As the owner of Wray's Caribbean and Seafood Cuisine in Brooklyn, New York, Jelani "Lani" Wray coordinates staff, oversees food preparation and serving, and ensures adherence to food safety regulations. Jelani Wray also administered the payroll and ensured customer satisfaction. The Brooklyn seafood restaurant has served some of the best Caribbean cuisines since 2011.
Caribbean cuisine encompasses all the culinary traditions that trace their origins to the Caribbean Sea countries. Over the centuries, the indigenous gastronomical tastes of the islands have gone international, mixed, and merged with other foods as people passed through the Caribbean basin and taken them back to their countries. Today, Caribbean cuisine is a mix of French, Spanish, African, and American tastes. Not all Caribbean food is spicy. Although seasonings are very popular, there are plenty of savory and sweets dishes without spices. The meats are flavored with marinades and smoked for that jerked food delight. You won’t go far without encountering coconut in some form as it is the magic ingredient in many Caribbean dishes, from sauces, grains, and desserts.
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Based in Brooklyn, New York, Jelani Lani Wray has served as music production manager at Humble King Records since 2020. With over five years in the music production business, Jelani Wray has spoken at conferences like the 2013 All 3 Countries (A3C) conference. A3C hosts performances from popular hip-hop artists and panels.
The first A3C festival occurred in 2005 for local Atlanta, Georgia, artists. Thereafter it grew. During in-person events, A3C offered interrelated opportunities for newcomers to the music business, live performances from both hip-hop veterans and newcomers, panels about industry topics, and constant networking events. In 2019, artists performed daily. Alongside the stage shows, artists, producers, and businesspeople hosted panels and shared their expertise. They offered music-making insights, how to build distinguished brands and partnerships between musicians and entrepreneurship. Throughout the whole event, artists have endless chances to network with their peers. Jelani “Lani” Wray owns a restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, Wray’s Caribbean and Seafood Cuisine. A graduate of a bachelor’s degree in music, performing arts, business, and marketing from Lincoln University, Jelani Wray leverages his experience as an artist and repertoire representative to inform his role as a music production manager of Humble King Records.
Artist and repertoire is the division of record labels that takes care of talent scouting and finding artistic development and commercial promotion. Traditionally, A&R representatives scour bars, gigs, and even performances on the streets to discover the next big star. However, the rapid technology change brought this tradition to quick obsolescence and disrupted the way A&R representatives accomplish their responsibilities. The growing popularity of social media sites has given aspiring music artists another platform to be heard by A&R professionals. Artists would upload their performances online, where fans can listen and even comment. Public consensus gathered in these social media sites gives A&R professionals an idea of how popular a particular artist is. The Internet has also replaced MP3s as the primary way by which A&R professionals access artists’ performances. By just clicking on the links, A&R representatives and even record labels can conveniently hear artists without the need to download the content. Submission through email makes selection efficient as it eliminates the time-consuming process of face-to-face meetings. Most A&R professionals are on the go, and digital exchange allows them to do their responsibilities even while on the road. Additionally, it’s easier for A&R representatives to forward submissions to other parties through email. Experienced restaurateur Jelani “Lani” Wray operates Wray’s Caribbean and Seafood Cuisine, a restaurant located in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. Jelani Wray also serves as music production manager at Humble King Records.
The worldwide pandemic has changed the business landscape, including that of music business. Several research organizations have conducted surveys and research to find out how the members of the music business community are proceeding. The following are key trends and developments that will dominate in 2021 and the years to come: 1. Subscription Artists turn to content-sharing social media platforms that require subscription fees or one-off tips, such as OnlyFans. OnlyFans works well for artists as payment, in the form of membership subscriptions, is directly sent to them by their followers or “fans.” For instance, Rolling Stone magazine has reported that rapper Cardi B will charge her fans with a fixed monthly subscription fee to access her exclusive video contents. 2. Online Live Stream Online livestreaming platforms serve as alternative venues for artists to hold live concerts. Fans can contribute towards the cause of their favorite artists by contributing money. Examples of livestreaming sites that have become popular during the pandemic are Twitch and Mixer. These sites allow artists and musicians to connect with their fans who continue to support their craft. 3. Indie Labels Operating a record label has become expensive at this time. As an alternative, major record labels look to the tactics of indie labels to survive. Indie labels are expected to rise to popularity, since it works well with the labels and the artists. As reported by British music brand and website NME, indie labels have earned an estimated revenue of $183 million in 2020. This amount is 18 per cent more than the estimates of experts in prior years. Jelani "Lani" Wray has been in media for roughly six years, with his most recent position as an A&R production manager with FreeForm Productions. In addition to his work with FreeForm Productions, Jelani Wray has also been a speaker at music business events at New York University (NYU).
Students majoring in music at NYU are offered a well-rounded course of study. The curriculum is designed to expose students to a broad understanding of musical thinking and research and theoretical background while at the same time giving them a chance to hone their musical skills. The courses students take include “Music, History, and Cultures” and “Sonic Art.” Musical Theory I and II, Aural Perception, and three electives are also a part of the curriculum. Students also earn credits through performances. In addition to classroom work, students can intern through department-sponsored internships and participate in independent study, which allows the student to engage in research in a particular area. Finally, the department offers an honors option which ends in the senior with an advanced independent study course. Based in New York City, Jelani “Lani” Wray is an experienced A&R executive who served as a music production manager for Free Form Productions. Jelani “Lani” Wray now serves as a music production manage for Humble King Records, and has spoken at NYU and Lincoln University as a music business guest speaker.
New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development offers more than 200 degree programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees in music business. The bachelor of music degree coursework includes music business specialization courses that focus on concert management, music publishing, and international music business marketplace, as well as more traditional music classes that cover topics such as music theory and aural comprehension. Students also take core liberal arts classes and courses at the NYU Stern School of Business. Through the master of arts degree coursework, students gain an understanding of financial and market developments in the music industry and the legal and technological components of the business. They also consider how to apply research methodologies to the industry, and learn how to define and craft organizational objectives to advance the industry. Learn more about these programs by visiting https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/programs/music-business. |
AuthorBrooklyn-Based Music Production Manager Jelani Wray. Archives
July 2021
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