How We Help

Our Programs

We instill skills and perspectives that encourage intuitive mindsets and allow students to work through the music industry to encourage positive social change within their communities.

Business of Music Program

Specifically designed to address various occupations essential to the success of mainstream commercial music, fashion and art, the Business of Music Program addresses five key components required for successful distribution in the music, fashion and art industries: marketing, public relations, promotions, sales, and logistics.

Outside professionals from the various levels of local and regional music, fashion, art and entertainment industries assist in instruction of the program.
High-school students are also instructed in Pro-Tools applications (100, 200) and Avid video software applications to initiate interest in the technological side of the music, fashion and art industries.

The class is divided into five teams (25-30 students each). Each team is given a budget and charged with collectively accomplishing the following:

Create a media kit
Create and "pitch" a press release
Design street flyers
Schedule on air appearances
Create and produce commercials to "air" on the radio
Secure a venue (for the culminating showcase: Da Party)
Design a webpage(s) for artists on www.pradagi.org
Learn videography and how to edit video using Pro-Tools and Avid software technologies

Everything leads to Da Party!

Program Methodology:

Marketing a CD is the most expensive and extensive part of the business. Aspects to consider include video, public relations, touring, marketing campaigns, and promotions to increase interest with radio DJs. Traditional marketing methodologies should integrate proven systems with contemporary approaches to promotion to advance the brand of the artist.

Marketing:

1. Market Identity: Classify the target demographic. We show the students how to identify the age, gender, ethnicity and buying patterns of the target market.

2. Brand: What is the brand identity of the artist? Is there one? How to build a brand or use an existing brand to support the marketing plan and get the artist noticed in the marketplace.

Public Relations:

1. Press Release: The students will learn how to write a press release and how to disseminate it to various media channels via the Internet, print, television, radio.

Promotions:

1. Street Promotion: The grass roots approach to reaching a specific market is to go where they are, the streets. The students will have to create a street promotion team to distribute their material.

2. Internet Media: Students create an e-mail database and learn how to use that database to market. And how to create awareness for their artist on the internet.

Sales:

1. Getting Noticed and Reaction: How to get favorable attention and focus on the artist and gain consumer interest in the artist.

2. Persuasion and Devotion: How to create the consumer desire for a consumer to buy the artists' CDs and to develop loyalty.

3. Sales Goals: How to drive sales through the retail chain. A way to drive sales.

Logistics:

1. Event Preparations: Contact limousine and transportation companies to facilitate movement of artist that will serve as ground transportation team. Structuring advance teams to make appropriate provisions before the artists' arrival at a venue, club, appearance, photo shoot, etc.

For the kids, by the kids

To keep the students motivated and give them something solid to work toward, the Business of Music Program concludes with "Da Party," is a mini concert and fundraiser for the students and the surrounding community featuring local and regional musical artists, fashion designers and contemporary artists. The entire production is marketed and promoted by the students.

This is an exciting time and a valuable payoff for the students as they see their efforts pay off. Students demonstrate what they have learned in the program and use this education and training, not only to make "Da Party" a success, but to utilize the skills they've learned in other disciplines. Whether the students decide to pursue a career in music, fashion or art, or any area for that matter, they are now armed with confidence, awareness, knowledge, and discipline.

Proceeds from the sales of concert tickets go directly back the school participating in the programs. Profits from the sales of the sweatshirts and T-Shirts go directly to the participants in the Business of Music program.

Students track the progress of radio and promotional development though weekly reports received from commercial radio stations every Friday for a 2-month period after "Da Party." Students with the most effective marketing plan receive dinner with their parents courtesy of Pradagi-Foundation, NFP and other prizes. All students will receive gift bags for participating in The Business of Music program.

Keep it Real and Keep it P.U.R.E. 4 the Way We Live

The Pradagi-Foundation Business of Music program teaches KINESTHETICALLY, (learn through this method of combining bodily movement and position, mediated by nervous elements, which deal with the effects of forces on changes in a physical or chemical system) i.e. The Human Body. Studies estimate that 80% of high-school dropouts in America would learn more effectively through this method.

To register for the Business of Music class at Malcom X college click HERE.