(Photo contributed)
This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Renata Smith, CEO and Founder, of XM5 Music Management. Smith currently manages XM5 Music Management, an independent artist management firm, out of her native state of North Carolina. XM5 MM strives to manage, inspire, and educate as well as develop independent artist within a struggling industry.
As I spoke with Smith, I not only was given information about her company, but also received much needed insight on the dire state of the music industry, and how it motivates her daily. Check out this snippet of our interview:
KB: Why did you feel the need to start XM5 MM?
Smith: Basically to groom the artist for the music industry which is struggling right now.
KB: I’ve noticed. Is that what drove you in your creation of XM5?
Smith: Well…before the creation of XM5 I was an artist myself.
KB: So you definitely have a first hand account of the in-and-outs factors within the music industry from a management side and an artist side.
Smith goes on to educate me as well as inform me that, “No one is buying music due to the piracy movement.” Smith also speaks about the fact that the music industry started to take a downfall in 1999 and continuously drop 8%-9% every year there after. She goes on to speak about the truths from a consumer standpoint to which we can all relate. The fact that “people are tired, of buying junk (music) and/or want to invest their money into music/artist that is worthwhile. Also that it is much more convenient to buy songs you want for 99 cents rather than purchase and entire album where you may end up feeling as if you wasted money after initially listening to it.
When asked about the present state of artist management, Smith informed me that more artist (even those that are or have been well-known) are becoming independent as well as taking on other ventures such as acting, fashion, etc. to have longevity with the Entertainment Industry (to basically cut out the middle man i.e. Record Companies). In addition to becoming independent, artists are “maximizing distribution deals” to keep majority control of their product and heavily touring to make additional monies outside of record sales within the music industry.
Smith currently represents up-and-coming Hip Hop and R&B artist Lady Capone (known to the industry as "The Lady"), which by the sound of her product will become a household name among popular female artist and an addition to purely talented Lyricists within the music industry very soon! Believe that I checked out the talent thoroughly before stating this truth. With the motivating knowledge of Renata Smith plus the “sharp lyrical intelligence” that Lady Capone carries with her, both are surely set to be in your ears and in your minds…if they haven’t reached you already. They are also blazing a path of success for not only women but also for the Manager/Artist relationships and its product within the Entertainment (Music) Industry.
In the immortal words of Ms. Renata Smith, the music industry is “lacking very heavy.” I concur with her on this because we have lost the feeling of consciousness and awareness that music once had and traded if for party anthems given by one-hit wonders (most looking for a quick payday). Glad to see that there are people striving to pertain the pureness of music.
This is KB and this has been Real to Reel.
(Photo Contributed) (Photo Contributed)
Check out the following links to get additional insight on XM5 MM and what they have to offer:
Sources:
*All photos were contributed and property of XM5 Music Management*
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