Wendy Day
Wendy Day (born 1962)[1] is a mentor and consultant for hip-hop artists. In 1992, she founded the Rap Coalition, a not-for-profit organization helping artists navigate the industry more advantageously.[2][3] She also founded the consulting firm PowerMoves, advising artists and labels on independent options.
Rap Coalition
[edit]In one account, Rap Coalition was founded in 1992 once Day sold her condo, investments, and car to fund the not-for-profit organization. In any case, it would help hip-hop artists learn of exploitative practices, connect with artists sharing interests, and, through a support group, navigate the industry.
Throughout the 1990s, Day brokered landmark deals: Master P and No Limit Records’ 85/15 distribution deal with Priority Records, Twista’s 50/50 venture with Atlantic Records, and Cash Money Records’ $30 million deal with Universal Music Group.[3]
Day organized the 1997 Rap Olympics, whereby Eminem, invited by Day via his debut album Infinite to perform, gained an Interscope Records deal.[4] Day also assisted Lil Wayne, B.G., Juvenile, the Hot Boys, C-Murder, Fiend, Do or Die, Boosie, Webbie, David Banner, Ras Kass, Trouble, and Young Buck, among others.[1] Altogether, Day's clients have sold over $1 billion of sound recordings.[3]
Other projects
[edit]Day also operates the music-consulting company PowerMoves, which advises artists and independent record labels on options without sponsorship by a major record label. PowerMoves also helps artists gain direct investors apart from record labels.[5]
Day authored the book How to Get a Record Deal, revised in 2016,[6] whose audiobook is narrated by Slick Rick.[5]
In 2023, Day joined beatBread's Artist Advocacy Council,[7] which provides critical advice to the independent artist-focused music funding platform.
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Wendy Day Dot Com". wendyday.com. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ↑ Murray Forman, The 'Hood Comes First: Race, Space, and Place in Rap and Hip-Hop (Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 2002), p 309.
- 1 2 3 Jones, Rhian (May 15, 2018). "'Independent Artists Can Do Everything That Major Labels Can.'". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
- ↑ "Eminem's freestyles at the '97 Rap Olympics - Everything2.com". everything2.com. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
- 1 2 Nguyen, Hau (May 10, 2016). "Power Moves: Interview With Rap Coalition Founder Wendy Day". Stop the Breaks. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
- ↑ "Amazon.com - How to Get a Record Deal (2016 Version): The Knowledge to Succeed". Amazon. March 13, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
- ↑ Legrand, Emmanuel (June 10, 2023). "Creators' advocate Wendy Day joins beatBread's Artists Advocacy Council". Creative Industries News. Retrieved June 16, 2023.