It feels weird that this is my last post as an “Intern” …

L has worked and met with plenty of artists over the years, and he’s noticed that a lot of them are “ready for the moment, but not ready for the rest”. It’s easy to fall in love with an idea that looks perfect in your head, but how do you react if things don’t go that way? How do you react after, even if things do go that way? To L, that’s what development is about. How ready are you for the rest of your life? And how bad do you really want it? It’s more than the music for a lot of the executives in the industry, it’s about your drive, and the best way to prove it – is to do it yourself.

Every single Saturday, we set aside time in the morning to be with each other, and even though we’re happy to be there, we feel like we have to be “the artist”, “the manager” or, “the producer”, or anything else. At the “Wellness In Music” event, for the first time, we came as humans, and nothing more.

In most creative endeavors, leverage is your best friend. Your music should already have the attention of the fans, because radio stations play the music that people WANT to hear. Just like Chance The Rapper, and other artists like him, gaining leverage independently is the most important thing you can do for your career.

Because of this understanding, our Radio and Brand Management panelists talked to us about how artists could work to build their personal/independent brand online. As with all Finessed Media events, it became clear that seeing the community win became the top priority for everyone involved in the call

As often as possible during the event, our panelists reminded us how important it is to be prepared for opportunity. They emphasized being as professional as possible, with an emphasis on becoming familiar with the skills and tools you’ll need in order to succeed in what you want to do.

Our panelists also helped us understand that there is no “secret” way to get to where you want to be in your career. Everybody’s story is different, and no two people followed the same path, but all of them got to where they are by working hard.

Sometimes it’s hard for people to understand how big our dreams are. Luckily, that’s never mattered to us. What does matter though, is that we continue to do what we love, and help the people that we want to help. So, as we continue to build, work, and struggle, towards everything that we want for ourselves and each other, we will continue to toast to our small victories because we are excited… we just happen to know that we’re not done yet.

On that day, Finessed gave me the spotlight, but really, they gave all of us an opportunity. It’s bigger than Finessed Media, and it always has been. Bringing my idea of a Worldwide Beat Battle to life was proof of that.

Shout out to everyone who made it possible, and stay tuned to hear what TN and Swank are working on. If you’ve been following us, you know that we have a little surprise coming up.

One of the most important things that Maj mentioned during his event, was the importance of understanding that this is a long game. He reminded us that things might not happen exactly when we want them to happen, but that shouldn’t stop us from trying. On that Saturday afternoon, Semaj cemented in our heads that if you are willing to grind for it, it will pay off.

None of these stories follow a simple trajectory, and few backstories do, but for these Women, learning when and how to pivot, became key to their success. Obstacles are thrown at them literally every single day – especially at a time like this, but being the leaders that they are, they have been able to navigate. They found new ways to support their clients, and luckily for us, they were willing to share.

Sean said, “Remember, these artists were just like you before they were famous”, which really stuck with me.

He assured me, and the rest of the audience, that musicians, artists, and industry professionals, are more often than not, excited about giving good people the opportunity to do what they love. So when the stars align, and you meet that artist outside a studio, feel confident in approaching them, because “more often than not”, they’re gonna want to hear what you have to say.

Because of my meetings with Alexi and Finessed Media, not only do I have a plan, but I also have a chip on my shoulder. I want to be the best. I want to be someone you are proud to support. Finessed Media is my teammate, my coach, my manager, and my fan club, all in one – and we’re in a league of our own. If you want to make it in the Music Industry, Finessed Media will not only help you and show you how, they’ll be right there while you do it.

These are the people I met on my very first day at Finessed. These are the people dedicated to reaching every goal they set for themselves and Finessed. These are the people I’m proud to surround myself with. This is Finessed Media. Please get acquainted.

Welcome to the Finessed Media Blog. I’ll be dropping weekly pieces to recap the work that our team is getting done over the next few months. So, if you’re interested in reading about the growth of Finessed Media/any of its members, or even learning about how you can propel your own music industry career, check back here every Tuesday.

- Bhaven Moorthy