cynthea joule: Fiona Bloom - Live It Love It Do It

There are a plethora of female music artists that can be heard on the radio or seen on the television at any given hour of the day. However, we never get to see (nor do we rarely hear about) women who are making it happen behind the?scenes. Recent estimates say that women make up approximately 5% of those working ?behind the music? in the industry. ?Today, we have the pleasure of introducing one of the ?5%? to you. Please meet Ms. Fiona Bloom!

The Bloom Effect

With over 18+ years in the entertainment industry- music industry maven?Fiona Bloom launched The Bloom Effect in 2007. A unique one stop that?specializes in branding for artists, labels, and lifestyle companies. Bloom Effect brings a huge Rolodex of global contacts from around the?world to its clients providing a wealth of insight/knowledge and consultation?for getting your project seen and heard. The Bloom Effect specializes in?launch parties, international music events, live shows, album publicity,?digital marketing, A&R consulting, and promotion. The Bloom Effect has?produced over 1000 shows, consulted on 200+ album projects and has been?a part of over 300 artists? careers. The Bloom Effect clients have included?The Lyricist Lounge, BabyGrande Records, Tommy Boy, Spectre Music,?Penalty Recordings, MIDEM, Avery*Sunshine, MarzLovejoy, StonesThrow?Recordings, Mixtape Riot, Game, Bloomsbury, Simon and Schuster, Nelson?George, Mudville, Aloe Blacc, Maya Azucena, Wayna, Bill Laswell, SOB?s,?The Renaissance Hotel, Anthony David, Roxy Cottontail, Erin Barra, Terry?Poison, Sway Dasafo, Saian Supa Crew and others. The Bloom Effect?has always prided itself in having its fingers on the pulse and always being?ahead of the curve. The Bloom Effect understands and appreciates real and?innovative talent without compromise. Whether you just need consulting,?advice, publicity, want to put a listening party together or need some help?with direction overseas? The Bloom Effect is at your service. Just ask the?clients.?The?Creating The Buzz, Spreading The Bloom.?Prior to running her own business, Fiona has overseen many careers?including her time at EMI Records where she ran marketing campaigns for?Gang Starr, Shara Nelson, The Solsonics, Eternal and others.?At Sub Verse Music and 3-2-1 Records she signed and marketed?Blackalicious, MF Doom, C-Rayz Walz, Skeme Team and more.?She also showcased and gave NY debuts to some of the hottest indie acts on?the scene including Slum Village, Zion I, Atmosphere, Aloe Blacc, Swollen?Members, etc;?Her latest outreach has been with the International Hip Hop community?giving artists from around the world a platform to express themselves and?perform in front of enthusiastic audiences. A few of those opportunities?garnered deals, partnerships and tours in U.S.?In the works is a book, a documentary and Intl Hip Hop Festival.

Q. Many individuals in the entertainment industry have elaborate stories on how they got into the business? Please give us a little insight into how you got started (was this a planned career or by happenstance)?

How did I get my start? ?Well, it was definitely not planned. Well, not the?behind the scenes music exec/creative that I am today.?I started playing piano at the age of 4 with dreams of becoming a concert?pianist.?I literally had no life outside of music-dedicated and disciplined art form?which had me in a practice room for most of my younger years, age 4-20.?At 21, I decided to no longer pursue this dream. I had burnt out and was ready?to embrace whatever was next. I had no idea at that point. So, I delved into?radio/broadcasting and became a widely popular DJ out of Atlanta.?I left London, had a short stint on a Kibbutz in Jerusalem and played around?in the Middle East before getting sensible and going back to school to?figure things out. Thank God for supportive parents who were extremely?disappointed that I gave it all up but believed in me enough to know I?d?find another passion, the Radio/Hip Hop Culture.

Q. Fiona, your artist roster is very diverse. Tell us how you came about working with the artists that you?ve had/have involvement with?

My philosophy is, there?s only two types of music, Good and Bad. I?represent the Good.?My roster is diverse because I?ve always had a colorful palette and varied?background. When I moved to the states, I explored everything from?Reggae, Hip Hop, R&B to Rock/Metal, Electronic and Funk.?Most of the artists I?ve worked with, as of late, have all found me. Either?from previous artists who?ve recommended me or overall excitement for what?I?ve done over the past and them hunting me down to represent them.?Even Avery*Sunshine hunted me down. My new artist Krissy Krissy, her management tried me 3 times before I?came on board.?As far as diversity, yes, I make it a point to be interested in all kinds of?music. ?I?m a real music lover first.?I?m about to chase a project. However, as I?d love to do the PR on this one.?Can?t reveal the name but you?ll find out if I?m successful.

Q. I know that you are a native of London. What I?ve noticed is that many artists who may not be recognized as mainstream in the U.S. are celebrated in London. It appears that artistry is appreciated much more there than in the states. Can you give us some insight on your experiences and why this may be the case?

People all over the world seem to be way more open than U.S. audiences.?I believe it?s just an overall appreciation for culture vs commercialism?over here.?In U.K. especially, we love our Soul. We love independent music and edgy alternative stuff. ?You don?t have to be on the charts or headlining festivals to get?gigs in London and have journalists discover you. Journalists/Radio?programmers enjoy the discovery process. ?In fact, they prefer a non-hype?approach.?The fans seem more loyal and dedicated in other countries too.?As far as London, people listen to everything under the sun. I mean, we do?have specialists but nobody wants to limit themselves either.

Q. You?ve made some huge strides in your career, which I?m sure have not come without hard work and diligence. I applaud you for being a force to be reckoned with in a male dominated industry. What, if any, challenges have you faced as you built your brand? How did you overcome them?

I?ve probably been faced with more challenges in building my own company?than any other time in my career and it?s been a long one.?I don?t come from a business background, ?so learning to be savvy?and making smart decisions hasn?t come easy. ? I?ve been told numerous?times how my ideas are unrealistic and my vision impossible. People have?sensed my struggle and readily advise me to get a job so my life is more?comfortable.?I?m a survivor! If it?s one thing this biz has taught me, constantly?re-invent myself, re-invent the wheel, stay fresh, finger on the pulse?and be open to the new and unknown. That?s been my beliefs all throughout?this process. ?It certainly hasn?t been easy. In fact, there?s been?numerous times where I?ve thought about packing it in, throwing in the towel?but a voice within tells me ??Hang on just a bit longer.? ?That ?bit? seems?infinite but I have faith!?In today?s world, sadly, it?s not about your strides and accomplishments from?your past, but more so about what you?re doing now and what?s in store for?the future. That seems to resonate louder than anything else.?I wouldn?t say I?ve overcome these challenges yet. The day I do is the day?I?ll be on top!!

Q. There are many artists who are in search of a reputable publicist with an outstanding track record such as yours. What tips would you give to those artist that will help them find their perfect publicist match?

Wow, thx for the compliment! ?As far as tips, artists, do your?research. Make sure you?re ready and that you have enough tools and laid?enough of the groundwork/foundation where a publicist actually has something?they can work with.?It?s an investment. When you?re ready to spend that money and push forward?with your career, you want to have all your ducks in a row, game plan,?courage, discipline/dedication and 110 % hustle. You should be working as?hard as your publicist, if not more.?If you don?t have the above, you?re not ready.?Another great way to meet publicists and see if they?re a good fit for your?style/personality/agenda, go to as many conferences/panels as you can?that?s in your field. ? Us publicists pretty much go to as many?festivals/conferences and panels as we can. You?ll find us either speaking?at them or in the audience accessible.

Q. What?s next for Fiona Bloom?

I?ve been talking about a book for a while since I have an unusual story and?accomplished some interesting goals.?I?ve traveled all over the world with my passion.?The Bloom Effect is my 4th endeavour as far as running my own business.?I was 23 when I had my first company/partnership. So, I?ve been blessed with?the entrepreneurial spirit very early on in my life.?I?d love to expand The Bloom Effect, by having satellite offices in Tel Aviv and?Singapore.?Keep it boutique but have about 10 people working with me world-wide.?I?ve also dabbled in voice-overs.?I?ll be pursuing that a lot more in 2013 and more speaking engagements and?social media training.