Our Process

• 1 evaluation

  We will conduct a comprehensive overview of your material and discuss where you would like to be with your career in the future. We provide you with our detailed analysis on vocals, songs, style, arranging, production, photo/design, and packaging. This is NOT an audition. This is a time to give you good, strong constructive feedback, so we are able to help you achieve your goals.

• 2 styling/art direction

  GEM is a proven leader in the world of music. We provide both short and long-term consultations on creating, updating and/or expanding a public relations strategy. We partner with top public relation firms such as Susan Blond Inc. and Big Machine Media.
  
  GEM has access to the highest levels of the music community (i.e. its leading musicians, singers, music institutions, publications and labels, top industry photographers, stylists, art directors, producers, vocal coaches, recording studios, and video directors), as well as a broad range of businesses outside the industry – such as producers of fashion, art, cuisine and luxury goods.

• 3 production

  Choosing a producer...
  is important, choosing the right producer is key…and through our relationships we have met a host of producers who have amazing backgrounds in the industry making wonderful records. As we get to know you, our job is to find the right producer who will not only work with you musically, but also someone who shares the vision for your project. GEM, the producer, and you the artist will work together as a team through the music production.
  
  Songs
  The first step in any album project is great songs. Let that sink in. Great songs. This is the first place we step things up. Maybe you have written them already, or maybe you would like to co-write them, or you need new songs. We'll figure out the proper course after we get together at the studio and just spend a day or two pouring over the songs and the reasons you want to sing them. We will discuss how the arrangements should flow and what kind of musicians we will need for the project. This is an important time, and we are after a final product of original, high-quality songs that come from your heart.
  
  Tracking
  We start by getting the musicians scheduled. Drums, Guitar, and Bass will be the foundation of the record. Besides working with great musicians, many times you’ll leave the studio with much more than what we had planned in pre-production. We are careful to hire a great lead engineer and pick the right studio rooms for recording. We don't cut corners – a quality engineer adds experience and makes sure every note played is recorded  correctly. The studios we work at are among the best in the business.
  
  Vocals
  After the tracks are recorded we add other overdubs such as keyboards, orchestration, background vocals, and any other needed elements, it's time for the artist to sing. This is another area in which we add quality. Most likely, in your previous recording projects, someone directed you to a booth and pressed record. Our approach is a bit different. We need the absolute best vocal we can get from you. This means working with you on how to sing notes, phrases, ad libs and riffs. It also may mean bringing in a vocal coach or arranger to work with us. Finally, we carefully tune and perfect the vocal performance to make sure we have the best vocal track we can have. Many vocalists like this to be a separate trip, so you can have time at home with the studio tracks to get your performance down. This is totally up to you. This is also usually the time we have the photo shoot for the album design and web site.
  
  Mixing
  Once all parts are recorded, we begin the mix. Again, a very important part of the quality issue. We use award-winning engineers that have been part of many large projects, and that are selected especially for your mix because of what they bring to the table. Not just the same old crew that does every record. Then when mixes are approved, it's time to get the mixes mastered, graphics ready and then off to duplication. You are the complete owner of the CD master.

• 4 creating your brand identity

  GEM will assist you in identifying who you are as an artist and determine the best ways to communicate your musical identity to the public by crafting the perfect brand identity statement. Being able to identify your target audience is crucial to your success. Designing highly effective social media pages around your brand identity is key.
  
  GEM can work with you to create a biography that tells an interesting and entertaining story about your music that your fans will enjoy reading. Your biography is the first thing your fans will read to learn more about you as well as the first piece of material any venue, radio station, print outlet, label, manager, agent and blogger will read.
  
  GEM will also write press releases, liner notes, and advertising copy to suit any need. With literally millions of other artists online vying for attention, you need top quality writing to get your message out.

• 5 new media and social networking

  The Internet has completely transformed the way we seek information, communicate with each other, enjoy, share, listen to and learn about music. With more than a billion people online, internet-based technologies including web sites and social media now provide tremendous opportunities for artists, ensembles, and organizations to engage their audiences directly and to cultivate new fans, without having to rely solely on third-party media coverage. New technologies present a range of opportunities in advertising, ticket sales, dissemination of information about musical performances, and, of course, the distribution and consumption of music itself. Having an effective web site and internet strategy is no longer a luxury but is a necessary part of a marketing and public relations campaign. GEM identifies, evaluates and recommends the most important and effective online marketing strategies and tools to meet each client’s specific goals and requirements.
  
  GEM evaluates and recommends improvements to existing marketing and advertising plans to suit a client’s specific needs, as well as helping to improve materials and tools already in use. Finding and cultivating new audiences through social media pages is a key component to the continued success of any artist. GEM helps to develop and grow your identity online by reaching target audiences world wide, social media pages are also intended to attract new listeners and consumers through marketing initiatives, online promotions and contests. Building Your Brand is Key!
  
  GEM represents a roster of important clients in the areas of digital marketing and new media. We control and heighten each client’s online presence by leveraging tools such as search engine optimization, social media, and e-newsletter campaigns among the best in the business.

• 6 promotion

  The album is finished and the first radio single has been selected. Whether you are a major label entity or an independent artist, a reputable, established radio promoter is key to persuading station decision makers to even listen to the track, and then convincing them to add it to the playlist. After all, a song can't make it on those essential singles charts -Billboard, R & R, FMQB and others – unless it makes it at radio. Let's face it, getting a song played on the radio is a tall order. While choosing the right single is often difficult, hiring the best radio promotion company is not.
  
  Adding GEM in your strategy is probably the easiest decision you will make when launching a recording project or taking it to the next level. As your channel to radio in those crucial secondary and tertiary markets, GEM is dialed in to radio, ensuring that your song isn't just at the top of the stack, but in the CD player where it belongs.

• 7 strategic marketing

  Building your music through a brand...
  
  It is imperative to both the recording artists and the record labels that they are open to every possible marketing opportunity. With thousands of creative options at the fingertips of sponsoring brands, the artist and record label can no longer sit back and wait for the phone to ring. GEM will create opportunities by taking advantage of its wealth of experience and extensive contacts, including but not limited to:
  > Exploring potential tour sponsorships
  > Exploring endorsement deals
  > Exploring branded content possibilities
  > Showcasing your talents in front of Advertising Agencies and Brand Managers
  > Assisting you in contract negotiations
  > Representing you in meetings with key decision makers
  
  If you have an agent and/or manager, we will support their efforts in finding the options that would help you achieve your goals. If you do not have an agent and/or manager, we will either help you assemble the best team of music professionals to suit your needs, or find an agent and/or manager that not only meets with your approval but also meets our high ethical and professional standards.

• 8 stats

  We use stats to track the “who, where, what why and when” of your music to ensure you are getting full coverage and creating awareness. Full tracking and reporting includes all areas of exposure from radio to social media. Analytical data is not limited to terrestrial radio airplay and digital/physical sales but also includes monitoring the growth of the artist’s “digital footprint.”  By monitoring these key areas both on and off line show detailed comprehensive reports that highlight successes that can be spread as well as issues that require maintenance.
  
  Specific reports include:
  > Daily/weekly radio airplay
  > Sales – local and national
  > Weekly radio recaps
  > Online streams
  > Social media monitoring

• 9 fresh ideas

  There is nothing more important to the vitality of a successful artist or organization than the constant implementation of effective new ideas and a regular review and update of PR and marketing strategies that can quickly become out-of-date in today’s fast-paced media environment. GEM brings a realistic and objective analysis and evaluation of such campaigns to the table, and can recommend appropriate changes and improvements. Brainstorming, trouble-shooting and problem-solving are an inherent part of GEM’s consulting services.
  
  Consulting and brainstorming meetings are conducted either on site or at GEM’s offices, according to the client’s preference.