Puerto Rican Digital Distribution: CEMCA Records

Digital development has transformed how the public delights the entertainment. Thanks to these changes, music and its distribution require a transformation in the traditional training of the musician. Being “music-talented” is simply not enough anymore. To be successful in a competitive market, the musicians must acquire knowledge and skills in self-management in how to promote and distribute their creative content, and be successful entrepreneurs. Here is where CEMCA comes in.

The CultuArte Musicians Business Center (English for Centro Empresarial para Músicos CulturArte and better known as CEMCA) is the first and only center in the island of Puerto Rico led to the strategic education in music and arts. CEMCA is an initiative of the Music Conservatory School of Puerto Rico that looks to propitiate new ways to benefit musicians and music students in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Some of the digital distribution channels used by CEMCA in their educational programs are: AOLMusicAmazon, ECD Hong Kong Limited, eMusic, FNAC.com, Napster, MusicMatch, OD2 (and their licensees, including HMV, Cokemusic, and VirginMega), iTunes (Worldwide), Listen.com/Rhapsody, Puretracks, Real.com, SonyConnect, MSN Music
Loudeye, MusicNet (and their licensees, including AOL and Yahoo! Music), Liquid Audio, SnoCap, and Walmart.com. This long list of channels help the school and the musicians (the students) to have many and better ways to distribute their music or artistic content.

CEMCA is basically the first record label in the island by this school focused in the digital distribution of intellectual content through the Internet. The school prepares its students to become professional in the music industry and its distribution thanks to programs like CEMCA. Other strategies used to collaborate to this education are workshops of business plan making, market analysis and financing sources, national and international internships with successful music-related companies, and lessons in entertainment law and media publishing. CEMCA’s programs not only prepare these professionals in the music industry but also boost them to be administrated entrepreneurs. 

Creative Commons: the Next Best Thing for Distribution Solutions

Each day more and more people become artists and authors, where thanks to their talents new intellectual content is being created. To facilitate the distribution of these contents –without having big companies interfering the distribution process- many organizations and webpages have excelled providing strategic alternatives to distribute and publish such works.

Besides the existence of self-publishing Print-On-Demand (POD) websites, there are other organizations like Creative Commons (CC). This last one is an American non-profit organization dedicated to provide legal models and applications to facilitate the distribution and use of content within the public domain. Creative Commons present their legal models as licenses, inspired by the General Public License granted by the Free Software Foundation (FSF).

This organization (FSF) has dedicated to eliminating restrictions on copying, redistribution, understanding, and modifying of computer programs. Therefore, the licenses granted by CC are aimed to allow authors to decide the way in which their creative content will circulate on the Internet, providing freedom to quote, reproduce, create works and offer them publically. Although these licenses were written in English originally, they have been adapted to other languages and various laws in other countries. The languages in which the licenses have been translated are: Galician, Catalan, Spanish, Basque and Portuguese. Some of the countries that have adapted the CC benefits and have granted operating licenses (also adapted to their legislation) are: Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Spain, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Puerto Rico.

 

Currently all intellectual creations by default fall under the protection of the copyright laws, with the long string of restrictions that it implies. Anyone who wants to use a specific work must enter a complicated process of finding the copyright owner and obtaining his or her permission, which often involves the payment of royalties. Because of this, many projects never become materialized.

Therefore, CC provides a system that automates the content search. To license the work, the creator strictly establishes general conditions that later are incorporated into the work digitally, so that a search engine can identify them. Apart from establishing a database containing all licensed works, the organization intends to establish a creative file available for public sharing.

Copyrights, 360 Deals & Royalties

Entertainment law is an important aspect of the entertainment business industry. It is applicable to the film, music, and events businesses, and all those branches that nourish the entertainment industry. To assist in the dissemination of the legal significance of these businesses, experts have decided to study and share their knowledge. That is why we have the collaboration of Gordon P. Firemark with Tamara Bennet, who maintain a website full of podcasts for the benefit of all those who work and study law entertainment.

Firemark’s Episode 23 podcast talks about the copyright laws. Through out the discussed cases like Who Wants to be a Millionaire vs Disney, the Marvel Comic dispute, and the Wizard of Oz lawsuit, Firewark highlights terms like the lack of matter jurisdiction and the copyright's function. This is basically behaving as a set of legal rules and principles, which governs the moral and economic rights that the law grants authors (copyright).
His next podcast, Episode 29, has to do with 360 deals. For this episode a special guest participated, named Aaron Jacobson. She represents entertainment professionals like producers, musicians, companies and other performers. About the 360 degrees deals, Jacobson says that these are record agreements where record labels have the opportunity of owning and sharing all the profits and income or part of it of the artist career. Here it is included publishing and copyright termination.

Another Firemark podcast is Episode 32, having to do about royalties and cancelation proceedings. With Eminem's dispute about his digital album downloads, it is discussed the importance of clearly establishing royalties. Royalties are the payment made to an owner of a copyright, patent or trademark, so in exchange is enabled the right to exploit or use of certain resources. About cancelation proceedings, Firemark discusses a cancelation issue with Lady Gaga. He highlights the importance of having cancelation clauses in all contracts so any dispute may be resolve as easy and quick as possible. These clauses can even avoid possible lawsuits. 

Even though my business plan is more focused in the event industry, still these activities are part of the entertainment industry and need to be backed up by entertainment laws. Events need the affiliation of many companies to work together to execute events and these affiliations are done contractually.  

Industry Liabilities: Artists and Their Lawsuits

A lawsuit came along against the Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber. During his presentation in July 2010 in the city of Oregon, thousands of fans went to his concert to enjoy his music and live performance. The venue was full with frantic screams, almost suffocating most of the presents that felt uncomfortable with the chaotic noise. Allegedly the situation got worst when Beiber got up a platform, which directed him above the audience serving as a conduit to expand more decibels.

 Taking his daughter to see her idol, mom StaceyWilson Betts was one of those stressed victims intolerant to the screams. She now claims that since that concert she has been partially deaf and suffering from tinnitus disease. She decided to demand the artist and the concert promoter for 9.2 millions.

I do not think this lawsuit will benefit Wilson. Who can control thousands of frantic fans extremely excited because they are seeing their favorite artist? In the other hand, who can blame her? I do understand she feels the artist is responsible, but truly, fans’ screams are something that nobody can control during a concert.

Another lawsuit took place between Latin actress, singer and businesswoman JenniferLopez and her former driver Hakob Manoukian. She accused him from extortion after allegedly he threatened her of divulging personal information and secrets about the artist. The extortion came along after apparently Lopez and her manager breaking the deal without justification and for not paying overtime.

Many times these discrepancies arise because of the lack of communication and honesty. Eventually, Lopez and her manager failed for not meeting their part of the contract. But it was beyond from human to be extorting with personal information. So, in general for me it was a good decision that Lopez decided to demand him.

Recently the Puerto Rican producer Roberto Morgalo sued the Panamanian singer Ruben Blades for defamation. Morgalo accuses Blades for declaring defamatory accusations and attacks against the producer. To this lawsuit Blades countersuit Morgalo, where the Federal Courts of Appeals said that the “federal judge for the District of Puerto Rico abuse its discretion in dismissing the defamation lawsuit against the singer Ruben Blades”. This means that the original demand returns to the Federal Court in Puerto Rico.

It is really sad seen such behavior between professionals in the entertainment industry. I think it was a good thing that the lawsuit returned to the Federal Court. I am more than sure that the whole case will now be investigated in more detail. 

Big Time Rush in Puerto Rico

American pop band Big Time Rush will delight their Puerto Rican fans this Sunday, August 26, 2012 at the Coliseum of Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot. The show is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. These guys are also the stars of a Nickelodeon music and comedy TV series launched in 2009. Their visit to the island is part of their summer tour called Big Time Summer Tour, where they are visiting more than 50 cities through out United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The tour began July 5, 2012.

The band was created in Los Angles, California (in 2009 too). It consists of four members: Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Logan Henderson and Carlos Pena Jr. Kendall is consider the leader with his great dance moves, while keeping the unity within the band. James is consider the “ladies’ man”, a guy full of confidence and good looking. Logan is the smart brain of the group, always known for solving the guys’ problems. Carlos is the clown and fight-picker of the group, but has a great heart. Each personality combines to create a perfect balance for the group. This combination is one of the factors that have ensured their success.

Representing music genres like Pop, R&B, Rock, and Dance they have sold more than 900,000 digital singles. These singles include songs like "Love Me Love Me", "Show Me", "Show Me", "Cover Girl", "Invisible", "Music Sounds Better With U". Some of their singles have even top Billboard charts, especially launching their first album in 2010 called BTR. Their second album called Elevate was launched in 2011.  

Puerto Rican event promoter Jose Dueño has taken the initiative of bringing these guys to Caribbean territories, visiting our island. With more than 20 years of experience in the Puerto Rican event industry, Dueño has brought both national and international artists and shows to the island, including the famous Cirque Du Soleil: Dralion (present in the Coliseum past October 2011).  Big Time Rush ticket selling started March 10 and ticket prices range from $45.00 to $95.00. 

Waldo Diaz Group

Artist management is a popular practice within the entertainment industry. Every artist needs a professional in such field to take care of his or hers businesses, career and finance. Here in Puerto Rico such career is peaking up as new artists are rising and choosing the path of entertainment as their professional career.

Waldo Diaz

An important and prominent Puerto Rican artist manager and communication specialist is Waldo Diaz. The complete name of his entertainment company is Waldo Diaz Group (WD Group). Interesting about his services is that his company includes all aspects of integrated communication strategies, like:

·      PR consulting

·      Marketing Plan and Strategies,

·      Press Coordination (Media Conferences and Tours)

·      Event Planning

·      Promotional Campaigns

·      Social Media Design, Creation and Management

·      Photo-shoot Coordination

·      Image Consulting

·      Crisis Management

These integrated communication strategies are a division within Waldo’s company. This division is called Origami Creative Boutique and has worked with clients like the Puerto Rican Muscular Dystrophy Association, Dorito, Luis Antonio (Puerto Rican fashion designer), Pan American Grain Company, the Puerto Rican Association for Down Syndrome, Presidente Dominican beer, and Victoria Secret.  

The other division of WD Group is Waldo Diaz Entertainment. This division specializes in the image, Public Relations and talent management of artists. As a talent manager, he is charge of the careers of Latin superstars Dyland & Lenny, Angel & Khriz, Ivy Queen, Fico, Jorge Alberti, Karla Monroig, Melissa Marty, Monica Pastrana, N’Klabe, Rebecca Pla, Wida Lopez, and Sonya Cortes. Interesting about his career is that Waldo has not only focused in music artist and singers, but in models, reports and MC’s careers as well, including the fashion designer Alesi Diaz, which is another of Waldo’s past clients.

What has made Waldo so successful is creating a complete communication-industry company. He has joined integrated communication services with talent management to offer artists and companies a complete and reinforced communication service. This combination has taken Waldo’s company to the top of the Puerto Rican entertainment industry. 
Even more, he also has a TV program transmitted in Punto2 of Telemundo, called "Here is Waldo". The program is a reality show where he presents what is going on inside his company and how he manages his career as a PR and talent manager. 

Carlos Javier Milanes: 360 Group & Entertainment to the world!

Young producer Carlos Javier Milanes has dedicated for the past 5 years into improving the Puerto Rican entertainment industry radically. Being 22 years old, he is already the founder and CEO of 360 Group & Entertainment, a Puerto Rican entertainment company dedicated to the TV production and talent management. Carlos has also stood up as a media representative, MC, and reporter for different type of special events.

During his bachelor’s degree, he was the executive producer of two student television programs: “360, Un cambio Radical” & “Nueva Cepa”. Nowadays under the umbrella of his company, his has produced the new reality TV series “Quiero Ser Un Host” (I want to be a host), where the life of 6 recently graduates in Communications is seen as they struggle to achieve their dream of becoming hosts and MC’s. The program was launched May 14 at 10:00 p.m. in the Telemundo channel. Besides his collaboration to the Puerto Rican TV industry, Carlos and his company also manages the recently launched urban musical group G-ONE, composed by former dancers of other Puerto Rican urban music artists.

Being the company’s owner, artists’ manager, part of the cast and executive producer of his own reality TV show has not been an easy job for him. And here is where he practices negotiation tools everyday to find partners and sponsors willing to invest in each project to ensure their future and success. Negotiation is a normal and regular part to his business and projects.

So, to understand more about how negotiation is important to him and to his career as a professional producer, the following was asked:

Gloriana: When going to negotiation, how do you separate the people form past issues or problems?

Carlos: Since the moment that I seat to negotiate, the one sitting there is not Carlos Javier Milanes actually. He transforms into another man. I push a delete bottom to block all personal issues and feelings with that other party that could affect the negotiation. By these means, I can work and negotiate the most professional way possible.

Gloriana: How standard fairness and outside evidence helps you at the table of negotiation (objective criteria)?

Carlos: If there is something I’m good at is in knowing how my industry is functioning and its precedents. I always try to know everything, so if an opportunity is given where I have to change something from my offer, I will adapt to whatever the other party needs in order create more benefits to them. This is basically a marketing principal: create desires before the needs.

Gloriana: What does mutual benefits means to you in the negotiation process?

Carlos: When my turn comes along to talk and expose my case, I intent to point out everything in the less time possible. As long as the other part is asking me, I will start exalting them with surprises (basically leaving the best for the end). While answering, is when I come up comparing the situation with competitors, and exposing how the other part will be beneficiated with my offers. Knowing the completely behavior of my offers grants me the opportunity to adapt it to achieve mutual benefits.

Gloriana: What strategies have you adapted when positional bargaining comes along?

Carlos: Mostly, I appeal to the other party’s feelings. Still, I become stronger presenting the benefits they will receive by obtaining my offers. I let them see that otherwise, the party can incur in less cost-effective alternatives.

Gloriana: What has been the biggest challenge when negotiating?

Carlos: To achieve that the parties see me as a professional adult, and not judge me because of my age.

    

Young professionals as Carlos have demonstrated that there is no exact age when there is hunger for dreaming and success. Clearly his negotiation skills has helped him achieve many goals at such a young age. He should be considered a role model.