About Us

WHO IS ALLEN JOHNSTON THE MUSIC SPECIALIST?

More than three decades of progressive experience in all aspects of music product development, licensing, sales, promotion and distribution for national and international markets.

  • CLE (Continuing Legal Education) Speaker Florida, Georgia & Tennessee Bar Associations ( 2001-2017)
  • African-American Caribbean Cultural Arts Commission-Board Of Directors American Federation of Musicians American Society of Composers Authors & Publishers (A.S.C.A.P.) National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) Broadcast Music Inc. ( .M.I.), MCPS-PRS – United Kingdom Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC)
  • Record Executive of the Year – Florida Recording Entertainment Consul (FREC)
  • Record Executive of the Year – Georgia Secretary of State
  • The MIC Conference First Record Executive of the Year Award
  • 2 Certificates of Appreciation Diaspora Arts Coalition
  • 8 Certificates of Appreciation OIC DADE County
  • 12 Dade County – Certificates of Appreciation
  • Educator of the Year Award – Negro Business Women of Dade County
  • Reader’s Digest “Look Smart” Editor’s Choice Award
  • The JACK.THE.RAPPERS. Superior Achievement in Black Music Award

YOU MAKE THE MUSIC WE’LL DO THE REST

  • Graphic Design
  • Video & Video Editing
  • Bio’s, Press Releases, One Sheets, Reviews, Blogs
  • Mixing
  • Mastering
  • ISRC Code
  • UPC Code
  • Marketing
  • Branding
  • Consulting
  • Artist Development

PROMOTIONS

  • Eblast
  • Magazine and Blog Placement
  • Social Media Upkeep
  • Record Pool Distribution
  • Listening &/ or Release Party
  • Lithuania
  • Tours & Shows
  • Event Planning

RADIO / VIDEO

  • Radio Campaign
  • Terrestrial
  • Steaming
  • College
  • BDS
  • Spotify Playlisting
  • Video Placement

WHAT THE MUSIC SPECIALIST DOES

Records Labels / Publishing

The Music Specialist develops Record Labels, structures and creates Publishing houses plus we have total knowledge of contracts and contract negotiations.

The Music Specialist has proficiency of record label operations software. The Music Specialists knowledge runs the gamut from Accounting packages, Distribution packages, Sales and Inventory Control, Accounts receivable and Accounts payable.

Marketing / Promotion

The Music Specialist marketing strategies are one of the most comprehensive in the field. We cover Online & offline promotions, radio stations, nightclubs, retail outlets, chain stores, one-stops, distributors, street level promotion, blogs, social networking and Internet radio.

Licensing / Royalty Collection

We can create International Marketing, sub-publishing, International licensing and royalty collection for your products.
SalesI now have a distributor deal with IODA that now allows me to place albums within major digital distribution companies worldwide.I am currently creating marketing campaigns for iTunes, Amazon, Napster, Nokia, Verizon, Walmart, K Mart and 103 other online distributors.

Sales

The Music Specialists sales knowledge and expertise is comprehensive enough for whatever your physical or digital needs are.
Artist RepresentationWe can represent your artist to our extensive network of Managers, Producers, Lawyers, Accountants, Promoters, Studios, Record Companies. We have someone for every facet of the Music Industry. We can create and implement any type of Internet presence to your specifications.

Qualifying for Phonographic Performance Royalties

There are certain qualifying requirements that performers need to meet in order to qualify for these royalties. If the commercially released recording a performer performs on was made in a qualifying country or the performer was a citizen or resident of a qualifying country at the time of the recording, the performer will qualify for royalties from broadcast plays of the recorded performance.

A qualifying country is a member state of the European Union or a designated country. A designated country is one that has been designated by the UK government as enjoying reciprocal protection under UK law, by virtue of the rights performers receive in that country.)

For the avoidance of doubt this type of royalty is separate to recording and writer royalties.

MEMBER STATES OF THE EU

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Poland Portugal
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Slovak Republic
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom

EXCERPT OF RECENT PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND PUBLICATIONS

October 2017 – Totem Pole Conference & Festival, Mumbai India
February 2017 – SA Indies Music Week – Johannesburg South Africa
November 2016 – Jamaica Music Conference Week – Kingston, Jamaica
September 2016 – Americana Music Association Conference – Nashville, Tenn. – 3 CLE Sessions
August 2016 – Jus’ Blues Music Awards Week – Tunica, Ms – Co-Director
June 2016 – Midem Music Conference – Cannes, France
December 2015 – South Africa Indies Music Week – Johannesburg South Africa
September 2015 – Americana Music Association Conference – Nashville, Tenn. Presenter – 3 CLE Seminars
August 2015 – Jus’ Blues Music Foundation Awards Week – Tunica , Ms. Co-Director
June 2015 – Midem Music Conference – Cannes, France
September 2014 – Americana Music Association Conference- Nashville, Tenn. Presenter – 3 CLE Seminars
August 2013 – Jus` Blues Music Foundation – Tunica, Ms. Co-Director
May 2014 – Urban Network Conference – San Diego, California – Moderator
February 2014 – Midem Music Conference – Cannes, France
September 2013 – Americana Music Association Conference – Nashville, Tenn. Presenter – CLE Seminar
August 2013 – Jus`Blues Music Foundation – Memphis, Tenn – Co-Director
June 2013 – Black Music Month (SESAC) – Atlanta Georgia – Organizer
April 2013 – Sounds Of The Xity – Beijing, China – Presenter – Festival Panel
January 2013 – Entertainment Industry Connection – Atlanta, Georgia Director
October 2012 – Speed Networking – Atlanta, Georgia Presenter
September 2012 – Moshito Conference – Johannesburg South Africa
August 2012 – Peachtree Village International Film Festival – Atlanta, Georgia Presenter – Sync Lic Panel
August 2012 – International Soul Music Summit Conference – Atlanta, Georgia Presenter – Speed Networking Panel

August 2011 – International Soul Music Summit Conference – Atlanta, Georgia Presenter – Speed Networking Panel
June 2011 – Southeast Urban Music Conference – Atlanta Georgia – Co-Director
January 2011 – Midem Music Conference – Cannes, France
November 2010 – Miami Music Fest / Urban Network Conference – Miami Florida – Moderator 2 panels
September 2010 – Americana Music Association Conference – Nashville, Tenn. Presenter – CLE Seminar
September 2010 – International Soul Music Summit – Atlanta Presenter – Workshop Organizer
August 2010 – International DJ Trade Association Conference – Atlanta Presenter – Moderator Panel
February 2009 – Jus Blues Music Foundation’s Technology Conference – San Francisco Presenter – Moderator Seminar
January 2009 – Midem Music Conference – Cannes, France
August 2008 – Americana Music Association Conference – Nashville, Tenn. Presenter – CLE Seminar
August 2008 – Jus Blues Music Foundation’s Technology Conference – Memphis Tenn. Presenter – Moderator Seminar
August 2008 – International Soul Music Summit Conference – Atlanta, Georgia Presenter – Indy Label Panel
August 2012 – Jus Blues Music Foundation’s Technology Conference – San Francisco Presenter – Moderator Seminar
April 2012 – Southeast Urban Music Conference – Charlotte, NC – Co-Director
September 2011 – Americana Music Association Conference – Nashville, Tenn. Presenter – CLE Seminar
August 2011 – Peachtree Village International Film Festival – Atlanta, Georgia Presenter – Sync Lic Panel

LIST OF DESIGNATED COUNTRIES

  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Australia (+ Norfolk Island)
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Burkina Faso
  • Canada
  • Cape Verde
  • Chile
  • Columbia
  • Congo
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Faeroe Islands
  • Fiji
  • Gibraltar
  • Greenland
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Iceland
  • Isle of Man
  • Israel
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lebanon
  • Lesotho
  • Liechtenstein
  • Macedonia
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Norway
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Romania
  • Russian Federation
  • Saint Lucia
  • Serbia and Montenegro
  • Switzerland
  • Togo
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela