I’m not 100% sure I dig every change being made and wish a few options had… options. At any rate, I’ve started to mess with the Sphere of Hip-Hop Facebook page to see what I can do with it.

One new feature I really dig is the cover photo at the top of pages. It’ll help keep the page looking fresh and allow (finally) for some personality. However, I’m waiting for the first artist to whine about their page getting axed for not following the rules. The rules…

Cover images must be at least 399 pixels wide and may not contain:

a. Price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website”
b. Contact information, such as web address, email, mailing address or other information intended for your Page’s About section
c. References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features
d. Calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends”

All cover images are public, which means anyone visiting your Page will be able to see the image you choose. Covers must not be false, deceptive or misleading, and must not infringe on third parties’ intellectual property. You may not encourage or incentivize people to upload your cover image to their personal timelines.

I suspected they would have some standards in place and for the most part I think these are reasonable.

Another nice feature is the ability to pin and star your Pages posts:

“The new Facebook Pages include many of the same elements that individual users have: They include a large cover photo, a smaller profile photo and apps with photos, videos and places. It also gives brands and organizations to “pin” posts, which will hold them at the top of the Page timeline for seven days, and to “star” them, which will make photos and videos available in a double-wide format. Organizations can also set milestones, such as when they were founded or when they reached a certain number of users or likes.” – GIGA OM

It’s a dirty little secret in the music scene. The sense of entitlement runs rampant and is a significant problem in our small niche of the hip-hop scene.

So you’ve got a new track. That means I need to play it on my radio show right? It’s HOT! FIRE even! What makes you think I can be strong armed into playing something that maybe doesn’t fit the format? Maybe it just isn’t good enough (hater!) or maybe how you go about trying to strong arm me into playing it is a turn off?

Demanding something haven’t earned is not a good look. Then asking for help right after you’ve complained that you didn’t get your way the first time… come on now.

Funny that pride is scorned so vocally in our scene and yet is the most common undercurrent. Humility? Pshh.

Maybe it’s time to recognize than none of this is owed to you. Radio play isn’t guaranteed just “because” or because Radio DJ Jamming Johnny runs a Christian show (and you are a believer). Coverage on websites and in magazines isn’t due you. Payola, that’s another story. Then you give up when you don’t just get a free pass. Get better (musically and professionally).

Learn to find better ways to be professional and for goodness sakes… maybe even be helpful to those providing a gateway to more people. If you cannot follow directions, you probably don’t deserve coverage or airplay. If you’re not willing to be okay not getting covered or played… writing is on the wall. If you’re not willing to understand the basics, not much anyone can do to help you. The musical world doesn’t revolve around your single or record.

Is that really something to be proud of? It’s kinda like acknowledging that the gun you had in your sweatpants indeed went off… shooting your own leg… and being proud of it.

This is not a good look. By all means get excited about accomplishments and accolades for your music. BUT… don’t get salty for a second when people forget about you in a week. NO PROMO.

This guy has always been ridiculous. Followed him now for about a decade. Well done bro!

Reconsider the strategy. Besides, there are usually giant opportunities right in front of your face anyway.