Volume 1, Issue 3 |
| iStandard Producers |
IAE: Can you please tell us where you’re from and what got you guys interested in the music
business?
DON: I’m from North Jersey, about 10 miles from Midtown and currently reside there. As a teen, I was always
bopping around town looking for live shows to attend, although I wasn’t old enough to get in. From there, I
knew I needed to do something involving music. Growing up, I was into various genres and styles of music,
from The Beatles to Led Zeppelin, over to Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg. When I went to college, at William Paterson
University, I enrolled as a Communications major taking on a minor in Music Management. The second I took
the music courses, I so blown away by all the intricacies of recording, publishing, law, and publicity, that I
began interning at various companies in the music industry. The day after I graduated there was a job waiting
for me, so I knew this was my calling
JH: I started out as an emcee [Hip-Hop artist]. That didn’t pan out so I took the business route and have been
involved in every aspect of the music industry. It was only right we started our own movement.
RJ: For me, it was simple. Nothing else really interested me in school other than who was listening to what in
their Discman players [a modern antique], what the current climate of music was, who was hot, who was
overrated, etc. I’m also a drummer and have been playing [drums] since the 5th grade. I don’t think anyone
really understood that you could actually work in the music industry. Growing up, we tend to be in our own little
worlds, worried about day-to-day things, not really looking toward the future. When I realized that people could
actually make a living in the music industry, doing something I truly love, my dream began.
IAE: What was your first professional job in the music business?
JH: I was an intern at Bad Boy Records and worked/promoted Lil Kim’s first album, 112’s first album, and had
the opportunity to learn the street and club promo grind.
DON: My first job was an Executive Assistant position at a management company called, Worldwide
Entertainment Group. We managed Duncan Shiek, Courtney Love, Marah, and a few others. It was ok, but
honestly, my heart wasn’t fully in it. I wasn’t feeling the company’s direction, so I decided to leave and branch
out into my own endeavors.
RJ: My start was a summer internship at a booking agency that locked in major events across the US and
overseas. This was around the time that John Legend’s debut album was released, and southern artists were
gaining major steam so the demand for live events was quickly growing. As far as a fulltime job goes, it was a
position at ASCAP [American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers], where I still work.
IAE: What is iStandard Producers and how did it come about?
JH: Don [Di Napoli] came up with the idea. He knew that I was conducting one of the most successful artist
showcases in NYC, so he approached me with his idea and we came up with a format for [music] producers
that made sense.
DON: The word “iStandard” has become synonymous with Music Production over the past 5 years, and it’s
easy to see why. We at iStandard have showcased over 2,000 producers worldwide, in front of millions of
people; both at live events, and online. We have created countless relationships, acting as a catalyst for some
of the hits you hear today, and providing music producers the most comprehensive knowledge about the music
business. iStandard has been branded internationally, which has helped us become the #1 coalition in the
world for music producers.
iStandard was founded by myself and my business partner J Hatch started the monthly in New York City on
March 16, 2005. The main reason this event was established was so the up-and-coming Hip-Hop/R&B/Pop
Producer could platform their music in a professional setting in front of individuals that could potentially change
their careers. These individuals include Record Label Executives, Established Producers/Artists, Publishing
Companies, Entertainment Attorneys, Engineers, Film/TV/Video Game Music Supervisors, and anyone that
that is looking for production.
The format of the iStandard Producer Showcase is as such: Every month via our website, iStandardProducers.
com, approximately 100 music producers from all over the globe submit their tracks to be considered for our
events. Of those producers, we choose the top 10-12 and ask them to prepare a CD of their five best tracks,
formatted at 1-minute per track. As each producer steps onto the stage, the DJ plays their CD in front of our
Industry Judges Panel, and a large crowd of music industry professionals & consumers. On each panelist’s
score sheet, they rate the producers 1-10 on Originality, Marketability, Usage of Elements (samples, live
instruments, etc.), Fidelity, and Overall “Super-Producer” Potential. After each producer has played their CD,
all of the scores are tallied, and a winner is announced. The winning producer receives a prize package
consisting of various music products and media exposure to help enhance their production repertoire, as well
as increase awareness about them within the music industry.
IAE: How has your involvement with various music conferences, helped iStandard build its brand?
JH: It has been very helpful in building our overall scope and awareness for iStandard. We have grown our
following into the hundreds-of-thousands by putting over 2000 producers on a stage, compiling incredible
exclusive site content, and really being an advocate of educating the producer on how to get to the next level.
RJ: Every conference that we are involved in, whether it’s the ASCAP Expo, Sha Money XL’s One Stop Shop,
A3C, Miami Music Festival, Remix Hotel, etc. – we have the opportunity to shake hands and network with the
people we can help the most. All three of us are easy to get in touch with and we take pride in being a part of a
rare breed of people in the industry who actually reply to anyone that reaches out to us. We have built this
brand from the ground up, and everyone we come across somehow contributes to our growth.
IAE: What are some of your firm’s most recent successes?
JH: We have helped place some records recently with 50 Cent, Diddy, Buckshot, Clipse and more, but I feel
our success really was our ability to build a brand from nothing. It was very organically grown and we staff up
to 20 plus people who all believe in our dream and have made it their own, by embracing the iStandard
business.
DON: Within 5 years, the iStandard Producer Showcase has become a national event. Now being held in cities
such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, Miami, San Francisco, Boston, and Philadelphia,
The iStandard Producer Showcase has also been held at major conferences/festivals such as the ASCAP “I
Create Music” EXPO, Remix Hotel, the One Stop Shop Producer’s Conference, and the A3C Hip Hop Festival.
Producers from all over the US & Canada have participated in our events, as well as international producers
from Japan, Germany, England, Croatia, Norway, Africa, Italy, Poland, The Bahamas, and beyond.
Due to the overwhelming demand for the iStandard brand, we decided to launch www.iStandardProducers.com
in early 2007. This site is focused on providing the world of music production with Placement Opportunities
(major & independent label artists, Film/TV/Video Games, and more), daily blog updates on happenings within
the music industry, exclusive production-related videos/interviews/reviews, information on the hottest new
technologies, as well as social networking without all the fluff of a MySpace or Facebook. iStandardProducers.
com has proven to be a successful means of production submission, as International Superstar Diddy’s 2009
single “Diddy Boppin” was found on the site by Bad Boy Records A&R “Senator Skid.” In addition, our site
receives almost 2 Million hits per month, from over 100 countries, all in the name of Music Production!
IAE: What would you say is the most rewarding aspect of what you guys do at iStandard Producers?
JH: For me, the most rewarding aspect is being able to meet incredible new music producers, as well as those
who paved the way like RZA, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, and Large Professor. It’s like a producer’s dream come
true.
RJ: When you get to meet legends in the game who seem so out of reach, and you’re not there to ask for an
autograph but rather start relationships – that’s what’s rewarding to me. The fact that we have the ability to
bring down the invisible walls of communication between those in power and the up-and-comers in the
industry, and having a movement with support behind it, gives you the chance to say that you are contributing
to the business that you love.
IAE: If you could change anything about the music business, what would it be and why?
RJ: The economy. Sometimes you get the feeling – and this goes for any industry - that overpaid executives
are using the “E word” to benefit themselves and take advantage of a negative situation. Last year, iStandard
Producers were fortunate enough to have grown 40%, but some people really are hurting out there. On an old
‘Sopranos’ episode, [the character] Tony said, “There are only two things that are recession proof, and that’s
the entertainment industry… and our thing.”
JH: I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s going to be a rollercoaster ride and an adventure to see where this all goes.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON iStandardProducers PLEASE VISIT: www.iStandardProducers.com
business?
DON: I’m from North Jersey, about 10 miles from Midtown and currently reside there. As a teen, I was always
bopping around town looking for live shows to attend, although I wasn’t old enough to get in. From there, I
knew I needed to do something involving music. Growing up, I was into various genres and styles of music,
from The Beatles to Led Zeppelin, over to Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg. When I went to college, at William Paterson
University, I enrolled as a Communications major taking on a minor in Music Management. The second I took
the music courses, I so blown away by all the intricacies of recording, publishing, law, and publicity, that I
began interning at various companies in the music industry. The day after I graduated there was a job waiting
for me, so I knew this was my calling
JH: I started out as an emcee [Hip-Hop artist]. That didn’t pan out so I took the business route and have been
involved in every aspect of the music industry. It was only right we started our own movement.
RJ: For me, it was simple. Nothing else really interested me in school other than who was listening to what in
their Discman players [a modern antique], what the current climate of music was, who was hot, who was
overrated, etc. I’m also a drummer and have been playing [drums] since the 5th grade. I don’t think anyone
really understood that you could actually work in the music industry. Growing up, we tend to be in our own little
worlds, worried about day-to-day things, not really looking toward the future. When I realized that people could
actually make a living in the music industry, doing something I truly love, my dream began.
IAE: What was your first professional job in the music business?
JH: I was an intern at Bad Boy Records and worked/promoted Lil Kim’s first album, 112’s first album, and had
the opportunity to learn the street and club promo grind.
DON: My first job was an Executive Assistant position at a management company called, Worldwide
Entertainment Group. We managed Duncan Shiek, Courtney Love, Marah, and a few others. It was ok, but
honestly, my heart wasn’t fully in it. I wasn’t feeling the company’s direction, so I decided to leave and branch
out into my own endeavors.
RJ: My start was a summer internship at a booking agency that locked in major events across the US and
overseas. This was around the time that John Legend’s debut album was released, and southern artists were
gaining major steam so the demand for live events was quickly growing. As far as a fulltime job goes, it was a
position at ASCAP [American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers], where I still work.
IAE: What is iStandard Producers and how did it come about?
JH: Don [Di Napoli] came up with the idea. He knew that I was conducting one of the most successful artist
showcases in NYC, so he approached me with his idea and we came up with a format for [music] producers
that made sense.
DON: The word “iStandard” has become synonymous with Music Production over the past 5 years, and it’s
easy to see why. We at iStandard have showcased over 2,000 producers worldwide, in front of millions of
people; both at live events, and online. We have created countless relationships, acting as a catalyst for some
of the hits you hear today, and providing music producers the most comprehensive knowledge about the music
business. iStandard has been branded internationally, which has helped us become the #1 coalition in the
world for music producers.
iStandard was founded by myself and my business partner J Hatch started the monthly in New York City on
March 16, 2005. The main reason this event was established was so the up-and-coming Hip-Hop/R&B/Pop
Producer could platform their music in a professional setting in front of individuals that could potentially change
their careers. These individuals include Record Label Executives, Established Producers/Artists, Publishing
Companies, Entertainment Attorneys, Engineers, Film/TV/Video Game Music Supervisors, and anyone that
that is looking for production.
The format of the iStandard Producer Showcase is as such: Every month via our website, iStandardProducers.
com, approximately 100 music producers from all over the globe submit their tracks to be considered for our
events. Of those producers, we choose the top 10-12 and ask them to prepare a CD of their five best tracks,
formatted at 1-minute per track. As each producer steps onto the stage, the DJ plays their CD in front of our
Industry Judges Panel, and a large crowd of music industry professionals & consumers. On each panelist’s
score sheet, they rate the producers 1-10 on Originality, Marketability, Usage of Elements (samples, live
instruments, etc.), Fidelity, and Overall “Super-Producer” Potential. After each producer has played their CD,
all of the scores are tallied, and a winner is announced. The winning producer receives a prize package
consisting of various music products and media exposure to help enhance their production repertoire, as well
as increase awareness about them within the music industry.
IAE: How has your involvement with various music conferences, helped iStandard build its brand?
JH: It has been very helpful in building our overall scope and awareness for iStandard. We have grown our
following into the hundreds-of-thousands by putting over 2000 producers on a stage, compiling incredible
exclusive site content, and really being an advocate of educating the producer on how to get to the next level.
RJ: Every conference that we are involved in, whether it’s the ASCAP Expo, Sha Money XL’s One Stop Shop,
A3C, Miami Music Festival, Remix Hotel, etc. – we have the opportunity to shake hands and network with the
people we can help the most. All three of us are easy to get in touch with and we take pride in being a part of a
rare breed of people in the industry who actually reply to anyone that reaches out to us. We have built this
brand from the ground up, and everyone we come across somehow contributes to our growth.
IAE: What are some of your firm’s most recent successes?
JH: We have helped place some records recently with 50 Cent, Diddy, Buckshot, Clipse and more, but I feel
our success really was our ability to build a brand from nothing. It was very organically grown and we staff up
to 20 plus people who all believe in our dream and have made it their own, by embracing the iStandard
business.
DON: Within 5 years, the iStandard Producer Showcase has become a national event. Now being held in cities
such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, Miami, San Francisco, Boston, and Philadelphia,
The iStandard Producer Showcase has also been held at major conferences/festivals such as the ASCAP “I
Create Music” EXPO, Remix Hotel, the One Stop Shop Producer’s Conference, and the A3C Hip Hop Festival.
Producers from all over the US & Canada have participated in our events, as well as international producers
from Japan, Germany, England, Croatia, Norway, Africa, Italy, Poland, The Bahamas, and beyond.
Due to the overwhelming demand for the iStandard brand, we decided to launch www.iStandardProducers.com
in early 2007. This site is focused on providing the world of music production with Placement Opportunities
(major & independent label artists, Film/TV/Video Games, and more), daily blog updates on happenings within
the music industry, exclusive production-related videos/interviews/reviews, information on the hottest new
technologies, as well as social networking without all the fluff of a MySpace or Facebook. iStandardProducers.
com has proven to be a successful means of production submission, as International Superstar Diddy’s 2009
single “Diddy Boppin” was found on the site by Bad Boy Records A&R “Senator Skid.” In addition, our site
receives almost 2 Million hits per month, from over 100 countries, all in the name of Music Production!
IAE: What would you say is the most rewarding aspect of what you guys do at iStandard Producers?
JH: For me, the most rewarding aspect is being able to meet incredible new music producers, as well as those
who paved the way like RZA, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, and Large Professor. It’s like a producer’s dream come
true.
RJ: When you get to meet legends in the game who seem so out of reach, and you’re not there to ask for an
autograph but rather start relationships – that’s what’s rewarding to me. The fact that we have the ability to
bring down the invisible walls of communication between those in power and the up-and-comers in the
industry, and having a movement with support behind it, gives you the chance to say that you are contributing
to the business that you love.
IAE: If you could change anything about the music business, what would it be and why?
RJ: The economy. Sometimes you get the feeling – and this goes for any industry - that overpaid executives
are using the “E word” to benefit themselves and take advantage of a negative situation. Last year, iStandard
Producers were fortunate enough to have grown 40%, but some people really are hurting out there. On an old
‘Sopranos’ episode, [the character] Tony said, “There are only two things that are recession proof, and that’s
the entertainment industry… and our thing.”
JH: I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s going to be a rollercoaster ride and an adventure to see where this all goes.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON iStandardProducers PLEASE VISIT: www.iStandardProducers.com
| iStandard Producers Making Dreams Come True |
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