84th Annual Academy Awards

 The Oscars is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. Some of the most recognizable faces in film will be attending this star-studded event.  The Academy Awards were first introduced in 1929, to honor individuals for their cinematic achievements in the film industry. In so many ways, the Academy Awards are considered to be one of the most prominent award ceremonies in the world. Also, the Oscars are one of the oldest ceremonies in media as well. The name Oscar originated from actress Bette Davis, who named the award after her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson. The 85^th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. One of the things that fans look forward to at the ceremony is the red carpet entrance of all the stars. Also, being able to see what the stars will be wearing for the event is very special.

     The awards given for the event are comprised mainly of Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Director. Indeed, these particular awards are considered to be the cream of the crop in the film industry. More importantly, winning an Oscar could change an individual’s life and career forever. Some of the notable films and actors nominated this year, are Ben Affleck in Argo, Denzel Washington in Flight, Django Unchained, Life of Pi, and Lincoln. The films that are nominated this year are some of the best in recent years. The cinematography and the originality of films have evolved so much over the years. On the other hand, the Academy Awards have been criticized constantly for not recognizing the artistic vision, and the cultural influence of some films. As a result, the box-office winners usually are the films that demand the most attention, but that doesn’t necessarily make them the best film though. In my opinion, the Academy should find a different ways to vote for individual categories. Perhaps, that can broaden the audience at the event and maybe that can change the landscape of the film industry. The Academy Awards has been around over 84 years, and hopefully they’ll be around for many more years to come. 

55TH Annual Grammy Awards

    On February 10, 2013, the 55^th Annual Grammy Awards will be held at Staples Center in Los Angeles. By industry standards, a Grammy Award is the highest and most coveted honor in the recording industry. The Grammy’s were established in 1959 to recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry. The name originates from the trophy design, which resembles a gilded gramophone. Music executives created the award so individuals could be recognized by their prospective industry, which is similar to the Oscars and the Emmys. The award category consist mainly of four awards, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artists. In fact, there are other awards that are given as well. For example, the Lifetime Achievement Award and also the performance and production awards are given each year. LL Cool J, who hosted last years Grammy’s, will host the event once again. Some of the notable artists slated to perform this year, are Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Frank Ocean, Mumford & Sons, and Hunter Hayes. 

      In many ways, the Grammy Awards gives artists a chance to be heard and to showcase their talents. More importantly, the Grammy’s gives a worldwide view of every genre of music. On the other hand, many individuals have a different take on the awards. Music executive, Steve Stoute accused the Grammy’s of snubbing artists that posses a greater cultural impact, also he believes that the awards have lost touch with contemporary popular culture. Nonetheless, the Grammy Awards are a distinguishable part of our musical history and also how we measure our music. Over the years, the Grammy Awards have fueled the musical careers of so many artists, musical icons such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Lauryn Hill, Norah Jones, and Adele.  In my opinion, the Grammy Awards are good for our industry, because it motivates artists to continue to create new and innovative music for the world to enjoy.   

The SXSW Experience

    The professional association that I’ll be discussing is the SXSW Music Conference and Festival. The very first conference was held 1987 in Austin, Texas. Outside it’s reputation for being a party town, the city of Austin is probably the last place you’d think that would be hosting a music conference. Perhaps, maybe that’s why people are so amazed by the large number of individuals who attend the conference. Having had lived in San Antonio for a number of years, gave me an opportunity to absorb the diverse culture in Austin. Indeed, the whole experience is different because it’s so many varieties of music there. Surprisingly, the popularity of the SXSW has sored almost immediately.  Artists travel from all over to network and interact with individuals who share the same passion for music. More importantly, record executives have begun attending this event in hopes of getting a glimpse of up and coming artists, also so they can consult with other labels. SXSW holds special workshops that are geared towards the film and music industry. Secondly, they have guest speakers that share their knowledge and their opinions of the industry. Therefore, the festival is tailor-made for live bands and underground artists that want to be discovered. I admit that, the music industry is very challenging and  much more difficult to succeed in. Moreover, industry outlets have become smaller and smaller, which makes it a lot harder to discover new talent.

   In so many ways, artists need these types of venues to educate their minds, and also to sharpen their business and networking skills.  Over the years, the conference followers have grown from over 700 registered attendants to almost 12,000. The SXSW conference has so much to offer, that I must take the time to attend the next one. The music industry constantly changes by the second, so individuals who are concerned with furthering their careers should attend these type events. Some of the artist and guest speakers include, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Bruce Springsteen, Conan O’Brien, and Big Sean. So, if you have any interest in becoming more educated and cultured about your industry, SXSW is definitely the way to go. 

http://sxsw.com/
http://www.austintexas.org

Connecting The Dots

  The TED video I chose featured Steve Jobs as guest speaker, at Stanford University. Jobs speech was riveting and thought provoking. From the very beginning, he had his audience captivated the moment he uttered his first word. More importantly, his honesty and heart-felt words compelled each and every individual in the audience. Perhaps, maybe the knowledge and advice that Jobs shared can be applied to every aspect in life. Indeed, every story that he told was filled with feeling and inspiration. In my opinion, what made the speech so amazing was the fact that Jobs was able to show his human side. In one of his stories, he mentioned the importance of connecting the dots in your life. Secondly, he expressed that you can’t connect the dots by looking forward; you can only connect them by looking backwards. Jobs spent almost his entire life creating new and innovative products for the world to share. After all, he built a 2 billion dollar empire off shear genius. Moreover, he was able to revise the company Apple, and develop new companies such as Pixar and NeXT, which ultimately changed the way we view modern technology.  I must admit this speech really touched me, so I’m sure it inspired the graduating class of Stanford. He also detailed the importance of living every moment like it’s your last, and never giving up. Jobs explained how staying “Hungry and Foolish”, and never taking life for granted can assist individuals who want to become successful. Steve Jobs left a lasting impression on us all, and also showed us how we should live and enjoy our lives.  

     Every individual in this world has encountered some type of life changing experience. But, it takes an extraordinary person to be able to except those setbacks and continue moving on. Personally, I’ve experience many setbacks in my own life, but I’ve never stop trying to reach my goals. As I’ve grown older, I’ve begun to realize that hard work does pays off; also that I must keep searching for what I love, and continue chasing my goals and achieving my dreams.

                       http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html

Saving Hip-Hop

   I’ve always been a huge fan of hip-hop music. Indeed, the art form has evolved tremendously over years, and has become one of the most influential genres of our time. On the other hand, there are so many issues that could potentially damage its growth. For example, the death of Tupac Shakur, and Notorious B.I.G, has left an empty feeling in the hearts of fans around the globe. In my opinion, Tupac was the Malcolm X of hip-hop, and Biggie, the urban version of Michelangelo, who painted vivid lyrical masterpieces. Both rappers left a lasting impression on hip-hop culture, and changed the way individuals measure the music. Indeed, one can only imagine the music the two would’ve created if they were alive today. Perhaps, what makes their deaths so tragic, is the fact that they died so young. Wallace, died at the tender age of 24, and Shakur, at age 25. Over the years, The Source has offered their view of hip-hop’s most tragic events, and how the industry has been affected by their deaths. Hip-hop also lost rising rap artists, Big L, Soulja Slim, and legendary DJ, Jam Master Jay. In fact, the murders still remain unsolved to this very day.

    In order to save hip-hop, artists must become more responsible for their lyrics, and realize that the art form is suffering due to violence.  The world of  hip-hop has enormous potential, and room for growth, but the industry must make some needed changes in order to save the genre. The question that still remains, is what have we learned from losing these hip-hop icons? Regardless, as an industry we must preserve our music and create positive images that will transcend throughout our culture.