Hey Young World,
I have a special treat for all of my readers and
fans this week. A special interview about negotiation and deal making
with President of Gmar Consulting, Gregory Lamar. Recently, I wrote
about a very informative DVD available online for artist to buy named "The
Blueprint To The Music Industry". Executive producer
Gregory Lamar gives us an inside look into how his company Gmar Consulting helps
artist build their "prototype" and how his company helps obtain
record deals.
When dealing with artist in the music industry
Major record labels often outsource to consultant firms. Gmar Consulting helps
Major record labels by consulting with artist to build a working
"prototype" to sell their music.
Dan F. Man: What types of negotiations does your
company handle and how involved are you in the process?
Greg: "We handle record deals. I'm always involved until the end of the process. We handle production deals, distribution deals, pretty much every deal that is to be had in the music industry. Deals with producers and writers."
Dan F. Man: What is the goal of your company when
dealing with negotiations for artist?
Greg: "Our primary objective is to get a kid a placement with a major [record label], that’s our primary objective. At worst scenario have them a full working prototype, so their project looks professional and has fighting chance at a record deal.
Dan F. Man: How do you maintain your position when
negotiating?
G: "Think of it like anything else, I mean it depends on the quality of the artist. No two deals are alike. The artist is going to determine what type of deal, and what type of buzz he has behind him, and the quality of their music and their image will determine what type of deal the label wants to offer them. But in that process what we do, when it get to negotiating and talking numbers with a record label, the lawyers step in. So we don’t negotiate that part at all, our job is to get the artist set up for the deal, and get the label to the point to where they want to do a deal. When it gets to that point the attorneys step in."
Dan F. Man: If an artist is already hot and
able to sale their brand themselves, how does this effect negotiations.
Does it effect how much a artist can get from their deal?
G: "Well {what it does is], record labels are like any other company their looking for something that can make them money. If an artist is already out there having impressive numbers and sales and radio spins, or street buzz, or something like that, that’s letting them know that they can make money with this artist. So, it does effect how much an artist can get because its just like anything else. If your selling something and a lot of people are buying it already, a major record label comes along and are willing to give you more money for your buck. [But] If nobody's buying it they don't want to touch it. Basically when an artist is out there and he is selling ringtones or albums, or downloads at an impressive scale, labels want to give him money for it. Because that’s letting them know that somebody is willing to purchase their music.
Dan F. Man: What are some of the dirty tricks
that you have seen used in the music industry throughout your career.
G: "A lot of A&R guys now a days and music industry executives that might have their names on some of the biggest projects in the country, but at the end of the day that doesn't mean that their going to do the same for you. So when they come charge you $2,000 to get you on radio, or charge you $2,000 to come into a record label meeting, they already know your not going to get a deal, so to me that’s a bad hustle. Because the only person winning is the A&R for taking you to the meeting, or taking the meeting, knowing that your not even going to get a deal before you even get there. Thats the biggest thing that goes on to me right now. I think executives should be honest with kids and be straight up, hey listen your not ready, there’s a lot of things you need to do before you go in the building and its not right.
I really appreciate Greg for doing this interview with me, and helping
me understand different ways negotiations can be handled in the music industry.
I hope that me providing my readers with access to Greg and his
information about the music industry will help them along their path to success
in the future. Also, don’t forget to check out Greg's DVD "The
Blueprint To The Music Industry" for more great tips and
information about how you should be handling business in the music industry.
if you are an artist that needs consulting go to Gmar Consulting for
help.
