Musicians in North Mississippi will connect with the Memphis music scene at 6 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 courtesy of the Big Bad Business Series. The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council (YAC) and Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation (EDF) have recruited Fenton Wright of the Consortium Memphis Music Town to speak about entrepreneurship and music at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center.
“I think every entrepreneur should know that the growth of any endeavor is tied to leadership. In most cases, for the entrepreneur, this responsibility rests solely on them. That said, it is incumbent upon the entrepreneur to be committed to a lifetime of learning. The more we know, the greater our capacity to grow,” said Wright.
The Consortium MMT is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop a viable music industry in Memphis for the future by providing a structured learning environment and equipping talent with proven tools to build the next generation of commercially successful music professionals and entrepreneurs. The program started a seed funding and an incubator for musicians.
“Oxford is influenced by Mississippi music traditions. We thought this might invigorate our music scene beyond live performances,” offered Wayne Andrews, executive director of YAC.
Not only is Wright a leader in Memphis, the Consortium MMT is nationally recognized and has a cadre of well-established artists like Stevie Wonder and Ray Parker Jr., who participate in a mentoring network for rising musicians.
Wright wants musicians to master both music and small business: “The music industry should especially commit to not only perfecting their craft, but also being sure to learn the music business. Talent can be exceptional, but the time isn’t taken to learn how to monetize that talent, the music entrepreneur will suffer. There are multiple avenues for a music entrepreneur to pursue to earn income. They must be willing to commit exploring them.”
“These [Big Bad Business series] sessions to touch the different segments of our creative community, bringing in people to offer ideas so our creatives can stay here and make Lafayette County their home. The strategies Wright uses can be applied in any field because he was able to look at a problem and think creatively about how to address it,” Andrews added.
Allen Kurr, vice president of the EDF is similarly excited for the workshop: “The Economic Development Foundation is excited to welcome Fenton Wright to Oxford as our next Big Bad Business Series speaker. Fenton brings a deep knowledge of business development, financial planning, and facilities management to the entrepreneurial program. This will be a great opportunity for musicians and small business owners alike to learn new strategies that can be applies to their own business ventures.”
The Arts Incubator and the Big Bad Business series offer free monthly workshops that tackle small business concepts and help entrepreneurs in North Mississippi overcome the day-to-day obstacles of running a small business. The series also offers a network of mentors and experts committed to promoting sustainable small businesses in the region. This program is supported in part by grants from the Mississippi Arts commission and an Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
To attend this workshop, register at oxfordarts.com. For questions related to a disability, please call 662-236-6429. 
