David E Beats @ 1st DIY Bushwick Music Festival March 24-March 27

Congrats to David E Beats who will be performing at the 1st DIY Bushwick Music Festival March 24-March 27

Bushwick Music Studios in association with Deli Magazine and Arts In Bushwick are proud to announce the official schedule for DIY Bushwick, A Musical Festival, taking place March 24-27, in nine venues throughout Bushwick. The inaugural festival will feature Brooklyn-based bands, DJs, and artists performing in alternative Do-It-Yourself spaces just a walk or a bike ride apart. Admission prices range from free to $10 with an average ticket price of $5. Festival passes will be available online for $20, with Friday/Saturday passes available for $10. This is part of an effort by festival organizers to make sure that the events are accessible to all.

Tito Fleetwood Ladd, owner of Bushwick Music Studios (one of the venues involved), decided to organize the festival in an attempt to galvanize the neighborhood’s flourishing music and arts scene. In the last few years, Bushwick has emerged as a frontier for DIY venues, attracting artists and musicians with the limitless opportunities provided by these raw spaces (check out a Deli article about this here). Although the scene has been growing for some time, a Bushwick-centered festival of this scale has never been attempted.

Ladd's vision was that by working together, the Bushwick music scene would ultimately receive more visibility. “There’s this incredible energy and all these cool spaces with amazing talent in Bushwick,” says Ladd, “This is our way of showing that to anyone who wants to pay attention to us. We’re all doing it together.” When he reached out to several venues and organizations in Bushwick, he immediately received enthusiastic support.

Deli Magazine and Arts In Bushwick have both signed on to help coordinate and produce the event. Bushwick Music Studios will be joined by nine spaces including Party Expo, Don Pedros, Goodbye Blue Monday, Brooklyn Fireproof, Castle Braid, The Opera House Lofts, House of Yes, Eastern District, and Northeast Kingdom. Corporate sponsors are nowhere to be found. DIY Bushwick is pure grassroots.

Source; Deli Mag

David E Beats Performs At Alphabet Lounge

Catch David E Beats and the White House Band at Alphabet Lounge, on March 18th, 2010!

Address: 104 Avenue C (at the corner of 7th Street)
Cover: $10 admission - 18+ w/ID
Time: 8pm

SXSW 2010: Will you be there?

David E Beats will be performing at the Music-Tech Mashup Showcase in Austin, Texas on March 16th, 2010 at Rusty Spurs, an official SXSW venue. The event will be presented by The Deli Mag, GreenShoeLace.com, Hunnypot and the Swing House. Taking place during SXSW’s transition from Interactive Week to Music Week, the event will assemble an incredible line-up of performers coming from all over the U.S.

David E Beats live at the Patio Stage on March 16th, 2010 at 4:20pm

Feature: David E Beats In The Spokesman Newspaper

Excerpt: "David E Beats is surely headed up the scale on the music scene and will be successful" In his definition for success, he defines it as "the realization of your goals over a period time equals Success"

Jahphia Griffin_Spokesman Newspaper

The link to the interview will be available shortly.

Interview: Tammy Lynn Gilmore, Publicity and Press, SXSWi

=By Joe Ciarallo on Mar 11, 2010 03:09 PM

Possibly one of the busiest people at SXSW is Tammy Lynn Gilmore, who heads up PR for the event. We spoke to Tammy recently -- before she was consumed completely by her work at the conference.

Coordinating PR for an event as large as SXSW Interactive is not a job for the light of heart. We asked Tammi how she manages through it all, and of course what the craziest thing someone has done to try and get a press pass.

How many press pass requests did you get for SXSW this year?


Somewhere between 600 and 800 just for interactive.

How many were accepted?

There are somewhere between 400 and 450 attending press.

What is the weirdest or most "creative" way you've seen someone try to get a press pass for the show?

I think I got an email that somebody would make me the best taco I've ever had. That they would cook for me. Unfortunately they missed the deadline.

What services do you use to track media coverage?

We use several different services. PRNewswire is a partner and they help us with the clippings. We use Cision as a clipping service as well. Porter Novelli does quite a bit for us. As you know, we did the call at the end of the year last year, we sent an email t0 press asking them to collect their coverage and send it in.

What are some of the biggest challenges in conducting public relations for a festival as large as SXSW?

Our greatest strength and biggest challenge is that we have this enormous community that everyone wants to participate in. But on the flip side is that we can't accept anybody, that gives us the difficult job of being gate keepers.

We provide the platform for the event. We are not people who say "this is the next big thing." Our community by and large says that.

Taking in all of their feedback is big challege. Our event director Hugh Forrest really makes sure we stay engaged. We hand reply to every single email from our surveys. He has us address every issue brought up. Sometimes we get emails about things we don't have direct control over, but we still address it.

As an employee of his, it makes me feel good.

SXSW has worked with Porter Novelli, and will continue to do so this year. What specifically do you look for in tapping outside help?

Really the value Porter Novelli brings to us is relationships. They heave really strong relationships. There is only one of me and our team here. They have more people to give other people the white glove treatment they deserve. So that's what Porter Novelli helps provide to me.

I can give them shorthand answers and they wont be offended. They make my life easier. They do a lot of the real hand holding, taking care of people's needs. There are always wild cards and they help us figure that stuff out.

What are you looking forward to this year?

The keynotes and opening remarks are things people always look forward to. That's the stuff that sticks out to me. The competition at the 13th Annual Web Awards. That's awesome.

There is a meet the press launch event. It's only for press. It's a special invite only event for companies that are launching new products and services. That really puts things in front of the press so they have a really quick way to see if it's of interest to them.

The OFFICIAL "Maybe Tomorrow" Video, David E. Beats

Director- Drew Angle| Cinematographer-Kristopher Rey-Talley

Shot on the Canon 7D in Chicago, Illinois

Synopsis:

The video for David E Beats' "Maybe Tomorrow" is set in what could be assumed as a near future. The world has suffered a fallout, leaving its few survivors struggling to survive admist the nuclear winter and the human loneliness that follows. It follows David through tattered, decaying environments (a visual staple of many of Beats' imagery), including an abandoned hospital, a forest, a grain silo and the remaints of a beach. After burying his final friend, it is him till the end, struggling to remove himself from his past and focus on the future. In a world where all hope is lost, our protagonist must learn to be his own best friend, and let go of the things that are no longer, and that may get in his way.

From the Cinematographer, Kristopher Rey-Talley (Jackpot In The West Productions): "Since this was David's first major video, another aspect of it is the performance. Intercut is David performing, showing his skills as an Emcee and exhibiting his performance charisma. The theme behind the video was coming to terms with one's self and pushing on to the next level, the next challenge. Like a lot of David's work, we talked about ways to mix up the norm, the establishment, while still remaining familiar and approachable. The performance footage not only shows him off in this regard, but it also grounds the video in the hip hop world, whereas the science fiction narrative goes strongly against the rap video status quo, for it this duality and strivance for high quality and groundbreaking material that has made David a really great artist to collaborate with. This is the first in an exciting trilogy of videos. "Over Here"....Here we come. "

David E Beats Interview with Allhiphop Radio!

Creme Magazine Interviews David E Beats

Crème caught up with artist David E. Beats; he discusses his different talents of being a rapper, producer and guitar player along with resonating with his fan base through his music.

To read the full interview: Click Here

David E Beats x The White House Band Perform at Ecletic Ride!

Industry Spotlight Interview with Kimberly Wilson, Law Student/ Publicist

In one sentence, describe your duties.

Wow, one sentence? Ok. Well, I am a publicist, writer, law student and event planner combined into one.

The industry spotlight highlights the movers and shakers of the entertainment industry. How does that apply to you?

I think that my accomplishments and experience have established me as one of a kind. Following the notion, to whom much is given, much is expected, I consistently sets high personal standards and goals for myself. I'm in this to win...and I will not lose.

How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

Loyal. Focused. Passionate.

What lead you in the entertainment industry?

I grew up in the industry. My mom used to represent a lot of hip hop/reggae artists in New York City - from Biggie to Beanie Man...she did it all. I knew from a young age that this is where I wanted to be.

What‘s a typical work day for you?

I check and respond to my e-mails as soon as I wake up. My first class begins at 9AM, and then in between my classes at Howard University School of Law, I either have conference calls or meetings in the city. During the day, I'm also studying, doing research, securing sponsorships, writing press releases or articles. From there, I may head to the studio, work from home, or study until the wee hours. Then wake up and do it again the next day. It's a hectic lifestyle with law school, but I love it.

What’s a common assumption people make about your field?

That's it's easy to break into this business. People say that if they wanted to - they could be where we are. But if you could, then why aren't you? People have to realize that here simply ISN'T a straightforward plan you can follow to from point A to point B in the entertainment industry. It's not like it seems on cable TV - it takes hard work and YEARS of grindin' and sacrifice. The most successful people in this field are the ones who carved out their own way and just went for it. Sure, I could get a law firm job that's paying me $2500 a week, but this is the life I chose, so I'm going to work damn hard for it.

What current projects are you working on?

Right now, Shayna D (Sirius XM) and I are planning an event to honor fearless females in Washington D.C on March 23rd. It is the Diva Lounge with a DC twist. Dawn Richard is our celebrity honoree in addition to several other talented young ladies. I'm also working with Soul World Entertainment, shout out to Cliff and Bobby, (which includes Que of Day 26 and Lil Mo on the roster) handling PR/Social Media/Publicity/Events...etc. In addition, I'm a publicist for IAMOnlineMag.com and freelance writer for several publications...My Voice DC, Clutch Magazine, YO! Raps, etc (including IAM as well...). I just recently also joined the Cool Cruel World staff and will be assisting with the Bad B*tch Biker Club photoshoot next weekend and several other upcoming projects. I'll also being working with entertainment attorney, Jaia Thomas this summer as she opens another office in DC. Oh, and law school of course. At 22 years old, I'm just getting started...

What keeps you motivated on a daily basis?

My faith, family and friends.

How are you managing your work between DC and New York? Are you doing a lot of home-based work?

Thankfully New York is so close that I'm able to travel back and forth frequently. For the things that I'm able to - I work out of DC (via conference call, e-mail, phone..etc). For meetings and events, I make sure that I'm back in NYC.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

As an entertainment and sports attorney owning my own practice. I won't limit myself to just that though. I want to expand beyond that and do other things as well (PR, Artist Management)- my true goal is to be a media mogul, excelling in all facets.

Thank you for your time, any last words?

Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week. (Hov)

Business Unusual Magazine Interviews David E Beats

"David and I spoke about everything from 360 deals to why he wants to be signed to a major label instead of  going independent. You will be surprise to hear what David had to say. I found my conversation with David to be refreshing because I meet a lot of up and coming artist and their business savvy is not always on point but David seems to be different. "_Malik Corbett_ Business Unusual magazine

Interview with David E Beats- The struggle Pt2

Interview with David E Beats- I want to be signed Pt3

Interview with David E Beats- Money behind the Artist Pt4

Interview with David E Beats- The Team Pt 5

Interview with David E Beats- Music Biz Pt6

Interview with David E Beats- Top 5 Rappers Pt7

Datzhott.com Interviews David E Beats

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• This past week Datzhott.com Interviewed David E Beats.

Interview MP3: David E. Beats! True Expression Music: Click Here

David E Beats @ The Eclectic Ride (NYC)

Come see David E Beats rock the stage live with his band at the Eclectic Ride: NYCs Premier Live Music Showcase Party!!

$15 general admission. We are allotted 5 complimentary guests and 10 $5 reduced priced cover guests that will be good until 1AM.

Time: Doors open at 10:30 pm 
Location: Drom (85 Avenue A btw 5th and 6th streets)

Industry Spotlight Interview with Radio Host, Edward Zephyrin

State your name and occupation

Edward Zephyrin but known to most as "Ez". I am a PR/Marketing major/ a Radio host. (Fat Boy Radio)

The industry spotlight highlights the movers and shakers of the entertainment industry. How does that apply to you?

 I am trying to shake up the industry with new ideas and reinvention. Being able to re-invent yourself equals longevity

 What are some of initiatives you are taking to bring reinvention?

Just learning. Everything that spikes my interest: Researching and adjusting to concepts.

 How do you translate it into the music and radio world?

I look at the competition of both fields and see what they doing and how I can do it better.

 How long have you been a radio host for and what made you choose this path?

 I have been doing radio for about 3 years. But as of the past year I became seriously into it. I picked it up as a hobby with my friends to give a different view on Hip Hop.

 What are some of your plans for Fat Boy Radio this year?

 To keep getting better and bringing in more hi-profile guests. Better interviews but still having fun showcasing our skills and personalities. I want Fat Boy Radio to showcase new unsigned talent. People are always complaining about the new talent not getting a chance.

 Will Fat Boy Radio ever organize a showcase?

 Yes eventually. When we have the resources it will be sure to happen. But I would like them to be very organized. I'm still researching lol

 According what are the 5 skills a radio host needs to be successful?

 Patience, alertness, knowledge, personality, and a strong team.

 If you could move on to Commercial radio, what radio host would you like to replace?

 Anyone on Hot 97. Except Funkmaster Flex, Angie Martinez, & Paul Rosenberg. lol

 When is your show airing?

 Thursday 5-7:30pm

 Thank you for your time, any last words?

  If someone doesn't give you a lane. Make your own lane. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Being yourself can be the thin line that separates you from everyone else.

 

Interview: Datwon Thomas

From Vibe intern to industry innovator, this hip-hop die-hard breaks down the new rules of entertainment journalism
By Terry Wynn II – February 17, 2010

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When Datwon Thomas first interned at Vibe in the mid-'90s, the term "hip-hop journalist" was more of a notion than an actual career goal. Yet, as the music (and a slew of magazines covering it) blew up commercially, the Brooklyn native found himself at the forefront of the culture he loved in various top-level editorial positions at Harris Publications. Then, as quickly as you can say AutoTune, everything changed. Rappers started battling over YouTube instead of tracks, and Thomas saw several of his beloved imprints struggle with dwindling audiences (XXL) or fold altogether (King and Scratch).

So rather than fight the impending Web tidal wave, Thomas chose to embrace it. He joined Russell Simmons' online aggregator GlobalGrind.com in 2008 and hasn't looked back. "You have to be willing to challenge yourself and not be afraid of what may or may not happen," he says. "I was able to face my fear and move on to other opportunities because of my hunger from wanting to see an idea that I thought of come to life on a larger scale." Here, Thomas speaks about his new dual role, whether cult favorite King could have survived, and what happens when magazines act like rappers.

Name: Datwon Thomas

Position: Editor-in-chief and chief operating officer of Global Grind, Inc.

Resume: Started as an intern with Vibe's online division in 1996. In 1997, began writing for XXL, eventually becoming the magazine's associate music editor. After a tenure with Sean "Diddy" Combs' Web site, he launched King, the industry's first luxury lifestyle magazine geared toward African American men, with Harris Publications, Inc. in 2001. That success lead to the automobile-centric Rides in 2002, its spin-off Donk, Box and Bubble in 2004, and Hip-Hop Soul in 2005. He returned to XXL as editor-in-chief in 2008 before leaving for Global Grind, Inc. in March 2009.

Birthday: May 14

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Education: Attended Baruch College before leaving during his junior year to focus on writing full-time.

Marital status: Married with three daughters.

First section of the Sunday Times: Arts and Entertainment

Favorite TV show: Sanford and Son

Guilty pleasure: Nestle Crunch

Last book read: Honor Amongst Thieves by A.C. Clayton.

Twitter: @Daydog

Was writing about hip-hop always something you wanted to do or did you originally set out on a more traditional news path?

I started as an intern at Vibe magazine in 1996. And this was for their Web site, so there was very little respect at that time. In fact, I started out at one of their e-zines. I don't know if you can get any lower than that. But I did it for a year. My school, Baruch College, was right up the block, so I used to walk the 10 blocks every day and some mornings.

I always knew I wanted to do this because I am a hip-hop baby. I feed off of it. Some of the most inspirational moments in my life were sparked by hip-hop.

XXL and The Source had a long and open feud in the early 2000's. Does covering hip-hop culture naturally lend itself to this type of competition?

It is a hip-hop culture thing because hip-hop is based on battles. Like, "I come from nothing, but even my nothing is hotter than your something." Looking back on those days, it was fun to watch. But did it help the culture? I would have to say yes, because it pushed us to work harder and reach higher for our stories. If there is a "battle" it is because you deem the other person to be worthy competition. So yes, you'd say to yourself "I can't wait until next month because I am going to smash them creatively." Artistically, battling bred healthy competition.

"There are some people who take pleasure in watching their competitors' demise, but you have to look at the big picture and how the closure of a Vibe or a King has a negative impact on the industry."

You also deal with a lot of egos when covering celebrities and entertainment. Rappers especially get upset with coverage they think is negative. How has this impacted your work in the newsroom?

Hip-hop journalism has had to deal with big egos since it started. But I think it got a little more intense as the artists got bigger. Early on, you had Jay-Z, Eminem, Outkast, Dr. Dre -- so many huge stars. They come with handlers and publicists who may expect you to bury stories for their clients. And there have been instances where rappers have approached journalists and assaulted them because of things that were written about them. So I think at a certain point, it has affected the business of reporting hip-hop. But I am sure this happens at other publications too, not just in hip-hop. In this business, there are lots of stories that get pulled because of certain relationships behind the scenes.

King had a real cult following and a strong brand. Do you think there's anything that could've been done to save it from folding?

I wasn't running King from day-to-day when it closed. At the time, I was editorial director after stepping down as editor-in-chief in 2006. It was always my vision that the magazine would have a life beyond me, as I wanted to graduate into other fields. I brought the magazine up to a point that helped me career-wise, but I always wanted it to be a vehicle for others to experience what I did.

King was a cultural bomb in itself. It's been mentioned in countless videos and songs. It was the type of magazine that artists and models aspired to be in. It will always be my baby because that is the one I put together. I had the vision for it. I saw where it went and the niche market it would serve. It's what people associate me with most.

Could it have been saved? I think there are some things that could have been done differently business-wise to extend the life of it.

"You have to curate your magazine and your print like it's going to be consumed not for just that month but years down the line, like a coffee table book."

You were once an intern at Vibe. What are your thoughts on its demise and now sudden resurgence?

I think it's a very good thing. Now there are some people who take pleasure in watching their competitors' demise, but you have to look at the big picture and how the closure of a Vibe or a King has a negative impact on the industry. These magazines employ a lot of writers, stylists, models, and editors. But when a magazine closes, it makes corporate America think that "your" market is dying or is not viable. You don't want the industry to have the impression that your audience and target market matter have a voice. I'm happy that Vibe is back.

The economy hit music magazines especially hard over the past few years, but the genre has flourished online. What do you think the future is for music and entertainment journalism in print?

I think the future of music will be about big "events." It's not enough to just put Lil Wayne on the cover. Because if you are a fan of Lil Wayne, you can get all the information you need by jumping online. And you'd be more up-to-date than any magazine.

So you have to make events around a "Lil Wayne" that are unique to your brand and speak to what you are adding to the event. For example, you could do a review of every mixtape he's ever done and have them reviewed by his fan and peers.

You have to curate your magazine and your print like it's going to be consumed not for just that month but years down the line, like a coffee table book.

GlobalGrind.com is an aggregator of content, much of it user-generated. As editor-in-chief and COO, are you still able to have a creative influence?

As COO, I work with getting content deals so we can position the site as a stronghold on the business side. It also includes finding new revenue streams for the site. As the EIC, I oversee content for the site. The site itself is a monster because it's aggregated. But I think what it does is makes you look at content and how you may package it differently. I have to decide what works as original content and what works as aggregated [content].

I still have a creative influence in that it's my duty to find creative ways of packaging the content. Global Grind is known for its original celebrity bloggers like Alicia Keys and Russell Simmons and allowing celebrities to speak in their own voice. Speaking in first person, you learn things you may not glean from an interview. I have to package this accordingly to drive traffic to the site. Also, I know the importance of pictures and headlines, because the reader will go to the place with the better headline first. Also, it is about branding. Making sure the site is known to have the best voice, reputation and headlines.

For my day-to-day, I take my little girls to school, then I get on the train and I check my Blackberry. I do budgets, I look at the competition, and I look for new ideas. I may also be writing and preparing for a slew of meetings. There is so much to fit into an eight hour day that it always rolls over. I mention the family aspect because so much of my work spills over into my family life. I factor all of that into my life because it provides inspiration. My nine-year-old helps me out a lot, especially with some of the younger celebs in Hollywood. Someone sent me an email with the name of a Disney actor I didn't recognize and my 9-year-old got on the Internet and went to the actor's Web site for me.

What are your thoughts on the influx of hip-hop bloggers in particular? Do you think the Internet has hurt or helped the dissemination of news in the culture?

The thing about the Internet is that it is reckless. Whereas we had to do a large amount of leg work, nowadays, a blogger can just as easily grab someone else's work and present it as their own. Back in the day, we had to invest a lot of time in digging up information. It was a different process. So sometimes I get upset that the process that I went through was long and tedious, but it gave me a different perspective on how to look up information. But then I just ask myself... is this just the "new" process?

Now it's truly about whomever's insight is the most accurate, the most colorful or the most intriguing. So now I am really matching my skills up against the world. And I think I am still coming to terms with that. Some of my colleagues have accepted that this is the new process. And of course I am in the game, but it is hard to accept that this is how people get information now. And for the youth market, this is the only way they are consuming information. We can talk about how it used to be all day, but the youth of today don't care to experience it that way. But I truly feel the most innovative people are truly going to win in this race today. Because now it doesn't matter how much money you have. If you have a really great insight and unique way of looking at things, your reporting will rise to the top.