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. Its roster of celebrity advisors and mentors included Tupac Shakur as well as Chuck D of Public Enemy.[4]
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 demo tape Infinite to perform, gained an Interscope Records deal.[5] 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.[6]
Day authored the book How to Get a Record Deal, revised in 2016,[7] whose audiobook is narrated by Slick Rick.[6]
In 2023, Day joined beatBread's Artist Advocacy Council,[8] which provides critical advice to the independent artist-focused music funding platform.
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Wendy Day Dot Com". wendyday.com. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- ^ Murray Forman, The 'Hood Comes First: Race, Space, and Place in Rap and Hip-Hop (Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 2002), p 309.
- ^ a b c Jones, Rhian (15 May 2018). "'Independent Artists Can Do Everything That Major Labels Can.'". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- ^ Couch, Christina. "Wendy Day: Hip-hop Mentor". Get In Media. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
- ^ "Eminem's freestyles at the '97 Rap Olympics - Everything2.com". everything2.com. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
- ^ a b Nguyen, Hau (10 May 2016). "Power Moves: Interview With Rap Coalition Founder Wendy Day". Stop the Breaks. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- ^ "Amazon.com - How to Get a Record Deal (2016 Version): The Knowledge to Succeed". Amazon. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- ^ Legrand, Emmanuel (2023-06-10). "Creators' advocate Wendy Day joins beatBread's Artists Advocacy Council". Creative Industries News. Retrieved 2023-06-16.