RECESSION AND SMALL BUSINESS

For months I am hearing complaints after complaints, gripe after gripe about the RECESSION (the economy and the music business)

Every business encounters a slump at one time or another. Whenever this happens, small business owners find themselves hustling more so than ever to stay afloat. It then becomes hard to manage ones business when one has more time than money.

In some cases business owners might have to take on the tasks of employees whom they have laid off. They also have to compete against the other businesses who are struggling to stay afloat and try to dominate the market.

For the music business - I say one just have to get on ones grind and use marketing tactics - think outside the box.

Make sure your customers continue doing business with you during tough economic times. I came across some tips from Steve O'Leary and Kim Sheehan. Here they are:


1. Continue advertising. History shows that marketers who stop
advertising during a recession lose market share.

2. Focus on existing customers. You know your customers better than
anyone. You know what types of product mixes are most appropriate for
them. Use this information to create offers that are most valuable to
them.

3. Listen. Collect customer feedback. Use either formal (surveys) or
informal (asking people in store) feedback instruments to find out how
your customers are dealing with the recession and how your store could
help them. Ask them what types of specials they would like to see.

4. Focus on the neighborhood. With record high gas prices, people are
likely to drive less. Allocate some of your marketing budget to
current and potential customers who live close to your store (also
known as your retail trading area). Print media is great for this
effort, especially flyers and/or direct mail.

5. Value messages are critical. Think about the prices you can offer as
well as the discounts that might be available. Make both prices clear
in your messages.

6. POLITENESS COUNTS, more than ever. Greet customers when they enter
your store. Thank them when they leave.

7. Consider a loyalty program. If you don't have one in place, think
about a punch card-type loyalty program that is quick and easy to
implement.

8. Create benefit offers. Select specific products or services and
package them into a value offer that you can advertise in store and
through traditional channels.

9. Dial up the service. Make sure your employees understand the value of
exceptional customer service during this time when customers may be
looking for reasons to switch.

10. Think treats. Even though customers are cutting back, according to
Money Magazine, they plan to spend a small amount of their tax refund,
or rebate check, on a small treat for themselves. Think about what you
might offer your customers as a special, one-time discount on a treat
to get people in your store.

11. Partner with a local cause. During a recession, many of your customers
may cut back on philanthropic giving. Partnering with a charitable
cause reflects well on you, and can somewhat assuage your customer's
guilt about not donating more to charity.

12. Evaluate advertising messages and response. If you are promoting sales
and discounts in different vehicles (such as in the local newspaper,
or online), track your response from each vehicle.

REGGAE ENTRIES FOR THE 51st GRAMMY AWARDS

This year there are 36 submissions for the Best Reggae Album - Vocal or Instrumental. Nominations will be announced in early December. Results will be announced during the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards Telecast on Sunday, February 8, 2009, from Staples Center in Los Angeles, on the CBS Television Network.

The following are the 36 submissions for the Reggae category:

1. Anthony B

LIVE ON THE BATTLEFIELD

2. Pato Banton

DESTINATION PARADISE

3. Burning Spear

JAH IS REAL

4. Busy Signal

LOADED

5. Anthony Cruz

FIGHT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT

6. Cryout

RIGHTEOUS MEDICATION FOR

THE SOUL

7. Elephant Man

LET'S GET PHYSICAL

8. Etana

THE STRONG ONE

9. Gov't Mule

MIGHTY HIGH

10. Cas Haley

CAS HALEY

11. Beres Hammond

A MOMENT IN TIME

12. Heavy D

VIBES

13. I Wayne

BOOK OF LIFE

14. Isreal Vibration

STAMINA

15. Jahmusik

DREADS IN MY HEART

16. Jamelody

BE PREPARED

17. Kingman & Jonah Featuring

Claudius Linton

SIGN TIME

18. Luciano

JAH IS MY NAVIGATOR

19. Morgan Heritage

MISSION IN PROGRESS

20. Lee "Scratch" Perry

REPENTANCE

21. Lee "Scratch" Perry

SCRATCH CAME, SCRATCH SAW,

SCRATCH CONQUERED

22. Pressure

LOVE AND AFFECTION

23. Prince Fatty

SURVIVAL OF THE FATTEST

24. Richie Spice

GIDEON BOOT

25. Ed Robinson

THE AWAKENING

26. Rockamovya

ROCKAMOVYA

27. Rootz Underground

MOVEMENT

28. Shaggy

INTOXICATION

29. Sly & Robbie

AMAZING

30. Soja

SYR MAHBER

31. TIGER

TIGER UNLEASHED

32. Various Artists

BUJU BANTON PRESENTS:

JAMROCK CLASSICS VOL.

33. Various Artists

DROP IT RIDDIM

34. Various Artists

JOURNEY

35. Various Artists

THE ULTIMATE REGGAE

DANCEHALL X-PERIENCE 2008

36. Taj Weekes & Adowa

DEIDEM

DELAYS AT THE U.S. COPYRIGHT OFFICE

Processing time is currently taking longer than the eight to nine months from the time a complete submission is received in the Copyright Office.

Processing time to receive a completed certificate of registration is currently taking approximately 12 months from the time a complete submission is received in the Copyright Office and the record is opened in their database. The registration is effective, however, on the date of receipt of the submission. Once the process is completed, they will mail a certificate of registration. You do not need a copyright number or certificate in order to proceed with publication or other use of the material.

The U.S. Copyright office receive upwards of 10,000 pieces of mail a day -wow!

Kudos to the writers and musicians etc. they are getting smart and registering their work. So to all, do not get turned off due to the delay, keep doing the right thing and protect your work.

REGGAE INDUSTRY IS ROCKED WITH THE LOSS OF ANOTHER GREAT ARTIST - ALTON ELLIS

My sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of the late great musical giant Alton Ellis who passed.  He truly, truly touched our hearts in the reggae world. I feel very honored to have known him and thoroughly enjoyed his company whenever he visited our studio while he was in NY.

Alton will be missed greatly but not forgotten.

Kindly visit Alton's myspace to offer your condolences -myspace.com/altonellisod