The Rap Business
Music Biz Structure Record Labels – Master Recording Copyright Distributors Publishing – Lyrics / Music Compositional Copyrights Retail Management / A&R Synergy aka cross market promotion
OST Original Soundtrack Cross market promotion aka Synergy – A form of advertising Synergy is: – The whole is greater than the sum – A product is sold in various industries Monetize music recording copyrights and publishing rights Some pre-existing songs sell because of soundtrack
Big Three, $16.6B Global Universal Music Group: 30.15% – Def Jam, Bad Boy, Shady, Aftermath, GOOD, Cash Money Sony Music Entertainment: 29.93% Warner Music Group: 18.4% EMI: 10.1% (acquired by UMG Sept. 2012) Indies: 10% (most indies are distributed by majors) Majors control at least 80% of music sold in US (globally it's 70%); about 95% distribution All majors have indie distributors: ADA (Warner), RED (Sony), Caroline (EMI/UMG) Indie/Major= a distribution difference not ownership
Krush GrooveKrush Groove (1985) Dir. Michael Schultz (Car Wash) Based loosely on the career of Russell Simmons and Def Jam; story of the independent label Features: movie revolves around performances – Rick Rubin, Beastie Boys, Fat Boys, Kurtis Blow, Sheila E, Run-DMC, and LL Cool J Warner Bros. exercised creative control Importance of soundtrack in marketing/monetizing Quasi-musical; meta film
Disco Fever Where Krush Groove scenes were shot An original South Bronx club, where GM Flash got his first club gig Run by Sal Abbatiello, who plays himself in film
Rick Rubin Music producer or “reducer”, rap/rock fusion, $400M net worth Current Co-President of Columbia Records Rap as Black Punk Music Founded Def Jam Records in 1981 in high school; make art not $, make music as a fan First rap record: “It's Yours” w/ DJ Jazzy Jay and T La Rock“It's Yours” Michael Holman connection
Russell Simmons Rush Communications, Inc, $325M net worth Began a club promoter and artist manager Kurtis Blow's manager, “The Breaks” first RIAA certified gold song DJ Run of Run-DMC Considered rap teen music not black music
Def Jam Logo
Run-DMC Not on Def Jam, but associated through Rush 1 st gold rap album, 1 st platinum rap album, 1 st multi-platinum rap album Raw, street sound and style Changed hip hop fashion style from the disco style Highlight the relationship between MC/DJ “Rock Box” (1984), first rap music video on MTV “Rock Box” Biopic on the way
“My Adidas” Originally an ode to the shoes, brand and the b-boy culture Got a $1 million dollar endorsement; first ever for rap/hip hop
“Walk this Way”“Walk this Way” (1986) Based on Aerosmith's 1976 song Music video deals w/ the separation of rock and rap and other divides – “King of Rock” “King of Rock”