. I’m always on the lookout for new media, so for a change I’m asking that you let me know what you recommend I check out; share some of your favorites with me when you have a moment.
As I was wrapping up this NSL to send out to you — a gift dropped this morning; it’s a stop-motion animated video of George Harrison’s “Give Me Love” created by Finn Wolfhard & friends — he’s one of the stars of Stranger Things and at just 22 years old is clearly a multi-hyphenate talent to watch!). The video brings to life George and his famous garden gnomes from his Friar Park home in England. Here’s what George’s son Dhani had to say about it:
Actor, director, and musician Finn Wolfhard has directed the first-ever music video for George Harrison’s beloved 1973 single “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth).” The song is a highlight from Living in the Material World, Harrison’s highly praised second solo album of original music following the dissolution of The Beatles in 1970.
On making the video, Wolfhard says, “To work with the Harrison family and bring this video to life with a team of incredible young Canadian artists has been a great honor. It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am for this opportunity. George Harrison has and will continue to be a huge inspiration to me, and his work will live on forever.
Dhani Harrison says about working with Wolfhard, “Finn is one of the sweetest and most talented people I know of his generation, and he is the perfect person to direct a video for my dad. My dad would have loved this, and I hope his wonderful creative heartfelt ideas help this song to reach another generation. Great job, Finn – we love you!.
People Say the Nicest Things…
Working with Kelli has been transformative for me. She recognized the need for a senior tech lead almost half a year before it became obvious to us — and we’re now feeling the pain of having acted a little too late. Her ability to see around corners like that has been incredibly valuable. What I especially appreciate about Kelli is her holistic approach. She doesn’t just focus on the professional side — she also helps me reflect on the personal dimensions that inevitably influence leadership decisions. Often, those two are deeply intertwined, and Kelli’s perspective helps bring clarity to both.
She’s also remarkably flexible — equally effective when working one-on-one with me (and me being not well prepared) or together with another senior leader. That adaptability makes every session productive and tailored to where we are as a team.
Finally, Kelli is outstanding when it comes to prioritization. During our Series A, she helped me stay focused on what was truly essential — making sure I didn’t take on more than what was absolutely needed to get the round across the line.
Kelli combines strategic clarity, personal insight, and a pragmatic sense of what really matters — and that’s what makes her such an exceptional advisor.
Dr. Max Gulde | CEO
constellr GmbH
www.constellr.com
When the Platform Buys the Studio: Why Netflix–Warner Bros./HBO Changes Everything (and Why It Was Inevitable)
LinkedIn.com, December 2025- Last week, Netflix announced an agreement to acquire Warner Bros.’ studio and streaming assets (including HBO/Max), a move that—if it clears regulators—would mark a structural shift in entertainment, and the most consequential “streamer buys a legacy studio” moment we’ve seen to date.
Read the entire article here: When the Platform Buys the Studio: Why Netflix–Warner Bros./HBO Changes Everything (and Why It Was Inevitable)
Search Resources
Topic Areas & Guests
Categories
Join our mailing list
For insights on industry trends, and for details on special projects/events. We respect your time and your privacy.
6 Ways to Build Your Brand and Grab Your Audience
In today’s world, the connection to your customer is your number one asset. The path to communicating most effectively to your “fans” literally becomes the yellow brick road. If you’re not giving your fan or client a myriad of choices through which to connect, you are missing out not only on revenues, but also on building your army of loyal brand advocates. Here are 6 best practices to implement immediately to forge a solid, long-standing relationship with your best audiences and clients.
#1. Good as Gold – Email Addresses. I can’t stress this enough. You need to ask your client / fan base for their email addresses often – and you need to offer them something valuable in return. Whether that’s a great audio course that you’ve created or a track off your new album, having a way to reconnect to your target fans or clients frequently and authentically is your most valuable asset. For more information on HOW to collect those email addresses (what mechanisms to use, what offerings to inspire the trade, etc.), please sign up for the pre-sale of my forthcoming ebook, “All You Need is Love – Using Social Media to Build an Army of Brand Advocates.”
#2. Body and Soul. The body of your work has got to be excellent obviously, but in today’s world, your fan base and clients want more than just your products. They want to know who YOU are and what makes you tick. They want to be your friends on Facebook and feel a personal, one-on-one connection to you. In short, they want you to bring your soul – the passion behind your work. Be sure that you’re sharing with enough depth and in enough places to create this powerful connection to your audience. This could mean giving interviews to mainstream media – or to popular bloggers. It could mean sharing videos and photos of your personal life – images of you when you’re just being you, without your “brand” everywhere. If you don’t have a blog yourself, consider putting one up. You can keep it super simple by doing video blogs from wherever you are, bringing your fan base “behind the curtain” so to speak and including them in what you do and who you are, body and soul.
#3. Microscope, Telescope, Periscope. If you’re ready to move forward with the most important work of your life (and if you’re not, stop wasting time already!), then you’re going to need a dream team to move you forward. It’s easy to get caught up from a singular point of view – whether that be a microscopic view lost in the details, or a far-out telescope view of the big picture, but with NO details – and if you don’t have a periscope to look underneath it all and spot the rough seas — you just might not survive the process. Begin pulling your team together from near and far – choose them with great care.
#4. Inquiry! Constantly asking your fans and client base what they want from you is a vital best practice. As we know from the music industry, things can change day-to-day, and it’s those artists who are listening most closely and who remain the most malleable, who are the most likely to survive – and thrive. You can use an online service, like SurveyMonkey to run a poll, or you can reach out through your newsletter. Ask your audience what they most want from you in the next month, six months and year – and then make sure that your model is wrapped tightly around those expectations. And while you’re asking for stuff, ask for their cell phone numbers. Mobile marketing is huge. ASK your audience how they want to be contacted and then CONTACT them. Send those messages once a week or so with an idea or better yet, ask them for their ideas. Send them to a free online show. Make the connection.
#5. Testimonials. Whether you’re a top tier platinum artist, a leader in your industry, or just starting out – nothing speaks louder than the words of a fan, client, collaborator, journalist or even a team member. Start gathering those testimonials and post them everywhere – on your website, your newsletter, your social media sites and your fan forums. The client has nothing but choices in today’s world; make sure that you’re sharing the wonderful things being said about you and the work that you do.
#6. Inclusivity and Exclusivity. Be sure that you’re out there in a big enough way to include as many possible clients and fans as possible. Having said that, be sure that you’re also building a level of exclusivity into your products and your availability. Have a space that belongs only to your most ardent uber fans. Perhaps that’s a forum only for superfan members at a certain level of payment or participation, or perhaps it’s an event that you do (either live or online) that only has room for 50 guests.
*For new musicians, one space to check out is StageIt (see the Resources section for more info).
Kelli Richards, CEO, The All Access Group, LLC
and Author of The Art of Digital Music
An Intimate Q&A with Tom Silverman, CEO of Tommy Boy Entertainment
Tom Silverman, CEO of Tommy Boy Entertainment and the Force Behind the New Music Seminar Speaks with Kelli about where the Music Industry is Headed.
Here are a few excerpts of my interview with Tom Silverman on my All Access Radio Show. To hear the entire interview, please visit my website at https://allaccessgroup.com.
Kelli: Tom, where do you see the future of music and artistic control of content heading?
Tom: Artistic control. Wow. I don’t like to use the word control when I’m talking about artistic. I think the problem with the business right now is it’s based on control. The old music business was based on control. And you know, we’re starting to build a new music business that’s based on different values altogether … The old business really was based on power and control and coercion… all that “nice” stuff, and the new business really is based on cooperation, community, connection and collaboration. It’s a much different paradigm.
Kelli: Tom, why do you think traditional labels are so afraid to hire new artists and how do you think a new artist can succeed despite these roadblocks?
Tom: … Whenever you have a consolidated business or industry, they become risk averse. The more companies roll up and consolidate, the less risk they take. That’s true in any business. The labels would rather be conservative … it costs a million dollars to roll the dice every time you sign a new artist. It’s at least a million dollars in America even to see what you have. They’re saying,’ let’s sign less artists and let’s spend less money on those few artists that we do sign them, in marketing, and then let’s do 360 deals with them so we have a bigger return’
Kelli: And some artists, the smart ones, aren’t signing those kinds of deals, right?
. … If you want to be signed in the early part of your career, when you don’t have any hits yet and no history, you’re going to have to do a 360 deal – or you’re not doing a deal – that’s just the way it is – unless you go with a small independent.
Kelli: How should a new artist succeed, if in fact, they don’t get signed by a label?
Tom: Okay, a lot of what we’re talking about now is New Music Seminar curriculum. An artist has to do it themselves anyway at the beginning – there’s almost no artist being signed off of just hearing a tape or CD. That’s just not happening any more. They have to have some action – some story – some heat. They have to bring heat to the table before anyone cares about them. Before a booking agent cares about them, before a manager cares about them, before a label cares about them. Think about a label as an investor. If you’re a venture capitalist, you have to have some reason to sign the deal. It’s about managing risk and reward. We can’t get caught up in the emotions of music. It’s just a business reality.
One of the things we’re trying to do is to create a new business reality, an alternative to this. One which would please the artist in the long run, make money for the investor in a five or ten to 1 return on a hit, so that more money can flow back into the business and more artists get signed and more artists have an opportunity to break through. Not that you can’t break through on your own, but I have to say, I’ve done some research … in 2008, there were only 1500 artists that sold over 10,000 albums that year. There were only 200 new artists that had never done it before, and that includes Lady Gaga. So let’s use that number. I like to call it the obscurity level – when an artist breaks 10,000 albums, they’re in the game. So out of those 200, 192 were actually on independent labels; only 8 were doing it themselves.
Kelli: Tom, you relaunched New Music Seminar a couple of years ago (and I’m thrilled to be part of it this year, by the way). Share with the audience more about New Music Seminar. What’s behind it?
Tom: … Our message is a very specific one. The record business is dying. It’s sinking. There’s nothing that’s going to happen that’s going to change that. But there will still be a music business. We just don’t know what it will be, and the purpose of the New Music Seminar is to build the next music business, hopefully a profitable and sustainable music business. So we’re convening the architects and designers of the next music business. I mean, everyone knows how bad the record business is right now, and for the last ten years they’ve known it. We don’t waste a lot of time talking about that, because talking about a bad situation doesn’t change it. We want to be constructive. We’re not trying to fix a broken boat. We’re trying to build a new boat. It seems like other conferences talk about how do you bail water out of this boat to slow the sinking. Do we bail to the left or to the right?
Kelli: Yes, this is all about solutions and hope and a design for what comes next.
You can catch my show every Monday at 5pm PST. https://BlogTalkRadio.com/AllAccessRadio.
Kelli Richards, CEO, The All Access Group, LLC
Hot Stuff from Hot Caramel – Excerpts from my Interview with Irene Cara
Being able to support great artists and entrepreneurs as they break away from past successes in their lives and embark on the new is one of life’s biggest highs for me. Few performers have had the amazing success and influence of Irene Cara – I had the chance to interview Irene recently and to hear about her new group, “Hot Caramel.” The direction Irene Cara’s sound and life has taken is deeply inspiring. Just to remind everyone about Irene’s lifetime of successes, as an actress, Irene received the Image Award for Best Actress for her work with Diahann Carroll in the NBC Movie of the Week, Sisters. She also received an NAACP Image Award Nomination for her portrayal of Myrlie Evers in the PBS movie on Civil Rights Leader Medger Evers “For Us the Living.”
For Flashdance alone Irene won 5 major awards, including Top Female Vocalist-Pop Singles and Pop Single of the Year. As a songwriter her talent earned her an Academy Award, 2 Grammys, a Golden Globe and a Peoples Choice Award for Flashdance. She was also the first African American female to win an Academy Award since Hattie McDaniel in 1939, plus the first Hispanic female since Rita Moreno and the first bi-racial female ever to win in any category – pre-dating Halle Berry by nearly 20 years.
Here are a few excerpts from our interview. You can hear the entire Q&A at https://allaccessgroup.com/articles-and-resources/blog-talk-radio.
Kelli Richards: “You know, Irene, there’s just so much to say about the amazing career you’ve enjoyed. Your list of awards is long and impressive. If you’re able to choose just one or two, what have been the most shining moments in your career that you’ve been most proud of?
Irene Cara: “I think this new phase is really the most important thing to me now. I mean, I don’t like to look backwards. I like to live in the present and look forward – to look toward the future. I started in the industry as a child … and I did a lot of work as a 5 year old, 6 year old, 8 year old, 11 year old. You know, I did Electric Company when I was a child. I did my first movie at fourteen, a highly acclaimed, pretty much is considered an African-American classic called “Sparkle.” At the time that was unique, because that was during the whole black exploitation genre of films. There were very few films about people of color.
Of course, Roots was iconic classic television series that started the whole miniseries genre. I played Alex Haley’s mother as a young girl. I started my entire career as a child and then into my teens. And then, you know, Fame and Flashdance were pretty much the end of an era for me. Pretty much the highlight of a 20 year career for me…
So now, this is the stage where I consider the beginning of my adult career. It really embodies who I truly am as an artist.
… I’ve been a working artist since childhood, and this is the first time where I’m now free to express myself as an adult artist the way I see myself … not fulfilling someone else’s vision of what that is.
To learn more about Hot Caramel’s new double CD, visit https://irenecara.com/cdbook3.html
Kelli Richards, CEO, The All Access Group, LLC
Gregg Allman – Somehow You’re Still on the Run
Gregg Allman has always been a guy who colors outside the lines, in my opinion. There’s no question that The Allman Brothers Band has serious staying power. Probably best known for “Sweet Melissa,” Allman is a bluesy, jam-band pioneer who practically invented Southern Rock. As most followers of Allman Brothers music probably know, Gregg has had a long career that began with he and his brother playing together when they were only in high school. They followed what is now an almost a non-existent route to success – they were signed by a label. Although the sound of the album they produced was definitely not what they wanted, it did begin a lifelong, winding success story for Gregg. (Sadly, his brother passed away in 1973.)
Allman would tell you himself that he’s been way up in his life, and he’s definitely been down. Last year the 63-year old musician had a liver transplant AND a new album in the works. Released just a few weeks ago, “Low Country Blues” was produced by T Bone Burnett. In it, Allman covers music from some of the music that most influenced his own life and voice – from Muddy Waters and BB King, to Buddy Guy and Magic Sam. Low Country Blues is definitely one of those “up” moments in Gregg Allman’s remarkable body of work. It’s rich with passion and implies a deep understanding of those highs and lows that life throws at all of us.
It was T Bone Burnett who brought Allman the initial idea of a cover album. Said Allman in a recent interview, “He told me some guy gave him a hard drive, it has 10,000 obscure blues songs… He says, ‘I’m gonna pick out twenty of ‘em and send ‘em to ya and you tell me what you think.’ He said, ‘They’re old, like Billie Holliday old, and when you listen to ‘em, I want you to think about us gettin’ in there and about bringin’ ‘em up to today.’” The recording process was amazingly easy and electrifying, said Allman in his easy southern drawl, “If it works right, it all turns real magic, and that’s what happened this time, more so I think than anything I’ve ever recorded. We got 15 masters in 11 days; let me tell ya, they just went Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!”
Pop is the right word – the album definitely has chops. It has a unique, deep bluesy sound, easily recognized as pure Allman, and backed by a troupe of A-listers in the music world. In addition to Burnett and Allman, Doyle Bramhall II also played on guitar. The rhythm section was comprised of upright bassist Dennis Crouch and drummer Jay Bellerose, and the lineup included a brass section led by trumpeter Darrell Leonard (whose resume extends al the way back to his work with Gregg’s late brother, Duane Allman). Finally, the sounds of Night Tripper, Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack, completed the pack on piano. (Rebennack co-wrote “Let This Be A Lesson To Ya’” with Gregg on The Gregg Allman Band’s 1977 classic, Playin’ Up A Storm.) To add to the overall collaborative effort, the album’s one original composition, “Just Another Rider” was even co-written with longtime ABB guitarist Warren Haynes.
A gypsy at heart, Gregg Allman is both a traditionalist and a non-traditionalist. He is eager to get out and tour the new songs, kicking off in New York on March 10th at the historic Beacon Theatre and then winding his way around the east coast and then through Europe – landing back on this continent late in September with two dates in Canada. You can find his entire tour schedule at https://bit.ly/GreggAllmanTour and definitely pick up the album – at under twelve bucks; it’s a million-dollar participation in the voice of a true American music giant. https://amzn.to/GreggAllmanAlbum
“Places you been, things that you done, and somehow you’re still on the run,” Allman sings on the original song “Just Another Rider.” I think we’re all glad that this guy is still out there on the run, entertaining and inspiring the rest of us to do the same.
Kelli Richards, CEO, The All Access Group, LLC
Remembering John Lennon – 30 Years Later
Like much of the world, I’ve spent the last week thinking about John Lennon and the anniversary of his death on December 8th. It’s honestly hard to believe that thirty years have passed since he was taken from us in a single moment’s insanity. In fact, most of the time, it’s hard to believe that John’s really gone at all. His was far more than the voice of a generation – it was often the voice of our hearts and our conscience.
And as unimaginable as it is to hold space for the thirty years of unspoken words and unwritten songs, what I truly cannot get away from this week is the rest of John. As great a man as he was, and as truly generous a soul – especially to his fellow musicians – for two men out there, John Lennon wasn’t a Beatle – or an icon – he was simply Dad.
I met Julian Lennon for the first time several years ago. I was struck with how gracious he was and how engaging – how much he reminded me of his father and how strongly he had aligned with his Dad’s passion for peace and conservation. But I was also captured by the deep sadness he seemed to bear, just under that gracious surface. I remember sharing with Julian how sorry I was for his loss – and recognizing how he had lost his dad, twice really. It was a deeply heartfelt conversation and a genuine connection. In a career filled with world=renowned musicians and many celebrity relationships – it is one that has stayed with me at a core level.
Julian has his own voice of course. His new album “Everything Changes” should be out by next year, and in October he helped his mom, Cynthia Lennon, publicize the John Lennon Peace Monument in Liverpool. And Sean has found his own path as well, now co-leading a band with his musician / model girlfriend, Charlotte Kemp Muhl (Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger.)
But all successes aside, it’s still Julian I think of often – and Sean. How the thread of their lives with their dad, John Lennon, was forever cut short by something so senseless and beyond comprehension. I have always been struck by how much Julian looks and sounds like his father – in the way that only fathers and sons can. In fact, one of my career aspirations has always been to create a benefit concert with Julian and Paul McCartney around John Lennon’s music. To use the talents I have to honor how much was left unsaid, by one of the people who most deserved to hear it – his son. Julian embodies his own gifts and talents along with his father’s.
I suppose that is really my attempt to make sense of these things – this loss – to find some deeper meaning. To find some thread of understanding that will provide some peace – for Julian and for the rest of us. To knit a golden thread through time and space and recapture one of the greatest voices of humanity, and to simply risk listening and hearing what we MIGHT some day achieve – if we would only imagine. John’s greatest gifts were surely his music and his wish for peace and love which inspired and sparked a generation. And we are truly fortunate that his legacy and grace endures and burns most brightly in Sean and Julian.
Kelli Richards, CEO, The All Access Group, LLC
“Connecting the Dots Between Entertainment and Technology”
https://allaccessgroup.com
Search Resources
Topic Areas & Guests
Categories
Join our mailing list
For insights on industry trends, and for details on special projects/events. We respect your time and your privacy.
The Short Lifespan Of Twitter’s Ill-Fated Music App
Music has been the lifeblood of many social media services, but it appears that Twitter will not be one of them. Social media music sites have prospered, with CNET reporting that Spotify recently topped $500 million in revenue. At the same time, however, Twitter has decided to fold its hand in the music business and get out of a hashtag-based sound promotion service. What proved to be the sour note in this social media foray?
Kindle Matchbook: A Blazing Digital/Print Marriage
Amazon’s newly launched program, Kindle Matchbook, has teamed up with publishers and authors to create bundled packages, which allows you to buy the digital version of the books you own or purchase in the future for a discounted price.
The War of Superiority: Technology vs Manpower
Video games not only act as a watermark, illustrating modern technological advancement, but may also be a platform to launch further innovation. From computer simulated and controlled Mars rovers, to the US military’s use of unmanned drones, “video game technology,” may be more vital than you realize for modern advancement.
Steve Turnidge
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-steve-turnidge
Google and YouTube: Making Beautiful Music Together (for You to Buy)
Google has its eye on the music industry, and as we all know, Google usually gets what it wants.Here are Google’s plans for becoming a major music industry player through the power of YouTube.
Jim Guerinot
listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-jim-guerinot
Andrew Romans
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-andrew-romans
NASA’s Stunningly Beautiful Space Now 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.
An Inspiring Leader & Mentor: 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.
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.It carries all of my music, movies, and TV shows around for me. I access iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, HBO Go, ESPN, etc.
Bruce Burtch
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-bruce-burtch
iTunes Radio: Have They Hit 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.
Jay Samit
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-jay-samit
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, 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) 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. Our 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 Bestselling 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. Bestselling 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! Professional 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 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
My 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 Easy: Long 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
Discover Your Next Favorite Artist With Set.fm
As new ideas, inventions, applications surface one has to begin to wonder where the next advancement will come from? How revolutionary will it be? Who will think of it?
Tim Quirk, Head of Global Content Programming for Google Play
Tim Quirk helped build the joint digital music venture Rhapsody in 2001, serving for many years as the VP of Music Programming as establishing himself as a pioneer in the digital music industry. In 2010 he left Rhapsody to help launch Google Play, where he is currently breathing musical life into the technology giant as the Head of Global Content Programming for Google Play.
Music Therapy for Children With Autism?
Most children with Autism have difficulty with performing eye contact; music therapy works to help this in miraculous and numerous ways..Undoubtedly Music Therapy can and had had a major impact on some children’s lives.
CEO of All Access Group Honored as One of The Top 10 Consultants on MO.com
Cupertino, CA – September 2, 2013 — Kelli Richards, CEO of The All Access Group LLC, a highly sought-after consultant, mentor, speaker, events producer, and #1 Amazon Bestselling author was recently honored by MO.com as one of the top 10 consultants across all industries.
Paul Myers
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-paul-myers
Playground Sessions: The Untraditional Piano Teacher
Playground Sessions may be your opportunity to learn to sooth crowds with melodic sounds of the piano like Mozart or Chopin did before us. Co-created by the music legend Quincy Jones, Playground Sessions is an interactive music curriculum that allows users to learn to play the piano in the comfort of their own home, with no physical teachers present.
Tech’s Bringing Sexy Back: Taking Advantage of Technology’s New Image
Hollywood exudes sex appeal, glamour, and stardom. Now, that glamour is spilling over into other industries — including the tech world. Hollywood stars are funding and branding startups. Celebrities are joining companies as CMOs or creative directors. And now, they’re developing their own brands on the side, too: think Jessica Alba’s eco-friendly baby business, The Honest Company.
Innovation: Goodyear married to Zeppelin; Boeing delivered “Sky Interior”
Innovation in the skies: Goodyear married to Zeppelin; Boeing delivered “Sky Interior”. The Goodyear blimp is almost as recognizable as Shaq in kindergarten. The blue, silver, and yellow balloon looking like a floating football, periodically floats around during the summer and sticks out like sore thumb; offering an ingenious marketing play for the tire company. But what are the uses of Goodyear blimps besides causing an association between flying footballs and car tires? Well in truth not much.
Matt Emerzian, Founder of Every Monday Matters
I recently chatted with Matt Emerzian, founder of Every Monday Matters on my BlogTalkRadio show. Matt has an amazing and powerful story. A few years ago, Matt was enjoying a successful career in the Los Angeles music industry as the Senior VP for a music-marketing firm run by Robert Kardashian. He was managing promotional projects for artists like U2, Coldplay, Usher, and the Black Eyed Peas. Matt got an amazing gift. One day he got a wake-up call.
Adobe Systems Marketing Cloud
Earlier this week Adobe Systems completed their acquisition of Neolane- a company that specializes in integrating both online and offline marketing data, solidifying Adobe’s platform for their “Marketing Cloud.” But what is Adobe’s Marketing Cloud, and why is this $600 million purchase important?
IFTTT – “Put the internet to work for you”
This Rube Goldberg-esque application is called IFTTT, pronounced “Gift” with a silent “G” (Billy Madison would have a tough time with that one) and is, according to their website, a “service that lets you create powerful connections with one simple statement,” called a recipe. These “recipes” work on an “If This Then That” platform, the “this” being a trigger, and the “that” an action- in attempt to mimic, and even follow through on our impulses automatically.
Fireside Chat with Ralph Simon, President & CEO of Mobilium Global
I recently welcomed Ralph Simon on my Blog Talk Radio Show. Ralph Simon is acknowledged as one of the founders of the modern mobile entertainment industry. Over the last 15 years, he has been a prominent global mobile trailblazer and innovator. Ralph serves as President and CEO of the London-based Mobilium Global, which provides high-level strategic advice and guidance to mobile handset makers and others – and he co-founded the successful Zomba Group.
David Rohlander
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-with-david-rohlander
Ralph Simon
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-ralph-simon-0
Why You Should Learn From Steve Jobs, Not Idolize Him
Imitation may be the highest form of flattery, but it’s not a winning-business strategy. Without a doubt, young entrepreneurs can learn endlessly from Jobs’ example, but they shouldn’t adhere too closely to his image. After all, he may have been a design genius but he did ruffle a few feathers.
Q&A with Brent Wilkins
I recently had the opportunity to talk with Brent Wilkins, Vice President of Global Business Development at Skullcandy Inc., a company that markets and distributes performance audio and gaming headphones and other accessory related products.
Linda Tucker
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/one-womans-journey-to-save-the-white-lions-of-south-africa
Excel –Canvas or Spreadsheet?
When you first hear the word “Excel” do you immediately cringe? Does it remind you of spreadsheets, graphs, and formulas? For most people in the business world, using Excel can be compared to an alarm clock repeatedly beeping in the middle of the night with no shut off button; that’s a horrifying thought. But for one man, using Excel doesn’t coincide with rows and columns of numbers. For 73-year old Tatsuo Horiuchi, Excel is just another canvas to paint on.
Brent Wilkins
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-brent-wilkins-of-skull-candy
Working Behind the Scenes with Dave Stewart
Watch the video below as share with you some insight on just how fun it is working with artists like Dave Stewart as a producer.
iWork for iCloud
It seems like it was just a matter of time before Apple coordinated its iCloud technology, currently used for bringing media stored in iTunes (music, movies, tv shows, etc.) to all your Apple products, with its iWork platform- syncing Apple’s version of Microsoft Office to iPhones iPads and Macs alike.
Fireside Chat with Dave Ulmer, author of “The Innovator’s Extinction”
Dave Ulmer, original founder of Roxio and recent Managing Director of New Growth Businesses and Head of Global Cloud Business for SingTel, has had a successful career of creating and launching multiple new businesses and products. He has been a colleague of mine for almost 15 years and I was happy to welcome him on my Blog Talk Radio show last week.
Futuristic Mac Pro “Pretty Hot”
In a rare move at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on June 10th, Apple offered a sneak preview of what Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, calls “the most radical Mac yet.”
Q&A with Debbie Gisonni, CEO of Sillheart Institute
On this week’s Blog Talk Radio Show I spoke with Debbie Gisonni, a best selling author, holistic lifestyle advisor, and corporate leader who inspires people to make simple changes that radically improve their self-awareness, well-being and success. A charismatic speaker and media guest, she is the CEO of Stillheart Institute, and was one of the first and youngest women publishers in high tech, as Publisher of Network Computing and Publishing Director who launched InternetWeek.
The ‘Sound City’ Documentary Reminisces About a Simpler Time
As the music industry settles into the post-pro-tools world, the documentary is a homage to the way things used to be. Long recording sessions, a dirty studio and some of the best music in history. That’s legacy of Sound City.
An Intimate Talk with Michael Dorf of The Knitting Factory and City Winery
I recently invited Michael Dorf, former chairman and CEO of The Knitting Factory and founder of City Winery, to talk with me on my Blog Talk Radio show, All Access Radio. Michael, being the entrepreneur that he is, started the Knitting Factory, a combination café, art, and performance space housed in Lower Manhattan at age 23. He left the Knitting Factory in 2003 and transformed his career from art and music to incorporate another passion, wine. He created City Winery in 2007, the first fully operational winery in Manhattan.
Google: Pioneering Meaningful Controls to Prevent Child Pornography
With so many ways to access, share and distribute information on the internet, is it possible to put meaningful controls in place to prevent child pornography? And if removing the offending pictures is achievable, what happens when they reappear in another location? For all of the benefits the digital age has brought us, the rarely discussed world of online child pornography is the one defect that has yet to be addressed. Fortunately, Google is about to implement a change that will drastically reduce online child pornography.
Debbie Gisonni
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-author-debbie-gisonni
Letter from Kelli for June – Linda Tucker, Saving the White Lions
This month I had the amazing opportunity to interview Linda Tucker on my weekly “All Access Radio” podcast (I’ll share that interview in my July newsletter, be sure to watch for it!). Linda has devoted her life to saving the white lion. Yes, the animal.
Do Female Music Artists Have a Lock On The Industry?
After taking the stage at “Sound For Change” in London on June 1st, Jennifer Lopez declared that “women have taken over the music industry.” The event was presented by Gucci’s “Chime for Change” charity, which seeks to promote health, equality and justice “for every girl, every woman, everywhere.” J-Lo joined fellow female superstars Beyonce, Madonna, Ellie Goulding and Mary J Blige for a series of performances designed to “put girls’ and women’s issues on the world’s stage.”
Michael Dorf
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-michael-dorf-city-winery-knitting-factory
Zack Zalon
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-zack-zalon
Kip Winger
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-an-intimate-fireside-chat-with-kip-winger
An Exclusive Interview with Stewart Copeland, Drummer from The Police
I recently talked with my good friend, Stewart Copeland, a film composer, musician and the drummer for The Police on my Blog Talk Radio show, All Access Radio. Stewart has an extensive and diverse resume. We started the interview talking about what motivates him and what passions drive his choices. Steward said, “It has to be creatively amusing.”
Warp-Speed: A Promising Future for Spacecraft or a Trekkie’s Daydream?
Hollywood films have championed the image of spacecrafts moving at unimaginable speeds, traveling seemingly faster than the speed of light. Whether referred to as “warp speed,” “super drive,” or “time travel,” movies from Star Wars to Star Trek to the satirical Space Balls, have all taken advantage of an apparently unrealistic form of transportation. But what if this incredibly efficient yet fictional type of travel was more practical than we ever imagined? What if “warp speed” was no longer in the realm of science fiction, but a mainstream, sensible mode of transportation?
An Inside Look At My Relationship with Irene Cara
In the video below, I briefly discuss my working relationship with Irene Cara, singer and actress. Cara is most famous for her role in Fame and Academy Award winning song, “Flashdance…What a Feeling.”
The Continued Convergence of Music & Tech: Laptop Orchestras
Remember lugging that giant trumpet case to and from school just so you could be a part of the school band? Half the time you forgot to bring it and the times you remembered, your arm was sore by the time you entered the school’s doors. Or maybe you just regret never having had the musical instrument experience at all. Well here is your opportunity to combine some of the skill sets you already possess to be part of an orchestra. But instead of the use of a traditional instrument, a laptop is all that is needed to become a part of a unique ensemble.
Can Google Give Spotify the Smackdown?
Google has set its sights on releasing a music service to take on popular options such as Spotify, Pandora and Rhapsody. Their recently announced streaming music service — Google Play All Access — is poised to make quite a splash in the market.
What is It?
Alice through the Looking Glass (The Corning Glass, that is…)
In the near distant future, all of the surfaces in your house are made of high-tech glass. Instead of following a recipe on your tablet, your glass countertops now become the display. Does this make your spine tingle? Does it feel uber-tech, light years away? Like something only Steve Jobs or Captain Kirk would have access to? Nope, it’s coming to your doorstep.
Q&A with Hank Barry, Co-Chair of Sidley Austin
I welcomed Hank Barry, co-chair of Sidley’s Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice, on my Blog Talk Radio show last Monday. I met Hank during his tenure years as the CEO at Napster.
Hank Barry
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-hank-barry-of-sidley-austin
The Scoop on Zach Zalon, Former President of Virgin Digital
I recently talked with Zach Zalon, the co-founder of Wilshire Axon and former President of Virgin Digital, the digital platform for Virgin’s Entertainment Group. We discussed his inspiration for launching Virgin Digital and the philosophies that have structure his career.
Social TV & Second Screen: How Television Captivates Fans Using Social Media
Are you guilty of calling up Carson Daly in the early 2000’s and requesting a song on MTV’s show, Total Request Live? MTV is just one early example of viewers interacting with television. American Idol has also been notorious for enabling fans call in or text to vote for their favorite contestant for nearly a decade, but with the growing popularity of social media, we’re seeing an expansion of audience participation and networks are taking it a step further.
Julian Lennon and the White Feather Foundation
In the video below, I talk briefly about my relationship with Julian Lennon and his charity, the White Feather Foundation, who celebrated its huge gala late last week. To Support the White Feather Foundation, please visit: https://WhiteFeatherFoundation.com
Stop Wishing Your Life Away- THRIVE
Fearless people not only live amazing lives and achieve great heights — fearless people take on projects from which the rest of us would run. Thrive! Stop Wishing Your Life Away…
Are You Ready to THRIVE?
Do you ever feel like your life is passing you by? Like there are things you’ve wanted to do and make happen, but you just haven’t gotten around to doing them? Do you feel like you’ve been distracted or lived a life of excuses or have felt pressure to keep up with the Joneses, but the harder you try, the more it slips away? It’s time to get real and get empowered. It’s time to THRIVE.
Tech Advances for a New Century – Fingerprints as Credit Cards
Imagine going to your local Starbucks and instead of having to rummage through your wallet in the morning, simply pressing your finger to a scanner and walking out. Headache averted. Want to know more? Read on for a 4-minute history and update on Scanning for Payment.
Twitter Music
Twitter organizes its music selection into four categories: Popular, which they describe as “new music trending on Twitter;” Emerging, “hidden talent found in the Tweets;” Suggested, “artists you might like;” and #NowPlaying, “tweeted by people you follow.”
Alexis Roddich
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-alex-bogusky-0
1-day Mastermind & Branding Event w/Lunch w/Kelli Richards, Mike Koenigs and MaryAgnes Antonopoulos
In this 1-day Mastermind & Branding Event with Internet GIANT Mike Koenigs, and Social Strategist Mary Agnes Antonopoulos, Kelli Richards will focus on supporting attendees to leverage and create a powerful online presence and brand, build valuable connections, AND set achievable goals, blow past roadblocks and support other attendees. This exclusive group will work with Kelli Richards and her two valuable guest speakers – serious and respected mentors in their field – to accomplish powerful results. This event is perfect for Entrepreneurs, Creative Thinkers, Professionals, CEO’s, and Small Business Owners.
Leap Motion, Welcome to the Future
Developers at Leap Motion may be in the process of creating the most revolutionary tool to hit computers in decades: the ability to control your computer using just your hands and simple finger movements. The Leap Motion device is a flash drive size gadget that connects to either your Mac or PC and instantly allows you to manipulate the three-dimensional model on your screen.
Celebrating 50 Years of Being Julian. A Lennon Legacy and a White Feather of Hope
Today is my wonderful friend Julian Lennon’s 50th birthday. Happy Birthday Jules!
“Indoor” Google Maps
As revolutionary as Google Maps was, bringing instant, step by step directions straight to peoples smart phones; Google is in the process of once again releasing possibly the most game-changing technology to the maps industry since the invent of the sextant: indoor maps.
Google: Street View or Street Fight?
The two-year investigation into Google’s “Street View” privacy violations from 2006 to 2010 culminated a few weeks ago, with a $7 million fine and Google’s promise to educate both their employees and the general public about protecting private data.
Tom Silverman
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-tommy-boys-ceo-tom-silverman
From Rotary Phones to ??? – The Every Changing Market of Communications
Some other apps changing the instant communication landscape are WhatsApp and Voxer. With these apps you can send a text message, voice clip, or video snippet with just a touch of a finger on your smartphone. The best part? They’re practically free.
Jordan Glazier
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-jordan-glazier
The Virtual Power of Eric Whitacre’s Choir: Involving the Masses in Music
Just as Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson did before him, Eric Whitacre – minus the logistics – has created a musical sensation.
Has the Tablet Industry Finally Caught up to Apple? Just ask Microsoft.
Microsoft declared Surface to be: “A feat of engineering and a work of art… With casing made from ultra-light and highly durable magnesium, Surface will change the way you work and play. Run Office apps, watch movies in dazzling HD, catch up with friends and family. Do it all on one beautifully and thoughtfully designed device.”
Google Glass: A Curse or a Blessing?
Yes, Alice, we’ve definitely fallen into the looking glass. Google’s most recent project, Google Glass, will delve far into the realm of science fiction, bringing Tony Stark, Iron Man-esque technology to the masses. The Google Glass project delivers a wearable computer system in the form of glasses, offering hands free messaging, photography, and video recording. Straight out of 007, this offers the ability to share everything you see, live, in real time: directions, reminders, the web – all seen through the lens, right in front of your face.
The “New” Myspace: A Huge Flop
The rise and fall of MySpace has been pretty well documented – twice. In 2006 Google and MySpace reached a blockbuster deal, with MySpace allowing Google to advertise on its site in return for $900 million. The site was quickly bogged down with excessive advertisements, resulting in a slow, seemingly counterintuitive platform. These pitfalls were accentuated by Facebook’s ever-expanding clean and intuitive design. Even to the novice, MySpace was doomed and becoming quickly irrelevant. However, while Facebook has made MySpace an inferior product for almost all players, the latter has continued to provide substantial traffic in a unique niche – for aspiring and acknowledged musicians. MySpace had recreated itself in the social networking industry as a way for musicians and fans to connect; for early releases, news and giveaways. So with the release on the “New MySpace,” in September of 2012 – stewarded by one of the leaders in music, Justin Timberlake – one would imagine that the company would expand on strengths, appealing to the only audience they had left. Well, they didn’t. Big mistakes were made. Instead of augmenting their niche in the music industry, the New MySpace disconnected from their prior self, forcing users to reconnect with every friend and band they were associated with on the “old” site. Britney Spears had around 1.5 million friends on the old MySpace; she now has fewer than 7,000 connections. Similarly Justin Timberlake, the creative director and a partner of the New MySpace, had about 1.5 million connections, and now has only 50,000. So the question now is, can MySpace recover again? It is extremely difficult to see how they can. The errors are not only strategic, of course, the damage to their brand is almost beyond definition. The very last audience MySpace had, the music industry, now has little incentive to continue its use it. And where MySpace falls short, its biggest competitor, Facebook, has grown – gobbling up its real estate and users like PacMan chasing ghosts. Facebook is continuing to up the ante and grow its connections with sites like SoundCloud and Spotify, allowing for easy to use, intuitive sharing of music, targetting up-and-coming and well-known artists. Today’s digital world is about conglomeration and collaboration, a worldwide effort towards expansion; and that is where the “Old” and the “New” MySpace BOTH fall short. As Facebook has embraced the production of applications from outside sources, MySpace stayed in-house. Shawn Gold, MySpace’s former head of marketing and content said, “MySpace went wide – and not deep enough – in its product development. We went with a lot of products that were shallow and not the best products in the world.” And oh yes, they forgot to cater to their audience. Kelli Richards, CEO of The All Access Group, LLC
Sony’s decline: Have they eaten the poison Apple?
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana, 1905 For today’s history lesson, we’re going to look at two of the biggest names in the tech industry that have risen and fallen in complimentary distribution with one another since the 1980’s. As one company climbed to the top, the other plummeted but now the tides have changed. I’m talking of course about Sony and Apple, two companies with storied histories that bare some key similarities to each other. In the successes and failures of each company, the brilliance and blunders seem to be passed back and forth. In order to move forward towards the future, we must look back at the past; so let’s take it from the top. The 1980’s were a strange time in America; MTV, big hair, and the Brat Pack are some of the first things that come to mind when I think of that decade. Of course, the 1980’s also ushered in a new era of technology, and Apple and Sony were at the forefront. In the beginning of the 1980’s, Apple came out strong with a record breaking IPO and the Macintosh computer. Things quickly went south for the computer giant, as infighting and a decline in sales ultimately saw Steve Jobs leave the company in 1985; beginning what many would refer to as “the dark years” at Apple. During that same time, Sony had started the 1980’s with dismal profits during a global recession that saw a drop in electronics sales. One of the things that saved Sony was its creativity and drive to pioneer new technologies. While it lost the “format wars” between VHS and Betamax, it was able to move past and eventually develop technologies such as the Compact Disc and Walkman. Similarly, it branched out beyond consumer electronics and got into the music and movie publishing industries; creating a revenue stream that would allow it to profit several times over from single products. Its latest demise, however, came from the company aggressively expanding into new businesses and technologies with little communication or collaboration between the departments. The question now is “Will they bounce back?” Apple was able to bounce back from those “dark years” when Steve Jobs came back. Under his leadership, the company was able to re-focus and re-establish its brand. They were able to focus on creating great products from top to bottom, coupled with a user experience that was second to none. If Sony wishes to recover in the same way Apple did, then perhaps they’ll do the same. Sony’s reach is a bit broader than Apple’s so in order to do that, they’ll need to increase the communication and support between departments. They have all the parts they need to return to the top, they just have to deliver what the customers want. Apple delivered things that consumers wanted before they even knew that they wanted them. Sony’s approach as of late has been more stagnant, where they wait for something to come out and find a way to replicate it. The sting of a few hard blows to a company can send it reeling and certainly bruise some egos. Sony needs to take a whiff of the smelling salts and come out of the corner swinging. Once they return to their roots of innovation, creativity, and quality they’ll be sure to see success once again. Kelli Richards CEO of The All Access Group, LLC
A Focus on The NAMM Show
This Saturday, January 26th, at the Anaheim Convention Center, from 2:30pm-3:30pm PST, I will host an exciting panel of experts for The NAMM Show, “Bands Inc – Running Your Band as a Business (and as a Brand).”
Have Tech Advances Finally Led us into the Jetson Era?
Late last year, a childhood animation icon, the Jetsons, celebrated its 50th anniversary, and sci-fi giant Star Trek isn’t far behind. It’s hard to look around and not see the reality that pop culture so tongue-in-cheek predicted five decades ago. Yes, we have indeed entered an age where most of our lives can be controlled by the press of a button on a box in our hand. Case in point? No, it’s not your TV remote; it’s the Smartphone. There’s very little our Smartphone cannot do at this point. It has invaded every aspect of our life and dazzled us with convenience. You no longer have to be frustrated if you leave your home and forget to move thermostat down (or up) to save energy and practice green habits. We now have the Smartphone-Controlled home, and it tackles everything you can think of – including the thermostat. Smartphones now open the garage, adjust home lighting systems and thermostats – and even know your schedule and regulate your home’s temperature from afar before you get in from work each day. Does anyone else feel like we’ve finally entered the Jetsons era? Are you ready to really think green? How about controlling different room temps, one room at a time. Gratefully, green power advances are everywhere, even on the level of the individual home and person. Of course, tech cannot work without power – which those of us with friends, colleagues and loved ones hit by Superstorm Sandy last year learned on an exponential level. One of the many Jetson-age products to address electric outages is The BioLite Campstove, which converts cooking heat to electricity.Burning twigs now produce electricity – enough to power small appliances (enough to charge your smartphone). No fuel needs, just collect the twigs in your area. It’s also lightweight – at only two pounds, there’s no need to even carry fuel. There’s also a bigger version to fuel a house: a wood burning stove that while emitting heat, it powers small appliances. As tech advances continue on every level, it’s gratifying to see that they have invaded our homes and lives – affecting the world at large and our ecology for the better. It’s about time. Kelli Richards CEO of The All Access Group, LLC
Deborah Price
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-deborah-price-money-coach-and-author-0
Hewlett Crist
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-hewlett-crist-renowned-guitarist
John Cook
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-john-cook
2012 Music Revenue: Time to Update Our Model
As 2013 starts to get under way, musicians and labels are starting to look back on 2012 to see how they faired. While the final numbers aren’t in yet, it appears that the music industry as a whole took a slight drop in album sales across digital and physical platforms. Preliminary Nielsen Soundscan data is showing a 4% drop in album sales, even with a 6% increase in digital downloads. This data can either be construed as good news or bad news depending on who you are and how you interpret it. Let’s start with the good news. The good news is that the music industry is still here! It seems like every year the RIAA and the major labels are warning us that the music industry as we know it will be forced to shut down completely due to piracy and copyright infringement but so far that hasn’t been the case. As a matter of fact, total music purchases are at an all-time high, selling over 1.65 billion units in 2012 (a 3.1% increase from 2011.) This could be in part due to changing revenue streams and models, as evidenced by the increase in digital downloads. It’s important to note that Soundscan data doesn’t account for revenue from streaming, radio, or subscription based platforms such as Pandora, Spotify, YouTube, Rhapsody, etc. On that note, let’s look at the bad news. While music sales are at an all-time high, streaming and subscription based services are on the rise as well. Spotify topped 5 million paid subscribers in 2012 while cancelling their paid download service that they unveiled in Europe in 2009, though it never quite made it over to the U.S. This is troubling for artists and labels because paid downloads returned more money to them. Similarly, Pandora posted a record number of listener hours and increases in revenue from the year before. The bad news is that both of these services pay fractions of a penny per stream. As a matter of fact, it would take 140 plays on Spotify and 700 plays on Pandora to be equivalent to the royalties paid from one download. So with no shortage of eager listeners and customers, the labels and distributors must find a way to start fairly compensating artists once and for all. Album sales may drop and revenue models may change but without the artist, the music industry will really self destruct. Let’s hope that 2013 will bring great new content to consumers by using new technology while the new technology and distribution platforms find a way to stay afloat while playing fair. Looking Forward in 2013, Kelli Richards CEO of The All Access Group LLC
Brian Zisk
San Francisco Music Tech Summit Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-brian-zisk-of-sf-musictech-summit
Dick Wingate
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-dick-wingate-principal-at-dev
Anthony Stonefield
Pioneer of Downloadable Song Distribution and Mobile Ringtones
Robby Starbuck
Music Video Director and Producer Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/qa-kelli-richards-music-video-director-robby-starbuck
Tom Silverman – Tommy Boy
Founder and CEO of Tommy Boy Entertainment Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-tommy-boy-tom-silverman
Jaunique Sealy
Author and Social Expert
John Rudolph
CEO of Bug Music Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/live-qa-with-kelli-richards-and-john-rudolph-ceo-of-bug-music
Peter Rojas
CEO of GDGT.com
Ian Rogers
CEO of TopSpin Media Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/a-great-qa-with-ian-rogers-ceo-of-topspin-and-well-known-for-his-work-with-the-beastie-boys
Michael Robertson
CEO of MP3Tunes.com and DAR.fm Founder of MP3.com Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/live-qa-kelli-richards-interviews-michael-robertson-the-bad-boy-of-the-digital-music-industry
Search Resources
Topic Areas & Guests
Categories
Join our mailing list
For insights on industry trends, and for details on special projects/events. We respect your time and your privacy.
Kelli’s monthly newsletters are her direct line of communication to clients and friends. Each edition includes a personal note, an overview of recent activities, book recommendations, and more.
Some past newsletters are included on this page. To become part of this community, and to receive the most current communications from Kelli, you can sign up by clicking the button below.
We’re thrilled to have you join us!
Search Resources
Topic Areas & Guests
Categories
Join our mailing list
For insights on industry trends, and for details on special projects/events. We respect your time and your privacy.