Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals For The New Year

2010 brought with it many unexpected surprises. There were many world events that took place as well as local events that were historic. Here we are in the final month of 2010 so its time to set some new year’s resolutions. I would rather see them termed as goals because we are more motivated by goals. Resolutions do not have deadlines. Goals do.

Many of us have heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals but how many of us actually use this formula when goal setting? Let’s break it down:

S = Specific: What is it you really want? What does it look like? You should get a clear picture in your head as detailed as possible then transfer it to paper to make it specific.

M = Measurable: A good goal is should be measurable or how else will you know if you have arrived. For example, if you set a goal to exercise 3 day per week, you will know if you are off track if you only exercise only 1 day per week. That is a measurable goal.

A = Action: Action means your goals should be action oriented. Action means movement. You have to build action steps into your goals. Your goals should inspire you to move.

R = Realistic: Using our exercise example above, is it realistic to assume you are going to exercise 5 days a week if you have not exercised at least one day a week consistently? I do not think so. Setting goals that are realistic means your goals will make you stretch. They are attainable but not unreachable. 3 times a week would be more realistic.

T = Timely: This is one of the major points that set goals apart from resolutions. Time activating your goals means to set a deadline for when you want to see the goal accomplished. You may set a goal to exercise 3 times a week and you want to have that goal completed by the end of January.

The 80/20 Rule Applies To Goal Setters

Most people do not set goals. It is rumored only 20% of the population sets written goals. It is no coincidence either that most of the people who set goals are the most successful as well.

One thing people tend to forget is you can always change your goals. You should keep adjusting your goals until you get the outcome you desire. Remember, they are your goals and no one else’s.

If you have not started thinking about how you want 2011 to work out for you, then I suggest you use this month of December to set aside some quality time to plan the upcoming year out. It would be time well spent!


Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist

P.S. Start your year off right with some hot rap beats. Go to www.RapBeatCreator.com and download rap beats and Hip Hop beats right now!

The Rap Beat Creator Podcast Episode 12

Whassup Peeps?

I know its been a while since I hit you with a new podcast. I finally put one together for you. Here is the link to Episode 12 of The Rap Beat Creator Podcast.

http://www.rapbeatcreator.com/rbcpodcast12.mp3

Feel free to download it to your cell phones, mp3 players, computers, or burn it on a CD! I'm always interested in your feedback.

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com

International Music Marketing: How Hip Hop Artists Can Leap Ahead Of The Competition By Promoting Rap Music Overseas

I was inspired to write this article after a message I received in my inbox from my friend and fellow Hip Hop music artist John Robinson (also known as Lil Sci). He sent me a video of him being interviewed by South African reporter. In the interview he mention he gets more support and love from overseas markets than he does at home in the United States. He was not saying the States do not show him any love but what he was saying is the people overseas embrace his music more. At the time of this writing, he was in South Africa performing live shows and promoting his music.

In my own experience, most of my rap group Prophetix support came from outside of the United States. One of our songs was number one on a radio station in Tokyo, Japan for several weeks. We had other songs that received airplay and sales in Europe and Canada. About half of our fans came from overseas.

If you want to stay local and be a hometown favorite that is fine. However you must have a global outlook if you want to have success in the international markets. People overseas do listen to the commercial artists on the radio but you would be surprised by the amount of people who listen to underground Hip Hop.

The 3 main places to market Hip Hop music are Europe, Asia, and Africa.

I like Europe and especially England for on obvious reason: they speak English! This makes communication a lot easier when we both speak the same language. Actually fans all over the world speak English. Its really the music and the culture itself that do the communicating. Your job as a marketer is to find those people who like what you have to offer and give it to them

How do you do find these fans? We are in the Information Age so there are no excuses to why we can not have access to information. The Internet has leveled the playing field between the independent artists and major label artists. The friend I spoke about in the beginning of the article is independent and he has been that way since I have known him.

What is the difference between him and most other independent artist? He has done his market research and he understands he needs to cultivate the international relationships he has built over time. They are the relationships which keep him traveling overseas several times per year.

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist

For more music business tips check out www.RapBeatCreator.com!

Are Hiphop Festivals Still Relevant In Today’s Music Industry?

It has been a long time since I participated in a Hiphop festival or any sort of music convention. I recently attended the A3C Hiphop Festival in Atlanta, GA and I was glad I went. As a matter of fact the last Hiphop festival I attended was the very first A3C Hiphop Festival where I performed with my group Prophetix.

Having attended and performed in major festivals like the CMJ Musicfest in New York City, I knew what kind effect these festivals have on an artist’s career. These events usually last a few days and there are many performers and opportunities to network. I have watched the A3C Hiphop Festival grow into a big annual event and now there are music business panels, seminars and workshops. It started off just being live performances.

Even if you are not performing, you can still go to network and meet some new people. You will never know where you might run into these people again and what kind of effect you had on them the moment you met.

This year I went as someone who enjoys good Hiphop music. I am not just referring to the commercial music that is played on the radio constantly but the classic music that made Hiphop not only a great and powerful genre but a great and powerful culture as well.

Here is some advice I can share that I learned over the years of attending Hiphop festivals:

1. Don’t be afraid to talk to the celebrities

If you are serious about being in this business, you are going to have to approach people of celebrity status. I learned from the legendary emcee GURU from Gangstarr (R.I.P.) how to conduct myself when approaching celebrities. They are people with eyes, ears, and skin just like you and I. Be respectful and let them know how you feel about their music but do not overdo it.

2. Don’t be afraid to network

If you are not performing on the stage or somewhere taking a restroom break, you should be building new relationships and strengthening old ones. Since I am from Atlanta, I knew many of the people that were already a part of the local Hiphop scene but some of my best experiences came from meeting new people from all over the country. With all the ways to stay in contact with people today such as Facebook and Twitter, you would be maximizing your admission fee by getting some solid, relevant connections.

3. Don’t be afraid to have a great time

I can not remember one festival I attended where I did not have a ball. The seminars and panels are great but the best part are the live performances. Good music is great to hear live. When the rapper on stage says, “Throw ya hands in the air”, do not be afraid to do it. As a matter of fact, take a cue from Nike and “Just Do It!” Why be involved if you can not have fun?

Go to a music festival. Meet some new friends at the concerts or offer to treat someone for lunch. You will never know what can happen if you do not get out and see for yourself.

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com

Click here for music business tips!

3 Tips To Have Great Shows Every Time You Step On The Stage

If you want to move your music career forward in fast motion then you must master the art of the live performance. The most successful music artists have a great live show. If you want proof, just check out the Grammy Awards. The best performances are memorable and keep you excited long after the artist has left the stage.

So how to you master the art of the live show? I have put together 3 tips most successful live performers have in common. I have also personally used these 3 methods in my career to become a better performer.

Here are the 3 tips:

1. Visualize the performance from start to finish
2. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse
3. Expect the unexpected.

1. Visualize the performance from start to finish

This tip requires you to use your imagination. Yes, I said it…your imagination. You can visualize your way to success. Before each show, take some time to see how YOU want your show to go from beginning to end. Actually the beginning and the end are the most important parts of your show.

You want to make these two parts of your show memorable. How do you want the crowd to react to your performance? Visualize this and you will be surprised at the results when you really hit the stage.

2. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

Even the most inexperience fan of live shows can tell when a performance has been poorly put together. Once you have taken your show from your mental realm through visualization, the absolute best thing you can do is rehearse your performance.

Rehearsing helps you get the kinks out of your show. Rehearsing also helps you to plan your show the way you want it to go. Anything can happen while you are on the stage. A fan could get on the stage. Your microphone could have problems. You may be ill during a performance. When I say anything, I mean anything!

Rehearsing keeps all those little gremlins for messing up your show. If you are a vocalist it also helps you get your breathing together BEFORE you actually hit the stage.

3. Expect the unexpected.

I was taught long ago to expect the unexpected. Another way of saying this is “always be prepared”. As I mentioned the above tip, anything can happen when you are on the stage. Be prepared for some ‘freakiness’ at some point in your career.

Here is the real tip in this though: 90% of what happens next after a live performance incident is in direct relation to your attitude. Will you see the incident and become positive or negative? The choice is totally up to you.

After all, the show must go on!

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com

What Kind of Musical Legacy Will You Leave Behind? Lessons from 2Pac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur (2Pac) left the world a body of work that is unmatched today. In this article we discuss his legacy, the effect he still has on the world today, and how you can leave a legacy of your own.
Read More

The Rap Beat Creator Podcast Episode 11: How To Sell Beats Online Using a Flash Player

Whassup Peeps? Here is the latest Rap Beat Creator Podcast Episode 11.

It's called "How To Sell Beats Online Using a Flash Player".

You don't have to just sell beats. You can all sell finished tracks too.

Here is the link to the podcast below:

http://rapbeatcreator.com/rapbeatcreator11.mp3

Enjoy!!!

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com
www.Beats4ADub.com
www.MusicMarketingPromotions.com

****************************************

The Pros and Cons of Being a Music Recording Artist Versus a Music Producer

How many people have gotten in to the music business game as an emcee (or rapper) and had their hopes crushed because they were “not what the industry was looking for at that moment”? The truth is, not everyone can be a successful emcee. Emceeing requires a certain skills set that most people are not willing to work at to be successful. What about being a music producer?

Music producers are the backbone of the music business. Without a producer, there is no music. Simple enough right? Many people want to live in the limelight like their favorite emcee or rock artist but there can only be so many at the top. With music production, the chances of success are much greater and the pay is greater as well.

As a producer you do not have to just work with one artist. You can have your music in front of many different artists, songwriters, publishers, movie directors, television programmers, etc. In the traditional scheme of the music business, the music producer usually gets paid upfront and if the deal is negotiated correctly, the producer is also paid royalties in the future. A recording artist is typically paid last after everyone else has been paid.

I never really liked this concept as an artist but that is the way the traditional music business game is played. Being a recording artist requires a large degree of patience and then when you do finally get paid, it is usually not what you are expecting.

A music producer can make money in other ways such as writing a jingle for radio or scoring a soundtrack. A well established producer can collect upwards of $200,000 in upfront fees for a song before the song is even released to the public. The song may not even make half as much money as the producer was paid so who really wins: the recording artist or the music producer?

Here is some homework for you to do:

Take a look at the Billboard Rap Singles Chart on any given week. Then go research which producer actually produced each song. While the recording artist and/or the producer may or may not be new, if the producer was smart, he got paid upfront for the use of the music and will continue to get paid as long as he negotiated the terms in his favor.

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com
www.Beats4ADub.com
www.MusicMarketingPromotions.com

*********************************

5 Tips to Help Improve Your Stage Presence

Good stage presence helps music artists have long memorable careers. Here are some live performance tips for those who fear speaking in public or who just want to improve their live shows.

Most of you know I began emceeing back in the early 80’s. I have been blessed to stand on many stages in my lifetime even before I knew what Hiphop was. I have always loved the art of emceeing whether it is written for a live performance or freestyle.

When it comes to live shows, the art and skill of emceeing helps people connect with you. Live shows put your face with the music. When they really like you, they call you back for more. This article is about what it takes to get them to call you back.

I call it Stage Presence.

Here are 5 tips to help you improve your stage presence:

1. You must rehearse
2. You must connect
3. You must engage
4. You must make a memorable entrance
5. You must make a memorable exit

Let us look at each one separately:

1. You must rehearse

When people come to see you perform live, they want to be entertained. The best live performers rehearse to give the audience the best show possible. Rehearsing helps you get all the kinks out of your performance. It helps make your set tight. If you are on stage and you do not have any order, the crowd will know. Rehearsal helps you ultimately with having as flawless a set as possible and giving the crowd the “Ooo weeee! I would definitely like to see you perform again!” experience.

2. You must connect

From the moment you hit the stage, you make a connection with your audience. The crowd has all eyes on you. That connection should hopefully be a good one. You have to be convinced yourself that you are going to give them a great show before anybody else will. Do not be afraid to look directly into the eyes of the people in the crowd when you get onstage. They will respect you more.

3. You must engage

A dope emcee interacts with the audience. It may be through a call and response song or chant. Or it could be shaking hands with people in the audience. A true emcee has the power to engage with the crowd and let them help control the flow of the show. This means they give you feedback as you give them a show.

4. You must make a memorable entrance.

This actually piggybacks on number 2 from above. People will be looking and listening to every thing you do and say. This is also one of the crucial two moments of your show. This is the moment you have to make the first impression and it sets the tone of your show.

5. You must make a memorable exit

The second crucial moment of your show is the exit or ending of your show. This is the last thing people usually remember about you and your show. It is good to have peaks and valleys in your show. This also helps you connect and engage the crowd. To really make a mark you have to leave them feeling totally entertained. A memorable exit will hopefully make them want to see you perform again if they liked you.

6. BONUS Technique!!! – Leave the fans with some type of souvenir

This is a killer bonus step because you can use this technique to work with any of the techniques above. By giving something of value to the audience, some thing physical like a CD, key chain, mug, t-shirt, etc., you connect and engage with your audience. If you give it to them at the beginning of the show it helps you make a memorable entrance. If used at the end, it helps to make a memorable exit. The fans will always remember you for giving them something.

Try these techniques out for yourself to help build your stage presence. If you know all of these tips, then fine. Even one tip may have inspired you to reach for more. If so then my job was accomplished.

So what are you waiting on? Go and get started now and leave your brand of stage presence on the world.

If you would like to learn more about gaining stage presence and other music business tips check out www.RapBeatCreator.com.

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com

********************************

Robert Wilson, bassist for the Gap Band, dead

I know some of you younger cats may not be familiar with the body of work by the Gap Band but one of its members has passed away. Robert Wilson, brother to legendary singer, Charlie Wilson, has died. The Robert was the bass player and he will truly be missed.

R.I.P. Robert Wilson.

Robert Wilson, bassist for the Gap Band, dead - Yahoo! News: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"



Enjoy the classic jam!!!

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
Click here to learn how to make beats and how to sell beats online!!!

*************************************************************

How To Sell Beats Like The Pros

In noticing the rise of fall of many music producers, I have observed what makes them successful and not so successful. How to sell beats like the pros has always been a burning question in my mind so I came up with a list of the traits the best selling producers have in common. Here are the 3 things your beats must have if you want to know how to sell beats like the pros.

1. They gotta be bangin’. If you don’t know what I mean by this you need to be reading something else like... a radio perhaps.
2. Marketable
3. Easy to buy


Let us start at number one. If you want to know how to sell beats like the pros, the beats have got to sound great. Not just okay, but great. Listen to some of the songs you have liked the most in the last five years. Or just pick some of the top songs from the Billboard charts and listen to them.

They are “bangin’”, which means they sound awesome.

Your mission as a producer is the make the next hit song. I don’t know about you but when I sit down to make a beat I try to make sure its hot. Occasionally I make a song that ‘s not to my liking, so that one stays in the vault until I can figure out a way to make it better.

The second quality your beats need to have is marketability. Are your beats marketable? Will people be willing to buy your beats? How will you know? You should submit your songs to artists, managers, and other industry professionals...including other music producers. These industry insiders should be able to critique your music and help you make improvements to your sound.

The third thing you need to do to your beats is to make them easy to buy. I cannot stress the importance of this. Whether you are leasing your beats or selling them you still have to make it easy for people to buy your beats. In the information age, there is no excuse for not being able to collect money from a buyer.

Paypal has a proven, secure way to handle money transactions online. All you need is an email address and a bank account. If you don’t have either one of these that’s okay too because money can still be wired through companies like Western Union.

If you have a website set up, you can automate the whole selling process. Paypal can be integrated within your site to process payments automatically. You can make money in your sleep.

Again, these are the 3 key things you need to know in order to learn how to sell beats like the pros. If you are new to the game, you should start at number one. If you are more advanced, you may simply need to figure out how to sell beats easier and simpler so you customers can benefit.

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
Click here to learn how to make beats and how to sell beats!

The Rap Beat Creator Podcast Episode 10

After much toil, I've completed Episode 10 of The Rap Beat Creator Podcast.

Wow, I finally got 10 of these things done!

This episode is called "The New Music Industry: The Online Revolution", taken from an article of the same name.

Enjoy and as always feedback is encouraged.

Click on the link below to hear the podcast.

http://rapbeatcreator.com/The_New_Music_Industry.mp3

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
Want to learn how to sell beats for free? Click here!

*****************************************************

(NEW MUSIC) Andre 3000 - "I Do"

Andre "3 Stacks" is back with a new joint! I love Global Grind 'cause they always got the hot new ish!!!

Anyway check out Andre 3000 and this new joint called "I Do". Click on the link below to listen.

Andre 3000 - "I Do" (NEW MUSIC) - Page 2 | Global Grind: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
Do you make your own beats? Click here to learn how!

Just to Relax & Smile a Lil Bit :)

Courtesy of my friends at Global Grind, here are some funny Celebrity Photobombs that will make you laugh and if nothing else, smile. We can talk making music all day long but sometimes you just gotta let go and laugh.

My favorites are the Jay Leno & the 2nd Mini Me pic. Too funny!

The Most Hilarious Celebrity Photobombs Ever | Global Grind: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Let me know which ones you like...

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin,The Hot Instrumentalist
Click here to learn how to sell beats!

Brand Management: Do You Know How To Build Your Brand?

I just got done watching Life After... on TVOne. The featured celebrity was Karrine Steffans aka Superhead. Now before y'all get all krazy on me and start cussin' me out, I want you to look at her in a different light.

Don't look at her as a slut who has been in different kinds of music videos and sexed many different men. True, she has done those things but what she did was flip it to her advantage. She has taken the Superhead and Video Vixen brand to different heights. No matter what the world thinks, she is a hustler and she knows how to build and expand her brand.

I knew some things about Karrine from glancing through her book but until tonight, I never looked at her from a brand standpoint. I mean like a Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Papa John's type of brand. When you think Video Vixen, you think of her. And although her exploits in the Hiphop world gave her the name Superhead, she took that and made it a household name.

She's been on Oprah and when you hit Ms. Winfrey's set, you have got the world on lock. I recently saw her as a guest on Donald Trump's show, "The Ultimate Merger" which featured Omarosa. I may not agree with how she rose to the spotlight but I gotta respect her hustle.

How are you managing your brand? Are you looking at YOURSELF as a business or are you just an act? When people say your name, what image is presented in their minds? That is brand management.

When you hear Jay Z what do you think? I'm sure more than just an emcee comes to your mind but a shrewd business man as well. What about Queen Latifah? Master P? 50 Cent? Diddy?

These are artists who have taken their talents way past "rappin". They have built their brands and when you hear their name you automatically know what you're going to get.

If you are emcee Joe Smoe, will you come out with the Smoe Joe sneakers or the J.S. (Joe Smoe) line of cologne?

You have to think further than making records if you want to have brand longevity. So once again what are you doing to build and manage your brand?

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com
Click Here Learn How To Make Beats Online!

**********************************************

Erykah Badu feat. Rick Ross - Window Seat Part II **NEW VIDEO** - Page 2 | Global Grind

Whaddup Peeps?

Check out this new video by 2 of my favorite artists Erykah Badu and Rick Ross. It's "Window Seat Part II" and "Turn Me Away (Get Munny)" mixed together. It even has a story line! And Ms. Badu is rockin' them heels. Whew!!!

Click on the link below to check it out.

Erykah Badu feat. Rick Ross - Window Seat Part II **NEW VIDEO** - Page 2 | Global Grind: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
Click here to learn how to sell beats!

**NEW VIDEO** Eminem & Rihanna - "Love The Way You Lie" - Page 2 | Global Grind

I'm diggin' this song. Em on lyrics and Rihanna on the hook = Money in Da Bank!

**NEW VIDEO** Eminem & Rihanna - "Love The Way You Lie" - Page 2 | Global Grind

The song and video is about domestic violence. Domestic violence is WACK!!!

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
Click here to learn how to sell beats!

Kanye West "Power" Video (NSFW Edition) - Page 2 | Global Grind

Here are some video clips from Kanye West's new video "Power". You might wanna watch this on at the crib and not at work.

Kanye West "Power" Video (NSFW Edition) - Page 2 | Global Grind

The track is bangin though!!!

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
Click here to learn how to sell beats online!

Where Do Music Producers Sell Their Beats

A common question new music producers ask is where do music producers sell their beats? It is great to have fire hot beats but if you do not know where and how to sell beats then how will you make any money? Making money is the name of the game right?

The best answer to where do music producers sell their beats is to sell your music on your website. This method as well as any other will require planning. With this method you are responsible to building your site, finding buyers, and ultimately setting up a way to process payments when you do make sales.

This will take longer than any other method but you will have greater control over your beat sales. You can also build a list of prospects using this method. This way you can continue to market to the people who have already visited your site.

If you do not know how to build a website, you can either hire a web designer or purchase a template.

Another place where music producers sell their beats is on 3rd party sites. Third party sites will host your beats and some of them will even complete the sales transaction with your buyers. Some of them will allow you to customize your assigned page. To do this you will need to know some programming language or pay someone to customize it for you.

One good thing about 3rd party sites is they are generally easy to set up. Some of them you can upload your songs in their specified format, add a picture, some bio information and your done.

You should always check the rules and regulations of the 3rd party site as well. You do not want to have all of songs uploaded and your business running well only to later find out you have violated some rule that you overlooked.

This brings us to the next point about 3rd party sites. They are in control of your business to a degree. This means if any thing happens to their site, then ultimately you lose. Their server could crash, it could be infected with a virus, it could get hacked, etc. You and your beats are at the mercy of the 3rd party site.

Even with these seeming negatives you can still make lots of money with 3rd party sites. It all depends on how much control you are willing to give up.

One last and very traditional way to sell your beats is to use the old music business system and send out beat demos. These can be in the form or CD or mp3 but they still work. Sometimes people like to get a package in their hand instead of hearing beats online.

Either way, you must take action. You can use one of these methods or all of them together. If you are serious about selling music as a business you will find that you will get the best results using all three of these methods.

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com
www.Beats4ADub.com
www.MusicMarketingPromotions.com

*********************************************

New Hotness by Rick Ross - Teflon Don

Rick Ross is killin' em. His Teflon Don album dropped last week and is making much noize!! Every time I hear one of his joints I'm turning the radio UP!!! "Blowin' Money Fast" is just too hot and its burnin' up the charts and the streets. Here are some of the cuts off the album provided by none other than Global Grind!!!

WEEKEND WAVE: Teflon Don Edition | Global Grind: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com
www.Beats4ADub.com
www.MusicMarketingPromotions.com

************************************

The Rap Beat Creator Podcast Episode 9

I know it's been a long time since I've published a The Rap Beat Creator Podcast BUT I was committed to recording one for you. Sometimes people respond better to audio or video instead of print.

This is The Rap Beat Creator Podcast Episode 9 and it covers an article I put up a few weeks ago called:

"How to Overcome Obstacles on Your Path to Music Business Success"

You can click on the link above or copy and paste the link below in your browser:

http://rapbeatcreator.com/rbcpodcast9.mp3

I hope you enjoy this Episode and get some great tips from it. As always, let me know what you think.

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com
www.Beats4ADub.com
www.MusicMarketingPromotions.com

*******************************

Sell Your Music on Your Website

The best way to sell beats is to sell your music on your website. While there are many sites on the web where you can sell beats, having your own site is the absolute best way to make money. The fact is that having your own domain name and your own web hosting give you more control over the profit you make.

The advantages of selling your music on your website are:

You don’t have to split your profit with someone else because they host your site. Most of the time on websites that allow you to post your beats for sale, you have to give them a percentage of your profits. Or you have to charge your beat buyers an extra service fee to cover the cost of selling your beats on someone else’s site.

Some buyers don’t mind paying extra for the service fees but if you can cut them out, then your profit will increase. Also your buyers won’t be as hesitant to buy from you.

Another advantage when you sell your music on your website is that you can control when your beats are displayed for sale. If the 3rd party site goes down, then you can’t sell beats therefore you can’t make money. Any site can crash because it main servers go down but you can recover quicker if its your own site by contacting your web host directly. With 3rd party sites you have very little control if the site comes down or goes out of business.

You can control how many songs you upload by having your own sites. Some 3rd party sites make you pay a monthly membership fee to post more beats on their sites for sale. By the time you’ve finished paying money out to these 3rd party sites, you could’ve found a webhost, learned how to build your own site and then upload as many songs as you would like on your site.

Some of the disadvantages so selling your music on your website are:

You have to spend money to host your website. After you picked out your domain and called it “www.your-site.com”, then you must have some form of hosting so that people can find your music on the web. This does cost money but you should be making more money eventually than the money you have to pay out to your web host. You can get a web host for less than $20 per month. You should be able to make more than $240 per year with your site if you learn how to market and sell beats.

You have to both build your own site and maintain it versus selling on another site where someone else maintains the site and has built it already.

You should really look at all the pros and cons. Whether you sell your music on your website or use a 3rd party site, you should ultimately figure out what is in your best interest and what is in your business interest.

For more information about how to sell beats, check out www.HowToSellBeats.info.

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com
www.Beats4ADub.com
www.MusicMarketingPromotions.com

How To Sell Beats

So you’re a music producer with a catalog full of beats. You know your beats are fire hot and you believe you can make some money off them. You can create beats in no time but one thing you don’t know is how to sell beats. You’ve made beats CDs and sent them out to labels and artists but you never got anything going consistently. How to sell beats is the burning question in your mind.

First of all, you need to begin to look at beat selling from a different point of view. You should look at selling beats as a business and not just something to do every now and then.

The foundation of any business success is to get education about the business. It doesn’t matter what business it is. Learning about the business of beat selling should be you first step. There are several courses on the Internet that teach you how to sell beats. They come in different formats such as ebooks and/or videos. I think videos are the best because you can actually see what to do instead of just reading about it.

Once you’ve got the knowledge of how to sell beats, your next question should naturally be “where do music producers sell their beats?”

The Internet is a global marketplace and your beat buyer could come from anywhere. You’re job is to make it easy for them to find you. There are free sites like MySpace and Soundclick that allow you to upload beats and sell.

You can also buy a domain name, get a web host and sell your beats on your own website. Selling from your own website gives you more control of how to sell your beats. It will cost money but if you learn how to market your beats you should make lots more money than you’re spending each month on hosting and advertising. A combination of selling on your own site as well as free sites is the best strategy.

Either way you choose to sell your beats, you’ll need a Paypal account or some way to process the payments. Paypal is free to join and the transaction fees they charge are tiny in comparison to the money you could potentially make.

Once you’ve got your websites set up and your Paypal account then its time you use what you learned about marketing your beats and start driving traffic to your sites. If people don’t know you have beats for sale then you won’t make much money. The key is to keep your website in front of potential beat buyers.

To get more information on how to sell beats, check out www.HowToSellBeats.info.

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.Beats4ADub.com
www.RapBeatCreator.com
www.MusicMarketingPromotions.com

*******************************

**NEW MUSIC** Rick Ross feat. Jay-Z, John Legend - "Free Mason" | Global Grind

Whassup Peeps? It's been while since I've posted. I've been grindin' on another level. Here is a link to a new Rick Ross song featuring Jay-Z & John Legend. I like it for many reasons. Click on the "New Music" link below to hear the track!


**NEW MUSIC** Rick Ross feat. Jay-Z, John Legend - "Free Mason" | Global Grind: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.Beats4ADub.com
www.RapBeatCreator.com
www.MusicMarketingPromotions.com

***********************************

Big Boi and Rick Ross? It Don't Get No Smoother Than That!

Okay I'm back on my blog grind people. I came across this new joint while I was on Global Grind.

It's Outkast's Big Boi and The Boss Rick Ross spittin' verses together.

Here is the link below. Enjoy:

http://globalgrind.com/channel/music/content/1652654/new-music-big-boi-rick-ross-shutterbugg-remix/

Let's Make It Happen!!!

Mello Melanin, The Hot Instrumentalist
www.RapBeatCreator.com
www.Beats4ADub.com
www.MusicMarketingPromotions.com

************************************