Cirocco Jones-Music Industry Mogul and Author

 1. Please provide a brief history of your contribution to the music industry/business?

Well, I’ve been doing music for a very long time (since the late 80s – 90s).  Like so many others, I started out as a musician, and gradually moved into being a songwriter, producer and engineer.  I’ve done everything from being signed as a recording artist at Geffen Records, to being a staff songwriter at Hush/Orpheus Productions. I’ve done A&R consulting for Motown Records and small indie labels, and I currently work A&R and do consulting for a company called Oceanic Tradewinds.  I am also known for being the author of a book called The Music Powers That Be To Succeed in the Music Industry.  The ‘Music Powers’ book is probably my main contribution to the industry.

2. You are an amazingly talented producer, engineer, and accomplished musician. Which instruments do you play?

1^st of all – thank you!  I am primarily a guitar player first.  I have worked live gigs as a bass player and done many studio sessions on keys, but my main instrument is guitar.

3. I know you have worked with some of the greatest in the business, but what do you consider your highest achievement? 

I think my highest achievement has been to help other music people, producers and artists that have gone on to do great things in the industry.  I believe that I have had a positive influence showing other talented people what was possible in the studio; and what being creative, excellent and innovative is about.  I’ve always been told that I am a natural teacher, and that’s cool with me. Maybe that’s why I was put here – to help, teach, and guide others. Some of the people I remember coming around were Alvin Speights, Dallas Austin, Roy Murray, Victor Alexander, DJ Toomp, David Ryan Harris, and many others.  All of these guys have gone on to do great things in the music industry.

4. Being the author of The Music Powers That Be To Succeed in the Music Industry,what was your motivation?

Honestly – I think the biggest motivator was that the book was like a healing for me.  When I was younger, I had no clue of how things worked in the industry as far as the business, and I signed into some pretty bad deals in my early years.  But, as I learned more and more, I started educating myself about the music business part of it.  So, doing the book was like therapy for me – it was a way for me to release a lot built up anxiety from years of both frustration and achievements. These kids really need to know this information because this industry can be really ugly if you don’t know or understand things.

5. You offer so much "game" in the book, when will the next edition be ready mass consumption?

The majority of the new 2^nd Edition book is in the editing stage, but will be ready soon. There’s a lot of new content that has been updated; it’s a different “game” out there now, so you have to define what success really means to you.  There are so many new things – 360 deals, social media, YouTube, etc. It’s about more than selling music – it’s about selling a brand too. You have to think beyond selling a CD or music download. Plus, deals are different; the numbers are different – the money has changed; it’s a different landscape, but some of the fundamental things and how they work are the same; like concerts and touring, people will still come out to a live show. The thing that may be different is that instead of just the artist, promoter, agent, and management breaking bread…now the label may have its hand out for a piece of that revenue stream.

But back to your question, and to answer it – the goal is to have the new 2^nd Edition paperback available for sale at Musicpowers.com by the end of March 2012. Then, the book will be available to most bookstores, retail and e-readers expectantly by late April 2012.

6. Per our phone conversation and in today's status quo, you believe there is still money to be made in the music business; can you explain?

Yes, there’s still money.  People are still going to pay money to be entertained.  History has shown us, whether through a recession or unemployment, people still want to find a way to escape through entertainment.  People still pay good money to go to a concert. And if you have an act that is able to sell merchandise, then that’s another revenue stream.  If you have a great artist with great songs, and they have a fan base, then that act can make money.  I recently consulted on a project for a new artist Ryan Beatty. He just finished his first single, and then simply by announcing to his fans on Twitter and Facebook that his song was now on iTunes, he was able to skyrocket to #56 on the iTunes Pop Charts in less than 24 hrs.  This was done without any radio airplay, no video, and no big-dollar marketing efforts, etc.  And his merchandise sells out at every show he does. So yes, there’s definitely still money to be made.

7. What piece of advice would you give a new artist looking to enter our industry?

I give the same advice to all new artists I come in contact with – Keep God first.

I know that’s not the answer most people expect to hear, but it's what I believe will keep you on the right path.

This is a tough business.  It’s a big business…bigger than you.  You have to be prepared and very good at whatever you do.  It usually takes a lot of sacrifice and discipline to run this race.  So if you have an opportunity to really get something great going with your career, then don’t sleep on your opportunity – Push yourself. But, the advice I give to artists more than anything else I say is to “keep God first”.  Everything else will work out.

8. Your take on technology and the effects of piracy?

I’m pretty much like everyone else. Digital technology has made it easier to get media distributed all over the world.  It has made it possible to collaborate with talent all over the world… that is cool.  But, because of the digital technology being so readily available online, or so easy to make a digital copy of just about anything, it has become impossible to stop the piracy of music, movies, and games.

9. Where is the industry headed in the next five years?

That’s a great question (smiling).

I think you will see more and more TV shows getting involved with the music industry. “American Idol”, “X-Factor”, “The Voice”, etc are all vehicles to launch music careers – record deals, touring, major exposure, management, etc. etc.

It’s hard say what the future is going to bring simply because we don’t know the new technology that is coming.  Who knows?  Maybe it’s an animated moving hologram movie feature that will become the new media to get a music placement on (laughing). It’s definitely a “Brave New World”.  But, one thing that will probably stay the same; people will still love great music, great songs, and great performances. 

C. Cirocco Jones – A&R, Consultant, Producer, Author

“The Music Powers That Be…To Succeed In The Music Industry”

www.Musicpowers.com