Corey Graham 2.0N Biz Blog

This Blog has been Moved!!!

corey — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:25:25 -0200

This blog is now hosted at www.coreykgraham.me/bizblog - As you can expect I am ever evolving and when its time to move its time to move.

Now if you are reading this message in an RSS Reader it would mean that you are not subscribed to my feedburner feed. This means that when I change feeds you would not have a seamless transition and you will have to subscribe to - http://feeds2.feedburner.com/coreykgraham.

Subscribe to my feedburner feed! It helps me to know who is reading which is certainly a motivation to keep writing.

This move is going to be a pretty silent one, no big splash.

Subscribe in a reader

Podcast : Music 2.0 And The Caribbean (Interview with Simone Harris)

corey — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:29:20 -0200

My first interview turns about to be with young aspiring Music Executive Simone Harris. A Jamaican by birth Simone now lives in Miami where she is pursuing her passion for the music business.
Simone and I discuss the evolution going on in the music industry and how it relates to the Caribbean.

Who Is Simone Harris?
At 26, former LaCadco dancer turned Entertainment Business Consultant, Simone Harris is on her way to completing her 2nd masters degree in Music Business at Florida Atlantic University. She is the first Jamaican to be registered in the program and the only female. Read More on Simone http://kingston21.wordpress.com/about/

LISTEN HERE -

CLick here to download http://www.mypodcast.com/fsaudio/coreykgraham_20090228_0959-389869.mp3

Music 2.0 By A Jamaican Dancer Turned Entertainment Business Consultant (Guest Post)

corey — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 10:36:42 -0200

This is actually my very first guest post. Its time for me to build my network! Also how fitting this post should be about something that is 2.0! It was actually written by Simone Harris a dancer turned Entertainment Business Consultant.

Yup! She has the 6 pack the prove it! Well at least had the 6 pack. I don't know the current state of affairs... lol
I actually read it in a facebook note and asked her to allow me to use it on my blog. Next thing I know I have my first guest post and contributor to my blog...funny how things happen in life. I must say that Simone is very passionate and driven. She is very much searching for ways to help the Caribbean music industry flourish. She certainly doesn't know when her focus and passion can inspire others to carry on.
Read more about Simone Harris here - http://kingston21.wordpress.com/about/

Here is her piecce...

Music 2.0 By A Jamaican Dancer Turned Entertainment Business Consultant (Guest Post)

On Feb 5th, I entered the Globe Lobby of the Los Angeles Times Building in downtown Los Angeles as the only Caribbean representative at the 2nd annual EconMusic Conference, organized by UK based ContentNext Media. This year’s conference focused on the key strategic issues surrounding the economics of the digital music industry.

By the end of the first panel discussion which featured Courtney Holt (President, Myspace Music), David Ring (EVP, eLabs, Universal Music Group), Cory Ondrejka (SVP, Digital Strategy, EMI Music), Michael Spiegelman (Head of Yahoo! Music) and Chris Stephenson (GM, Global Marketing, Entertainment Business, Microsoft) I had to wonder whether Jamaica and by extension the Caribbean region was ready for the technologically driven strategies that industry players are implementing in order to remain competitive in the global music industry.

MUSIC 2.0?

Technology and music are much more intertwined than ever before and to become or remain competitive in the marketplace, ALL industry players MUST experiment with new technologies, new business models, and take on partnerships with providers of music hardware and software in order to satisfy the call for “ubiquity of music.”

The term “Music 2.0” (coined by Gerd Leonhard) correctly describes the nature of today’s music business, driven by digital, web-based strategies that allow consumers to access, acquire and interact with music in ways not previously available.

NEW BUSINESS MODELS

The Music 2.0 landscape has acted as a category 5 hurricane in the music business because it has allowed for the introduction of new players such as Live Nation (the largest booking agency for live shows in the world) and thousands of independent labels utilizing digital distribution strategies and forcing major labels to revisit their outdated business models.

David Ring from Universal Music Group and EMI executive Cory Ondrejka discussed the relevance of any single business model that could satisfy the needs of artists, labels, publishers and consumer. But the discussion proved that even the members of the “Big 4” (Sony, UMG, WMG and EMI) have no exact answer for a “best business model” and they are unable to predict with any level of certainty what type of model would stabilize the industry and technology in which form would rule supreme.

Major labels at this point have simply preferred to take on a slight experimental approach (allowing themselves just enough wiggle room to hold on to their massive 75% dominance in the music industry). Their only suggestion was that any player in the music industry must try to ADAPT to the dynamic changes.

Are players in the Caribbean ready to adapt? Or will we simply follow the lead of foreign entities and try to make their strategies work in our region and for our music? This may be much more than detrimental than we think.

Fred Croshal founder and CEO of Croshal Entertainment Group (www.croshalgroup.com) and former executive at SonyBMG and Maverick Music was a refreshing addition to the conference introducing his alternative business model, what he calls, the VIRTUAL RECORD LABEL. According to Croshal, who has been involved with the sale of over 100 million albums over his 30 year span in the music business “…the structure of the label gives the artist 100% ownership of their masters and allows for faster reaction time, lower costs and better results for the artist.” Croshal’s label provides the same services an artist would receive at a major label: sales, marketing, song placement, internet, publicity, budget management but there are no costly overheads to recoup. Could this model be the way of the future?

Croshal represents American Idol winner Rubben Studdard, RnB star Yamin Elliot, Jupiter Rising, Jackson Browne and numerous other hugely successful American acts.

Will Jamaican artists continue to look to the “Big 4” for deals when most major acts like Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jay Z, Nickelback, and Bruce Springsteen are moving away from them driven by a desire to actually “own” their music?

MYSPACE MUSIC AHEAD OF THE GAME

Courtney Holt, newly appointed President of Myspace Music and former EVP of Digital Music & Media at MTV Networks, delved into developments at the new arm from Myspace. Privately funded and driven by advertising revenue, and sponsorship, Myspace Music is an expansion of the different ways that members of the Myspace community can interact with artists and discover new music. They have come out ahead of the pack in terms of exploiting the social networking model to expand the reach and popularity of an artist and their music.

Myspace Music has several Jamaican artists listed under their Reggae category but so far none have been a featured artist or offered a deal for “secret shows” such as those received by 23-year-old British artist, Lilly Allen (3 secret shows on 3 continents). According to Holt, these “secret shows” have driven record sales for these artists in the hundreds of thousands. MySpace Music launched the Secret Shows franchise in January 2006 and has since hosted such acts as Rilo Kiley, Moby, Maroon 5, the Killers, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tenacious D, Ice Cube, James Blunt and Neil Diamond in cities around the world.

MOBILE MUSIC DEVELOPMENTS

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

Even before XM and Sirius radio entered the market, several companies such as Yahoo! Music and Rhapsody had experimented with subscription offers for music consumers. All that have trekked this road have later on abandoned the idea. When I pressed Chris Stephenson from Microsoft about the need for change in consumer perception as it relates to music as a product, he agreed that there is a need to shift consumer perception from “ownership of music” to “access to music.”

If consumers continue to view music as a product to be physically owned, there will always be resistance to paying a monthly service charge to access music.

TICKETING

In Japan today, music lovers are able to purchase concert tickets directly from their mobile phones. I directed this question to members of the Mobile Music panel: Jeff Annison (Founder & CEO, Underground Labs), Daniel Cohen (VP, Business Development, Dada Entertainment) and Tom Conrad (CTO, Pandora) who all agreed that very soon mobile phone companies in the US will be following suit to possibly partner with event promoters or ticketing agencies such as TicketMaster and Live Nation, as this is a viable option in the market of bringing artists closer to their fanbase.

Jamaica has Island Stubs (www.islandstubs.com) is this a viable option for us as well? Have their executives started negotiations with entities in the mobile arena to possibly provide such a service?

THE DEATH OF THE CD

Currently, Microsoft is heading into a deal with BestBuy to offer preloaded ZUNES based on music that consumers like. Do we foresee any of these ZUNES being preloaded with Reggae/Jamaican/Caribbean music?

At this point the deal is being inked between Microsoft and the major labels, with Universal being a big fan of the idea. This move is a reflection of an effort on the part of record labels to utilize “recommendation technology” and “play catch up” to what other entities like Amazon and iTunes have been doing for years to better understand the needs of consumers. In addition to the massive 45% decline in CD sales since 2000, this ZUNE agreement signals the ever-nearing “death of the CD.”

Is VP Records and local acts who are still thinking of “pressing a CD” ready for this move? What plans does Record Plaza, Music Mart, Derek Harriott, CD Centre, Music Fair, and others have in store for Jamaican music consumers when the CD is out of the picture?

During the conference there was mention of many who stand to benefit from this new dynamism and the falling of old business models but is the Caribbean region technologically ready?

By the end of all the presentations I left the LA Times Building feeling that without the necessary technological infrastructure Jamaica and the Caribbean will most definitely be left behind in the shift to MUSIC 2.0.

Simone Harris BSc, MBA, MS in Music Business
Read more about Simone Harris here - http://kingston21.wordpress.com/about/

Enhanced Genius and Success with Momentum - A Theory

corey — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:30:25 -0200

In the last few months I have come to truly appreciate the priceless value of momentum to any organization or movement.

The Law of Momentum

The total momentum of any group of objects remains the same unless an external force acts on the objects.

In the real world there are always external forces acting on an organization, positive forces and negative forces.
There are some organizations which have a lot more positive forces acting on them than the negative forces. These organizations seem to be always be blazing a trail, making all the right decisions with many of their "risky moves" paying off. What did you think when you heard Apple was going to build a cell phone?
Of course there is the opposite of this where the negative forces far outweigh the positive. These organizations seem to never be able to get it together. No matter which opportunities come their way.

We always look at the organizations that are blazing a trail and chalk it up to simply a stroke of luck...
"Oh its their time shine now"
"They just keep getting lucky"

"They have a true mastermind planning their strategy"

"They called in CG 2.0 to read their palms ... he ended up giving them all blackberries which made the world of difference their organization and now Corey has earned well over $11 Million from that key insight"

Alrite I think you get the point I was getting a bit carried away there...

My Point - The Value Of Momentum

I believe that we don't always take the time to appreciate how momentum is really a key part of the success mix and getting "lucky"

Often with our heads down in the play book strategizing, we miss the obvious strategy or insights which surface from within the organization.

Many of us, deep down inside believe that to build an organization that blazes the trail it takes some special brand of "magic" that just happens once you get a few wins under your belt.

When we observe other organizations who are moving at break neck paste to the next level and think hmmm, there must be some great genius behind this with an almost flawless and well orchestrated plan.

Hmmmm, I could be wrong, but at least let me make you think!
Maybe, just maybe its less about genius and more about momentum. The mystic powers of momentum can cause a heightened sense of creativity, insight, inspiration and genius among the people in the organization.

Most of us watch sports or at least heard the stories many teams seem to keep stepping it up to the next level each time they touch the field/court. Could it be heightened senses caused by all the momentum the team is generating? Can an average player become one of the best players within and organization the right momentum?

Think about that!

I know what you are thinking how do i create this shift in momentum. Well there are many different ways to create a shift momentum. Always remember the genius comes from the crowd of people who are labelled management, team members and fans. The leaders facilitates the momentum. Momentum facilitates genius. Genius takes you wherever you need to go.
Momentum Brings out the best in people

Close your eyes imagine what your organization would be like if it had the momentum of a wrecking ball. Alllll that potential energy you have now in "full swing".

Let me leave you with one basic rule to get things into "full swing" -

Never turn your face away from those whose eyes are fixed on your vision. Karen L Richardson

CG 2.0 Message For 2009

corey — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:19:42 -0200

I must write this message. Yesterday made it officially 1 year since I have added 2.0 onto my name. Today, 1 year later I feel completely humbled but the way it has spread. I could have never imagined a year ago that I could be in this position today.

Ironically, I encountered a bit of a set back on Jan 1. I had a terrible cold! Yes believe it or not. Badd cold and I was in bed all day. I could do nothing. Imagine what that did for my motivation! Was 2.0 meant to be?

Everything Is a Matter Of Perspective

I remember thinking that one day will not let me loose ground for the next 364 days. And then I actually appreciated the cold. I know I was going to encounter setbacks over 2008 and I was glad I was already given the opportunity to get the first one out of the way.

New Years Resolutions

Believe it or not Corey Graham 2.0 really came out of my New Years Resolutions. Corey Graham 2.0 is really like a code name. My New Years Resolutions were focused taking my entertainment career to another level and 2.0 became to code name that would remind me to stay on track. So when someone called me 2.0. I would be reminded to be sure to make it work.

People often say New Years Resolutions don't work. I actually think they do. All you have to do is keep them in focus all year round. Make sure you are constantly focusing your time, energy and money on accomplishing them. And where possible actually tweak them a little bit.

Life Is Messy

Now we always hear, all you have to do is focus. Let me make sure you understand ... focus is about being thankful when you get a cold on January 1. Focus is about finding motivation in a the desert of broken dreams. There are going to be several days when things feel fuzzy and you are questioning everything.

Too big

Its scary ... you know what you want to do, but you are in disbelief. "I can't do that its too big". Just be confident. In 2008 the world watched a USA elect its first Black President. Everyone seemed to be in a bit of disbelief. "It really happened in my lifetime" was on the tips of everyone's tongues. In 2009 too big is irrelavant.

Habits, Culture and the Power of People

We are human beings. We are creatures of habit. We are comfortable in doing what we are doing. Resolutions mean you need to change some habits. If you didn't know changing a habit can be a challenge. If you link pain to doing the right thing. You will never change.

Culture is something I have wondered about for a long time, to me when people have a certain culture everything just seems to work. e.g. A winning sports team. We see it over and over again when they just find a way the win. There is power in the people.

This Year

For this year CG 2.0 goes to N. N = Network. I will aim to actively included other persons and their dreams into my day to day existence. There is no fun doing it alone.

Corey Graham 2.0^N

^{www.CoreyKGraham.com}

The REAL Impact of Social Media

corey — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:46:14 -0200

There is a revolution taking place in the world right now. People are being empowered via web 2.0 technologie/social media. Its now easier to get your voice or music heard via blogs and social networks. Its not only about the voice, we are all now much more capable people. You can launch you own radio station within minutes!!!!!

I personally think the way we interact with each other is changing in a very fundamental way and we are not truly appreciating it. Web 2.0 technology - Social Media is a technology. Technology is merely a tool for us complete our various tasks.

Being social is really the big idea here. Facebook, myspace, linkedin etc. are just tools. They are tools which make it easier for us to accomplish our various tasks. Its easy to get caught up with the facts, how many users facebook has or how many blog posts you wrote last month. The core concept is connecting with people.

Its allowed me to be more connected with persons across the world. To connect with people who share similar passions. To share ideas with them. This has allowed me to understand myself and my environment better. I have expanded my thinking. Now I am a much more confident and motivated person.

What are you using social media to do in your life?

Corey Graham 2.0
www.coreykgraham.com

The Man Behind Facebook Speaks

corey — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:05:10 -0200

I just came across a video of Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook as he was interviewed by Ryan Carson at the Future of Web Apps conference.

I though Ryan did a very good job of interviewing Mark. This is the first time that I've heard Mark speak about his passion and ideas so openly. Mark shared some deep insights behind growing such an influencial company and communicated clearly what facebook is truly about. One thing you realise is that there is a strong sense of the vision and mission for facebook. I think that is very important to have everyone on the same page.
Mark explains makes is that people are getting increasingly more comfortable with sharing information and it essentially facebook's goal to facilitate this human need to share. Mark thinks it will lead to a better world where everyone can understand and appreciate each other more!

Yeah I went. Hmmm interesting when i heard it too...

Another point he made was that he ensured that facebook had a technical DNA. Basically, he ensured that most of the persons coming onto the facebook team had a technical background. He feels it allows them to make better decisions. WOW! ... I think that is a true gem right there.

Many of us can be found guilty of building up teams with people who do not fit our DNA!
Anyways enough of my rant.
Corey Graham 2.0 now presents to you another great man of our time - Mark Zuckerberg

Click here to watch video

People On Board The Big Dream

corey — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:55:35 -0200

I talked about spreading your ideas in a post last week. Here is another dimension to that ...

Sometimes we can get caught up in casting our big dream or vision to people who, sit there and listen, understand it and internalise it and everyone is excited by the big prize at the end. However these same people may actually take weeks, months or even years to commit to making that dream a success. This might take the form of getting a work colleagues on board with your new project, to making a deal with a strategic business partner.

CREATURES OF HABIT
First, you have to appreciate that human beings are people of habit and it takes alot of energy and willpower to stop and start a new habit and for many persons we only put in this effort when we HAVE TO.

When willpower and want is greater than the disappointments and pain endured along the way, a phenomenon occurs ... success. Corey Graham 2.0

So when you cast a dream of vision to persons you are asking a tremendous amount for them to jump on board and even if the full desire is there they might not really appreciate what it feels like to have this new habit. Starting a new habit makes people feel weird. Not everyone is like me ... just naturally weird, crazy or my own word - ATYPICAL. Lol, yes, yes I am an ATYPICAL guy.
Its important to be able to transpose this big dream into what I call a "habit program". This will make it easier for persons to create the habit. Let me be sure to state that creating a "habit program" is hard work and it often comes down to your personal discipline and your ability to retain focus.

WHAT IS A HABIT PROGRAM REALLY?

Team sports is a good example of something like this, where coaches essentially have the basis of a great habit program in place already. Its called PRACTICE. The coach now has the ability to plan a program and easily cultivate the right habit patterns in the players. Many times he does not share the big dream of vision with all the players until they have been praticing for sometime. He then connects all the little successes so far from practices to the big dream. The players are in a position to appreciate it alot more, because have tasted some success and they get a chance to experience first hand the success of sticking to the plan. This all shows up in the pre-season games and practice games it all comes together when everyone gets to see first hand what works and what doesn't work.
Think about it? What about the "habit program" your personal trainer has gotten you on?

Have you been transfering your dream into a "habit program"?

The Power Of Having a Vision

corey — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:36:25 -0200

I think that sometimes we can miss the most powerful thing that we can ever happen in our careers. I see many very talented young people who are at a stand still, because they can't decide which of their talents to focus on. Which one of their passions should they develop into a career? I think the same is also true for many businesses. The potential for growth is clearly apparent in several areas, however those businesses find themselves at a similar stand still!

Taking a step back and finding some big dream or vision can solves these problems. Once you have a great vision you will find that your mind will show you how you can make use of your talents to accomplish that vision. You will see how quickly that indecision disappears and is replaced by a decisive and powerful hunger to accomplish your vision. Believe it. I can tell you, I have experienced this first hand.

"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break through their bonds, your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents come alive, and you find yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be." – Patanjali

Never underestimate the power of a vision to transform the reality you are currently facing!

What is your great desire/purpose? Have you experienced this?

World Premiere Of Corey Graham 2.0 Logo

corey — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:33:30 -0200

And now the moment we have all been waiting for.... well sorry at least the moment I have been waiting for ....

The World Premiere Of The Corey Graham 2.0 Logo.

Jaryd has been building up quite a base for himself online. Check him out

http://www.behance.net/Jaryd540

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd/2819998183/

http://540i-marvelman.blogspot.com/

Join his group on facebook -540 nation

I caught up with Corey Graham 2.0 this morning to get a comment on this new logo -

.... Its finally done!!! after countless hours of sharing ideas and envisioning the scope for the future Corey Graham. I think it really does capture the thing that I believe is at my core and that is ideas. All my life I have been told I have the ideas and that is what this logo is about. I believe I am at a point in my life now where I need to have memories and dreams. I want my ideas to spread. That's why the light bulb, the universal symbol of an idea. And the waves to show my ideas spreading. I feel good about it. I am glad too that Jaryd - MarvelMan was able to work on it. I am most thankful to share it with the world on my birthday.....

P.S. I interview myself because I'm crazy like that. At least I don't pretend like in your local newspaper! lol. sssshhh that is secret. Public Relations 101.

Corey Graham 2.0