DreamPath Podcast - Music Management and Fostering the Arts, with Ricardo Frazer

Music Management and Fostering the Arts, with Ricardo Frazer

Explicit content warning

09/04/19 • 54 min

DreamPath Podcast

Ricardo Frazer emigrated from Costa Rica to New York as a child, but he has spent most of his career in the Pacific Northwest, where he has been a pioneer of the music and arts scene for decades. Ricardo is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Seattle Theater Group (STG), which operates multiple historic performance venues in Seattle, including the Paramount and The Moore Theaters, which have formed the backbone of the live music and theater scene in Seattle for decades. Ricardo’s got his start at STG cleaning the floors of the Paramount Theater. Over time he worked his way up within the organization and in the arts community, getting to know every aspect of that business until finally being invited to serve on the board of directors. Ricardo is also Sir Mix A Lot’s longtime manager – a relationship that has spanned for almost 30 years. You know Mix from iconic rap and hip hop songs like Baby Got Back, and Posse on Broadway. In addition to music management, Ricardo is the co-founder of Zaki Rose Media, a full service creative agency, production and entertainment company. Ricardo has worked in conjunction with Universal Music Group, Sony Music, Warner Bros., and Rick Rubin, as well as the Seattle Arts Commission, and numerous other arts organizations in Seattle, helping to make Seattle one of the top music and arts communities in the country.

What you will learn in this episode:

Ricardo’s unique approach to artist representation as it relates to the musical and video content created by the agency.
Ricardo’s experience working for the Seattle Theater Group (STG), first cleaning floors and ultimately rising to become President and then Chairman of the Board of Directors of STG.
How Ricardo learned the business of music management in his early 20s, which helped him manage Sir Mix A Lot, one of the most popular rap artists in the 90s.
Ricardo’s tips for young people thinking about making a career in the arts.
Ricardo’s perspective on the challenges facing artists in tech-driven cities like Seattle.
The importance of networking and connecting with the right people to help the artists you represent obtain fair compensation for their work. Ricardo’s experience working for the Seattle Theater Group (STG), first cleaning floors and ultimately rising to become President and then Chairman of the Board of Directors of STG. How Ricardo learned the business of music management in his early 20s, which helped him manage Sir Mix A Lot, one of the most popular rap artists in the 90s.

Additional Resources:

Ricardo’s website: http://www.zakirose.com

What you will learn in this episode:

Ricardo’s unique approach to artist representation as it relates to the musical and video content created by the agency.
Ricardo’s experience working for the Seattle Theater Group (STG), first cleaning floors and ultimately rising to become President and then Chairman of the Board of Directors of STG.
How Ricardo learned the business of music management in his early 20s, which helped him manage Sir Mix A Lot, one of the most popular rap artists in the 90s.
Ricardo’s tips for young people thinking about making a career in the arts.
Ricardo’s perspective on the challenges facing artists in tech-driven cities like Seattle.
The importance of networking and connecting with the right people to help the artists you represent obtain fair compensation for their work. Ricardo’s experience working for the Seattle Theater Group (STG), first cleaning floors and ultimately rising to become President and then Chairman of the Board of Directors of STG. How Ricardo learned the business of music management in his early 20s, which helped him manage Sir Mix A Lot, one of the most popular rap artists in the 90s.

Additional Resources:

Ricardo’s website: http://www.zakirose.com

Previous Episode

Artists on The Dreampath: What We’ve Learned so Far, with Bryan Smith

Bryan Gregory Smith is a trial attorney, musician, world traveler, promoter of the arts, and creator of DreamPath Podcast. DreamPath explores the journeys of writers, musicians, filmmakers, painters, performance artists, and others who have forged a career in a creative space. What inspired them to make the leap from their day jobs to a career in the arts? What hurdles did they overcome? What did they learn from their failures? What advice do they have for those who have not yet made the leap? Tune in to find out the answers to these questions and more during what will hopefully be thought-provoking and inspiring conversations.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

What led Bryan from life as a victims’ rights attorney to that of a podcast host and explorer of all things creative
Patterns Bryan has observed that help young artists and creatives get their starts and what to do if you don’t have the available support
The importance of persistence and tuning out the negativity and doubt that many creatives encounter
The effects of strong partnerships and community on a creative’s journey
How having a passion can guide creative people through troubling times and motivate them to never give up
Advice for creatives to continue to find success personally and professionally
The universal human story and how it applies to our individual lives

Additional resources:

Bryan’s Website: https://www.dreampathpod.com
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreampathpod/

Next Episode

Songwriting, the Grammys, and Finding Your Groove with Hollis Wong-Wear

Hollis Wong-Wear is a Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, spoken word artist, public speaker, and creative consultant. When she’s not writing and composing her own music, she collaborates with individuals and organizations to develop their creative voices and amplify them for social change. Hollis is a member of the Seattle-based, electronic R&B trio Flavr Blue. She also works with other artists, including Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and was nominated for a Grammy with them for her songwriting and vocals on their 2012 album The Heist.

What you will learn in this episode:

How Hollis went from Academia to rap and hip hop music, and how her family reacted to this change of trajectory.
How spoken word performances helped her grow as an artist.
How she got involved in the making of the album The Heistwith Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.
How she helped Macklemore write the song “White Walls”.
How Hollis wrote the hook for White Walls and was chosen to perform on that song.
The importance of living and working in Los Angeles as a musician and artist.
How her mother’s work ethic and support influenced her education and career trajectory.
How being nominated for a Grammy helped her career.
Advice she would give to young artists trying to break into the arts.

Additional resources: