Rock Candy

"And, to crush all the rumors that the radio station doesn't support local artists,"

How does charging local acts $1800 for 8 minutes of stage time equal out to 92 being supportive of local artists?

Rumors? Arkansas Times had an interview with Joe last year where he flat out said that he didn't play local artists and that playing local music on his station wouldn't really help an artist anyway since this market is so small.

To answer the comment on how does charging a local artist a fee to perform, the number one rule to making money is you have to spend some money to make money. And for local artist, the INVESTMENT starts to exchange hands after finding out that hip-hop is for them. The tracks (underlying music) are purchased and then comes the actual production. In LR, you will spend about $45 to $75 a hour to perfect your recordings. Once you have a finished version of your product, there are other investments that you have to deal with like graphics, logo designs, wardrobe, websites. And the main reason is to show a major record company that you are business minded and can work a BUDGET. To all of you up and coming artist, don't be afraid to spend $ on the things that you feel will help your situation out, because in the end, you will be the one to determine your success.

Comment on #2, Joe was merely letting the readers know that this is a business and not a part-time hobby. If the artist had a strong performance and strong music, where the rest of the city agreed, then you would have a few thousand attendee's calling requesting that particular artist and his or her music. He gave them that chance and in the music industry, it's about numbers-whether you depend on ticket sold or the number of guest. All I can say is you have to be discovered somewhere and have all your steps in place to represent your area. And for Little Rock we have to step our demeanor up if we are wanting that chance to shine. Remember the rest of the world may not want to hear about killings, shooting, banging or any negative stuff unless that are trying to continue with the old stereotype of our city. Let's continue with our creative thinking so that the door will open and the opportunity for the rest of the world to see our wonderful and growing city.

Spoken like someone who is on Joe's payroll, which I'm assuming you are since you were driving artists back and forth.

Agreed you do have to invest money to make money but what local acts need to learn is that paying $1800 for 8 minutes is not a wise investment and I don't care how you spin it. This simply isn't going to be worth it.

Not to mention that on top of paying to play you also had to pay for a tent in order to sell your own music.

So lets see, the spectators pay, the local acts pay, the national acts don't get paid and play for spins. = the event was understaffed, tickets holders were waiting over an hour just to get in. 92 is GETTING OVER.

Also this event in general isn't a good look. My understanding is Juneteenth Celebrations are usually free events. This is not the time to be taxing people.

Arkansas Times, your article with Joe shed a lot of light on this situation last year. It may be worth another look.

I did not know about what was going on on the Arkansas Idependent scene. From reading this article it lets me know that there are things that need to be address in order for Arkansas to break on a national scope. Recently I have been visiting various myspace.com music profiles from arkansas and I didn't know it was this expensive for them to get exposure in the city that they live in. One of my friends put me on to hot Arkansas websites: www.razormack.com and www.undertheground.com. To me they give a clear picture of the scene and happening in the Hip Hop scene in the Natual State.

Thanks for printing this article making the rest of the world knowledgable of this important issue.

Tbaby

TO 92 SCAMS.
Speaking of payroll, I hustle and get things done in the hip-hop world. That's why you are reading my comments and read the article. Just remember, hip-hop is a competitive and marketable form of music, which has made millions of dollars. If Joe is trying to prepare these artist for what's in store for them, just understand, hip-hop isn't for you. Those artist had faith in themselves and believed in their music, and that's all that counts. I've had the motivation to become a model, should the modeling agency waive the fee because I have new clothes and a smile? Or do I need to understand what I'm getting into by investing in my future? So to sum this chat up, Juneteenth is a once a year (annual) event and what I recommend is, any artist wanting to perform, start saving right now so that you will be prepared. Start practicing on your performance right now so that you will be prepared. And remember after Juneteeth is gone, what other outlet is there for Arkansas' independent artist to attract over ten thousand fan's at one time? I know I shouldn't tell a trick of the trade, but I wanted to perform this year until duty called. So what I was going to do was pay the fee and video myself all day long. Including solo shots, city skyline, cars, friends, the crowd and my performance and then go back and edit the recordings to my satisfaction and then have a performance visual of myself and my city that I could submit to a major for consideration. It still would have cost me more money to produce that video as well as perform, but the end results would be what I wanted them to be, progess on my behalf.

How can you be so blind?

If you really want to make an impact, throw your own show. $1800 would go a long way.

"And remember after Juneteeth is gone, what other outlet is there for Arkansas' independent artist to attract over ten thousand fan's at one time?" - 10,000 kids who could care less about you and are interested in the national acts cause the radio station has had them in constant rotation as a build up prior to the show.

Video? Don't kid yourself. A major is going to see right through a video like that. Trick of the trade? Hardly. I've seen those videos before. Ask around they don't help.

Here's something to ponder. As long as this has been going on what local act has truly benefited by spending the cash to be a part of this event? Where's the success stories? It would probably help an artist who already has a local buzz to help maintain it but the thing is most of these acts don't have any sort of name and see this as their opportunity to get on. Not happening. There are no shortcuts. Local acts who are hip to the game already know the deal and aren't falling for it.

A fool and his/her money are soon parted.

Dude, modeling are you serious? If you're paying you're getting played.

Take another look at the article with Joe - linked below.

Alllow me to pull a few quotes:

"They want me to play it so people will recognize it," Booker said. "But it don't work like that. (attention record companies stop sending your artists to Juneteenth the station manager says playing your song on his station will not help you)

"I'm dealing with a record from RCA or MCA that's a half-million-dollar project"

"Booker said that though Little Rock rap has a lot of talent, he simply doesn't have space for artists that "haven't made it yet, that don't have a promotional budget" behind them." (payola anyone?)

"Booker said that he is considering starting workshops to teach local artists about promoting themselves and the business side of radio and records." (wonder how much that will cost?)

"That's what it is now," he said. "Hype and promotion. My point is, if we took a record and played it umpteen times on Power 92, [a local artist] still couldn't sell enough products here in Little Rock to get any recognition by the record companies. There just aren't enough customers here to buy it." (I guess 10,000 people really isn't that big of a number after all.)

To someone who goes by the alias 92 scams, your name says alot. You are 92 scamming, while they are 92 jammin (making money)! Be real in your business dealings. They are the strongest R&B/hip hop station in our market whether you like or listen. Someone may want you to oppose the music scene on a bigger level and put money in your pockets for doing so. To me you should get your hustle on and stop hating on the fact. The show's over and what impact have you or your thoughts had on any shows? I've done that already. As far as $1800 going along way, I can tell you aren't in the entertainment industry. You may be able to rent the skating rink for two hours and print a flyer on black & white, and pass them out for free for $1800. I've done catering bills for over $8,000, advertising bills for $20,000. Meaning I'm instrumental in quite a few shows that has hit the area. Lil Rock Playaz did the damn thang go to myspace.com! And they are still working hard to become one of the few that has made it from LR, did you see them perform last year? And if I continue to be a consultant to those who don't know, you should make your check payable to Rockstylez. Know the deal before you comment on things that you opininate. If more thought like you, I see why the industry keeps passing us by. WE JUST DON'T KNOW.
If you are really serious about your view points, and you have $1800 to spend, let's have a formal debate, I'll put up my funds to cover a broad range of topics, as well as get the radio stations involved so that we can inform ourselves and see what can be done to assist artist in successful careers. ROCKSTYLEZ, over and out!
On the model tip, that was an example, I personally wasn't interested in doing so, until my line of gear hits the streets (But I model new nikes each week). So in an essence, no one makes it over night, alot of the rappers you see that looks like they are making money have been around for some years, and events like this puts them in the right place at the right time for someone to expose their crafts and talents. It's not up to you a fan to police their earnings or spendings. That's why they should have business managers and A&R's to assist them so their primary job is to be a artist.

To all the reader that may intervene, the comments are supported by each individuals beliefs and are intended to inform the reader on how this person feels. The above chat went from paying to perform to radio play. They are two different subjects and therefore I offered advice and peaceful means to express myself. Let's continue to stay creative and take a moment for those residents of our city who has lost their lives over meaningless situations. The bottom line is, in this life we live, we never know who and how we affect others. I could be a local rapper that no one cares about, and at the same time, could be the same person that helps someone stay out of jail, reading books to the youth or provide assitant to the elderly. No matter what my calling is or my status may be, I love this city and can't wait until the day we are flooded with superstars that can have a positive effect on all that needs motivation.
ARKANSAS~get ya Cream ya'll! Request a copy and I'll get you the soundtrack to my movement.

"92 jammin (making money)" - Yes making money on everyones ignorance, including yours. I'm throwing out my information so maybe some more people will get wise to the situation at hand. I've got quotes from Joe printed from this publication to back me. You've got nada no need to debate - I've got much better use for my $1800. No one is paying me to say what I'm saying I'm just trying to let people know what's up and hopefully make better choices in their musical career.

Entertainment Industry? I can tell you know nothing about the local music scene (other than ripping it off) and that's where the problem is. "I've done catering bills for over $8,000, advertising bills for $20,000." You sure know how to "handle a budget" the labels will be in love with you. I'm surprised you're not in A&R already.

Here's a little something all artists should read - free to all:

http://mitvma.mit.edu/~mhb/ALBINI.HTML

Did you notice when the Republicans spoke of the Iraq conflict they always spoke to the public like "Its all good, we got it under control, the Iraqi people are optomistic and happy". But in actuality it was all bad: Haliburtin extorting money, low troop moral, weapons of mass distruction.

These are some of the same dynamics that independent hip hop artist feel when dealing with 92 and Juneteenth. Let them tell it, they would say its no body worthy of them supporting. I know groups personally that have paid upwards of 20K in ad space juneteenth, the work, and they played there song only 5 times during the juneteenth month. Without even mentioning there name other than announcing them for juneteenth. They gross 250K without even charging the artist, "why do they even have to charge them!" Oh 92 Scams forgot to mention, you pay1800 for a BOOTH...If they like you, you get 8 minutes on stage.

How you love that.

There are athority's investigating 92 for these issues... When the ish hits the fan fraudway joe and his empire will go down in flames. Also there's investigations into fraudway joe's part in owning and operating HOT 96.5. If this is true he's got the whole city under his thumb... Stay tuned! THE TRUTH IS COMING!

Guess who's back? I'm not here to start this week's worth of blogs, but if it happens, it happens. Through all of the conversations, I can say, "Let's stop the blame game," One of you readers could be the next person under the scope for doing what you feel is right. We want to blame Joe for this, Joe for that. The man isn't Jamming Jesus! The city needs to respect the fact that this man took the time to embark on his vision of Little Rock and bringing the best music to Arkansans. I can remember when he was the DJ at skating rink on Sunday's. As a youth, there wasn't a bunch of activities for us to do and with his determination and endurance, he turned that Sunday(after going to church or not getting a chance to go to the rink) into an event that alot of the young adults now can ask their parents about. From there, Joe has been succesful on the radio, to the point of anchoring LR's much needed radio station. So why is it that he has stuck to his visions and become successful and he was to come under some type of investigations? Is he another black guy that has made something for himself in the city that shows lil love back?
As far as business pratices, I'd do whatever it takes to get the job done as well. Because at the end of the day, nobody else will step up to the plate, feed and support my family. C'mon LR, if we put our minds and music together, I'm sure there is something that we can all do to make it happen.
TO UNIFY THROUGH URBAN MOVEMENTS! And to impatient artist, you may want to leave the city and head to an already established environment, because here in LITTLE ROCK, we are getting our things together so when the dust settles, under that cloud of smoke will appear a city that LOVES WHAT IT DOES!

Its not all joe work to make the people this superstar but he do have alot to do with and he supose to be having all these interviews w/big time people and not making no progress ova all these years of juneteenth i should be watching somebody on bet but for all the upcoming artist in little rock I wise u the best of luck