Local Visionary asked if he should open a night club and the answer in DC seems to be yes!!!

When I noticed that a local Tech VC posted something on social media about investing in a nightclub I figured I'd take a look. Little did I know I knew would find one of the smoking guns of data that specifically shows how entertainment investing in music( particularly live, since half of the clubs listed here are all about live music) is good business.  Take my town DC;  We have 8 of the top 100 clubs based on revenue in the USA and try to get someone outside of this group to talk about the business and you'll get more out of crickets, even silent ones.

Show me any other category in DC close to Music with this many top companies in one town besides lobbyist ?  I'll Get my popcorn..... Oh by the way...This is not just for the investors it's good for local economic development; Since many of the ancillary events to a music event are very local.

Major or any music act doesn't come to play a DC Club to have their food catered from a chain; they want local while being in a locale and they will shop local for arts and clothes. "Artists Money Multiplier Effect*"

Now considering DC has 8 of the top 100 nightclubs in the USA it would seems not too far of a stretch to say that there is a basis for considering investing in DCMUSIC as well as DCTECH.  For the record ~ the two really aren't exclusive and from head of the Library of Congress's lips** to my blog -- music drives US innovation.  A great blog just came out on  Consequences of Sound about the All Access: An Oral History of DC’s 9:30 Club and reading it gives some very candid insight into our local music scene and how it's important to foster the locals while reaching for the stars. .

I'd suggest reading it and let's get some check books out and start rewarding the economy we already have that is bringing millions of dollars vs likes or vampy news coverage.  And, since we're really talking about millions of millions of million in recurring revenue and it also brings in more tourists; it well surveyed that having a vibrant music scene is a part of the decision for college attendance and new jobs it needs to be in the 5 year plan and every plan.

Lastly How come I'm the only one talking about this?    What exactly has to be done to get the DC government to back something that is naturally occurring they don't have to give tax breaks and  already  hire DC people every day of the week businesses?  FYI Virginia and Maryland aren't too far behind.

Oh yeah I went "Mr Cranky" like.... btw he is missed.

The one and only Dee Snider~ Twisted Sister #MusicBiz2014 

While the Sky ain't falling Distribution isn't getting any easier either - which explains everything.

While Glenn is right that music sales are down at the start of 2014 there's a couple of things that the article and for that matter very few people are considering.   And, that's the State of Distribution and the lack of it's importance it has in the mindset of so many when they are talking about the Music business. 

Let's be clear being on a Major Label means it guaranteed distribution. The END.... 

Trust me every major selling artists knows the value that their distribution team brings to the table and that why you see so many old guys, since it's still mostly guys -- save the few executives like Jess Sarmiento; CoCEO of Altavoz Distribution and Leota Blacknor; VP at Caroline Distribution -- in so many pictures with all your favorite music stars.  -- I'll look for a video I have of Katy thanking her's at a convention two years ago. 

Nelson Jacobsen, Ron Spaulding & Jess Sarmiento #MusicBiz13la

However, back to the point... Considering that only one full service distributor has entered the marketplace since 2004 and consolidations have been going on since 2005 there was going to come a time when the chickens err CDs, BluRays, DVDs and Vinyl --yes some is coming back* come home to roost and that is nye.

So what is happening you ask?    If you've been in this business since the 90s think 1995 store returns and 1997 bankruptcy coming together at one time.  Start with if you didn't notice there where a crap load of releases in the 4th Quarter and consumers didn't consume.   Ego Hoc returns are already in trucks heading back to distributors and labels will be finding out about now.  Plus the merger of the onestops and their combining warehouses along with there other distributors moving warehouses created a cluster jam few could have predicted. 

Sure there are some great things happening and efficiencies are being reached at the very high levels; however, the trickle up that is the music business is about to trickle out.  

We need to start thinking that Distribution is the engine that STEAM runs upon and if we don't plan for it just like electronic parts, food, beer & wine and pot growers whom all know distribution is King Music just won't go any where.  While cities like Austin, Nashville Seattle and fingers crossed Washington DC are starting to understand the importance of music to it's culture and economy.   

There is a cycle that will invariably happen and just when things start reaching a boiling point in each city and the musical talent comes together to generate tangible IP and goods.  This talent has to get it's self in a bus, car or van and get to the next place; So, they can spread word of their music while  a distributor (there are only a handful of companies that do it) have to be along for the ride to make sure that every store online and physical is carrying the releases and knows that story behind it and the artists putting it out.

However before that happens planners, investors and those that are looking at the direction that we want to grow our economies from the local to the global markets nothing must start to consider, fund and promote as economy partners in the economy.    

PS  Soundscan is showing that physical music is  presently outselling digital music. 

The Future of Entertainment Today is Bright in 2014

So here's a year look back at investment in entertainmet stocks as charted by http://www.profitquotes.com/ and if you had invested in entertainment like many of us did it should have shown a health return.   Now sure every project don't make it out of the studio, or the label falls apart or the product wasn't in any stores boo hoo.....

Everyone faces these same odd and yet their record sales and yours' don't and all of these other stocks did well and that is for reason.  People have to be entertained.  END OF STORY.....

(artists --   Not saying it's not a problem I am saying that selling a happy story is more fun to do. So let's focus in 2014 -If the partners, promoters and management you're in business with isn't reaching for the stars by grinding in the streets and Cloud everyday then dust em off and move along, )

So what is the Future of Entertainment Today and going to move the needle in 2014.  Real Bricks and Clicks solution serving a global audience giving them high quality entertainment however they want it when they say I'm Buying This..... make it happen.

There's more than AmandaP out there and we're just a kickstarter campaign away from discovering the next million dollar AltaArtists 

PS here Medical Suppliers and it's clear that entertainment is better than this.