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The Next Big Thing: Apple WWDC
It’s no surprise to see Apple race on, barely missing a beat since Steve’s passing – leading global innovation as it has this new millennium.
In just a few hours the next Apple WWDC (Apple WorldWide Developers Conference) will take place. A stage that has announced true global game changers, like the iPhone and the iPad.
In the end, right now it’s still about the App store. With 600,000 downloadable games, magazines and productivity tools, Apple is the application leader. But the others are not far behind. As quoted in Bloomberg earlier today, “The success of Apple’s App Store has helped create an economy for downloading mobile applications that will reach $58 billion in sales in 2014.”
Surely, Apple will continue App dominance – and its track record of suspense and big announcements at WWDC. Will we see the next iPhone? News on OSX Mountain Mountain Lion?A new social platform? The next “Big Thing” that none of us have even contemplated before? It’s hard not to wonder where Apple goes from here, without Steve Jobs at the helm… but we’ll find out in just a few short hours.
This is, in fact, a question I ask over and over in my upcoming eBook on Apple, “The Magic and Moxie of Apple – An Insider’s View.”
“… So where does Apple – a company that started out as two guys making and selling circuit boards out of their garage, which transformed into one of the biggest international technology companies in the world – go from here? Following the loss of Steve, that question seems challenging to answer. As we know all too well, Apple has seen itself rise and fall from grace before and reinvent itself more than once, and the company is counting on the fact that it’s cemented its place at the top so profoundly that nothing will stop it from continuing to grow. Continually releasing new products (and upgrading the old) may do this, but fundamentally, what direction does it take next? The iPhone, iPad, and iPod have already seen several generations of upgrades. What groundbreaking innovations will propel Apple in the same way that the iPod, iPhone, MacBook Air and iPad did? The answer to that question isn’t what new product will they come out with, but rather who will be dream it up without Steve? … ”
Like many of you, I’m eagerly awaiting iOS 6 and Mountain Lion – which brings some of the most popular features found on other Apple products to the MAC, such asGameCenter, notes, etc. A personal favorite is that Mountain Lion will send messages to anyone on an Apple product – so you’ll be able to begin a message on your MAC and pick it back up on your iPhone or iPad later on. We’ll see today what else Apple has in store for us – the world of believers, creators and brand advocates.
And although the race continues without Steve to lead the pack – only his company to carry on the dream – it will not be easy to watch WWDC without him taking the stage.
Kelli Richards, President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
PS: If you’d like to pre-order a copy of my book, “The Magic and Moxie of Apple – An Insider’s View,” please go to https://allaccessgroup.com/?p=2287.
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Digital at it’s Best: Live From Daryl’s House
Today’s world is fickle, and one of my favorite examples of success during this digital revolution and how digital is bringing new audiences to the best performers of our time is Live From Daryl’s House, started by Daryl Hall in late 2007. This is music discovery at its best, with Hall taking a simple idea and turning it into web gold. Hall recently said of the show, “I had this idea of playing with my friends and putting it up on the Internet.” What could be easier, right? Certainly the response has been huge.
In fact, the show has become almost iconic, with applause coming in from a long list of leading names in the industry, including Rolling Stone, SPIN, Daily Variety, CNN, BBC, Yahoo! Music and influential (and hyper-critical) blogger Bob Lefsetz. This is exactly what veteran artists need to be creating in order to reinvent in the digital age and gain new audiences (and influence) through vibrant collaborations with both established leaders in music and new performers.
Daryl Hall has had a rich and varied career, working with virtually all of the great musicians of modern popular music, as well as entering into new relationships with the best of the latest generation of artists. So far, episodes have featured superstars like Smokey Robinson, Rob Thomas (of Matchbox 20), Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek (The Doors’), Train, Nick Lowe, K.T. Tunstall, Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy, Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump, and soul legends The Blind Boys of Alabama – as well as with newcomers such as Nikki Jean, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Canadian techno-rockers Chromeo, Bay Area singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson, and highly touted tunesmith Diane Birch.
He’s also featured my own close personal friend, Todd Rundgren, several times, most recently at Rundgren’s home in Kauai, Hawaii, where they performed a rousing 7-song set, including an amazing cover of the Delfonics’ 1970 hit, “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time.”
Daryl Hall and Todd Rundgren have known one another since their early days inPhiladelphia, and the gig in Hawaii included an old-fashioned traditional Luau Show, burying a pig in the dirt, serving up some poi, hula dancers and a special performance with local musicians of “Bang on the Drum.” Said Rundgren, “It’s always great when friends come all the way out here to visit, but it’s even better when they come to play.”
Hall’s latest collaboration has been with up-and-coming artist Allen Stone, a virtual look-alike for Daryl himself (in both image and musical philosophy). In fact, that collaboration went so well that Stone is now touring and working with Hall and Oates.
Hall has had an illustrious career, with six #1 singles with collaborator John Oates, including “Rich Girl” (also #1 R&B), “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) (also #1 R&B), “Maneater” and “Out of Touch” from their six consecutive multi-platinum albums—’76’s Bigger Than Both of Us, ’80’sVoices, ’81’s Private Eyes, ‘82’s H2O, ‘83’s Rock N Soul, Part I and ‘84’s Big Bam Boom. The era would also produce an additional 5 Top 10 singles, “Sara Smile,” “One on One,” “You Make My Dreams,” “Say It Isn’t So” and “Method of Modern Love.”
Live from Daryl’s House is being shown weekly in over 80% of U.S. homes in the nation’s top 200 media markets, as well as all of the top 10, including New York, L.A., Chicago, Dallas and Houston. The show also recently won the 2010 WEBBY Award in the Variety Category.
Daryl’s longtime manager, Jonathan Wolfson, and I are working on getting Daryl on my popular weekly digital radio show, All Access Radio. I’ll keep everyone posted when we finally get a date set. You can sign up for his Newsletter at https://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/emupdates.html
Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
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Kelli Richards Interviews Evan Lowenstein, Founder of StageIt!
Join me for a great Q&A with Evan Lowenstein.
Click here to listen: Evan-Lowenstein-Interview
Recently named to Digital Media Wire’s list of 25 Execs to Watch in Digital Entertainment for 2011, Evan Lowenstein launched StageIt with the goal of creating a web-based platform that would empower artists to deliver and monetize interactive live experiences.
Most recently, Lowenstein founded and served as President of HookUp Feed, a premier social networking and mobile marketing company whose clients include The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, American Airlines, Domino’s Pizza and Cold Stone Creamery.
Previously, he hosted USA Network’s Character Road Trip, a weekly series providing viewers with a peek into the greatest “characters” the country has to offer. Lowenstein was also a recording and touring artist with pop/rock band Evan and Jaron who scored three Top 40 hits, including the Top 10 song Crazy For This Girl.
StageIt is a unique service, answering the pain artists face in a music industry that literally changes and redefines itself every single day. In only six months, StageIt has hosted amazing artists, such as Jerrod Neimann, Chris Young, Plain White T’s, Jaron and the Long Road to Love, Debbie Gibson and Korn.
Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
A Discussion with Jim Griffin and Bill Patry, the Father of Copyright at Google
Recently, at DMW‘s Digital Music East, industry leader Jim Griffin sat down with Bill Patry of Google and valiantly sought to stake out a solution to tangled web that is copyright. What we got, however, was a rich insight to what makes Bill Patry click and how he became known for his $1500 – 6,500 page treatise on copyright law. Known as the Father (or wicked stepfather) of Copyright, depending on where you fall on the issue, Bill Patry was surprisingly vulnerable and honest throughout the interview. He described himself as a “vegetarian, left-wing Jewish guy,” and one could almost think he was nothing but simple attorney, with a passionate love for music, who tripped and fell into a law degree.
Being first and foremost always a journalist, Jim Griffin came to this fireside chat with Patry with his foundation firmly in place, having interviewed many of Patry’s colleagues (and adversaries) over the years. Patry led off assuring Jim, and the crowd of industry heads who filled the auditorium, that he’s only one voice in a team at Google who are focused on the copyright dilemma.
The discussion started off with Patry sharing his start as a music major in college who went on to bring that love for music into his views as a young attorney entering the copyright arena. He added that his hope was, and is, always to protect the rights of all parties in music – from creation to production to distribution.
This love for music showed time and time again through the interview, as Patry highlighted snapshots of his life and career by quoting obscure songs (for instance, “Drop Kick Me Jesus,” which poetically showcased his time in Texas). As an aside, to evidence what an offbeat guy Patry is, he collects the mouthpieces of famous clarinet players.
He went on to discuss his base clarinet and his fierce loyalty to obscure base clarinetists, like Squonk. He spoke eloquently about the struggles of passionate, obscure musicians (like clarinetists) who will simply never be signed. He asked the crowd, rhetorically, “How do they make a living?”
Jim Griffin, who is arguably one of the most learned and nicest people in the entire industry, led the conversation back to Patry’s early days in law, asking how a music major ends up running copyright at one of the largest companies in the world. Patry shared that he won an ASCAP contest writing about copyright (partly because he was the only one in that particular category). His paper, “Copyright and Community Property,” won the contest, and the Journal of Copyright Society published it later that year. Thus began the long, winding road to Google.
At the end of the interview, Jim Griffin smiled and asked, “So then what was the linchpin that brought you to Google?” Patry laughed in response, shrugging, “I was in private practice and sucked at it.”
While I wish they had covered more of where copyright is headed over the next decade, entering what will no doubt be Web 4.0, 5.0, etc., this was a chance to see more of the person who intends to solve a copyright issue that as of now, pits publishers, creators and consumers against one another at every turn.
Final thought, Jim Griffin’s quote from Ben Sheffner (of the MPAA), often an opponent to Patry in the copyright debate, is worth noting: “About Bill Patry: People on my side on today’s copyright debates often see our opponents as head-in-the-cloud cyber Utopians… Unfortunately for us, we can’t dismiss Bill Patry, one of our worthiest opponents, that easily… While we in the entertainment industry often bristle at his conclusions, we frequently consult his masterful treatise… we respect him and are glad to have his voice in the debate.”
Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
Kelli Shares a Fireside Chat with Jim Griffin, Digital Music & Tech Visionary
Kelli is thrilled to interview Jim Griffin, entertainment tech visionary & one of the sharpest minds in digital music. You can hear the entire interview at Jim Griffin Interview with Kelli Richards.
Jim Griffin is the Managing Director of OneHouse, a company dedicated to the future of music & entertainment delivery.
Jim is focused on accelerating the pace of scholarly research thru collaborative tools and open access to knowledge. He started & runs Choruss LLC, incubated by Warner Music Group, and successfully led the team that built a new model for sound recordings: Sharing music with flat-fee access to unlimited downloads for students.
He also ran the tech dept at Geffen Records for 5 years (distributing the first full-length commercial song on-line, by Aerosmith). He is often a keynote speaker or moderator (Internet Summit, Giga Conference, Comdex, CES, Webnoize…) and lectures at business schools (Harvard, USC, UCLA, Berkeley). He also serves as an expert witness in digital entertainment.
This is a powerful Q&A and well worth the 30 minutes. Comments are definitely welcome!
Life and The Love We Make
Working at the crossroads of music and technology, and being a talent producer for a couple of decades now, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a long list of amazing artists. The most meaningful interactions are often the unscheduled, random conversations that just seem to happen randomly. Some of those occur behind-the-scenes at events like Pollstar, where I got to shoot the breeze with my childhood idol, Davy Jones – who spent that entire conversation asking about my work, my family and sharing his own human, fun-loving side. He was an amazing soul and is definitely missed by all of us, as colleagues, and by me, as a friend.
Sadly, Davey Jones wasn’t the only friend I lost recently. The amazing Ronnie Montrose also left us after a long struggle with prostrate cancer. Ronnie was the lead guitarist for the band Montrose, and worked with a long list of great artists, including the Neville Brothers, Sammy Hagar, Herbie Hancock, Van Morrison, The Beau Brummels, and the legendary Boz Scaggs, among others. Ronnie and I also met at the Pollstar Awards, where I booked him as a presenter. He was a great guy and we shared several powerful conversations about what he could do in the digital space and we left off looking forward to maybe working together. Ronnie’s warmth and sincerity are definitely missed, and remembered.
Moments of remembrance seem to be all around me lately. While I was in New Yorkfor Digital Music East a few weeks ago two colleagues and I visited the 9/11 Memorial – a tough morning for all of us. Afterward, we talked about the amazing love that followed that day, and I shared my experience with Paul McCartney at the Adopt-a-Minefield Concert (a cause supported mightily by the late Princess Diana).
I was privileged to share a personal moment with Sir Paul after he performed “God Only Knows” and “Let it Be” with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Paul drove up himself in his black Mercedes before the event and we shared our experiences about many things, including his personal relationship with 9/11. I myself was headed to New York only a few days before 9/11, but cancelled the trip. Had I gone, I was scheduled to return on Flight 93 – the flight that crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. A million times I have considered this close call with awe and gratitude, to say the least. Paul shared his own amazing story with me. He was on his way to London to celebrate his daughter Stella’s 30th birthday that very morning and was literally taxiing on the tarmac at JFK when the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Centre, and when all air traffic was grounded, McCartney’s plane was ordered back to the gate.
Basically trapped in NY, Paul decided over the next few days to create a benefit concert, and the “Concert for New York City” was born. It was graced with a long list of stellar musicians (all personal friends of McCartney), including Elton John, David Bowie, Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger, among others. (An amazing documentary by Albert Maysles called “The Love we Make” followed McCartney around New York those few weeks before the concert, which happened only five weeks after the attacks.) One of the most notable moments in the film shows Paul standing on the stage at Madison Square Garden in an FDNY T-shirt. When he sang Yesterday in front of hundreds of firefighters and police officers, most of whom had all lost friends and relatives, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Some days, I know we’re all led to the tears when we lose someone we love or celebrate difficult anniversaries, but I think Paul McCartney was definitely right when he shared “I just thought we could help with the music.”
Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
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NIC ADLER, The Roxy Rebirth!
I’m very excited about my recent interview Nic Adler on All Access Radio! Nic is a band manager, promoter, and restauranteur who has been at the helm at the infamous Roxy Theater on the Sunset Strip in Hollywoodfor almost 15 years. He’s also become a leading name in social media, using Facebook and Twitter to revitalize not only The Roxy, but the entire Strip!
Nic is also the co-producer of the Sunset Strip Music Festival, which draws over 30,000 music fans to the city every August and celebrates the Strip’s legacy as it highlights some of music’s newest talent. Nic has definitely blazed his own trail as a social media innovator and entrepreneur. Through his leadership and expertise Nic managed to save the 37-year old Roxy from extinction by revitalizing it with a social media program that has catapulted him to the no. 1 music venue in the world on Facebook and Twitter. He altruistically extended his community-driven program to the neighboring businesses on the Sunset Strip and spearheaded the community collective known as The Social Strip. He’s been featured in the NY Times, NPR, LA Times and others for his social media insights and accomplishments. Nic and The Roxy have been the recipient of countless awards over the years including City Beacon Award for West Hollywood, AOL Best Venue in Los Angles, and VH-1 Rock Honors Website of the Year – and we’re happy to have had him as a guest on our show. You can hear the entire interview at https://bit.ly/Nic-Adler-THEROXY.
Sign up for my newsletter to get updates on all of my upcoming interviews.
Kelli Richards
CEO of The All Access Group
NEW DIGITAL ECONOMICS SILICON VALLEY – Executive Brainstorm & Innovation Forum
On March 27-28, 2012 at the Marriott Hotel, Union Square, San Francisco, the next installment of New Digital Economics – ‘New Business Models & Growth Opportunities in a Hyper-Connected World, is coming to Silicon Valley. The executive brainstorm uses STL Partners’ acclaimed interactive format, ‘Mindshare‘, and includes new research and case studies from today’s converging marketplaces within 4 co-located events: Digital Economy 2.0, Digital Commerce 2.0, Digital Entertainment 2.0 & Digital Things 2.0.The All Access Group has secured a 50% discount for our members. Simply enter code: VIP3273 on the online registration form or contact the event organiser: miriam.dennis@
stlpartners.com for details. Kelli Richards
President and CEO
The All Access Group, LLC**************************************
Press Release: Kelli Richards, Expert in Music, Technology and Digital Distribution to Speak at Capital Club
Kelli Richards, Expert in Music, Technology and Digital Distribution to Speak at Capital Club
Cupertino, CA Kelli Richards, a thought leader in digital music and entertainment, and one of only a few select members of The Futures Agency and Alan Weiss’ Master Mentor Program and Thought Leadership Summit, has been invited to be an esteemed guest and presenter at the Silicon Valley Capital Club.
Located in beautifulSan Jose,California, the Silicon Valley Capital Club is a private business, social and dining club that is truly without rival inSilicon Valley and the surrounding Bay Area. With its spectacular 360-degree views from the pinnacle of theKnightRidderBuilding in the heart of downtownSan Jose, the Silicon Valley Club offers the perfect ambience and well-equipped facilities for both business and social gather. The Women’s Luncheon Series at the Capital Club highlights women speakers from a variety of backgrounds and industries. It also provides the opportunity for top business leaders to build strong relationships and develop a network of connections.
Kelli Richards is a true trailblazer in the digital music, entertainment and technology worlds with more than twenty years of senior-level leadership experience. With a unique talent for connecting innovators in technology with creative leaders in entertainment, Richards is a highly sought-after consultant, mentor, speaker, producer, coach and author, As the CEO of The All Access Group, Richards and her team facilitate powerful strategic business opportunities in digital distribution between technology companies, established artists and celebrities, film studios, record labels, and consumer brand companies to foster new revenue streams and deliver compelling consumer experiences.
Prior to founding The All Access Group, Kelli served in senior roles at Fortune 100 entertainment and technology companies, including Apple Inc., where she launched Apple’s earliest focus on music and drove all music initiatives during her 10 years with the market leader. She also served in senior-level leadership capacities at EMI Music as an A&R exec, and at Silicon Graphics (SGI) where she helped launch Silicon Studio, the company’s entertainment division. She developed PatroNet, the first Internet-based artist subscription service with rocker partner Todd Rundgren in the mid-90s – and helped to launch the entire digital music revolution.
A frequent speaker and panel moderator at digital music and entertainment industry conferences globally, Kelli has also been an acclaimed talent producer of a wide range of award shows, epic concerts, and celebrity fundraiser events for over 25 years. She co-produced a celebrity fundraiser event to support the UN’s “Adopt-A-Minefield” initiative featuring Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Stephen Stills and hosted by Jay Leno. Additionally, she was a 20-year talent producer behind the BAMMIES, and remains a long-time talent executive and co-producer of the annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards.
Kelli Richards has co-authored two books, including the critically acclaimed “The Art of Digital Music: 56 Artists, Visionaries & Insiders Reveal Their Creative Secrets.” Her newest eBook, “Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – Social Media for the Music Industry,” reached #1 on Amazon in several categories. A true renaissance woman, Kelli is also a Certified Integrative Life Coach trained under best-selling authors and coaches Debbie Ford and Alan Cohen. She lives inCupertino,CA in the heart of theSilicon Valley.
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Kelli Richards, CEO
www.AllAccessgroup.com
Email: Kelli@AllAccessGroup.com
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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)
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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
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