Article about Global Music Group: The 29th Party, The Death Row Catalog, etc.

[Kilo2]

http://www.al.com/entertainment/press-register/lspecker.ssf?/base/entertainment/1224753374117980.xml&coll=3

Entertainment Columnist Lawrence Specker
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Local roots, 'Global' ambition
Thursday, October 23, 2008
When the red carpet rolls out Wednesday at a Mobile nightclub, the late rap titan Tupac Shakur will not stand on it. But he might stand behind it.

The actual occasion is a launch party for Global Music Group, a record label that has big plans for itself and for Mobile. Its roster of artists lists Mark Morrison, an established British R&B singer; rapper Hussein Fatal, formerly a member of Shakur's group The Outlawz; budding country acts Janet Martin and Stony Run; and a number of other artists in rap, rock and R&B.

Roland Turner, the CEO of Global Music Group, said the company is poised to take a place alongside established major music labels. It will release a series of albums over the next six months, he said, and has already secured national distribution through a deal with Universal Music Group.

The goal on Wednesday is to make a splash. To that end, GMG's artists will start arriving at The Whiskey, a nightspot at 4130-B Government Blvd., about 6 p.m.

They'll start performing at about 7 p.m. Turner expects industry media to be on hand, as well as music-industry stars who aren't part of the label's roster.

These might include rappers such as Crooked I, Eastwood, Kurupt and Daz Dillinger, who were formerly a part of the lineup at Suge Night's infamous Death Row label, Turner said.

That Death Row connection brings us to the splashiest part of the GMG splash.

The fate of Death Row's assets -- generally believed to include a treasure trove of unreleased Shakur material -- made headlines in June, when Global Music Group of New York came out of nowhere to win a California bankruptcy auction with an offer of $24 million. At the time, a woman named Susan Berg was the face of the company.

From June through the end of August, news reports indicated turmoil: A schism between Global Music Group partners; delays in completing the deal; the possibility that other investors would step in to support GMG; and a report that Death Row trustees wanted the bid canceled.

Where things stood when the dust settled, or if it ever had, remained unclear through September. Turner is unequivocal: GMG owns the rights to the Death Row catalog, he said, and he is the supreme commander of GMG's American and foreign arms, including the New York group that won the Death Row auction.

In practical terms, he said, the Death Row catalog remains snarled in a thicket of claims and counterclaims. Interested parties include, but are by no means limited to, Shakur's surviving relatives.

"There's no telling when anything from that catalog will ever be released," Turner said. "Once that is all free and clear of any encumbrances and we are able to release, I will be the one administering the catalog and releasing it."

So what's the benefit to owning it? Aside from the hope that it will eventually generate profits, via new Shakur albums or other releases, there's the halo effect. The deal gets GMG some media attention and industry respect as it puts forward its own multi-genre lineup.

"Right now we're probably one of the most popular record labels in the world, because of the Death Row thing," Turner said.

If that popularity helps make Wednesday's event a big deal, that's strictly according to plan. (Ticket are available at The Whiskey for $10 in advance, $15 at the door. To make reservations or inquire about VIP packages, call 251-442-4663.)

But what about afterward? Will GMG have an effect on Mobile in general, and its music scene in particular?

Certainly it will have a presence. Turner said the company's global headquarters is in Mobile, though it maintains offices in New York and elsewhere. He's a native and a Vigor graduate, and thinks the area has a lot of potential and a deep talent pool. He envisions developing a stable of 30 to 40 artists, including some with local roots.

He's not the only local name involved. According to www.globalmusicgroup.net, Whiskey owner Mike Wilson serves as chief financial officer. Tony Cooper, officer of the Jada recording studio on Dauphin Street, is GMG's studio director. And radio personality and DJ Rodney "Rodski" Toomer, a radio personality and DJ, is listed as director of A&R.

Turner said that he's been running Global Music Group for about eight years, and it's time to bring the company to "a major point of view."

"It really helps when you're involved with a catalog that's worth about $130 million," he said.

Of course, you also have to have real-world expertise, experience and resources. He said GMG has it all.

"We actually have everything in our stable that every other major record label has in their stable," he said. As of next week, they'll be busy putting out albums, recording videos and everything else that goes along with it.

"We're just going to keep moving on a daily basis," he said.

http://www.globalmusicgroup.net

[Kilo2]

The homie Roland - Company Owner on NBC15.

http://www.nbc15online.com/content/heresdarwin/story.aspx?content_id=f6798bc5-529a-425d-bc87-522f1ee112ad

[EFFeX]

Man, someone PLEASE just release all these classic albums once and for all officially. None of that FTP stuff, I want the official copies, sounds like this GMG really is taking this Death Row thing seriously.

[Kilo2]

Man, someone PLEASE just release all these classic albums once and for all officially. None of that FTP stuff, I want the official copies, sounds like this GMG really is taking this Death Row thing seriously.

Yeah man, everyone over at Global are great people. I talk with Roland pretty often. He's a great guy, really down to Earth. He's not afraid to get down to the nitty gritty! He's the only C.E.O. I have ever known who will talk to anyone who wants to speak to him.

Mark's album getting promotion on K.I.S.S. in Buffalo, New York!:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/503062259aac0c48/

(PROPS TO: Big League Entertainment b.k.a. The NY dudes)

Props to everyone at Big League Entertainment especially Slim for the great marketing strategies. They got shit on fucking lock. I'll be in attendance at the Global party, so if you want to hook up at the party I will give you my contact information.