Why is Apple So Successful???

What is the reason Apple, Inc is doing so well with its latest products? The answer is having good product management. Steve Jobs was a very smart man and did a good job of running Apple Inc. He and his team had a great skill of strategic visioning and planning. From the Product Manager’s Field Guide there are five product management assets that if followed would lead to a successful product. The first asset is to “Drive business results.” In order for this asset to work one must not only oversee the product and make sure there is a successful launch but and offer great customer satisfaction. The second asset is “deliver results through people.” Product managers need to learn how to get positive results through other people. Word of mouth can make or break your product. The third is “ensure market-driven direction.” As a product manager you have to know what the customers want and understand their existing and future needs. Next is “guide product fit and function.” This is where product managers listen to customers concerns and opinions and use this to create a great product. Finally there is “manage multiple priorities.” This asset just bacsically states that as a product manager you must have the ability to multi task. Out of these product management assets three of them is what made Apple, Inc so successful with the releases of the Ipod, Iphone and its four generations, and the Ipad. Ensure Market driven direction, guide fit and function and drive business results. Apple does a great job of releasing things when the technology and timing is right. If the products were released before its time then it would fail. Steve Jobs was great at know what people wanted and when they were ready to accept it. In an interview he stated "It's really hard to design products by the focus groups. A lot of times, people don't know that they want until you show it to them." Business Week May 25 1998

The Road to Success:Artist Management

More than likely the road to success for most artists today involves an artist manager. Most artists don’t know where to start on the road to become a star. Here are a few examples of poor artist management and good artist management. To start off with the bad Creedendnce Clearwater Revival had a lack of good management. The manager of the bad was the lead singer John Fogerty. To have a band member, as a manager is a bad thing then it becomes overwhelming and the artist is wearing to many hats. It would have been good for the band if he had taking some courses in business. He led the band to their demise because of his poor decisions. He wanted things to go his way and his way only. They didn’t have a good deal with the record label they were under called Fantasy Records. Causing them to lose all they’re well earned money in some offshore tax shelter, and get lower royalty rates. Next is a good example of how a no name artist can become a star with proper management. A well-known Rap artist by the name of Wale is the perfect example. After he had a few successful mixtapes and singles under his belt that was getting radio play he got signed to a well know Dj by the name of Mark Ronson to Allido Records. In 2009 Wale signed to Roc Nation Management with Madonna, Rihanna, The Ting Tings, Ester Dean and many more. He would later sign a deal to join Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group in 2011. With a great management team to back him up he released a very successful album late 2011 called “Ambition”. Now Wale is featured on a lot of artist songs and has more a demand for his songs and shows. Having a good manager who knows the right people and what is best for the artist is the key to being the next big superstar. For all you upcoming artist and managers I recommend reading a great and informative book called "This Business of Artist Management" By: Xavier M. Frasconga, Jr. and H. Lee Hetherington.