Why do major labels budget over $250,000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars US) on an artist's image development in the first year of signing? People Magazine states that "In the music business, image is everything." Your personal image for success depends on the following factors:

1. Developing a commercial look
2. Developing a commercial presentation package
3. Developing a commercial web site
4. Developing a commercial audio package
5. Developing a commercial video/film package

Today's commercial artist that earns well in excess of several million dollars a week in corporate sponsorships, advertisements, sales of their audio & video products, endorsements, speaking engagements, performances, movie contracts, soundtrack titles, and other commercial income must be packaged in a way that the public will "purchase" the image that they portray.

1. A COMMERCIAL LOOK - it all starts with commercial photography in a studio that is capable of getting the right kind of photos. In order for a world class photographer who shoots for the top fashion magazines, major labels, and corporations to "see" you as a superstar, your image development consultant must spend hours getting to know the artist. The artist fills out lots of paperwork, a design consultant decides their make-up, their hair, their clothes, and their commercial look.

No music or film producer is going to sign anyone in today's tough competitive market without having faith in their image, their vocals, and their ability to be packaged in a commercial way for the major labels. With advances now in the millions of dollars annually for pop, country and alternative music acts, a producer doesn't have the time to waste working with losers. He wants a winner that can bring home the right image to the camera.

2. COMMERCIAL PRESENTATION PACKAGE - involves three elements. To present an artist for consideration at a major label, they must have pictures, background information, a track record that is successful on the local level, and a commercial name. Very few people remember Harold Jenkins, but a lot of people remember Conway Twitty. Your image consultant will spend hours of their time working on getting the most commercial name, the most commercial photographer for your pictures, the right make-up, the right hair cut, and the right people for your team to approach the labels.

Your producer will spend hours searching for music, getting the right songs, the right musicians, making sure that each and every detail is correct in the way that you are presented to the labels as an artist. For further in depth information, please take the time to read the, Artist Survival Manual which is a free 200+ page book that answers all your questions about recording in the entertainment business and hiring your image development consultant for your presentation package.

3. COMMERCIAL WEB SITES - Today's commercial web sites are not complicated. The average person spends approximately 3-4 minutes on your site getting the main information. They may mark that site and come back to it later, but you only have a short time to make the right impression the first time.

If you are looking for commercial web sites, simply log on to the sites of some of the greatest stars in pop or country music today and see what's online. As you start out in the business of portraying yourself as a commercial entity for sale to the public, then realize that you must have the very best consultants in the world working around you that have worked for the biggest stars in the industry.

Arist Image Group is one of those companies that has worked with superstars, in both politics, music, and movies. They have worked the largest television audiences in the world, the best stars from the best labels in New York, Nashville, and Hollywood. One of the great sayings in this business is, "Being a star is not cheap. You are who you hire to work for you."

4. COMMERCIAL AUDIO - in today's music climate, a simple album in country music costs $150,000 to start at a major label and some can go as high as $500,000 in production costs. A recent Faith Hill video on one 3.5 minute song cost $2.5 million dollars. In order to be competitive in the field of music, you "must" have the greatest songs, the greatest musicians and the most powerful presentation that an artist can have. Those presentation packages of music start at $15,000 (Fifteen thousand dollars US) and go to $35,000 (Thirty five thousand dollars US) for a complete demo album. Don't cheat yourself and your dream by getting something cheap. Get the very best presentation package that you can afford to put together. Your consultant and producer will help you with all of those details.

5. COMMERCIAL FILM/VIDEO - Your "live" showcase video will be as important to your presentation as your audio package. No A & R Director at a major label is going to sign anyone that they haven't seen work a "live" show date. If you can't entertain and perform the music you record, then realize that you are not going to get signed. You must be able to take the image that is created for you and bring it full circle to the stage with live musicians and give the kind of performance that the public will pay to see. Ask yourself the question? Why would anyone pay to see what I do? If you wouldn't pay to go to your show, why should someone else? Each and every step that you take in this business of putting together a commercial package, must revolve around the "commercial" aspect of your name, your image, your career. Don't sell yourself short. Contact a professional today for an evaluation of your music, your image, and your chances at the dream of a lifetime.

6. GETTING STARTED - You can get started with a simple image development package which will include your commercial photos, your presentation package, biography, news release, and press kits with a six month retainer of $3500.00 (Thirty five hundred dollas US) plus your expenses. Web sites, and other commercial presentations of an artist that include a year's retainer start at $5,000.00 (Five thousand dollars). For more information on image consulting and development of a commercial web presence, please contact Contact Us and get a professional to guide you in your decisions.