Quinton Marcel

Tell us about where you are from and how you got to this position today.
I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. I started modeling and acting at the age of three. I was inspired to write my first song at the age of 9 when my grandfather died. It was such a traumatic and painful experience for me because he was my idol. So, I decided to put my feelings on paper and Roger Ryan (Grammy nominated) producer, helped me lyrically turn it into a song. After that my mom and I teamed up with Roger Ryan and CEO of Hitman Records Inc. C. Michael Brae out of San Francisco and learned the business. During this period they invested in me, and helped me complete my freshman album. I’m now working on my sophomore album.
What are you currently working on and what can we expect to see?
I’m really excited about the way my new album is coming together. These songs are going to show off my skills and talent even more. The ballads are lyrically heart felt and the club tracks are bangin. I don’t want to be a one hit wonder, I want musically to be compared to the likes of the legendary artists like Michael Jackson (an international superstar), Steve Wonder, Sting, Usher, Justin Timberlake and Maxwell.
Tell us about one of the hardest challenges you had to face in the industry?
Wow!!! That’s a good question….. One of the hardest challenges I’ve had to face was not having the support from some of the closest people around me. In this business everything cost, nothing is free. You give up and sacrifice a lot to have a great project and to have great people on your project. My mom has single handedly financially supported me in this industry. I owe it to her to do nothing less than my best.
What was one of the biggest set backs in your career and how did you bounce back?
One of the biggest set backs for me was when I was 15 my stepfather committed suicide. That took me on an emotional ride. It’s something that you can’t really comprehend or understand you just wonder WHY? Also, when my sister was deathly ill and she was diagnosed with lupus. Those two life changing events made me realize the nothing is promised to you, “Life Is Not A Dream” it’s only a dream if you just sit down and think about what it is that you wish you would have or could have done.
What are some things artists need to be careful of?
Artist need to be careful about NOT knowing the business. “Don’t believe the hype”, use your computer for more than just a beat machine, research and read, know the business. This business is about some key words that artist don’t understand and need to know about. Know the business of Distribution, Split Sheets, Royalties, Publishing, Branding, BDS, Soundscan and more. Without knowledge you will fail!!! Knowledge Is Power!!!
What suggestions do you have for other artists like yourself?
The one thing that I would suggest is keep your faith!!!!! You have to be a believer in yourself for people to believe in you. This business can rip you apart if you let it, and people can bring you down. You just have to be smart and position yourself around the right people, and that might mean to eliminate people in your circle that might not have your best interest in mind. As my granddad says, “sometimes old friends are like old coats you have to get rid of an old coat that you’ve grown out of and get you a new one every now and then”.
What are the best ways to sell your products as an artist?
The best way to sell your product is understanding product placement. If I only sell my CD at the venue where I just performed, I only limit my sales to just a few. But if I have distribution I can sell my music all over the world. The more stores that I distribute my music in the more accessible my music is to buy. I just didn’t want digital download distribution I also wanted physical distribution. That’s why I have distribution through Hitman Records Inc. I have distribution like any major artist signed to any major label. I also sell my download cards after my performances because that gives me the opportunity to have my sales reported to soundscan. One thing artists don’t understand clearly is radio. I have learned that if you don’t have distribution radio will NOT play your music! If listeners want to buy your song you have to have a store of some kind, it’s the professional side of the business. I’ve also learned from my PR consultant, Ingrid Fletcher, that first you have to understand that you are the product. That people are buying YOU (the product), if they are spending money to purchase your product (your music) then remember you are a walking advertisement of your product (YOU ARE THE BRAND). So, always remember to represent your product at its best.
What is one of your favorite ways to promote yourself and your music?
Wow!!!! That’s funny because I promote myself everywhere I go. If I’m in the barbershop I break out in a song and the whole shop is singing with me. When I’m at the grocery store, at a party, picking up a pizza I’m singing. But on the real, I really make an effort to use every situation possible as a promotional opportunity. One thing I can say is that my computer is my best friend when it comes to promotions. I use Facebook, MySpace, Jango, YouTube, Twitter, Yahoo and my websites www.quintonmarcel.com and www.hitmanrecords.com. I love talking to my fans; my fans are my biggest promoters and supporters period. I still use traditional forms of promotions. With the right budget, I do include media buys on radio in my marketing mix for advertising my new releases.
Any last comments or statements?
I would like to thank WWS Magazine for this great opportunity to reach out to my fans. Just hit me up on any of my social media, Facebook, Twitter, etc. I’m on it! You can also check out my new single releases “Beauty”, “Hero”, “I Need You” and “Like Sinatra” on YouTube and Jango. You can purchase them on iTunes, Napster and Amazon. Also look out for my sophomore album to be released some time in March. My next showcase is in LA at the Aqua Lounge in Beverly Hills for Warner Brothers on this Saturday 29th, 2011. Your support would be most appreciated. It’s nothing better than feeling the love of your fans!!!!
- WWS Magazine