How critical is publishing and licensing and how do you do it? If you plan to have a successful career as an artist, you need to find out!

In this episode, Doc and Trig are joining by Lynn Lowe, President of Music Services where they have managed the catalogs for more than 250 companies including Reach Records, Goatee Records, Clear Sight Music, Spring Hill Records and more. Throughout they have helped over 34,000 writers involving over 450,000 songs and the issuance of over 250,000 licenses.

You’ll be sure to pick up some nuggets from this discussion.

Episode 7: The A&R Process

From concepts to companies ….

How do you take a project from $500 to $500k in revenue? How do you take a label from nowhere to 200 songs and 80 million streams in a year? How do you do both while remaining focused on God and Kingdom Building?  

From concepts to companies, Doc Watson (Jacob Makaish), Co-CEO of Reflection Music Group and Trig (James Rosseau, Sr.), CEO of Holy Culture, come together to share their long-standing relationship, as well as their individual and interwoven journeys through CHH. More importantly, they share their collective experiences with the intent of helping others that are embarking on this journey.

Reflection Music Group is one of the most prominent entities in CHH, releasing more than 200 songs in 2019 alone, amassing more than 80 Million Streams. RMG’s roster includes Derek Minor, Canon, Byron Juane, DJ Standout, Danielle Apicella and Tony Tillman and through RMG Amplify, Thi’sl, Dee-1, Propanga, Roy Tosh, Mission, Brvndon P, Kurtis Hoppie, Ryhan Lamarr, Quinten Coblentz, and Sada K.

Holy Culture promotes Christ, serves the Christian community and provides tools, all in a manner that is relevant to those engaged in hip-hop culture. Our tagline is "Connect, Collab and Inspire." We endeavor to create systems and processes that increase the efficacy of CHH, to create a community where iron sharpens iron and people work to understand each other’s gifts and how they work towards the benefit of the entire body (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬, Romans 12:4-8) and to create a place where works are organized to edify believers and share the gospel with non-believers. 

About Doc and Trig

Doc Watson (Jacob Makaish)

Doc Watson is the CEO and co-founder of Reflection Music Group (RMG), an independent hip-hop label based out of Nashville, Tennessee. He started his journey in the music industry working in radio and as a producer. After garnering success hosting parties and releasing his own wave of projects at the height of the mixtape era, Watson found a need for a deeper purpose. That’s when he connected with Nashville-based artist Derek Minor to establish Reflection Music Group. Since the label’s founding in 2009, RMG has produced numerous nationwide tours, hosted its own SXSW showcase, and placed numerous projects on the Billboard charts, including multiple placements for Canon on the Top Rap Albums list. Minor, also a Grammy-winning artist, has had two projects on the prestigious Billboard 200.

RMG now houses RMG Amplify, a distribution and marketing service available to artists without the commitment of signing to a label. Watson prides himself on being a marketing expert, emphasizing consistency and authenticity. Before getting into music, he spent 10 years in the Army as a member of the highly-respected 101st Airborne Division where he learned discipline and the importance of execution. Now, he and his wife enjoy working out, hiking and exploring the city together.

Trig (James Rosseau, Sr.)

James Rosseau, Sr. (Trig) is the CEO is the CEO of The Corelink Solution (the parent company for Holy Culture), a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that exists to revitalize communities through programs that empower people to reach their potential. Coinciding with his 20 years in CHH (artist, producer, radio host, event promoter and media owner), he has spent the same in senior leadership positions in companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Allstate, and LegalShield.

He serves on the DeVry University Board of Trustees, is the author of Success on Your Own Terms: 6 Promises to Fire up your Passion, Ignite Your Career and Create an Amazing Life and holds an Executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.

He initially joined the Holy Culture Radio family in the early 2000s, became a partner in the business, the HolyCultureDownload Store, a mainstay prior to the launch of iTunes. Holy Culture launched its media outlet not long after that and the rest is history.