Trending Music Technology

If you’ve been following me here on my blog, you’d remember that I’m a Full Sail University student.  My major is Entertainment Business.  This degree sets me up to work in several different professional entertainment fields like management, event planning, and artistry.  I choose to focus on the music side of things.  I would like to work in behind the scenes in management, event planning, and the creative side of songwriting.  All of these encompass my desire to help an artist develop to a budding star.

There are also some new trends in technology happening in the music industry today that I’d like to shed focus.  Some of these ways I’m just learning about myself.  The digital music era is upon us and to remain current we as entertainment graduates need to educate ourselves.

The first savvy technology trend most of us use now, which is being able to download music to our several devices.  But there’s this thing called icloud by Apple that allows you to link downloads together on your Apple devices.  This is probably what makes me love Apple.  Since I spend so much money on downloading music from itunes, I would really be upset if I couldn’t hear the same music between my iPad, iPhone, and MacBook Pro.  So giving customers convenience is really the drive for this product.

Speaking of the iPad, we have more and more apps that do everything you can think, even music production.  Owning the iPad for the last year, I have discovered various music production software apps that you can download like Logic, Garageband, and my latest find, impc.  The impc is a smaller version of the ‘motherboard’ MPC Studio.  Apps like this give people like me who may be technology challenged and easier way to make some incredible music.  It’s easy to use, portable and I make music right from my bedroom.  How convenient is that? 

Needless to say, there is so much more technology that we’ll keep discovering in this ever-changing business.  My advice is to try and stay current as much as possible by subscribing to the newsletters of reputable companies that sell these devices.  Good luck!

Alternative Funding For Your Dreams

Since I’ve been working on my business plan I’ve been working extremely hard on the intricate details needed to complete a business plan.  The bottom line is in all of our understanding, expertise, fire, and desire we still need funding for our ultimate dreams. 

Lets take a look at two funding resources from websites Association for Enterprise Opportunity and Opportunity Finance Network.  Both are alternative resources for funding for future entrepreneurs like myself, and my classmates at Full Sail University.

Association for Enterprise Opportunity and Opportunity Finance Network strives to develop more microbusiness around the U.S. while developing entrepreneur with the skills to start a business, fund a project, or gain a loan.  AEO focuses on the low-income and low-wealth as well.  Ultimately, both companies help those in need with a plan to get the resources that will help them be successful. The focus is being able to lend money to business that will service our underserved communities. OFN or Opportunity Finance Network has several different types of loans.  Two of them stuck out to me and that was the Participation Loan where the requirement has to benefit low-income and low-wealth communities.  Places like supermarkets, multi-family housing, and charter schools would be eligible.  The Health Financing loan allows you to create a business where healthy foods are not readily available.

For those of you contemplating becoming an entrepreneur, there was an interesting fact on AEO’s website that there are an average 85%microbusinesses across the U.S.  I checked out my state of Pennsylvania and it says as an African-American without owning a business my median net worth is $10,000, but as a business owner my net worth is $77,000.  So what do I have to lose…lol  I definitely have some work to do. AEO also offers financing and training for business owners and financial planners. 

The advantage is that there is money out there and for a good cause.  If you can get past the work that is required to get that funding, then I totally take my hat off to you.  I have very close friends who just opened a charter school in New Jersey and it was one of the most trying experiences they’ve ever had, but well worth it.  Now that they’re open they see the fruit of their labor.

Some of the disadvantages to this type of funding are that it has to benefit the low-income or low-wealth community.  Unfortunately, from what I’ve seen in my low-income community is that once someone tries to do something nice in this area.  The community doesn’t appreciate it and/or deface or rob the business.  This is not encouraging. But someone has to do it and has been doing it for years. So if that’s you, Go Get It in 2013.  Good Luck!