Soundcheck Incorporated - www.soundcheckny.com

Building Your Team

2010-02-03T15:20:00.012-05:00

At the end of 2009 I made a resolution to help more people in 2010. It's only Febuary and I think I made a mistake and must revise that resolution. For the remainder of 2010 I will help myself first, then help those that fit a certain criteria.

You may be asking, why the harsh turnaround? What was the revealing factor? What could make a person known for their patience decide enough is enough? The answers are simple. Some people care about themselves and not those that try to help them.

I posted this picture of one of my mentors (Mr. Clive Davis) that was taken at the album release party for Alicia Keys. This event was monumental because once again Mr. Davis had established a team that produced a winner. Most of us already know about the legacy behind Clive Davis. He has won multiple Grammy awards. He is in the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. He was the president of Columbia Records. He was the Chairman and CEO of RCA Music Group. He was the Chairman and CEO of BMG. He is the man that created Arista Records. Currently he is the Chief Creative Officer of Sony Music Entertainment. Clive Davis has touched the lives of Whitney Houston, Prince, Usher, Monica, Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, Usher, Harry Connick, Jr., Leona Lewis, Aretha Franklin and Barry Manilow to name a few. Mr. Davis accomplised these things with a competent team.

Clive Davis has also touched my life. I've been fortunate to speak with him briefly on a few occasions during his events. In fact I'll admit I seek him out just to get a few words of wisdom from him. The funny thing is that he is open to listen to my concerns and suggestions.

There are others that I have had the pleasure of knowing that have similar qualities. Ken Wilson, James Boyce, Quincy Jones, MC Lyte, Dana Dane, Andre Fuller, David Linton, Craig Nobles, Louis Connor, Jr., Dan Buchannan, Kevin Gorham, and Rosalia Rogers are names that immediately come to mind as having an impact on my life. They all have the qualities of leadership. They all LISTEN, and they all provide constructive criticism in a positive manner.

Of the people I've mentioned another thing stands out and that is that they have been sucessful by working as a team. They understand the concept of sharing resources and delegating duties. It's called leadership. To be succesful you must be a good leader or have a good leader directing you. If you don't have the skills or the knowledge then hire someone that does. If not your ignorance will be exposed.

I tried to help a young African American entrepeneur who I later found out was a fraud. I went out of my way to try and help him do the right thing in business and with his family. In the end I took the hit for trying to help him out. He still owes me money from a bad check. Now I have to spend time, energy and money taking him to court.

The very next client that I work with is an established recording artist. The artist and I are on the same page. Based on our experiences in this industry we both know the good and bad about this business. Unfortunatley he has someone heading up his organization that doesn't have a clue. This person has no clue when it comes to teamwork and how it works. It's a shame that these situations exist but they do. Sometimes we think it's better to have our friends run our business and they end up doing more harm than good. It's always better to have someone who knows the business run your operation. Like you're doctor, it's ok to check up on them by asking questions and getting second opinions. It's not ok when you abuse them or lack respect for their work or talents.

On the bright side I'm working with Loosie Goosie Productions specifically Psy Chic Girl Jennifer and Joli to fine tune their television and radio shows and create their podcast. They get it. They understand that planning is important. They aren't afraid to ask questions and respect their peers. These two talented ladies are going to do well because they work hard, have a good product, and understand teamwork. You can support Jolie by purchasing her single "Summertime" on ITunes. Click here to enjoy the video on our video page.

Another client that is capitalizing on his rare opportunity is "Eleven". I've mentioned his witty first single "Talk My Sh*T" on previous occasions. Eleven is fortunate to have the support of Legendary rap artist Dana Dane. Dana recently signed Eleven to Def Beat Entertainment. In a recent conference call with their team it was obvious that they understand that teamwork means playing your position and remaining focused on the immediate goal. I listened in as various people expressed their ideas to Eleven and he took it all in. What impressed me about Eleven is that he truly has a story worth telling.

Eleven has already established himself in the mixtape game here in New York City. He is always working on his game. He stays in a studio creating something. In fact we have to curtail his energy. I can laugh now, but one week night Eleven called me sometime after 12:30 with an idea! My first impression was "Are you kidding me, an idea" but I quickly remembered that I was placed on this earth to help others and this young man was calling for help. I told him to call me in the morning since it was not an emergency. He apologized and said he thought I was at a club. It turns out he had a viable idea. Check out "Eleven" on our website and support him buy purchasing his music on ITunes.

Other independent projects worth mentioning include Noizemaka Music artist:
Wizdom - "Toys", "Sit Ya Ass Down",
AJ 4Rm Tha K - "Walk Thru The Club"

SOUNDCHECK INTERNET RADIO NEWS
Remember to check out our weekly Top 5o music charts. Click here to listen
Click here and submit your music for airplay consideration

Tips that may keep you from failing as a leader. They may also keep you from being black-balled by this industry.

Teamwork means working together to achieve a common goal.

Respect the people you bring on board to help you.
Listen to others on the team objectively.
You don't have to have the last word.
Get your facts straight.
Have a valid marketing plan with an adequate budget.
Be realistic in your goals.
Be honest.
Keep your word.
Pay people what they deserve and pay them on time!
Let the people you bring on board do their jobs.
Don't be petty
Finally K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)

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What has happened to FM radio?

2009-10-16T16:20:00.003-04:00

Written by Kenneth K. Spellman

ken@soundcheckny.com

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO FM RADIO?

That seems to be one of the first questions people ask me when we start talking about music. No matter how the conversation starts we always seem to get to the current state of radio as a conversation piece. Now instead of offering an opinion I kick back and absord the comments like a six foot sponge. Honestly, the conversation could start out with Usher and his current personal situation, or the Housewives of Atlanta and someone will still direct the conversation to "What Has Happened To Radio?" The question I enjoy is "How Did It Happen?"

My response is simply TECHNOLOGY HAS HAPPENED TO RADIO! I can appreciate technology improving the quality and delivery of radio (although I do miss the sound of scratches from wear & tear on vinyl) but in my opiniion we have taken it a bit too far and we may not be able to bring it back. At many radio stations we have replaced our local celebrity radio personality with an unknown from another market. We have removed the training platform of overnights for our youth. I used to like to listen to radio late at night because of the slow music and the live telephone interaction with the audience. The ballads seem to always calm the neighborhood down. I remember finishing a gig at the club and going to a friends house afterwards. We would turn on the radio and it became Kareoke until the sun came up on Sunday (And we'd hurry home to get dressed for chuuuuurch!)

I remember listening to some of the legends (now my current Facebook Friends) at the height of their careers. That was a time when AGE didn't matter. All that mattered was good lyrics, great vocals or a catchy beat. Aretha was Aretha, The Jacksons were Michael (Janet was a little girl on a TV show), Ohio was The Players, Quincy was the "WIZ"with his "Stuff Like That", Debbie Allen was dancing, and J.J. and Thelma were my big brother & sister. Smokey commanded the satge and The Elements of The Universe were EW&F. Think back a minute....who wore the biggest chain? That was Run DMC. Who wore the prettiest fur coats.......Pattie Labelle & The Isley Brothers. Who made the first rap song that the world could recite and,,, made you wary of going to a friends house to eat (Sugar Hill Gang)? What slow song can still stop people of every race instantly and have them proclaim "I Can Feel It Calling In The Air At Night, Oh Lord?" This was radio! This was entertainment!

So what happened? Well if we take a moment we will realize that variety kept us entertained and educated. For example "Street Life" by the Crusaders was an introduction to Jazz for many R&B youth (including me). Today we lack the power to authorize, allow or accept variety. The industry including the listeners and viewers have allowed repetition to become the accepted norm. If we were to examine the Top 50 charts of the 70's and early 80's one would find different songs on different charts. Today the same song could be on four different charts. Recording artists don't even come up with new project titles (The Blueprint 1,2,3 or Shock Value 2).

There were reasons for separation back in the day. Society was coming out of separatism (Black & White) in the 60's but in some instances the entertainment world was still segregated. Motown was R&B but they were allowed to crossover. Dick Clark & Frankie Croker ruled their airwaves (But only Frankie was accused of payola, like Dick Clark never took a dime) There were unwritten rules of respect. You never remixed someone else's work (The DJ did that). You never ripped off their vocal style (vocoder or autotune) you sang your way in your voice.

HD quality has scarred TV announcers off the air because the picture is so clear all the blemishes show up. That has caused many broadcasters turn to cosmetic surgeons who in turn get rich. If we can take a look at ourselves in the mirror and appreciate our own physical faults why can't we do that for our entertainers? A great singer or actor does not have to be beautiful or thin. I'm not going to mention any names but I'm sure a few not-too-good-looking people come to mind quickly if you think about it.

What happened to the radio station showing up at the car wash, beauty salon, barber shop, or laundry mat? Ironically due to population growth there are more of these (car washes, beauty salons, barber shops and laundry mats) and fewer visits from more radio stations? Our allegience to our community has been sold out to corporate advertising. How many of us or our family members wear Nike apparel? How much do we pay for it? Add it up. Now imagine what would happen if we put that same amount of money into the communities where we live? Imagine if Nike came to our communities and delivered a check (for the people of the community) in the amount of our communities spending. Imagine if Jay-Z gave five concerts and gave the money to the five boroughs of New York City. Imagine if the Housewives of Atlanta stopped bickering long enough to have a successful event related to teenage pregnacy or economic freedom. Now I don't have anything against any of the previously mentioned people or shows but the consumer has paid their salaries and made the entertainment companies rich while our communities remain in distraught. Ok, enough of that....

The next time someone asks "What Happend To Radio" please get them focused on Technology so they will understand how to prepare themselves for what is to come. Technology is not going away, jobs are. The people still decide what happens with their purchasing power. The listener and viewers decide what hits the airwaves by participating or not.

For example, this is the third time Wendy Williams tries her hand at a TV show. The last two times the people decided (by not viewing) that they did not want her. What makes one think that this time will be any different. How can Wendy compete with Oprah, Tyra, and I Love Lucy? Oprah's richer, Tyra's prettier, and Lucy's funnier!

There are plenty of independent filmakers and television show producers with better projects on community television. Why doesn't the television company TRY SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING ENTERTAINING and EDUCATING. Give the consumer a chance to prove they are intelligent and willing to learn whoile being entertained. Hmmm did someone say National Geographic Channel or National Public Radio?

The state of radio and television today & tomorrow

2009-09-28T14:53:00.007-04:00

Welcome to my blog. I know it's been a minute since my last posting but it seems that one idiotic thing after another has been occurring and it took me a moment to gather my thoughts. It's amazing how technology is designed to help us in our day to day lifestyles yet sometimes the technology fails us or we don't bother to learn how to use the technology. I can deal with hardware issues and even some software issues but I have a difficult time dealing with some people issues. I'm going to start this blog with a true story about technology so bear with me. After that I will go into things one should understand about the New York City club scene, the entertainment business and distribution. I'll end this blog with an understanding of radio and television programming.

TRUE STORY
I purchased an IMac with the 24 inch monitor a few months ago because I need to be abreast of all computer technologies for my job and my own personal growth. Don't get me wrong I didn't have anything against Apple I just never had the opportunity to use it in the corporate environment. Windows was the standard software for most companies so I became knowledgeable on the Windows platform. When Novell was popular I became certified in Novell.

As I moved into the audio and video production world I still used software developed for the Windows platform. When I launched Broadcast Academy, Inc. and started talking to school principals I found that Apple was providing their computers to schools and many schools were using Mac's. One day I was at Chubb Rock's house and he was letting me listen to some of his music. Chubb had an Imac and I noticed how easy it was for him to manipulate files. Chubb started telling me about some of the other cool things about the Mac like how easy it was to add hardware, etc. The next day I went to the Apple store and spent about an hour talking with the Apple techs about various issues and concerns I had. I was concerned that everything was in one box, I was concerned about the amount of heat that was being generated and the effect it would have on the monitor and other internal components. I was wary that I had to buy their warranty. I wasn't sure I could learn their video editing software or sync my business calendars and contacts. The Apple techs answered every question I had and even showed me how to use the various software applications that came bundled with the computer. I pulled out my credit card and bought an IMac. I went home READ THE MANUALS and plugged up all my periperals (printer, keyboard, video camera, digital camera, two external hard drives) it found every device I connected with no problems. I could never get that from a PC. I would always have to download drivers.

I was completly satisfied with my IMac...until two weeks ago. My CD/DVD drive wouldn't burn. My firewire drives started acting up. I called support and they set me up with an appointment to bring it in. I left my IMac at the Apple store in Menlo Park, New Jersey for two weeks. They replaced the motherboard (to fix the firewire issue) and CD/DVD drive. Total cost zero $0. I was very happy that I purchased the warranty. Moral of the story do your own research, don't be afraid to ask questions, READ THE MANUALS and BUY THE WARRANTY!!

New York City Club Scene

Recently I got a call from a friend in Atlanta who is in the entertainment business. She left me a message stating she wanted me to do a talk show on the New York City club scam, I mean club scene. At first I thought so what, The fella's always get jerked at the clubs but then I realized that this was a woman, and not just any woman, one who works (and is known) in the entertainment business. If you know me then you know that I have been a DJ and I have promoted a few events in the past.

I thought of another incident when I was attending an event held by Russell Simmons. I had arrived at the same time as P. Diddy's mom did. We greeted each other and she decided to go in with me. We headed to the front of the line and arrived at the infamous RED ROPE. We patiently waited for the security guards to acknowledge us. Instead of doing his job he was flirting with a girl on the line. Russell came out of the club, saw us, came and asked why we were waiting. When we pointed to the security guard and told Russell that he didn't even acknowledge us Russell immediately fired the security guard and escorted us into the event. For those of you that have never experienced the night life in NYC let me break it down for you.

Men, don't pay any attention to the flyers you received which may state reduced admission (or free) before a certain time. Always have at least one female with you. Always bring cash. Always dress accordingly (Don't wear sneakers or Timb's). Get their early and expect to be displayed to the passerbys in an effort to make people think there is a crowd. The fact seems to be that the club owners can set or change their policies at will and some security guards are corrupt.

Every year I recieve an email and a phone call telling me that I am having my birthday party hosted for me free of charge and that DJ Funkmaster Flex (or another well known DJ) will be spinning for my party and they will be giving me shout-outs throughout the night. I'm also told that I can invite up to 20 friends who will be admitted free. They will even send me tickets to give my friends. The reality is that my friends will have to wait in line and they are often held there until after the free admittance time runs out. Once that happens they have to pay full price even though they got there at 9pm before the club opened. One year I pulled up and my friends were waiting outside in the rain and the club was open. Another year the security guard inside pulled me to the side and said it would cost me $40 for them to hold the table for me even though the table was supposed to be free. Recently I was invited to DJ Kid Capri's Tuesday night event. I wrote his people to RSVP and asked about the dress code. I got a response and and acknowledgement that I was on THE LIST!!! When I arrived I found other men waiting to get in. One guy said he was on the list and the security guard said "It don't matter everyone pays $20". The guy responded "Then whats the reduced rate? because it says on the flyer there is a reduced rate before 11pm.". Once again the security guard responded "$20". Now I'm cool with Kid Capri, Funk Flex, and the rest of New Yorks finest DJ's and I will support THEM but that night I kept my $20 and went home.

Fella's please understand the black club scam. You must pay for the clothes you buy in order to look good. You must pay to get to the club (gas, tolls, taxi, parking), you have to have a female with you to get in. If it's winter you will have to pay to check your coat. You are also expected to buy drinks. You will be treated like cattle. Then you must pay to get home. Do you really need to be hassled after putting out all this money? Should you have to have a female with you in order to get in? If so then why don't women have to have a male in order to get in? More importantly, why is this only occuring at Black clubs?

Whenever I go to a white club I don't get hassled. I usually don't have to pay to get in and I don't have to have a female with me. I've also noticed a few other thiings at these clubs. Women at these venues will speak to me and not ignore me. I mean they will initate the conversation. Even though it could as simple as a discussion about various wines or beers they will start the conversation. This past weekend I joined some friends at a Beerfest in Jersey City. The security guards checked my ID and let me in. As I walked through the club I noticed the German band playing. I also noticed a lot of people with Steins in their hands. I joined my friends at their table. It was an international crowd. I happened to be the only African American Male in our group. There was an African Amercan female and an Asian female. The rest of our group were causcasion. I also noticed people of latin decent in the club also. As I waited for my stein of beer at the bar a caucasion female walked up to me and started a discussion about the various beers on tap. We talked and joked, then we returned to our friends. We made friends at other tables. At that moment I thought to myself, what are the odds of this happening at other clubs I frequent. I immediately had the answer. After 14 years of returning to New York that has never happened in a black club. In the end my stein of beer was $4. Parking was free (huge parking lot). I did not pay to get in. I did not have to have a female with me. And I felt like a human being! If you wonder why there has been an increase in interacial dating I think I've found the answer.

I'm hoping that Frontline Marketing & Promotions will continue to host more events like they have in the past. I know from past experience with Sincere Thompson and his team that they know how to host an event. I never hesitate to attend their events. I believe other promoters need to step up and treat the people with respect and dignity or get out of the game. I would also like to compliment the management at M1-5 as I have never had to pay to attend any of their events.

Also of note M1-5 opened their doors to suggestions from us the club goers. Since then they are known for their wednesday night video mix parties which are always free and serve as a reunion place for the true legends of Hip Hop.

I hope the people will exercise their right not to attend night clubs simply because of the hype. Fellas despite what you may think if there are no men at the event the ladies won't attend either so find a place that treats you with respect then tell ten female friends to join you there. :)

THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS & DISTRIBUTION

I'd like you to stop a minute and think about how many songs are released everyday. Count the number of emails you get stating someone just released a new song. Check your Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter accounts and see how many times you are told that a new single is out. Do the same for every film, documentary, or book that someone is trying to get you to buy, read, download, or play on your radio station. Now think of every flyer you get when you are out & about. Check your text msgs for invites to release parties. If you're in the businiess like I am this can become overwhelming.

Recently I read somewhere that independent companies spend an average of $20 a month in marketing their products. I can believe it. Some email campaign companies are free or charge about $20 a month, and allow you to send hundreds or thousands of emails. Some companies believe that this is all they have to do. I run two Internet Radio stations. One is talk based and the other is music based. Like numerous other broadcast outlets mine are legitimate businesses. I pay taxes and have operating expenses. I pay licensing fees and purchase software. I have insurance costs and repair costs. I pay for my website hosting package which allows me to receive email. Although I have an auto responder that clearly states Do Not Send Your mp3 music to us without referring to our submission page I still get mp3 files requesting airplay.

Make Music New York 2009

2009-03-29T21:39:00.004-04:00

Those that know me well know I always represent Staten Island, NY my birthplace. It was an honor to be asked by the Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island and the organizers of Make Music NY to become one of the Staten Island representatives for Make Music NY 2009.

Now in its third year Make Music NY is best described as a city-wide festival where performers are permitted to perform at various locations around the five boroughs of New York City. That's cool in itself but what's even cooler is that local merchants, Bars, Bodegas, parks, and other venues can register their location, get a permit, and allow these performers to perform in front of their establishments.

For complete details and to register visit these site MakeMusicNY Time Out New York COAHSI and Soundcheck NY

This years event happens to fall on the first official day of spring and also on Fathers day so lot's of creative themes come to mind. For example at the NYC ARTS CYPER (located at the corner of Broad Street in Stapleton, Staten Island) owner Charlie B and I are in discussions to host various hip-hop events and contest that focus on fathers and sons. The NYC Arts Cypher is one of the prominent facilities on Staten Island for Hip-Hop Kulture. On any given day graffitti artists could be inside creating a new mural, upcoming DJ's toning their skills, MC's gather in cypers, and Breakers hone their skills. On saturday June 20th I will be hosting a panel on the business of Hip-Hop at NYC ARTS Cypher. I am putting together a panel of celebrities and professionals who want to tell it like it is. Invited panelists include legendary MC's (and Soundcheck clients) Dana Dane and Chubb Rock, Monie Love. MC Lyte may join us via Internet live feed. visit Soundcheck NY to stay informed of the panel details, locations, etc.

At the elegant and upscale Ruddy & Dean restaurant I plan to enjoy one of their steaks while I listen to great music. Ruddy & Dean is footsteps from the Staten Island Ferry and offers a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline. If you're into acoustic music, jazz, good environment, attentive staff, and great eats then jump on the Staten Island Ferry and enjoy Make Music NY at Ruddy & Deans. Here are the directions

Another unique location that will be participating in Make Music New York on Staten Island is Everything Goes Book Cafe and Neighborhood Stage. Located in Thompkinsville, Staten Island this venue is a nice walk from the Staten Island Ferry, a short bus ride, or one stop on the train from the ferry. A quaint bookstore with a variety of cultures. Expect all genres of music to emanate from their sidewalk on June 21st as you enjoy casually reading. Check out their video link

All celebrities or entertainment businesses that are interested in participating in the panels please contact me now.

I've put together a video playlist of previous Make Music New York performances and a word from the sponsor. Check it out at here

Look forward to seeing you at this years Make Music NY events, hearing you play, and visiting your establishments.

Ken Spellman

Soundcheck, Inc.

Why Should I Make Your Dreams Come True?

2008-12-18T12:31:00.000-05:00

by Kenneth K. Spellman

Finally taking the time to update my blogs. It took me some time because I had so many topics to discuss and no time to put them into one cohesive statement. I decided to keep the focus on the overall entertainment business and technology because that's what I'm comfortable with and I enjoy. If you like the blogs or have a topic or question drop me a note and I'll get on it. Remember to visit www.blogtalkradio.com/soundcheck and listen to the interviews I've conducted over the years. I'm editing some of them and I still have more that have never been heard. I'm sure you'll find them entertaining, educating, and useful. To read the above story download the FREE current issue of the ConneX List at www.wondertwinz.com.

Topic for today - WHY SHOULD I MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE?

I'm amazed at how many people don't take a moment to think (or just don't care) about what they are asking someone to do when they ask for help getting their music heard, a record, deal, P&D deal, or to be "Put On" in this business. Sometime I have to stop and actually remind myself that I was probably like that years back when I started out.

Times were different then. The world was larger, there was no Internet, no Guitar Band, YouTube, or MySpace. To get on you really had to get up and go where things and people were. You had more time to read instead of Googling for the response that satisfies your thirst. You had to write and you definitely had to go to school!

I'm glad I started during that time because it taught me to prepare myself for that one moment when my plan would come together. Whether it was going to the neighborhood record store, attending "Jack The Rapper" (the convention of conventions during its time), or meeting Donald Trump.

No laptop, just a notebook, napkin, and hotel pen was all I needed to get my lesson for the day. I was eager to LEARN and UNDERSTAND the business, not just jump in and get paid. Before I approached someone I scouted them out. Found out who they were, what they were working on, who was their target market, and HOW COULD I BE OF ASSISTANCE TO THEM before I even walked up to them. To do this I constantly stayed on top of industry events, knew the names of the movers & shakers, but most importantly I established strong friendships with others that were on the same level as me. Others who were fortunate enough to afford to be there and also got their hustle on. Way before we realized it was called 6 degrees of separation we were using this networking tool. Our hustle helped us get rooms, eat together, advertise together, garner introductions and invitations to VIP events. Individually we would have been left out but together we were accepted.

Today many people say they want to work together but the reality of it is they want to RULE THE WORLD as individuals. They are not interested in knowing the background or interests of the person they are dealing with, the format of the station, or the fact that many small businesses rely on monthly contracts and timely payments.

When I discuss contracts with people new to the business they fear exclusivity and long term obligation. They fail to consider the sacrifices and chances that a company is taking with an unknown or new client. Many think they can work around the problem only to return realizing that exclusivity in distribution is the norm, or some other issue is industry wide.

They always look for a way to get paid when they sign and rarely have a clue or a care about the industry timelines to get product to market. Today's technology leads them to think they can come out of their homes with a project and the world is just waiting to buy it. Only until they try other alternatives do they realize the value of a team working together. When they come across something they don't understand or can't work around do they consider asking you to MAKE THEIR DREAM COME COME (for free cause we're buddies).

Which leads me back to the topic, WHY SHOULD I MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE?

I have to give a dear friend named Johnny Walker credit for introducing me to that question. We were discussing the mentality of todays artist one day in the streets of Manhattan and she said to me "Ken, I have to stop them and ask them, WHY SHOULD I MAKE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE?" It was a revelation.

At that time Johnny was an executive at Def Jam Recordings and I had known her for many years as a Radio Program Director. She (along with others) helped me to understand the mechanics behind a record labels marketing & promotion strategy. You see I started as a DJ and I loved to play good music. If it was on the album and I thought it would be good for my audience I played it. I didn't care how much money the label was spending, or that they were using a calendar to introduce future songs from the album. All I know is you're asking me to play track 1 and I like tracks 1, 3, and 5 so they will all get played. Johnny called me one day and kindly said to me "Ken we're spending half a million dollars to promote this project. I appreciate what you're doing but could you slow your roll". That's when I got it. The next time I saw Johnny I sat with her and learned more. I am truly grateful to my industry friends for their patience and willingness to teach.

With today's technology some feel there is no need to learn, to care, to thank, or to respect anyone. Every day I receive over one hundred emails (not counting spam) from people or businesses that want my money, time , knowledge, or energy and they want it for free. I have never received an email (or snail mail) that had money in it just because. In fact there are a few celebrity millionaires out there that would not be millionaires if it weren't for the DJ's, Radio and TV people, and label folk that sacrificed of themselves to help them. The sad part is that they know it and still buy material things instead of reaching out and giving back.

There are others like Louis Conner, Jr. Ken Wilson, Naughty By Nature, Speech (Arrested Development), Funkmaster Flex, Sincere Thompson (Frontline), Carin Thomas (and James), Jack The Rapper, Frankie Crocker, EW&F, Bebe Winans, MC Lyte, Miller London, David Mitchell (The entire staff at Urban Network) Gail Mitchell (Billboard) BRE Magazine, Stephani Lopez, Cassandra Ware, The Wonder Twinz, Dana Dane, Kool DJ Red Alert, Kevin Gorham, Dan Buchanan, Andrea Jackson, Alisa Green, Shaun Lee, and the list could go on and on of folks in and out of the business that have contributed to my success (and failures) that I appreciate and stay in touch with.

In the end the question is not "WHY SHOULD I MAKE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE?" but instead ask yourself "HAVE YOU LEARNED AND EARNED WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE?" If your answer to that question is no, don't even bother to ask for help, start learning & earning. If your answer is yes prepare yourself to pay for your dreams to come true. Nothing in life is free.

If you are fortunate you may find a few souls out there that are willing to work with you but remember you get what you pay for. People tend to work better when given an incentive like money, ownership, percentages. Some will even barter.

Barter... that's a good topic. Did you know that if we all bartered there would be no need to print money? It will never happen (The government won't allow it) but it would surely work. To find out why the government won't let it happen google Federal Reserve Bank or visit www.Speeechmusic.com and check out the video.

Until next time, thanks for your support.

Ken Spellman

www.soundcheckny.com

www.broadcastacademy.org

www.blogtalkradio.com/soundcheck

www.youtube.com/soundcheck

http://thesoundcheck/ning.com