Los Angeles, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Silent Giant) - The fastest growing demographic in
America is American-Latinos. This includes the growing number of English speaking America-Latino musical artists who are experiencing huge success. Yet, with this success, there is a growing concern that these musical artists are not prepared for the complexity of the music industry.
Hip Hop artist, "Down a/k/a Kilo" is currently the number one English speaking American-Latin rapper in America. His song, "Lean Like a Cholo," is taking the airwaves and sales charts by storm. A "Cholo" is a Latino who lives a hip-hop life, style of dress, lingo and attitude. Down a/k/a Kilo has been No 1 in sales on iTunes Latino with over 85,000 copies sold in the last four weeks. This Cholo is truly "pop", and is scheduled to appear on Ryan Seacrest's morning radio show on June 12, 2007.
Down is signed to Silent Giant Entertainment, who is distributed through the Universal Music Group's Machete Records. Silent Giant is run by Edward "E-Dub" Rios, who has been called the Russell Simmons of Latin Hip Hop. E-Dub's vision and ability to keep things moving forward in the Latin Hip Hop movement is widely recognized as a national force in helping the successful cross over of American-Latin hip hop music, especially for second generation Latin teens. He is also the creator of the widely successful, nationally syndicated radio show, "Pocos Pero Locos".
"With this level of success, as an experienced entertainment attorney, you want to see the artist make it across the finish line. Many artists are in danger of either getting taken advantage of, entering into the wrong agreements with the wrong people, or not making the right strategic decisions to leverage their momentum and keep their careers on track," says Los Angeles entertainment attorney Helen Yu, who represents many leading musical artists including rapper Down a/k/a Kilo and producer Edward "E-Dub" Rios.
To maximize a musician's career, Ms. Yu recommends:
1. Surround yourself with the right team. When faced with success, many musicians are tempted to rely on personal friends or family members. In many cases this can lead to making poor decisions. "The entertainment industry is very complex and you need to surround yourself with professionals who know the field and can guide you past the landmines."
2. Work only with an experienced entertainment attorneys. "Many newcomers don't realize how involved attorneys are in this field. A good attorney can make or break your career."
3. Keep all your options on the table. There are many different ways to make money in the music business: record sales, ringtones, downloads from iTunes, touring, sponsorships, and endorsements. It is important to carefully examine all of these avenues for potential revenue streams. Ms. Yu is known for helping clients maximize every possible way a musician can grow their career.
