ISSUES #22: MAY 2016
VIDEOS
This Very Moment
K-Ci & JoJo
written by DeYon Dobson & Tim 'TiO' Owens
Love At Your Fingertips
The GAP Band
written by DeYon Dobson, Lance Whitfield & Theo Forsett
'Bout That Life
Lil' Tone
Don Jon Movie Soundtrack
ON TRACK
noteworthy
noteworthy
our interview with songwriter and composer
DeYon
Dobson
MUSIC
DeYon Dobson is a classic example of an entrepreneur pursuing a career he could love versus a job. “Never the easy route but when you love what you do it feels a lot less like work.” DeYon is a songwriter and composer and owner of Yon Ti Entertainment in Southern California. DeYon and his writing partners have a number of songs recorded by major artists and included in a number of films. DeYon studied music and business at Cal State University, Northridge (CSUN to the locals) and he has always passionately chased his dream of a career in music. Through hard work and making the right moves he has been able to do just that.
Man, you are truly a veterano in the industry D. What was your first song placement in your career?
I got my first song placement in 1984 with MCA records and a group called Xpurtz. The song was Come Work My Body and I co-wrote it with Rodney Potts, Ray Myrie and Garnell Johnson. The group members were friends of mine from school that got a deal. I almost got into the band myself. I was over the moon to get my first song placed. I didn’t’ produce the record but I was officially in the game!!
How would you say “breaking in” the music industry differs now from when you were starting out?
Now it’s extremely hard but can be easy at the same time. Just depends on what your objective is. For instance, a record deal with a major is virtually impossible; or at least undesirable. Too many hurdles to jump over when you can do it yourself. In fact, the record companies want you to damn near do their work for them before they will even look at you seriously. They want to see your
social media fan base and campaigns, plays and downloads numbers, the size of your following and ALL of that. If you don’t have the money and resources to make all that happen, they consider you not worth it. And if you DO have all that you should be thinking “what do I need a record label for, at this point?”.
In the old days the record company would sign you and invest in developing you. You only needed talent. They would find records for you, groom you, develop you from the ground up. These days they do more like partnership deals. Labels are offering 360 deals now that include a piece of every source of income an artist earns… music, merchandise, movies, TV, DVDs, or tours just to make up the money they are missing from reduced record sales numbers of late. It’s a new playing field and with these new components at stake, it almost easier to remain an indie artist. Less obligation and less overhead before you start to earn a profit.
This Very Moment
K-Ci & JoJo
written by DeYon Dobson
Hanging with comedienne Luenell
Kevin Black, Angie Stone and DeYon
Terry Hunt of L.A.Hair reality show
DeYon with The Game and DJ Hustle
The key is doing shows and touring for income these days. Since people don’t really buy records anymore you have to be out performing and hustling your merch to create real profit and to create grass roots buzz. It’s rewarding but its hard work to make it happen. I personally wouldn’t want to be an artist entering the marketplace right now.
Oh, and another way things differ from a production standpoint is that back in the day you could actually have money in your pocket without a record being sold. Recording budgets and advances to producers meant you could survive until you got record royalties coming in. Recording budgets today are nowhere near what they were then.
Any comment on the quality of music today? What about the messages in the music?
Man, I’m laughing because I remember when I was coming up my parents used to say the same thing I’m about to say. There is rarely anything original coming out. The technical side of it sounds great. The quality is clean. Creativity, on the other hand, has been put into a box. It’s shrunk. Everybody sounds the same, raps or sings in the same style and tone, talking about the same things… you can’t tell one artist from the next. I mean, there IS some stuff out that I like and can really appreciate.. on the rap and R&B side. All genres, actually.
Yeah, these days, you can pretty much be blindfolded and listen to 10 records/artists and not be able to tell them apart…
If you go back to the beginning of the industry, everybody had the same instruments and equipment and managed to have unique sounds and styles. Now everybody has a slew of equipment and technology but everyone sounds the same. I miss the choices and having unique artists to choose from.
Any thoughts on ghostwriters? With the Meek Mill vs. Drake sh*t that went on, it seems to be a hot topic these days.
Not really an issue to me because a lot of the iconic artists didn’t write their own songs. Whitney Houston didn’t write her material; Chris Brown doesn’t write most of his songs. To me, a song is a song. It’s a business. If you didn’t write but you perform it well… that’s all the listening public really cares abot at the end of the day. I guess in rap it’s a little more of a credibility and reputation thing.
Who are you feeling musically right now, musically?
Angie Fisher, who sang that I.R.S. song. Waiting to hear what she does next. She’s on Hidden Beach. I love Anthony Hamilton and Eric Benet. I’m feeling Rihanna's “Better Have My Money” and the song with her and Kanye and Paul McCartney.
Tell me about your music library service? Do you use representation or you basically network yourself? Can you give me a rundown on the songs you’ve placed, like name and artist… TV show or movie? A lot of questions, I know… (LOL)
Well, there are a couple of resumes at play there. I write and produce for artists and projects with my production partners Jeffrey Freeman and L. Young. The name of the music library is Perpetual Music Group. I'm co-owner of with Frank Josephs and Michael Ripoll. We’ve worked on projects like…
How do you market your music library?
Originally, I sought out opportunities by speaking on it. Actually I still do. I’m a true believer in speaking things into existence. I make what I do part of my regular conversation. I met music supervisor John Houlihan through a friend of mine years ago. He played basketball in the circle of friends I routinely played with. I made it a point to talk about what I do and what I was interested in doing without beating him over the head about hooking me up. It took me five years before I got a placement with him but we finally made it happen. He’s been responsible for a number of my placements over the years.
What’s in your studio these days? Do you have a Go To instrument or plug-in you’re loving right now?
Old vintage keys with tons of plug-ins… I use Reason, Nexus, Vintage B4 organs, Lounge Lizard, Spectrasonic Trilogy (bass sounds and 808s), Omnisphere (keys, synthy strings, pads) and RMX for great drums, loops, etc. I use drums from Addictive Drums and drum sounds from everywhere. Plus I work with some extremely talented musicians.
As an entrepreneur, how do you keep yourself motivated when you can create your own schedule and work ethic? It’s gotta be easy to give yourself the day off or procrastinate.
Its discipline. If you don’t have it it’s not gonna work. I always make sure I give myself daily tasks. I don’t care if it takes all day but I have to get it done. If I procrastinate it’s a disservice to myself. Playing sports and music is the same principle. You have to work your craft and hone it. Even if there is no “game” going at the time. And you can’t take no for an answer, even from yourself.
What you do for fun/relaxation when you do have time for yourself?
Playing basketball and I just recently learned to ride a motorcycle. That’s my new passion. I haven’t bought a bike yet but I promised myself one after getting my real estate license. Other than that I love spending time with my family and, of course, music.
BREAKING NEWS!! DEYON PASSED HIS REAL ESTATE LICENSE TEST AT THE END OF AUGUST!! HE'S NOW A BONAFIED REALTOR WITH
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY. LOOK HIM UP AND HOOK HIM UP!!
#positiveblack
#bringmusicback
