Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams Ordered To Pay $7.3 Million In Damages!

RobinThicke and Pharrell Williams may have had a blast with the success of hit single “Blurred Lines,” but the family of late great Marvin Gaye will have the last laugh. The controversy began with accusations of the hit single having very close similarities to Marvin Gaye’s 1977 hit “Got to Give It Up.” Well it is now settled, Robin Thick and co-songwriter Pharell have been ordered by the court to pay $7.3 million dollars to Gaye’s family for copyright infringement.

“Blurred Lines” was no. 1 on the Billboard single charts for 10 consecutive weeks, and nominated at 2013 Grammys for record of the year. That all sounds really great, but was it truly worth all of the hassle and legal troubles? We hope others in the music business take this as a learning experience and hopefully avoid running into similar problems. Do your homework people! Cross your T’s and dot your I’s!

Ciara Debuts The Music Video For Hit Single "I Bet"

Today singer Ciara released her highly anticipated music video for her new hit single “I Bet.” The song caused quit a stir when it was released due to strong speculations that many of the lyrics were taking shots at rapper Future, who happens to be Ciara’s ex fiancé and father of her son. Here are some of the juicy lyrics, you be the judge. “You and me Fashion Week in Paris, I put you on to that new” and “Is that your bitch over there giving me the ugly stare, the one with the silicone ass, and the Brazilian hair?” Definitely sounds like shots were fired and we love it!

There has been a great out pour of support from Ciara’s fans. They seem to be thrilled that she’s back with new music and new moves! We think it is great that she has channeled her heartbreak and pain into such creativity. Did we mention that she also looks absolutely amazing? She has to be the sexiest ballerina that we've ever seen. Go ahead and check out her new music video “I Bet” for yourselves! “

Releasing Your Inner Boss!

For some, working for others to help build their empire and cultivate their dream is ideal. American society has set the notion that if we secure a good job in corporate America, we are well on our way. For others such as myself and Editor-in-Chief/Publisher Robin Charles-Living of Unrivaled Magazine, the goal to work for ourselves in pursuit of our passion is what fuels creativity and productivity.

If becoming an entrepreneur is on your 'To-Do' list, here's a few tips that will help you be well on your way.

1.   Clearly define your vision.

·       What exactly is it that you're trying to sell? It doesn't have to be a tangible product. It can be an idea, a service, etc. Make sure that this is clear for you before trying to market to investors or  consumers. There's nothing worse than not being able to clearly 'pitch' your idea to others.

2.   Put the vision on paper.

·       Brainstorm, then use this compilation of data to form the first draft of your formal business plan. In project management, we would refer to this document as the project charter which includes everything from prices, time involved, and individuals responsible or accountable. The project charter leaves no room for question, as every aspect is clearly defined.

·       *Tip: Not sure how to begin your plan? No worries! https://www.SBA.gov provides free online resources, consultation, and templates to get you started.

3.   Study your industry.

·       As an entrepreneur, you'll serve as the face of your brand and more than likely be responsible for your company marketing. Be good, better yet, GREAT at it. Educate yourself on it, and always embrace opportunities to learn. No one should be able to better pitch your idea than you.

·       If there is someone out there already in your industry, learn from them. Study what is going right for them and learn from their mistakes. There's no reason to make the same mistakes in your endeavor if it's already been done.  Don't try to reinvent the wheel here unless your product/service is completely new to the market.

I hope you've enjoyed the first series of "Releasing Your Inner Boss." Stay tuned as we'll be bringing more your way in the weeks to come.

Have an idea that you'd like us to write about, email me at uhcmagazine@yahoo.com. I'd love to hear from you!

--Chalice Ebow

Kandi Burruss Presents Empower The Businesswoman Masterclass

Kandi Burruss will be headlining next month’s Empower The Businesswoman Master class on April 11^th in Atlanta, Ga. We all know that Kandi has over 20 years of success in the entertainment industry, and she is also a successful multifaceted entrepreneur. Her goal with this event is to educate the next generation of women entrepreneurs, and help guide them towards the path of success that she has been blessed to achieve.

Those in attendance will be in for an amazing treat because Kandi has put together a panel of powerhouse successful women to help inspire every woman in the building to reach for the very top. The other guest panelists consist of Mona Scott-Young, Andra Hall, Brandi Hunter, Dr. KimberlyVenturs-Darks, and Myleik Teele. All of these women are major players in their industry, and they will be sharing their secrets to success. This is one event you definitely do not want to miss if you are an aspiring business owner or just want to take your business to the next level! Visit the link below to find out additional information and how to register.

http://empowermasterclass.com/

Brownstone's Charmayne "Maxee" Maxwell Dies at 46

Very sad news to report! Over the weekend Charmayne “Maxee” Maxwell, member of the famed 1990’s R&B group Brownstone died after a tragic fall at her Los Angeles home. According to news reports, she cut her throat on a wine glass during the fall and died on the way to the hospital. She was 46.

The public shared feelings of devastation and sadness as the word began to spread of Maxee’s death. Her group member Teisha Brown shared a photo on Instagram and stated “I just need to be by you one more time on stage Max,” the group is best known for 1994 hit, “If You Love Me.” Prayers and condolences go out to the family and friends of Maxee.