We recently connected with Jermaine Clarkson and have shared our conversation below.

Jermaine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I knew I wanted to make music, but wanted to be under control and be my own boss and at the same time help others too. So the idea of having my own record label was very entertaining because I wanted creative control and to release music whenever I wanted and just remember hearing the stories how No Limit Records was doing it and other labels as well at that time. I already knew a lot as far as the hustle, but didn’t understand all the different avenues on how to make everything happen so basically it was a lot of trial and error. At the time I was probably about 3 years out of prison and while in prison I also took a Business and Entrepreneurship course from Harvard University that gave me the experience on how to set up and run company, but not a record label because it is no blue print you just got to find works for you and your brand knowing the same formula doesn’t work for everybody. So I came up with a name and made sure nobody else had that name in the music industry. I remember a one of my producers telling me you’ll know when you got a good brand when others start copying you and sure enough a 1 yr later A.A.G. RECORDS started popping up of nowhere as well as an increased number of JLC’s and one day my producer said he noticed it and said it’s time to trademark so I did that before I made another move. So I remember a lot of different marketers and so called execs started reaching out saying they can help me and all the above and at the time I would just record music get on these pay to play shows and hustle around the city putting up flyers talking to promoters etc. So long story short I was scammed in just about every situation and sit down and said wait I have my own label so I want to have my own network because I couldn’t trust anyone in music or better yet I haven’t met the right people. The next step I started reading books on different methods and tried different services and I always did the smallest amount on promo to test a service out, then next I started learning about different software I can use that professionals use and wasn’t no easy task. As time went on I begin to execute and watch what worked and didn’t work and cut out a lot of the middle man to where I can do 70% of my own marketing and outsource the rest until I got to become an established record label and a nationally known brand.

Jermaine, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m just a person that has a creative soul that decided to change direction in life to do what I love doing and that’s creating music and services for others. I got into the industry by hanging around friends that were rappers and basically it rubbed off on me! Lol! What I and my company do is help artists find their footing in the industry. We help them get seen as well as educate them in how to make money and how to navigate around the system. The main thing I’m proud of is if an artist listens he or she can become totally independent applying what I taught them.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I have to unlearn in relying on others to do you right in the music because of being scammed. I had to also unlearn not to accept every offer and the best thing to learn to do whatever you can yourself because when you have a gift or gifts that many don’t have you have to watch who you let in because if the wrong person get insight on your company on how and what you know then they will do anything to stop, block, hinder, infiltrate just to get it. So you don’t wanna make know certain thing about your business or knowledge, but to paying clients.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I hate loans and had to pay a few back so I basically had to start other businesses to bring in income to fund my record label in the beginning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://allaroundaag.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlcaagrecords/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAGRECORDS
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-a-g-r-169764133/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/allaroundaag
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AAGRECORDSJLC
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/a-a-g-records-fort-worth

Image Credits
HSTV & 2902 Media