10 Questions with ... Troy Marshall

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Music industry executive.

1. How did you start in the music industry?

I started my music career being a club promotor when I was at UCLA. A gentleman by the name of Allen Carroll was the West Coast Regional for MCA Records. I asked him for an internship for six months before he let me intern for him. Once I started my internship at MCA under Allen, I moved over to the home office, where I worked for and with Dyan Golden, AD Washington, Ernie Singleton and Brian Samson. That was the beginning on my career at major labels.

2. Is commercial radio still as important to the music world?

Yes, commercial radio will always be one of the largest mediums to expose music to the masses.

3. What are some of the things you're working on these days?

I currently work Saint JHN, Jamie Ray, Skinnyfromthe9, Yella Breezy and 1PLAYY, just to name a few.

4. Would you share your career influences and what each did for you?

• AD Washington: Taught me to always keep my word and support Black business in the music industry.
• Allen Carroll: He gave me a shot to intern for him and taught me that this is a lifestyle job, not a 9-to-5 job.
• Brian Samson: He taught me how to build and keep great relationships. Brian also taught me that to treat everyone with respect, from the mobile DJ to the biggest mix-show DJ in the country.
• Dyan Golden: Who taught me to always put everything in writing to cover myself.
• Ken Wilson: Taught me to never give up on an artist or single that you believe in.
• Benny Pough: Taught me to be an earlier riser to catch the radio people before the next rep. He also allowed me to grow within the label with my own style of being a club and lifestyle person within the music industry.
• Ashley Fox: Taught me how to become a marketing expert when it came to building a brand for an artist.
• Marilyn Batchelor: Taught me how to work the building so I could make my deadlines -- especially when we were setting up great R&B acts such as Chanté Moore, Keith Washington, Arron Hall, Jesse Powell, Avant and Res, to name a few.
• Jeff Harleston: Taught me that having excitement in the office was great for moral and needed within the record company walls.
• Jimmy Iovine: Taught me to not micro-manage my staff and teammates. Jimmy also taught me to make it happen by any means, even when people do not believe in the single or the artist.
• Step Johnson: Taught me to be the best executive I could be, do good business and do not come back to the office until the task is done.
• Garnett March: Taught me to be loyal to my friends and staff, and with that loyalty they will always have your back. He was another leader that did not micro manage his job or department.
• CJ Johnson: Taught me that you have to stay focused, but have fun doing your job.
• Michelle Madsion: Taught me to temper my emotions, when situations are out of my control.

I could name additional 40 to 50 people as well, so I will end it here. But to everyone that has worked for me or with me, I have learned something from each one of you.

5. How can a local producer or songwriter get their music to a label?

Post your music or beats on SoundCloud and YouTube; record labels now have research teams looking for hot beats and new music all day long.

6. What type of team should an artist assemble for themselves?

1. Hire a good professional indie record executive.
2. Good digital and social media person or vendor.
3. An investor that is a believer in your artist brand and music.
4. Photo and video person.
5. Stylist - if you can afford one.

7. How important is sound quality to a song?

Sound quality and mastering a song are super-important, because your artistry is what you are presenting to the world. Always put your best foot forward.

8. Would you please share your music industry predictions for the future?

Streaming ad and streaming platforms are the future for music listening. Clubs and strip clubs will still be major way for exposing street records and Hip-Hop artists. Streaming platforms will form their own labels of some kind.

9. What are the pluses and minus of an artist staying independent or signing with a major?

Minus - Not having the budget to push your music or artist brand that a major label can provide.

Major Label Plus - A. Budget to support project; B. Label machine of employees focusing on your artist and artist music and brand.

Indie labels are amazing today because they budget like major labels now ... to work and build artist singles and brand.

Because of distribution companies like Empire, NGrooves, Priority, Tune Core, CD Baby - you can be a very successful independent label.

10. How about sharing some of your passions outside of the music industry?

Love college football - You can always find me watching college football. Being able to attend UCLA and play football was an experience like no other. If I was not in the music business, I would be a college football coach somewhere.

My kids and helping them to become successful.

Being a grill master on the Bar-B-Que Pit and cooking my favorite food - gumbo, which my mother taught me to make.