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5 Unlikely Music Legends With Great Advice for Entrepreneurs
As an entrepreneur, it’s important to keep your ears open for helpful advice — especially when you’re new to the game.
We usually expect business wisdom to come from the likes of Mark Cuban, Elon Musk, and Warren Buffett — not Jimmy Buffett. But there are a few big names in entertainment who would surprise you with their entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.
1. Jimmy Buffett
The man behind boozy classics such as “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise” knows a little something about entrepreneurship.
Beyond his successful career in music, Buffett runs a record label, a merchandising company, the Margaritaville brand of chain stores, restaurants, blenders, tequila, and more.
He’s a successful entrepreneur because he hires talented people, can see the potential in important opportunities, and lives by solid values that go back to his roots.
Take it from Jimmy: “You’ve got to be able to take money out of the equation in order to enjoy life and make good decisions. Years ago, I went to Warren Buffett for advice about something, and that’s what he told me. He said, ‘Whether you make or don’t make this deal, is it going to affect your life? And if not, then do what you want to do, and be prepared for them to say no.’ I’ve used that quite a bit.”
2. Troy Carter
Troy Carter is the manager who helped build the careers of musical sensations including Lady Gaga and John Legend.
What you might not know is that he’s a tech investor in ventures like Spotify, Uber, and Dropbox, as well as the entrepreneur behind POPwater and several other companies.
Carter’s ability to stay present helps him make clear and logical decisions in the midst of chaos, keep the big picture in mind, and avoid getting flustered when things don’t go as planned.
Take it from Troy: “Money doesn’t make me tick. This definition of success doesn’t make me tick. Managing some of the biggest stars in the world doesn’t make me tick. Making my family proud makes me tick.”
3. Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams is a renowned hip-hop, R&B, and soul musician, but he also designs clothing and chairs, dabbles in sculpture and architecture, invests in tech startups, mentors kids, and is a philanthropist.
Williams is successful because he surrounds himself with people who recognize that they’re different, and he understands the importance of collaboration, learning from others, and taking constructive criticism.
Take it from Pharrell: “You are only as good as your team. When you envisage success, you should see all the people you work with, in addition to yourself…I used to hire 21-year-old monsters with a twinkle in their eye. I saw potential, but it was what I thought they could do, not what they could actually do…When you surround yourself with people with experience…A lot of them are gonna be older than you. When they vet people, they need to see more than twinkles; they need sparks.”
4. Dave Stewart
Dave Stewart is a musician best known for his work with the Eurythmics.
He now serves as an advisor to Visa and Nokia and is the CEO of the massively successful media company Weapons of Mass Entertainment. He’s also the co-founder of First Artist Ventures and the author of the entrepreneurial guidebook “Business Playground: Where Creativity and Commerce Collide.”
Stewart embraces and rewards creativity, understanding that it’s essential for a business to stand out in a crowded market. He also knows how to ask the right questions and when to seek different perspectives from trustworthy people.
Take it from Dave: “A creative culture is one in which people aren’t just rewarded for successes, but are allowed and actively encouraged to experiment and make mistakes.
“The perfect brainstorm removes the barriers to creativity by letting all ideas come out without the judgment and criticism that might otherwise kill them. It also involves having clear parameters, including a mix of people from different backgrounds, and setting high expectations for performance.”
5. Sammy Hagar
Also known as “The Red Rocker,” Sammy Hagar is a singer/songwriter and the musician best known as a member of Van Halen.
Hagar also owns a popular chain of nightclubs and restaurants called Cabo Wabo, a chain of airport restaurants, a restaurant with celeb chef Tyler Florence, and a tequila company.
While it might seem like a leap for a rocker to run a chain of restaurants, Hagar is successful because he follows his intuition, looks for new opportunities, finds the right people to run his businesses, and has fun.
Take it from Sammy: “Before I made it as a rocker, I had a lot of executives tell me what to do to make it, and I never listened to them. I did it my way…I like owning and operating a business. It’s as creative as stepping on stage or making a record. I’ve never started a business thinking, ‘Oh, I’m gonna make money off of this.’ All my ideas have come from sheer enthusiasm.”
While you probably shouldn’t take all your business advice from music legends, there are some common lessons that transcend industries:
- Surround yourself with great people.
- Explore potential opportunities that challenge you.
- Don’t make money the first priority.
- Always trust your gut.
Sometimes, the best advice comes from unexpected sources. Another lesson you can learn from these individuals is that you don’t necessarily have to start in business to build great companies. It’s just a matter of listening to your inner entrepreneur and seizing opportunities that excite you.
Which unlikely individuals have given you the best advice on entrepreneurship? What was their advice?
Until next time,
Kelli Richards, President, CEO of the All Access Group, LLC
PS: Subscribe to my FREE All Access Group Newsletter https://bit.ly/AAGNewletter
PSS: Listen to an entire library of intimate discussions with industry visionarieshttps://bit.ly/AllAccessPodcastSeries (Priceless)
4 Tech Dinosaurs That Will Finally Die in 2015
February 27, 2014,
Forbes
In recent years, technology has changed the way we view work, entertainment, media, and even our workout habits. While most people are focused on what’s next for wearables, cloud computing, and syncing gadgets, few have taken the time to consider the tech we’re going to be sending into retirement in the coming years.
Read the entire article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/85broads/2014/02/27/4-tech-dinosaurs-that-will-finally-die-in-2015/https://www.forbes.com/sites/85broads/2014/02/27/4-tech-dinosaurs-that-will-finally-die-in-2015/
Two Steps to Creating Collaborations and One to Surviving When they Go Wrong.
Today I had the privilege of interviewing Ian Miller. Ian is an expert brand and marketing strategist with 30 years of experience building hugely competitive brands and the CEO and Founder of The Brand Practice, a business and brand strategy consultancy. A recognized expert / lecturer in Ingredient Branding, Ian Miller has led the creation and global launch of the ingredient brand, NutraSweet, and worked closely with over 50 partner brands, including Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi – creating great synergy and collaboration around the business world.
One of the most important questions I got to ask Ian was about the subject of collaboration – something near and dear to my heart, as a consultant in the music and digital arenas and as a coach. Today, I wanted to go over the two largest pitfalls of being involved in collaborations that just don’t work and what we do to get out of them.
1. Imbalance. One of the greatest pitfalls of any collaboration is that it is not reciprocal. There’s no win / win – just hard work for one party and limited rewards for the other. The truth is that any collaboration can only succeed if all the parties involved are givers AND takers. If any one party involved has nothing to offer, they’re simply a drain on the whole. Be sure that all parties invited into any project are clear about their deliverables – even if it’s just to bring a creative edge to the process – and that nobody is “dead weight” in the group, just along for the ride.
2. End Game. Another pitfall to successfully working with other artists, mentors or business alliances is that we are simply NOT all cut from the same cloth. We don’t all have the same work ethic or goals – just ask Beyonce about the original Destiny’s Child members. BEFORE any collaboration goes wrong, in fact, before it even gets started, you have to be very honest with everyone involved. Before you set out on any journey you must know that what is obvious to you may look like murky waters to the people you’re working with. In addition to making sure you have the right team (number one, above), definitely take the time to carefully go over the goals and endgame of the project.
3. What to do when it goes wrong? No matter how great the team, sometimes things start out fine but go way off course along the way. Before you jump overboard, step back and measure what you can do to salvage your part – to bring the best you can to the project. It might not be great, but it’s possible that showing up for your part of the work – to preserve your future relationship with the other artists or parties involved – might be the best solution.
Collaborations are definitely NOT easy, but they are worth it. The bottom line is that we are in the people business, and tapping into that most important resource – the HUMAN resource is an important part of our industry. So DO collaborate. Take the risk. But no matter how “big” the names and other parties are, be sure to keep it simple, to keep your goals clear and to have definite accountability for every collaborator, every step of the way. If you do, the rewards can be well worth it.
Kelli Richards
CEO of The All Access Group
You can sign up for an advance copy of my ebook at https://allaccessgroup.com/services/ (just click ebooks when you get the confirmation).
5 Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs in 2014
Entrepreneurs must be practical experts, according to author and leadership expert Simon Sinek. A new business owner needs to specialize in his craft, as well as marketing, graphic design, and plant maintenance. He sweeps, writes press releases, and keeps the books. An entrepreneur is everything to everyone. Juggling so many jobs can be a huge task, but happily there are new tools and tech to get you through it without losing your mind.
Getting Started
Most lenders and investors will not give you a second look without a business plan. It is the guide to your business. It is proof that the owner has thought out all of the opportunities and threats to the business and placed a monetary value on each. The U.S. Small Business Administration offers numerous resources for entrepreneurs to develop a business plan that will stand out to investors and put your business on the right track.
Working The Back Office
Intuit free accounting software helps a small business owner to do all of the necessary, but mundane, bookkeeping and financial reporting. Using Quickbooks is relatively simple, plus there are myriad instructional videos online. Quickbooks has all of the functions that a small business entrepreneur would need. At the front end of the software, the user can add receipts and expenses. This includes bank reconciliations and payroll, if your organization is big enough to have employees. At the back end, you can print financial reports that give either a point-in-time look at your business or an overview of your financial success.
Learning, Learning And More Learning
It would be great to know everything, but for those of us who do not, there is Google. Take a look at Google For Entrepreneurs, a collection of resources for any type of entrepreneur. Under the online learning tab there are educational videos by field experts and academics. The videos range from marketing to leadership development to Web analytics. Google also hosts various new business events, like its startup weekend, a 54-hour weekend seminar designed to put an entrepreneur through the paces. Google For Entrepreneurs also educates about some of the Google business development and marketing products like Adword and Adsense.
Staying Productive
When you are the chief multitask engineer, productivity is essential. Renting office space can be expensive, especially if it is only used occasionally. Meetings are more often held at the local coffee joint. Having your documents available to you everywhere you go is imperative for good productivity. Cloud-based file sharing is a good solution. Google Drive and Dropbox allow users to move files back and forth in the cloud. This allows you and your team the ability to share and update documents in real time, anywhere in the world.
Yelling From The Mountaintop
Internet-based marketing is one way to get the word out to your potential customers. Services like Buddy Media have cross platform marketing systems that allows you to create content and push it out via YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks.
Until next time,
Dana Hudson, Blogger for the All Access Group, LLC
PS: Subscribe to my FREE All Access Group Newsletter https://bit.ly/AAGNewletter
PSS: Listen to an entire library of intimate discussions with industry visionarieshttps://bit.ly/AllAccessPodcastSeries (Priceless)
Albhy Galuten
Step Away from the Smartphone
Of the 93% of Americans that use cell phones or wireless devices, one-third of them are using “smartphones,” with which you can browse the Web and check e-mail. In other words, most of us are spending our days walking around with our eyes glued to our phone screens, as chillingly demonstrated in this telling YouTube short.
Some experts say it’s time to take a step back and reassess. They worry that kids won’t know what it’s like to have a conversation or actually look someone in the eyes when they tell a story.
In her powerful TED talk, Sherry Turkle claims that the little devices in our pockets are so psychologically powerful that they not only change what we do – they’re also changing who we are in our minds and our hearts, by allowing us three gratifying fantasies: that we can put our attention wherever we want it to be; that we will always be heard; and that we will never have to be alone.
But that’s just what they are – fantasies. And while we’re indulging in them, we’re tuning out the people who are physically present in the room with us. Some of the familiar things we now do with our devices – taking calls while out to dinner, checking Facebook during board meetings, texting while on a date – are things that only a few years ago we would have found odd or disturbing. Now it’s simply how we do things. Instead of never being alone, it seems we are getting accustomed to “a new way of being alone, together.”
“Parents text and do email at breakfast and at dinner. Their children complain about not having their parents’ full attention, but then these same children deny each other their full attention. We even text at funerals. I study this. We remove ourselves from our grief, or from our reverie, and we go into our smartphones.” If it’s true that attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity, then one could argue that smartphones are making us less generous human beings, unable to give each other the attention we crave.
Real conversations are unpredictable – and un-erase-able – and real relationships are engrossing and messy, but technology renders both neat and clean – keeping others at just the right distance: not too close to see the real you, and not too far that they can’t “hear” what you’re saying.
But having real conversations with each other is how we learn to have conversations with ourselves. Hiding from real, unscripted, unpredictable conversations with each other can compromise our capacity for self-reflection. And as smartphones burrow ever deeper into our lives, and Google Glass threatens to erode our personal space even further, finding ways to unplug is becoming more appealing – perhaps even more vital – than ever.
If you or someone you love is struggling with smart phone addiction, download Fast Company’s printable guide to unplugging and check out their collection of thought-provoking articles on the subject here.
Until next time,
Kelli Richards, President, CEO of the All Access Group, LLC
PS: Subscribe to my FREE All Access Group Newsletter https://bit.ly/AAGNewletter
PSS: Listen to an entire library of intimate discussions with industry visionaries https://bit.ly/AllAccessPodcastSeries (Priceless)
Brent Bourgeois
Bobby Fried
The Benefits of BYOD Across Different Company Sizes
Anyone connected to the business world has heard about the rampant popularity of bring-your-own-device policies, better known as BYOD. The trend will continue for the near future and likely beyond, with Gartner analysts claiming that 50 percent of companies will mandate a BYOD platform over the course of the next five years. The popularity and gains in morale aside, however, does a BYOD set of policies make sense to a company on a financial standpoint? In terms of dollars and cents, some businesses may get more out of BYOD than others.
Small Companies
Could a BYOD platform benefit the larger conglomerates more than the small, home-based businesses that employ so many independent workers? The answer may be no, but not necessarily due to the basic revenue-expenses flowchart on your bookkeeping. The risk to small companies with a BYOD system lies in the security or lack thereof. V3 made headlines by proclaiming that a small business with BYOD is one cyber-attack away from bringing the company down. A small company may not be able to afford training or security to keep a BYOD network afloat, resulting in a far higher risk of a data breach. When that happens, the savings of a few hundred dollars per employee becomes trivial: The average data breach costs a company no less than $6.75 million dollars and an average of over $200 per compromised customer, Poneman research reports.
The Muddled Middle
Medium-sized businesses may have the resources to put a comprehensive BYOD platform in place to allow for security and increased safety, yet few end up doing so. CSO Online estimates that between 60 percent and 80 percent of businesses have no formal BYOD policies in place whatsoever. Businesses with the luxuries of modest resources and relative flexibility must think long and hard about the dollar value of each employee under its company umbrella. The advantages of cost savings and increased productivity often win out, since a medium-sized business rarely has to hire more than a handful of new staff members to police BYOD or train employees. When a medium-sized company has had limited success with safety, however, it may find a BYOD platform to be an unpalatable risk.
Corporate Policy
When your company employs hundreds or even thousands of workers, the solution becomes quite simple: Go big or go home. The math firmly stands in the BYOD camp, with Cisco reporting that a basic BYOD platform generates $350 per employee per year, while comprehensive policy boosts that figure up to $1,300 per employee per year. Risks remain, of course, and risks become more expensive as the size of a company grows, but when the benefits start climbing in to the millions of dollars, a corporation with a large workforce would greatly limit their growth potential by restricting BYOD policy in favor of uniform devices. There are also platforms that allow BYOD devices to switch from personal to business mode, keeping the two areas separate.
Until next time,
Keith Hart, Guest Blogger for the All Access Group, LLC
PS: Subscribe to my FREE All Access Group Newsletter https://bit.ly/AAGNewletter
PSS: Listen to an entire library of intimate discussions with industry visionaries https://bit.ly/AllAccessPodcastSeries (Priceless)
The Secret to Becoming a Super Connector
January 28, 2014,
LinkedIn Articles
A few years ago, a former colleague reached out to me. He was working at Cisco, helping the company organize its 25 anniversary employee celebration. For the event’s entertainment, CEO John Chambers wanted Jerry Seinfeld.
Read the entire article here: https://www.inc.com/kelli-richards/the-super-connector-s-guide-to-making-powerful-business-introductions.html
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Wearable Technology – iWatch and Wait
Formally known as “The Apple Watch,” Apple again forces us all to ask one existential question: What is it? Is it a bird? A plane? A watch, computer, bracelet, phone, or tablet? Now, you might be saying: Smart watches aren’t a new idea. But, in the end, Apple really does just do everything better. Jon Ivey, Senior VP of design at Apple declares, in the iWatch film, “It’s driven Apple from the beginning, this compulsion to take incredibly powerful technology and making it accessible, relevant and ultimately, deeplyl personal.”
In the iWatch, it seems like Apple has done just that; bringing recognizable Apple design and technology to a smaller, wearable, more personal scale. Whereas other smart watches look just like that; a smart watch. The “iWatch” is a completely different beast. To begin with, it’s a beautiful watch. It’s a classy analog, stainless steel time piece. It’s also a colorful, dynamic, fit exercise partner. Or, it’s a relaxed fit, leather bound daily personal assistant.
Imagine taking the iPad and shrinking it down. Or perhaps take the iPhone plus, shrink it down; now you have the iPad mini, shrink that down, shrink it down again, and again, and throw it on your wrist. It has your favorite application capabilities, from your music, to messages, to fitness monitor, and email. You know all the ways you can customize your iPad? With Apple smart cases and covers? Well, the iWatch offers over two million combinations of watch display from analog to digital and landscape mode, to varying selections regarding band.
Possibly the coolest feature of the iWatch, however, is its most subtle dynamic: a digital touch function. Basically, you can get a friend’s attention, who also has an iWatch, by just tapping, or writing on your iWatch. They sync and your written message appears on your friends display. Anything from, a quick reminder to pick up milk, to a simple, “Hello,” is easily captured with an easy, fast touch of the wrist. Now that’s cool.
So while Apple has been raving about their new release of the iPhone 6, basically joining Samsung in the phablet craze, (and when it comes to that particular product, they remind us that The Next Big Thing has actually been here for quite some time), I’ll just sit back and wait for the next LITTLE Thing, and it’s release in “early 2015.”
THIS is the ultimate in wearable computing – done in the ultimate best way. Steve Jobs would definitely be proud.
Kelli Richards,
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC.
The Ultimate Guide to Delegating (for Entrepreneurs Who Hate Delegating)
October 17, 2014,
Inc.
The Secret Weapon of Billionaire CEOs and Other Wildly Successful People
October 10, 2014,
Inc.
9 Ways to Make a Lasting Impression at Your First Conference
October 3, 2014,
Inc.
Peter Hoddie
The Super Connector’s Guide to Making Powerful Business Introductions
September 26, 2014,
Inc.
Elaine Dennis
3 Essential Steps to Creating a Successful Personal Growth Plan
September 19, 2014,
Inc.
Music and Your Brand: Five Ways to Tune Your Demographic In With the Right Band
Attention is a scarce resource—and that means it’s a costly one. In a world of hundreds of competing voices, art and music have become a powerful way to bring a brand back into the spotlight. The perfect example? The “marriage” of Alicia Keys and Blackberry.
Blackberry didn’t just bring Keys in as a spokesperson, either; it made her its creative director. That wasn’t just some made-up title to give the “Girl on Fire” credibility; Keys has brought in some stellar ideas to create user (and fan) engagement.
For her first act, Keys shot videos in every location of her tour, and she invited local fans and residents of those locales to send their own photos to include in the video clips. Photos chosen went on Alicia Keys’ on-stage video projection.
Now that is a huge win around user experience—one of the fastest ways to turn engagement into ROI.
Make It Relevant
Right now, consumer brands are marketing more and more with music and entertainment. In fact, it’s become so important that some major brands have started their own record labels—including Red Bull, Scion, Mountain Dew, and Converse.
Why? Music is a powerful way to create a cultural connection and engage with an audience while drawing your product even closer to your demographic’s lifestyle.
Being hip, cool, relevant, and present as a brand is important, but the more important issue can be the cost to your image if you resist popular trends. (Just one example: Levi’s missed the hip-hop boom, and it cost the company $1 billion in sales—in one year.)
Tuning in isn’t just a smart way to connect with your audience; it can be vital to your brand’s survival.
The New ‘A&R’
Brands are becoming a trusted source for breaking hip underground artists to the mainstream media. The iTunes team at Apple (my alma mater) chose specific, obscure artists to create buzz around the launch of iTunes.
That curating practice was really a form of Artist and Repertoire (or A&R), which used to be the domain of a record company. An “A&R” role—which I once did for EMI Music prior to launching the music vertical at Apple—was responsible for cultivating new talent for a label. Now, brands are performing that role themselves.
By partnering with artists who fit your audience, you can create the perfect exposure for your brand to the right people. Here are a few ways to start:
- Find the right sound. If you don’t know which artists may make sense for your brand, hire people who do, or spend time online and on social media networks researching what your audience is listening to. Just ask and explore; they’ll tell you which artists you’ll want to pursue further.
- Target your age group. Brands vying for the attention of younger audiences—especially those 13-25—must be tuned into the entertainment world, especially when tie-ins between brands and bands are core to success. By partnering with exactly the right artistic act, you’ll net far more attention—and credibility—with your target audience.
- Get in touch. Many brands are approaching artists directly. If the artist is signed, the label may be involved, but it’s best to start with the artist’s manager (if an established band) or the artist directly (when a rising indie artist).
- Go where your audience is. Music festivals create the perfect audience for a brand. You’ll place yourself in front of thousands of viewers and kindle a shared passion with your artists’ fans. There are lots of music festivals catering to diverse audiences; find your niche.
- Unify and balance. Merging the needs of artists, brands, and fans can create powerful results. When an artist has a song that ties into the theme of a brand campaign, it resonates with the audience and is doubly powerful.
Behind the Music
There’s nothing quite like a smart, well-executed match between a brand and an artist. When Rihanna debuted her clothing line for River Island during London Fashion Week, she helped generate buzz and boost awareness in the United States around the UK-based clothing brand.
When Panic at the Disco partnered with Honda Civic for the Honda Civic Tour in 2008, the group created an original, exclusive song for Honda’s Civic commercial. The band reached a much broader audience, which resulted in higher CD and ticket sales, and Honda was on the cutting edge with a new kind of branded content.
Apple’s commercial for the launch of the MacBook Air featured a soundtrack from a little-known artist, Yael Naim. “New Song,” which was recorded in Naim’s Paris apartment, jumped up the charts and subsequently led to a wildly popular US tour—and critical success.
Those are just a few examples; dozens of artistically interesting campaigns have benefited from the touch of a complementary musical act. That creative matchmaking is different every time, and it brings a new, fresh twist to a brand’s perception.
The reason is simple: By its nature, music is both emotional and powerful. That’s why fans gather around their favorite artists, creating strong, tightly knit subcultures. Tuning into those communities can be the difference between becoming “white noise” and making a truly engaged connection—and that’s every advertising campaign’s goal.
This post was originally published on Marketing Profs.
How to Make Money By Talking to Cool People
September 5, 2014,
Inc.
…
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Thomas Reemer
Chairman of 88TC88.com Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-thomas-reemer-ceo-of-88tc88com
Ty Roberts
Chief Technical Officer of Gracenote
Matt Ramey
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-matt-ramey-creative-director-of-black
Peter Rafelson
Musician, Writer and Producer Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/2011/04
Jeff Price
CEO of TuneCore Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-jeff-price-ceo-of-tunecore
Jon Potter
Founder of ADA, Apps Developer Alliance and Founder Fan Freedom Project Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-and-jon-potter-entrepreneurial-attorney
David Pakman
Partner at Venrock and Digital Media Entrepreneur Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-david-pakman-partner-at-venrock
David Pack
Musician, Songwriter and Lead Singer for Ambrosia Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-david-pack
Finbar O’Hanlon
CEO, Rocker, and Revolutionary Listen to the entire podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVPCz4RC0D4
Ian Miller
Founder and CEO of The Brand Practice Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-ian-miller-rocket-branding
Brian McGarvey
Vice President, Business Development of Rhapsody Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-brian-mcgarvey-of-rhapsody-0
Terry McBride
CEO Nettwerk Music Group Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/podcast/qa-kelli-richards-terry-mcbride-ceo-of-nettwerk-music
Eric Martin
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k84tzmwOPDM
Steve Macfadyen
Live Event Producer, Producer at Pollstar Magazine Listen to the entire podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/steve-macfadyen-event-producer/id420295332?i=1000332691802
Evan Lowenstein
Founder of StageIt.com Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-evan-lowenstein-founder-of-stageit
Wendy Lipton-Dibner
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/qa-with-wendy-lipton-dibner-of-professional-impact-inc
Esther Lim
Founder and CEO of The Estuary LLC Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-esther-lim-digital-strategist-the-estuary
Gerd Leonhard
Media Futurist, Keynote Speaker and CEO of The Futures Agency Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/qa-kelli-richards-gerd-leonhard-of-the-futures-agency
Marina Jacoby Leonard
Relationship Coach, Woman’s Coach, Life Coach Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-marina-jacoby-leonard
Dave Kusek
CEO Berkleemusic and co-author of “The Future of Music” Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/a-live-qa-with-dave-kusek-of-the-berklee-school-of-music-and-the-co-author-of-the-future-of-music
Noel Kelli
Musician, The Hush Now Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/a-live-qa-with-kelli-richards-and-noel-kelly-lead-singer-of-acclaimed-indie-pop-band-the-hush-now
Andrew Keen
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-author-and-culture-critic-andrew-keen-0
Dave Jaworski
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://jeeni.com/track/kelli-richards-interviews-dave-jaworski-3rd-ever-employee-of-microsoft-canada
Scott Humphrey
Producer & Founder of Jammit.com Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-producer-jammit-ceo-scott-humphrey
Jim Griffin
Digital Music & Tech Visionary Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-jim-griffin
Hollywood Producer, Gary Goldstein
Mentor, Author, Speaker, and Innovator Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-with-hollywood-producer-gary-goldstein
Libby Gill
Branding Expert and CEO Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-with-bestselling-author-libby-gill
Libby Gill
Branding Expert and CEO Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/qa-with-kelli-richards-libby-gill-branding-expert
Mike Galaxy
Of Band Promote Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-mike-galaxy-of-band-promote
Rick Frishman
Publisher at Morgan James Publishing Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-w-rick-frishman-publisher-morgan-james
David Fishof
Creator of Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-david-fishof-of-rock-n-roll-fantasy-camp
Michael Fishman
Entrepreneur, Advisor, Speaker Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/2012/02
Brian Felsen
CEO of BookBaby and CDBaby
Azeo Fables
Founder of VizLingo Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-azeo-fables-from-vizlingo
David Dufresne
CEO of BandZoogle Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/live-qa-with-david-dufresne-ceo-of-bandzoogle-and-a-big-inspiration-in-the-world-of-musicians
Ed Donnelly
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-with-ed-donnelly-founder-of-aderra-inc
Thomas Dolby
Musician, Producer, Music Director for TED Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-musician-and-artist-thomas-dolby
Dave Cool
Documentary Film Maker, Blogger and Advocate for Indie Artists Everywhere. Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-dave-cool-indie-artist-champion
Alan Cohen
Million Dollar Coach and Author Listen to the entire podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIhj079WPXE
Freddy Clarke
Renowned Flamenco Guitarist & Singer with Wobbly World Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-with-freddy-clarke
Craig Chaquico
Lead Guitarist & Songwriter for Jefferson Starship Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/2012/05
Irene Cara
Academy Award Winner, Musician and Actress Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-chats-with-academy-award-winner-irene-cara
Olivia Fox Cabane
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-with-olivia-fox-cabane-charisma-expert
Jack Buser
Director of PlayStation Home Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-jack-buser-of-sony-playstation
Jeff Brandstetter
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/live-qa-with-kelli-richards-jeff-brandstetter-esq-noted-hollywood-attorney-financing-expert
Jason Benlevi
Author of “Too Much Magic – Pulling the Plug on the Cult of Tech” Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/qa-kelli-richards-jason-benlevi-author-of-too-much-magic
Drew Anderson
CTO of HitLab Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-with-drew-anderson-cto-of-hitlab
Marc Allen
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/podcast/kelli-richards-qa-w-marc-allen-author-musician-publisher
Ziad Abdelnour, International Dealmaker and Author
Ziad Abdelnour is President & CEO of Blackhawk Partners, Inc., a New York based private equity “family office” that focuses on originating, structuring, advising and acting as equity investor in management-led buyouts, strategic minority equity investments, equity private placements, consolidations, buildups, and growth capital financings in companies and projects based both in the US and emerging markets.
Nick Adler
Nic Adler single handedly saved the Hollywood Sunset Strip and saved way more than The Roxy. Listen here for the story! Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-qa-nic-adler-of-sunset-strip-music-festival
HITLAB – Reinventing Music Discovery and Distribution, One Artist at a Time?
What’s new in the world of Music and Technology? The world-renowned multi-platinum artist Akon and a key Canadian Internet Company have joined to create something new and very interesting: HITLAB.com. Hitlab is a new media company focused on reinventing the way music is discovered, produced, marketed and distributed.
Happy Holidays from Kelli
With so many wonderful things coming to fruition in the coming year, and so many beautiful friendships and great business alliances and success stories in 2012, I just wanted to stop and take a moment to say how much my friends and colleagues mean to me.
Something Special About Apple and iOS
The special needs community is rarely the target demographic for the tech industry. Many of the wonderful new gizmos and gadgets that come out simply aren’t designed for them. There are an increasing number of companies that are developing products and technology to make computers and mobile devices more accessible for the special needs community, however – and one of those companies happens to be Apple, Inc. Apple’s VoiceOver technology was introduced with OSX 10.5 – better known as “Tiger.” It’s an accessibility feature that allows blind or visually impaired users to interact with a computer through sound. A user can use the trackpad or keyboard to scroll through the applications on the docked menu at the bottom of the screen. It can literally read the user any text that’s displayed on the screen and allows users to edit text where applicable. VoiceOver is also available on iOS devices such as the iPad. Visually impaired users have been incredibly receptive and appreciative of this, especially considering the fact that it’s a feature many other tablets and readers lack. As more and more publishing companies, universities, and corporations look to switch to readers and tablets in the future, accessibility features for the visually impaired certainly help Apple market its products as the superior choice amongst the competition. Another feature that benefits the members of the special needs community is a new feature in iOS 6 called Guided Access. Guided Access allows parents and educators to “lock” onto an app so that children can’t accidentally exit out of it by pressing the home button. While this may seem like a very basic feature, it’s incredibly useful for children with Autism or learning disabilities who may become distracted or lose focus on tasks. There are a number of educational apps available in the App Store but it’s often hard for learning disabled students to stay focused on them long enough to actually benefit. With Guided Access, the task of keeping a child focused has gotten a little easier for teachers and parents. While full accessibility is an on-going battle as technology continues to evolve, Apple is certainly taking steps in the right direction. Many other companies in Silicon Valley are taking their lead and continuing to improve accessibility features for different technologies and we hope to see this trend continue. My own time at Apple saw many of these technologies discussed and drawn out on desks and white boards under the tireless leadership and direction of my colleague Dr. Alan Brightman, who was Director of Apple’s WW Disability Solutions for 12 years; and is now a VP at Yahoo focusing on Global Accessibilty. To see these things come to life and create impact all around the world is simply astounding (then and now). Kelli Richards, CEO of the All Access Group, LLC
The Cupertino Connection: iTunes 11 and iCloud
iTunes may be one of the best products that Apple ever developed, or at the very least, one of the smartest. Just a few weeks ago Apple released iTunes 11 with a myriad of visual and technical changes and improvements. iTunes will turn 12 years old in January, and in those years Apple has found a way to streamline, connect, condense, and centralize a user’s content and multimedia experience. With that in mind, I think it’s worth looking at a few of the existing features, the new ones in iTunes 11, and the future ones planned for next year to see just how they’ll continue to do that. First let’s look at how Apple already connects users and their content across multiple devices. One of the earliest features that did this was the “Library Sharing” feature that enables users to share their library across 5 devices connected to the same network using the same Apple ID. This was great because a user could have a whole collection on their desktop computer and access that same collection on their laptop. With this feature, users can also share content with other people on their WiFi network. A similar feature that’s been out for a few years is AirPlay. AirPlay allows users to stream media from one device across multiple devices on their WiFi network. For example, a user can start listening to an album or playlist in one room and stream it to their home stereo in their living room. Users can even adjust which devices are playing at what time and the volume of those individual devices. Apple TV even lets users stream a movie from their computer on their Apple TV. Of course, all of these devices are controllable with an iPhone, iPod, or iPad. Finally, with iTunes 11 and the updated iTunes store, all of a user’s downloads are automatically synced to the iCloud and accessible by any other iCloud capable device. This means a song downloaded in the iTunes store on your computer will be available on your iPod or iPhone. A similar service, iTunes Match, was released last year and allows users to pay an annual fee to have any of their music in their library uploaded to the iCloud, whether it was purchased or available in the iTunes store or not. These services could prove to be interesting competitors for Spotify, Rhapsody, Amazon, and other streaming/cloud based music delivery services. Lastly, Apple recently announced that it will launch its own streaming radio service to compete with Pandora in the first few months of 2013. Like the aforementioned services, it will be available across iPhones, iPods, iPads, Macs, and PC’s as part of iTunes. With all of these developments that have made Apple products so seamlessly integrated into a person’s life, it seems Tim Cook is moving forward to fulfill Steve Jobs’ goal of having an Apple device in every home. Cloud storage and online streaming is all the rage right now, and Apple’s solutions could prove to be big problems for its competitors. With so many solutions to a user’s content needs, why would they bother going elsewhere? Kelli Richards CEO of The All Access Group
Beamz Interactive – Play Music with Ease and Add A Visual Element
Are you one of those people who think they can’t play music or will never learn to play an instrument? I have heard people say things like “I’m too old now” or “I’m just not musically gifted.” Thanks to the great products from Beamz Interactive, you’ll never be able to use those excuses again. Beamz has created a great new interactive music system that uses lasers to enable users to create music. And I cannot think of a better stocking stuffer for anyone in your life.
Please click through and comment on my recent article on Fast Company
Hi everyone, I am thrilled to share that last week my article, “How Apple’s Culture Seeped Into Silicon Valley’s DNA,” was featured in Fast Company. I would be grateful if you would click through and comment on Fast Company’s site and join the discussion there.
Cyber Monday – Digging for Digital Dollars
The holiday season is upon us now that Thanksgiving has come and gone. If you’ve just surfaced from the post-Thanksgiving turkey overdose then you’ve already missed Black Friday, which is probably for the better. However, many e-commerce sites are extending Cyber Monday deals through the entire week. This blog isn’t going to tell you where to find the best deals or give you any general tips, but rather it will highlight the importance of Cyber Monday to the tech industry and its influence throughout the globe. The term “Cyber Monday,” was first coined in 2005 by Shop.com as a parallel to Black Friday. Scott Silverman of Shop.com created the concept based on research that the Monday following Thanksgiving was the biggest online retail day of the year, presumably for anyone who missed out on Black Friday deals. In its first year, Cyber Monday generated over $600 million dollars in sales from U.S consumers. It has since grown to double that and is now “celebrated” in countries across the globe such as the U.K, Portugal, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia. One of the reasons Cyber Monday has grown so steadily over the years is because the rapid advancements in tech. In 2005, few people were browsing Amazon.com on their cell phones, now however, more than 12% of Cyber Monday purchases are made from a mobile device. Similarly, the rate at which technology is released has sped up in every direction, meaning more cool new gadgets for people to buy. As online sales soar with Cyber Monday, some brick-and-mortar locations and small businesses have complained that the deals online are taking money away from local economies. The sad (and great) news is that really, as technology and e-commerce rapidly evolve, everyone along the retail trail will have to find a way to keep up. So happy hunting! There are so many cool new products on the market – from the iPad Mini to the Kindle Fire to all the great new laptops that have come out. Hopefully you won’t go overboard and max out all your cards, though I know it can be tempting! Kelli Richards CEO of the All Access Group.
A Message of Thanks and Giving
Greetings everyone, With Thanksgiving almost here, I’d like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday, abundant with loved ones. One of the many things I’m grateful for is your definitely your friendship this past year. 2012 has been amazing and successful for me, and that definitely doesn’t happen in a vacuum. I continue to work on new and exciting things to foster that same success and abundance in your own companies and projects. I am launching a new coaching program to help companies and brands adopt best practices and implement them into their goals and initiatives. If you’ve read my latest book, “The Magic and Moxie of Apple: An Insider’s View” then you’ll be familiar with some of these best practices (but not all of them). If you have struggled to hit your goals, successfully launch your projects, or create the relationships you need to truly move forward, this is the program for you. A new, updated edition of my bestselling book “Taking the Crowd to the Cloud,” comes out on 12/12/12. This eBook will feature new chapters on Pinterest, the new Myspace, and on funding sources for musicians (and any of us with a great project that the “crowd” could get behind. In addition to the new chapters, I will be updating all of the book’s topics to account for updates and renovations on the various social networks, such as promoted posts on Facebook – and the ability to share video on Linkedin. While this book does cover some very advanced capabilities, I always endeavor to approach each space with a beginners eye, for those of us who need that point of view as well. Best wishes, Kelli Richards CEO of the All Access Group.
Crowd Funding for Musicians
One of the things that I do when I work with clients is help them find new revenue streams and funding sources. They’re two of the most important aspects when it comes to business growth and development. It’s not any different for musicians. If you want to take music from a hobby to a full-time job, you’re going to need funding to survive and support your music. One of the great ways to do this is through online crowd funding platforms. Crowd funding is essentially like having a fundraiser but it can be utilized to raise money for new companies and projects. There are literally dozens of companies out there, each with their own pro’s and con’s, that help raise money through crowd funding. Some of the bigger ones are: IndieGoGo, Kickstarter, and RocketHub. There are even crowd funding companies that focus exclusively on music such as ArtistShare, Sellaband, and PledgeMusic. One of the best and earliest examples of crowd funding is the rock band Marillion, who raised $60,000 for a U.S tour in 1997 and has since used it to fund the recording and marketing of 3 albums. The over-arching premise is simple: fans donate what they can with different levels of donations that get different gifts. For example, a $10 donation will get a free copy of the CD they’re funding, a $25 donation gets a CD and a shirt, and a $50 dollar donation gets a CD, shirt, and personally autographed poster. Don’t sell yourself short, even in today’s economy people are willing to shell out the few extra bucks to help local music and get something cool in return. Who knows, those signed posters could be worth big money some day because they helped fund the album that made you famous! Crowd funding is so much more than a simple fundraiser, it’s a really fantastic way to engage your fans. Many platforms allow, or even require, artists to post updates, pictures, videos, etc as a way of maintaining momentum during their campaign. Will crowd funding replace traditional funding sources and revenue streams? Probably not; but they are a great way to get those precious few extra dollars that you need to record, produce, distribute, tour, film, etc. With crowd funding, you no longer need a major label budget to put out a great record. Simply ask your fans for help and everyone wins. Kelli Richards, CEO of the All Access Group, LLC
New York, We’ve Got Your Back
Let me preface this piece by saying my thoughts and prayers go out to the millions of people in the northeast who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy over the last week. I hope that everyone can quickly and easily recover from this tragic event. The human spirit is, as always, amazing. We’ve seen many events that showcase the spirit of brotherhood – and even heroism – through the media. Thousands of miles away on the West coast, the updates pouring in from social media were a vital lifeline of information for many friends and relatives for those affected. Two of my own team members are in New York, and I was grateful that even without electricity and internet, they both updated their Facebook and Twitter accounts to say they were okay.
The New Myspace: All or Nothing
Ah Myspace, the website that brought social networking and social media into the homes of the masses. Once the king of the internet, valued at $12 billion and becoming the most visited website in the world, it has since been dethroned and fallen from grace. Or has it? It was recently purchased by Specific Media and Justin Timberlake in June 2011 for $35 million with hopes of breathing new life into the company. But will they be able to reclaim the throne in a much more crowded kingdom? The answer to that remains to be scene but based on the preview it looks like something worth getting excited about. The obvious issue is that there are already enough, if not too many, social networks for the average user. Between Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Youtube, Google+ and the many others, the internet has become inundated with social media. Billed as a way to connect artists and fans, the MySpace team at Specific media has taken a smart approach by letting users integrate their Facebook and Twitter accounts rather than having to create a new one. With celebrities and artists already connecting with fans via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram perhaps integration and consolidating is something we need more of. Seamless integration and creative design are two big things the new Myspace has going for it. Based on the preview video posted by Justin Timberlake, the website does look gorgeous and functional; 2 issues which plagued it in the past. Perhaps the biggest thing it has going for it is the music feature, which is something it actually always did exceptionally well. Once a great way for big names and local bands alike to post songs, event info, pictures, etc, it will now let users create and share playlists, listen to whole albums, discover new music based on recommendations, and more. A cool feature for the artists is an analytics page which provides demographic breakdowns of their audiences by age, gender, region, etc. Myspace currently boasts one of the largest music catalogues on the internet, albeit from mostly unknown artists, at 42 million songs. If they can get some big artists and labels on board or even integrate with other services like Spotify, Pandora, Rdio, or Rhapsody then it could very well come back to life. There’s still a lot that is up in the air for the new Myspace but if it can find a way to get over the hump, play nicely with the other social networks, and deliver great content then I think it will be a success. If it can’t create a pleasant, clutter-free, and unique experience for the user then it may be time to just let it die out. Kelli Richards, President and CEO The All Access Group, LLC
A Lennon Legacy
I’d like to think that we all have heroes, that everyone out there, no matter how successful they are, takes the time to have someone to look up to and admire. John Lennon was always that hero to me. He lived by his own rules and made a mark that only grows stronger over time. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to meet his oldest son, Julian, and to share a deeply moving conversation about his dad and the work that he did – and to discuss the work that Julian has created through his charity, The White Feather Foundation. The White Feather Foundation was started over 20 years ago and embraces environmental and humanitarian issues in conjunction with partners from all around the world, raising funds for a more sustainable, better world for every living being. White Feather has done everything from supporting artists to marching to end bullying to building an orphanage in Sri Lanka. One project at a time, Julian’s Foundation builds better lives and stronger communities. In 2008, he was honored by the Better World Environmental Award by Prince Albert of Monaco. It’s not easy for artists today – the entire industry has changed and then changed gain. While being fathered by a giant among men, Julian has never been one to stand on the shoulders of his dad, John. He has carved his own careers as both a musician and a photographer. He has brilliantly built the one thing ALL of us should define and design every day – an inspiring legacy that changes and betters the world of others. Julian’s latest album, Everything Changes, will be released worldwide early 2013. In the meantime, we will all wait impatiently, and hopefully support his great work with White Feather. To send a donation, go to https://WhiteFeatherFoundation.com
Politics 2.0: The 2012 US Presidential Election
Very rarely, if ever, do I talk about politics. It’s one of those taboo topics of conversation that’s best left unmentioned for the sake of your sanity and relationships. The internet however seems to disagree. Now more than ever, politics is being discussed very openly; whether it’s on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs, podcasts, etc. So why the shift? Where did it come from? What does it mean? Who’s driving it? These questions deserve a bit more investigation, so let’s take a quick look. Technology has always been used to shape and advance movements of political, cultural, and social change. From Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press of the 1400’s to the #Kony2012 campaign earlier this year, people have used technology to communicate and spread ideas in an effort to shape their culture and society. While Gutenberg’s printing press is undoubtedly more revolutionary than Twitter, both have the same end goal: to communicate and share ideas. Similarly, the advent of television played a huge role in modern U.S politics on September 26, 1960, when the Kennedy – Nixon presidential debate became the first presidential debate to be televised. Many people have said that Kennedy won the election based on that debate alone, being noticeably more calm, charming, and charismatic than Nixon. In today’s culture, the media landscape has already begun to shift. No longer are people tuning into the nightly news or watching the debates on television. Rather, they check the news on their smart phone or watch the debate streaming live on their tablets on the go – untethered. So while technology and the media have adapted to these changes, how has politics? And why is it important? For starters, the internet is here to stay. No longer are computers and the internet just for younger generations and tech geeks. 85% of adults in the United States use the internet, that’s 297.5 million people of legal voting age. According to SocialBaker.com, there are 167,913,500 U.S Facebook users or 54.12% of our total population. As you can see, that’s a huge chunk of people that are communicating their thoughts and ideas with one another. Similarly, that’s a huge chunk of people that can be reached by your ideas. If you were a politician, think about how powerful it would be to reach 54% of your target population. Imagine if you could even reach half of that, how those people could influence an election. The purpose of this blog isn’t to say whether or not using social media to promote a political campaign is worthwhile or not, I think that has already been decided. Instead, I’d like to get you to think about how social media influences politics in the U.S today.
A Tribute to John and Steve
In my newest book, The Magic and Moxie of Apple: An Insider’s View, I compared Steve Jobs and John Lennon; two iconic legends of a generation that are no longer with us today. Coincidentally, today is John’s birthday and last week marked the 1 year anniversary of Steve’s death. For that reason, I feel that it is only right for me to pay homage to two of the most inspirational men in my life. John Lennon was a rock star in every sense of the world. He had it all; the fame, the fortune, the glory, etc but you would never guess it from his bashful demeanor on the camera. Steve Jobs was also a rock star but in a less literal sense. He attained the same iconic level of fame and fortune as Lennon, but through technology. Their success can’t be attributed to themselves alone; they both had an amazing team around them. However, both had the courage and vision to try something new and it worked. I remember being a little girl when I was 8 years old and watching the Beatles doing a TV special (maybe it was “All You Need is Love”.) Apart from being electrified by their performance, the man behind the curtain playing with all the buttons and knobs (George Martin) lit a spark in me that set me on the career path that brought me to where I am today. As I watched Martin and the Beatles I thought to myself, “That’s what I want to do with my life,” and so I set out to make it happen. Similarly, growing up in Cupertino was the other half of my inspiration. At the time they started, no one knew how great Apple would be, but as the company started to take off I knew that working there would be a dream. So this is my “thank you” to John & to Steve. Without these two legends, who knows if I would have ever developed personally and professionally into the person I am today. If they’re up there watching over us, I hope they know what a profoundly wonderful impact they’ve had on millions of lives.
Rdio’s New Artist Program
As someone who has built their entire career around the convergence of technology and music, nothing pains me more than to see artists ripped off by advancements in technology. Whether we’re talking about the Napster days of the early 2000s or Grooveshark today, artists continue to be undercompensated (if compensated at all) for their work. While we’ve certainly taken some great strides towards fairly discovering and obtaining music, there is still a lot of work to be done. That’s why I was delighted to learn about Rdio, an ad-free music subscription service. Rdio was founded in 2010 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, whom you might remember from the illegal file sharing service Kazaa which followed Napster’s demise. Similar to other services like Spotify and Rhapsody, Rdio allows users to stream an unlimited number of songs from their computer or smartphone for a monthly fee. Artists are compensated based on the number of plays their songs get per month. Unfortunately we’ve seen through these services that this model results in artists being undercompensated; often times getting fractions of a penny per play or a check for 4 dollars at the end of the month. Some artists, such as Coldplay and Adele, have kept their latest work off of subscription based streaming services because they feel it hurts album sales. Today Rdio has announced a new program that aims to compensate artists more fairly and increase fan engagement while at the same time getting new subscribers. The Rdio Artist Program will use artists as recruiters and will compensate them $10 dollars for each subscriber they sign up. Rdio gives the artist the tools to customize their page and share their content on social media. One of my favorite features is the ability to have artists share their favorite songs and playlists that they’re listening to, a feature I always thought iTunes should have. Rdio CEO Drew Larner calls the program a “Win-win” for all parties involved. With only about 10 million subscribers around the world, it’s hard to say whether or not this program will sink or float but a few big artists are already getting onboard such as Snoop Lion, Scissor Sisters, A-trak, and Chromeo. Could this possible be the next big thing? If it gets artists paid fairly while giving the customer a better experience, let’s hope so.
Reminder to REGISTER for TUESDAY’s Apple’s Best Practices Webinar
Tomorrow, September 25th at 2pm PST I will offer an exclusive Webinar on incorporating Apple’s 12 best practices to enhance your business, client experiences, and personal brand. As we know, Apple is a global leader in creating an environment around achieving powerful goals, and boiling down how they became THE company to model, after experiencing one of the most well documented crashes in history, is an absolute MUST do for anyone in business today. To hold your space at this exclusive webinar, sign up immediately at https://www.appleinsidersecrets.com Warmly, Kelli Richards
Apple’s Laughing Straight to the Bank
The past month or so for Apple has been almost as eventful as the company’s first big success back in the late 70’s – early 80’s.
Apple’s 12 Best Practices – Training Webinar
Join me on Tuesday, September 25, 2:00pm PT/5:00 pm ET. I will share a detailed, insiders view into Apple’s 12 best practices to create the WOW factor that keeps your customers coming back and telling all their friends about why your product “kills” anything else on the market (my colleague Steve Jobs used every single one of these to great success)
Blog for Black: The Digital Agency
Black is a digital media marketing company that was launched just a year ago by Matt and his partner, Philippe Luchansky. The duo act as Creative Director and Director of Interactive, respectively, and bring years of experience working on massive, successful campaigns. While the company itself is new, Mat and Philippe’s work has been sought after by dozens of household names, such as Blizzard, EA Sports, Jason Mraz, Redbull, Betsy Johnson, and so many more.
Steve Jobs on Privacy and User Experience – An Apple Best Practice
Nobody can keep a secret better than Apple – AND the thousands and thousands of employees. And that idea translates far into how they work with their products, and especially, their users. For Apple Inc., user experience goes far beyond what the customer can see, feel and touch. It goes on behind the veil as well. Steve Jobs talked about this himself when he was interviewed at the All Things D8 Conference in 2010.
Wendy Lipton-Dibner – Elite Video Mastery and Move People to Action
I was joined on this week’s edition of “All Access Radio” by author, speaker, and coach Wendy Lipton-Dibner. Wendy has done amazing work as a leader in her field. She is the president of Professional Impact Inc., which produces seminars and courses such as the wildly successful “Move People to Action for Experts and Entrepreneurs.”
One Thing RIGHT in the Music World: CD Baby
CD Baby is an online distributor of independent music. But they’re not just any online distributor they’re actually the largest online distributor of independent music in the world.
EventFinda – A New Way to Find Events, Concerts, Gigs, Tours…
EventFinda is an amazing new way to market and promote events as well as purchase tickets. EventFinda goes above and beyond today’s standards for event marketing and ticketing. EventFinda distinguishes itself from the competition by not only being a place to buy and sell tickets to events but also syndicates and shares content, as well as offering a path to discover more events and interesting entertainment coming to your area. EventFinda makes the lives of everyone involved with a single event much easier; from the artist, to the promoter, to the PR teams, and ultimately, to the fans and spectators. As something that started from a kitchen table in 2005 in New Zealand (not exactly Silicon Valley) and spread across the globe to land in the USA this year, there’s no doubt that EventFinda will continue to grow and amaze fans and entertainers alike. Sure, there will always be other websites that you can go to to buy and sell tickets, discover new music or entertainment, learn more about your favorite artist or venue; but none of them will be able to package all of that together like EventFinda. Kelli Richards, President and CEO The All Access Group, LLC
A Peek Behind the Curtain… The Core Personal Interviews with Kelli Richards (and her Editor) that Became the Apple eBook…
The Core Interviews with Kelli that Became the Apple eBook… Tune in for this 15-minute interview with Kelli Richards, Apple Alum and author of the Amazon Bestseller, “The Magic and Moxie of Apple – An Insider’s View.”
Will we Retain our Confidence in Apple?
The newly launched iBooks Store recently signed on its sixth majorU.S. publisher in Random House, the world’s No. 1 English-language producer of books. Is there any doubt that iBooks is set on a course to become the world’s largest digital bookstore?
On July 20th at midnight, Kelli Richards’ long awaited eBook on Apple Inc., “The Magic and Moxie of Apple – An Insider’s View,” hit #1 in Kindle for Systems and Leadership and broke the top 100 in the Business and Leadership Category (our highest ranking was #70) on Amazon overall. This is Richards’ second #1 bestseller on Amazon.
Kelli Richards, Leader in Technology and Digital Distribution, Publishes New Book on Apple Inc., “The Magic and Moxie of Apple – An Insider’s View”
Kelli Richards, CEO of the All Access Group and an alumnus of Apple Inc. (where she launched Apple’s earliest focus on music and drove all music initiatives during her 10 years with the market leader) has just published her long awaited eBook, “The Magic and Moxie of Apple – An Insider’s View.”
It’s HERE! Get “The Magic and Moxie of Apple” + An Invite to my Launch Party in Silicon Valley
What’s Apple Inc.’s best kept secret goal? Apple insider Kelli Richards reveals how Apple built a company and a brand that reaches across Fortune 100 companies and small business owners. You the book launch for “The Magic and Moxie of Apple – An Insider’s View” at https://AppleInsiderSecrets.com and peek BEHIND the curtain to look at the best practices of Apple Inc., and how it created a climate that ultimately changed the world forever. Help Best Selling Author, Kelli Richards Reach #1 on Amazon AGAIN. Get “The Magic and Moxie of Apple” + Bonuses https://AppleInsiderSecrets.com Through interviews with other alums and my own experiences at Apple for over a decade, I’ve created a compelling view of what makes Apple Inc. the company it is today. Get the book TODAY for an insider’s look at Apple’s failures, its successes, and the people who will continue its course toward greatness. https://AppleInsiderSecrets.com THANK you everyone for your support!
“Our North Star is to make the best product.” Tim Cook Continues Apple’s Best Practices
Tim Cook gave us a bird’s eye view of how Apple plans to stay the course and continue their role as tech leader of the world. Asked about the competition many times, Cook responded at one point with a statement that completely embodies one of Apple’s Best Practices. He said, “Our North Star is to make the best product.”
I talk about this best practice in my upcoming eBook at great length. How despite being the richest company in the world, the best practice of “Excellence, not Revenue” IS that North Star – and truly has been since Apple’s rebirth when Steve came back to the company.
Apple Alums – A “Class” Unto Ourselves and an Education and Collaboration for a Lifetime
Not long ago the LA Times ran an article about an executive training program at Apple called Apple University. This was one of Steve Job’s most poignant legacy projects – literally how he hoped to continue his presence, in the company he founded, long after he left this realm. Apple University is the program where Apple literally educates its executives on how to embrace the oft-referenced “Apple DNA” and think like Steve Jobs himself.
Apple – Building a Brand, Leaving a Legacy
Seeing Steve Jobs battle through the fight of his life to restore Apple to greatness – a graceful, courageous and obviously successful battle – doesn’t hold a candle to seeing him fight for his life now. He’s obviously ill. But what he’s creating, despite (or because of) that illness is mind blowing. Naysayers can address the iCloud any way they want, but what we all know is that it’s pretty damned likely to be successful.
Fun & Games: Cross Digital Distribution Takes Movies into a Whole New Realm
As the digital revolution reaches what seems to be an absolute frenzy of technological advances and debuts, more and more we’re seeing the cross-platform promotion and collaboration around product distribution. The latest (and one of the biggest) entries into this virtual world is set to be Suzanne Collins’ popular novel, “The Hunger Games.”
Hulu’s Latest Hot Ticket
So why, after four years of great digital distribution, am I writing about Hulu? Because they are about to take a huge leap of faith and add another original production to their arsenal – original content is a journey that even Oprah Winfrey herself can tell you is fraught with danger.
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 entire 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.
Digital at it’s Best: Live From Daryl’s House
Today’s world is fickle, and one of my favorite examples of digital avenues bringing new audiences to the best performers of our time is definitely Live From Daryl’s House, started by Daryl Hall in late 2007. This is music discover at its best, with Hall taking a simple idea and turning it into web gold.
Kelli Richards Interviews Evan Lowenstein, Founder of StageIt!
Join Kelli Richards for her great Q&A with Evan Lowenstein . 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.
A Discussion with Jim Griffin and Bill Patry, the Father of Copyright at Google
At Digital Music East 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 as the Father of Copyright.
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. Jim Griffin is the Managing Director of OneHouse, a company dedicated to the future of music & entertainment delivery.
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.
I’m very excited to interview Nic Adler tonight 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 Hollywood for 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!
NEW DIGITAL ECONOMICS SILICON VALLEY – Executive Brainstorm & Innovation Forum
NEW DIGITAL ECONOMICS SILICON VALLEY – Executive Brainstorm & Innovation Forum
March 27-28, 2012 – Marriott Hotel, Union Square, San Francisco
Press Release: 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.
Whitney Houston – Connecting the Dots to a Legacy
The ultimate question becomes: What do artists need to create to keep themselves safe from becoming undone? Because stories like Whitney Houston’s are not uncommon. Stars rise and fall with the fickle tastes of fans, and when an artist is as meteoric as Whitney, the fall to the ground is far and long. Her difficulties were not only exploited in the media, they were – to some degree – exploited by Whitney herself, choosing a reality show as a vehicle for her brand. Under the best of circumstances, that road is twisted – just ask the long list of reality stars held up to public scrutiny (and editing and distribution).
Where is Kelli?
While being on the cutting edge of the tech and digital revolution is not at all new to me, the next year is poised to present some of the most innovative and exciting opportunities to participate at top industry events. I look forward to seeing some of you at the San Francisco Music Tech Summit today, at Digital Music Forum East in less than two weeks in NYC, plus at the many other exciting gatherings and summits already on the calendar AND yet to be developed (including Digital Music Forum East in NYC, Alley to the Valley Summit, Silicon Valley Capital Club, New Digital Economics, Digital Hollywood, among others!) If you have an event you’d like me to participate in, or a panel or keynote to deliver, please reach out to me directly at Kelli@AllAccessGroup.com
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