professordaddyo’s posterous

This week, My family and I took off and left Metro Atlanta. No, Atlanta is not New York. I don't see a quarter of the people, the crowd, or dirt. But I think I've learned that Metro means Metro.

In my busy world of music & tech, working and living in the city does have its degree of toll. So sometimes you just gotta get away.

We did it with 50 bucks, we had a ball & stayed overnight. We didn't go far, but far enough to escape the noise (in our head & on the street).

Try it sometimes.

Professor Daddy-O
get ya digital on.
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So if you know me, you know I have just as much right to say "I Am Hip-Hop" as KRS-1, or any other MC. So when I say something about Hip-Hop's current direction, or the lack thereof, please take heed. What I think is interesting, is that Hip-Hop (the culture) formed our present work culture, especially in tech. Yes, I'll give grunge and slash rock some props, but between Run DMC and the Beastie Boys, many a program was written.

Hip-Hop (and the rappers it birthed) has always hinged on a punchline. However, the STORY leading to the punchline is what made the punchline a punchline! The idea of a punchline only, is quite frankly, cheating yourself and your audience.

Businesses beware. In today's 'attention economy' of needing eyeballs and money quickly, many people focus on their marketing 'punchline'.

Dangerous.

Professor Daddy-O
get ya digital on.
http://professordaddyo.com

I would guess that handbooks for survival have always been popular. With all the floods and earthquakes the world has seen since its inception, a 'how to survive' manual must have always been on the best seller list. This is not another rant about Chris Anderson's Long Tail. There are surely more than enough of those. But for all those non-futurists out there, please at least try to get a glimpse of what is to come.
 
And watch for the many, many forms of a compass.
 Daddy-O
The Revolution Has Begun
http://www.fuzeboxinc.com
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/index.html

I agree with my fellow cohorts that today we live in an "attention economy." Consumers have more time and less money, and the idea of being comfortable with our products and services are at best 'iffy.' A shoe salesman who sold a ton of shoes in the past may lose his most valued account. An artist who sold a million records at one time only sells a few thousand today. And the ongoing question in every industry across the board is "what's next?"
 
It seems like a no-brainer. Being comfortable doing and selling what we have in the past no longer works. However, we do have the possible to look forward to. Many online tools we use now were not available to businesses started even two years ago. And while the scope of possibilty increases, the level of comfort does not. Its a bold new world out here, and we don't have a clue what is next. Being uncomfortable goes with the territory. But if we work the possibilities, we will be comfortable again.
Daddy-O
The Revolution Has Begun
http://www.fuzeboxinc.com
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/index.html

This season, we are launching a non for profit called Hip-Hop Cares. Although the title should speak for itself, its not a common thought among the masses. Hip- Hop, the culture, has most folks fooled of its origin or original purpose. I've heard everyone blamed from the media to aliens, but the fact remains as long as we rack up on jail sentences, people are going to talk.

We wanna change some of that, we're building now, and would love your input.

You can contact me for more info.


Daddy-O
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I recall the first group of indie artists that boasted worldwide music distribution on the web. Sounded nice. Sounded real nice. The problem was they were dealing with portals like Orchid, that promised getting their music EVERYWHERE music is sold online. I immediately saw the con game. Why would I not want to be in one place, a house that I design, entertain, and sell my music. I mean, if I as a Hip-Hop artist were listed where they sell Bluegrass, my sh*t is going on a shelf in the back if not the trash. The same would exist, visa-versa. How could I stock or distribute Bluegrass music among Hip-Hop heads?

Musicians love saying the words "World Wide Web." It makes them feel (and it actually is true) that the blacklist is over. No longer can the suits at record companies tell them what to do, they're going to do it themselves, or are they?

I own quite a collection of Gold and Platinum plaques . Is there one platinum album from CD Baby? Can the real issue here be a crowded information super highway that moves at light speed while artists sit on 'digital shelves?' If you're on the web, yes people have access to your music if you have a public url. But who will see it? Who will take the time to forget about miss robo-booty to check you out?

With modern day analytics, it should be possible to market your music (as we say at twaudience™) 140 characters at a time. But please stop saying your everyplace, if you truly are not.



Daddy-O
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Hmmm. Yesterday was splendid. It was actually my first true Atlanta 'celebrity day.' You see, Atlanta has been coined everything from baby NY (doubt that!) to Black Hollywood. And yes ladies & gents, on days like I had yesterday, the stars truly came out to shine.

A few of the folks I was with yesterday that I hope to see in heaven:

• Sparky D
• Senator John Conyers
• Johnny Colt
• MC Shan
• Evander Holyfield
• YZ
• Dionne Ferris
• US Rep. Hank Johnson
• DJ Red Alert and His Wife
• US Congressman John Conyers
• Chubb Rock
• Kendall Minter
• Monica Palmer
• Rhymefest
• US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson
• Cut Creator
• Jimmy Paterson
• Earl Klugh
• Peter Stroud
• Robin S
• Barry Stolze
• Daryl Friedman
• Charles Flemming


There were others. From union bosses to session players, T.V. producers, up and coming rappers.

The first part of my day, I spent at the Porter Sanford lll Performing Arts Center in Decatur GA, to attend a panel discussion about the Performance Rights Act-H.R. 848. The bill, spearheaded by US Congressman John Conyers, would impose a royalty on commercial radio stations that would pay performers (not just writers and publishers) for airplay. US Rep. Hank Johnson called Radio One founder Cathy Huges "a pimp", referring to her recent pay cut to her employees, and raise to her son, and herself.(See "The Story That Black Radio is Afraid to Tell" by Paul Porter http://ow.ly/fv0Z).

Rhymefest commanded audience attention when he explained the US is one of only four territories (one of which is Iran), that do not pay a performer royalty for radio play. Dionne Ferris sang (and I mean SANG) a portion of  Aretha Franklin's "Natural Woman" and explained although Aretha didn't write the hit song, "she breathed life in it." Robin S, who was not on the panel, took to the Q&A mic, with a similar reference and even sang a piece of her dance hit "Show Me Love."

In recent weeks, email blasts, twitter, and other social sites have been plagued with the rumor of a plot to kill Black Radio.

 I see every reason for performers to get paid, and hold the position (considering advertisers checkbooks) radio needs to pay up. Sorry Ms Jack-- I mean Hughes.

The second part of my day into the evening was spent at the Holyfield Mansion with Hip-Hop pioneers and up and coming rappers. We shot a trailer for a show to be pitched to B.E.T. Fun times. What a wonderful world, sing Louie, and PLEASE don't stop singing.



Daddy-O
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Click here to download:

What_A_Wonderful_World_of_Cele.zip (965 KB)

Daddy-O
get ya digital on.
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http://professordaddyo.posterous.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Professor.DaddyO
twitter.com/professordaddyo