Upscale LIVE Magazine Volume 2 - March/ April 2014 - Issue 2 | Page 52

How important is it for an artist to be educated in the business that is music?
The education part is something I'm big on! I know what it's like to be screwed over I want to help
people be the best. I've walked people through ASCAP and BMI registration. You have to know how
to make money; you can do music all day and not make a dime. Whenever I can teach an artist the
business of music, I start with the foundation; people need to know how the music transfers into
money.
What is the biggest misconception most artists have when it comes to making it?
A lot of young people think you get a hot beat, shoot video for You Tube and that's that. It doesn’t
work like that. You need a PRO, copyright; you need to know the role of your team and an educated
manager. That’s just the beginning. It's not that hard but you have to put in the effort to learn the
business and surround yourself with the right people.
How do you feel when you know you’ve gone above and beyond to guide someone and they still
don't use the advice given?
I used to take it personally, I thought that maybe I didn't teach them right. However, at the end of the
day we are all individuals and have to follow our own minds. A lot of people that went to school with
me are not even doing music now. Everyone’s mindset is different and they will use my advice as they
see fit even if it means not using it at all. I remember, the day that I got my first textbook, I read it
from front to back the first day I got it. I had to learn the structure of the business and how it works. I
still go back and read it today.
Since you have been screwed over before how do you protect yourself now?
I keep a copy of all of my music. It’s all about recordkeeping and follow up. I always follow up on my
music to see if it’s been distributed, performed, on radio or, being sold.
You are like an open book and willingly give more to the artist then they paid for. What do you tell
artists when asked about getting on the radio?
I never shy away from any questions. It may not be the truth that they want to hear but it’s the truth
that they need to know. Radio is the business of making money! Money! They don't care about how
many hits you got on YouTube, they care about if advertisers are going to pay while this song is being
played on our station.
I believe that music is the soundtrack of our lives, with that being said, what would be your theme
song?
“ We Major” by Kanye West!
Catch up with Kosmik at Midnite Studios while you still can! He’s on a mission, blessed with an undeniable gift, educated on the music game, in demand, and destined to continue making history! -Silk