Music Collaborations are one of the most significant creative forces pushing the music industry today. In addition to creating dope music, collaborating with other music creatives has numerous benefits. Join me as I share with you five reasons to consider partaking in a musical collaboration. 

Remember to always get everything in writing.

Now that you have your songs or rhymes written and beats selected, it's time to head into the studio. It's important to keep track of how much money you have as well as how much money you will need to complete the project. 

Today's episode features five things to keep in mind when preparing the budget for your upcoming record project.

Have you ever heard a song that touched you in a way that you cannot put into words? Oftentimes our we form a relationship with songs based on the interactions we had while hearing them. We create playlists based on moods, we have special songs for walking down the aisle and we have songs we sing/play when we lose that special someone.

Songwriting is being able to tell a story and connect with listeners on a deeper level. As you plan to write your next song, keep this in mind: What comes from the heart, reaches the heart.

Whether your an independent music creative or an established one, studio time is something that doesn't come cheap. This is why it is important to make sure that you are prepared when you go to the studio to ensure that you use every minute to your advantage. Here are seven things that all music creatives should have before they prepare to leave a studio session. 

These seven things will help you to become more organized as a music creator. 

Whether you're uploading a song for streaming or for promotional purposes, every music creative should have some form of contract in place when it comes to the underlying music of the song.  Three contracts that are normally used to determine ownership are: Leasing, Exclusive and Work for Hire.

Remember whenever you create music with another creative always get it in writing.

If you plan to co-write a song, create a production for a song, or feature another artist on your song, it is important for you to have the proper agreements in place that specify ownership percentages as well as ensure that you are able to receive a financial return on your musical investment.  It is also important to remember that if you do not fully understand the terms in a contract or agreement do not sign it until you have consulted an entertainment lawyer.

Metadata matters and here's why, have you ever been grooving to a song and pull out your phone to Shazam it only to see the words "Not Discovered"? If you are like me, this is a problem especially if you had intentions of adding the song to your playlist.  

"Not Discovered" is a result of the music metadata not being properly attached to the music. Music Metadata is the information embedded in the audio file such as Artist, Producer, BPM, Isrc Code, etc, which allows your music to be properly identified, sorted, and stored everywhere your music is available. 

Without the correct metadata attached to your music, you could lose out on receiving credit for your music as well as the payout of music royalties.

So it's important to embed the metadata before you release music to ensure that your music can be identified correctly whenever it is being played. 

Are you a music creative releasing music and haven't received a royalty for your music? It could be because your music isn't registered with a Performance Rights Organization, which collects performance royalties on behalf of songwriters and publishers. Check out this episode and determine which Performance Rights Organization is right for you.

When it comes to music copyrights, it is important to understand that there are two forms: Composition and Sound Recording. 

Listen as I explore the six exclusive rights of copyright which allots music creatives with the right to do or authorize the following: 1.) to the right to reproduce, 2.) to prepare a derivative work, 3.) to distribute copies to the public, 4.) to perform the work publicly, 5). to display the work publicly, 6.) to create digital-audio transmission. 

These aren't just temporary rights, these rights last for the life of the author plus 70 years. 

One of the most important factors in the Quality vs. Quantity debate that often gets overlooked is the balance between the two. In this episode, I feature five tips to help you find a balance between the quality and quantity of your music. Whether your goal is to just release an album or have a career as a professional music artist,  it's important to make music that you can be proud of. Especially since the music, you create today will live on forever.