Music is Business...What is this

Richard D. Johnson lanza su primer proyecto de salsa después de haber tocado Jazz con los maestros durante años. Secretamente detrás de escena durante 25 años estuvo tocando salsa y visitando Cali Colombia perfeccionando sus habilidades con los maestros. Durante este tiempo también jugó con J. Cadenas, Arturo Sandoval, Jerry Gonzales, Horacio El Negro, Santi Debriano y reemplazaría a Chucho Valdés. No vas a querer perderte este proyecto con ex miembros de Grupe Niche y más. www.afarmusic.com y www.rjjazz.com Richard D. Johnson releases his first Salsa Project after having played Jazz with the masters for years. Secretly behind the scenes for 25 years he was playing Salsa and visiting Cali Colombia honing his skills with the masters. During this time he also played with J. Cadenas, Arturo Sandoval, Jerry Gonzales, Horacio El Negro, Santi Debriano and would fill in for Chucho Valdés. You are not going to want to miss this project with ex members of Grupe Niche and more. www.afarmusic.com and www.rjjazz.com Released by: Afarmusic Album release date: 2 de Agosto 2024

Copyrighting your music is still very important. Living in an age where music is very recyclable we often think it is not needed since it is so easy to release music to the world. In reality this makes it more warranted because one minute you could be broke with no funds and the next minute you could still be broke with no funds with a number one single in the world. You may ask how does this happen. In this episode we discuss some basic things you should do to endure this doesn't happen to you. This podcast has been partially gifted by the Illinois Arts Council.

Early this season we had the pleasure of speaking with a few great vocalist and had some interesting feedback about those podcast. Here we follow up with some interesting points of views from listeners in perspectives to habits and leadership roles of different vocalist. This topic is always going to be around because without words we would have a different perspective of many of our favorite songs. Buckle up your seat belts and hold on. This podcast is partially gifted by the Illinois Arts Council.

How does one get the gig of their dreams? Yes, we must practice but what else is there to i?. What about networking and your 30 sec elevator pitch which is probably more like 15 sec. There are several approaches to obtaining the dream performance job and during this podcast we talk about our experiences and those we have come into contact with. Take a listen and leave a comment about how you ended up on the bandstand with famous Rock, Jazz, Salsa, Blues, Pop, Classical, or Country Star. This podcast is partially gifted by the Illinois Arts Council.

We all have influences wether it be family members or just bands we like. In this episode we have an amazing guest who has studied all types of music and is a house hold name in the several corners of the world. "Dee Alexander" expresses her thoughts on music and how she became who she is. If you are a young or not so young musician you will want to listen to this because she takes us deep into the Chicago jazz scene and talks about the history of the known and unknown artist.

What does it mean to produce something is a great question in our era. 40 years ago it meant getting all the necessary musicians together, booking the studio, making sure the food is great, and what ever else the musicians want. Today this term takes on a different meaning. I challenge you to ask someone under 40 and see what the answer is to this job. During the next 20 minutes we dig deep into what this job entails today.

Do you communicate with emoji's?

Have you ever arrived at the concert or gig and the whole band is there except the band leader? This always creates an interesting energy in the room the first few times this happens in a band. Of course there is always things that can go wrong like bad traffic, baby sisters not arriving, the car not starting but what happens when this is a regular habit to the point the club owner ask the band to start without the band leader. Well take a listen as we dive deep into this topic.

The age old question of is music getting better or worse is what we attempt to cover today. Many of us used to hear our parents or older relatives say "This isn't music. I'll show you some real music." Not to discredit them but we all have what we call our music or real music. Take a listen and see if you will fall into this same category one or some day with your music.

Jeremiah Hunt discusses with long time friend and Chicago native Zeshan B’s breakout album “Vetted” was released in April 2017 to commercial and critical acclaim with the album debuting at #8 on Billboard's Top 10 Albums (World Music) and peaking at #1 on iTunes’ World Music chart. Additionally, “Vetted” has received rave reviews from Rolling Stone, NPR, ABC, NBC, PBS, Salon Magazine, Democracy Now and the Times of India. Zeshan's hit single from the album “Cryin in the Streets”--his reinterpretation of George Perkins' 1970 classic civil rights anthem--has garnered praise from the New York Times, PRI, American Songwriter, and Chicago Tribune for its musical finesse as well as its relevance in America's current socio-political climate. In August of 2017, Zeshan made his US television debut with a stirring rendition of his hit single, “Crying in the Streets” on ⁠CBS’s Late Night w/ Stephen Colbert⁠. This was followed by his ⁠PBS NewsHour special (“Groovin’ for Change”)⁠.  Since then, he has toured with frequent appearances at Lincoln Center, Bonnaroo, Electric Forest Festival, House of Blues, Kennedy Center, the Blue Note, Riverside Church and the Canadian National Exhibition. He has performed for two US Presidents--Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama--with the latter performance taking place at the White House’s historic inaugural Eid Celebration in 2016.  During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Zeshan appeared with his wife Dr. Alexandra Roybal on ⁠MSNBC Morning Joe⁠ to shed light on COVID’s impact on minorities and musicians. This was followed by the May 2020 release of his ⁠NPR acclaimed⁠ album, “Melismatic”. (Listen to Melismatic ⁠here⁠) Zeshan is a polyglot--he is fluent in Urdu & Italian and proficient in Spanish and Punjabi.

Do you keep good records of where your money is coming in from and where it is going? Many of us want to make good money but as an artist how do we keep track of it is the question. In this episode we will discuss several parameters of what this involves.

Have you ever wanted to tour and wondered how to book or arrnage the concerts/gigs and set up the routing? In this podcast we discuss how all of the behind the scenes jobs get done to make a tour successful. How do we know about this. Richard D. Johnson has tour managed bands and high school groups for over 20 years. Every spring he manages thousands of high school students and helps them with their spring break tours. He has also managed tours for Virgin Moble telephones, Walmart, etc.

Have you ever wondered how people made it before social media? It is a legitimate question even though social media has only been around in its current format for 25 years or so. Almost everyone uses it who wants to be current and if they are not a company or someone else is doing it for them. In this episode we discuss is really needed today and if word of mouth still really exist. Let us know your thoughts on this episode and if you choose to use social media and how you use it.

Have you ever really wanted to play with a band or an artist and they finally reach out. What emotion did that give you? I know what it did to and for me. In this episode we discuss the preparation for the gig or concert. We also talk about was it an actual call or a text. In this era everyone is texting so respecting the text is a real concern. We would love to hear your feedback after listening to this episode.

Have you ever thought how do great jazz musicians who teach in High schools or Middle schools do it? We have one of the best in the Business here. John Wojciechowski has played with tons of great artist and teaches at St. Charles North High School. He discusses how he went to New York from Detroit and then ended up in Chicago. It's a crazy story that has tons of information in it. Even if you think you know him you are going to want to listen to this. Saxophonist John Wojciechowski is an urban musician through and through. He grew up and developed his powerful tenor sound in Detroit—“a really rich community with a lot of great players,” he says—and since 2002 has thrived in Chicago, working alongside some of the best players in the city. So why does he live way the heck out in the Windy City’s western suburbs in a place called Bartlett—where it takes a good half-hour to even reach one of the highways leading into the city? And does being so far away from the action have an impact on his music? The answer to the first question is that “Wojo,” as he is known, teaches high school in the historic river town of St. Charles—no doubt one of the only jazz musicians of his caliber who can make that claim.

You ever wonder how some bands are put together? Its not always the best of the best. Sometimes it's who is available and keep do the job. Often this can create a great unexpected situation. It could also go bad real fast too. In this episode we discuss how musicians are chosen for the gig.

Have you ever been sick and you really need to take the gig but you don't think you will make it? I've been there and had to tough through it. What are your options if you are in your hometown or what happens when you are on the road and a tour and you are the only person within 500 miles that can make the gig. Well listen up.... you have found the right podcast.

How do you get people to come to your performance. Do you use email, social media, word of mouth, snail mail, youtube, a promotion company. There are numerous different ways to get people to attend your performance. In this episode we discuss what a promoters does and what their background normally is to make your concert a hit!!!

You ever wonder who picks all the music during Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Movies and many more. In this episode we discuss another form of income that you can get involved in and make a really good living.

Sharel Cassity opens up the the New Year discussing with us how she made it to winning Rising stars Best Alto Sax category award in Downbeat magazine. This is definitely an episode to not miss to start the year off on the right food. Sharel has worked with Multi-Grammy Award-winning artist Jennifer Hudson, Top 40 hit singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant, Aretha Franklin, Vanessa Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Ruben Blades, & DJ Logic, among others. An avid jazz artist, Sharel has performed with NEA Jazz Masters Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jimmy Heath, and Gary Bartz; she has also appeared as a featured soloist with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. As a bandleader, Sharel's five albums as a leader have received top-rated reviews in publications like the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, JazzTimes, Jazziz, American Indian News, & earned cover stories in Saxophone Journal and Downbeat Magazine. Cassity's collaborations have led her to co-lead recent releases by groups Altoizm, Precarious Towers, and her upcoming 2024 female collaboration, Alliance. An advocate for Jazz Education, Cassity established the non-profit educational program "Jazz Up!" which brings jazz professionals to students in the suburbs who cannot go to hear live Jazz or play in combo settings. Cassity is a jazz professor in the Chicago area at DePaul University & Elgin Community College. A skilled and versatile sideman, Sharel is a current Dizzy Gillespie Latin Experience and All-Star Big Band member. She has also performed frequently alongside renowned Grammy-winning artists Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Lewis Nash, Joe Chambers, Michael Dease, & Darcy James Argue. Sharel has toured 24 countries and performed at leading venues like the Newport Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, & the North Sea Jazz Festival. Additionally, Sharel was lead alto in the Diva Jazz Orchestra from 2007-2014 and performed in Wynton Marsalis' Broadway musical After Midnight. Selected to attend The Juilliard School Jazz program under full scholarship for a Masters in Music and graduating in 2007, Sharel earned her BFA from The New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music in 2005. Sharel appears in publications "I Walked with Giants" by Jimmy Heath, "Three Generations Under the Lens" by Adrianna Mateo, and "Freedom of Expression: Interviews with Women in Jazz" by Chris Becker. Sharel is also an alumnus of the select student programs IAJE Sisters in Jazz, Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, and the Ravinia Summer Residency. Steeped in the classical tradition, Sharel placed third in the Disney International Piano Concerto Competition at ten and was offered a full scholarship to North Texas State University for classical saxophone at 18. She attended the University of Centeral Oklahoma in 1996 before moving to New York, where she was able to fully transition to Jazz. Born into a musical family, Sharel's father is a musician who played in New Orleans and was a professor and author of Music Therapy, and her aunt was a classical solo pianist with the Boston Pops and fullbright recipient. Moving frequently throughout her childhood, Sharel lived with her mother, graduating high school in Yukon, Oklahoma. In 2000 she moved to New York City, relocated to Doha, Qatar, in 2015, and in 2017 settled in the Chicago area with her husband and son. Sharel is a proud Yamaha and Vandoren Performing Artist, exclusively playing Yamaha instruments and Vandoren equipment.

Happy Holidays!!! This episode is all about negotiation. We all need this especially during the holidays. In this episode we get into some heavy discussions on how to deal with getting the most for work effort. Enjoy!

How do you enjoy playing Holiday Music? This is always a hot topic for musicians because some of us love it because of the extra "Dinero" and others of us are not fans because of........well if you listen to this episode you will find out the good and bad that comes with the Holidays.

Do you ever wondering what you are going to wear to a concert? As a musician this takes time fro some and for others no time at all. What is the appropriate dress for a concert hall, Jazz club, outdoor event, Donor Party, etc. In this episode we discuss all these things and if it makes a different in todays world. Sit back relax or not and think about what do I have on and does it affect my image to the public and or my fans!!!

Have you ever gone to a concert and seen several groups in a row that are all similar looking and we are not talking about the clothes? In this episode we discuss is there (enough) diversity in bands and why is it such a hot topic these days.

In this episode we have Romaine Johnson or "Mrs. R" with us to discuss customer service in the Music Industry. She has a long history in the banking industry and is known for heleping her clients grow their business & wealth with a smile. This topic is often over looked by many musicians because of the focus on their music. You are going to want to listen and watch this one.

Born in Pittsburgh, home to jazz greats Art Blakey, Ray Brown, Jeff "Tain" Watts and Ahmad Jamal, Richard D. Johnson has strong territorial jazz roots. He was first introduced to the piano at the age of five by his father, a gospel pianist in the church. After graduating from the Berklee School of Music in just two years, Richard entered the Boston Conservatory where he earned a Master’s degree in Jazz Pedagogy. He then went on to receive an Artist Performance Diploma at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at New England Conservatory under the direction of the influential Ron Carter. Richard was invited to become a member of Wynton Marsalis' Septet and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, which he did from 2000-2003. He also played as part of the Russell Malone Quartet Quartet. Currently Richard is president of Afarmusic LLC a company he founded that represents artist worldwide. In his current role he performs with world- class artist promoting jazz to a vast array of audiences. Richard provides educational language guidance for immigrants speaking Spanish in America. He also teaches at Peabody conservatory the oldest Conservatory in the country.

Have you played a concert and wondered what the venue is going to be? Sounds strange because you usually get a description in the contract or word of mouth. Often we as musicians are given incorrect information or descriptions of the Venue because the people given the contracts are not musicians. In this podcast we discuss how often this happens. Enjoy and leave us your feedback.

He has played bass for the best and has traveled around the world. Listen to his story about how he arrived in Chicago. You will learn alot about how to make your own path to your destiny.

Kacey Greene joins us today to talk about a few different ways to approach your branding as a musician. About With more than 15 years of experience as an Award-Winning Creative Executive, Kacey Greene has a background in brand identity and strategy. Throughout his career, he has showcased my proven ability to lead high-performance cross-functional teams in concept development, generating bold and innovative ideas to drive brand exposure. He is a very skilled in agile methodology, risk identification, mitigation, and program development. Fueled by passion, he utilizes his executive collaboration expertise to secure growth and success within an organization. Key Achievements Include: ✅ Served as Creative Director and oversaw a team of 7 designers spanning the US and UK and the $1.2M budget, managing the creative development and execution of design projects, leveraging expertise to deliver clear direction and guidance for various markets, as well as effectively managing the agencies and vendors ensuring consistency ✅ Established a culture to ensure the alignment of content, voice, and audience with the organizational goals and objectives, designing unique and culturally relevant ideas that were produced across multiple platforms ✅ Designed and launched the BET+ premium streaming service, a targeted joint venture between BET and Tyler Perry Studios to deliver 10 BET+ original series and movies within 6 months, achieving 500K+ subscribers across Google, IOS, ROKU, SVOD, and Amazon platforms ✅ Remodeled a Creative Team and led the team through 7 SVP organizational changes, establishing alignment of the team with the vision and requirements of the new management team, removing any barriers, and setting short and long-term goals

Richard and Jeremiah talk about is playing music for free an option and if they have ever done this or offered their services for Free. You might want to listen to this one!!!

Today we are talking about performing in Restaurants and do people listen when they are eating or not. This episode may surprise you with different real-life situations that have happened to us.

In this episode, we talk about the sound person and why the sound is bad 80% of the time. There are several ways we can make their job easier if we have a different approach and if that doesn't work well......listen to the podcast and see!

In this episode, we talk about the sound person and why the sound is bad 80% of the time. There are several ways we can make their job easier if we have a different approach and if that doesn't work well......listen to the podcast and see!

In this episode, we welcome G. Thomas Allen the first male winner of the Sarah Vaughn International Vocal Competition from 2021. He talks about how he jump-started his career from Gospel to Classical to Jazz. He now tours the world as a leader with his own band. Renowned for his exceptional talent and groundbreaking achievements, G. Thomas Allen emerged onto the Chicago music scene in 2015, captivating audiences with his extraordinary vocal range and innovative approach. His soulful melodies, deeply rooted in sacred harmony, propelled him to become the first male artist in history to secure victory at the prestigious Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Jazz Competition, as recognized by Downbeat Magazine.  Thomas' artistic endeavors transcend multiple genres, evidenced by his notable roles as a Principal Artist of the Los Angeles Opera and lead vocalist on GRAMMY-nominated projects alongside Ricky Dillard and New G (Motown Gospel). Collaborating with esteemed figures such as the late David Baker, renowned jazz educator and conductor of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Thomas has also showcased his virtuosity as a soloist with esteemed ensembles like the Black Pearl Chamber Ensemble, the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic, and the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers (JMFS).   On the national stage, Thomas has graced the airwaves of National Public Radio (NPR) and appeared on Cable Network News (CNN). He has mesmerized audiences within the hallowed halls of prestigious venues including The Kennedy Center, NJPAC, and Carnegie Hall. His enchanting performances have left an indelible mark in top jazz rooms such as SOUTH Jazz Club in Philadelphia, The Jazz Showcase in Chicago, Minton's Playhouse in Harlem (the birthplace of bebop), and Keystone Korner in Baltimore, among others. His presence has also been felt at esteemed performance venues and festivals like City Winery - Chicago, Turpin Lamp Theatre Baltimore, the 50th New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the TD Jazz Moody Jazz Festival, and the White Plains NY Jazz Festival.  Thomas is set to celebrate Sarah Vaughan's centennial, next year, at Dizzy's Jazz Club April 19th & 20th. In 2020, Thomas achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of his self-titled debut album, swiftly claiming the top spot on the iTunes jazz charts. Currently, his band is diligently working on their highly anticipated second project, "Reimagined Dream." The lead single from this upcoming endeavor, titled "Cookie Jar," has already garnered significant attention, courtesy of its iconic tagline, "You've been tempted by the cookie jar!" Thomas' distinct vocal stylings, often drawing comparisons to iconic figures like Philip Bailey, coupled with his admiration for Al Jarreau, have positioned him as one of the foremost countertenor voices of the 21st century.  A double-graduate of Morgan State University, as Vocal Studies Alum, and a second (B.A)  in Speech Communication, Thomas further expanded his musical education by earning a Master of Music in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy (M.M.) from Carthage College.  Thomas imparts his vast knowledge and expertise as a Contemporary Voice Specialist, serving on the voice faculty of Columbia College of Chicago and Howard University, as Assistant Professor of Voice Jazz Studies, and Director of HU Jazz Singers. As the CEO and Founder of Allen Studios, LLC, he has embarked on entrepreneurial ventures, establishing his own artistic domain, aspiring singers to reach new vocal heights in their music careers through 1:1 lessons/coachings; even preparing high schoolers for auditions into reputable music programs.   If you're interested, please email us at [email protected] or fill out form below.  Please note: this is separate from booking the band.  Management information is listed below as well.

In this episode we discuss the roles of the Club owner and if we should complain to them or keep it to ourselves.

In this Podcast we discuss what a Tour manager does and a road manager. It is important to know how they are different.

In this episode, we discuss the role of a Booking agent and what a good one does and doesn't do.

In this podcast we discuss the role of a Manager in music and whether you need one or not!!!

This episode is all about what is the definition of a "Musician" by today's standards To view us please visit- https://www.youtube.com/@MIB36251/about

Music Business…. What is this is a podcast that focuses on the ever-changing music industry and presents issues and concerns that the average and above-average musician has or will encounter. This podcast directly targets College and University students and Professors of all levels. This podcast can be found on iTunes, Soundcloud & Spotify. Simply type in Music Business What is this? Thank you for listening and spending time with us and we appreciate your comments and experiences.