United Masters host SelectCon 004, With Special Guest Headliner Issa Rae

Short N Sweet Ent

Photo Credit: Something_light_media

"The Ultimate Conference for The Independent Creator"

On May 5, 2022, United Masters, the number one distribution app, hosted SelectCon 004 in Brooklyn for hundreds of individuals that came out to seek more knowledge and tools about the music industry. The platform gives artists access to exceptional music distribution services and skills that are necessary to maintain full ownership of their master recording rights. The day was filled with exclusive workshops, small-group mentoring, panels, and performances centered on building the future of artist independence.

During the UnitedMasters University portion of the day, attendees had the opportunity to have small and intimate discussions with professionals in their respective fields. Anyone could sign up for the below topics:

Artist Marketing and Management

Legal Knowledge for Artists

Music Distribution 101

Creative Direction for Artists

Behind the Scenes of A&R

Social Media Strategy

On the main stage the beautiful and talented host, Paige Shari Addison kept everyone engaged and made sure the flow of the show didn’t miss a beat. The afternoon schedule featured a live SelectConversations podcast recording with Coodie & Chike, the creatives behind the Netflix documentary Jeen Yuhs. Then, a discussion on “Creating Hits” with legendary music producer Hit-Boy. Followed by “Mining Diamonds” live podcast recording with DJ Drama, hosted by Jim Jones, Nakia Booth, and Gregory “Beef” Jones. At the end of the night, everyone was at the edge of their seat for the FireSide Chat with Steve Stoute and Issa Rae. Lastly, the evening ended with an after-party DJ line-up featuring DJ Drama, Angel + Dren, and a special performance with music artist Serayh and Col3trane.

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If you missed the “Mining Diamonds” live podcast recording with DJ Drama you missed out on gems that will last forever. When asked to provide advice for the younger generation who wants to be put on the path to generate income in the music industry,

Jim Jones responded, “10 percent is music and 90 percent is business. Be smart about it. It’s all out there for you to get. It’s like the Wild Wild West, it works for all of us. The blueprint is right in front of you.”

Photo Credit: Stefan Bunbury

DJ Drama responded, “at the end of the day it’s about the product. It’s about the music, longevity, and reinventing yourself. If you love it you’re going to get a chance and when you get that chance don’t drop the ball.”

Photo Credit: Stefan Bunbury

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By the end of the evening, everyone was ready to get all the gems from founder and CEO of United Masters Steve Stoute and award-winning actress, author, and entrepreneur Issa Rae. The conversation started by explaining her journey with how the world got introduced to her through her comedy web series Awkward Black Girl. Now back in college, I was truly a fan of this series. I felt like I could relate to what was being created because this story was about the real-world experiences that my friends and I were facing growing up. Transitioning to being a fan of Insecure, Issa Rae pulled on my heartstrings because not only was she saying everything that was in my head but it was the first time in my adult life I got to see black representation on a larger scale. As the conversation grew, Issa described her love for exercising her muscles to create, her role in the black community, and how important it is to have a team.

She expressed, don’t sell yourself short. You need people around you to provide insight. You need that because you would make critical mistakes that are necessary for you to move forward. My friends saw my worth more than I did.”

Photo Credit: Something_light_media

When asked by Steve Stoute what comes next, Issa Rae responded, “I want a studio. I want to continue to build within my community. There are so many opportunities to help build my neighborhood. I have so many more stories to tell. My power comes with creating and this is only the beginning.”

We are excited to see how independent artists will take advantage of what United Masters has to offer. If you missed the day, click the link for live-stream footage.

Until next post… Coach Tay