Donald Trump lists Jamaica as a 'Drug Haven', and Reggae Music Thrives as its Biggest Export

On August 8th, the Donald Trump administration listed Jamaica as a major drug producing nation. Even though this refers to the island's marijuana production, the island's reggae music continues to be its major export. Ever since the breakout of Bob Marley, the island has produced many great entertainers who continue to tour the world and make a very good income doing so.

The artists and musicians mostly eise from very humble and impoverished backgrounds as those who enter the drug trade but they choose a life of reggae music instead. Four notable reggae artists to mention from these inner city communities who enjoy a vast amount of success are Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Anthony B and Richie Stephens. All four artists are present on the hit reggae compilation cd Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica (Reloaded). The album debuted in August at #1 on the Amazon Best Seller reggae album chart and shot to #4 on the iTunes reggae album chart.

The album was released by the Contractor Music Group along with Amada Records& The DJ Grid USA. The album also includes Trinity Chris from the inner city streets of Toronto, Canada as well as new upcoming acts from the Jamaican streets such as Nature Ellis and Whitter the Legend.

Tropical House Cruises To Jamaica (Reloaded) Peaks at #4 on iTunes Reggae Charts

Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica, which was released by Jamaican producer Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards & The DJ Grid in January 2018, was highly successful.

It spent 19 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Reggae Chart, including four weeks in the number-one spot. The album, which was also submitted and accepted for Grammy consideration, did so well that Edwards has decided to do a ‘double take’. Last Thursday, he released Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica Reloaded, and having debuted at number one on the Amazon best-selling new albums chart, Edwards is hoping this compilation will be just as successful as the original.

Speaking with THE STAR about the project, Edwards revealed that though it bears a similar title, the new project is vastly different. He explained that with a touch of Afrobeat mixed in with roots-reggae music, the album will build on the brand established by its predecessor.

Read the full article on Hush Weekly Magazine.

Lauryn Hill, Black Uhuru, Sizzla and Bounty Killer dominate Amazon Reggae Charts

Ever since her rendition of Bob Marley's Turn your Lights Down Low, Lauryn Hill has been a darling of reggae fans worldwide. Recently her new reggae released song Perfect Match has hit #1 on the Amazon new release reggae singles chart distributed by Amada Records and marketed by the Contractor Music Group and the Dj Grid USA.

Bounty Killer

The song is a ‘semi-duet’ with reggae artist Kali Ranks. Amada Records and the Contractor Music Group also released the album Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica Reloaded which also shot to the top of the Amazon reggae charts as #1 Best Seller, #1 New Releases and #1 Reggae album in the Caribbean and Cuba. . The album features tracks from Jamaican reggae giants Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Black Uhuru, Anthony B, Kip Rich, The No-Maddz and Richie Stephens. The album also features hot new reggae sensations Nature Ellis and Whitter the Legend.

Black Uhuru

Amada Records and the Contractor Music Group are following up their hit project Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica which featured Ed Sheeran, Wyclef, Damian and Stephen Marley, Mojo Morgan from Morgan Heritage and many more. This album did 19 weeks on the Billboard reggae albums, compilation albums, and Year End top 10 chart and 4 weeks at #1.

Here's the Official Tracklist for 'Hip Hop Cruises To Jamaica' feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill, Sean Kingston, Quavo and C-Murder

On the heels of the success of the blockbuster reggae album, Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica, Contractor Music Group and Amada Records will release the follow up album Hip Hop Cruises to Jamaica. The maiden project Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica did 19 weeks on the Billboard reggae album charts and spent 4 weeks at number 1. The album featured Ed Sheeran, Wyclef Jean, Damian and Stephen Marley, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Chronixx, Sean Kingston, Safaree and several other reggae stalwarts.

Amada Records Receives #1 Billboard Plaque

The new hip hop project’s release date has not been provided and boasts another stellar lineup which include Quavo, Sean KIngston, Royce Da 5’9, Capleton, Lauryn Hill, Master P’s brother C-Murder, Lil Nate Dogg (Son of Nate Dogg), Inno Combs and others. There is also an Audiomack version of the album which includes bonus tracks from French Montana and Chris Brown.

Tiffany Gaines, entertainment executive of SSMG/UMG Distribution says she’s absolutely thrilled to work with Contractor Music Group and Amada Records to distribute the album Hip Hop Cruises to Jamaica. Her company represents over 4,000 artists and 39 sub-labels and she says she jumped at the opportunity when she saw the first project premier on Billboard, Pitchfork, MTV and MSN Entertainment. The digital downloads & physical copies of Hip Hop Cruises to Jamaica will be distributed by VIP Recordings / Amada Records out of Atlanta.

Variety - Photo Credit

Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards head of the Contractor Music Group based in Ocho Rios Jamaica says, “I am delighted to have them distribute this hip hop album because it allows us worldwide access to more outlets HMV, MTV, HULU and Barnes & Noble.”

Kevin Gates hasn't been behind bars since 2018, but that hasn't stopped him from returning to a prison to visit another rap star inmate.

July 8th, a photo of Gates and C-Murder was uploaded to the incarcerated rapper's Instagram account. In the photos, C-Murder meets with Gates, who covers his face with a stack of cash.

"REAL RECOGNIZE REAL. @iamkevingates came through and hollered at Cee. Nothing but respect for the homie Gates. A lot so call real left the homie hanging. You have to be real when you take time out your celebrity life to visit a homie in the pen. Salute @iamkevingates for the realest shit. #freecee #freeleelucus #freebigmarlo @freecornbread #freemac #tru4life #justice #tru #trudat #trumovement #freecmurder," C-Murder wrote in his caption.

C-Murder, who was born Corey Miller, is still behind bars after he was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009 for a 2002 nightclub killing. His request for a retrial was denied by a judge earlier this year. Judge Steven Enright of 24th Judicial District Court ruled on Jan. 23 that C-Murder's defense did not make a compelling case for any kind of post-conviction relief. Enright said that the recantation of both witnesses' testimonies are "highly suspicious."

Both his brother Master P and his nephew Romeo Miller have been extremely vocal about C-Murder's release even before the witnesses recanted their testimony. Two of Miller’s friends and collaborators, Cuttboy G-Dinero and 2Meka Diaz, submitted his case to Reasonable Doubt, a true-crime show with the TV network Investigation Discovery in August 2017. When the investigators on the show searched for Jordan and another witness, Jordan finally stepped forward to change his story.

“I think he was all of a sudden ready to talk, and I think he saw that show as an opportunity to put the truth out there,” Barker said.

Cuttboy G Dinero says he has a new single with C-Murder coming soon, “Dey Put Da Blame On Me,” which was recorded while Miller was on house arrest before his 2009 conviction. The snippet can be heard here. The song will be featured as a main single on the “Hip Hop Cruises To Jamaica” compilation album.

Subscribe to the label website VIP Recordings for the official release date.

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Hip Hop Cruises To Jamaica Tracklist:

1. Kali Ranks - A Perfect Match (feat. Lauryn Hill)

2. Sean Kingston - All I Got (feat. Quavo & Jon Blaze)

3. Capleton - Never Stop Trying (feat. Lucci Gabbana & Contractor)

4. Cuttboy G-Dinero - Dey Put Da Blame On Me (feat. C-Murder)

5. Ralo & DJ Kutt Throat - Run Them Bandz Up

6. Beadz - Get Home (Bone) (feat. Layzie Bone)

7. Alonestar - Crossroads (feat. Royce Da 5’9 & PlanB-Strik9)

8. Virgo & A-K Swats - Keep Playing My Song (feat. Lil Jay of Crime Mob)

9. Faided - N Dis Bish (feat. Project Pat)

10. Inno Combs - The Weekend

11. FLO - Gotta Get It (Prod. By KC Da Beatmonster)

12. Lil Nate Dogg - The Last Word

13. Boneface - Spend It

14. LeLe Ortiz - Rain (feat. Jay Ryan)

15. CPF - Lucious (Prod. By Grip Beats)

16. Chantly Jones - Ain’t A Game (feat. Gunplay)

17. KC Da Beatmonster - Preacher

18 SPLIFFGOD - Gothpack

19. DJ So Cincere - Superhero

20. Avatar Frost - Floyd

Exclusive LP Premiere: Tropical House Cruises To Jamaica (Reloaded) feat. Sizzla, Black Uhuru and Bounty Killer

Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica (RELOADED) is out now featuring some of the greatest Reggae stars in history. This album features International Reggae Artists such as Black Uhuru, The No-Maddz, Anthony B, Nature Ellis, Bounty Killer, and Sizzla. The collection rocks with the aggressive, street-tough dancehall sounds of Bounty Killer to the sweet melodies of Nature Ellis.

It continues the beautiful journey of spreading love and captivates the audience with mind blowing inspirations. The No-Maddz, with their dub poetry, seeks heaven on earth and explores the ailments of society and police oppression. Sizzla, who is one of the leaders of the conscious dancehall movement, croons with his original style and creativity with his single “Not Alone”.  This album is truly a gem organized with very relevant acts of Reggae today.

The original album ‘Tropical House Cruises To Jamaica’ landed #1 on Billboard. Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica is available for streaming on Billboard’s platform, including Amazon for those wanting to buy the project. The sixteen track record was produced by Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards of the Contractor Music Group, with assistance from Alonestar (Ed Sheeran’s cousin). HHKMag previously blogged the “Outlaw” single which has had some major support from the Internet and radio world across the globe. Music legend Contractor is heavily involved with putting the project together, and calling upon the talent of Damian Marley, Sean Kingston, Tim Starr, and Stephen Marley among others to create the feel-good record. You can view the tracklist here.

The RELOADED album can be purchased on VIP Recordings. It is available on Spotify, Amazon, and iTunes.

Kali Ranks Hits #1 On Amazon With New Lauryn Hill Track

Kali Ranks - Reggae Recording Artist

Kali Ranks, born Dean R. Moulton is a reggae hip hop artist once signed to rush associated/Def Jam Records. He is officially signed with Afimi Music / Amada Records / UMG Distribution. His new release just hit Amazon's #1 spot on multiple charts (Reggae, International, R&B Soul & Best Sellers Overall).

Go here to stream the snippet on Spotify. Musicians who are looking to get licensed airplay for their song, can purchase the song and unlock a free 30 day campaign that pays up to $17 in royalties.

Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer, songwriter and rapper, known for being a member of Fugees, and for her solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which won many awards and broke several sales records.

At the writing of this release Kali Ranks mentioned, “We have a team and we are looking forward to charting the record, with the help of Shawn Mickelonis, Inlighten Music Group, The Formula Production and The DJ Grid, we are ready!”

An Unreleased Lauryn Hill and Kali Ranks Track Just Surfaced.

Click Here To Listen To ‘A Perfect Match’ On Spotify.

You can also listen on Amada Records' Apple Music Playlist By Clicking Here.

The Top 8 Digital Platforms to Upload, Share, and Promote Your Music

How does one live without music?? A life without music?? It would be sad?? Due to the unlimited advancements in music streaming platforms, innovative services are growing at a lightening speed. This makes it very complicated to choose which company actually works. The following list of 10 best music streaming and marketing platforms that will help you out of the complicated state and make it easier for you to decide without burning a hole in your pockets.

1. Spotify

With about 20 million options placed in its catalog, Spotify is one of the most popular names in the music streaming service industry. Providing a streaming quality of about 320 kbps, Spotify has access from all major platforms such as windows, blackberry, iOS and Android. From individual artists to albums to bands and even creating a playlist, Spotify equips the user with every feature to enhance their listening experience.

2.  Google Play

Another widely used name in the music streaming service industry is Google Play. Google Play, unlike Spotify, enables the user to access their entire music catalog and not just the available streaming ones. Also, with a high quality music streaming ability of 320kbps, Google Play is much easier to access as it is compatible in all leading platforms including iOS.

3. Pandora

With around one million music options in the catalog, Pandora is an option for those who want a free streaming of the radio stations instead of on-demand tracks. The free account holders have certain benefits that include 100 personalized radio stations and limited skips. With a streaming quality of 192 kbps, Pandora is an ideal option for those who love to customize everything.

4. iHeartRadio

 iHeart Radio is probably the only one music streaming service provider with absolutely no charges included for the access. Equipped with a catalog of more than 18 million songs, 4,500 artists and 1,500 live radio stations, this app can be easily found in all platforms such as Android, Blackberry, Windows, iOS and also Xbox. The user can search, personalize and customize their music needs with the help of this service provider.

5. Mixclouds

With Mixclouds, a user can have an access to long length audios, radio shows, music mixes, create and favorite playlist, all for absolutely free of cost. Also, the users do not need to pay a single penny for downloading the app and is available in all the platforms including android and iOS. Though it does not provide single music or album, its catalog of more than 3 million mixes is the compensation.

6. Grooveshark

Grooveshark is another considerable music streaming service platform where the user can choose from a large list of music and has an easy search and listen format, uploading the user choice Mp3s and also keeping track of friends’ music lists, even subscribing to it. Grooveshark is free with ads for the users; however you may have to pay a considerate amount if you intend to benefit more from the site.

7.  Deezer

Deezer is one of the more mature and experienced music streaming service providers, having started in 2006. The site has as many as 30 million music options in its catalog and is compatible in almost all the platforms, from Android to Blackberry, PC to Windows. The company offers unlimited free music access to the user for one month and then restricts the access to two hours. Deezer is one of the companies with the largest catalog and provides all the basic features. By paying for upgrades, the users can also remove the access restriction and listen to higher quality tracks.

8. Hush Media Networks

The business acumen of HUSH! Media is unparalleled and their unorthodox approach to business reflects the expansive imagination of their diverse design team... The founders of the company believes each artist has a “LOOK” & no brand captures or embodies the visual dynamic of the artist in the manner HUSH! Media delivers.

Our assets include 43 radio stations and more than 70+ local websites in 48 U.S. markets. We are a digital marketing solutions company which includes a network of magazines, media blogs, radio stations, tv stations and approximately 100 live events with over five hundred thousand attendees each year. Our brands include local media assets such as KTJZ, KBLK, WJAM & WXSJ.

VIEW LIST OF STATIONS

Sheryll Underwood hosts syndicated show on HUSH Media

Iconic regional and national events such as the Jam Fest St. Pete (Keeping Veterans Stable), SweetSunshine Music Festival, Austin’s SXSW, Essence Festival, HUSHtv’s HUSH-List Music Video Countdown & Casting (Airing On The CW), Deal or No Deal Show Casting (Hosted by Howie Mandell), & HUSH Media’s Unsigned Tour; and leading tastemaker music and entertainment websites such as HushWeekly.com, GrindWeekly.com, KnowAuthentic.com, BuzzFeed.com, Medium.com & More. GRIND. Reaches 1 Million Readers, 1st Month of Launch.

Also with the addition of Vip Recordings & Beatbopper Music, a platform for indie artist all share the same marketing ideals. The entire network is anticipating 2 celebrity compilation albums and several indie artist compilation albums coming this Fall or sooner.

5 Popular Music Publications and How to Get Featured on Them

Though music journalism might be changing, there’s arguably no replacement for a good press write-up when it comes to spreading the word and building buzz around an artist, single, tour, or campaign.

“One of the most viral and high-exposure ways for your music to be shared and heard is through online publications,” says Michele Riggi, a Los Angeles-based AWAL Label Manager. “Specifically, if the publication has a significant social following. One retweet of the article can hit thousands of people who otherwise may not have heard your song.”

“Blogs have been our real champions,” say British rock band Sea Girls. “Having them write about our music is hugely rewarding. There is just something about them that people trust as they have an authentic voice based on the merits of the music. Your songs are only written about if they like them. Blogs are tastemakers and they influence the public and other like-minded souls.”

While an album review in Rolling Stone or NME might be on the horizon, there are a ton of up-an-coming, niche, and independent blogs out there that show love to artists at all levels on a daily basis. Here are just a few of many that our roster has seen great success with and how you can submit your music for coverage.

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1. Pigeons and Planes

What it is: As part of COMPLEX media, Pigeons and Planes is a daily publishing, self-described “music-discovery site” covering new music from underground, independent artists to mainstream superstars. In the past year, it’s featured AWAL artists including Ashley Koett and MarcLo.

How to get featured: Shoot an email over to submissions@pigeonsandplanes.com

2. HUSH. Weekly Magazine

What it is: HUSH. Weekly Is The #1 Source For Celebrity News, New Music Releases, and All Things Entertainment.  HUSH. Media’s Digital & Physical Network Reaches More Than 10 Million People Per Month.

How to get featured: Submit an article/press release here. 

3. LUXE. Weekly

What it is: LUXE. Weekly Spotlights The World’s Most Luxurious Experiences Which Include Fashion, Music, Cars, Real Estate & More. LUXE. Weekly Is Co-Owned By HUSH. Media Networks.

How to get featured: Submit an article/press release here. 

4. Predicted Platinum Records

What it is: Predicted Platinum Records bka The DJ Grid Is A State of The Art Progressive Radio & Media Management Organization Which Delivers Real Time Branding, Advertising Solutions, & Consulting. They’ve Combined The World's Most Successful Radio Promoters Under One Roof. We're Simply Here To Spread Your 'Product' To The Masses! 1/3 of Our Network Reaches 2.1 Billion Impressions Per 90 Days Based On Statistics Provided By Twitter, Facebook, Alexa & Sprout Social.

How to get featured: Submit an article/press release here. 

5. Atwood Magazine

What it is: Per its sleek and modern website, Atwood is “an independent music journal dedicated to providing authentic writing, engaging, insightful editorials, and unique perspectives on music.” Along with seeking out artists from all genres and levels, the mag prides itself on a diverse roster of writers from all over the world. Last November, Atwood premiered AWAL artist Jordan Mackampa’s anthemic “Battle Cry” and reviewed Pink Flamingo Rhythm Review’s “On a Night Like This.”

How to get featured: Email mitch@atwoodmagazine.com

“I love blogs like Atwood magazine because they focus on new and emerging talent,” says Michele Riggi. “They’re open to giving new music a listen and write about it even if the artist’s socials and fanbase are still growing. Subsequently, the people who follow those publications tend to be more engaged and involved.”

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Each of these blogs has its own audience of regular readers who turn to its digital (or physical, in some cases) for the latest music coverage. Although the publications listed here are only a sampling of outlets out there that cover music, niche outlets are a great way to build your press page or get the word out about your latest release to people who trust that blog as a tastemaker. And even though an independent publication might not have the traffic of a major music site, it has a lot to offer artists at every stage.

“While a Noisey premiere is an amazing selling point and adds credibility to any marketing plan,” says Riggi, “you’re going to find super passionate and engaged fans on the growing publications.”

Beyond smaller or niche music blogs, it’s worth asking any partners you’re working with if they have blogs that regularly feature artists. Here on the AWAL Blog, we showcase our own roster of artists in our My Journey series and in Artist Spotlights. We love spreading the word about any important milestones, new releases, or simply shouting about what AWAL artists are working on.

“Blogs are a key tool to help an artist tell their story,” says Anna Mason, an AWAL Label Manager based in London. “Not only is it good to try and garner support from key tastemakers to help reach new audiences, it’s an opportunity to present ‘the bigger picture’ to help fans old and new connect with an artist.”

Recording Artists Like Jon Blaze, Lauryn Hill, Kali Ranks, & Agnez Mo Have Been Successful With Placements By Simply Submitting Articles. Some stories have even made it to large publications like Vogue Magazine. X is the debut international studio album by Indonesian singer Agnez Mo. It was released on 10 October 2017. The album was mostly produced by Danja. Despite having released two singles, “Coke Bottle” and “Boy Magnet”, both tracks were omitted from her international debut album. The music video for "Long As I Get Paid", released 20 September 2017, features Agnes wearing a dress heavily influenced by Indonesian traditional-clothing aesthetics. The video reached 1.3 million views in 24 hours. On 26 October 2017, the music video for "Damn I Love You" was released. The album was digitally distributed by Amada Records. The album was featured in Vogue magazine, Billboard and CapitalXtra.

10 Spotify Playlists You Can Get Your Music On In 5 Minutes

They say… Playlists are the new radio. It's now possible for a song to break on playlists before commercial radio. We came across multiple radio stations (listed below) that have launched Spotify playlists to broadcast new talent.

For artists releasing their music in 2019, Spotify promotion is one of the key elements to success in your music career. In this guide, we tell you exactly how to get your music on to popular Spotify playlists, begin generating streams and being added to Discover Weekly.

Think about your last favourite song you discovered, did you discover it from a Spotify playlist?

The likelihood is that you found the song because you were listening to a Spotify playlist or it came up on your Discover Weekly. With 45% of people listening to music on streaming services such as Spotify, it is important that your music has a strong presence on Spotify and is given the best chance to be discovered.

Submit Your Music To Spotify Playlists Here.

Here are 10 playlist curators you can submit your music to for under $30:

SOUTH REGION

• WJAM 99.9 JAMZ Tampa (Rhythmic Top 40)

• POWER 103.1 Atlanta (Mainstream Hip Hop)

• BEACH 105.1 Daytona (Rhythmic Top 40)

• HOT 99.3 New Orleans (Mainstream Hip Hop)

WEST REGION

• KMIX 99.5 Los Angeles (Top 40 Pop/Dance)

• KBEX-POWER 107.9 Los Angeles (Top 40)

• KBUD-HITS 102.5 Phoenix (Top 40)

EAST & MIDWEST REGION

• WXSJ-JAMZ 97.3 Miami (Rhythmic Top 40)

• WiLD 103.5 Chicago (Mainstream Hip Hop)

• HOT 98.7 Detroit (New & Classic Hits)

Spotify has come under a lot of criticism over the years for not paying artists enough in royalties, with Taylor Swift boycotting the company by not uploading her latest album to the platform, stating that she thought artists were not being fairly compensated for their music. Taylor Swift has now been persuaded to re-join Spotify and uploading her latest album 3 weeks after the release. When speaking to UKTN, Burstimo insisted that Spotify is a monumental platform for the music industry and its survival against competitors such as Apple Music, Pandora, Deezer and Google Play Music is vital for the industry.

Read the full article here. To see what opportunities are available click here.

Here Are Some of The Best Ways To Make Money Licensing Your Music

Interesting fact: If you are a music writer, you need to get your song played 1,000,000 times on Spotify to make $3,000 (which very few songs ever hit).  Or you can license your song just ONCE and make $3,000.

A lot of starving artist hit me up and ask for copywriting/business advice….and sometimes I’m not super sure how to help them since the music industry is not my specialty.

However I recently came across a guy named AJ The Lyricist who is a musical artist that’s been able to license and sell a bunch of songs. Like….A LOT of songs.

Here’s some of the 2019 full-year stats AJ had:

• He wrote and produced 109 music tracks.

• 50 of those 109 were placed in music libraries.

• 100+ total licensed songs from just 2016 till mid-2019!

These are extremely impressive numbers….

AJ Speaks…

“I’ve written over 100 songs. I don’t perform live, I don’t have a fan base. I don’t know anyone in the music industry. I simply license my music and let the royalties add up while the licenser does the work.”

Music licensing opportunities are very rare with the saturation of music floating around the internet. We’ve come across multiple labels and film companies who offer direct placement into their music library.

Here are some of the best licensing opportunities, if your music is approved:

• Amada Records - Summer In Jamaica Movie Soundtrack

• VIP Recordings - Celebrity Compilation Series

• Predicted Platinum Records - Compilation Licensing Deal

• SYNCR - License Your Song To NCIS TV Series & More!

With all the changes that have been going on in the music industry over the past decade, one of the biggest and most lucrative has been the rise of music licensing.  It is now very common to hear your favorite song not only on the radio, but on tv shows, commercials, and video games as well.  

Recording artist Icielani took advantage of opportunities offered by Amada Records and lands #1 on Billboard

This can only be great news for artists and musicians whose goal is to share their music with as many people as possible.  Despite all this, there are still some musicians who feel that licensing your music is similar to “selling out” to corporations.  So we’re going to discuss a few of the benefits of having your music licensed.

The number one most important benefit of licensing your music is exposure, exposure, exposure!  One of the main reasons people write and record their music is so that others can listen to and enjoy it.  Sure, some people may be in it just for the money, but any band or singer who’s played a great show where the audience was really into your music knows that there is no greater feeling of accomplishment.  

Recording artist earns #1 Billboard Plaque from Amada Records

Before the dawn of the digital era, it was very difficult to get your music out to the masses except for the traditional distribution methods like radio and cd stores.  Now, you can literally write and record a song on your computer and share it with people all around the world in five minutes.  That should be a clear indicator to skeptics that the business has changed and it’s time to get in to the licensing game.  

Having your music placed on a 30 second iPod commercial today has the potential to jumpstart your career in ways never before imagined.  Even if it’s just for a small independent film, the people who are watching those movies are the exact kind of people that you will want to expose your music to.  And now thanks to the internet and song id apps, anyone can listen to your song, find out who you are, go to your website, join your fanclub, and buy your whole album in a matter of minutes.  All of these steps are essential to building a strong foundation of fans, and you’re only helping yourself by exposing your music to the masses.

Another benefit of licensing your music is the money!  Of course you’re not going to just give away your music to a video game for free; you get paid!  And for many struggling musicians, this can be the difference between being able to pay next month’s rent and not.  While all placements differ in the amount of money paid (some won’t pay anything at all, but the exposure could be great!) you can usually expect to get anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars for a song placement.  And for the big films and tv shows, that number can jump up to 20-30 grand.  You’re also usually paid up front for your song placement so there’s no long waiting period to get your hard earned money.

Another benefit that is akin to gaining exposure is building up your resume.  If you’re an independent band who is looking to take their career to the next level, securing a manager and publicist are two very important steps.  If you’re able to secure several small song placements, it can go a long way in building up your resume and showing potential managers that you are serious about your work, and that other people have noticed it too.

And you never know, maybe a potential manager or publicist heard your work through various projects and decides to seek you out.  The only thing that’s guaranteed in this business is that there is no single path to success, so you should be doing everything you can to try and succeed.  If you put yourself out there enough times, the odds are that someone, somewhere will take an interest in your work.  So don’t leave it to chance; get out there and make your music work for you!

Click Here To See Other Artist Services That Can Boost Your Chances of Landing A Licensing Deal.

Listen To This Week's Most Shared Song On Spotify, 'A Perfect Match' by Kali Ranks & Lauryn Hill

Click Here To Listen On Spotify.

You can also listen on Amada Records' Apple Music Playlist By Clicking Here.

California Artist Lotis Jackson Lands Licensing Deal with Amada Records

When you talk about an artist that shows diversity in sound and rhythm one must think Lotis Jackson. The California star has a catalog full of music reminisce of Rnb & soul music mixed with electric beats and fused with HIPHOP. “ I think the world will like this style of music” states Michael Hudgins Owner of Beatbopper. Lotis Jackson is an R&B singer/songwriter/producer with a history in hip-hop. He is also a host for Cavi Vision entertainment (CaviVision.com). Cavi Vision highlights music artists, red carpets events, and entertainment news. Cavi Vision parent company is Caviar Gold Records.

Lotis is in collaboration with producer Bobby Hope (Boys II Men). His music often draws on his childhood, coming from a broken home.

Lotis is the focus of a documentary, "Lotis Jackson: A Young Man Living His Dream." His story is that of an aspiring singer who overcomes the broken chapters in life. It was accepted into several film festivals, including Pan African Film Festival. He is a guest speaker with the film in hopes of breaking family patterns of incarceration.

 Lotis lives in Los Angeles. He has performed at The Long Beach Jazz Festival (stage 2), Staples Center - WNBA Half-Time, Taste of Soul, The Pomona Art Walk, KJLH 4th of July, and at the Sayers Club, Conga Room, and Belasco.

 Lotis is from the Seattle area. Back then he was known as "Hollywood" and performed at the Vans Warped Tour, and on stages shared by the Ying Yang Twins, Li'l Flip, and Layzie Bone.

 Lotis (Sean Christian Jackson) was born in San Luis Obispo, California, but grew up in Everett, Washington near Seattle. He was raised in an interracial family with a single mom and three brothers. He recalls living out of motels, shelters, and the homes of relatives and strangers.

 Lotis' first memory of his dad was from old photographs. His dad would pop in and out of his life, with stints in prison. Lotis and his brothers made the best of what they had breakdancing and (rap) battling other kids in the neighborhood.

 With Christine Devine of Fox 11 news, Lotis is a founding member of a charitable effort, TEAM WC - WeCan West Coast." He has performed at Central Juvenile Hall, Children's Hospital, Orange County CASA black tie gala, Children Uniting Nations Oscar gala, IVBCF Scholarship Fashion Show, Black College Expo.

 Affiliations: Shorte, Bingx, Forevergreen Entertainment, Undercast Studios, Bobby Hope, Matias Nardi, JM (Micah Johnson), Fatell, Sir Young Duke, Britt J, Purple Reggae, Antonio Rhyme, Lela Brown.

"Lotis Jacksons vocals sound like an old soul blended well with futuristic sounds"

                                                             - Chapters

Security Guard Accidentally Told SweetSunshine Festival Attendees, "Event Is Cancelled!" When It Wasn't

Donkey of The Day: Daytona Security Guard

Festival Security Guard Accidentally Tells Festival Goers Event Is Cancelled, When It Wasn’t.

This was just reported to us by the event organizer at IE Productions. Many vendors and bands have pulled out because of the confusion. Do I smell a lawsuit? What do you think about this situation?

The Original Voice of Siri Invites Festival Goers To The SweetSunshine Music Festival

Susan Alice Bennett is an American voice-over artist. She is best known for being the female American voice of Apple's "Siri" since the service was introduced on the iPhone 4S on October 4, 2011; Susan was the voice of Apple's virtual assistant until the iOS 7 update was released on September 18, 2013.

Susan Bennett is seen on IG inviting everyone to a music festival in Daytona. Read more about the festival on DaytonaBeach.com. The Sweet Sunshine Music Festival is two-day event that brings some of the biggest names in music to Daytona Beach. The unforgettable live concert experience takes place at the Bethune Performing Arts Center venue on July 27-28, 2019, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Special invited guests include The Miracles, The Chi-Lites, Jordin Sparks, Members From The Orlando Magic, DJ Choice of WJAM 99 JAMZ Tampa, DJ So Cincere, Full Sail University, Susan Bennett (Siri) and more. Concert goers over the age of 21 will also have a chance to enjoy festival experiences from other Hush Media brands including live, intimate shows at the Predicted Platinum Performance Tent.

Venue: Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center & Visual Arts Gallery

• Location: Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center & Visual Arts Gallery

• Address: 698 West International Speedway Boulevard Daytona Beach, FL 32114

 

Siri shows love to the sponsors of the festival, VIP Recordings, T-Mobile & DJ Choice. VIP Recordings just announced the new wave of music distribution. Go check them out on viprecordings.com.

Kali Ranks Drops 'A Perfect Match' With The Legendary Lauryn Hill

Afimi Music Records and Amada Records are thrilled to announce the release of Kali Ranks newest album.

“Living Legends” available everywhere on 8/23/19.

“Living Legends” is a special project consisting of Kali Ranks original hits & collaborations.

It's a classic record in the making featuring hit songs already well received by the public and industry greats. With the likes of Ms Lauryn Hill and Chris Brown, “Living Legends” presents an incredible list of heavy weights and definite living legends.

This fantastic compilation also features Fredro Starr and Sticky Fingaz of Onyx, Rampage (Flip Mode) and Black Rob, and Canibus for a Legendary star-studded line up. “Living Legends” will also be showcasing some brand new up and coming talent with features by the sultry Stephanie Adler (La Cubana) and upcoming rapper Optimystic MC. 

The album brings you well-loved classics, remixes, and brand-new fire such as the songs featuring Canibus.

“Living Legends” is an album that touches several genres of music such as Reggae, Hip-Hop, RnB, and even a touch of Bad Boy Pop to create a unique style of music, and the number one album you should be getting in 2019.

It seems “Living Legends” is a project of love for Kali Ranks because he stated, “I just wanted some of my best songs all together on one project, it's a combination of some of the best from my generation and the new one.”

Kali Ranks also stated that he chose to team up with Amada Records because they have the necessary promotional engine to take the record to the next level, and they have had success charting records like, “Tropical Cruises To Jamaica”, ”Elexis Ansley” and current projects.

Tropical House Cruises To Jamaica Billboard #1 Plaque

At the writing of this release Kali Ranks mentioned, “We have a team and we are looking forward to charting the record, with the help of Shawn Mickelonis, Inlighten Music Group, The Formula Production and The DJ Grid, we are ready!”

An Unreleased Lauryn Hill and Kali Ranks Track Just Surfaced. Click Here To Listen

DJ Snow White Is Dropping 'Red Devil' With Support From Redman & The DJ Grid

The album will feature 10 tracks from upcoming independent artists and a few majors. VIP Recordings & Predicted Platinum Records are both sub-labels under Amada Records and are now looking to sign talent. Artists that are selected to be on the album will be reviewed and watched closely by A&Rs and label execs looking to advance moneys or services towards their new releases.

Hosted By The DJ Grid, Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica was released through Amada Records and Contractor Music Group in 2017. The project featured 15 songs, including the Sean Kingston & Vybz Kartel release “Chance”.

The first project featured contributions by members of the label’s roster such as Safaree, Damian Marley, Ed Sheeran, Sizzla, Chronixx, Capleton and Mojo Morgan. The album also included guest appearances by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Cookie The Herbalist, Icielani, Jon Blaze and Wyclef.

Fans will get their first preview of DJ Snow White’s “Red Devil” at midnight August 2nd, 2019. The label is also releasing another single, but details about it haven’t been revealed yet.

DJ Snow White has partnered with HUSH! Media Networks to offer airplay to upcoming recording artists and businesses looking to be heard on popular fm and digital radio stations in the USA. This opportunity is available to talented recording artists and small businesses looking to advertise their 15-30 second commercial. In order to redeem your radio campaign, you’ll need to support the artists by purchasing the album + experience. Follow the steps below to unlock your 30 day airplay campaign courtesy of HUSH Media Networks.

DJ Kali Set To Drop New Lightshow LP Hosted By The Cheat Codes & White Panda

REDEEM A FREE GIFT WITH EVERY PURCHASE…

DJ Kali spoke with GRIND. Weekly and reported a possible collab with the Cheat Codes & EDM DJ White Panda. The name of the album is called, The Lightshow LP and will feature a 10 song tracklist.

DJ White Panda

Cheat Codes

DJ Kali has partnered with HUSH! Media Networks to offer airplay to upcoming recording artists and businesses looking to be heard on popular fm and digital radio stations in the USA. This opportunity is available to talented recording artists and small businesses looking to advertise their 15-30 second commercial. In order to redeem your radio campaign, you’ll need to support DJ Kali by purchasing the album + experience. Follow the steps here to unlock your 30 day airplay campaign courtesy of HUSH Media Networks.

Original Release Date: October 11th, 2019

• Label: Amada Records

• Copyright: ℗© 2019 Amada Records

Click here to pre-order the album.

T-Mobile Sponsors The 2019 SweetSunshine Music Festival In Daytona

Get ready to rock, Un-carrier customers! T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) announced another exclusive music benefit for customers with the return of discount Live Nation amphitheater tickets. Starting today, June 11, and all summer long, Un-carrier customers will get exclusive $25 all-in tickets (taxes and fees included!) to hundreds of Live Nation amphitheater shows through T-Mobile Tuesdays.

And with T-Mobile’s Magenta rate plan, customers get the industry’s best unlimited plan with taxes and fees included, unlimited hotspot with 3GB high-speed hotspot per month, Netflix on Us for families and the best customer care in wireless with a dedicated Team of Experts. Customers also score weekly free stuff and discounts from T-Mobile Tuesdays along with industry-leading travel benefits including free inflight texting and an hour of Gogo inflight Wi-Fi when traveling domestically, unlimited texting and data in over 210+ countries and destinations and unlimited talk, text and data (with up to 5GB of 4G LTE) in Mexico and Canada.

T-Mobile of North Florida recently signed up to showcase their 40 ft. truck at The 2019 SweetSunshine Music Festival In Daytona Beach, FL. “The SweetSunshine Music Fest (SSMF) has grown to be the largest summer festival in the South and Amada Records is proud to return as the official talent sponsor for the 2019 event,” said Mike Hudgins, Director of Field Marketing at Amada Records. “We’re excited to have contributed to the growth of this unique festival experience, and proud to showcase some of the best talent in music on The DJ Grid’s Showcase Stage.”

Proceeds From The Festival Will Go To JDRF. JDRF is the world’s biggest nonprofit funder of type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Their focus is on finding a cure; until they do, the advancements they’re making every day ease the burden of those living with the disease. No one knows where the cure will come from, but they continue to identify several paths that have the most promise. The JDRF invest in the early stages, allowing researchers to pursue innovative ideas and approaches that will lead to breakthrough treatments. Explore their research portfolio here.

As America’s Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. Our advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to 81.3 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value.

Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.

Sydney Justin & The Miracles Set to Headline the 2019 SweetSunshine Music Festival

Born in New Orleans and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Sydney Justin comes from a very talented and athletic family. Sports and music play a major role in his life. Participating in high school talent shows, the performing arts and attending the Otis Art Institute for gifted young artists molded his musical talents.

Football and music are his passions. Although Sydney never played high school football, his natural athletic gifts brought him a football scholarship to Long Beach State University. He was blessed to sign with the Los Angeles Rams and in his rookie year played in Super Bowl XIV. Afterwards, Sydney signed to play in Canada with the Winniteg Blue Bombers, The Buffalo Bills, and finally the Indianapolis Colts.Unfortunately, a neck injury ended his career after only 4 seasons. His dreams and aspirations of becoming a singer, songwriter and producer were in his future.
While in high school, Sydney’s musical talents led to his performing on a movie sound track, singing the songs “Shout” and “Shama Lama Ding Dong” that the characters “Otis Day and the Nights” lip-synced in the toga party and club scenes of the now famous classic cult movie “Animal House”.

After football, Sydney re-directed his musical talents to songwriting, singing and producing. Highlights include being part of the songwriting team Sylverspoon productions working with such artists as Glen Jones, Shalamar, The Whispers and Lakeside; Later Sydney joined the pop group Shalamar as their lead singer. Working with record producers L.A. Reid & Babyface on the song ”Loves Grown Deep”from Shalamar’s Circumstantial Evidence CD, this song became Asia’s number 1 hit for over 5 months straight. Many Songwriting and producing opportunities followed. He wrote songs and produced soundtracks for such movies as Lambada and sang on Bobby Brown’s hit songs “Every Little Step I Take” and “I wanna Rock wit Cha baby” achieving a Platinum record. Sydney also performed in concert with other artists such as The Gap Band, Roger & Zapp, Alexander O’Neil, Rose Royce, and Earth, Wind and Fire and many, many others.

As the lead singer for The Miracles, Berry Gordy, Pete Moore and Claudette Robinson has passed the torch of leadership from Smokey Robinsonto Sydney Justin. He takes the sound and songs to new heights with his mesmerizing sexiness, excitement and energy. He is a consummate performer, always striving to offer the world his absolute best. Sydney Justin, was at one time voted one of the sexiest men alive. He enjoys playing basketball and coaching defensive backs but golf has become a new passion. He recently wrote a how to book on playing defensive back called “The Lost Art.”you can find it on Amazon Books. Sydney loves God, trusts God and believes all things are possible through faith in Jesus Christ…and Miracles are always possible.

Sponsored by Amada Records & T-Mobile, the 2019 edition of the SweetSunshine Music Festival is set to be another amazing music experience with lots of fun and excitement for attendees with the likes of The Miracles confirmed to perform. The musical fiesta is scheduled for July 27th and 28th via the Bethune Performing Arts Center located at 698 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114. The festival is free from 10am-8pm. The Miracles will perform live at 8pm. Concert tickets start at $25 for general admission and can be purchased here.

The 2019 SweetSunshine Music Festival is a two-day event that will be bringing some of the biggest names in the music industry to Daytona Beach, FL, offering attendees an unforgettable live concert experience. Some of the special invited guests that will be gracing the event include The Chi-Lites, The Supremes, staff members from the Orlando Magic, and staff members from WJAM 99 JAMZ Tampa. Other guests expected at the event include the world’s largest ice cream truck and The DJ Grid, Full Sail University and T-Mobile’s 40 ft Truck. The Miracles, otherwise known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles will be headlining performances at the event with the group re-producing the hits that made it one of the most important and influential groups in pop, rock and roll, and R&B music history. Although Smokey won’t be present, the new lead singer Sidney Justin will grace the stage and serenade the crowd.

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Reel LuKa (@LukaReel) Shares Passions, Talks About Impacting People's Lives Using Music

We spoke to upcoming recording artist Reel LuKa about his passion of the music industry. Here's what he had to say...

"Making music is my passion, every song that I make is a depiction of feelings and emotion. However the lyrics I choose to use aren't meant to be taken literally, they are meant to convey feelings. My favorite part about music is how songs can have such a different impact on every person that listens. Creating, cultivating, producing, with passion and desire, coupled with ambition and desire, creates fire."

Track Names: 'Don't Go' & 'Watchu Need'

Follow Him On Social Media To Listen - Twitter @LukaReel | Instagram @Reel_Luka