“ Girls, we run the world!”* ~Women Entrepreneurs in Business and the Entertainment Industry

When one thinks of the entertainment industry and the powerhouses that control it, you realize that historically it's been a man’s world. Tom Corson - President of RCA Records Group,  Evan Lamberg - President of Universal Music Group , Doug Morris - CEO of Sony Music Entertainment 

Jeff Robinov - President Warner Bros Pictures… and the list goes on and on. Well, watch out boys, women are slowly but surely making their way into power seats within the industry. We women do things a little differently though, for us its all about taking something small and nurturing it, protecting it, and fostering relationships until it grows into something huge.

The shift for  women entrepreneurs and Business

“An American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses report found that between 1997 and 2011, the number of businesses in the U.S. increased by 34%, but the number of women-owned firms increased by 50%.” says Nellie Akalp in her article on mashable.com  entitled, “Why Women Make Excellent Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age”  With our advanced interpersonal skills, natural inclination to collaborate, and a penchant for thinking through a myriad of possibilities before heading down a particular course, women make ideal entrepreneurs.

Women are more than pretty faces

Oftentimes within the industry women are seen as talent only - models, actresses, dancers, singers… but what happens behind the scenes? We do it all now as producers, writers, directors, songwriters, A&R reps , Marketing and Brand strategists, artistic directors, and we love to watch something grow from the ground up as big do-it-yourselfers.

 Ali Brown, a mentor for female  entrepreneurs is a strong beliver in the power of women and their potential for success. She started as an ad girl in New York City who saw problems that needed to be solved within her company but had no one to listen to her concerns. After a tough decision to quit her job she took all the marketing skills she had gained and turned into the “Ezinequeen”. No longer broke and unemployed , she is now a  millionaire. Women are ultimately problem solvers; we see a situation or an item for more than what it is. We see it’s hidden potential.

So for all of you asking, what do I do? How do I get started?

* Take a leap of faith.

*Learn all you can about subjects that you are passionate about, and start making things happen.

*Don’t take no for an answer, because there are a lot of people who will say that you can’t do something.

Realize that one of the best parts of being a woman is that we don’t need the recognition of being big on our own. We work together as a group to change the world.

* Quote taken from "Run the World ( Girls)" recorded by Beyonce Knowles for Columbia Records

SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS! -3 ways small businesses, independent musicians, & entertainers can create a fan base through digital marketing, social media, & word-of-mouth

          Regardless of your specialty within the Entertainment Industry, the only way to be successful is if someone knows who you are and what you do. From small business owners , to party promoters  , to musicians …. you may create great products or services, but if no one knows about it, they will wind up gathering dust on a shelf somewhere. You may be the only one who RSVPs to your party, or sadly, the only person who will be listening to your music is your mother. So now what? How do we get things moving?

#1 Identify your target audience and broaden it with niche marketing

          You have got to get the word out. People love to support businesses, independent music and people that they believe in. Having a loyal and broad fan base is essential. No matter what your business, it is necessary to aim your marketing to a specific group of people who would have a natural interest in you work. This is your target audience.

           A prime example is with the group Turquoise Jeep.They gear their marketing, merchandise, and music to males ages 15-35 based on a void that they saw in the industry. They showcase their work on Youtube (a site most frequented by males in this age range), and they perform at music festivals such as FunFunFun Fest and South by Southwest .  Their merchandise is the college guys basic uniform — a t-shirt, and they sing and rap about subjects that are most important to that group in a comedic manner. They are also a bit controversial, which keeps fans talking. Although their music can appeal to a wide range of audiences, they have chosen this group as their main focus.

#2 Create a fan base by exposing your product to a receptive crowd online 

          Facebook, Twitter and your website  are great ways to keep your current customers informed about your brand, but make sure you keep all of these platforms updated and interactive. If people tweet about your product, share links on Facebook, and traffic is sent to your updated website as it appears higher in Google rankings, you are sure to gain more support.

          However, there is more to sharing music on the web than Facebook. Although a very valuable resource, this will only put your music in front of people you know, or who are already familiar with your music. To attract a new audience, give people a free sample of your music on great streaming websites like Spotify. Have your music included in the line up on Pandora. Pandora is such a  great resource since it selects music for the listener’s station based on similarities in musical characteristics and will place your music in front of someone who is open to something new. And certainly don’t forget about Reverbnation, which provides you with all the tools needed to promote , sell and share your music, tour dates, and merchandise alone – or in conjunction with social media sites like Facebook.

#3  Get personal

“ People already know about themselves, they want to know about you…. Just being a human, I think that is what is missing in music today, a lot of artists are… they are trying so hard to be something they’re not… and that’s what I am bringing back [humanity]”~Christian Monroe 

Meet Christian Monroe

          People want to know your story, they want to know how you got to where you are today. Whether you sold t-shirts out of the trunk of your car and turned that into a million dollar business like Johnny Cupcakes , or had the good fortune to be born into a musical family and then discovered by Clive Davis like Whitney Houston, to a pharmacist taking syrup, 125 years ago, and turning it into a drink with  household name like Coca-Cola. People want to connect with you, your past, your product, and thus will support your future.