A Beginner’s Guide to Industrial Music
An introduction to the controversial genre
Entrepreneurship In The Music Industry with Director of Marketing, Ali Samadpour
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Everyone’s journey through the music industry is different. Ali Samadpour started out as an intern and worked his way up to Director of Marketing at Everybody Knows. While working his main gigs, he managed to launch two companies, Prescient Digital and Modular Merch. Both companies are rooted in the music industry and help artists with things like merch and digital marketing. He’s worked with a variety of artists including J. Balvin, Da Baby, SAINT JHN, MADEINTYO, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Wiz Khalifa and many more.
It hasn’t always been easy but Ali worked hard to get to where he is today. He recently hosted a Music Industry Essentials Webinar to talk about his career path and give some useful tips on making it in the industry. He talked about everything from maximizing a marketing budget to building a Spotify account for artist’s music and how digital advertising plays a major role in marketing an artist and his/her music. He also talked about how to network and safely communicate with people during a pandemic. Networking and fostering positive relationships with people is an important part of making it in the music industry.
If you missed the live webinar, you’re in luck. The entire webinar is available for replay in the video box above and some of the presentation slides are posted below. Aside from taking the Music Industry Essentials course, this conversation is a great jumpstart for a successful career in the music industry.
5 Career Quotables From Grammy Nominated Songwriter Madison Love
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Working in the music industry doesn’t happen overnight. It requires hard work, training, and persistence. Grammy nominated Songwriter Madison Love knows all about the grind it takes to break into the music industry. She recently got her big break and even a few Grammy Noms but it didn’t come without all of the hustle that comes with it. Madison is an NYU alum of the Clive Davis Institute. She is also a songwriter from a few pop star faves including Lady Gaga, Ava Max, and Selena Gomez. She recently sat down with Yellowbrick’s Music Industry Essentials course to talk about her journey through school and how she transitioned into a career in the music industry.
Madison loves what she does, and it shows. “The best part of my job, honestly, is being able to connect to millions of people emotionally through your voice and your emotions”, she said. “And it’s kind of a crazy thing when you hear other people screaming the song that you wrote and you’re just thinking, wow, this is so unreal”. She dropped a lot of useful gems during this interview. Bringing a pen and paper to take notes is highly recommended. You can see some of her quotables below.
If a career in the music industry is something you’ve always wanted, let Music Industry Essentials help you take that first step. Visit Yellowbrick.co/music to apply.
1. “I don’t want to share all of my secrets, but I write down a lot of titles and lyrics all the time in this (shows a journal) and I always bring it to every session, so I’m prepared.”
2. “I think that hustle has gotten me where I am today and getting big cuts like the song that I collaborated on for Lady Gaga album that’s coming out. I wouldn’t have been able to be in that room if I didn’t really, really hustle to get there.”
3. “You just say yes to everything. I’ve molded myself over the years to try and lend myself to other styles to get more cuts, because I have songs that have gone on the radio that are Latin, I’m speaking Spanish, a lot of songs I speak in, whatever language you want, I’ll do it.”
4. “You have to be able to mold yourself into whatever situation you want to be, but still being authentic to you and being authentic to what you want to present.”
5. “As a songwriter, you don’t really make that much from streaming.
You’re getting YouTube, you’re getting Apple Music, you’re getting all these other services. But it’s still not as much money as you think. You have to have multiple, multiple hit songs a year to be making a lot of money.”
Yellowbrick Grad Coins ‘Strange on Purpose’ Podcast
Yellowbrick grads have done some pretty cool things after course completion. They waste no time putting their talents and credentials to work. Whether it’s designing a custom drop for Nike, curating a makeup museum or getting their first writing credit on a song, YB grads are on the ground putting their skills to good use. Sneakerschool grad Izzy Lugo is another dope example. He teamed up with Quentin Allums to craft the Strange on Purpose podcast.
Strange on Purpose – Urban Misfit Adventures is a podcast that has something for everybody. Hosted by Izzy Lugo / @itsizzylugo and Quentin Allums / @tagjustq, their pod conversations are a great way to “pick people’s brains” simply by listening. Hearing the story of someone’s journey and identifying with the parts that resonate is a key motivator. It is always interesting to hear about a person’s grind, drive and setbacks that got them to where they are today.
One of their most recent guests, Susan Boyle, is an industry expert in Sneaker Essentials. She was one of the experts that Izzy Lugo came across in the course. The 3 met up on the pod for “Women In Sneakers” Episode 9 and had a great conversation about her career experiences. Lugo also reached out to Yellowbrick and scored an episode with Dion Walcott, the VP of Brand Partnerships. Click below to listen to Episode 9 and catch up with all the shows on either Anchor, Spotify, or Apple.
If you are interested in taking your first steps towards the job of your dreams, visit yellowbrick.co to find out how.
YB Faves: Top 5 Podcasts in Yellowbrick’s Rotation
If podcasting is something you’ve always wanted to get into, today (well, tomorrow) is the perfect time to start. While blogs and digital publications have flourished, podcasts have become a really cool alternative to sharing content. There are so many to choose from and it is easy to get hooked. When going back and forth to work was a thing, podcasts helped make the commute time a little less tedious. You could listen on the walk to the train, on the train, and on the walk to the office at the push of a button.
Podcasts are a great way to tell a story and provide detailed information on a variety of topics. The Yellowbrick student, faculty, and industry expert community is stacked with people who are the voices of quite a few podcasts in rotation. Some of Yellowbrick grads, current students, and university faculty are lending their ideas and conversations to some very popular podcasts. Since International Podcast Day is coming up, September 30th, we took some time to compile a list of our favorites below. Each podcast comes with a description with links on where and how you can access them. All of the episodes featured in this post can be listened to at the bottom of the page.
The Complex Sneaker Podcast co-hosted by Joe La Puma, Brendan Dunne, and Matt Welty engage in heavy sneaker conversation. The trio are no strangers to sneakers nor our audience as they are seen as industry experts in the Sneaker Essentials sneaker course. Their latest episode includes an in-depth convo with Gary Aspden, the adidas OG. He talks about meeting Kanye and what it took to create the Spezial. Aside from this latest episode, they have a solid archive of conversations to choose from. Click here to listen.
Find Your Dream Job podcast by Mac Prichard is a great way to get some solid career advice. If trying to find the job of your dreams is something you have been trying to achieve, this is the podcast for you. This weekly podcast is all about sharing insider hiring info and tips on the job search that could prove to be helpful in any career. His latest episode, How to dine the Side Door at HR features Dana Pratt, the founder of DCP Training and Talent Development. Her company is the go to to help employers with performance consulting, leadership development, and talent management. Click here to listen.
Renaissance Soul podcast hosted by Kelly “K-Fresh” Frazier is the home for all things Detroit hip-hop and music. What launched as a digital hip-hop website back in 2001, is now an audio podcast with the same content just a different output. The pod recently re-launched in August and led with Detroit’s own Dan Charnas, NYU professor and music journalist who is the go-to for all things Detroit/J-Dilla related. To check out the pod and Dan’s episode, click here.
How to Share podcast is a hospitality focused podcast that discusses storytelling, travel, and marketing in the travel industry. Host Amy Draheim is a marketing maven in the hotel industry and presents new and innovative ways to market hotels and travel destinations. Drahiem also owns and creates content for The Traveler’s Journey, which provides blogging tips, trip storytelling, and how to make the most of your IG feed when traveling. She recently sat down with Moniqua Lane to discuss how she started in hospitality, her efforts to create one-of-a-kind guest experiences, and her efforts to keep her property open despite the current vibe of the country. Click here to listen.
Unravel is a weekly podcast operated by Dana Goodin, Jasmine Helm and Joy Davis. The trio create content that is geared towards educating people about the importance of fashion in the history and current culture of the world. One of their goals is to encourage conversation about these topics within their digital platform community. They are women with a plethora of scholarly knowledge and do a great job of presenting it to their audience. Their goals are to, “collaborate with experts, in their field, to expand the conversation, speak beyond the canon of traditional fashion media and history, and be on the “frontline” of solidifying fashion history as a serious subject to study and learn”. Click here to listen.
BTS: Bringing Korean Pop to the West and Changing Perceptions
Written by Music Industry Essentials student Lauren O’Donnell
The first time many Western listeners ever heard of the term “K-Pop,” was in 2012 when they came upon the catchy, dance driven hit “Gangnam Style” by South Korean singer Psy. This song got K-Pop’s foot in the door, but this one time hit failed to provide the momentum to boost K-Pop into the U.S. music scene.
K-Pop or Korean pop music is not technically a genre of music. It is more of a music style or culture. Its sound is characterized by a combination of pop, EDM, hip-hop, R&B and other genres. K-Pop singers or “Idols” as they are called in Korea, perform difficult choreography and are styled to fit particular concepts in their performances. “Gangnam Style” and its success was both a blessing and curse for K-Pop in the West. It was a hit song performed in the Korean language that brought an artist from that region fame in America. But its humorous nature led to misconceptions and caused Western critics and media to see K-Pop as “bubblegum” pop music that could not be taken seriously. For years K-Pop had virtually disappeared in the West until…BTS.
BTS (방탄소년단)
BTS is a seven member boy group formed in Seoul by Big Hit Entertainment. They debuted in 2013 with the song “No More Dream,” and since then have sold millions of albums, performed to sold-out stadiums worldwide and have changed perceptions surrounding K-Pop.
BTS Music Style and Message
BTS is comprised of three rappers (RM, J-Hope, SUGA) and four vocalists (Jin, V, Jimin, Jungkook). This combination allows for interesting song arrangements, musical styles and variations in vocal ranges. BTS has a very wide range when it comes to genres and sounds in their music. They have incorporated emo rap, latin pop, hip-hop, African drums, traditional Korean instruments, and are never afraid to experiment with genres or different elements in their music.
The messages in their music are very personal to young people and to BTS themselves. The members are involved in the concepts, songwriting and producing of their music. They have discussed topics like mental health, societal expectations, self-love and being true to yourself.
Success in the West
BTS has become successful in the Western market and around the world because they create great music, have a strong relationship with their fans known as the ARMY and they established their fan base before attempting to break into the market. Some K-Pop groups today make appearances in the U.S. before their fanbase is established organically and this does not typically work for the group’s long-term success.
BTS has achieved four #1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, three top ten hits on the Hot 100 and for the last few years has been one of the best selling artists in the world. With each new album release, they sell more copies and top charts in global markets. Their success has opened doors for other K-Pop artists in the U.S. BTS has also made appearances and performed on Carpool Karaoke, SNL, the BBMAs and The Tonight Show to name a few.
Changing Perceptions
BTS has begun to change K-Pop’s perception in the West and has proven that no language barrier, cultural difference or prejudice can prevent them from conquering the global music scene and being able to open doors for K-Pop artists and Korean/Asian artists in general. BTS has received critical praise for their music from respected critics and are now members of the Recording Academy. They have won awards at the BBMAs, AMAs and various Western award shows in addition to their Asian music award shows. Besides the emotional impact their music has on their fans, their sales and awards further prove that BTS and Korean music can be successful in America and the audience is here. BTS’s achievements do not guarantee the success of other Korean artists, but they have set a high standard for what Korean pop music can be and the world is listening.
BTS Impact and Love Myself Campaign
Along with their Love Yourself series of albums, BTS partnered with UNICEF for their Love Myself Campaign to work to end violence against children. To date, over two million dollars has been raised for this global campaign. BTS spoke at the United Nations to talk about their campaign and their message, and were featured on the cover of TIME Magazine’s Next Generation Leaders issue. Their impact on not just music, but the world is a testament to their message and their genuine desire to make the world a better place.
“No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin color, your gender identity, just speak yourself.” – KIM NAMJOON (RM of BTS). Excerpt from United Nations Speech
Sources:
https://www.vulture.com/2018/06/a-deeper-look-at-why-bts-has-thrived-in-america.html | https://www.love-myself.org/eng/campaign-list
To experience BTS and other KPOP artists, click on the playlists below.
Pete Rock Talks Early Hip Hop and How He Got His Start | Interview
There are so many people who want to work in the music industry but they don’t know where to start. NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, Billboard and Yellowbrick have made it easy to carve your music career path with Music Industry Essentials. Music Industry Essentials is a non-credit online course designed for people who are interested in a music career. Deciding what career path to take can be difficult and this course will hopefully make your decision much easier. Music Industry Essentials Instructional Designer David Grandison sat down with world-renowned producer and DJ, Pete Rock for a detailed interview about his music career. Aside from lending his expertise to the course, he gave us some in-depth commentary about the history of samples, his musical influences and the importance of having a mentor. Check out a snippet of the interview below.
David Grandison: What made you want to work in the music industry?
Pete Rock: I wanted to be in the industry per say I was under my cousin Heavy D. He was, you know, doing his own thing with music and you know got his own record deal and I was just up under him with all the experience watching, you know soaking up everything like a sponge you know learning you know I’m saying and you know I was just kind of under him. So you know he’s like family just looking out for me and you know we just together and I’m just you know doing everything that you know supposed to be done you know just you know being a learning person a person that’s learning to talk to me about your your first big break you know because I know you were on the radio and you know one of our other one of our other you know guys you would be DJ Clark Kent.
DG: Can you tell me how that intro happened and how you made that transition from being the high school deejay to be the world renowned DJ you are today?
PR: Having my first job at a radio station in New York. And that happened because my cousin Heavy D actually told Marley Marl about me. At the time, Marley needed a substitute DJ. I had to fill in for Kevin Kev who got into a car accident and hurt himself so you know I just came in and you know try to you know impress Molly more with what you know the talent I had. And you know he liked it. So you know that was it. That was a huge break.
A lot of people don’t know who Marley is. Marley Marl was a DJ/producer from Queens, you could say he was like the J Dilla of the 80s. You know I’m saying how I look at him. I learned a lot from this guy, just by listening to his music and being a fan of what he was involved with and you know in the hip hop industry the Juice Crew, Roxanne Shante, Bismarck…He’s responsible for producing Big Daddy Kane Cool Gee Rap. He’s a great inspiration to me. I looked up to him a lot and you know, I loved his music. I encountered him the first time through Heavy D. And you know we just kind of knit together you know. He liked my talent. And you know I was a big fan of his. And at the time I was you know learning how to make music. And you know trying to form my own. Little thing you know. And you know and that happened later on in my career you know.
DG: Who was one of your biggest influences and how important is it to have a mentor?
PR: You know I really miss my cousin Heavy D for all he’s done you know. And what he believed in what he saw in me. I think what should be known out there is that celebrities like us, you know, we also have people we looked up to. You know I’m saying that made us who we are today. That’s very important for the young kids to know that it just didn’t come out of the sky. You know I’m saying we looked up to people like for us it was like soul singers and you know 80s rappers and stuff like that.
DG: Can we talk a little bit about the birth of hip hop and how hip hop evolved here in New York?
PR: I think what happened was before the Sugarhill Gang record that actually you know got hip hop noticed early but there was another record before the Sugarhill Gang by the Fat Bag Band called King Tim the third which was like you know a song that was rap and it was like the first real rap song that you really heard until like you know Sugarhill Gang. Then after Sugarhill Gang you had all the guys that were doing you know the park jams in the Bronx and stuff like that at home you know coming out on Sugar Hill Records Treacherous Three flash Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five spawn e.g. the Crash Crew. The list goes on and on and on and then you know rest in peace to Sylvia Robinson she was the one that actually put hip hop on the map mainstream was the Sugarhill Gang.
You know I was eating in the pizza shop where Big Bad Hank used to work at before they became a Sugar Hill Gang (and the pizza is actually good).
DG: Yeah yeah yeah that’s right in Englewood bro.
DG: Can you talk to me about the progression of the hip hop sample?
PR: Oh the progression of hip hop sample was when it came to the music and then hip hop was like you know of course everybody sample James Brown for first the first time. And once we went through the James Brown frenzy you know, we were opened up to other things…like finding other records that are also funky with break beats but have rhythmic melodic-ness to it. Once we learned this you know we just kind of fell into it. It’s like falling in a really comfortable bed. You know, I’m saying that you look forward to sleep in it. You know what I mean and that’s what it was like. But producers like me and others you know I’m saying well you know go on digging and finding that gold out there you know. And to me it was good that we had the James Brown phase because he was the man that actually created hip hop without even knowing it.
You know that the major companies are going to look at it as stealing but this sampling we were doing of James Brown’s music was nothing but heartfelt, came straight from the heart wasn’t about stealing his music.
We had a great interview with Pete Rock and he drops many more gems in the Music Industry Essentials Course. There are a slew of NYU Professors and industry professionals that give you an inside look at how it goes down in the music industry. If you’ve always wanted a career in the music industry then this is the course for you.
Visit Music Industry Essentials for more program info today.
